The chill in his voice stopped Hojo in her tracks. Her rose-tinted lips parted, eyes shimmering with shock.

After a breath, she seemed to steady herself, disappointment flickering briefly across her gaze.

"I know you’re worried about Honne," she said softly. "I’ll make sure she stays out of your way."

Even so, Hojo didn’t leave.

She turned toward Nozomi Sakura, hesitation in her eyes.

"Um... would you like to exchange contacts?" she asked. "Having a fan as pretty as you would be an honor. Maybe we could... get to know each other?"

Her voice softened into something almost disarming, refusing felt strangely cruel.

Alan frowned, but before he could say anything, Nozomi spoke first.

"May I?"

"Of course!" Hojo smiled. "Fans like you are the reason I’m still here. Though... I left my phone at home. Could you add me instead?"

Nozomi met her earnest gaze and felt something stir inside her. After a moment, she handed over her phone.

"Thanks~" Hojo chimed.

Her fingers moved swiftly. Barely ten seconds later, she returned it.

Then, before Alan could question her, she spoke quickly.

"Sorry Honne caused trouble. We’ll be going."

She caught her sister by the wrist and gently pulled her away, glancing sideways.

"Honestly, insisting on seeing Alan when you’re sick. I told you he’d be upset."

Nozomi’s ring finger twitched.

She bit down on the tip of her tongue and waited until the sisters disappeared around the corner.

Then she turned back to Alan.

"Aren’t you supposed to chase after them?" she said lightly. "That’s how every drama ends."

Alan shot her a flat look.

"This is real life, not TV. Why would I chase them? And what are you doing here, anyway?"

Nozomi blinked, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"Like I said, total coincidence. Hojo thinks so too."

Alan studied her, suspicion still etched between his brows.

"What did Honne say to you?"

Nozomi tilted her head, watching his reaction.

"What do you think she said?"

Knowing Honne, it couldn’t have been anything pleasant.

Before Alan could answer, Nozomi’s expression darkened.

"First she asked if I was really your girlfriend. Then she wanted to know what kind of witchcraft I used to make you dump her sister..."

She laughed softly, hollow and self-mocking, eyes flashing with reproach.

"So Akari Hojo really was your girlfriend? I thought you were joking. And now her little sister likes you too?"

Jealousy bled into every word, tears glinting at the corners of her eyes.

"What does it feel like, being adored by both sisters?" she pressed. "She clung to you right in front of your current girlfriend. That’s every guy’s dream, right?"

Alan frowned at the sudden storm and took a slow breath.

"Keep talking like that and I’ll dock fifty percent of your bonus."

Nozomi froze.

"...Eh?!"

"Please don’t!"

The tension shattered instantly. Alan rolled his eyes.

"Finished performing?"

Nozomi clasped her hands together, eyes pleading.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

Alan met her gaze, voice calm and firm.

"Hojo and I broke up. I’m not involved with her sister either. If you need a label, we’re barely friends. Clear?"

He paused.

"And about you adding Hojo—"

Nozomi cut in.

"Am I not allowed?"

"For an idol, a fan adding you is a good thing, right? Docking my pay for that would be cruel."

Alan said nothing.

An ex-girlfriend exchanging contact info with his current contract partner was strange... but possibly useful.

Seeing his silence, Nozomi pouted.

"Besides, I was just acting. No need to threaten my paycheck. That’s scary."

"Acting has its limits."

"Fine. I thought you liked that kind of thing."

"No one enjoys a love triangle," Alan said flatly, "especially when one corner is an ex."

"So how was my acting?" she asked. "I’ve been studying scripts."

"Passable. Barely."

"Eh? I thought it was good. How did you see through it?"

Alan shook his head.

"Too forced. It didn’t add up."

He’d personally picked Nozomi.

She’d never dated before. Two weeks together wouldn’t make her fall for him, he wasn’t that charming.

Still, her skill impressed him. If he hadn’t known better, it might have rattled him.

S-class Acting Talent, indeed. At this pace, she’d reach Level Three within six months.

Satisfied, he said, "In a few days, I’ll take you to train with a professional coach. You’ll improve faster."

"Mmm..." Nozomi nodded, then glanced at the two tickets in his hand.

"Akari Hojo’s concert is next month, right? Will training overlap?"

"You want to go that badly?" Alan slipped the tickets into his pocket.

"More important than two million yen?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Not a chance."

Then, hesitating, she added, "Could you give me the tickets anyway?"

"What for?"

"If I can’t go, I’ll sell them. Maximize the value."

Alan had no answer.

Her single-minded devotion to money was oddly reassuring.