[Because of your brilliant performance at the music festival.]
[You attracted the attention of many record companies, and one after another, they extended olive branches.]
[While the band members were happy, they also felt something was off...]
[The Kessoku Band did not achieve first place at the festival, yet more than a dozen record companies came knocking. What was more, the conditions they offered left you speechless——]
[Not because they were bad, but because they were too good! Ridiculously good!]
[It was as if they had chewed the food for you and were feeding it straight into your mouths, afraid you might not become famous.]
[An enormous outpouring of resources, effortless hype creation, enough to let Kessoku Band soar straight to the top.]
[The music industry is not a world where talent alone speaks. Without resources, indie bands are nothing.]
[The darkness behind the stage, unspoken rules, all kinds of things beyond your understanding.]
[At first, you did not pay much attention, simply thinking everyone in the band was strong enough, and lucky.]
[But gradually, you realized that those record companies did not particularly care about the band's skill level, dreams, or ideals. Even though they clearly did not care about such things, they lowered their posture so much that it felt like they were kneeling in the dirt, licking your shoes.]
Huh?
Why...
[You asked them privately about their view of Kessoku Band. These adults showed no cracks at all and easily brushed off you high schoolers.]
[Even the most mature among you, Yamada Ryo, could not see through their true intentions.]
[Investing in your future? Perhaps.]
[But with the mindset of not wasting free benefits, you did not refuse.]
[Toru was very happy about this, happy for Kessoku Band.]
[Under his negotiations, you established a long term partnership with one of the record companies, with the company responsible for packaging you.]
[According to the contract, the record company would not interfere with your creative environment.]
[As the person in charge put it, the band's style was great and did not need to be changed.]
[Yamada Ryo originally did not really want to sign, but upon hearing that there was no need to cater to trends and that individuality could be preserved, she lost her reason to refuse.]
[On the night of signing.]
[As everyone celebrated, you began imagining a wonderful future.]
[Your dreams were right in front of you.]
...Something feels off.
Is realizing dreams really this easy?
[Two months later, your first album was successfully released. Sales were average, but still exceeded your expectations.]
[The record company's person in charge also let out a sigh of relief.]
[She had mobilized quite a lot of resources. If she could not recover the costs, that would have been painful.]
[It seemed that Kessoku Band had more potential than she had imagined.]
"These few lines mean..."
Ijichi Nijika read something strange between the lines.
The record company did not truly believe in Kessoku Band, yet they tilted an enormous amount of resources toward them.
So who exactly was pushing things from behind the scenes?
————
...
[Your younger sister's band successfully released their first album. The response was average.]
As an adult, Ijichi Seika could easily sense the abnormality.
The band she formed when she was young had decent popularity.
Back then, several small record companies had approached them.
But the demands those companies made were more outrageous than the last, nothing like the looseness shown in the simulation.
Capital chases profit.
It would never abandon benefits for so called talent or dreams.
[Relying on your sharp instincts, you believe that behind this matter, your nephew Toru is pulling the strings...]
[He debuted as a child star, spent several years as a popular actor, and has extensive connections in the entertainment industry. Helping a small band release an album would not be impossible.]
[You decide——]
[1. "Kessoku Band does not need this kind of forced growth. Warn Toru to let go early."]
[2. "The darkness of the industry should not be something naïve girls face directly. Leave it to Toru."]
[3. "Use this leverage to threaten Toru into obedience."]
[4. Simulate personally.]
"So this is finally the turning point."
So it really was Toru causing trouble behind the scenes...
What should be chosen?
The first option is to advise him to let go early.
The road of chasing dreams is rough. Without Toru's help, can her sister and the others really reach the top?
Not necessarily.
But charging forward without turning back is not a good choice either.
As for threatening Toru...
There is a high chance of being counter killed. Forget it.
Hmm...
Between two evils, choose the lesser one. Pick the first.
[One night.]
[You came to Toru's room.]
[He was using the computer, carrying out routine manager work, arranging a complicated schedule.]
[After finding a suitable opening.]
[You poured out the thoughts in your heart.]
[Toru revealed a thoughtful expression.]
["Aunt, are you saying that what I did was wrong for Kessoku Band?"]
[You nodded to express your stance.]
[Forcing growth has a high chance of killing the seedling. It is not kindness.]
["I am their manager. For the band's development, using my connections, skills, and money, all of this is normal." Toru did not think he had done anything wrong.]
[In his view, the only thing he had wronged the four girls with, from beginning to end, was hiding the truth.]
[But so what?]
[Toru did not want them to suffer setbacks. He did not want to see them cry.]
[Bringing happiness to the girls he liked was what he should do.]
["You're wrong."]
["I'm not wrong."]
[Toru showed a charming smile and leaned close to you——]
["Aunt, haven't you heard the saying? With favorable winds, one can rise to the clouds. One person's effort is not necessarily better than the help of a powerful benefactor."]
[One hand quickly climbed onto your slightly flushed face.]
["Let go already~ Toru, I'm your aunt."]
[Over the past half year, Toru had become more and more unrestrained, no longer treating you as an 'aunt'.]
["Have you ever thought about what you would do if they didn't like this way of yours?"]
["Heh heh..." He laughed softly.]
["Aunt, habits are a terrifying thing. They will grow to like it."]
[For some reason, facing him like this made you a little afraid.]
A man who devotes himself wholeheartedly to the one he loves without seeking anything in return, and who also possesses powerful talent and extreme brilliance...
Toru is indeed terrifying.
He could raise someone into a useless person.
["Still, what you said does make some sense. I'll reduce how much I help them."]
[Toru changed his tone. He had many strengths, and listening to advice was just an insignificant one among them.]
[Even without using his connections, he still had tens of thousands of ways to help Kessoku Band achieve their dreams.]
[Hearing this, you finally relaxed.]
[Then you quickly heard his voice——]
["Aunt, I forced myself to do things I didn't want to do. Could you comfort me a bit?"]
[You locked eyes for a few seconds.]
[Blushing, you pulled him into your arms.]
["Only this once..."]
[Your connection with Toru deepened.]