Chapter 9 : Spreading your wings

Chapter Summary : To survive in the Entertainment Industry, one has to take all the opportunites they can get. While her popularity lasts as an Idol, Ai looks for other opportunites, as she knows her time as an Idol is very limited.

Ryosuke sat alone in his dimly lit room, knees drawn to his chest as he stared at the TV screen watching the first B-komachi performance after Ai's return. The flickering image of Ai filled the room, her voice carrying a nostalgic sweetness that twisted in his chest. B-Komachi's music played loud and full of energy, wrapping around him like a bittersweet memory of the Idol he once adored.

On the screen, Ai smiled, her eyes bright and untroubled. The perfect Idol — and yet, to him, she'd become something else. A liar. Someone who could lie with a smile, who could hurt the very fans who adored her.

"Ai… how could you?" he whispered, a tremor in his voice. Her pretty face, her beautiful voice, her energy. He loved her – maybe he still did, but after discovering the truth behind her hiatus, he couldn't shake the growing bitterness.

He was sure she would retire, but that didn't happen.

'How could she return to the stage pretending nothing had happened?'

A notification buzzed on his phone. B-Komachi's fan meetup was today, the first since Ai's return. His fingers scrolled the screen to see where the event was happening.

He hadn't attended their concerts or meetups in months, ever since he got back from his trip in Miyazaki. He hadn't really planned to go anywhere, he had barely left his room in months. But he had to confront Ai, see her face to face and ask – does she feel good lying to her fans? Has she always been this… a liar?

Everytime he thought about the truth, it hurt, a sense of pain he couldn't even explain. He clumsily got up, turned off the TV and grabbed his jacket. He headed out the door to have a conversation with Ai. The bright sun hurt his eyes, he stood right outside the door for a long moment letting his body adjust before stepping forward.

An hour later, he found himself in the long, winding queue at the event venue, his heart hammering with nerves and resentment. He'd rehearsed the words he'd say, the questions he'd demand answers to, how he would get her to admit the truth. Hoping then, he could find some peace.

Finally, it was his turn. Ai sat behind the small desk, with her familiar, radiant smile. She waved as he approached, her eyes crinkling with warmth. "Hello! It's so nice to meet you!"

Ryosuke clenched his fists, fighting the strange cocktail of anger and admiration churning in him. She looked… perfect. Too perfect.

"What's your name?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Ryosuke." His voice was a whisper, but loud enough for her to hear.

"Ah– Ryosuke," She smiled brighter. "Would you like an autograph? Or maybe a picture together?"

"Ai.." he muttered, they held each other's gaze for a moment. He felt the question on the tip of his tongue — How can you pretend to be a pure Idol, when you have a kid? Do you enjoy lying to your fans like that?

The walls were paper thin around here, people would have overheard him, rumors would spread, her career would be ruined — her life might be ruined.

But, the way she looked at him, anticipating whatever he was about to say, with a smile so pure. The Idol of his dreams. He just couldn't bring himself to say it.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small glass vial of sparkling sand, its colors shifting under the lights. "Here. I… I want you to have this. It's my good luck charm."

"Oh, that's so sweet. But I can't take it — I don't want to steal your good luck!" She laughed, a playful sparkle in her gaze.

He placed the vial onto the table. "Please. I insist."

Before she could say anything, he turned around and left the booth, even with time left on the clock.

Outside Ai's booth, he noticed a much shorter line for Nino's on his left. He didn't really have her in mind when he came here, but seeing the small line — and remembering how faithfully he used to see her everytime he was at the fan meetup event, he found himself joining the line.

His turn came shortly after and when he finally entered, Nino's face lit up in surprise "Well, look who decided to show up! You used to be at every meetup. Where've you been hiding these days?" she asked with a little playfulness in her voice.

He stepped closer as he answered "...just been dealing with things. I saw Ai was back and I wanted to meet her" his voice was down.

"You would come for her and not for me?" she teased.

"She is why I became a fan," he said with a soft chuckle.

"And I thought you were my fan" she pouted, crossing her arms and looking away from him.

Even if she was being playful, she seemed genuinely frustrated. He knew often in Idol groups there is jealousy among the members.

Even with a beautiful Nino in front of him, his thoughts kept drifting to Ai.

When he answered nothing, she peeked at him from the corner of her eye. Something was clearly bothering him. She slowly let down her hands as she whispered "You don't look so well, is everything okay?"

He looked at her, wondering if she knew the truth.

"Hey, you wanna meet up somewhere?" she asked in a whisper.

That surprised him, "What? Is that allowed?" he asked reflexively. "I mean, Idol's don't meet fans alone."

"Most don't. But you could say I care about my fans. I care about you." They both kept their voices low, as they both knew if anyone overhears them, it would be a huge problem for her. "You know where ABC Cafe is?"

"Yeah, 3rd block, down the road." he confirmed.

"That's the one, I'll be there after the event — And Ryosuke, I really like you" she said with a smile just as his time ended. A staff member came in, letting him know the same and that others were waiting.

Her words had completely caught him off guard, but he didn't really get a chance to process it or respond.

Nino's demeanor quickly switched back to a professional one. "Ah– looks like we are out of time now, please do come see me again!"

Before the next visitor, Nino was alone with her thoughts for a moment. 'I can't believe I said that…' she turned her head right, where Ai was, thin walls of their booths separating them. 'You took my hard-earned spot, You took him from me, and now you want to steal my fans too?'

.

Ryosuke walked into the cafe alone, his hands shoved into his pockets as he scanned the room. The waitress greeted him and he chose a table tucked into a quiet corner, away from the windows. He sat down, letting her know he would be waiting for someone.

As he waited, his mind kept circling back to Nino's words from earlier. "I really like you." What did she mean by that? Could it really be… that?

He kept glancing at the door as his mind raced. Thirty minutes passed, then forty. Finally, he saw a figure walk in — a girl in a long coat, sunglasses, and a baseball cap pulled low. She scanned the room, then spotted him and made her way over.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," she said softly, sliding into the seat across from him.

"No, it's… it's fine. I didn't mind waiting." He hesitated, then looked her in the eyes. "I've been thinking… What did you mean by 'you like me' ?"

"It means what it means, I like you. I like that you are my fan, I like how you come to see me every time we have a fan meetup. I like how you don't just want an autograph or a photo taken. I like that sometimes you just are there to talk to me. You treat me like a person and not just an Idol, it means a lot to me" she explained with a smile.

Ryosuke was completely dumbfounded. Was this really happening?

Nino took off her sunglasses and looked at him with her bright eyes. "You look like I just confessed my love or something."

He managed a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just… I didn't expect you to say something like that… Especially since you know I was there for Ai."

At the mention of Ai, Nino's smile faded slightly. "Sure you say that, but you still came to see me, didn't you? Her gaze lingered on him.

Ryosuke shifted in his seat, "I guess I did.." he thought out loud.

"Come on, we are here. Let's just enjoy ourselves, okay? What are you in the mood for?" she asked, picking up the menu.

"Do you… really not know why Ai took that year-long break? What happened to her?" he asked, unable to hold back the question.

Nino sighed, looking away. "No one ever tells me anything more than what's official. All I know is what everyone else knows. But honestly…" She paused, then gave him a faint smile. "I'd rather not think about her right now."

"Does she have a boyfriend?" He asked without any hesitation in his voice.

"If you're asking whether she'd date you," Nino replied with a hint of sarcasm, "then no. She's an Idol, after all."

He chuckled, "Right… she is the perfect Idol" he looked down, remembering his interaction with her an hour ago.

"Perfect Idol?" she repeated his words, and slowly brought her hand over his, "And.. am I not?" He looked up at her as she asked again "Am I not good enough?" Her voice was softer.

"That's not what I meant." He stammered.

"You are here with me, I thought you were my biggest fan, and you are still hung up on Ai" she pulled back, visibly upset.

"I'm sorry, it's just that, something about her keeps bothering me"

She leaned in with a little curiosity in her voice, "What?"

He thought for a moment. If she didn't know already, there was no point in telling her. She likely wouldn't believe him either. "Nothing" he whispered.

"Ryosuke, I don't like seeing you like this," she said with concern in her voice.

He sighed heavily, looking at her in the eyes for a moment. "You're right, I shouldn't get so worked up" He leaned forward and grabbed her hands, "I like you too, I am your biggest fan"

Nino smiled, "I know"

- x -

Ai held little Ruby in her arms, swooping her through the air like an airplane. Ruby squealed with laughter, her tiny arms stretched out like a superhero soaring through the air. Ai couldn't help but smile, her own laughter bubbling up as they spun together.

On the couch, Miyako lay sprawled, half-watching a soap opera but keeping one eye on Ai and Ruby. She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Careful there, Mama. Don't go crashing your little airplane."

"I've got it under control." Ai laughed, as she made another loop with Ruby, who giggled even louder. Across the room, Aqua sat cross-legged on the floor, focused on building something intricate with his Lego blocks, his small hands moving with careful precision.

Just then, Saitou walked in, talking on his phone. "Yes, yes… Thank you. We'll confirm soon." He hung up and turned toward Ai, watching her play with Ruby for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Hey, Ai"

She paused, pulling Ruby close and turning to look at him, still smiling. "Yeah?"

"We got an offer for a radio show. Interested?" Saitou's tone was straightforward, as usual, his focus already on business.

"Radio show?" She bounced Ruby lightly in her arms. "What's that about?"

"It's a morning show. You'd just need to talk a bit — answer some fan mail, chat on air. They'll play a few of your songs. Pretty easy gig."

Ai tickled Ruby's cheek, and the baby squealed again. "Sounds easy enough," she replied thoughtfully. "But is it going to take a lot of time? We have a live show coming up in three weeks. We still need to rehearse for it."

"It's a half hour show, even with the commute times, it won't take too much of your time. Also there's 7 of you, so everyone gets one day."

"Once a week? I can handle that," Ai said, nodding. She adjusted Ruby, bouncing her lightly as she considered. "Alright, let's go for it."

"Great. I'll talk to others and go over the contract later," Saitou said, giving a satisfied nod. Just as he turned to leave, a sudden cry of pain broke through the air.

"Ah!" The cry came from Aqua, who was staring down at his finger with wide eyes. He'd managed to give himself a papercut from the tiny instruction booklet that came with his Legos. A single bead of blood welled up, and he looked at it with a mix of surprise and discomfort, his lower lip quivering.

Ai quickly walked over to him and knelt beside him, placing Ruby to her side to inspect his cut carefully "Are you alright Aqua?" she asked in voice, soft and calming.

Aqua nodded, swallowing hard. He wasn't crying, but his eyes were a little watery, and he watched his mother's face closely.

Saitou, noticing the scene, fetched some cotton and handed it over to Ai. While she dabbed the soft cotton ball on his finger to clean it, he peeled the wrapper off a band-aid and held it out.

Ai took it and applied the band-aid to his tiny finger with gentle precision, "There, all better."

Miyako had walked over too to check up on Aqua, "Such a brave little man. He didn't even cry." She praised him.

Ai smiled softly, brushing Aqua's hair back. "He never does," she said, a hint of pride in her voice as she lifted him up, holding him close.

- x -

Host: "Hello Tokyo! This is your host, Izumi, and we've got a special treat for you all today! A very special guest is in the studio. If you've been following our Twitter page, you might've guessed it already… But I won't keep you in suspense. Drum Roll, please!"

Ai: giggles "Hello Tokyo! This is Ai from B-Komachi! Thanks for having me, Izumi!"

Host: "Ah, the pleasure is all mine! And, I gotta say, Ai, you look even more stunning in person. I think I'm a little awestruck!"

Ai: "Thank you! I spent way too long picking out an outfit and doing my makeup… and then I remembered it's a radio show!" laughs playfully

Host: laughs "Oh, I'm sure your fans would love to see what I'm seeing! Speaking of your fans, we got absolutely flooded with questions for you. So many, in fact, that we had to pick the top ones. Are you ready to spill some secrets for your fans?"

Ai: "Absolutely!"

Host: "Alright, first question — and I'm sure everyone wants to know this. How does it feel to be back with B-Komachi after your break? Are you enjoying being on stage again?"

Ai: "Oh, I love it! Being an idol is so much fun. Seeing all those smiling faces in the crowd, hearing everyone sing along — that energy is what keeps me going. And being back with my group, it feels like I've come home. I missed them so much."

Host: "That's beautiful. You know, it's always great when your co-workers feel like family. I speak from experience, anything you'd like to say to the other members of B-Komachi while we are on the topic?"

Ai: "Ari, Nino, Takamine, Watanabe, Meimei, and Kyun, I love you all. Thank you for putting up with my clumsiness! You guys are the best. They support me even when I mess up, and we always laugh about it later."

Host: "Wait, you mess up? The perfect idol Ai? That's hard to believe"

Ai: chuckles "Oh, all the time! You should see me in practice — I can be a total klutz. But the girls are always there to laugh it off with me. We've got each other's backs."

Host: "That's so sweet. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you miss a beat on stage. You all look so in sync! And speaking of your performances, your fans are dying to know… when's the next B-Komachi song coming out?"

Ai: "Ooh, good question! I can't reveal too much yet, but we're working on a new album right now. I think it's some of our best music yet, and I can't wait to perform it live. Just hang tight, everyone — it's coming soon!"

Host: "Exciting! I'll be counting down the days. And you know, one of my personal favorites is Heart's Kiss . That song has been on repeat at my house!"

Ai: "Really? That makes me so happy! Heart's Kiss is so fun to perform, especially when the fans sing along. I get chills every time!"

Host: "There's something magical about that collective energy, isn't there? Here's another big question from your fans — and from me too, actually. Why did you decide to become an idol? Was it always the dream?"

Ai: "That's a good question, mmm… It kind of was! I think I've always had a little performer in me. I used to watch idols on TV, and I'd dance around the living room, imagining I was on stage. When I heard Strawberry Productions were holding auditions, I went for it without a second thought and I was sure I'd be rejected, but here we are!" laughs

Host: "Well, thank goodness you did! I can't even imagine a B-komachi without our beloved Ai. Did you ever imagine B-Komachi would get this big?"

Ai: "Oh- Never! Not even in my wildest dreams. Every time I see our fans at concerts, or get messages from people around the world, I feel so grateful. It's the love of our fans that got us here, I cannot be more thankful to each and every one of them."

Host: "It's that gratitude that makes them love you even more. Now, there's one question everyone's been buzzing about… would you mind sharing a little about your hiatus? What happened? And How are you doing now? If you are comfortable sharing, ofcourse."

Ai: "It's embarrassing to talk about my medical condition, but I had some health issues that left me pretty weak. I had to take some time off to recover… I was bedridden for months, which was really frustrating. But I needed that time to get stronger, and I'm so grateful I had everyone's support."

Host: "For months? That sounds tough. Well, we're all glad you made a full recovery and are back with more energy than ever. Everyone missed you while you were gone! Now, we've got One last question from your fans and it's a spicy one — Are You Single?"

Ai: laughs "Single and very busy! Between rehearsals, performances, and all the fan events, I don't have much time for anything else."

Host: teasingly "But if you did have the time…?"

Ai: "I've never thought about it. Besides, I already have all the love I need from my fans!"

Host: "And that's why they love you! Well, there you have it, folks — Ai is single, but her heart belongs to her fans. Any last words for everyone listening?"

Ai: "Thank you. Really. I wouldn't be here without each and every one of you. I can't wait to see you all at our next concert. Please keep supporting B-Komachi—we'll keep giving it our all!"

Host: "And we'll all be there, cheering you on! Thanks again for joining us, Ai. Can't wait to hear what B-Komachi has in store next!"

- x -

After just a year in the industry, young Arima Kana had made quite a name for herself. She was recognized on the street by fans and was already known as "the kid who can cry in ten seconds flat." If a scene called for a child actress to shed tears on command, Kana was the top choice.

But despite her reputation, she hadn't yet landed that big break in the movies — something her mother had hoped for.

In the small office of their agent, Kana's mother held a new script in her hands, frowning slightly as she flipped through it.

"She's been acting for a year now," she said, her tone laced with impatience. "Don't you think she deserves a real movie role? Something bigger than these low-budget projects?"

The agent raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Believe me, I agree. But I can't conjure up big movie roles out of thin air. These things take time. Look," he added, nodding toward the script, "It's not one of those small roles. It could be a big stepping stone."

She pursed her lips, glancing over the highlighted sections. "A big role in a 'small project.' How much are they even offering?"

"300,000 yen," he replied, his tone sympathetic but firm. "I pushed for more, but that's all they're willing to pay. It's a three-to-four-week shoot, though she won't be needed every day. We can work out the schedule later."

Kana's mother sighed, but there was a glint of ambition in her eyes. "Fine. What's the movie about? And what's her role?"

He leaned back, tapping the script. "It's a psychological horror. Kana would play a well-spoken but unsettling child — a bit eerie, definitely different from the usual roles. But given her talent, I think she'll pull it off."

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "A creepy kid role, huh?" She considered the idea, nodding slowly. "That shouldn't be a problem. She's got the emotional range for it."

"Exactly. This could showcase her versatility," he said, leaning forward, his tone turning more persuasive. "And it's a solid script. If this movie does well, it could lead to bigger roles."

She flipped through more pages, noting how many lines were highlighted. "300,000 for this much screen time still feels low," she said without lifting her eyes.

He shrugged, "It's a small budget film. Nothing's final yet, so I can try negotiating again, but I wouldn't expect much."

"Alright, thanks for that," she replied, tucking the script into her bag.

He relaxed back on his chair, satisfied with their discussion. "Where is our little star today?, I didn't see her with you"

"School," she replied, with a faint smile as she got up to leave. "She can't skip school just because she's an actress."

Interviewer : It's great to see you in more places that just the stage. Are you looking to make a career change? If so, will we have to say goodbye to our beloved Idol?
Ai : It was just a small radio show, and I would love to try acting if I get the chance. Even if I do get big roles in acting, I won't leave my group. Being an Idol is just too fun!
Interviewer : That's great to know, I'm sure there would be acting jobs lining up for you soon enough.
Ai : I have taken acting classes before so I am pretty confident in my skills, and I'm sure is working hard to get me one!
Interviewer : The ever hard working man. We don't see him much, but he is the one truly running the show.
Ai : That's correct!

-x-

Interviewer : Whoa, first of all. Nino, What was that?
Nino : What was what?
Interviewer : You know what I'm talking about.
Nino : Argh.. She took everything that I worked hard for, Must be nice having such a pretty face and ever bubbly personality. She is a happy go lucky Idiot, doens't even have to lift a finger for anything. She's got all the fans, everyone's support without even asking for it. What do I get for putting in all the work? I'm not letting her steal my one loyal fan.
Interviewer : Easy there tigress, no need to get loud. Your frustration is understandable. But I'm sure you're stepping boundaries there.
Nino : Who cares.

-x-

Interviewer : How did that Miyazaki event affect you?
Ryosuke : Ai is a liar... how could she...
Interviewer : Yeah, but you are aware of what you did?
Ryosuke : Ai has a kid, she had a boyfriend all this time... and he abandoned her.
Interviewer : You need to relax, Ryosuke?
Ryosuke : It's not right, she betrayed me. How could she...
Interviewer : Looks like we have lost him.

-x-

Interviewer : Looks like your daughter finally got an offer for a movie role.
Kana's Mother : Let's call it what it is, It's a small low budget project, no better than the low budget dramas she has been a part of.
Interviewer : But it's still a feature lenght movie, that's pretty good. Do you think your daughter can really handle playing a creepy unsettling child on camera?
Kana's Mother : Please, have you seen her act? She is a natural.
Interviewer : All I remember are the scenes of her crying. She has built quite a reputation for herself.
Kana's Mother : That's because whenever they need a crying child, they call Kana. It's talent you know, being able to cry on command. That's why she is in all those shows. But she can do so much more, just you wait and watch.

Author's Notes - I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this - editing's a pain tho. This is the first story I've written that's touching 40k words. Such a milestone. And we are almost halfway there.
What do you guys think of the small interview section?, I think it's a fun addition.
Up next - Chapter 10 : Natural Actor Aqua