So many geniuses in anime! What's wrong with me joining?

"Who says I live alone?" Sakurakoji Talent looked at her with an uncomprehending gaze.

"Eh? There's someone else?" Inoseri Nina exclaimed, then her face flushed as if she'd thought of something, and she said excitedly, "Could it be... a, a, a girlfriend!?"

"No!" Mimicking Kawaragi Momoka, Sakurakoji Talent gently tapped her forehead with his hand, interrupting her fantasy.

"Do you think, why did I bring you two here?"

"Eh?" X2

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

Recalling the previous conversation, an unlikely thought surfaced in their minds... It couldn't possibly mean that, could it?

Nodding with satisfaction at their expressions, Sakurakoji Talent continued, "I'm not here long-term, and it's not good for the house to be empty all the time."

"If you're willing, you can live here normally. Especially Miss Momoka, your lease just ended, and it won't be easy to move back right away."

"In return, all you have to do is help me clean and maintain it. How about it, isn't that a good offer?"

"..."

"..."

The two fell silent, doubting if they had heard correctly.

After a long while, Kawaragi Momoka looked at him with earnest eyes. "Talent, you're not doing this because..."

"No, no," Sakurakoji Talent waved his hand. "I'm serious. I will be coming to Kawasaki irregularly from now on, and it's too much trouble to find a hotel every time, so I rented this place. Don't overthink it!"

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

"While I can't say I have no ulterior motives, helping young people who are pursuing their dreams is my pleasure. Don't feel burdened."

"Besides," he said with a smile as he looked at her, "I told you I'm your fan, right? Isn't it what a fan should do to support an idol a little?"

"But this is too much..." Kawaragi Momoka's eyes were complicated, still finding it hard to accept.

"STOP!" Sakurakoji Talent made an X with his hands. "Anyway, I've already paid a year's rent. It doesn't matter if you live here or not. If you don't, the rent will just be wasted. You choose."

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

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

"If you do this! How will I ever repay you?"

"Who said you have to repay me? Do fans buy merchandise because they expect the idol to do something for them afterward?"

"But..."

"No 'buts'. If you really feel embarrassed," Sakurakoji Talent met her gaze, "then work hard to make better songs. I'm looking forward to your new album CD."

Feeling an unprecedented seriousness and strength in his eyes, Kawaragi Momoka's lips moved, but she still said nothing. Lowering her usually carefree face, she felt a warmth in her heart.

Is this what idols feel like when they have wealthy fans? This is amazing?!

"Um..." Inoseri Nina cautiously raised her hand to speak. "Um, I'm not someone who wants to make music like Miss Momoka, so it might not be good for me to live here?"

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

"Huh?" Kawaragi Momoka looked up in surprise, leaning her face close to Nina's with a serious expression.

"Eh, Nani?" Inoseri Nina looked like a mouse caught by a cat, flustered.

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

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

"You did! You said, 'Please give me the middle finger!'" Kawaragi Momoka raised her middle finger and playfully gestured in front of Nina, trying to make her remember.

Inoseri Nina covered her gesture with her hand and bent her finger back. "Please find a way to cure your habit of giving the middle finger!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch." Kawaragi Momoka closed her eyes and retracted her finger.

"That sentence wasn't because I wanted to sing, it was said based on our respective positions," Inoseri Nina turned around, her attitude resolute.

"I need to study, and Miss Momoka wants to make music!"

"What? That's what it meant?" Kawaragi Momoka held her forehead, feeling a headache. "No wonder I felt something was off."

"It's me who was startled by your words!" Inoseri Nina turned back, her expression a mix of difficulty and fright.

"Tsk, tsk, it seems the road ahead is long," Sakurakoji Talent shook his head. "But it doesn't matter. Maybe Miss Nina will want to make music someday, and then you can be together with Miss Momoka."

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

"Well, since you say so, I respect your decision." While saying this, Sakurakoji Talent pulled on Kawaragi Momoka's clothes, secretly pulling her aside, placing his hand on her shoulder, and leaning his head close to whisper:

"I have some things to attend to, and I have to rush back to Tokyo tomorrow. So, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Eh? Leave it to me? But Nina already said she doesn't want to..." Kawaragi Momoka's expression was astonished.

"Mhm, children's attitudes change. Nina just hasn't seen what she truly wants yet," Sakurakoji Talent analyzed. "I have a feeling there will be a turn of events later, and I'll have to trouble you then, just like Nina changed her mind today."

"...I understand. If things really turn out as you say." Kawaragi Momoka narrowed her eyes and nodded in understanding.

"In short, even if Miss Nina doesn't want to make music, you're always welcome to stay here. After all, I said I'd look after you." After finalizing the last item, Sakurakoji Talent clapped his hands and made a final summary.

"It's late today, so Miss Nina, you should stay here for the night and leave tomorrow."

The next morning, Inoseri Nina headed to the prep school for registration. Kawaragi Momoka, influenced by Sakurakoji Talent's words, insisted on going with her to check it out.

As he'd said the night before, Sakurakoji Talent boarded an early train back to Tokyo.

He wasn't lying this time; he did have matters to attend to, which caused him to spend two days and two nights in Kawasaki. Just for Starlight, he'd taken two days off—Ichiji Hoshika must have been furious.

Moreover, he had another appointment to rush to that very afternoon.

Leaning against the pole on the train, he reflected on the gains from this trip. He had to admit, the results exceeded his expectations!

His progress points had advanced by about two percent in one go. Sakurakoji Talent couldn't help but feel puzzled. What was going on? Why so much?

The first night, especially, had seen a significant increase; most of his progress was gained then. While he had indeed met several new characters, it shouldn't have had such a miraculous effect, right?

He recalled that, excluding the last few days, he had previously spent a considerable amount of time grinding through Starlight, Hoshino Ai, and Aoyama Nanami's scenarios, yet only accumulated one percent of his treatment points.

This trip to Kawasaki alone had yielded double the amount from the earlier period? That seemed a bit too outrageous.

But no matter what, it was a good thing. Coupled with the points he'd gained from refreshing those instances in the last few days, as well as the harvest from Hiratsuka Shizuka, Shiina Mahiru, Touma Kazusa, and Kasumigaoka Utaha, his total completed progress was now around five to six percent.

Compared to the initial arduous struggle, this was a massive improvement. At least, he could see hope now!

Sakurakoji Talent's heart welled up with tears, so speechless he almost wanted to laugh. What kind of protagonist grinds for so many days, exhausting himself, only to complete one-twentieth of the initial mission?

It was utterly preposterous!

To avoid the upcoming rush hour, he had left very early, thus avoiding a train carriage packed with commuters.

To cut down on living costs, many people chose to live in the prefectures surrounding Tokyo and commute by train.

Due to the private nature of the industry, train services in Japan weren't as frequent as in China; profit maximization was always a consideration. Therefore, at specific times and locations each day, you could see train attendants forcefully pushing passengers into the carriages, a scene often depicted on television.

"Ah, shoot, I need to hurry."

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

Image: "Handsome Brother Momoka", Location: "Images/1756037145-100446961-113764291.jpg"

Volume 1: The Troublesome Everyday Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies : Chapter 66: An Angel Has Arrived Here

First, he used his phone to notify the other party that he might be a little late and that she should go ahead and not wait for him.

After dressing up, Sakurakoji Talent went downstairs, got into the car he had arranged, and headed towards his destination.

The car soon left Minato Ward, weaved through Shibuya, then entered Setagaya Ward, and finally left the Tokyo metropolitan area, arriving in the neighboring Fuchu City.

That's right, today was Shiina Mahiru's graduation ceremony.

A few days prior, Shiina Mahiru had informed him of the time and place. Yesterday, she had indirectly asked if he was free, adding that it was okay if he couldn't make it.

See, women's lying skills were innate, a talent embedded in their genes. She desperately wanted him to come but deliberately said the opposite to test him. It was a perfect strategy, offensive and defensive, just like a baby's!

If he had gone along with her words and said he was busy, he would probably have been blacklisted by her afterward.

Therefore, even though he was in Kawasaki yesterday, he rushed back this morning, changed, and immediately headed to her location.

Glancing at the time on his phone, he figured he would arrive just in time.

At a certain middle school in Fuchu City, Shiina Mahiru, clad in her school uniform, nervously fiddled with her fingers. Whenever her gaze fell upon her classmates walking by in small groups with their parents, laughing and chatting joyfully, she would quickly lower her head, avoiding their eyes.

As she had expected, neither of her parents had any intention of attending the ceremony.

Every time she saw the bright, optimistic smiles on her classmates' faces and heard their hopeful words about the future, she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy and jealousy, etching scars onto her heart.

The campus, filled with the bittersweetness of happiness and excited joy today, seemed to be shrouded in a gloomy cloud just for her.

Will Sister Ogura come later?

Although she had said she might be a little late, what if there was traffic, or an accident, or even—what if she never intended to come in the first place...

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

Shiina Mahiru shook her head vigorously, casting the thought aside.

"Classmate Shiina, good morning!"

"Classmate Shiina looks beautiful today too!"

"You're going on stage to give a speech later, right? Aren't you nervous?"

"..."

Walking through the school building, students from her grade kept approaching her. She forced a smile, pretending everything was fine, and dealt with them one by one.

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

"Ah! I'm also curious what Classmate Shiina's family is like! Are they really the heirs of a big company?"

"!" Shiina Mahiru's expression faltered. After a three-second pause, she said, "She said she'd be a little late and would come later..."

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

"No... it's, Sister."

"Really?! Shiina-class's sister? What kind of person could she be? Shiina-class is so beautiful, she must be a great beauty too!" The female classmate, unaware of the shift in her expression, asked with rapt curiosity.

"She's not my biological sister, but she is indeed better-looking than me..." Shiina Mahiru hesitated, thinking of Ogura Asahi's otherworldly appearance.

"No way?! Really?!"

"You're lying! She's actually prettier than you, Shiina-class?!"

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

"..."

Because Shiina Mahiru was not only a perennial top student, but also the school's most beautiful with her delicate features, exceptionally talented in sports, and had a very easygoing personality, she was naturally a popular figure and the center of attention at school.

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

"Shiina-class said her sister is coming over later! Apparently, she's even more beautiful than Shiina-class!"

"Eh! Maji?!"

"..."

"Um!" Seeing the situation escalating, Shiina Mahiru's face turned anxious, and she tried to reach out to stop them, but she couldn't control the emotionally charged students today.

With the help of the busybodies, the news quickly spread far and wide, reaching not only students but also teachers.

Shiina Mahiru's homeroom teacher frowned upon hearing the students' discussions in the hallway, her mind filled with doubts.

She knew about Shiina Mahiru's family situation; didn't she have a sister? Moreover, her parents didn't seem to pay much attention to her, and it was uncertain if they would even attend the ceremony today. In fact, they hadn't shown up for any of the previous parent-teacher conferences.

If it were true, that would be fine. But if Shiina Mahiru was forced to say it to maintain appearances, and things didn't go as planned in the end, that child would be the one getting hurt.