I stepped out of the car in front of Strawberry Productions. The building was modest - three stories of aging concrete and tinted windows squeezed between a convenience store and a ramen shop. A far cry from the gleaming towers of the major agencies.
『Their annual revenue barely breaks 100 million yen,』 the Advisor said. 『But B Komachi's latest single hit number three on the charts.』
"One hit wonder?" I straightened my cuffs, heading for the entrance.
『Not likely. Her metrics show steady growth across all platforms. The agency just doesn't have the resources to capitalize on it.』
"That's where we come in."
The lobby was small but clean, with signed posters covering most walls. A sleepy receptionist perked up as I approached.
"Amon White," I said. "I have an appointment with Saitou-san."
She made a quick call, then directed me to the second floor. No elevator - just narrow stairs with worn carpet. The whole place had that struggling-but-determined energy of a passion project running on fumes.
Ichigo Saitou met me at the top of the stairs. He looked exactly like his photos - early thirties, business casual, perpetually worried expression. The kind of man who lived and breathed his work.
"White-san." He bowed. "Thank you for coming."
I returned the gesture. "Thanks for making time. I know you're busy."
He led me to a small conference room - more signed posters, a water cooler, chairs that had seen better days. We sat across from each other, sizing each other up.
"I'll be direct," Saitou said. "Your offer was... unexpected."
"Good unexpected or bad unexpected?"
He smiled slightly. "That depends on your intentions. Horizon Media isn't exactly known for idol management."
"We're expanding." I leaned back. "And Strawberry Productions has something we want."
"Ai."
I nodded. No point dancing around it.
"She's not for sale," he said firmly.
"No one's talking about selling her." I pulled out a folder. "I'm talking about giving her the platform she deserves."
He took the proposal, scanning the first page. His eyebrows rose at the numbers.
"This is..."
"Fair market value for the company, plus performance incentives." I watched his face. "You stay on as her manager. Full creative control. Just with Horizon's resources behind you."
"And what does Horizon get?"
"Thirty percent of gross revenue. Standard industry rate."
He set down the folder. "You seem young to be handling acquisitions."
I smiled. "I'm nineteen."
『Liar,』 the Advisor said. 『Two months till seventeen.』
"Nineteen," Saitou repeated skeptically.
"Started young." I shrugged. "Family business."
He studied me for a long moment. "Why Ai? Why us?"
"Because she's got something special. Something that can't be manufactured or trained." I met his gaze. "You know it. I know it. But she's hitting a ceiling here."
"We manage."
"You survive." I gestured at the building around us. "She deserves more than survival."
A knock at the door interrupted his response. It opened before either of us could speak.
"President, you wanted to see me?"
I turned - and felt something like electricity shoot through my veins. Ai Hoshino stood in the doorway, and she was...
『That's not normal magic,』 the Advisor said sharply. 『Something's different about her.』
She was beautiful, yes, but it went beyond that. There was an energy around her, a presence that made the shabby room feel suddenly brighter. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment the world seemed to hold its breath.
『Amon,』 the Advisor warned. 『Focus.』
I stood, breaking the spell. "Hoshino-san. I'm Amon White."
"Oh!" She bowed quickly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..."
"Actually, this concerns you." Saitou gestured for her to sit. "White-san is from Horizon Media."
She took the chair next to Saitou, smoothing her skirt. "The new entertainment company? I've seen the billboards."
"We're interested in acquiring Strawberry Productions," I said. "With you as our flagship artist."
Her eyes widened slightly. She looked at Saitou, who nodded.
"The terms are... generous," he said. "But the decision is yours."
"I..." She hesitated. "Could I see the proposal?"
I slid it across the table. She read carefully, asking surprisingly sharp questions about revenue splits and creative control. Not just a pretty face, then.
『She's smarter than her profile suggested,』 the Advisor noted. 『And that energy reading is still off the charts.』
"What about the other artists?" she asked finally.
"They'd all be offered contracts," I said. "Same terms, proportional to their current earnings."
She looked around the room - at the worn furniture, the faded posters, the water stain in the corner. Then at Saitou, who'd given everything to build this place.
"Could we... have a moment?" she asked me.
I stood. "Take your time. I'll wait outside."
In the hallway, I leaned against the wall, mind racing.
『That wasn't natural,』 the Advisor said. 『The energy signature when you made eye contact... I've never seen anything like it.』
"Could it be some kind of charm magic?"
『No. This was different. More... primal.』
The door opened before I could respond. Saitou emerged, looking tired but resolved.
"She wants to talk to you," he said. "Alone."
I found her standing by the window, looking out at the city. She turned as I entered.
"Why me?" she asked without preamble.
"Because you're extraordinary." I moved to stand beside her. "And you know it."
"I'm just an idol."
"No." I shook my head. "You're a star. You just need the right stage."
She studied me, purple eyes intense. "You really are young, aren't you?"
I smiled. "Old enough to know talent when I see it."
"And modest too." But she was smiling back. "Saitou-san trusts you. That means something."
"Smart man."
"The smartest." She turned back to the window. "He saved me, you know. Gave me a chance when no one else would."
"And now he's giving you another one."
She was quiet for a long moment. "If we do this... everyone comes with us? Not just the talent, but the staff too?"
"Everyone who wants to."
"And Saitou-san stays my manager?"
"Non-negotiable part of the deal."
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Let's do it." She turned to face me fully. "But I have conditions."
I gestured for her to continue.
"I want final approval on my songs and image. No gravure shoots, no dating bans." She counted on her fingers. "I keep my current group, and my practice schedule stays mine to manage."
"Done."
She blinked. "Just like that?"
"Just like that." I held out my hand. "Partners?"
She took it. That strange energy crackled between us again, making my Shadow Seal pulse in response.
『Definitely not normal,』 the Advisor muttered.
"Partners," she said firmly.
We called Saitou back in. There were papers to sign, details to hammer out. But through it all, I kept catching myself watching her. The way she moved, the way she commanded attention without trying.
『You're staring,』 the Advisor said dryly.
I wasn't. I was observing. Analyzing. That's what I told myself, anyway.
By the time we finished, the sun was setting. Saitou walked me to the door, looking both relieved and shell shocked.
"We'll start the transfer next week," I said. "My team will handle the paperwork."
He nodded. "White-san..."
"Yes?"
"Take care of her." His voice was quiet but intense. "She's special."
I thought of that strange energy, the way it had called to something deep inside me.
"I know," I said. "That's why I'm here."
In the car, I finally let myself relax. Phase one complete. Now for the real work.
『That energy signature,』 the Advisor said. 『We should investigate.』
"Already planning to." I watched Strawberry Productions recede in the mirror. "She's hiding something."
『So are you.』
I smiled. "That's what makes it interesting."
The car turned toward home, carrying me through Tokyo's neon twilight. In my pocket, my phone buzzed with a message from Maria.
"Building contracts are signed. Work starts Monday."
Everything was falling into place. PRISM, Ai, the new building... all pieces on my board. All part of the plan.
『Just remember,』 the Advisor said. 『The best-laid plans...』
"Always work out exactly as I intend them to," I finished.
『That's not how that goes.』
"It is now."
[2 weeks later]
I slouched in the back of the car, pulling up my banking app. The numbers stared back at me - a stark reminder of how much I'd invested in less than a month of being here. 1.8 billion yen gone, split between PRISM's acquisition, Strawberry Productions, and the new building renovations.
『Your father expects repayment by next year,』 the Advisor said. 『With 15% interest.』
"I know." I switched to my trading app, scanning the familiar charts and patterns. In my past life, I'd made a fortune riding the crypto wave of 2020-2021. The market looked nearly identical here - same patterns, same setup, same opportunity.
『You're thinking of cryptocurrency again.』
"Bitcoin's sitting at 11,000 USD." I pulled up the historical data. "By April 2021, it'll hit 63,000."
『That's assuming this timeline follows your previous one.』
"It will." I'd tracked the markets. Every major movement, every correction, every rally - they all matched my memories perfectly. "200 million yen now turns into enough to pay off father with interest by spring."
『And if you're wrong?』
"Then I deserve whatever comes next." I typed in my order, finger hovering over the execute button. "But I'm not wrong."
『Your confidence is either admirable or concerning.』 The Advisor paused. 『Sometimes I can't tell which.』
I executed the trade, converting my remaining liquid capital into Bitcoin. The transaction confirmed with a soft chime.
My phone buzzed - a message from Maria.
"Construction team needs final approval on the studio layouts."
I switched to the blueprints she'd attached. The renovation plans for PRISM's new building were ambitious - state-of-the-art recording studios, dance practice rooms, a small performance venue. Everything an idol agency needed.
『You're juggling a lot of pieces,』 the Advisor said.
"That's the fun part."
『Fun wasn't exactly what I meant.』
Another message popped up - this one from Saitou. "Ai wants to know when she can see the new practice rooms."
I smiled, remembering that strange energy I'd felt around her. That was another puzzle to solve, but it could wait. First, I needed to secure my financial foundation.
『Speaking of puzzles...』 The Advisor's tone shifted. 『Your father will need a report by new years.』
"Of course he does." I leaned my head back, watching Tokyo's lights blur past the window. "I'll give him something suitably impressive."
『And what exactly will that be?』
"The truth." I pulled up PRISM's preliminary numbers. "We're ahead of schedule, under budget, and about to launch the fastest-growing idol in Japan's digital age."
『You make it sound simple.』
"It is simple." I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the Shadow Seal on my finger. "Everything's going exactly according to plan."
『You know what they say about pride...』
"Save the lectures." I opened my trading app again, watching the crypto charts tick upward. "I've got work to do."
My phone buzzed one last time - an alert from my crypto tracker. Bitcoin up 2% already.
I smiled. Sometimes the best plans were the ones you'd already lived through.
『Just remember,』 the Advisor said quietly, 『the past doesn't always predict the future.』
"No," I agreed. "But it gives you one hell of an advantage."
The car pulled up to the apartment entrance. I stepped out into the cool October night, straightening my tie. Above me, the stars wheeled in their ancient patterns, indifferent to the games of devils and men.
But that was fine. I wasn't playing for their attention anyway.
『Ready?』 the Advisor asked as I reached for the door.
"Always." I checked my phone one last time - Bitcoin up another percent.
I entered and greeted the doorman. The money was in play, the pieces were set, and the future was unfolding exactly as I remembered it.
Now all I had to do was not screw it up.
The Advisor's silence spoke volumes about her opinion on that particular challenge. But then again, she hadn't lived through this before.
I had. And this time, I was playing with house money - literally.