"No realistic, Ren."
Haruto's voice sliced the air like an icy gust. His tone, though devoid of emotion, carried the weight of an irrevocable verdict. Ren lifted his gaze from his notebook, feeling the spark of his proposal begin to wobble beneath the shadow of doubt.
Ri‑chan, perched on the edge of the sofa with one cat ear slightly askew, sighed while fiddling with her phone.
"Haruto's right, even if it hurts to say. Saying we'll be 'the most famous group in Japan' sounds incredible and all, but… do you really think we can pull it off? I mean, look at our reality—"
Ren pressed his lips together, his four‑pointed star eyes now dimmed.
"I know it won't be easy. But if we don't aim high, we'll never know what we're capable of—"
His voice wavered, more to convince himself than the two skeptical faces before him.
"It's not about aiming high—" Haruto replied, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. "It's about logic. Right now, we have talent, sure, but we lack something crucial: visibility. Without that, even the best songs won't get us anywhere."
Ri‑chan let out a small laugh, trying to ease the tension.
"Basically he's calling us invisible, but he has a point. We need… something more—"
Her fingers drew a circle in the air, as if searching for an answer in the void.
Before Ren could respond, the studio door flung open and Rokosuke Edo, their manager, strode in. The room's energy shifted instantly. He always entered like he owned the place, his red jacket shining almost as bright as his confidence.
"Bothering the dreamer of the group again, Haruto?" Edo joked as he dropped a folder on the table.
"Blame him for being unrealistic," Haruto replied without hesitation, his gaze fixed on Edo.
Edo smiled enigmatically and pushed his glasses up.
"Well then, maybe we have a solution for your… lack of visibility. A new member is joining the group. Trust me, kids, this girl is exactly what we need—"
"A new member?" the three said in unison, though with very different tones. Ri‑chan's surprise, Haruto's skepticism, and Ren's slight curiosity mingled in the air.
"Yes—" Edo continued, opening the folder and pulling out a couple of photographs. "Akari Tanabe. Probably the most popular cover singer on social media right now. She has followers you could only dream of."
"That sounds great and all, but—" Ri‑chan raised an eyebrow, studying the photos with curiosity. "Why wouldn't she just go solo? Why join us?"
"Strategy," Edo answered with a smile that admitted no questions. "She needs to expand beyond covers, and you need people talking about you. It's a perfect deal. Get ready to meet her. She arrives early tomorrow."
Ren looked at Akari's photo, her face half‑covered by a mask, and something glinted in his eyes again. Maybe it was the promise of a new beginning, or perhaps just a spark of hope kindling among doubts. He wasn't sure. He only knew one thing: he had to find a way to prove his dream was not a mirage.
Aoi Kurohane, known for her intimidating elegance and near‑perfect professionalism, might have been in her room practicing vocal techniques when manager Edo informed her about the new member. The news excited her more than the others expected, and she chose to take an active role in the welcome plan.
Her door stood ajar, a soft melody slipping out as Aoi adjusted her breathing in front of the mirror. Rokosuke Edo popped his head in with his usual confident smile.
"Kurohane, I've got important news—"
She set the mic on her desk and looked at him expectantly.
"What is it?"
Edo entered and folded his arms. "We have a new member. Akari Tanabe, a cover singer. I need you to help me give her an unforgettable welcome. You're the image of professionalism here. I couldn't trust this with anyone else."
Kurohane nodded confidently, her eyes shining with determination.
"Of course. Can we prepare something special for her? I want her to feel at home."
Edo returned a look of assurance and a slight smile. "Do as you please with the welcome, Kurohane. What matters is she feels good here and wants to stay for a long time."
Kurohane spent hours reviewing photos of the venue on her laptop to design a welcome itinerary for Akari. Her methodical, calculating focus made her plan meticulous down to each step. Once it was ready, she hurried out to inform the others. Everyone received the news well. It seemed like an excellent idea.
"It's perfect. Typical Kurohane. What else could we expect from her methodical self?" the others said as those words echoed in Kurohane's mind, as if finally everyone were hearing and recognizing her efforts. She blushed faintly and smiled more broadly, clasping her notebook to her chest.
"Th‑thanks, everyone. That really makes me feel good," Kurohane replied as the hours passed.
After finishing a rehearsal together, Haruto asked Ren something he thought important, both of them breathless from dancing and singing.
"Ren, what do you think of this Akari?" he asked, curious.
Ren looked surprised, offering a faint smile. "Uh, well, she seems shy. Probably never worked with an agency before. Why do you ask, Haruto?"
Haruto simply turned his gaze away and closed his eyes before answering. "I just wanted to know what you thought about our future member," he said, though inwardly he knew Akari would struggle to adapt to the group and the professional system, since she was used to being autonomous.