"Seiji created a music label for me," Ryo said straight to the point.
"Huh?" Nijika blinked in surprise.
"It's under Genesis Entertainment," Ryo continued calmly. "It's called Genesis Music... focused entirely on music."
"Music… label?" Nijika was still dazed.
"Yeah." Ryo nodded. "Seiji said I can bring in my band and friends too. So…"
She looked at Nijika seriously.
"Nijika, do you want to join?"
Nijika's eyes widened. "Join… a music label?"
"Mm." Ryo nodded again. "Didn't you always say you wanted to form a real band and debut officially? If you join this label, you can make that happen."
Nijika froze.
It took her several seconds to process what she'd just heard.
"W-Wait a second!" She suddenly stood up. "Ryo, are you serious?!"
"Of course I am." Ryo's tone was calm. "Why would I lie to you?"
"But… but…" Nijika was so flustered she could barely form words. "A music label… that's something super professional, right? And… Fujiwara-sensei, he… he really agreed to that…?"
"Seiji said," Ryo replied evenly, "when it comes to this label, I'm the one in charge. I decide who to sign."
Nijika's jaw dropped.
...
Just then, the practice room door swung open.
Seika and Miss PA walked in.
"What are you guys talking about?" Seika asked. "Nijika suddenly jumped up yelling…"
"Big sis!" Nijika rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Ryo said Fujiwara-sensei created a music label and wants to sign me!"
"What?" Seika froze.
Miss PA blinked too.
Ryo stood up and repeated what she'd just said.
Seika and Miss PA exchanged looks.
"A music label…" Seika frowned. "Yamada, you're not joking, are you?"
"I'm not." Ryo said evenly. "You can check for yourself... the official Genesis Entertainment Twitter should have posted about it already."
Seika immediately pulled out her phone, opened Twitter, and searched "Genesis Entertainment."
The official account's latest post read:
Breaking News! Genesis Entertainment officially launches its new sub-brand ... Genesis Music.
Brand Concept: Embrace individuality, unleash your true self.
We're dedicated to discovering truly talented musicians and offering them maximum creative freedom and the best possible support. Stay tuned!
The post included an image of the Genesis Music logo... a sleek, modern note symbol with the text "GenesisMusic."
Seika's hand froze mid-scroll.
Miss PA leaned in and went silent.
"It's real…" Miss PA muttered. "It's actually real…"
"I told you Ryo wouldn't lie!" Nijika said, practically bouncing with excitement.
But Seika's expression grew serious.
She looked up at Ryo.
"Ryo…" Her tone was heavy. "Going pro isn't a joke."
Ryo met her gaze without speaking.
Seika went on, "You're still young. You might not understand how deep the water runs in the music industry."
"If you really want to debut," she paused, "it's better to sign with a large, well-established company. They have real training systems, industry connections, promotion channels."
She glanced down at her phone again. "But this…"
Her voice trailed off... but her meaning was clear.
She was worried the label was just for show.
Miss PA nodded. "Seika's right. The music business is brutal. If a new label collapses, and Nijika's signed to it…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
But Nijika understood.
Her excitement faded, and hesitation crept into her face.
"Big sis…" she murmured. "But…"
Seika's eyes softened.
What she was really worried about wasn't the risk of failure...
It was that the man behind this label was Seiji.
That shameless womanizer with multiple girlfriends.
She feared he'd started this label just to get closer to girls.
And if Nijika signed on…
Seika didn't dare finish that thought.
"Nijika…" She took a deep breath. "You should think about it carefully."
Nijika bit her lip and turned to Ryo.
Ryo's expression was calm as ever.
Seeing the worry on Seika's and Miss PA's faces, she understood their concerns perfectly.
"You don't have to worry," Ryo said softly.
"How could we not?" Seika frowned.
"Because this label…" Ryo paused, then continued, "I'm the one in charge."
"What?" Seika blinked.
Miss PA looked stunned.
Nijika tilted her head in confusion. "Ryo… what do you mean?"
Ryo took out her phone, opened a folder, and tapped it open.
It was full of photos... pictures of internal company documents.
She selected a few and handed the phone to Seika.
"Take a look."
Seika took the phone.
The first photo...
[Genesis Music Organizational Chart]
At the top: Seiji ... President
Below that: Ryo Yamada ... Vice President & Music Director
Then: Ken Sakaguchi ... Legal Director
And other department heads.
Seika's hand started to tremble.
"This…"
The second photo...
[Ryo Yamada's Responsibilities]
Artist contract review and final decisions
Music acquisition and evaluation
Artist image and operations
Promotion strategy planning and execution
Artist development programs
It basically covered all the core operations of the label.
The third photo...
[Letter of Authorization]
This document authorizes Ms. Ryo Yamada with full executive authority over Genesis Music's daily operations.
For major matters, she may report directly to President Seiji without additional approval.
-Seiji Fujiwara
At the bottom was Seiji's signature and the company seal.
Seika stared at the phone, speechless.
She looked up at Ryo, eyes wide.
"Ryo… you… you're the vice president?!"
Miss PA leaned closer, then gasped sharply after reading it herself.
"T-This is insane…"
Nijika's eyes went even wider. "Ryo... you're really the vice president?!"
Ryo nodded calmly. "Yeah. It's mostly a titular role... there'll be a professional team handling the day-to-day work. But…"
She paused. "The key decisions are mine."
Seika's jaw dropped.
She knew Seiji treated Ryo well, but this…
Giving such a young student full decision-making power over an entire label?
That was beyond belief.
"Incredible…" Miss PA whispered. "Even if it's just honorary, this level of authority is…"
"It's basically handing her the whole label," Seika finished for her.
She looked at Ryo with a mix of emotions...
Admiration.
Shock.
And maybe… a touch of jealousy?
No.
No, she shook her head, forcing that thought away.
After a long silence, she sighed.
"Ryo… since you really have that kind of authority, then…" She looked at Nijika. "Can you promise to look after her if she signs?"
Ryo nodded firmly. "I will."
"What about the contract terms?" Seika asked.
"Same as mine," Ryo said. "Seventy percent of royalties to the artist, thirty to the company. Complete creative freedom. No mandatory commercial appearances."
Seika sucked in a sharp breath.
Miss PA's eyes went wide.
"S-Seventy percent?!" Miss PA exclaimed. "That's… outrageous!"
"Usually artists get twenty, maybe thirty percent…" Seika muttered. "Seventy's practically charity."
Ryo looked at them both. She could tell they were shocked, but still uneasy.
"Actually…" Ryo said quietly. "Nijika's contract is up to me."
"Huh?" Seika blinked.
Ryo's lips curved into a faint smile. "If Nijika wants, I can make it nine-to-one."
"Nine-to-one?" Miss PA repeated blankly.
"One for the company, nine for Nijika," Ryo said evenly.
"What?!"
All three shouted at once.
"Ryo... what are you talking about?!" Nijika stammered.
"I said…" Ryo repeated calmly, "Nijika's contract split is up to me. Even if the company only takes ten percent and Nijika takes ninety, it's fine."
She paused and looked at Nijika seriously.
"Because this label exists for me. Seiji said I can run it however I want."
The practice room fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
Seika's mouth hung open.
Miss PA's hands trembled as she adjusted her glasses.
And Nijika just stared, stunned speechless.
After several long seconds...
"Ryo... !" Nijika suddenly leapt forward and hugged her tightly. "Is that really true?! I can really get ninety percent?!"
"Yeah." Ryo nodded. "It's true."
"But… but…" Nijika let go, her expression conflicted. "That's too unfair to the company… and I can't take advantage of you like that…"
Ryo looked at her, her eyes soft.
"It's fine," she said gently. "You're not taking advantage. I really want to help you."
"But…" Nijika still hesitated.
Seika finally spoke up.
"Nijika." Her voice was a bit hoarse. "Just go with a normal contract split."
"Eh?" Nijika turned to her.
Seika took a deep breath and looked at Ryo. "Ryo, Nijika's right. Overly generous terms would just make her feel uneasy."
"Let's keep it the way you said earlier," she continued. "Seventy-thirty. That's already exceptional, but it feels like a fair professional deal."
Miss PA nodded. "I agree. Ninety-ten's too much."
Ryo was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Seventy-thirty it is."
Nijika exhaled in relief, smiling. "Yeah! Thank you, Ryo!"
Seika and Miss PA exchanged a look, both with complicated expressions.
Honestly…
They were tempted.
Really tempted.
Seventy percent royalties, total creative freedom, no forced PR…
It was a dream contract.
If they'd had that kind of offer back then...
Seika thought bitterly...
They'd have signed on the spot.
But still… she couldn't help but worry.
"…Ryo," she said carefully, "even with such great terms… it still feels like a hobby project."
"Hobby project?" Ryo raised a brow.
"I mean," Seika bit her lip, "no professional management, no industry connections, no media exposure… a company like that won't last."
Miss PA nodded. "Exactly. The industry's ruthless. Without real resources, even the best conditions don't mean much."
Nijika's face clouded with uncertainty again.
Ryo looked at the three of them... and suddenly smiled.
"Heh…"
It was a quiet laugh, but filled with confidence.
Seika, Miss PA, and Nijika all froze.
"Ryo?" Nijika asked, confused. "What's so funny?"
Ryo didn't answer immediately.
She scrolled on her phone, her tone calm.
"What you're worried about," she said, "is the lack of professional resources, right?"
"That's right," Seika nodded.
"Then what if…" Ryo looked up, eyes shining, "I told you this label already has the resources?"
"What kind of resources?" Miss PA asked.
Ryo didn't answer directly... she handed the phone to Seika.
"See for yourself."
Seika took it.
The screen showed a new document:
[Genesis Music – Internal Song Library]
Below was a massive list of song titles.
Seika's eyes slowly widened.
"This is…"
"The library," Ryo said calmly. "Songs our company owns."
Seika scrolled down.
Ten songs.
Twenty.
Fifty.
A hundred…
Her finger stopped.
"One hundred…" Her voice trembled. "One hundred and forty-two?!"
"What?!" Miss PA immediately leaned in.
Nijika craned her neck too.
All three stared at the screen.
It clearly read:
Total Songs: 142
Registered Copyrights: 142
Usable Status: 142
Miss PA gasped. "That many?!"
Nijika's eyes were huge. "Ryo, all these songs belong to the company?"
"Yeah." Ryo nodded. "All registered. And…"
She paused, smiling faintly.
"You can check them yourselves."
Seika hesitated. "Is that okay? Shouldn't this be confidential?"
"It's fine," Ryo said lightly. "They're all copyrighted. And… I trust you."
Something in Seika's chest stirred at those words.
She took a deep breath. "Then… I'll pick one."
Her finger slid down and stopped on a title... 'Lemon.'
She tapped it open.
The full lyrics, melody sheets, and arrangement notes appeared.
Her eyes widened more and more as she read.
With over ten years in music, she could tell quality at a glance...
And this song was on another level.
"This…" she murmured. "This song…"
"How is it?" Miss PA asked, leaning in.
Seika didn't answer... she just handed her the phone.
Miss PA read carefully, then froze.
"The melody… the lyrics…" Her voice trembled. "This is professional-grade…!"
"I'll pick one too." Seika took the phone back, scrolled again, and tapped on 'Fireworks.'
After reading for a few seconds, her breath quickened.
"This one too!"
Miss PA nodded quickly. "The summer vibe, the fireworks, the youthful energy… this is incredible…"
"I wanna see!" Nijika grabbed the phone, tapping a random song open...
And all three of them fell silent again.
Each track they opened was better than the last.
By the time they looked back up, they all knew...
Genesis Music wasn't a toy.
It was the real deal.
====
You can read up to chapter 130 on patreon.com/NiaXD.