-Chapter 02-
I had submitted Mifune-san's form to the higher ups right after she left the building, I planned to inform my Producer the next day.
Before I went home, I bought myself a hamburger steak and soda, well, this is not what I usually ate, but I guess since today is a special occasion, why not.
After took a shower, I throw myself at my bed, even though I met her again today but my current work is still tiring, hopefully Producer would be able to handle all of them later, well, it's not like Mifune-san would be accepted for sure yet, but it's better to take precautions.
After resting for a moment, I remembered about my hamburger steak, well, it might be cold right now, might as well use the microwave later.
But as I grabbed my phone, I remember another thing.
"Mifune Miyu, eh… what should I do to make her as an idol if she really accepted..."
I thought about that, and as I clicked my fingerprint reader, I saw her portrait which I used as my lock screen.
That's right, first of all, I should figure out how to make her smile, well, it's not like she should smile widely, even the creepy smile such as Syoko-chan's could attract lots of fans.
But this woman, whenever I saw her, I think she's not even smiling once, well, only a bit, but, I thought it was just a complementary smile, not a sincere one like what I kept seeing around.
"What happened to you dear…" I murmurs as I put my steak on the microwave and turned on my PC.
I guess it won't be hurt to check about her. I navigate my firefox with my corsair on right hand and steak on my left.
"Mifune Miyu, not even a single hits eh, not even small mention on google, pictures, no hits, social medias, nope, null, who are you…"
Maybe from her office site? Hmm, I searched my memories on what company she's working now, if I recall she said about this one trading company….
"Hmm, name only, eh… no picture whatsoever, only listed as the member of staff," I checked the company's site as I remembered the name, the hell, she is not kidding when she said it was a small company, the site itself looks shady.
Well, it's already happened, I already submitted her form, her resolve was solid enough, let's just see what the future will bring.
I munched my steak while streaming some stuff on YouTube, and I went straight to bed.
Should I mail something to her tonight? But what should I write. My eyelids are heavier than my thought tonight so I don't bother, let's just wait.
I parked my Yamaha on the staff's parking area, in adjacent to producer's Toyota, seems he's already here, nice timing, I could tell him about her as well.
But before I reached my office, Imanishi-san, or we usually called him as Nishi-san, 346 Production's chief saw me and called me over to his office.
"Please, have a seat."
"Ah, thank you," I sit down at the black couch inside his office.
"Say, do you like idols?" he asks me while giving me a cup of green tea.
"Erm, yes, I like them…"
"May I know your reason?"
"I'm not sure what it is…. Probably…"
"It's okay, please, share it with me," he smiles to me.
"Probably, because they gave me the courage… to try new things…"
"Oh, interesting, how?"
"Ah, if you remember the time I was interviewed before joining 346, I have zero knowledge about idols other than they could sing, but after provisioned as assistant producer, I interacts with some of them, and I'm amazed on how they do things, I admire their spirit, I'm sorry if it's too vague."
"Hahaha, it's okay, it's okay, there's no exact answer for this question, please no worry, have a drink,"
"Ah, well, thanks."
"But I surprised, I remember that you was accepted due to your educational background, like you just tried to implement it on different aspects, but I see you gained more than that, am I right?"
"Yes, it sure exceeds my initial expectation when I started to work in this industry."
"Then, I have an order, no, a request, for you."
"What is it? Nishi-san?"
"If I recall, Mifu… Miyune Mifu… Mifune Miyu-san, am I right? The one at your form."
"Ah, Mifune-san, yes, you read it?"
"Is there something to read? As far as I am here, it could probably the less informative, unattractive form ever submitted." He stood and looking at her window.
"Eh… then…"
"You still believe, that idol could give people courage, right? To try new things? To change."
"Yes, I do."
"Then, my request is, please, give her courage, to try to become idol, to change from zero experience to non-zero. Give her that so she would be able to give the same to the people."
"Eh… you mean…"
"Looking forward to work with you, Producer-san."
What! I couldn't believe it, the chief himself approves her!
He told me to make her come at the next day to meet him and sign the contract, of course, right after I close his office door, I called Mifune-san directly, without even cares that she's on her shift or not.
"Mifune-san! Over here!" I waved my hand when I see her the next evening. She really came. Noticing my signal, she approaches me.
"Um, am I… really accepted?"
"I called you right? The chief himself approves you directly, he asked you to pay him a visit, let's go!" I pulled her hand and run towards chief's office.
"Ah… w… wait…"
"Mifune-san, do you like idols?" Nishi-san asks her after letting her sit on the sofa.
"Um… I don't know…"
"Then, do you have something you like?"
"I…not sure…"
"Hmm, how about Producer-san? Do you like him?"
"Wh… what are you talking about, Nishi-san, we are not like that…" I responded to his question, only to have him laughing in amusement.
"Still don't know eh, Mifune-san. Then, how about this, why do you want to become an idol here?"
"I…"
Seeing her difficult to answer, I tap on her shoulder.
"You can do it, Mifune-san."
"Um… Nishi-san… I… I want to change…"
"Change? Into what?" Nishi-san smiles upon hearing her answer.
"I… don't know…"
"Another don't know, eh, you sure an interesting one."
"Nishi-san…"
"Producer, please support Mifune-san from now on, make sure she found her answer while being here." Again, Nishi-san smiles, his gentle attitude towards everyone makes him highly respected by everyone here.
"Does it mean…"
"Mifure Miyu-san, welcome to 346 Production, from now on you are our idol in training, please, find your answer here, Producer should be able to help you."
"Thank you so much, Nishi-san!" Mifune-san bows to him in gratitude.
"Then, Producer, shall we meet your ex-superior, for training I think you could have the basic one along with his idols, how is that? Also, Mifune-san, we might want to know your ability, maybe you could follow the lesson this evening as well, is that okay?"
"Yes, that is okay...," she answered.
"Let's go then, Mifune-san."
Nishi-san introduces Mifune-san to the other idols in training, the trainers, and my ex-superior, well, we are not at the same position though, the difference in experience as well.
After Mifune-san changed into training suit provided by 346 since she didn't brought any, and upon letting her checked and trained with the trainer, I could see that my problem is worse than I initially thought.
Not able to smile was my least concern, she was not kidding when she said zero experience in singing and dancing. A cat's steps is louder than her voice, and her body is too stiff. Was this caused by her age? I wonder.
It couldn't be, even Katagiri-san is older than her and she still able to dance dynamically, so it's not that, the problem.
I should make her presentable soon, I guess singing stuff is not an option, eh.
"Not good, not good! Let out your voice louder! Louder!" The trainer pushes her to let it out louder.
"Mifune-san, here," I give her a bottle of Pocari when she rests on a bench.
"Ah, thank you, Producer-san."
"I am, not good, right?" she spoke after silent for some minutes.
"Nah, that's fine, this is your first time, right? Well, most people would be sucks during their first time," I tried to cheer her up.
"I see… I hope…"
As she continues her training, I'm watching over her at the corner, I need to know her ability more so I could plan something.
"Thank you for taking me home, Producer-san," she stand down from my Yamaha.
I brought her to her apartment, thankfully I have a spare helmet on my office's locker.
Her place looks regular, just a random apartment a bit far from 346, a plain, old building, it reflects her too well, In fact.
"Well then, please rest well, Mifune-san, see you tomorrow," I said good night to her as I lower my helmet's visor. Thus, I raced my way to reach my place, it's not that far from there actually, since it was in one way to my place as well, that is why I offered to took her home before.
"You can do it, Mifune-san, I'll do what I can to put you to spotlight, you can change, you will," I said to myself as the wind penetrates my jacket.
It's been a week since Mifune-san trained here, she came here every day after work, I hope she's not pushing herself too much.
Yet, even though it was not that long, she should be able to show some improvement.
By some, I mean, a little, very little improvement, when you take a score from zero to ten, her improvement could be just half to one point.
She still cannot smile, cannot increase her volume, cannot move her body more. I know that since I'm always in the corner of the studio whenever she's training, as a producer this is what I could do for now.
"Will she okay? Producer?"
"Ah, Nishi-san, good evening," Nishi-san visits the studio and sit beside me.
"So, how's Mifune-san?"
"Erm, not much, I guess, but she is improving, I know it," I answer him as I look at her when she tries to mimic the dance performed by the trainer.
"Her dance's off, it seems," he said to me.
"Well, guess it's not her strong point, but I try to nurture it."
"Producer-san, it's not good, not good, you should not force her to do something that she's not that good on that."
"Eh? But… I think she still needs to do it…"
"If she's not that good on dancing, why don't you see it from the aspect that she's good? Like… hmmm… she is beautiful I think."
"Nishi-san…"
"Besides, what's your mission about her? Producer?"
"To… change herself…" I realized my mission to her when I approved her resolve back then.
"Changing, is not just for one's skill, Producer."
"Well, Producer, I still have something to attend, keep up the good work," he said to me as he stands.
"Ah, Nishi-san, thank you," I bowed my head as he reach the door.
"By the way, Producer, tomorrow she'll have her first promotional photo right?"
"Ah, yes."
"Be with her the whole time, would you? Producer?"
"I will… Nishi-san."
"Ah, and one more thing, an idol's job is not just singing and dancing, you know."
After said that, he left the room, yes I know that idol's work is not just that, Nishi-san should know that I understand that as well.
Tomorrow is her first photoshoot, they will take her picture for promotional purpose, well, the only picture of her that the company database had just her stiff picture on the sofa back then.
Actually I took some of her picture and video secretly, but…. I'm not stalking, I swear, I just observe her so I can know what she's lacking and what she's good at.
"Mifune-san, may I talk to you somewhere after this?" I asks her after she done her training and headed to shower.
"Something happened, Producer? Why don't we talk about it here?"
"Ah, erm, I guess it's not a good place, I plan to bring you somewhere so you can rest and relax as well while we talk, may I?"
She's not answering, it took a whole minute for her to change her expression into anger and landed a slap on my left cheek, thankfully, no one is around us at that time.
"Producer-san, I appreciate your help and hard work, but I can't believe you asking me to sleep with you, shame on you!"
"Sleep? I'm no… Ah!" It took me several second to process what she means, I grabbed her hand when she stands up to leave me.
"Mifune-san, wait, this is not what you think! I'm sorry!"
"Let me go! Producer! She separates my hand from her' in anger.
"Café…. I mean that!"
"Eh…?"
"I… I'm sorry, I just plan to take you to a café I know near here, and I don't have any intention other than that, I'm sorry!"
"Eh? Café…"
We just looking at each other in silence, but I could see her reddening cheek as she blushes.
"I'm sorry!" she suddenly lowering her hear in front of me.
"No no no, Mifune-san, I'm sorry, I didn't said it clearly, I'm sorry!"
"I'm sorry for slapping you too…"
The short misunderstanding was finally clear, I took her to a café around file kilos from office, with my bike under the starry sky.
L'amour Café, the white exterior of this place was heartwarming, with nice atmosphere, I'm sure it would soothe her fatigue.
We ordered some cake and beverages, as she enjoys it with her poker face, I talked to her.
"Mifune-san, tomorrow you will have your first work."
"Eh?"
"Tomorrow, we will take your promotional photo, with that you'll be a step closer to be a legit idol," I said to her as she sips her cappuccino.
"What should I wear, Producer-san?"
"Anything is okay, I think…"
"I see…" she looks at her cappuccino and silent.
"No, maybe, I change my mind about that," I try to break the cold silence.
"Tomorrow, you should not wear your best clothes, instead, you must wear something that special for you," I blurted that in a whim, I don't even know if she had one.
"Something… special," she murmurs.
"Yes, and you must tell me why it's special, that's your first task from me!"
"I will try… Producer-san."
Again, I brought her home, I did this occasionally when I have no other assignment or someone asked my help, namely my ex-superior. But having her on passenger's seat makes me used to the sensation, I'm not used to ride this slow though, but it doesn't mean bad actually.
After saying good night to her when we arrived, I went to convenience store to buy a shampoo, I'm out of it.
I'm working on my desk, well, most of the assignment are having me to help my ex-superior though, I don't have much to do with Mifune-san until I'm really sure what is Mifune-san's good selling point.
It's already three, Mifune-san should be here soon. And yes, ten minutes after she knocked on the door and I dashed to it.
"Mifune-san, you're ready?" I greets her as she comes inside the office.
"Producer-san, yes…"
"Come on, your brown coat? That's the best you've come with? I thought you have something that more special," well, I complained a bit, since it's her coat that I kept seeing her on it, and she only brought along a handbag which is impossible to fit clothes inside.
"Of course no… Producer-san…" she blushes as she open her coat.
There's nothing else I could say, I'm truly captivated by her, how can I know that she could be this stunning?
Without I realize, as her presence hypnotized me, I embraces her tightly without any words.
"P… Producer-san… wh…"
"Ah…" I snapped out from my delusions, realizing her head in my chest.
"M… Mifune-san! I'm sorry… I…" I hurriedly pulled my arms from her, man, what the hell I just did, hugging her out of nowhere? How if she thought I sexually harassed her?
"I… I'm sorry…"
"It's okay, Producer-san… but… don't… do it again… suddenly…" She blushes as she looks away, but I know that she's not angry by that.
"W... Well then, shall we go to studio part now? Here, your coat," I give her coat to cover her clothes, who know what would happen if someone other than me saw her in that.
When I said she's stunning, I mean, yes, it exceeds my expectation, she puts on a little make ups as well, but, her appearance, absolutely, beautiful.
She only wears a baby blue dress with red scarf, and a pair of jeans, indeed it seems off color, but, her aura, I guess, when she wear that, it makes me looking at her as someone other than as an Idol.
No no no, I may not falling in love with my idol, I must not, that's a taboo in this industry.
"S… so… why you choose that outfit, Mifune-san?" I asks her as we walks to the studio part.
"Um… it's my mom's clothes… actually…" she fidgets as she answers me.
"Eh, your mom's clothes?"
"It's a gift from dad to mom for her birthday, but my dad passed away not so long after, and my mom gave it to me to make me remember him when I'm here."
"I'm sorry to hear that…"
"That's fine, Producer-san."
Well, talking about someone dead at this point is an awkward topic you know, it makes me silent after that.
"Producer-san?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, I just spacing out," her voice brought me back to reality.
Several turns later, we arrived at the studio where she'll have her portraits taken.
"Hey, Producer."
"Daiki-san, what's wrong?" Daiki-san is the photographer, he talk to me after taking several shot of my idol.
"She's damn beautiful, but, it just, how is it, it really doesn't seems good, just look at her." He showed me his camera screen while Mifune-san is with the make up team.
"She's not a statue, right?"
"I see… yes I think she's still too stiff, even after how long she's been here," I looked at her pictures, it's pretty much the same pose and expression like what I had in my phone.
I guess she's still cannot smile.
Her make up was done, and she's back on the white screen, yes, she's still stiff. I must do something to save her, but how?
I looked around, come on, think, hoping I could find something like at that Christmas Eve, come on.
My eyes spotted a random cat ear hairband, it must be Maekawa-san's belonging, she's that kind of girl after all.
Without other thought, I took that silly thing, put it on my head, standing behind Daiki-san and giving peace sign to Mifune-san without I even want to describe how weird my expression is.
I waved my peace fingers to Mifune-san, then making a cat paw, and she finally notices my act behind the cameraman, I smile to her as I keep making more weird pose.
And it's working!
Mifune-san, she's laughing, well, not a giggle actually, but it gives Daiki-san the chance to snap her shot in that brief moment as he shouted "Yes! Mifune-san! That!"
"What the hell are you wearing?" Daiki-san approach me to show me the shot.
"Dammit, ignore it, will you," I remove the cat hairband from me as I look at his screen.
"Now that's what I call human, you know that?"
"Yes, it's very good, I like it," I look at her picture, a somewhat softened Mifune Miyu.
"Well, Miyu-chan, you already feel better?" Daiki-san asks her as she approaches us.
"Yes, I think… thank you, Producer," she thanked me for what I did.
"Well, smile is good, right?"
"Miyu-chan, unfortunately, this shot is a no for stuff like this, your eyes are closing while you're laughing, see?"
"Ah, you're right, we need to take it again," I realized that she closes her eyes, this is not allowed for this first photoshoot.
"Mifune-san, you think you can smile now?"
"Producer-san, I can, I think," she answers.
"Well then, you can do it! Sadly I must go now, I have to meet someone soon."
Yes, I will meet someone from recording studio to help my ex-superior's idols, they will have a recording soon.
"You think you can smile again like that, without me here?"
"Producer-san…" She silents for a moment, and then looking at me with a determined expression.
"I can! Producer-san!"
"Good! Then, I will leave you with Daiki-san and the staff here, I will go back here after I meet them, I will just meet them at the meeting room here."
"I see, I'll be waiting then," she answers me, but something different, yes.
She smiles, she finally smiles, I could see it, she is smiling.
Yet less than a second I enjoy her smile, a flash surprised me, it was Daiki-san's camera,
"Great! That's great! This is what I call an angel's smile!"
He took our picture while we're looking at each other. Without I even realize it if it's not because of the flash.
"Aaah, Producer, you're in the way, get lost!"
I laugh at him for giving me that joke, Mifune-san giggles as well, and Daiki-san let out a big laugh.
"Well then, Mifune-san, I'll see you again later, keep it up!"
"Ah, Producer-san, wait a moment!" she stops me as I turned myself to the door.
"Eh? What?"
"You will meet someone important, right? It's not good you know, look, your tie, it's crooked." She comes in front of me and touches my tie with both her hands, she fix it in place.
"You should looks the best and tidy when meet someone, don't you think so?"
I just silent, I keep looking at her face while she fix my necktie.
"There, done, you looks good now, Producer-san."
I just silent, I cannot say anything, my body moves my itself, walking towards her one step, reaching her back, pulled her, hugging her.
Our face is getting closer, and my vision getting dark.
But I can feel her matte lipstick on my lips, yes.
I kissed her.