With a face that screamed I can't be late, Takumi headed straight to Karin Nanase's apartment door.
Using the landlord keycard, he opened it easily and walked in.
Seeing Karin curled up on the sofa, quietly sobbing, Takumi's expression softened with a trace of genuine concern.
"Our adorable idol… why are you crying?" he said, teasing gently as he raised a brow. "I just saw news online saying you died. Don't tell me you're crying because of that?"
His voice—and his sudden appearance—snapped Karin out of her sadness.
She reflexively fired back, "I'm not dead! And why would I cry over that?!"
Takumi laughed. "Oh, it's everywhere. Some say you got crushed by rebar. Some say you died in a car crash. Some say you burned charcoal and killed yourself." He waved his phone casually. "I just don't want you actually hanging yourself in my place one day—because then I'd be heartbroken, you know?"
As he spoke, he showed her the articles on his screen.
The moment Karin saw a whole pile of fake news claiming she was dead, she nearly exploded on the spot.
Finally forcing herself to perk up, she puffed her cheeks out in anger and declared, "I'm not going to be as fragile as my father. I won't kill myself. I'm going to make them all see it—I'll stand on a shining stage again!"
She even pumped her fists like she was making a vow.
But the next instant—her stomach betrayed her with two loud, mortifying gurgles.
GURGLE~ GURLGE~
Karin's face turned faintly red. Embarrassed, she glanced at Takumi.
Takumi just smiled lightly, not using it as an excuse to tease her further. He took out the bento boxes from the bag and waggled them twice in front of her.
"Our cute, super-popular idol… looks like you're hungry." He popped the lid open, steam rising with a rich, mouthwatering aroma. "I made extra dinner, so I brought some over."
After crying for so long, Karin was starving and thirsty. The second she took the box, she started devouring it like her life depended on it.
She ate and ate—and then tears slipped down her cheeks anyway.
Drip. Drip.
Karin looked up, eyes wet and shimmering as she stared at Takumi.
Confusion flickered there… but even more than that, gratitude—something soft, clingy, and warm.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked through tears. "We've known each other for less than half a day."
Her childhood and her family had forced her to become independent and tough. But she was still a woman—she still wanted to be protected, cherished and cared for.
She'd just buried all of that under a strong shell.
Takumi had saved her, named a fee but never made her sign any IOU, and even let her live in a place like this.
Compared to that… she couldn't give him anything.
Her own father had never treated her this well.
Hearing her question, Takumi lifted a brow and replied casually, "Just treat it like a fan taking care of his idol." He shrugged. "If you're really grateful, then just pay me back."
Those words made Karin's cheeks warm—but her expression dimmed, a lonely shadow slipping in.
"You're… my fan?" she murmured, then lowered her gaze. "But… the debt… I don't think I can repay it. I… I can't be an idol anymore."
As soon as the debt came up, Karin looked even more helpless.
She'd been fired by her agency. And now the internet was flooded with rumors that she was dead.
In a very real sense, she couldn't survive in the industry anymore.
Not even outside the industry—if she got recognized at a normal job, she'd probably be chased out of that too.
Even if she waited for things to cool down… it would take months. Maybe a year. Five million. She felt like she wouldn't be able to pay it back for years.
Seeing her slump, Takumi reached out and wiped her tears away with his thumb.
"The debt is a small thing," he said softly. "If you really want to repay money, there are tons of ways." He paused, then smiled with a warm, coaxing look. "But since you're this depressed, I'll cheer you up a bit. I'm planning to start an entertainment company. For the first batch of idols I recruit… I want to invite you."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"So, Karin Nanase—will you join?"
Truthfully, calling it a company was generous. It was more like he was building a personal idol harem palace.
He didn't plan on letting them constantly show their faces in public. More like voice acting, self-directed TV and film work, game modeling—things like that.
And when the time came, as the director and chairman… he'd personally guide his employees.
Karin, of course, didn't know what was going through his head. She only heard the gentleness in his voice.
In an instant, her eyes misted over again, and she nodded hard.
Staring at the handsome, sincere-looking boy in front of her, Karin finally lost control of her emotions.
"I… I want to," she said, voice trembling. "I want to!"
Then she leaned forward and kissed him first.
It was a deep kiss—pouring out all her pent-up grievance, all her gratitude, all her feelings for him in one breath.
When their lips finally parted, her gaze was filled with shyness and affection.
Karin bit her lower lip lightly and whispered, "When I go get those costumes back… I'll wear one for you first. I promise you'll love it, my fan—my little man~"
Takumi's heat spiked instantly. He lifted his hand and smacked her perky butt.
Smack.
"How can you call me little man?" he said with righteous indignation. "I'm basically your landlord-dad now!"
After disciplining her like that, he didn't keep posturing. His voice softened again.
"Get your head straight, okay? For now, focus on filling your stomach." He paused, then placed two items on the table in front of her. "Oh, right. These two are for you."
A Divine Envoy chess piece, and a cup of divine wine.
"As long as you use this chess piece, you'll be mine," Takumi said bluntly. "And this is divine wine. Drink it, and you'll live forever."
He leaned in slightly, tone half-teasing, half-commanding—exactly like a fan pampering his idol… while also making it impossible to refuse.
"Consider it a fan's gift to his idol. Be good and take it."
After saying that, Takumi didn't give Karin any chance to reject him. He turned and walked out.
Left alone, Karin stared at the items on the table, feeling utterly helpless.
"Ugh… my fan, my little man," she mumbled, cheeks red. "You're so good to me… how am I supposed to repay you? It feels like even if I offered myself, it still wouldn't be enough…"
Karin didn't doubt Takumi at all.
The image of him saving her—his overwhelming power—was burned into her memory, every detail.
Without hesitating much, she picked up the chess piece and divine wine… and used them both.
Just outside the door, Takumi felt it immediately—Karin had fused with the Divine Envoy chess piece.
Through their link, he opened her panel to check.
[Name: Haruko Nanase (Karin Nanase)]
[Class: Divine Envoy Idol]
[Level: 1 (Intermediate)]
[Traits: Divine Envoy (Purple), Immortality (Purple), Imaginary Twin (Purple), Singing & Dance Prodigy (Green) …]
[Imaginary Twin (Purple): You possess an "imaginary body." Your power is shared between both sides—when one grows stronger, it drives the other forward as well. At present, your imaginary body is in a berserk state.]
"…Huh?"
Takumi stared at the new trait, genuinely surprised.
"An imaginary body…?" His brows rose. "Don't tell me this is Steel Lady Nanase?"
He instantly thought of that entity—but he couldn't be certain. After all, the current situation was completely different from the original story.
Karin wasn't dead at all.
And even the "Karin is dead" rumor had only just started spreading online today