Chapter 35: The Pseudo-Hot Spring Episode
The Japanese hot spring-themed set constructed inside the studio was steeped in a quaint, traditional charm. Bamboo screens and stone lanterns created a soft ambiance, the tatami mats were laid out impeccably, and several decorative foot-soaking tubs were positioned in the corners, alongside neatly arranged traditional Japanese confections and tea sets. Warm yellow light filtered through paper lampshades, enveloping the entire space in a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
As evening approached, the production team of the dating reality show notified the six guests to assemble for a special filming session. The director briefly explained that tonight's theme was "A Romantic Japanese Night," instructing everyone to change into the prepared yukatas and interact freely within the staged setting. Having said his piece, he retreated behind the monitors, relinquishing the stage entirely to the six young people.
Inside the dressing rooms, the six split up to change.
Hikaru Hoshino wore a deep blue yukata adorned with understated gold stripes, cinched at the waist with a matching golden belt. His blonde hair looked exceptionally striking under the soft lighting. Moving away from the composed impression he usually projected, wearing this outfit made him look dashing and sharp, bringing a subtle yet profound shift to his entire aura.
Although it was rarely emphasized, Hikaru's visual caliber was actually on the exact same tier as Ai's. In fact, as described in the original world, Hikaru Kamiki's mere presence was enough to cultivate a form of aesthetic worship in the hearts of bystanders; he was a visual monster on par with the legendary idol.
Ai changed into a pale purple yukata, her purple hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. The stars in her eyes grew even more enchanting beneath the dim lighting, radiating a gentle, jade-like elegance.
The other four had also changed into their respective yukatas. Koromo Shiranui had chosen a gorgeous red yukata embroidered with exquisite gold-threaded cherry blossom patterns, making her look brilliantly striking, as if she were draped in the legendary Robe of the Fire-Rat. Emi Sai wore a bright yellow yukata, the lively color perfectly complementing her personality. Takuya Taira and Jin Fuyuno had opted for deep gray and dark green respectively, projecting a far more grounded look.
The visual appeal of all six was top-tier, and as they stood together after changing, they resembled an exquisitely painted scroll. Capturing the moment, the photographer snapped a close-up photo, intending to use it as the promotional poster for this episode.
"Hikaru-kun, you're surprisingly handsome! At this rate, I don't think anyone else on this show can match Ai-chan visually besides you," Emi Sai praised without a shred of restraint.
Koromo Shiranui blinked her eyes. "What about me?"
"Girls don't count!" Emi replied with righteous confidence.
Takuya Taira pulled a long face. "It really seems that way, huh."
Jin Fuyuno also nodded in agreement. "Standing next to Ai, I practically look like a sidekick."
"Then I guess I'm the bodyguard," Taira self-deprecatingly remarked, before broadmindedly slapping Hikaru on the shoulder. "Looks like you're the only one who can match Ai after all. I hope you treat her well."
Hikaru waved his hands helplessly. "Have you all gotten something mixed up? We're just filming a show here, why are you making it sound like we're getting married."
Shortly after, the official recording for the program commenced. Due to the exceptionally high degree of freedom allowed, the production crew only provided the theme and the set, leaving the specific activities to be designed by the guests themselves.
"Let's play some kind of game!" Emi Sai suggested.
"Eh? Aren't we here to take a bath?" Jin Fuyuno asked in bewilderment.
Taira deadpanned without showing any mercy, "You dummy, Jin, this is a staged studio set by the crew. Where on earth are you going to find a hot spring? At most, they'll give you a tub to soak your feet."
Emi, however, suddenly thought of something and grew visibly excited. "In a setting like this, we can only play *that* game. You know, that game–Truth or Dare!"
Ai froze for two seconds, then offered a gentle smile and nodded. "Sure, why not."
Her eyes gleamed faintly. Habitual liar that she was, her subconscious reaction was instantly–*there is no such thing as 'truth,' it's all just deception anyway.*
"I don't mind either," Hikaru shrugged, delivering a classic line. "Whatever works."
Emi managed to find a deck of playing cards among the props, selecting four standard cards and two jokers, totaling six cards.
She explained the rules to the group: "Everyone draws from these six cards. The person who draws the Joker template will have to choose between a Truth question or a Dare challenge, while the person who draws the Super Joker gets to come up with the question or challenge."
The first round of drawing concluded. Koromo Shiranui drew the Joker, and Hikaru Hoshino drew the Super Joker.
"Truth, then," Koromo chose the relatively safe option.
Recalling scenes from his past life where university classmates would play this game together, a brilliant idea formed in Hikaru's mind. He looked toward Koromo. "Out of everyone present, who do you have the highest opinion of?"
The group held their breath, waiting for the answer.
Koromo surveyed the circle and replied without the slightest hesitation, "Ai!"
Everyone let out a collective sigh, and Taira grumbled, "Hoshino, your question was way too broad."
The cards were reshuffled, and the second round commenced. This time, Emi Sai drew the Joker, and Hikaru drew the Super Joker once again.
"I choose Truth," Emi said.
Hikaru thought it over, coming up with a new angle. "Please give us a sharp critique of Takuya Taira as a person. And by sharp, I mean brutally honest."
"Hey, wait a minute, brother?" Taira looked completely shocked.
Emi pondered seriously for a moment. "Takuya... he feels like a bit of an idiot, honestly. He can't read the room at all, and he's as dense as a log."
Taira pulled a miserable face, feeling a sharp pang of distress.
But Emi then added rather bashfully, "But he's actually a pretty decent guy. I don't entirely dislike a dummy like him."
Taira's expression instantly did a complete 180, pivoting from gloomy to radiant.
"He really is an idiot," Jin Fuyuno patted Taira on the shoulder by way of consolation.
The cards were reshuffled for the third round. This time, the one who drew the Joker was Ai, and the Super Joker was Hikaru yet again.
"Are you sure you didn't cheat?" Taira looked at Hikaru suspiciously.
Hikaru twirled the Super Joker card in his fingers. "A slight optimization doesn't count as cheating."
In truth, his memory was simply exceptional. He had memorized the sequence as Emi Sai shuffled the cards, silently calculating the positions in his mind so he could proactively step up to draw whenever the Super Joker was next.
Following the crowd, Ai also opted for Truth.
Hikaru looked at her, asking with absolute earnestness, "Who is the person you love the most?"
The atmosphere on the set instantly froze solid. Everyone held their breath once more, eagerly anticipating Ai's response.
Hearing the question, Ai blanked out for a split second before donning her flawless, signature smile, the familiar six-pointed stars materializing within her eyes.
"What a truly wicked question," Ai murmured, lightly covering her mouth with her hand.
The group watched her expectantly.
And so, Ai revealed the answer. "It's my mother."
*That is a lie.*
If anything, Ai's memories of her mother had already grown incredibly blurred. Back then, she had waited with a heart full of hope for her mother to return and take her back, but in the end, she had been left with absolutely nothing.
Taira bellowed, "Hoshino, do you even know how to play this game? You keep asking questions with massive loopholes. Step aside and let me handle it."
The fourth round began. Hikaru showed some restraint this time, resulting in Taira drawing the Joker, while Emi secured the Super Joker.
"I choose Dare!" Taira announced with a wry grin, choosing the challenge without a single shred of hesitation.
Emi gave a mischievous smile. "In that case, give me a kiss on the cheek."
Taira froze. Under the collective gaze of the entire room, he slowly and awkwardly leaned over, gently planting a light kiss on Emi's cheek, instantly drawing a storm of jeers and mock cheers from the group.
The subsequent rounds of the game continued to unfold. While there wasn't any intensely dramatic content, the atmosphere grew increasingly relaxed.
Jin Fuyuno was challenged to mimic the call of an amphibian, resulting in him making a couple of sharp "hiss-hiss" sounds, defensively muttering, "What, none of you have ever heard a lizard make a sound before?"
[LanLi: Liz is a reptile..?]
When Koromo Shiranui selected Truth, she candidly confessed that the thing she feared most was the school teacher.
During a Dare, Hikaru was instructed to confess his feelings to Ai. He theatrically dropped to one knee and delivered a stream of overly mushy, romantic lines, provoking a roar of laughter from everyone present–except Ai. As time ticked by, the group grew increasingly tight-knit, and even the usually introverted Jin Fuyuno began to proactively crack jokes.
Once the games drew to a close, the guests actively cooperated with the photographer, commencing the shoot for some beautiful, romantic footage.
Ai and Hikaru sat side by side beneath the eaves of the roof, gazing up at the night sky outside. Their bodies were positioned very close together, cultivating an air of ambiguity, though in reality, they were merely whispering secrets to one another.
Afterward, the six of them gathered together, sitting in a neat row along the edge of the porch steps, which resembled elevated wooden platforms. A foot-soaking tub was placed neatly before each person.
Outside lay the meticulously staged little courtyard, the stone lanterns radiating a soft, gentle glow. Emi Sai naturally leaned against Taira's shoulder as the two sat closely knit. The cameras captured the scene perfectly, logging the young girl's soft, lighthearted laughter alongside the visuals.
Once the comprehensive recording concluded, Hikaru pulled Masaya Kaburagi along to act as his backing, and the two together tracked down the video editor to explicitly state their requirements.
"Any footage where the two are excessively intimate absolutely cannot appear," Kaburagi summarized, narrowing his eyes as he gave the editor a heavy pat on the shoulder.
The editor's body shuddered in fright, letting out the desperate gasp of an overworked corporate slave. "Understood!"
*This should cover it, right?* Hikaru thought to himself, feeling a wave of relief.
He felt that taking these measures would be more than sufficient.
However, whether in his past life or his current one, Hikaru had never been someone who followed or understood idol culture. Consequently–and quite naturally–he failed to comprehend just how utterly fanatical and unhinged toxic fans could truly be.
The backlash erupted regardless.
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