Flying over the bubble era

Chapter 1581 & 1582. Hidden Connections
This year's plum rain season started early but ended late. However, after enduring the dreary plum rain season, the annoying midsummer will soon follow.

In any case, summer is a combative season, and the beginning of summer is a process of accumulating anger.

Vermillion Records announced that Namie Amuro will be releasing a new album. Following this, GENZO Records also announced Ayumi Hamasaki's album release plans.

Forty days later, these two arch-rivals will face off in the height of summer.

The sweltering, rainy weather fueled public frustration. An impending duel provided the perfect outlet for these emotions. Like a dark cloud gathering in the sky, a beam of light suddenly shone down.

……

Having finalized the latest showdown between Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro, Shinichi Iwahashi finally found time to meet with Norio Higuchi. Given the tense atmosphere between the two sides, how they would actually meet was another matter entirely.

The meeting was scheduled for late at night.

Before going to the appointment, Shinichi Iwahashi took his time and made a long-awaited overseas phone call with Hikaru Utada.

After their field trip to Africa, Terumi Utada and Keiko Fuji brought their daughter back to their side, and soon after, the family returned to the United States. Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki formed a friendship under the same roof, but Hikaru never had the chance to witness her meteoric rise to fame.

"So, Iwahashi-san, you now have two big stars in your family." Utada Hikaru's tone was as if stating a fact.

Shinichi Iwahashi smiled. "More than that. One of them is also the producer of another."

As he grew older, he became more and more interested in making witty remarks. The girl, on the other hand, gained a more mature composure in less than a year.

With great interest, he couldn't help but reveal the thoughts of an elder, asking, "When will we be able to hear your music again?"

Two girls living under the same roof, creating a family album together in the home recording studio—that time was undoubtedly wonderful.

On the other end of the phone, Utada Hikaru didn't give Iwahashi Shinichi an uncertain "when." She quickly gave him the answer—

If Shinichi Iwahashi is curious about her music, then the best time to respond to him is "now".

On the other end of the phone, Utada Hikaru hummed a melody to him.

Shinichi Iwahashi's expression turned serious after hearing the first line. After listening to the melody for a while, he said to her, "The last time someone sang their own song to me over the phone was when I was hanging out in the underground music scene with Yoshida-san."

Miwa-chan is a genius, without a doubt. Shinichi Iwahashi, feeling the wonderful sensation of the moment, said to Hikaru Utada, "Right now, I'm experiencing it a second time."

Utada Hikaru commented seriously, "You are using some very subtle rhetoric, Iwahashi-san."

Shinichi Iwahashi half-jokingly told her, "You can be more direct."

Utada Hikaru did not speak.

Faced with the girl's silence, Shinichi Iwahashi earnestly told her, "Hikaru, please make sure you go back to Japan."

Make a solemn agreement.

After hanging up the phone, Shinichi Iwahashi let out a long sigh of relief, his heart surging with emotion. The melody of Utada Hikaru's a cappella singing lingered in his mind, and he felt somewhat indifferent to Higuchi Norio, whom he was about to meet.

After witnessing the brilliance of a genius, everything else suddenly becomes insignificant.

The clerk came to remind him, "Iwahashi-san, it's almost time to leave."

He came to his senses and stood up.

...The meeting place was a secluded ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant), but Shinichi Iwahashi did not arrive on time. Norio Higuchi knew that Shinichi Iwahashi was deliberately putting pressure on him, but he could only swallow his anxiety while waiting.

Before even meeting Shinichi Iwahashi, I was already embarrassed by his attitude.

But he was at a loss.

The information that Namie Amuro and Ayumi Hamasaki will face off again has been announced, and the rivalry between VERMILLION and GENZO has become a regular occurrence.

Looking at the intelligence report, Higuchi Norio didn't see any confrontation, but he was surprised to sense a kind of unspoken understanding.

Could it be that Shunichi Baba has already been having an affair with Shinichi Iwahashi?

The two girls became irreconcilable rivals, constantly vying for dominance. This meant that their record companies became natural allies.

So-called alliances are not only formed by those on the same side.

Or, from another perspective, the two girls are actually on the same page: both are facing the audience. How much tacit understanding have they developed through their repeated confrontations?
And then there's Tetsuya Komuro. What role does he play in all of this?
While waiting for Shinichi Iwahashi, Norio Higuchi pondered his discovery, speculating on Shunichi Baba's motives for taking the initiative to disrupt Shinichi Iwahashi's audition program, and wondering if the two had reached some kind of agreement.

Now, has this waiting self already missed the opportunity?

However, Norio Higuchi suddenly realized something. If there was some kind of secret connection between Shunichi Baba and Shinichi Iwahashi, then did it mean that Shinichi Iwahashi's attitude could directly determine Shunichi Baba's stance?
At that moment, Shinichi Iwahashi arrived.

This was the first time the two had met in private. Norio Higuchi was nearly twenty years older than him, but he couldn't use "friendliness" as a way to break the ice in front of this young man.

Shinichi Iwahashi said casually, "Higuchi-san." He didn't even bother with a word of pleasantries about being late.

Norio Higuchi felt a certain embarrassment.

Shinichi Iwahashi's attitude was different from his usual public demeanor. The reason he acted so arrogantly during their first private meeting was simply to let Norio Higuchi know one thing: he did not take Higuchi's self-righteous kindness seriously.

Higuchi Norio could only maintain his composure, saying, "Thank you for your kind visit, Iwahashi-san."

“I’d also like to hear what insights Higuchi-san has to offer.” Shinichi Iwahashi said with a half-smile, “Given that Suo-san and I are now irreconcilable enemies, what is your stance on meeting with me, Higuchi-san?”

Pressed relentlessly, Higuchi Norio could only answer questions: "Between BURNING and GENZO, it's not to the point of either one or the other."

Shinichi Iwahashi looked at Norio Higuchi: "Do I have any reason for a truce?" He then changed the subject: "To put it another way, what conditions can Higuchi-san offer to make me change my mind? What can you offer me in negotiations?"

His tone was slightly mocking.

Higuchi Norio, feeling slighted like this, had no choice but to harden his stance: "It depends on whether Iwahashi-san is willing to negotiate, or whether it's merely to humiliate those in the opposing camp who have goodwill towards you."

"Do not."

Shinichi Iwahashi shook his head. "My mere presence here is enough to demonstrate my sincerity. As for 'goodwill'..." He gave a subtle smile: "You may have goodwill towards me, but that doesn't change the fact that Takeyama attacked me."

Useless kindness is nothing but hypocrisy.

Higuchi Norio was speechless.

Shinichi Iwahashi stopped there and got back to the point: "Now it's your turn, Higuchi-san. You haven't shown enough sincerity to convince me that this meeting was meaningful."

“So,” he said sharply, “answer me, Higuchi-san.”

What will you use to win me over?