"Hi... Kanako"
"Hi, Kyousuke! See, I remembered!"
"Yeah, you remembered my name, that's great. But um, why are you here?"

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Because Kirino invited me, of course."
"Oy, Kirino!" I yelled over my shoulder. "Kanako is here. Did you invite her?"
Kirino came running to the door. "Yes, of course I did!" She snapped. "Why are you being so unkind to my friend? And I thought you were kinda friends with her, too."
"Yeah, why are you being so rude! Kanako is here to help both of you!"

"Right, sorry." It wasn't my nature to be rude, but Kanako had really surprised me by showing up like this. And that girl always found a way to cause trouble. In that way, Kanako and Kirino were very similar, but Kanako wasn't nearly as cute.

"Anyway, please come in!" Said Kirino. "Kyousuke, go prepare some drinks and snacks."

"Uh, right." I did as she asked, and headed to the kitchen. We really didn't have a lot of food here, unfortunately. I made some tea and put orange slices on a plate- that was about all we really had to offer.

Kirino and Kanako were sitting around the living room table, talking. I came out with everything on a tray, and placed it there.

"Huh? What's this!" Kanako said.
"Um, isn't it obvious...? It's tea and oranges."
"Of course, Kanako knows that. But Kanako doesn't like oranges. Kanako likes cake. Bring me cake!"
"Um yeah, sorry... this is all we have right now." I glanced at Kirino. "Do we really have to put up with this jerk?" was what I tried to convey with my look.
Kirino sighed, and spoke up. "Kanako, this... this is kind of why I asked you to come over. We don't have a lot of money right now. We spent most of my savings getting this place. I haven't modeled anything for a while, and this idiot never had a job. Can you help us find something?"

"Oh! That's terrible. Um. what happened to your old modeling work? Kirino used to be very popular."

"That's... a long story" Kirino answered. "But basically, I'm trying to avoid Ayase right now, so I can't take any of my old jobs. I was hoping you'd know of something where I wouldn't meet Ayase."

"Hmm..." Kanako was thinking. "That might be hard... Ayase is a very popular model, you know? She works everywhere."

"I know" said Kirino. "She's amazing." She sounded very sad, talking about Ayase like this. I broke in to change the subject. "Me, too! I need to find a job also. Did you offer to make me your manager before, Kanako?" Kirino looked annoyed, hearing this, but I continued: "I'm available now! Please hire me as your manager!"

Kanako laughed. "Sorry, that was a one-time offer! Kanako has been working pretty regularly since then, so I had to hire a manager. We have a contract and everything, so I can't just leave him. Besides, you don't have any real experience, do you?"

I shook my head. It was true, I didn't. When I pretended to be her manager before, I just put on a suit and tried to look the part. But how do you get experience as an "idol manager" anyway? It's not like there's a school training program for that.

"Sorry, but you missed your big chance to be Kanako's manager then." This brat. I really wanted to strangle her, but I forced myself to stay polite. "I don't think there's any place for you in show business. But I should be able to find something for Kirino, no problem!"

"Really?" Kirino beamed a smile. "Thanks Kanako! I knew I could count on you!"

"Sure, sure, Kanako is quite reliable, isn't she!" She laughed. "I'll just ask my manager if he knows anyone who's hiring models. He mostly works with idols, so it should be a very different crowd than what Ayase works with."

"That sounds perfect!" I said. I was genuinely shocked- I knew my sister was a great model, of course, but I was surprised that Kanako was actually being helpful and reliable for once.

We continued to chat for a while. Although the "chatting" was mostly just Kanako bragging about her success as an up-and-coming idol. I think Kirino was getting annoyed, but she stayed calm and polite.

After Kanako had left, I took the chance to ask a question that had been on my mind. "Say, Kirino... have you ever thought about becoming an idol? It's a tough job, I know. But you've got the looks for it, and you know someone in the industry. I feel like you'd be great at it if you tried."

"Thanks, but no." She answered. "I did think about it before but... I'm not very good at singing. And even if I was... I don't think I could stand it. I'd lose my temper and start yelling at the crowds of idiots who show up to those concerts."

"But... didn't I see you once at a cosplay contest for Stardust*Witch Meruru? And you were really into the idol-like performances there."

"That's a special exception only for Meruru!" She glared at me. Had she really not realized yet that the Meruru cosplayer/idol there was actually Kanako? Incredible.

"Anyway, forget about me. Kanako will find me work as a model, I'm sure of it. YOU'RE the one we need to worry about."

"Right, uh... sorry." I really did feel sorry. Why was I such a loser? I was totally broke and had no job. Admittedly, I had been a college student until just recently, but I still felt bad.

"Leave it to me!" I did my best to answer her bravely. "I'll find something!"

"Right! See that you do!" She seemed pleased with my response. And so, I set out to look for a job.