Idol and Agent part 2

It was the evening of the concert. There was a tension in the air as personnel scrambled to make sure everything was perfect before showtime. Coordinators barked orders, while lifters paced back and forth carrying stage props. A few workers slipped into the dimmer corners, lighting up cigarettes to exhale their stress.

In the back, Felix leaned against the walls, dressed in a black vest over a white polo. His mismatched eyes concealed behind a pair of sunglasses. From afar, he watched as Natsumi conversed with a black suited man with a clipboard in hand.

“Good to see everything’s going smoothly, Producer-san!” Natsumi smiled.

“Alright, see you tomorrow, Yumiko-chan.”

Natsumi waved as she walked over to where Felix was waiting, “Why with the long face?”

“We’re here because?” Felix expressed his dismay.

“Just to making sure papa’s investments are being properly handled. Finishing touches, and all that. After this it’ll just be you and me, a night on the town.” She pointed her finger inches before his nose.

“How lucky am I.” He scoffed.

She glanced over to the wide-open space they were in, it was what one would expect of a concert arena, only twice as large, “Speak your mind, what do you think?”

“Pretty big event.”

“It should be. Anyway, I’m just gonna go to Yoko-san for a bit to look over the finances.”

As she walked away to talk to the black-haired lady on the stage, Felix was left alone for a brief period. He pulled out the smartphone in his pocket and read through the documents.

It doesn’t even make any sense. Why would someone attack during the concert? To make a statement? Or a distraction?

“You’re an unfamiliar face, who are you supposed to be?” An unfamiliar man with a PA speaker over his shoulder walked up to Felix. He had tanned skin, with messy, and pale blond hair.

“I’m—” The tanned man gestured Felix to stop before he could say another word.

“No, no. Let me guess, you’re Yumiko’s new bodyguard?” He smiled widely, putting the large speaker down.

“…That’s right.”

“So what’s your name, bro?”

“Do I have to tell you?” Felix indifferently replied.

“Eh, as one bodyguard to another, I thought we could make a little chit-chat.”

“Isn’t it customary here to give your own name first before asking for another’s?”

“Eh, you got me there, bro. I’m Asahi. Asahi Yamamoto, at your service.” The tanned man raised both his hands in defeat.

Felix adjusted his sunglasses by the bridge, the way the Chief always would, and answered in a rehearsed manner, “It’s Haruki. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, it’s nice to meet you, Haruki!” Asahi extended his hand.

“Likewise… So Asahi…-san. Who are you supposed to be bodyguarding?” Felix asked as he shook his hand, the tanned man had a firm grip, and saw the calluses on his knuckles.

“I was hired recently to protect the Sweethearts.”

Felix scanned the man, he had a well-toned physique and bullet wounds on his body, “Then why aren’t you accompanying them right now?”

“They asked me to leave… and there should be someone else watching over them at the moment, but Yumiko really does have her own personal bodyguard, doesn’t she? Damn, I’m so jealous of you.” He muttered excitedly.

His eyebrows curled curiously, “Why?”

“I heard that there were a lot of people out to get her, so she tests her bodyguards to see if they’re worthy of her, whatever that means.”

“So that’s what it was?” Felix blurted out under his breath to pique the man’s interest.

“Why, what happened, bro? Did she test you?”

“Yeah… I guess I passed.”

“How? What kind of test was it? What did she do? What did she ask?” Asahi leaned in, firing off question after question.

“It’s not exactly the most pleasant of tests.” He dryly answered with the slightest smirk.

“Eh? Now I’m curious!”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“I see… still, to have a bodyguard all to herself… It’s a shame I couldn’t get close to her.”

“Hm? Why’s that?”

“…I wanna be close to all of them! They’re cute and everything, and since she’s… well, aren’t you interested in them?”

Felix sighed, “You’re not supposed to be interested in your charges, it’s not professional.”

“You’re so stiff, bro… But I guess that’s what sets us apart. I don’t think I can keep myself away… not when I have my eye on someone.”

Cracking his knuckles, he shot the stranger disgusted look, “If you touch any of them—”

“I know, I know. You don’t need to worry about me, bro. I’m fine just watching from afar, I can’t let her reputation get ruined.”

Felix thought as he leaned back, asking, “Which one of them is her?”

“Ayame…” The tanned man scratched the back of his head.

Didn’t expect to find Golden Survivor so quickly.

“Tanned skin, dyed hair. Really going for that golden brown, aren’t you?” He muttered.

“Oh? Nah, bro. It’s just trendy, is all… I hate the color gold.” Asahi said with a far off look.

Felix raised an eyebrow, “Huh…”

With documents in hand, Natsumi returned, accompanied by a tall, black-haired office lady wearing red-rimmed glasses. The tanned bodyguard averted his eyes to the side as they approached.

“Hey! I’d like you to meet the financial manager of Starry Sweethearts, Yoko Takahashi. She said she wanted to meet you. Yoko-san, this is my new body—”

Felix quickly reached out for a handshake. “I’m Haruki, Haruki Saionji. I’m Yumiko’s new bodyguard. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Yoko.”

“Ah, eh? R-right, Haruki.” Natsumi blurted out.

Asahi’s eyes narrowed as he watched Natsumi’s startled response.

“Pleasures all mine, Haruki-dono. I do hope that you will fulfill your duty without any issue. I have high expectations of the both of you.”

“Whoa, Yoko-san! I think that’s putting a lot of pressure on the both of—” Asahi commented.

“Without question.” Felix replied without a hint of hesitation.

There was a sudden stop as Miss Yoko stared sternly at Felix, shaking his hand. The sharp-eyed office lady then pulled Natsumi to her side, dragging her away from the two bodyguards. Felix’s eyebrows lower in contrast to Asahi’s eyes widening.

“Yumiko.” Yoko whispered in her ear.

“Y-yes, Yoko-san?” Natsumi responded nervously.

Yoko pushed her glasses upward, “I like him.”

“Ah, oh… he’s funny, isn’t he?” She smiled.

The two bodyguards were left behind by the two women, left with only each other’s company, Asahi tried to strike a conversation

“Bro, what do you think they’re talking about?”

“Who knows?” He answered, adjusting his sunglasses.

“You know, you’re really hard to talk to, bro.” His fellow bodyguard remarked.

Felix folded his arms, responding, “So I’ve been told.”

With a shrug from Asahi, the conversation fell into silence.

~