Chapter 72: A Heart-Wrenching Encounter

Kisaragi Kiyo was a manager at Meldac.

Meldac was a small music company.

Due to Japan’s economic development and the psychological emptiness and confusion of the post-war youth, an underground music trend had become popular in Japan, especially in Tokyo.

Punk, indie rock, underground rap, experimental electronica, black metal… more and more young people were performing the music they loved in bars, nightclubs, and live houses.

Among them, some exceptionally talented musicians would emerge from time to time.

Meldac was a music company whose business was to discover underground musical talent and push them into the mainstream market.

“You all need to be prepared. There’s another very important performance tomorrow night.”

Kisaragi Kiyo said to the artists under her management, her face devoid of any extra emotion.

“Hai…”

The artists were used to Kisaragi Kiyo’s business-like attitude and responded lazily.

“Don’t just spend tomorrow sleeping and having fun. It’s best to rehearse a few more times during the day.”

“Hai…”

Kisaragi Kiyo glanced at the sloppy young people in front of her but didn’t say another word.

It wasn’t that she lacked enthusiasm for her work, but that she only saw these young people as temporary collaborators—collaborators who might be gone the very next day.

There was no helping it.

Although underground music was currently very popular and the company had discovered many “genius musicians,” very few of them could actually survive in the mainstream market.

After seeing too many geniuses, Kisaragi Kiyo had become almost numb to it all.

The new band in front of her, The Blue Hearts, was certainly very talented, but who could say how long they would last?

Perhaps they would disband in the blink of an eye.

As a salaried employee of Meldac, Kisaragi Kiyo really didn’t want to invest any extra emotion into such a job.

“That’s all for now. Everyone is dismissed.”

Kisaragi Kiyo waved her hand, announcing the end of the meeting.

On her way home from work, Kisaragi Kiyo bought a bento box and a six-pack of beer, then returned to her small rented apartment.

Although she was already in her thirties, Kisaragi Kiyo still lived alone.

Due to her parents’ failed marriage and her conflicts with her mother, Kisaragi Kiyo had never considered getting married and starting a family…

She put down the beer and bento, and turned on the television.

Drinking alone.

Eating alone.

Watching TV alone.

Kisaragi Kiyo thought that living alone was quite nice…

The drama she had been watching had already ended.

Kisaragi Kiyo wanted to pick a new drama to watch while she ate, but the popular shows recently were either mystery or detective series, or historical dramas.

Kisaragi Kiyo was the type who didn’t like to use her brain when watching TV, so these shows that required thinking weren’t quite suitable for her.

She flipped through the channels.

Kisaragi Kiyo still couldn’t find a drama she wanted to watch.

Just as she was about to give up and settle for a random historical drama, a little girl’s face caught her attention…

Her small face had faint dimples, yet her large, dark eyes naturally flowed with a light sorrow that was completely out of place with her tender features.

“The little duck is already dead.”

“If it’s dead, it can’t read the letter, right?”

The duckling that the kindergarten class had been raising together had died. The teacher asked the children to write a letter to the duckling in heaven, but the little girl had raised this very logical objection.

It was just a simple conversation, but it unexpectedly struck a chord in Kisaragi Kiyo’s heart.

Kisaragi Kiyo focused her attention and continued to watch.

It turned out the girl’s name was Rena.

Rena’s biological mother was living with her boyfriend.

Rena suffered abuse at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, and not only did her mother turn a blind eye, but she would even help her boyfriend abuse Rena.

Rena came home from school to find that her beloved storybook was being taken out by her mother to be thrown away.

“You probably don’t need these anymore, right?”

Although it was a question, her mother’s tone was unquestionable.

“Mhm, I don’t need them anymore.”

Rena’s eyes were full of longing as she looked at the storybook, but when she looked up at her mother, she put on a fawning smile.

Kisaragi Kiyo had never seen such good acting from a child actor before.

The moment Rena’s expression switched, Kisaragi Kiyo’s heart clenched.

She saw Rena being forced by her mother’s boyfriend to change into a mature outfit with sexual undertones.

Her mother, instead of scolding her boyfriend, flew into a rage, stuffed Rena into a garbage bag, and threw her into the trash heap.

Anger and heartache filled Kisaragi Kiyo’s chest.

At the end of the first episode, when she saw Rena shouting at the migrating birds:

“Take Rena with you!”

Kisaragi Kiyo burst into tears.

Although Kisaragi Kiyo’s mother had never abused her, she had had several husbands, and each time she managed to pick a scumbag with pinpoint accuracy.

One of those husbands had even tried to bribe Kisaragi Kiyo with pocket money to take off her clothes.

It was because of this that Kisaragi Kiyo had a complete falling out with her mother and lost all interest in starting a family.

Therefore, Kisaragi Kiyo empathized with Rena’s plight much more than the average viewer.

The first episode ended, and the credits began to roll.

Wiping away her tears, Kisaragi Kiyo hurriedly jotted down the name of the drama and the child actress.

Mother, Yamagami Aiko.

As Mother aired on Saitama Television, Chiba Television, and Kanagawa Television, an atmosphere of sadness began to gradually spread throughout the entire metropolitan area.

However, this sadness had not yet reached its peak, nor had it had a real impact on the Yamagami family’s life.

Seiko’s main focus was still on her toy business—oh no, Miyazaki’s toy business.

After all, the vending machines had already been ordered.

If they couldn’t come up with a product, it would be too ridiculous.

“We’ll choose Yaskawa Electric for the micro-vibration motors.”

“Are you sure? That might be a bit more expensive.”

“Expensive is fine, at least they’re less likely to break. Besides, our toys aren’t exactly cheap…”

Saori noted down Seiko’s decision.

“Don’t go with Panasonic for the batteries. No need to buy such good ones. Let’s go with Maxell’s alkaline batteries to balance the cost.”

“And the power switch and the control chip for the remote…”

As Seiko and Saori were finalizing the supply chain procurement list, Seiko suddenly received a phone call.

– Miss Yamagami, I must inform you that the stock price of Japan Airlines has already surpassed 2,500 yen.

The moment the call connected, Sachi Ken’ichi’s voice came through.

– Are you still going to continue buying short positions?

Although Sachi Ken’ichi tried his best to suppress it, Seiko could still hear a hint of pride in his tone—’See, I was right, wasn’t I? I told you not to believe me, and to trust that ‘spirit medium’ instead.’

Seiko glanced at the date, August 12th. Without much hesitation, she said, “Yes, continue buying.”

– What?!

Sachi Ken’ichi took a deep breath and warned again,

– You’re gambling!

“Yes, I am gambling.” Seiko didn’t deny it.

– And what if you lose the bet?

Sachi Ken’ichi was at his wit’s end.

‘If I lose the bet?’

Seiko thought for a moment, then whispered as if to herself, “If I lose the bet, it might actually be a good thing…”