Oshi no Tomo | ONK

I - Signs of Love

"And... Cut! That's a warp!" Sighing in relief, Miki walked out of the recording room while holding her script book. "Thank you for your hard work." She slightly smiled towards the director and other staff before exiting the recording room.

Yet another minor role on a shonen anime. She didn't expect much since she technically doesn't go to any voice acting school and she's just a freelancer voice actor, but she had hoped that at the very least she'd have a good day today. Well, fate really works in such a wonders. Especially for a 14 years old middle schooler, having to survive in the harsh dark side of the showbiz world.

Controversial rivalry, jealousy, prostitution to get a good role, hungry stares from a much older man, et cetera. Sometimes Miki wonders to herself: was money and exposure worth all of the pain that celebrities had to endure?

Once again, Miki goes home just to meet with her loving mother who had cooked her a delicious dinner, asking her about her day, and also praising her for her hard work.

As for her father... Her step-father, he was still working to support her tiny family.

After dinner, as always Miki hugged her currently pregnant mother and rubbed her belly, clearly hoping for her half-brother to be born soon. She then walked back to her room and turned on her computer.

Again... Another emails from an adult anime production studio, asking her to voice act in one of their upcoming series.

Miki sighed once more, this time in disgust and annoyance. Without giving it much thought, she deleted the email while hoping for the staff of that same studio doesn't come to her in person in the upcoming days.

She endured yet another harassment towards a minor from the company by herself. Ever since her father's death, Miki had tried to live independently so she haven't told anything about this to her mother. Especially not when her mother is in her most crucial moments.

Then what about her step father? Of course she couldn't. She didn't trust the man enough to tell him about her situation yet. All she know is that her step father was a good person, much like her late dad. She doesn't want that image of her step father to be ruined, so she doesn't want to get too close with him.

At the very least now, she can take care of herself well and there's no way of her letting her guards down in this world.

After she sorted out and read all of the work related emails, she browse the internet for anything interesting and as always, she found yet another article about a certain idol group.

Reading the article, she clicked on a clip that was attached to the article. It started playing the now familiar song 'Sign wa B'. Group of girls started to sing and dance to the songs with much enthusiasm, each of them giving out their charms in their best effort.

Yet only one stood out to Miki.

Her dark purple hair swaying around in the air, big smile was plastered on her tiny face, and most importantly... her ever-shining purple star eyes.

Miki slightly smiled at the sight, putting her chin on top of her right palm while admiring the familiar purple haired girl.

She was glad everytime she saw that same yet different star eyes lit up on top of the stage. From the very start, she knew how Ai would become a star someday, a really bright one. Her eyes says it all.

Miki, the black haired girl paused the video right when it displayed the face of Ai with her noticeable star eyes, "Compared to her... I'm just a moon that's dreaming of becoming a star."

Her admiration was interrupted by the sound of her email, it seems like there's a leftover that had just been sent to her.

To : tsuki_miki
From : anonymous

It's me, Ai. It's been so long huh?
Shall we meet tomorrow at 11AM at XXX Café?
I'll be waiting all day even if you can't come at 11.
I can't wait to finally meet you again Micchan!

Miki was suprised, but more than that, she's worried. After all, she'll be meeting an idol that's on their prime time now in their careers! How could she ask her to meet in such an unprotected place?!

To : [reply] anonymous
From : tsuki_miki

Change the location to ### restaurant.
It's safer there.
See you tomorrow.

• • •

"Long time no see huh?"

"Yeah..."

Both of the girls stare at each other with smiles across their face. They both stayed like that until their drinks were delivered to their tables.

They started to talk comfortably like how old friend does. It's as if their conflict in the past was never even happened.

Miki was overjoyed seeing her friend's eyes now that shines brightly, unlike the ones back then which were pitch black. Though it didn't really show on her face, Ai knew how her friend is happy and relieved at her change. Ai is also relieved seeing her one and only friend is living stably and healthy. She didn't have even an ounce of regret on using her whole off-day to meet Miki.

The two talked, when to a private karaoke box, talked again, and even had a dinner in a nice small restaurant. The day was great for both of them.

"Ai... To tell you the truth, I was disappointed when you didn't even say goodbye to me back then."

"Hm? Ah... That's... was because I'm not good with farewells!" Once again, Ai lied through her teeth, like always. Miki didn't mind it, she knew that Ai was feeling betrayed by her moving. Nonetheless, she didn't care. She knew that lying was Ai's love language and she'd gotten used to it.

"I understand that but... Ai, like how your lies is your form of love, saying hellos and good byes is my form of love. It reassures me... so just in case I were to suddenly disappear one day...

I'll disappear in peace, knowing that I've said my good bye to you for the last time."