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First-person: Hoshino Yume.
"........."
I don't know how he brought Arima Kana in, but judging by that expression... it's the face of someone who thought it wouldn't work but ended up like this, Kana.
At that moment, Ai and I, who happened to be at Ichigo Production, were watching Arima Kana stamp the contract with Ichigo Pro.
"Did Aqua seduce her well?"
"Must have."
He probably used Kana's personality... I'm afraid our son might get stabbed on the street...
Quietly watching the scene from behind, Ai and I.
"Welcome to Ichigo Production. We're glad to have you."
Miyako-senpai seemed to like Kana quite a bit, smiling as she took the contract.
And the owner of that contract, Arima Kana...
"I know in my head it shouldn't work, but why do I always end up like thiiiiiiis!!!!!!!!"
Is that someone's scream?
"Let's work hard together, Senpai~"
Seeing Ruby's beaming face, I felt sorry for Kana but was relieved.
Ai had already gone over to Ruby and Kana's side.
"I can't believe you really brought her. What method did you use?"
"I just asked."
"Just? I don't think Kana would come just for that."
".......Arima Kana is highly empathetic and weak to pressure, so I thought it might be effective to beg tearfully or push hard, and it worked as expected."
".....You."
Ah, I think I know what Miyako is going to say next.
"If you keep acting like that, you'll get into trouble soon. Be careful at night... but I guess you already have reliable bodyguards?"
"Well, yeah."
I answered appropriately to Miyako, who was looking at me.
And our gaze turned to the three women who were chatting noisily, having fun with something.
"I don't think I did anything bad. I didn't lie."
"That's what's bad, Aqua."
"Huh!?"
I carefully flicked Aqua on the forehead.
"Well, it's just that my title changed from a child genius actor, which is meaningless now, to a child genius idol..."
"Anyway, some form of stimulant was needed..."
"You're desperate to convince yourself."
"Ahaha~ Aris Kani is an interesting kid in many ways?"
"It's Arima Kana."
"Eek!?"
After lightly chopping the head of Ai, who is still not good at remembering people's names.
"Don't worry too much, Arima. If you work at this agency, I and Ai might work with you too, so if there are any skills you can steal from us, steal them all."
"R-really, is that okay!?"
At my words, Arima jumped up from her seat, speaking as if surprised.
"Yes★ Take as much as you can if you can take it~!"
"Helping a new actor grow is also part of the role of a senior actor."
Steal as much as you want. If you can overcome your wall with it, I'll hand it over anytime, Arima.
With a moved expression at my and Ai's words.
"Um, by any chance, does Aqua have any work coming up next?"
"Hmm... I do have some."
Arima asking about Aqua's next work, and Ruby beside her with a somewhat awkward and bitter expression.
"Huh? Why does your face look bitter...?"
"Here it is."
"Let me see."
Since everyone present already knew which program Aqua was appearing on.
"What!? Aqua in a love...!?"
The thoughts of everyone present except Aqua were aligned.
[Ah, as expected, she's surprised by that part.]
Aqua said he had business and went out, so the remaining four of us—me, Ai, Ruby, and Kana—decided to watch the first episode together.
"Hmm, so it's a real variety love version made with high school students from the entertainment industry?"
"Hehe~! Well, I already have a reliable husband by my side, so no problem~!!"
"Don't cling to me..."
Ruby and Kana were on the sofa, and Ai and I were standing behind watching, but with Ai clinging to me, the video wasn't visible well.
In the first video, four male and female students were already sitting, and one female student came in greeting.
[Hello!!]
The fifth girl to enter.
[Um, I'm Sumi Yuki. I'm a first-year in high school.]
[Nice body~]
[She's well-maintained from head to toe~]
Unexpectedly, her face was quite good, so as I was about to watch closely.
"Hmm~? Yume, do you like young girls like that now?"
"Hah? Ai, what are you talking about.....!?"
Perhaps because I was watching too closely, Ai pinched my side and looked at me with dead eyes, and I had to sweat coldly and soothe her.
"Ai is still young too!"
"We're 30 now...."
"I'm an eternal idol!!"
"You're an actress now."
"Uuuu...!!!!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry."
"Ehehe~★"
After admitting defeat to Ai's stubbornness, as always, I stroked her head, and her happy, dazed smile was our usual daily life.
[I'm Kumano Nobuyuki. Dancing is my specialty.]
Kumano Nobuyuki, dancer, high school second year.
[Kurokawa Akane, high school second year, an actress.]
"Wow, she's here!?"
"What? Do you know her?"
"A bit..."
Kana, who seemed to know the student named Kurokawa Akane. I know there was something in the past, but my memory is fuzzy, so I don't remember details. But I could tell this much.
"That student, Kurokawa Akane, might be similar to Kana, don't you think?"
"Huh? Yume-senpai, what do you mean...?"
At my words, she looked at me with an expression like, 'Don't say such nonsense!'
"By the way, information about her has reached me too. From what Kana says, you had some connection when you were young, but."
I glanced at Ai once.
"They say that girl, Kurokawa Akane, was called the young ace of the Lalaly theatrical company, which was active in the past."
"Not as much as you, Ai, but she has thorough research on roles, deep consideration and insight into given roles."
"And she has an innate sense to perfectly act them out."
"Of course, I only speak confirmed information, so the fact that I'm saying this means it's almost true."
"To be honest, that student Kurokawa Akane doesn't seem to have a personality that stands out in a reality show, but as an actress, it wouldn't be strange to call her quite a 'genius'."
"Ah, that doesn't mean Kana is lacking. In my view, both Akane and Kana have similar passion and skill for acting. The most important difference might be in perception?"
Actually, this information was what I directly investigated in the middle, so I just said what I felt when I looked at her.
I think I have a pretty good eye for people.
"Then... how do you think I and Akane are different, Yume-senpai?"
"Hmm......"
After pausing the video, at Kana's serious question while looking at me, I turned my head to look at Ai?
"Huh? Can't you just tell her what Yume thinks?"
"Sigh..."
Leaving Ai, who acts oblivious, aside.
"Well. From what I see, Kana's characteristic is that if you start idol activities now, unlike the past, I feel like Kana will have her own 'star quality'."
"Star quality...?"
"Hmm... Simply put, it's like 'the persuasiveness to make people believe the lie that I am specially cute'? I call this star quality."
By the way, this star quality is present in Ai and Ruby too, but Ai has pure talent, Ruby has idol star quality, and Kana might have another actor's star quality that will arise from doing idol activities?
"Yeah, yeah! That's right~★ It feels like something is still a bit lacking, doesn't it?"
"That's something you can fill from now on. Your idol activities could be for that."
"Uuu, ma... what Yume and Ai are saying is too difficult..."
"Aww~★ Our Ruby is so cute~!!"
"Kyaa~"
By the way, Kana doesn't know our relationship, so she calls us brother and sister.
With that, leaving Ai who hugs Ruby tightly because she found her cute.
"And as for Akane..."
I organized my thoughts internally.
"I think Kurokawa Akane is a girl with the eyes to deceive people, the power to make lies look like truth, the best qualities an actor can have."
At my words, Ai looked at me with surprised eyes for a moment.
"Looks like something struck a nerve, Ai?"
"Uh, uh!? No, I'm cleeeeaan...?"
Ai's figure, cautiously averting her eyes, was slightly cute, but I tried not to show it.
"Well, is this answer sufficient, Kana?"
"...Yes, thank you!!"
"Is that so? Then let's slowly check Aqua's video again."