Chapter Text
It was a little odd, now that Haruka’s thinking about it.
Usually, when Mayu called team meetings like these it’d include, well, the whole team. It was definitely weird when she opened the door to her manager’s office and only saw Minori sitting there.
“What’s going on?” Kiritani had asked, noticing the distinct lack of management, Mayu’s usual pink swivel chair empty.
“Oh, Haruka!” Minori breathed out with relief, “oh, thank goodness, you got called here too? I thought for sure I was in trouble.”
Haruka smiled a bit, a quirk in the corner of her mouth, “Minori, what could you possibly have done to get in trouble? You’re the best behaved out of all of us.”
Minori’s posture relaxed, her shoulders slumping out of their tied up position.
Haruka’s eyes darted around the room some more. Scattered papers and folders across Mayu’s desk, one half-full iced coffee, which had become fully melted, little droplets of condensation dripping down the side being the only indicator it was ever an iced drink, while another lies on the floor near the trashcan, completely finished. The usual. Haruka couldn’t see what’s on it, but she could see the light illuminating from Mayu’s computer, indicating it’s on.
“What’s this meeting for? And, where is Mayu?” Haruka finally asked, after a brief silence.
Hanasato shrugged, “I dunno, she never said. She left after I got here, just said she needed to grab something.”
“You-“ at this moment the door swung back open, interrupting Haruka.
There stood Mayu, a fresh batch of paperwork in her hands, a grin on her face, and a new iced coffee.
During a previous meeting Minori once mentioned that all that coffee could not possibly be good for their manager, but Airi had rebutted that Mayu doesn’t even finish the majority of them.
“There you are, Haruka!” Mayu beamed, shrugging her shoulder as to get her hair out of her face.
“I was about to say the same thing to you, Mayu.”
“Ah, sorry,” Mayu laughs, a bit awkwardly, “Didn’t mean to keep you both waiting. Take a seat, Haruka.” Mayu settled in her own chair, before gesturing for Kiritani to sit.
Haruka adjusted the strap of her bag, before sitting down next to Minori.
Mayu laid the paperwork down amongst the rest of them, reading over them briefly, “I’ll just straight to it, then” she rests her chin on her hands, “your numbers have been down by ten percent in the last three months.”
Haruka had the suspicion that this meeting would be about their numbers; last month, they’d dropped the top ten.
“Now, numbers aren’t everything. Your songs, your lives, your shows—they’re all still getting the same raving reviews as before! But,” she drawls, gauging the idols in front of her, “we’re losing relevance. Your fans are, to put it kindly, bored.”
Haruka’s eyes flickered over to Minori upon their own volition, and she notes how she’s got that same look on her face she would get when they were kids, when they hadn’t made it yet. That look of pure determination.
“But!” Mayu raised a finger, “I’ve got a solution!”
Haruka thought back to when Mayu walked into the office, and remembers that cheeky grin she’d had.
She narrowed her eyes, “what are you planning?”
Mayu blinked, like she’d been caught before she even got the chance to set out her trap, “what? Nothing! Nothing. Well, something.” She’d adverted her eyes, palming the back of her neck.
“I just think what the fans want is… a little more action, you know? They want something they can all chat about, something new, something fresh!”
Minori piped up, “like what?”
Haruka was curious too. They’ve done a lot of things for More More Jump. What could be new and fresh?
“Well… like, um, romance?” Mayu had squeaked a bit at the end, like she knew she was treading on thin ice.
There’s a long beat of silence.
Minori and Haruka exchange a look.
They both spoke up at the same time.
Haruka with, “I’m sorry, what?” And Minori over her, “What?!”
Mayu’s voice rises in pitch, cracking a bit, “Just-Just! Think about it!” She waved her hands, “I mean, what do fans love more than a good ol’ idol romance? It’s not like it would be for real, you’d both just be pretending!”
“Wait, wait, what? Hang on, you want me and Minori to…?”
Minori had gone beet red.
“What? I mean, the majority of your fans already think you’re dating. What harm comes if you just say you are? And with your new album, it’ll definitely be enough to bring you to the top ten. Hell, I’d reckon I could bring you back to number one with this! And, the fans will go absolutely crazy for it!”
Haruka’s reminded of just how much a More More Jump fan Mayu really is. She does own just about every bit of merch one can obtain, and covers every water bottle and electronic she owns in a plethora of MMJ stickers (perks of the job, owning that many stickers). She wouldn’t steer them wrong. She’s a fan, she would know what the fans want…
“I mean… It would definitely… stir the pot, I guess.”
Minori whipped her head up, “what? You’re agreeing to this? There’s no way! this is crazy, Haruka!”
Mayu answered, “Come on, the fans crave the love-dovey cuteness of you two, Minori! Just look at how well your love songs do. They’ll go crazy for this!”
Minori dipped her head back down like she’s been wounded, covering her face with her hands, “oh, my god.”
Haruka wondered if Mayu has always kept the office this warm.
“Look, it’s totally up to you guys,” Mayu leaned back in her chair, as if she were backing off, “just a totally random idea I got,” she whispered this next part under her breath, “ No ulterior motives at all. ”
Haruka had left that meeting feeling completely perplexed.
It wasn’t a terrible idea. I mean, Kiritani used to know several different idols who were in fake relationships for work reasons. This wasn’t unheard of, of course. And, it did make sense. Minori and her were pretty close. There were lots of… theories going around among fan groups.
She didn’t doubt it would work. Mayu’s right. Fans adore cute couples.
So, why did this feel so odd?
After the meeting she walked Minori home, despite living across town herself.