Was just having a conversation on discord with someone and "Casually heartbreaking older Motoko" got brought up and it made me giggle and I ended up on the thought of "24 year old totally a pop star but literally doesn't understand that because Hiromi has grown used to her nonsense and knows how to manage her Motoko just casually crushing hearts everywhere she goes. Yep sounds about right."

So yeah.

Also with music I guess.

"Ain't nobody bringing us! Down down down down!" I called out finishing the dance moves as the lights shut off and the stadium went wild.

I was breathing casually as I turned to the back up dancers. Nice girls and shot them all a bright smile. "That was great! You're all so amazing!" I gushed at them. This weird job Hiromi had set up was really tough! Pretending to be the newest idol in Night City Kotomo was a strange gig, but Hiromi had been adamant that the pay was amazing, and I was the only one in all of Night City that could handle this gig!

So Motoko Kusasnagi Solo wunderkind transformed with some new clothes into Kotomo Musagi! The secret diva of Night City!

All because poor Kotomo had apparently gotten a death threat! It was really sad!

My smile didn't work as I wanted, as instead of getting happy smiles in return, the girls got the same shifty nervous looks around me that I always earned. I mean, they knew I wasn't the real Kotomo, having had to train with me to get the dance moves right, but I had kinda hoped we could be friends?

"O-Oh no! Kotomo-sama we were just following along!" Cindy stuttered a bit, that girl really needed to work on her stutter she had a beautiful voice, but with a stutter like that it must be hard to sing. Not that it ever stopped her back up work from being impaired she was a true professional!

"Yeah today was so amazing!" Liz offered looking up to meet my eyes before her eyes shot back down to the earth.

Ah. Had my smile been weird again? I'll keep working on it! Someday I'll get my comforting smile right! I promise Cindy!

"There you are! C'mon!" Hiromi called out waving me down from the side of the stage and I turned to my dance chooms and waved good bye as I hurried away. The heels making my steps turn into a lanky stride.

It made my butt wiggle weirdly though. Not a huge fan. My combat boots were more my speed. But no Motoko, You can't wear combat boots to a performance Motoko... I sighed as I finally caught up to Hiromi who had started rushing me along.

"That was great! Amazing! Ticket sales are doing super well!"

"Oh Kotomo will be happy then." I said quickly once I was sure no one was listening in. Hiromi nearly tripped for a second before coughing a little... Was she sick?

"Yep! Definitely. She will be super pleased! I'm super pleased too! Did you have fun?"

"It was okay, but I still get all nervous on the stage. Gotta take a deep breath to calm down which considering..." How high my Cool was that was pretty crazy that I got that nervous still. Good thing this gig couldn't last forever!

"You did amazing. I loved it! Everyone loved it! That new song you wrote! Ah! It was so sultry!"

"Well technically Kotomo wrote it..." I offered. The first time Kotomo had been on a deadline to get a new song completed but couldn't finish it because of the horrible assassins chasing her, where Hiromi had set it up so I would write some songs for her had been fun, but I was kinda nervous how many songs I was giving to Kotomo... At least I got some cool songs that I liked to listen to on the radio now!

"Of course." Hiromi said turning and throwing me a wink.

"Anyway! C'mon Hiromi I want to get out of this outfit." I decided it was still emabarrasing that so many people knew I had written the newest Kotomo songs! They were super popular!

"Of course. here is your changing room." Hiromi led me and and as soon as the door closed I sighed and dropped the long trench coat I had been wearing for the last song.

"Whew that thing is stuffy. I think I'm a little sweaty too. Hiromi, can you hand me that towel... Hiromi?"
"Bwah?"

"Towel? You okay? Are you feeling sick?"

"Fine! I'm fine! Defintiely 100% fine! Here!" Hiromi jerked over and grabbed a towel nearly smashing face first into the cabinet they were in as she seemed a little dazed before handing me a towel which I took and started brushing the cool towel over my forehead and neck.

The door knocking just once before blasting open thankfully seemed to perk Hiromi back up from her daze.

I was going to need to secretly take her to Viks at this rate!

"Absolutely perfect! Amazing! The best!" The man that had stomped in was one of Kotomo's managers Some Arasaka conglomerate media company guy. Hiromi didn't like him, but he had smoothed out a lot of money issues apparently? Hiromi often chattered about her work while we hung out having dinner before bed.

"Ian, what part of wait for an answer before entering did you not understand! She could have been changing!"

"Well then I would have earned myself a show! But no matter this is far more serious! The numbers my dear! Our Kotomo is a brilliant star!"

"My Kotomo." Hiromi negated instantly. Which I nodded at. Hiromi had become Kotomo's manager. I had even had to pretend to be her while signing the documets just to make it all complete! I had been a little worried about Hiromi taking advantage of Kotomo like this. I mean as her manager she could do anything to the poor idol! But Hiromi had assured me that it was purely to help explain her presence, and she would actually be doing the job while on the gig so to speak.

I of course trusted Hiromi when she was being serious like that so I felt pretty happy she was the one acting as my manager.

"Well now now Mitsunashi no need to show those claws. We all want a piece of the Kotomo brand after all." He offered with a honestly pretty slimy smile.

"I'm sure you do." Hiromi offered back glaring... Akward. I also had a bad feeling I knew where this was going.

"Fine. I see I'm not wanted despite setting this all up for you. I'll remember this." Ian offered and Hiromi scoffed... Already pacing around looking angry.

Yeah, I already knew what was going to happen.

No chance Hiromi didn't have some solo team sent after her because of this. I sighed. The whole crew was supposed to meet up after the performance at this super high end sushi place...

"Hiromi? Can you save me a spot?" I whispered as I pulled Hiromi into a friendly and comforting hug! Anyone that knows they just signed up to be targeted by assassins would be nervous even Hiromi!

"A-Ah."

"I know you're nervous. But there is nothing to worry about... Because Kotomo Musagi is putting up her high heels." And then my voice shifted. Kotomo had a different voice than my usual one, but I liked my normal voice the most.

Sexy Motoko voice advanced TM was now standard equipment!

"And Motoko Kusanagi will make sure nothing comes close to touching a hair on your head." I whispered before pulling away and popping open my go bag. The one that had my Leotard and normal clothes. Quickly changing I whistled Popstar to myself as I holstered my weapons. If I got to Ian fast enough I could kill him dump the body and make it to Sushi night before he actually put out the hit on Hiromi! That would save me so much time for Sushi eating!