Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 8: Unexpected Encounters and Sinister Intrigues

As the final school bell rang, the students poured out of the building, laughing and chatting about their plans for the evening. Among them was Hiroshi. As he walked with his smartphone in hand, he scrolled through his social media feed, catching up on the latest news and updates.

Just as he was about to close the app, a familiar face caught his attention. It was Aqua, in a clip from a television show called "Sweet Today". Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the unexpected discovery. He tapped on the video to watch it, his mind buzzing with curiosity.

In the episode, Aqua played a supporting character, interacting with the main cast. Hiroshi chuckled to himself, amused by Aqua's on-screen presence. However, being the perceptive guy he was, Hiroshi knew there had to be more to this story than a simple acting gig.

"Mmm, Aqua, my friend," He mused, tapping his chin with a wry smile. "What mischief have you gotten yourself into now?"

He began pondering the possible reasons behind Aqua's appearance on the show. One theory that crossed his mind was that Aqua might have taken up acting as a means to achieve something. While plausible, Hiroshi thought it seemed out of character for his friend, who wasn't the type to take on the spotlight.

"What could have drawn him there?" Hiroshi wondered aloud, a smirk forming on his lips. "There must have been something or someone that piqued his interest."

As Hiroshi continued musing about Aqua's acting stint, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind him. Before he could react, a collision sent his phone flying from his hand, crashing onto the pavement. Annoyed, he turned around to confront the person responsibly, only to see a girl frantically gathering her belongings from the ground.

"You should watch where you're going!" Hiroshi scolded, his frustration evident in his voice.
"And watch out for other people's things too!"

The girl, with red hair and a look of panic on her face, looked up at Hiroshi. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you there. I'm in a hurry," she apologized, her voice filled with urgency.

Hiroshi's irritation didn't subside.
But being the mischievous guy he was, he couldn't resist the urge to tease this girl.
"Well, maybe if you weren't in such a rush, you could pay attention to your surroundings. It's not my fault you're so careless."

The girl's expression quickly shifted from remorse to indignation. "Excuse me? Who are you to lecture me? And for your information, I have a good reason to be in a hurry!"

Rolling his eyes, Hiroshi retorted, "Oh, I'm sure your reason is very important. You're probably just late for a date or something, Fun Size girl."

The girl's face flushed with anger. "Actually I am meeting someone after school, and it's none of your business! And by the way, I'm not short! You're just too tall!"

Hiroshi couldn't help but chuckle at her fiery response. "Oh, so you're sensitive about your height? Shorty!"

Infuriated, the girl clenched her fists. "How dare you! You're nothing but an arrogant giant!"

The two stood face to face, exchanging heated words and snarky comebacks, completely caught up in their impromptu quarrel. Passersby looked on, some amused by the spectacle, while others shook their heads at the unnecessary commotion.

As Hiroshi and the girl continued their heated exchange, Hiroshi's irritation began to subside, replaced by a realization that made him smirk even wider. He couldn't help but connect the dots, recognizing her as the main girl from the television show Aqua had acted in.

"You know what, I think I know who you are," Hiroshi said, his tone now laced with amusement. "Kana Arima, right? The star of that drama Aqua appeared in."