During the winter season of December, snow rains down upon Tokyo, Shibuya.
The frozen white powder continuous to rain upon the city and the people who are busily walking around everywhere.
"Fight the Chill~!"
Kourin's voice is heard as it originated from an electronic billboard which shows the blonde idol doing a commercial in a winter land where she is wearing warm fuzzy clothing. She smiled as she held up her right arm and pulls down the right sleeve of her attire to reveal her arm that has a heat patch attached to her skin.
"here now in Shibuya! Super Eco Heat Patches! They keep you warm and fight off the cold!" Kourin exclaimed as she then holds up a box of the said item while the background changes to a store. "Buy them now at your nearest Convenience Store at a special limited price of 380 Yen!"
The commercial soon changes to another as the advertisement changes before repeating to Kourin's commercial after a few cycles.
Meanwhile in the busy street of Shibuya, Kourin is watching her commercial from below. The idol currently wearing her winter clothing but with the addition of a snow cap, sunglasses, and a mask to hide her identity that could attract attention.
"I should've picked another one…" Kourin whispers as she saw how she did the commercial and felt a bit annoyed at the sight of herself smiling while holding the box. "but they are quite nice to use." She sighs out a white puff through her mask before she looks at the stoplight which had turned green for walking pedestrians. She looks down and then begins to walk with other people nearby. "I better rethink of my sponsorship with them."
Today is a winter holiday for the idol as she didn't have anything to do with her job, therefore she is allowed to have free time until the beginning of January. Right now, she is heading straight into large apartment building by the side of the road as she entered inside.
Within a large apartment room and by the front door, Kourin came entering the room as she was taking off her snow cap and jacket off.
"I'm here." Kourin called out while taking off her sunglasses and then her mask.
"finally~!" Rekka came passing by the entrance as she was carrying a cooked christmas chicken with some oven gloves. "you're late, Kourin~!" She then walks to a different part of the room. "we're almost done cooking the Christmas meal!"
"Say that to the tons of snow I have to thread through to get here." Kourin said a bit annoyed while in the middle of taking off her shoes and setting them aside. She sighs while walking in after hanging her coat and snow cap on the jacket rack. "and blame yourself for not giving me a heads up for this special Christmas party."
"it's a special surprise Christmas party!" Rekka said as she came back in a hurried pace to the kitchen where Suiko is, the light blue haired teen in the middle of decorating the Christmas cake. "it's supposed to be a surprise, right?"
"You really don't have an understanding on the meaning of surprise, don't you?" Kourin said after sighing annoyedly. She then entered the kitchen. "so? is there anything you might need any help with?"
"Just the stew that needs some more pepper and carrots to be added in." Suiko told Kourin who went to the stove and sees the pot filled with the stew that is still cooking. "also, add some strips of chicken meat from the fridge as well."
"in the fridge.." Kourin went to the fridge and checked the content before reaching a hand in and takes out the chicken meat in a plastic container. "Here they are."
Kourin went and placed the container by the stove before she went and put on an apron on, the blonde washes her hand, dried them, and then proceeds to take the chicken out of the container before cutting them to bite size pieces along with the already skinned carrots in a bowl.
"and then the pepper…" Kourin takes the pepper can in a shelf while stirring a ladle in the stew which had the carrots and chicken meat strips in it. she did a few taps to sprinkle in the black condiment in the stew which she continues to stir.
Kourin continues to stir the ladle in the stew for about 5-7 minutes to make sure that everything inside was cooked well.
"finished?" Suiko came to Kourin's side as the taller teen had finished decorating the Christmas cake and is now checking on the stew. The light blue haired woman sees and then smells the aroma of the stew which made her smile. "the smell is nice." She takes a small bowl and leaned it to the stew which had a small amount scooped out by the blonde. "and the taste…" she blows the scooped up dish in the small bowl a few times to cool it down before she took a small sip and tasted it then smiles. "it's delicious."
"Then that's done." Kourin said as she turns off the stove before reaching to the side to take a ceramic pot and begins pouring in the stew from the pot. "this means all of the christmas dishes are done, right?"
"yeah." Suiko nods before she looks at the clock and sees the time. "and by now, the others should be.."
DING DONG~!
The doorbell rang as Kourin and Suiko turned towards the kitchens' entrance.
"I'll get it~!" Rekka hollered out as she went straight for the front door which she opened. "welcome~!" the girl steps as she let in 3 women who are wearing sunglasses and masks on just like Kourin did. "sorry to get you all to come here. we wanted to do it at the company, but our boss was hosting a special party with the investors and such."
"Ours as well." The women begin to take off their winter clothes and then their sunglasses and masks to reveal their identity as idols from other agencies. The one who had talked first is young man with brown hair, and hazel eyes, wears brown shorts, and her top consists of two different colored clothing. Her name is Usui Yuri; a sports model from the Caesar Entertainment Agency which is known for training sports models and selling sport goods. "You can't believe how many people were crowding around for Christmas cakes at the bakers' shops."
"You should see the malls which are crowded till the end because of the holiday." Another woman spoke as this one is a tall girl with long waist length lilac hair, teal eyes, and wears a green shirt and white skirt. Her name is Tokura Misaki; a model/idol from the Q4 Agency, her main job is in modeling but she also does some idol jobs as a side hustle. "My Uncle was swarmed by the crowd when my company was selling special idol goods during the end of the year."
"The same with mine." the last woman spoke as her appearance is that of a girl with the same height as Misaki, has shoulder-length blue hair that has bangs hanging on the right side and blue eyes, she wears a blue one piece dress skirt and long black stockings. Her name is Narumi Asaka, a model from the A4 Agency which is a modeling agency that is a branch with the Q4 Agency. "Fans tend to target the limited Christmas goods during the beginning of December."
"I guess all of us got it tough.." Rekka giggles. "people were literally hunting for some old Ultra-rare goods that were only sold during the time me and the others were still one group."
"Which is why we have to make our solo career a big hit before we reform, Rekka." Suiko spoke out as she came out of the kitchen with Kourin who carries the ceramic pot with oven gloves. "we need to help keep on boosting the sales of our goods and make it even more profitable for our company."
"yes~!" Rekka replied.
"come on, we're going to start now." Kourin said while going to the living room where the Christmas dinner is being set up. "we can't start the party without you guys in it."
"we know." the guests replied before they all entered the room together.
This Christmas party is actually a party held by the Ultra-rare group with their other idol friends who were invited to come. Other than to celebrate the end of the year, they were also wanting to have a chat together about what they have been doing during their career.
"now with a toast to begin the party!" Rekka said while holding up a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine in her hand. The action was copied by everyone else who had theirs in hand. "ready~!? Go~!"
"CHEERS~!"The girls clicked their glasses together before they drank it and began their Christmas dinner party.
The Christmas cake, stew, chicken, and drinks were all distributed amongst one another as a nice and happy atmosphere spreads in the room.
"as always, Suiko's cake is always delectable." Yuri said before taking a bite of her slice of Christmas cake. She then looks at the light blue haired girl. "you really need to share the recipe."
"it's a simple recipe I searched on the web." Suiko replied after giggling.
"so? how was the modeling to Europe been for you two?" Rekka asks Misaki and Asaka.
"it was a terrible experience at first, but you get used to it by the first week." Misaki replied before shrugging her shoulders. "all in all, it was a nice visit to a different country."
"Say that to the thousands of European fans that tried to swarm us." Asaka retorted.
"even outside of Japans, we don't get any privacy, do we?" Kourin commented before taking a sip of her drink.
Everyone chattered various topics while eating, the girls having a swell time together as this is one of the rare occasions for them to get together in the midst of their busy scheduled jobs.
"changing the subject out from our jobs.." Rekka spoke before she had an evil teasing glint at Misaki who flinches with a shiver. "How is your love life with lover boy, Misaki~?"
"u-um..that's…a…no comment and.." Misaki stuttered while looking embarrassed as she tried to hide her face with her hair.
"There's no hiding from us, you know?" Asaka smirks at Misaki. "we won't let you hide any juicy details from us."
"Come on. Cough it up." Yuri smirks a bit at her friend. "even in the sports industry, words got out about your dating and stuff, you know?"
"and they spread very fast to us too." Suiko added in with a giggle while Kourin merely stayed silent but with an interested look.
The girls (minus Kourin) all looked teasingly at Misaki who looks like she wanted to run away or hide. The reason is because the Model/Idol is currently dating another idol from the same agency as his name is Kai Toshiki; an idol famous for his cold, stern, yet handsome good locks as he excelled in the singing, and sports. The two had begun to date when their agency decided to make a team up project between the two and things led to one another which then resulted with them going out together.
"t-that's…um…" Misaki tried to run but Asaka and Rekka stopped her. "Come on! It's private things! And I can't just!"
"can't just what~?" Rekka asks with a teasing chesire cat smile. "you can't tell us because you want to keep things extra private between you and lover boy~?"
"Maybe it's because of this?" Yuri asks while taking out her phone and showing a poster image of Misaki modelling with a teen man with light brownish spiky hair and seem to be a man who is an opposite of the lilac haired idol. "right~? I heard from my manager that you and him really got along well even before the team up."
"t-that's!" Misaki looks very flustered as the girls took out their phones and bombarded her with photos of her and her partner. "t-that's~!"
RING~!
A phone's bell ring tone is heard from Misaki's pocket as everyone looks at it before she checks it out and finds a message send to her.
"is it from lover boy~?!" Rekka said as she took a quick peek and squeals. "it is~! He texted Merry Christmas to her and asks if she is available for a date at the end of the week at the Christmas park~!"
"Rekka! You!" Misaki looks angry at Rekka for peeking at her text message but that anger is mostly embarrassment.
"hurry up and text him back! and remember to say yes!" Yuri told Misaki with an eager tone. "that place is famous for couples to tie the knot for marriage! Hurry up!"
"shut up! I'll reply to him when i!" Misaki retorted but her phone was quickly taken by Asaka who texted an 'Okay, I'll meet you there. Love you' before handing it back to her. "Asaka!"
"No need to thank me." Asaka chuckles before taking a sip of her drink.
"you little!" Misaki looks really angry and embarrassed as she can't believe her friends are so bugging her with her private love life. "I hate you all!"
"even if you say that, we know that you're really happy to be with him, right?" Suiko said with a giggle. "I'm still trying to believe on how you two actually ended up together after that one rainy night."
"yeah, it's all make believe when we heard it from you and the news." Kourin added in.
"we were just late for the bus and then it rained.." Misaki said before she looks really red and embarrassed. "his house was far and my house was near…I felt bad for him…and I just…"
"you just took him to the bed?" Rekka said with a sparkle in her eyes.
"NO!" Misaki exclaimed. "I just invited him to stay for the night and that's it!"
"Is that so~?" Yuri and Asaka looks teasingly at Misaki who look infuriated at them.
"it is! And I dare you to try and make more fun at me!" Misaki said before she takes out her phone and showed photos of Asaka and Yuri with two men. "try against me and I'll use these!"
"t-that's!" Asaka and Yuri looks shocked. "how did you get those!?"
"You think I'm the only one trying to keep my private life a secret?" Misaki asks with a smirk growing on her lips.
Just like with Misaki, Yuri and Asaka are also keeping the secret that they are also dating someone. The two idols keeping it a secret as to not make too much of a problem for their career and their boyfriends.
"I've known Asaka's partner for months, but how did you find out about mine!?" Yuri said while ignoring an angry 'Hey?!' from Asaka.
"From your brother who was very helpful." Misaki replied and Yuri instantly looked murderous.
"That little piece of shit~!" Yuri spoke in a dark voice as she made a vow to kill her sibling named Usui Gai.
"alright, alright. Let's all calm down." Suiko said after clapping her hands twice. "I know we're all interested in Misaki's love life along with Yuri's and Asaka's, but let's try to keep things moderate at best, okay?"
"you're just saying that cause you feel jealous that they could get boyfriends while you can't because of how you're much older than us, right?" Rekka said before she received a quick hit to the head by Suiko which made a red bulge appear. "ow~!"
"Seriously? You still couldn't find one for you, Suiko?" Yuri asks while in the middle of refilling her drink glass. "What about that Miwa guy Misaki introduced to you six months back? He's nice, right?"
"He's nice but a little too childish for me." Suiko replied while shrugging her shoulders. "I might not have any luck finding one for me this year."
"same here." Rekka said while looking bored. "most guys are after tall girls with nice assets nowadays." She sighs as she looks at how her friends are all developed in several areas. "must be nice having such good bods, huh?"
"it's nice and all but can be a bit of a hectic at times." Misaki replied before massaging her right shoulder. "it's hell on our shoulders."
"uwah…" Rekka moaned out with a deadpanned face.
"Then what about Kourin?" Asaka asks while looking at Kourin who made a noise. The blonde in the middle of drinking. "How is your love life?"
"Nothing changed." Kourin relied while placing down her glass. "same old, same old."
"The guys we introduced to you doesn't fit your expectations?" Asaka ask and Kourin nodded which made her sigh. "and here I thought that the last guy we introduced to you would be the one."
"that's all we can expect from her." Rekka said all bored. "Kourin is cold as always to anyone we tried to introduce. We might just expect her to be single for life."
"Sorry for having such high expectations in men." Kourin said annoyed at Rekka.
"Have to be good, kind, hardworking, and doesn't have any ulterior motives." Misaki said as she counted with her fingers. "Those are the expectations that you want from someone, right?"
"Your expectations are too high and it's nearly impossible to find someone who fits the criteria." Yuri said while shaking her head. "can't you lower it down a bit?"
"we're models and idols, any guy we go out with has to be someone we can trust in our private life." Kourin said as she takes her glass and drinks again. "if they can't be trusted, what's the use of dating them?"
"that's harsh, even from you." Asaka said while holding up her glass.
"guess you might stay single forever." Misaki said with a sympathetic look at Kourin. She took her glass drink and raised it near her lips but stops when she thought about something that made her let out a small noise. "ah, but there's still Aichi.."
"Aichi? Kourin's current manager?" Suiko said and Misaki nodded.
"How you know him?" Rekka asks, curious. "Other than being from the same agency and all?"
"he's been training as a manager at the Q4 Agency after he finished college about 5 years back." Misaki said before taking a quick sip of her drink. "he had an internship as Kai's manager for about 3 years and he did quite well."
"so you knew about him from your boyfriend, huh?" Yuri said with a teasing smile.
"not the point, but yes. I knew Aichi from Kai" Misaki said while showing a rather annoyed look at Yuri. She sighs and then focuses back on the topic. "he's all good in his managing and stuff just like his little sister who was just employed a few months back, but he's rather easily flustered and nervous when he's with women."
"What? does that mean he's scared of girls?" Yuri asks while raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know the full details, but I heard from Kai and Emi that Aichi has always been timid with women when he was little." Misaki said before shrugging her shoulders. "I've seen it firsthand when I first met him."
"That would explain a lot of things." Kourin said, remembering how Aichi would always be nervous, timid, and flustered when working with her. "He always become clumsy when I talked to him."
"Think he's a good match for Kourin?" Asaka asks with a glance to Suiko. "he got some redeeming features like what Misaki had said, right?"
"he's nice and all, but he's still Kourin's manager, right?" Suiko said while caressing her chin. "Relationships between staffs aren't that allowed at our company."
"But he's not a member of our company, right? He's only contracted to work with us, right?" Rekka said while raising up a hand. "wouldn't it work?"
"hey, why are you discussing it all like you're planning to do it?" Kourin said all annoyed, but she was ignored by the group. She sighs before taking her glass and downed her drink in one gulp. 'always thinking about me getting together with someone and that kid of all people.' She sighs before she glances at the window to look at the snow still falling down the city. 'this is going to be a long winter.'
Kourin keeps on watching the snow while her friends were all chatting on the possibility of the blonde getting together with her blue haired manager.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye