"Why don't you taste it yourself?"
Hiko didn't give Ai an answer.
To him, sweet red bean soup wasn't a drink at all, it felt more like a liquid diet. Still, since most of it was just water, at least it quenched his thirst.
"I rarely bought drinks before."
Ai, still clutching the can with both hands, suddenly said, "Maybe in a few months, once I've performed on stage and gotten paid, I'll be able to buy every drink from the vending machine without a second thought."
"..."
"But I think even when payday comes, I won't actually do that."
Hiko sensed that she wanted to continue, as if she was about to talk about herself, so he didn't interrupt, waiting for her to go on. But Ai only left it at that. She didn't go any deeper.
Instead, she pressed the can of red bean soup against her cheek, letting its warmth seep into her cold skin.
"Is that really the right way to use a warm drink?"
Hiko held his own half-empty can in one hand, watching her use hers like a pocket heater.
"I don't know. This is my first time buying a warm drink from a vending machine," Ai said, shaking her head.
She let the warmth rest against her face a while longer, then, when the heat faded, she pulled open the tab.
Pop!
A sharp metallic click, and the triangular aluminum gave way for a bit of red liquid to overflow at once.
Ai lifted the can to her lips, her small tongue darting out as she sipped a mouthful.
Sweet, with tiny fragments of red bean.
Ai felt that it couldn't be described as delicious, but it wasn't unpalatable either; it was just ordinary.
She had no desire to buy it again.
"Speaking of which, you've been practicing at Ichigo-Pro for two days now. How's it going?" Hiko, sensing the silence, started the conversation.
"It's still early, so I'm not sure yet. But the group members; Watanabe, Fuyuko, and Takamine, they're all nice," Ai replied after holding the can with both hands and tilting her head back to drink another sip.
"Do they know you'll be the center of the group?" Hiko remembered what Ichigo had told him earlier, that Ai would be raised as the group's center.
"Huh? Will I really be the center right away?"
She recalled Ichigo saying something like that when he scouted her, but these past two days he hadn't mentioned it again. She figured it was just empty talk to lure her in. Maybe he only meant she might be the center one day.
After all, she barely knew anything about idols, and her foundation was poor, or rather, nonexistent at that time. And she had only trained twice thus far.
"I asked uncle. From the very beginning, he intended to make you the absolute center."
Hiko paused. "He's probably keeping quiet for now because he's worried the others won't accept it. They joined before you, and your foundation still needs work."
"But if he really announces that, won't they be sad?"
Ai imagined herself in their place. If she knew the center position would always belong to someone else, she would definitely feel resentment and jealousy.
Hiko thought for a moment, then said, "Didn't uncle scout you precisely because you have the aura of an absolute center?"
"But isn't that like stepping on others to climb higher? I don't know..."
Ai looked troubled. Over the past two days, the members had welcomed her warmly. Just earlier, Watanabe had even asked after her kindly. Yet here she was, parachuting in to block their path forward.
She didn't realize they had already performed before and failed to gain much traction. She only felt guilty, as if she were stealing away their chance.
"You don't need to blame yourself."
Seeing the dim look in her eyes, Hiko said gently, "They've already performed a few times, but they didn't attract many fans. That's why uncle brought you in."
"But they're like me, just middle schoolers. They still have room to grow," Ai fiddled with her can, glancing at Hiko.
When he saw she wasn't convinced, Hiko added, "If you feel guilty, then practice hard. Become a center worthy of the position, and lead them onto bigger stages."
"But..."
"No buts. Feeling guilty won't change anything. What matters is working hard and building good relationships with them, so you don't become estranged or resented just because you're the center."
Hiko went on, "Even if you weren't in the group, uncle would still add new members eventually. The center position would shift anyway."
Ai listened. What he said made sense, but she still felt something was off, though she couldn't say what.
"Not all idols make it," Hiko said at last, his tone turning serious. "As they grow older, their looks change. Some kids who were once cute end up growing out of their looks. That's what the industry calls a 'nurturing failure.' There are plenty of examples."
"If a center grows out of their looks, they'll definitely be replaced. But if you're not the center, you can still stay in the group and keep chasing the idol dream."
"Is the idol industry really that cruel?" Ai asked in surprise. She had only ever seen the sparkling side of idols, the glamorous stages, the dazzling smiles.
"That's why you being the center is actually good for them. It spares them the harsher reality of being raised up and then replaced."
Hiko tipped back his can and drained it in one go, his throat parched after such a long explanation.
"I keep feeling like what you're saying is both right and wrong at the same time..." Ai murmured, rubbing the warm can between her palms. It felt like something was being glossed over, but she couldn't quite figure out what.
"No need to overthink it. Uncle will add more members later anyway."
Hiko knew that eventually, B Komachi's roster would be fixed at seven.
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