"...Well then, it's about time we head out. I'm sorry for keeping you so late."
"No, we should be the ones apologizing." "Thank you for the meal."
Yuri and I bowed our heads to Ariga-san.
Checking the clock on my smartphone, it was 7 PM. I had already told Yuzu that I would be late today, so it was fine.
Ariga-san seemed aware that she had said some harsh things; after that, she was quite kind and talked to us about various unrelated topics.
Even though Yuri and I both felt the weight of needing to 'think about amane,' we were so disheartened that it was difficult even to stand up immediately. I think that time was necessary for us.
I convinced myself that this, too, was part of her nature as a manager, and I was secretly impressed. I honestly thought she was a cool adult.
"Where do you two live?"
Ariga-san kept the conversation going as we walked down the hallway.
"I'm from Ome," Yuri said.
"I live in a place called Ichinatsu Town."
"Ichinatsu Town, huh..."
Ariga-san narrowed her eyes nostalgically.
"Do you know it?"
"Well, in various ways..."
Just as I was about to ask what she meant.
"Oh! Ariga is bringing in high schoolers!"
Near the elevator hall, a woman with a blonde shortcut walking toward us called out.
"Ah, a noisy person has arrived..."
Ariga-san let out a sigh.
"Hey Ariga, are these kids performers? Can I scout them for Ao-Rebe?"
"You'll do it even if I tell you not to, right?"
"That's right!"
"Um...?"
I couldn't follow the conversation, I didn't know who she was, and unfamiliar words (Ao-Rebe?) were popping up, leaving me quite confused. Seeing my expression, the blonde woman grinned.
"Sorry, sorry for startling you. Hello! My name is Tsukiko Daikoku! I'm running this thing, so if you'd like, why don't you guys apply?"
Saying that, Daikoku-san pointed to a poster on the hallway wall.
At the end of her finger was:
'Youth Rebellion, confirmed to be held again this year!'
"Ah, this is..."
It was definitely the poster Ichikawa and I saw at the instrument store.
"Wait, are you the one running Youth Rebellion?!"
"Yep, I'm the producer."
"P-Producer...?!"
In contrast to my lukewarm reaction, Yuri's eyes were sparkling. Was it really that big of a deal?
"Seriously, Konuma, what's with that face? It's a high school band contest! Last year and the year before were huge, and everyone's been talking about whether it would happen this year..."
"Wow... is that so...!"
"Dummy..."
I somehow managed to fake an agreement. In this case, it was rude to Daikoku-san, not Yuri.
"Oh? You know about it? Then, I'll let you in on some unreleased info!"
"Eh?"
She's really high-energy... Also, I feel like I've seen this person somewhere before...
"This year, this Manager Ariga right here! Believe it or not, she'll be a judge!"
"What, really?!"
With a clumsy 'Ta-da!' sound effect, Yuri and I looked at Ariga-san, but Ariga-san herself shook her head.
"I'm not doing it. This person is just saying whatever she wants. Hey Tsukiko, I told you many times I won't do it, didn't I...? Besides, I'm... a manager. You should invite a producer or someone like that instead."
"And I've told you many times, haven't I? I can't leave it to anyone who doesn't have an eye for talent like Ariga does. Go find some diamonds in the rough for me."
"I don't take on jobs where I can't take responsibility."
Ariga-san turned her face away, looking somewhat like a child.
"Oh? Pouting now. This girl is frustrated that managers can't be thoroughly involved in the creative process."
"I-Is that so..."
I mean, is it okay to talk about such complicated things to high schoolers...?
"Come on, Ariga, use this chance to discover someone, hit it big, and become a manager who can produce too."
"...It's impossible at this company."
"How weak-willed, seriously. Back when you were still a rookie, you heard a demo from a middle school girl and your eyes changed color. You said, 'I've spotted talent! Let's get someone to debut with her!' and E-mailed that empty demo source to the whole company, including the president. Where did that passion you had when you got scolded go?"
"Wait, that story is...!"
Ariga-san turned red.
"Um, was that...?"
Yuri tried to ask, but even without hearing the answer, it was almost certainly about amane.
So Ariga-san is the type who wears her emotions on her sleeve...
"Oh? Do you two know amane?"
"Yes, well, more like we know her..."
As I mumbles, wondering if I should answer, Ariga-san took over the explanation.
"Sigh... These two are Konuma-kun and Azuma-san, who are currently in a band with Amane-san at the same high school."
"...Seriously?"
Daikoku-san, who had been acting like a joker, suddenly took on a serious expression.
"Can she... can she sing again now?"
"Yes, around summer. At a school live," I replied.
Daikoku-san turned back to Ariga-san.
"Ariga, is that... is that why you're saying you won't be a judge?"
"...No, that's not it. Anyway, stop talking about that for now."
"...Right, sorry."
I couldn't quite follow the subtext, but...?
Seeing me frown, she laughed a bit as if to cover it up and said, "Anyway, sorry about that." Then she asked, "Do you have any lives scheduled?"
"Ah, yes. It's the Saturday after next."
As I answered that.
"WHAAAT?!"
Ariga-san let out an absurdly loud voice from the side.
"Huh...?"
She pressed in on us while we were taken aback.
"You have one?! Wait, tell me that first!"
The next moment, she was flipping through the notebook where we had written our names earlier, her eyes bloodshot as she muttered, "The Saturday after next...!"
"...See, the passion is there. I'm free, so I'll go. The Youth Rebellion scout system was made for times like this."
"Scout system?"
As I tilted my head, Daikoku-san nodded happily.
"Good, good, let me explain! You guys are the first and second members of the 'General Public' department I'm explaining this to."
"I see..." "Thank you very much!"
Once again, there was a gap in our energy levels.
"First, the three stages of Youth Rebellion! First, the 'Audio Screening' from December to January. Then the 'Live Preliminaries' held at live houses across the country in February. And finally, the 'Finals' held at an outdoor music hall in Tokyo at the end of March. The number of bands narrows down as they proceed. OK so far?"
"Y-Yes."
Basically, if you pass the audio screening, you get into the live preliminaries, and if you pass those, you get into the finals. Simple.
"And out of the 20 groups in the finals, one gets the Grand Prix, one gets the Runner-up, and there's also a Judge's Special Award and stuff like that. Anyway, if you're at the top, you might get a debut or prize money."
I glanced at the poster nearby and saw 'Grand Prix gets 2 million yen! & Guaranteed Debut!' written on it. 2 million yen, huh... I swallowed hard.
"Now, about the 'Scout System.' In previous years, our employees who were judges often used their networks to approach high school bands and have them apply. It wasn't anything bad, but doing it sneakily makes it look bad. So we decided to do it openly. Each internal judge has one slot—the right to let a band skip straight to the finals. That's the Scout System!"
"How many judges are there?"
"There are 10 judges, 5 of whom are internal. See, we have actresses who know a lot about bands and cultural figures as judges too. Only Buddy Music judges can use the scout system, not those outside people."
Daikoku-san spread her hand out wide.
I see, so there are five slots like seeded spots for the finals...
"The screening to decide who I'll fill my scout slot with has already begun! So, I'm going to that live. Where is it?"
"Ah, um, it's at a live house called 'Wakuseikei'."
"Ah, Kichijoji. Got it, got it. Man, I just came to the cafeteria to drink some ginger ale, but I got an unexpected harvest."
While Daikoku-san was pulling out her smartphone to put it in her schedule, Yuri raised her hand.
"Um, Daikoku-san."
"Yeah?"
"Does that mean if we're recognized at that live, we can get into that scout slot?"
"That's what I'm saying. Well, I'll be looking at other bands until the last minute, so I probably won't decide right that day, but you'll be on the shortlist."
"I understand...!"
Yuri nodded firmly.
"Even so, you two, about what we talked about earlier..."
"Another lecture?"
Maybe she thought we were trying to take the easy way out. Daikoku-san interrupted Ariga-san, who was about to offer some words of caution, with a smirk.
"Go easy on the lectures. Good sound won't come out of someone who's scared. Besides, if you want to do something for these kids so badly, just become a judge and scout them or fail them yourself."
"...I refuse."
"Wow, how stubborn. You're not popular with the guys, are you?"
"I have no need to be popular."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."
I mean, strictly speaking, we haven't even said a word about entering Youth Rebellion yet...
"Manager Ariga, we intend to think properly and find our own answer. However, separately from that, we wanted to know the path to debut."
"...I see."
Yuri probably didn't want to remain misunderstood. She spoke her mind clearly.
"How hot-blooded! That's youth! See ya, amane's band people. I'm looking forward to it."
With that, Daikoku-san waved over her shoulder and left.
We were left behind.
"Ah, well then, we'll head out too..."
When I pressed the button to call the elevator, it opened immediately.
After saying our goodbyes, Yuri and I stepped into the empty elevator.
"...U-Um."
But, just as the doors were about to close.
"Yes, what is it...?"
Holding the door open, Ariga-san—with a face so flushed she looked as if she were about to confess her love—spoke in a small voice.
"I really, really want to go to the live... so could you please set aside one ticket for me...?"