Tokyo's Most Affectionate - Chapter 87

Wealthy Woman and Wealthy Man

In the evening, at an izakaya in Shibuya.

Following another invitation and an explanation of the location, Ninomiya met up with them at 7 o’clock.

Having just come out of school and not yet gone home to change, she was still dressed in her school attire – a shirt and a black tight-fitting skirt. Her demeanor was cool and elegant, radiating a captivating charm.

The biggest advantage of izakayas compared to other establishments lay in their private rooms.

Sitting around a small table, Ninomiya took a seat next to Itsuragi. Her legs, wrapped in black stockings, crossed attractively, drawing attention.

“How did the interview go today?”

As they settled in, Ninomiya noticed that both of them were silent, so she took the initiative to speak.

Having arrived a bit later, she wasn’t quite aware of what had transpired between the two during the interview.

“I performed well initially, but things took a turn after I laid out my conditions.”

Kurosawa stole a glance at her legs, retracting his gaze before being noticed, and then continued.

“What conditions did you lay out?”

“I don’t want to show my face and reveal my true identity as Kurosawa Hikaru, a student in the Economics Department at the University of Tokyo.”

“Ah? Why? You want to be an entertainer but don’t want to show your face?”

Ninomiya was bewildered upon hearing this condition.

“Is it strange?” Kurosawa asked when he noticed her reaction.

“It’s quite strange.” Ninomiya nodded, expressing certainty, but kept her thoughts to herself.

Despite being so handsome, he had the potential to be a star, yet he didn’t want to show his face. What could be the reason?

“In fact, he’s worried that if fans find out he’s Kurosawa Hikaru, his personal life will be under constant surveillance by the media. He wants to avoid situations where meeting someone outside of school, like today, would get exposed.”

Seeing her confusion, Itsuragi leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“…” 

Understanding the reason, Ninomiya was momentarily stunned. She glanced at Kurosawa, feeling a complex mix of emotions and not knowing what to say.

“You didn’t see it. Kurosawa played a piano piece that was simply breathtaking, stunning the audience. I was completely amazed. I never expected his skill level to be this high.”

Skipping this topic, Itsuragi sighed.

“Better than the day at the restaurant?”

“Even better. I think he didn’t fully showcase his abilities that day.”

“Is your piano playing really that impressive?”

Ninomiya looked at Kurosawa with some surprise.

She could feel that Itsuragi wasn’t exaggerating, but genuinely felt this way.

“It’s okay.”

Under her astonished gaze, Kurosawa felt a bit pleased, the satisfaction of his vanity filling him. He humbly responded.

“Just because he has such excellent piano skills and overall talent, but refused to show his face, Ms. Hamada thought he was just being ridiculous. She even dropped some harsh words, saying he either shows his face or forgets about signing with the agency.”

“No wonder others feel that way… it’s such a waste.”

“And then, I made a decision. I’m quitting my job and starting my own business.”

Having explained the situation, Itsuragi suddenly stood up, eagerly announcing her decision.

“???”

Hearing this, Ninomiya was suddenly filled with questions.

What was going on? Is what she just said related to what she was saying now?

“But you’ve been working as a manager since before graduating from university and have worked so hard for many years, and now you’ve finally reached this position…”

Ninomiya felt like Itsuragi was being irrational and tried to remind her.

“It’s precisely because I’ve worked so hard for many years that I can clearly realize that, no matter how hardworking and proactive I am, I’m ultimately just an employee, and not a boss.”

“But your salary is so high… You’re one of the elites in all of Japan.”

“No matter how high my salary is, it’s still given by someone else. But as a boss, you’re the one giving out salaries to others.”

“But starting a business is not that simple… And if the business fails, it can be troublesome.”

“Boom!”

“Don’t worry, I’m confident. This is definitely a clear path.”

Itsuragi stomped her foot on the small table, full of determination.

Perhaps due to being a fashionista, she had her nails done as well. Her feet were adorned with blue nail polish, shining brightly and looking quite attractive.

Even though she was standing tall, the risk of any wardrobe malfunctions was minimal, thanks to her wearing hot pants.

“Are you drunk or something?”

“I haven’t even started drinking, how could I be drunk?”

As the lively conversation continued between them, Kurosawa remained silent, sitting across from them.

“What’s the situation now?”

“Hahaha, let me explain it to you.”

Seeing that Ninomiya couldn’t quite grasp the situation, Itsuragi laughed and, feeling a bit calmer, began recounting everything that had happened in the car.

“So, you’re the mastermind.” During the explanation, Ninomiya learned that it was Kurosawa who initially suggested becoming a boss. 

She couldn’t help but glance at Kurosawa, and although she didn’t say anything, her expression spoke volumes.

Before long, the whole story was laid out.

“So, Kurosawa, is your singing really that good?”

Ninomiya was somewhat surprised.

To be honest, she was already amazed by Kurosawa’s piano skills.

“I’m not kidding. He imitated the Karaoke Song Deity almost perfectly, if not better. And he casually picked a few songs, all of which he sang exceptionally well.”

“Posting videos online, can that really work?”

“The Karaoke Song Deity’s video wasn’t specially produced, it was just some recording with minor editing, and it garnered over two million views without the promotion and fame of a team. If it’s Kurosawa, he’ll play the piano and sing specifically for making videos. Plus, with my help in promotion and operations, if done well, it might explode across the internet, establishing his name directly.”

“If you think it’ll work, then let’s do it.”

“Speaking of which, I don’t have much experience in running a company. I’m good at negotiating with various companies and discussing event collaborations. I might need your help in many areas.”

“…”

Hearing this request, Ninomiya fell into contemplation.

“We can really do this! Kurosawa, sing a couple of songs for Chizuru to open her eyes.” 

Seeing her deep in thought, Itsuragi thought she was skeptical and immediately called for Kurosawa.

“No need, I trust your judgment and believe in his abilities… It’s just that I have my primary job, and I might not have that much time to help.”

Ninomiya wasn’t doubting; she just had other responsibilities.

“You should continue being a teacher and occasionally come to help.”

“Okay.”

“Also, during the initial stages of starting the company, we might need your investment.”

In the end, Itsuragi, in a tight spot, made the most crucial request.

She knew better than anyone how much money Ninomiya had; she was indeed a wealthy woman.

“Miss Runa, isn’t your annual salary 20 million yen? Don’t you have any savings?” Kurosawa was a bit surprised.

“I bought a house and a car, so there’s not much left.”

“Okay.”

Ninomiya realized the situation. After looking at Itsuragi and then at Kurosawa, she contemplated for a while and finally nodded.

In reality, if Itsuragi relied on someone other than Kurosawa, she probably wouldn’t accompany Itsuragi in this venture. 

Instead, she would insist that Itsuragi continue as a talent agent, considering how high her annual salary was— it was an opportunity that didn’t come easy.

“By the way, I also have 6 million in savings.”

With her agreement, Kurosawa added a sentence.

“6 million? Where did you get so much money?” Itsuragi was startled by this revelation.

“I saved up from part-time tutoring.”

“I didn’t expect that; you’re quite the wealthy man.”

Realizing that he also had startup capital, Itsuragi felt pleasantly surprised.