Chapter 34

Chapter 34: 034, Responding to Fans’ Expectations, Becoming an Idol Who Makes Fans Better, Like a Guiding Star in Life

The stroll unexpectedly lasted until evening.

The 3.8-kilometer cherry blossom path had practically been covered from beginning to end by the six of them.

In the end, they found an outdoor table at a nearby café to rest for a while.

“Naoki-san, are you still going to attend the carnival activities later?” Nakamori Akie asked.

“We are. I heard this year’s carnival is very lively,” Nagayama Naoki replied to Akie before adding, “Tsuruko and Kana came to Tokyo this time precisely to experience this kind of excitement.”

“You say that like Onii-chan doesn’t want to go. When you watched it before, you definitely thought it was boring,” Tsuruko tossed her head and went back to chatting with Akina, seeming to get along with her especially well.

“Speaking of it, I really never attended before,” Naoki recalled. “When I first came to Tokyo, I couldn’t even afford proper meals. I worked every day just to repay debts, so I never had the time.”

It was the first time Nagayama Tsuruko had heard about that period.

“You couldn’t afford food? Didn’t Onii-chan start making a lot of money right after coming to Tokyo?”

“Who told you that? When I first arrived, I relied on the allowance I had saved since childhood just to rent a place.”

“Oh?” The Nakamori sisters all looked over. “Naoki-san was poor?”

The first time they met him had been at a dance hall, and he certainly didn’t look like someone without money.

“Later, by coincidence, I wrote a song and earned some money from it.”

Akina immediately spoke up, “Was it Matsuda Seiko’s song ‘Cherry Blossom’?”

It was the first time that day Akina had spoken directly to Naoki.

“Yes, that one.”

“Did Naoki-san write it specifically for Matsuda Seiko-san?” Akina asked seriously, her round face still showing a trace of lingering awkwardness.

Naoki thought for a moment. It would be better to clear up the misunderstanding; otherwise, who knew how long the awkwardness would last.

“I’ll tell only you all. Don’t spread it around,” he said as the six girls leaned closer. They all nodded eagerly.

“Akina-san, you’ve participated in television programs before, right?”

“Yes, twice on ‘STAR! Birth.’ You already knew that, didn’t you?” Akina sounded slightly reproachful.

“Then you should know performances on those shows are directed, and participants even hold scripts, right?”

“I know. Why?”

“I’m the same.”

“Huh?”

“For that song to become a hit, the agency planned the whole story as a publicity gimmick. A fan writing a song for an idol that becomes a huge hit — that kind of topic naturally attracts attention.”

“Eh?!” x6

“So it was all fake?”

“Welcome to the complicated world of adults.

The entertainment industry is full of deception.

Some people appear mutually respectful but are actually exchanging benefits.

Someone may look like a gentleman on stage but be a notorious playboy in private.

A sweet and cute celebrity might treat staff violently behind the scenes.

And sometimes a carefree womanizer turns out to be a devoted daughter-lover at home.”

Everyone listened in astonishment. Among them, only Akina had even slightly touched the entertainment world, and she had not truly entered it yet.

Akina looked conflicted. “So Matsuda Seiko isn’t really Naoki-san’s idol? Does Naoki-san not have any idol at all?”

“Even idols are packaged images,” he said reflexively.

Seeing Akina’s expression worsen, Naoki quickly corrected himself.

“Actually, I do have an idol.”

“Who?” Her eyes lit up with expectation.

“Before, it was Yamaguchi Momoe-san.”

Naoki ultimately could not bring himself to claim Akina herself as his idol; saying that to a middle-school girl face-to-face would have been too embarrassing.

Kana added, “I remember Naoki-nii’s room used to be full of Yamaguchi Momoe records and posters!”

“Eh? Before? So not anymore?” Meiho asked.

Naoki suddenly realized he had trapped himself with his own words. If he had an idol before, then now he had none?

“That’s right. Before, yes. Now, no idol.”

“Why? There are so many new idols. Isn’t there anyone you like?”

“What do you think idols are? Household appliances you can casually replace?” Naoki’s thoughts raced until he finally found a theory that justified himself.

“For me, an idol is someone you notice for appearance, fall for because of talent, and remain loyal to because of character.

If she is truly my idol, she should respond to fans’ expectations and make fans become better people — someone like a guiding star in life.”

“In the past, Yamaguchi Momoe-san was that kind of figure. She inspired me to come to Tokyo from Shizuoka,” Naoki said with a smile. “Back then, I even thought Momoe-san was my first love.”

The conversation had been serious moments earlier, so the sudden mention of a first love made several girls blush.

“So your first love retired. Don’t you have a new one now?” Akie, being the eldest, asked without embarrassment.

“I said it was like a first love — impossible to forget,” Naoki replied playfully. “When you were young you knew nothing, but if you’re going to look for a second love, you should at least grow a little, right?”

“For now, ordinary idols leave only shallow impressions on me. I haven’t become anyone’s true devoted fan.” Then he turned to Akina. “So, although I’m sorry, Akina-san is still just an ordinary idol to me.”

Unexpectedly, Akina seemed relieved. Her spirit lifted immediately.

“Yes, it’s okay! I’ll work harder from now on! I’ll become an idol who can respond to fans’ expectations, make fans become better people, and be a guiding star in life!”

Naoki felt as if he had unintentionally elevated the girl’s ambitions enormously.

“Do your best, Akina-san.”

Time passed quickly while chatting. Spring nights always arrived early; it felt like they had only rested briefly before darkness fell.

Colorful lights in the distant park had already turned on, and crowds began moving in that direction.

“Everyone, the carnival should have started. Let’s go take a look.”

“Yes!” x6

Colored lights, banners, countless food stalls — even a live band had been invited to perform. People gathered around the stage, enjoying the music. The Meguro River carnival was extremely lively.

Following the crowd, Naoki and the others bought plenty of snacks. After walking all afternoon they had not noticed their hunger, but the smell of food quickly made everyone’s stomach growl.

Naoki held a handful of grilled skewers in his left hand, distributing them as they walked, while eating a beef skewer with his right. Everyone carried snacks, looking like country visitors amazed by city treats.

Akina’s cheeks puffed up as she ate, proving the nickname suited her perfectly.

Suddenly, a familiar melody filled the air. The band on stage began performing the recent hit song “Sakura Anata ni Deaete Yokatta” (“Sakura, I’m Glad I Met You”).

The song had already stayed at number one on the Oricon chart for three weeks, and with cherry blossom season underway, its popularity seemed certain to continue.

“Onii-chan, the background music from your commercial!” Tsuruko said excitedly. “Even bands are performing it now!”

“Is this song also written by Naoki-san?” Nakamori Akiko asked, having misunderstood and assumed he composed it.

Naoki believed she already knew, since both lyrics and composition credited his name on the record.

So he answered, “Yes. I got inspiration while filming the commercial, wrote it afterward, and it was chosen as the background music.”

“Eh??!!!” x6

“Naoki-san wrote another song?”

“Another hit song?”

“Naoki-nii is amazing!”

“Onii-chan, why didn’t you tell me!”

“Huh? I thought you already knew…” Naoki realized he had misunderstood something again.