Chapter 6

# Chapter Six — "A Wolf in Idol's Clothing"

### 6.1 Junko

Getting backstage was easy. Trivial, really. Something I've learned - which holds true more often than not in life - is that if you act like you're supposed to be somewhere, people tend to assume that you are, indeed, meant to be there. That's how, while my friends were held up by the arrival of some of Dam-Bi's friends, I was able to walk straight past the unusually high security and find a place to loiter backstage. One of the venue's staff was even helpful enough to point me in the direction of the changing rooms, thanks to a confident smile and a flash of my I MY ME ID.

    Why had I snuck off on my own like this?

    …

    I'm still a little bit unclear on that myself.

    I know that I want to be here for my best friend. That is, I assume, the reason why she wanted me here with her without putting me through the theatrics or competition the rest of the girls fought through. But everyone else was one hundred percent on board with her entire plan, and I couldn't help but think that things may go better with a cheering section than with my own… hesitance. I suppose I also don't know exactly how I'd react if Rinko got hurt. Everything has gone her way so far… Everything *always* goes her way… But this is like a kid trying to throw a toy rocket to the moon. No matter how badly she wants it, there's just no way it's going to happen. Not even for Rinko. So, I figured I would help out in the best way I can. By being mysterious.

    *She has to do this on her own. It's… the only way she'll learn.*

    Here, hidden behind the door of a changing room, I should still be able to witness what happens. If I need to - if she really needs me - I'll be ready to step in and do… something. But otherwise, it's up to her.

    *At least this way I won't be letting her down too…*

    I was starting to get cold feet when I saw her walk past my hiding spot behind a cracked door. Rinko stopped in front of the changing room with a sign reading "Eimi Inagawa" in large print taped to the door. It looked handmade, likely a small token of affection from a member of the venue's staff, and was decorated with multicolored hearts and stars. Rinko stood motionless for a few seconds as she brushed her hair behind her ear nervously. Finally, she collected herself and motioned to knock on the door. Before her hand even made contact it swung open quickly. My roommate jumped backwards in surprise, suddenly face to face with a rather confused-looking star idol.

    "Oh? How did you get back here? Are you a fan?" Eimi smiled, of course, and spoke in the same singsong tone as she had on stage. Rinko was shaking, but she managed to hold out her company badge. "Oh, I see, you're a fellow idol! But, what are you doing back here?"

    "I–I… Um…" Rinko was completely taken aback. She looked even more starstruck than she had that afternoon looking at Eimi's file - even more than Chiyo whenever Eimi is mentioned - but she managed to pull herself together at least enough to speak. "I actually need to talk to you!"

    "Oh? So you're an idol and a fan? Did you want a picture, maybe an autograph? Why not both, for a fellow idol. I have a camera in my changing room, give me a moment."

    Rinko waited patiently, but I could tell from the color in her cheeks that she was still completely charmed by the blonde idol. Eimi returned, having only taken a few moments to fetch the instant camera.

    "Okay, say ***Eimi!***" She spoke sweetly as she struck a pose, one hand hovering behind Rinko's back to fake a hug while the other flashed a peace sign in front of them. The picture printed slowly, and Rinko stared at it dumbfounded. "I still gotta change, so come back in ten minutes and I'll give you the picture!"

    The door slammed in Rinko's face, locking behind Eimi with a loud click. Rinko was so awestruck that she simply stood in front of the door for the full ten agonizing minutes, waiting for Eimi to reemerge. I had to suppress a laugh as I realized how ridiculous we would look to an onlooker. Me, standing here quietly watching Rinko stand there quietly, waiting for Eimi to emerge from her dressing room. When the door reopened it was as quickly as before, but this time Rinko had stood back far enough as to avoid any undue closeness.

    "Your photo finished developing and I signed it back in my room! I even wrote your name on it!" Eimi quickly threw her hand out, holding the picture out to Rinko, who grasped it in both hands. She read the autograph out loud. '*Thanks for coming, Ringo! Love, Eimi Inagawa!'* Despite the fact that she had misremembered her name, Rinko was practically shaking with elation.

    "Thank you so much, I'll cherish this forever!"

    "I'm glad to have such a cute fan as you! Bye-bye!" Eimi spoke quickly, and began to close the door again.

    "Wait!" Rinko yelled, grabbing onto the door. "I need to ask you something!"

    "And what else is it that you could *possibly* need?" Though her voice remained sweet, something was very terse in Eimi's demeanor.

    "I'm starting an idol group with my producer, Lina Fujimura. You probably know her. We're recruiting idols and… we'dlovetohaveyouonourteam!"

    Eimi started laughing.

    *Hysterically* laughing.

    Raucous, ridiculous laughter you seldom hear outside of soap operas and TV dramas.

    Rinko started to giggle nervously, probably thinking this was a good sign. My heart caught in my throat at what I could clearly see was coming.

    The star idol's laughter cut off sharply and her carefully rehearsed smile morphed into an intense glare. The hallway was deathly quiet for a long pause, during which none of us twitched even a single muscle.

    "Is that *really* why you came all the way back here? To bug me to join your little group?!" Her laughing resumed, piercing and annoying. Rinko's usual happy expression turned to confusion as she nervously glanced around. Eimi had seemed so kind a moment ago, but the energy she previously projected had completely disappeared. "How pathetic. I mean, at least you have good taste, but really? You thought I would join your group? How *annoying*. You really need to learn to stay in your own playground, kid. If you want some advice from a pro… Give. Up. Now. You don't have the looks to be an idol. My producer manages boys prettier than you! Plus the sound of your voice is literally grating my ears. Why not go home to your mommy and daddy?"

    The door slammed shut amidst more cruel laughter, then Eimi briskly walked down the hall, laughing harder as she went to make her mockery last as long as possible. Rinko's eyes opened wide as the girl neared the end of the hallway. I was sure she was going to break out into tears, but she started… laughing. Slowly and softly at first, then in a full nervous giggle.

    "Eimi, I always knew you'd be a bit of a comedian! That was even funnier than the skits you do on stage! You really had me going!" Her panicked laughter died down as the blonde gave her an ice cold glare.

    "So, ya' think I'm joking, huh?" She ran back toward us and slammed her arm against the wall behind Rinko with a dull thud, trapping her closely. "Look here, I don't have time for you and your little amateur friends. Go find someone else to play with. I'm super successful as it is and I don't need to join some dumb idol group to prop myself up, especially with a nobody like you in charge."

    Rinko's expression turned to pure terror, as she was finally in a situation she couldn't spin for the positive and didn't know what to do. My nails dug painfully into my palms and my wrists itched. I didn't know how bad things would have to get before I got involved, but parts of me were fairly sure that that point was *extremely* close.

    "I–I mean… I can…" Rinko was motionless, her hands drawn up to her chest, holding tightly to the picture she was still trying hard not to crumple.

    "Now you can't even *talk*? Keep stuttering, kid. I gotta go, so leave me alone, will ya?" Eimi slowly dropped her hand from the wall, letting it hang at her side. Rinko remained frozen where she stood except for her eyes, which followed the glittering yellow idol as she made her way toward the exit. She looked sadder than I had ever seen her, and I'd seen her when her parents…

    I've seen Rinko when she was *very* sad.

    I knew that I had to do *something*. Staying here, hidden from everyone, couldn't possibly do any good. I should have revealed myself to Rinko. Told her that I'd seen how hard she tried, and how awful Eimi was, and tried to make her feel better. Maybe gave her a long, warm hug. I *should* have done all of that, instead of sneaking out as soon as she looked away and tailing my new least favorite idol.

    It was near the backstage exit that Eimi came back into clear view. She looked haughty. Angry, like she was trying too hard to be intimidating. If I were trying to draw an evil villainess for a manga, Eimi Inagawa right now was precisely what she would look like. Arrogant, bottle-blonde, and with annoyingly huge…

    Her smile was still so similar to the one she had worn on stage, yet somehow different and twisted. She paused, digging around in her bag, only to look frustrated and turn back around, walking right toward me. Her frightening expression quickly flipped back to a happy, energetic one.

    "Hiya! Hope you're having a good night!" She spoke, yet again, with the same energy she had had on stage. I lifted my eyes and looked at her squarely, wearing a rather neutral expression.

    "Sorry, who are you?"

    "Oh, you don't know? You must not have been here for my performance! I'm Ei! Mi! Inagawa! Superstar idol! I hope you'll support me!"

    "Inagawa, huh? Makes sense… So you act all tough and mean, even to the people here who adore you. So what, you're Yakuza? Or just a run of the mill bully?"

    The girl froze. She tried her best to maintain her nice expression, but she had a look I hadn't seen her wear yet: panic. Her face was practically turning red, and not in a cutesy idol way.

    "I-I don't know what you're talking about! I'm super polite to all of my fans!" She turned away from me, pacing directly towards the exit, whatever she had turned to retrieve evidently no longer important.

    "It makes sense. With your attitude, the extra bodyguards outside, and the way you were talking to my Rinko. Luckily, I got it all on tape. I'm sure your fans are gonna love seeing the *real* Ei! Mi! Inagawa-kai!."

    Now, I'm not exactly sure that this would work, but I'm thinking on my feet. If she had exercised even an ounce of politeness - listening to Rinko's pitch and turning her down nicely - then I wouldn't have had to intervene at all. Rinko would have been sad - that much was unpreventable - but no more than any time she doesn't get her way. Instead though, this mean girl chose to be a bully, and there's only one way to deal with bullies…

    "If you don't get out of here, I'm gonna call security and have you forcefully removed. I'll make sure they destroy anything you have on you! Are you sure you don't wanna delete it right now?" She was stern and direct, making sure that every word came across clearly.

    I just smiled at her, calmly and serenely, in my best imitation of one of my new group mates.

    "You're not very smart, are you? It's already backed up to the cloud, so taking my phone won't do a-"

    "Eimi, please wait!" A familiar voice carried through the hallway. Rinko barreled around the corner, stopping inches from bowling straight into both Eimi and I. She looked perplexed at the sight of both of us, but shook it off and drew herself up, puffing out her slight chest. "Eimi Inagawa! I know I wasn't able to tonight… but I'm gonna convince you somehow! Just you wait!"

    Eimi simply rolled her eyes at us.

    "Pfft, as if!" She gave me one final glare as I just kept smiling, then walked out of the building, turning at the exit to stick her tongue out at us childishly. Rinko looked at me quizzically, then shrugged her shoulders.

    "Do you think she'll change her mind?" She looked desperate, hoping to get some sort of positive answer out of the evening. All I could do was return her shrug.

    "We'll see, Rinko…"

    Out in front of the venue, we found a nervous looking Dam-Bi waiting for us with a typical looking Megumi.

    "H–How did it go, Hanarin?"

    "It went well, I think." Rinko looked down at the picture of her and Eimi. "We'll get her! She may not have joined today, but who knows what tomorrow holds for us!"

    She began skipping back toward the I MY ME building, not even looking to see if we were following her, alone in her own little world. Dam-Bi and Megumi looked to me for elaboration, but I just shook my head. We all walked back home together in near complete silence, letting Rinko guide our way like a shooting star.

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