King of Idols C4 Yuki

The walk from Sakuragaoka High to the Hoshikawa residence was a pleasant 15-minute stroll. As Renji entered his neighborhood, he couldn't help but admire the upper-middle-class homes that lined the streets, each one a testament to the affluence of its occupants.

It was the kind of place where the wealthy and successful chose to put down roots, and as the son of a multi-millionaire businessman, Renji was no stranger to the luxuries such a lifestyle afforded.

The area was replete with amenities: trendy cafes, high-end boutiques, and state-of-the-art music shops were all within easy walking distance. And just a stone's throw away lay the tranquil beauty of Inokashira Park, a lush oasis amidst the urban sprawl.

As Renji made his way down the tree-lined avenue, he breathed in the crisp, clean air, letting the stresses of the day melt away. Finally, he arrived at his destination: 2-15-7 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino City, Tokyo.

The Hoshikawa home was an impressive sight, its modern architecture and well-manicured grounds a testament to the family's success.

But despite its grandeur, the house maintained a sense of warmth and intimacy, its 120 square meter floor plan striking the perfect balance between luxury and comfort.

'Not too shabby,' Renji thought to himself as he took in the sleek lines and gleaming windows of the two-story structure. 'Definitely a step up from my old life.'

With a spring in his step, he made his way inside, calling out a cheerful "I'm home!" as he crossed the threshold.

Wasting no time, Renji headed straight for the stairs, eager to retreat to the sanctuary of his bedroom. As he stepped inside, he was struck by a sense of familiarity, even though he knew this was technically his first time seeing the space.

The walls were adorned with posters of popular musicians and anime characters, a testament to the original Renji's interests. A cozy single bed, a well-organized study desk, a built-in closet, and even a small balcony—it had everything a teenage boy could want. And there, in the corner, was a tantalizing array of music equipment, just waiting to be put to use.

'It's like this room was made for me,' Renji mused, running his hand over the soft blanket on the bed. 'I guess, in a way...it was.'

Suddenly, a gentle knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Ren-chan?" a warm, feminine voice called out. "How was your first day at school? I brought some snacks for you. Why don't you open the door so we can chat?"

Renji hurried to let his mother in, a smile already spreading across his face. As the door swung open, he was greeted by the sight of Hoshikawa Yuki, a stunning woman who looked far younger than her 45 years. In her hands was a tray laden with an assortment of delectable Japanese treats and a steaming cup of green tea.

"Thanks for the snacks, Mom," Renji said gratefully, taking the tray from her hands.

Yuki's eyes widened in surprise, a gasp escaping her lips. "Wow, did I hear that right? Did you just...thank me?"

Renji paused, a rice cracker halfway to his mouth, as he registered his mother's shocked reaction.

And then it hit him: the original Renji, the boy whose life he had inherited, had never been one to show gratitude for his mother's doting attention. In fact, he had often been downright resentful of her coddling, too proud and stubborn to accept her love.

'But I'm not that Renji,' he reminded himself, setting the cracker back down on the tray. 'And I'll be damned if I make the same mistakes he did.'

Meeting his mother's gaze, Renji allowed a gentle smile to curve his lips. "Of course I thanked you. Why wouldn't I? You're always looking out for me, and I...I really appreciate it."

For a moment, Yuki could only stare at her son, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Then, with a watery laugh, she pulled him into a fierce hug, the tray of snacks momentarily forgotten.

"Oh, Ren-chan," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear those words from you."

Renji stood there, feeling a bit awkward and helpless as his "new" mom hugged him tightly.

Little did he know, Yuki's mind was racing with joy, 'He actually appreciates me!' she thought to herself, rubbing her head on her son's shoulder affectionately.

Noticing this, Renji couldn't help but let out a small cough, "Um... mom..." he spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of discomfort as he glanced at the tray of snacks and tea, "I... I was just about to have some snacks."

Realizing her mistake, Yuki couldn't help but laugh softly, a tinge of embarrassment in her voice, "Oh, right. I almost forgot about that." She released him from her embrace, smiling warmly as she said, "Well, go ahead and enjoy your snacks. When you're done, just bring the tray down to the kitchen and give it a quick wash, okay?"

"Sure thing," Renji nodded, watching as his mom exited his room with a cheerful bounce in her step, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Renji let out a sigh of relief. 'Even though she's technically my mom, I can't help but feel a bit awkward around her,' he thought to himself.

It was true. Despite appreciating his new mother's love and affection, unlike the original Renji, he still needed time to adjust to her doting nature and the unfamiliar dynamic between them.

Shaking off these thoughts, Renji turned his attention to the snacks, munching on them as he pulled up his system interface to check his daily missions.

[Practice Daily Vocal Exercises - 0/10]

[Practice at least one musical instrument daily - 0/10]

He knew that failing to complete these tasks would result in a "minor punishment" – for the vocal exercises, he'd be unable to speak for 24 hours, and for the guitar practice, his hands would tremble for the same duration.

While these consequences might seem minor, Renji had no desire to deal with the unnecessary troubles they would bring.

Determined to avoid such inconveniences, he quickly finished his snacks and gulped down the steaming hot tea, wincing as it burned his tongue, "Hot, hot!" he complained, setting the cup aside.

"Alright, time to tackle these daily missions," he muttered to himself, eyeing the array of musical instruments and equipment in the corner of his room.

His gaze roamed over the electric piano, the guitar, and even a sleek violin. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Renji contemplated which one to start with.

After a moment of deliberation, Renji reached for the guitar. His fingers glided over the strings, plucking out a familiar melody.

The distorted chords reverberated through the room, a raw and grungy sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of his soul. He hummed along, lost in the music, but his playing was still a bit rough around the edges.

Stopping abruptly, Renji couldn't help but chuckle to himself, 'Guess my skills have gotten a bit rusty after all those years as a corporate drone. But thanks to this body's weekly practice sessions, it's not as bad as I thought.'

A smile tugged at his lips as he began to sing, his voice ringing out in an attempt to match the melody.

But the sound that emerged was far from pleasant—off-key and strained, a stark contrast to the smooth notes of the guitar.

"Yikes, that's terrible," Renji muttered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He glanced around the room, relieved to find himself alone. 'At least no one's here to witness this train wreck.'

The original Renji had been born into a family that wholeheartedly supported his dream of becoming a music artist.

But there was one glaring problem: his singing voice was absolutely atrocious. While he could play the guitar with some degree of competence, his vocal abilities left much to be desired.

Sighing, Renji's gaze fell upon the system panel. 'Thank goodness for this Idol System. With its help, I might actually have a shot at improving, even if it means facing some punishment along the way.'

Steeling himself, he continued to strum the guitar, belting out the lyrics despite the cringe-worthy sound of his own voice. Minutes ticked by, and slowly but surely, the system's progress bars began to fill.

[Practice Daily Vocal Exercise 2/10]

[Practice Guitar 3/10]

As he pushed through the discomfort, Renji found himself growing more accustomed to the sound of his own voice. But just as he was starting to find his groove, a sudden chuckle from outside his door shattered his concentration.

"Wow, whoever's singing in there has a truly awful voice!" The voice was unmistakable—it had to be his younger sister, Mai Hoshikawa.

Renji froze, his fingers hovering over the strings as he stared at the door, his face burning with a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment.