Chapter 117: My House Is Quite Spacious, You Can Rest Here If You're Tired of Filming
"By the way, Kitagawa-san, what's going on with you? Why are you suddenly so desperate for money?"
"Huh? Senpai, you already know, right? I'm planning to cosplay, but I totally don't have enough money!"
"... Just for that?"
You better apologize to every aspiring idol out there!
However, Marin's expression turned into one of discontent. "Senpai, how can you say 'just for that'?! This is my absolute favorite cosplay! It's way more important than some model work or being an idol. It's not just 'that'!"
"What I mean is, just for this, Kitagawa-san, you shouldn't be so strapped for cash. With your dad's allowance and the money you make from modeling, plus the fact you're still starting out with cosplay and making your own costumes, it should be enough."
High-quality, full cosplay outfits can be pricey, but Shizuku's clothes weren't available on the market, Marin only needed to buy a few pieces of fabric, a wig, and some accessories to make it herself.
That wouldn't cost much.
"But I also want to buy a decent camera to take pictures. I set a budget of 100,000 yen and asked on a forum, but they recommended some Nikon DSLR or something, and it's ridiculously expensive. I can't afford it at all. I had no idea cameras could be so expensive, but it seems like using a phone really can't replicate the quality of those famous cosplayers' photos online."
K
Marin looked troubled. Shunsuke patted her on the shoulder. "The forum you visited, was it 'Card Forum'?"
"What's that?"
"It's a terrifying place where you walk in with a 50,000 yen budget and can't get out without spending at least 500,000 yen."
Marin nodded as if she suddenly understood, then shook her head. "I still don't get it."
"Forget it. If it's just for this reason, Kitagawa-san, you really shouldn't consider becoming an idol or anything like that."
"Huh~? Why not?"
"Because being a model and an idol are completely different things. If you have enough passion, that's fine, but with this half-hearted attitude, there's no way you'll make it big."
"No way." Marin puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction. "I researched what idols need to do online. I think I totally fit the bill. Actually, I think I'm perfect for being an idol—it's a talent!"
"… Fine, let's treat this as an interview. Kitagawa-san, could you please summarize what idol talents you think you have?"
"Look, idols need to be good-looking, right? I absolutely fit that criteria."
Shunsuke nodded. "Well, you've got the main point down, but that's just a necessary condition, not a sufficient one. Being good-looking alone isn't enough."
"Then there's singing, right? I love going to karaoke with my friends, and I almost always get the highest score!" Marin proudly puffed out her ample chest.
"That... I guess that's passable."
After all, idols aren't professional singers. Having karaoke champion-level skills is good enough, as long as they can rely on cuteness, charm, and a sense of justice later on.
Wait, are those three things basically the same?
"And also, idols need stamina, right? I definitely won't fall behind in that regard. I have great stamina, and I exercise every day!"
"...Alright, I'll give you a pass on that too."
Shunsuke could sense that the tide was shifting.
"Then there's an idol's personality. Not to brag, but as a cheerful and energetic girl, I'm the very definition of what a proper idol should be."
"That's true… Although you really don't need to keep adding the 'beautiful girl' descriptor in moments like this."
"And finally, the most important thing! I'm an otaku! Idols have the most fans among otaku, right? Even if they're unkempt, overweight types who don't bathe regularly, I'd never look down on them. Otaku are my comrades, and I know they'd all cheer me on!"
—Wait a minute. Could Kitagawa really have some serious talent for being an idol? A talent even stronger than her uncertain potential as a star?
Shunsuke was genuinely shaken this time.
This was a bona fide otaku idol.
Not a persona, not an act—this was a real gyaru beauty who genuinely loved anime, even played eroge, and could chat with you about the hottest shows and the latest visual novels.
She could even cosplay the characters for you. Where else but the 2D world could you find such a rare gem?
With an idol like this, wouldn't you otaku feel ashamed if you didn't pour all your savings into handshake tickets for her?
—Wait, handshake tickets?!
Just as Shunsuke thought he'd grasped the key point, Marin suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth. Her expression turned startled, almost as if she had scared herself.
In a hushed voice, she exclaimed, "Oh no… I'm too strong. I'm way too strong. Could I actually be a natural-born idol? If I don't officially debut, wouldn't that be a permanent loss for the idol industry? Just like a protagonist in a manga!"
"That's enough!"
Shunsuke delivered a swift karate chop to snap her out of it.
"Interview over. You didn't pass."
"Wait, how did you come to that conclusion?" Marin looked utterly incredulous. "From the way this was going, shouldn't you be clinging to my legs and begging me to sign a contract with you?"
"Save your dreaming for bedtime, Kitagawa-san. You're not aiming to be a school idol, right? You want to debut as a traditional idol."
"School idol? What's that? Do they make money?"
As expected from someone who has long seen through the hypocrisy of capitalists—a truly sharp and to-the-point observation.
"Most of them don't make a single yen."
"Then of course I'd debut as a traditional idol!"
"And that's why you've failed."
"Eh?" Marin looked confused. "Am I just too dumb? Why can't I make sense of the connection here?"
Shunsuke placed his hands on her shoulders with a serious expression. "Unlike school idols, traditional idols have to sell handshake tickets. Do you know what those are?"
Marin swallowed nervously. "What… what's wrong with handshake tickets?"
"I can see you really don't understand." Shunsuke shook his head. "At handshake events, it's a hallmark of popular idols to end up shaking hands with people whose hands are covered in… beep."
Marin's face turned pale. Now this was the proper reaction. This was the first—and biggest—hurdle that idols must overcome.
And those who go as far as smearing beep on their hands before attending a handshake event aren't ordinary otaku anymore—they're harassers.
Such people deserve nothing less than a swift and heavy counterpunch!
But since idols rely on this kind of work to make a living, there really hasn't been any case of someone being dealt a heavy punch for it.
"So, if you want a camera for your photos, just borrow mine. No, I should say, you must borrow mine. Come over to my place—it's pretty spacious. If you get tired from shooting, you can even crash here."
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