Eight hours later - 6:00 PM - High Seeds Records -"Another fun day at work," Lila said with a deep breath, as she waited patiently in front of the elevator. She wonders if Haruka finished yet; as far as she recalled, he should be done with his work now, right?
Then again, knowing how Rikksan is, she probably booked him even more jobs. It"s natural for her to ensure he gets the right amount of exposure. It"s not just those two. Everybody is working very hard right now—especially Yumeko and her brother.
She chuckles to herself; it"s amusing to see those two getting along. But lately, is it just her? It feels like her brother likes Yumeko... Lila shook the thought out of her mind. That isn"t possible. Soon her brother will get married to k.u.mi-senpai. An engaged man won"t look at another girl. Still, Lila always felt that her brother did not like k.u.mi-senpai as much.
"You were brilliant again today, Lilchan."
Lila turned to spot blonde hair...
"Kyoko-nee!!"
Wahhh! It"s Kyoko-nee. Her eyes brightened, and she rushed over to hug her sister.
Kyoko chuckled. "Still the same as ever, I see."
"I"ve missed you! Ah, will you be staying? Or do you have work?"
"I will be at home for a bit. So come back once in a while."
"Ah, but I have to stay in the hospital."
Kyoko winked. "I will negotiate with him for you. Come home tonight for dinner. Bring your husband too."
The two of them headed to the cafeteria area. Lila immediately noticed how quiet it was. Then again, recently, she heard that Rikksans entertainment company was doing very well. So many people were poached over. But still, this is high seed records. She highly doubts this will last long. There is a long waiting list for people to enter this place.
Still, for now, Lila looked around. "It"s far too quiet for her liking." It"s hard to believe that so many people let themselves get poached. Don"t they have a sense of loyalty? Then again, she isn"t one to talk.
Lila wondered if Haruka would also go to them. That"s his original company, right? Won"t he eventually return there? Once he is there again, then Haruka will spend more time with Rikksan.
"These seats by the window look good." Kyoko suddenly said, disrupting her thoughts.
Lila nodded and followed her sister to the window seats.
"I heard about your show with Yumeko-chan."
"Ah, yes."
"Looking at you performing with your junior reminds me of old times." Kyoko lifted her cup and took a sip of her coffee.
Whenever her sister did anything, she always looked so elegant. Lila couldn"t help but stare. Sister is so pretty; it"s no wonder so many people like her. She is so kind too. Lila still found it hard to believe that she beat her sister last year. How did she end up surpa.s.sing her perfect sister?
"I"m not as good as you," Lila mumbled. "Honestly, Yumeko-chan only lacks skill. She already has what it takes to become a splendid idol." It surprised her how much Yumeko changed. Back when they were in London, Lila criticized her heavily. However now?
Now it seems like the one who is teaching is Yumeko. Only a short time has pa.s.sed since they hung around one another again. But Lila could tell.
"Half the time I try teaching her things, I end up just learning something myself."
Even though she was the one who was supposed to be teaching the girl things, Lila found in such a short time, many things that she lacked. Yumeko is the same age as her, and yet Lila treated the girl as her kohai because she started later.
To her surprise, her sister smiled brightly, " Exactly! You taught me a whole bunch of different things when we were together."
Lila looks up, as Kyoko continues, "I"m weaving everything I learned from you together into wings that I"ll use to spice up the entertainment world."
"To spice up the entertainment world?" Lila repeated.
"I wanted to tell you first. As a brand new me. I"ll be starting up my group similar to the trio stars - and be the president."
"Ehhhh? President?!!" Lila exclaimed in disbelief.
"Lilchan, you"re too close."
Indeed unconsciously, Lila leaned forward. She moved away and apologized. "Ah, sorry."
Kyoko chuckles, " It really is nice seeing you so lively," her gaze softens, " It"s true that by doing this I"ll be creating even more and more rivals for all of you. But if it"s you and Yumeko-chan, I"m sure you can lead the idol world together no matter what I pull out, you two will be able to face it together."
Yumeko and her. It"s true that despite her senpai"s other two pupils, the one she became interested in is Yumeko. The two of them are completely different from each other and yet they manage to have a lot of fun being compet.i.tive with each other. Indeed she saw Yumeko as a rival.
But leading the idol world together, "I …can"t do that. At least not with Yumeko-chan." Lila mumbled.
"I see."
"I"m sorry."
Kyoko shook her head. " No, there is no need for you to apologize. I already understood it to a certain degree that even if I pitted you two against each other as rivals. You could never see each other as "partners." The same went for me too."
"The same?"
"Yes. Back when I first joined the trio stars, I was put against k.u.mi-senpai quite a bit. The management slowly came to the realization though that both k.u.mi-senpai and I have great harmony with each other to be called partners. As a team, Miyabi and I would often compete quite a bit. But that is also something different.
What I wanted was to feel excited, the feeling of something stirring in my heart - something resounding so loudly like it"s about to burst out. It was a lot of fun working with those two, and I do treasure those times. However, I felt as though, as a person, I grew and changed because of you."
At that comment, Lila turned shy, and her sister laughed. "Lilchan, still don"t believe it?"
Lila nodded and awkwardly played with the straw of her drink. "Sister, you"re so amazing. You know exactly what you"re doing after you achieve your dream."
Kyoko chuckled, "Not at all. I only became this motivated because of you. You gave me the strength to move forward. The fact that you admired me and wanted to be like me encouraged me to work harder to."
"Even if someone surpa.s.ses her sister. For sure, her sister will always be someone else number one."
Lila didn"t think that the one who would surpa.s.s her sister would be herself.
"Lilchan? Is something wrong?"
Lila shook her head, "It"s nothing. I was just thinking about what you said."
Kyoko smiles, "Amongst your companions who are becoming idols one by one, is there anyone who you"ve performed with that fits that description?"
Someone she"s -- a flash of honey brown curls appears in her head.
"There is. But that person will not do, because she and I are far too similar."