He takes the chance to watch some TV.

After visiting Kirumi’s office, Shuichi returned to his desk a little tired, but also very refreshed. As anxiety-inducing as it was to be sleeping with his boss like that, he couldn’t help but acknowledge that he enjoyed spending time with her. She was so reassuring and supportive, to the point where he’d almost forget about his own faults when they were together.

But of course, that only lasted until he returned to his floor, at which point many of his worries returned like snakes coming out of their dens. They weren’t as bad as two weeks ago, and they were barely there when he was around his friends, but they were still there, and he still felt a rush of relief when the time finally came for him to return home.

Once back at his apartment, Shuichi quietly began to prepare his dinner, putting together a small stew and putting it in his oven. Normally, Shuichi would then just wait beside the oven until it was done, but with how exciting his life had been lately he found himself growing bored almost immediately. So, after trying and failing to text with Kae and Komaru, Shuichi decided to do something he didn’t do a lot of; he turned on the local news.

“And tonight, we are going to interview someone very special,” a male newscaster announced from behind a glass desk on Shuichi’s TV. “You might know her as the pop sensation that’s dominated the music charts the last few years, or one of the most sought-after bachelorettes in the nation, but most people know this young beauty simply by her stage name; Yuki!”

Sounds of cheering filled the studio as the camera panned to the left and revealed a young woman with long, flawless blue hair, bright blue eyes, a happy smile, a large white bow on her head, and a pink dress. Her posture as she sat was perfect and well-practiced, with her legs crossed just right and her hands wrapped around her right knee, showing off her glittering pink nails.

“Thank you so much for having me here today, Mr. Kumon.” The idol closed her eyes and gave the man a saccharine bow of appreciation. “I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my group’s latest single.”

“Hey, don’t mention it! It’s an honor to have you here!” the man replied. “After all, it’s not every day we get the chance to have a superstar in our studio! Why, I bet one of your dresses is worth more than I make in a year!”

“Oh, don’t be like that!” Yuki giggled with a hand over her mouth. “You know that girls like me aren’t different from anyone else!”

“Really? Well then, I guess I should head over to a music studio right now if that’s the case! I’ve got a song in me that’s just waiting to burst out!” the anchor joked, causing the audience to laugh. “But in all seriousness, why don’t you tell us about this new single of yours?”

“Thank you.” Yuki bowed again and turned more towards the camera. “It’s called ‘Monochrome Answer’, and it is a song that my team and I put a lot of love and effort into. It’s a song about love and longing, and how being with the right person can bring color to your whole world.”

“Sounds very passionate!” the news anchor replied. “Tell me, were any parts of the song inspired by real-life events? Has there ever been someone like that in your life?”

“Well, if you’re asking if I finally have a boyfriend, then I’m afraid the answer is no~” Yuki gave the anchor a wink.

“U-uh, of course that’s not what I meant. I’d never, ever imply that a girl as lovely as you would do something like that,” The newsman began to visibly sweat a little as he imagined the rabid Yuki fan mail he was likely to receive soon. “I just wondered if there was perhaps a family member or a friend who made you feel that way.”

“Ah… well, of course there has been.” Yuki paused for just a moment before turning fully to the camera. “My amazing fans make me feel that way every day! All your support and love is why I get up in the morning! You are the sun in my sky, and the light that guides me through the night! And to help show my gratitude for all that you’ve done for me, I’ll be giving you all a special sneak-peek at my new song here tonight at the end of this interview!”

“How very generous of you, Ms. Yuki! I’m sure that everyone will love it!” The news anchor said when the audience’s thunderous applause finally died down. “But you’ve been branching out into areas beyond music lately too, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have.” Yuki nodded. “As you know, my debut movie ‘28 Days of Love’ hit theaters this month, and I’m happy to say that it has been a big success! Learning how to act was a little difficult, of course, but thankfully my costars like Ichika Amami helped me get into the swing of things. I must say, it really is a lot of fun once you get used to it!”

“That’s great to hear,” Kumon replied. “So, does this mean you’ll be returning to the silver-screen anytime soon?”

“Oh, Mr. Kumon! You know I can’t go around giving secrets like that~” Yuki stuck out her tongue teasingly and shook a finger at the anchor. “Buuuut the answer to that little question may or may not be hidden in the bottom of select boxes of Togami-brand rice cakes!”

“Well, you heard it here first, folks! Better go buy them while they’re hot!” the newscaster announced. “Thank you so much for stopping by, Ms. Yuki; I hope you stop by to see us again! Now, for the preview of Snow White’s new single; Monochrome Answer!”

“Thank you again for having me here, Mr. Kumon. You did a good job today,” Yuki whispered to the anchor with a bow as the cameras turned off and the audience’s attention turned towards the music-video clip that was being projected onto a nearby screen. “My agents will keep in touch.”

“Yeah, sure,” the man replied, his enthusiasm visibly deflating when the cameras turned off. “See you around.”

Yuki then got up from her seat and walked backstage, heading back to the dressing room the TV studio had provided her. She managed to keep her perfect posture the whole way there, always wary of any eyes that might have been on her, but the moment she knew she was alone she nearly collapsed into her chair.

“Augh… my back is so sore!” Sayaka whined to herself as she stretched. “Why do they make us practice so much? I haven’t tripped on stage yet, have I?”

She then took out her phone and turned it on just in time for her to receive a text from one of her bandmates.

“Hey there, Sayaka,” the message from another member of her idol group, Shiranui Shijo, or ‘Ivory’ as most of her fans knew her. “Great job at that interview just now! You absolutely killed it!”

“Thanks, but it wasn’t easy,” Sayaka texted back. “It took all my energy not to gag and keep smiling when I mentioned those disgusting rice cakes. Have you ever tried one of those things? They’re so dry!”

“I know, but we do what we have to in this industry, right?” Shiranui replied. “Oh, speaking of… how are things going with you-know-who?”

Sayaka shivered as she read that last phrase. “Oh, things are going just fine, thanks for asking! He’s kept all his promises so far, so I don’t think we have to worry about him,” she typed, lying on her stomach.

“Are you sure?” Shiranui asked. “He hasn’t been getting too greedy, has he? Because I can handle him for a while if you want me to.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that! I can handle myself” Sayaka replied, her chipperness somehow getting through even in her text messages. “You just worry about getting ready for our next big show, okay?”

“Alright, if you say so,” Shiranui replied. “See you later tonight then.”

“See you then.” Sayaka signed off her messenger and was about to start browsing the internet when she received a new message from someone else.

“Hello, Sayaka,” Izumi Ayuzawa, or ‘Swan’ as the world knew her, greeted. “How are you doing? Did the move into your new house go well?”

“Yes, it did,” Sayaka replied. “It was a little hard finding a place in this town where I can get some privacy, but I think I found a place that’s pretty nice. Though, anywhere would beat living out of that old tour bus, right?”

“Yeah, but it did have its charms,” Izumi replied. “Speaking of that… you’re not actually still planning on talking with her again tonight, are you?”

“Yes, I still am,” Sayaka typed back. “Look, I know that she’s been a little bit… hard to convince in the past, but it’s been years. She has to have become more reasonable since then, right?”

“It sounds to me like you don’t know her as well as you think you do.” Sayaka could almost hear Izumi sigh. “But if you really want to try and get the band back together, then I won’t stop you. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Izumi! You’re the best!” Sayaka replied, a rare genuine smile appearing on her lips just as she received yet another text. This time from Ranko Kikuchi, or ‘Andromeda’ as the public knew her.

“Hey, I noticed that you left your public disguise back at the studio,” Ranko’s message read. “You’re going out to try and talk to her aren’t you? Won’t you need this?”

“I’m afraid I had to get a new outfit,” Sayaka texted back. “The press was starting to catch on to the old one, so it’s going to have to be junked.”

“That’s a shame; you looked cute in that one. I’m going to miss it,” she replied. “Do you think maybe we could get Shikmori to wear it instead?”

“As if. You know that she’d never be caught dead in pink outside of work,” Sayaka replied, fondly remembering how ‘Glimmer’ reacted the first time they showed her first idol outfit.

“Ah, that’s right. Nevermind then,” Ranko replied just as Sayaka heard a distinct knock at her door.

“Augh… here already?” Sayaka groaned quietly to herself and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, Ranko, but I have to get going. You-know-who is here, and he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

“Oh,” Ranko texted back. “What’s he offering this time? Another movie deal? New equipment?”

“Just cash this time,” Sayaka answered. “Five million yen.”

“Wow, you’re getting cheap,” Ranko texted back with a teasing emoji.

“Hey, I was feeling generous today,” Sayaka texted back as she stood up from her seat. “Talk to you later.”

She then stashed her phone away into her purse, walked up to the door, and took a deep breath. Then, summoning her years of acting talent all at once, she put on the most sincere, warm, and welcoming smile she could as she opened the door. “Hello, sir! It’s nice to see you again!”