In Tokyo: They are heavily dependent on me

Chapter 57. I...I've given up on being an idol.

After leaving the hospital, Xun rode her bicycle to take Xiaolin home.

It was getting dark, and the wind, which had been warm at first, had turned somewhat cold.

"Hoshino-kun, you've been a huge help today, thank you so much."

On the back of the bicycle, Xiaolin's body was pressed against his back, and he could feel that the body temperature was a little cold.

"You're welcome. Tell me, after visiting your aunt, where are you going to spend your money next?"

Xiaolin looked somewhat displeased that he had made the decision on his own.

"I'm not going anywhere! I'm going home today... I haven't finished my homework... I don't want to get scolded by Ms. Shoko because of this."

"Really? You seem quite unfamiliar today."

Upon arriving at Kobayashi's apartment, Kaoru stopped the car, and Kobayashi got off the back of the bicycle.

Seeing that Kaoru was about to turn and leave, she gripped the sides of her skirt tightly with both hands, as if she had made a great decision, and finally decided to speak.

"Hoshino-kun, can you tell me now? Why... did you go to such lengths to help me...?"

"I can't help you with anything... You're the one who's giving, whether it's money or time. Could it be... that Hoshino-kun is doing this because he likes me...?"

"Kobayashi, didn't I already tell you?"

Xun stopped the car and looked at her with a cold, somewhat disgusted gaze.

Don't flatter yourself, I don't like you, on the contrary, I hate you.

"Ugh... I don't believe it!"

Kobayashi rushed forward, placed his hands on the bicycle, and made him look directly into his eyes.

"If you hate me... why are you helping me so much? You clearly like me, that's why you give me money and don't refuse my requests... You're doing this because you like me, is there any other reason?"

Seeing Xun remain silent, a mocking expression on her face, she bit her lip and reluctantly forced out a sentence from deep in her throat...

"Isn't... that's not how it is...? Answer me... just say anything..."

"Stop joking, Xiaolin. Someone like you doesn't care whether others like you or not. You only live in that vain world. For you, as long as you have money, that's enough."

That's not it...no...that's not it!

Kobayashi wanted to explain, trying to use heavy words to clarify everything.

However... the words were on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, they fell back down.

She couldn't refute what Kaoru said.

Even the last trace of resentment in his heart gradually turned into particles, which were quickly blown away by the wind.

All I could hear was the sound of bicycles passing by on the road.

As if all the strength in her limbs had been drained, Xiaolin slumped to the ground, the books in her schoolbag scattered all over the floor, their pages turning incessantly in the wind, the bookmarks inside blown away. She ignored all of this, feeling as if something unseen was blocking her throat, preventing her from making a sound.

Is that really... true...?

A vain person like me...won't be liked by anyone...

Such thoughts filled her mind.

------------

The meeting place was a somewhat cheap-looking coffee shop.

Kaoru waited for ten minutes, checked the time three times, and was wondering if the guy would be late when the glass door of the store opened.

The girl, whose face was completely covered by a mask, was cautiously observing her surroundings.

Perhaps seeing Kaoru sitting in the corner, or perhaps realizing that no one was paying attention to her, she lowered her head and quickly found a seat, as if fleeing from something terrifying.

She had just breathed a sigh of relief when a nearby waiter, sensing her presence, came over and handed her the coffee menu.

"Uh...that..."

"Please give me two cups of blended coffee."

Kaoru smiled.

The female waitress's attention was successfully drawn to it.

As soon as the waiter turned to leave, his gaze immediately fell on the girl wearing a mask in front of him.

Although she wasn't wearing the same striking eye makeup as when they met before, Kaoru still remembered her.

In addition, this guy looked to be less than 150 centimeters tall, so he recognized him immediately.

Aozora Asuka, former lead vocalist of the group LOVE.

"Now you should believe what I said back then, right?"

It was clear that the guy in front of me wasn't in a good mental state.

There were obvious dark circles under her eyes, as if she often suffered from insomnia and couldn't sleep well. Her eyes were bloodshot, making her look completely different from when I first met her.

Qingkong Feiniao gave a soft "hmm," looking as if she realized her mistake and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

No one knows that she has been having a very difficult time lately...

After leaving the idol group, her income became the most critical issue.

She poured her heart and soul into creating a work that was stolen by others... She didn't understand why she was being attacked by countless fans who once liked her when she was just telling the truth.

"Liar," "Completely shameless," "People like this should disappear," "Go to hell."

She didn't understand why her fans, who used to support her, had turned out this way.

No one believed her, and she tried to create new works... She locked herself in her room, where discarded drafts filled the entire bed.

Her body operated mechanically and repeatedly until finally... she discovered a horrifying truth.

I couldn't write anything at all.

"So, you came to me to prove you weren't lying and to get back everything you've lost, right?"

The coffee was served.

Xun took a sip of coffee; it was very flavorful, and he liked it.

If that's the case, then the next step becomes very simple.

He was confident that, with his [music composition] skills and his own talent, those so-called idols and singers would soon notice him and be willing to work with him.

At that time, he will be able to seize the power of discourse and expose some industry secrets... which will be very easy for him to do.

Now that he has the ability to create music, what he lacks most right now is a singer who can collaborate with him, like Minami-chan in front of us, who has been betrayed and needs to get back on her feet.

He will let her pick up the microphone again and stand on the stage that belongs to her.

He can do things that others cannot.

He will become her wings.

Come on, tell me what you want, and I'll do my best to make it happen.

—Kaoru was ready to listen.

With his help, anyone's future is immeasurable, and Sora Asuka is no exception.

When he thought that way—

The other person looked up and fumbled to pull out a flyer.

It was a flyer that the ramen shop distributed last Saturday.

"Tokyo... Asuka has given up on being an idol... if only..."

"Could Asuka work at your ramen shop?"