Totally Normal Life, Pt. 5

A few days later, Megumi and I arrived at a rather fancy studio. Already parked outside were a bunch of fans and trucks, probably meant to carry all the equipment.

First on the agenda was meeting the manager in the studio. When we did, he was singing a completely different tune than before.

"Good to see you again. You're looking as beautiful as always."

"...Uh-huh," she mumbled, crossing both her arms and her eyebrows.

"Ah... Ahem. Look, Megumi... I put off apologizing to you over phone and text because I wanted to tell you in person. I'm sorry for what I said to you at the last photoshoot. It was immature and unprofessional of me. Rest assured, it won't happen again."

"Yeah. Right. Totally sincere and heartfelt, that one. Almost shed a few tears. Although I can't help but wonder... Would you even be saying any of this right now if my post didn't go viral?"

"I..."

"Mm. Didn't think so. But, I guess I can't necessarily blame you. Now that my new appearance is out there and positively received, it's creating more business for your agency."

"W-well, you're also benefiting from this as well, aren't you?"

"I won't deny that. More modeling opportunities, more acting roles to choose from, and more money flowing in. Doesn't mean I'll sell my soul to the devil to keep it that way."

The manager took a step back, stiffening his posture. All the while, the staff who were there to witness this spectacle stood in silence.

Good thing, too. This guy deserves to be embarrassed after everything he said to Megumi back then. I was never one to hold a grudge, but calling out her choice in appearance was totally uncalled for. All by rights, Megumi should be as angry as she is.

"Well, whatever," she sighed, walking off. "Two peas in a pod, I guess. And that pod happens to be sinking faster than a ship that just ran into rocks. Keep in mind that I'm still technically taking a break. Once we're done here, don't contact me till the next event."

Then, Megumi shot me a glare.

"You. Come with me. Everyone else can go and... I don't know. Do whatever you do."

I followed Megumi into one of the dressing rooms. Clothing racks were lined up against the back wall. On the other side was a row of mirrors with dressers in front of them.

Megumi sat down in front of one, throwing her arms up for a stretch.

"Phew! That felt good. Did you see the look on my manager's face?"

"Hah. Yeah, I did. Totally deserved."

"That's what I'm saying. Look at how fast he switched up after realizing the gold mine that is the new me. Told you, didn't I? Absolute perfection."

"You—"

"And before you say it, no, it is not narcissism. I'm just stating a fact."

"As if that isn't the most narcissistic thing you can say, but sure. We'll go with that. Anyway, what now?"

"Now? You get to follow me around."

"That's it?"

"Of course, not."

Megumi spun the chair around to face me, crossing her legs with a smile that spelled danger.

"You get to watch me, too. Isn't that so exciting?"

"Exciting? I'm gonna be bored to death just sitting there."

"Well, who really knows? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two for your photography class."

"Hah. We'll see."

And so began what was gonna be the first of many events I'd have to follow Megumi to.

Today, Megumi modeled for a fast fashion brand, featuring a bunch of everyday streetwear you'd expect to see from some of the younger folks.

"As if we aren't young," Megumi had said while she was taking a sip from a water bottle, waiting for the next set.

"Certainly doesn't feel like it. Every morning, I wake up with an aching back."

"Whose fault is that for being such a homebody? You need to get out more. Oh! How about I take you out?"

"Out? To where?"

"I don't know. A restaurant?"

"I can eat at home."

"The mall?"

"I can shop online."

She shot me a scowl, but it wasn't like she could refute my replies. After all, she was probably just as much of a homebody as I was. Just not by choice.

"I'll be fine," I sighed. "It's not like you can go out on a whim without getting recognized anyway. I'd rather not deal with the headache if you do."

"Tch... You're such a slug."

"Alright, Miss Megumi!" the director called out from afar. "We're ready."

"Coming!"

She hopped off her seat, tossed me her water bottle, and rushed to the cameras.

That wasn't the end of it. Just the day after, she had another event. This time, it was a pop-up event. Supposedly, she was set to promote a collaboration project between the store and a popular anime.

While Megumi was standing in front of a crowd, making them cheer in awe with everything she did, I sat at a table in the back.

"You must be Megumi no Hana's stylist," said a store clerk as she approached me.

"Well... Something like that."

"Mm. I won't pry. It's quite lively in here, don't you think

"Yeah. A bit more than what I'm used to, that's for sure."

"Same. We don't usually get this much business, and it's thanks to Megumi no Hana. I still can't believe she's in our store."

"Why don't you go say hi?"

She shook her head.

"I think she's got enough on her plate already. And besides, she looks so happy right now. Miss Megumi may be a celebrity and all, but at the end of the day, she's still a young lady. I can't help but stand back and just... watch."

I didn't say anything after that, because I was now locked in the same spell that she was.

Across the store, Megumi was taking pictures with fans, advertising the product, and talking about the anime that was printed on the clothes.

Right now, she does seem a lot happier. It almost makes it hard for me to believe that only a month ago, she tried to jump off a bridge.

Another couple of days later, I rushed out of class — even avoiding Chiaki along the way — to get to the next event. Instead of official business, Megumi was doing a charity event at a children's hospital.

That's what her manager said, but she told me that it was just a PR move to increase her favor in the eyes of the public.

When I arrived, her team was already hard at work, helping the hospital staff move things around while Megumi kept the kids busy in a play place.

"Hey, you!" shouted someone behind me.

I turned, and the moment I did, he placed a heavy box in my arms.

"Take this upstairs, will you?"

"A-actually, I don't—"

"Come on. We've got a lot more to get through than this."

"I... Yes, sir..."

Looks like I'm employed for the day. In Megumi no Hana's team, no less. This wasn't on the agenda, but... as I turned to look at her — laughing and taking selfies with the children — I didn't have it in me to be disappointed.

But unfortunately, before I could walk away, I overheard... a small conversation.

"Hey, Miss Megumi," said a little girl, pointing at me. "That guy was looking at you with hearts in his eyes. Is he your boyfriend?"

At that moment, I almost died.

"Hmm? Who?" Megumi asked.

"Ah... He's gone."

I took the corner before I could hear any more of it. Don't think I've ever shuffled away so fast in my life, but then again, a lot of the things that have happened this last month weren't really on my bucket list either.