Not that they even had the ability to nurture talent. They were all typical vampires who only wanted to exploit ordinary entertainers without restraint, squeezing them dry through black-hearted contracts with sky-high breach penalties and outrageous profit shares.
Even if they did, he had no interest in becoming a celebrity. He neither wanted excessive exposure nor lacked money.
"Sorry, I don't have that intention for the time being." He honestly expressed his wishes.
"I see." Saito Ichigo's disappointment was plainly visible, but he did not press the matter. He merely handed over his business card.
"This is my card. If you ever do get that idea, you'll always be welcome!"
"If there's anything about the industry you want to know, I'll tell you everything I know."
"Thank you." Sakurakoji Talent accepted the small card. "If I become interested, I'll contact you."
Saito Ichigo nodded disappointedly. Generally, when someone said that, there was basically no hope afterward. But everyone had their own ambitions, and he could not force him.
If it had been an inexperienced little girl like Hoshino Ai, he could have used a talent scout's silver tongue to seize upon her weak points and persuade her. But Sakurakoji Talent's bearing made it clear that he was not someone lacking experience. Saito Ichigo had no confidence that he could win him over, and pressing too hard would only earn his dislike, so he could only give up.
"It's about time, Miss Hoshino. Thank you for inviting me today, but I should be going."
"Huh, you're leaving already?"
Hoshino Ai snapped out of her complicated emotions and hurriedly looked at Sakurakoji Talent.
"Yes, I still have work to deal with afterward, and it's getting late."
"I see. Then, Sakurakoji-san, good luck with your work!"
Hoshino Ai spun around and made a heart with her hands, giving him an encouraging gesture like one she would make onstage.
"Thanks, you too!"
Smiling, Sakurakoji Talent returned the same gesture and walked out of the production set. Once he had gone far enough away, the others started talking again.
"Ahh~ He's gone!"
"Ai! You really aren't in that kind of relationship with him? Then introduce him to me next time!"
"In your dreams! Sakurakoji-san is mine!"
"Tch, you didn't even dare speak just now. What business is it of yours? Shoo, shoo!"
"By the way, Sakurakoji-san said he came to visit us, right? Did he bring any gifts? I'm hungry."
"Absolutely not that one!" Hoshino Ai's sudden stern expression left everyone around her stunned, unsure which matter she was talking about.
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: My Favorite Fashion Designer
A few days later, at Starry.
"Hey, Mr. Talent, have you read the latest Fashion Week magazines?"
As opening time approached, PA flipped through the magazine in her hands while casually making conversation with Sakurakoji Talent beside her.
Sakurakoji Talent's ears twitched, but his gaze remained fixed on his phone without any intention of moving. He gave a perfunctory reply.
"More or less."
"Then which outfit did you like best?" PA asked curiously.
"The one with the honeysuckle pattern on its surface."
"Ah! That one was good. It reassembled and combined elements of ancient floral patterns with the fashion trends of the new generation, making it especially outstanding among this year's designs!"
PA immediately sat upright, her expression delighted as she launched into an endless stream of opinions.
"The many layers of smooth, glossy silk fabric overlapped one another, sewn together using modern techniques, giving it an incredible sense of progression."
"The blending of ancient and modern elements and craftsmanship was excellent overall. The designer's grasp of balance was absolutely exquisite!"
"And it wasn't just that one piece. What was presented onstage was an entire classical-style collection!"
"Some professional judges even said it might lead this year's fashion trends. Isn't that amazing? Cough, cough!"
Growing excited, she suddenly choked and coughed a few times. A slightly fanatical flush appeared on her face, usually filled with dark elements, as she leaned close to Sakurakoji Talent, seeking understanding and affirmation from his eyes.
So this was where she had been leading all along. Sakurakoji Talent silently grumbled to himself. In this shop, he was the only one who could discuss this kind of topic with her. He knew she would not let him off so easily.
"Mm-hm, I think so too." Sakurakoji Talent tilted his head slightly to the side and gave a perfunctory answer.
Hearing someone praise his own designs to his face still felt a little strange.
Fortunately, even such an answer seemed to satisfy her. She retreated with a smile.
"Huh? Which one, which one?"
Hearing the topic, Ichiji Nijika curiously walked over to PA's side and looked at the magazine in her hands with her hands behind her back.
"This one." PA turned to one of the pages and pointed it out to her.
Since Ichiji Nijika had begun taking an interest in this sort of thing, she was happy to share without holding anything back.
"Isn't this autumn and winter clothing? Are people supposed to wear it now?"
"But winter is about to end, isn't it?"
Ichiji Nijika was puzzled. Spring was about to arrive, so was it not a little late to be looking at this now?
"No, this is for next autumn and winter."
"You're kidding! We're looking at outfits for half a year later already? Isn't that too early?"
"That's fashion. The themes for next autumn and winter have already been decided by top professionals now."
Ichiji Nijika was shocked by this. PA helplessly spread her hands. She did not fully understand it either, but she respected it and pursued it nonetheless.
"Is this... clothing?"
A soft, listless voice sounded beside the two of them, drawing their attention over.
In their sight was an adorable little cat with silvery-white hair, holding a colorful cup of... Matcha Parfait.
"Yes, it is. Is Rakuna interested too?" Ichiji Nijika asked brightly.
Since Kanau had recently been coming by frequently to buy desserts, everyone at Starry knew this somewhat unconventional but adorable girl. Nearly all of them had been won over by her harmless appearance.
With Sakurakoji Talent submitting the request and Ichiji Hoshika approving it, she had been granted the privilege of not needing to queue before opening, allowing her to enter Starry ahead of time.
"Not interested, but Mom is a designer." Kanau scooped up a spoonful of parfait and put it into her mouth, her face showing an intoxicated expression.
"Rakuna's mom is a Fashion Designer? That's amazing!" Ichiji Nijika exclaimed.
"But she's still chasing her dream and isn't anyone famous. Her dream is to one day make it onto the London fashion show."
"That's not true at all! Having a dream worth working toward is already wonderful!"
"Mm. She and Dad are both in London now, working hard for their respective dreams."
"Huh? Does that mean Rakuna is living alone now?" Ichiji Nijika was a little surprised. This was the first time she had heard Kanau speak about her family.
She could not help worrying. Kanau's appearance really made people want to protect her. Ichiji Nijika had even begun thinking that if Kanau were alone, she would bring her home to live with her.
"No, I live with Grandma." Kanau shook her head, then looked at Sakurakoji Talent.
"Talent wants to become a designer too?"
"No, there isn't any particular profession I want to become."
"Even though you're interested in clothing?" Kanau tilted her head in confusion.
"That doesn't mean I have to make it my profession." Sakurakoji Talent smiled and voiced a thought that would surely make his family disappointed and regretful.
"Mm... I don't understand." Kanau frowned, finding it difficult to understand his thinking.
If it were her, then since she liked something, she would definitely make it her goal and dream, like music.
"You don't need to understand right now. You only need to remember this."
"Kanau is Kanau, and Sakurakoji Talent is Sakurakoji Talent. That's enough."
Kanau tilted her head again, but this time she seemed to understand what he meant. She did not continue speaking and focused on eating the food in her hands.
"By the way, Mr. Talent, who is your favorite Fashion Designer?"
After secretly glancing around and seeing that the other three had stopped talking, PA broke the brief silence in her usual low voice.
"Mm, there isn't anyone in particular. Many designers have excellent designs."
"If I had to name one, then Sakurakoji Luna."
Sakurakoji Talent put down his phone and looked up at the ambient lights on the ceiling, giving a noncommittal answer.
"Ah! Me too! I absolutely love her designs! Simple yet gorgeous—they're practically works of art!"
"She's also very active at the four major fashion shows. Even on a global scale, she's a top-tier designer!"
"I heard design is only her side job. She also owns several companies and is a regular in financial magazines. She's practically a role model for all women!"
"And she's Japanese too, right? The design we were just talking about seems to have been released by a studio under her name."
"It's just... it doesn't seem to have been designed by her, even though it was so good."
Learning that Sakurakoji Talent even liked the same designer as her, PA could barely conceal her excitement. She almost wanted to become sworn siblings with him on the spot.
"Wait, Mr. Talent, your surname is Sakurakoji too. Don't tell me you're Relatives?"
Ichiji Nijika seemed to have discovered a blind spot. She tapped her fist into her palm and teased him with a smile.
Hearing her say that, Ichiji Hoshika and the others also turned their gazes toward him, all watching him.
But no one took it seriously. The odds were so low they could practically be ignored. Although Sakurakoji was indeed a rare surname, how could reality have such a fantastical script?
"Could it be that Mr. Talent likes her just because she shares his surname?!"
Thinking of how indifferent he had seemed earlier, PA made a guess and wore a stricken expression.
Sakurakoji Talent neither confirmed nor denied it, merely saying, "All right, all right, it doesn't matter. It's almost time, so hurry and get ready to open."
Image: "Just putting up a random picture", location: "Images/1754245229-100446961-113678998.jpg"
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Who's Tired of Living and Dares Mess with Our Archangel?
"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?! That's so heartless!"
"All right, all right, stop pestering him and come prepare the audio for the band that'll be performing later."
"How is this pestering? This is love, love! This is an intimate topic between close friends! A lonely siscon like you wouldn't understand!"
"You little—are you looking for death?"
"Ahahaha."
PA let out a cry of misery before being dragged away by Ichiji Hoshika. Ichiji Nijika laughed and went to open the doors.
Once she opened the main entrance, a large crowd of customers poured into Starry. Sakurakoji Talent and Ichiji Nijika immediately became busy.
One kept displaying a warm smile like the sun as she sold tickets to visitors; the other prepared food and Drinks with precision and speed, clearing the queue at a pace not much slower than the shop next door.
Just as Sakurakoji Talent immersed himself in his own world, a frantic cry suddenly came from beside him, and the voice began stumbling over its words.
He paused what he was doing and turned his gaze toward Ichiji Nijika, a puzzled expression on his face.
Since coming to Starry, this was the first time he had ever seen Starry's Archangel flustered. It was quite a rare sight. What had happened?
Damn it, which fool who wasn't afraid of dying dared mess with this young lady at Starry? Did they have a death wish?
A few seats away, Ichiji Nijika was waving her Hands in gestures he could not understand, hurriedly trying to explain her point while her words came out in broken fragments.
"Um, you understand what I mean, right?"
"This is where you buy tickets. You need to buy one first before you can go over there..."
"There's still some time before the performance begins, so if you don't mind waiting..."
Turning his gaze toward the people in front of her, he saw three guests with light brown hair and Western features standing at the counter. There was a man, a woman, and a child. They appeared to be a family of three.
At that moment, the man stood somewhat farther forward, negotiating with Ichiji Nijika. His expression was confused, with a hint of anxiety.
Ichiji Nijika blankly looked at the person before her, not knowing how to respond. She could not understand his language at all. Though she had tried speaking a few words in her not-so-fluent English, it seemed useless.
She had clearly explained the process here as best she could, yet the other party still did not seem to have received the answer he wanted.
"What's wrong?"
Before you continue