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

It's only at times like these that he envies those ordinary urban protagonists who can accumulate initial capital by writing novels, drawing illustrations, composing songs, and so on, enjoying the satisfaction of their own continuous growth, living each day to the fullest and happily.

Unlike him, he doesn't even have the motivation to do so, and can only repeat the daily routine with an unknown end, taking things one step at a time, letting time flow by slowly.

Ah, life, sometimes it's just that boring and dull.

Putting aside these personal emotions and thoughts, he looked at the empty display cabinet and delivered bad news to the customers waiting in line behind him.

"I'm sorry, all of today's desserts are sold out. There are only drinks left for those behind."

"Huh!! No way? I've been waiting in line for so long."

"Ahhh, I didn't get to buy one today either!"

"I'm going to die if I don't get any crème brûlée."

"..."

Facing the wails of the crowd, Sakurakoji Talent could do nothing. Starlight's venue was just that small, and it was impossible to equip it with the giant equipment of a real cake shop. Moreover, he was alone, and his preparation time each day was limited, making infinite supply impossible.

Starlight's main business was, after all, band performances; this was just a seasoning.

A small portion of disappointed customers chose to leave, but the majority opted for a drink instead and stayed to watch the performance.

"See you tomorrow."

In the evening, Sakurakoji Talent bid farewell and walked out of the Starlight entrance.

The bright moonlight was swallowed by the city's neon lights, and his exhaled breath condensed into mist in the air; the night was quite cool.

For some reason, Ichiji Hoshika had suddenly offered to give him a raise just now—it seemed he had performed too outstandingly. Although he felt he had been quite restrained, his excellence truly couldn't be buried anywhere, it was truly unavoidable.

He took out his phone to check for unread messages and emails as usual—and there was indeed one.

It was a message on Line. Seeing the contact name clearly, it read: Hoshino Ai.

"Hmm?"

She messaged him so quickly? Sakurakoji Talent was a little confused, not knowing what she wanted to say. She wouldn't really be asking him to reimburse her medical expenses, would she?

He opened the message window, and the first thing that caught his eye was a cute character emoji expressing thanks, followed by a string of text.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Sakurakoji, your gift was delicious!"

Huh—this was what she wanted to say for their first message? His mood was a little complicated, but out of politeness, he immediately sent a reply.

"I'm glad you liked it. I'll treat you again next time if you have the chance."

"Really?!"

Just a few seconds after sending his reply, before he could even put his phone back in his pocket, he received another message from Hoshino Ai. It seemed she was looking at her phone at that very moment.

"Of course, I always keep my word."

"Ah, that's not what I meant..."

On the other end of the phone, Hoshino looked at the message she had sent, her face blushed like a maple leaf. She hugged her head and shook it vigorously, thinking, What am I even saying!

She had originally just wanted to say a simple thank you, but she couldn't help it, the dessert he gave her was just too—delicious. She had originally planned to share it with others, but that thought was dismissed the moment she took the first bite.

In her entire life, she had never eaten anything so delicious! It was even better than the Häagen-Dazs she occasionally splurged on!

As a result, she couldn't help herself and ate all three of them at once.

Ah~ she should have saved some to eat separately, a hint of regret welled up in her heart.

Volume 1: The Butterfly-Inducing Daily Life: Chapter 13: Encountering the Pink Milk Dragon

"It's fine, it was homemade anyway."

"If you really feel bad about it, then let me watch you work next time. I'm also quite curious about idol work, and I'll bring you the same kind of treats as today."

Treats... Hoshino Ai subconsciously swallowed, as if the sweetness of the previous taste still lingered on her tongue.

This way, it shouldn't be considered sneaky, right? It should be within reasonable limits, right? After all, they were treats. And Mr. Sakurakoji also said he wanted to see a live performance, so it could be considered mutually beneficial?

Yes! It's definitely okay!

"Okay! Then I'll let you know the location for the next performance, and I'll trouble you then!"

"OK."

Sakurakoji Talent also sent a cute white-haired character emoji, ending the communication.

Progress increased by one again, I'm such a genius!

"Heh." He flicked his silky smooth hair with his hand. His snow-white strands shimmered under the moonlight. With an evil smile, he gradually disappeared into the moonlit street.

A few days later, Sakurakoji Talent continued to wander around Tokyo as usual.

If reality could be given titles like in a game, he felt he could probably get the title of 'Urban Wanderer'.

The streets were bustling with people, mostly solemn-looking office workers and students exuding a relaxed atmosphere, a stark contrast.

"Speaking of which, there are quite a lot of people playing musical instruments lately."

Every few hundred meters, he'd encounter one or two students carrying instrument cases, laughing and chatting with their companions. And... most of them were girls; there were very few boys, extremely few.

"Forming a band seems to be quite popular lately. I even saw someone online saying the era of the 'big girl band' has arrived. Looks like it wasn't just a rumor."

"No wonder Nijika and Ryo are thinking about forming a band too. Too bad they haven't found enough members yet."

"But it won't be long now. Even if they gather everyone, the future won't be easy."

"The world of music is very cruel."

While contemplating Nijika and the others' uncertain future, he activated auto-navigation and moved through the crowd. At one moment, he suddenly froze and looked back sharply.

A group of junior high school girls who had just brushed past him were walking ahead, chatting and laughing. A few of them, caught stealing glances, immediately blushed and quickly turned their heads back.

He looked back not because they were trying to peek at him; if that were the case, he wouldn't have been able to leave his house.

He looked at the group of charming girls. One girl, surrounded by the others, was particularly striking. She had fair skin, a cute face, and pink hair that, combined with her overly sweet voice, made it hard not to notice her.

Though, her development doesn't seem to be very good yet. There's still a lot of room for improvement.

"Anosan, what are your plans after graduation?"

"Um, I think I'll probably go abroad."

"Eh~ You're going abroad? I was thinking of applying to the same school as you."

"As expected of Aine! You're different from us!"

"Right, right! As expected of our all-around student council president~"

"Stop teasing me~"

"So, which country are you planning to go to? America? France? Australia?"

"Hmm~ Probably Britain. My dad helped me get in touch with a school in London."

"That's amazing! When you return to the country, you'll be an elite talent! Don't forget us then!"

"Speaking of which, wasn't that person who just passed by super good-looking?"

"You noticed too? Right, right! They looked like a model!"

"..."

Sakurakoji Talent unconsciously shook his head slightly, confirming his suspicion. She hasn't gone abroad yet?

Is this the correct timeline? He bent his index finger and placed it under his lips, muttering to himself. Looks like I'll need to investigate a few things later. Without further thought, he turned and left. There was no need to make awkward contact now; he'd have plenty of opportunities in a few months anyway.

He had other places to go today. Following the map in his mind, he soon arrived in front of a familiar shop.

"Welcome." A cheerful, crisp female voice rang out. Upon seeing who it was, the speaker couldn't hide her surprise.

"Ah, it's you."

"Hello."

Sakurakoji Talent raised his hand in greeting. After her initial surprise, the girl with chestnut-brown hair quickly composed herself, her professional demeanor and diligent nature taking over. She clasped her hands in front of her, maintaining a standard welcoming smile.

"What would you like to buy today?"

"Hmm, I'll just look around."

"Understood. Please take your time."

Sakurakoji Talent browsed the store casually, picked up some snacks and drinks, and returned to the counter to pay.

"That will be 2,360 yen. Here is your change, please keep it safe."

"Okay, thank you."

He took the change and put it in his wallet. Glancing at the girl's face, he casually brought up a topic.

"You look very young, miss. Are you still a student?"

"Ah, yes, I'm still in high school, first year."

Although taken aback by Sakurakoji Talent's sudden question, she still answered.

"I see. Part-time work must be quite tiring, right? You look a bit pale, and you have some dark circles under your eyes. You can't push yourself too hard, you know."

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. I have a well-made plan."

"That's good. But you should also get plenty of rest. Good luck with your studies!"

"Thank you."

He nodded, not saying anything further. With one hand in his pocket and the other holding the bag full of items, he left directly.

"Goodbye."

"Take care, and please come again!"

Stepping out of the automatic glass doors onto the wide street, Sakurakoji Talent felt the subtle changes within him once again. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his mood lightened.

As expected, my guess was correct.

A simple, minor act of concern had reaffirmed his belief: his condition improved as his relationship with different characters progressed. His overall approach was correct. As long as he continued these actions, he would eventually escape his current predicament.

"It's just too slow. The changes are so minimal every time, it's like they're just throwing scraps to beggars."

"It seems I need to speed up my interactions with more people. I should also prepare for enrolling in school."

"I keep feeling like I'm heading further and further down a path of self-destruction… Whatever, I'll die anyway if I do nothing."

After his worries subsided, he hardened his resolve, left the street, and took the train to Shimokitazawa.

Volume 1: A Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Chapter 14: Receiving the Heavenly Residence

Mid-February, Sakurakoji Talent departed from Sakura Mansion in a car and arrived near a building ten minutes away from the mansion.

After getting out of the car in the parking lot below, he looked up at the magnificent building, hundreds of meters tall and slender, and couldn't help but sigh.

"What a nice apartment, don't you think, Ichiyo?"

"Yes, I also think it's very nice. It perfectly suits your status, young master."

Ichiyo Yashishima replied with a smile, satisfied. Only a building of this caliber was worthy of his young master.

"Uncle Iyo has truly given a great gift. I'll have to thank him later. How about I make him a pork cutlet rice bowl, cooked personally by me?"

"I'm sure Lord Iyo will be very happy." Ichiyo agreed wholeheartedly.

"Naturally. Let's go take a look inside."

The two walked into the building, chatting and laughing. After explaining their purpose at the front desk, a dedicated staff member quickly came over and led them on a tour.