Serena's Second Life Among the Starlight Idols

Crossing Paths with a Star

"Your performance was truly extravagant. The audience enjoyed it very much, Serena!" the old man said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Serena smiled warmly.

"Thank you for saying that, Mr. Panda," she replied with genuine gratitude.

The manager stared at her for a moment, wondering why she kept calling him Mr. Panda.

In the end, he decided to let it slide.

A bright smile soon returned to his face as he gathered the courage to ask her a favor.

"Um... if it's alright with you, would you be willing to perform again next time?" Mr. Panda asked hopefully.

"Okay," Serena answered without hesitation.

The old man's face immediately lit up.

"Then here's my contact information, Mr. Panda," Serena added, handing him a small piece of paper.

Mr. Panda glanced at the paper before looking up at Serena, who was already preparing to leave.

Then he suddenly called out to her.

"Call me Mr. Tanaka, Miss Serena!"

Serena turned around and looked at him.

"Okay, Mr. Panda!"

"..."

Mr. Tanaka stood speechless for a moment.

Then, unable to help himself, he chuckled and smiled kindly.

"I'm looking forward to your next performance, Miss Serena."

______________________________________

Later that night, Yurika lay on her bed, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.

The soft glow of the screen illuminated her face as she browsed through social media, trying to pass the time before sleep.

Then, a notification suddenly popped up.

Unknown Account

Yurika froze for a moment.

It was the same mysterious account that had messaged her before.

Her curiosity immediately piqued as she stared at the notification.

After a brief hesitation, she tapped on it and opened the chat.

_____

[Private Chat]

Unknown Account: Hello, Yurika.

Yurika: You again?

Unknown Account: Yes.

Yurika: What do you want?

Unknown Account: I have a request.

Yurika: What kind of request?

Unknown Account: I want you to become our song producer.

Yurika: ...What?

Unknown Account: We need someone who can help us produce songs.

Yurika: And why would I agree to that?

Unknown Account: Because you're talented.

Yurika: That's not a convincing reason.

Unknown Account: Fair enough.

Yurika: How do I even know you're not a scammer?

Unknown Account: I expected you to ask that.

Yurika: Then answer.

Unknown Account: I can prove it.

A link suddenly appeared in the chat.

Unknown Account: Join this group chat.

Unknown Account: You'll find the others there.

Yurika: Others?

Unknown Account: My group members.

Yurika: This doesn't look suspicious at all...

Unknown Account: I promise it isn't.

Yurika: Fine. I'll take a look.

---

[Group Chat — "All-Star Idol"]

Yurika joins the group.

Members Online:

Noah, Rian, Ren, Finn, Shuu, Hikaru

Noah: Who's that?

Rian: New member?

Ren: Wait, I don't recognize that account.

Finn: Did someone add a stranger?

Hikaru: Hello. May I ask who you are?

Yurika: Um... hello.

Noah: That's not an answer.

Rian: Yeah. Who invited you?

Ren: We don't usually let random people in.

Finn: Are you a friend of someone here?

Yurika: Not exactly.

Hikaru: Then how did you obtain the invitation link?

Yurika: Someone sent it to me.

Noah: Who?

Yurika: An unknown account.

Rian: Unknown account?

Ren: That's impossible.

Finn: Nobody here uses an account called "Unknown Account."

Yurika: But that's literally what the profile is called.

Noah: Sounds fake.

Rian: Are you trolling us?

Yurika: No!

Ren: Then tell us why you joined.

Yurika: They said they wanted me to become your song producer.

Several seconds passed.

Finn: What?

Noah: Song producer?

Rian: We never discussed hiring one.

Ren: This is getting weird.

Yurika: See? That's exactly why I thought it was suspicious.

Noah: Wait a minute...

Rian: Could this be someone trying to get information from us?

Ren: A hacker maybe?

Finn: Or someone impersonating one of us.

Yurika: I'm not a hacker!

Noah: That's exactly what a hacker would say.

Yurika: What?!

Rian: I don't trust this.

Ren: Neither do I.

Yurika: I'm telling the truth!

Finn: Then prove this mysterious account exists.

Yurika: I can show screenshots—

Noah: Screenshots can be edited.

Rian: Yeah.

Ren: This is way too suspicious.

The chat fell silent for a moment.

Then Hikaru send another message

Hikaru: Yurika, I apologize.

Yurika: Huh?

Hikaru: You seem sincere, but we have no way of confirming your story.

Yurika: Wait—

Hikaru: I'm sorry, Yurika, but we have to kick you out from the group.

Yurika: Hold on! At least let me—

Before she could finish typing, a notification appeared.

You have been removed from the group chat.

_____________

Yurika stared at her screen for several seconds after being removed from the group chat.

"What just happened...?"

The more she thought about it, the less sense it made.

After a moment of hesitation, she opened her chat with the mysterious account and immediately typed a message.

Yurika: What just happened?!

Yurika: They kicked me out!

A few seconds later, the account replied.

Unknown Account: I know.

Yurika: You know?!

Yurika: Then why didn't you tell them about me beforehand?

Unknown Account: It wouldn't have changed anything.

Yurika: That's not the point!

Yurika: They thought I was a hacker!

Unknown Account: Understandable.

Yurika: Understandable?!

Yurika: You're the reason I got kicked out!

There was a brief pause.

Then another message appeared.

Unknown Account: My apologies.

Yurika: ...

Unknown Account: They are cautious people.

Yurika: That's one way to describe them.

Unknown Account: Especially when a stranger suddenly appears in their group chat.

Yurika: You could've warned me.

Unknown Account: True.

Yurika: ...

Yurika: So now what?

Unknown Account: We meet.

Yurika blinked.

Yurika: Meet?

Unknown Account: In person.

Yurika: Absolutely not.

Unknown Account: Why not?

Yurika: Because you're an anonymous account that has been sending me mysterious messages.

Unknown Account: A reasonable concern.

Yurika: Exactly.

Unknown Account: Then allow me to prove my sincerity.

Yurika frowned at the screen.

Yurika: How?

Unknown Account: Come to All-Verse Company.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Yurika: The entertainment company?

Unknown Account: Yes.

Yurika: You're asking me to go there?

Unknown Account: In four days.

Yurika: Four days?

Unknown Account: I will arrange everything.

Yurika: That sounds even more suspicious.

Unknown Account: Then bring someone you trust.

Yurika paused.

That wasn't the answer she expected.

Unknown Account: You don't need to make a decision immediately.

Unknown Account: Think about it.

Unknown Account: If you truly wish to know who I am, come to All-Verse Company four days from now.

Yurika: And if I don't?

Several moments passed before a reply arrived.

Unknown Account: Then our conversation ends here.

----

Yurika stared at the message.

The chat remained silent afterward.

No further explanation.

No clues.

Nothing.

Just a strange invitation to one of the largest entertainment companies in the country.

And somehow...

That only made her more curious.

Two days later.

The neon lights of Mr. Tanaka's nightclub were still turned off.

It was only two in the afternoon, far too early for business hours, leaving the usually lively venue quiet and empty.

The only sounds inside were the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional clink of glasses being arranged behind the counter.

Yurika sat across from Serena at one of the tables.

The moment they had met, Yurika had begun explaining everything that had happened over the past few days.

From the mysterious messages.

To the group chat.

To being accused of being a hacker.

And finally, to the invitation from All-Verse Company.

"...And then they kicked me out," Yurika finished, resting her chin on her hand.

Serena quietly listened to the entire story.

Her expression remained calm from beginning to end.

Almost too calm.

Yurika narrowed her eyes.

"You're not surprised at all."

"Hm?" Serena tilted her head.

"Most people would've reacted by now."

Serena thought for a moment.

"I guess I'm just not surprised."

Yurika let out a sigh.

"Why does it feel like you're hiding something?"

For the briefest moment, Serena's eyes shifted away.

Only for a second.

Then she smiled.

"Maybe you're imagining things."

Yurika stared at her suspiciously.

Serena simply sipped her drink.

The truth was that Serena wasn't surprised.

Not in the slightest.

In fact, she had expected something like this to happen eventually.

But for reasons of her own, she kept that knowledge hidden.

Yurika eventually gave up trying to read her expression.

"So..."

She pulled out her phone and opened the chat with the mysterious account.

"The meeting is in two days."

Serena nodded.

"Mm."

"Do you think I should go?"

The answer came immediately.

"Yes."

Yurika blinked.

"You didn't even think about it."

"You asked for my opinion."

"And your opinion is just 'yes'?"

"Yes."

Yurika stared at her.

"That's a terrible explanation."

Serena laughed softly.

"Then let me explain."

She placed her drink on the table.

"You're curious."

"..."

"You've been curious ever since the first message."

Yurika couldn't deny it.

"Besides," Serena continued, "they invited you to a public company building. Not some abandoned warehouse."

"When you put it like that..."

"If things become uncomfortable, you can simply leave."

Yurika considered her words.

That was true.

The invitation wasn't to some hidden location.

It was All-Verse Company.

One of the most well-known entertainment companies around.

Still...

"It feels suspicious."

"It probably is."

"You're not helping."

Serena chuckled.

Then she pointed at Yurika's phone.

"The account said you could bring someone you know, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then bring someone."

Yurika looked up.

"...Who?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Serena answered.

"I'll go with you."

Yurika froze.

"You will?"

"Of course."

"You don't even know what's waiting there."

"Nope."

"And you're still coming?"

"Yep."

Yurika stared at her friend for several seconds.

Serena simply smiled back.

Calm.

Confident.

As if there was nothing to worry about.

Somehow, that made Yurika feel a little more at ease.

"...Thanks."

"You're welcome."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Outside, the afternoon sun shone through the windows of the empty nightclub.

In two days, they would be standing inside All-Verse Company.

And neither of them knew that the meeting waiting for them would change far more than they expected.

Two days later.

Yurika stood across the street from the towering All-Verse Company building.

The glass-covered skyscraper reflected the afternoon sunlight, making it seem even more imposing than it had in pictures.

She glanced up at the company logo near the top of the building.

"...I can't believe I'm actually here."

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

A new message appeared.

______

Serena: Sorry. I'm running late.

Yurika immediately typed back.

Yurika: What?

Serena: There was a little problem on my way here.

Yurika: A little problem?

Serena: Nothing serious.

Serena: You should go inside first.

Yurika: Are you sure?

Serena: Yes.

Serena: I'll catch up.

_________

After slipping her phone into her pocket, Yurika took a deep breath and crossed the street.

The automatic doors slid open as she entered the building.

Immediately, cool air greeted her.

The lobby was enormous.

Polished marble floors stretched across the room, while large digital displays showcased various artists and projects associated with All-Verse Company.

Employees moved back and forth, some carrying documents, others speaking quietly among themselves.

The entire place felt professional.

Important.

Yurika suddenly became very aware that she did not belong there.

She awkwardly walked farther into the lobby before spotting a waiting area near the entrance.

Several couches had been arranged around a low glass table.

"Guess I'll wait here..."

She sat down on one of the couches.

Then she checked her phone.

No new messages.

No instructions.

Nothing.

Just as Yurika was about to put her phone away, she heard someone call her name.

"Yurika?"

She immediately looked around.

To her left.

To her right.

Behind the reception desk.

But she couldn't find anyone who seemed to be looking at her.

"Huh?"

Before she could continue searching, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

Yurika quickly turned around.

Standing behind her was a young man.

He had silver-blue hair that fell neatly across his forehead and striking silver-blue eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses. His appearance was refined and elegant, yet there was something approachable about the calm smile on his face.

For a moment, Yurika simply stared.

Her brain took several seconds to process what she was seeing.

Then her eyes widened.

"No way..."

She knew that face.

Almost everyone did.

The young man standing before her was none other than Shuu Ikouga.

The leader of the famous idol group, All-Star.

Yurika froze.

Completely.

Her mind went blank.

She looked at him.