CH 19

As soon as we left the banquet hall, we found the smoking area. I was glad it was attached to the same floor.

It wasn't because I wanted to smoke right now, but because I couldn't bear the awkwardness of traveling to the smoking area.

When I opened the sliding door, a peculiar smell that lingered even with ventilation escaped my nose. Strangely enough, no one was there but us.

"It was just as well that no one was home."

"What ......?"

Now that sounds like a very meaningful line. I wouldn't have minded if someone had been there. Is she trying to make it sound like it's a bad idea to have someone there?

No, in fact, I'm sure you are. Is she going to go into the fact that I was in the weekly paper, or is she going to threaten me with more than that?

When I looked at her as she puffed out a sweet smoke from an electronic cigarette, I couldn't help but make eye contact with her.

"You don't smoke?"

"No, well......."

Now I wanted to know more than that. I couldn't bring myself to light a cigarette. It was the first time I had ever felt that way, even though I was in a smoking area.

I was in a smoking area, and I was in the middle of a conversation with a woman who was holding an e-cigarette in her hand, pointing it at me.

"Go ahead, smoke. There are feelings only a smoker can understand."

"Well ......."

I know exactly what she meant. When I was a child, I thought I would never touch such a thing. But you never know. Smoking at work helps me keep my mental health in check.

I knew that I would have to light up to get on with my story anyway. I gave up, took out a cigarette and put it in my mouth. It tasted the same as the day I saw the weekly magazine.

"--I'm not trying to scare you or sell you out. I'll tell you that right at the beginning."

I almost said, "Really?" but as usual, I swallowed. Instead, she exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke and took that as her reply. It happens all the time. My father's generation does it all the time.

"Then is there something you want to say to me?"

My head cleared a little. Thanks to the cigarette. I guess you could say my invisible boyfriend's advice worked. Ironically. The person in front of me seemed to know it and laughed, "Haha."

"That kind of thing. I don't really have to tell you, though."

Me leaning against the wall and her standing straight and sleek. It's quite a contrast, I feel like it shows the attitude of my heart.

"Then, you don't have to say it, do you?"

For the first time, I feel like I can honestly say what I'm thinking.

Maybe it was the drunkenness, maybe it was my suspicion of her, or maybe it was both. It doesn't matter either way.

"It's boring, right? Doesn't it bother you?"

"No, it's not. But..."

"But?"

"...... hmm."

The truth is that I'm too scared to ask. But if I said that, I would feel like I was losing something. That's why I was so vain.

"I said I wasn't going to sell it, but do you know why?"

Perhaps because the conversation was about to break off, she was the first to open her mouth. It was a sudden question, but I felt bad ignoring it, so I had no choice but to turn my head.

"Because ...... it's doesn't make sense?"

"Well, that's what I meant. I guess that means it's information you can't sell."

That's moderately aggravating. Well, there's no value to the average person who just fits into the same angle of view with me. A little cooler heads would have understood that.

"But, that has nothing to do with whether it's worth it or not."

"......... What do you mean?"

The smell of the e-cigarette lingers. The smell of the paper cigarettes is harder, but it lingers in my nose. Only emptiness sits in my chest.

"Honestly, they know about you. People in the industry."

"What?"

"The weeklies are a vicious bunch. I'm not going to expose you to the public because it was untrue."

If I were to translate her words, she was saying that the weeklies understand my personality and know where I live and work.

If Momo-chan, or rather Yamamoto Miina, were to return to show business, my presence could be a stumbling block.

But I am not in a relationship with her. There is no need for me to be nervous when I have nothing to be afraid of.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Oh, I didn't expect that. I thought you would be more upset."

"There's nothing more upsetting than allegations of infatuation."

"That's true," Miya-san laughed. I don't think there is anyone else in the world who can experience something like this. Being mistaken for the boyfriend of an idol and having it published in a weekly magazine.

The ashes from my cigarette had grown too big. I hurriedly dropped it into the ashtray and took a drag. It was inertia. No, smoking itself is inertia.

"This time, you created the opportunity for her to be in the light of day. But because of that, the weekly mark should be tighter."

"Me?　Why?"

"What will be fatal to her is that they will write that the allegations of infatuation were true. Do you understand?"

I understand, but what does that have to do with me? Perhaps it was because of the look on her face, but Miya-san was a little taken aback.

"Try walking alone with her. I bet it'll be taken right away and you'll be in a lot of trouble too."

"But Yamamoto-san is a civilian now."

"Yes. But just for now, you know."

It's not that I want to see her alone, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to. If I were an active idol, I would be cautious. However, I can guess what Miya-san's implied tone of voice is.

I am sure she will return to show business.

Looking at how well she has been a hit this time around, it is hard to believe that she is a former idol who was suspected of having a passionate love affair. I got the impression that the masses were honestly attracted to her.

"So - I only have one thing to say to you."

Yes, that's fine. She said it was for the sake of the company, but deep down inside, there was a part of me that couldn't give up on Momoka Aimi.

I was hoping to be the catalyst for that. I hope it will become a hot topic, get the spotlight, and reach more and more people.

But that would mean - I would have to abandon my current relationship.

"I don't want you to see that girl anymore."

So I understood why Miya-san said that. But it wasn't yet decided that she would return. So I felt it was premature.

My cigarette was about to go out. I didn't have the energy to smoke, so I pressed it against the ashtray. With more force than usual.

"It doesn't mean she's decided to come back."

"That's right. I haven't asked her what she wants to do."

"...... Who are you?"

She came here and thought about it dispassionately.

Too much interference for just a stylist. Not that I, a businessman, could say this, but what does she know about Yamamoto? And what does she see?

She finished smoking her e-cigarette and raised the corners of her mouth slightly. She finally listened to me, and for some reason she had a happy expression on her face. What's with that?

She took out the case with a heavy heart. A business card case, my businessman's intuition told me. Sure enough, what she held out to me was a pretty business card with a faint peach tint.

"Are you the president of Gold Coin ......?"

"Yes. A showbiz agency, in case you were wondering. It's small, though."

The discomfort I felt when I first met her was finally resolved here. For just a stylist, she is clearly too calm. There was such a calmness to this person, Kanako Miya, as if she was looking not only in front of me, but also further ahead.

"How did the president of an entertainment agency get into styling?"

"Because I used to be a stylist. I still stand on site sometimes, though."

"Then that day, too?"

"Yes. I had to push her a little to get her to participate."

I already knew why she had gone to such lengths to participate. There were too many ingredients for her to make such a judgment.

"I'm scouting Yamamoto Miina. That girl can win the world. Absolutely."

So that's why you told me to don't see her. Because even if it's just an insect flying around now, there's no chance of it turning into a pest.

If that's the case, of course it's better to exterminate them while they're still around. If I were in Miya-san's shoes, I would surely say the same thing.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I wonder why ....... I don't know either."

"You're making fun of me."

"No, I'm not. It's just that you're..."

Do you think I'm not going to try to convince her "not to come back" or make an effort to separate her from you? No. ...... I don't think so. Miya-san didn't care about such a lowly thing to talk about.

She said some pretty horrible things, but she didn't shun me one way or the other. So I guess I'm not too shocked because I felt that slight kindness.

"--You can put her first, right?"

Of course. Because I'm a fan.