You would almost never find Natsu without his suit. A 26 year old man with the look that can be compared to idols. The members considered him as a big brother. He was a capable manager that supported challenging individuals like Kumo Bell to the top.
"I'm sorry Mr. Matsuda but what do you mean by you're returning the proposal? We just tweaked the draft as per your request so you could be the main sponsor for our very first concert." His voice was professionally calm and soothing as he tried to win the guy over the phone. But through the window, the coworkers outside his office could see his enraged face, like he was ready to murder people.
"GreenEast is coming back, we're just a small company so we're holding our fund for them. Kumo Bell should ask sponsorship from bigger companies. Sorry Natsu."
His face darkened as he clenched the phone tight, almost breaking it. It took him an entire self control not to scream and smash the phone to the marble floor. Countless of scenarios popped in his head but they haven't signed the contract. So it was useless to threaten or ask for compensation.
The people outside of his office wished that Natsu would just close the window blinds so that they didn't have to witness his fuming aura.
"I understand Mr. Matsuda please contact me if you ever change your mind. Thank..."
The sponsor hung up, leaving Natsu with 'doot doot doot' on his ear. He slammed the phone to his desk then pulled his hair back.
"The King my ass, if I ever see them in person I'll smack them in the face!" He exclaimed in anger.
His eyes trailed to the sky outside of the window. It was dark and cloudy, it put one's bitter mood even worse.
This morning, the announcement only happened this morning and Kumo Bell already lost a deal! A very important one.
Kumo Bell was talented idealist musicians who gained national recognition. Their creativity blossomed from the liberty and they liked to do things their way. However, they were still considered as rookie hence they didn't have a lot of bargain power.
For that reason, Kira and Ritsuo specifically requested Natsu to look for smaller brands so that they could have freedom in their first concert. What upset Natsu the most, was the fact that he could have closed the deal before GreenEast made the announcement. A lot of sponsors were waiting in line to work with Kumo Bell. But the announcement happened and he failed.
The Easteners, GreenEast faithful fans, have started to make their move. They rushed to rent the biggest billboards and the highest skysrappers. Next week, all Tokyo would be covered by GreenEast. One would expect to see GreenEast banners in the trains, subway stations and other rentable ad spaces. Initiated by angry fans, it was a warning campaign for StarLord Entertainment. They shall not make any move that could delay their come back. Same thing also happened in Seoul and other big cities.
Easteners was the largest fan club in KPop history and most of them were faithful extremists that would do anything for their idols. It was a powerful force but also a deadly weapon.
Many stars failed to manage the fans and they were ruined by the love of their very own fans. GreenEast had always been careful hence their fanclub was continuously growing. A humble King who never abused their power. They wanted their King back, and they wanted them now.
Probably it would take another 2 or 3 weeks until Easteners calmed their fire. It could calm them faster if GreenEast made another announcement; but GreenEast rarely made comments regarding their contracts and that's a problem for Kumo Bell! Not only for Kumo Bell, but also for other artists who crawled their way up to the throne.
Time was ticking, they tried to hold a concert before the Japan Music Award. But who would burn their money when the talk about GreenEast was all over the country?
Natsu decided to stop this train of thoughts. He massaged the back of his neck then pull out a cigarette. He took a slow, relaxing drag of the addictive toxins. The office turned foggy, it was such an unhealthy sight, most people would suffocate. But Natsu didn't care.
He looked out the sky outside the window. It started to rain. According to the weather forecast, it would be a very heavy one.
His eyes then strolled on the wall, where Kumo Bell's posters were hunged. The biggest rising star in Japan. Kumo Bell was his pride and finest work. Who said it was easy to be a manager?
Natsu grew up in an orphanage, and it was Kira's mother, a former miss Japan, who supported him financially. After turning 18, she sent him to work at Jivex Entertainment. When Kumo Bell finally signed under Jivex Entertainment, he sworn himself to bring Kumo Bell to the top of Japan music industry.
Negotiating deals and arranging collabs while taking after their artists, he took pride in his job as a manager.
Knock Knock
Someone knocked on the door. He removed the cigarette from his lips and abruptly putting it off on an ashtray. He reached for the air ventilator button, but before he could tell the unknown guest to come, the door opened.
It was Erika Itoh. She immediately coughed from the thick smoke inside of Natsu's office. A normal person would immediately step out but Erika Itoh closed the door behind her and stared blankly at Kumo Bell's wall decoration.
She didn't look healthy. You could tell that she lost weight. Concealer could not hide the dark circle under her eyes.
One would pity Erika Itoh if they saw her current condition. She looked like a withered red rose, that lost its charm. She bowed her head to greet Natsu, her eyes didn't leave the portrait of Kira.
"Do you need a sponsor? Should I help you?" Her voice hoarsed.
He was left speechless upon hearing her offer. After a while, he chuckled, but there's no humor in it. He knew what she meant by 'help'. Spreading her legs to win a favor from a rich investor.
He looked at Erika Itoh. Her pale skin was as white as paper, the cheek bones was higher than the last time he saw her. She must have starved herself to prepare for some audition.
"Will you?" an insincere smile bloomed on his face.
She nodded her head, "You see? He's all mess when I'm not around." then bite her thumb nervously.
Natsu refused to reply Erika Itoh. He didn't want to guess in which under influence she was now. Poor girl, he thought. The entertainment industry must be too hard for her. She always held her head high, aiming for the royals like Yui Shidoh.
Being constantly compared to Yui Shidoh, she was thinking that she could easily match the Queen. What an arrogant girl. Everyone in the country knew she still had a long way to go.
"Why didn't you pick up your phone?" Her voice cracked.
"I had no obligation to answer your phone, Ms. Itoh."
"Where is Kira? Isn't he in a deep mess? Why won't he see me?" She finally turned her gaze to Natsu. Tears started to cloud her eyes. She looked so pitiful, she was about to break but there's no sympathy on Natsu's face.
At first Natsu respected Erika Itoh. She was a rising model that would be beneficial for Kira's popularity. But this girl constantly wished for Kira's downfall...
"Then you probably should leave him."
"If I have to leave him then you should leave him too! Did you forget I helped you to get rid of Shizu Katagiri!?" She snapped.
Natsu's face darkened.
"What did you say?"
"Do you think Kira would let you stay if he knows that the manager he respects so much is scheming with me to get rid of his stupid true love that he desperately keeps chasing? I'll tell him everything. If I can't be with him then you're coming with me!"
"You crazy woman, are you out of your mind!?"
"He doesn't want to see me anymore! I should have just made him impregnate me!!" She was screaming as if it was the last thing she could do. She gave ways to her knees and sobbing on the floor calling Kira's name.
The people outside of his office were startled by her scream, before they gathered in front of his office- Natsu hurriedly closed the blind and snapped his head to her. He shot a glare at her. Disgusting.
Her makeup was ruined. If anyone saw her now you wouldn't think of her as an A-Class model who signed with Christian Dore.
"Ms. Itoh..." After organizing his thoughts, he finally called her in a more soothing voice. It somehow calmed Erika Itoh, she finally stopped sobbing.
He approached her with a box of tissue in his hand. He lowered his body and sat beside her. His gaze was as sharp as a dagger but he could still force a smile as his eyes met hers.
"I'll tell you his schedule. Please go and see Kira.."