Invisible Cracks
Dawn filtered gently through the large windows of the Ko‑Ei Productions building. On the residential floor, silence was broken only by the murmur of showers and the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee from the second‑floor café. Akari Tanabe walked down the corridor with slow steps, her presentation folder clutched to her chest. She wore a high‑neck white blouse and a gray skirt, sober yet elegant, as if trying to balance professionalism with invisibility.
When she reached the café, the murmur warmed. Some group members were already there, breakfasting with soft laughter and comments about the day's agenda. Akari barely nodded a timid greeting, but before she could move away, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Ready for your interview?" Kurohane asked, approaching with a cup of tea in hand.
Akari hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I'm… nervous. Since I was little my voice wasn't good for singing. It sounded bad. The boys at school used to make fun of me every time I practiced. I worked so hard, so, so hard to improve. But now… I'm at a serious agency. One mistake could cost millions. I'm afraid… afraid my voice won't be enough for the executives."
Kurohane watched her with a calm that seemed to enfold her.
"Akari… you always think you're doing it wrong. Because since you were a child you were made to believe you had to work harder than everyone else to get the same results. But that wound gave you something too: sensitivity. When you sing, you're not seeking perfection. You're seeking truth, or at least that's how I see it. I also use techniques, of course, but the most important thing is to connect with the song, with what the writer felt. Art isn't just precision. It's also freedom."
Akari lowered her gaze, but her eyes shone with a new understanding. She nodded slowly, as if something inside had just settled.
The interview took place in a soundproof meeting room, with three executives and two managers watching from behind their folders. Akari answered in a steady, clear voice, and when asked to sing, she chose a cover she'd performed hundreds of times… but this time she sang with everything she had learned that morning.
When she finished, there was a brief silence. Then one executive closed his folder and said, "Your voice has character. It's not perfect, but it conveys. And that… that's what we look for."
Another manager added, "Welcome officially. You're going to make people talk."
Akari left the room with her heart pounding—not from fear but from excitement.
At lunch in the common area, Akari sat with the group. Ri‑chan offered her an energy drink decorated with cat stickers while Haruto checked his tablet.
"How did it go?" Ren asked calmly.
"It went… better than I expected," Akari replied, smiling sincerely. "Thank you all. Really. I promise to give everything I have to help this group grow."
"That's what I wanted to hear!" Ri‑chan exclaimed, raising her drink. "Let's go for it, Akari‑chan!"
The afternoon practice was intense. The choreography required precise coordination between singing and movement, something new for Akari. She stumbled twice, and once almost collided with Ri‑chan, who burst into contagious laughter.
"Akari‑chan, careful! Don't kill me before debut!"
"Sorry…" Akari murmured, embarrassed.
"Relax," Haruto intervened. "It's normal. No one is born knowing how to sing and dance at the same time. The important thing is not to stop."
His words were kind, but Akari couldn't help feeling frustrated. After the session she left quietly and headed to the vocal studio, determined to practice alone.
She was adjusting the mic when she heard a soft knock on the door.
"Yes?" Akari asked, her mind muddled by the unexpected visit.
Ren poked his head in.
"Can I come in?"
Akari nodded without turning.
"What's up?" she asked, still confused.
"I just wanted to tell you I understand how you feel. The first time I practiced with the group… it was a disaster. I tripped, I forgot the steps. I thought I wouldn't last a week. But it's just a matter of practice. Don't punish yourself for not being perfect on day one."
Akari finally looked at him, and something in her expression softened.
"Thank you. I promise to give my all… and control what I feel."
Ren gave a slight smile and left.
That night, after dinner, Akari walked down the corridor toward her room. She thought about practice, the mistakes, but also the moments when she felt alive. She'd enjoyed it more than she expected.
When she closed the door, she approached the vanity mirror and stopped. Her reflection was smiling. But she didn't feel like she was smiling.
"Is that me?… Am I smiling?" she whispered. "But I don't feel like I am… Am I… becoming a different person?"
The silence of the room gave no answer. It simply returned the same unfamiliar smile, motionless.
To be continued...