Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 53: The Devil's Dance

Author's Note:
This chapter is a whole different vibe from anything you've encountered so far. If you thought the last one was all sunshine and rainbows, brace yourself-this one dives into the darker, creepier side of things. Proceed with caution!

Hiroshi stood alone near a luxurious residence perched on a hill, the chilly night air sweeping across his face. From his vantage point, he could see the sprawling lights of Seoul below, twinkling like scattered stars. His hand flicked his lighter open and closed in a steady rhythm, the small flame briefly illuminating his contemplative expression before disappearing into the dark again.

"Someone who is wary of me, huh," he muttered under his breath, eyes still fixed on the distant city.

He let the thought linger. Ever since he had taken that first bold step into the entertainment industry, he had been careful-very careful. Every handshake, every conversation had been calculated. He'd always made sure to avoid creating enemies, skillfully manoeuvring through obstacles while achieving his ambitions.

So, who could it be? His mind sifted through possibilities, but none fit the mould. It didn't make sense-at least, not in Tokyo.

"It could only be someone I knew back in Hokkaido," he said, almost to himself, the weight of the realization sinking in as the lighter clicked shut one final time.

Hiroshi stood in the biting cold, staring down at the cityscape with narrowed eyes.

"Even there, I never let my guard down..." he whispered, voice almost lost in the wind. But a trace of unease lingered in his tone.

His thoughts wandered, tugged back to a memory he had buried deep. A man sat across from him, the faint clatter of a chess piece echoing around. With a smirk, the man had whispered a single word as his hand left the board.

"Checkmate."

Hiroshi's eyes widened, the lighter stilling in his hand. It couldn't be him... could it? The idea gnawed at him, unravelling the careful web of certainty he had spun around himself.

"That was years ago," he murmured, shaking his head as if to dispel the thought. "There's no way he'd come after me now."

But his gaze shifted to the residence ahead, the place where Sekito had told him to come.

"In the end, this is just like how he used to be," Hiroshi muttered bitterly. His shoulders slumped, the weight of old, unfinished business settling on them.

He let out a long, weary sigh. "If he's involved, then I'm in for a hell of a mayhem." The night seemed to close in tighter around him, the flicker of his lighter the only fragile light in the looming shadows.

As Hiroshi stood lost in thought, a sleek black taxi glided up the winding path, its headlights slicing through the night. The taxi came to a halt, and the driver stepped out to open the door.

From within the car emerged Frill, captivating in an elegant, strapless high-low black dress. The bodice sparkled with intricate details, and the delicate lace-like trim at the top framed her shoulders beautifully. A navy blue bow cinched her waist, accentuated by a striking gem at its centre, offering a vibrant contrast to the darkness of her attire. The layered skirt flowed gracefully, shorter in the front and cascading longer in the back, creating a dramatic silhouette that caught the moonlight. Long black gloves nearly reached her elbows, enhancing the sophisticated charm of her ensemble.