With the official release of the song Fly Me to the Star, Ririn Hoshizaki, still a debuting rookie singer, saw her popularity soar.
Ririn Hoshizaki gradually went from being completely unknown to having her name recognized, and further gained fans who liked her. In truth, she had firmly clung to the leg of Fly Me to the Star.
She herself knew this very clearly, always reminding herself not to become arrogant or complacent, and not to stop striving just because of this success. This time, she was fortunate to cling to Izumi's leg. Without Izumi's composition Fly Me to the Star, she would very likely have failed in the rookie season and then been shelved by Nichirushi's agency.
If you can't become explosively popular, you're destined to be shelved—that is the cruelty of the entertainment industry.
Although the rookie season had not yet ended, the competition between various entertainment companies already seemed to be in full swing. But many insiders could already see that this time, the rookie season's crown was destined to be won by Nichirushi's agency's Ririn Hoshizaki.
The executives of Hebi-O and Hela entertainment companies had invested heavily in this rookie season. Seeing that their own rookie singers were about to fail, none of them were happy, yet they could do nothing.
All they could do was curse Nichirushi's agency in their hearts for lacking virtue, while secretly investigating this previously unknown composer—Izumi.
When they investigated Izumi and saw the information, the executives of the two companies almost coughed up blood. They thought Izumi was a trump card Nichirushi had been secretly cultivating all along, now summoned to launch Ririn Hoshizaki to fame in one stroke, with Izumi striking as a rookie composer.
But unexpectedly, she had never been connected with the music industry before, with not even her name known—completely a parallel line to the industry. And then suddenly, during this rookie season, she popped up as if from a crack in a rock.
Both Hebi-O and Hela companies used their networks to ask around among the big-name composers and veterans of the music world. The result was that not one of them had ever heard of Izumi before—all of them had only just learned her name.
In other words, not only had Izumi never been involved with the music industry before, she also had no powerful backers behind her.
So where had she suddenly come from? And how had Nichirushi's agency discovered her? One move, and it was like seeing the future's next great composer. Even if Merii Hizuki had sharp eyes for talent, could it really be this exaggerated?!
What? Merii Hizuki said she just happened to meet her while taking a casual walk at night? What utter nonsense! Why didn't such luck ever happen to them? Going out for a nighttime stroll and running into a composer with the potential to become a great master?
Fine then, from now on we won't do anything else. Every evening, we'll just walk back and forth through the streets of Japan!
Merii Hizuki truly had no conscience. If she didn't want to share, then fine, but why make up such an absurd excuse to fool her peers? Meeting by chance during a walk a composer with such potential? Not even a dog would believe that!
The people in the other two entertainment companies were all baffled, and at the same time cursed Merii Hizuki for her shamelessness.
Meanwhile, over at Nichirushi's agency, the shameless Merii Hizuki was happily busy every day, not feeling the slightest bit tired, only fulfilled.
Because she had bet correctly on Kotomi Izumi's composing ability, and made a beautiful comeback. Not only would she not be demoted because of the pledge she had signed, she now had a high chance of getting promoted beyond her current position as chief manager.
Even if there was no clear word yet on promotion, this year's year-end bonus was certain to be so big she could count until her hands went numb.
During this time, Merii Hizuki had been taking Ririn Hoshizaki to various business events. The rookie season was like this: even before it ended, as long as capital saw that a promising new singer was about to be born, business collaborations would immediately pour in one after another.
That's just how business is—quick, precise, ruthless, and steady.
Just this noon, she had taken Ririn Hoshizaki to attend a banquet. Ririn had drunk a little too much, so afterward, Merii Hizuki drove her back to the apartment building where she currently lived.
This apartment building was truly a high-class residence. With the income of a rookie singer, Ririn Hoshizaki absolutely couldn't afford to live here. Even with her current rising popularity, she still couldn't afford it.
After all, this was Setagaya, one of Tokyo's wealthy districts, standing alongside Chiyoda.
In Setagaya, luxury cars were everywhere, just as high-end apartments filled Shibuya.
But even so, how could a little singer like Ririn Hoshizaki afford a place in Setagaya? It didn't matter—ever since Nichirushi's agency decided to promote her, they had her move into this apartment, with the agency covering the monthly rent.
Previously, it had only been rented. If she failed to win in the rookie season, Ririn Hoshizaki would lose the right to stay here, forced to pack her luggage and move out to find her own place.
But now, with Fly Me to the Star making a huge splash in the rookie season, as long as she won, not only would resources and support pour in, but Nichirushi's agency would even buy the apartment outright for her—giving her, barely in her twenties, her first Tokyo home.
"Get some rest early today. In your free time, remember to post often on Twitter and interact with fans regularly.
"You also need to frequently like, comment, and retweet Izumi-sensei's Twitter. If she has a new light novel volume or manga volume going on sale, or if she releases new work, make sure you retweet and promote heavily. Tomorrow, remember to buy volume 1 of Sword Art Online at the bookstore. Take a selfie with the book in hand and post it on Twitter.
"Nichirushi's agency is, after all, a capital-driven company. Until we reach a deep collaboration with Izumi, we can't use the official account to interact with her. So for now, you must constantly interact with Izumi-sensei yourself, raising your presence and closing the distance as much as possible.
"Even if your current popularity doesn't match Izumi-sensei's, it doesn't matter. Courtesy never hurts. If Izumi-sensei sees you being so thoughtful, she'll keep you in mind. Who knows? Not only your next song, but even the one after that, she might continue to compose for you."
Yes, another reason why Hebi-O and Hela agencies were furious enough to vomit blood was because this composer with the potential to become a new great master—Izumi Ki—had previously been writing light novels and drawing manga, completely unrelated to the music industry.
Seriously, for someone who writes novels and draws manga to suddenly create such a powerful song—were they trying to make all the composers in other companies quit in despair?
"I understand, Merii-san. Honestly, I've never known how to repay Izumi-sensei for her kindness. With your guidance, I think I have some idea now."
Ririn Hoshizaki nodded firmly. Even as her fame rose, she still remained polite and well-mannered in front of Merii Hizuki and her manager.
Especially with Merii Hizuki. Back when she was still just a trainee, she had hardly ever spoken with her, barely even had the chance to meet. At most, once a year at the annual company gathering, with Merii Hizuki on stage while she sat in a corner below.
"No, no. For Izumi-sensei, helping you might just have been a small effort. But for you, it's a kindness you may never be able to repay even in a lifetime."
Merii Hizuki nodded in satisfaction at her response, but still reminded her not to think she had already repaid Izumi.
Leaving aside her good singing voice, this little girl truly was sensible—not arrogant, not impatient.
Some rookies, as soon as they gained a little popularity, would immediately change their attitude—showing up late, acting like big shots, and loving to flaunt themselves.
The problem was that they flaunted so stupidly, constantly lowering their public favor and reputation, completely unable to package themselves properly. Even with the company's PR team designing careful marketing strategies, they still complained it was too low-key, not matching their supposed fame. And in the end? Their image collapsed, popularity plummeted, reputation tanked, and sometimes they were even flamed onto Twitter's trending topics.
Merii Hizuki had spent many years cutting her way through the entertainment world—a place of hidden currents and raging waves, where a god could be created in a second, and collapse in the next, with constant change at every moment.
She had cultivated countless top-tier artists and earned a certain status. Even artists from other companies, upon seeing her, would respectfully bow and greet her as "Merii-san." When she slightly raised her glass in acknowledgment, those artists would scramble to lower their glasses as much as possible.
Merii Hizuki understood a truth: the entertainment world everywhere is full of people who rise to fame overnight. The truly remarkable ones are those who, after exploding in popularity, can maintain that heat with their own strength while also building a reputation, allowing them to survive long-term in the ever-surging entertainment industry.
Making someone popular was far too easy. Even with something as trivial as having pure eyes, strange clothing styles, or singing songs that most people couldn't appreciate—through fabricated hype, throwing money at magazines and Twitter, you could be praised to the skies. Even the smallest matters could keep showing up on trending lists, flooding screens. But the key was when virtue did not match fame. If one lacked the strength to bear the weight of such hype, then no matter how many paid promoters were hired, what followed was only disdain and ridicule from the entire internet.
Recently, Merii Hizuki had been considering the marketing strategy for Ririn Hoshizaki. She hadn't decided yet, so she continued observing. For now, the impression Ririn gave was of a singer with a beautiful voice and the pure, girl-next-door look.
Still, Ririn's personality was genuinely good. So Merii decided to simply let her continue with this image for now, while also working hard to improve her singing skills. Later, she could find opportunities for Ririn to collaborate with Izumi a few more times. Even if she couldn't be raised to phenomenon-level stardom, becoming a top-tier singer would be no problem.
Even though the car had already stopped downstairs at her apartment, since Merii Hizuki hadn't said for her to leave, Ririn Hoshizaki didn't dare get out on her own. She obediently sat in the passenger seat.
Sure enough, a moment later, Merii Hizuki spoke again: "Actually, Izumi-sensei will soon once again be responsible for composition. This time, she'll be composing the entire soundtrack for a theatrical film—from the theme song to every insert song…"
These past days had been full of banquets and business events, so she hadn't had the chance to call Hideaki Anno to properly discuss Izumi composing the soundtrack for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.
Nichirushi's agency also wanted to be involved.
Hearing this, Ririn Hoshizaki's eyes lit up. She didn't yet know which film Izumi would be composing for, but her small, eager gaze already seemed to ask Merii Hizuki: Can I sing for it? Even just one song!
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