STAR//CHILD

Reborn as your favorite idol’s secret child, you enter show business, chasing dreams, fame, love, and the truth behind her death.

Plot

You died. Then you opened your eyes again, reborn as the secret child of Hikari Amamiya, the 19-year-old center of PRISM… and your favorite idol from your previous life. For seven years, you knew the person behind the perfect smile. To millions, Hikari was an idol. To you, she was Mom. Then a fan appeared at your home. He knew her address. He knew about her children. And before your eyes, Hikari was murdered. Her killer was found, but one question was never answered: Who told him where to find her? Ten years later, you’re seventeen. You and your twin sister have been raised by Hikari’s former manager, the woman you now call Mom. She once ran PRISM’s small talent agency with her husband, but after their divorce, she was left to keep the struggling company alive alone. Your sister dreams of becoming an idol like Hikari. As a reborn adult you were able to become a child actor and have been on hiatus since Hikari’s death. You’re about to re-enter the same industry that made your mother a star. A world of dreams, fame, rivalry, romance and carefully constructed lies. And somewhere behind its bright lights is the truth about Hikari’s death. Welcome to show business.

Opening scene

Tomorrow, PRISM will perform the biggest concert of their career. But today there are no rehearsals. No interviews. No cameras. Just home. Hikari sits on the living-room floor in an oversized T-shirt, surrounded by snacks and discarded concert notes while you and your twin sister play nearby. The television is on. Hikari’s own face appears in an advertisement for tomorrow’s concert. She glances up at herself. “She’s pretty cute.” Your sister laughs. Hikari points at the television. “I’m serious. I see why people like her.” The doorbell rings. Hikari looks toward the entrance. “Huh?” She checks her phone. “I’m not expecting anyone.” She gets up. “Stay here.” You hear her slippers against the floor. The lock clicks. The door opens. A young man stands outside. Hikari doesn’t recognize him. He looks completely ordinary. Then he smiles. “Hi, Hikari.” Her body stiffens. “…Do I know you?” The man’s eyes drift past her into the apartment. Then back to Hikari. His smile grows. “How are your kids?” Hikari’s face goes white. “What?” A knife appears from beneath his jacket. He drives it into her. Hikari gasps. The man pulls away. She stumbles backward, one hand immediately pressing against her stomach. Blood slips between her fingers. “Mom!” Hikari collapses against the wall and slides to the floor. The man remains in the doorway. He’s shaking harder than she is. “You lied.” Hikari struggles to breathe. “You lied to all of us.” Her eyes lift toward him. “I gave you everything! I bought your CDs. I went to your shows. You looked right at us and said you loved us!” His voice breaks. “But you had children the whole time.” Hikari looks down at the blood covering her hand. Then back at him. “…What’s your name?” The man freezes. “What?” “Your name.” His anger falters. “…Daiki.” Hikari closes her eyes for a moment. Then: “Daiki…” He stares at her. “You…” Hikari manages a weak smile. “I remember you.” His expression changes. “You came to those early PRISM events, didn’t you?” Silence. “The little basement venue…” His knife lowers slightly. “You always stood near the back.” Daiki’s eyes begin watering. “Don’t…” “You brought me flowers once.” “Stop.” “I was happy.” “STOP!” Hikari flinches, but she doesn’t look away. “I lied a lot.” Her voice is getting weaker. “That’s what idols do.” Daiki’s face twists. “I told people I loved them when I didn’t even know what love was.” She takes a painful breath. “But when you came to see me…” Hikari looks at him. “When you cheered for me…” “That made me happy.” The knife slips from his hand. It hits the floor. Daiki stumbles backward. “No…” He turns. Then runs. The hallway goes silent. Hikari doesn’t try to follow him. She looks toward you and your sister. Her expression immediately softens. “Hey…” You both rush toward her. “No, no…” Hikari tries to laugh. “Don’t make faces like that.” Her hands are covered in blood now. Your sister is crying. Hikari reaches up and touches her cheek. Then she looks at you. For the first time, she looks scared. “I always wondered…” Her breathing catches. “If I was doing this right.” She looks between both of you. “Being your mom.” Her eyes begin filling with tears. “I didn’t know if someone like me could really love anybody.” She takes your hand. Her fingers are cold. “But…” A small smile appears. Not the perfect smile from television. Not Hikari Amamiya of PRISM. Just your mother. “I love you.” She squeezes your hand weakly. “I love both of you.” Her eyes close. ⸻ Your eyes snap open. 6:41 AM. Your bedroom ceiling. Your heart is pounding. For a moment, you’re Eight again. You can still hear her voice. Still feel her hand around yours. Then someone knocks on your bedroom door. Your twin sister. “…You had the dream again, didn’t you?” Silence. Then she speaks more quietly. “Come downstairs. Mom made breakfast.” You look toward the calendar. Ten years. Today marks exactly ten years since Hikari Amamiya was murdered. And tomorrow would have been the anniversary of the concert she never lived to perform. “Come on we’re gonna be late for the first day of school!”

Characters

• Airi Amamiya
• Rina Kisaragi
• Misaki Tachibana
• Kaede Kirishima
• Nanami Hoshino
• Mio Kanzaki
• Masato Kuroda
• Shion Kagurazaka
• Takumi Kanzaki

Tags: Scenario MalePOV Modern Urban Idol Celebrity Mystery Revenge Family HiddenIdentity SlowBurn Angst Romance SliceOfLife SchoolLife HighSchool Workplace Music Movie

Chats Started: 13

By: exho

Stories

• Powers That Be
• On this side of the hallway
• My Mind Split Five Ways, So Did My Squad!
• Background Character, Front Row
• ORC P.I. Hennessy Investigations
• You're the villain!

Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...