2 Just Because of a Friend Thingy?

"I guess I should have expected this much," I sighed after reviewing the changes I made to Ai Hoshino.

This is more or less what it says:

- Friday, March 8, 2024 (Ai Hoshino's POV).

7.14 AM

I was about to go to work when, lo and behold...! I bumped into Hikaru Kamiki! So we had a little chat. I remember there was one session where he asked me if I received his gift, to which I replied in confusion, not knowing what he was talking about. Maybe Yoshikawa-kun knows something about that?

***

(Still Hirosha Yoshikawa's POV)

I leaned my back against my chair's backrest. [This diary is still not detailed enough] I'll have a little trouble converting it to my liking.

I've skimmed Miyako's Heroine Diary, which isn't that meaningful for myself at the moment. Are there any other quests?

(Save the Heroines and Possess Them!)

Yeah, whatever.

I tried to think of ways to solve Hikaru Kamiki's case. It seems that he's working with one of B Komachi's factions to kill Ai Hoshino at one point in the story. While Hoshino's popularity is a great trait on the surface, it breeds resentment among her comrades on stage. That's probably why.

As I said before, I'm not so evil as to leave Ai Hoshino to her fate in the original story. I liked her character enough to wish her the best if possible. 

I sniffled. [This is going to be a pain, though]

***

I decided to ask her out.

"You sure are looking natural," I commented on Hoshino's outfit as we are walking at the side of the street.

Although covered by the mask, I could sense her grin behind it. "Hehe, I'm an expert in this. It's easy peasy business!"

"As expected of you, I guess," I smiled dryly. "Oh, well, sorry for dragging you into my business."

Hoshino waved her hand. "Don't worry about it. I'm interested myself... Because you invited me." She was acting a little bashful, which was quite amusing to see. [She's not very social even in her group, yep.]

I guess that means I'll probably get a lot of firsts for her. Cliché. Well, that should make this easier for me, so all's well and fine.

We both wore jackets, hats, glasses, and a mask for Hoshino. Looks like a suspicious duo at first glance, but many people will forget us after a few minutes pass— I think.

Hoshino was distracted to a street shop immediately. A cake shop. I'm not a fan of it.

"You want some?" I asked.

"...Can I?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Of course. You don't have to be shy about it all."

She smiled brightly, so brightly it somewhat overwhelmed me, "Thank you!" and went to the store in question with excitement. [Man, the power of Anime Girls is scary.]

Hoshino is visibly excited to choose which sweets to order. Perhaps because she was too confused about which one to pick, "Give me all!" she opted to buy them all instead. 

"You better finish them," I said.

"Of course!" she replied as if it was natural.

Walking down the street in our odd outfits, under normal circumstances it would look like a date, but it's not. No way, no how.

"You don't want to?" Hoshino looked at me with her head slightly tilted, one of the cookies in her mouth. 

I shook my head. "I don't really like cakes... Well, I'd love to taste the cheese-flavored ones." 

I love cheese.

"Oh, yeah?" She handed one to me with no restraint. "Try it, then."

"Thank you."

"Don't mind it, don't mind it."

"Why twice?"

"No reason."

Nothing eventful happened during most of the trip. Hoshino was so focused on tasting the cakes that she almost completely ignored my existence. A little rude.

"I looked up your name on the internet before," I began after a while. Hoshino didn't seem particularly bothered that I brought up this topic. "B-Komachi, huh? I didn't know it was a famous band."

Hoshino giggled. "My performance was great, right?"

"Probably?" I replied in a doubtful tone. "I didn't watch it that in-depth. Idols aren't my thing, so I can't say much."

"You don't?"

"Yes. It's just acting, anyway. If you behaved like that here, then maybe I'd be interested."

She turned her attention away from me, lowering her head. Something about her gaze told me that I had hit upon something heavy inside her. 

"Why did you become an Idol...?" I asked casually.

"That was..." She looked like she was about to actually say it. She's too easygoing. "For money and... a hope, I think?"

It's been some time since I last read the Oshi no Ko comics. I myself did not know in detail what drove Ai Hoshino to move forward as an idol. I know her past, or her environment left her somewhat mentally damaged, and that it led to her being pushed onto the stage as an audience idol. Was it just that? I don't know.

It's too mundane a thing to say to the degree that it sounds cringe-worthy, but I'm saying it either way. "Hoshino-san, will you be my friend?"

She looked confused. "Friend...?"

I nodded with a smile. "Yes. Hang out together, share stories loosely, do some fun activities together. Things like that." I think I have to explain that much to Hoshino for her to understand.

In response, Hoshino's eyes lit up, though obviously it was impossible, and brought her hands to her mouth with a delighted look. "Yes, please...!"

"Wow, you're loud."

"Eh?!" She scanned her surroundings. Her shouting made some pedestrians direct their gaze towards us. She was flustered. "I didn't mean to...!"

I laughed. "Well, either way, I'm glad you agree. I think our current activities are already somewhat like friends."

Hoshino nodded stiffly. "Both parties should be happy when doing them, right?"

"Yep, are you happy?"

She smiled brightly. "That's obvious."

***

"—ahh, I'm bored!" I yelled inside my room to no one.

I had bought a small pouch to carry at least one Heroine's Diary with me at all times. I had a feeling I could get those diaries more and many enough to not be able to be carried all even with the big bag. Well, I won't do that even if that's the case. [I should hide them. The question is how?]

I'm just a village boy who's new to living in the city. I have nothing on me other than pocket money to support my daily life. Like, what? What the hell should I do?

I looked at one more Diary that had been added to my hand. [Shiina Mahiru, the other neighbor of mine.] I didn't particularly feel anything. I got it after the System congratulated me about being Hoshino's friend or something, which threw me into a bit of a difficult situation because Hoshino was surprised by the sudden existence of the Diary in question. Thank God she is kind of a clutz. She could be easily tricked. [Can you please confirm the time and place?!]

(Negative)

I sighed, shaking my head. "If I can get the Diary this easily, I'll probably make a great harem before long. Whether I can even get caught up in contact with all of them is another story, though..."

[Shiina Mahiru, huh? Guess I should say hello to her.]