Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 34: Maze of Hearts: Navigating the Love Triangle

All the contestants were gathered for the filming of the next episode and with a wave of his hand, the director silenced the excited whispers. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice projected throughout the studio, "welcome to another thrilling episode of 'LoveNow.' Today, we have something truly special in store for you."

The contestants exchanged curious glances, their hearts pounding in their chests. Each of them had become accustomed to the unexpected twists and turns of the show, but today seemed different, electrifying.

"Our theme for today," the director continued, "is 'Bonds of Adventure.' We're taking you to an adventure-themed park, where you'll face physical challenges, solve puzzles, and navigate a maze. But here's the catch, you won't be doing it alone."

Gasps and whispers rippled through the group as they realized the implications of the challenge. The director's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"We'll be forming teams, and the catch is that these teams are completely random," he announced, relishing the reactions of the contestants. "You will have to rely on your teammates, even if you don't know them well. It's a test of teamwork, trust, and maybe even a bit of luck."

The contestants exchanged uncertain glances, wondering who their teammates would be and how they would navigate this uncharted territory.

As the contestants processed the director's announcement, Hiroshi couldn't hide his sly grin. This challenge was his perfect opportunity to set his plan in motion. Casually, he made his way over to Akane, who was standing with a hint of nervous anticipation.

Hiroshi leaned in slightly, his voice laced with charm, and whispered to Akane, "You know, Akane, I can't help but hope that we end up on the same team today. We make an unbeatable duo, don't you think?" His eyes sparkled with a mix of sincerity and calculated intent.

Akane blushed slightly, taken aback by Hiroshi's words. With a soft smile, she replied, "Yes, Hiroshi, we do make a great team." Her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and apprehension, unsure of what lay ahead in this adventure-themed challenge.

The director stood at the front of the room, holding a container filled with slips of paper, each containing a contestant's name. He reached in and pulled out the first slip. "And the first name for today's teams is... Akane!"

Akane's heart skipped a beat as she stepped forward, her eyes darting toward Hiroshi with a glimmer of hope. She hoped that Hiroshi would be chosen next, but as the director reached for the second slip, a collective gasp filled the room.

The director unfolded the slip of paper and announced, "Joining Akane on her team is... Aqua!"

A hush fell over the contestants as they exchanged shocked looks. No one had expected this pairing. Akane's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at Hiroshi, who was doing an excellent job of acting shocked. His eyebrows raised, and he shook his head as if in disbelief.

"Looks like luck wasn't with us this time," Hiroshi said with a wry smile.

As the cameras focused in on Aqua, who stood near Hiroshi, he couldn't help but notice Hiroshi's apparent disappointment at not being on the same team as Akane. Aqua leaned in closer to Hiroshi and spoke in hushed volumes that Akane couldn't hear.

"You know," Aqua began, his voice low and sly, "maybe you shouldn't be so disappointed, Hiroshi. After all, Akane isn't exactly your property."

Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Aqua's words. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Aqua glanced at Akane, who was engaged in conversation with some of the other contestants, and continued in a secretive tone, "Sure, you and Akane have spent a lot of time together on this show, but have you ever taken that next step? Have you made it clear what you want from her?"