I Quit Being an Idol and Became a Youtuber - Chapter 9

“I want you to collapse, senior. Just like you.”

After the negotiation in the president’s office ended, I returned to the accommodation.

“Ha…”

Hikari’s voice kept echoing in my head.

For some reason, an overwhelming amount of hostility was felt.

It was all directed right at me.

“What the hell did I even do to deserve that…”

Even if I curse like this, nothing would change.

In the end, the fact that Hikari’s intention was to bring me down remained unchanged.

The incidents from that day and everything that will happen in the future will just be the starting point of that sh*t.

‘…If that happens, will I eventually meet the same ending as in the game?’

No matter how solid my position seems, there’s a limit to how long I can endure.

Isn’t it true that I’m currently being criticized for the member assault incident?

In this situation, even the smallest rumor could hit me hard, regardless of its truth.

“…..How did things end up like this?”

Even though I was breathing in the night air, my troubled heart showed no signs of calming down.

Was trying to get along well with Hikari the problem? Or was it because I didn’t bully her from the start?

So they’re trying to drive me away first?

In the game, there were largely three endings that Ren could meet.

d*e, go to prison, or be buried in society.

“….How come there’s not even a single happy ending?”

From my standpoint, entering the bad ending route of the original work might even be better, but at this point, that seems impossible.

All three remaining scenarios would lead to the worst endings for me.

‘As expected, I should have left without looking back when Hikari first came.’

It’s no use regretting it now. They already declared war.

No, whether it’s war or whatever, if things keep going this way, I’ll be dragged to a motel.

If I get used like this once, it will never end there.

After that, I would just continue to be used.

Of course, the way for the victim to respond in such a situation is clear. Firmly refuse the first offer.

And rejecting that offer in my situation meant one thing.

“….Sh*t, doesn’t that mean I should ultimately retire?”

In a moment of frustration, I threw the pillow I was holding.

Contract termination.

It was like my last bastion, but ironically, it was the best choice I could make in this situation.

First of all, there was no problem with the process of leaving the group itself.

It was something I had pledged from the moment I was born, and I was prepared for it when I signed with this company.

“….By the way, what will happen to the others?”

Hina, Yui, Airi, Nano, Natsume.

The time I spent with those girls flashed through my mind.

‘….Still, they’ll manage just fine.’

This was not just for my survival but also for them.

In fact, in the original ending, after Ren was expelled, there was mention of Cornelia growing even more thanks to Hikari’s talent.

If I’m not around, Hikari wouldn’t need to cause trouble with the other girls, and the group could flow without issues.

In other words, if I disappear, everyone can be happy.

Of course, since we’ve had memories together, they might waver at first.

But eventually, they’ll adapt.

Isn’t the saying that humans are creatures of adaptation?

Even our Cornelia had experienced having one member expelled, but everyone managed to endure.

This time will be no different.

‘…..It’s right for me to step back at this point.’

Unlike me, who was struggling to survive, they were all ‘real idols’ who purely wanted to be idols.

I couldn’t let their dreams be polluted by my disputes with the company.

For their sake as well, it was time for me to step down from the stage.

*

The next day, in the interview room of UFO Entertainment.

President Kobayashi was waiting for Ren there.

The interview room was mainly for concluding contracts with artists, but for some reason, Ren had called him in there.

‘It doesn’t sit well with me to do as that guy said….’

Thinking about the profits he would earn from her in the future, this much was acceptable.

If I could get hold of evidence that Ren had given s*xual favors, anything would be usable.

By using that, I could manipulate her life.

How long had it been since he settled into his seat? The door of the interview room opened, and Sakamiya Ren walked in.

“Alright, you must have thought it through enough, right?”

President Kobayashi greeted Ren with a smile.

‘Looks like he’s finally given up.’

Kobayashi quietly gazed at Ren’s face, which stood in front of him.

“……..”

Normally not the brightest of expressions, today Ren’s face was particularly stiff.

Objectively, Ren didn’t have many choices available.

When a conflict arose between an artist and an agency, most of the time, the company held a favorable position.

No matter how popular they were, they were still just individuals, while the agency had its resources and various means of pressure.

Ren was no different.

No, rather, given that she was embroiled in controversy, she was at a disadvantage compared to other artists.

Now, she likely had no other plans. This situation could only unfold in her disfavor.

‘Well, even if she doesn’t agree, it doesn’t matter.’

Just like the relationship between her and Goro, most mid-sized agencies and broadcasting stations already formed friendly relations with each other.

With a few phone calls, broadcasting stations could easily stop looking for Cornelia for a while.

‘Well, that might cause some damage to the company…’

But that was something I could easily tolerate.

Though perhaps not as much as Cornelia, my company also had its fairly popular artists.

‘However, Sakamiya wouldn’t be able to do that.’

It might be bearable for the first few months, but could she hold out if it continued?

Like a venomous snake protecting her eggs, Sakamiya Ren was always on edge.

Her affection for the group was greater than mine.

If I brought up this issue regarding Cornelia, she would have no choice but to bow her head.

Moreover, if malignant rumors swirling on the internet attacked as well, it would be even more effective.

“Well, I think you had a tough time making your decision.”

He hid the feeling of victory in his heart and tried to keep a neutral expression.

There was no benefit to revealing his true intentions here.

“….Yes, so I’ve thought it through slowly.”

How much time had passed? Finally, Ren opened her mouth.

And her answer that spilled from her lips was completely contrary to his expectations.

“I’m leaving this company.”

*

“I’m leaving this company.”

“Okay, so… what?”

I heard the president’s shocked voice at my answer.

‘…Finally did it.’

As soon as it became the starting point of the original work, I was already prepared to leave.

Saying it out loud made me feel a refreshing sense of liberation.

“…..A-are you serious?”

Did he not expect me to respond this way at all? I noticed the president’s face turning beet red.

While pushing aside the thrill I felt inside, I calmly continued speaking.

“Yes, I’m serious.”

I reiterated it clearly again to him, who was desperately trying to deny reality.

“You can’t just break a contract like this…!”

“Of course, the penalty fee is not an issue.”

For whatever reason, if the contract was unilaterally broken, the penalty fee was significant.

Therefore, when I first signed with this company, I prepared a bit more detail in the contract.

‘I had it aimed to minimize the penalty fees I’ll owe if I breach the contract.’

Ideally, I didn’t want to give that guy a single yen, but that was impossible.

The penalty set to arise from breaking the contract was roughly 30 million yen.

Converted to our currency, that’s about 200 million won, but compared to other idols of the same tier as Cornelia, it was quite cheap.

‘Well, I really didn’t expect him to accept it.’

At the time of signing the contract, the agency was in such a situation that it wouldn’t have been strange if they collapsed at any moment, so the president surprisingly signed the contract without much thought.

Though it’s still a considerable amount, in a way, thinking of it as a life-saving fee isn’t it relatively cheap?

“I will pay the penalty properly, so don’t worry.”

Just as I turned to head out of the interview room, I heard his voice behind me.

“You, you! Think again. If you leave like this, you won’t be able to step into this industry again!”

Ha, is this just a threat until the very end?

“….Yes, I have no intention of coming back either, so don’t worry about it.”

If someone asked me whether I had ever felt fulfillment during my idol activities, I’d have to say no.

Even though the beginning was rough, every time I stepped on stage and saw people cheering for me, it did lighten up my heart.

‘But that was about it.’

However, for me, being an idol was primarily just a means to extend my life.

To escape the grasp of that damned condition, I had to become famous.

‘But now I am famous, right?’

Whether because of the experiences I’ve built up or due to the current controversy, my name is now widely known.

So, I no longer needed to cling to the idol position like before.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“You, you…!!”

Leaving behind the president who was still rambling, I walked out of the interview room.

I had no reasons to see him anymore.

Now the legal contract termination would be handled on their end.

I didn’t care whether they spread strange rumors or not; after all, I planned to completely retire from the industry.

‘…Then there’s just one thing left.’

I wonder how to tell the others.