Three months ago, she received a notice...
This whole area was going to be redeveloped.
The old buildings would be demolished to make way for new commercial complexes.
There would be compensation, sure, but she'd sunk way too much money into opening this live house in the first place.
The rent, renovations, music equipment... especially the professional-grade sound systems and instruments... had all left her drowning in debt.
If STARRY was torn down, the compensation wouldn't even begin to cover what she owed.
She'd go bankrupt.
Even if she mortgaged her family's old house, she'd still be in the red.
Seika closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.
"Seika."
A gentle voice spoke beside her.
She opened her eyes to see Miss PA standing there. "PA…"
PA's gaze softened as she took in Seika's tired face, worry flickering in her eyes.
"You still haven't told Nijika, have you?" she asked quietly.
Seika was silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"Not yet." Her voice was hoarse. "I still don't know how to tell her."
PA sighed. "You can't hide it forever."
"I know." Seika gave a weary smile. "I know… but…"
Her eyes drifted toward Nijika.
The girl's face was lit up with joy, beaming from ear to ear.
"She's finally this happy again," Seika murmured. "I don't want to make her worry…"
PA said nothing.
She understood... Seika just wanted to protect her little sister.
But some things couldn't be avoided.
"Seika…" PA said softly, "have you thought about asking Fujiwara-sensei for help?"
"Huh?" Seika blinked.
"He helped Yamada out of that huge mess, didn't he? He's got money, connections, and he's not exactly stingy... "
"No." Seika cut her off, her tone firm. "I'm not going to ask him."
"Why not?"
Seika bit her lip. "Because I don't want to owe a scumbag a favor."
PA could only shake her head helplessly. "Seika, you and your bias…"
"It's not bias." Seika's voice was stubborn. "I just don't want anything to do with that kind of man."
PA sighed and didn't push further.
She knew what Seika was like...
Proud, headstrong, unwilling to bow her head easily.
But sometimes, life forced you to.
The next morning.
Genesis Music's office, located in a sleek high-rise in downtown Tokyo.
Though the company was still new, the interior looked professional and well-equipped.
Conference rooms, recording studios, offices... everything a proper label needed.
"Wow…" Nijika's eyes sparkled as she looked around. "This is amazing… so this is a real company…"
Ryo said flatly, "It's just a rented floor. Once we grow, we'll have our own building."
"Our own building?!" Nijika practically vibrated with excitement.
Seika followed behind them, her expression complicated.
As Nijika's older sister, she insisted on being here for the signing to review the contract terms.
Even if she still didn't like Seiji, she had to admit... he didn't do things halfway.
For a so-called "hobby" company, Genesis Music was operating on a scale that shocked her.
"Vice President Yamada, Miss Ijichi, and this must be…?"
A middle-aged man in a suit approached them.
"This is Nijika's sister, Ijichi Seika," Ryo explained. "She's here to review the contract."
"I see." The man nodded and extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Ken Sakaguchi, Genesis Music's legal director."
"Nice to meet you," Seika said politely, shaking his hand.
He seemed competent... professional, reliable.
"Please, come with me. We'll handle the signing in the conference room."
The four of them entered the meeting room.
A neat stack of contracts was already waiting on the table.
Sakaguchi picked one up and began explaining clause by clause:
"Ijichi Nijika's contract is a standard artist agreement... five years, with an option to renew."
"Revenue split: 70% artist, 30% company."
"Artists retain full creative freedom. The company will not interfere with artistic direction."
"All commercial activities require the artist's consent. No forced appearances."
"The company covers all training, promotion, and management costs."
"The artist may review financial statements at any time to ensure transparency."
As he spoke, even Sakaguchi couldn't help being impressed.
Seventy percent profit share…
Full creative control…
No mandatory appearances…
It didn't sound like a business contract... it sounded like a caretaker's deal.
He felt a twinge of envy, though he kept his face composed.
Seika read through the papers carefully, her brow furrowing deeper with each line.
The terms were too generous... almost unreal.
"Ryo…" she asked quietly, "are you sure this is okay?"
"No problem." Ryo's tone was calm. "This is our standard contract."
"But…" Seika hesitated. "A 70% split… that's unheard of in the industry…"
"I know it's rare," Ryo said with a smug grin. "But I make the rules here."
Seika fell silent.
"Miss Seika," Sakaguchi said, "if there are no objections, we can proceed with the signatures."
Seika looked at Nijika.
Her sister's eyes were full of excitement and hope.
Seika sighed and picked up the pen.
"Nijika, are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure!" Nijika nodded eagerly. "Sis, I really want to try!"
"…Alright." Seika smiled faintly. "Then go for it."
She added her signature as witness to show her support.
Nijika signed her name, hands trembling slightly with excitement.
Ryo added the final signature for the company.
"Alright," Sakaguchi said with a smile, "the contract is now official. Congratulations, Miss Ijichi Nijika... welcome to Genesis Music."
"Thank you!" Nijika practically jumped for joy.
After the signing, Ryo and Nijika parted ways with Seika and Sakaguchi, heading off toward school.
On the way to school.
Nijika was still bubbling with excitement, chattering nonstop.
"Ryo! I really signed! I'm actually debuting!"
"Yeah." Ryo replied flatly.
Nijika opened her mouth to keep talking... but then noticed something strange.
Ryo was walking stiffly, occasionally rubbing her lower back, a faintly tired look on her face.
"Ryo? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Nijika asked in concern.
Ryo blinked, then said casually, "It's nothing… just overdid it last night."
"Overdid it?" Nijika tilted her head in confusion.
Ryo shot her a side glance and said meaningfully, "You know… that kind of overdoing it."
Nijika's brain froze.
Then...
"Ryo... !" Her face turned scarlet. "W-What are you talking about?!"
"I'm just telling the truth," Ryo said calmly. "Seiji's too strong… It felt great, but my legs are still shaking this morning."
"Ahhh... !" Nijika clapped her hands over her ears. "Stop! Don't say it!"
She was so embarrassed she wanted to vanish into thin air.
Ryo smirked, clearly amused.
"Nijika, your face is all red."
"This is all your fault!" Nijika shouted, flustered.
"I'm only being honest," Ryo said innocently.
"Don't say stuff like that out loud!" Nijika sped up, stomping ahead. "I'm not listening! I'm not listening!"
Ryo chuckled and followed behind, thoroughly entertained.
Teasing Nijika was just too much fun.
Nijika stormed ahead, wanting to get away from Ryo...
But her mind refused to let go of what she'd heard.
Fujiwara-sensei… really that strong?
She remembered reading somewhere online that men usually didn't last as long as women…
But Ryo said it went on for a long time...
That her legs were shaking...
Her face went crimson again.
"No, no, no!" she shook her head furiously. "What the hell am I thinking?!"
She tried to chase the thoughts away, but they clung to her like weeds she couldn't uproot.
All morning, she was completely out of it.
Whatever the teacher said up front, it went in one ear and out the other.
Her head was full of nothing but shameful, confusing thoughts.
"Ijichi-san?"
"Ah?" Nijika snapped back to reality. The teacher was looking right at her.
"Ijichi-san, can you answer the question?"
"Uh… um…" Nijika had no idea what the question even was.
Whispers rippled through the classroom.
"She's acting weird today…"
"Totally spaced out."
"Maybe she's sick?"
Nijika wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
All Ryo's fault!
But no matter how she scolded herself, her brain kept circling back...
Fujiwara-sensei… really that strong?
That night, Shimokitazawa ... Live House STARRY.
It was late. The last customers had already left.
PA was carefully wiping down the mixer board, while Ijichi Seika leaned lazily against the counter, sipping her drink through a straw as she counted the night's earnings.
The heavy iron door to the venue suddenly slammed open with a bang.
A figure leaned against the doorway...
A girl beautiful enough to grace the cover of any rock magazine, with that kind of effortless, chaotic charm.
Her signature short, pink wolf-cut was messy and wild, framing her pale, delicate face.
Her large, doe-like eyes were hazy and unfocused from alcohol, lashes trembling under the dim light, giving her a fragile, drunken beauty.
She was slim, dressed in a teal-brown long dress that failed to hide her slender legs and narrow waist.
Everything about her screamed "rock star"... the lazy, reckless kind of cool.
Unfortunately, all that allure was drowned under the overpowering stench of cheap liquor and sweat.
She slumped bonelessly against the doorframe, clutching an empty bottle, a goofy, drunken grin plastered on her face.
"Sei… Seika-chan… PA-san… I'm broke… and homeless… lemme stay here tonight… hic… and maybe lend me some booze money too…"
The hopeless drunkard before them was none other than Kikuri Hiroi.
"Again, Kikuri?" Seika didn't even look up, reaching under the counter for a small first-aid kit. "Show me your hand."
Kikuri giggled as she held out her hand... new cuts and bruises crisscrossed the back of it, who knew whether from a gig or another drunken stumble.
Seika sighed, soaked a cotton pad in antiseptic, and dabbed... hard.
"OW, OW, OW! Seika-chan, are you trying to kill me?!" Kikuri yelped, suddenly a little more sober.
"If it hurts, maybe drink less next time... before you end up dead in some alley," Seika scolded, though her touch softened as she applied the bandages.
"Can't you cut back a little?" PA said as she walked over, her tone worried. "You drink like this every time. One day it's going to kill you."
"Dying drunk… that's… pretty rock 'n' roll, isn't it…" Kikuri slurred with a laugh, before her legs gave out and she started to sink to the floor.
"Stand up straight!" Seika grabbed her by the collar and hauled her upright. "You're not sleeping here! STARRY isn't your free hotel!"
"Eeeh… don't be so stingy, Seika-chan…" Kikuri whined, reaching out to cling to her leg... only to get kicked away.
"Just one night, pleeease…"
"No." Seika's tone left no room for argument. "I'm calling Eliza to come get you. Until she arrives, you stay put and don't cause trouble."
They'd agreed beforehand... not to show her any more mercy.
Kikuri wilted under Seika's glare, curling up on the couch like a scolded puppy.
Just then, the small TV on the counter flickered with the late-night business news.
"... Sources report that the bankrupt Yamada General Hospital has recently been acquired by a mysterious investor. At today's transfer ceremony, the former owner's daughter, Miss Ryo Yamada, was seen leaving the Imperial Hotel... "
The screen showed Ryo Yamada walking calmly out of the hotel.
"Oh?" Kikuri's bleary eyes suddenly lit up.
"Isn't that… Ryo-chan?" she pointed at the TV, her voice rising. "Whoa! Ryo-chan's rich now!"
Her brain began spinning in its own ridiculous logic.
Ryo's rich now → she must live in a huge mansion → huge mansion means huge wine cellar → huge wine cellar means expensive booze!
"Hehehe…" Kikuri's grin turned downright pervy, drool threatening to spill as she imagined herself lying on the velvet carpet of Ryo's cellar, hugging a bottle of Juyondai in one arm and Romanée-Conti in the other.
"I've decided!" she suddenly declared, leaping to her feet. "I'm going to crash at Ryo-chan's place!"
"Sit. Down!"
Seika's sharp bark froze her mid-step.
Her expression was ice-cold, her gaze piercing like a Siberian wind. Kikuri shivered.
"I'm warning you, Kikuri. Go get drunk anywhere else, but do not go to Ryo's house."
PA stepped forward, voice soft but firm. "That's right, Kikuri-san. You'd only cause her trouble."
Seika and PA exchanged a silent, knowing look.
They both understood perfectly well...
Ryo Yamada's home was also where Seiji lived.
If the reckless, clueless Kikuri stumbled in there drunk… the consequences would be unimaginable.
They were protecting her.
"Ehh… why not…" Kikuri mumbled weakly, cowed by Seika's terrifying aura. "Ryo-chan's so nice… it's just one night… fine, fine, I won't go…"
She said the words obediently... but her eyes darted mischievously.
Seika's too scary to argue with right now…
But if I sneak over later, she'll never know…
And if I get to drink good booze… totally worth the scolding.