As expected,

"Nee~ Hikitani-senpai!"

He narrows his eyes, annoyed. She got his name wrong again. "What is it?"

"You're a fan of mine, right?"

He snorts. She was the leader of B-Komachi and the top idol in all of Japan- in fact everyone knew her name. "Not particularly," he admits.

She pouts, "Mou~ then why did you ask for my signature?" Her face lights up, "Oh, perhaps you fell for my charm and good looks?"

"As if," he scoffs. "I've never met a more uncute girl in my life."

She raises an eyebrow, "You say that but you can't look me in my eyes?" She leans closer, "Lying is bad Hikitani-senpai~"

Maybe it's a bit of a lie, her cute looks and charming personality captured the hearts of all in Japan. Her long flowing blue-purplish hair, her captivating eyes and charming smile are a deadly combination. His face flushes, and he shoots her a dirty glare "Back off." He looks down, "And it's not a lie. You're really such an uncute girl."

She gives him a smug grin, "You'd be a lot more believable if you could say that with a straight face."

He snorts, "It's not your looks, rather your personality."

"Hah- senpai could it be that you're confused? Perhaps you're talking about yourself? You would be a good looking guy if you kept your mouth shut." She jabs with a smile.

He ignores the insult, and his eyes grow pensive, "Hmm, that's not it either." It's something about when she performs.

"It's rude to ignore someone talking to you!" She huffs. As she pouts at him, he realizes that even when she's not on stage she's very expressive.

"It's your performance," he realizes, "that I don't care much for."

Her annoyance turns to disbelief, "My performance? What exactly is wrong with it?"

He leans forward, even more lost in thought, "It's not that it's bad- to say that would be disingenuous."

She tilts her head in confusion, "You sure know some hard words to insult people."

"It's not an insult, in fact I'm complimenting you."

"Oh is that so?" She asks in a cute manner. "But it still feels like you're badmouthing me. You need to learn how to give girls better compliments."

"I'm not," he denies. "You're an amazing performer, but…" he trails off.

"But…?"

It's difficult to put into words. Perhaps, "It's missing something? No, it's not that either. In fact, you shine the brightest while performing." She smiles at that thoughtless statement, but before she can say something- "It's actually the opposite."

Her smile fades slightly and she shoots a narrowed gaze, "You mean there's something in my performance that shouldn't be?"

He nods, "It makes your performance feel…" As expected, putting it into words is the hard part. "Desperate?"

"What do you mean by desperate? Am I trying too hard?"

"Not like that…" Now that he thinks about it, it bleeds into her life as well. The thing he dislikes the most about her. It's that, "Hoshino Ai, you're quite a liar, aren't you? On stage and in real life- you always lie. It makes you feel desperate. I suppose that's why I'm not a fan."

A beat of silence.

Two beats.

Ai bursts out into laughter. It's melodious and pleasant- just like her. It's hollow. "So you were able to see it?" Wiping a tear, she gives a smile. "Is it wrong to lie?"

"To be kind is to lie. Therefore, if you lie, you're doing someone a kindness." Her brilliant star-shaped eyes meet his own dead fish eyes amused. He stares back, "And I hate that kind of girl that lies the most."

She gives an empty smile, "To lie is to love. So let me tell you something that's true," she leans in closer to whisper into his ear, "Hikigaya Hachiman, I'm interested in you. I'll remember your name."

Hachiman shivers slightly from her breath against his sensitive ears, "So you did know my name- and still get it wrong on purpose?"

Ai winks and sticks out her tongue in response.

"You're such a pain."

Hoshino Ai is an uncute girl.

Omake

"So why did you ask for an autograph then?"

"It's for my sister, she's a fan."

"Mou~ what a boring answer. I thought you at least had a crush on one of our members! I could've introduced you!"

"... Should an idol really be saying something like that? Besides, if anything I'm a fan of the entire group rather than a particular member."

"So you like our music then?"

"No- your group is the same name of my sister, Komachi."

"... Siscon?"

"Shut up."