Chapter 27: 027, The girls at the nightclub aren't just looking for you

Chapter 27: 027, The girls at the nightclub aren't just after your wallet~

However, once the crux of the problem was identified, it became easy to solve.

"Fae-san, do you drink alcohol?" Naoki Nagayama asked through the microphone.

"Eh? Sumimasen, I've had a little bit at home."

"Then there's no problem. Chojima-san, please go buy a few bottles of beer," he said to Daigo Chojima. "Let Fae-san have a little bit to help her relax."

"Uh, Naoki-san, Fae-san is only 15!"

"Ah, I forgot. Then go buy some alcohol-filled chocolates~" There are always more solutions than difficulties.

While waiting, Naoki Nagayama told Masae Kihara that she could take a short break to do some stretching and relax, then he pulled the curtains on the studio's observation window.

The sudden separation from Naoki Nagayama's figure indeed allowed Masae Kihara to breathe a sigh of relief.

There was a convenience store downstairs from the studio, so the alcohol chocolates were successfully purchased.

"Fae-san, eat some chocolates, and then we'll go at it again with everything we've got!" Naoki Nagayama said.

As Masae Kihara ate the chocolates brought by Daigo Chojima, the alcohol-filled ones were so sweet they reached her heart. If love had a flavor, it would probably feel like this.

In the next take, Masae Kihara sang with abundant emotion and great drive.

"Fae-san, that was great~ If this were a live concert, it would have been an extraordinary performance. However, as a record, it needs to be a bit more effortless."

"Take a little rest, and then let's try one more time with a relaxed mindset."

That take was OK.

The entire recording process actually took less than two hours. Most of the subsequent process involved post-production adjustments: removing noise, trimming breaths, and finally mixing.

By the time the master was exported, not even a full morning had been spent. Compared to the production of other records, the efficiency could be described as extreme.

The team gathered at the end to listen to it once. The production of Side A of the record was considered finished. As for Side B, the plan was to gift a male version by Naoki Nagayama as a surprise. After all, it was his own song and his own production—a blatant use of his power for personal gain~

Of course, before disbanding, there had to be a celebratory feast.

The restaurant was arranged by Daigo Chojima's company, Philips Records.

For such an excellent song, finding Masae Kihara to sing it and having Philips Records handle the subsequent distribution while splitting the profits with Naoki Nagayama's Halo Studio and STARLIGHT Agency actually came as quite a surprise to Philips Records at the time.

Judging whether a song is good is a fundamental skill for a record company, and this "Sakura ~Anata ni Deaete Yokatta~" (Cherry Blossom ~I'm Glad I Met You~) was a guaranteed hit.

The gourmet food at the high-end restaurant revitalized Naoki Nagayama's spirits slightly, and a few drinks helped the staff present relax significantly.

Although Masae Kihara couldn't drink, the recording was finished, and combined with the alcohol chocolates from earlier, her mood was very relaxed, and she even dared to chat with Naoki Nagayama.

"Nagayama-kun, the song is finished, so why are you still frowning? Is there something else left undone?"

"Fae-san, no. It's actually because I slept too little last night, and I've been busy since early this morning, so my energy is a bit low."

"ε=(ο｀*))) Sigh, then you must hurry and rest after eating."

"Regarding that... I have a reason why I must stay awake for the next two days. I need to look haggard..."

"Huh, why is that???"

"It's an advertisement. An advertisement. I have to play a husband who is devastated after losing his beloved."

"Is Naoki-san an actor too? Is he a songwriter, a producer, or an actor?"

Masae Kihara's interest in Naoki Nagayama suddenly spiked. Seeing this, Daigo Chojima grew a bit worried.

As an experienced veteran manager who had built many young idols, the most troublesome thing was when a young idol fell in love. Not only would they resist the agency's arrangements, but if they went through a life-or-death struggle to go public or retire, it would be a disaster.

And now, Naoki Nagayama was not only a genius songwriter and the producer of this project, but also an actor in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, looking at his handsome face, which currently looked somewhat unkempt and haggard, he was practically poison to young girls.

I heard he's not even 20?

Daigo Chojima made a silent vow in his heart: "Damn it, I must keep Fae-san away from this guy!"

Thus, during a lull in the conversation, Daigo Chojima interjected: "Nagayama-kun, I heard you're a fan of Seiko Matsuda, right? Was 'Cherry Blossom' written specifically for Seiko-san?"

Why does everyone ask about this... "Yes, it was a momentary inspiration."

"Sigh~ To think he's a fan of Seiko-san..." Masae Kihara's mood suddenly plummeted.

Afterward, the topic was steered several times toward Naoki Nagayama's collaborators and idols, slowly eroding the tiny spark of admiration that had just been born in Masae Kihara.

Hmph, my decades of expertise in playing the matchmaker-breaker is not for nothing!

Daigo Chojima happily took a sip of shochu.

Then, "Cough, cough, cough~"

He choked.

In reality, Naoki Nagayama was not a blockhead; he had sensed Daigo Chojima's movements to some extent.

However, he was happy to let it slide.

For one thing, the Masae Kihara in front of him was only a middle school student; in Naoki Nagayama's eyes, she was just a child. He wasn't a loli-con.

Moreover, most idols in Japan during this period had round faces.

She wasn't his type at all.

The lunch was very pleasant. In the afternoon, Naoki Nagayama brought a master tape to the photography studio, where Shuichi Itou was indeed already there.

"Itou-san, the background music is finished. I brought it specifically for you."

Shuichi Itou first looked at Naoki Nagayama's appearance. "Naoki-san, you already look a bit haggard. Don't sleep again today~"

"...Yeah... I never want to act again..."

"Hahaha, Itou-san, it can't be helped. Professional actors have techniques to portray a haggard look. Our time is tight, so we can only take this 'shortcut'~"

Shortcuts certainly come at a price, and the price this time was Naoki Nagayama staying awake for two days.

There was basically nothing to do at the studio in the afternoon. The longer he stayed, the more restless he became, to the point where even Shuichi Itou couldn't stand it: "Naoki-san, you should go out for a walk. If you stay here any longer, we might end up fighting. But don't go to places like temples or red-light districts to relax your mind; I'll need your performance tomorrow~"

He certainly couldn't go home, or he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of his bed. He couldn't go to Teacher Sachiko either; with his current mindset, he wouldn't be able to learn anything. The construction site? He had already been there yesterday.

Find friends? Gentaro Nakai was working, Suzumi Hoshino was studying, and Mr. Otomo was catching up on sleep.

Damn it, does he really have that few friends?

With nowhere to go, he needed to find a way to pass the time, and he couldn't go home to sleep at night...

In the afternoon, Naoki Nagayama went to Shibuya, wandering through amusement parks and street band performances.

Then at night, he played in a Roppongi nightclub until dawn, heading straight to the photography studio.

The next morning.

Shuichi Itou was somewhat terrified when he saw Naoki Nagayama, who was smelling of alcohol, with sunken eyes, bloodshot gaze, and a strange sense of euphoria.

"Naoki-san, where did you go yesterday? Did you do drugs?"

"Itou-san, I just came from a nightclub in Roppongi."

"Ah, even though you're young, Naoki-san, you still need to take care of your body. The girls at the nightclub aren't just after your wallet~"

"Shut up! Wasn't it you, Itou-san, who told me not to sleep! Besides, I didn't call any girls!"

"Yes, yes, Naoki-san, go wash up first and calm your mental state. Our scene today is about sorrowful emotions, after all."