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nAsako’s eyes snapped open, awareness coming back in a flash.

nAn unfamiliar ceiling. Slightly industrial, like an office building. Despite that, she was laying on a bed, tucked in beneath a silk quilt. From somewhere nearby, the faint rays of sunlight filtered in. Early morning.

nA faint rush of panic swept through her chest.

nDid she get captured after all? Did her father decide to not just kill her but humiliate her until she begged for death?

nAsako’s memories were still hazy, so she couldn’t be certain. Not only that, but her body felt heavy and her arms were numb.

nDid she get drugged? Was her body fine?

nA swelling panic.

nRealizing that, Asako let out a long sigh and then calmed herself down.

nIt didn’t matter. Even if they had done unspeakable things to her body while she was unconscious, she was alive. And then the first thing she had to do was-

nA faint ‘ding’ in the distance. The chime of an elevator.

nAsako’s eyes widened and she turned her body, trying to get out of the bed. But it wouldn’t move. Her limbs weren’t responding.

nFootsteps coming from the distance.

nAsako strained, trying to force her body up.

n‘Come on, come on…!’

nShe took deep breaths, trying to get more oxygen into her body to get rid of the lingering fatigue from suddenly waking up. And with each breath, she felt some more sensation come back into her body. Enough to where she could start moving her head and look at her surroundings.

nLike she thought, it was an office building. But it was strange.

nThere were a few windows showing the Tokyo cityscape, but there were also entire walls lined with what looked like a monitor.

nThen… an observation room? No, was this one of ‘those’ places? A recording booth for those sick bastards?

nAnd did she…?

n‘Calm down.’

nShe could think about that later.

nThe footsteps were approaching. And from what Asako could see and hear, they seemed to be coming from around the hallway at the opposite corner of her bed.

nFrom the windows, Asako appeared to be on the top floor of a building, so escaping that way didn’t seem to be an option.

nHide? No, there was a desk and a computer, as well as another bed, but hiding wouldn’t work. Too conspicuous.

nThe footsteps started to round the corner.

nAsako quickly leaned back and closed her eyes, calming her breathing. If there wasn’t a chance to hide or run, then she had to make one. Quiet and slow breaths. With those, she felt control over her body return, the fatigue and sleep paralysis from waking up so suddenly fading away.

nThe footsteps drew near, heading towards the bed.

nAsako’s heart pounded, but she kept waiting.

nA presence arrived at the side of the bed and reached out to Asako.

nThen she moved.

nAsako tossed the quilt at the presence and then grabbed the bed with her left arm, twisting her waist to throw a kick by using the bed frame as support.

nOr that was what she tried to do.

nBut…

nA crimson blur.

nThe quilt that should have flown to cover the presence instantly fell down, almost like it was a steel sheet, and pinned Asako to the bed.

nNo, it wasn’t the sheet.

nA breath-taking woman with flowing red hair leaned over Asako, pinning her down with a knee on her stomach and a hand over her arms.

nAsako froze.

nThe woman’s eyes flashed red… or so it appeared. But as Asako stared, she realized that they were really a light orange color.

nThey were also narrowed in irritation.

nSeeing that caused Asako to snap out of her daze from the woman’s beauty and narrow her eyes as well. “Who the hell are you?”

nThe woman stared at Asako for a few moments and let out a long sigh. “Why must Father always pick up women with excessive personalities?” She shook her head and then stepped back.

nFather? Picked up?

nAsako blinked and closed her eyes to think. When she did, she recalled the events of last night.

nThat bastard of a father, ordering her death. Fighting her way out but ending up on the verge of death in that alleyway.

nBeing saved by a suave and attractive man in a gray blazer…

nAh.

nAsako flushed in embarrassment.

n“Are your memories in order now, Miss Seiryuu?”

nThe woman’s voice echoed, polite and professional, as if the previous events didn’t occur.

nOf course, when Asako opened her eyes to look at the crimson-haired woman, she was giving Asako an exasperated expression.

nAsako coughed. “Sorry.”

n“Mm. So long as you understand your situation.” The woman walked over and handed Asako a bundle of clothes. “Here. Since you have recovered well enough to stage an ambush, I presume you can change yourself?”

n“I can.” Asako nodded and then got out of the bed, taking the bundle of clothes. As she did, she realized that she was naked… but also that her wounds had been dressed.

nAnd there were a lot of wounds.

nIntricate stitches lined her entire left and right arm. Not only that, but her legs too.

nYet Asako didn’t feel any pulling or stretching as she moved. Even during her sudden ambush, her body had moved with ease, as if there weren’t any stitches at all.

nJust what kind of godly surgeon operated on her…?

n“If you are concerned about your appearance, I assure you that the wounds will heal as if they never occurred.”

nAsako blinked and looked up at the crimson-haired woman. “You-“

n“Miss Beta. That is what you will call me.”

nAsako blinked again and then frowned, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve got some lip, giving me orders.”

nBeta tilted her head. “And you have some gall, talking to me in that tone when I pieced back together your fractured right arm and stitched your wounds.”

nAsako froze. “Then you’re the person who-“

n“Performed the surgeries to ensure you did not become a cripple for the rest of your life with the reckless activities you performed the other night, yes.”

nThe woman… Miss Beta didn’t appear to be lying. But then…

nBeta sighed. “I do not have the time to waste on explaining, so here.” She tossed a stapled stack of papers onto the bed along with a pen and said, “Read that. Contemplate your life. Sign it. And then I will return in an hour to prepare you for your new job.”

nBefore Ayako could respond, Beta started walking away, muttering under her breath. “I still need to prepare the thumbnail and overlay for Rin’s gaming stream today. Then there is Eldest Sister’s vocal lessons and debut material to prepare…” Her voice trailed off, becoming inaudible as she headed towards the elevator.

n“H-Hold on!” Asako glanced at the papers and then back at Beta. “What do you mean new job?!”

nBeta paused and glanced back. “You owe my father your life twice over now, and you are actively being hunted.” She slowly turned around, crossing her arms. “Furthermore, you caused severe mental anguish to my beloved Eldest Sister. My father may see a use for you, but I frankly do not.”

nShe stepped forward, tilting her head. “So tell me. Would you rather have a job that keeps you safe as well as repays the debt you owe twice over? Or would you rather I collect on it in my father’s stead and explain later how you passed away from your wounds?”

nAsako froze.

nWas she imagining things?

nAs Beta stared at her, the crimson-haired woman’s eyes seemed to turn an enchanting shade of blue. A color that threatened to draw Asako in if she let her guard down- No, if she gave the wrong answer.

nAsako shook her head. “N-No, Miss Beta. I’ll take the job.”

nBeta smiled and clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! Then please do read the papers so that you are properly prepared for your duties.”

nAnd with that, she left.

nAsako stared off into space, feeling like she just escaped death yet again. And then she sighed and picked up the stack of papers.

n“Might as well do what she says… Hm?”

nAsako blinked, rubbing her eyes. “…I must be seeing things.”

nShe had to be.

nAfter all, there was no way that her new job was supposed to be a virtual idol.

nRight?

n—–AI|IA—–

nJohn sat down on his gaming chair and smirked. “I’m a genius.”

nA giant television lined the entire wall of the basement floor. Multiple display adapter cables ran alongside it, connecting capture cards, various game consoles, and a sleek black tower PC.

nA standing desk that could raise and fall on a whim, with a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as various controllers tucked into a drawer on the side.

nOff to the left, within arm’s reach, a mini-fridge stocked with every drink imaginable, rotating infinitely through a formation that connected with John’s Heavenly Realm.

nTo the right, also in arm’s reach, there was a microwave with buttons set to materialize whatever food he wanted at the perfect temperature.

nIn short, the ultimate man cave- Er, gaming setup.

nWhat made it even better was that he didn’t have to use the bathroom since he was a transcendent!

nBut not only that…

nJohn snapped his fingers, turning on the television set.

nCameras and sensors in the corners of the floor flared to life, quickly scanning everything in. And then-

n“Mister Titor.” John smirked, leaning forward on his desk. “Shall we play a game?”

nIn the monitor, an Anime male character with slicked back black hair and a white lab coat stared back, a cocky grin on his face. “I don’t know, Mister Smith. Do you think the world can handle our speed tech?”

nJohn shrugged. “We’ll find out. So do you want me to pick the first game?”

n“Go for it, Mister Smith.” The man in the television walked back, revealing a room that mirrored John’s, but was filled with various machinery instead of gaming equipment. The office that had been briefly visible the promotion video before Hana Homura’s debut.

n“Great.” John smiled. “Then…” He checked his phone and said, “Rin’s scheduled to stream in a few hours, so we shouldn’t pick something too long. And since it’s your first stream, Mister Titor, how about something on brand? Well, ‘off-brand’ for me, but fitting for you.”

nHe snapped his fingers, causing Titor’s video to shrink, moving to the top right corner. And then a game intro started to play. The sounds of horse hooves, followed by a piano that was swiftly joined by strings.

n“Hoh?” Titor raised his hand, materializing a gray ‘M’ shaped controller. “Challenge accepted.”

n“Then I’ll leave you to it, ‘John.'”

nThe man in the screen waved and said, “Good luck with the plan, John.”

n_________

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