"What exactly do you think you’re doing?"

In the passenger seat, Akari Honne fought back the dizziness churning in her head as she grabbed her older sister’s arm.

Her eyes were bloodshot, burning with anger.

Akari Hojo calmly removed her mask and cap, her expression unruffled.

"Calm down first."

Honne’s grip tightened instead.

"Why did you have to tell Alan?!"

Hojo’s delicate brows knit together. She let out a quiet sigh.

"You’re too impatient, Honne."

"Do you even understand what kind of person Nozomi is?" Hojo snapped. "If she shows those messages to Alan later, what do you think he’ll think of you?"

"He used to be my boyfriend, and I’m your older sister. Back then, you could act cute and brush everything aside." Hojo’s tone sharpened slightly. "But do you still have that privilege now?"

"You can’t celebrate your birthday every day," she continued calmly. "And Alan won’t indulge you forever. If you want to stay by his side in the future, at least don’t make him dislike you."

There was tenderness in Hojo’s eyes now, almost pity.

"You’re my little sister. If you like Alan, of course I’ll help you."

Honne’s fingers finally loosened.

She collapsed against the seat, eyes squeezed shut as tears slipped down her cheeks.

Drawing a long breath, she tried to expel the resentment clogging her chest.

After a moment, her voice steadied.

She stared out the window and asked quietly, "But after what i did today... can you really promise she won’t tell Alan?"

"Do you honestly think a few words from you would stop her?" Hojo replied coolly. "That’s naive—"

A memory flashed through Honne’s mind.

Nozomi handing over her phone.

Her eyes snapped open.

"Don’t tell me you—"

A soft laugh cut her off.

Hojo shifted the gear, pressed the accelerator, and fixed her gaze on the intersection ahead.

Cleaning up after her sister was only a small part of the plan.

More important was meeting Nozomi Sakura face to face, finding out what made that girl special enough to attend her concert.

Everything else—the pressure, Alan, the confrontation—was just a bonus.

Still, Alan’s attitude today had caught her off guard.

Hojo’s gaze cooled as she stepped on the gas.

I don’t believe you can be that heartless.

***

Late night, Nozomi’s apartment.

"You’re telling me Akari Hojo and her sister set you up on purpose?"

Akane Mia stared in disbelief as Nozomi Sakura finished recounting the day.

Nozomi let out a dazed giggle.

Sitting on the tatami, she downed the sake in her cup in one gulp.

She was clearly drunk. Her oval face was flushed pink as she lazily pointed at Mia.

"Mia, you know what? Today was my first real two-person scene..."

Hiccup.

She set the empty cup down and picked at some food, sloshing sake onto the table. Her gaze drifted to the blurred reflection shimmering in the puddle.

"For a second... I thought maybe she’s more suited to acting than I am..."

Her voice stretched, dreamy and unfocused.

"She’s a singer, right? So how can she act that well... pretend not to care, pretend none of it matters..."

"...when she’s actually crazy about him..."

Mia frowned and quietly slid the sake bottle out of reach.

"You’re drunk."

Nozomi glanced at her, words slurring.

"Wish I were. Wish none of today had happened."

Mia rubbed her temple, patient but tired.

"I still don’t get it. You’re saying Hojo still likes Alan?"

"Mmm."

Nozomi swayed like a wobble doll.

"Then why’d they break up?"

Nozomi’s watery eyes lifted.

With a foolish grin, she replied, "Yeah... why did they? I don’t get it either."

"You know what her little sister told me?" she continued, not waiting for an answer.

"She said I’m not good enough for Alan."

Her smile twisted.

"I was furious... Okay... Still am. What’s so great about that jerk anyway, besides money?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Mia exhaled smoke from a freshly lit cigarette.

"So now you like Alan? That fast? You sure it’s not just his money you like?"

She couldn’t believe Nozomi could fall for anyone in just two weeks, Alan included.

It seemed far more likely that the Akari sisters were deliberately messing with her.

Nozomi tilted her head.

"Like him? No way..."

She pinched her fingers together, leaving the tiniest gap.

"Well... maybe this much. Nothing compared to them."

"They hate me so much, love him so much, yet they can act like they don’t care, turn around, and walk away just like that."

Mia took another drag.

"So you want payback because they pissed you off?"

"Payback?" Nozomi repeated, then suddenly brightened, jabbing a finger toward Mia.

"Yeah! Payback. That’s! The perfect word."

"When she asked for my phone, I knew exactly what she was after."

Nozomi laughed weakly.

"Knew it... and still couldn’t say no."

"I really am outclassed."

Mia studied her friend’s manic smile, then blew out smoke and said coolly, "Get a grip. Remember why you started. They embarrassed you, that’s all. They didn’t ruin you."

"Think of it like some boss’s nephew being a jerk at your old convenience store job," she continued.

"You earn way more now. Don’t wreck your life over a tantrum."

"Wreck my life?" Nozomi burst out laughing.

"Come on, Mia. You think I’ll go full anime heroine? Grab a knife, and stab someone? This is real life."

Mia relaxed slightly, though she still couldn’t read her.

"So what are you going to do?"

Nozomi didn’t answer.

She leaned back on her hands, staring at the blank wall where Akari Hojo’s poster used to hang.

Closing her eyes, she let the memories wash over her.

"I see potential in you. Want to be a star?"

"Honestly, that actress’s style isn’t as good as yours. You’d suit the role better."

"You have no idea how bright you could shine. "

"When you finally step on stage, everyone will be drawn to your light..."

"So trust me, just like I trusted you."

"You really think you’re good enough for him? Better than Akari Hojo? You think he actually likes you?"

"Fans like you are why I’ve come this far..."

Pain. Jealousy. Rage.

Nozomi Sakura felt her pride crushed beneath them all.

What does "good enough" even mean?

Who decided I’m inferior to her?

I don’t care if he really likes me or not.

I’m his girlfriend right now.

You want me gone? Too bad. I’m staying.

Keep loving Alan if you want.

Sit there and watch him revolve around me.

Keep loving him... forever.

All those tangled emotions knotted tightly in her chest.

Nozomi opened her eyes, her voice calm and steady.

"I want to be famous."

For the first time, she spoke aloud the desire she’d buried deep inside.