Chapter 32: The Three-Year Fairy and the Two-Year White Swan
"Phew~"
Standing inside the recording studio, Hikaru Hoshino let out a long, lingering breath. He removed his monitors, returned the microphone to its stand, and pushed open the door to step out.
"Hard work, Biyoo! Your singing sounded beautiful," Ai, who had been waiting outside, complimented him immediately.
"Cut it out," Hikaru took a towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I know exactly where I stand. Compared to you, I'm still a long way off."
"At least someone here has some self-awareness," Ichigo Saitou remarked, curling his lip. "Your vocal skills still need a lot of work."
"However..." He drew out his voice, continuing only when Hikaru looked ready to snap back. "At least it's listenable now."
"Not every singer in the industry is classically trained. There are plenty of singers who exploded in popularity just by having a good voice and strong songwriting. You might as well debut with this unpolished level for now. When your skills improve later, you can release remastered versions of your early tracks—that's one way to go about it."
*But how should the songs be released?* Hikaru thought, lowering his head in contemplation.
Ai was already quite famous, so her release would be straightforward. But he was still at the starting line. Releasing a song abruptly without any promotion would likely result in it sinking into the abyss without a ripple. Being "high-quality" didn't guarantee a mass audience; he didn't want to become one of those "hidden gem" singers only known to a handful of people.
A hidden gem is something waiting to be discovered; it's never as valuable as gold that is already in circulation.
He still needed to "ride the hype."
*But who can this song, "Dried Flower," ride the hype of?*
Hikaru couldn't think of a solution for the moment, so he set the matter aside. He shook his head and said to Ichigo Saitou, "Let Ai upload her song first. I'll wait a bit longer for mine."
"There's no heat yet."
Ichigo understood his point. "Fine. You aren't signed to our company anyway, so I won't meddle."
He hurried off. To him, the song Ai had just recorded, *Into the Night (Yoru ni Kakeru)*, was undoubtedly a masterpiece. If handled correctly, it could take Ai's fame to a whole new level. He couldn't let this opportunity go to waste; he had to coordinate with the PR department to maximize the impact.
The build-up before the release, which platform to debut on, the timing, whether to hire "water armies" (fake engagement) after the launch—all of these were factors that needed consideration.
A company is an artist's backbone. As the President, he would pave the way for Ai so she would never have to worry.
Hikaru didn't have that luxury; he had to do everything himself.
He sighed again in helplessness. "Having a company is pretty convenient, after all."
"Isn't it easy for Biyoo to sign with a company?" Ai asked curiously. "Just send a resume to any music agency, I'm sure you'd pass!"
"Good luck!"
Ai pumped her tiny fists cutely to cheer him up.
Hikaru was stunned for a moment. He had intended to explain that it wasn't that companies didn't want him, but that he didn't want to be tied down. In the end, the words at the tip of his tongue turned into a simple "Thanks."
"I'll take your word for it, then."
Hikaru shrugged. "Alright, let's not worry about that. Don't we have a gathering tonight?"
"Eek!" Ai cried out in shock. "I totally forgot!"
"What should we do? Will the Director be mad at us?"
"Of course not," Hikaru couldn't help but laugh. "Look at the time. Come on, I'll drive you over."
He took his car, picked up Aqua and Ruby first, and then leisurely headed toward Shinjuku.
The lead actors of Gotanda's crew had agreed to meet tonight for a gathering to mark the film's official commencement. The venue was an izakaya in Shinjuku. Traditional izakayas are cramped and unsuitable for large parties, so Taishi Gotanda had spent a fortune to book the entire place.
Hikaru led the trio to their destination. After weaving through several alleys, they stopped in front of an old shop at the end of a lane.
The sky had grown dark. Under the dim, yellow lights, the sign reading "Shiraki-ken" looked somewhat rickety.
The bustling Shinjuku commercial district was just a stone's throw away; it was surprising to find such a vintage shop from the last century tucked away here. Hikaru double-checked the location before pushing the door open.
In contrast to the weathered exterior, the interior was quite sophisticated. Solid wood tables and chairs were neatly arranged by the windows, various lanterns hung overhead, and colorful posters adorned the walls, giving off a warm, cozy vibe.
Behind the bar near the door, a young waiter was silently polishing glasses.
"So, where are they?"
Aqua remained silent for a moment before asking the most crucial question.
Aside from the waiter, the shop was empty. There wasn't a soul in sight.
"Did we really get the wrong place?" Hikaru couldn't help but doubt.
"Yo, you're here." Taishi Gotanda suddenly emerged from a small door at the very back, waving at the four of them.
"Where were you?" Hikaru questioned him bluntly.
Gotanda brushed back his long bangs. "Cravings hit me. I went to the restroom for a smoke."
"Are you the only ones here? Where is everyone else? Forget it, sit down first. I'll make a few calls and ask."
Gotanda pushed two tables together, gesturing for them to sit, then grabbed his phone and ran back toward the restroom. Hikaru strongly suspected he was going back for another cigarette.
Suddenly, with a *creak*, the door opened again. Teppei Nishikawa walked in cautiously. His eyes lit up when he spotted Hikaru by the window.
"Hikari-senpai!" He waved and jogged over. Seeing the others, he greeted them politely. "I'm Teppei Nishikawa from FM Agency. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
The next to arrive was the actress playing the female lead, Koromo Shiranui. She had neat, short bangs, prominent hair accessories on the tips of her hair on both sides, and a high-standing *ahoge* (cowlick) on top of her head.
The moment Koromo walked in, her eyes locked onto Ai Hoshino.
"You're Ai-senpai from B-Komachi, right? Could I have your autograph?" She suddenly pulled a white gym uniform (buruma) out of her bag and handed it to Ai along with a black marker.
Hikaru studied the black-haired girl. She looked familiar. After a moment of deep thought, it clicked.
*This girl... isn't she from Shuchiin Academy?* A first-year, one year younger than Kaguya and the President. If he remembered correctly, she had a sister named Frill Shiranui, who would later be Ruby's classmate.
"Eh? So Shiranui-chan is a fan of mine too? I've never heard that before."
Ai was a bit surprised. This wasn't their first meeting; Koromo Shiranui was also a popular idol, and they had performed on the same stage before. Back then, Koromo hadn't acted nearly as enthusiastic as she was today.
"Actually, a senior asked me to do it," Koromo said, looking a bit embarrassed.
A few days ago, during a private gathering with some girls she knew, she had accidentally let it slip that she was about to film a movie with Ai. Upon hearing this, Tsubame Koyasu—a loyal B-Komachi fan—had immediately latched onto her.
"Get me Ai's autograph! This is the request of a lifetime!"
It was the first time Koromo had seen that mature and steady senior act like a fanatic stalker, looking as if she would burst into tears if Koromo didn't agree.
Ai quickly signed the gym suit. Koromo swiftly tucked it away, returning to her dazed, cute expression.
Acting as if nothing had happened, she re-introduced herself to Hikaru and the others. "Koromo Shiranui, third-year high school student. Currently an active idol. I like singing and reading. Please look after me."