The Nonfiction That Only You Know

Chapter 16

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/06/11

After the long handshake event, the completely exhausted members of Love Mill gathered in a room at the office.

Normally, they would have just gone straight home but the manager brought them all the way here in his car.

The only ones in the room are the members. Taking advantage of the fact that there are no adults present, everyone is openly in a bad mood.

"I just want to quickly go back and meet my boyfriend."
"You're being too loud, we're at the office now... If someone hears you..."

After Chiho gives this advice to the complaining member, she receives an apology.

The members of Love Mill certainly aren't that close, but their relationship isn't bad either.
They all respect each other's skills. Since they have been together for more than three years, they have a certain amount of affection for each other.

They're companions who encouraged each other and improved together since back when they weren't popular, so they've built up a good relationship as business partners.

"Still, why are we all gathered here? Is this for some kind of prank show...?"

No one knows why they are gathered here.

"If this was a prank show, they would have removed the label from this water bottle. Besides, they would have done it at the TV station."
"Then why...? Did we do something...?"

Chiho secretly points out in her mind that someone made a problematic comment just earlier.

However, no matter how many times she warned them, it doesn't seem to sink in so she's already resigned herself to this state of things.

As much as it hurts Chiho to admit it, they're at least hiding it well enough that they haven't been exposed yet. She takes solace in that fact and pretends not to know anything.

No more than five minutes later, the manager enters the room.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting."

They notice a cute girl behind him.
Chiho has never seen her before, but it is clear from her hair and appearance that she is no average person.

Everyone's gaze concentrates on her, interested in the newcomer. The manager must have known this would happen because he quickly tells the members why they were gathered.

"Sorry for doing this right after the handshake event, but... this girl will be joining Love Mill as a new member."
"Huh?"

The one who bluntly voiced her confusion was the group's leader, Fuuka.

However, even if they didn't say anything, the other members feel the same.

It would be strange if they didn't feel anything after this sudden announcement.
The five members of Love Mill have been working together since the group's beginning and showed solid results.

It would be impossible to not be perplexed by this sudden announcement despite that.

"Why...? The five of us have been together for so long and we're already plenty popular...!"
"It's a decision from above... Come on, introduce yourself."
"My name is Yotsuya Rumi, 20 years old. I'm very happy to become a member of Love Mill. Please take care of me."

This definitely isn't a friendly atmosphere, but Rumi doesn't seem to mind at all and greets them with a smile.

Besides the manager and Chiho, only one other member applauded.

"Well then, Rumi, time to get going."

Perhaps sensing something in the atmosphere, the manager quickly takes Rumi and leaves the room.

No matter what the job is, compatibility between idols is very important.

Even if they can't be friends, idols must appear like best friends on the surface.

Even if they have to force themselves, they need to treat each other like they get along.

Now that only the members are left in this room again, they begin to speak up one by one.

"What do you all think?"
"I know that girl. She used to be an underground idol with a not-so-good reputation."
"What do you mean not-so-good...?"
"I heard that she tried to curry favor with her higher-ups by sharing a bed with them. Only the people involved would know the truth though..."

A new member suddenly joins a well-established idol group.

Rumi is extremely cute, so she might bring a good wind to Love Mill.

This might turn out to be an opportunity to attract new fans. The fact that a new member is joining is enough to create a buzz by itself.

"...I think it might be best to not talk about your boyfriends in front of her."

All the other members' eyes gather on Chiho after hearing her voice.

"Why?"
"Do you know why I've kept quiet about everyone having a boyfriend?"
"No..."
"Despite everything, I've been with you all for more than 3 years. In truth, having a boyfriend is unbecoming for an idol. It wouldn't be strange to get suspended or dismissed if word gets out."

Everyone remains silent, unable to say anything back.
Since they are not bad people at heart, they all hold feelings of guilt for doing something wrong as an idol.

"However, that girl has no feelings for any of us. If anything happens, she might sell us out. We have to be careful since she might even be intending to do that right from the very beginning."
"Are you serious..."
"I'm just saying that possibility exists. At any rate, don't talk about your boyfriends openly like you've been doing up until now."

It's rare for Chiho to warn them so sternly and the members begin nodding one after another.
Everyone wants to protect Love Mill.

That is why they're perplexed by the new member that suddenly appeared and reject her.

Once things had calmed down, the manager comes back into the room again.

This time he enters by himself without Yotsuya Rumi.

"Manager, what's the meaning of this? The five of us are enough...!"
"It's a decision from above. I don't know why, but they decided to suddenly include Yotsuya Rumi in Love Mill... There were quite a few people who were against it, but..."
"But...!"
"Enough. The manager doesn't have that kind of authority."

Even he has been supporting Love Mill as their manager since they first formed.

That is why there are mixed feelings about a new member being added due to adult circumstances.

In the end, both managers and idols are nothing more than pawns of the company.
It is because they know this that everyone here has a downcast expression on their face.

A large sigh escapes Chiho's lips.
She can't help but feel like something bad is about to happen.