With the official release of the song Fly to the Star, Ririn Hoshizaki, still a debuting rookie singer, saw her popularity soar.
Ririn Hoshizaki gradually went from being completely unknown to having her na recognized, and further gained fans who liked her. In truth, she had firmly clung to the leg of Fly to the Star.
She herself knew this very clearly, always reminding herself not to beco arrogant or complacent, and not to stop striving just because of this success. This ti, she was fortunate to cling to Izumi's leg. Without Izumi's composition Fly to the Star, she would very likely have failed in the rookie season and then been shelved by Nichirushi's agency.
If you can't beco explosively popular, you're destined to be shelved—that is the cruelty of the entertainnt industry.
Although the rookie season had not yet ended, the competition between various entertainnt companies already seed to be in full swing. But many insiders could already see that this ti, the rookie season's crown was destined to be won by Nichirushi's agency's Ririn Hoshizaki.
The executives of Hebi-O and Hela entertainnt companies had invested heavily in this rookie season. Seeing that their own rookie singers were about to fail, none of them were happy, yet they could do nothing.
All they could do was curse Nichirushi's agency in their hearts for lacking virtue, while secretly investigating this previously unknown composer—Izumi.
When they investigated Izumi and saw the information, the executives of the two companies almost coughed up blood. They thought Izumi was a trump card Nichirushi had been secretly cultivating all along, now summoned to launch Ririn Hoshizaki to fa in one stroke, with Izumi striking as a rookie composer.
But unexpectedly, she had never been connected with the music industry before, with not even her na known—completely a parallel line to the industry. And then suddenly, during this rookie season, she popped up as if from a crack in a rock.
Both Hebi-O and Hela companies used their networks to ask around among the big-na composers and veterans of the music world. The result was that not one of them had ever heard of Izumi before—all of them had only just learned her na.
In other words, not only had Izumi never been involved with the music industry before, she also had no powerful backers behind her.
So where had she suddenly co from? And how had Nichirushi's agency discovered her? One move, and it was like seeing the future's next great composer. Even if rii Hizuki had sharp eyes for talent, could it really be this exaggerated?!
What? rii Hizuki said she just happened to et her while taking a casual walk at night? What utter nonsense! Why didn't such luck ever happen to them? Going out for a nightti stroll and running into a composer with the potential to beco a great master?
Fine then, from now on we won't do anything else. Every evening, we'll just walk back and forth through the streets of Japan!
rii Hizuki truly had no conscience. If she didn't want to share, then fine, but why make up such an absurd excuse to fool her peers? eting by chance during a walk a composer with such potential? Not even a dog would believe that!
The people in the other two entertainnt companies were all baffled, and at the sa ti cursed rii Hizuki for her shalessness.
anwhile, over at Nichirushi's agency, the shaless rii Hizuki was happily busy every day, not feeling the slightest bit tired, only fulfilled.
Because she had bet correctly on Kotomi Izumi's composing ability, and made a beautiful coback. Not only would she not be demoted because of the pledge she had signed, she now had a high chance of getting promoted beyond her current position as chief manager.
Even if there was no clear word yet on promotion, this year's year-end bonus was certain to be so big she could count until her hands went numb.
During this ti, rii Hizuki had been taking Ririn Hoshizaki to various business events. The rookie season was like this: even before it ended, as long as capital saw that a promising new singer was about to be born, business collaborations would imdiately pour in one after another.
That's just how business is—quick, precise, ruthless, and steady.
Just this noon, she had taken Ririn Hoshizaki to attend a banquet. Ririn had drunk a little too much, so afterward, rii Hizuki drove her back to the apartnt building where she currently lived.
This apartnt building was truly a high-class residence. With the inco of a rookie singer, Ririn Hoshizaki absolutely couldn't afford to live here. Even with her current rising popularity, she still couldn't afford it.
After all, this was Setagaya, one of Tokyo's wealthy districts, standing alongside Chiyoda.
In Setagaya, luxury cars were everywhere, just as high-end apartnts filled Shibuya.
But even so, how could a little singer like Ririn Hoshizaki afford a place in Setagaya? It didn't matter—ever since Nichirushi's agency decided to promote her, they had her move into this apartnt, with the agency covering the monthly rent.
Previously, it had only been rented. If she failed to win in the rookie season, Ririn Hoshizaki would lose the right to stay here, forced to pack her luggage and move out to find her own place.
But now, with Fly to the Star making a huge splash in the rookie season, as long as she won, not only would resources and support pour in, but Nichirushi's agency would even buy the apartnt outright for her—giving her, barely in her twenties, her first Tokyo ho.
"Get so rest early today. In your free ti, rember to post often on Twitter and interact with fans regularly.
"You also need to frequently like, comnt, and retweet Izumi-sensei's Twitter. If she has a new light novel volu or manga volu going on sale, or if she releases new work, make sure you retweet and promote heavily. Tomorrow, rember to buy volu 1 of Sword Art Online at the bookstore. Take a selfie with the book in hand and post it on Twitter.
"Nichirushi's agency is, after all, a capital-driven company. Until we reach a deep collaboration with Izumi, we can't use the official account to interact with her. So for now, you must constantly interact with Izumi-sensei yourself, raising your presence and closing the distance as much as possible.
"Even if your current popularity doesn't match Izumi-sensei's, it doesn't matter. Courtesy never hurts. If Izumi-sensei sees you being so thoughtful, she'll keep you in mind. Who knows? Not only your next song, but even the one after that, she might continue to compose for you."
Yes, another reason why Hebi-O and Hela agencies were furious enough to vomit blood was because this composer with the potential to beco a new great master—Izumi Ki—had previously been writing light novels and drawing manga, completely unrelated to the music industry.
Seriously, for soone who writes novels and draws manga to suddenly create such a powerful song—were they trying to make all the composers in other companies quit in despair?
"I understand, rii-san. Honestly, I've never known how to repay Izumi-sensei for her kindness. With your guidance, I think I have so idea now."
Ririn Hoshizaki nodded firmly. Even as her fa rose, she still remained polite and well-mannered in front of rii Hizuki and her manager.
Especially with rii Hizuki. Back when she was still just a trainee, she had hardly ever spoken with her, barely even had the chance to et. At most, once a year at the annual company gathering, with rii Hizuki on stage while she sat in a corner below.
"No, no. For Izumi-sensei, helping you might just have been a small effort. But for you, it's a kindness you may never be able to repay even in a lifeti."
rii Hizuki nodded in satisfaction at her response, but still reminded her not to think she had already repaid Izumi.
Leaving aside her good singing voice, this little girl truly was sensible—not arrogant, not impatient.
So rookies, as soon as they gained a little popularity, would imdiately change their attitude—showing up late, acting like big shots, and loving to flaunt themselves.
The problem was that they flaunted so stupidly, constantly lowering their public favor and reputation, completely unable to package themselves properly. Even with the company's PR team designing careful marketing strategies, they still complained it was too low-key, not matching their supposed fa. And in the end? Their image collapsed, popularity plumted, reputation tanked, and sotis they were even flad onto Twitter's trending topics.
rii Hizuki had spent many years cutting her way through the entertainnt world—a place of hidden currents and raging waves, where a god could be created in a second, and collapse in the next, with constant change at every mont.
She had cultivated countless top-tier artists and earned a certain status. Even artists from other companies, upon seeing her, would respectfully bow and greet her as "rii-san." When she slightly raised her glass in acknowledgnt, those artists would scramble to lower their glasses as much as possible.
rii Hizuki understood a truth: the entertainnt world everywhere is full of people who rise to fa overnight. The truly remarkable ones are those who, after exploding in popularity, can maintain that heat with their own strength while also building a reputation, allowing them to survive long-term in the ever-surging entertainnt industry.
Making soone popular was far too easy. Even with sothing as trivial as having pure eyes, strange clothing styles, or singing songs that most people couldn't appreciate—through fabricated hype, throwing money at magazines and Twitter, you could be praised to the skies. Even the smallest matters could keep showing up on trending lists, flooding screens. But the key was when virtue did not match fa. If one lacked the strength to bear the weight of such hype, then no matter how many paid promoters were hired, what followed was only disdain and ridicule from the entire internet.
Recently, rii Hizuki had been considering the marketing strategy for Ririn Hoshizaki. She hadn't decided yet, so she continued observing. For now, the impression Ririn gave was of a singer with a beautiful voice and the pure, girl-next-door look.
Still, Ririn's personality was genuinely good. So rii decided to simply let her continue with this image for now, while also working hard to improve her singing skills. Later, she could find opportunities for Ririn to collaborate with Izumi a few more tis. Even if she couldn't be raised to phenonon-level stardom, becoming a top-tier singer would be no problem.
Even though the car had already stopped downstairs at her apartnt, since rii Hizuki hadn't said for her to leave, Ririn Hoshizaki didn't dare get out on her own. She obediently sat in the passenger seat.
Sure enough, a mont later, rii Hizuki spoke again: "Actually, Izumi-sensei will soon once again be responsible for composition. This ti, she'll be composing the entire soundtrack for a theatrical film—from the the song to every insert song…"
These past days had been full of banquets and business events, so she hadn't had the chance to call Hideaki Anno to properly discuss Izumi composing the soundtrack for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.
Nichirushi's agency also wanted to be involved.
Hearing this, Ririn Hoshizaki's eyes lit up. She didn't yet know which film Izumi would be composing for, but her small, eager gaze already seed to ask rii Hizuki: Can I sing for it? Even just one song!
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