"..." Ichigo was speechless, choked by Hiko's words.
"You decide how much pocket money to give. Now, put twenty thousand yen into an envelope for me, and write Ai's name on it." Hiko spoke for a while, then, feeling Ai was about to arrive, he urged, "Hurry! Ai is almost here! If she knows it was my idea, she might feel uncomfortable."
Hiko thought of what Ai had mentioned during her outburst yesterday. Even though he had only felt a tiny bit of pity at the very beginning, she had still seen through him.
Hearing Hiko, Ichigo had no choice but to find an envelope and a pen from his drawer. He took out his wallet, stuffed some ten-thousand-yen banknotes into the envelope, and then began to write 'Hoshino Ai' on one side of the envelope before saying, "You brat, you've turned this place upside down as soon as you arrived. Giving out money should be the finance department's job... Never mind... It's a good thing you're taking initiative; it's much better than when you weren't interested in anything."
"When Ai comes over, just tell her this is an advance on her salary. Don't say anything else," Hiko instructed.
"Alright, alright, alright..." Ichigo looked at Hiko, who was leaning on the table, and said, "Do you have anything else you want to arrange?"
"I do have some arrangements, but Ai is the main character this time."
Hiko had already discussed the implementation plan with Ai at school today. First, she would propose it and communicate with the group members, then come to Ichigo's office to present the plan, and then he would assist from the side.
"Is that so? It seems you really like her. Ai has only been with us for less than a week, and you're already going out of your way to help her." Ichigo tapped his fingers on the desk.
"Just don't talk nonsense," Hiko warned.
"I really don't know what's going on in your head. You're only twelve..." Ichigo seemed to think of something and continued, "You and Ai are only twelve. Don't cause any big scandals that I'll have to clean up," Ichigo said, implying something.
"Don't worry, I won't. I know my limits," Hiko replied.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock came from the office door.
"Come in." Ichigo sat up straight, adopting a formal posture.
Click!
The door was opened by Ai.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked directly.
"Cough, cough..." Hiko coughed, trying to prompt Ichigo to give Ai the salary advance.
This concerned tomorrow's schedule planning.
"It's like this... I want to..." Ai proposed the group plan she had discussed with Hiko.
"No." Ichigo refused without thinking.
"Why?" Although Ai knew from the dialogue Hiko had simulated that Ichigo would flatly refuse, she couldn't help but ask.
"What you're doing is reckless. While the center does get to showcase other members during a performance, it's only for a very small portion of the time."
Ichigo thought for a moment, feeling that explaining it would be too troublesome, so he first pointed out the issues, saying, "First, how will you solve the problems of lyrics and songs? And most importantly, the choreography and staging are not as easy as you think."
"We can learn and handle these ourselves," Ai replicated the discussed answer.
"You are only eleven or twelve years old. You haven't even learned professional knowledge. It's too difficult for you to compose and choreograph on your own. And if you ask others, they might not be able to, and the cost of those who can would be very hard for you to bear."
Ichigo once again refuted Ai's statement. "You can't possibly spend several years learning professional knowledge before coming back."
'Again, it's similar to Hiko-kun's predicted answer... and it's hard to refute.'
Ai could only say again, "We can perform while learning."
"After you perform, the fans and audience will get used to you being the center. Once you are replaced, they might think there's a problem with the company and feel injustice for you." Ichigo pointed out the issue again.
'Again, it's the same... How annoying... But it's fine.'
Ai took a deep breath and said, "At that time, I can clarify that it was my intention and has nothing to do with the company. I know you still want to say that the fans will feel I was threatened and feel even more injustice, but as long as we record videos during practice from the beginning, they will have nothing to say when we can complete the composition and choreography ourselves."
"That's a good idea, but I still don't want to agree. The risk is too great, and your energy will definitely be dispersed." Ichigo shook his head and said, "The company signed you to make money, and we don't have much time for you."
"At that time, we can fund our own concerts!" Ai looked at Ichigo with determination. "If you, President, really don't agree, then we can only use the absolute last resort. And President, please don't say things like I am the center, and as the biggest beneficiary, there's no need to take risks with them."
Ichigo glared at Hiko beside him. Ai and those children absolutely could not have come up with such a reply. If they had tried to figure it out themselves, they would have given up after two or three questions.
"If you insist on this, you must achieve results first." Ichigo knew that even if he raised more questions, Hiko would have considered all aspects of the problem from the beginning. Asking too many questions would only annoy him.
"President, you agreed?" Ai was puzzled by how easily she got permission.
Hiko had mentioned many scenarios, including Ichigo possibly threatening to bench them.
"Yes, I agreed." Ichigo picked up the envelope from the desk and handed it to Ai. "Considering your difficult living situation, I've advanced this month's salary to you."
"Huh?" Ai was surprised. She was only practicing now, and she could still get a salary?
"Just take it." Ichigo looked at Ai. "I had planned to give it to you earlier; I just forgot."
If Hiko hadn't reminded him, he would hardly have thought of advancing Ai's salary.
"I've advanced twenty thousand yen of salary to you." Ichigo told Ai the amount in the envelope. "Take a look."
"Since it's from the President himself, there's no need to look." Ai took the envelope, not intending to open it now.
"Just open it and take a look," Hiko said.
"Since Hiko-kun said so, then I'll take a look."
Ai was a bit surprised. Hiko hadn't mentioned this situation, but he was asking her to open the envelope now, making her feel like there was something going on here.
Thinking about this, she took out the banknotes from the envelope. They were three ten-thousand-yen bills featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa[1].
"Why are there three ten-thousand-yen bills here? President, you put too much." Ai took out one bill, preparing to hand it back to Ichigo.
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[1] The person printed on the banknote. By the way, on April 9, 2019, it was changed to Eiichi Shibusawa.
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