Kaori winced, too, in sympathy. They might be in different entertainment spheres but she knew what it was like to have a slave-driving parent cracking the proverbial whip at you to practice, practice, practice. With any luck, Keiichi's dad wasn't nearly as dedicated to his son's success as Kousaki Akemi was to her daughter's.

"Yeah, I should be fine," Kaori said as readjusted her book pile. It wasn't that long of a walk but if she was going to be bringing this much stuff from school every day, maybe she could consider taking the subway from now on.

"Well, good luck, Ito-kun," she added with the same bright, charming smile that had landed her a second audition. "It was nice meeting you! See you around at school!"

And then she was off. Maybe it was just her imagination but the books somehow felt lighter than they had before.