From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel

Cat in the pink car.

- hisssssssssssssss

Cat out of the pink car.

Peaceful, calm, sleeping extra-large cat burrito in his arms.

Cat in the pink car.

- yowllllllllllllllllllllll

Cat out of the pink car.

Purring, relaxed extra-large cat burrito stretching in his arms.

Ari glanced suspiciously at the girl dressed in all pink while hugging the docile cat before stating his thoughts, "Animal abuse?"

- Meow!!

It was a meow of agreement, and Pink Puma glared viciously at the culprit and the person holding the culprit while stomping her foot angrily.

"No! Don't listen to him! He's lying!"

"Then what did you do to the cat? He hates you."

"It's not my fault! He's supposed to be on a diet, so he ran away when I reduced his food!"

"Hmm." Ari looked at her suspiciously.

She didn't seem to be lying.

But just in case, he would ask NOVA.

"Then…go get a cat carrier and come back. I'll wait here with the cat."

"What if you try to hold him ransom or run away when I leave?"

"After I took the effort to catch him? I'll just let it go right now. Be free, Fat Boi." Ari pretended to release the cat which just clung onto him tighter.

"No! Please! The cat really hates me. Can you just come with me to the vet's office? It's close by and the sun's setting soon. Aren't you afraid of the dark? Just come with me." Pink Puma gave him her best pleading expression, and Ari laughed mischievously.

"I don't want to get in a car with a stranger. What if you're a kidnapper, or a stalker, or paparazzi?"

The pleading look disappeared, and she began stomping her feet angrily instead.

"Why would I do that? I said I was famous! You're supposed to be my assistant."

"Not famous enough. I don't know who you are, and I'm not an assistant."

"That's cause you live under a rock! Wait, you're not an assistant sent by my manager?"

"No. How could I be an assistant if I didn't know who you were?"

"Gasp! Then who are you?"

"A good Samaritan?"

"You're a stalker? A kidnapper?"

"No, but I guess I have a new cat now? Want to come to my rock house with me, Fat Boi? I have snacks."

- meow!

"I see. Then let's go."

"No, please wait! It was a joke! I know you're not a stalker or a kidnapper! Martin will really kill me if he comes back tomorrow and Fat Boi is not him. Just come to the vet with me."

"Should I? Should I not?"

Pink puma tried to grab onto Ari's arm, but one look at the large paws with claws slowly coming out, and she backed up fearfully.

"Please?"

Ari looked up in the sky as if asking for a sign, and a transparent blue box appeared.

[Go along with her.]

"Hmmm…"

"You're a terrible person lying to me like that. Terrible assistant. I'm going to tell my manager to give you a bad rating." As she began grumbling under her breath as she glared at both Ari and the cat, he could only laugh in bemusement.

How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not an assistant?

"I guess I have a new pet cat?"

Her tune changed immediately.

"Once again, I apologize. Please come along with me. I don't want to get scratched again." Pink Puma immediately bowed her head.

"Hmmm. Fine. If I come, you owe me a favor. Just a small one."

"What's the favor?" Pink Puma asked suspiciously.

If he wanted to get a song or feature for free from her, she would immediately refuse.

"Can you or anyone you know get me an appointment at the passport office within the next 2 days?"

At the random request, she glanced at Ari as if he were crazy.

"Of course not. Why would I know that? Make an appointment like everybody else."

"Ah. So you're the kind of famous that's not very useful. Fine. Let's get to the vet."

It seemed that the surprise mission reward wouldn't be coming from her.

With a despondent sigh, Ari entered the passenger seat and buckled up while Pink Puma began vibrating with anger.

It was the first time she met someone who not only pretended not to know her, but he wasn't even taking her seriously now.

Stomping her feet angrily, she entered the car, started it, and began driving away at a high speed while playing her music.

She would let him hear how amazing an artist she was and what he was missing out on.

"Are you listening. I wrote and produced this song. It's currently on the Billboard 100. You can look it up." Pink Puma told him proudly, expecting praise and admittance that he did know who she was, but Ari nodded while petting the cat.

"I don't have my phone, so I'll believe you. It sounds pretty good."

"That's it? It's pretty good?"

"I like the chord progression a lot. I think it would have been cool if you had more vocal layering. Something like, hm…"

Ari listened for a moment before humming the melody while changing a few notes.

Pink Puma was about to berate him, but when she played back what he had just sung in her mind, she realized that it had, in fact, elevated the song even more, and 10s of new ideas cropped up from the melody that he had simply hummed.

"How did you think of that?"

"I have a producer friend and vocal trainer who asks me to do things like that all the time. I apparently have a good ear, so I've been working on utilizing it."

More importantly, he had a skill that made him have a good ear, but the practice definitely helped.

"So you're an aspiring singer?"

"Something like that."

It would take too long to explain that he was on an idol survival show.

"Hmph, then as a professional musician, I'll test out your skills. What would you add to this song-"

Pink Puma played another song, and after listening to it, Ari sang a little riff he thought would sound good.

"And this one?"

As she played a more upbeat song, the music was interrupted by a phone call. After glancing at the screen name, which said [❤️Boyfriend❤️], Pink Puma ignored it until it stopped ringing.

Then it rang again.

Stopped.

Rang again.

Stopped.

Ari glanced at the screen in the center of the car, reading the caller ID before commenting curiously.

"Shouldn't you answer that?"

"Ignore it."

"I can cover my ears if you don't want me to hear the conversation between the two of you."

"I said ignore it!"

"Sure, sure."

Ari just stayed silent while petting the cat.

The rest of the car ride to the vet's office passed in silence, constantly interrupted by her ringing phone.

When they finally arrived, Ari watched with confused eyes as Pink Puma put on a pink face mask, pink sunglasses, and a pink baseball hat.

"What are you doing?"

"Hiding my identity."

"…do you think you're hiding anything?"

"Yes. Would you like one? I'm feeling generous."

Ari looked at her entire pink outfit and the bright pink mask she offered him before choosing to be polite.

"No, thank you."

If she thought that she was hiding her identity while dressed like that, he would leave her to her delusions.

He walked behind her, carrying Fat Boi, who still hissed whenever he made eye contact with Pink Puma.

Ring!

When they entered the veterinary clinic, Ari noted the clean space that had quite a few people sitting in the waiting area.

As Pink Puma walked to the counter, getting a few glances, he stayed behind her.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Yes, this is Fat Boi. He's limping on his right leg, and I saw that it was bleeding a couple of days ago, so we're bringing him in." Pink Puma explained, and as if he understood that he would soon be getting treatment, the large cat struggled out of the jacket burrito and insisted on climbing and sitting on Ari's shoulders while holding out his paw.

The receptionist laughed at the name before staring at Ari and Fat Boi with a gentle smile while both sets of green eyes blinked slowly at her, "He is quite the big boy. He is very handsome and looks just like his owner. Do you happen to have his medical records on hand? He looks like a Maine coon."

"No, but he should be up to date with everything. And he's chipped if that helps."

"It does. Which one of you will be coming with me to the back while we look over him?"

"I'll go," Ari said as Fat Boi hissed at Pink Puma and dug his claws into his shoulder, who attempted to reach out to hold him.

Pointing at Pink Puma, he warned her, "Don't run off without paying the bill."

"I would never do that!" she stomped her foot angrily, and Ari simply laughed at her.

"Good. Then sit tight and don't go anywhere."

"You-"

"I'll be back, so eat a snack or something. Your stomach has been grumbling. And you, stop digging your claws into me. It hurts."

Giving Pink Puma a lazy wave without looking back, Ari grabbed the large cat, letting it use his forearm like a bed, and followed behind the vet.

And once he left the room, one of the girls sitting in the waiting room, who had secretly been taking a video of the two of them, quickly posted it onto her Twitter account.

[Does Pink Puma Have a New Boyfriend? Vet Visit With Handsome Green Eyed Guy and Matching Cat.]