Chapter 54 Jealousy

Jealousy

A few days ago, Hoshikawa-san contacted me, saying she had reunited with her father.

The truth is, I was the one who arranged for her to meet him through her mother.

Since then, I hadn’t had much chance to talk to her. Maybe that’s why, when we passed each other in the studio hallway, she stopped and looked at me like she had something to say.

“Hey, Amagi-kun, wait a second.”

Hoshikawa-san finally called out to me.

“Yeah… What is it?”

“Um… I just wanted to say thank you. Mama told me that I was able to meet Papa because of you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I would’ve seen him this soon. So… I’m really grateful.”

Her sudden words of gratitude caught me off guard, but hearing how thankful she was made me genuinely happy.

“I was already rooting for you, Hoshikawa-san. And honestly, I think you were able to meet him because of your own efforts as an idol.”

“…Amagi-kun, you’re really humble. I might end up relying on you again in the future, so when that time comes, please help me out, okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

As soon as I said that, a relieved expression spread across her face.

She looked as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing by getting involved in her family matters, but now, seeing her like this, I knew it had been worth it.

“From now on, I want to change even more. One day, I plan to become the center of the group, so I’m going to work even harder.”

I could tell—a new fire had been lit inside her.

Hearing her determination, I realized that the idol named Hoshikawa Kurumi was only just getting started.

I was looking forward to seeing how she would grow from here.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, she suddenly asked—

“By the way, Amagi-kun, do you have a girlfriend?”

“Yeah, I do… But why do you ask?”

Reflexively, I answered. But the suddenness of the question caught me off guard.

Hoshikawa-san usually wasn’t the type to ask something like this. It made me wonder what she was getting at.

Then, she smiled slightly—her expression carrying a hint of mischief.

“I was thinking… maybe you could be my boyfriend candidate.”

For a moment, my mind completely blanked.

…Boyfriend? Like, in a romantic way?

Wait… does that mean Hoshikawa-san has feelings for me!?

“I’m just kidding, just kidding! Amagi-kun, you’re too surprised!”

Seeing my obvious confusion, she quickly waved it off with a laugh.

I let out a small breath, relieved. That joke was seriously bad for my heart.

“That seriously startled me…”

“Sorry, sorry! I just wanted to see your surprised face.”

She grinned playfully.

“But if things ever don’t work out with your girlfriend, let me know. I’ll be here to listen.”

“U-uh… okay…”

“Alright, see you later!”

And just like that, she walked off as if nothing had happened.

I let out a deep sigh—but then, a strange sensation crept over me.

Someone had been watching. I turned toward the hallway corner, but… no one was there.

After school, the old tea ceremony clubroom was quieter than usual. It was just Kanade and me, yet she was less talkative than normal.

“Are you mad about something?”

“Not really. I’m not mad.”

That’s what she said—but something about her tone was off.

She looked… irritated.

“It’s not like I’m holding a grudge or anything… Just because I became the center for the new song, and instead of congratulating me, you immediately ran off to another girl.”

Ah…

Hearing that, I buried my face in my hands.

She was right—back then, I had been so focused on Hoshikawa-san that I rushed to check on her without even thinking.

As I recalled my actions, Kanade continued.

“And, you know… I totally didn’t hear anything about you becoming some idol’s boyfriend candidate or whatever.”

She turned her head away in a sulky manner.

So, she must have overheard my conversation with Hoshikawa-san that day.

That gaze I had felt back then—it was her.

“Sorry… That was just work. We were only together temporarily.”

Admitting my fault, I apologized.

She glanced at me briefly.

“Yeah, I know. I know Sou-kun would never cheat. But… I still want you to properly fulfill your role as my boyfriend.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

The moment I asked, Kanade suddenly closed the distance between us before I could react.

She moved quickly—before I knew it, her face was right in front of mine.

And then, her lips pressed firmly against mine.

When the kiss ended, Kanade’s face was flushed, but she smiled, looking satisfied.

“I wish Sou-kun would take the initiative and do things like this sometimes…”

With her face still warm, she leaned in and kissed me again.

Her lips were soft, and the sweet scent lingering around her sent my heart racing.

Her tongue brushed against mine, moving gently yet firmly, intertwining with it. My heartbeat quickened as I felt her warmth and softness completely take over my senses.

Every time she sought my lips, I responded. When her tongue slipped into my mouth again, they tangled once more. Her breath tickled my skin, fueling the heat between us even more.

As our kisses continued, I could feel Kanade’s breathing growing gradually heavier.

That shared sensation, as if confirming our feelings for each other, filled me with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

For a while, we stayed like that, completely lost in each other.

In short, we ended up making out like crazy.

One day, I was summoned to Luminous Stars’ idol agency.

Normally, most things were handled through online meetings, but Mika-san had insisted on talking in person.

I felt a little nervous, wondering what this was about.

When I opened the office door, I saw Mika-san, the producer, sitting at a desk in the back.

The moment she noticed me, she greeted me with a bright smile.

“Ten-cchi, thanks for coming all the way here~”

She held some documents in her hands, but her expression was unusually cheerful.

Slightly bewildered, I walked over.

“Um, I heard you had something important to discuss?”

“Yeah~. I think I mentioned it before, but we’ve officially finished preparations for a new group—the official rivals of Luminous Stars. You’re already working on their debut song, but actually, I have another big request for you.”

Apparently, the plan had been in motion for a long time, with auditions already completed.

And I had been entrusted with composing their debut song.

That much, I knew. But there was more?

As I braced myself, Mika-san took a deep breath.

“Ten-cchi, I want you to be the producer for this new group.”

“…Huh? A producer?”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice in shock.

I was used to creating music, but the role of a producer was completely uncharted territory for me.

Even though I had helped Mika-san before, I wasn’t sure if I was capable of handling something like this…

“That’s right. The truth is, I’m so busy with Luminous Stars that I just can’t manage everything myself. That’s why I want to entrust this new project to someone I trust—you.”

There was a hint of apology in her voice, but at the same time, I could sense her genuine trust in me.

“Of course, I’ll be supporting you as well. It would really help if you could take this on… What do you think?”

When she asked, I hesitated for a moment.

The responsibility of guiding young girls who aspired to be idols—it was almost like taking charge of their futures.

At the same time, I thought of Hoshikawa-san.

Watching her grow and improve up close had been an incredible experience.

If I became a producer, I’d get to witness that kind of transformation again.

“Alright. I’ll take on the role.”

“As expected of Ten-cchi~! You make decisions fast. Oh, and by the way, we’ve already decided on the group’s name, so let me tell you about it.”

Mika-san smiled and began explaining the origin of the name.

Since this name would define the idols carrying it forward, it was a crucial decision.

“A unit as pure as angels, yet possessing an unshakable will. Their name is—Angels Bullet.”

“Angels Bullet…”

Hearing that name left a strong impression on me. It had a mystical ring to it, yet carried a sense of power. I could almost picture the image of girls with white wings soaring forward.

Since they were being introduced as the rivals of Luminous Stars, a nationally renowned idol group, there was no doubt they would receive a massive push.

At that moment, I had no idea that my decision would mark the beginning of a turbulent new chapter.

Part II End.