Blunt Conversation

My part-time job boss was someone I knew well.

Since childhood, I had been familiar with the world of printing in many fields. Digital, offset, screen printing. High and low printing. Lamination, die-cutting, embossing.

You don't know what that is? It's the work of creating poster designs, invitations, banners, and making them physical with various machines from digital printing machines (offset for large and efficient quantities), outdoor printing machines for banners, and so on. Affixing letters, images, or similar items to packaging or clothes is also included. Novel and manga production also comes from offset printing machines, I think. But I guess you still confused, so I'll stop there.

I hurriedly sent a reply.

[Me: Sure. What's the matter, Boss?]

[Boss: We got an important order.]

He linked a photo. My expression stiffened upon seeing it. 

It was a poster of a girl group, and one of the members caught my attention. 'That's Ai Hoshino, isn't it?'

Yes, without a doubt.

As I examined the photo, checking if it was just a poster for her 'media', my boss sent another message.

[Boss: Her agency entrusted us with the work! Isn't that amazing?]

I only skimmed over the message before focusing back on the poster he sent. I was utterly confused. 'This thing actually works?' I thought of something and opened an internet search to type a name. 'No trace of her "story". She looks real. She's in the same world as me? Seriously?'

"...huh, that's dope."

'Did that happen when I wrote her name?'

If it was me... Could I change my fate to be the child of a rich person or something?

'And how should I hide the book? Carrying it around everywhere would be a hassle.' As I pondered, something strange happened to the book. It vanished. I immediately tried to touch the spot where it had been, feeling nothing. As I wondered how it might reappear, the book materialized again. '...that's definitely magical.'

I was quiet in my seat for a while, ultimately exhaled slowly.

Believing I didn't need to worry about hiding the book, I got ready to head to my part-time job. 'It seems that I should wait a little while for this thing to take a complete effect.'

***

"That was exhausting…" I muttered, groaning a bit.

I walk by the roadside, with rice fields on either side, certain that I was looking worn out. I pinched the bridge of my nose in order to resist the urge to let sleep overtake me.

It was nearing midnight when I finished my work. I'd had a few experiences with overtime and was no stranger to late nights, but obviously, I needed rest much after everything that had happened, especially since I had just moved to a new place.

Despite the late hour, I saw several pedestrians and even vehicles passing by, making me feel less lonely.

"Are you alright?"

"Hm?"

I turned to the person beside me. There is a girl clad in an odd way.

She wore a hat, clear glasses, a mask, a jacket, and inconspicuous jeans. Her long hair flowed freely, and she only looked about my age. 'Isn't she...'

My stunned reaction was brief. I quickly snapped out of it, and in a dazed state, chuckling. "I just want to get some sleep. I've received overtime work, see."

"Huh, aren't you a hard worker? Even though you seem to be at the same age as me."

She curiously said so, walking together by my side as she did. I regarded her with a slightly odd expression.

I didn't know if she had realized that I recognized her. She was an actress, so acting was naturally her forte.

"...It's a part-time job. Today, I was helping with a poster production." 

I'll just get her to admit it straightforwardly.

I pulled out my phone, showing her the screen after a bit of fiddling. The girl reflexively looked at it curiously. I continued. "That one girl in the poster looked a lot like you, wouldn't you say?"

'If she disagrees, I'll take her glasses, masks, and everything off to make her admit it.'

But she didn't seem surprised, instead laughing a little. "You really recognized me...? Yes, I am Ai Hoshino. Do you want my autograph?"

"I don't like you."

"So blunt…!"

She seemed genuinely surprised, even shaken.

I cackled. My state freshens up a bit. "But I'd like one. Along with a photo. It'd be great to show off to my friends who really like you. I bet they'll be super jealous."

"That's one heck of a reason," she looked at me funnily.

I went on. "What are "you" doing out this late at night?"

"Me?" she pointed at herself. "Uh, the same thing as you, I guess. I have to work hard to become a famous idol, y'know?"

"All by yourself?"

"Some of my colleagues are with me but not as late as I am."

She seemed a bit proud of that fact.

"I just moved into this area," I ignored her comment. "You live around here too?"

"...yes. I'm not going to tell you where. Please don't follow me."

"What kind of guy do you think I am?"

Do I look like a womanizer?

With a serious expression, she responded. "Your eyes are scary, your face looks like a nasty kid, and your way of speaking is just rough. There could be others, but those are enough reasons, don't you think?"

I was a bit startled, instinctively pinched the area between my eyes before frowning. '...She's absolutely right.' As a matter of fact, I've been told that a few times, but hardly ever. Probably because most of them are too scared to point that out.

Watching my reaction, she giggled.

I snorted. "Is that payback for earlier? No, you seem to be already rude from the start."

Hoshino puffed her cheeks slightly. "I'm a thoroughly kind lady!"

I gave a dry cough. "I couldn't see any "lady" you were talking about."

"What a rude guy!"

I shrugged.

I began to turn in a different direction. However, she quickly stopped me.

"Wait, what's your name? I got caught up in the conversation that I forgot to ask… Uh, did you live in that building...?"

The building in question is a traditional village-style inn. It was right beside the road, and the only building in the vicinity, so she wouldn't happened to mention any buildings other than that. For a slightly detailed explanation, it was a three-story structure, and a pretty big one at that. There is a rice field on the back of it.

I was initially annoyed by her call since I wanted to sleep as soon as possible, but then a bit confused by her reaction. 'She also...?'

'…considering I wrote something dramatic like "tied by a shared fate from this day forth," I guess it's not that surprising.'

"What, you live there too?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Y-Yeah," Ai answered nervously.

There was an awkward silence hanging between us.

"...Well, we can have more talk later," I disregarded her by facing away from her, walking to the hallway. "I want to get to bed as soon as possible… Ah, and my name is Hiroki Yoshikawa. Good night."