Decision, decision

"But anyway, what have you been doing these few years?" Coco asked while she allowed the bartender to pour another shot of sake into her glass. The cherry's fragrance from the sake entered her nose, tingling her senses. The alcohol together with the presence of an old friend warmed her body in Tokyo's cold night.

This bar has quite a long history with it being run since 1952. Though it had rise and fall, it still remained standing after all these years. It was said that the owner of the bar started its business through the connection with the local Yakuza. And since then, it has been a popular spot for certain 'organizations' to deal with each other. For this case, it's Coco who recommended this place as their meet

"Working mostly. I don't have an interesting 'career' like you," Anemachi responded while she looked at Coco, "Found a new job after high school. Have a shitty boss, average salary, an alright colleague. Then I changed to this job after a few years, and the rest I'm sure you are aware already."

"Still never thought that you will be involved in an idol agency though. Especially as a manager," Coco commented.

Indeed, Anemachi isn't especially interested in affairs that were related to people. Her friend was in an idol agency was what Coco had least expected. Intriguing nonetheless.

"So, what is it like working besides idols? It must have been fun." Coco spoke with excitement as her eyes shone with stars. Anemachi could almost imagine her waving her tail as she spoke.

"Well...It's not that fun." Anemachi thought back to her past two months.

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, tear, blood, torture—ahem. Something weird just got mixed inside. But overall, it has been quite a journey for now.

"Aww."

"Don't aww me. I'm not an idol. I'm just a replaceable manager who must clean up all their mess that they made."

"Well, still sound interesting regardless. You are working besides popular people after all. Moreover, I can see that the Vtuber trend has been gaining popularity recently."

"I don't deny that. It does have potential."

Especially with Miko's controversy still spreading on the internet. It even appeared on the front page of Niconico, albeit it isn't good news, but it's still visibility nonetheless.

"And..." Coco who was about to continue raised her eyebrows.

The bar was suddenly erupted with sounds of cheers, disturbing Coco's conversation. Another group of people from the other table was celebrating something it seems, a promotion, a birthday, or a successful marriage proposal. Whatever it was, it successfully ruined the quiet atmosphere in the bar and attracted Anemachi and Coco's attention.

"God damn it, these f*ckers really don't know how to behave huh?" the dragon was slightly pissed, "Give me a second Anemachi. I'm gonna teach them a lesson-"

"Stop stop stop, I don't want to see blood scattering here." Anemachi held down Coco on her chair and sighed, "Let them be, they are just having their fun."

"Hmph! You are just too scared of getting into trouble" Coco pouted her face but gave up regardless, "Fine. Bartender! Give me another shot of your best sake here! I'm not going back until I'm satisfied today!"

"Be right there!" the bartender of course, happy of business, accepted.

"Give me a glass of coke, please." Anemachi meanwhile knowing that she was near her limit, requested a soft drink, "I'm warning ya, If you ended up getting drunk, I'm just gonna leave you here. I don't want to carry someone who was 20+cm taller than me back home."

"Come on, this is just child's play. You should have come last time when I was competing with a Russian mafia in a drinking contest. And oh boy, they really live up to their name." Coco waved off the concern with a big smile on her face as the bartender came back with her mixed cocktail, "Anyway, cheers!"

"Cheers…" Anemachi took a sip of coke from the glasses again as she said the word without much motivation, eyes staring at the orange headed girl who was finishing her cup.

The black suit barely covered the girl's massive asset. The girl was as bold as always, living her own life as she wanted without caring about others' opinions. Orange long hair shining under the bar's dim light. A natural aura of charismas attracting others to follow her step. Indeed, there was a reason why so many decided to risk their blood for her.

Not everyone can become a popular delinquent, moreover becoming one of the higher up in Tokyo's most powerful yakuza family, especially at such a young age. Even Anemachi was surprised when Coco mentioned the name of the yakuza she was in not long before this.

Drink after drink, shot after shot, even Coco has her limit. And eventually, the girl finally succumbs to the alcohol amid joy.

"C-come, on. I-I'm not even h-half done yet." Now face blushing with red, Coco clearly drunk slam the table as to gather the attention of the bartender, "G-give me another glass you useless manwhore, did you wanna have a taste of my b-baseball bat!?"

As she finished her sentence, Coco slammed the table a few more times as if she was simulating the scene of her beating someone up.

"I'm sorry but I don't think I can do that," the bartender however deny the request. As a bartender for a bar that was filled with shady organization, this wasn't his first time being threatened, "Excuse me, I think it's time for your friend to get back home. I don't think she is suitable to be here anymore."

"Sorry for the trouble. Oih! it's time to get back."

And with that, Anemachi tried to lift the drunk dragon away. Although, awkwardly, she found out that she was not as strong as she thought she was when she struggled to even lift Coco for feet.

"Urgh, I hate this part of being a woman…" Anemachi complained, shifting the blame to this body instead of her lack of exercise all these years. That was until a strong pair of arms appeared before her eyes and reached towards Coco's shoulder.

"We will handle it from here. Don't worry about Kaichou, we will take care of her." the deep male voice entered her ears. Anemachi turned her eyes onto the source and was greeted by a man with a scar on his right eye. It was the very same man who had 'greeted' Miko's ex-boyfriend. But of course, Anemachi doesn't know this.

"You were...Coco's underling?" Anemachi noticed a few more shadows outside the bar and commented, "You all were stalking us all this time?"

"We just sat in our car outside. We would never dare to interrupt Kaichou's personal time." The man with scars shook his head, "Just want to make sure that Kaichou is alright. She may be strong, but still, won't hurt to have some backup in case she need it."

"I see." As Anemachi saw Kaichou being dragged away from the floor by her gang. Anemachi could imagine the life Coco has now for her to need protection. It must be a thrilling one.

Well, looked like Coco has changed quite a bit over the years too it seems. Her underling all seemingly had treated Coco not only as their boss but more importantly, their family That's a piece of reassuring news to Anemachi.

And as she looked at the few cars escorting Coco away on the road, Anemachi tightened her collar of the jacket and began traveling home. Which in the process, she received a text message from Suisei.

Suisei: You back home yet?

Anemachi: No, just started going back.

Suisei: Jeez, come back home earlier next time alright? It's dangerous being outside at times like these.

Anemachi showed a smile on her face It's messages like this that always reminded her that she was not alone after all.

Anemachi: Yeah yeah, I will try to avoid doing this in the future.

Suisei: Jeez…

Suisei: Also, onee-chan, there is something that I want to tell you.

Anemachi: What is it?

Suisei: Sorry.

"Huh?" Anemachi was having trouble understanding what Suisei was trying to convey.

Anemachi: What do you mean by sorry? Did anything happen?

Suisei: Sorry as in, letting you down.

Suisei: I know it's a bit sudden. But...

Suisei who was lying on her bed right now began replying back while trying to hold back her emotions. She wasn't sure why she decided to bring this out now of all the time. But now, she just wanted to be that little sister who had always told everything to Anemachi.

To sum it up, the channel of her had remained stagnated for this month, and Suisei wasn't happy about this.

Although the number of viewers did spike when she started using the model that Anemachi gave her, the initial hype seemingly die down after this month, with only a small increase in the average viewer until now. All of these started to make Suisei doubted herself even more.

If in the past, she can use the excuse of 'Not having a quality model' for the reason of her lack of progress, then the statistic now had left a big slap on her ego, forcing her to face the truth. That she, Hoshimachi Suisei, even with a quality model, still failed to compete with other similar virtual streamers or even indie.

True despair doesn't come with facing an opponent who was stronger or had more resources than you and losing, but, the fact that even if you have the advantages, you still lost to them in the end.

Perhaps before this, she still have the hope that once she gain the right resources, she will truly reach her true potential. But now, she began doubting herself on the path as an idol.

Suisei: My channel hasn't grown even with the model you gave me. Not much change. And now, I...Really don't know if continuing what I'm doing is the right decision.

Suisei: I think you were right.

Suisei: Perhaps I really am not someone who should have streaming as their career.

Suisei admit, her pride was hurt. But perhaps, accepting reality isn't a bad thing after all.

Meanwhile, Anemachi remained silent on the phone. Her brain was spinning fast, however.

She knew her word now could affect Suisei's future. If she just said, "Yeah, you really aren't suitable to be a streamer." Suisei would really put down what she had right now and pursue another career. But will this really be the best for Suisei?

Anemachi: We will talk about it at another time alright? Just rest and don't think about it too much.

But instead, Anemachi chose to drag this on, the laziest but safest way, for now, she left this question for another day.

And with that, she closed her phone and began stepping on the bus that had finally arrived late. With barely any passenger on it, Anemachi chose the sit on the back row beside the window, settling herself down while she ponder on Suisei's question

Memories of the past began playing in her mind.