A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Chihaya Aine first pointed at herself, then smiled and shook her head:

"I'm actually pretty nervous too, but compared to being nervous, just thinking about how our names and faces will be all over the internet after this live performance makes me so excited... Hey, Lixi, just think about it. When you get back to school, a bunch of classmates who saw this live will come over and interview you like a celebrity. Wouldn't you feel a huge sense of accomplishment?"

"...Is it because of this?"

After hearing this, Shiina Riki was dumbfounded.

"Is such a boring reason enough for you to overcome your nervousness?"

"How rude! Wanting to be popular was the reason I started the band in the first place!"

Chihaya Aine said:

"Haaaa~ Just thinking about my dream coming true with my brother's help makes me want to kiss him!"

"Even if this hadn't happened, you'd still be looking for an opportunity to do something to him, right? Seriously."

Nagasaki Motoyo first complained a little about the unreliable Chihaya Aine as usual, and then looked at Kaname Rakuna who had been silent since the beginning.

"Lena, how are you? Are you feeling nervous?"

“…I’m not nervous.”

Kaname shook her head at first, but then she suddenly pointed to the top of her head.

"But, there might be a problem here."

"?What's the meaning?"

“…It’s just a feeling.”

Faced with everyone's puzzled gazes, Yao Lenai didn't explain much, but just looked at the overhead light with a focused expression.

Boom——!

As if heralding the start of the live performance, the dull rumble of thunder sounded again.

The noisy voices gradually entered the K-Arena along with the noise of the rain.

This live performance that will determine everyone's future is about to begin.

33

Chapter 33: The gap in ambition.

"It was raining so hard, but there were almost no absentees..."

Looking at the packed auditorium below, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but exclaim:

"Is this the popularity of [Summer Zodiac]?"

"Well, because Hoshino Ai is here."

Toyokawa Shoko, who had been standing beside him, said:

"The idol industry hasn't seen an idol as dominant as Hoshino Ai in years. From the first day of her debut, she's been the focus of almost the entire idol industry. Coupled with her recent hard work in promotion and the intensive training from her agency, for this generation of idol fans, Hoshino Ai's name is synonymous with idols."

"...That's it."

Although Toyokawa Shoko's explanation was very sensational, Chihaya Tetsuya's reaction was quite calm.

“People see things completely differently from different perspectives.”

Perhaps in the eyes of others, Hoshino Ai is a shining star on the stage, but in the eyes of Chihaya Tetsuya, she is still the little girl who likes to act coquettishly to him.

……

Well, although the way she acts coquettishly now is indeed a little too much for him to handle compared to seven years ago.

"Luckily, she has given up on eloping with you."

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly said:

"Otherwise, all the 20,000 spectators present today will become your enemies."

"Don't say such terrible things all of a sudden."

Just imagining the scene of being condemned by these 20,000 people, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but twitch his lips.

"But you're not wrong. With Ai's current popularity, if others knew her feelings for me, I would definitely become the most envied man in Japan."

"That's actually what it is, right?"

Sakurakouji Luna's voice suddenly came from the other side.

She folded her arms and looked down at the audience below, saying:

"A popular idol, a daughter of aristocrats, the daughter of a celebrity, and even a future assistant professor at an aristocratic women's academy... In reality, you're a very enviable man."

"..."

Although he only met these girls by chance, and although he had no improper intentions when interacting with them, the fact was that he not only forged extremely deep friendships with them, but was even being pursued enthusiastically by several of them...

Just thinking about the scene when those people confessed to him, Chihaya Tetsuya felt extremely conflicted.

For now, he could still use "Starry Sky" as a shield to stall them, but this delaying tactic was only temporary. When this shield completely wore off, what would he do?

At this moment, I don’t know which fan took the lead, but the audience below suddenly started raising their glow sticks, and then there were cheers that were loud enough to resound throughout the entire [K-arena].

Some people were shouting [Summer Zodiac] while others were shouting [Love] and [Chuhua]'s names.

However, unlike the indistinguishable cacophony of voices, the waving of light sticks of different cheering colors was enough to illustrate the difference in popularity between the two.

"The approximate ratio of red to gold is three to one..."

Sakurakouji Luna first glanced around the audience, then suddenly turned to Chihaya Tetsuya and said:

"It seems that, as Toyokawa just said, most of the fans of [Summer Zodiac] are mainly supporting Hoshino Ai. Even so, do you still stick to your previous statement?"

"Regarding the fact that that Mikado Hatsuka will not lose to Hoshino Ai at all."

"Well, there is no doubt about that."

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded without hesitation.

"After this live show, the gap between the two will definitely narrow...it might even become one to one."

"That's it."

Sakurakouji Luna nodded first, then sat back on the sofa in the back.

"Then let me look forward to her performance."

……

"Are you still nervous, Chuhua?"

"Ah... well, a little bit."

Faced with the agent's concern, Sanjiao Chuhua smiled bitterly and nodded.

"But don't worry, everything should be fine once we get on stage."

"..."

After hearing this, the agent first looked silently at the performance clothes she was wearing, which were prepared for her by the agency for the first half of the performance, and then shook his head.

"If Chihaya Tetsuya were responsible for your costumes throughout the performance, perhaps you wouldn't be so nervous."

"what?"

After hearing what the agent said, Sanjiao Chuhua's eyes widened.

"Why did you suddenly mention Mr. Tetsuya?"

"Because the previous rehearsal was enough to show the difference in status."

The agent said:

"Your state in that tulle dress is completely different from your state in this costume."

"No, Miss Higuchi, it's just a slight fluctuation in my condition..."

"I'm not questioning you, Chuhua. On the contrary, I know better than you how important costumes are to performers."

The agent interrupted Sanjiao Chuhua's explanation.

"Actually, before Ai received Chihaya Tetsuya's outfit, her performance wasn't even average, let alone impressive. And it was only after receiving that gauze dress that you gradually began to develop your own 'aura'. As for the reasons, I don't want to speculate, but you probably know it better than anyone else."

"..."

After hearing this, Sanjiao Chuhua unconsciously looked at the performance costume he was wearing, which was also well-made.

For an average idol, this costume is excellent in both workmanship and appearance. However, for her, who had already experienced Chihaya Tetsuya's custom-made costume, the power it brought her was too weak...

"Chuhua."

"kindness?"

"Actually, you could definitely be a little more 'jealous' about love."

Suddenly, the agent said something that was very detrimental to the harmony within the team.

"For idols, there are many factors that drive their growth, such as the desire for attention, the desire to gain the affection of just one person... or even jealousy of someone."

"envy……"

"You should also know that Ai is currently much more popular than you, but the difference in appearance between you is actually not that great, and her professional skills are not as good as yours. A large part of the reason why she has her current popularity is... because she received help from Chihaya Tetsuya before you did."

The agent said:

"If it weren't for that performance costume, she would never have achieved what she has now. In other words, if you can get Chihaya Tetsuya first, you can also achieve results that are not inferior to Hoshino Ai."

Those who want to become top idols...all have greed and ambition that will not yield under any circumstances.

"So now, after experiencing the encouragement that person brought you, you should have gradually realized it, right?"

"What exactly is your ambition?"

34

Chapter 34 The coming summer triangle time.

For Sanjiao Chuhua, performing before this had always been about controlling and enjoying the process of being on stage.

Her keen observation and solid foundational skills allow her to spare more time to think and refine her performance, ultimately delivering something incredibly close to perfection. Perhaps for most performers, achieving this level of skill would be considered excellent, but when sharing the stage with Hoshino Ai, this level of rationality alone is insufficient to compare with her.

In addition to that face that seems to be given by God, the infectiousness brought by her selflessness and enthusiasm is genuine.

Even if it was just one person's enthusiasm, even if what reached the audience was just the overflowing afterglow, when the audience saw her glittering figure, they would still be involuntarily attracted to her and worship the brilliance that surpassed their own cognition.

For a moment, Sankaku Hatsuka suddenly recalled his first conversation with Chihaya Tetsuya on the evening train.

According to him, the stars in the sky shine for their own sake, and stargazers just notice them naturally.

It's not just love. Since meeting Chihaya Tetsuya, the growth and determination that Xiangzi has shown are also so dazzling that people can't look directly at it.

Even the amateur band named "MyGO!!!!", under the guidance of Chihaya Tetsuya, gradually approached the ideal that was originally out of their reach.

Just like the name of Chihaya Tetsuya's brand, the girls gathered around him are all shining in their own way.

So, as a member of the "sky full of stars", what else can she do?

When was the moment when she was closest to her true desire?

……

Come to think of it...why was she willing to be the foil of love in the first place?

Ah, right.

In fact, she had always felt sorry for her before that.

Having become a professional singer as she wished, she once tried to lend a helping hand to this helpless and uneducated orphan from an extremely superior position.

Now, the girl who finally reunited with her lover no longer needs her help, but has become a star that surpasses herself.

Also, why did I willingly give the initiative of arranging the music to Xiangzi?

Because I didn't have too many obsessions in my heart, I wanted to give this opportunity to prove myself to Xiangzi who had an urgent need.

Now, Xiangzi no longer needs her support, and even invites her to open up a new future for her.

Huh? Come to think of it, it seems neither Ai nor Xiangzi need his help anymore.