"We're cutting the number of tracks for Koda Kumi, Hamasaki Ayumi, and Osawa Shinichi."
Even after being humiliated by NHK and Enfants Terribles, Avex still hadn't abandoned their greed for the closing slot.
To execute the orders from the top, the Avex Department Head devised a scheme. He planned to drop one song from each of the agency's groups on the day of the broadcast.
If Avex's groups skipped one stage each, it would leave roughly 10 to 15 minutes of airtime toward the end of the show. If Zard appeared to fill that vacuum, the finale of Fuji TV's Music Fair would naturally fall into Avex's hands.
"But... wouldn't the timing be off? What about the rehearsal...?"
"The rehearsal will be similar to what we did for Utacon, so a quick audio check should be enough. Besides, I've already coordinated with the PD, so all you have to do is go out there."
As if proving his status as a department head at Avex—one of the top-tier labels in the Japanese entertainment industry—he demonstrated swift, ruthless execution.
The moment his boycott against NHK failed, he set his sights on Fuji TV. Compared to the public broadcaster NHK, Fuji TV, a commercial station, shared much more common ground with Avex.
The Avex Department Head had successfully lobbied the PD and CP of Music Fair to deliberately cut several songs. Just as Enfants Terribles was about to close out the largest-scale Music Fair in history, Zard would swoop in and snatch the ending.
The Avex plan was thorough.
Because it was being done in secret, Strawberry Productions wouldn't even have time to prepare a countermeasure.
"Avex is the industry leader; it's only right that our artists take the ending."
Satisfied with his own logic, the Department Head leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.
The finale of Music Fair—that was one thing Avex absolutely had to claim.
Time passed, and the day of Fuji TV's Music Fair arrived. Avex had already pulled the strings to capitalize on the trick-down effect of this record-breaking broadcast.
As agreed with the high-ranking production staff, they trimmed one song from the existing setlist, leaving over 10 minutes of time before the show's conclusion.
Zard's manager deliberately arrived at the parking lot late, near the end of the broadcast. The members of Zard, barely aware of where they were, could only sigh at Avex's arbitrary and forceful scheduling.
"Come on! Let's move!"
Checking his wristwatch, Zard's manager led the members toward the stage. By the time they reached the wings, Enfants Terribles was already performing their final song for the ending.
And Zard couldn't help but be horrified by the scene.
"Is this even a music show stage...?"
"What? We just finished a performance and came straight here, and you want us to perform again? Do you even care about Izumi's vocal condition?!"
The members of Zard held deep resentment toward their label, Avex. The agency's management philosophy revolved around molding 'stars' into products to be sold through meticulous planning, treating the members of Zard more like merchandise than human beings.
As Enfants Terribles' final song, 'Champagne Supernova,' reached its conclusion, the manager locked eyes with the Music Fair PD.
"Alright! Get ready to head out!"
"What?"
The members of Enfants Terribles, savoring the lingering resonance as they usually did after a performance, held up their microphones to give their closing remarks.
The moment Enfants Terribles stepped back, Zard would rush out. For now, they were supposed to hold their breath and wait for the stage to end.
"Hey! Our performance isn't over yet!"
"It'd be a shame to let us go so soon, wouldn't it?"
Just as the Zard members were about to be shoved onto the stage by their manager, Tanaka Shuji and Yokishi of Enfants Terribles began shouting nonsensical words.
"What? What kind of ghost story-tier bullshit is this?"
In the manager's ears, the sound of acoustic guitar strings ringing out and the wail of a harmonica began to take over.
As the manager stood dazed by this combination of instruments he hadn't heard before, the leader of Enfants Terribles began to shout.
"This is the new song you all have been waiting for."
Contrary to Avex's plans, Enfants Terribles did not leave the stage.
"'The Masterplan'!!"