Notification Ring

I woke up to several dings from my phone. I waited for it to stop, but it only continued, along with my patience that was steadily draining.

Who is texting me this early? It can only be Nae, but our conversations are always short. The other option was Manager Na, but the conversations I have with him are even shorter than Nae's.

I picked up my phone and read the first notification line. What the... It says that I have about fifty text messages on Line. Who in the world is spamming me?

"...Are you serious...?" I muttered to myself.

When I opened Line, the first thing that I saw was a new group chat that I had been added to. 'Sunayomi plus One.'

Suguha: "Yozora! Wake up! Wake up!"

Yoshino: "Please, do, Yozora. Otherwise, we're going to be late to our appointment."

Suguha: "YOZORAAAAA!!!"

Mitsuki: "I told you he couldn't relied on. It's ten in the morning, and he's still knocked out."

Natsume: "Yozora? Are you really not awake yet?"

Suguha: "You're not ignoring us... are you?"

I watched as a new text bubble appeared with every second, and each time, an irritating ring followed.

A part of me wanted to fake it and ignore them, but I'm already being suspected. I could just leave and leave it alone. Then again, they'd just add me back. Maybe I should block them. No... I'm not ready to face the consequences of doing that.

Is there really no other way?

Me: "What is this?"

Suguha: "He's awake! Hooray!"

Mitsuki: "Took your sweet time."

Natsume: "Good morning, Yozora."

Me: "Good morning, but can someone explain why I got woken up to this?"

Yoshino: "Welcome to our new group chat. There's only us and you in here, so everything from comments to schedules to whatever you want to tell us, please, don't hesitate."

Suguha: "Don't tell Manager Na! This is gonna be our secret safe place where we can say whatever we want."

Me: "I don't think this is allowed..."

Mitsuki: "Neither is you being our assistant, but hey. Whatever goes, huh?"

Me: "Yeah, I guess so. Maybe you should stick to the rules and fire me immediately."

Yoshino: "Not going to happen. Anyway, we need you here by eleven."

Me: "For what?"

Yoshino: "Your first assignment as our assistant. Hurry up."

Suguha: "See you soon!"

Natsume: "See you, Yozora."

For a while, I just sat on my bed, trying to wrap my head around everything. What now? Forget the fact that I'll have to deal with them more often—I’m also about to take on a mountain of new responsibilities as their assistant.

I pushed those thoughts aside and went through my morning routine. After a much-needed walk, I finally arrived at the studio, only to find something was amiss. A white van with tinted windows was parked out front, surrounded by an array of high-end cars.

Is something happening? Suddenly, my phone rang. It was a call... from Yoshino Yoko.

"Hello?" I said as I picked up the phone.

"Yozora, are you here yet?" she asked.

"Just about. I'm right in front of the building."

"Is that so? Do you see the white van in the middle of all those cars?"

"It was the first thing I noticed. I'm assuming that's your ride."

"Yup. Go over there and stand next to the door. We'll be right out."

"Sure."

Per her request, I went over to the white van and lead my back against the door. I wonder... Since this is Sunayomi's ride, then these cars must be the security team. Why haven't any of them come out to confront me yet? Aren't they suspicious of this guy just standing next to Sunayomi's car.

Suddenly, within the span of a second, the doors to the van slid right open, and a pair of arms pulled me in.

"W-what the hell?!" I shouted.

Right when I was about to go full-on panic mode, I twisted my head and was met with gleaming blue eyes, so bright that they nearly blinded me.

"Hey, Yozora!" Suguha grinned a little too proudly.

"S-Suguha...?"

While my heart was still rapidly beating, I looked around and saw that all of Sunayomi was here. Even Manager Na, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

Holding onto my other arm was Natsume with a nervous look.

"Did I just get... abducted...?" I mumbled.

"I-it was Suzu's idea!" she cried as she let go.

"Hey, it wasn't 'all' my idea," Suguha pouted. "Yoko was the one who called him over."

I turned to the shotgun seat to see that Yoshino was looking at me with an amused smirk.

"That was quite the reaction, Yozora," she giggled.

"Tch... Can you blame me?" I grunted.

"No, certainly not. It was still funny, though. Now, sit down so we can get a move on."

"Sit down? Where?"

"In the back with Mira."

Through the opening that led to the backseat, Mitsuki was sitting in silence, arms and legs crossed, while giving me the death stare.

"Erm..." I gulped.

"No time to think," Manager Na grinned. "Hurry your ass up, kid. Once we're on the road, you can daydream all you want."

"Who's daydreaming? Cuz it's definitely not me."

I lifted myself from the floor and threw myself onto the backseat, making sure to leave the largest gap between me and Mitsuki.

"Alright!" Manager Na cheered. "Off we go!"

It took a bit, but I'm finally calming down. Now that I can clearly see what had just happened to me, I can't help but ask... What just happened to me? How is it that I'm in a car with 'the' Sunayomi? As their assistant, no less...

For a moment, I found myself glancing over at Mitsuki, and I ended up staring longer than I intended. On TV or online, these girls always seem to be decked out in formal wear or dazzling outfits—the kind with sparkly dresses and extravagant accessories.

Today, though, Mitsuki was dressed down in a more casual style. She wore a white shirt with loose, draping fabric around her chest, topped with an oversized green jacket. Below, she sported a pair of thin shorts. Even I have to admit that she looks pretty up close.

Mitsuki turned away from the window and saw me looking, to which I immediately flinched.

"What?" she grumbled with a frown.

"Nothing," I said as normally as I could.

"Nothing, my ass. Why were you staring at me?"

"No reason."

Her frown grew even worse. Should I just tell her? Maybe then, she'll stop glaring at me like she wants to kill me.

"Hah... I just thought you looked nice today," I sighed. "Happy?"

"W-wha..."

I looked up to see that all the girls in front of me were breaking their necks while giving me strange looks.

"What?" I asked. "Was I not supposed to say that?"

"N-no, that's not it..." Natsume stuttered.

"It was just... uh... surprising!" Suguha said.

"Huh...?" I raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so for these next three months, keep my personal opinions to myself. Got it."

"Eh?! T-that's not what I meant!"

"I can't be bothered to receive this kind of reaction every time I speak my mind, so I just won't say it."

"No, Yozora," Yoshino immediately rejected. "Remember what I told you earlier? Whatever you want to say, tell us straight up. Don't beat around the bush. if you think we look nice, then tell us that. I'm sure Mira enjoyed that comment, hm? Mira?"

"Tch... Whatever..." Mitsuki mumbled.

And then, just like that, they all went back to their own activities. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this. With Manager Na, I could speak my mind without him even flinching. He’s used to my way of being.

But these girls... they’re different. It feels like I’m walking on eggshells around them. I can’t just blurt out whatever I want anymore.

Dammit... Something tells me these next three months are gonna be absolute hell.