Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 24: Akane's Heartfelt Resolve

A sense of contentment washed over Akane as she thought about Hiroshi's presence on the show. A smile crept onto her lips as she realized that amidst the whirlwind of notifications and busy schedules, having Hiroshi around provided a comforting familiarity. She reflected on how his personality had shone through on screen and how his presence seemed to bring a touch of authenticity to the chaotic environment of "LoveNow."

With a warm sigh, Akane spoke softly, almost to herself, "Having Hiroshi here... It's like having a reassuring anchor in this sea of chaos. I'm genuinely glad he's a part of this journey too. He brings a sense of ease and positivity that makes it all a bit more manageable."

Her admiration for Hiroshi's confidence and ease continued to grow as she remembered their interactions and the moments they'd shared since they first met.

As her thoughts about Hiroshi continued to fill her mind, Akane felt her face grow warm. She placed a hand over her heart, feeling its rapid beating. She realized that she had been dwelling on Hiroshi's presence and his confidence more than she had initially thought.

Blushing, Akane softly murmured to herself, "Wait, am I really thinking about Hiroshi this much? My heart is racing just from thinking about him... What's going on?" She chuckled nervously, recognizing her own feelings and how they seemed to be focused on him.

Later on...
The set for the next episode of LoveNow was ready.
Feeling a sense of camaraderie, Akane quickened her pace to join the group. She was eager to catch up with the others and perhaps share a few laughs before the filming began. However, her attention was suddenly diverted by a chorus of excited voices from across the room.

She turned her head in the direction of the voices and saw a group of girls animatedly calling out someone's name. Curious, Akane followed their gaze and realized they were calling for Hiroshi. It seemed like he had just entered the room, and his presence had caused quite a stir among the fans who were there.

Hiroshi swaggered into the room, his confident grin on full display. His eyes flicked towards Aqua, his rival, and he raised an eyebrow playfully. "Hey there Aqua," he drawled, his voice dripping with mischief. "You still keeping up with my pace or falling behind?"

Aqua, clearly caught off guard, straightened up and shot Hiroshi a competitive look. Before he could respond, Hiroshi's attention shifted, and he walked past him, heading straight for Akane. Ignoring Aqua's attempt to engage, Hiroshi leaned in towards Akane with a grin. "Hello, Akane. Ready to blast through this day like the stars we are?"

Akane's heart skipped a beat at Hiroshi's words, her blush appearing. She managed a smile and nodded, "Absolutely, Hiroshi. Let's make it a great one."

Hiroshi's confident presence didn't go unnoticed by the production team. As he walked into the room, the director approached him with a grin. "Shirotaka, you really know how to light up the room. The fans are going wild out there!"

Hiroshi laughed and ruffled his hair. "Well, you know me. Gotta give the people what they want!"

Meanwhile, Akane found herself engaged in conversation with Mem-Cho and Yuki. Mem-Cho, with her playful demeanour, shot Akane a mischievous smile. "Hey, Akane, can I ask you a slightly weird but straight-up question?"

Akane raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sure, go ahead."

Mem-Cho leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, since you know Hiroshi so well now, is he always like this? You know, all confident and charming?"

Akane chuckled and exchanged amused glances with Yuki. "Oh, you mean the whole 'confident and charming' act?" She playfully mimicked Hiroshi's swagger for a moment before continuing, "Well, let's just say Hiroshi definitely knows how to turn on the charm, especially when he's in the spotlight."