316. Catfight (1)

While my sister, who must have been thrilled that I was gone, was busy uploading Instagram posts every day and enjoying her life.

After being confined to the agency for a long time, I was finally released from that hellish dorm.

It wasn’t dirty, the rooms weren’t cramped, or noisy, none of those trivial problems existed, but.

The gloomy atmosphere, shared by everyone except Hinami, felt like it was consuming me too,

just before I went half-mad, they all signed off on it, allowing me to escape just before it was too late.

…But even so, I’ll probably be busy again with schedules soon.

I’d rather be working.

Than being confined, secretly reading hate comments, and being monitored to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid.

“Haa…, I thought I was gonna die. Right, Jia?”

“Yeah.”

After letting the other members out first, I sat in the back seat alone with Hinami and we chatted about this and that.

Of course, what she was talking about was probably how she thought she was gonna die because she couldn’t meet her brother-in-law… but I didn’t really feel like arguing about it now.

If I said anything wrong to her, she’d probably tease me about it dozens of times later.

I’d already been teased sick about it in the dorm.

…Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d quit.

Just like the other members kept squawking.

“If the unnies hadn’t whined about quitting, they would have let us go ages ago. …Honestly, would they really let us go? We’re worth too much.”

“…Yeah.”

But the agency wouldn’t just let us go quietly just because one member left.

Of course, given the circumstances, we could quit if we really pushed it, but what could a bunch of girls barely out of their teens possibly do to put up such a fight?

They knew better than anyone how much effort they’d poured into climbing this high, and they knew all too well they couldn’t live like this if they quit.

Me too… I always told myself I wanted to quit, but I couldn’t stop thinking logically.

Popularity, fame, money – who could easily quit a job where all that comes rolling in if you just work hard?

It wasn’t specifically because of my brother-in-law.

Even if he had told me to quit, I probably would have continued this job.

…Because the moment I quit, my value would disappear.

“So schedules start next week…. We have to prepare for our comeback too. I wonder if it’ll really be okay, people are so upset.”

“People who have nothing to do with us are the ones cursing anyway. They don’t listen to our music or buy our albums anyway.”

“Watch your mouth, Jia. There are so many people these days who are desperate to see us dead.”

“It’s not wrong, though.”

“Even so… It’s dangerous to speak so harshly.”

“I know. …As long as we don’t do it in front of others.”

“The Manager-nim is in the driver’s seat?”

“He’s one of ours anyway.”

“Hmm…”

But I couldn’t say I liked being an idol anymore.

I’d seen too much ugliness.

Compared to the most vile man I’d ever met in my life, the idol industry itself, riddled with malice and self-righteousness, was several times more hideous and sordid.

At least that man was honest about his desires… but the darkness of the idol world I encountered this time felt less like desire and more like excretion.

People who get more excited when someone else’s idol crashes and burns than when their own idol succeeds.

It wasn’t just specific people, even my own fans.

Seeing them constantly pick the most disgusting actions made me sick, and my true nature couldn’t handle pretending any longer.

“…We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, thank you. You worked hard.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After spewing nothing but nasty words, we quickly arrived home, and I greeted the manager, who seemed much more tight-lipped than my previous one, and got out of the car with Hinami.

Then, getting into the elevator, I didn’t bother hiding my nasty nature and stood with my leg crossed, pressing the button for the floor directly below my long-abandoned home.

As I got closer to his place, which I hadn’t seen in a while, my heart started pounding.

“…Ah, Oppa.”

“I figured you’d be here soon.”

“Ehehe…”

As soon as the elevator doors opened.

…I made eye contact with him, who was waiting for us right there, for the first time in a while.

Leaving Hinami, who rushed towards him without a care for anything else, behind, I confidently walked into the house and stepped into the living room where my sister was sitting alone.

“It’s been a while, unnie.”

“Welcome back.”

“Aren’t you being a bit cold to the landlord?”

“What are you talking about? I pay the rent on time.”

Like always… no.

After approaching my sister, who always treated me with an annoying attitude since I met him, I threw my luggage on the floor and sat down next to her on the sofa.

She definitely seemed happier without me, her skin and face looking better in many ways.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly angered by such minor changes.

…Just a little annoyed.

It’s only natural to feel bad seeing someone else living it up comfortably when you were the one suffering miserably.

“Anyway, why didn’t you go upstairs and came here instead?”

“Just because? Is there a problem with a younger sister wanting to see her older sister after a long time?”

“No problem, but you brought Hinami with you too.”

“Ask her about that yourself. Hinami would have come here anyway, even without me.”

Without bothering to hold back the irritation that kept spilling out of my mouth, I shot back my words, and my sister sharply retorted, poking and prodding me.

…Ha, I actually feel more comfortable this way.

If my sister suddenly welcomed me warmly, that would be even more unsettling.

My sister really hasn’t changed, I thought, secretly relieved.

I wish she wouldn’t fight with my brother-in-law for no reason, or let him go, and would just get along like this…

“What’s this, you two? Missed each other since you haven’t seen each other in a while?”

“Ehehe, I guess so.”

“…Shut up.”

But perhaps they didn’t like this comfortable tension, the two who had been lovey-dovey outside followed us inside and started spouting nonsense.

…Missed each other? What nonsense.

Even when chained by debt, she’d secretly badmouth her sister, and when she luckily got the upper hand, she wouldn’t hide her abusive behavior.

I might miss Hinami if I couldn’t see her for a long time, but I’d never miss my sister in my entire life.

“First, let’s unpack, and then let’s eat dinner. You must all be hungry. I’ll cook for you for the first time in a while.”

“Okay.”

…Of course.

I didn’t miss my brother-in-law at all.

In fact, I didn’t even want to see him.

It’s just that…

I had to.

If not for him,

no one else could have dug into my true nature.

**

After putting some effort into making a decent dinner for the first time in a while, while the bathtub filled, I retreated to my room alone for a bit to have some time to myself.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen them in a while, or maybe they were always like this.

Those two were far more beautiful, vibrant, and attractive than I remembered.

Of course, that’s expected for idols, but what was certain was that seeing them after so long felt completely different.

Maybe it was influenced by the fact that I recently slept with Soo-ah.

She’s pretty, but… honestly, she’s not idol-level, right?

Should I say my standards have dropped a bit thanks to that, or normalized?

-Boss

“Ugh, shit…”

While having pointless thoughts and mentally slandering the nice part-timer, as if reading my mind, Soo-ah texted me right on time.

That startled me, phew.

Of course, just because Soo-ah isn’t quite up there with them doesn’t mean she’s not hot, so I texted her back appropriately, got up from my seat and approached them sitting quietly on the sofa.

“When are you two leaving?”

“I’m staying the night?”

“…I’ll head upstairs in a bit.”

“Okay? Got it. I’m going to wash up first.”

Just because I set foot in this house didn’t guarantee I’d do that 100%.

In fact, Hinami and Jia had both stayed here briefly before leaving several times.

Of course… today wouldn’t be one of those times.

“Why are you so late?”

“The water isn’t even full yet.”

I submerged myself in the water that barely reached my thighs, caressed Haeun, who was waiting patiently for me, and carefully slid into the bathtub.

The water level rose with a whoosh when I got in, but it still didn’t cover my whole body, so I added more hot water. As I pulled her close from behind, Haeun, who had been making a slightly grumpy face, quickly smiled and turned her head to look at me intently.

“…You’re going to cheat on me again today, aren’t you?”

“If you tell me not to, I won’t.”

“You’re lying. …You’re going to do it anyway.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

If she told me not to, I wouldn’t.

It wasn’t a lie.

If Haeun cried and threw a tantrum, whining that I should only look at her, I wasn’t so cruel as to ignore that.

It’s just that… I never trained her that way.

“…Forget it. Anyway, my Master can’t be satisfied with just me, he’s a fucking perverted bastard.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“No.”

“Hmph…”

Gradually molded to my tastes.

Into a woman no one else could find, I held Haeun, who was being tamed, close.

…I waited, wondering when the bathroom door would open again.

Finally, I heard the click of the door opening, and prepared to greet her as if it were expected.

“Why are you so late, Hina…”

“It’s me.”

“…What?”

“…It’s been a while, brother-in-law.”

…Unlike what I expected.

The quiet cat climbed onto the hearth first, but