Chapter 34: 034, Responding to Fans' Expectations, Making Fans Even More

The stroll unexpectedly lasted until evening.

The six of them had nearly finished walking the entire 3.8-kilometer cherry blossom path.

Finally, they found an outdoor table at a nearby cafe to take a temporary rest.

"Naoki-san, are you all going to continue participating in the carnival activities later?" Akie Nakamori asked.

"We are. I heard this year's carnival is going to be very lively~" Naoki Nagayama responded to Akie, then added, "Tsuruko and Kona-chan came to Tokyo this time specifically to join in on this kind of excitement."

"You make it sound like Ni-chan doesn't want to join... He probably just thought it was boring when he watched it before~" Tsuruko tossed her head back and went back to chatting with Akiho, as if they were particularly close.

"Come to think of it, I indeed haven't participated before," Naoki Nagayama recalled. "When I first arrived in Tokyo, I could barely afford to eat. I was working part-time every day just to pay off debts, so I didn't have the time to participate~"

This was the first time Nagayama Tsuruko had heard about Naoki Nagayama's past. "You couldn't even afford food? Didn't Onii-chan make a lot of money after coming to Tokyo?"

"Who said that? When I first arrived, I even had to rely on my childhood allowance just to rent an apartment."

"Eh~" The members of the Nakamori family looked over as well. "Is Naoki-san very poor?"

The first time they had met Naoki Nagayama was at a cabaret, and the way he paid didn't make him look like someone without money.

"Later, by a stroke of luck, I wrote a song and managed to earn a little money."

Hearing this, Akina Nakamori immediately spoke up, "Is it that song 'Cherry Blossom' by Seiko Matsuda?"

This was the first time little Akina had spoken to Naoki Nagayama today.

"Yes, that's the one~"

"Did you write it specifically for Seiko Matsuda-san?" Little Akina asked somewhat seriously, her round face looking a bit awkward.

Naoki Nagayama thought for a moment and decided to offer some clarification, otherwise, he didn't know how long she would remain awkward.

"I'll only tell you guys, so don't spread it around~" he said to the six people leaning in around him, receiving a chorus of nods.

"Akina-san, you've participated in TV programs before, right?"

"Yes, I've been on 'STAR! Tanjou' twice. Doesn't Naoki-san know?" Little Akina complained slightly.

"Then Akina-san should know that performances on shows are directed, right? And the performers hold scripts in their hands~"

"I know that, so what?"

"Me too!"

"Arere?"

"To make that song a massive hit, the agency planned this whole gimmick~"

"A song written by a fan for their idol actually becomes a huge hit—a topic like that is bound to attract a lot of attention~"

"Eh!!" X6, "Was it all a lie?"

"Hurry up and enter the treacherous life of adults!

There are so many lies in the entertainment industry!!!

Some people act like they respect each other on the surface, but in reality, it's all just an exchange of interests;

On stage, they are a gentleman, but in private, they are a total womanizer;

A sweet and cute artist might actually kick and punch the staff.

Of course, I've also met people who seem uninhibited and wild on the surface, but are actually devoted to their daughters~"

The people around him were listening in utter astonishment. After all, among them, only Akina Nakamori had even slightly touched the entertainment industry, and she hadn't truly entered the fray yet.

Akina Nakamori felt a bit conflicted. "So, that means Seiko Matsuda wasn't Naoki-san's idol? Is there no one who is your idol?"

"Even idols are just packaged images~" he said habitually.

Seeing that little Akina's expression had worsened, Naoki Nagayama quickly tried to remedy it. "Speaking of which, I actually do have an idol."

"Who is it?" Her eyes lit up with anticipation.

"It used to be Momoe Yamaguchi-san." Naoki Nagayama ultimately couldn't bring himself to shamelessly say Akina Nakamori; after all, telling a junior high school student that she was his idol would be too embarrassing.

Kona-chan added at this moment, "I remember Naoki Ni-chan's room used to be full of Momoe Yamaguchi's records and posters!"

"Eh~~~? It used to be, but it isn't anymore?" Akiho interjected.

Naoki Nagayama felt a bit trapped by his own words. If he had an idol before, does that mean he doesn't have one now?

"Yes, I used to, but I don't have an idol now~"

"Why? There are so many new idols coming out, doesn't Onii-chan like any of them?"

"Damn it, what do you think an idol is? Something you can just swap out like a household appliance?" Naoki Nagayama's mind raced until he finally found a theory that made sense.

"To me, an idol should be an existence that begins with looks, falls for talent, and remains loyal to character.

If she is my idol, she is someone who can meet the expectations of her fans and make her fans better—an existence like a life compass."

"In the past, Momoe Yamaguchi-san was exactly that kind of image; she inspired me to come from Shizuoka to Tokyo..." Naoki Nagayama smiled. "Haha, at that time, I always thought Momoe-san was my first love~"

Even though they had just been having a serious discussion about the definition of an idol, the sudden mention of a "first love" made several of the girls blush.

"So, since Naoki-san's first love has retired, do you not have a new flame now?" Akie Nakamori was the oldest, so she wasn't too shy about such matters.

"I told you, it's like a first love, it's hard to forget~" Naoki Nagayama played coy. "I was young and knew nothing back then, but if I were to look for a second love, I should at least make some progress~"

"As of now, ordinary idols only leave a shallow impression on me; I haven't become a true hardcore fan of anyone yet~" He then turned to little Akina and said, "Though it's a bit embarrassing to say, for Akina-san, you are also just an ordinary idol~"

However, upon hearing this, Akina Nakamori seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and became full of fighting spirit. "Yes! Bakayaro! I will work hard from now on!

I will work hard to become that kind of idol who can meet the expectations of fans and make them better—a life compass!"

He felt like he had accidentally raised little Akina's ideals far too high...

"Ganbatte, Akina-san!"

Time flew by during the conversation. Spring nights always arrive early; it felt like they had only rested for a moment before the sky had already turned dark.

The colored lights in the distant park had already been lit, and the crowds began to flow toward them.

"Everyone, the carnival should have started, let's go take a look!" "Yes!" X6

Colored lights, banners, various snacks... they had even hired a band to perform. Everyone gathered around the stage to enjoy the music; the Meguro River carnival was incredibly lively.

Moving with the crowd, Naoki Nagayama's group bought many snacks along the way. After walking all afternoon, they hadn't noticed before, but as soon as they smelled the aromas, everyone's stomachs began to growl.

Naoki Nagayama held a handful of grilled skewers in his left hand, distributing them to the others as they walked, while his right hand held a skewer of grilled beef. The others were also holding various snacks, looking much like country folk visiting the city for the first time, having never tasted such delicacies.

Akina's little face was puffed out; her image as "Little Fatty" was indeed well-deserved.

Suddenly, a familiar melody drifted over. The band on stage began to play the recent hit, "Sakura ~Anata ni Deaete Yokatta~" (Cherry Blossoms ~I'm Glad I Met You~).

This song had topped the charts for three weeks, and with the cherry blossom season upon it, its popularity seemed set to continue.

"Onii-chan, that's the background music from your commercial!" Tsuruko was very happy. "Even the band is performing it~"

"Is this song also by Naoki-san?" Akiko Nakamori hadn't heard clearly and, assuming it was a song composed by Naoki Nagayama, asked directly.

Naoki Nagayama, on the other hand, assumed she already knew he had written it, since his name was listed as the lyricist and composer on the record.

So he replied, "Yes, I got the inspiration while filming the commercial, so I wrote it down, and it was chosen as the background music."

"Eh???!!!" X6

"Naoki-san composed another song?" "Is it another massive hit?" "Naoki Ni-chan is so amazing!" "Onii-chan, why didn't you tell me!"

"Hmm? Didn't you guys already know?" Naoki Nagayama realized he had misunderstood something.