**[Yukiya's POV]**
Sitting at the bench in the courtyard. I stared at the sky, reflecting on our new client's strange request.
"How to become less popular. Huh..." I murmured to myself as I stared at the open blue sky.
Back at the clubroom, Seishiro Tanaka-kun sought our aid to become less popular.
"Eh? Wh-What do you mean by less popular?" I wanted to reaffirm, maybe I had just heard wrong. It was indeed a rather unusual request.
"You see... I have many friends, decent looks, and excel in class." Tanaka-kun began telling us his story.
*Is this guy bragging?* I thought to myself, hearing him state what many people call good traits.
Tanaka-kun's gaze sank deeper on the floor, "However, I didn't ask for people's attention." And there it is, his reason for visiting. *But I still don't get it...*
"Can you please elaborate?" I requested, but still not sure what it is he wants us to do.
Tanaka-kun proceeded to tell us the rest of his story.
"Back in the first semester, some classmates approached me. We eventually end up interacting a lot. They were good people. The cheerful and outgoing type. I didn't want to come off as rude, so I tried my best to match their energy. And from there on out, people assumed I was like them. An outgoing person. I wasn't. I am actually quite introverted."
Tanaka-kun sighed heavily, "I'm tired... Every day, I say 'good morning' to everyone, laugh at jokes I don't actually find funny, listen to problems I don't have solutions for. I'm tired of putting on this face—this friendly version of me that people expect."
...
I pondered for a solution, but nothing concrete came to mind. Sure, I could teach him my mob fu, but it only conceals your presence, not your identity.
Murmuring to myself, "This request is more complicated than I thought..."
Just then, a lock of orange hair popped into my view, blocking my vision of the sky.
"Ha-Haruka-san?!" I uttered in surprise, not expecting a person such as Haruka-san to visit our school.
Taking a step back, "How do I look?" she inquired, presenting herself in our Hokkyokusei High uniform.
"I, it looks great on you" I complemented, a little conscious by the fact i am speaking to a celebrity.
Ever since I became aware of Haruka-san's celebrity status, I'm still not sure how I should interact with her. Maybe treat her with more respect? For now, I'm trying my best to act normal around her.
"Is there something wrong? Something feels off about you today." Haruka-san commented, feeling I'm hiding something from her right now.
"N-No! It's just that we have this new client, I'm not too sure how to solve his request." I answered, half lies mixed with the truth, averting the question away from personal comfort.
"What kind of request is it?" She inquired.
"He wanted to become less popular," I answered.
Haruka-san chuckled, "Some people pay to have the opposite."
"I know, right?" I simply agreed, thinking it was indeed a strange request to make.
"But I kinda get it..." Haruka-san added, feeling a bit empathetic to Tanaka-kun's story.
"How so?" I asked, curious about what it was that she understood.
"You see, when people watch you long enough, people act like they own you." She smiled distantly, and I started to understand where she was coming from.
Haruka-san, as an idol, must have had a lot of restrictions due to the nature of her work. Living in the spotlight, putting up a face, Haruka-san needed to act a certain way when the cameras are on and people are watching.
But still... she acts differently with us than she did on TV. How could I tell? I watched a lot of her stage performances and interviews the moment I found out my friend was a celebrity. I could sense these subtle differences in her personality, like how much cheekier she is in real life and constantly teases me.
At that moment, it started to become clear to me.
*I see... So this is the answer.*
Locking eyes with Haruka-san, "I need you. Haruka-san"
"Eh?"
Haruka-san seemed flustered for a second until I elaborated that, "You hold the key to solving this request."
I began to understand that Haruka-san is just Haruka-san, a normal girl who just happens to be an idol. She must have sacrificed a lot of things in her life, that she sometimes long to be normal just like everyone. So I want her to experience normal things, like club activities and stuff, so I'm pushing all my responsibilities to the expert. *Yep, that's it! Go ahead, my friend who's an expert in PR* [As soon as the chuuni felt comfortable with the idol, he pushes all his responsibilities to her]
[The next day, after school, inside the clubroom]
We called on Seishiro Tanaka-kun to come to the clubroom to propose a solution to his complicated request.
Letting him sit down comfortably on the sofa, we pulled out a whiteboard and marker and started our presentation.
With a certain orange-haired girl wearing fake glasses and a mustache, she will lead the presentation, standing in front of the whiteboard.
"Um... Who is the suspicious-looking person?" Tanaka-kun inquired, having met a person in the room he hadn't introduced before.
News flash, it's Haruka-san wearing a disguise. I replied, "His identity is confidential."
"Haha..." Haruka-san could only laugh to herself, thinking *Do I really have to wear the mustache?* not sure why she agreed to my suggestion in the first place.
Aria-san on the corner held back her laughter *His* "Pfft", while Mocha-san smiled awkwardly, unsure what to make of the situation.
Hey, I'm just trying to be really careful on my part to protect Haruka-san's identity. If she wants to keep her identity a secret, I'll support it as someone in the same situation, living a double life, aka the hero who lives in the shadows. However, Haruka-san thought I was spicing things up, deciding to go along as this could be considered riding with the vibes.
"So your wish is to become less popular. You want to reduce how often people approach you?" Haruka-san inquired, not wanting to mistake introversion for antisocial.
Tanaka-kun nods, "That's right."
"Popularity is perception, isn't it? It's not something you can simply remove by acting differently." I questioned, posting a philosophical question, setting the stage for Haruka-san to answer.
Just as planned, "The solution is simpler than you think." Haruka-san proceeded to explain that "Popularity is a pattern. He behaves consistently in a certain way, so people react consistently to him. If you want the reactions to change, you have to break the pattern."
Tanaka-kun asked, "So...act differently?"
"Yes. But not dramatically. If you suddenly become rude, it'll cause gossip. If you isolate yourself completely, it'll just make people worry more." Haruka-san explained.
I then clasped my hands, pretending that we hadn't rehearsed this interaction before. I suggested, "Then maybe the solution is to be honest, little by little."
Haruka-san nodded, "Think of it as recalibrating expectations."
Tanaka-kun blinked. "Expectations..."
Haruka-san continued, "If you stop initiating conversations so often, people will slowly adjust. If you politely excuse yourself instead of staying to entertain everyone, they'll learn you prefer shorter interactions. If you show a bit of your quieter side, they'll make space for it."
"Not all at once," I added. "Just gradually. So no one feels shocked or confused."
"It might take time," Haruka-san continued. "People don't change their perceptions overnight."
Tanaka-kun's shoulders lowered—not in defeat, but in relief. He looked lighter, as if he'd finally admitted something to himself.
"That sounds... possible." He exhaled, and a small, tired grin crept onto Tanaka-kun's face. This time, it felt real. Not a facade, but a smile, glad that someone understood and listened.
Tanaka-kun continued, "I thought being liked meant I had to match what everyone saw in me. But maybe... I can be liked even if I'm not putting up a face. Thanks..."
Tanaka-kun exits the clubroom, seemingly satisfied with the solution we came up with.
And so here concludes Tanaka-kun's request to become less popular.
...
Mocha-san on the corner, seeing how everything fell through smoothly.
*It seems he's feeling a bit better now...* she thought to herself, feeling that confident atmosphere of her master has now come back.
Feeling her gaze, I got reminded of our talk from yesterday. And so I wanted to give an update.
"Mocha-san. About yesterday." I called out to her, then continued, "Thanks, I know what I want to do moving forward."
"? Ah, yeah. You're welcome. What are you going to do from now on?" Mocha-san inquired, curious to what conclusion I would arrive at.
I then smiled and replied, "I like to keep things casual(speech) after all."
Mocha-san glared at me as if looking at trash.
Yes, this is the conclusion I arrive at. To treat Haruka-san like any other friend. However, I didn't think Mocha-san misinterpreted what I said, thinking I indirectly approved that it was okay to keep those who have affection around me. In other words, a playboy scum.