Here is the edited version of the chapter. I have smoothed out the dialogue to make it sound more natural, clarified the internal monologues, and polished the narrative flow.
First-person: Hoshino Yume
"How have you been, Senior?"
"You've come, Junior."
Upon returning to the company after a long absence, I went to see the Senior. She looked quite exhausted, likely because her workload has been increasing lately.
If I am called the "Actor with a Thousand Faces," then the Senior is known as the "Voice Actress with a Thousand Voices."
Frankly, it's no exaggeration to say that her talent and mine are overwhelming.
If Ai's talent is the ability to perfectly control her charisma to draw attention, then for the Senior and me, talent is like a "passive skill" in a video game—it's always active, effortless, and overpowering.
"It seems like your activities are going well these days."
"Yes, I've been getting by as always. But aren't you quite busy with work too, Senior?"
"That's why… I really want to kill Director Kuma…"
Please don't say such terrifying things while suddenly opening your eyes; you usually keep them half-closed. I don't want to have to stop you a second time.
"So, what brings you here? Did something happen?"
"No, my daughter has decided to formally start idol activities."
"Oh my. At first, you tried to stop her, but in the end, her will prevailed, huh?"
"Yes. Her idol is Ai, after all."
"Hehe. Certainly, your wife captivated many people with her unique charisma. That's her talent, right? Of course, we could do it too if we really wanted to."
"That's not wrong."
"So, what you want is for me to look after that child named Ruby, right?"
"Yes, I'd appreciate it."
In the voice acting and entertainment industries, once you gain some recognition, connections form naturally. The Senior has many deep ties within the industry, so if she looks after Ruby, my daughter should be safe for a while.
Of course, I also plan to watch over Ruby myself. But since I need to restrain my direct involvement for Aqua's sake later, I decided to rely on the Senior's help.
"Alright, I understand. I should head home now to see my husband's face."
"Yes, please go ahead."
"Mm, okay. I'll contact you again later."
After the Senior left, I checked the schedule on my smartphone.
It's about time for Aqua and Ruby's interview at Yoto High School. Should I intervene in this part too…?
I seriously considered whether to apply a 'little pressure' on the school. But since doing so would mean I didn't trust Aqua and Ruby, I decided to believe in my children's abilities and wait.
By the way, when I returned home, Ruby and another girl from the same agency happily hugged me. Ruby refused to let go, so until Aqua arrived, I effectively became their body pillow.
When Aqua saw this scene, he ran away in shock.
Oh, and regarding Aqua running away... I later gave him a "thorough massage."
Aqua was so "pleased" that he let out a scream—"Eeeek!?"—and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
Third-person: Hoshino Aqua / Ruby
Aqua and Ruby were currently at Yoto High School.
It is a combined junior and senior high school in Japan that boasts an Entertainment Department, which is quite rare.
This department isn't open to just anyone who takes the exam. Proof of affiliation with an agency is essential and must be provided. That's why Ruby had been diligently searching for an agency. Now that she was with Ichigo Production, that requirement wasn't a problem.
Before long, it was Ruby's turn. She stepped in for her interview for the Entertainment Department.
"Affiliated with Ichigo Production! I'm Hoshino Ruby!!"
"Hoshino… Is there any relation to Hoshino Yume or Hoshino Ai?"
"No! It's just a coincidence that the surname is the same!! After all, Hoshino Yume and Ai have the same surname too, right!!"
Ruby thought to herself, 'That was close~ I almost said they're my papa and mama~!' and internally praised her own quick thinking.
Meanwhile, Aqua had his interview for the General Department.
"Hoshino Aquamarine… here."
Why am I named Aquamarine? Why didn't Yume (Father) stop Ai (Mother)?
His head was filled with such resentful thoughts. However, since Yume didn't know Aqua was his biological child at the time of the naming, he had allowed Ai to name him. If Yume had known, he never would have allowed the name "Aquamarine."
"Aquamarine… that's quite a name."
The interviewers were surprised by Aqua's name, but they were even more shocked by what they saw next.
"A… a deviation score of 70!? Why did you come to our high school? Our deviation score is only 40!"
Aqua retained the knowledge from his past life, including passing the entrance exam for a National University Medical School.
"I was drawn by the school's ethos…"
Aqua wondered if this vague excuse would work.
"You felt that much attraction to the school's ethos!?"
By the way, Aqua was also asked if there was any relation to Hoshino Yume and Ai, which he deftly dodged.
After both Ruby and Aqua finished their interviews, they met up.
"How was it?"
"Probably fine… how about you?"
Aqua seemed to have no issues. However, looking at Ruby's eyes, Aqua thought, 'This might be dangerous, isn't it?'
But he figured that if they were really going to fail, Yume (Father) would pull some strings to fix it, so he let it go.
"I have no problem. If I fail, I'll have to resent my name."
Really, why is it Aquamarine, Ai?
"Ahahaha! Certainly, since your real name is Aquamarine. Usually, everyone calls you Aqua because the full name is bothersome."
As Ruby laughed, a girl with short red hair passing by stopped dead in her tracks upon hearing the name "Aqua."
"Aquamarine… Aqua…"
The red-haired girl... Arima Kana, looked back and stared at him.
"Hoshino Aqua!? Aqua, Aqua!! Are you Hoshino Aqua!?"
She kept repeating his name. Aqua, who didn't immediately recognize her face, frowned.
"Who is this…"
Ruby, however, seemed to remember.
"Ah, isn't that the genius child actress who licks baking soda...?"
It seemed Ai's genetics for remembering people (or lack thereof) hadn't gone anywhere.
"The genius child actress who can cry in 10 seconds!? Arima Kana, who competed in films!!"
With Ruby's words and Kana's indignant explanation, Aqua finally seemed to remember, sweating slightly.
"Ah, long time no see. You're in the Entertainment Department here, huh?"
"I'm relieved… I thought you quit back then. Finally, we meet again. Are you coming in!? Are you joining our Entertainment Department!?"
Kana asked with a bright, expectant face, assuming Aqua was joining her department.
Unfortunately, Aqua crushed that hope instantly.
"No, I applied for the General Department."
"Why!?"