Chapter 86: Female Artists Also Have a Hard Time

Receiving four chocolates on Valentine's Day was undoubtedly the peak of Ren's life.

Though three of them were just thank-you chocolates, chocolate was still chocolate.

Of course, beyond their sentimental meaning, the chocolates themselves tasted quite good.

Mouri's chocolate had a balanced flavor, slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness. Not overly sweet, but well-balanced.

Suzuki's chocolate, on the other hand, was just sweet. Pure, unfiltered sweetness.

Shinomiya's chocolate was rather plain, likely homemade.

Then there was Yoko's chocolate. Her craftsmanship wasn't bad at all, she had adjusted the sweetness perfectly. It was the second best after Mouri's.

Ding-dong!

Just as Ren was sampling the chocolates, the doorbell rang.

He already knew who it was.

Opening the door, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Okino Yoko, his next-door neighbor.

Dressed casually, she held a large casserole dish, her hands protected by insulated gloves.

"Don't say anything yet. Let's talk inside."

Ren silently stepped aside, allowing her to enter.

With a smile, Yoko walked in and placed the casserole on the table.

Then she turned to look at him.

"I made some potato stew today. Let's eat together."

"Do celebrities really have this much free time?"

"Of course not."

Yoko shook her head with a wry smile.

"Artists are usually very busy."

"Rushing from one job to the next, barely getting any sleep… Once you become famous, your schedule only gets more packed."

That much, Ren already knew.

Which was precisely why he found it strange.

"You finally have a break, and you're still spending your free time cooking?"

"Cooking helps me relieve stress."

Yoko chuckled.

"Being an artist is exhausting. There are times when I barely have a moment to myself, and I end up eating nothing but takeout. It's not exactly healthy."

"So whenever I get a break, I like to cook for myself."

"Besides, spending time in the kitchen doesn't tire me out. If anything, it helps me unwind."

It was an unusual way to relieve stress.

But everyone had their own coping mechanisms.

Ren found it a little odd, but given her profession, it made sense.

If going outside was inconvenient for a celebrity, then finding a way to decompress at home was reasonable.

"Don't artists need to watch their weight?"

"They do."

At the mention of weight control, Okino Yoko sighed.

"It was really tough in the beginning."

"To stay in shape, I had to cut out most sweets."

Thinking back to her high school days, the dietary restrictions had been painful.

"But once you get used to it, it's not so bad."

"Of course, if I do eat something high in calories, I make sure to exercise afterwards."

"I'll go grab the rice, let's talk while we eat."

Without giving him a chance to refuse, she left the apartment and quickly returned with bowls of rice and chopsticks.

The two sat across from each other at the table.

"Where were we?"

"You were saying that being an artist is difficult, and you have to control your diet."

"Oh, right. And those variety shows can be a nightmare."

Variety shows…

Ren didn't watch them much.

But he had seen plenty of clips online.

Scenes where celebrities were put through absurd, borderline inhumane stunts in the name of entertainment.

"Yeah, some variety shows treat celebrities like props for slapstick comedy."

"You've seen them too?"

"Yeah."

A hint of relief crossed Okino Yoko's face.

"Thankfully, I haven't been forced to do those kinds of shows yet."

"For now, I'm still considered a popular artist, so my agency doesn't want me appearing on those programs."

"For now, I just have to focus on maintaining a good public image."

"But it's exhausting."

She paused, looking down at her bowl of rice.

"Yeah… it really is exhausting…"

"But it's fine."

Suddenly, she perked up, flashing a cheerful peace sign.

"Yoko, forever full of energy, here to bring smiles to the world!"

Her smile was bright.

It was genuine.

It wasn't forced.

There were very few idols who actually became idols for the sake of their fans.

"In your quest to bring smiles to others, where's your own smile, Miss Celebrity?"

Ren's voice was calm.

Yoko's expression froze.

The brightness faded.

She sighed and slumped forward, resting her head on the table.

"I mean… I want to say that making others smile makes me happy…"

"But it's really exhausting."

"Sometimes I get so tired I can't smile."

That was a confession filled with pure exhaustion.

But Ren wasn't surprised.

He quietly activated Vision, allowing him to see her spiritual state.

The aura surrounding Yoko's astral body was a deep, melancholic shade.

If she continued like this for too long, she'd end up with serious mental health issues.

No matter how energetic she seemed, everyone had a breaking point.

"Sit up."

Ren set his chopsticks down, then gently pulled Yoko up from the table and guided her to the sofa.

"Huh?"

"I know you have a lot to say, but just wait a moment."

Yoko did have a lot to say—

But for now, she stayed quiet, leaning her head against Ren's lap.

Ren didn't speak either.

He simply placed his hand on her forehead.

A faint, imperceptible mist dissipated from his fingertips.

His touch was light, but infused with spirituality and gray fog, gently guiding Yoko's astral body, easing her mental burden.

"Hmm~"

A soft sigh escaped her lips.

A heavy drowsiness settled over her.

Her eyelids drooped.

She couldn't fight it.

Within moments, Yoko drifted into a deep sleep.

As she slept, her aura began to shift.

The darkness faded.

The melancholy receded.

The color of her astral body gradually lightened, turning from a deep shade to a much warmer orange.

Her mind was finally at peace.

…However, with her sleeping on his lap, Ren himself was now stuck in place.