Chapter 60 The Meaning of Starlight
The first ray of morning sunlight pierced the sky above Chuanye City.
It shone through the window and into the tightly closed eyes of the middle-aged man.
“Hey! Wake up! There’s big news!”
“…I just pulled an all-nighter last night to finish the layout, don’t bother me.”
The man, slumped over at his desk, replied weakly.
“That’s really bad news, because you might have wasted your efforts!”
“…Is that true?”
“I heard that all major newspapers and publishers are urgently changing their headlines, and we’re no exception.”
“…What kind of big news could possibly be this significant?” The man, still drowsy, gradually slipped back into slumber.
“The legendary child star ‘Hoshimi Natsune’ is making a comeback to the stage! And right off the bat, she’ll be performing alongside Ryouko Yano!”
Upon hearing the name Hoshimi Natsune, the middle-aged man jolted awake, his brain instantly alert.
But his expression was one of horror, as if he had just seen a ghost. Suddenly, he erupted into frantic laughter, excitement overwhelming him.
“Do we still have Magic Claw drinks? Bring me two bottles—”
“This is really big news! And at this moment, what kind of resources did the crew of ‘New: Beyond the Flower’ use to bring her back?”
At the same time.
Newspapers and media outlets across the country were in a similar state.
— That terrible spirit, which once sent shockwaves throughout the industry and wielded fear, had returned!
…..
…..
Weekend.
At the Youko family home.
Natsune, wearing a light and flowing short dress, rang the doorbell.
Time seemed to rewind to six years ago.
She was here, under Aiko’s guidance, when she found the inspiration to develop “Starlight.”
“Starlight.”
It is the forced suspension of the process of using the Star Eye ability during performance, leaving one in a state of detachment from the ‘self’ while infinitely leaning toward the character being portrayed.
The external manifestation is the countless starlights twinkling in one’s eyes, residues of stars that result from the condensation or fragmentation of the Star Eye.
It is a method of exploiting a bug.
This technique was something Natsune realized when accepting Aiko’s teachings about the essence of acting.
The energy of starlight is limited.
It depletes with time or actions, gradually restoring the “self.”
Like the two ends of a balance scale, complete disappearance of starlight signifies 100% “self,” while starlight reaching the other end transforms into Star Eye, entering a state of “perfect portrayal.”
The more radiant the starlight in Natsune’s eyes, the higher the starlight content, and the further it strays from the “self.”
The consumption of starlight by time and actions is not fixed.
Engaging in behaviors that one is unaccustomed to or resistant to depletes starlight more significantly.
For example, when she gives benefits to Kanade, or when wearing a light dress, feeling a chill from her bare legs.
Thus, in her daily life, Natsune needs to lean towards the “self” to lessen starlight consumption.
For instance, wearing black stockings gives her a sense of wearing pants.
The method to replenish starlight is to reactivate the “Star Eye” and again exploit the bug to maintain the status.
However, this process can be detected for magical reactions.
Even if she manages to gather starlight before going on stage, portraying a character like Cinderella would undoubtedly rapidly consume the starlight content.
She cannot replenish it under Alice’s watchful eye.
To stand on stage and defeat Ryouko Yano head-on, she must pick up true “acting” again.
Therefore, she hopes to receive Aiko’s guidance once more before the cultural festival arrives.
And to reduce the rate of starlight consumption—
Today, as Natsune stepped out, her face was flushed.
Her small hands nervously rested on her skirt, repeating the gesture of smoothing the edge of her skirt or tugging at the hem, occasionally reaching back to touch her bottom, as if worried her dress had hiked up due to her curvy backside.
Without wearing black stockings, her bare, supple thighs involuntarily rubbed against each other underneath the skirt, the smooth sensation and coolness making her feel both nervous and stimulated.
Her jet-black eyes quivered with the overflowing shame, while her petite mouth unknowingly formed a slight curve.
Even her speaking tone seemed inexplicably higher.
She had to adapt to the lifestyle of a “girl.”
This would extend her time on stage in a state of starlight.
To win this match, to prove to Kanade that he doesn’t have to bear the blame Ryouko mentioned.
In the thirteenth year of her third life, Natsune actively pushed open the door to that forbidden realm.
…..
…..
“What is going on? Didn’t you say you had Hoshimi Natsune under control!?”
In the office of Ryouko’s agency.
Ryouko angrily threw the documents beside her at her agent, Tomita.
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t expect to be outsmarted by such a little brat—”
Tomita’s handsome face was bruised from the sharp documents, but he dared not show his anger since Ryouko was the agency’s star.
“Never mind, after all, she’s just a little brat who hasn’t acted in years~”
Once Ryouko vented her frustration and calmed down, a wicked smile spread across her face.
To her, this was a great opportunity.
If she could beat Hoshimi Natsune on stage, wouldn’t securing a role in “New: Beyond the Flower” be guaranteed… or perhaps she wouldn’t even need this opportunity at all.
Once she defeats Hoshimi Natsune, she would be the emblem of her era!
Indeed, she was favored by fate~
“Hey, spread this news!”
“…What?”
“And send invitations to all the directors, producers, and media you know, inviting them to Star Shadow Academy’s cultural festival—”
“Wait! Do you know how high the risks are—”
The folder Ryouko threw again hit Tomita’s jaw, interrupting his protest.
“Shut up! This is a golden opportunity!”
“I want to make this stage production a complete success, using it as an altar to sacrifice Hoshimi Natsune, the once-fallen spirit, allowing myself to transcend into a true deity of the entertainment industry—”
Tomita covered his slightly aching jaw, gazing at Ryouko, who was laughing heartily before him.
This woman had lost her mind.
She was blinded by the treasure named “Hoshimi Natsune” and had stepped into a consequence she might not be able to bear.
This was a high-stakes gamble.
If she won, she would ascend to greatness, but if she lost…
Yet, if she failed, he too would not have good days ahead.
Here, he would need to use that “information” as insurance…
Even if Ryouko lost, he would still have a topic to divert public attention…
Tomita thought this while cursing the black-haired girl in his heart.
—Daring to deceive me and put me in such a humiliating position; I will definitely not let you go.
At the same time.
In a private detective’s office, the internal phone rang.
After the man answered the call.
His secretary told him that an unannounced guest was looking for him to commission work.
He initially wanted to refuse, but hesitated upon hearing the guest’s last name.
“I understand, please bring Miss Hoshimi in.”
