Ai and I arrived at the makeup company, parked the car, and headed to the main entrance, where...
"Ah! Yume! Ai!! Welcome! We're the filming crew that'll be shadowing you two from today till tomorrow. I'm the team leader. Man, trying to get into the company was a hassle~"
"Ah... My apologies. I should have let our staff know ahead of time... Sorry for having you wait outside."
Since I had called earlier and said we'd wait here, I naturally assumed our company had been notified, but that wasn't the case. Thinking about how quite a few people had been waiting outside made me feel unnecessarily sorry.
If I had known and informed the company in advance, this wouldn't have happened.
"No, no, it's fine! We showed up suddenly too! Come on, let's not stand around here. Can we head inside?"
"Yes, of course. I'll guide you right away."
"Sure, sure. Ah, before that, can we get the mics on first? We're planning to start with insert shots from here."
"Understood."
"I don't mind either~"
With Ai and my permission given.
"Alright! Let's quickly get the mics on you two and start filming~"
[Got it!!]
Seeing the team members move seamlessly under the team leader's direction, it seemed like they had been working together for a long time.
As I watched leisurely, female assistant directors approached Ai and me to attach the mics, but Ai's gaze was fixed solely on the woman attaching my mic.
Fortunately, I was the only one who noticed that look, so I quickly signaled Ai with a hand gesture. Upon catching my signal, Ai immediately puffed up her cheeks and swiftly turned her head away.
It might take some time to soothe Ai.
"Alright, if the mic setup is done, we'll start filming! Ah..."
The team leader suddenly cut off and approached me.
"By the way, would it be okay to film inside your company? Since it's not a sight we often get to see, if you permit it, we'd like to shoot... but if it's a burden, we don't have to film it!"
"Hmm..."
I could see sincerity in the team leader's eyes, and since most important facilities were underground or on upper floors, filming the makeup room Ai needed to go to wouldn't be a big issue.
And if I gave the order, the other seniors would probably have no problem with it.
Realistically, it didn't seem like it would cause any trouble, so I thought of it as a reward for those who waited for Ai and me earlier.
"Yes, it's fine. Shouldn't be a problem. You can film the lobby as much as you want, and even the makeup room Ai and I are heading to, along with the process of getting there."
"Ah! Thank you!! Everyone, you heard Yume, right? Since Ai has makeup to do, stick close to Ai for filming, and a few of us, including me, will film the lobby first and then join up!"
[Yes!]
"So, Ai, you go ahead and get your makeup done, okay?"
"Yeah~ but I don't really know the way yet?"
"Don't worry."
As soon as I finished speaking.
"I'll escort Ms. Ai."
"Please take care of her."
"Yes!"
A subordinate from my division, who I had instructed in advance, came out to guide Ai, and Ai waved goodbye before leaving to get her makeup done. Of course, a few members of the filming team followed along.
"Then, shall we film the lobby first?"
"Yes! First, attach the main camera to Yume, and the rest of the subs, capture the overall background of the lobby."
"Can I go about my usual business?"
After all, I had someone to meet in the lobby anyway.
"Yes, yes, that's fine. We'll just be filming, so you don't need to pay us much mind!"
"Understood."
With that, I entered the lobby, and naturally, the filming team followed behind.
Upon entering the lobby, Hikari was waiting confidently with her arms crossed, and I greeted her before heading to the cafe in the lobby.
Hikari glanced at the filming team behind me and then.
"Ah, now that I think about it, your filming starts today, right?"
"Yes. Hikari, do you have any filming or schedules today?"
"Nope, that's right? I should start thinking about retiring soon~"
"You've been saying that for days now, haven't you?"
"Can't remember."
Figures. Well, since Director Kuma still has no intention of letting her quit, she'll have to tough it out a bit longer. We need to boost our Ruby, after all.
"I sense some impure intentions in your gaze?"
"It's not your imagination. I actually have them."
"How honest~"
"I just don't see the need to lie."
"Hahaha~!! If our youngest says so, then it must be true~"
The sight of Hikari and me sitting casually in the cafe, catching up on backlogged conversations, was naturally captured by the camera.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Just wanted to hear how you've been."
[The video we shot last time had a pretty good vibe, didn't it?]
"Same as usual~"
[You're determined to squeeze every last drop out of it, huh.]
"That's a relief."
[What can I do? When your precious daughter wants to move forward, as a parent, you want to pave the way for her however you can.]
"That's right~"
[Yeah, yeah~ Do whatever you want, our youngest~!]
As we exchanged signals and unraveled our hidden thoughts while talking, an hour had passed before we knew it.
"I should get going soon. Ai's makeup is probably done by now."
"Sure~ Come by again if you need anything~"
"Understood. I'll take my leave first."
"Mhm~"
After properly saying goodbye to Hikari, I headed to the makeup room where Ai was waiting, with the filming team, of course, tagging along as a bonus.
Upon arriving at the makeup room, Ai's chattering voice could be heard, suggesting her makeup wasn't finished yet.
"Ai, not done yet?"
"Oh~! Yume!! No, it's almost finished~"
"By the way, sounds like you're having a fun conversation?"
Since Ai's chattering could be heard even from outside, I figured she must be talking about something interesting.
"Huh? Stories about dating Yume!!"
"Sigh..."
Is the embarrassment all on me?
"Hehe, Yume getting embarrassed is so cute~!!"
"I'm not hitting you because of your makeup."
"Nyeh~"
"Sigh..."
I felt resentful of the others watching Ai and me as if we were in a romance drama.
"There, Ms. Ai, all done. You're as beautiful as ever today."
"Hehe~ Thank you!!"
"Good work."
"Not at all. I'm the one who's always happy to be in charge of Ms. Ai's makeup. How about you next time, Yume?"
"I'll... maybe get it done later."
"Fufu, I'll be waiting."
As I took Ai, now done with makeup, and headed to the parking lot.
"Ah, by the way, how will the filming team get there?"
"Ah, we have a separate vehicle prepared. We'll follow behind in that. And, since one of us is for main filming, would it be okay to ride together?"
Probably the team leader and another director planned to ride along. Well, I had expected as much, so I didn't think it was a big issue.
"Yes, that's fine. Ai, you okay with that too?"
"Yeah, no problem~!"
"She says it's fine."
"Thank you~!"
No need to thank us... If anything, we should be thanking you for filming us.
Thanks to that, the vehicle with four of us headed slowly toward the radio broadcast where Ai's schedule was set.
"Alright, Ai, we've arrived, so wake up slowly."
"Huh...?"
The journey here must have taken a while, as Ai, who had been sound asleep, made a strange noise as she woke up. This scene, by the way, later became a legendary moment when it aired on broadcast.
Supporting the staggering Ai, we entered the broadcast station.
"Welcome! We thought you'd be arriving soon."
"Yes, please take care of us today. Come on, Ai, you should greet them too."
"Ugh... Hah! Pleased to meet you★"
Look at her perk up right away.
"Alright then, have a good time, Ai. I'll be waiting here."
"Yes~! Hoshino Ai, heading out!"
"Ah!? Ms. Ai, are you coming with us!?"
As Ai nonchalantly abandoned the producer who had come to pick her up and walked away, I clutched my head from a sudden headache.
The sight of me getting a headache from Ai acting more like a child than an adult day by day was captured on camera.
"So, what will you do now, Yume?"
As the team leader asked me.
"Well, for now, since I'm acting as Ai's manager, I should probably take care of some personal business at a nearby cafe."
I have my main job to attend to as well. And there are various pieces of information I need to keep in mind.
"Ah, is that so? Then we'll go film Ms. Ai."
"Understood."
It seemed the rest of the filming team hadn't arrived yet, as they said they'd go ahead and film first, then followed in the direction Ai went. Watching them, I decided to kill time by doing personal work at a nearby cafe.
Later, the sight of the filming team rushing frantically to where I was was quite amusing.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 105
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T