What different species find attractive varies widely and is often hard to understand from an outsider’s perspective.

    This concept is especially pronounced among non-humanoid species, those referred to as inhuman types.

    Take, for example, a tree spirit: what’s considered the most beautiful tree among their kind might seem grotesque to humans.

    Similarly, the aquatic features of merfolk may appear indistinguishable to us, despite their intricacies.

    Just as humans can’t fully grasp the aesthetic sensibilities of inhuman species, the reverse is also true.

    The idea of beauty being decided by subtle differences in facial features? To tree spirits, whose faces twist and warp as they grow, such debates might seem trivial.

    Thus, even the most captivating human may be as unremarkable as a pebble on the roadside to an inhuman species.

    This is why idols targeting these species—like Codria’s Maximized Idol Aisha of Destruction—had to abandon conventional beauty standards altogether.

    For those who struggle to discern subtle facial differences, bold, painted-on makeup became the norm.

    A soft, melodic voice was replaced with something akin to nails on a chalkboard, designed to demand attention.

    As for the traits these idols exemplified: overwhelming strength, unconditional acceptance, and universal love.

    Aisha was created as a symbol of these ideals, designed to appeal across species barriers.

    ***

    Aisha’s Post-Performance Apology

    After the intense promotional video shoot ended, Aisha summoned us to a waiting room where she seemed far removed from the commanding presence she displayed moments ago.

    “I... I’m so sorry for showing you such an unsightly performance... It’s all part of my public image, but still....”

    Gone was the guitar-smashing, throat-shredding powerhouse; in her place was a timid girl speaking hesitantly.

    The shift was so dramatic that it was hard to believe she was the same person.

    But we weren’t here to hear apologies, and Alice and David quickly reassured her.

    “Huh? No, no! It was really amazing!”

    “Yes, as a professional, I found it quite fascinating. It was a rare glimpse into an effective approach for appealing to non-human audiences, showcasing the potential power of a universal idol.”

    “O-oh, really?”

    “That’s... uh, quite the way to put it....”

    Delighted by David’s enthusiastic words, Aisha clapped her hands together like a young girl.

    However, her heavy makeup made the cheerful gesture look somewhat unsettling, leading Raven to press his fingers to his temples with a sigh.

    From my perspective, the performance was genuinely impressive. The makeup was admittedly off-putting, but if you considered her as a unique representative of her species, it made sense. ?aNO???E?s??

    Her dramatic act of smashing a guitar on the ground was reminiscent of a great general rallying troops on a battlefield.

    Of course, as an idol, it was unconventional to the point of absurdity. But if it worked, who was I to question it?

    David’s passionate interest seemed to inspire the head manager of Codria, Bold, who enthusiastically agreed with him.

    “This young man gets it! Yes, indeed! Idols are meant to be icons for the people! A figure of strength that transcends beauty and species alike! Aisha will become the indomitable force that pushes the hesitant forward!”

    Good grief, his voice was so loud it felt like it had a built-in speaker.

    I winced, rubbing my ears, prompting Alice to scoot closer and gently cover my ears with her hands.

    It wasn’t exactly necessary, but I nodded my thanks to her nonetheless.

    ***

    A Serious Question

    While Bold waxed poetic about Aisha’s role as an idol, Raven’s calm voice cut through the noise.

    “Setting that aside for now, did you know Aisha was being harassed by a stalker?”

    Bold’s exuberance deflated instantly, replaced by a look of deep regret.

    “N-no... I only found out when Aisha confided in me recently. To think someone would stoop to such shameful acts against one of Codria’s idols! It’s unforgivable!”

    “Hmm, I see. Aisha mentioned the stalking began around her second month post-debut, so about a month ago. It seems she’s been dealing with it alone until now.”@@@@

    “That’s correct....”

    ***

    The Investigation Begins

    “Let’s get going, Yuria.”

    “...!”

    With David leading the way, we headed to the various locations where the stalker had photographed Aisha. Our task was to comb through these spots and uncover any potential clues.

    The locations varied greatly: restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, cosmetics shops, flower shops.

    What amazed me the most was that Aisha visited all these places wearing her dramatic makeup.

    Perhaps it stemmed from her personal philosophy of always being an idol, no matter the circumstances.

    Except when she was about to sleep, she never removed her makeup—a level of dedication I couldn’t help but admire.

    “Hmm, there doesn’t seem to be any significant evidence left behind. Perhaps too much time has passed.”

    “....”

    Indeed, despite visiting several locations, finding decisive clues proved difficult. The photos were old, and the locations were too generic—places anyone could frequent.

    Eventually, David switched tactics, questioning shop employees to see if they remembered Aisha or noticed anyone suspicious following her.

    Given Aisha’s striking appearance, most employees did recall seeing her. However, few noticed anyone suspicious in her wake.

    It seemed that Aisha’s extreme presence overshadowed everything else.

    Still, persistence often pays off. At the fifth location, a cafe?, we finally stumbled upon something useful.

    “I see. Thank you for your time.”

    “Oh, wait! I think I just remembered something!”

    “...Yes? What is it?”

    “You’re asking about someone suspicious following that scary-looking lady, right?”

    “Yes, that’s correct.”

    “Well... there was this scruffy-looking guy with reddish hair. I think he might’ve been following her....”

    “Oh? Really?”

    David thanked the shy employee profusely, his expression lighting up.

    Meanwhile, I watched the scene unfold with some amusement. Looks like the employee has a little crush on David. Too bad he’s already spoken for.

    Still, I followed him out of the cafe?, genuinely pleased by our progress.

    “A man with reddish hair... That’s a solid lead. We’ll check a few more locations and report this to Raven.”

    “...!”

    I gave David a thumbs-up in approval.

    ***

    Continuing the Search

    We visited more places after that—restaurants where Aisha had been photographed eating, cosmetics shops where she had hesitated over products, and more.

    Finally, we arrived at a bookstore Aisha frequently visited. As David and I stepped inside, someone exiting the store bumped into me.

    “Ugh... Watch where you’re going, will you?”

    “...!”

    The collision was with a girl about my height, wearing a butterfly-patterned half-mask that obscured her eyes.

    Her black hair framed a face that, even behind the mask, radiated irritation.

    Wait. I knew this person.

    The moment I realized who she was, a chill ran down my spine.

    Oh no... this might just be the biggest crisis of my life.