Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 23: Beneath the Charisma

From across the classroom, Hiroshi gazed absently out of the window, his thoughts seemingly dancing along the distant horizon. Sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow on his contemplative face. His unruly mop of hair seemed to have a mind of its own, adding to his effortlessly charming appearance.

A trio of girls huddled together a few desks away, exchanged excited whispers as they stole glances in his direction. The first girl, her eyes wide with admiration, leaned in and murmured, "Can you believe how famous he's become? His charisma is simply irresistible."

The second girl, her lips curving into a knowing smile, nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. But it's not just his charm that got him there. He's incredibly skilled too. Did you hear about how he aced the role of Takumi in "Blossoms of Love?"

The third girl, her expression a mix of intrigue and longing, chimed in softly, "It's like he's a perfect blend of charm and talent. No wonder everyone's talking about him."

Hiroshi's gaze shifted from the window, catching the trio of girls in their animated discussion. With a playful twinkle in his crimson eye, he turned his attention towards them and flashed a confident wink. The girls' faces lit up with surprise and delight, their excited whispers transforming into jubilant squeals that echoed through the classroom as they couldn't contain their excitement.

Hiroshi's smirk deepened as he noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere. Sensing a presence behind him, he slowly turned his head, his playful expression giving way to curiosity. His gaze met the cold and collected look of Aqua who was studying him with a serious intensity.

Hiroshi chuckled softly, a hint of mischief in his voice, "Ah, Aquamarine, my friend, are you here to grace us with your daily dose of bitterness?"

Aqua's lips curled into a wry smile as he stepped closer, his voice carrying a dry amusement. "Hiroshi, you seem to forget that not everyone is enchanted by your theatrics. Charisma might win over the masses, but it doesn't make you invincible."

With a nonchalant shrug, Aqua continued, "And as for bitterness, well, I'd say I have a healthy dose of realism. Someone needs to keep your head from floating too high up in the clouds."

Ignoring him, Aqua settled into the desk in front of Hiroshi.

Aqua's gaze bore into Hiroshi's eyes, his expression serious and unwavering. Without breaking eye contact, he finally spoke in a measured tone, "Why?"

Hiroshi chuckled softly, a bemused expression crossing his face. "Well, Aqua, let's not overthink this too much. It's just a funny coincidence that we both ended up on the same dating show. No need to read too much into it." He flashed a mischievous grin before leaning back in his chair, his charisma seemingly undisturbed by Aqua's serious demeanour.

Aqua's gaze remained fixed on Hiroshi, his serious demeanour unyielding. He leaned in slightly, his voice low and controlled. "Hiroshi, let's not play games here. Nothing about your sudden appearance on the same dating show as me screams coincidence. You have a way of manoeuvring situations to your advantage, and I'm not one to ignore patterns."

Hiroshi's playful facade faltered for a moment, and he feigned an exaggerated expression of shock. "Oh my, Aquamarine, are you implying that I've taken up a new career as a creepy stalker? My, my, I must say, that's quite the accusation you've got there." He raised an eyebrow, his eyes widening in mock surprise.

Aqua's eyes remained fixed on Hiroshi, his unwavering seriousness cutting through Hiroshi's attempts at humour. He leaned in even closer, his tone firm and unyielding. "Cut the act, Hiroshi. I've known you long enough to see through your charm. There's a reason for everything you do, and I'm not buying that you just happened to end up on this show with me. So, I'll ask you again: why?"