Chapter 175 A choice that leaves no doubt
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Is it because of her leg?”
”I’ll explain.”
According to Sasahira, the manager, Yuna’s agency runs a training program for girls who dream of becoming idols. Naturally, it costs money to participate. But for those who catch the eye of the agency president or scouts, there’s a different path—one where the agency sponsors them directly.
Yuna, now seventeen, had been selected when she was just twelve. Since then, she had been training continuously under the program. Even before she gained any recognition, she worked hard to promote herself—at her own expense. Or rather, expenses the agency covered on her behalf.
It was an ongoing process to build her image and visibility.
Haruto understood immediately.
Even in ordinary companies, some presidents lend money to employees, claiming it’s to support them through hard times. But in truth, it’s often just a way to keep them tied down—another form of golden handcuffs.
He wasn’t sure what the agency’s true motives were, but it was clear: Yuna had been bound tightly to them for a long time.
”But… if she became popular, wouldn’t her income go up too?”
”Even after she started gaining attention, her salary wasn’t much higher than an average office worker’s,” Sasahira said. “It only started to rise shortly before her injury. But for the past year, she’s barely been able to work.”
(That reminds me… in my past life, I heard that comedians get paid monthly. Is the entertainment industry like that across the board?)
Even while she was inactive, Yuna couldn’t get by on savings alone. She had to borrow again from the agency—just to survive. All the while hoping she’d recover, and return to who she used to be.
”Because of her injury, she can’t handle the intense dancing anymore. That’s why she had to leave the group. But still—how does that lead to talks of becoming an AV actress? Aren’t there other paths?”
”…That was part of the promise we made,” Sasahira said quietly.
”Promise?”
”…To wait for a year.”
After her surgery, she was told recovery would take about a year. During that time, she’d need living expenses, and the agency promised to hold her spot in the group. But holding a space open for a whole year wasn’t something the agency could do lightly—especially when they wanted to bring in new members.
If she couldn’t come back after that year, then she would pay the price. As compensation, she agreed to debut in adult films.
That had been the deal from the start.
Yuna’s wish was simple: recover from her injury, and return to the group she belonged to. But her body didn’t heal the way she’d hoped. The pain lingered. Her movements weren’t the same. In the end, the agency decided she couldn’t return.
And so, the promise would be fulfilled.
”As I said before… they told her from the start that she might not recover. So why would she agree to something like that? Why make that kind of promise?! You don’t know anything!!”
”I finally became the idol I always dreamed of being since I was a kid! I knew the risks! I didn’t need anyone to remind me! But even so… you can’t just give up on a dream that easily!”
”……”
”Yuna… I’m sorry, doctor. But in the world of idols, there are always replacements. There’s always someone ready to take your place.”
”…I didn’t know the full story. I’m sorry.”
Even with memories of a past life, there are things I’ll never understand unless I live through them myself.
I don’t really know what the idol world is like. But even so… I think I can understand what it means to chase a dream with everything you have.
Whether it’s returning to the stage or stepping into another role…
If it’s a dream she staked everything on—
Then maybe, to her, there was never any choice at all.
Notes:
• Yuna – Female. A famous idol. She has well-defined features and is described as idol-like in appearance. She is a member of a popular idol group known for intense dance and singing performances. She is considering an AV job, which is unusual for a current popular idol. Her relationship with Haruto is that of a customer seeking assistance.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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