Chapter 24: I Have A Lot of Friends
On the other side, the atmosphere at Hikaru Hoshino's shooting location was completely different.
At Hikaru's firm insistence, his segment did not adopt the same format as Ai's. The setting of having the person receiving the confession sit on a swivel chair with their back turned, only to decide whether or not to spin around, felt far too much like a certain singing audition show. Just thinking about it made Hikaru feel entirely uncomfortable.
The recording set had been moved to a conversation zone with a blue backdrop, making the entire layout look significantly more relaxed. Three comfortable sofas were arranged into a small circle, with a glass coffee table in the center holding an assortment of exquisite pastries and drinks—strawberry shortcake, macarons, fruit juice, and several beautifully packaged boxes of wagashi. Warm spotlights bathed the blue background, successfully crafting a cozy, household atmosphere perfect for a casual chat.
Hikaru sat alone on a single-seater sofa, his body leaning back relaxedly against the backrest. On the double sofa opposite him, Emi Sai and Koromo Shiranui sat side byside, maintaining a polite distance between one another.
Everyone's performance was completely natural, entirely unaffected by any manufactured tension from the production team. The overall vibe resembled a tea party among friends rather than some life-or-death confession scene.
Koromo picked up a macaron, taking a tiny, expressionless bite before suddenly speaking up: "I had so much fun playing with Hikaru-kun that night. I was completely exhausted."
"Hikaru-kun's technique is so superb, which is why I could let my guard down and boldly play so intensely!"
She delivered these words in a flat, deadpan tone as if she were merely discussing the weather, yet the content caused everyone on set to instantly freeze.
Emi's eyes widened to the size of saucers, the fruit juice in her hand nearly spilling out. The cameraman's rig wobbled slightly, visibly shaken by this sudden "explosive revelation." Even the director, who usually remained professionally composed, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Hikaru's face instantly darkened, several dark lines appearing across his forehead.
*Don't say things that are so easy for others to misunderstand!*
"We just played at the arcade together until late," Hikaru explained helplessly, glaring at Koromo at the same time.
Koromo blinked her large eyes, putting on an entirely innocent expression as if she had no idea what she had just implied.
"Cut!" The director finally couldn't resist calling a halt, walking over to the camera while shaking his head in resignation. "Everyone, please show some respect for the script. Just for this episode, I must ask you to perform according to the script. After this, you can do whatever you like, but please cooperate for this one."
He paused, casting a look toward Koromo. "Miss Shiranui, please mind your phrasing."
Koromo nodded, replying in her usual dazed manner, "Okay, I understand."
Once the shooting resumed, Koromo's expression turned serious. She put down the macaron in her hand, resting her clasped hands on her lap as she looked at Hikaru.
"Hikaru-kun, actually, I have always... admired you." Her voice was very soft, yet it sounded remarkably clear in the quiet recording studio. "Your handsome appearance, your unparalleled talent, and your gentle heart have all caused me to fall deeply in admiration."
The overly dramatic tone instantly sent goosebumps erupting all over Hikaru's skin. He was seriously considering whether or not to interrupt her.
Just as the atmosphere was turning solemn, Koromo suddenly burst into a soft giggle, instantly switching from deep affection back to her usual spacey, dazed state.
"Does Hikaru-kun not like me?" she asked, tilting her head as her signature ahoge swayed gently under the lights. "Even though I'm a beautiful girl too, and a genuine, certified high-society lady, you know."
Saying this, Koromo's face remained entirely expressionless, but the corners of her lips curved up slightly, revealing a trace of a mischievous smile. "If you're with me, you can skip ten years of struggles."
Hikaru cleared his throat twice, working hard to formulate his words. "Ahem, a good man aims for the far horizons... What I mean to say is, I'm still young and intend to focus on working hard first."
He paused, looking at Koromo with a serious gaze. "Koromo-chan is incredibly charming; it's just that I feel I don't deserve you."
A flash of interest darted through Koromo's eyes. "Ah~ how sly of you, using that kind of phrasing. If Hikaru-kun becomes a national-level singer in the future, will you come back to pursue me then?"
Hikaru answered candidly, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Seeing that Koromo's turn had concluded, Emi Sai, who had been quietly observing from the side, finally couldn't sit still any longer. She set her drink down on the coffee table and leaned her body forward, her blonde twin-tails swaying gently with the movement.
"Mr. Singer, don't be in such a hurry to reject me. I'm actually completely sincere." Emi spoke in her usual boisterous, carefree tone. "Though we haven't spent a long time together, you are right in my strike zone."
She blinked her eyes, flashing a brilliant smile. "How about it? Want to consider dating just to try it out? It's fine even if you dump me afterward."
Hikaru was thoroughly startled by her bold declaration, his lips twitching slightly. "Apologies, but I'm actually not a casual person. I only date someone if I intend to spend the rest of my life with them."
Emi blanked out for a moment, and then her cheeks flushed slightly, appearing a touch bashful. "If it's Hikaru-kun... getting married... isn't out of the question."
Hikaru blinked his eyes. "Then shall we go register our marriage tomorrow?"
"Uh, isn't that pace a bit too fast?" Emi's gaze drifted erratically.
After a brief silence, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine, truth be told, I just wanted to chase some clout. Dating the popular singer Hikari sounds like it would generate a ton of buzz, right?"
Hikaru was left trapped between tears and laughter. "We're still recording the show right now; is it really okay for you to say something like that out loud?"
Emi waved her hand carelessly. "What's the big deal? Yours truly is a streamer who openly demands money from the viewers during live broadcasts."
She slapped her chest, putting on an air of sheer pride. "I'm from the chaos faction, you know! The chaos faction—even though I'm not a VTuber."
Emi paused, her expression turning genuine. "But I really do quite like you. Hikaru-kun is a truly talented person. I bet you'll definitely become a household name, a national treasure of a singer. If I could become the girlfriend of a person like that, wouldn't it be incredibly face-earning?"
"I am terribly sorry, but I have decided to reject you here," Hikaru said with a gentle smile.
"You really are a good person."
Utterly sunk by Hikaru's good person card, Emi buried her face in her hands, looking as though she was about to cry at any second.
Hikaru couldn't help but sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll go to your channel for a collab stream and sing with you sometime in the future. Will that do?"
Emi's face instantly shifted gears. Removing her hands from her face, her eyes shone as bright as stars. "Is that really okay?"
Hikaru nodded. "Of course. We can be considered friends now, can't we?"
Koromo, who had been quietly observing from the side all this time, suddenly spoke up: "What about me?"
Hikaru turned to face her. "Koromo-chan is obviously a friend too."
Koromo stated in a completely flat tone, "Scumbag."
Emi nodded in agreement from the side, "Yep, a total scumbag."
---
[100 Ps = 1 Bonus Chapter.]
[10 total review = 1 Bonus Chapter.]
[Total Bonus Chapters Achieved: 0]
[] Patreon:
➔ Unlock advanced chapters & exclusive supporter roles in discord!
➔ For 50 adv chapters. [email protected]/Prince_of_LanL.
LanLi: For those who just want to read the final chapters of this fanfic, I've opened a temporary $3 tier on Patreon.
This gives you full access to the final 50 chapters (though less than 30 are left to be posted!). Check it out if you're interested!
[50 advanced chapters + 0 left to be posted = 50 chs left till end of vol 2.]