Chapter 37: The Recycling of Coffee
"You've already signed an employment contract with Strawberry Productions?"
Takashi Kadomori looked on in disbelief. After confirming the details several times, he excused himself to leave. "I'll head back and see how to handle this situation. Let's exchange Line IDs; I'll be in touch regarding the follow-up."
This left Hikaru Hoshino and Ichigo Saitou staring at each other in silence.
Hikaru was the first to strike: "Why did you say you wanted to join Xini Entertainment?"
Ichigo wore a look of weary experience. "They offered too much."
"Huh?"
"No," Ichigo continued to defend himself, "I just suddenly felt that joining a big company might be a good thing. The resources are vast, the channels are numerous... if Ai had joined a company like that from the start, she'd probably have performed at the Dome long ago, right?"
As he spoke, Ichigo's tone grew melancholic.
"Ai has reached the pinnacle of the idol world. To develop further, I'm afraid I can hardly offer her much more assistance. In the past, Strawberry Productions was her sanctuary, her solid backbone. But now, I fear we've become a burden to her continued growth."
"You shouldn't say that to Ai's face," Hikaru suddenly interrupted.
"Your perspective is just your own wishful thinking; you've never actually asked Ai what she thinks. You feel you're dragging her down, but she would never see it that way. Ai views you like a father—what kind of father plans to abandon his daughter?"
"Are you planning to sell her out to Xini Entertainment just for the sake of her 'future'?" Hikaru's tone sank. "That place isn't your territory. Once you're in someone else's company, what you say and do isn't up to you anymore."
"The entertainment industry isn't exactly a clean place. Using seniority to oppress juniors or using authority for workplace harassment—aren't those common occurrences? With Ai's current status, she has no need to attach herself to a big corporation. As long as she stays steady, she'll step into the top tier sooner or later. There's no need to rush."
Ichigo sighed. "Alright, I was being too impatient. But what about you?" Having been lectured by Hikaru, he began to huff and glare back. "You have nothing to do with Berry Pro, so why did you say you've joined Strawberry Productions?"
"I specifically said I entered into an *employment relationship*," Hikaru explained patiently. "That was the whole reason I dragged you here today. I don't want to sign with any company, but Xini Entertainment is massive. An opportunity like this, where a behemoth approaches you voluntarily, is rare. It would be a waste to refuse outright."
"I want to establish a partnership with them. I don't want to be tied to their ship, but I want to take a share of the benefits. After thinking it over, an employment relationship is the most logical route."
Hikaru drained his coffee. "Strawberry Productions employs me as a composer; Xini Entertainment employs me as a singer. By limiting the scope of business cooperation, the weight of the contract naturally decreases. If I want to terminate the contract unilaterally later, the penalty won't be astronomical."
"Most people would be over the moon to be scouted by such a giant, yet here you are, already thinking about the breakup," Ichigo grunted. "Should I say you're arrogant because of your talent, or just ungrateful?"
Hikaru glanced at him. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"I'm heading back to the office. Suit yourself," Ichigo said as he left quickly.
Hikaru didn't budge, however; he remained sitting in his spot, calm as a veteran. Now that he was alone, he could finally browse the menu in detail.
"One Ristretto Flat White, and another Iced Americano."
The world of adults is inevitably tied to the word "networking," and this is especially true in the entertainment industry. If anything, networking *is* part of Hikaru's job. Everyone probes one another, exchanges resources, invests in promising targets, and ultimately carves up the fans' money.
As a master of time management, Hikaru didn't want to waste time making another trip. Socializing was unavoidable, but joyless banquets should be kept to a minimum. Everyone wears a fake smile, clinking glasses, with superiors suppressing subordinates and newcomers flattering veterans.
In his previous life, he had loathed this kind of obligatory socializing, and after crossing over, he only detested it more.
—At least at a banquet in China, you can keep your head down and focus on the food; if you accidentally end up at a high-end sashimi shop here, you're out of luck.
Long-standing habits are not easily changed, and Hikaru still hadn't adapted to Japanese cuisine.
Soon, the other person Hikaru had an appointment with appeared at the door. He was an unremarkable middle-aged man with a side-swept fringe that covered part of his left eye. His visible right eye was small but sharp with intelligence.
His posture was slightly stooped, and his right hand stayed in his pocket, habitually reaching for a cigarette before remembering it was a cafe and reluctantly letting go.
The newcomer was Masaya Kaburagi.
He strolled over and sat opposite Hikaru, frowning at the Iced Americano on the table. Hikaru had ordered it specifically for him; unless one is a true coffee enthusiast, most people can't stand the bitter, sour taste of an Americano—some old Europeans even refer to it as "dishwater."
"To be honest, I'm not a fan of coffee. Why couldn't we meet at an izakaya tonight? We could share a drink and stay until we're merry—wouldn't that be better?"
"Producer Kaburagi should be aware that I'm not yet 20," Hikaru said bluntly.
Kaburagi chuckled low. "The things you do always make people forget your age."
"What do you want this time? I don't recall us having much overlap before," Hikaru asked without ceremony.
"No direct overlap..." Kaburagi leaned his head on his hand. "But isn't there some indirect connection?"
"What are you referring to?" Hikaru began to play dumb.
"You and Ai are together now, aren't you? I was the one who introduced her to the Lalalai Theatrical Company to learn. In that sense, wouldn't you say I pulled a few strings for you two?"
Kaburagi looked at Hikaru with a smile in his cloudy eyes. He likely viewed this as a favor that could be traded, but Hikaru certainly didn't see it that way.
Hikaru felt like swearing.
By that logic, did Ai's death in the original timeline also have something to do with him?
Hikaru kept a cold face. "An unconscious act without subjective intent can hardly be considered a primary cause for an event."
"Fine," Kaburagi shrugged. "You have a point. I certainly didn't intend to play matchmaker; your coming together is your own fate."
"I assume you didn't ask me here just to say that?"
"Of course not." Kaburagi slowly sat up straight, interlacing his fingers. "Actually, I have a project here, and your situation happens to be a perfect fit, so I'd like to invite you to participate."
"I ref—"
Kaburagi interrupted Hikaru. "Don't be so quick to refuse. This show is very popular right now; your participation would be a win-win. Besides, aren't you busy transitioning your career lately?"
"Wouldn't a variety show with a sense of daily life be the perfect stage to build your public persona?"
Hikaru listened quietly as Kaburagi's eyes gradually grew fervent.
"Come and join us. Join the top-tier dating reality show—"
"—The Real Love Show."