Standing beneath the makeshift stage, Miyako Saito felt a bit emotional.
Though there had been some ups and downs, the four girls had finally joined the company.
They were officially starting their activities in the entertainment industry.
Even though, for now, it was just some small-scale commercial performances.
To someone like her—currently one of the most famous agents in the industry—it felt a little humble.
But deep down, Saito was genuinely happy for them.
Those four girls…
Kyoko could tell they truly loved music, the stage, and performing.
Moreover, they had talent far beyond what most people could dream of. For children like them to enter the industry and develop freely without facing any difficulties—
That's something that would make even strangers feel happy to see.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before this "niche" band would make a name for themselves and become the darlings of the music world.
Just as she was thinking that—
A voice called out from behind her.
"Miss Saito!"
The tone was very familiar.
It almost made Saito think it was someone she knew well.
But the voice itself… she didn't recognize it at all.
She turned around with a smile, trying hard to match the voice with someone she might know.
As an agent—and CEO of Umbrella Talent Agency—her most important skill was communication, securing every possible advantage.
But when she turned around, Saito was stunned.
Because she had never seen the woman before her.
She was absolutely certain of that.
After all, with a face as stunning as this woman's, even a passing glance would leave a lasting impression.
Despite being a seasoned agent who had seen countless beauties, Kyoko was still taken aback.
This woman was simply too breathtaking.
"Miss Saito, is something wrong?"
Seeing Saito frozen, the woman asked with confusion.
Now Saito was even more confused.
The woman clearly knew her—and spoke like they were quite familiar.
But she had no memory of her at all?
Had she been involved in some SCP containment case before? Maybe had her memory erased?
Wait a second… why did this stunning woman look so much like President Haruto?
At that moment, Haruto realized the problem.
He was currently in disguise—as "Yuriko Suzushina."
Of course Saito wouldn't recognize him.
Cold sweat broke out on Haruto's back.
If this agent found out he was cross-dressing, he'd be socially dead. Hurriedly, he spoke up to explain:
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yuriko Suzushina, President Haruto's younger sister."
Hearing that, Saito finally understood.
So she was the President's sister—no wonder the resemblance.
Wait… the President had a sister?
"I apologize for the rudeness. So you're Miss Yuriko. How is President Haruto doing lately?"
Saito's thoughts were still spinning, but her mouth automatically kept the conversation going.
After so many negotiations, she was trained to never let a conversation fall flat.
But as soon as she said it, she regretted it.
Why wouldn't the President be doing well?
And it wasn't really her place to ask.
Thankfully, Haruto breathed a sigh of relief.
She bought it.
With a warm smile, he responded,
"My brother's doing quite well. He often talks about Miss Saito, actually. Otherwise, I wouldn't have recognized you so quickly."
Hearing that, Saito's eyes widened in surprise.
The President… talks about her often?
Oh my god!
Even someone as composed as Saito, honed through countless business meetings, felt her cheeks heat up.
That was the President we're talking about.
Super gentle, super capable!
The two of them were talking completely past each other.
Even Miku standing by the side was utterly dumbfounded. It all sounded like a perfectly normal conversation…
But there was a definite undercurrent of something else going on.
After chatting cross-purpose for a while, Haruto forcibly steered the conversation back on track.
"Miss Saito, today's their first performance since signing the contract, right? I came to watch with a friend. This is Izayoi Miku, she's also in the industry."
Haruto turned slightly to introduce her.
Saito finally noticed the breathtaking woman next to him.
Truthfully, she already recognized Miku—a rising independent diva with growing popularity.
And since she hadn't signed with any agency yet…
There were plenty in the industry eyeing her, looking to scoop her up. Saito had planned to reach out soon—who knew she'd run into her here?
"Miss Izayoi, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
Saito reached out her hand as she spoke.
Miku smiled gracefully and shook hands.
They chatted warmly for a while.
Their conversation only ended when the performance was about to begin.
Miku leaned in close to Haruto and whispered in his ear:
"If you weren't a girl, I'd think you were the type of scumbag that ruins the entertainment industry."
Haruto twitched.
Excuse me!?
Even if he was a guy, he wasn't that kind of scumbag!
Before he could retort, Miku continued,
"I thought you just happened to know a few industry ladies… but you actually own your own agency. And rumor has it—you only recruit pretty girls and spare no expense in training them. Most of them operate at a loss early on. Sounds like you're using the company as a front to build a harem. Tsk tsk. By the way, do you think I'm pretty enough to join?"
For a moment, Haruto was speechless.
Aside from being wrong about the motive, her analysis was spot-on. And to top it off, she knows it's a harem and still wants in?
This damn simp elf!
Seeing him dumbstruck, Miku laughed.
She was just teasing, after all.
Knowing about the SCP Foundation, she had a rough idea what the agency was really for.
But even if it was a harem—
She was okay with it!
At that moment, the four girls took the stage.
Cheers erupted from the crowd below.
Though most were Akihabara passersby, there were also quite a few die-hard fans.
The Kessoku Band—or rather, Unity Band—had a unique and niche style.
With lyrics by the socially anxious Hitori Gotoh, they were never going to be mainstream, upbeat, or sunshine-filled.
But niche has its strengths.
Those who loved this band and Bocchi weren't casual fans—they were sincere.
Seeing the passionate fans, a trace of envy flickered in Miku's eyes.
Haruto lightly tapped her on the head.
She looked up in confusion.
Haruto smiled and said:
"Just watch their performance closely. Maybe it'll awaken some of your lost dreams."
Miku froze.
"Hello everyone, we're the Kessoku Band. Um… thank you so much for coming to see us!"
"Umm… Anyway, here's our first song…"
The opening MC wasn't Kita Ikuyo, but rather the sweet Nijika.
Her voice had a hint of childishness—clearly nervous.
Listening to that slightly clumsy intro, Miku felt a strange emotion stirring inside.
Once, when she first stood on a stage…
She'd felt just as awkward and nervous.
But those were also her happiest times.
The beat began.
Then the sound of guitar strumming filled the air. The four girls began their performance. Though they were still adjusting to the stage—
They poured everything into their performance.
Even the extremely shy Bocchi forced herself to look up and meet the audience's gaze.
Kita Ikuyo's voice blended with the music.
As the lead singer, she gripped the mic and sang with all her strength.
Truly, performing was never easy—whether a band or an idol. One performance could leave them drenched in sweat and drained.
But a heartfelt performance could truly move people.
As she watched, Miku was struck with a strong sense of déjà vu.
It was like seeing her past self.
She finally understood what Haruto meant by "lost dreams."
Once upon a time, she too had truly yearned for the stage—dreamed of offering her best performance to her audience.
When exactly did she forget that dream?
When did she start placing more value on audience ratings and follower counts?
When did she begin neglecting the performance itself?