Ai arrived at the tiny Scrubbing Up office thirty minutes before her shift. The smell of fresh coffee and disinfectant mingled in the air, and the little bell above the door jingled as she pushed it open. Her boss, Mr. Tanaka, a round, balding man with a kind smile, looked up from his desk.
“Ai! Thank you for coming early. I appreciate your willingness to come in today,” he said, adjusting his glasses.
Ai bowed politely, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Of course, Tanaka-san. You said you wanted to talk to me?”
He cleared his throat, rifling through some papers before looking at her with a curious twinkle. “We received… a compliment. From the stadium.”
Ai blinked. “A compliment?”
Mr. Tanaka nodded enthusiastically. “Apparently, the band that performed last night—Stars Aligned? Their staff was very impressed with your work. So much so that they reached out to us directly. They’re in Tokyo for three months filming some special. And—” he paused for dramatic effect, “they requested a housekeeper to keep their apartment clean during their stay. They want you.”
“Me?!” Ai squeaked, nearly tripping over the mop leaning against the wall. Her mind flashed back to the green-haired idol she had very literally fallen on top of. The way his eyes had locked on hers, the way she ran out like a startled rabbit…
She pressed a hand to her forehead. Was this… was this his doing? Did Hoshino Sora really go out of his way… just to compliment my mopping?
Her cheeks burned.
“Well?” Mr. Tanaka leaned forward, hands clasped. “The pay is twice your normal rate. More than enough to cover the rest of your tuition this year. This is a rare opportunity, Ai.”
Ai’s jaw dropped. Twice the pay? Tuition fully covered? Her dream of finishing college without debt suddenly sparkled like a shooting star right in front of her.
“I’LL TAKE IT!” she shouted so loudly a passing coworker poked their head in. She slapped both hands over her mouth, bowing furiously. “I-I mean, yes. I’d be honored.”
Meanwhile, across town, Hoshino Sora was not focused on dance practice.
The other members of Stars Aligned were drenched in sweat, counting beats and nailing footwork, but Sora’s movements were… less than polished. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the sound of Ai’s voice like a broken record.
Her song lingered in his chest like an ache he couldn’t shake. Her face—eyes wide, lips parted in surprise, the warmth of her body crashing into his—made his pulse quicken every time he thought of it.
“Oi, Sora! You’re off-beat again bruh! What’s going on with you?” his choreographer barked.
“Sorry,” Sora muttered, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.
The moment practice ended, he ducked into a corner and pulled out his phone.
He had told his manager over the line to find the girl from Scrubbing Up. He had to see her again.
He unlocked his phone to reveal:
Text Message from Dai: She accepted the position. She’ll come tomorrow after 3 PM to clean.
Sora’s lips curved into a slow grin. His chest felt lighter than it had in years. Tomorrow. He’d see her tomorrow.
The next afternoon, Ai stood outside a gleaming high-rise apartment complex, Scrubbing Up uniform freshly ironed, cleaning kit in hand. Her heart thudded nervously.
“Get a grip, Ai,” she muttered. “He probably doesn’t even remember you. Just clean, get paid, and leave.”
Inside, Mr. Dai, the band’s stern-faced manager, greeted her. “Ah, you’re the new housekeeper. Good. Rules are simple: don’t touch personal belongings, keep the place spotless, and be out before the boys get home from practice. May I remind you that you signed an NDA. If you understand, I’ll be on my way. Lock the door when you are done.”
Ai bowed deeply. “Understood. Thank you for the opportunity.”
With that, Dai left, and Ai was alone in the sprawling luxury apartment.
She began dusting and humming absentmindedly, her soft voice filling the otherwise quiet space. Room by room, she worked her way through, until she entered a room that made her freeze.
A grand piano stood in the corner, glossy and majestic under the window light.
Her heart fluttered. “It’s beautiful…”
Before she could stop herself, she set her rag aside and slid onto the bench. Her fingers brushed the cool ivory keys, and her chest swelled with excitement.
“One song won’t hurt,” she whispered.
Her hands found the melody instinctively—Stars Aligned’s hit ballad, “You’re My Star.” She played it slowly, tenderly, weaving her own voice into the notes.
🎵 “You’re the light that I found in the dark,
A guiding flame, a beating heart.
Even if the night is far,
I’ll always see you—
You’re my star.” 🎵
What she didn’t know was that she wasn’t alone.
From the hallway closet, Sora was hiding. He had sneaked back early, intending to get some alone time with her before the guys came back from their interviews, but the moment she sat at the piano, he froze.
Her voice. That same pure, unpolished, soul-stirring voice. And now, singing his song.
He leaned against the closet door, utterly entranced. Every note wrapped around him like a spell, and for once, he didn’t want to break free.
But then—THUNK!
The closet door gave way.
Sora tumbled out dramatically, landing face-first on the carpet with his butt sticking embarrassingly in the air.
“KYAA!” Ai squealed, nearly falling off the piano bench.
Lifting his head slowly, Sora grinned sheepishly, hair mussed, cheeks flushed.
“Guess I just… fell for you all over again,” he quipped.
Ai blinked—then burst into laughter, covering her mouth. “Are you okay?”
He laughed too, brushing himself off. “Better than okay. Especially now that I know you can play our song better than we do.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
And just like that, Ai realized—this was going to be a very, very complicated three months.
What did you think of Chapter 2? Let me know in the comments.
Mrs. Anime Mom 