"If we don't get signed by an agency before high school, isn't our life basically over?"
Somnium Music Academy, located in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, just a stone's throw from Tokyo.
A group of middle school girls, taking a break after their lessons, were huddled together discussing their uncertain futures.
"Did you see the new members of Sakurazaka46? A friend of a friend of a friend of mine debuted there... I'm so jealous..."
"They're all so cute... It's almost embarrassing to even compare myself to them..."
"Will we ever be able to join an agency...?"
The girls gathered here shared a singular dream: to become stars who, like the idols they admired, could bring smiles to their fans.
Arimura Kasumi looked at the younger girls and shook her head.
"Even if bands are becoming mainstream, most agencies are still focused on manufactured idols when it comes to female entertainers. Honestly, if we had what it takes, wouldn't they have scouted us already?"
"Kasumi! How can you say that here?!"
As her friend scolded her, Kasumi twirled a strand of hair beside her face with her finger.
"But that's the reality. The kids destined to debut would have been picked up by agencies a long time ago. Isn't that why we're staking everything on our vocals? Main vocals don't have their looks scrutinized as strictly. More than anything, if you have even one exceptional talent, it's much easier to get picked for a group in a mid-sized agency."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"Still, we have a chance thanks to Enfants Terribles. Since bands started trending, the most important trait agencies look for when putting together idol groups has shifted toward vocal capability. If we keep practicing our vocals like this, we'll definitely debut. For sure."
The girl who kept reminding her peers and juniors of the harsh reality possessed a resolve that was surprisingly firm, contrasting with her thin and fragile appearance.
"Besides, I heard someone who stayed here for a while to learn vocals is now a superstar. We can become like that too."
"Who is it?"
"I don't actually know that part..."
Arimura Kasumi scratched her head awkwardly at her friend's question. However, Kasumi's story was a legend passed down through the halls of Somnium Music Academy.
It was a tale about someone who appeared out of nowhere like a gust of wind, looking haggard and worn out. They stayed for a short while to master their vocals, vanished as suddenly as they had arrived, and then emerged as the leader of an incredible band.
To these girls, who hadn't even become agency trainees yet, the story sounded like a fairy tale. While underground idols existed, this was an era where any decent agency scouted and groomed talent starting from elementary or middle school.
The prime example of that was the versatile entertainer Ai from Strawberry Productions.
To enter high school without being signed to an agency? In truth, it was already quite late.
"A leader of an incredible band...? Doesn't that sound like Hide?"
"Huh?"
Arimura Kasumi turned her head at the absurd suggestion. Hide was a global superstar whose name was known to everyone in the world.
"Hide? Even if life is hard enough to make you lose your mind... at least try to be realistic."
"But it was in the news! That he ran away from his abusive uncle's house and wandered from place to place! Seeing how there are still lots of people staying at the Director's house and the academy, isn't it plausible enough?!"
"Hide... coming from Somnium Music Academy...? Staying here...? Then why isn't there anything posted about it? If he's that famous, the academy would have bragged about him being an alumnus. Well... considering the Director picks up people from everywhere and lets them stay here, it's not impossible... and it's not like she lacks talent either..."
Arimura Kasumi brushed off her peer's words as idle daydreaming.
One of the reasons Somnium Music Academy had survived this long was because of the Director, who was an exceptional vocal coach.
Given the nature of the academy, there were bound to be seniors who had successfully broken into the entertainment world.
But Hide... no matter how I think about it, it makes no sense...
If Hide had been from Somnium Music Academy, they would have been advertising it and making a massive fuss long ago. Wasn't this a time when independent music academies were shrinking as agencies expanded their own internal training departments?
"But hasn't the number of students been dropping too much lately...?"
Arimura Kasumi worried about the declining fortunes of the academy. The teaching staff, which once numbered five, was now down to two—and even they were simply staying at the Director's house, working for 'passion pay' in their spare time.
I've grown so attached to this place...
Arimura Kasumi felt a deep sense of regret regarding their current reality. Even if she debuted, she wanted the academy to remain. The memories of Somnium Music Academy, the place that had refined her as a musician, could vanish at any moment.
"Lately, Avril Lavigne is my favorite!"
Just as her peers and juniors changed the subject to talk about their role models—
—SLAM!!!
Suddenly, a younger student who had gone to the restroom burst back in, her face flushed bright red.
"Hi...! Hide is here!!"
At those words, every single person in the practice room snapped their head around.
"Hide? Hide is here? Stop lying."
"Exactly! Why would someone who was recently rushed to the emergency room come here? He'd be resting at home!"
"Are you on drugs or something...?"
It was a natural reaction. Why would a superstar like that visit a place like this?
Amidst the chaos, three facts flashed across Arimura Kasumi's mind.
[Hide, who wandered various places after running away from home.]
[The Director, who takes in all sorts of runaway youths.]
[The legend circulating through the academy.]
The moment those three facts clicked into place, the girls charged out into the hallway like wild beasts.
And there, they saw him.
"Whoa... whoa... he's so damn handsome..."
A stunning young man, standing 185cm tall with a muscular physique, was walking down the hallway of their academy.
It felt surreal.
Hide stopped and looked at the girls peeking their heads out from the room.
"Hello? Is this Somnium Music Academy?"
"It's... it's really Hide!!!!"
As soon as Arimura Kasumi screamed, the other girls, who had been holding their breath beside her, began to shriek in unison.
A magical occurrence. That was exactly what was happening right now at Somnium Music Academy.
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