Hojo Shione had one thing wrong: Shiratori Kiyoya didn't have the chops to compose songs. "Making money by writing music" just wasn't an option.
Only when a target's relevant skill level rises can he unlock the corresponding exchange permissions.
Beginner unlocks LV1, Apprentice unlocks LV2, Proficient unlocks LV3.
And so on—only when she reaches Perfect can he even qualify to exchange an LV5 masterpiece.
And that's just unlocking permission. To actually obtain one, he still needs a ton of cash.
A single LV3 song costs 50 million yen. Even if the song performs as expected after release, recouping the money takes time.
Take the tracks he wrote for Hojo Shione before: at their current popularity, even if he sold the rights, it'd barely be enough to buy a so-so apartment in Tokyo—forget about living off it for life.
Kiyoya knew that love without material support is like sand—how far can a marriage like that really go?
Besides, people like different partners at different stages of life.
An eighteen-year-old Hojo Shione might like him; that doesn't mean she'll still like him at twenty-eight or thirty-eight.
After some soul-searching, Kiyoya realized he'd been wildly off from the start.
Hojo Shione didn't have some grand, towering dream—not at the "future diva" level.
She seemed inexplicably fixated on romance.
So much so that she poured huge chunks of time into dating him: staring at him while singing, clinging to him during breaks, even wanting to sleep next to him at night.
It got to where she started spending her practice time on cooking and flower arranging.
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was running a "bride training program."
"Romance on the brain" pretty much summed it up.
It wasn't hard to foresee: keep this up and not only would he make no money, her career would crash and burn.
After weighing it from every angle, a few serious talks led nowhere; her skill proficiency hadn't improved in two months—if anything, it was slipping.
Kiyoya decided it was time to break up.
It was better for both of them.
He could move on to the next target and make real money—become Japan's richest man sooner—while she, freed from the shackles of a relationship, could face reality and build her career.
He left her a breakup letter and a few songs, then disappeared from her life.
He didn't tell her which university he'd gone to. There wasn't even a fight.
With her ability, even without him, she could sing songs written by others and still catch fire.
But twice burned—twice sunk in the sand—made Kiyoya resolve that, in college, he'd find a like-minded person to cultivate.
No need for extreme ambition—but she had to care about money.
After some searching, he met Takahashi Mio.
At first, he was simply drawn by her S-rank acting potential.
Then he spent ¥100,000 to exchange for the system's appraisal card—and discovered she was the perfect cultivation target.
Not that smart, loves to compare, two million yen in debt, great looks, top-tier acting talent, single and never dated…
A girl like that is definitely not romance-brained.
Does she have a star dream?
Doesn't matter—as long as she wants money.
If he guides her slowly, desire will push her higher and higher.
She'll walk the path he wants her to walk.
This time, he absolutely won't crash and burn…
Bzz bzz bzz.
As he was thinking, the phone on the table vibrated.
He came back to himself, glanced at the screen—an unfamiliar Tokyo number.
His brows knit with a bad feeling. After a moment's hesitation, he answered.
He didn't speak. The other side stayed silent too.
They hung there for a few seconds. Just as he was about to hang up, a soft voice leapt from the receiver.
"Brother-in-law?"
Kiyoya's lips moved.
As expected.
That distinctive voice—he would have known who it was even without the form of address.
Hojo Suzune, Hojo Shione's younger sister, a year below him, now a senior in high school.
"Brother-in-law? Big brother?"
When he didn't respond, Suzune called him twice more.
Still no reply. Her voice turned aggrieved, even a little teary:
"If I hadn't said anything, were you about to hang up?"
Kiyoya skipped answering and went straight to, "How did you get my number?"
"Ah~ Brother-in-law, I haven't seen you in months. You're not even going to catch up a little? That's so mean to poor little Suzune…"
She really did sound like she was crying; he could hear the wet sniffles over the line.
"Slurping noodles while phoning isn't very polite, Suzune."
The instant he finished, the "slurping" cut off.
Then came a bell-bright giggle.
"Heehee, as expected of brother-in-law—you're so clever. Sis would totally fall for that."
"Not necessarily. Maybe she just loves you more."
"Loves me more? Does that mean brother-in-law loves me too?"
"Looks like your math has been great lately, but it won't help you here. How did you get my number?"
"Mhm, my math is pretty good lately. I should be able to get into your university next year, easy."
"If you get into my university, you're doomed—the principal will be hopping mad."
He'd spent almost all of high school focused on Shione; his grades were nothing special.
Probably around 50. Even with a lucky entrance exam, he'd only squeaked into a mid-tier public university.
"So what? I don't even like studying, and I don't want a job later either. Brother-in-law, you can support me~"
Unlike Shione's gentle elegance, Suzune's voice was sweet and sultry; drop your guard and it could seep into your bones and leave you weak for half a day.
"I can't afford you. Also, you should change what you call me—I broke up with your sister amicably."
"You really broke up!?"
Suzune's pitch jumped two notches. Kiyoya frowned.
"You sound… happy that I broke up with your sister?"
"Uh, no, I'm just… surprised…"
She put her chopsticks down, cleared her throat, and sighed.
"Ahem… Why'd you break up? What happened? You two were so good together…"
Kiyoya couldn't see the smile she couldn't suppress. He answered quietly:
"It's nothing. We broke up. Amicably."
"Really? Funny, Sis never mentioned it. She didn't even know which university you were at. She spent the last holiday running all over Kyoto's campuses…"
"My sister's a bit silly, huh? She doesn't even know you moved to Tokyo."
"…"
"But I can believe it, since you broke up. Sis has been listless lately—really bad headspace. Mom cooked a whole table of food and she took one bite, then went to her room and cried. Ask her why and she won't say…"
"Brother-in-law, you're so heartless."
"…"
Hearing that, Kiyoya closed his eyes and kneaded his brow.
"Then as her sister, talk to her properly. Tell her to open up a bit. It's just a breakup—the sky isn't falling. Don't do anything stupid that hurts your health."
"Can you still be friends after breaking up?"
Suzune blinked her bright eyes, testing the waters.
"…Maybe."
"If you can be friends, why change all your contact info? If the caller ID had shown a Kyoto number earlier, you wouldn't have picked up, right, brother-in-law?"
"I just wanted us both to cool off for a while."
"Okay, but it still sounds a little cruel. Sigh… Brother-in-law, now I'm scared to date anyone."
"If your sister wants to say I'm cruel, I'll accept that."
"Eh? But I do like your type. What if I can't help myself someday? You won't take responsibility?"
"…"
Kiyoya fell silent.
When he first met the sisters, he really had considered cultivating Suzune.
Her instrument potential was S-rank, and when they met her piano was already at Proficient.
But he gave up.
Partly because she was too young; partly because, in the short term, piano just couldn't monetize like pop music.
So he chose Shione…
Without noticing, he'd wandered off in thought. He snapped back and realized she'd steered the topic way off.
He had to admit—unlike romance-brained Shione, this little sister had high IQ and EQ. It was easy to get dragged along.
"So… how did you get my contact info?"
Seeing no way to fudge it, Suzune pursed her lips and said softly:
"I pestered Mami-san. I promised I'd make top three in the next mock exam, and she finally told me…"
"Did you tell your sister?"
"Nope. Since you broke up, I figured better a short sharp pain than a long dull one, right?"
"Mhm. Just comfort her properly. Help her get through it. At least make sure she's eating and sleeping…"
Hearing that, Suzune narrowed her eyes, pink lips pressed tight, a flicker of displeasure in her gaze.
"If she heard that from you, she'd be happier."
If she heard it, she'd probably cling even harder.
Kiyoya pictured Shione's face—her crying—and suddenly lost his appetite.
"By the way, brother-in-law, Sis is doing a concert in Tokyo next month. Did you know?"
"I know."
Of course he knew. He knew her schedule better than anyone—more manager than her actual manager.
"Oh? Are you going? If you are, I'll get you a ticket."
"No."
He refused without thinking.
He would go—she was the singer he'd cultivated—but if he let Suzune get him a ticket, it might tip someone off.
"And don't call me brother-in-law."
"Okay, got it, brother-in-law."
"…Do you need anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I'm busy."
"Busy? I thought college was easy. Don't tell me you're busy dating?"
Maybe it was his imagination, but her tone sounded… off.
"I am. Anything else?"
Suzune pouted—she didn't believe it—but said aloud:
"Then we definitely can't let Sis know where you are… Who knows what might happen?"
"She won't, if you don't tell her."
"Heehee. Then you'd better keep me happy, big brother."
"What do you want—Tokyo specialty snacks? I can mail you some…"
"Who wants snacks? I'm not as gluttonous as Sis. I'll be on break soon—how about you show me around Tokyo then?"
"Oh, your Tokyo girlfriend won't get jealous of a high-school little sister, will she, big brother~?"
"…We'll see."
"Heehee, great. There's still time."
"Oh, and brother-in-law—even if you can't afford to support Sis and me, it's fine. I'm definitely going to be famous. Supporting you later will be a piece of cake."