"That's great news."
Seeing him agree, Shizuko Shiraishi's face lit up with satisfaction.
As expected, just as the company predicted, there was no way a fan like him could refuse composing for sumimi.
"However," Kamigawa Saku said cautiously, "I can't guarantee how many songs I can write or how quickly. I'll do my best."
Even though he could easily compose countless top-tier songs using his learning card, he didn't want to waste such a valuable resource solely on composing.
After all, the card provided two hours of unparalleled focus and learning.
Using it just for songwriting would be an inefficient use of its potential.
The best strategy would be to combine composing with quickly acquiring skills he needed—just like last time.
For now, he didn't have any pressing skills to learn, so it seemed wise to save the card for a better opportunity.
That didn't mean he wouldn't help sumimi at all. He'd rely on his current abilities to compose for them, but that required time—a resource he was severely lacking.
"No problem at all. Didn't I mention this earlier?"
Shiraishi dismissed his concerns with ease.
"The company values quality above all else, so there's no rush. Take your time."
If he could produce songs on par with his previous masterpiece, the company would give him all the time in the world. They understood that inspiration was the key to great compositions.
"That's reassuring," Kamigawa Saku said, visibly more relaxed.
Internally, he was celebrating.
This arrangement would allow him to use composing as a legitimate reason to meet with sumimi frequently.
"Good."
Misumi Uika, too, seemed relieved.
Having someone to share the workload was undoubtedly a good thing, especially when that someone was capable of creating a song as outstanding as his.
"Good luck!"
Sumida Mana, as sumimi's lead vocalist, couldn't contribute much to the discussion about composing. Instead, she offered her encouragement.
"I-I will!"
Kamigawa Saku turned to her, his voice filled with excitement.
As a devoted fan, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed by his idol's encouragement.
"Next, let's talk about the lyrics."
Shiraishi brought the conversation back on track. "Kamigawa-kun, who do you think should write the lyrics for your song?"
"You want me to decide?" Kamigawa Saku was surprised.
He had only specified that the song was meant for sumimi and hadn't given any input about the lyrics.
"Not exactly," Shiraishi clarified with a small shake of her head.
Although Misumi Uika was responsible for songwriting within the group, the company was hesitant about whether she could do justice to such a top-tier composition.
"If it were up to me, I'd choose Uika," Kamigawa Saku said, staying in character as a dedicated fan.
"Got it. I'll pass your opinion on to the company."
Shiraishi had expected this answer all along.
"Thank you," Misumi Uika said sincerely, her gratitude evident.
Being entrusted with the lyrics for a masterpiece like this was a dream come true for any lyricist.
Even if the final decision didn't go her way, his support at this moment was something she deeply appreciated.
"No need to thank me."
Kamigawa Saku averted his gaze, pretending to hide any emotional reaction.
"Moving on…"
With matters involving Kamigawa Saku out of the way, Shiraishi began discussing sumimi's future schedule.
However, she didn't ask Kamigawa to leave. Instead, she let him stay.
"…"
Kamigawa Saku listened intently.
Knowing their schedule would allow him to create more opportunities to meet them—whether by chance or to discuss composing.
"I think that's everything. Any questions?"
After going through the details, Shiraishi opened the floor for any final concerns.
"No questions."
Misumi Uika and Sumida Mana exchanged a glance before answering in unison.
"Alright, that wraps things up. You're free to go now," Shiraishi said with a nod, preparing to leave herself.
"Wait a moment…"
Kamigawa Saku suddenly spoke up.
"What is it?"
Shiraishi paused, turning back to him.
Misumi Uika and Sumida Mana also looked his way, curiosity evident.
"Would it be possible to keep my identity as the composer a secret? Not just for this song but for all future works," Kamigawa Saku said. "I'd prefer not to reveal that I'm the composer—it could cause some complications."
He hadn't forgotten this critical detail.
If his bandmates found out he was secretly composing music, it would undoubtedly lead to chaos.
"No problem at all."
Shiraishi agreed readily.
Even if he hadn't brought it up, the company would have taken steps to keep his identity confidential.
Having a talented composer like him poached by another company was a risk they couldn't afford.
"I'll keep it a secret too!"
Sumida Mana nodded earnestly, her expression serious.
"Me as well," Misumi Uika quickly added.
"Thank you both."
Kamigawa Saku was genuinely grateful for their understanding.
This arrangement put his mind at ease.
"In that case, you'll need a pseudonym," Shiraishi explained. "A name to credit your work publicly."
"I'll think about it…"
Kamigawa Saku fell into thought.
Choosing a pseudonym on the spot was challenging, especially since it would represent his composer identity for years to come. It had to be meaningful but not too obvious.
"There's no rush. Take your time and let us know when you've decided," Shiraishi reassured him.
"None of your songs are ready for release yet, so there's no immediate need to publicize your name. For now, we'll just avoid mentioning you."
"Alright, I'll let you know once I've decided. In the meantime, I'll rely on you to keep my identity under wraps," Kamigawa Saku said, abandoning the idea of coming up with a name immediately.
"Anything else you'd like to address?" Shiraishi asked.
"No, that's all."
Kamigawa Saku thought it over briefly before confirming.
"By the way, do you need someone to escort you home?" Shiraishi offered.
"No need. I was planning to explore the area a bit anyway," Kamigawa Saku declined politely.
"Alright."
With that, Shiraishi left the lounge.
Soon after, Kamigawa Saku stood up.
"Well, I should get going too."
There was no reason for him to linger, and leaving now would leave a polite impression.
"Goodbye."
Misumi Uika and Sumida Mana waved as he made his way to the door.
"Goodbye," Kamigawa Saku replied, stepping out of the lounge and heading toward the company exit.
---
After Kamigawa Saku left, Misumi Uika and Sumida Mana chatted briefly about their future arrangements before leaving the lounge.
It was time to head home.
As she passed by the restroom, Uika happened to run into Shizuko Shiraishi, who was just coming out.
"Uika, wait a second. I have something I need to discuss with you."
Shiraishi's voice stopped her before she could say anything.
"What's the matter?"
Uika paused, her brows furrowing slightly in confusion.
Was it work-related?
Hadn't everything been discussed in the lounge earlier?
Or had something been left out?
"What do you think about Kamigawa-kun?"
Even after ensuring that no one else was around, Shiraishi still lowered her voice as she asked.
"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Uika blinked, caught off guard.
"Just answer me first," Shiraishi pressed.
"...I guess he's decent enough. At the very least, he doesn't leave a bad impression."
Uika thought carefully before giving her response.
While she had her doubts about Kamigawa Saku being a fake fan of their group, that wasn't something worth fussing over.
She had encountered plenty of insincere compliments before, so it didn't bother her.
From their brief interactions, she had to admit he left a pretty good impression overall.
Handsome, polite, and skilled at composing—what's not to like?
"In that case, you wouldn't mind spending more time with him, right?"
Shiraishi's follow-up question immediately put Uika on alert.
"What do you mean by that?"
Her expression shifted as she regarded her manager warily.
"No, no, you've misunderstood," Shiraishi quickly clarified.
"What I mean is, would you be okay with getting to know him better? Maybe even becoming friends with him?"
"Just that?"
Uika relaxed slightly, though her guard wasn't completely down.
"That's all," Shiraishi assured her. "You don't have to do anything beyond that. I promise."
"Then why?"
Uika couldn't hide her curiosity.
"Why are you suddenly bringing this up? And why are you so keen on me becoming friends with him?"
She couldn't imagine Shiraishi bringing this up without a reason.
"Because it would benefit all of you, of course," Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.
"Benefit?"
Uika tilted her head, still puzzled.
"Think about that song," Shiraishi said, her tone growing more serious.
"Did you really think it was randomly assigned to your group?"
"Wasn't it?"
Uika asked hesitantly, starting to feel uneasy.
"Of course not!"
Shiraishi sighed.
"The higher-ups wanted to give that song to other singers in the company—ones with more experience and popularity."
She lowered her voice further.
"But Kamigawa-kun insisted on including a clause in the contract that the song could only go to your group. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a deal."
"Because of that clause, the company decided to release a new album for you."
"This…"
Uika's thoughts became muddled.
From her perspective, the company had bought the song to support their group.
But in reality, if not for Kamigawa Saku's insistence, that song would have never been theirs.
It felt as though her entire understanding of the situation had flipped upside down.
But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
From the company's standpoint, a song of that caliber would bring maximum returns if performed by a well-established artist, not a rising idol group.
Assigning it to sumimi would have been a waste.
And yet, despite their group being outclassed in popularity, skill, and seniority, the song still ended up in their hands.
The only plausible explanation was Kamigawa Saku's insistence.
"Why?"
The question slipped out of her mouth.
It didn't make sense.
None of it did.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shiraishi rolled her eyes.
"He's a fan of your group."
"A fan?!"
The way Shiraishi looked at her—like she was being unusually slow—made Uika feel defensive.
She hadn't even considered that possibility.
After all, Kamigawa Saku had all but admitted he wasn't a real fan.
But now, how could she argue otherwise?
If he were a true fan, it explained why he gave the song to them.
But if he were just pretending, why would he go to such lengths?
It didn't add up.
Her thoughts spun in circles, leaving her utterly confused.
"This is actually great news for you," Shiraishi began, her tone shifting.
"As I see it, you have nothing to lose. You think he's a decent guy, right? At worst, becoming friends with him is harmless. At best, it could bring significant advantages."
"For one, having such a devoted fan who's also a talented composer can only help your group."
"Think about it. If you two become friends, he might prioritize giving all his future compositions to your group.
"Even just two or three more songs of that level could skyrocket your popularity."
Shiraishi paused for dramatic effect, then added, "I'm not asking you to do anything unreasonable. All I'm saying is to consider being his friend—or at least treat him kindly on the surface."
"Please, stop. I need time to process this."
Uika rubbed her temples, overwhelmed.
What even was this situation?
Nothing about it made sense anymore.