Chapter 9 Souta's Hidden Side and the Rival Appears

Souta’s Hidden Side and the Rival Appears

After school, I arrived at an office building in the city. This building belonged to a major record company, and my destination was their in-house studio.

The building’s entrance had tight security, so I presented my ID before entering.

I took the elevator to the designated floor, and as the doors opened, I walked down a quiet, serene corridor. The walls were lined with photos of famous artists and iconic record posters that anyone would recognize—testaments to the hit songs created here.

Among them was a poster of the national idol group, Luminous Stars.

As I glanced at it briefly, someone appeared before me.

She was petite, with purple hair flowing down to her waist. Her appearance was somewhat loli-like and could easily be mistaken for a child’s, but she was undeniably an adult.

This was Mika-san, the producer of Luminous Stars.

“Long time no see~ Ten-cchi (天っち).”

She greeted me casually, and I returned her greeting.

“Mika-san, it’s been a while.”

“Judging by your uniform, you’re coming from school~? You’re as youthful as ever~. It makes this Onee-san jealous~.”

Mika-san said this, but judging by appearance alone, she didn’t look much older herself.

That said, I had no idea how old she actually was.

I’d once asked her casually, but she replied with a playful smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “How old do you think I am?” Since then, I hadn’t dared to ask again.

“By the way, the new song was amazing! The next single is sure to be a massive hit. Ever since you, Ten-cchi, started writing and composing for Luminous Stars, their popularity has skyrocketed.”

“Do you really think so…? I’d be happy if I’ve managed to help even a little…”

“You’re so humble, Ten-cchi~. Well, that’s one of your best qualities. Anyway, I’m counting on you for today’s recording.”

Leaving those words behind, Mika-san disappeared into the recording booth.

Under the pseudonym “AMAGI,” I’ve been creating music. Ever since the first song I produced reached millions of views, I’ve continued working in this field. This is my hidden side.

As I moved to follow Mika-san into the room, someone called out to me from behind.

“We meet again, Amagi-kun.”

I turned to see Shirasaki Kanade standing there, headphones hanging around her neck.

“Sh-Shirasaki-san.”

It was a reunion with Shirasaki-san, whom I’d spent time with after school in another building.

Though we’d known this moment would come, it still felt a bit surreal.

“I’ll make this song amazing, so watch over me, okay?”

Shirasaki-san had already switched fully into work mode. Her usual cheerful smile had been replaced by a look of intense focus.

Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but think, She’s so cool… Her serious expression was yet another side of her charm, distinct from her usual idol-like cuteness.

With Shirasaki-san and the other members gathered, the recording of the new song finally began.

Today, five of Luminous Stars’ ten members were recording individually in the studio. For large idol groups, it was common to divide members for recording sessions like this.

This approach was mainly used to maximize each member’s vocal quality, allowing their unique tones and characteristics to be captured perfectly.

When I entered the recording studio, the sound engineer and music director were already busy preparing for the session. They were adjusting the microphones and mixing console to suit each member’s voice. As the lyricist and composer, my job was to observe each member as they entered the booth and ensure their performances reflected the intended emotions.

One by one, they stepped into the booth, put on headphones, and stood before the microphone. This method of individual recording allowed them to focus solely on their performances.

Today’s first performer was the group’s undeniable ace, Sakuraba Amane (桜羽天音).

With her long brown hair flowing gracefully and her composed demeanor, she radiated star power as always.

If Shirasaki-san was the young ace, then Sakuraba-san was the true ace.

She had debuted at 15 and was now 19.

In just four years, she had become a household name both within and beyond the music industry. Recently, she’d been featured on magazine covers and in numerous TV commercials.

With over a million followers on Minstagram, she remained the group’s most popular member, despite Shirasaki-san’s recent surge in popularity.

Needless to say, she was incredibly beautiful. Not only that, but her singing and dancing were top-notch. To be honest, I was secretly a fan of hers too.

As she entered the booth, she immediately put on her headphones, closed her eyes, and began focusing. When the sound engineer called out, Sakuraba-san gave a slight nod, signaling her readiness.

As soon as the recording began, her expression transformed. She sang like a completely different person, her clear voice imbuing each lyric with deep emotion and resonating throughout the studio. Her voice was both powerful and delicate, effortlessly drawing everyone in.

As expected, Sakuraba-san was incredible.

Watching from the control room, I saw her finish the song.

The studio fell silent for a moment before the music director gave the okay. I wholeheartedly agreed, and the session ended in just one take.

Hearing the recording was approved, Sakuraba-san smiled in relief. As she removed her headphones and stepped out of the booth—

Our eyes met through the control room window.

Then, out of nowhere, she winked.

…Wait, who was that meant for?

The music director and producer were busy praising her performance, oblivious to her gesture.

No way—she couldn’t have winked at me, right?

Maybe I just imagined it.

The more I thought about it, the deeper I felt myself sinking into a spiral of confusion, so I decided to let it go.