The day after returning from Italy, I found myself in Shibuya.
「Uhh… oh, there! Hey!」
I called out in front of the statue of the loyal dog where she was waiting. She glanced in my direction.
「Hello, Kaminagi-san」
「Hi, Kagurazaka-san」
「Sorry to keep you waiting」
「Not at all. I’m thirty minutes early for our meeting anyway… I’ve got nothing better to do today, really」
She muttered under her breath.
「Hm? Did you say something?」
「No, nothing at all」
Kagurazaka-san’s mood felt heavy. Or… was that resentment?
(Did I do something to make her angry?)
「What are you standing there for? Let’s go」
She called out irritably as she walked ahead and turned back toward me.
If I did something wrong, I need to apologize…
「Ehto… Kagurazaka-san?」
「Yes? What is it?」
Her voice was as cold as ever.
「I was just wondering if I might’ve done something to upset you…」
At that, her expression suddenly shifted in surprise.
「I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, Kaminagi-san. It’s my own issue」
「I see… Well, if you ever feel like talking, I’d be happy to listen」
「That won’t be necessary」
「Got it…」
We walked in silence for about ten minutes until we stopped in front of a small building.
「This is our destination」
「This place?」
「K Production. It’s the talent agency my parents run and manage」
「K-Pro… as in that K-Pro?」
Even a regular guy like me, who knows almost nothing about the entertainment world, had heard of it. They represent million-selling singers, Hollywood actors, voice actors in beloved national anime, even those who voice household appliances.
「I don’t know which K-Pro you’re thinking of, but yes, it’s that one. The one with all the celebrities you’re imagining」
「Whoa, your parents are amazing, Kagurazaka-san」
When I said that, I thought I felt a slight softening in her mood.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Led by Kagurazaka-san, I stepped into the lobby. Contrary to the grand name, the office was modest and compact, just like the building’s exterior. I had expected a sprawling space bustling with staff and celebrities.
As we climbed the stairs, we passed posters on the walls, life-sized cutouts, and whiteboards with employees’ schedules scrawled on them.
「Something catch your eye, Kaminagi-san?」
「Ah, sorry… I was just looking around」
「You were expecting a much bigger office, weren’t you?」
「Haha… yeah, kind of」
「It’s okay. I used to think the same. My parents are amazing people, so I couldn’t understand why the agency was so small…」
Running her hand along the well-worn handrail at the landing, its paint chipped in spots, clearly polished by many hands, Kagurazaka-san continued speaking.
「Both my mom and dad say this office is for the people working behind the scenes. It shouldn’t be too small, of course, but this size forces everyone to see each other’s faces and work together, even if there’s someone they don’t get along with. Besides, we’re managing people who shine in the spotlight. If we can’t even face each other, how can we handle them properly? Also, staying here helps keep costs down instead of moving into a new building.」
「I’m not part of the working world, so I wouldn’t know… but I guess there’s a solid reason behind it.」
「Yeah. I’m still just a student too, so I haven’t really felt it firsthand, but… even back then, as a kid, I could tell that my parents took their work really seriously.」
As Kagurazaka-san spoke proudly, I could clearly tell just how much she loved and respected her parents.
「What I’ve really learned is that you really love and admire your parents, Kagurazaka-san」
「Hmmm…」
Oh, she turned red. Wait, what part of that made her blush…?
「Hm? What’s wrong? It’s a good thing. I respect my mom and dad’s work too, you know?」
「Y-Yeah, I know that… Ugh, whatever, let’s just go」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
As we chatted, we arrived at a door with a plaque that read President’s Office.
「This is my dad’s office」
「Okay…」
「You look nervous… You seemed so composed when we were facing monsters though」
「Well, you can’t exactly beat up a human, can you…?」
「My dad’s kind of a monster in his own way, but don’t go trying to take him down」
「I won’t!」
With the mood softened by our earlier exchange, I followed Kagurazaka-san into the room.
「Dad, Mom, I brought Kaminagi-san with me」
Inside stood a tall man with the build of a model and… someone I definitely recognized from TV.
「Wait… no way! Kagurazaka-san, your mom is RIKA?!」
「Ara? Rinka didn’t tell you?」
「Sorry… I thought it was common knowledge…」
「Well, I am a totally different kind of beauty than her, so I guess we don’t look alike. But that’s what makes her cute, don’t you think?」
RIKA-san smiled as she said that.
「Ahem. May I say something now, you two?」
「Sorry, Papa」
「Sorry, Dad」
「Come now… I keep telling you to call me Papa…」
「Dear, you’re derailing the conversation」
「Ah, right, right. Well then, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Kagurazaka Takumi, president of this company and advisor to several affiliated subsidiaries」
「And I’m Kagurazaka Rika. I work under my stage name, just my real name in English, RIKA. Also… thank you for being friends with our daughter」
「M-Mom! That’s embarrassing!」
「And you never call me Mama either…」
「You don’t have to say that in front of Kaminagi-san!」
「Why not~?」
「Ahem. Anyway, it’s rude to keep standing. Let’s all sit down」
Prompted by Takumi-san, we sat down on the sofa.
「Now then, Kaminagi Yuuki-kun… the reason we called you here is…」
Takumi-san paused dramatically before continuing.
「Would you like to become… an idol?」
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