Morning of an Idol

(Sun Yao)

"Get up, you idiot."

In a daze, the blanket covering me was suddenly pulled away.

"It's only eight o'clock, let me sleep for another five minutes..."

"Get up and go for a morning run! By the way, it's six in the morning!"

That's even earlier than I said!

He was grabbed by the arms and forcibly pulled to sit up.

Ah Ye is really strict.

However, he is a self-disciplined person and usually goes to bed early and gets up early. In the past, he certainly wouldn't have dragged me to exercise in the morning like this, but now he is my manager. Although he doesn't quite understand what a manager is supposed to do, he can still supervise me to complete the exercise tasks assigned by Miss Sirius... but I can't.

I fell backward again.

"No, the muscles from yesterday's workout haven't recovered yet..."

Although it's only been three days, my fighting spirit has already been completely exhausted.

Yezi retorted, "I ran alongside you! Surely your physical abilities, as a magical girl, aren't inferior to those of an ordinary person like me?!"

Speaking of this, I sat up in bed, enduring the soreness in my muscles, and pointed at his nose, retorting, "How are you like an ordinary person? A normal person who can run 40 kilometers in two hours and still drag a magical girl out of bed the next day? You're a devilish manager!"

He shrugged, dismissively saying, "It's different. I ride a bike, so naturally I'm not as tired as you."

"No normal person can ride a bicycle for two hours straight!"

Ye Yezi pushed him into the bathroom, but he turned around and went to fold the blankets on the bed.

Before we knew it, we had gotten used to this strange cohabitation. Although I had tried to persuade Yezi to sleep in the same bed with me many times, he insisted on sleeping only on the air mattress I had prepared for him. Even though it wouldn't hurt him to sleep in the same bed, and we could use Bubble Membrane to keep him separate...

Stepping out of the bedroom, I could smell the distinctive aroma of butter. Today's breakfast was fried toast with a poached egg, plus a glass of cold milk to replenish various nutrients and vitamins.

Yezi was waiting for me at the dining table to have lunch together.

"Good morning, Goldie."

"Woof!"

Golden was also having breakfast, which was dog food soaked in goat milk powder and mixed with canned meat and fruit.

This was also prepared by Yezi early in the morning, and it looks very much to its liking.

I sat down next to Yezi and grabbed a slice of toast.

When will your aunt and uncle be coming back next time?

"God knows, they hardly ever came home to begin with, and because of your dad's situation, they've been even less... Ah, sorry."

Perhaps out of consideration for my feelings, he took the initiative to end the conversation.

"It's alright... It's Past three days, and I've long since come to terms with Dad's situation."

I really didn't expect him to become a traitor, but it was all for the sake of waking up my mother, and in the end, it was a success.

However, he will definitely come back.

After all, he couldn't take his mother with him.

Even without the Star Crystal, based on his understanding of the Association, just strategizing behind the scenes would be a huge problem.

"Well--"

No, I can't let Dad's situation ruin my good mood for breakfast.

The soft-boiled egg, with its semi-solid yolk mixed into the toast...

So delicious!

I said, "Yezi, after my morning run, I want to go to the branch to visit my mother."

"No problem, I'll go with you."

As Yezi spoke, she turned on the TV and added, "And there's Heat Haze. SpiCa has kept her at the branch for a checkup these past two days, since her condition is quite special."

It's truly unique; a magical girl who can get another Crystal even after losing one—there seems to be no other precedent in the world besides Heat Haze.

Perhaps the sun really does like her?

She not only received a new Star Crystal, but the Crystal's shape also changed from a topaz bead to a sun disc, which she wore as a bracelet when she wasn't transforming.

The properties of Fire Phosphor have also undergone a qualitative change. Now, the fine phosphorus powder that is scattered all over the battlefield can control the range and power of the explosion. It is no longer as unstable as before, and there is no good way to defend against it. If it becomes an enemy, it will be very troublesome.

Not only that.

She even took the opportunity to change her name.

She's now called [Heat Haze Amaterasu], but she allows us to continue calling her Heat Haze, and we can also call her Yoko in private...

Yes, she now allows me to call her by her first name.

With the Star Crystal recovered, Heat Haze's personality has softened considerably. If she was like a powder keg before, she is now like a sun full of hope.

She once told me that she couldn't do anything well except become a magical girl.

Having lost the Crystal and fully understood her own weakness and powerlessness, her mindset was elevated when she regained her power.

Unfortunately, the battle at the treatment facility couldn't be made public, so she still needs a real comeback battle.

Yezi had finished breakfast and was watching the morning news with her cup in hand.

He sighed, "So, in the end, it turned into a terrorist attack on the treatment facility by 'the Other Side'?"

That's how it was reported on the news.

"There's no other way, we can't exactly say the Association chairman rebelled, can we?"

"Were the other magical girls present that day also kept it a secret?"

"SpiCa always finds a way to shut them up. After all, the Association is the great tree that magical girls rely on, and they have no reason to spread news that is detrimental to the Association."

After I finished speaking, Yezi paused.

"... No, not entirely. There are also magical girls like Miluno who are completely independent and don't rely on the Association, right?"

Hey?!

Yezi's words surprised me.

She previously refused to accept my proselytizing, and wouldn't even dare to set foot in my bedroom. Now she's so sure about Miss Miluno?

It's like recommending a show to a friend but never actually watching it yourself, then watching one episode and immediately getting hooked and binge-watching it all in one go!

I ordered a "Miluno fan support outfit" before, but the size is too big for me now. If I have the chance to go back home, I'll bring it over and give it to Yezi!

Only those who wear support outfits are true fans!

"Hmm? An idol selection?"

Yezi picked up the remote to change the channel, but was drawn to an advertisement for a talent show and fell into deep thought.

"Supernova Idol Festival? Ceruno, this might be your chance to shine. We absolutely cannot miss it."

After finishing her glass of milk, Yezi began searching for information about the talent show on her phone.

"Am I eligible to participate?"

I've never participated in any performances or events, and I even messed up my debut concert. How can someone like me call myself an idol?

"That's acceptable, because the participants in this competition must be... magical girls."

"Is this an audition entirely for magical girls?"

"This is a special project. In previous episodes, the requirement was for newcomers who had debuted within the last six months, but this time that requirement has been removed. Even magical girls who haven't debuted yet can participate as long as they believe they have talent and want to become idols. The champion will receive massive resources and soar to great heights. It's not just a pipe dream to be on par with Sirius."

"That's still a bit..."

At first glance, it seems like the conditions have been relaxed, but in reality, it has narrowed the entry channels.

After all, there are only about 14,000 magical girls registered with the Association worldwide.

However, this development was an inevitable outcome.

The overwhelming power of magical girls has severely impacted the livelihoods of traditional idols, not only because of their looks and magical abilities. Compared to those fake idols who sell a pure image, magical girls with the "certification" of the Star Crystal are at least honest and responsible individuals at heart.

Simply put, it means their public image won't collapse.

Miss Sirius always has that quirky and lively personality on TV, yet she manages to gain worldwide adoration...

"Okay, registration is complete."

Yezi's words brought me back to reality.

"Huh? So fast!"

"Let me check the schedule... Hmm... This weekend is for the preliminary and semi-final rounds, the results will be announced on August 15th, and the recording of the talent show will officially begin on the 16th... Ceruno, you have less than two weeks to prepare."

Yezi acted somewhat presumptuously, and before I could say anything, he added, "This is my arrangement as your agent."

How could this be...?

I lacked confidence in winning the game.