Every face in the banquet hall was lit with unrestrained joy.
All eyes were drawn toward the young man standing beneath the brightest spotlights in the center of the hall... gazing at him with awe and reverence.
Seiji.
He wore a sleek suit without a tie, the top two buttons of his shirt casually undone to reveal a glimpse of pale skin and collarbone, lending his refined looks an easy, effortless charm.
A glass of red wine in hand, he smiled with quiet confidence.
At his side stood Utaha Kasumigaoka, draped in an off-shoulder black evening gown. The dark fabric flowed like the wings of night, accentuating the brightness of her fair skin.
She held his arm intimately, her posture that of a queen sharing in her king's victory, smiling as the envious gazes of the crowd proclaimed her dominance.
On his other side, Eri wore a pale pink princess dress adorned with glittering crystals, making her look like she had just stepped out of a fairy tale. She clung to Seiji's arm, her smile both elegant and sweet.
Ryo, meanwhile, was still dressed in her usual casual outfit, quietly standing at Seiji's side. Her calm eyes never left him for a moment.
The sight was almost too perfect... a man who had it all, surrounded by women who adored him. Every guy present couldn't help but feel an ache of envy, jealousy, and even hatred.
"Everyone."
Seiji raised his glass and cleared his throat.
The room fell silent immediately.
"I'm not someone who likes wasting words," he began evenly. "So I won't give a long speech of thanks. I'll just say... your hard work deserves the best reward."
With that, he snapped his fingers.
The grand doors of the banquet hall opened.
Several men in suits entered, each pushing a heavy metal case.
"What's that?" someone muttered.
"Open them," Seiji ordered calmly.
*Click, click, click... *
The cases opened one by one, revealing neatly stacked bundles of Fukuzawa Yukichi bills, the crisp scent of ink wafting through the air under the crystal lights.
Everyone instinctively held their breath.
"I hereby announce," Seiji's voice rang out clearly in the hushed hall, "that every member of the Madoka Magica project will receive a base bonus of two million yen!"
"And everyone here tonight, regardless of position, gets an additional thirty thousand yen cash bonus... claimable right now!"
BOOM!
The room erupted like an explosion.
Cheers, screams, and cries of disbelief thundered through the banquet hall, as if the very roof of the Imperial Hotel might be blown off.
"Long live President Fujiwara!!!"
"I love you, President!!!"
"I'm rich! No more discounted convenience store bentos!"
The staff went completely wild.
They stared at the mountain of cash with wide, feverish eyes... what had once been admiration for their boss had now transformed into full-blown worship.
Shimokitazawa, STARRY Live House.
Nijika Ichiji was pacing behind the bar, clutching her phone, her face flushed bright red.
"Manager! Manager!" she shouted excitedly. "Look! Twitter's going crazy! Fujiwara just handed out cash bonuses at the afterparty! And Ryo was there, right? That means she's rich now too!"
"This is insane! Way crazier than when my dad said he was forming the best band in the galaxy!"
Behind the counter, Seika Ichiji quietly polished a glass, her expression complicated.
She glanced down at the photo on her phone... a candid shot from the party, blurry but clear enough.
In it, Seiji stood in the center, surrounded by a frenzy of adoring employees like a king basking in worship.
And beside him, those three breathtaking girls gleamed like jewels in his crown.
"Handsome, talented, and generous…" Seika murmured under her breath, sighing softly. A part of her couldn't help but envy those lucky enough to work under him.
As for the women around him? She wanted no part of that.
She'd never liked men like him... and she had no plans to fall in love or get married anyway.
Imperial Hotel, Presidential Suite.
The noise of the afterparty was gone, sealed behind thick soundproof doors.
Seiji stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at Tokyo's glittering skyline.
Behind him, three freshly showered girls... each radiating a faint, intoxicating scent... were locked in a heated argument over who would share his bed tonight.
"Hmph! I'm the key animator, the one who brought that scene to life! Seiji's mine!" Eri declared, puffing up like a protective kitten, arms spread wide in front of him.
"Heh. Without my revisions, your drawings are nothing but soulless lines," Utaha said coolly, lounging against the doorway in a silk nightgown. "And don't forget... I'm the main heroine."
Ryo said nothing. She simply stepped forward and hugged Seiji from behind, silently refusing to let go.
But Seiji's mind was already elsewhere.
Ding!
A crisp sound echoed in his head... one only he could hear.
[System Notification]
Based on current environment and relational proximity, optimal new conquest targets have been automatically locked.
[Fourth Target Group Locked: The Ichiji Sisters ... Nijika Ichiji, Seika Ichiji.]
Please complete this conquest to unlock higher rewards.
The Ichiji sisters, huh?
A faint, wicked smile curved his lips.
He turned, ignoring Utaha and Eri's bickering, and scooped Ryo into his arms.
As the two women stared, shocked and indignant, Seiji carried Ryo toward the bed and said clearly...
"You two. Come join us."
The success of Madoka Magica had turned "Genesis Entertainment" from a rising name into an unstoppable force that no investor or media outlet could ignore.
And its creator, Seiji, saw his power and wealth snowballing beyond imagination.
In literature, he was already regarded as a "sensei."
In animation, he had become a pioneer everyone looked up to.
But for Seiji, commercial projects were just a game.
Now that Madoka Magica had concluded, he was already setting his sights on his next move.
He pulled up a detailed report on his phone.
[Target: Live House 'STARRY']
[Owner: Seika Ichiji]
[Status: Property acquired by Mitsui Fudosan for redevelopment. Lease termination enforced, one month to vacate.]
[Financials: Stable operation, slight profit margin. However, insufficient capital to cover relocation, remodeling, and band compensation fees.]
"What a perfect time to strike," Seiji chuckled.
Attached was a candid photo of Seika... barefaced, visibly tired but determined.
Short blonde hair, cool eyes, and an air of maturity that defied her age.
Even without makeup, she was beautiful.
Like a lone pine tree growing from a cliffside... unyielding, independent, radiating an untouchable chill.
And Seiji wanted nothing more than to transplant that tree into his private garden... to melt her frost and uncover the warmth hidden beneath.
"It's time to pay her a visit," he murmured, smiling softly... though his smile carried unmistakable greed and desire.
Meanwhile, in Shimokitazawa.
Behind the bar at STARRY, Seika Ichiji looked utterly drained.
Normally, this hour would be the liveliest time for the live house.
But tonight, the air felt heavy and lifeless.
A white document lay on the counter... cold, formal, and cruel.
Notice of Lease Termination.
The logo at the top read "Mitsui Fudosan." Below it, a wall of legal text.
Her heart sank like a stone, just like the empty venue around her.
The wind chime above the door jingled softly.
"Sorry, we're closed," she said without looking up.
But the footsteps didn't stop.
The man who entered wore a perfectly tailored suit, a polite yet distant smile on his handsome face.
"I said, we're clo... " Seika looked up, froze mid-sentence, her pupils tightening.
"Fujiwara… sensei?" she whispered.
Of course she recognized him. Who wouldn't?
The genius president of Genesis Entertainment... the man whose talent and influence were unmatched.
The same man who owned the label her younger sister, Nijika, now belonged to.
And the same man whose home she had visited not long ago for the Madoka Magica premiere.
"Good evening, Ichiji-san," Seiji greeted with a faint smile.
"…What brings you here, Fujiwara-sensei?" she asked after a pause, her tone careful but distant.
Part of her still felt gratitude... he had given Nijika opportunities far beyond what they deserved.
But she also knew all too well about Seiji's reputation in his personal life.
So her politeness came with a clear line of distance.
"I came to discuss business," he said, seating himself at the bar without invitation.
His gaze flicked, almost casually, toward the white envelope in the corner.
"I heard about STARRY's situation."
Seika's hand tensed slightly on the counter.
"Fujiwara-sensei really does get information fast," she said evenly, though her voice carried a hint of frost.
"Don't forget... I'm a businessman. Staying aware of the market is part of the job." He smiled faintly and went straight to the point. "Mitsui's redevelopment plan is set in stone. There's no way around it. I'm sure you know that better than I do."
"But... I can help you."
He leaned back, voice smooth. "Genesis Entertainment's music division is expanding. I can offer you a brand-new live house in another prime Shimokitazawa location, and I'll cover all relocation costs."
Seika's heart skipped a beat.
It was an incredible offer. Tempting.
But she knew... nothing that generous came without a price. Especially from a man like him.
"And the conditions?" she asked calmly, meeting his eyes.
No anger, no indignation... just direct honesty.
That poise earned a flicker of admiration from Seiji.
He liked smart women... especially those who stayed composed in the face of pressure.
Leaning forward, he looked her straight in the eye and said softly:
"My terms are simple."
"I want you."
"From now on, Seika Ichiji... you'll be mine, just like the others."
So that's what it was.
Seika's expression didn't change. She wasn't impressed.
"Fujiwara-san," she said evenly, her tone polite but firm, "I think you misunderstand. I have no intention of selling my body."
"Is that so?" Seiji chuckled lightly. "You're a smart woman, Ichiji-san. You should know... everything in this world has a price. The only question is whether you're willing to admit it."
"STARRY means a lot to you, doesn't it? You poured everything into it."
"And now, that dream is about to shatter."
Each word was a scalpel, slicing through her defenses, exposing the soft, vulnerable core beneath.
Seika's breath caught for just a moment.
She felt stripped bare, as if this man could see every hidden fear she tried to bury.
"Thank you for your… concern," she said mechanically, picking up another glass and wiping it clean, trying to mask her unease through motion. "But I'll handle my own problems. I don't need your help."
Seiji could tell she was bluffing.
The fish had bitten the bait. Now all he needed was patience.
"Very well," he said at last, spreading his hands in mock regret. "If Ichiji-san isn't interested, I won't insist."
"But my offer stands."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"I'll be waiting for the day you change your mind."
And with that, he disappeared into the night...
Leaving Seika alone behind the counter, her face pale and tight with emotion.
Seiji's visit was like a stone cast into a stormy lake... sending fresh waves crashing through Seika's already troubled heart.
She knew he was right.
She couldn't possibly fight a giant like Mitsui on her own.
But to accept his "help"? To become one of his women?
Never.
So, in the days that followed, Seika began fighting back.
She scoured all of Shimokitazawa and the surrounding districts, looking for a new venue to rebuild STARRY.
But reality was cruel.
The once-underground haven of indie music had long been swallowed by corporate money.
The cheap basements and warehouses that once housed live houses were now trendy cafés or vintage boutiques.
And those still available were priced so high, she could only walk away in quiet despair.