Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 0.4

Invitation 3

“Special Scout for Private Ryoran High School, a sanctuary for talents from various fields such as music, acting, dance, fashion, and more, designed to create top-tier stars who will dominate the entertainment industry. I’d like Shika-san to enroll in that school.”

My enthusiasm cooled instantly.

Right, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

“Do we have to be in person, necessarily?”

“It’s necessary.”

“Weren’t you scouting based on the core popularity of ‘Seeker’?”

“No.”

Kei-sama, or rather, Tennozu Kei, shook his head.

“Vocal talent. Pure singing talent is what I’m after. She can continue her VTuber activities as a hobby, but I expect her to soar in person.”

“Why the insistence on being in person?”

“It’s essential for making it big in the world… Of course, it’s possible to achieve immense popularity as a VTuber, but there are audiences that can only be reached in person.”

I felt somewhat invalidated by his words but quickly calmed myself down.

—If a professional says so, it must be true. In fact, a part of me was whispering that there might be a limit to how far we could extend our reach as avatars.

“I understand your point. I think you’re right.”

“Great. So you’ll come?”

“But—”

I understood the logic. But.

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to decline. We’re strictly against showing our faces.”

“…!”

As I turned back while answering, Shika, hidden behind my back, was also nodding vigorously.

“Absolutely not?”

“Yes.”

I answered firmly. Our resolve was solid.

No matter how much persuasion we faced, our answer wouldn’t change. If Shika could be comfortable with exposing her face on the front stage, she wouldn’t have been a shut-in truant from the start.

“You’ll get living expenses based on your school performance.”

“Eh?”

“Students scouted by me—let’s call them the scouted group—get exempt from entrance fees and tuition. There are no initial costs, you get living expenses, and upon graduation, you’ll have a one-way ticket to becoming a top star. I think it’s a rare opportunity.”

“Uh.”

I was stumped. My resolve was softening.

“We’re in an era where individuals can make a living off their talents on WAYTUBE, but the ‘Sung It’ category splits rights, so the ad revenue isn’t much. For a brother and sister to eat delicious meals, it might be somewhat insufficient, don’t you think?”

“Grgrgr…”

I gritted my teeth. My resolve was now like a soft bun.

“Drool…”

Shika was also struggling to contain her drool.

“If you don’t like it, that’s fine. Can I have the business card back?”

“…!”

“Oh?”

As he tried to take the business card back, my fingers clung tightly to it.

Tennozu Kei attempted to pull it away forcefully, but the card clung to my fingers as if glued.

“Shika… Surely, you don’t want to show your face or go to school, right?”

“Mm. No.”

“But you do want to eat delicious food, right?”

“Want to eat.”

“Can you go to school?”

“If I can go with my brother, to the same classroom, then barely.”

“… so it seems. Is that kind of negotiation possible?”

I turned back to Tennozu Kei with a pleading look, and he stroked his suspiciously scruffy beard, pondering.

“OKAY!”

Flashing a white smile and a thumbs-up, he easily agreed.

“Wow…!”

“Food…!”

“You’ll get living expenses for both of you.”

“Are you a god?”

“One more side dish…!”

Shika and I held hands, our eyes sparkling.

Honestly, going outside was a huge bother, and I never wanted to set foot in a school again. But needs must.

Going to school was a million times better than working.

Besides, going to the same classroom as Shika was a condition vastly different from my previous school life. Just this condition alone significantly lowered the hurdle for me.

—There’s absolutely no way Shika could get hurt somewhere out of my sight.

With that, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to give school another try.

Becoming a celebrity in person was absolutely impossible for Shika anyway.

For now, we’d collect the living expenses for three years, and in that time, we’d make it so that “Seeker” could earn its keep, thus quietly refusing the path of an exposed celebrity. We’d just take the benefits and, if things turned sour, we’d bail.

A flawless, too-perfect plan! Hahahah.

“Then it’s settled. Oh, this is the admission notice. Please submit it by early next week. I’ll send the detailed documents later. Prepare for everything, as you’ll join us right after spring break starts.”

“Yes, thank you!”

“Ikebukuro Shika—a genius singer’s enrollment might just change our school. I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.”

With those parting words, Tennozu Kei, or rather, Kei-sama, stylishly waved and left us.

“Those kids were scouted by Kei-sama!” “A star of the future!” “Kyaaa, amazing! Should we get their autographs now?”

The eyes of the ladies at the park entrance had clearly changed.

While thinking how fickle they were, I couldn’t help but feel a bit pleased.

“…Well, not bad, huh. Hehe.”

“Hey, brother.”

On the other hand, the genius, not just an ordinary citizen, asked.

“What’s an entertainer?”

“…You listened to all that without knowing?”

“I understood the parts about going to school with you and having delicious food.”

“You’re too much of a big shot…”

Being highly praised for her singing talent and allowed to enroll in a high-level entertainment school was something many aspiring talents nationwide would envy. Yet, she was so nonchalant about it.

My sister really seems to have a screw loose.

In a school filled with budding entertainers, I was a bit anxious about how us shut-ins would fit in. But seeing Shika’s demeanor made all those worries vanish.

Well, it should be fine.

My sister is a genius, after all.