Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 31: Entangled Hearts Beneath the Fireworks' Glow

In the bustling classroom, Akane sat surrounded by her friends, a serene smile gracing her features as she engaged in their conversation. Her calm and kind nature radiated from her, making her a cherished friend among the group.

As they chatted, her friends couldn't help but heap praises upon her. "Akane, you're incredible on that reality dating show!"

Nodding in agreement, another added, "Yeah, seriously! You handle those tricky situations with such grace and sincerity. It's like you were born for this."

Blushing slightly at her friends' compliments, Akane responded with modesty, "Thank you so much, guys. I appreciate your kind words, but it's not just me. The whole experience has been a team effort, and I've been lucky to have such wonderful people around me."

Her friend chimed in, "And let's not forget Hiroshi. He's been an incredible support on the show. I mean, it's not just luck that you two make such a great pair. You complement each other perfectly."

Akane blushed a bit more and fell silent, her gaze shifting downward. Her friend, sensing her hesitation and curiosity, leaned in and asked softly, "So, Akane, after that latest episode... are you and Hiroshi really dating?"

Akane's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of crimson as she responded to her friend's question. She fidgeted with a strand of her hair and replied with a slightly embarrassed smile, "Well, um, you know, Hiroshi and I... we haven't really thought about that yet. The latest episode was more about building a strong, friendly connection between us rather than anything romantic."

She tried to maintain her composure, her friends couldn't resist a mischievous tease.

One of them grinned and said, "Oh come on, Akane, the way you two look at each other on screen is anything but 'just friends.' And the internet seems to agree!"

Another friend chimed in, holding up her phone and showing Akane a stream of highlighted comments from the latest episode's social media discussion. "Look at this, Akane. 'Akane and Hiroshi are the real deal,' 'Their chemistry is off the charts,' 'I ship them so hard.' See, even the viewers have noticed your spark!"

Akane's embarrassment grew as her friends continued to playfully tease her. "Yeah, Akane, the majority of viewers are shipping you two like crazy. Are you sure there's nothing more going on?"

Feeling her cheeks burning with a deeper blush, Akane couldn't help but squirm in her seat. She finally mustered the courage to stand up, her eyes darting between her friends. With an adorable mixture of embarrassment and playfulness, she pouted and said, "Okay, okay, enough teasing, you guys! It's just a show, after all. Let's focus on something else now!"

Later on...
As Akane stepped out of the bustling classroom, the sounds of her friends' teasing still echoed in her mind. The gentle breeze outside provided a soothing contrast to the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling. She walked slowly, lost in thought, her footsteps carrying her away from the school building.

Her heart raced as she replayed the moments with Hiroshi on the reality dating show. The compliments from her friends, the comments from viewers, and the undeniable chemistry she shared with him on screen all weighed heavily on her mind.

As Akane continued her solitary walk, her thoughts swirled like a whirlpool in her mind. She couldn't help but smile at the idea that she and Hiroshi were the hot topic now, that they had managed to capture the audience's attention and affection. She was genuinely happy for Hiroshi, knowing that her presence on the show had certainly boosted his fame.

But amid the excitement, a nagging worry lingered. She hadn't anticipated how quickly things would escalate and how deeply their connection would be scrutinized. The direction their relationship might take had never been something she delved into when she initially thought about helping him.