Episode 44 – (Traitor Side) Stranded

January ended and February arrived.

The city of Tokyo had quickly forgotten its New Year’s mood and returned to its daily routine, filled with the busyness of businessmen and the vitality of young people.

Such was the usual bustle of the Ebisu office district. Nobuhiko, Yua, and new guitarist Itsuki Hiroshige were visiting the entertainment office [Ptolemy Agency.]

Today is finally the day of the contract regarding Lyconess’ debut.

Nobuhiko was full of confidence.

Yua was nervous.

Hiroshige with a happy face.

Each of them had different feelings, but they all crossed the threshold of Ptolemy with the same big dream of making their debut.

After completing the reception, they were shown into the reception room. Even Nobuhiko, who was not a connoisseur, understood that the leather sofa and glass table were luxury items.

They were things that a first-class person would touch.

He had no doubt that he was going to lead a higher life as a musician.

Five minutes of waiting. The door was opened with a knock.

“Thanks for waiting !　Welcome to the Ptolemy Agency! !”

The person who appeared was producer Matsudaira Jun. He was the producer who scouted out Lyconess when he visited Kitasai City last summer.

“Matsudaira san, it’s been a while !”

“Nobuhiko, it’s been a while !　I’m glad to see you’re doing well !”

They shake hands with a big smile on their faces. This is the second time He have met Matsudaira, as they’ve been talking by phone and e-mail about the debut of the new album.

“This is our producer, Honda Kenichi. He’s not in charge of you guys, but he really wants to meet you, so I’ll have him come.”

Matsudaira introduced Honda, who came in with him. Honda has a kind face, but he exudes an aura of vigor that is as strong as Matsudaira’s. He suddenly found himself in contact with such people. 

Honda briefly greeted Nobuhiko and then turned his attention to Yua.

“I’m Honda. I mainly produce female talent. Wow, Yua is a gem ! Yeah, yeah, I can’t wait to see what’s ahead !”

His joy seemed to go in a different direction, but Nobuhiko paid no attention to it.

“And you must be Kingo kun ! I’m Honda, nice to meet you !”

Woosh–

Tension ran high among the members of Lyconess. On the other hand, Matsudaira had a strange feeling of discomfort on his face.

“Hm…..are you always like that, Kingo kun? Did you dye your hair?”

Matsudaira stares at Hiroshige’s blonde hair. Honda quickly operated his phone and opened Lyconess’ Instagram account.

“No, it’s someone else. He’s not Kingo kun !”

Matsudaira and Honda are stunned. Of course. No one is supposed to be here, but instead there is a man who is a complete stranger.

“Nobuhiko kun, what is the meaning of this? I mean, who is he?”

Matsudaira, his brow wrinkled, approaches them.

Nobuhiko finally had to come to his senses and explained to the producers.

“Erm, he is Itsuki kun, the guitarist who replaced Kingo.”

“R-replacement?”

“Yes. The three of us will be working together from now on. So, about the contract and future gigs–“

“Wait, wait ! Eh, why did Kingo kun quit? You should start by explaining that, right?”

Matsudaira interrupted Nobuhiko’s words with an unerring swordsmanship. He was planning to push through and even talk about a contract, but Matsudaira won’t let it slide.

“Why did Kingo kun quit?　It’s strange that you don’t have a guitarist who writes lyrics and composes music.”

“Um…..I was going to ask him about the contract, but he didn’t want to be a part of it. However, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and we cannot lose Matsudaira san’s goodwill, so we decided to do it this way.”

“No, it’s not about an opportunity or a favor, why didn’t you tell us?”

Matsudaira, with his mouth agape, complained bitterly.

The departure of a core member is a big deal for the band. It is common sense to consult with the person in charge of producing the band as soon as possible about such a serious matter. Matsudaira was annoyed at Nobuhiko, who had not informed him of the situation until today.

“L-Lyconess can do without Kingo ! Itsuki kun’s guitar skills are no less than Kingo’s.”

“That’s not the point……. No, well, that’s fine. Even if you’ve secured a guitarist at least a hundred steps, what about the songs? About your existing songs? About new songs?”

“I will write the new songs !　In some cases, I may have to ask you to introduce me to creators, but I will still do the basics. The compositions up to now have been split 50-50 between Kingo and myself, so there is no reason why we can’t release a new song just because he’s missing !”

That’s an outrageous bluff. It is true that Nobuhiko was somewhat involved in the creation of the new song. However, all he did was to say things like, [This part should be more agitated] and it is hard to say that he cooperated with him.

“But the songs were all under his name, weren’t they?”

Honda wondered.

“It can’t be helped because he insists on it. He’s always trying to look good, which is troublesome.”

Nobuhiko was trying to overcome the situation with his best smile and bullshit. If he could just get over this point and put his stamp on the contract, he would be over the hump. He had a little more patience.

“But when I talked to Kingo kun before, he told me that he was the one who wrote the lyrics.”

“T-that’s just his way of showing off !”

He didn’t think he had told Matsudaira that when they first met…. The contradictory statements made Matsudaira more and more distrustful. To top it off,

“Let’s pretend for once that this conversation never happened.”

He said something that threw Nobuhiko into the depths of despair.

“What do you mean !? Why !?”

“Because Kingo kun is not here.”

The reason was quite simple.

“If the person who wrote the lyrics is gone, then I can’t produce the Lyconess that I had my eye on, right?”

“No, that’s why I’ll continue to write the songs as I have in the past—“

“In the first place, I had high expectations for Kingo kun. His lyrics, songs, and guitar playing. Without him, there is nothing to talk about.”

Nobuhiko was absolutely stunned by Matsudaira’s words.

(So ​​you set your eyes on……Kingo?)

Nobuhiko ruthlessly dismissed Kingo as a replaceable talent. In reality, however, it was unexpected that it was he who was the center of attention.

This was very bad.

“You don’t even have a song you can play, do you?”

“There are some ! We are allowed to play the same songs as before !”

Nobuhiko threw a tantrum and defended himself in an angry tone.

This was Nobuhiko’s last card. The only thing left to offer Matsudaira was the song Kingo had once written.

However, Matsudaira’s face was reluctant. He showed no interest at all.

But Honda, standing next to him, unexpectedly offered a helping hand.

“Well then, I’ll sign an agent contract with Lyconess.　Nobuhiko will write new songs while we work on the old ones, and for the time being, you will perform live with the old ones. How about a formal affiliation depending on our performance?”

 “Hmmm. Then it’s less risky…….”

Agent contract? Formal affiliation?

He twisted his head, unable to swallow the words that came out of Honda’s mouth. However, Nobuhiko was relieved when he saw Matsudaira’s hardened face relax.

He doesn’t care what it takes. He’s willing to make a contract with the devil as long as he can perform on stage in Tokyo.

“I understand, let’s go with an agent contract. The official affiliation and production will be decided based on the potential of the new Lyconess. Is that okay with you?”

“O-of course !”

Nobuhiko clenched his fists.

It was bothersome that he was given an agent contract, but in any case, his dream came true and he joined the ranks of celebrities.

This is the big stage he had dreamed of. He would be able to look back at those who had ridiculed him as a country bumpkin.

But God was ever so mean to him.

“Then, you’ll have to submit a copyright permission form.”

Another word he has never heard comes out of Honda’s mouth.

What did he want him to give? A copyrighted work?　A permission form?

“Um…..what’s that?”

“Eh, you mean the copyright license?”

“Yes.”

“Well……is simply an endorsement that you can use the music.”

“Haa, a copyrighted work. Can I get it at the city hall?”

Honda’s face, who had been friendly to Nobuhiko’s question, became tense. He opened his mouth as if to say.

“I’ve never seen such an idiot. It’s a license, so you have to go to the person who made it, you know?”

“The person who made it….you don’t mean Kingo?

“Who else? Well, the formal licensing agreement will be made between our legal department and Kingo kun, so you need a memorandum of permission to use it before…..but don’t you have one? You said earlier that he let you use it, right?”

Honda was taken aback. Nobuhiko felt ice slip down his back.

On the night he kicked out Kingo, he had indeed extracted from him the assurance that he could continue to use the song after the debut.

But that was all. He didn’t put that promise in writing or even record it.

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