Omni-Anime Has So Many Geniuses! What's Wrong with Adding Me?

"Who said I lived alone?" Sakurakoji Talent looked at her as if he couldn't understand her.

"Huh? There are other people?" Inoseri Nina froze, then seemed to think of something. Her face flushed, and she said excitedly, "C-c-could it be a g-g-girlfriend?!"

"No!" Mimicking Kawaragi Momoka, Sakurakoji Talent lightly tapped her forehead with a hand chop, interrupting her wild fantasy.

"Why do you think I brought you here?"

"Huh?" X2

As soon as he said that, not only Inoseri Nina but even Kawaragi Momoka, who had been marveling at the room, looked over in surprise.

Thinking back on their earlier conversation, an unlikely thought rose in their minds... That couldn't possibly be what he meant, right?

Satisfied by their expressions, Sakurakoji Talent nodded and continued, "I'm not staying here long-term. It wouldn't be good to leave the house empty all the time, would it?"

"If you're willing, you can stay here normally. Especially you, Miss Momoka. You just gave up your old place, so it won't be easy for you to move back in somewhere right away, will it?"

"In exchange, all you need to do is help me clean and maintain the place. How about it? Not a bad offer, right?"

"..."

"..."

The two fell silent, wondering if they had misheard him.

After a long while, Kawaragi Momoka finally looked at him seriously. "Talent, could it be because..."

"No, no." Sakurakoji Talent waved his hand. "I mean it. I really will be coming to Kawasaki from time to time later on. It'd be too troublesome to find a hotel every time, so I rented this house. Don't overthink it!"

"It just so happened that you and Nina needed a place too, so I took that into consideration when choosing the house."

"I can't say I had absolutely no thoughts in that direction, but helping young people wholeheartedly pursue their dreams is something I enjoy. Don't feel pressured."

"Besides," he said at last, smiling at her, "I told you, didn't I? I'm your fan. Isn't supporting an idol a fan's duty?"

"But this is too..." Kawaragi Momoka's gaze was complicated, and she still found it hard to accept.

"STOP!" Sakurakoji Talent crossed his hands into an X. "I've already paid a year's rent anyway. Whether you live here or not makes no difference. If you don't, the rent will just go to waste. You choose."

"I've already accepted so much help from you. I can't accept any more!"

"Can't hear you! I can't hear you!"

"If you do this, how am I supposed to repay you later?"

"Who said I wanted you to repay me? Do fans buy merchandise because they expect their idols to do something for them afterward?"

"But..."

"No more buts. If you really feel bad about it," Sakurakoji Talent said, meeting her eyes, "then work hard and make even better songs. I'm looking forward to your new album CD."

Feeling an unprecedented seriousness and strength in his eyes, Kawaragi Momoka opened and closed her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She lowered her usually carefree face, warmth filling her heart.

Was this what idols with rich fans got to experience every day? This was way too amazing, wasn't it?!

"Um..." Inoseri Nina cautiously raised her hand. "Well, I'm not someone like Miss Momoka who wants to make music. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to live here?"

"Besides, I've already rented a place..."

"Hm?" Kawaragi Momoka abruptly raised her head, bringing her face close to Nina's with a grave expression.

"Huh, nani?" Inoseri Nina was like a mouse being stared at by a cat, completely at a loss.

"Nina, didn't you say you wanted to start a band with me?" Kawaragi Momoka crossed her arms and accused her.

"I never said that!" Inoseri Nina replied firmly.

"You did! You said, 'Please raise your middle finger with me!'" Kawaragi Momoka raised her middle finger and cutely gestured with it in front of her, trying to jog her memory.

Inoseri Nina forcefully covered her hand and bent the finger back down. "Please find a way to cure that habit of randomly flipping people off!"

"Ow, ow, ow." Kawaragi Momoka shut her eyes and withdrew her finger.

"That wasn't me saying I wanted to sing. I said it based on our respective positions." Inoseri Nina turned around, resolute.

"I'm going to study, and Miss Momoka is going to make music!"

"What? That's what you meant?" Kawaragi Momoka held her forehead in distress. "No wonder it felt strange."

"I'm the one who got scared by what you said!" Inoseri Nina turned back, looking troubled and a little shaken.

"Tsk, tsk. Looks like the road ahead is long," Sakurakoji Talent said, shaking his head. "But it doesn't matter. Maybe one day Miss Nina will want to make music, and then she can join Miss Momoka."

"Absolutely—not!" Inoseri Nina stubbornly declared. "No matter what, I have to get into university!"

"Well, since you say so, I respect your decision." Though that was what he said aloud, Sakurakoji Talent tugged at Kawaragi Momoka's clothes and secretly pulled her aside. Resting a hand on her shoulder, he leaned close and whispered:

"I have some things to deal with later, and I need to rush back to Tokyo tomorrow, so I'm leaving the rest to you."

"Huh? Leaving it to me? But Nina already said she doesn't want to..." Kawaragi Momoka looked stunned.

"Well, children's attitudes are always changing. Nina just hasn't figured out what she truly wants yet," Sakurakoji Talent analyzed. "I have a feeling there'll definitely be a reversal later. When that happens, sorry for the trouble. Just like how Nina made you change your mind today."

"...I understand. If it really turns out the way you said." Kawaragi Momoka narrowed her eyes, nodded in understanding, and accepted.

"Anyway, even if Miss Nina doesn't want to make music, you're welcome to move in anytime. I said I'd look after you, after all." Having settled the last matter, Sakurakoji Talent clapped his hands and gave his final conclusion.

"And it's already late today, so Miss Nina should stay here for the night too. You can leave tomorrow."

Early the next morning,

Inoseri Nina set off for the preparatory school to register. Because of Sakurakoji Talent's words, Kawaragi Momoka took the initiative to tag along and look around.

Just as he had said the night before, Sakurakoji Talent boarded an early train and returned to Tokyo.

He hadn't lied this time. He really did have things to do afterward. He had spent one day and two nights in Kawasaki, and putting aside everything else, he had directly taken two days off from Starry—Ichiji Hoshika had probably cursed him out pretty badly.

And today during the daytime, he also had an appointment to keep.

Leaning against a train pole, he reviewed what he had gained from this trip. He had to admit, the results had been far better than he expected!

His progress points had advanced by around two percent in one go. Sakurakoji Talent couldn't help feeling confused. What was going on? Why had he received so much?

Especially on the first night before yesterday, the increase had been particularly large. Most of the progress had come then. He had indeed met several new characters, but surely it shouldn't have had such an incredible effect?

After all, excluding the past few days, he had spent some time grinding Starry, Hoshino Ai, and Aoyama Nanami, yet had only accumulated one percent of his treatment points.

This single trip to Kawasaki had earned him twice as much as all that early progress? That was a little too ridiculous.

Still, no matter what, it was a good thing. Adding in the points he had recently gained again from those places, as well as what he had received from Hiratsuka Shizuka, Shiina Mahiru, Touma Kazusa, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and the others, his total progress was now around five or six percent.

Compared with the struggle he had faced at the beginning, things were moving much faster now. At least he could finally see hope!

Sakurakoji Talent was practically in tears. He was so speechless he wanted to laugh. What kind of protagonist worked himself half to death for so many days just to complete one-twentieth of the initial quest?!

This was utterly absurd!

He had left early to avoid the upcoming rush hour, so he avoided the carriages packed full of office workers in the morning.

To reduce living costs, many people chose to live in cities and districts around Tokyo, then caught the train into Tokyo for work.

Because the railways were privately operated, train schedules in Japan weren't as frequent as those in China. Profit maximization always had to be considered. That was why, at certain places and times every day, you could see attendants forcefully shoving passengers into the trains—the kind of scene that appeared on television.

"Ah, this is bad. I need to hurry."

After returning to Ten no Yashiro and noticing the time, Sakurakoji Talent hurriedly took a quick shower, changed clothes, and prepared for his upcoming date.

Image: "Your Cool Big Sis Momoka," Location: "Images/1756037145-100446961-113764291.jpg"

Volume One: The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Angel Has Arrived Here

He first used his phone to inform the other party that he might arrive a little late, telling her to head over first and not wait for him.

After changing and freshening up, Sakurakoji Talent went downstairs, got into the car he had notified beforehand, and headed toward his destination.

The car soon left Minato Ward, passed through Shibuya, entered Setagaya Ward, then left Tokyo's boundaries and arrived in nearby Fuchu City.

That was right. Today was Shiina Mahiru's graduation ceremony.

A few days ago, Shiina Mahiru had told him the time and place. Yesterday, she had even indirectly asked whether he was free, saying that it was fine if he couldn't come.

See? A woman's talent for lying was an innate gift written into her genes. She had clearly been desperate for him to come, yet deliberately said the exact opposite to test him. She could advance or retreat as needed. It was just baby!

If he had actually gone along with her and said he wasn't free, he would probably have been blacklisted by her afterward.

That was why, even though he had still been in Kawasaki yesterday, he rushed back early this morning, changed his appearance, and immediately headed over to see her.

He glanced at the time on his phone screen. If he hurried over now, he should make it just in time.

At a certain middle school in Fuchu City, Shiina Mahiru, dressed in her school uniform, continuously intertwined her fingers. Her face was tense and worried. Whenever her gaze fell upon graduating students from her year walking past in groups with their parents, laughing and chatting happily, she quickly lowered her head and avoided looking closely.

As expected, neither of her parents intended to attend today's ceremony.

Whenever she saw the bright optimism on other students' faces and heard their hopes and expectations for the future, a trace of envy and jealousy would involuntarily rise in her heart, carving fresh wounds into her memories.

Throughout the entire campus, filled today with happy melancholy and excited joy, it seemed that only she was shrouded beneath gloomy clouds.

Would Sister Ogura come later?

She had said she might be a little late, but what if there was traffic on the way? Or if something unexpected happened? Or worse—what if she had never planned to come at all...

No, no, no! She said she would definitely come! She wouldn't lie to me!

Shiina Mahiru vigorously shook her head, throwing the thought out of her mind.

"Good morning, Classmate Shiina!"

"Classmate Shiina is beautiful today too!"

"You'll be giving a speech on stage later, right? Aren't you nervous?"

"..."

As she walked through the school building, students from the same year kept approaching her to talk. She pretended that nothing was wrong and dealt with them one by one.

"By the way, where is Classmate Shiina's family? Didn't they come with you?" a female classmate asked curiously.

"Ah! I'm curious about what Classmate Shiina's family is like too! Are they the heirs to some major corporation after all?"

"!" Shiina Mahiru's expression froze. After three seconds of silence, she said, "She said she would be a little late. She'll come later..."

"Huh, she? Who is she? Classmate Shiina's mother?"

"No... my sister, I suppose."

"Really?! Classmate Shiina has a sister? What kind of person is she? Since Classmate Shiina is so pretty, she must be a great beauty too, right?" The female classmate failed to notice the change in her expression and asked with fascinated curiosity.

"Not my biological sister, but she really is prettier than I am..." Thinking of Ogura Asahi's unreal appearance, Shiina Mahiru hesitated before explaining.

"No way?! Really?!"

"You're lying! Someone is actually prettier than Classmate Shiina?"

"Nani, nani? What are you talking about?"

"..."

Since Shiina Mahiru was not only the top-ranked academic student year after year, but also the school's most beautiful girl with her delicate features, outstanding in sports, and easygoing in personality, she was naturally a popular celebrity and focal point at school.

Everyone paid close attention to her movements, and soon a large crowd gathered around her.

"Classmate Shiina said her sister is coming later! Apparently, she's even prettier than Classmate Shiina!"

"Huh! Seriously?!"

"..."

"Um!" Seeing that the situation was about to spiral further and further out of control, Shiina Mahiru looked anxious and tried to raise a hand to stop them, but she simply couldn't control the emotionally excited students today.

Thanks to the gossipmongers spreading the news, it quickly circulated widely. Not only the students, but even the teachers heard about it.

After hearing the students' discussions in the hallway, Shiina Mahiru's homeroom teacher frowned, her heart full of doubt.

She knew Shiina Mahiru's family situation. She didn't have a sister at all, did she? And her parents didn't seem to care much about her either. It was unclear whether they would even attend today's ceremony. In fact, they had never appeared for the previous three-way parent-teacher-student meetings.

It would be fine if it were true, but if Shiina Mahiru had said it out of helplessness just to maintain appearances, and things ultimately failed to go as she hoped, the one who would be hurt in the end would still be that child.