Around six in the evening.
As the sound of the guitar and drums came to a close, the ensemble in the recording studio wrapped up.
The four members of the band turned their gazes to the only audience present—Chisato.
They were silent, like contestants on a reality show facing judges who could determine their fate, feeling extremely nervous.
Since a little after one in the afternoon, they had been continuously practicing and tweaking their performance based on suggestions from someone with no knowledge of music theory.
Although it seemed odd, their adherence to the opinions of this outsider had indeed yielded good results.
The lead singer, Ikuyo, also followed his advice, adjusting her vocal technique and tone multiple times. The song gradually improved, presenting a richer, more youthful vibe that suited them.
Ryo, the main arranger, felt this particularly deeply. She often wondered, "Does this guy really know nothing about music? Is he pretending to fool us?"
"That's about it."
Once the recording studio fell silent, Chisato took a moment to reflect before slowly lifting his head.
He smiled at the band and gently clapped his hands.
"Overall, the last performance felt the best. It's good enough, so let's use this version as the standard. Thank you for your hard work."
He stood up, picked up drinks from the table, and handed them to the four members.
Finally, he stood in front of Hitori, took her guitar, set it aside, and gently examined her left hand.
Her fingertips were slightly red from pressing the guitar strings all afternoon, and Chisato gently pinched them.
Hitori felt shy, self-conscious about the other three's gaze.
"It's, it's okay. My fingertips have calluses now; it doesn't hurt much."
Chisato, however, ignored her.
"Be good, don't move."
"Okay."
Ryo, who was removing her bass, glanced at them silently and then looked at her own left hand.
She walked to Nijika and extended her hand, only to be unceremoniously slapped.
"Chisato said it was about time, which means our performance still doesn't match his ideal standard, right? It's not perfect."
Ikuyo came over, her voice sounding a bit weak from singing all afternoon.
"It's unavoidable. Since Chisato doesn't understand music theory, we have to rely on his vague descriptions to understand his thoughts. Some details are bound to be missed."
Ryo took a sip of water and comforted her.
"Since he has clearly said it's good enough, we don't need to think too much about it."
Ikuyo nodded.
"Since our original song has been officially confirmed, the next thing to do is that!"
Nijika's eyes lit up as she clenched her fists, having played the drums all afternoon without showing any sign of fatigue.
"That?"
Ikuyo asked, puzzled.
"To perform on the stage of STARRY in front of the audience."
Ryo explained to her, then looked at Nijika.
"Right?"
"Yes!"
Nijika nodded vigorously, a smile on her face.
"Are we going to perform on stage so soon?"
"It's something we'll have to experience sooner or later. It will be fun. Besides, Ikuyo-chan is so cute. Wouldn't it be a waste to just shine in this small recording studio?"
"Eh, shining and all is too exaggerated…"
Despite her modesty and quick hand gesture, Ikuyo's face clearly showed her happiness.
"Then it's settled on our end. I'll ask Chisato and Bocchi-chan for their opinions."
Nijika ran over to the other two.
"Seems like Nijika is quite eager for the performance."
"That's to be expected, as she's carrying not just her own dreams but those of others as well."
Ryo said.
…
"Hold the first live concert of Kessoku Band at STARRY, huh."
"Mm-hmm!"
"There's nothing wrong with that, but we'll need to report it and get approval from the manager."
"That's fine. I know my sister's character. As long as our performance meets the standard, she'll agree."
Nijika was full of confidence.
"Then there's no need to hesitate."
"Okay, I'll go talk to my sister now. I hope she doesn't set the target too high."
Having confirmed Chisato's thoughts, Nijika cheerfully left the recording studio.
Hitori, who had been silent all along, tugged at Chisato's sleeve after she left.
"Um, what does Nijika mean by 'target'?"
"To ensure customer flow, the venue sets a target for bands wanting to perform."
"For example, if they set a target of ten tickets, any revenue beyond that is split between the venue and the band members."
"If the target isn't met, the band has to cover the shortfall."
Chisato, having worked at STARRY for some time, was quite familiar with these matters.
"The specific target is decided by the manager."
"She judges based on various criteria for the band and has a lot of flexibility."
"Since Nijika is her sister and you're a newly formed band with no reputation, she'll likely set a target of about ten to twenty tickets. So, don't worry too much."
Chisato's idea was simple: to film the live performance of the new song on the day of the Kessoku Band concert, post it online, and if it gained good traction and views, it would prove that the route was viable.
They would continue producing content in the same manner, creating a positive cycle.
Just like a stationary train, the initial start is always the slowest, but once momentum builds, the speed increases.
After gaining a fan base and public recognition, things would only get easier.
As Chisato pondered whether to invest in a second-hand camera with his recent savings, Nijika entered with a complicated expression.
She stood in front of Chisato, hesitantly extending five fingers.
"My sister agreed to let us perform here next Friday night, but we have to meet a target of fifty tickets."
"…"
Chisato was silent for a moment.
"Are you kidding?"
"… No, she's serious."
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