Chapter 49

It was a clear day, with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky.

The road back to Tokyo was almost deserted.

On the grayish-brown road, lush shrubs and clusters of blooming flowers could be seen from time to time, scattered against the greenish-brown backdrop.

Driving alone, Naoyuki Nagayama turned on the car radio.

The latest CityPop began to play, the cheerful rhythm blending with the cool breeze, making his mood particularly pleasant.

Wasn't this the kind of comfortable life he had always pursued?

Recently, his mind seemed to be occupied by the opening of the shop, the idol group, and various events, as if he had returned to the days of constant worry.

When summer comes, I can try going to the seaside for a break~

The coastal road must have even better scenery!

......

......

Naoyuki Nagayama's good mood lasted until he got home.

Until he heard the message from Daisuke Yoshimura on the phone:

"Mr. Naoyuki, there's something I need to talk to you in person! Please call me back if it's convenient."

Daisuke Yoshimura's tone sounded very low, with some suppressed anger.

Naoyuki Nagayama called back, and the phone was answered quickly.

"Mr. Daisuke, what happened? It sounds like serious news."

"Hey, it's about CATS, the agency... They... are selling the idol group!" Daisuke Yoshimura's voice was filled with reluctance.

"Mr. Naoyuki, let's have lunch together, at the usual place. I'll also invite Shuichi Ido, and we can talk more then."

"Hey, let's meet and talk then."

It sounds like the higher-ups are selling the Wild Cats group?

Why? The future of the idol group seems bright, and the time to make money is just around the corner?

Naoyuki Nagayama was puzzled, and everything would have to wait for Daisuke Yoshimura to explain.

......

They arrived at the izakaya where the trio often drank.

Shuichi Ido and Daisuke Yoshimura were already in the private room, unusually not drinking but smoking in silence.

"Mr. Naoyuki, you're here." Shuichi Ido saw Naoyuki Nagayama.

"Hey, Mr. Daisuke, Mr. Shuichi."

Only after Naoyuki Nagayama sat down did Daisuke Yoshimura speak:

"Since Mr. Naoyuki is here, I'll explain the situation."

"Mr. Naoyuki, Mr. Shuichi, you both know about the relationship between STARLIGHT Agency and the BURNING group, right?"

"Isn't it just a small agency that split off?" Naoyuki Nagayama asked, "Is there a deeper relationship?"

"Hey, yes, the president of the agency, Kenichi Hino, was actually a subordinate of Yutaka Sōma. Because he didn't have much talent, he started a small GG business after the split."

Shuichi Ido seemed to know a bit: "So, this time, it's actually BURNING Agency buying CATS?"

"More accurately, it's a mutual exchange, using part of the GG business to swap for the management contract of the Wild Cats group."

Naoyuki Nagayama was curious: "According to past practices, shouldn't the BURNING group support each other? Why would they directly snatch business?"

"Usually, that's the case, but this time it seems BURNING Agency is directly interested in the idol group format. Starting from scratch is not as good as taking over an established team."

"Then the president agreed?"

"Yes, President Kenichi Hino originally entered the idol business with the idea of making a quick profit. This time, with the exchange of GG business, he agreed without hesitation."

Daisuke Yoshimura recalled what Kenichi Hino had said to him a few days ago.

On one side, there's a mature GG business with long-term profits; on the other side, the idol business is uncertain and faces competition from established agencies. The choice should be clear.

Moreover, BURNING Agency has more capability to develop the idol business of the Wild Cats group.

Kenichi Hino said grandly: "Mr. Daisuke, handing CATS over to BURNING Agency is a better move for both the group and the agency!"

"Is that so..." Naoyuki Nagayama understood. As the president of a small agency, from a business perspective, it couldn't be said that he was wrong.

"Hey, Mr. Naoyuki, Mr. Shuichi, I'm sorry, even though I tried my best, I couldn't change the president's mind." Daisuke Yoshimura was very disappointed.

"The management contracts of CATS are all under STARLIGHT Agency, so if the president decides, I can't do anything.

I'm really sorry!!!"

Shuichi Ido was quite relaxed: "Mr. Daisuke, what are you saying, this isn't your fault."

"After all, it's the result of our three people's hard work... to be taken away like this... I'm really sorry to both of you." Even in the private room, Daisuke Yoshimura bowed deeply, his eyes red.

After several months of hard work, just when they were about to see results, it actually...

Moreover, this was the work of three people, and in the end, only STARLIGHT Agency benefited.

Naoyuki Nagayama also sighed: "Sigh... Although I'm a bit reluctant, the most disappointed person must be Mr. Daisuke. After all, he worked the hardest..."

In fact, in the operation of the Wild Cats group, Naoyuki Nagayama was the creative mind, Shuichi Ido was responsible for training and packaging, and Daisuke Yoshimura treated the idol group like his own children, caring for every aspect.

He truly saw the idol business as an ideal.

Now that the idol group has been taken away, the most heartbroken must be him.

Perhaps to President Kenichi Hino, this was just a normal business operation, but to Daisuke Yoshimura, it was a betrayal.

Of the former aspirations,

Of the experiences during this time,

Of the efforts put in,

Of the betrayal of the friendship among the three.

...

In the following time, Daisuke Yoshimura drank cup after cup. Although Shuichi Ido and Naoyuki Nagayama kept trying to comfort him, the disappointment and pain of this middle-aged man could only be slightly alleviated by alcohol.

Looking at Daisuke Yoshimura, who was drunk and mumbling, Naoyuki Nagayama said to Shuichi Ido: "Such a poor drinker and loves to drink... looks like you'll have to take him in again, Mr. Shuichi."

"Can't help it, can't leave him here..."

After settling Daisuke Yoshimura on the office recliner, Shuichi Ido and Naoyuki Nagayama slowly drank a bottle of beer.

"Since the idol group is going to BURNING Agency, Mr. Shuichi, what do you think?"

"Such a big agency, they probably have professionals for all the packaging and promotion work. They probably won't need me, an amateur..."

"Haha, if Mr. Shuichi is an amateur, who can call themselves a professional among so many producers?"

"Haha, Mr. Naoyuki, you really know how to flatter... But indeed, I won't need to invest in the idol group anymore."

Shuichi Ido laughed, but there was also some reluctance in his voice.

"Actually, I still like directing and shooting. I've always wanted to enter the TV and film industry formally."

"Is that so? Then I wish Director Ido the Palme d'Or!" Naoyuki Nagayama raised his beer.

"Hahaha, Mr. Naoyuki, you really..."

Although Naoyuki Nagayama wasn't particularly concerned about the ownership of the Wild Cats group, he was still reluctant to see the original idol group he created be taken away.

"Mr. Shuichi, I remember the CATS brand, the contract with the livehouse, and the licensing of merchandise... are all under that shell company GG, right?"

"Hey, that's right, what's up?"

"That shell company seems to be under my name, with Mr. Shuichi and Mr. Daisuke just listed as namesakes?"

"Indeed, so what?"

"The patent for the cat ear accessories is also under my personal studio HALO."

"What are you saying?"

"If I don't agree, they can only take the five models!"

"But they can start a new brand, can't they? The members haven't changed?"

"Mr. Shuichi, this is different from traditional idols. The fans of the idol group aren't necessarily focused on individual idols." Naoyuki Nagayama's eyes sparkled with confidence.

"Without the cat ear feature and the CATS brand, they're just five former members of the Wild Cats group. We can always create a new Wild Cats group!"

"This..." In the past, poaching idols meant taking all their resources. Shuichi Ido had never considered the special nature of the idol group.

"Let's wait for Mr. Daisuke to wake up and use this to negotiate."

"How can they take our things without paying a price?"

......

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