Chapter 9: No One Likes Going to the Office
Standing before the headquarters of Xini Entertainment, Hikaru Hoshino couldn't help but look up at the towering edifice, a wave of emotion washing over him.
The building stood forty-five stories tall, clad entirely in deep blue glass curtain walls that reflected a dazzling brilliance under the Tokyo midday sun. The architectural design was sleek and modern, every line exuding the sheer power of the corporation. In a prime district of Tokyo where land was valued like gold, owning a standalone skyscraper of this scale was proof enough of Xini Entertainment's immense financial might.
As a giant in the Japanese entertainment industry, Xini's reach extended far beyond show business. From electronics manufacturing to music production, and from film investment to game development, the company's tentacles reached into almost every corner of modern life. Within the industry, Xini held a pivotal position—artists under their wing appeared on the NHK *Kohaku Uta Gassen* stage almost every year, a supreme honor in the Japanese entertainment world.
Hikaru Hoshino hadn't signed a traditional "slave contract." Instead, he had established a content creator partnership agreement with Xinu.
Under the contract, he retained full creative and artistic control over all his works but was required to authorize Xini Entertainment to handle the production, distribution, and marketing of his officially released music. In exchange, Xini provided platform resources, promotional support, and operational assistance, sharing revenue from music sales, digital streaming, and physical merchandise with him on a percentage basis.
Consequently, he was widely regarded as one of the "Xini-affiliated" artists.
Pushing open the heavy glass doors, Hikaru stepped into the lobby. He was greeted by a faint scent of aromatherapy; the entire space was decorated with low-key luxury, the beige marble floor glowing warmly under the lights.
Hikaru walked straight up to the receptionist.
He was surprised to find that even the receptionist's looks were outstanding—enough to be a star in her own right. But given the excellence of makeup techniques, it was also possible she was simply highly skilled.
"Yo," Hikaru greeted her. "Which way to Takashi Kadomori's office?" He flipped his hair, flashing what he considered a charming smile.
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked with a smile.
"Uh." Hikaru felt a bit awkward. "I'm one of the company's artists. Kadomori is my manager."
"You don't really look like one," the receptionist replied, still smiling politely. "So, you don't have an appointment?"
"Or rather, how do you intend to prove your identity?"
Before coming here, Hikaru never imagined he'd be blocked by a receptionist, unable to even see his manager's face.
A talented singer blocked at the door of his own company? This was too embarrassing; he had to handle this himself.
"My stage name is Hikari," Hikaru said, leaning his elbow on the desk with an air of sophistication. "I'm somewhat well-known, for what it's worth."
A look of obvious surprise appeared on the receptionist's face. "Hikari? He is indeed signed with Xini Entertainment."
"But why haven't I seen you at the office before?" she asked, looking thoroughly confused.
"Ahem." Hikaru's face reddened slightly. "Actually, I've never been to the office before."
"Huh? How long have you been signed?"
Hikaru scratched his head. "About one or two months?"
The young woman was shocked. "You're saying you've been signed for two months and this is your first time at the office?" She stared with wide eyes, her tone suddenly rising.
"If you must put it that way..." Hikaru kept a straight face. "Yes."
"If this were any other company, you'd definitely be blackballed for this," she said, shaking her head and dropping her formal honorifics. "It shows a complete lack of respect for your seniors."
*Seniors, juniors, what a load of nonsense. I couldn't care less about that,* Hikaru grumbled internally.
Maintaining his composure as a "strong" individual, he said, "Since you've put it that way, I'm guessing it's not actually a big deal."
Just then, a slightly deep male voice came from behind them: "What are you two chatting about?"
Hikaru turned around to see a middle-aged man of medium build wearing a dark suit walking toward them. It was Takashi Kadomori. He wore a gentle smile, but his eyes betrayed the shrewdness characteristic of a veteran manager.
"The receptionist says I've been away so long that I've been put on hiatus by the company," Hikaru joked.
Kadomori waved it off. "There's no such thing. If there were ever a risk of you being sidelined, I would have summoned you here long ago. Xini is a large, professional corporation. While we observe Japanese senior-junior culture, it isn't as heavy here. It's not like certain idol agencies where corruption is rampant, where they constantly bully stars they don't like, and where exploitation is everywhere. There's even..."
"Even what?" Hikaru asked curiously.
Kadomori didn't answer immediately. He gave a brief greeting to the receptionist and led Hikaru toward the elevator.
"What else could it be?" Kadomori glanced at him. "Casting couches. It's a common occurrence."
Upon hearing this, Hikaru silently took two steps back, maintaining a safe distance from Kadomori.
Even Kadomori, who usually had a very mild temperament, couldn't help but be amused to the point of laughter by Hikaru's behavior.
"Fortunately, Strawberry Productions is a startup—or rather, their president is a decent man. Otherwise, that top idol's career might not have been so smooth."
"You should be quite familiar with them?" Kadomori asked, curious about the relationship between Hikaru and Ai. "Otherwise, why would you collaborate with her so many times?"
"Fairly familiar," Hikaru answered ambiguously, before immediately changing the subject. "Since Xini isn't that kind of company, why do you have such a grudge against the casting couch system?"
Kadomori sighed. "Because they waste good talent. In those traditional agencies, many people have the talent to thrive in the industry, but because of that culture, they're forced to sacrifice something. In the end, the truly gifted are buried, while those willing to play the game climb to the top."
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