Chapter 03

It took me more than a minute to open my eyes and realizing what I've done, when I open my eyes, I found my face closely attached to Mifune-san's, with our lips connected, her matte lipstick, tastes sour yet sweet.
I realized what I did and I pulled my face in a hurry.

"Ah… I… I'm sorry! Mifune-san!" I bowed my head to apologize, but I hear nothing else.
I tried to peek at her, and I saw her.

She's still closing her eyes, at the same position like when I kissed her.

"M… Mifune-san…." I call her name as I grab her left shoulder, she opens her eyes.
"Producer-san… what just…" She seems regained her sanity again after I called her name.

"P… Producer-san…. Did we just….."
"I'm sorry!" again, I'm lowering my head in apologize, I really didn't mean to do that, I even didn't know why I did that.
"I… it's okay… Producer-san…"

I raise my head, only to see her fidgeting and looking away from me.

"Mifune-san…"
"D… don't worry about it… I'm not angry…"
"I'm sorry…"
"It's okay… come on… you should go now…"
"Ah…" She pushes me out from the photo room and shut the door.

Great, now I just added one more sin, dammit, how can I face her from now on?
I think about it while I walk myself to the meeting room.

"Mifune-san already gone?"
"Yes, she said she'll be home directly after the photoshoot,"
I asked Daiki-san when the meeting done, I planned to bring her home as usual, but I guess she's not waiting for me, considering what happened, I guess it can't help it.
But it would be bad if she's not coming here anymore, at least I should apologize to her again and persuade her to keep here. Yet I'm not sure how.

"Producer, you know, next time, if you want to 'do' your idol, at least rent a room or bring it to your place," Daiki-san says.
"Eh… wh…. You saw it?"
"Why wouldn't I? You did it right beside me, thankfully it's just me on that room that time."
"Ah.. Daiki-san… please… don't tell anyone…" I beg him.

"Well, Producer, just between you and me, those 'stuff' are normal, I won't tell you who and with who but I know lots of it, you're not alone in this crime," he whispers to me.
"Eh? Is that true?" I asks him in surprise.
"Come on, one man as producer, lots of girls as his idols, come on, don't be too pure about it."
"O…okay…."

"Well, just buy me some beer sometimes, to make me shut my mouth about yours, haha!" he slaps my back and laughing.
"Ah, yes, thank-you very much, Daiki-san," I bowed my head to him.

"By the way, she might be still around here, I don't know though, but the photoshoot ended up around ten minutes before you're here."
"Eh, is that true? Maybe I still able to catch her around… see you, Daiki-san!"
Upon hearing those, I turned my body and run towards the parking lot.

"Producer! Check your mail after this!"
Daiki-san shouted to me, I don't answer him back, his loud voice echoes through the hallway. My mail? Later, I must grab my bike first.

I reached my bike and start the four-stroke 750cc engine, while waiting on it, I checked my phone.
Daiki-san sent me an attachment, and as I open it, my phone's screen suddenly looks more brilliant than ever despite being an old model.

I see a portrait, a portrait of a woman, with her blue dress and red scarf waving, could be from the fan, a happy expression, a mature smile.

"Mifune-san…."

Yes, it's her promotional photo, he sent me the attachment, only that, just one picture it could make me forget all of my other pictures.
And I know this picture came in a very perfect opportunity.
Thinking about that, I should find Mifune-san soon. I equip my Shoei and race through the chilly night. Now, where could her be.

I called her through my wireless headset inside my helmet, no answer, more like I cannot reach her number, it makes me worried.
I stopped at the café that we ever there, she's not there.
I called her again, still same.

I broke past 100km/h to reach her apartment, her lights are off.
I knocked the door, calling her name so many times, but no answer.

"Mifune-san! Mifune-san! It's Producer! Please, open the door!"
Yet no matter how loud I knocked it, no one answer. But there's someone answering.

"She's not here yet! Shut up!" An old lady from next door shouted to me.
"Ah… I'm sorry…" I bowed my head to her.
"Miyu is not there yet, if she's there, she would come to me since I hold her key, she left it hanging this morning, please, shut up, I'm watching TV here!"
"Ah… yes… I'm sorry!"

So, Mifune-san is still not here, I called her once again only to hear the same operator's voice.
What happen to her, was she angry to me again? Man, what have I done.
I decided to stay there, sitting on the floor in front of her door, hopefully she'll be home soon.

"Producer-san."
I hear a soft voice calling my name, I turn my face to the source, I see a woman with a brown coat.

"Mifune-san!" I stood up and dashed towards her, yet she stepped back.

"Mifune-san…"
"Why you're here?" she asks me but she doesn't face me.
"I just… I'm sorry for today…"
"Why… did you do that…"
"I'm sorry… I just…"

"Maybe, I should stop being an idol…"
"Eh? Mifune-san?"
"I… it's useless, I think…"
"But… why…"
"I just… cannot do it well, I think…"

"That's not true!"
"Don't lie! I know it, I knew It since beginning that I'm not good at this, even after all this training, I just… can't…"
"You… you can train more, I'm sure you can! Please, Mifune-san!"
"How can I? I don't even have time to train!" she shouted to me as she cries.
"Mifune-san…"

"Besides… I… I'm afraid…"
"Eh?"
"I don't want… to see you… again…"
"B… but… why… Please, tell me…"
That's it, I've done it, my career blew off, Mifune-san doesn't want to see me again, considering all what I did today, I'm sure.

"It's because of today… right…"

"Mifune-san!"
"Aaaaaahhh! I can't take it anymore! Yes! It's because of you! You're a pervert producer! I don't like you! No!" she shouted to me and looking at me directly.

Yes, I was so devastated with her response, I know that it would ended up like this, but, I guess that's it.
But I still wonder why I just feel like that towards Mifune-san, I didn't even bats an eye to the other idols I've ever helped.

Only to her.

"Then… is it fine if it's not me who become your producer?"
"Eh…"
"If it's what you want, I… I accept, it's fine…"
"…"

"But, I don't want you to leave 346 Production! No!" I said to her, he just silent and looking at me with her teary eyes.
"That is true, I cannot hold myself lately when I saw you."
"I'll be blunt, it seems, I love you, Mifune-san."

"Eh…"
"When I saw you back then, yes you looked beautiful, but I thought it was just that. Then at photoshoot, when you smiled at me, it soothe my heart, like… It makes me want to see you smile everyday…"

"That is why… if you don't like me again… I'm okay with that, but, please, don't leave 346 Production, at least, let me support you from far away, as your fans…"
"But…"
"You said you want to change when accepting my offer back then right? You even said that to Nishi-san as well, did you forget?"
"Producer-san…"

"If you want to quit, at least, you must achieve something from here first!"
"Producer-san…"
"If you quit here without achieving anything… I'm afraid… you'll repeat the same mistake for your live, and you won't be able to change for the rest of your live, and it's the last thing I wanted to happen!"
"Producer-san… why…"

"I told you right! I love you, I want to see you smile! It's okay even I'm far away but as long I see you smile, I could live my life! So… please…"
"But… I'm… not sure…"
"I worked hard, to support you, if you decided to stay, I could assign another producer for you, please, just… don't go…"

There's nothing but silence from her, as I threw all of my feelings towards her.

"Please… give me your answer… soon… I'll be waiting…"

"I'm sorry… Mifune-san…"

I walked past her, she's still crying, but there's nothing else I could do, I think, as I passed her, I said good night.
Yet, I could feel there's something holding my jacket from behind.

"Don't go…"
"Mifune-san…"
"I… don't go… Producer-san."
"Mifune-san…" I turned my body, facing her, her eyes still teary, should I wipe it? But, I don't know if she allow me to.

"Please… be my Producer…"
"Eh…"
"I'll try… once more…"
"But… I did something that you don't like…"

She doesn't answer, but she reaches my neck, and pulled towards her. I almost lost my balance and falling but something holds me to regain my balance.
Her lips.

My eyes widen in shock for what she's doing, I could feel the remains of her lipstick, and her wet tears.

"Don't… leave me…" she said to me as she pulls her face.
"Mifune-san…"
"I don't… want you to leave…"

"I love you… Producer-san…"
"Mifune-san…"
"Miyu… please… call me that…" she said to me as our eyes met.
"Is.. that okay… by you…"

"Please… Producer-san…"
"Miyu…"

"Keep with me, would you…"
"If that's fine by you, I would"

I embraces her whole body, her body is warm despite the cold night.

"Is coffee okay? Producer?"
"Ah… yes… thanks…"
I am sitting on the tatami mats, under the heated table, as for where.

Yes, I am inside Miyu's apartment.

"Here you go, Producer…" she said as she puts a cup of black coffee in front of me.
"Ah, thank you… Mifune-san…"

She pinched my arm and sit beside me.

"Producer… wrong name…"
"Ah… thank you… Miyu…"
"You're welcome," she smiles to me.

Minutes of silence, I just drinking my coffee bit by bit. Even though the table is warm, but this silence is chilling.

"Um…" I looked at her, with both of us speaking at the same time trying to break the ice.
"Ah, you first… Miyu…"

"Ah… um… Producer… coffee… would you like more…"
"Eh, no… it's enough… I think."
"I see…"

Yes, my cup is empty now, no wonder I didn't smell the coffee anymore, now I just can smell the lavender fragrance in the room.

"You like lavender? Miyu?"
"Lavender? Ah, you mean the aromatherapy? Um, I just tried it, do you like it?"
"Aromatherapy eh, well, I'm good by it."
"I see… I just bought it at shopping street several days ago."

"Ooh, so you like aromatherapy?"
"Yes, Producer, there's a store there that I usually bought from."

At shopping district eh, if I recall, the first time I met her was around that place as well, hmm, but why I feels like forgetting something.

"Ah!" I remembered what I forget as I reached my phone in my right pocket.
"What is it, Producer?"

"Miyu! You've got a job offer!" I open my mail in my phone and show her an approval from a local TV station.
"Eeeeh?"
"Yes! You've got a job! I met the person today at the meeting, I show your picture and they accepted it, it would be a regular show, even though its only a local channel, but I think you can do it!" I erratically explained that to her.

"Wait a minute, Producer… television… isn't it too sudden?"
"No no no, it's perfect, you don't need to sing, you will just interviewing some people there and that's it, it even just a short corner for around ten minutes!"
"Eh… but…."

"This is your chance, I think… the show's producer himself interested in you, i know you can do it!" I said to her while holding her shoulders.
"I… I'll do it!"
"Miyu!"
I hug her, I'm so glad that I finally found a job offer for her. I'm sure she'll be able to change by this.

"Ah… Producer…"
"I'm sorry!" I release my arms from her, realizing that I touched her again without permission.

"It's… okay… Producer…" she blushes.
"Miyu…"

We smiles to each other, as our lips draws closer and our eyes closing, my phone rings and put an awkward feeling between us as I answer the call. Thus, makes me silent for several minutes.

"Miyu… you'll be a part of a unit… and you'll sing…"
"EEEEEHHHH?"

"I am Mifune Miyu, and we brought you from Tanaka Bread Shop"
"Yes! Cut! Good work Miyu-chan!"

Miyu run towards me after she did her reporting program, her task was just interviewing the visitors at the shopping district.

It's been around two weeks since Miyu start working for this short program, at first she's so stiff and cannot speak well, the director even complained.
But she managed to find her pace by changing her approach, before, she was asked to approach a random visitor which she couldn't do well, and she found her way by seeking the visitors who brought their children along, thankfully, the director liked this approach.
And she keep up the good work and recently she's able to do the interview naturally.

"Good work, Miyu," I said to her as I give her a bottle of water.
"Thank you, Producer," she smiles as she accepts it.
"I think you're getting better at this, don't you think?"
"It seems, Producer, it's all thanks to you."

"Ah, I didn't do anything, really, I just seek the job offering."
"You helped me a lot, you know, looking at your hard work makes me want to give my best as well."
"Ah, I see, well, do you like it?"
"I like it, Producer," again, she smiles at me while saying that, those poisonous smiles really effective against me, it paralyzes me with bliss in less than a second.

"Producer? You okay?"
"Ah, hahaha, sorry, I'm just spacing, by the way, we still have something to do right? After this?"
"Yes, it's for the unit's music video, I think we'll have our final take today, then next week we could start promoting it."

"How's that? You enjoy it?"
"So much, Producer."

Miyu's first song unit, Yoi Otome, would have their first album selling by the end of month. She sang it with the other "mature" idols. Well, what a prank, they gather those who are above 20 years old.
Their first album, Inochi Moyashite Koiseyo Otome, hopefully it'll be well received.

As I bring her along with my Yamaha, I could see some advertising about her album, well, 346 Productions is a big company so their advertising is so grand.

"Look, Miyu, you're on that board."
"Producer! Don't look at that, keep your eyes on the road!" she pinches my stomach as she sulks from behind.
"Ahahahaha, sorry."

Right now Miyu really looks like a full-fledged idol, she resigned her position at her workplace, actually I'm not sure since I still can't give her a proper work to ensure her financially, but she convinced me that she could done it.
Well, I will just need to find more work for her, thankfully the television program was considered successful and it's a regular show.

And she now moves to the dorm provided by our Production, that's good for her, so when she's not working outside, she could train her voice and dance with the others, and with her units would have their album soon, there's no time for rest.

"So, your album would be out soon, right?" I asks her as I remove my helmet at parking lot.
"Yes, honestly, I'm not that confident about that."
"Come on, I think you did well during recording and for MV, it'd be fine I think," I tired to comfort her.
"I hope so, Producer."

Even though we are at the company's area, I still could see her advertisement everywhere, well, considering there are no other units formed at this time, Yoi Otome's advertisings are visually everywhere.

"Mifune-san! Producer!" the receptionist called us and we walk there.
"Mifune-san, there's a package for you."

"A package? For her?" I asks the receptionist.
"Yes, those are fan letters for her that we already screened, so it should be safe."
"Eh? Fan letters? The hell?" in disbelief, I asked him about that.
"Yes, actually there are still some that we haven't checked yet, but it's not much, probably just a half of it?"

"There're still around half of this!? The hell! This is a box for a washing machine!"
"Yes, Producer, apparently she's getting popular, I think, well, I saw her name as one of Twitter's trending topic though."
"No… it couldn't be…" I took my phone from my pocket, I think I still have an active Twitter account even though I never used it.

"Miyu! You're here!" I showed her my phone's screen with her name as the 5th most popular tags.
"Eeh… you're lying!"
"It's not, Miyu! It's your name!"

"Well, I guess since Mifune-san doesn't have a Twitter account, so her fans sending these instead, just like Kobayakawa-san," the receptionist says.
"Now you said it, you don't have one right? Miyu?" I asks her.
"No I don't…"

Man, this never crossed my mind before, any idols would have their Twitter account of course, but I never thought that Miyu would be this popular for her first time, I guess I underestimate her charm.
Or, it's not just me who was captivated by her.

"A… anyway, we'll take it to the office, thank you so much!"
"Ah yes, anytime, Producer!"

I and Miyu bring that to our office, but I brought it by myself, well, as a man I should be the one who bring the goods.

"Mifune-san!"
"Ah, Takagaki-san, good evening," she greets Takagaki-san when they meet on the way.
"We'll have the recording soon, right? For the video, should we go together?"
"Ah, wait, I should help Producer with this first."

"I see, what is that?"
"These are fan letters, Takagaki-san," I answer in her place, just maybe Miyu is too shy to answer it.
"I see, so you will come to us later after you handle those letters?" she said.

... WAIT, DID SHE JUST MADE A PUN?

"A… ahaha… nice one, Takagaki-san, your puns are always amusing. Well, Miyu, just go with her, I'm good here, I'll meet you after you've done with it," I said to her.
"Is that fine? Producer?"
"Don't worry, it's not that heavy, I have something to do as well in my office."

Miyu went to the studio with Takagaki-san together, leaving me. It's fine, I could handle this by myself, they have better thing to do.
But still, I really can't believe it, I mean, Miyu is a newcomer here in this industry, for her to gather this much fans, I really never imagined it.
But, I'm glad, she feels better compared to before she was here, I'm really happy I could support her.

"Producer! I'm done!"
"Well then, shall we go somewhere to drink?"
"Eh? We're not gonna back to office and check the letter?" she asks.
"Nah, we could see it tomorrow, we will have more time tomorrow, and right now I feels like celebrating."
Yes, this sudden development really makes me want to celebrate it with a nice drink and food, a small party for just two of us.

"Well, if you say so, but I think I need to change my clothes first at the dorm," she said.
"Shall we go then?"

The dorm was located outside the main office building, it's not that far and we just need to walk ourselves there.
We walked together that night.

"So, it's all done? For your video."
"Yes, Producer, now it's just waiting for the release date."
"End of this month, right? Hmm, so it'll be before the election." I murmurs.
"Election?"

"Yes, Cinderella Girl General Election, the 5th, you don't know?"
"Ah, I saw some posters about it in the office, but I have no idea about that."
"Hey, you'll be one of the nominee! All idols from 346 would be as well."
"Eh? But… I'm not…"

"Come on, after seeing the amount of letters you received, who knows you'll be at the top list?"
"No way, I'm not that good, Producer," she blushes, but I know she's smiling as well.

"Haha, let's just see, in the meantime, let's work hard to not let our supporters down, right? Miyu."
"Yes, Producer!"

As we walked past the front gate, and walking to the dorm, we chatted some small topics to keep the conversation going. Laughing together, walking together, I hope it'd last forever.

"Miyu!"

I heard someone called Miyu from behind me, but it's not me, could it be a fan?

"Miyu!"
We looked back, there is a man in a suit running towards us.

"Miyu! I knew it's you!"
Someone she knows? Maybe, but before I could ask her, I see her trembling, frightened. And as he approaches us, Miyu stepped back behind me and hide.

"Miyu… I finally found you…"

She's still trembling, I could feel her grip from my back.

"Um, do you know Mifune-san? Are you a fan?" I asks him.
"Fan? What are you talking? No, but I want Miyu back," he answers as he tries to reach Miyu.
"Whoa, not so fast!" I stopped his hand just before he touches her.

"Why you're here! Leave me alone!" I hear her shout, and I can feel she's crying as well.
"Miyu, please, come back to me, I'm sorry," that man answers.
"Miyu, you know this man?" I release his hand to hear Miyu's answer.

"He's….my… ex-husband…" she answers.

"Eh… ex husband…"