this infinite world

Chapter 1293 Part 7
Martial Arts Hall.

Although the value of the Budokan has slightly declined over the years, and its status is not as high as that of the Tokyo Dome and Yokohama National Stadium, it is undoubtedly the performance venue that countless people dream of for the "Big Girl Band"...

"Ahahaha... Even if you tell me something like this, Meow Mengqin won't be able to do anything about it."

Picking up the cup of water that was no longer steaming, Yutenji Wakamushi used tea to cover up his uneasiness. He chose to use his best trick of laughing it off in an attempt to muddle through. After all, playing dumb and escaping was shameful, but it worked very well in most cases: "After all, I'm not a lyricist or a composer. I'm just a pitiful and helpless drummer at the back of the stage. As for such an important matter as taking off the mask, it's still up to Xiangzi, the captain, to decide..."

"Well, we actually hinted at this a long time ago."

This time, the agent was clearly determined to achieve her goal: "Ms. Xiangzi is not planning to take off her mask and reveal her identity so early for musical reasons."

Ah, indeed.

Yutenji Wakamugi thought as expected - although his captain was very serious and responsible, he could sometimes seem a bit rigid.

Under normal circumstances, Ave Mujica, which has famous actress Nami Mori and comedian Takafumi Wakaba's daughter Mutsu, as well as Sumimi's popular idol Mikado Hatsuka, could have quickly attracted traffic through the real identities of these two people from the beginning, putting the band's development on the fast track from the beginning.

But as the captain, Toyokawa Shoko foolishly clung to the worldview that seemed a bit immature to Ruomai, as well as the corresponding musicality, and was even willing to watch the traffic in her bowl fly away... If it were Ruomai herself, she would probably have become a huge hit from the very beginning, just as her agent said.

——Well, maybe this is what is called "restraint". After all, everyone has their own persistence, such as Xiangzi's worldview, which seems a bit immature to her, but is probably just right for a high school girl... If not for this, she would not have been able to bring Ave Mujica to its current state.

Thinking of this, Ruomai has begun to miss the soy sauce ramen that she made. If the topic ends here, there may still be some warmth left...

“Faces and numbers.”

Suddenly, four words came out of the agent's mouth, which made Ruomai stunned for a moment and then came back to his senses: "Wait...what did you say?"

"Literally, Ms. Yutenji."

At this moment, Ruomai noticed that the other party changed the way he addressed him from "Mian Mengqin" to the more solemn "Miss Yutenji", which not only foreshadowed the change in their status, but also symbolized that what was to be said next would be more in-depth: "Excuse me, how many bands do you think can perform at the Budokan multiple times?"

“The answer is yes, but they are few and far between.”

Before Ruomai could answer, the agent continued, "'Big Girl Band Era'... is Roselia, which is as strong as a commercial band and has debuted for nearly a year, or RAISE A SUILEN, which is very close to the former, but has only appeared on the Budokan stage at the end of the 'Big Girl Band Challenge' so far."

“So, both me as an agent and the investors behind Ave Mujica must seize this rare opportunity.”

"…You are here on behalf of the firm."

Hearing this, how could Ruomai not understand the other party's real intention this time? She put down the teacup and unconsciously tapped the tatami with her knuckles in a place where the agent could not see, just like playing drums on weekdays: "It's no wonder. Xiangzi, who values ​​musicality, will definitely not agree to your proposal. So you, who hit a wall with her, chose me as a breakthrough point..."

"You can't say that, Miss Ruomai."

In response to Ruomai's slightly unhappy tone, his agent gave a high-sounding reason: "This is for the future, whether it is the future of the band or the future of everyone."

"Besides, didn't you consciously prepare in advance? I have watched every one of your videos, and the hints in the videos are enough for smart viewers to connect you with Ave Mujica's drummer Amoris."

"Gu..."

Ruomai, whose thoughts were exposed, showed a speechless expression, and the agent lady struck while the iron was hot and said: "Commercial band, I believe you should understand what these four words mean. If you have the opportunity to go further and don't take it, it is undoubtedly a waste of opportunity."

"After all, compared to Miss Xiangzi who doesn't want her sacred music to be tainted by the smell of money, she is a noble 'martyr', but martyrs are always lonely, and there are many ordinary people like you and me in the world... Besides, the four words 'commercial band' are inseparable from commercial performance."

——He was right. Even Ruomai had to admit that what the other party said made some sense - since Ave Mujica chose to debut as a commercial band, no matter how Xiangzi pursued the so-called "musicality", the most intuitive way to define success and failure was ultimately the commercial performance of the band.

Mask means "face".

And business performance is about “numbers”.

"Since we are all adults, why don't we speak frankly, Ms. Yutenji."

Seeing that his words had worked, the agent added one last word: "Ave Mujica's success will only benefit this 'community of interests' that includes all of us. It will not only bring better results and more exposure, but also more revenue."

As he said that, the agent turned around and glanced at the soy sauce ramen that had finally cooled down completely: "After all, 'It was fine yesterday, but I'm tired of it today', this is exactly what you said, Miss Meow Meng..."

"What are you going to do? Let me make it clear first, I don't know how to, and I can't, convince Xiangzi to cooperate with you in hyping things up in advance."

Ruomai, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up: "Like I said before, I'm just a drummer, there's not much I can do."

"I understand, Ms. Yutenji. Regarding the publicity work before the performance and the subsequent related matters, that is our responsibility and has nothing to do with you."

Hearing this, the agent finally smiled with relief. She first revealed some future arrangements to Ruomai, and then arranged the next "task" in an extremely serious tone: "What you have to do is very simple, that is, try to persuade Ms. Toyokawa Shoko to take off the mask on the day of the performance at the Budokan."

——So after going around in circles, we finally return to this original question.

At this moment, Toyokawa Shoko's words seemed to echo in Yutenji Wakumai's ears again.

"Even if I liked it yesterday, I'm tired of it today."

"This world is a cruel place. If we take it too slow, the audience might get tired of it, right?"

"Of course, Ms. Yutenji, I won't let this band's popularity be short-lived."

"If you want to take off the mask, you have to do it on the best stage and at the best time."

——Then, Xiangzi, is the Budokan the best stage and the best time?

Ruomai closed his eyes, and the moment before he said the answer, his heart had already come up with the answer.

So Ruomai opened his mouth and said the answer the other party wanted in a tone that was unfamiliar to him: "I know. I will try my best to find a solution."

"A wise choice, Ms. Yutenji."

Hearing the agent's joyful and excited voice, Yutenji Wakamugi smiled softly.

choose?
No.

Yutenji Wakamugi, in fact, never had a choice.

...Never, ever.

(End of this chapter)