Renji's Attention!

A beautiful beach!

Beautiful girls to tag along with.

Everything seemed perfect—an exclusive beach, stunning scenery, and a group of gorgeous women accompanying him.

It should've felt amazing.

But in reality, it wasn't all that great.

None of these ladies were his girlfriends.

And while he was undeniably the center of attention, drawing envious glances from men passing by, there was no actual benefit in it for him.

He wasn't enjoying the privileges of a protagonist. He wasn't basking in their affection.

Instead, he was just part of the background, a convenient male presence in a group full of beauties.

"Ahh! This is what we call a mob-character setting. Even though I'm at the center of attention... Hah!"

Renji let out a quiet sigh as he adjusted his bag over his shoulder.

The group had just arrived at the private resort, and everything radiated luxury—from the pristine sand to the extravagant villas reserved for them.

The other dormitory residents were already getting comfortable.

Mikako, the energetic athlete, had taken off her jacket, revealing a sporty tank top, already eager to run off to the beach volleyball area.

Saya, as expected, had found a shaded lounge chair near the resort's patio, flipping open a book while sipping on a cold drink. She gave a slight glance at Renji, her expression unreadable.

Rika was casually stretching, showing off her toned midriff, before throwing her arms behind her head. "Renji, you're looking a bit too gloomy for someone surrounded by gorgeous girls~" she teased, giving him a cheeky smirk.

Renji scoffed, "Yeah? Maybe because I already know this isn't going to be a carefree vacation."

At his words, Ayane's smirk deepened as she casually approached him from the side. Her voice was low and teasing as she leaned closer to his ear.

"You say that, but don't you think there are a few perks for you?" She whispered smoothly.

Renji raised an eyebrow but didn't move away. "Oh? And what 'perks' are you talking about?"

Ayane chuckled, her tone almost sultry. "You're about to spend several days on a luxurious beach... surrounded by girls in swimsuits."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and Renji felt a twitch at the corner of his lips.

Ayane wasn't wrong.

Even though he wasn't exactly in a romantic situation, it was still a rare opportunity.

Most of the girls here were undeniably beautiful, each with their own charm.

Rika, the lively childhood friend with a fit, curvy figure.Mikako, the athletic and tanned beauty whose toned arms and legs hinted at years of training.

Saya, the reserved yet elegant girl, who always had an air of grace and mystery.

And Ayane herself, a mature beauty, someone who knew exactly how to tempt others with her confidence and teasing demeanor.

'Well, no harm in enjoying the view, I guess.'

Still, he wasn't going to admit defeat so easily.

"So what? It's not like I'm getting anything out of it."

Ayane tilted her head, her smirk growing. "Oh? You really think that? Maybe you should wait and see."

Before Renji could respond, the resort staff approached, carrying several pieces of equipment and luggage.

"Ah, and there it is," Renji muttered, already knowing what was coming.

Ayane turned to the others with a bright, innocent smile—one that instantly raised red flags in Renji's mind.

"Alright, since we're all here, let's start setting things up!" she announced cheerfully.

Renji's expression darkened. "Wait…'setting things up'?"

Mikako grinned, stretching her arms. "Yup! We're not just guests, after all. We gotta help with some of the equipment for the shoot. Consider it part of the experience!"

Saya, without looking up from her book, added calmly, "The males, in particular, will be handling the heavier lifting."

Renji closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "I should have known."

Even though he was expecting it, it still stung.

Rika patted him on the back with a giggle. "Come on, Renji~! Think of it as training. You've been working out lately, right?"

Ayane smirked again, her previous whisper echoing in his mind.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll be rewarded for your hard work."

Renji wasn't sure if she was just teasing or if there was an actual underlying meaning behind her words.

The private beach resort was filled with the sound of waves crashing gently against the shore, the salty breeze mixing with the scent of tropical flowers. The sun hung high, casting a golden glow over the crystal-clear water.

And in the midst of this paradise, a group of beautiful girls stood together, engaged in lively conversation.

The dormitory girls had just arrived at the designated beachfront area when five idols approached, their presence instantly elevating the already dazzling atmosphere.

Hoshino and her fellow idols, all dressed in casual yet stylish beach outfits, exuded a natural charm. Their movements were elegant, their voices carrying a refined grace even in casual chatter.

The moment they arrived, the dorm girls greeted them warmly, clearly excited to interact with such high-profile celebrities.

"Wow, it's really you all… I mean, we knew you were coming, but still, it's surreal," Rika admitted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Mikako, usually the confident and straightforward one, looked equally impressed. "I've seen your performances on TV before. Didn't expect to meet you like this."

Hoshino chuckled lightly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "We're actually really happy to have this chance to relax with you all. Our schedules are usually packed, so a private resort like this is a rare treat for us too."

Her words carried a sincere warmth, making the dorm girls feel at ease despite the overwhelming presence of celebrities standing before them.

Another idol, a cool-looking girl with short silver hair, gave a teasing smirk. "That's right. We were actually worried we'd be stuck with just the staff, but knowing there are other girls here makes it way more fun. Plus, we won't have to keep up our 'idol mode' all the time."

Saya, who had been observing quietly, adjusted her glasses slightly. "So even idols want a break from being idols?"

A third idol, a bright and cheerful blonde, giggled. "Of course! We love performing, but sometimes we just want to be normal girls, you know? Chat, swim, gossip about things... the usual."

Ayane crossed her arms, her usual smirk present. "That's a bit hard to believe. Even now, you all seem like you stepped straight out of a magazine cover."

The idols exchanged knowing glances before Hoshino playfully responded, "Well, we do have a reputation to uphold. But it's nice to just relax without thinking about camera angles or lighting."

Mikako grinned. "If that's the case, then I guess we'll just treat you like any other girls here."

The silver-haired idol let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Ahh, finally! No need for that overly polite 'Miss Idol' treatment. You have no idea how refreshing that is."

The conversation quickly turned lively, as the dorm girls and idols found themselves bonding over common topics—fashion, workout routines, favorite foods, and even embarrassing moments from their school years.

Despite their vastly different worlds, the dorm girls found themselves easily meshing with the idols, who, at their core, were just normal young women who happened to be famous.

Meanwhile, completely unnoticed...

The boys had been dragged away before they even had a chance to get a word in.

Not that Renji minded.

He had zero expectations of speaking with an idol in the first place. In fact, he didn't have the slightest motivation to show off or even attempt to make an impression.

What was the point?

These were high-earning idols who could probably make more money in a single event than his novels could in years.

Compared to them, he was just a random background character.

Still, while he wasn't actively participating in the conversation, that didn't mean the idols weren't aware of him.

His calm and indifferent aura, combined with the way he effortlessly carried himself, didn't go unnoticed.

And later, once the heat started getting to him, he shed his upper layer of clothing, revealing his well-defined abs.

That's when the whispers among the girls would truly begin.