Chapter 1: I'm Telling You to Cohabit With Me!?
“You. Live with me.”
A girl in a school uniform. Judging by the uniform, she was likely a middle school student (JC). Why did I end up being told such a thing by a complete stranger all of a sudden?
I—Kenichi Hinosaka—looked back on the day like it was a daydream.
I left home as usual, rocked by the train on my commute. I work for Shin-Nihon Publishing Distribution. A publishing distribution company, a type of business known as a “publishing intermediary.” We procure books from publishers and deliver them to bookstores nationwide. While not a conspicuous presence, we are a company that supports the current publishing industry by standing between publishers and bookstores, handling the wholesale and logistics of books.
I finished my work at the office in the morning and headed to bookstores in the afternoon. Data analysis is important, but what’s crucial is going to the actual site. For us, that means the bookstore. Customer demographics. Time spent in the store. Shelves with many people, shelves with none. There are many points to observe.
I visited several bookstores and exchanged information with the staff. While organizing the next project proposal in my head on my way back to the office—
A middle school girl suddenly jumped out in front of me and declared, “You. Live with me.”
…No matter how I look back on it, I can’t think of any reason why I would be told such a thing.
To describe her in a word, she was an exceptionally beautiful girl, on par with an idol. Her long, straight black hair was lustrous and fresh. Her slender, small face was sharp, and her limbs were long and slender, possessing a beauty like a sculpture. Despite the hot day, she didn’t sweat a drop, her cool expression leaving an impression. She looked like a picture of purity; it would feel more fitting to say she belonged on the other side of a screen.
“Are you mistaking me for someone else?”
“I’m talking to… Kenichi Hinosaka!”
Actually… this scene… feels like nothing but déjà vu. At an izakaya during a business dinner, Arisa suddenly invited me: “If you’re thinking, ‘I don’t want to date, but I wish a cute wife who can cook would just fall from the sky and marry me one day,’ then won’t you marry me?” And in a moment of madness, I accepted. Back then, my spirit was worn down from work fatigue and entertaining clients, but the situation is different now.
“We’re meeting for the first time, right? I don’t recall meeting you.”
“Eh… That time…”
Have we met somewhere…? No, at the very least, we aren’t acquaintances.
“Isn’t ‘live with me’ a bit strange out of the blue?” Still, it’s a hundred times better than “Won’t you marry me?”
“Eh… Ah… That’s…” She had been so spirited, but upon being pointed out, she faltered.
“Right, let’s go home then. You’re not lost, are you?”
“I-I can’t go home! That’s why!” I could tell the girl was desperate. Maybe I should at least ask the reason… Is it my naivety that makes me think so?
“Are there circumstances?”
“I ran away from home, so I can’t go back!”
“Go home.” I reached a conclusion in one second.
“How can you say something so merciless!?”
“It’s not merciless. A hundred out of a hundred people would say so.”
“Dogeza, then… I just have to do dogeza! I know about it!”
“Hah?”
“That dogeza solves most things in the world!”
“You haven’t been watching decent adults, have you?”
“I’ll show you!” Glaring at me, the girl dropped to one knee. “My… full-power… dogeza!”
“Stop pitching with reckless abandon! People are looking!” The image of an old guy making a middle school girl prostrate herself is terrible for public appearances.
“Come on, stand up.”
“Th-Thank you very much.” When I held out my hand, she obediently took it and stood up. Despite looking like a pure and beautiful girl, she had a tricky personality.
“Well, at your age, you’re bound to clash with your family.”
“B-But I… my family did terrible things to me…”
“…Terrible things?” The girl looked down, trembling. She bit her lip hard and gripped her uniform skirt tightly with both hands. Wait a minute… if that’s the case, then it’s a different story.
“If you go back… will they do terrible things to you?”
“Surely… again…”
“Then it’s the police.”
“The police are wrong!”
“Child consultation center? Anyway, consulting the appropriate place is best.”
“No… it’s not…” Tears looked like they were about to spill from her eyes as she spoke.
“Alright. For now, no police.” I’m aware I’m being too soft. However, there’s a limit to what I can do for a complete stranger. Taking a runaway girl around could be kidnapping if I’m not careful.
“But… why am I the one you’re consulting?”
“Because you… are Arisa Kimisaka‘s… f-fiancé, right?”
“You know about me and Arisa—MARIA?” Moreover, the girl knows MARIA‘s real name, which hasn’t been made public.
“She appeared on internet TV and released a book. I… am in the class next to Arisa Kimisaka.” As I thought, seeing her uniform was the same as Arisa‘s, I suspected as much. And they’re in the same grade.
“And I… am her rival.”
“…Rival? What kind of relationship is that?”
“A worthy opponent.”
“You just rephrased it.” Are they on good terms? If so, she could be called an indirect acquaintance.
“Of course, I won’t ask for free. I have a price prepared.” The girl made an unexpected proposal.
“Price?”
“Yes, I’ll help you solve the problem Arisa Kimisaka is having at school.”
“The problem Arisa is having… at school?”
“Right. …Eh, because it is a problem, isn’t it?” I involuntarily took a step closer to her.
“I’d like to hear the details.”
“Pardon the intrusion!”
This is the second fifteen-year-old JC to enter my apartment where I live alone. …Will the neighbors start strange rumors? In the end, I decided to let her—Ryo Takemi—into my house. If she’s in the same grade at the same school as Arisa, it’s just inviting my wife’s friend to the house, so there shouldn’t be a problem. …Probably.
“This is strictly to talk calmly.” Since it’s a complicated story, she refused a cafe or family restaurant, so it ended up being my house.
“After that, you’ll let me stay, right?”
“Listen, unless it’s someone incredibly trustworthy, staying at a man’s house is…”
“But you are worthy of trust, aren’t you?” Takemi tilted her head.
“If you ask me that… I’ll affirm it, but.”
“Then there’s no problem.” She’s quite bold.
“…W-Where should I sit?” Takemi hugged her bag to her chest and looked around the room restlessly.
“You were forceful about barging in, but you’re careful about strange things.” When I offered a cushion, Takemi sat primly on it in seiza. Her shoulders were stiff.
“Want a drink?”
“…Vegetable juice?”
“Arisa likes it. So I thought maybe.”
“…I was wondering, but you call her by her first name, ‘Arisa‘.”
“Ah, she’s noisy about telling me to call her that.”
“Then, if I also say call me ‘Ryo‘… will you call me that?”
“Takemi-san is… Takemi-san, I guess.”
“As I thought… you absolutely want to make me do dogeza!?”
“Nobody asked for that.” Don’t say it with teary eyes.
“…Alright. Ryo, right? I’ll call you that.” Whatever I call her is fine. It would be trouble if she really cried.
“R-Ryo… such an intimate way of calling me… it’s embarrassing. Ufu.”
“Maybe I should stop.”
“You don’t have to stop!? Once you’ve called me that, keep it fixed as long as your eyes are black!”
“Meaning for a lifetime.” She was a girl whose expressions changed rapidly, never boring to watch.
“Phew, I’m kind of tired, so I’ll have some.” Takemi… Ryo inserted the straw into the paper pack of vegetable juice and sipped. After one drink, she let out a sigh. The tension in her shoulders relaxed a little.
I definitely want to extract the story about the problem Arisa is having at school. But if that information is the ‘price,’ it’s only proper to hear her story first.
“You two live here together, right? It doesn’t really feel like two people living here though.”
“It’s not like we live together all the time usually.”
“Hmm………………….Eh?”
“Don’t look like you just received a shocking confession.”
“W-W-What did you say…!? You… aren’t cohabiting with Arisa Kimisaka!?”
“She comes to stay. Not every day, though.” Oops. Did she suspect our engagement was suspicious?
“Then today!?”
“She has school on weekdays and is busy, so she doesn’t stay over much.”
“School too…?”
“Did something happen at school?”
“No……… but, wait! If that’s the case, does that mean I’m currently… a stupid, weak lamb barging into a man’s house who lives alone…!?”
“I told you it wasn’t a good idea.”
Ryo began to tremble violently.
“No way… a man whose engagement is decided and is cohabiting… let alone a man who made such a declaration of love, there’s no way he would lay a hand on another girl staying at the same place… My perfect theoretical defense that it should be the same as staying at a female classmate’s house is…!?”
“Unfortunately, it has collapsed.”
“D-Does that mean I’m alone with a wolf right now…!? No, the opponent is a married man… but a lolicon whose strike zone is fifteen…!? My chastity is…”
Ryo hugged her bag to her chest and slowly backed away.
“Just because of that doesn’t mean I’m going to lay a hand on you.”
“P… Please be gentle…”
Zip, Ryo undid her uniform ribbon herself.
“What’s with that decisiveness!? Wait, wait, don’t put your hand on your uniform buttons!?”
I stood up, trying to calm her down anyway—
“Kenichi-saaaan! I heard a weird woman appeared————eh?”
“Ah.” “Heh?”
The one who jumped into the room was another beautiful girl, Arisa Kimisaka, who radiates a brilliance that steals your eyes anywhere, anytime. That Arisa looked at us and widened her eyes.
I was standing over Ryo as if covering her to soothe her… And Ryo had disheveled her clothes with teary eyes. Objectively looking, I feel this is very bad.
“Kenichi-san… what is this…?”
Arisa‘s voice instantly turned cold.
“L-Let me explain. I think there’s surely a misunderstanding.”
“Why are you paying money to bring in a girl!? Even though I’m here!?”
“That’s a bigger misunderstanding than I imagined!?”
“I understand the feeling of wanting to practice before me, but!?”
“You sound understanding but you’re not at all! It’s different! And you came early!?”
“Is there a problem with being early!?”
“Actually, it helped! Umm…, look, Ryo. It’s Arisa. You’re safe now, right?”
“Ryo…? Why are you calling her by her first name…?”
Arisa emitted an aura that seemed like it would come with a menacing Gogogogo sound effect.
“There’s no other intention! More importantly, talk to her yourself!”
Ryo raised her face, and Arisa looked down at Ryo intently. After taking a few deep breaths, Ryo opened her mouth.
“L-Long time no see.”
“…Umm?”
“You know me a little, right!? Ryo Takemi! Same school! Class next door!”
“I know, but.”
“You have a bad personality!?”
I felt relieved for the moment that there was no lie in Ryo‘s explanation.
“So, is she a rival?”
“Rival?”
Arisa looked blank.
“R-Rival, right!? In the first-year beauty contest, I was second to you who was first! In regular tests too, I’m second to you who is number one!”
“I’m not interested in that kind of ranking. Let alone remembering everyone I beat one by one.”
“That’s merciless, hey.”
It seems Arisa shows… yet another expression to her friends at school.
For the time being, the three of us sat around the oval table.
“I mean, I told you on the phone that Ryo was coming.”
Reacting to the name Ryo, Arisa glared at me sharply. No… I haven’t done anything wrong, so let’s remain dignified.
“Because it looked like you were in the middle of some untoward play with a girl in a uniform, I jumped to conclusions.”
“I am not a lolicon.”
“The entire population will say ‘zero persuasiveness (lol)’ to that.”
“Thanks to you! Anyway, about Ryo!”
I shifted my gaze to Ryo sitting in front of me.
“I want to hear Ryo‘s story, but is it okay with Arisa here?”
It might be a story she doesn’t want school friends to know. That’s why I intended to call Arisa later, but… the schedule went awry because she rushed over immediately.
“Umm…”
Ryo, having fixed her disheveled uniform, seemed conversely nervous now that Arisa appeared.
“If there’s no story, let’s have her go home.”
“Don’t say cold things.”
“Because is it directly related to me and Kenichi-san? Hmm?”
“…Indirectly, maybe. But directly… no.”
“See. Then isn’t there no obligation to let her in?”
“There’s no obligation. But… I hate doing nothing when asked for help.”
Because I know the suffering tasted when not reaching out, and conversely the possibilities that open up when reaching out. The one who taught me that was Arisa Kimisaka.
“…As I thought, Kenichi-san tries to help anyone, whoever they are. …Even if it’s not me…”
Muttering under her breath, Arisa sighed.
“If it’s a middle school girl.”
“I’m not limiting the age. It’s all-ages compatible.”
“That’s Kenichi-san’s good point. But… I oppose helping this girl!”
“Hey, that’s too much… Is there a reason?”
I conveyed that she seemed troubled. Even if they aren’t close, they are schoolmates. Yet to reject so firmly, is there a reason to dislike her? Because… she’s a rival?
“I… don’t want to help an author who sold her soul to e-books!”
“…………Who are you talking about?”
“Kenichi-san still doesn’t understand Ryo Takemi‘s true identity, do you!?”
“True identity? Ryo is… an author?”
Suddenly, Ryo stood up and struck a pose like an idol bathed in a spotlight.
“That’s right. I, Ryo Takemi, am… a Super Idol Beautiful Girl Author!”
“The gap between when you’re in form and when you’re not is intense.”
Is she the type who is strong when in her element but weak to irregularities?
“Umm, leaving aside the ‘Super Idol Beautiful Girl’ part…”
“You don’t have to leave it aside?”
“I can tell by looking that you’re beautiful on the level of a super idol.”
“Eh… is that so? Th-Thank you very much?”
“Wait a minute Kenichi-san! don’t do rom-com with just anyone! Return to the topic!”
Arisa banged the table like a child bam bam. Cute.
“I’m not doing rom-com. Umm, are you an author?”
Ryo, whose face had turned red, cleared her throat ahem and returned to a cool face.
“Yes, shall I show you my work?”
Ryo took out a tablet PC from her bag and showed me the screen. It was a famous novel submission site. There was a search window at the very top, and below that, a flashy slide banner was flowing. She tapped the banner for “Featured Romance Novels” within the page. At the top, it said [『Because You Called Me』 Ryo Takemi] and…
“Is this you, Ryo?”
“That’s right.”
Ryo operated the screen to move to the work’s page. When she tapped the “Purchase this work” button at the top of the page, it jumped directly to an e-book sales site. On that e-book sales site, one could purchase so-called “pro” books and manga published by numerous publishers. At the same time, it was possible to purchase so-called “amateur” books published by individuals without going through a publisher, labeled “Self-Publishing.”
Ryo‘s work had the tag [Self-Publishing]. Furthermore, it had tags for [Ranking #1] and [Novel].
“Is Ryo aiming to be an author, writing novels and submitting them?” If ranked number one in self-publishing, there might be offers from publishers.
“I’m not aiming. I am already a pro ‘author’.”
“Have you published a book already?”
“The book publication you speak of… meaning publication of a paper book, I have never done. No, I have no intention of doing it! Because e-books are sufficient!”
“We don’t recognize such authors, right Kenichi-san!”
In the past, publishing a book via a publisher was the only way to be recognized as a pro ‘author.’ But now, anyone can sell a book they wrote as an e-book. Given that, the old definition of a pro no longer holds meaning. In the first place, even the boundary between pro and amateur becomes ambiguous.
“Thinking that only people who still publish books from publishers are ‘authors’ is too old-fashioned. Rather, new generation authors shine precisely outside the mechanism of the old-fashioned publishing industry. Like this, serializing columns on websites. Of course, I receive manuscript fees.”
On the page Ryo showed, a banner written “Idol Author Ryo Takemi” was proudly displayed on the top page. Then, she showed a blog-style content sales site this time.
“Also here, I provide free and paid content. I’ve even entered the top sales with paid content.”
“Breaking into the top ranks on a major site… is amazing.”
Looking at the display, the ranking of followers within the site is 21st.
“Fufufu, I am confident I earn more than those unsold old-type ‘authors’ around there!”
At that moment, Takemi‘s finger touched the screen and the display switched. It was an administrator page, and there were numbers that looked like sales amounts. One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand…
“Ah, I want you to pretend you didn’t see this.”
Ryo hurriedly returned to the original page. I also looked away midway but… it was an amount with quite a few digits.
In recent years, the number of people publishing books individually utilizing the internet without relying on traditional publishing distribution is increasing. However, the reality is that except for a very small number of bestsellers, they are not earning yet. Amidst that, Ryo was pounding out sales of an amount that could be called ‘income’ without issue.
“If you don’t call me, who monetizes written text content by selling it on a web platform environment, a pro, what do you call me?”
“I admit you’re a pro… But ‘author’… feels somewhat different! Right, Kenichi-san?”
“…I know Arisa has love for bookstores and paper books, but do you hate e-books?”
“I think e-books themselves are good things. You can buy books anytime, they’re convenient to carry, out-of-print books disappear, and there are merits for both authors and readers. But…”
“But?”
“…Publish in paper too, not just electronic form! Why only electronic! Even though there are people you can’t reach unless it’s paper!”
To Arisa protesting fiercely, Ryo laughed while brushing up her hair whoosh.
“Paper is definitely old type. For future new authors, it’s something particularly unnecessary!”
“It becomes a good book because the power of not just the author but the publisher, distributor, and bookstore is combined!”
“Are you two close at school?”
” “Not close!” “
I think they are definitely close though… A fifteen-year-old who has passion for ‘books’ in such a broad sense and is furthermore a disseminator herself is rare. Just their orientation is decisively different.
“Anyway, Hinosaka-san, who works for a distribution company, will also say he doesn’t recognize people who haven’t published paper books as authors, right…”
“Not at all. Rather, I respect Ryo who opens up a new path on her own.”
“Yes yes, that’s right. In the end, everyone only tries to recognize successful people in the already established world… Eh, re-respect?”
“Just writing a book is amazing, but for it to be a product. Not an average fifteen-year-old.”
There must have been her own effort too. Surely publishers won’t leave her alone either.
“So you two are rivals as expressers called authors.”
“That’s right! My debut was earlier.”
“But my name recognition and bestseller degree are higher, right? As an expresser, it’s my overwhelming victory.”
“Gununu…! …Someday I’ll make you cry!”
They are bickering about this and that.
“But let’s help rival Ryo.”
It might be different from a close friend, but I can’t easily abandon Ryo who is close with Arisa.
“Eh…”
“—So, that’s what happened.”
“Senpai, that is completely out of line.”
My junior colleague at the next desk delivered the verdict in a cool tone. Her reddish short hair had a single cowlick springing up today.
“Declaring marriage to a middle school girl (JC), and then picking up another middle school girl (JC) to live with you…”
“Technically speaking, it’s just MARIA’s friend staying over temporarily…”
“Are you trying to make enemies of every lolicon in the world, Senpai?”
“Aren’t those the wrong enemies to be worried about?”
The day after I eventually lost the argument and let Arisa and Ryo stay at my place, I went to work and explained the gist of the situation to my colleague, Ayako Senga. I didn’t have anything to hide. Though, this was all whispered before everyone else arrived at the office.
“I don’t intend to keep her for days. Once she sorts out her problem or whatever, that’s it.”
“Sigh. Why do JCs always bring their problems to you, Senpai?”
She’s in her third year at the company, three years my junior, and she seemed utterly exasperated.
“Well, she is a friend from the same school as MARIA.”
“So you’re planning to catch JCs one after another like digging up sweet potatoes and build a harem! I need to write this on the internet immediately!”
“Don’t do that, even as a joke.”
“I know, I know. It’s just a physical gag you’re performing to try and boost sales numbers by feeding scoops to weekly magazines, right?”
“A scoop like that wouldn’t make the magazines… It wouldn’t, right?”
“Senpai, do you realize how much of a stir you caused? Throwing additional fuel onto the embers of a massive flame war has great cost-performance, you know?”
Coming from Senga, who loves gossip more than three square meals a day (by her own admission), that sounded worryingly accurate.
“Honestly, I don’t care about myself anymore. I just don’t want to cause trouble for those around me…”
After the massive flaming incident and a period of suspension, I managed to return to work. However, they couldn’t keep a person who caused problems in the same position, so I was ordered to transfer to a support role within the same Strategic Planning Department. Under the guise of departmental support, my workload consisted mostly of menial tasks. Despite that, I was also assigned new missions and expected to produce results.
“I got dragged into it too, you know~.”
Senga had been transferred to the current section along with me.
“…I’m really sorry about that.”
“I’m joking. Section Chief Mizuno told me, ‘I’ll protect you, so don’t worry.'”
Although the time allocated for the support section was short, my boss remained Section Chief Mizuno.
“If it’s going to cause trouble for the company, maybe I shouldn’t stick my neck into Takemi-san’s business.”
“Well~, I wonder about that~.”
Senga grinned.
“It’s more entertaining to watch you ignore the company’s intentions and go rogue. I’m sure there are people expecting that kind of ‘breakthrough’ from you.”
She spoke with strange conviction.
“The current publishing industry needs strange people… it needs perverts. For example, a JC-lover.”
“I don’t want to revolutionize the industry as a JC-loving pervert.” Rather, I want to shed the JC-lover character.
“Anyway, was it Takemi-san? Calling her by her first name, are you treating her as ‘my waifu’ already?”
“Totally wrong. ‘Takemi’ is her surname. Her full name is Ryo Takemi.” I actually call her ‘Ryo,’ but I’ll keep that quiet for now.
“Eh… Ryo Takemi?”
Senga’s eyes widened.
“Ryo Takemi… fifteen years old…? No way… it can’t be…!”
She showed an excessive reaction.
“Do you know her? She is an e-book author, after all. I was ignorant about it, though.”
“You mean the idol author Ryo Takemi, who declared herself a new generation author relying not on paper books but mainly active in e-books… is that who you mean?”
“Probably, yes.”
“What a…!”
Senga was at a loss for words.
“…Can I call you ‘Onii-chan’ (Big Brother)?”
“Why!?”
“…Seriously, what is going on with you following MARIA? How do you catch them? No, is it precisely because you have a connection with MARIA? …Hmph.”
Senga closed in on me.
“Maybe you really are a person who will use JCs as stepping stones to break through to the top, Senpai.”
“That sounds terrible… This time it was just because she was at the same school as MARIA. It just happened that Ryo… Takemi-san was a popular e-book author.”
“Senpai… you… haven’t looked into Ryo Takemi very deeply yet, have you?”
“I was planning to look her up on the net after this.”
“…You don’t need to look her up. Instead!”
She shook her head, then suddenly raised her eyebrows and pointed at me.
“Tomorrow, Saturday! Go on a date with me!”
“I’ve had my fill of forced events involving middle school girls…”
2:00 PM, at the ticket gate of the designated station. I was dressed lightly in a polo shirt, jeans, and a shoulder bag. The station on Saturday was bustling with families and groups of university students. Yesterday, when I demanded a reason, she threatened me: “Just shut up and come,” “Senpai needs educational guidance,” and “If you don’t come, I’ll spread rumors around the office that you brought another JC home.” So I came reluctantly, but…
“You came, Senpai.”
Senga arrived wearing a white shirt and overalls. Combined with her petite stature, she looked like a university student, or if things went poorly, a high school student.
“So, where’s the destination? It’s hot, so indoors would be nice.”
“It’s a covered outdoor venue. But it’s full of people and hot. Especially the heat generated by middle-aged men. Therefore, I shall bestow this upon you.”
“Hm… A glow stick?”
I would learn the meaning of that item by the time we entered the venue.
Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Young girl. Young girl. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy. Person with kids. Middle-aged guy. Middle-aged guy.
“Hmm, it’s full of middle-aged guys.”
“You are also a contributing factor to the rising density of middle-aged guys, Senpai.”
“I don’t want to admit it… but it’s a fact.”
Handed two blue glow sticks, I stood alongside Senga in the covered outdoor live venue. The audience in the venue, awaiting the start of the show, must have exceeded a thousand people. The heat was intense.
“So, your lead-in was ‘you’ll understand when it starts,’ but can I check the answer now?”
The surroundings had the intense atmosphere of moments before a battle. People holding glow sticks. People wearing headbands with girls’ names on them. People holding fans (uchiwa). People wearing colorful Happi coats. The common point was that everyone was fired up to the max. I was worried if it was okay for a rank amateur like me to be near the front row in this heat.
“Is that so? Have I been found out…?”
Senga was equipped with four glow sticks in her right hand and four in her left, a total of eight.
“Then, allow me to introduce them!”
The stage curtain rose. Colorful lights illuminated the stage.
UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A cheer like an earth tremor resonated in my stomach. Not losing to the surrounding voices and the music flowing from the speakers, Senga shouted in my ear.
“The rapidly rising, national little-sister idol group… The Sisters!!”
Over a dozen girls in white-based uniform-like costumes were lined up. The intro ended, and they posed with sparkling, dazzling smiles. Then, they burst into dance.
“Aren’t they all… really young!?”
“The average age is 15.7 years old! They are everyone’s… Little Sisters!”
Youthful and fresh. Dancing purely, making the space sparkle. As if to go to the opposite extreme of the glamour on stage—a fierce chant began from the audience surrounding me.
“Urya! Urya! Urya-urya-oi-oi!”
Senga next to me was also chanting at full throttle (with choreography).
“H-Hey Senga! I can’t keep up at all!? What should I do!?”
I shouted in Senga’s ear seeking help.
“It’s okay! Oi-oi! Everyone is a beginner at first! Urya! Urya! First, don’t worry about those around you and find a ‘Moe Imouto’ (little sister) you can support! U-oi!”
“Isn’t your chant timing a little too perfect!?”
“I’m moonlighting as an idol otaku! It’s a double job along with being a gossipper!”
“You work for a publishing distribution company, don’t you!”
“That’s just a disguise! Fuu-fuu-fuu-fuu!”
“You’re finding too much purpose in life outside of work!”
“I hesitated to show a live concert of the precious idols, The Sisters, to you, Senpai, a man who genuinely loves real 15-year-olds! Okay, one-two! I was afraid you might fall into the deep end and fall in love for real! But I guess it’s too late for that with you, Senpai!”
“I’m not a dangerous guy.”
So just because I was shown a live concert of an idol group with an average age of 15.7… Certainly, everyone’s hard work comes across… The songs are pop and catchy… And I feel a desire to protect them… or rather, I really want to cheer for them. The ‘Little Sister Idol’ concept really fits… The heat of the fans is amazing too… There’s a sense of unity in the venue. My body started itching to move. It feels weird for just me to be standing still. Ah, this phrase happened earlier too—
“Fuu-fuu-fuu-fuu!”
“You adapt fast, don’t you, Senpai!?”
“It’s a loss if I don’t enjoy it!”
Honestly, it was super fun.
“Very well! Senpai, you are now a fan of The Sisters… You may call yourself ‘Onii-chan’!”
“Well~… when I think about it calmly, it’s a system that’s slightly off-putting.”
『Thank you for coming to The Sisters’ live concert today~!』
One song ended, and the MC talk began.
『One, two… Onii-chaaaan!』
UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The surrounding men let out a war cry all at once.
『Onee-chaaaan!』
—Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
High-pitched voices also rose from the back.
“There are female fans too…”
“Because of their high visual level, they’re popular with women too! They’re different from those business-idols that just target lolicon old men!”
Senga’s seriousness is scary. The heat of the other ‘Onii-chans’ and ‘Onee-chans’ is also scary. But, in such a situation, I was about to discover an even more terrifying fact.
The MC had moved on to member self-introductions. One word each, giving a simple greeting. I tried hard not to let it enter my field of vision. I wanted to believe it was just my imagination. However, mercilessly—that moment arrived.
The next one to bring the microphone to her mouth was a tall girl even within the group. A girl with an outstanding figure, whose dignified appearance made you want to describe her as a cool beauty. The girl who left my house early this morning saying she “had plans.”
『The singing, dancing, and “writing” intellectual idol, Ryo Takemi heeeere!』
“I knew there was a punchline like thiiiiiiiis!”
I was hoping for a miracle, like she was actually a twin! In other words, I let not just a fifteen-year-old… but a fifteen-year-old idol stay at my house.
“Do you understand now, Senpai! You laid hands on an outrageous girl!”
“I haven’t laid a hand on her!”
Sweat poured down me like a waterfall.
“It’s the same if I let her stay at my house! What if a weekly magazine gets another scoop!?”
If a man who declared he was cohabiting, dating, and marrying a fifteen-year-old charismatic model was exposed two months later bringing another fifteen-year-old idol into his home, how on earth would the public react?
“It… it would be hell…!”
“The ones who feel like they’ve been thrown into hell are the fans!? Anyway, please realize you’re walking a dangerous tightrope!”
If this gets out, nobody will be happy. To avoid the worst possible outcome, I must act cautiously—
Shocking Two-Timing Lolicon Scum!? Late-20s Male Who Declared Marriage to JC Model MARIA (15) Takes Home Ryo Takemi (15) of Idol Group ‘The Sisters’!
What was that marriage declaration all about…? The news that charismatic JC model MARIA (15), who garners overwhelming support mainly from teenage girls, declared she was dating and marrying Kenichi Hinosaka, a publishing distribution company employee twelve years her senior, is still fresh in our memories. While criticism arose that dating between a 27-year-old and a 15-year-old was unacceptable, arguments defending it as “acceptable if it’s pure love” also appeared, causing a stir in society. Now, shocking news has flown in that this same Kenichi Hinosaka invited another woman into his home. Moreover, that partner was Ryo Takemi (15), a popular member of the idol group “The Sisters,” whose average age is 15.7. —Continue reading in the paid article.
It was exposed instantly, like a demon. And it was exposed in the flashiest way possible.
“That was way too fast…! Hey!”
I took my anger out on my home computer. The article was published on the web media of a publisher that issues gossip magazines the very next day after I went to The Sisters’ live concert.
“It feels like they released it immediately after catching the info.”
Immediately after the article was published, I received a call from Senga, and I learned of the article’s existence.
“From a gossipper’s perspective, my only comment on Senpai’s scum two-timing lolicon article would be ‘explode.’ But speaking from another perspective… I am angry.”
“That’s understandable. Even though you warned me, it’s affecting work again…”
“How will you take responsibility if our little sisters, The Sisters, lose momentum because of this!?”
Senga‘s idol otaku soul was ignited.
“As a big sister, I should have protected my little sisters better! And yet… just because there happened to be a live concert the next day, I thought Senpai’s reaction would be funny if I took him. Or maybe I could convert Senpai and kill two birds with one stone. My shallow greed drove my little sisters into a corner…! Ah, what have I done…!”
“…I’m busy, so I’m hanging up for now.”
Throwing my mobile phone aside, I checked the reactions online on SNS and other platforms.
[Too much of a scumbag] [Crush him] [Should have been arrested for lolicon crimes earlier] [Must not forgive this man who laid hands on our little sister] [He violated the taboo. Sanction him] [He used connections in the publishing industry again. Ryo-rin writes novels too] (“Ryo-rin” seems to be her nickname from fans).
It’s a natural retribution. With such an article out, criticism from fans is erupting.
[What is management doing] [Shouldn’t let such a man get close] [Disappointed in Takemi] [Lack of awareness as an idol]
The spearhead of criticism was directed not only at me but also at the management and the idol herself, Ryo.
[I supported them thinking it was pure love] [Does this mean MARIA was two-timed?] [MARIA was cheated on] [What’s good about this old guy. His face isn’t much either]
There were also opinions regarding MARIA. I’m the bad guy, but damage to her image is unavoidable.
“What is everyone saying whatever they want! Kenichi-san is handsome!”
“Isn’t that the wrong thing to get angry about?”
MARIA—Arisa was also checking internet public opinion next to me and complaining.
“Sigh. It’s become a huge mess again. …The notifications are insane.”
Arisa threw her smartphone, whose notifications wouldn’t stop, onto the cushion.
“Sorry…”
“Kenichi-san let her into the house, but didn’t intend to let her stay. It was me and Ryo Takemi who forced it into cohabitation. It’s reaping what you sow.”
“You’re awfully refreshed about it.”
“I won’t get discouraged by a flaming of this level now.” Her guts are steady; it’s captivating.
“In the first place, the one most responsible is Ryo Takemi! She couldn’t possibly not know what would happen if her own cohabitation was exposed, right?”
“She doesn’t seem like an irresponsible girl to me, though.”
Then, Arisa‘s smartphone vibrated, signaling an incoming call.
“Eh… a call. I hate it if it’s someone from work… wait, Ryo Takemi!?”
Seeing the display, Arisa hurriedly answered the call.
“Hello!?”
Curious about the content, I moved closer to Arisa. I hadn’t been able to talk properly with Ryo, who left the house early this morning too.
“K-Kenichi-san. Don’t try to push me down while I’m on the phone. Later, as much as you want…”
“Like hell I would. What did Ryo say?”
“Eh… uh-huh. …Check the URL she sends after this?”
(From The Sisters Member Idol Author Ryo Takemi Official Blog “TAKEMI RYO”)
To all my fans, I’m sorry for surprising you with the sudden report… However, I think you’ll be let down saying “oh, is that it” when I tell you the truth.
Actually, a large crack was found in the Takemi family home, forcing urgent repair work. Along with this, I became unable to use my room for two months. There was a proposal to rent a temporary apartment, but due to various circumstances, it fell through, and when I was in trouble… my friend MARIA-chan invited me to come to her house!
Actually, I, Ryo Takemi, and MARIA-chan attend the same school! So, I decided to rely on MARIA-chan’s kindness. She even said I could stay for the entire duration of the renovations.
As you all know, MARIA-chan has a wonderful man she is promised to marry. The house where MARIA-chan lives = the house where that man lives, so I might have caused you worry. But please think carefully. I just stayed at a close friend’s house. Naturally, her family is there too, but if I worry about that, I won’t be able to have sleepovers at any friend’s house.
Many of you may have misunderstood due to the sensational expressions, but please look at the facts calmly. After all… they are a couple (provisional) who made such a lovey-dovey marriage declaration!
Also, as I think all fans know, The Sisters is a group made of connections between little sisters and big brothers/big sisters. Each member conducts their own activities under their own responsibility while belonging to The Sisters to fly to the next step. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with other members. It is entirely my responsibility.
I will explain directly to the fans at an official place later. Once again, to all fans, I am sorry for causing a disturbance.
Ryo
To state the conclusion, the flaming subsided before it could flare up significantly.
“This is solely because my quick initial response was effective! It was a wonderful explanation mixing truth and falsehood, wasn’t it!”
Ryo, who returned to my house at night, puffed out her chest proudly.
“There wouldn’t have been any flaming if you weren’t here, though!”
Arisa didn’t seem convinced, but indeed the initial response was magnificent. Ryo completed uploading the explanation text to her official blog, reporting on SNS, and uploading an explanation video on the official site on the very day the article came out. Because the explanation spread along with the article, Ryo‘s side of the story was properly heard. Also, since the article was paid, few people paid money to read the inside.
“Distributing it immediately as a paid web article without letting it sit might have been because there was a judgment that it wouldn’t become a big scoop,” was Senga‘s opinion. “Perhaps a strategy to earn small change in a speed contest. In any case, Ryo-rin‘s response was wonderful! Godly response not to damage the group! As expected of the big sister among the little sisters that The Sisters boast—”
I hung up the phone when Senga switched from gossipper to idol otaku mode.
Thanks to Ryo‘s explanation fitting perfectly, we had a narrow escape. The management’s quick response was also excellent. The fact that there was a separate point of surprise—”It’s unexpected that MARIA and Ryo Takemi are at the same school and are close!”—was probably good in the end. If they are schoolmates, staying at a friend’s house itself isn’t strange.
“It means Ryo Takemi was still small fry. It wouldn’t have gone like this with me.”
“Not flaming is a win, right!?”
“It was realized again that I am above in popularity and attention.”
“Why do I have to taste a sense of defeat…!?”
Trying to compete is probably because Arisa also recognizes Ryo.
“Ryo and Arisa are both entertainers too, huh.”
Naturally, one would want to say rivals.
“Kimisaka-san is strictly a model, and hasn’t advanced into the entertainment world in earnest, I suppose? I am an idol who silences crying children.”
“But I win in follower count and such.”
“Kuh, frustrating!”
She’s supposed to be selling a cool character, but her emotional expression is rich.
“…What is MARIA… Popping up, rapidly increasing followers, and finally putting out a book… To top it off… that it was Arisa Kimisaka! Doing idol activities, active as a web author, I was supposed to have gone above Arisa Kimisaka who I always lost to at school… Why are you still above me!?”
“Isn’t it ability?”
“Gah…………”
Dealt the final blow, Ryo hung her head in silence.
“…But that ends now.”
Ryo sat up abruptly.
“During this cohabitation… I will surpass you.”
“Hasn’t the objective changed?”
I involuntarily retorted.
“Impossible even if it takes a lifetime. That you exceed me in charm… and obtain Kenichi-san, that is!”
“The interpretation is too skewed.”
Aren’t you two doing this on purpose?
“Well, even without fighting over who is above, both of you are amazing enough. Going to school while being active as expressers.”
When I said that, the two looked at each other.
“…Well, yeah.”
“…I suppose so.”
What is that strange pause? More importantly, the biggest concern right now is…
“Anyway, please treat me well in our cohabitation life from now on♡”
Ryo smiles brightly.
“I can’t treat you well! I can’t, but…”
“If we don’t cohabit at least a minimum amount, Ryo Takemi‘s story will look like a lie.”
Arisa covers for her next to Ryo.
“Arisa… You conveniently turn into an enemy at times like this.”
“Isn’t that best for me, Kenichi-san, and Ryo Takemi?”
Ryo‘s explanation contains lies, such as not being able to return home for a long period.
“It’s necessary to bring my words as close to the truth as possible, right?”
Only at times like this are the two in perfect sync. Is there really a choice left that can be called the correct answer? The only thing that can be said is that the worst situation—the cohabitation of the three of us—has already been exposed, and there is no turning back. And the problem Ryo is carrying, and the problem Arisa is carrying at school, still remain.
“…Until the turmoil settles down.”
“As expected of Kenichi-san, who has a reputation for being a pushover.”
“Everything is according to my calculation!”
Maybe I should kick them out after all?
