"Of course~"
Chika Fujiwara immediately abandoned Kaguya Shinomiya, sidling up to Utau Hoshina and hugging her arm while nuzzling her cheek.
"I'm Utau-chan's number one fan in her fanclub~"
"We're super, super close friends~"
"I am a bit surprised to see you here, though."
Utau Hoshina removed her beret, revealing her radiant golden twin tails.
Then she took off her sunglasses, exposing her violet eyes as she glanced at the three in the car.
Ai Hayasaka—unfamiliar. Kaguya Shinomiya—she only knew who she was. But Chika Fujiwara... she never expected this girl to be here.
Wasn't this supposed to be a matchmaking setup arranged by that damned old man from the family?
A lively girl like Chika Fujiwara needed matchmaking?
Couldn't she just whisk away anyone she fancied?
Utau Hoshina, well aware of Chika Fujiwara's popularity at school, was utterly baffled by her presence in the car.
When Utau Hoshina finally removed the face-concealing accessories, Kaguya Shinomiya recognised her at last.
"Utau Hoshina from Class 1-C?!"
Kaguya finally identified Utau Hoshina - the young lady of the Hoshina conglomerate who also attended Shuchi'in Academy. Rumoured to be extremely popular among students, she was an active idol who rarely attended classes yet maintained top-ten academic results. The purest of pure-blood students.
"That's me, Kaguya Shinomiya."
Utau had no intention of sitting beside Chika Fujiwara. She wanted to take the seat next to Ai Hayasaka, but Chika grabbed her hand, making movement difficult. She could only squeeze in beside Kaguya with Chika in tow.
Fortunately, the car's interior was spacious enough for three people to sit comfortably in the back row.
"I never imagined the Shinomiya family would involve themselves in such matters?"
Hearing this, Kaguya's facial muscles twitched slightly, sensing the remark was dripping with malice.
Though she'd heard from Ai about her elder brother Oko's plans to coerce certain idols into special arrangements to curry favour with the Director of the Hidden Management Department...
But coercing the young lady of the Hoshina family?
Had Oko Shinomiya gone completely mad?
Kaguya's expression stiffened momentarily as she realised the situation had suddenly become extremely delicate.
If Utau chose to vent her anger towards Oko upon Kaguya instead, she'd be hard-pressed to defend herself.
After all, this girl before her was famous throughout Shuchi'in for her unyielding personality and refusal to suffer any slight.
Therefore...
Ai...
Noticing Kaguya's pleading gaze directed her way, Ai Hayasaka sighed internally before smiling brightly to say:
"So Fujiwara-san is a fan of Hoshina-san too, just like Lady Kaguya!"
"Hmm?" Utau blinked in surprise before casting a doubtful glance at Kaguya.
This girl was her fan?
Seriously?
As Utau stood dumbfounded, Chika nodded enthusiastically:
"Yes, yes! I absolutely love Utau's songs! But the collector's edition CDs are so expensive, my allowance could never cover them."
Chika pouted pitifully while fidgeting with her fingers.
Witnessing this, Utau sighed as if accustomed to such scenes:
"I'll bring you a CD when we're back at school tomorrow."
"Yay~~ Utau-chan is the best~~"
Watching Chika cling to Utau again, Kaguya and Ai exchanged knowing glances.
'This girl! She definitely became friends with Utau Hoshina just to get free CDs!' X2
Maintaining an awkward smile, Kaguya's mind raced with internal commentary:
'No wonder Fujiwara-san, who can't even afford games with her allowance, would follow an idol. So this is her method of fandom?'
Meanwhile, having pacified Chika, Utau glanced sideways at Kaguya:
"I'll bring one for Shinomiya-san too."
"Many thanks, Hoshina-san."
Kaguya maintained her perfectly polite smile, though to Utau's eyes, it appeared particularly grating.
'Just like Mother's... that completely artificial smile...'
Utau narrowed her eyes, her displeasure visibly intensifying.
The highly perceptive Kaguya noticed this immediately, her expression freezing in response.
Had she done something offensive just now? Surely not?
Why had Utau Hoshina suddenly started disliking her?
Wait... Oko?
Damn that eldest brother! It must be his fault again!!
Apparently, merely pretending to be a fan wasn't enough to dispel Utau Hoshina's dislike.
Damn that bald bastard who deserves to be eaten by wild boars! Couldn't he stop being a liability for once?
As Kaguya Shinomiya maintained a polite smile while cursing internally, the car entered the Akihabara district amidst Utau Hoshina and Chika Fujiwara's whispered conversation, coming to a gradual stop before the Hidden Management Department garrison.
When the car door opened and Utau Hoshina alighted, Chika Fujiwara leapt out like a startled hare.
"Safe arrival~"
Watching Chika spread her arms wide like a gymnast completing a landing routine, Utau Hoshina felt inexplicably lighter.
"Chika's still as playful as ever."
"Hehehe, play is the sustenance of gods and buddhas~"
Chika Fujiwara humphed and turned towards Kaguya Shinomiya and Ai Hayasaka, who had just stepped out of the car:
"And Luo Shu-kun has loads of fun things here~"
"Ah, some things might not be suitable for you, Utau-chan, but don't worry, you can just play with the publicly available stuff~"
Hearing this, Utau Hoshina looked over in surprise:
"Is our destination some kind of gaming company?"
At these words, Kaguya Shinomiya glanced over in astonishment. Did Utau Hoshina not know their destination was the Hidden Management Department?
"What's wrong?" Utau frowned in confusion at Kaguya's reaction. "Didn't you come here for an arranged marriage meeting?"
"Arranged marriage!!!" Chika's voice instantly shot up an octave as she zoomed over to grab Utau's hands. "Utau-chan came for an arranged marriage? With who? What's the guy like?!!"
After her outburst, Chika suddenly realised:
"Wait a minute... the Hidden Management Department only has Luo Shu-kun as its male member, right?"
The moment she said this, Chika's expression turned dumbfounded:
"No way... Utau-chan is having an arranged marriage with Luo Shu-kun?"
As she spoke, Chika crouched down while clutching her head, wearing a world-is-ending expression:
"Nooo, this can't be happening! I absolutely refuse to watch Utau-chan march straight into hell!!"
Just as Chika's despairing wail rang out, a male voice drifted over from behind them:
"Pardon my asking, but when you say 'hell', Chika... are you by any chance referring to me?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Chika's face instantly cycled through a rainbow of expressions.