Thursday, May 21
It's Thursday, you're sitting in the car out in the car in front of Madhouse Animation's studio.
Make-up mirror in hand, you look over the bruise on your face.
Still there, but nearly invisible with some concealer.
You snap your little fold-able mirror shut and look towards Chigusa in the seat beside you.
"You ready?" you ask.
Chigusa nods, "I've prepared as well as I could, if my best isn't good enough, then it just means I'll need more practice."
You flash Chigusa a quick smile.
According to her file, her vocal skills are about as good as they are going to get.
People like saying that hard work beats talent every time, but there are things where talent plays a larger part than people are willing to admit.
It isn't fair as Chigusa is such a hard worker, but she wouldn't be the first to be held back by their own body.
Still, today's job should be well within Chigusa's capabilities.
Assigning people to jobs they can realistically accomplish is also part of a manager's duties.
If it doesn't work out today, then it just means she had a bad day.
"Well," you say, slapping your knees, "Let's get to it!"
> Need one VOCALS roll for Chigusa Iki
> Please roll one 1d100+49 (DC 80)
>
> Rolled 18 + 49 (1d100 + 49) = 67
You're waiting happily in the recording studio, watching the sound engineer work.
A first-row seat like this was offered to you condition that you kept quiet.
Mase Katsuhiko has worked with Madhouse Animation for years, his long hair and beard are unkept.
Occasionally he presses a button to relay some instructions to Chigusa.
As time ticks in, the engineer seems to get more and more frustrated.
He leans towards a mic and presses a button, "Take five, Chigusa-san."
Mase-san leans back in his chair and sighs.
"Is something wrong?" you ask carefully.
"She's... just off," says Mase.
"Is it going to be a problem?" you reply.
"It isn't terrible, I can work with it, but it isn't like what I hoped for," he replies, "Going to have to do a lot of post-recording work if we want to get it the way we want."
He sighs again, "It might be easier to get a different girl in here and do it from the top."
Downright failure will devastate Chigusa.
"But... you'll do the post-recording work," you say, "Right?"
The man sucks in a breath through clenched teeth, "Honestly, probably not. We don't have the hours. Few people as overworked as the folks in the animation industry. It'd be burning the midnight oil if I did," he says, "It's easier to record it with a different girl."
"Mase-san," you say, trying to keep the desperation from your voice, "There must be a way we can make this work. You said you can work with it, right? Can we figure something out?"
Mase frowns, then folds his arms, "I'm not sure, Nagata-san. You're asking a lot here," he says, "But I'm not heartless. I can tell Chigusa is quite skilled, maybe she's just having an off day."
"Then...?" you say, feeling a smile come on, "We could just do it over some other time?"
"Pff!" says Mase, "No. God, no. Studio time is terribly expensive. This job is what it is."
"Oh..." you say.
"But," he begins, eyeing you over, "I'm willing to put in the extra work in private and keep quiet about it if you're willing to do something for me in return."
You might be able to save Chigusa's mental health here.
"Of course!" you say, "Anything. It's only fair."
"You said you worked at Mastuno Inc, right?" says Mase, "There's a girl there, Handa Ako. Artist name Hanko. Her voice is perfect for a job we have planned. If you could convince her to work with us, then I'll consider Chigusa's job a pass."
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
You think it over for a moment.
"Handa Ako is not under my management," you say, "I can try, but I can't make that promise. Is there anything else?"
"I'd really like Handa-san to sing for us," he says, "Barring that, I've got a job next week that we're struggling to find talent for. Outside job, not related to Madhouse Animation. I'm not gonna lie, the company is pretty sketchy, but I think Chigusa will do fine. They're not that picky."
"Do you have any details on that job?" you say.
He leans over to the side of his mixing desk, fingers outstretched as he reaches for a piece of paper with a grunt, "Hnmgg," he says, pinching it between his fingers, then handing it to you, "...Heeeree you go."
> Singer needed for ecchi songs (DC 60, Rank F)
>
> Oppai Entertainment's success anime "BounceBounce Adventures" is getting a OVA.
> In this beach-episode sequel we follow Miko into a series of hijinks, each rewarded with new and stimulating imagery.
>
> We're looking for a singer for the vocals for the anime's soundtrack.
>
> Stress: 50
> Payment: $25.000
> Skill: Vocals
> Idol: Chigusa Iki
>
> About:
> Oppai Entertainment is a sleazy company.
You wrinkle your nose, "It's... kind of..."
The man shrugs, "I know," he says, "That's why we can't find anyone, but it's an easy job and the pay is good. You can even ask to have Chigusa's name scrapped from the credits if you like."
"Hmm," you say, "Until when do I have to decide?"
"Late next week," says Mase, "The deadline for today's job is in two weeks, but I need time for post-recording work if we go down that route. If you can promise me Hanko-san then or commit to the other job by next Friday then I'll consider Chigusa's job a pass. If not, then we'll find to find somebody else. We'll give you half-pay for your efforts, if you want."
"If we want?" you echo.
Why wouldn't you want to get paid?
"The material is not worth using without significant post-recording work, it's just the contract forcing us to pay. It's all the same to me, but demand pay for a failed job too many times and companies might not want to work with your idol again," he says.
Chigusa failed the job by a small amount and will thus take no hit to her fame.
> Decision
> >1 - See if you can convince Handa Ako to commit to a Madhouse Animation job.
> >2 - Commit Chigusa to the Oppai Entertainment job
> >3 - Take half-pay for today's job and accept the failure.
> >4 - Accept no pay and accept the failure.
> >5 - Write-in
>
> Winner
> >1 - See if you can convince Handa Ako to commit to a Madhouse Animation job.
"I'll see if I can convince Handa Ako-san," you say, handing over a business card, "If not, then I'll give you a call and we can talk alternatives."
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/a6aa7278-addf-4cc4-9aa5-5bef0ca0a0b5.png]
Masa nods, handing over a business card with his number in return, "Sounds good, I hope you succeed," he says, "She's really climbing the charts lately. The single she released this week is running absurd numbers. Sappy love songs tickle the algorithm in just the rights ways, I guess," he adds, then laughs, "If Madhouse wants to work with her, then we gotta do it now. We won't be able to afford her in the future."
"My, that's a lot of praise for Matsuno's Hanko-chan," you say, "You got me worried now, I might not be able to convince her to clear a spot in her schedule if she's doing so well."
It feels good to have a Matsuno idol praised like that.
Perhaps one day they'll be saying things like that about your idols.
"Do what you can," says Mase, "If it doesn't work out, we'll call."
"Understood," you say, "Thank you for this, Mase-san."
"Business's gruelling enough," says Mase, "Gotta help each other when we can."
Chigusa has been on the other side of the sound-proof glass the entire time, probably wondering what the both of you are talking about.
Mase presses a button, then speaks into the microphone, "We'll call it here, Chigusa-san. Thank you for today."
Chigusa bows and the both of you meet up in the hallway.
----------------------------------------
"I'm sorry for today," says Chigusa, her face warped with anguish.
"What for?" you say nonchalantly.
"I could tell my singing wasn't very good," says Chigusa, breathing rapidly, then talks up a storm, "I apologize, I'll do better next time. I promise you. I'll work harder. I'll start practice the moment we get back to the office. I'll practice during the weekend, too. I won't disappoint you again. I promise. It might've been nerves, but that's no excuse. I expect better from myself, and I know I can do it, too. If you'll just give me another chance, then I won't disappoint you again. I promise. I promise. "
"Woah, woah!" you say, laughing, "Calm down, I mean, even if you feel that way -- they said it was more than good enough!"
"Eh?" says Chigusa, bewildered, "I was sure that I ruined it."
"Turns out that you're more than good enough -- even if you feel like you did badly," you say, smiling, "Guess you'll really blow them away on a good day then, right?"
A torrent of anxiety visibly leaves Chigusa, her shoulders relax, her face brightens up, "Oh..." she says, "But then, what were you chatting about?"
You fish into your purse for a moment, "They wanted to work with us again, so we exchanged business cards," you say, holding up Mase's card, "Job's a bit strange, though. I'll let you know if we end up taking it."
"Strange?" says Chigusa, tilting her head, "Strange how?"
You wave her concerns aside, "Don't worry about it," you say, "Let's get lunch on the way back."
Both of you return to the office, stopping for lunch along the way.
----------------------------------------
Meanwhile at Enatsu's House
"Mari," says Enatsu Enko, her mother, with a huff, "You've been on the couch all day. Shouldn't be outside and play?"
"It's raining!" says Enatsu Mari from the couch, her eyes locked on her phone.
Enko's mouth drops open, "It stopped raining hours ago!" she says, "Don't you have homework?"
"I'll do it tonight!" says Mari, getting agitated from being interrupted, "I got the week off from work, so I have plenty of time!"
"What are you even doing?" asks Enko.
"A game!" says Mari, "A senpai from work got me free emeralds so I can play a lot for free. She works for the game company as a voice actress."
"Emeralds?" says Enko.
"Game coins," explains Mari.
Enatsu's mother considers this.
"My... An actress?" says Enko, impressed at the connections Mari is making, "She must've given you a lot of game coins then, you were on your phone all day yesterday, too."
"Y-yeah," says Mari, hiding herself behind her phone.