Shining Stars

Chapter Forty-Seven: Passions

"I should have hired you as a scout..."

Myiako muttered as she looked between Aqua and Mem-Cho. The aforementioned girl was standing there looking nervous, facing the head of Strawberry Productions. Aqua gave her a glance out of the corner of his eye as she fidgeted in place.

"Popular YouTuber and influencer Mem... I was surprised when Aqua told me you wanted to be an idol."

Mem-Cho smiled as she looked down, her fidgeting stopped, seeming to gain her emotions under control. She was here! She was being given the chance to be an Idol!

"Your YouTube channel has three-hundred-seventy-thousand subscribers. Not to mention having six-hundred-thirty-eight-thousand followers on TikTok. Seems you're quite popular..."

Myiako said as she looked down at her tablet, looking at Mem-Cho's social media pages, before she paused for a moment and looked up at the want to be Idol.

"Let's see... Do you work with another agency?"

"Well, I'm in the streaming business as a sole proprietor. I currently work with an agency called FARM, but I'm not directly signed with them, rather, we're business partners. Under my agreement with them, it's not a problem for me to freely take on jobs."

"That makes sense. Though, in this case, Strawberry Productions would be commissioning your services in the Idol industry. We have plenty of internet personalities with us. We have no problem making a contract like that. This seems like a very timely offer..."

Myiako looked at Mem-Cho, who flinched slightly, a very nervous look on her face. She raised an eyebrow but gave a small smile.

"But that look on your face tells me there's something you need to get off your chest."

Mem-Cho broke eye contact with the manager of Strawberry Productions, who put her elbow on the table and leaned her check onto her fist, closing her eyes.

"Well, I have a good idea of what it is. Your age... you're lying about your age, right?"

Mem-Cho's eyes shot open as she looked at Miyako. The YouTuber felt some sweat fall down her cheek and onto her shirt. She put on a nervous smile, trying to hide her nerves.

"You... can tell?"

"Yep, your bone structure makes you look young... but you can't fool me."

Mem-Cho chuckled as she fidgeted again, shooting a glance towards Aqua, who shrugged.

"There's no need to be afraid. Claiming to be younger by a few years is common with independent entertainers, it doesn't bother me."

"You... really mean that..? That's a relief."

Mem-Cho let out a sigh of relief as she gave her first real smile of their meeting. Miyako, happy to see this change in the wantabe Idol, gave a smile of her own.

"Well? How old are you really?"

"Uh... well... the truth is..."

Mem-Cho leaned in and whispered into Miyako's ear. The president nodded, smiling, but as Mem-Cho went on, Aqua could see her face get more and more distressed. Aqua raised an eyebrow as Miyako turned her head to face Mem-Cho.

"You messed up big time!"

"I'm so sorry, don't be mad!"

"You claimed to be eighteen which means..."

Miyako counted on her fingers. Mem-Cho squealed in distress as she closed her eyes, her face heating up.

"Don't count! Please!"

"How many years did you even subtract? Around three years or so, right..?"

Mem-Cho turned away from Aqua, her silence spoke volumes for a moment before she turned back and gave a nervous smile.