Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 5.7

All-Direction Lost Child Catalog

The rain had turned into a downpour by the afternoon.

Inside the vast grounds of Ryoran High School, the outdoor garden, which would have been a place of relaxation for students and teachers on a sunny day, was now deserted, adorned with blooming hydrangeas. Its location, far from school buildings and other structures and surrounded by hedges, made it so that no one could peek inside.

I placed the leaf with the slug at the base of a hydrangea. “Stay strong,” I murmured.

I didn’t have an umbrella. I was completely drenched, but it didn’t bother me at all.

After all, I was about to get dirty anyway. An umbrella would have made no difference.

Footsteps approached from behind.

“Wow, you actually came. For a coward, you’re pretty brave.”

“If I got called out like that, I couldn’t just not show up. That’s practically a threat.”

“Someone who’s done things far worse than threats has no right to say that.”

“…Sigh. That wasn’t my intention when I handed out that business card.”

I turned around.

There stood a tall man in a suit and glasses, holding an umbrella, his face clearly visible. He was Queen Smile’s employee, Shibuya Erio’s manager, Nakameguro Shinpei.

I had called this man, using the number on the business card he had given me before, to summon him here.

The matter at hand was, naturally, about the anti-comments on Shiika’s streams that had been consistently posted.

“Can I leak what you did to a weekly magazine? Or maybe spread the information to an influential streamer? Reporting to the police is also an option. Choose whatever you like.”

“Hmm. Before that, could you explain your basis for these accusations?”

“Ah, playing dumb, huh? I see. Explaining this is going to be a bit of a hassle. Where do I start?”

I tapped my temple rhythmically three times with my finger.

Organizing the information in my mind, I began to speak.

“First, as I mentioned over the phone, I’ve identified the device used to post those anti-comments. It was Shibuya Erio’s smartphone.”

“Normally, one would assume she’s the culprit. As her manager, that would be troublesome for me, too.”

“But there’s one strange point if that were the case.”

“Which is?”

“The account that used her smartphone also posted anti-comments on Shibuya Erio’s own streams. It doesn’t make sense for her to intentionally create such a negative atmosphere for herself. It’s odd when you think about it normally.”

“Could it have been done by a malicious friend? She often lends her smartphone to friends for taking pictures and such. There would have been plenty of opportunities for mischief.”

“I considered that possibility once. But it doesn’t quite fit, either.”

“Oh?”

“If someone wanted to frame Shibuya for self-posting, they could have used her main account for the attack. If the goal was just to diss Shiika and Shibuya, why not do it from their own smartphone?”

“…”

“So, I think there was another reason. A reason to carry out such malicious acts from Shibuya’s smartphone. ──Like maybe setting her up to be sued someday after a disclosure request.”

“Haha. What kind of wild speculation is that? Making moves without even knowing how the commented party would react?”

“They cast a wide net on individuals likely to rise in the ranks. If they pester enough people, surely someone will take legal action. With the current climate aiming to punish defamation against celebrities, the likelihood was high.”

“And you think I did that?”

“Yeah. She lends friends her phone easily. You, her manager, would have access, too, for shooting during lessons or managing SNS posts. She’s really a music idiot, probably doesn’t have anything on her phone that she’d be troubled if others saw. Really admirable, you know.”

“Your point is nonsense. As a manager, what would I gain from harming her? What would be the point?”

“To hurt Shibuya just enough without damaging her career.”

“…!”

Nakameguro’s expression blatantly changed. It seemed I hit the mark.

I pressed on.

“Leaving anti-comments on her own streams was part of that. Basically, you continued trying to hurt Shibuya. …To isolate her and make her more dependent on the agency.”

“Baseless chatter. What do you know about the agency?”

“That ‘six-octave diva’ production policy, pushing Shibuya into that direction, that was you, wasn’t it? Whether it’s an agency-wide thing or just your personal approach, I don’t know. But to force such a potentially career-ending approach on her without her consent is just cruel.”

Just recalling what Komae had shared made me uncharacteristically angry.

“Since when did Shibuya start asking Komae to create high-difficulty songs?”

“Eh? Oh, about last year, I think. After we decided to promote her as the ‘six-octave diva.'”

“That’s an agency production policy, right?”

“Ah, yes. That direction was set since her debut.”

“And one more question ── Komae mentioned before that Shibuya was being planned for a collaboration with a hugely popular composer, replacing him. Did she tell you that herself?”

“No, I didn’t talk to her about that. It felt awkward to bring it up…”

“Then who told you?”

“Her manager, Nakameguro-san, but──”

Yes. Komae was being separated from Shibuya by Nakameguro’s unilateral decision.

Even the collaboration matter, whether Shibuya herself consented was doubtful.

“You turned Shibuya, who had succeeded in the six-octave challenge, into an indispensable production target for you as well. Yet, she was fixated on reaching the top with Komae. You couldn’t see eye to eye, and it caused friction. With Shibuya’s personality, if she disagreed, she’d bite back mercilessly. …Having nurtured such a valuable talent with diva potential, you found yourself in a predicament because she wouldn’t listen.”

That’s when the idea came to him.

To isolate Shibuya Erio, increase her dependency on the agency, and turn her into a puppet.

He spread information to create a rift between Shibuya and Komae and gradually pushed Shibuya to the brink mentally. And then, the final blow ──.

“Lawsuits and disclosure requests. No matter how much she argues her innocence, with the comments coming from Shibuya’s smartphone, her defense would be quite weak. …’What were you doing at such a crucial time?’ both the agency and Shibuya would pressure her.”

“Even at the expense of tarnishing the talent’s value? That’s nonsensical. The risk-reward doesn’t match.”

“That’s why you kept it within a manageable range.”

“…!”

“Ryoran High School students. Streamers who aren’t attached to any agency but are starting to gain influence. If the lawsuit happened with such kids, who are sensitive and have the means to afford it… even if it went to court, a settlement and persuasion could easily bury it. A major agency would have plenty of know-how to deal with disputes, easy peasy. …Ugh, cough! Hah, talking too much made me choke!”

My feeble shut-in vocal cords reached their limit from the unfamiliar long speech.

For an ordinary person like me, who doesn’t possess the genius voice of Shiika or Shibuya, just revealing my deductions was a struggle. Really, it’s better not to get involved in things you’re not used to.

“Anyway, the jig is up. I’m too tired to talk, so just admit it already.”

“Sigh… What a troublesome kid you’ve got your eye on.”

Nakameguro balanced the umbrella between his neck and shoulder, pulling out a cigarette from his breast pocket and lighting it.

He took a drag and exhaled white smoke.

“Don’t bully a harmless salaryman too much. We’re on a poor salary if we don’t get promoted. Don’t you feel sorry?”

“I couldn’t care less, dummy. It’s because you’re proposing productions that could collapse in ten years, playing stupid moves that could incite a talent’s downfall, you incompetent.”

“Amateurs. The star quality of a star can only last about ten years anyway. So, it’s more efficient to sell those ten years at the highest price. Besides, even if a scandal erupts, it’s not a problem.”

“…What do you mean?”

“There are V-SINGERS, right? Singers who wear a character’s guise. Nowadays, even if one burns out in real life, one can reincarnate in that form. The ‘face’ of the ‘six-octave diva’ doesn’t have to be ‘Shibuya Erio.’ Astute fans might speculate on the net, but for most people, the truth of the matter is irrelevant. They can continue their activities as if nothing happened.”

“Disgusting. So rotten it makes my nose twist.”

“Hm. I spoke too soon about business to a kid. Alright, how much do you want?”

“For what?”

“For extorting me, you want money, right?”

“I don’t want your trash.”

I answered immediately. Indeed, my daily motivation is to earn living expenses easily.

But the highest priority is to eliminate the enemies of my genius sister, Shiika.

This man won’t be let off with just a settlement.

“You’re getting arrested. You’re probably doing similar power harassment or abuse to other talents you manage. I can dig up plenty of evidence. It’s going to be a festival of additional crimes.”

“You don’t want a peaceful resolution? Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Even without your money, collaborating with Shibuya will bring in plenty.”

“No, not that ──”

Nakameguro tossed his umbrella away, cracking his neck and knuckles, and began to step lightly. That nimble footwork indicated he had some experience in martial arts.

“──I’ll break a bone or two, and well, let it be known as a tragic accident caused by a drunken passerby. Are you okay with that? That’s what I meant.”

Ah, I see. So that’s the approach.

Well, I expected as much. That’s why I didn’t bother with an umbrella.

However, I have absolutely no interest in what comes next.

I just want to watch over the life of my genius sister, Shiika. I want to ensure her peaceful days aren’t threatened. Once I’ve determined the true nature of the ominous shadows around Shiika and Shibuya and see a way to eliminate the threat, any further minor events aren’t worth mentioning.

So, well, for now──.

Let’s cut to the chase.

*Simultaneous connection number, for example.