Asterisk - Fame, money, fear

Chapter 2:

Friendship and danger

Sakura sat getting her makeup done by Mia, her best friend and personal makeup artist. Mia was the same age as Sakura, 16, and the two studied together at the same school. They became inseparable since Sakura joined the group Asterisk, and Mia followed her in her idol career.

Mia was doing Sakura's eyeliner, and said: "What do you think about those fans comparing you to a child?" She was referring to comments that some fans made on social media, saying that Sakura looked like a doll or a baby, because of the clothes she wore.

Sakura said, "Normal, they're mostly cattle, they give me money, whatever." She didn't care about her fans' opinions as long as they bought her CDs, tickets and merchandise. She knew it was a business, and that she had to adapt to the market.

Mia and she laughed, and Mia said, "But you like being the center of attention, right?" She knew Sakura's personality well, which was ambitious and competitive, and that she wanted to be the best at everything.

Sakura took a deep breath and said: "You know me better than anyone, friend..." She gave a smile of approval when she saw the finished eyeliner, and continued: "You know that I have been shaped by my parents since they discovered that I sing good...". She paused, remembering how her parents forced her into the idol world without caring about her feelings or desires. They just wanted the money and fame it could bring.

She said: "Enough with the boring subject, what about you, friend? Is Sato going to ask you to be his girlfriend?" She changed the subject, wanting to know about Mia's love life. Sato was a boy who worked in the production of the group Asterisk's shows, and who had a crush on Mia.

Mia said, "I think so, he bought a ring." She showed the ring that was on her finger, a simple but beautiful ring with a blue stone. She said: "He gave it to me yesterday, he said it was a belated birthday present, but I think he really wanted to ask me to be his girlfriend."

Sakura said, "How cute, he's sweet, you deserve it." She was happy for her friend, who had found someone who truly loved her. She wondered if she would ever have that too, or if she was destined to be alone.

They continued talking, until Sakura looked at her cell phone and saw a message from Okada, her advisor. She read the message and was shocked. She said: "Li-mei isn't coming, they killed another hairdresser." She was referring to Li-mei, one of the members of the group Asterisk, who was Chinese. She also referred to a series of murders that had been happening in the city, involving famous hairdressers. The last one to die was the one who took care of Li-mei's hair.

Mia said, "My God, how horrible, poor Li-mei, she must be devastated." She hugged Sakura, who was scared. She said, "Let's go out for a shake, to relax a little." She wanted to distract Sakura, who had an important show that night.

Sakura laughed nervously and said, "Do you want the paparazzi on top?" She knew that if she left the dressing room, she would be surrounded by photographers and reporters, who wanted to know everything about her life. She said, "Better stay here, waiting for the hairdresser." She hoped the hairdresser would arrive soon, so she could finish getting ready.

She didn't know that the hairdresser who was on the way was the same man in a black hoodie who was talking to someone on his cell phone about a plan to capture a package. And that package was her.