My daily life is getting weird because I am caught between being in a band and being an idol.

"Hey, can we just let this bullying go? You guys are from the next class, right? Even if you're not close, try to get along as a friend as possible."

She spoke with a smile, as if instructing a child, and casually patted the head of the leader, Sha Jiang, because the other was smaller than her, which reminded her of her own younger sister.

"Idiot! Who wants to bully you!"

Sa-chan was so angry that her face turned red, and she glared angrily at Fujita Kotone.

"Hmph, I advise you to come with us!"

"...Ah...then it'll only be for a little while."

With a sigh, Fujita Kotone felt that if she didn't satisfy the other party, she would definitely be harassed again.

"That's fine here."

Sha Jiang stopped, crossed her arms, turned to face Fujita Kotone, and looked at her with a hint of provocation in her eyes.

Fujita Kotone looked around and found that the place was indeed remote. She sighed inwardly, but her face remained nonchalant.

"Okay, what are you trying to say?"

As she spoke, she crossed her arms, seemingly not taking the matter too seriously.

The girl called Kana-chan took out her phone, displaying several photos on the screen. The photos clearly showed scenes from the previous night: Asahi carrying the unconscious Fujita Kotone on his back, and Asahi placing her on the floor against a wall, trying to wake her. Due to the angle, the photos appeared ambiguous, as if there was some unknown relationship between the two.

When Fujita Kotone saw the photo, her heart skipped a beat.

Hmm, so it was the store manager who brought me home last night? Come to think of it, I vaguely remember someone helping me up... Oh dear, I need to be more careful next time. Luckily it was the store manager, otherwise it would have been terrible... But what should I do about this situation?

He raised his head slightly and said.

"Well, he's just the manager of the store where I work."

"Then why would the store manager take a taxi to bring you back? Are all bosses this nice these days?"

Sha Jiang asked dismissively, her tone full of doubt.

Fujita Kotone smiled bitterly to herself, knowing that the other party would not believe her explanation at all.

The next step is always for me to tell the truth, but the other party won't believe me.

"...I collapsed from exhaustion at work, and the store manager found me and brought me back...that's what happened."

She explained calmly.

Sure enough, Sa-chan immediately retorted.

"Do you think we'll believe it?"

"I knew this would happen, so what exactly do you want?"

Fujita Kotone asked somewhat helplessly, since explanations were ineffective, why not just ask the other party's intentions directly?

Sha Jiang gave a meaningful smile and slowly said.

"Hmph, be grateful for our kindness. We didn't actually want to do anything to you."

If you were kind, you wouldn't have bothered to come looking for me.

Fujita Kotone silently complained to herself.

Sha Jiang continued...

"Your face is quite cute. Since you'll never become an idol anyway, you can be our sidekick and run errands from now on. When we become popular idols, we might consider taking you on as a sidekick~~ How about it? Be grateful for my kindness."

Wow, absolutely not. Even if I can't become an idol, I don't want to be in a group with you guys.

Fujita Kotone was speechless, but she maintained a calm expression on her face.

"Well, I'll think about it."

She gave a perfunctory answer, trying to make the other person think she was seriously considering it.

However, Sa-chan's eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp. She slowly approached Fujita Kotone, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

"...Even if what you said is true, if these photos are leaked and circulated online, you will definitely not become an idol."

She was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

"Ha, I'm very busy, I have to work every day... Can I just be your follower during the time between school and when I get out of school?"

"Oh ho ho ho ho, so you're really short of money?"

Sha Jiang ran her fingers through her perfectly maintained, smooth hair, letting out a classic, rich young lady-like laugh.

Fujita Kotone endured the ear-piercing laughter, sighed, and muttered a complaint under her breath.

"So that's the manager of the store where I work, right... Oh well, whatever."

Is this guy just too bored to go to all this trouble for something like this?

"Then the next time we meet will be during lunch break, hehehe~~~ Remember to buy juice for the three of us."

"Huh? Do you mean I have to pay?! No way, absolutely not!!!"

Fujita Kotone's expression immediately changed, and she looked determined to refuse.

"Ha! You can't even afford a few hundred yen? Just how poor are you? Pfft, are you actually doing daddy's work in the middle of the night because you're so poor?"

"You guy..."

Fujita Kotone's face instantly darkened. Before, she could joke around like classmates, and she would play along. But now, this guy was covering his mouth and chuckling. He was clearly insulting her completely.

"W-what's wrong? Am I wrong? This is a reasonable guess. ... Hmm... I understand. I'll pay for the juice, and... here's an extra 500 yuan as a delivery fee."

Fujita Kotone's face was so dark it was terrifying, and Sa-chan couldn't help but feel scared. She stopped mid-sentence and instead took out her wallet, giving the drink money plus a 500 yen delivery fee.

Fujita Kotone's expression changed instantly. Just moments ago, she had turned dark because of the humiliation, but now her eyes were shining with golden light, and a warm smile appeared on her face.

"It's my pleasure to serve you. What would you like some drinks, ladies?"

Her tone was full of anticipation, as if she had been completely won over by the 500 yen she had just received.

Sha Jiang and the other two were stunned by her sudden change.

"Vegetable juice will do..." "Me too!" "Me too!"

However, all three of them felt the same way.

Is this person really trying to take advantage of their father?

Chapter 16 Welcome! Two new guests!

When Chaoyang went out at noon today, he happened to run into Taoxiang and Rencai, who were going out for lunch next door.

Good afternoon... By the way, I'll visit your shop today.

Tao Xiang still dresses in a very trendy way, and her style is somewhat appealing to Chaoyang's tastes, such as wearing black stockings and suspenders.

"Sure, but the opening hours are 4 PM... Never mind, I'm not that rule-abiding. We can open after the preparations are done."

"Lucky me~~ I got free drinks~~~"

Tao Xiang leaned against the wall of the second-floor corridor and said to Chao Yang with a mischievous smile.

However, before Asahi could refuse, Nina spoke up first.

"?! This won't do! Mr. Hiraishi, you must not be well-off living in a place like this. We must pay the full amount!"

"...Pfft, Nina, you really don't know how to talk."

Tao Xiang immediately burst out laughing, placing her hands on her knees and unable to stop herself from laughing even louder.

Nina became even more flustered by Momoka's laughter and quickly waved her hands to explain.

"Ah! Yes, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I didn't mean that Mr. Hiraishi is useless or good-for-nothing. I meant, I meant... I'd better shut up."

"..."

Chaoyang naturally wouldn't be angry with Rencai. Instead, he turned around and gently chopped Momoka on the forehead, who was still laughing.

"Seriously, it's because you kept laughing that she's panicking. Besides, you're her idol, so why don't you give her some encouragement?"

Chaoyang said helplessly.

"You really know how to get skin-to-skin contact with girls so easily, are you an expert?"

After brushing aside Chaoyang's hand chop, Taoxiang had a sly smile on her lips.

"No way! I'm practically a magician already!"

Chaoyang shouted angrily, then walked straight downstairs.

"Wow, amazing! Mr. Hiraishi is a magician!?"

Nina didn't understand the joke at all and instead exclaimed in surprise.

"Nina, you really don't know anything."

Momoka glanced at Nina with amusement, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Urban legend says that if a man is still a virgin at 30, he can use magic~~"

Instantly, Renna's face turned bright red, her mind filled with confusion and shyness.

"Is this your shop? Hmm."

The three of them quickly arrived at Asahi's izakaya by car. As Asahi took out his key and opened the roller shutter door, Momoka stroked her chin and examined it.

"It's so run-down... but it gives off a very cozy feeling."

"After all, it was taken over from my parents, and it's been quite a few years. Although business isn't booming, it's not bad thanks to the patronage of many regular customers every day."

With the creaking sound of the door opening, Chaoyang spoke without turning his head.

"Can you really afford a wage of 1500 per hour? You're not just lying, are you?"

"How could that be... I've hired other people, they'll be here in a bit... Please come in~~~~ Two new customers"

After Chaoyang opened the door, he smiled and gestured for guests to enter, using his usual greeting voice.

"Oh, we've come to your place~~"

Tao Xiang walked ahead, and as she passed Chao Yang, she extended two fingers, stopped at her temples, and flicked them forward slightly before giving a cool bow and entering the store.

"Although the shop is a bit run-down, it's very clean."

"That's because the kids I hire are very capable~~"

Chaoyangbian moved the drinks, vegetables, and meat that the suppliers had left at the entrance into the store.

The daily routine is the same: suppliers collect empty bottles, empty beer kegs, and plastic crates used for packing goods that Chaoyang takes out when the store closes at night. If Chaoyang's store is open, they move the ordered goods inside; if it's closed, they leave them at the entrance. The neighborhood is relatively safe, and the neighbors keep an eye on each other, so there haven't been many cases of goods being stolen.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Nina, who had been sitting down, stood up again and asked.

Naturally, Chaoyang, carrying heavy objects, refused outright.

"No, no, you're here as guests today. How can I let you help me? Besides, the workers will be here soon... Let me grill some skewers that are about to expire for you. Consider this my treat; they were originally meant for the staff meals anyway."

"Oh, okay~ then I'll also have a beer while I'm at it."

"I really can't do anything with you. Consider it a first-time customer perk: the first drink is free."

After saying that, Chaoyang changed into his chef's uniform and walked to the barbecue grill. He first placed the small pieces of wood at the bottom, lit them with a lighter, then piled up binchotan charcoal. He then took out a small electric fan and blew air into the vent, and thick smoke immediately rose up, filling the restaurant with the aroma of charcoal.

"Oh... is this what an izakaya feels like?... It seems pretty good."

Before the exhaust fan had fully taken effect, the store began to be filled with steam, and Rencai looked around and felt very refreshed.

Momoka rested her chin on her hand, closed her eyes, and listened to the crackling sound of the charcoal fire when it was still slightly damp. She replied with a contented expression.

"It's pretty normal, isn't it? Izakayas really get more interesting when there are a lot of people, with the background noise of people talking. But I rarely see the preparations before an izakaya opens, so it's quite a novel experience. If I have some spare cash someday, I'd like to open one myself~~"

At this moment, Chaoyang, who was at the barbecue grill, started joking around.

"If it were you, you'd definitely sneak a drink in the middle of work and then go on a drunken rampage, right?"

"Indeed, haha~~~ It seems I'm not suited for this line of work."

Taoxiang laughed again after hearing Chaoyang's teasing.

As Nina looked at all this, it was as if she had returned to the time when she and Hina hadn't broken off their relationship. Those were some of the few times when she felt comfortable. She never expected that coming to Tokyo would allow her to find what she had lost so quickly in Kanagawa.

Just as the store was filled with a pleasant atmosphere, the door was pushed open.

"……,Good morning"

A very weak voice greeted everyone.