[165] The Costume’s Short Duration

Chapter 165: The Costume's Short Duration

"Yes, it's definitely necessary to prepare more cameras. The angles were perfect."

"How can you be so calm, Shun-kun? Are you really our manager? This is a Muse-level crisis!"

After the performance, Shunsuke sat at his computer, editing the video footage. All the fleeting fanservice shots were carefully removed. Meanwhile, Honoka was visibly displeased, clinging to him and shaking him back and forth.

Such bold behavior was typical of Honoka, and just watching it made Umi Sonoda blush.

As for the concert itself, even though Honoka and the others' skills had been honed to an impressive level under Shunsuke's constant coaching, the lack of intentional promotion—along with Shunsuke's firm warning to the likes of Nico not to meddle—meant the event didn't attract any outside audience.

Honoka had almost burst into tears at first. So cute.

After sending the edited version to the company's relevant staff, Shunsuke turned around and naturally pulled Honoka into an embrace. With her makeup and stage costume, Honoka looked unexpectedly alluring today. "What are you talking about? You spoke beautifully earlier. I was moved, and so was everyone else—even that president you're so scared of."

With Honoka sitting on his lap, Shunsuke replayed the video. It showed Honoka fighting back tears as she addressed an empty stage.

"That's only natural. Life isn't always simple."

"Come on, sing your heart out."

"All the hard work was for today. Now, sing!"

In just a few words, Honoka reignited the members' fighting spirit, displaying her unique leadership charm. The title of "leader" was truly well-deserved.

Shunsuke then fast-forwarded the video to the scene where Eli Ayase, though inwardly moved, continued to act as the antagonist on the surface.

"Why? If we keep going like this, it won't mean much."

"Because I want to keep going, because someone still believes in me."

Honoka glanced at Shunsuke, sitting silently in the prime viewing seat, then turned her resolute gaze back to Eli Ayase.

"Right now, I just want to sing and dance to my heart's content. I'm sure Umi and Kotori feel the same."

"This is the first time I've felt this way. I truly believe holding this live was the best decision."

"Right now, I just want to trust in these feelings."

"Maybe no one will come to watch us, maybe we won't receive any support, but I want to give it my all."

"We just want to pour all our effort into showing everyone that we are here."

"Someday, someday we'll definitely…"

"…make this place completely packed!"

Honoka activated her skill: "Honoka's Speech."

Honoka delivered a critical hit.

Muse's future member recruitment success rate soared!

For a moment, Shunsuke felt as if Muse's future lineup of nine members was simply because there were only that many beautiful girls in the auditorium who heard Honoka's speech.

To Shuko, Yuko, and Mika—sorry, it's not personal, but compared to performing, you really are better suited to supporting roles. I'll make sure you're on the payroll in the future.

But as he watched, Shunsuke felt something was off, so he rewound the video back to the moment Honoka started speaking.

"Don't play it again, it's so embarrassing, Shun-kun!"

Honoka blushed just like Umi Sonoda, lightly pounding Shunsuke's chest with her small fists while her healthy, toned thighs brushed against him repeatedly.

"Hmm, there really is a problem here."

Nodding in agreement, Shunsuke deleted the part where Honoka looked at him and the line "because someone still believes in me," then sent the revised video to the company, instructing them to make sure he was cut from the drama adaptation.

"What? Why would you cut that line?" Honoka, who had just been flustered, now protested. "I meant it from the bottom of my heart—it's only because you always believed in me that I didn't give up!"

"Even without me, Honoka, you definitely wouldn't have given up," Shunsuke said matter-of-factly. "I'll keep the original version safe, but I won't appear in the drama or the anime. As idols, you all belong to your fans in the public eye. You're meant to be loved by all of them, so I can't be in the picture."

Publicly belonging to the fans meant he couldn't be included. But privately?

That implication in Shunsuke's words made Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda's imaginations run wild, leaving them too flustered to meet his gaze.

Meanwhile, the ever-oblivious Honoka didn't catch the subtext and continued fussing, insisting Shunsuke put himself back in.

Beyond this line of reasoning, though, Shunsuke had darker thoughts, subtle but undeniably present.

The fact was, Japanese idols drew the most fans when they were free from boyfriends and scandals. The moment a relationship was made official, fans scattered like birds and beasts.

Shunsuke didn't resent this aspect of fandom. On the contrary, he admired their decisiveness. He didn't care much for the meager money those fans contributed.

What he truly relished was the thought that countless adoring fans, women who would feel their lives were complete just by shaking his hand, were completely obedient to him.

It might sound complicated and a bit twisted, but the mindset wasn't too different from that of wealthy people who enjoyed keeping stars under their patronage and elevating their personal favorites to stardom.

And at Muse's peak, when their fan base was at its largest, he could just reveal the truth…

No, no, that wouldn't do. If he did that, Honoka and the others couldn't be idols anymore. This was their dream!

How about waiting until the day Honoka announced Muse's disbandment to release the footage simultaneously?

No, no, wasn't the whole point that Muse was supposed to be everlasting? Muse might change, but it would never fold!

Shunsuke's inner angel and devil were at war within him.

Meanwhile, Honoka remained oblivious to the gravity of the situation, squirming playfully on Shunsuke's lap. This made him lose his patience: I'm breaking my back planning for your future!

"Yah!"

He gave Honoka's plump little bottom a smack, making her jump with a bright red face, clutching her backside.

"Shun-kun, Kotori and Umi are still here!"

Umi's expression instantly darkened, like something out of Kakegurui: We're still here… so what exactly have you two been doing when I wasn't around?!

Shunsuke didn't let up. "Stop babbling nonsense. Honoka, didn't you say you didn't want to wear safety shorts? Fine, take them off and dance again."

Stage costumes are at their best on performance day. That's just how it is.

For now, he could only arrange for the three of them to give him a private encore. But in the future, Shunsuke believed he could take things even further, pushing their stage outfits to maximum impact.

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