Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 24: Akane's Heartfelt Resolve

As the sun's rays began to gently filter through the curtains, Akane stirred in her bed, greeted by the soft chime of her alarm clock. With a determined sigh, she pushed off the blankets and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Today was going to be another hectic day, and she knew she needed to get a head start.

Her first stop was the bathroom, where she splashed her face with cool water, instantly feeling more awake. Akane then reached for her toothbrush and toothpaste, ensuring her morning breath would be banished. As she brushed her teeth, she mentally ran through her to-do list, mentally organizing her tasks for the day.

After a quick shower, Akane returned to her room, a towel wrapped around her body. She opened her closet doors and contemplated her outfit for the day. A busy schedule called for comfort and practicality.

With her clothes laid out, she moved on to her makeup.

As Akane stood before her vanity, carefully applying her makeup, she was interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone. Startled, she reached for it, her hands still holding her makeup brush. Upon unlocking her phone, she was greeted by a flood of notifications that filled her screen, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. It seemed like messages, emails, and alerts had piled up during the time she had been getting ready.

As Akane continued to scroll through the notifications on her phone, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of boredom. She muttered to herself, "Ever since I joined 'LoveNow', my phone's been buzzing non-stop. It used to be a nice distraction, but now it's just... overwhelming." She shook her head and returned her focus to her makeup, trying to ignore the constant stream of messages vying for her attention.

"I should have listened to my manager and used two phones instead of one," Akane muttered, frustration evident in her voice. "Trying to manage my personal life and work all on one device is becoming a real challenge. I need to find a way to strike a balance without feeling overwhelmed by all these notifications."

As Akane finished applying her makeup, she took a deep breath and set her phone aside. Determined to start her day on the right foot, she reminded herself to stay focused and not let the constant notifications distract her. "I've got this," she muttered to herself, offering a determined smile in the mirror.

As she got dressed and prepared to leave her room, a thought crossed her mind. She wondered how the other participants of "LoveNow" were managing this constant influx of messages and notifications. Were they also struggling to find a balance between their personal lives and the demands of the show?

Akane's thoughts shifted momentarily to her friend, Hiroshi, the main focus of the "LoveNow" show. She pondered how he was managing his newfound fame and the wave of attention that came with it. She imagined that being in that spotlight must be both exciting and exhausting. Considering the volume of messages and notifications she was dealing with, she couldn't help but wonder how much more challenging it must be for Hiroshi.

"Being the centre of attention can be a double-edged sword," Akane mused to herself. She imagined the constant scrutiny, media coverage, and public expectations that Hiroshi must be facing. As someone who had experienced a taste of the media's attention herself, she could empathize with the potential challenges he was likely encountering.

Akane's thoughts drifted back to the first episode of "LoveNow," where Hiroshi had made quite a surprising entrance. She couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of his confident demeanour as he introduced himself to the audience and the other participants. His ease in that high-pressure situation had caught everyone's attention, including hers.

"Ah, Hiroshi," she said with a smile, speaking softly to herself. "He really knows how to handle things with such ease. I have to admit, I admire him for that. Walking into a room full of strangers and cameras like he owned the place - not many people can pull that off."