[164] Mrs. Minami, you wouldn't want Otonokizaka to close, would you?

Chapter 164: Mrs. Minami, you wouldn't want Otonokizaka to close, would you?

"Miss Minami, are you questioning me?" As his thoughts shifted, Shunsuke's expression turned detached and indifferent, a polite smile gracing his face.

"No, no, I just… I just worry that Kotori and the others might not meet your expectations."

In that moment, Minami sensed a change in the boy before her. She instantly clammed up, her body instinctively hunching slightly.

Aura—something intangible yet undeniably present, especially when a superior confronts a subordinate. In such moments, it can be heightened to an extraordinary degree.

Earlier, Shunsuke had restrained his aggressive demeanor toward Minami . Now, however, he deliberately assumed a more commanding air. With just a gentle question, he left Minami tense and apprehensive.

Patting Minami's shoulder, Shunsuke said kindly, "After all, this is something Kotori loves. As family, we should support her—even though I've already spent at least two billion yen. Don't you agree?"

Minami nodded nervously, "Y-yes, that's right."

"Good, then it seems we're once again in agreement."

Shunsuke, having taken cues from villains in dramas and movies, found his performance to be remarkably effective.

"So, Mrs. Minami, you wouldn't want to see Otonokizaka abandoned, would you?"

...

Shunsuke entered the auditorium alone.

There were only ten minutes left before the performance began, but as expected, the hall was completely empty. Not a single person occupied a seat—only the "big three" were still busy handling backstage preparations.

Shunsuke shook his head and walked toward the backstage area. The three didn't stop him—such was the privilege of being the manager!

"Shun-kun, you're finally here! I've been calling you nonstop!"

Seeing Shunsuke at last, Honoka breathed a sigh of relief before cheerfully greeting him.

"Sorry, sorry. I got a bit held up. By the way, you're still not ready... Sonoda, what's going on? Why are you still wearing sweatpants?"

Looking at Umi Sonoda sporting sweatpants under her performance skirt, Shunsuke was at a loss. Did she really like them that much?

"Didn't I personally work with Kotori to extend the skirt length? I even prepared safety shorts for everyone. Was there really a need to add another pair of sweatpants?"

After spending time together, Shunsuke had grown comfortable addressing Kotori Minami by name, but he wasn't quite there with the more reserved Umi Sonoda.

Crouched on the floor, Umi spoke in a voice tinged with tears: "But, but when I looked in the mirror, I just suddenly felt—"

"Gotcha!"

Taking advantage of Umi's distraction, Honoka suddenly ducked down and yanked off her sweatpants.

"Ahhh—!"

Even though the performance skirt reached down to her knees, Umi screamed like a girl caught completely off guard, tears streaming down her face. Shunsuke's heart skipped a beat.

With such an amusing reaction, who wouldn't want to keep teasing her from now on?

"Why bother covering it up? You're already wearing safety shorts." Honoka crouched down, looking up in protest. "I'm not even wearing any."

"Put them on."

"Huh?" Honoka turned her head in confusion.

"I told you to go put on the safety shorts. That's a bad habit I can't let you keep."

Shunsuke grabbed her hand and pulled her into a changing room covered only by a curtain.

"C'mon, Shun-kun! What kind of idol wears safety shorts during a live performance?" Honoka pouted, trying to sound playful.

Ignoring her, Shunsuke turned to Kotori Minami. "Kotori, could you hand me the safety shorts?"

"Sure!" Kotori handed over the prepared shorts. "Honoka didn't want to wear them, so I kept them ready just in case."

Shunsuke stuffed the shorts into Honoka's arms and said firmly, "Hurry up and put them on, or do you really want to argue with me when the performance is about to start?"

"...Fine. Shun-kun, you're so pushy." Honoka made a face. "We didn't even wear them during rehearsals. Why insist on them now? That's not fair to the fans!"

"Get real. You don't have any fans yet. I'm your only fan." Shunsuke flicked her forehead lightly. "And as your number one fan, I get special privileges. Got it?"

"Really?" Honoka rubbed her forehead.

—Did I hit her too hard?

"Exactly. So after the performance, make sure to take off the safety shorts and rehearse again."

As he closed the curtain, Shunsuke noticed Umi Sonoda sneaking a pair of sweatpants back on. He exchanged a glance with Kotori before guiding Umi to a mirror.

"Don't be shy, Sonoda. You look great right now."

"Yeah, Umi, you match the outfit perfectly."

Shunsuke and Kotori worked together to gently encourage her.

"Oh… is that so?"

Umi Sonoda blushed, glancing at herself in the mirror.

"Exactly!"

"Absolutely!"

Umi believed them.

What a trusting kid.

"By the way, Shun, you just came from the auditorium, right? Were there a lot of people?"

Honoka emerged from the changing room, now wearing safety shorts, and asked with a slightly concerned expression.

"Well…" Shunsuke instinctively held her hand. "The show's about to start, so you'll see for yourself. But remember, Honoka, before being your manager, I'll always be your fan."

Though he felt a bit reluctant, Shunsuke knew that Honoka's charisma as the leader and soul of Muse would only truly shine when the performance began.

Hardships and challenges would only make her stronger.

"I see. Then I'll look forward to it! Let's see how many people and fans show up."

The ever-naive Honoka missed the deeper meaning in Shunsuke's words, but Umi and Kotori's expressions had shifted.

"Alright, the show is about to start. Get on stage and get ready."

Shunsuke didn't elaborate further. Instead, he gave the three a gentle push, interrupting Umi and Kotori's thoughts.

As he watched the trio link hands to encourage each other before stepping onto the stage, Shunsuke moved from backstage to the very center of the first row in the auditorium.

There, he activated the cameras he had set up earlier from every angle.

With the sound of a chime that could make any stage performer's heart skip a beat, the curtain began to rise.

Muse's first live show, a rare performance by only three members, was about to begin.

For all nine girls, this live performance would mark a turning point in their journeys and growth.

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