Chapter 33: Why Disband Sumimi?
Only the highest echelons of the company issuing the wargame and the record company's executives knew that Hikigaya Hachiman, as the original author of the Warhammer series, would be attending the selection as a special invited judge.
This was necessary for the smooth running of the event. Otherwise, if the news of "Sanguinius-sensei" appearing spread, the company's doors would be overwhelmed by frenzied fans, and the entire venue's order would collapse.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sanguinius-sensei."
Hikigaya Hachiman was picked up by a private car and taken to the record company's underground parking lot. Immediately, the presidents of the wargame publishing company and the record company rushed to greet him.
The area had been cleared, with only staff present.
"Thank you for your hard work. Just call me Hikigaya."
Hikigaya Hachiman was wearing a simple white T-shirt and a baseball cap, dressed very discreetly.
Calling him "Sanguinius" in a public setting would equally expose his identity.
"Understood, Hikigaya-san."
It was the first time they had met the rumored super author. They were surprised by how young he was, and his aura was so imposing that both presidents subconsciously used honorifics.
This was unsurprising, as it was rumored that "Sanguinius-sensei" had a very solid background and only wrote books out of interest, making him untouchable in the industry.
This was a small interruption. The record company president first led Hikigaya Hachiman and the other staff on a brief tour of the company.
"Our company has four agencies, and we have cumulatively cultivated over 170 artists who have debuted, releasing records..."
The record company president proudly introduced his company. As they walked, they arrived at a recording studio.
When the president clearly saw the people performing inside, his speech abruptly stopped.
Inside the recording studio, two very young and beautiful girls were shooting a music video.
The blonde girl on the left, with a bright smile on her face, was dressed in a gorgeous black and white gown, her golden hair shimmering under the lights.
She was focused on playing the electric guitar, the notes seeming to dance at her fingertips. She looked quite heroic and very captivating.
The brunette girl on the right, with a gentle expression, held the microphone and appeared to be the main vocalist.
The two girls clearly looked like professional idols, both shining brightly on stage.
"That's Sumimi, they're so cute."
A female executive from the publishing company accompanying them immediately recognized the popular idol duo, Sumimi.
The blonde girl was Misumi Uika, and the brunette was Sumita Mana.
However, even though their company's main act was recognized, the record company president felt a little strange.
Instead of showing the pride he had moments before, he laughed nervously, seeming embarrassed.
"Ahem, everyone, please follow me."
Hikigaya Hachiman also noticed this. He even heard the record company president immediately call over a staff member with a gloomy face, demanding to know why they were singing inside!
His tone was a quiet, hushed inquiry.
Hikigaya Hachiman overheard something else.
"Are they trying to make my company go bankrupt right here?"
Hikigaya Hachiman felt an inexplicable sense that he had seen the blonde, short-haired girl somewhere before, but the memory seemed too distant to recall clearly.
At this moment, the idol group's MV recording was nearing its end, and the two girls were making their final farewells.
"Thank you, everyone.
We are Sumimi."
The MV recording had barely finished when the two girls dropped the bright smiles they had on stage and immediately bowed to the surrounding staff, apologizing.
"We are sorry for the trouble."
The surrounding staff members merely waved their hands sympathetically, indicating it was fine.
Misumi Uika's face was full of apology. She looked at the brunette girl next to her.
"I'm sorry, Mana, I dragged you down."
After today, Sumimi would not only disband, but Misumi Uika might not even be able to be an idol in the future.
"No, it wasn't Uika-chan's fault at all."
The Mana's face was full of indignation. She was angry.
"We are a group, and isn't the company too cold-blooded?"
"It's alright, Mana."
Misumi Uika looked worn out. She shook her head.
"I'm already satisfied that I got to sing one last song on stage with Mana.
Besides, I never found being an idol fun anyway."
Sumita Mana bit her lip.
"I'm going to talk to the president about this. I just saw them right outside the door."
Misumi Uika was startled, but Mana had already rushed out of the recording studio.
She hurried after her, not even stopping to take off her guitar.
Hikigaya Hachiman and the group were walking ahead when they suddenly heard gasping sounds from behind.
"Wait, President!"
Everyone turned around to see Sumita Mana, the girl who had been in the recording studio, her face full of anger.
"Why are you disbanding Sumimi! And why is the company deciding to freeze Uika-chan out?"
The statement was shocking.
The popular group Sumimi is disbanding? And member Misumi Uika is being frozen out by the company?
The non-record company staff members accompanying them all widened their mouths in surprise.
The record company president's face grew even gloomier. Clearly, this scene was not what he wanted to see.
Misumi Uika, upon hearing Mana's shocking words, ran even faster, quickly darting forward and grabbing Sumita Mana, who was questioning the president.
"Mana!"
Misumi Uika decisively bowed low, apologizing on behalf of Sumita Mana.
"I am so sorry, President!
Mana is just a little emotional."
"Let go of me, Uika-chan."
Sumita Mana was thoroughly enraged and wanted to continue her questioning.
The record company president realized that this farce was getting out of hand, and just as he was about to burst into anger, Hikigaya Hachiman spoke up.
"President Takamura, the selection meeting is about to start."
The girls didn't expect that such a simple sentence would stop the anticipated harsh reprimand from falling upon them.
Indeed, Takamura, who had been suppressing a belly full of fire and was ready to unleash it, instantly felt as if he had been doused with cold water upon hearing Hikigaya-san's words.
He took a deep breath.
"I apologize deeply for letting you witness that, Hikigaya-san.
This way, please."
When Misumi Uika heard the name "Hikigaya," she trembled all over, her eyes staring incredulously at the black-haired boy in the baseball cap who had just spoken to stop their president.
"Hi...kigaya?"
Her lips were trembling. She quickly unlocked her phone and decisively swiped to the chat window with Togawa Sakiko from a year ago—which she regarded as her spiritual pillar—where Sakiko had congratulated her on her debut.
Exiting the social app, her phone's home screen displayed an old, yellowed photo.
It was a picture of Misumi Uika at age six, taken by her parents with her friends. In the photo were two small boys, one with black hair and one with blonde hair.
The black-haired kid looked smug and wasn't smiling, while the blonde kid was laughing very happily. They were both holding nets for catching rhinoceros beetles.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman was led by President Takamura to the selection venue.
In addition to him, there were seven professional judges, including music professors and famous musicians.
Hikigaya Hachiman frowned.
Because thin threads, invisible to ordinary people, permeated the bodies of those seven judges, manipulating them like marionettes on strings.
It was some kind of Cursed Technique that had been activated.
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