Chapter 15 : How my career began

Chapter Summary : Flashback to how Ai joined B-komachi. Who knew all the interviews about her saying being an Idol was the dream, was a lie.

Ai sat on the makeshift swing in the orphanage's front yard, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edges of a glossy card. The swing creaked softly under her weight, the sound blending with the distant laughter of younger children playing nearby. The orphanage's cracked walls loomed beside her — silent witnesses to three years of her life, blurred together in monotony.

She turned the card over in her hand for the hundredth time, her eyes tracing the bold print, wondering over the words of the man who had given her the card.

'... Me?... An Idol?'

It sounded ridiculous. Like something out of a fairy tale.

"What's that?" a familiar voice broke through her chain of thoughts.

Ai glanced up to find Hana standing in front of her, hands on her hips and a soft, knowing smile on her face. The woman looked like she always did — hair tied in a messy bun, her simple floral dress dusted with flour from the kitchen. Hana had been volunteering at the orphanage as long as Ai could remember, always buzzing around like she had a secret stash of energy no one could find.

Ai shrugged and handed her the card. "A man gave it to me today. Said he wants me to join some idol group."

Hana's eyebrows lifted as she inspected the card. "Strawberry Productions? That sounds… fancy. So, what's the group's name?"

"He didn't say," Ai replied, looking down at the dry, cracked dirt beneath the swing. "He said he's starting something new. But I don't know if it's… me. This whole idol thing. I'm not into singing or dancing."

"You should try. Opportunities like this don't fall into your lap every day," Hana said, glancing at the card again. "Being an idol… I bet it pays a lot too," she added, wonder creeping into her voice.

"Maybe…" Ai's voice mimicked Hana's wonder, "But I don't think I have that kinda talent."

"I think you do. Even he saw something in you, didn't he?"

Ai dragged the swing backward with her feet, her grip tightening on the chains. "What's there to see?"

"I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. No one's born knowing how to sing or dance. That's what practice is for. And…" she smirked, "You're already halfway there. Idols are all about looking the part and you are just as pretty as any Idol."

Ai rolled her eyes, "Thanks…"

Hana laughed lightly at her reaction, "You're welcome. So," she held out the card, "Why don't you give it a shot?"

After a long pause, Ai sighed, "Fine… I guess I'll give him a call."

Hana took out her phone and handed it to her, "Here, you can use mine. Keep it on speakerphone."

Ai dialed the number, her eyes darting between the card and the phone. As the dial tone hummed in her ear, she half-hoped no one would answer — but then, someone picked up.

"Strawberry Productions" came in a male voice.

She cleared her throat, "Is this Mr Sato, I mean, Mr Saitou?"

"Yes, you must be the girl I met earlier. Ai, right?"

"About your offer… I want to talk…"

"That's great to hear, so you've decided to join?" Saitou said, sounding pleased.

"Not yet, I want to know what it's all about." Ai said cautiously.

"... Alright… Why don't we meet at the cafe, near where we met earlier? We can discuss the details in person."

"Okay," Ai said, her grip tightening around the phone, "What time?"

"Evening works best for me, so, tomorrow six?"

"Okay. I'll be there."

As she ended the call, she exhaled shakily. She returned Hana's phone back to her.

Hana stared at her phone, "Calling you late in the evening… Don't go anywhere strange with him. You never know… Be careful okay?"

"I can handle myself, Hana." said Ai, sounding more cold than she had intended, as she walked away towards the building, the card still clutched in her hand.

The next evening arrived before Ai had time to think all of it through. She stood on the sidewalk where she'd met Saitou yesterday. The walkways were busy with people brushing past her without a second glance, and cars running on the adjacent street.

The bright lights of shop signs reflected in the cafe window, where she caught a glimpse of herself — In a blue hoodie with her hands in the pockets, an unremarkable girl, just another face in the crowd.

She had kept her nervousness to herself.

Opportunities like this don't just drop in your lap every day. Hana had told her, and maybe she was right. What else was she planning to do with her life anyway?

"Right on time," a voice said behind her.

Ai turned, startled, to find Saitou standing there with his hands tucked casually in his coat pockets.

"Hello, Mr. Saitou," she greeted, bowing slightly.

"Good evening," he replied with a small nod. His eyes briefly scanned the street around them, then landed back on her. "Your parents won't be joining us?"

The question struck her harder than she expected, though she tried not to let it show. "…I don't have parents. I'm an orphan."

For a split second, Saitou's lips parted as though to say something, but he stopped himself. His gaze softened, but his tone stayed neutral. "I see."

Ai shifted on her feet, uncomfortable with the silence. "So… about your offer," she said quickly, trying to sound confident. "I want to hear the details first. I need to know what I'm getting into before I decide."

"Fair enough," he said, gesturing toward the cafe. "Let's sit down first. Would you like something to drink? A latte, maybe?"

Ai blinked at him. "... A latte?"

"You were staring at the cafe earlier, I thought you might want one." He opened the cafe's door with a smile, "Besides, the walkway isn't the best place to talk business."

"Oh… sure, I guess," she replied, unsure how to respond as she followed.

The atmosphere inside the cafe was much warmer, a nice change from the chilly evening air outside. The waitress seated them near the window. Saitou ordered a coffee for himself, while Ai hesitated before ordering a matcha latte for herself.

When their drinks arrived, Saitou sat straight in his chair, watching her carefully. "We've already got three members," he said, breaking the silence. "You'd be the fourth, if you decide to join. The girls voted on a name the other day — B-Komachi."

"B-Komachi…" Ai murmured, turning the name over in her mind. It sounded polished and professional.

He let her ponder in silence — as silent as a busy cafe can get, while he sipped his coffee.

But doubts pooled in her head with every passing minute as her thoughts drifted.

Three girls are already in, they would probably be a lot better at this than her. She had seen Idols on TV before, how they danced and sang with the brightest smile on their faces.

They all looked so happy.

And when their shows would end, they would tell their fans how much they loved them.

What is love anyway? She wondered, looking down at her milkshake, stirring it mindlessly with the straw.

What did love feel like? Was it something sweet like the latte?

There's supposed to be love between a mother and a child. But whatever she felt for her mother, sure wasn't love.

"Hey…" she raised her head, "What did you see in me anyway?"

Saitou paused, his coffee cup halfway to his lips. He set it down carefully and met her gaze. "Untapped potential," he said simply. "You have the kind of face fans adore. That alone can take you far in this industry."

"But Idols are talented aren't they?" she questioned.

Saitou leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Being an idol is more than just performing and talent. It's about being able to garner an audience, who would love you, and admire you enough to be at your shows. Talent is important, but it's not everything."

"I don't know if I can do that. Being loved by the audience, or loving them back… I don't want to lie to people, telling them that I love them when I don't."

Saitou nodded in acknowledgement before speaking, "That's okay, you don't have to mean it."

She looked at him with mild surprise, "It's… okay for me to lie to people?" she asked quietly.

Saitou gave her a thoughtful expression with a hum, "It's not lying. It's giving people what they want to hear. Think about movies, reality shows, even ads."

He gestured out the window at a billboard across the street — a model smiling brightly as she held up a beauty product. "Do you think she actually uses that? Probably not. But that doesn't matter. People want to believe she does. That's what sells."

Ai followed his gaze, staring at the perfect smile on the poster. "I… never thought of it like that," she admitted softly.

"No one does," he said with a shrug. "But that's how this industry works. Your performance, your words, your image — it's all part of the package. And in return, the fans love and support you. It's a transaction, plain and simple."

Ai sat back in her chair, her hands resting on her lap.

Was that what love was too? A transaction?

Saitou allowed her a quiet moment, before asking, "So, you still want to be an Idol?"

"I think so…" she said, her voice quiet but steady.

Saitou nodded, slowly pulling a thin folder from his bag and sliding it across the table. "Here's the contract. Read it carefully, and let me know if you have questions. Normally, we'd need parental consent, but in your case, a guardian's signature from the orphanage will do."

Ai opened the folder, skimming the dense text. One section stood out — Salary: 130,000 yen.

Her brow furrowed. "I thought idols made more than this…"

"It's the starting salary," Saitou explained. "You'll get endorsements, bonuses, and a share of the profits once the group grows."

She flipped through more pages, but the legal jargon made her head spin.

"You can walk into my office with the signed documents," he said, glancing at his watch as he stood. "I hope to hear from you soon, Ai."

As he left, Ai stayed behind, staring at the contract in her hands. She flipped through it some more, before figuring it's best to let an adult help her figure out these complicated words.

- x -

The morning sunlight filtered into the orphanage's office as Ai stood nervously in front of Mr. Sakamoto, the man in charge of the place. The contract felt heavy in her hands, and she shifted her weight from foot to foot, unsure how to begin.

"So…" she finally said, holding the papers out to him, "I've… been offered a contract. To become an idol. Can you take a look at it for me?"

Mr. Sakamoto raised an eyebrow, setting down his newspaper. He took the contract from her hands and flipped through it, skimming the pages with a half-interested expression. After a few minutes, he looked up.

"Well, I'm no lawyer," he said with a laugh, "but nothing here screams exploitation. It looks fine to me. Salary's not much, but I guess that's normal for starting out."

Ai hesitated. "So… is it okay?"

"Sure, why not?" He shrugged, flipping to the front page again. "Strawberry productions… So will it be just you? Or are they making a group?"

"He told me it's a group of four." she told him.

He nodded, "Alright. You need my signature, right?" He reached for a pen, quickly signed it and handed the contract to her. "Go live your dreams kid."

Ai stared at his signature for a long moment. That was all she really needed. She bowed with a quiet "thank you," before leaving.

Back in her room, she sat on the edge of her bed. She opened the contact again, her eyes scanning the dense text. Most of it was still hard to understand.

Her thoughts spiraled. She knew nothing about being an idol. What if she failed? What if the group wasn't successful?

She didn't hear Hana come in until her voice broke the silence. "Hey, you've got the Idol contract?"

Ai looked up, startled. "Hana? What are you doing here?"

Hana closed the door behind her and smiled. "I couldn't stop thinking about you pursuing an Idol career. A lot of people get taken advantage of in showbiz — I wanted to make sure you're not walking into something shady."

Ai's grip on the contract tightened. "Mr. Sakamoto already looked at it. He said it looked fine."

Hana sat beside her on the bed, holding out her hand. "Still, let me see it. Two pairs of eyes are better than one."

Reluctantly, Ai passed her the papers. Hana scanned them carefully, occasionally reading sections aloud and explaining words Ai didn't understand.

When she finished, Hana set the contract down. "Yeah, it looks okay. But I'll be honest — I thought Idols made a lot more than this," Her finger tapped the salary clause.

"I thought the same thing," Ai admitted. "He said we'd make more if the group got popular."

"Hmm. That'll take time. Competition's tough out there," Hana said, flipping through the pages again. "But I don't see anything here that suggests he's trying to take advantage of you. So that's good."

Ai let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "That's good, right?"

"It is," Hana agreed, smiling. She set the contract aside and leaned back slightly. "So, tell me more. What else did he tell you?"

"The group's called B-komachi," Ai said, her face lighting up slightly. "It sounds so fancy. And there are four of us, including me."

Hana grinned. "B-Komachi, huh? I like it. So, are you excited?"

"I don't know," Ai admitted, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I don't even know if I'll be any good at it."

Hana nudged her gently. "You don't have to be perfect right away, everyone starts somewhere. And besides, you've got something special. I know it."

Ai's lips twitched into a small, hesitant smile. "You really think so?"

"I do," Hana said firmly.

She stood, brushing off her skirt. "Alright, I should get going — can't skip work for too long." she chuckled, "Good luck Ai, I'll be rooting for you!"

"Thanks, Hana," Ai said softly, watching as she left.

- x -

The next morning couldn't arrive sooner, now that Ai had something to look forward to. She could barely get much sleep and she spent half the night staring at the ceiling, imagining how her life would be starting tomorrow.

By 8 AM, she was on a train, clutching her small bag tightly to her chest. The 90-minute ride felt both endless and fleeting.

Finally she arrived.

Her destination wasn't at all like she had imagined — big, colorful with glass windows and automatic doors, which would play a jingle when she would walk in.

It was an unassuming three-storey building. The paint had faded with age, though someone had made an effort to maintain it. It was surrounded by similarly modest buildings — a ramen shop on one side, an old apartment complex on the other.

No elevator in sight. Saitou's office was on the third floor according to Strawberry production's card and the only way up was the stairs. With a deep breath, Ai began climbing. On the first floor, faint music drifted through a closed door — cheerful and rhythmic, growing fainter as she ascended.

At last, she stood in front of a simple wooden door with a small plaque that read "Strawberry Productions," and she raised a nervous hand to knock.

The door opened almost immediately, and there was Saitou, "You're here. Come on in."

He stepped aside to reveal what he called "his office." Ai hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, her bag sliding from her shoulder.

There was a couch in the middle of the room, a small coffee table in front of it, a TV, a glass door leading to a balcony, a kitchen to the left… it was clearly his home.

Saitou closed the door and walked into the small kitchen, "Would you like some tea?"

Ai nodded and got comfortable on the couch and pulled out the documents from her bag. She hesitated for a moment, starting at the contract before putting it down on the table.

Saitou returned with a steaming cup of tea, setting it down in front of her before picking up the contract she had brought. He quickly flipped through it, "Everything looks in order," he said nodding with satisfaction. "I'm really glad you decided to join us."

Ai offered a nervous smile and sipped her tea. "I thought your office would be fancier,"

Saitou chuckled. "I'd love a fancy office someday. But we all have to start somewhere, don't we?"

She nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

"You must've heard the music on the first floor," he said, setting the papers aside. "That's the practice hall. The other members are already there. Why don't we go meet them?"

Ai finished her tea, her nerves returning as she followed Saitou downstairs.

The practice hall was a simple open space with scuffed wooden floors and sparse furniture. A dusty shelf leaned against one wall, a small sound system rested on the floor, and an older man lounged on a worn-out couch in the corner.

In the center of the room, three girls were dancing to an upbeat track, moving in sync under the watchful eye of a choreographer.

"That's it, move with the music and keep your body loose," she said, clapping her hands to the beat, encouraging them as they danced. "Good, good — now let's go again from the top."

One girl had a serious expression, her movements precise and deliberate, as if she had something to prove. Another danced with an easy confidence, her bright smile showing that she was genuinely enjoying herself. The third girl looked more hesitant, her body stiff with self-consciousness as she struggled to keep up.

When the music stopped and the girls took a moment to catch their breath, Saitou stepped forward with Ai. "Everyone, this is Ai," he said, gesturing to her. "She'll be the fourth member of B-Komachi."

Ai bowed quickly, her voice soft but earnest. "It's nice to meet you all."

The girls straightened up and greeted her in turn.

"I'm Watanabe," the bright, cheerful girl waved enthusiastically. "It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Nino," the determined one greeted, "Good to meet you."

"I'm Takamine," the third girl said, "It's great to have you with us."

As Ai exchanged introductions, an older man and the choreographer joined them.

"This is Coach Matsuda," Saitou said, gesturing to the man. "He'll handle your vocal and physical training. And this is Mrs Tanaka, your choreographer."

Both of them nodded politely, and Ai returned the gesture.

"Alright, I'll leave her in your care then," Saitou said before turning to Ai and the group. "We will have our debut show in three months, give it your best. I believe in you all." he said with a smile before leaving.

The coach wasted no time once Saitou left. "Performing as an idol isn't just about singing and dancing," Matsuda said, his voice firm and authoritative. "It takes stamina, strength, and endurance. Nothing screams amateur louder than running out of breath on stage. That's what we'll focus on today. Let's start with stretching, followed by a light jog."

"Now?" Ai asked nervously. "But… I didn't bring any running clothes…"

Nino stepped forward without missing a beat. "That's alright, I always keep an extra pair in my bag." she said, jogging over to her bag. She returned with a folded pair of workout clothes and handed them to Ai.

"Oh, thank you," Ai said, surprised by the gesture.

"Don't worry," Nino said with a chuckle, "They're clean, I promise."

The next hour was a whirlwind.

Ai changed quickly and joined the others on the mat for stretching. Matsuda led them through the routine, calling out instructions as they worked through each pose.

"So, Ai," Watanabe said, glancing over at her during a side stretch. "What made you want to join B-Komachi?"

Ai hesitated. "I… didn't plan it, exactly," she admitted, "Mr Saitou approached me, and… I thought it might be better than doing nothing."

"Doing nothing?" Nino echoed, raising an eyebrow. "So you don't actually want to be an idol?"

"It's not that," Ai said quickly, hesitating a little, "I just… don't know if I can do it."

Takamine gave her an understanding look, "That's normal. I felt the same way at first."

"Yeah," Watanabe chimed in. "None of us started out perfect. It's about putting in the work."

Nino stayed quiet, but her sharp gaze lingered on Ai for a moment longer before she turned her attention back to Matsuda's instructions.

When they were done with the stretching routine, they all went out for a jog. The cool air filled their lungs. Watanabe ran beside Ai, chatting easily about how she'd always dreamed of being an idol.

"I've been practicing since I was a kid," she said, her voice light despite the steady rhythm of her footsteps. "Singing, dancing, the whole thing. It's a lot of work, but it'll be worth it."

Takamine chimed in from ahead. "I joined because I want to inspire people," she said, her voice steady. "I've always admired idols who could make others smile."

"What about you?" Ai asked, glancing at Nino, who ran a few paces ahead of the group.

Nino shrugged without looking back. "I'm here to prove something," she said simply. "That's all."

Ai barely managed to chuckle nervously, her focus shifting to keeping up with the group. Her legs burned, her breath came in short gasps, and by the time they returned to the studio, her body felt like it might collapse.

She wasn't wrong.

As soon as they stepped inside, Ai's legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

"Hey, take it easy," Nino said, kneeling beside her and handing her a bottle of water,"You don't have to push yourself so hard on the first day."

"She's right," Matsuda said, his tone softer now. "Pacing yourself is just as important as pushing yourself. Learn your limits, and listen to your body. If you push yourself too far, you won't be able to work the next day."

Takamine gave her a kind smile. "We've been at this for a while. It takes time to build endurance, so don't rush. None of us got here overnight."

"You want to be consistent with small improvements every day rather than try to reach the top in one." Matsuda added.

Ai nodded, her breathing finally slowing. As she sipped the water, she glanced around at the other girls, their faces glowing with a mix of exhaustion and encouragement.

- x -

Interviewer : B-komachi really had a humble start, was it hard scouting idols for the group?
Saitou : humble start indeed, and not really. A lot of girls want to be Idols, it's a growing popular career path.
Interviewer : That it is, I got the other three, they dream of being on stage. Why pick the orphan who wasn't even intersted?
Saitou : She has potential. And her backstory would make people want to root for her even more. A true underdog story. We could start with a group of three, so, it would have been fine if she said no. But I'm glad she joined.

Author's Note : First big character change incoming. While Ai's desire to understand and feel love is the same, unlike canon - Saitou and Ai don't talk about it (The part where he says - I think you also want to be loved but dont know how and if you repeat a lie it may become true). Also unlike canon - Saitou does not know Ai's mother is actually out there somewhere. And Ai's motivation is changed from "She is an Idol because she wants to understand love" to "She is an Idol because she doesn't know what else to do with her life."
Does that ruin her character? Idk, let me know your thoughts if this was an okay change.

Up next - Chapter 16 : Time to celebrate