The buzz around the new project had sent ripples through the employees, but Fuyukawa Tetsu was used to it by now. His focus was entirely on selecting the team for Dave the Diver. Picking the right people was meticulous work, but thankfully, with no new releases scheduled at the four departments, Miyano Mitei's workload had lightened considerably.
After lunch, she stayed in the office, helping Tetsu sift through candidates. Meanwhile, Sayoko...
It was clear this was her first time as a supervisor, even if it was just for the art direction of a mid-to-low-budget project. She was visibly nervous, sitting stiffly all afternoon, chatting with employees who'd added her as a friend. Those in the know recognized her as the leader; others might've mistaken her for a candidate herself. The scene was so amusing that Tetsu couldn't help but smile, though he kept quiet about her anxious demeanor.
Some things you just have to experience yourself.
In the serene afternoon, the quiet office was filled only with the soft voices of Tetsu and Mitei discussing, the gentle tap-tap of Sayoko's slender fingers on the keyboard, and an overall sense of calm. Time always seemed to fly in such a relaxed environment.
While the trio worked steadily, Sistar Entertainment received the sheet music submitted by Izumi Himawari.
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"A song written by Mr. Fuyukawa?"
Shinjuku, Sistar Entertainment's office building.
In the office, Executive Honda furrowed his brow, glancing at the sheet music and then at Himawari, who sat across from him, outwardly calm but inwardly panicking.
"Yes, Executive!" Deputy Director Tanaka, standing by the boss's desk, beamed. "Mr. Fuyukawa hopes Blue Bird will be one of the songs to wrap up the first school-year arc of K-On! However…"
"Hm?" Honda's brow creased further.
Tanaka, sweating slightly, wiped his chin. "However… Mr. Fuyukawa said he doesn't want to sell the song's rights to us. He's only lending it for use… out of consideration for Himawari-chan."
"What?! Lending it to us?!" Honda slammed the desk, his frown deepening.
Tanaka flinched, and though Himawari's face remained expressionless, her pale neck betrayed a nervous swallow. Just then, an elegant older woman entered the office, led by a secretary.
"Executive Honda, you called for me?"
The room's atmosphere was tense, but this woman clearly held significant status. She gave a slight bow, nodded to Himawari and Tanaka, and prompted Honda to force a smile. He stood, returning a bow before guiding her to the sofa. "I'm terribly sorry to bother you during your time off, Ms. Mori. President Myoujin will be thrilled you're here."
Calling Ms. Mori directly?
So Honda was just putting on a show to rattle me.
Himawari blinked, catching the shift from Honda's earlier temper to his now-charming demeanor. Then she recalled Tetsu's advice: "Don't be afraid. The workplace is harsh, but ninety-nine percent of it revolves around profit. Figure out people's motives through their actions, then work backward to find your place."
Steadying herself, Himawari took a deep breath, sitting up straighter. Her newfound composure went unnoticed by the fawning Tanaka, but both Honda and Mori caught it.
She doesn't panic under pressure—a promising talent.
Quite mature for her age.
Honda's eyes flickered with approval, while Mori showed a hint of surprise but didn't dwell on it. Placing her handbag on her lap, she tilted her head. "No trouble at all; I happen to be in Japan. But I have dinner with my grandson tonight, so please get to the point, Executive Honda."
Mori's high standing at Sistar was evident, her ease apparent even with a top executive like Honda. He was used to it, grabbing the sheet music from his desk and handing it to her. "Here's the situation. Himawari-chan submitted this sheet music this morning. It's composed by Mr. Fuyukawa."
"Mr. Fuyukawa? You mean the rising star from NTsoft, Fuyukawa Tetsu?" Mori raised an eyebrow, glancing at the music's cover.
Honda shot Tanaka a look—What are you standing there for? Get some tea!—before sitting on the sofa and nodding. "Yes, he's Himawari-chan's brother. He wrote this song, hoping we'd use it in the game, but he's not willing to transfer the rights. That's why I wanted you, a legend in the music industry, to take a look."
"No rights? I see," Mori said, her expression sharpening as she understood.
No rights meant the song wouldn't belong to Sistar, cutting them out of royalties. In simpler terms, Honda suspected Tetsu was using K-On! to promote his own music. While Sistar had to tread carefully around NTsoft and its youngest deputy director, business was business. They bowed not out of respect but to secure benefits. If Tetsu wanted a slice of their pie, they needed to weigh whether sharing it would yield a bigger return, especially since K-On! was a significant investment, and they wanted to promote their own songs through it.
But if the song was a hit, with the potential to boost the game's popularity, increase Sistar's royalties, and bring more exposure to their idol groups, the equation flipped. The key was whether the song was good.
"The old man's song? It's gotta be great!" Himawari thought, her heart racing with both excitement and nerves as she watched Mori flip through the music. Mori wasn't a songwriter but a titan in the industry—a first-generation idol from the昭和 (Showa) era. After her idol days, she transitioned to managing groups at Sistar, spending decades in music and idol circles. While she might not write hits, her eye for selecting songs and talent was unmatched, a key reason Sistar had risen to prominence in just over a decade.
Even Sistar's president treated her, the company's "treasure," with utmost respect.
"Will she like the old man's song?" Himawari's nerves spiked. Honda was just as anxious. Despite his earlier bluster, he wasn't eager to cross Tetsu unless absolutely necessary.
Only Tanaka was left in an awkward spot. As a mid-level deputy director, he outranked Himawari, but thanks to Tetsu's influence, he was the only one standing, serving tea like an errand boy. He hovered with the teapot, unsure whether to speak, but no one paid him any mind.
As Mori delved deeper into the sheet music, her brow furrowed, her foot tapping unconsciously to the rhythm. Shock grew in her eyes. After a long pause, she closed the music, took a sip of tea from Tanaka, and exhaled. Turning to Himawari, her wrinkled face bloomed into a warm smile. "You have a great brother."
A great brother?
Himawari blinked, her eyes widening as Honda jumped in eagerly. "Ms. Mori, do you think this song will be a hit?!"
"Yes, it's excellent. It feels more suited for an anime opening, with its melody and soaring high notes… no doubt, it's got hit potential," Mori said.
"Alright! If Ms. Mori says so, we're set!" Honda beamed, not just because the song could succeed but because it meant avoiding conflict with Tetsu. A game producer with clout in the entertainment industry was someone no one wanted to cross unless the stakes were dire.
Honda's excitement was palpable, Tanaka chimed in with sycophantic praise for Himawari, and even Mori joined in, asking if they could arrange a dinner with Tetsu. Blue Bird wasn't a masterpiece in a technical sense, but as the saying goes, "A thousand readers, a thousand Hamlets." No product, especially in entertainment, could please everyone. Blue Bird wasn't high art, but its melody, rhythm, and dense "feel-good" moments—coupled with a powerful high note and catchy spreadability—ensured its impact.
Surrounded by the executives' praise, Himawari blushed, feeling a bit shy. Then, under their stunned gazes, she pulled another sheet of music from her bag, scratching her head awkwardly. "Um… Tetsu—my brother—said if you're okay with no rights, I could show you this one too."
"Another song?!"
"What?! Also by Mr. Fuyukawa?!"
"Let me see." Mori took the sheet music, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she opened it—I Want to Shout I Love You.