Disturbance

Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

The night in Shibuya pulsed with life. Crowds surged back and forth beneath a canopy of neon lights, each flicker and flash proclaiming that Tokyo was a city that never surrendered to sleep. Above the restless streets, a massive electronic billboard blazed to life, casting its glow across the faces below. Words spilled into the night, swallowed by the endless noise of Shibuya. The news screen played out in bright lights, illuminating the bustling streets.

From the screen, a news anchor’s voice cut through the noise of the city.

“Tokyo police are now investigating a narcotics scandal linked to the idol group Star Hime. Several members are suspected of distributing a dangerous class of drugs smuggled in from abroad.”

People absorbed in their nightly routines until the names “Star Hime” rang out from the giant screen above.

The words were blazing like a wildfire in dry grass. Whispers cracked through the crowd, sharp and restless, leaping from one passerby to another. Speculations twisted into rumors, and rumors turned into scandals, carried swiftly by the curious tongues of society. Some slowed their pace, lifting their necks toward the glowing billboard. Others exchanged uneasy glances, as though the city itself had shuddered beneath the weight of the news.

Not far away, a salaryman and his colleague slowed their pace. One loosened his tie with a sigh.

“Geez, Idols these days,” he muttered. “It’s all shiny stage, until we saw what they’ve been hiding.” His colleague gave a dry chuckle, nodding his head. “Figures. This is why men should stop simping for them!”

Meanwhile, a bunch of die-hard fans clustered near the billboard, their glowstick keychains rattling as they argued in a flurry of raised voices.

“Don’t believe it, Hime Warriors! Star Hime would never do something like this! Our oshis are good people!” one cried, clutching his merch bag as if shielding the idols themselves.

“It’s just lies from the media! This is obviously a conspiracy! They’re trying to destroy our oshis!” another insisted, already typing out a furious defense thread while screaming in public.

And then there were the skeptical gothic-fashioned people, standing with their arms crossed, smirking at the commotion.

“Tch, idols, drugs, scandals—it’s always the same,” one scoffed. “People act like this is a new thing, yet these bitches always sell tickets and appear in headline news.”

“Exactly,” his female friend said with a snort. “I'd say give it a week, dude. Those same fans crying tonight will be camping outside for their comeback tour and act like nothing happened.”

Above them all, the billboard flickered on, replaying the anchor’s words, each word feeding whispers, anger, and disbelief. With scandalous delight, a trio of schoolgirls gasped and widened their eyes.

“Wow, girls, who do you think the main culprit is?”

One muttered, smiling as if she had discovered a secret, "I bet it's Yua."

"Nope, it's Rika! Remember? She canceled the last concert."

The tapping of phones mingled with their squeals and laughing.

“All of them are definitely involved, such a tragedy of some filthy little idols”.

The loudest of the trio stood out instantly. Miku Takasawa, the kind of girl you couldn’t ignore even if you wanted to. Her hair was a cascade of glossy blonde waves, the ends tipped with playful streaks of pink that shone beneath the city's glow. She wore her school uniform in the way most gyarus in her age always did, shirt buttons undone just enough to flaunt her cleavage into the cold air, skirt hem tugged dangerously higher than regulation, colorful socks loose around her ankles, and a pair of branded white boots that were more expensive than a five-person buffet in a local sushi restaurant.

Her two minions, Yumeko Okita and Reine Murasaki, chuckled at her remark, their manicured nails tapping against their smartphones as they leaned in closer, intrigued with the idol gossip while sipping boba teas they bought from an overpriced store.

“Totally! School idol is so fucking fake,” Yumeko chimed, her voice dripping with mockery as she twirled her auburn hair. “They act like angels, but in reality, they are no better than us… probably even worse!”

Reine smirked, flipping her glossy scarlet hair over one shoulder. “Please. I bet they’re secretly hooking up with guys doing sex, drugs-”

“-and then BOOM!” Miku cut in with a grin, straw still between her lips. “Scandal hits. Typical. Fans acting like they're not responsible for all of this. 'It's like the end of the world~'!”

“You're so realll!” Yumeko burst into laughter, nearly choking on her tapioca pearls. “Hate those fake-ass school idols so bad. They’re nothing compared to male idols anyway!”

Reine gave a scoff, tossing her head back. “Exactly. I prefer male idols. At least they’re hot and can dance better.”

Miku slurped her drink obnoxiously, the sound earning giggles from her friends. She flashed a smug smile.

“Meanwhile, these ‘pure angels’? One little scandal and suddenly they act like, ‘I was pressured, I didn’t know what I was doing,’ it's my manager's fault, blah, blah~. Like, no way you did all of that without knowing any shit, bitch. ”

Yumeko leaned in, whispering: “Bet they were snorting those powders they got from some rich uncle’s yacht.”

"Hahahahah!" Miku laughed hard.

“By the way, Miku,” Reine chirped, sipping her drink with a sly grin. “How was that.... 'nerd' you hooked up with last night? Any kisses?”

The question hit like a dart. Miku’s cheeks flared crimson, and she swatted Reine’s arm with a hiss. “Shut up! Ryu is not 'that' kind of nerd. He's a boxing nerd, okay? And he fights too, he's not an overweight ugly bastard who lives under mommy's basement."

Yumeko raised her perfectly plucked brow, her grin threatening to break free. “Ooh, so you got a soft spot for him now?” she teased.

“As if!” Miku puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, pouting like a child caught in the act. “…He's cool, okay? We're only dating for a month, but he treats me like an actual woman.”

Then, with a dramatic flip of her hair and a sparkle in her eye, she proudly added, “Besides, he’s not the only guy I date. I’ve got, like, eight guys on rotation.”

Reine let out a sharp laugh. "Eight guys? You're such a crazy slut, Miku!”

Yumeko clutched her chest in mock shock. “Oh my gosh, you're multitasking too much, girl!"

“Only one of them knows you’re not single, right?” Reine pressed, her smirk widening.

Miku swirled her straw in her boba, lips curling into a wicked grin. “Honey… none of them know each other. Except for Kenta, since he's a dumb dropout who doesn't go to school."

Yumeko added, "Yeah, I remembered him hahahaha!"

The three of them burst into laughter, their voices ringing loud and bright beneath Shibuya’s neon haze. Then, as if fate decided to intrude on their fun, a soft figure stumbled into their circle. A girl in a black summer dress and a wide straw hat bumped against Miku’s shoulder, nearly dropping the small purse clutched in her hands. The stark contrast was almost jarring, innocence colliding with brash rebellion.

Miku froze, her boba cup tilting dangerously as she stumbled back, tapioca pearls splattering across the pavement. “H-Hey, watch it-!” she snapped, voice sharp with irritation.

But then she stopped short.

The girl before her was a vision of an angel, almost unreal against Shibuya’s neon chaos. A wide straw hat framed a pretty face, her features so fine they seemed carved from porcelain. The summer dress swayed gently around her legs, and silken black hair spilled down her back. For one brief second, the bustling street dimmed around her. And those beautiful crimson eyes......

“Gomenasai!” the girl gasped, bowing quickly before darting into the crowd. The green light flickered, and in an instant, she was gone, swallowed by the endless tide of humans.

Miku’s scowl lingered, but beneath it, something twisted struck her mind, a prickle of instinct she couldn’t name. Her eyes tracked the spot where the stranger had disappeared, lips parting in a whisper.

“That girl…”

Reine and Yumeko exchanged glances, their curiosity tinged with unease.

“Damn, she's like... a doll,” Yumeko said, trying for lightness, though her tone faltered.

Reine tilted her head, frowning. “Yeah…she should have actual eyes though, I almost spilled my boba pearl!”

Miku said nothing. She only gripped her cup tighter, the tapioca pearls settling at the bottom with a hollow clink. Deep inside, an itch gnawed at her, something inevitable.

She didn’t know why, but a glimpse of truth pressed against her chest: this would not be the last time their paths would cross.