Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Author: Novice tool staff

Summary:

(Currently implemented: Lonely Rock, Bangdream! It's MyGo!!!!!)

The trend of idolization has swept across the archipelago, and the light novel industry is no exception.

At the request of the library, high school girl writer Togawa Akie picked up her long-forgotten electronic piano skills, with the goal of boosting sales of her new work by running a band.

In order to create an "original" commercial effect, Wenku did not arrange fixed teammates for her.

In this way, Togawa Akie had to walk out of the classroom and go to the streets to find partners.

In a small shop called "STARRY", she met a group of girls who formed a band for their dreams under the name of "End", which means "Bond".

By chance, she and a girl named Chihaya Aine were involved in Nagasaki Motoyo's plan to form a band.

"Perhaps everything originates from the lies woven by interests."

"Then what should we consider these emotions and ties born from a false heart?"

(Tachibana, a manga worldview with idols and bands as the theme.)

Volume 1: "A Knot Born from Chance"

Chapter 1: Those who don’t play in a band are not good novelists?

"Ms. Kasumi Shiko, I came to the library headquarters building just to confirm this with you..."

Togawa Aie had a business smile on her face to cover up her nervousness. She was so nervous that she didn't even know where to put her hands.

"I was asked to join a girl band and... make my debut. Is this true?"

"It is true."

Akihime's editor-in-chief at Shenming Bunko, the former love light novel author Kasumi Shiko, who retired but stayed on, nodded slightly.

"Not an April Fools' joke?"

"It's almost July now." Kasumi Shiko pointed out the problem with her usual indifferent expression.

"In other words, it was arranged by the library..."

"That's right." Kasumi Shiko nodded slightly, her expression as cold as a glacier. "Let me make this clear in advance. As an editor, I don't have the right to decide this matter. I am just a mouthpiece for the big shot to inform you of this arrangement."

“No! This is weird no matter how you think about it, right? I’m a light novel writer? A light novel writer!” Togawa Akeie stood up from her seat and retorted excitedly, “Let me join a band? I don’t even know how to play an instrument!”

"Didn't we hand out that survey form at the annual meeting last winter?" Kasumi Shiko responded calmly, "At that time, you filled in the electronic piano in the column of 'personal talent'. If you forgot, I can pull up the archive and show it to you."

"The foreshadowing was already laid out at that time? How insidious!"

Qiu Hui sighed and sat back in her chair.

Are you kidding me? You want me to join a band and make my debut?

When did Shenming Library start to develop the artist management business? If they have this kind of spare money, why not increase the royalty share? Is it because the light novel market is oversaturated and has turned into a sunset industry with no future?

Although I filled in "electronic keyboard" at the time, it was just a pretextual move due to the situation - I couldn't really fill in "none", right?

I learned the electronic organ purely because my parents forced me to learn it when I was a child; I gave it up when I was in junior high school with some random excuse like "academic pressure from junior high school to high school", and now I have almost forgotten about it completely!

Why would I play in a band at a time like this? It would be more practical for me to finish writing a light novel in half a month!

"Well, actually the higher-ups don't intend to put too much pressure on Akie. They say you're going to debut, but they don't actually intend for you to go through the formal process. It's just... let's put it this way. A high school club level is enough."

Noticing Akie's mood, Kasumi Shiko gave her the good news in time, which made her feel more at ease.

"No, no, no, even if it's a high school club... I hate dealing with strangers, so I've always been determined to go back to the home club!" Akie was not satisfied with this argument, and argued, "Teacher Kasumi Shiko, think about it carefully: is it possible for someone who is high enough in the school food chain to play in a band to engage in the industry of light novel creation?"

"When I was an author, I was also very popular in high school." Kasumi Shiko shook her head. "It's just a stereotype and prejudice that a light novel author should be like this or that."

"Not for me! I just fit the stereotype..."

"Now that you mentioned it, I remember it."

It was just a routine for Kasumi Shiko, but at this moment the expression on her face became lively because of memories.

"The first time I saw you was at the Newcomer Awards ceremony. At that time, you could hardly speak a complete sentence on the stage."

Kasumi Shiko covered her face and chuckled, looking at Qiu Hui in front of her with a playful look.

“But after a year of working together as editor and author, hasn’t communication between us become very natural?”

"Hmm..." Qiu Hui wanted to explain, but she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"And, to be honest..." Kasumi Shiko sighed, "...actually, whether you are shy or afraid of strangers, or become free after getting familiar with others, these are all distinct characteristics and are definitely a plus."

"What do you mean by bonus points?"

"It's a plus for your character. I think Akie must also understand that Bunko is not really involved in the artist management business and is not planning to help you debut."

Xia Shizi sighed softly, feeling mixed emotions.

"Bands and the like are just part of the process of 'making the author an idol'."

She leaned back slightly and stared at the ceiling with eyes that had been tempered by years of editing but were still as beautiful as they were in high school.

“Due to changes in the economic situation and the development of advanced technologies such as language models, artists, creators, and even politicians, all professions that need to interact with the public to create value, now have higher requirements for ‘humanity’.”

"You should not just be remembered as a 'product provider', but as a 'specific person'. In other words, you should transform the people who make the 'product' into 'idols'. Let consumers have the awareness of paying for 'idols' rather than 'products'... Do you understand what I mean?"

"I think I can understand." Togawa Aie lowered her head.

"But is this really okay?"

A delicate silence fell between the two.

Until Kasumi Shiko took the initiative to speak.

"When I was serializing 'Love Metronome', it was a huge commercial success by chance. The library at the time also valued this very much, and intended to develop commercial operations around the title of 'Beautiful Girl Writer'."

"At the time, I had the same thoughts as any high school student who suddenly achieved success. I felt that this kind of thing was an insult to the creator and an impurity that destroyed the value of the work itself. Because I, as the person involved, really refused to cooperate, the library plan gradually came to nothing."

Togawa Aie did not continue to make a noise, but listened quietly, unconsciously clenching her fists slightly.

She actually already knew where the story was going to go.

“After finishing Metronome, I continued to write several books, hoping to make new breakthroughs. However, the best-selling one only lasted to the third volume. Most of them were failures with the first volume selling less than the sequel.”

Xia Shizi recalled the tragic scene of that year with her brows drooped.

"I can't tell the difference between those works... but the market treats them differently with an extremely harsh attitude. Most of my later sales were contributed by some loyal old readers. The library was willing to publish it just because of my name."

"...I know that they are just selling and buying 'the book written by Kasumi Shiko', that's all."

"So, senior Kasumi Shiko, do you think that if you had chosen the path of becoming an idol back then, you would have been able to replicate the success of Metronome?" asked Akie.

“I never said that. I just want to make one thing clear: in today’s world, commercial success through work itself is something that is mixed with too many accidental factors, so it is simply something that can’t be achieved by chance.”

"And Akie... although you never told me clearly, I can guess it to some extent."

Kasumi Shiko looked at Togawa Aie with concern.

"You actually have a reason to succeed in business, right?"

Chapter 2 Reasons for Chasing Success

"Yeah." Togawa Aie nodded.

It's a reason, but it's not a big deal.

In fact, they are just some boring conflicts that can happen in any family.

Pursuing a hobby, being rejected by family. Secrecy, pressure, and exposure.

Fight, argue, and ultimately all the verbal battles converge on the same issue.

"Can you survive on this kind of thing?"

It was because of such boring arguments that one person moved away and started living alone.

Because of this, the cold war with my family continued.

Although the tuition was still paid by my family, I had to rely on odd jobs to pay for other expenses such as food and clothing.

Even the rent was so low that she had to live with her friends at one point.

Things got better after I won the Newcomer Award. At least the royalties could meet my daily needs.

However, Akie knew very well that this little income alone would not be enough to convince her father, who was suffering from the "firm belief that his daughter could get into the University of Tokyo as long as she studied hard" syndrome.

At the very least, sales must be high enough to make the annual income roughly equal to the annual salary of a Tokyo University graduate...

"Now that we've come to this, we can only give it a try, right?"

Togawa Aie forced a smile.

In order to accomplish that goal and prove myself, perhaps... some small... means are indeed necessary?

"That would be great." Kasumi Shiko smiled and said, "When you have free time, go to places like Shimokitazawa more often. If you find a girl you like, try to form a band with them, just like ordinary high school girls. Although it is for commercial operations, it must not act like a commercial operation at all - understand?"

"Of course I know this." Akie smiled awkwardly, "Although if I say this, I feel like a liar and a little sorry for my bandmates."

Is it really okay to participate with such impure intentions?

"The situation is pressing, so don't think too much about it." Kasumi Shiko sighed, "Just save your sentimentality for novel material."

She paused and continued her explanation.

"After you form a band, you can do whatever you want. If you encounter difficulties in operation, the library will help you solve them." Kasumi Shiko pushed her glasses, "For example, we can release some news that a 'popular beautiful girl writer' is going to hold a LIVE..."

"It's getting worse and worse..."

"Well, the suggestion from the library is that the new work should be about girl bands."

"Oh, so in this case, it can be understood as 'I personally experienced it in order to write a work that is full of true feelings'?" Akie drew inferences from it.

"It's a big help that you understood it so quickly. After all, we're in the midst of a girl band craze right now, and this theme itself can help boost sales of the novel. As for the content, I'll stick with what Akiie is good at, 'portraying the sweet, complex, and subtle relationships between high school girls.'"

"Please don't use such weird words..."

After that, the two discussed some details of the idolization operation plan.

"Authors like you, Akiie, actually have extraordinary potential on the road to idolization. What's more, your quality in light novels is also good enough. That's why the library designed this plan."

"I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the library!" Akie clasped her hands together and bowed solemnly, "So please increase the share ratio! Please!"

"Let's talk about it after you've really achieved great success." Kasumi Shiko smiled, "Then please be relaxed and find a live house to find your destined person."

"Well, thank you, Kasumi Shiko-sensei! Well, I'll be leaving now..."

"hold on."

Kasumi Shiko suddenly called out to Akihime.

"I have something else I want to tell you. Not as editor Kasumigaoka Utaha, but... as 'Kasumigaoka Utaha'."

Kasumi Shiko, or Kasumigaoka Shiha, played with her long black hair thoughtfully.

"At Aki'e's age, you might think that doing something for a vulgar reason like money is boring and unpleasant. But... in fact, relationships based on healthy and legitimate material interests are often the strongest."

"So-called passion, love, innocence, dreams..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes became a little blurred, as if she had crossed several years and saw something in the distant past.

"…These unreasonable things, although extremely precious and strong in the story, are actually as gorgeous and fragile as bubbles."

She chuckled twice and wiped away a few tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I was just a little sentimental, but it's okay now."

Togawa Aie quietly left the office, still pondering over what teacher Kasumi Shiko had said.

"Material benefits make us stronger...?"

……

Somewhere in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.

Hold a bottle of light yellow pineapple-flavored sparkling water in your hand, imagine it as beer, and then pick up the glass and drink it all in one gulp like an office worker in a pub.