### Next Day
*Strawberry Studio*
Tadano, in his Wandering Musician appearance, was sitting on the stage, chewing gum. Not long after, the door opened.
*Open*
Two figures entered—one tall and the other small. They were none other than Ado and Ai. The young man smiled upon seeing them.
He quickly stood up and began to speak in a cheerful tone.
Tadano: "Well… now that my little apprentices are here, let's start the lesson." He positioned himself at the center of the stage.
Both girls looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Tadano: "First of all, I want you to have a goal…" he said mysteriously.
Ai: "A goal?" she asked, intrigued.
Tadano: "That's right, a goal or an objective to achieve. Now, pay attention. This is the standard I want for both of you… Let's begin!" he said, and with a snap of his fingers, the room darkened.
A spotlight then focused on him.
Or was it her?
Both girls were stunned.
What appeared before them was no longer the charming image of the Wandering Musician but that of a beautiful woman, dressed in a golden evening gown. The bodice was adorned with luxurious silver inlays, and around her neck was a golden locket with a matching bracelet on her wrist. She wore a pair of white strappy heels that added height, and her silky brown hair and small but charming face, with cherry lips forming an enchanting smile, completed the look.
By all accounts, she was a beauty exuding charm and luxury from every angle.
Seeing the luxurious attire and jewelry of the elegant young woman, both Ai and Ado couldn't help but feel a bit envious. Every woman loves pretty things.
The woman smiled sweetly at their expressions and then began.
The sound of an electronic base accompanied by a background drumbeat. A dazzling melody that inspired anyone to dance—repetitive and catchy with a slight disco tone. As the melody played, both girls noticed the place had changed.
It was no longer their practice studio but a different place.
At first, they didn't know where they were, but after seeing the giant disco ball and multiple colorful lights on the ceiling, they realized immediately.
"A Disco!"
Before they could get lost in the luxurious decorations around them, the sweet voice of the woman under the disco ball rang out.
"Darling, the 70's love song that you adore… the phrases so sweet, and it breaks my heart."
Without realizing it, both girls began moving their feet to the rhythm.
"Get used to hearing the same voicemail in my ears… and it's chipping out my love and telephone card… the only thing left in the pocket pager… was the message you gave that day…"
The singing was hypnotic and catchy, so much so that the girls didn't notice the lights gradually turning on.
"14016 = I'm in love with you…"
As the musical beat resonated, all the previously dimmed spotlights lit up, focusing on the woman.
"If it wasn't you… I can't get into the mood… can't be great without you… no longer in that lonely night."
For some reason, both girls had the same reaction when the chorus hit. They both sang along to the rhythm of the music.
"Chan, Chan! Chan! Cháchara chara!"
"Into a joke… it can't be made… it won't ring a second time… the sound that connects us both."
After a high note, the spotlights shone in vibrant colors.
"Dark and gloomy, the sea of sorrows… Cry, Cry! Dancing like you're swimming… Heartbreak Mermaid!"
After the final chorus, all the lights shone, and a crowd appeared. Everyone was dancing to the rhythm of the song, hypnotized by the star in the center.
The woman sang and danced with unparalleled charm. The colorful lights on the floor and the spotlights only amplified her already dazzling performance. The vibe of the 80's was at its peak, and before they knew it, both Ai and Ado were dancing steps they never thought they could do.
However, neither of them stopped.
And before they knew it, they were side by side with the woman. She smiled at them and continued with her song and dance for the audience surrounding them.
"The only thing left in the pocket pager… was the message you gave that day…"
"14016 = I'm in love with you…"
With a sudden impulse they didn't know where it came from, both girls continued singing.
Ai: "If it wasn't you…"
Ado: "I can't get into the mood…"
"Can't be great without you…"
They were so engrossed in the rhythm of the song that they didn't notice they were now even imitating the woman's dance moves.
"No longer in that lonely night."
The woman moved her arms, and each time she did, one of the girls sang the next part.
Ai: "Into a joke… it can't be made…"
Ado: "It won't ring a second time…"
Finally, the woman brought her arms together at her chest and continued.
"The sound that connects us both…"
At that moment, the lights reverberated, and the crowd roared with joy as the three women sang simultaneously.
"Dance! Dance tonight!... Dance! Dance like you're swimming… Heartbreak Mermaid!"
[BGM Heartbreak Mermaid - Yakuza 0]
After the final chorus, the woman raised her index finger to the sky, and the soundtrack did the rest. The brilliant colorful lights and the people dancing to the music created a magical atmosphere.
When it was all over, both girls realized they were back in their original positions. Curiously, they looked at the woman who smiled at them gently.
Ai, being the boldest and somewhat accustomed to her older brother Tadano's oddities, decided to ask.
Ai: "Is that you, Tadano-Nii?"
Ado: "???"
The woman's smile grew, and she nodded. As if by a slide effect, Tadano's appearance returned to his normal Wandering Musician form.
Ado: "!!!"
Ai: "I knew it! Tadano-nii, that was amazing! What kind of song was that?"
Tadano: "That will be the promotional song for the company's next project… Since you two are our only idols at the moment, I'll tell you. This song will be used to promote a game that will be released by our company. Since this is a solo song, the one who performs best will get this opportunity, so give it your all," he said with a smile, seeing the excitement sparkle in Ai's eyes.
On the other hand, Ado was still somewhat lost.
…
After Tadano explained a bit more about his abilities to Ado, and with some timely comments from Ai in the distance, Ado managed to familiarize herself a bit with this peculiarity of her employer.
Later, to further broaden Ado's horizons, Tadano brought in Nagisa to assist with the training.
Ai: "Nagisa-nee!" she shouted with joy before throwing herself into the arms of the kind-looking woman.
Ado: "…"
…
That afternoon passed quickly, and both girls saw significant improvement. Tadano focused on helping Ado while Nagisa took care of Ai.
It was then that Tadano realized. While Ai had talent on her side, Ado was not far behind. She had years of experience, not to mention her higher education. Ado had studied music in college but couldn't finish due to her father's problems, yet she already had a strong foundation.
If Tadano had to rate them, he would say that Ado currently surpassed Ai by a little. This didn't sit well with Ai, who found herself at a disadvantage in music for the first time. This fueled her competitive spirit, and she started practicing even harder.
Ado didn't make it easy either and worked just as hard. Although Ai and Ado had a significant age difference, in front of Tadano and Nagisa, they didn't seem very different from each other.
…
By the time the lessons ended, Ai had fallen asleep, and Yamai came to take her home. Tadano was responsible for sending Ado to her house. As they walked, Ado felt a bit uncomfortable and, unable to contain herself any longer, asked.
Ado: "Is it okay for me to be here?"
Tadano: "What do you mean?"
Ado: "Well… I know you said you wanted me to be an idol, but I… I'm just a street artist, and…"
Tadano: "Hahaha!," the young man couldn't help but laugh at Ado's words.
Ado: "Why are you…"
Tadano: "Did you realize that during practice you didn't make any mistakes? You also didn't stumble like you said you would, and in my demonstration, you sang with quite a bit of joy in front of that crowd…" he said.
Ado: "But I…"
Tadano: "Listen, Doichi, I can't say I understand all the pain you've been through until now, but one thing I do know is that you are a talented woman who just needs a push to reach stardom. And since you agreed to join me, I swear I'll take you there, and once you're at the top…"
Ado's heart, or rather Arai Doichi's heart, fluttered, and in a low but curious tone, she asked.
Doichi: "Once I'm at the top?"
Tadano: "You can rub it in the faces of all those pieces of trash who doubted you! You can show them that they were always wrong and that you were always someone valuable! You'll enjoy seeing their regretful and begging faces. And as far as I know, I'm sure you'll like that, right?" the young man said, turning his attention and giving a slightly playful yet twisted smile to the expectant Doichi.
After thinking about Tadano's words, Doichi's expression became complex for a moment, then she started trembling slightly, and when she stopped, a strange and fierce expression replaced it, as well as a touch of hidden madness reflected in her eyes.
With great vigor, she nodded.
Doichi: "Yes! I want to rub it in! I'll show them all that I was always the best!" she said with a ferocity never before seen.
Tadano: "That's the spirit! Alright, now let's go get something to eat. My treat…" the young man's smile widened as he saw this new side of the girl.
Doichi: "Thank you, sir!" she said in a cheerful tone, not resembling her fierce look from before.
Tadano: "Sir? Do I look that old?"
Doichi: "Did I make a mistake?" she asked, confused.
Tadano: "Doichi, how old do you think I am?"
Doichi: "Aren't you in your mid-twenties?" she asked, a bit doubtful.
Tadano: "…" He was speechless.
Doichi: "???"
Tadano: "Forget it… Let's go eat…" he said in a defeated tone.
Author's Note:
"Hello everyone! First of all, I want to apologize for the delay. My health hasn't been the best lately, and I haven't had much time to write. However, I'm back with a new chapter that I hope you'll enjoy.
By the way, if you're curious about how I envisioned the scene with the song, I was inspired by the karaoke version of the song with Majima and Chika in Yakuza 0. In my opinion, she absolutely stole the show on the dance floor in that video clip, and it perfectly captures what an idol should represent.
Remember to always take care of your health, drink plenty of water, and know that I love you all very much.
Sincerely, your depressed favorite author."
----------------------- nwnr