I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

“Well, fine. I’ll consider helping you out just this once. That looks like a gem worth investing in… and it’s a request from someone who came to see me after a long time.”

“Is that really okay? Honestly, I feel a bit bad about it.”

“I’m the boss, what can you do? Besides, I’m not doing this idol thing just to make money. I’ll do what I want.”

Rurika answered Raven with a slightly exhausted smile from laughing.

It seemed like she caught a glimpse of Aisha’s potential beyond just a pretty face.

With that, it felt like they had already cleared the most difficult hurdle.

Rurika’s agency was one she established herself to handle tedious tasks.

Given that the boss was a well-known fixer, it would be hard to touch her easily, no matter how bold someone was.

If someone tried to press down with authority like usual, they’d have nothing to say if they faced physical retaliation.

Even though it was a small scale, considering Rurika’s popularity, there were really no other areas she would be lacking.

In other words, for Aisha, this was truly a heaven-sent opportunity.

Who would have thought that just by requesting Raven, she’d grab a golden lifeline? Indeed, life’s path is unpredictable!

“But I have one condition.”

“A condition?”

Rurika raised a finger, as if indicating there was just one condition.

As Raven looked curious about what she was about to say, she casually responded that it was nothing much.

“I’m planning to shoot a music video for a new song, you see? Perfect timing. Can I borrow some of your kids?”

Especially, it would be pretty fun to use the one with the pink hair.

The group blinked in surprise at Rurika’s sudden statement.

A music video? Does that mean there’ll be a video flowing while a song plays?

Alice tilted her head with a confused look, as if to ask if that’s really okay.

But knowing the situation, I secretly felt sorry for Alice, who was being targeted by Rurika.

A tough road lay ahead for her.

*

Rurika’s proposal was something this side had no reason to refuse.

Isn’t it a bit unfair for us to benefit this much from just filming a video that lasts a few minutes?

Such thoughts came naturally given the situation.

However, the next day when we arrived at the filming location for Rurika’s music video early in the morning…

We were about to face the truth behind this seemingly unfair deal.

“This is….”

“Is it real?”

“Of course, it’s real! Hey, have any of you ever been on top of a fighter jet?”

“Do you think so?!”

Alice jumped from her seat, yelling with thick ear protection covering her ears.

The reason was simple. There was a plane in front of her that looked undeniably like a fighter jet.

Using a fighter jet for a music video? And not some imitation, but the real thing?

A chill of anxiety crept up Alice’s spine as she looked at Raven with a pitiful expression.

But he answered her as if he already expected this, lightly rubbing his chin.

“Did you not look up what kind of music video she shoots yesterday when you got home? Last time there were tanks and aircraft carriers too. A fighter jet is nothing.”

“Ah, no… I thought those were all CGI, how could I think they were real!”

Rurika’s music video truly flaunted a level of absurdity that defied common sense.

It featured scenes where she rode on a tank while singing or raced across a vast aircraft carrier on a bike.

The scenes were extreme to the degree that one might worry they would get seriously hurt.

David lightly cleared his throat as if explaining something he was familiar with.

“Ahem, Rurika is especially known for her powerful performances that current idols can’t imitate. Knocking over tanks, jumping off moving buses, free-falling from skyscrapers… She portrays such surreal scenes with a cute demeanor, which draws in a lot of fans enchanted by the charm from that rarity.”

“Oh, you know it well. Though there are some who can’t believe it’s all staged, I don’t tend to lie about such things. The kids really like seeing the weighty real deals come out. Of course… since this is an airport near the city, all the weapons are out, and it’s just a barrel of a fighter jet.”

Rurika shrugged lightly.

She found it ridiculous to start debating about manipulating something that just physically relied on brute strength.

However, Alice, who suddenly became the protagonist of the music video, could only pull her hair out in frustration.

She thought things were going smoothly, but who knew she would get dragged into such nonsense!

Now she would likely end up on top of a fighter jet, which must have felt unbelievably unfair!

But regardless of Alice’s reaction, Rurika, holding a tightly rolled script in one hand, patted her on the shoulder.

“Did you see the script? For this one, we’re planning to shoot a music video with a bit of a story. I needed another actor besides me. Alice, you’ll have to step up.”

“Ugh… this is really absurd….”

“And Jin, don’t forget your timing. It’s dangerous, so Yuria and Aisha can just show their faces a little.”

“Understood.”

“Sure thing.”

“…!”

Hoo!

After discussing like that in the gusty air of the airport, we all dispersed briefly to change our clothes.

Once we returned dressed accordingly to our roles in the script, the group’s gazes naturally landed on Alice, who was now shrunk down, looking awkward.

“W-wait… is this really okay? This is just a swimsuit, isn’t it?”

She usually wore a sexy kimono that showcased her thighs, but Alice’s outfit was shocking.

The top was a thin-strapped bikini with a slightly see-through jacket, and the bottom was denim hot pants that barely covered her rear.

It looked more fitting for a beach than a city.

“Looks pretty.”

“I like it!”

“Well, you guys would think that, right! Honestly!”

Perhaps because she had a violent figure where the right spots showed and the wrong spots didn’t, even Raven, who never saw her as a woman, nodded in awe.

But still, wouldn’t she be freezing? It wasn’t summer.

I looked at Alice with pity, grateful I wasn’t in that outfit.

Of course, if I wore something like that, it wouldn’t be sexy; it would be considered dangerous…

Even for a fortune, I wouldn’t want to stand in front of the camera dressed like that… Alice is really strong.

“The protagonist should feel like this. As for the other two… Oh my, how cute.”

Stopping to admire Alice’s figure, Rurika’s gaze landed exactly on me.

It was like the look of a kid who found something good in a toy store they weren’t initially interested in.

Hmm… it wasn’t that I didn’t understand why she would react that way.

Even though I still wore a mask, I wasn’t in my usual maid outfit.

My outfit was a dark-colored dress with plenty of frills… the so-called gothic lolita.

To put it simply, it was just my usual white frilled maid outfit, only in black.

From head to toe, all in black, with a large bow at the waist, complemented by a red rose as a point.

The red fox mask on my face didn’t clash but rather blended well.

Hmm, I could say it wasn’t too shabby.

“Hmm. Black goth loli with flowing white silver hair. Adding those soft shoulders and delicate legs… Oh, what should I do? I’m so curious about your face behind that mask. I really want to rip it off you. But I probably shouldn’t, right?”

“…!”

However, if there was something unexpected, it was that Rurika came a little too close as she spoke, her eyes widening in a chilling manner.

And when her fingertips lightly scratched my shoulder, I froze in place, just like a rabbit in front of a snake.

“Enough of that. You’re scaring her. If you’re going to bother someone, why not Alice?”

“Eh? But she’s too cute with the reactions. Hey, was it Yuria? If you’re interested in idols, you should talk to your older sister. Got it?”

“With the age gap, calling me older sister is out of line… Ack!”

Seeing Raven come to help me give Rurika a jab in the side, I finally collected my wits.

Seriously, this person is terrifying! I almost got eaten!

As I thought that, I hid behind Raven, who came to assist.

Talk to her if you’re interested in idols? Nope, absolutely not. Why would I?

“Alright… shall we get started? Let’s shoot what we can here first. Alice, get on top of the fighter jet.”

“Ah… ugh…”

Still, maybe because that drained her energy just once, after that, shooting the music video went smoothly without any major troubles.

The storyline was simple. The protagonist, Alice, dreams of freedom and comes to Night Haven, having an adapting adventure, which ends with her enjoying freedom on top of a flying fighter jet.

Huh? What the heck is this story? Well… a music video doesn’t need to have a deep meaning anyway.

It probably felt like they wanted to show off a fighter jet they bought with money. At least the visuals would be quite a treat.

“Ah! That last scene was really good. For a music video, what’s important is the actors, direction, and the song! If this continues, we won’t really have any issues!”

“Ah, is that so…? I’m really glad….”

“Let’s do it two more times! This time I’ll be next to you, so it’ll be fine!”

“W-wait?! Twice more…! I don’t want to get on top of the fighter jet anymore!”

Alice, who was unexpectedly chosen as the protagonist of the music video, was shooting while standing on the wing in weather like this…

But it was a sacrifice she had to make for Aisha.

Hang in there; it’ll surely turn into something worthwhile later.

In any case, we managed to wrap up shooting before the day turned dark.

Thanks to the filming for the music video, Aisha successfully got her name into Rurika’s agency.

Finally, she received an opportunity she had never had before, one she couldn’t even properly start from an even playing field.

At a point when things were somewhat winding down, Aisha blushed and expressed her gratitude.

“Really, really… thank you. I honestly didn’t expect it to go this well. I’ll never forget this help in the future.”

“Well, it’s just a job I get paid for, do I need to be thanked? If you’re grateful, promote the agency’s name when you succeed later.”

“Jin, you seem really materialistic.”

“Just being honest.”

Aisha chuckled at the sight of Raven and Alice and lightly hugged each of them, truly expressing her gratitude.

“Sniff, I really… I’m so glad….”

“Ha ha, why’s she crying?”

“Ah ha ha… it just shows how genuinely worried she was.”

Meanwhile, David was shedding tears, seemingly moved…

But in any case, the problem was amicably resolved, and that’s a good thing.

As I secretly prayed that all her future endeavors would go well while Aisha hugged me tightly.

Definitely, a sad ending isn’t great. Anything but a happy ending is the best.

“Then, I’ll be off first! See you next time!”

Aisha said that with a bright smile as she left.

She looked like she had been freed from whatever had been binding her until now. She looked so different from when I first saw her just a few days ago.

With that, one task was settled. Shall we have a light meal to celebrate today?

I quietly thought while following Raven, who suggested eating meat with the request fee we received.

I probably won’t get to see this lively atmosphere again once my part-time job ends.

I’m not sad about the farewell, but I feel like I will indeed miss this noise.