102: Chapter 102: Takayama Minami's Request

"Those 'sasaeng fans' Yoko-san mentioned?"

Fujino shifted his gaze towards Okino Yoko.

"Hehe!"

A soft smile touched Okino Yoko's lips, though a faint blush betrayed her slight embarrassment.

"Well," she began, "I just suspected Minami-chan might be dealing with sasaeng fans, so when I told her about Fujino-kun, I happened to mention it... Please forgive me."

"It's no matter."

Fujino waved dismissively, a light chuckle escaping him, entirely unconcerned about Okino Yoko sharing the term 'sasaeng fan'.

"Actually, I was hoping you might help spread the word anyway."

"Eh?"

Okino Yoko looked genuinely surprised.

"Fujino-kun, are you sure it's alright for me to use the term 'sasaeng fan' you came up with?"

"Perfectly fine."

Fujino shook his head, tilting his chin slightly.

"My purpose in defining that group as 'sasaeng fans' was simply to give idols suffering their harassment a concrete way to describe them."

"But if the name 'sasaeng fan' gets out... those extremist fans might retaliate against you, Fujino-kun."

A shadow of worry crossed Okino Yoko's features.

"If it helps those idols find some peace, I don't mind retaliation. Let them try. I'd like to see what they can actually do to me."

Fujino delivered this declaration with an air of noble sacrifice, yet beneath the surface, his words held a chilling undertone.

"..."

Hearing Fujino's righteous pronouncement, both Takayama Minami and Okino Yoko were momentarily speechless.

Yet, why did his noble stance feel so... cold?

Caught in the 'intense' gaze of the two idols, Fujino suddenly felt a flicker of awkwardness.

Had they misunderstood something?

His motive was purely pragmatic – using the 'sasaeng fan' label to gain entry into the lucrative celebrity market...

"Ahem."

Fujino cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on course.

"Since Takayama-san has noticed a sasaeng fan harassing you, they must have crossed a line, correct?"

"That's right."

Takayama Minami nodded, her brow furrowing slightly.

"This person completely ransacked the cabinets and desks in my studio, and even attempted to force open my apartment door. Not only that, starting yesterday, they began making incessant harassing phone calls. All they say is 'Don't sing, don't sing,' over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and over. Nothing else."

Fujino pondered for a moment.

"Takayama-san, do you recall precisely when this harassment began?"

"About three days ago. I remember clearly because I recorded a radio show that day."

"Did you perhaps offend someone during that broadcast?"

"No, I just answered some questions from the host and played the demo tape for my new song."

With that, Takayama Minami retrieved a Sony Walkman from her bag and handed it to Fujino.

Fujino accepted the player, placing the headphones over his ears.

As the rock music pulsed, memories from his past life began to stir.

If his recollection served, the 'sasaeng fan' Takayama Minami described were, in fact, two ruthless robbers.

Their harassment had nothing to do with fandom; it centered entirely on her new song – the very demo he was listening to now.

Three days prior, during the radio show recording, the demo played at the end had been heard by chance by the two criminals.

Their sharp ears immediately caught the lyrics, which alluded to their murder of an accomplice during a robbery at Shogenji Temple the previous year.

Desperate to prevent the song's release from exposing their crime, they resorted to harassing Takayama Minami, threatening her into silence.

Their attempt to cover their tracks, however, had inadvertently escalated the situation.

Collecting his thoughts, Fujino removed the headphones. He stroked his chin, offering a calculated guess:

"The harassment started three days ago, coinciding with you playing this song on the radio show. If I'm correct, when they say 'Don't sing,' they specifically mean don't sing this song."

Hearing this, both Takayama Minami and Okino Yoko turned towards Fujino, their expressions questioning.

Seeing their confusion, Fujino elaborated,

"If someone is demanding you not sing a particular song, it suggests either a rival... or perhaps a sasaeng fan who simply dislikes your new track."

"Then what should I do?"

Takayama Minami asked, looking lost, apparently accepting Fujino's (deliberately misleading) theory.

"Simply cancel the song's release."

Fujino presented the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most direct solution.

"But I'm scheduled to perform this song at the concert next week..." Takayama Minami's brow furrowed. "And the new album's tracklist is already finalized. It's impossible to change it now."

Just as Fujino was about to press her further on canceling, a system notification chimed discretely in his mind:

"You have a new system task. Please check."

[Bodyguard Profession Task: Idol Protection Commission]

Objective: Protect TWO-MIX from kidnappers attempting to disrupt their performance.

Reward: 500,000 Yen, +50 Bodyguard Proficiency Points.

Fujino mentally reviewed the unexpected task, momentarily taken aback.

"Fujino-kun, you must have a way, right?"

At that moment, observing Fujino's 'contemplative' pause, Okino Yoko spoke with hopeful expectation.

"After all, no one understands sasaeng fans better than you."

"Hmm..."

Closing the mental system interface, Fujino hummed thoughtfully, adjusting his posture slightly, an air of profound mystery settling over him.

"There is... another option..."

"What is it?"

Takayama Minami leaned forward eagerly.

"That would be to formally commission me to investigate this matter... Once we identify the sasaeng fan orchestrating this behind the scenes, the issue will be resolved completely."

Fujino delivered the answer smoothly.

"Then... commissioning Detective Fujino to investigate... how much would that cost...?"

"Seven hundred thousand yen."

"..."

A troubled look crossed Takayama Minami's face.

Truthfully, seven hundred thousand yen was a significant amount for her at this stage.

She was primarily a singer, lacking the diverse income streams of actors...

Fujino noted her hesitation.

He cast a quick glance towards Okino Yoko, took a quiet breath, as though steeling himself to make a decision that violated his very core principles... as a detective.

"Waiving the usual surcharge for covert investigation... this commission will only be six hundred thousand yen."

Takayama Minami considered this for a heartbeat, then stood and bowed slightly to Fujino.

"Then, I leave this in your capable hands, Detective Fujino."

"It's no trouble at all."

Six hundred thousand seemed steep. But quote seven hundred, then graciously offer a 'discount' down to six hundred... makes acceptance far more likely.

People, it seems, inherently favor compromise and the appearance of a bargain.