My Tokyo Celebrity Girlfriend Is Love-Struck, What Should I Do? - Chapter 33

Booking the Recording Studio

The offline screening of microfilms by T-Station was scheduled in four days, providing enough time for Kimura to study the process and rules of the T-Station Film Festival’s competition units in advance.

Leaving the office some time before noon, Kimura found a bench to sit on and took out his phone from his pocket.

Opening the trending topics on T-Station, the discussion about “Daytime Gourmet” still held a prominent position.

The buzz seemed to have increased subtly.

Within the relevant topics, Kimura found Mukoyama Sae’s profile and clicked on it.

Perhaps influenced by the trending topic of “Daytime Gourmet” today, Mukoyama Sae’s fan count had significantly increased since the last time Kimura checked.

At the top of Mukoyama Sae’s T-Station profile was a recent update.

【Collaborated with Komatsu Haruki-senpai to sing the movie’s theme song “Hundred Flavors.”】

It was a post about the music video for the movie’s theme song.

The video was a montage of scenes from the movie, accompanied by the movie’s theme song as background music.

Kimura increased the volume on his phone and placed the phone’s earpiece near his ear.

The music was gentle, featuring a relatively casual melody.

It could be discerned that the theme song was performed by two female voices, alternating in their singing, with a climax featuring harmonization between the two.

In a short while, the video came to an end.

Kimura exited Mukoyama Sae’s T-Station space and opened the space where he followed Asuka.

Asuka’s latest post was from the previous month, featuring the photo taken by Kimura himself in Kiyomi Park with a floral crown on Asuka’s head.

In the photo, Asuka had clear eyes, displaying a cute and somewhat vacant expression.

However…

Compared to previous posts, the likes and comments on Asuka’s latest update had significantly decreased.

Indeed, after leaving the entertainment industry, did her popularity take a sharp decline?

Kimura fell into a brief silence.

The fast-paced life in Tokyo seemed to magnify in the entertainment industry, where countless aspiring artists debuted every day.

Once away from the spotlight and cameras, it was as if artists were instantly labeled as outdated. They were soon forgotten by the public.

It appeared that the same fate was beginning to unfold for Asuka.

Without the support of the spotlight and lacking new successful works, the fans who once supported Asuka were gradually dwindling.

Kimura scrolled through Asuka’s past T-Station updates.

【”The Disappearance of the Third Person” is released. Please show your support! Additionally, Asuka will randomly appear with the cast at the movie premiere, so stay tuned!】

【Never expected to collaborate with Uemura-senpai. Attached photo.】

【The movie insert song for “Azukawa-kun, Please Fall in Love” is released, sung by Asuka. I really recorded it for a long time.】

【I will definitely become famous throughout Japan! Everyone, please support me together!】

“…”

After an unknown amount of time, Kimura sighed and turned off his phone screen.

His fingers glided over the cold device, stashing it into his pocket.

Kimura slowly stood up from the bench and walked towards the depths of Kiyomi Art University’s campus.

……

Passing by the Music Department’s teaching building, he noticed some roadblocks that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Kimura, somewhat bewildered, stopped a student watching the commotion by the road.

“Excuse me, what’s happening here?”

“Ah, you don’t know? Tomorrow is the lecture by outstanding graduates of the Music Department. Some former outstanding graduates, seniors from the Music Department, will come back to the school for a speech… The Music Department is busy renovating the auditorium… I heard that Nishijima Rika-senpai will also come.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks for the information, fellow student.”

Kimura nodded in realization, thanked the student, and walked away.

He didn’t know much about the Music Department, but since it was a lecture by outstanding graduates, there might be some well-known alumni from Kiyomi Art University coming back.

Even though he didn’t know any of them…

……

Kimura took a different path and arrived in front of a small building behind the Music Department’s teaching building.

This was the place where students from the Music Department usually practiced.

The building was equipped with recording studios, music production rooms, and other facilities for the use of Kiyomi Art University faculty and students.

Some graduates from the Film Director Department also came here when they needed music for their graduation projects.

However, Kimura didn’t have extra money to hire students from the Music Department or any other music producers to help with his project.

Besides, he didn’t need to.

Entering the Music Department building, Kimura reached the management office on the ground floor.

The usage of recording studios and music production rooms was different from regular classrooms. 

Apart from the normal school schedule and the use by faculty and students from the department, these facilities were available for timed rental by students from other departments and external individuals.

Of course, there were discounts for students from the university, but it was subject to the availability of free spaces.

“Are there any available recording studios this afternoon?” Kimura inquired.

“The recording studios are currently occupied in the afternoon,” the administrator checked the occupancy records on the computer.

No availability for this afternoon…

“How about the next few days? Are there any available time slots?” Kimura asked.

“There is one available recording studio tomorrow evening from 8 to 10. Would you like to reserve it?” the administrator offered.

“Okay, I’ll take that one.”

“Sure. May I know your name and your major?”

“Kimura Hayata, Senior in the Film Director Department.”

“Film Director Department…” The administrator repeated, “Non-Music Department students need to pay for using the facilities.”

“I understand,” replied Kimura.

Seeing this, the administrator didn’t say anything more.

After Kimura paid the rental fee for the space, the administrator entered his information into the computer.

“Alright. Kimura-san, tomorrow, go to Room 213 for the reserved recording studio during your appointment time.”

“Okay.”

……

Leaving the small building, Kimura now had a card in his hand, specifying the important details to be observed while using the facilities.

After glancing at it for a moment, Kimura tucked the card away.

For recording studios and such places, to a certain extent…

It could be said that, besides rental apartments, recording studios were the places Kimura was most familiar with in this world.

Who he was in his previous life…

Even death.

Occurred in a recording studio.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that thinking this way was somewhat ominous…

Kimura shook his head, bypassed the Music Department teaching building, and headed towards the campus exit.

Ding ding.

The notification sound for Line messages rang.

Kimura took out his phone, and it was a message from Asuka.

Asuka: “Want to go for a walk.”

Asuka: “Cat shedding tears.JPG”

Kimura couldn’t help but smile.

Kimura: “Is it still hurting badly?”

Asuka: 【Picture】

The image showed a pink hot water bag resting on a pair of fair thighs.

Asuka: “With Ugly Meow Maru, no problem at all.”

Kimura: “Can we take a walk after dinner?”

Asuka: “Sure (loudly)!”

Kimura: “Ok.”