"Looks like this is the place," Izuku muttered to himself as he stood in front of the multi-story building, looking up at the Devimuse Akudol Agency sign.
When his grandpa gave him the pass for 'A Day with Idol Kuromu' last night, Izuku wasn't sure what to make of it. Being new to the Netherworld, Izuku had limited knowledge of its culture and was unfamiliar with this Idol Kuromu. As a result, he felt no excitement or desire to spend a day with this supposed idol.
So he spent a few hours doing some research at night and discovered that Kuromu was one of the most popular idols in the Netherworld. As the night went on, he fell deeper into the rabbit hole, watching more and more videos of Kuromu's performances and becoming increasingly enamored with them. After watching several more videos, he couldn't resist accepting the pass to spend a day with this idol, simply for the novelty of experiencing something new in the Netherworld.
Therefore, at this moment, Izuku Midoriya stood outside of Kuromu's Akudol agency to cash in his pass.
As soon as Izuku entered the agency, he was greeted with a whirlwind of controlled chaos. The reception area immediately caught his eye with its sleek and modern aesthetic: a pristine white marble floor and plush, brightly-colored couches arranged in tasteful clusters. Banners and screens adorned the walls, showcasing the agency's top talents, including Kuromu, in their most captivating performances.
Izuku scanned the area for a few more moments before making his way to the reception desk. The woman behind it smiled as he approached and greeted him, "Hello, how can I assist you?"
"I'm here for this," Izuku replied, sliding the pass across the desk.
"Congratulations on winning such a valuable opportunity," the woman at the reception desk said with a professional smile. "May I see some form of identification to confirm your identity?"
Izuku raised his hand, revealing the ring on his index finger with House Sullivan's emblem engraved on it. "This should be sufficient, right?" he inquired.
The moment the lady at reception spotted the ring, she knew that Izuku was a person of importance to House Sullivan. She quickly jotted down his information and instructed him to wait in a guest lounge for a few minutes. Then, she hurried off to Kuromu's room to inform her of his arrival.
******
Crocell Kerori, also known as Akudol Kuromu, grumbled as she crumpled the front page of the school newspaper in her hand, her eyes fixed on a photo of a particular green-haired boy standing next to a stunning display of fireworks. "Why does he always have to be so attention-grabbing?" she complained.
Meanwhile, Crocell's manager, Marbas Mar, stood behind her with a look of exhaustion and irritation etched on her face. Ever since Crocell began attending Babyls, Marbas had constantly heard her complaining about one particular boy who seemed to always steal the spotlight from her, even though Crocell claimed she didn't want to stand out at school.
"Crocell, you need to stop obsessing over that boy," Marbas shook her head. "One might think that you fancy him or something."
"What? Me liking Midoriya? Never!" Crocell retorted, glaring at her manager.
"Fine, whatever you say," Marbas said with a weary sigh. "Just make sure to get ready; the lucky fan will be here soon."
"As if spending a day with a complete stranger is going to improve my mood," Crocell muttered. "Great, just what I always wanted - spending time with someone I don't know!" she added sarcastically.
Marbas gave an apologetic smile as she said, "I understand, but we are bound by a contract."
Crocell let out a tired sigh and replied, "I know."
As they were about to continue their conversation, there was a knock on the door. "Let's just get it over with," Crocell said wearily. Marbas approached the door and opened it upon receiving a nod from Crocell.
"Mavaka..." Marbas addressed the receptionist, who appeared anxious about something. "I'm assuming our guest has arrived?"
"Yes, ma'am, they are here and currently waiting in the guest lounge," Mavaka replied, nervously playing with her fingers.
"Good," Marbas nodded at her. "Make sure they are well taken care of; Kuromu will join them shortly."
"Of course, ma'am," Mavaka said and left while muttering, "No need to tell me twice..." under her breath.
"What's up with her?" Marbas asked before she shook her head and looked towards Kuromu. "Are you ready?"
"I am not," Kuromu replied as she put on the finishing touches and checked herself in the mirror. "Let's go."
Marbas simply nodded and followed behind her client.
******
Standing outside the guest lounge Kuromu double-checked her appearance one final time. "Do I look okay?" she asked her manager.
"Absolutely perfect," Marbas reassured with a confident smile.
Kuromu gave a slight nod as she turned the doorknob and entered the guest lounge. But as soon as she stepped inside, her body froze in shock at the sight of the green-haired boy sitting and conversing with one of the agency's employees.
'What the fuck!' Kuromu exclaimed in her mind. 'What the fuck is Midoriya doing here! What the fuck I am going to do next!'
Just then Izuku's attention was drawn towards the door, where he noticed the figures of Kuromu and Marbas. He quickly made his way over to them, wearing a friendly smile as he approached. "Hello, I'm Izuku Midoriya. It's nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand in greeting.
Kuromu hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. "I'm Kuromu, as I'm sure you already know," she replied with a mechanically practiced wink, although inwardly she was freaking out. "Thank you for being here today. Hopefully, we both have a good time."
"Thank you for allowing me this opportunity, and I hope we enjoy today as well," Izuku said, maintaining his friendly smile while not showing any other kind of reaction to her cuteness or charm, much to Kuromu's annoyance.
"Sorry, can you wait here for a moment? I'll be back in a second," she shot him a brief smile and hurried off to her dressing room, with Marbas following after her, trying not to fall behind.
"Kuromu, what's wro-" Marbas was about to ask Kuromu what was wrong, but before she could speak, Kuromu began screaming and continued for several minutes before finally calming down and starting to pace around the room. Irritated by her client's sudden behavior, Marbas took hold of her shoulder to stop her. "What's gotten into you?" she demanded, giving Kuromu a stern look.
"Marbas, he is here!" Kuromu yelled at her manager. "Why is he here? Does he know about me? Ahhhh! I don't know what the hell is going on anymore!"
"First of all, calm down!" Marbas said, squeezing Kuromu's shoulder tighter. "Second, tell me clearly, what has gotten you worked up?"
"Marbas, the boy who is sitting in the guest lounge and whom I have to spend the entire day with is none other than Izuku Midoriya!" Kuromu explained.
"The same boy with whom you are infatuated," Marbas teased, only to quickly regret it as Kuromu shot her a venomous glare. "Sorry. Let's get serious," she said, adopting a professional tone. "Do you not want to spend time with him? Is he someone you'd rather avoid?"
"No, that's not the case," Kuromu shook her head. "From what I have seen, he might be a better person to hang out with compared to our past experiences with these kinds of things. Also, considering the fact that he entertains Clara daily without snapping or treating her like a plaything or a convenience store."
"Okay, so you do not dislike him as a person. So what is the problem?" Marbas asked.
"At first, I was just irritated about spending time with someone who annoys me, but now I'm scared," Kuromu admitted nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. "He's my classmate, for crying out loud. I don't know what I will do if he figures out my real identity."
"Corcell, are you sure you're not overthinking this?" Marbas asked softly. "You've kept your secret identity under wraps for four years; one day isn't going to unravel everything."
"But what if it does?" Kuromu's voice trembled.
"Do you really think Midoriya is the type to blackmail you or exploit your secret?" Marbas questioned.
"I... I don't think so. He doesn't strike me as that kind of person," Kuromu replied sincerely.
"Exactly. So, for now, go back out there and face it head-on, like the brave girl I know you are," Marbas encouraged. "And if he does find out, we'll deal with it then."
"You're right, I can do this!" Kuromu pumped her fist in the air. "Let's do this!" she exclaimed, exiting the room.
Meanwhile, Marbas sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be a long day," she muttered, following her client.
******
Meanwhile, Izuku remained seated in the guest lounge, sipping his third cup of Hell Grey Tea.
'I wonder when she'll be back,' Izuku thought to himself, pondering Kuromu and her strange behavior. 'Hey, Nana, is it just me, or does Kuromu seem oddly familiar?'
'Yeah, she does, but I can't quite place where I've seen her before,' Nana replied.
Just then, the door of the guest lounge swung open, and Izuku rose from his seat, expecting Kuromu's return. However, to his surprise, a tall woman with silky blonde hair, fox-like ears, and sharp glasses stepped into the room. Instantly, her gaze locked onto Izuku, and she began to scrutinize him intently.
"Hello there, young lad, and who might you be?" she inquired, unfolding her folding fan and gracefully fanning herself. "I don't recall ever seeing you around here."
"Hello, I'm Izuku Midoriya. Pleasure to meet you," Izuku responded, offering a slight nod.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that's not quite how one greets ladies of high standing, my dear boy," the woman tutted, lightly tapping Izuku's head with her folding fan. Then, she extended the back of her hand towards him. "Now, a light kiss and a proper introduction, if you please."
Izuku hesitated for a moment, feeling slightly awkward, but complied with her request, ignoring the amused chuckles from Nana in the back of his mind. "Hello, I am Izuku Midoriya," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Hello, Izuku Midoriya, I am Kyupa, the president of this fine establishment," the woman, now introduced as Kyupa, said with an amused smile. Her expression turned curious as she noticed the ring on Izuku's index finger. "That's a rather impressive ring. Are you related to Sullivan-sama?"
"His grandson, actually," Izuku replied, straightening his back with a confident smile.
When Izuku had first received the ring adorned with Sullivan's emblem, Opera had imparted upon him its importance and significance, emphasizing the responsibility of representing Sullivan's name with honor, a duty Izuku took to heart.
"Ohh~, so you're the rumored grandson of Sullivan-sama," Kyupa remarked with a chuckle.
"Rumored grandson?" Izuku questioned, already bracing himself for the response.
"You know, I come into contact with many students who attend Babyls, and let me tell you, you've been the subject of quite a few discussions," Kyupa explained, letting out a hearty laugh at Izuku's perplexed expression. "But don't worry, it's nothing too damning... mostly."
"Anyway, what brings you here, Mr. Midoriya?" Kyupa inquired. Izuku proceeded to explain his purpose for being there and whom he was waiting for.
"Hmm, that's rather unprofessional of Kuromu," Kyupa frowned, folding her hands disapprovingly.
"I really don't want her to get in trouble because of me," Izuku expressed, forcing a strained smile.
"Don't concern yourself with that," Kyupa reassured in a polite yet firm tone. "As the president of this agency, I provide my talents with a variety of comforts and opportunities, which is why I have the complete right to discipline them as well."
Just then, the door of the guest lounge creaked open once more, revealing Kuromu and Marbas entering the room. They both visibly paled upon seeing Kyupa engaged in conversation with Izuku.
"B-boss," Kuromu stammered, addressing Kyupa with a nervous tremor in her voice. "What brings you here?"
"Oh my~ I didn't realize I needed permission to wander my own agency," Kyupa retorted sharply. "Regardless, I must take my leave now." She turned her attention back to Izuku. "Mister Midoriya, I hope our paths cross again. And as for you, Kuromu," she leveled a stern gaze at the girl, "we'll be having a discussion about your conduct today. Have a pleasant day, everyone."
As soon as Kyupa left, Kuromu slumped to the ground, grumbling about long lectures and a ruined weekend.
Meanwhile, Marbas completely ignored Kuromu and smiled at Izuku. "Apologies for the delay," she said. "I'd love to chat more, but we're running behind schedule. If you're ready, let's head out."
"Sounds good," Izuku replied, returning the smile. However, his expression turned awkward as he glanced at Kuromu, who was still sulking.
"Don't worry about her," Marbas reassured, seizing Kuromu by the back of her collar and beginning to drag her away. "Come on, Mister Midoriya, follow me."
******
After departing from the guest lounge, Izuku trailed behind Marbas and Kuromu as they ascended to the third floor of the agency. There, Kuromu was scheduled to shoot a promo for her upcoming concert, and Izuku couldn't deny it was quite an experience.
Ads and promos had been a commonplace part of Izuku's previous life, and even in the demon world, he wasn't exempt from encountering them. Witnessing the production process firsthand made him appreciate the immense effort that went into producing just a few minutes of footage.
"You are not bored, are you?" Marbas asked while standing next to Izuku, both of them behind the camera.
"No, not at all. It's quite enlightening," Izuku replied, his attention fixed on Kuromu, who had just flawlessly executed her third dancing maneuver. "She's truly passionate about this, isn't she?" he remarked, noting the genuine smile adorning Kuromu's face despite the lengthy shooting session.
"Indeed, she takes being an Akudol very seriously," Marbas said with a hint of pride in her voice. "I am honored to manage her."
Just then, they heard some commotion coming from the entrance of the studio.
"What now?" Marbas grumbled, emitting a tired sigh. "Mister Midoriya, my apologies, but I'll need to step away for a moment," she informed him before hurrying off to investigate, muttering about incompetent staff and whatnot.
However, instead of stopping, the commotion grew to the point where it was starting to interfere with the actual shoot. 'What is going on?' Izuku thought to himself as he made his way towards the entrance of the studio. There, he saw Marbas looking equally troubled and annoyed while trying to hold off a young spiky blonde-haired girl who was attempting to push her way through.
"Is there a problem, Marbas-san?" Izuku said, getting Marbas's and the intruding girl's attention. "You look troubled there."
"Don't worry, I have got-"
"Who the hell are you, dumbass?" the blonde-haired girl interjected rudely.
"Sorry?" Izuku raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Special one, aren't you?" the blonde-haired girl snickered mockingly. "I am asking who the hell are you, moron?"
"He's someone who's meant to be here," Marbas interjected, maintaining her professional demeanor. "Unlike you," she added, noting the scowl forming on the girl's face.
"Marbas-san, who is she?" Izuku inquired, casting a curious glance at the scowling girl and her funky attire.
"What!?" the blonde-haired girl exclaimed incredulously. "Are you living under a rock to not know who the great Gyari is?"
"Gyari?" Izuku furrowed his brow and turned to Marbas, who was struggling to contain her amusement in the face of Gyari's evident irritation.
"She's another Akudol, like Kuromu," Marbas explained.
"Oh... I see," Izuku responded casually, shrugging his shoulders, which only seemed to further aggravate Gyari. "So, what seems to be the issue here?"
"She's attempting to force her way through, despite the agency rules explicitly stating that Akudols are prohibited from interfering with each other's shoots or performances unless explicitly stated in the contract," Marbas elaborated. "And the fact that she doesn't belong to this agency and decided to simply show up and bother Kuromu."
"I am not bothering her! I am just here to meet my future wife!" Gyari proclaimed.
"Self-proclaimed," Marbas interjected swiftly, noting Izuku's widened eyes. "Miss Gyari, refrain from spreading false rumors, or we'll be compelled to take action against you."
"Be quiet! You're just a manager!" Gyari dismissed Marbas with a scoff. "And now, move aside," she insisted, attempting to push her way through and shoving Marbas aside. However, before she could, Izuku instinctively positioned himself between Marbas and Gyari, surprising both women.
"Miss Gyari, let's not put Miss Marbas in a difficult position," Izuku intervened, attempting to defuse the escalating tension. "I'm sure she would assist you if she could, but unfortunately, she can't, so let's not try to push her around."
However, instead of calming down, Gyari's expression darkened, and she stepped forward, invading Izuku's personal space. "Listen, chum, I am going to say this once so listen carefully. Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
'This bitch!' Nana hissed inside Izuku's head, mirroring Izuku's feelings towards the blonde-haired girl. 'Izuku, don't you fucking move.'
"If you plan on continuing being a pain in the ass..." Izuku steeled his resolve and met Gyari's eyes head-on, "No, I don't think I will."
Gyari emitted a growl and seized Izuku by his collar. "Listen here, asshole! I am Greedy Gyari! I do what I want! I take what I want!" she declared, tightening her grip. "And I don't know what hole you crawled out of, but remember this: do not cross me or I will mess you up in ways that you can't even imagine!" she finished, her face inches away from his.
Just then, hearty laughter filled the air. Turning towards the source, they beheld Kuromu, who was laughing unabashedly.
"So you finally decided to show your pretty face," Gyari remarked with a scoff. "Well, at least you saved this chum from getting turned into mush."
At Gyari's words, Kuromu burst into laughter once more. "Oh, Gyari, you are hilarious," Kuromu said with pitying glee in her voice.
"What's so funny?" Gyari demanded, narrowing her eyes.
"The idea that you could harm him is laughable," Kuromu retorted with a smirk. "Let me enlighten you. You're delusional if you think you stand a chance against him. He could've pulverized you if he wanted to, but count your blessings that he's patient enough to tolerate your nonsense."
Before Gyari could respond, Kuromu pressed on. "And let's not forget your audacity to barge into my agency and demand my attention like you own me," her voice took on a dangerous edge, and an icy chill permeated the atmosphere. "Not to mention insulting and threatening both my manager and my guest."
"That's why I'm telling you in the most polite way I can," Kuromu continued. "Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. My. Agency!"
Gyari and Kuromu locked eyes for a moment before Gyari averted her gaze, clicking her tongue in irritation. "Fine! I will go for now, but only because I have something else to do," she made an excuse. Then, she turned her attention towards Izuku to say something. However, before she could, suddenly a barrier made up of ice formed between the two.
"I told you to leave," Kuromu's voice was more commanding than before.
"Fine! I'm leaving!" Gyari scowled, turning on her heel and exiting the studio, leaving a trail of disgruntled onlookers behind who resumed their work after being subjected to Kuromu's piercing glare.
******
After completing the final segment of the shoot, Izuku, Kuromu, and Marbas made their way back to Kuromu's makeup room.
"Sorry, you had to witness that," Kuromu expressed, releasing a tired sigh.
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault," Izuku reassured, offering a comforting smile.
"I know," Kuromu sighed wearily. "I also want to thank you for assisting Marbas. You have no idea how volatile Gyari can be; she would have undoubtedly caused trouble if Marbas had to deal with her alone."
"It was no trouble at all," Izuku replied modestly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't mind helping out a fellow classmate."
"That's really kind of yo-" Suddenly, a chill permeated the room as Kuromu stared at Izuku with wide eyes. "W-w-what are you talking about?" she stammered, her words faltering.
"I'm sorry it took me a little time to figure it out, but I am really amazed at what you are doing here, Crocell," Izuku said with a genuine smile, which immediately turned sour as Kuromu slumped down off her chair. "Did I say something bad?" he asked, turning towards Marbas.
"Not necessarily wrong, but..." Marbas sighed, massaging her temples wearily. "How did you come to the realization that Kuromu is your classmate, Crocell?"
"Well, she seemed familiar to me at first, but it was the incident with Gyari that confirmed my suspicions," Izuku explained. "I've noticed that the atmosphere around Kuromu tends to chill when she's angry, which reminded me of a similar sensation at school. Also, the way you defended me against Gyari, the only person from school who has witnessed my... misadventures at school could have done that. And considering you're in Misfit class, you would've had a front-row seat for some of those mishaps."
"Ugh, why are you observing so closely?" Kuromu questioned with a half-hearted glare directed at Izuku, who could only offer an awkward, abashed chuckle. Then, abruptly, Kuromu's expression shifted to seriousness. "So, what do you want? To keep this a secret?" she inquired.
"Nothing, really," Izuku responded, a hint of confusion coloring his tone. "Why would I want anything for something so trivial?"
"Trivial! How dare you!?" Kuromu screeched indignantly. "You have the power to hold my life in your hands, and you call it trivial!"
"I mean, what do you expect from me? What kind of person do you think I am!?" Izuku retorted in a gloomy voice, much to Kuromu's irritation.
Suddenly, their attention was caught by Marbas, who was laughing out loud while clutching her stomach. "Sorry, but this is kind of hilarious," she said, calming down a little. Then she composed herself and cleared her throat. "Kuromu, I don't see any reason for you to be upset with Mister Midoriya when what he's saying is only to your benefit."
"I know, but... ugh~" Kuromu groaned, shaking her head in frustration. "Midoriya, are you absolutely sure you don't want anything in exchange for keeping my secret?"
"I'm certain, and don't worry, your secret is safe with me," he assured her, offering a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Kuromu sighed with relief. "Anyway, as I was saying earlier, you truly did me a favor by standing up for Marbas. Not many people would have had the courage to confront Gyari, given who she is."
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask for a while now, but is she really someone important?" Izuku inquired with a furrowed brow.
"Wait, you genuinely don't know who Gyari is?" Kuromu questioned, her eyes widening in surprise.
"No, not really," Izuku admitted with a shrug. "I just hope I haven't inadvertently caused trouble for either of you or myself."
Suddenly, laughter filled the room once more, but this time it emanated from Kuromu. "Wow, Midoriya, you're something else! I can't wait to share this with the other girls!" she exclaimed gleefully.
'Izuku, I was wondering how quickly her laughter will die down when she realizes that you learned about her only last night,' Nana remarked, chuckling to herself.
'Shut up, Nana. Stop being mean,' Izuku scolded internally, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Then, he turned to Marbas and inquired, "Is she going to be alright?" His gaze shifted to the hysterically laughing Kuromu.
"Don't worry, let her be," Marbas reassured, stifling a chuckle behind her hand. "And I don't think you have anything to fret about. While Gyari might be influential in the Akudol circle, she can't challenge someone of your status without facing consequences."
"Yeah, I can't imagine Grandpa or Opera being pleased if they heard about today's events," Izuku muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Indeed," Marbas agreed. "Also, if push comes to shove, Kuromu could use her own family's influence to corner her."
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Izuku said, exchanging a meaningful glance with Marbas, who simply nodded in agreement, while Kuromu continued to laugh, oblivious to their conversation.
******
Later that evening, Izuku, Marbas, and Crocell, who had reverted to her regular persona, stood outside Izuku's house.
"Corcell, Miss Marbas, thank you for looking after me," Izuku expressed with gratitude. "I genuinely enjoyed today."
"We should be the ones thanking you, Mister Midoriya," Marbas returned his smile. "You were the one who helped us a lot today, even though you didn't have to."
"And like I said, it was no trouble," Izuku replied warmly. "Can you please drop the Mister? Just call me Izuku or Midoriya at the very least."
"Very well, Midoriya, if that's your preference," Marbas agreed, shaking his hand.
"And Corcell, what should I call you?" Izuku asked playfully.
"You know what to call me when my wig is on," Corcell replied with a roll of her eyes. "Otherwise, just call me Kerori," she added, a faint blush tinting her cheeks.
"In that case, call me Izuku as well," Izuku grinned. "And since I don't have any secret identity, you can just call me a friend otherwise."
"Friend, like what Asmodeus explained, right?" she clarified, and Izuku nodded in agreement. "Hmm... I think I'd like that, Izuku."
"While it's wonderful to see you both getting along so well," Marbs interjected with a grin, earning a glare from Kerori. "I think it's getting pretty late. We should be heading off."
"You're right, we should," Kerori agreed before addressing Izuku. "It was nice spending the day with you outside of school. Maybe we should do this again sometime." With that, she turned and headed towards the carriage. However, upon reaching it, she halted, pivoted, and retraced her steps toward Izuku, enveloping him in a tight hug.
Momentarily taken aback, Izuku reciprocated the embrace, his arms encircling her. "Thank you for agreeing to keep my secret safe. It would be a disaster for my personal life if my secret identity leaked to the public," Kerori expressed, cutting off any questions Izuku might have had.
After a brief moment, she withdrew from the hug and smiled at him, her cheeks flushed. "Well, I'll be going now. Bye," she waved before entering the carriage. Inside, she encountered Marbas wearing a mischievous grin on her face. "Shut it!" Kerori chided preemptively, though she couldn't suppress her own smile as she turned her gaze toward the window.
To be continued...