Ariga-san was standing in the elevator hall.
“Welcome! Was everything okay? It must have been quite a trip to get here, wasn’t it?”
She greeted us with such kindness that it was hard to believe she was the person just referred to as a Demon King. Well, she isn’t actually a Demon King, so I guess that makes sense.
Azuma, perhaps feeling a sense of guilt, bowed her head.
“Ah, yes... I’m sorry...”
“Sorry...?” Ariga-san tilted her head curiously but led the way, saying, “This way, please.”
After turning a few corners, Ariga-san opened a large automatic door by tapping a card key.
“”Whoa...!””
Before us spread a space that looked like a stylish cafe.
Wooden tables were lined up, and in the center was a counter that looked like it served drinks. The interior looked like one of those stylish TSUTAYA stores featured on TV.
Three of the walls were made of glass, offering a panoramic view of the city center at night.
“Is there a restaurant inside the office...?”
“It’s more like an employee cafeteria.”
“”A-A cafeteria...?!””
Azuma and I were even more flustered. When someone says 'cafeteria,' the only thing that comes to my mind is the one at Musashino International.
Well, that one also has three glass walls, but in terms of style, they are worlds apart.
“This is too amazing...!”
Ariga-san nodded with satisfaction as our large eyes sparkled.
“No matter who I bring here, they’re always surprised at first. Ah—except for Amane-san...”
“Eh, really?”
“Yeah, Amane-san was the only one who didn’t give a great reaction. I thought, ‘Wait, does she not realize what this is?’ so I told her, ‘This is the cafeteria!’ She just smiled and said, ‘Yes, I saw the kitchen, so I figured as much.’ I felt kind of embarrassed back then.”
“Wow, that’s not cute at all...” “On the contrary, that’s incredibly cute...”
Oops, it seems my opinion and Azuma’s have diverged. (I wonder which of us said which?)
Ariga-san guided us to a sofa seat by the window as she walked.
I pointed outside the window and asked Ariga-san.
“Is that Tokyo Tower?”
“Hey, you should be able to tell without asking...! It’s embarrassing, so stop it. ...Um, is that Roppongi Hills over there?”
“Ahaha, both of you are right. It’s not like I’m the one who built this place, but getting reactions like that makes it worth showing you around. ...Anyway, would you like coffee or tea? We have orange juice and other things too.”
“C-Coffee, please!” “O-Orange juice, please!”
“Alright, alright.”
Ariga-san headed toward the counter, leaving the two of us behind.
“Hey, hey, this place is incredible, isn’t it? The Demon King’s Castle...!”
Azuma’s eyes were sparkling as she looked out the window.
“You’re surprisingly innocent sometimes, Azuma. Even though you’re usually the 'big sister' type.”
“Hah? What’s with the big sister type? Have you been calling me ‘Big Sis’ in your head or something?”
She gave me a cold stare. Did she realize I’ve been calling her Azuma-neesan in my mind...?
“I only have an older brother, so I’m a little sister. How about it? A little sister character. Is it moe?”
“Well, I have an actual little sister, so...”
“Oh, that’s right.”
While we were having that pointless conversation, Ariga-san brought over a tray with coffee, orange juice, and a cafe au lait. We thanked her as we took our drinks.
“Alright, once again, let me give you my business card.”
“Y-Yes!”
Ariga-san held out her card. Not knowing the proper etiquette for receiving one, I just took it as politely as I could.
＊ ＊ ＊
Buddy Music Co., Ltd.
Manager
Sayo Ariga
＊ ＊ ＊
I’ve received a business card for the first time in my life... After staring at it intently, I bowed.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t have a business card or anything...”
“It’s okay, I understand. Oh, but I want to know the kanji for your names, so could you write them here?”
With that, Ariga-san held out a notebook and a pen. Come to think of it, where was she keeping her cards, notebook, and wallet...?
When I wrote ‘Takuto Konuma’ with the pen she gave me, Azuma wrote ‘Yuri Azuma’ next to it. (Naturally.)
By the way...
“Azuma, your handwriting is really beautiful.”
“Wh-?! What’s with that all of a sudden...!”
I accidentally let my thoughts slip out, and Azuma turned toward me, her cheeks flushing.
“Thank you, both of you. Seeing your names written side-by-side like that... it’s almost like a marriage registration.”
“Wha-?!”
Next, she overreacted to Ariga-san’s comment. Azuma sure is busy today...
“So ‘Azuma’ is written with these characters... I had a junior with the same name and kanji, an Azuma-kun.”
“Eh?! Ariga-san, you went to Musashino International, right...?! Could it be, Riku Azuma?”
The moment Ariga-san heard that name, her eyes widened.
“...Yes!! Wait, are you siblings?!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“That means you’re Azuma-kun’s little sister from back then?! You came to the school festival when you were little, didn’t you? To watch the Instrumental Club perform.”
“Yes, well... probably...?”
I don’t know how old Azuma’s brother is or how old Ariga-san is, but if Ariga-san was already working three years ago and was a student back then, Azuma and I would have been around the age we were starting elementary school. She might have been too small to remember.
“We met once back then! What a coincidence!”
“Is that so?!”
“I guess you wouldn’t remember. We watched the Instrumental Club perform together side-by-side. I see, I did have a feeling your name was Yuri-chan... You were constantly saying ‘My big brother is so cool!’ over and over. You were so cute back then...”
“I-I don’t remember that!”
Azuma turned red, but Ariga-san had a broad smile on her face.
“I see, I see. That little girl... has grown up so much. It feels strange. It feels like I just met your younger self the other day, even though ten years have passed...”
“That’s amazing...! I’ll try contacting my big brother!”
Azuma was so caught up in the coincidence that she leaned forward, calling him 'onii-chan' even in front of an adult. However, Ariga-san’s expression suddenly shifted into something slightly awkward.
“Ah—... well, you might not get a very favorable reaction...”
“Eh? Did something happen between you and my... my brother?”
“Who knows...?”
As Ariga-san avoided eye contact, it looked to me as if a tuft of Azuma’s hair stood straight up in irritation.
“Oho, I smell a ‘Youth Romance’...?!”
“”Youth Romance...””
After we reacted to a term that I wasn’t even sure was outdated or not, Ariga-san cleared her throat.
“...So? You had something to discuss, right? About the future of ‘amane’?”
Whether she was diverting the topic or returning to it, we finally got to the main point.
“Y-Yes...!”
I answered, feeling my tension return. Azuma’s expression also shifted, turning completely serious.
“Um, first of all...”
“Yes?”
She must have decided what to say beforehand. Azuma took a long, deep breath.
“Ariga-san, would you please let ‘amane’ debut as a band?”
“A-Azuma...?!”
I panicked from across the table at what she was blurting out right from the start, but...
“...Oh?”
Ariga-san’s eyes finally glowed red, just like a Demon King.