<CHAPTER 7: Who are You?> PART 1

The company is still facing the verge of bankruptcy, so many of the VA are trying their very best to prevent it from happening.

However, with the addition of Tori-chi brought higher income to the company, I think Tori-chi is the secret weapon of the company.

But again, this doesn't made me feel at ease, I should still get the Seiyu Award no matter what, I cannot bear to lost my job, and also the company helps me to pay a little to my apartment fee, so should hold on this opportunity, no other company will give me this kind of offer. I should really thank the former CEO for doting me too much.

--

Man, today is weekend, but I don't feel like moving my body…

Maybe I should just sleep and take a rest for the day…

But I'm not sleepy anymore…

Ahh, the dilemma.

"What do you think I should do To-chan?" I turned to the side and as expected, To-chan is at the door of his bedroom.

"… To-chan nonchalantly replied.

"To-chan… nomuhae-nomuhae!! (1)" while doing the TT dance step.

"My only concern right now is…" To-chan goes at the back of the couch and leaned his arms at the back of the seat so he is looking down at me "Why are you here bothering my weekend?"

"Now, now, don't be so stingy." I pouted while finding a comfortable position at the couch.

"it's not the matter of being stingy or not… you have your own room, why are you still hanging out in another person's place!" he reasoned out.

"But, but, but!" I continued pouting… "you've removed my friggin' TV in the apartment as for me to focus on VA lessons! Can't you imagine the pain?!" I exclaimed.

"…!" To-chan was surprised of my sudden outburst.

"I've bought dozens of animes and there are still stockpiles of unwatched movies, but I can't even watch them!" I showed my most pitiful expression "I. NEED. TO. WATCH. TV. OR. I WILL. DIE. FROM. BOREDOM!" I emphasized every word.

"Urghh" To-chan touched his head "Fine! …Arguing with you makes my head ache… the TV remote is on the table" To-chan finally surrendered… I really have the chance to get the company to him… hehe.

"LONG LIVE TO-CHAN!" I acted just like how those in history dramas did to the king.

the only thing that To-chan can do is to sigh and let me do my thing.

"I do really feel like a father now!" he murmured to himself "I'll just be on the kitchen then" then he goes inside the kitchen, who knows what he will do there.

after To-chan entered the kitchen, I turned the TV on, and then I looked at the clock and found that it is still early for magical BotBot to air. so I just tuned to the latest news, who knows what thing I can get from watching it.

TV: Today is IDOL Hikaru's birthday and his fans have collectively donated a total of 10,000,000 to charity in celebration of this.

in the TV shows a young pink-haired teenager with gold-rimmed wired eyeglasses while wearing a fancy pastel outfit, smiling and pointing to his fans while singing on a grand stage

"wow… 10,000,000 in just a day, and on top of that, it's just for a birthday of a cute man? I'm jealous!"

TV" Recently, his signature was auctioned at a starting amount of 100,000…

"100,000!" I exclaimed "it's enough for me to pay 2-month worth of apartment rent… wow… I'd get super rich when I snatch a bundle of his signature in no time!"

Then a close-up of the IDOL is showed in the TV and I cannot help but to stare at him…

--

"… I know you'll make it real… for us... make it real no matter what! Don't forget about me… okay?"

--

"no way!" a blurred image has appeared in my mind, unclear conversation, blinding lights… "what was that?" then a tear unconsciously flowed out from my right eye "what's this?"

then To-chan gets out the kitchen and saw what happened

"Keito… what's happening to you? are you crying? what are you watching that made you cry" then he look at the TV, there a butterfly is flying trying to land on a flower. "what's wrong with you?"

"ah?" then I got back to my senses and wipe my tear. "ah, just look at that butterfly!" as I point at the TV, he looks at the TV "it is said that the butterfly is the soul of the flower, and it's looking for its rightful owner"

"then?" To-chan asked

"WHO KNOWS IF THAT FLOWER IS ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER!!? A BUTTERFLY CAN ONLY LIVE FOR A FEW WEEKS SO WHAT'S THE PROBABILITY OF IT FINDING ITS OWNER!!" I subconsciously exclaimed.

"…!" To-chan was startled and it is very visible in his face "…oh? I see… then let's pray for the butterfly" then he quietly return to the kitchen backwards.

after that, my phone rings, I picked it up and saw it is an unknown number… I compose myself first before answering…

"hello?" I happily greet.

"H-hello? I-Is this Keito?" the other line replied.

"yes, yes it's me… are you taking me out on a date" they say if you are single since birth, you are turning a little desperate as you grow older… is that what is happening to me?

"EEEEHHHH!! D-DATE?! Of course, I would love to- NO! OF COURSE YE-NO!!- I mean…" the other line became silent.

"(this voice…) Tori-chi?" I guessed

"hehe… I-is it obvious?" it seems like it's really Tori.

"where'd you got my phone number?" I curiously asked.

"I got it from a suspicious looking man, he's saying it's your number and he also said you know him… Keito-kun… you should not trust in people too much… they're either…"

"and yet you still get my number from him? should I be the one lectured or you Tori-chi?" I said teasingly. "anyway… I think I know who that man is. then, I'll save your number too… it's unfair that you know mine but I don't know yours right?" I said merrily.

"T-then, it'd be an honor for me… thank you very much-"I interrupted him again.

"come on… don't be so stiff… by the way… why'd you call me for?" I go to the point, I'm somewhat not in the mood.

"uhmmm one of the background characters for 'Stray Cats' show is suddenly sick… so, would you want to be the replacement, Keito-san?" so that's it… I'm really not in the mood…

"They said they'll pay 5,000, it's an emergency so they'll pay higher than usual.

"OF COURSE I'M IN! Where is the shoot… it's just a replacement right? I'll do whatever you want me to do!" it's higher than by VA projects, so it's a good opportunity.

"Y-You'll d-do whatever I-I want? m-my nose bleeds!" it sounds like Tori is in a mess.

"what were you thinking? so, where will I go?" I asked.

"uh… right, please head to the TV station. the casts will be meeting at Waiting Room 4."

"alright, I'll head there right away!" then I end the call.

"K-Keito? W-where are you g-going?" To-chan's tone seems like… afraid?

"Why are you so scared To-chan? It's work…W.O.R.K." then I smiled at To-chan.

"Yeah… it seems like you need a distraction, well then, take care." then he smiled at me and see me out.

--

at the TV station

hallway

It's unexpectedly quiet here than I expected… is TV station really this quiet? I walked to the hallway

"let's see, where is it again? is it Waiting Room 3? No… is it 4? hmmm, I think… I think I forgot! well, let's just enter both rooms and see what we'll got" I enter Waiting Room 3 first since it's nearer.

"Excuse me…"

CLANK

the door opens

"Oh? what are you doing here? I believe this room should only be for my private use only?" a man inside said.

"O-oops… sorry for intruding." I said meekly.

"oh, its okay, I don't mind at all." he smiled at me.

I was about the close the door when I found this man a little familiar… I think I saw him before... then I look at him again, yes… he's 'that' man… he's here after all?