Tokyo's Most Affectionate - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

On the way to the agency, Itsuragi played a song, but it wasn’t the usual Karaoke Song Deity performance.

Because she had to sign Kurosawa and debut him, she temporarily gave up being the Karaoke God.

“She agreed.”

Kurosawa held his phone, looked at Ninomiya’s reply, and then lifted his head to say.

“That’s good… By the way, what’s your singing level? Don’t just say you’re entry-level or you know a bit; give me a better idea.”

Halfway there, Itsuragi remembered something and asked.

“I’m a bit better than the Karaoke Song Deity.” Kurosawa thought for a moment and replied.

“Do you practice regularly?”

“Occasionally, when I feel like it, I sing a few lines. Does that count as practice?”

“Of course not. To practice singing, you need guidance from a professional teacher and gradual adjustments.”

“Well, I haven’t had that.”

“Then how dare you say you’re better than the Karaoke Song Deity?” Itsuragi really wanted to sarcastically comment on him.

Not to exaggerate, even though it was a phone recording and the quality wasn’t that great, as a top-tier talent agent, she could sense the Karaoke Song Deity’s vocal skills.

He surpassed most singers in the industry and could even rival some well-established powerhouse vocalists.

However, as the words reached her lips, she decided to give up to avoid dampening Kurosawa’s enthusiasm.

“Never mind. You have a good foundation, a handsome appearance, outstanding temperament, play the piano, and you’re a student at the University of Tokyo, carrying the label of an academic achiever. It won’t be difficult for you to become popular.”

Itsuragi took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and spoke optimistically.

Although education and the knowledge gained at the University of Tokyo had limited impact on becoming a singer or entertainer, the label of being an academic achiever still held attraction for fans.

“Miss Runa, actually, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Hearing this, Kurosawa hesitated for a few seconds but decided to speak up.

“What is it?”

“I don’t want to show my face, and I don’t want people to know that I’m a student at the University of Tokyo or that I’m Kurosawa.”

“Huh?” Itsuragi, upon hearing this, instinctively hit the brakes and slowed down, turning her head in disbelief.

“If my true identity is known, won’t it be troublesome? If there’s an overly enthusiastic fan, it might affect my studies and those around me.”

Facing her shocked gaze, Kurosawa explained with a hint of uneasiness.

If he became a widely known celebrity, not only would dating tasks become a challenge, but even ordinary meet-ups could be problematic.

“What do you plan to do then?”

“I’ll start by posting videos online, playing the piano and singing. Then, I’ll introduce a personal masked image, accumulate some popularity, and try to debut by releasing a single.”

“Putting aside whether this approach will work or not, what if it does become popular, and fans react enthusiastically? Someday, if you’re asked to hold a concert, what will you do?”

“Wear a mask on stage.”

“You’ve thought it through quite thoroughly.”

Upon hearing his whimsical proposal, Itsuragi suddenly felt a headache and forced a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Sorry for making it difficult for you.”

Seeing her troubled expression, Kurosawa also felt embarrassed.

He wanted to be a singer to give his vocal and piano skills more room and opportunities to shine… but he also didn’t want it to impact his personal life.

“Your concerns are not unfounded, and I can understand…”

After thinking for a moment and careful consideration, Itsuragi spoke.

Upon closer inspection, if Kurosawa were to become hugely popular, it would pose a significant problem for him to date Ninomiya.

Even if they waited until after graduation to be together, some unscrupulous reporters wouldn’t care about that detail. 

Once they found out, they would definitely claim they were involved in a teacher-student relationship before graduation.

If that were to happen, things would get messy. Hiding his identity was indeed an unavoidable choice.

“Anyway, I’ve already scheduled an audition for you with the review committee. First, go to the agency and let the company assess your skill level and potential. Then, make plans accordingly. Although I’m a gold-tier agent, I’m still an employee. I can only provide you with the minimum resources available. As for the maximum resources available, it depends on how much you strive for, especially with the conditions you’ve set.”

After careful consideration, Itsuragi decided to go with the flow and take it one step at a time.

The rise of a star relies not only on the individual but also on the team and resources.

“Okay.”

Seeing her so considerate, Kurosawa felt grateful. Itsuragi was truly a good person.

“Can I ask what aspects the review committee will assess?”

After a brief silence, Kurosawa decided to probe the exam questions first.

“Firstly, they’ll look at your appearance, followed by age and physique, and finally, they’ll test your talent.”

“Talent comes last?”

“A good appearance can raise the upper limit even higher, while talent, unless it’s exceptionally strong, is difficult… Originally, I thought you could definitely pass the review and secure top-notch resources. However, wanting to wear a mask and hide your identity adds some suspense.”

“I will pass the review.”

After some thought, Kurosawa felt it wasn’t much different from his past life.

“To pass the review with your piano skills won’t be a problem, but the key is what level of resources you can obtain.”

“How are the resources categorized?”

“The top-tier involves the entire company’s resources being allocated to you. First-tier gets a dedicated team, and as for second, third, and fourth tiers, let’s not talk about them… Among these, top-tier resources need approval from the board of directors. The first-tier requires unanimous or majority approval from the review committee, and then, after market research, a decision can be made.”

“Oh, I see.”

Kurosawa hadn’t expected there to be such rules and distinctions.

“Relax, and don’t be too anxious. To become a big star, everyone takes it step by step. There are very few overnight sensations.”

Seeing him becoming less talkative, Itsuragi comforted him.

“I’ll do my best, and I’m not in a hurry. If I were eager for fame, I would reveal my face.”

With her preemptive advice, Kurosawa understood the wisdom behind it.

While he had contemplated the possibility of an overnight success, he recognized the reality due to having entry-level singing and piano skills.

“Do you have confidence in your face?”

“What do you think?”

“It’s definitely good enough.”

Kurosawa was a bit nervous, but not overly so.

After all, he had never been an artist before, and this was his first encounter with this field, the unknown feeling evoked his nervousness and fear.

As for his singing skills, he was confident. 

While there had been a demonstration before, as Ichinose had pointed out, the recorded video was made with a phone, so it couldn’t fully showcase his level and ability.

In short, only a few people who had heard him sing in person, Itsuragi hadn’t heard his original voice in person.

Under this premise, as long as he adjusted his singing style and voice, his flaws wouldn’t be exposed.

The entry-level singing skill was quite powerful, allowing him to fully control his singing voice, even singing in a female voice and various male voices.

Finally, the car entered an underground parking lot.

“When you enter the agency later, feel free to greet any celebrities you see, but they might not acknowledge you. So, if they don’t know you, just nod. Also, a crucial point, whatever you see inside the agency, you must not tell anyone… except for Chizuru. She often hears me talk about the agency, and she knows the rules.”

Itsuragi turned off the engine, unbuckled her seatbelt, and emphasized these instructions.

“I understand.”

Kurosawa stood up and nodded.

Such rules were good for everyone, including him.

“Let’s go, let everyone see your abilities.”

Itsuragi knew he was a smart person and didn’t say much. 

After they both got out of the car, she turned back, smiled at him, extended her hand, and started walking in her high heels.

Unlike the day at the amusement park, wearing high heels made her look even more feminine, and her figure became more graceful.

Kurosawa touched his nose and followed her with his steps.