Tokyo Reborn: Dark Superstar

Chapter 64 New Business Track

Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Shibuya-ku, Kadokawa Shoten.

It was a gloomy night. The bookstore manager, Kadokawa Sango, had finished counting the inventory for the day and was preparing to pack up and get off work.

At this time, two girls ran over in a hurry.

One of the girls carrying an electronic guitar said, "Ryoko, wait for me, this new guitar is too heavy."

The short-haired girl running in front said: "Hurry up! Hamasaki Ayumi, this store is going to close too."

"Hello, please wait a moment, we need to buy album records, please."

Kadokawa Sannobu, the store manager of Shibuya Kadokawa Bookstore, was about to lock the door.

But when I saw the girl in front of me with boyish short hair, healthy and unpretentious, just like the girl next door, I couldn't bear to refuse.

Kadokawa San obeyed, reopened the bookstore door, entered the counter and asked: "What album do you want to buy?"

"Does "Kill, Miracle, Heart" exist?"

"Of course. The main store just replenished its inventory in the afternoon and sold 500 albums in one day yesterday."

"This album has been so popular recently that other music stores have run out of stock..."

"Because of our close cooperative relationship with Sony Records, our Kadokawa Shoten has priority for replenishment."

Kadokawa Sansuke stood in the most conspicuous position on the left side of the door, took out a box of albums, and said.

Ayumi Hamasaki, carrying his guitar, entered the store behind Hirosue Ryoko and said, "Two albums."

"Thank you for your patronage, 4000 yen."

Kadokawa Sanho wrapped the two albums and handed them to Hamasaki Ayumi and Hirosue Ryoko. He suddenly thought:

"By the way, because our Shibuya store has the largest shipment volume, we have a batch of collector's edition albums signed by band members. Do you want them?"

Ayumi Hamasaki: "Collection of signed albums?"

Kadokawa San followed and explained:

"Yes, there are only 5000 in the country, 3000 of which are signed by Akina Nakamori. 1000 are signed by Futaki, and 1000 are signed by Bunta Takakura."

Ayumi Hamasaki asked: "Huh? They are all individually signed albums..."

Kadokawa Sanbo scratched his head and said: "This is the current situation. The collector's signed edition is 1 yen per piece, and there is currently no jointly signed edition by the entire group."

"I want a signed version by Bunta Takakura."

"I want Bunta Takakura's version."

Hamasaki Ayumi and Hirosue Ryoko said in unison.

Kadokawa Sanbo looked at the albums on the shelf and said apologetically: "You two, there is only one box of Takakura Bunta's deluxe collector's edition in the store."

"Would you like a signature version of Akina Nakamori's collection? Now the price of scalpers for Akina Nakamori's version has increased several times."

"Or is it Futuki's version?"

Hamasaki refused: "No."

Hirosue Ryoko said: "I came first!"

…………

The two girls competed for this album and refused to give in to each other.

Hirosue Ryoko was the first to attack and said, "Last time you said you were going to a movie with Mr. Bunta Takakura."

"You can just ask him for it. Do you still want to grab this album from me?"

Ayumi Hamasaki said: "It's very rude to directly ask others for a signed album..."

"I really like this album by Mr. Bunta Takakura, and I should support him with practical actions."

Hirosue Ryoko, after finishing his attack, said: "You must be the one who likes him!"

Hamasaki, with a slightly red face, explained in a panic: "I just met by chance on an announcement program... It's not the kind of relationship you thought..."

"That movie viewing was also the end of my stay at the Night Tokyo Charity and Welfare Institute, and I happened to meet Mr. Bunta Takakura..."

"Besides, he is already a first-line star, and I am just a little transparent singer who sings in a charity home..."

When Hamasaki was explaining incoherently.

Hirosue Ryoko quickly slapped the money on the table, took away the Takakura Bunta signed album on the counter, and said:
  "Okay, no need to explain. I know you don't like Bunta Takakura, so I'll accept this signed copy."

"I'm leaving first... Ayu-chan."

When Hamasaki came to his senses, Hirosue Ryoko had already ran out of the store with the album.

"Ryoko! Stop!"

Hamasaki's face turned red, and he rushed out of the store, struggling to catch up...

…………   The two girls left chattering, and the store manager Kadokawa Sanbo looked at the shelves, where a batch of "Yuyaki no Song" albums arrived today.

Kind of annoying.

Last week, Kondo Masahiko's album, the state of vitality and everything competing for success, was still before my eyes.

It has dominated the Oricon charts for nine weeks and can still maintain sales of 23 copies.

In the blink of an eye, two or three days later, no one was paying attention to "Yi Yaki Uta", and sales fell below 10 copies, a sharp drop in sales.

The song "Heart Made" (psychological effect) by the beast rock band is paired with a super flammable performance art of burning gold screens.

A fire burned Kondo Masahiko's dream of "Japanese Music King" (King of Japanese Music) to ashes...

Store manager Kadokawa Sanbo thought that he should remind his uncle Kadokawa Hideyuki, who was the head of the audio and video sales department.

Let’s stop next week’s purchase plan for “Yukiyaki no Song” and clear out the inventory first.

I originally thought that Kondo Masahiko was really going to become the first singer in Japan to complete a dark gambling agreement.

What a pity... I fell in the tenth week...

....................................

The store manager of Kadokawa Bookstore, Kadokawa Sannobu, was worrying about cleaning up the inventory.

The two girls who left the bookstore were fighting and arguing all the way back to the shared apartment.

In the end, Hamasaki successfully suppressed Hirosue Ryoko.

Hirosue Ryoko's face was red, panting, and raised her hands in surrender.

"Wrong!"

"I was wrong, Ayu-chan!"

"forgive me!"

In the end, the two girls reached a reconciliation and shared this album together.

....................................

The first album of the original Hundred Beasts Band, "Kill, Miracle, Heart" in 1996, the overall style is a style of depression, impact, rebellion and counterattack.

Initially, Kanda Keiko specially invited instructors and students from the Tokyo Imperial Academy of Art to design.

As a result, these academic tutors and students designed a bunch of squinting makeup styles for band members, helping Sony Records and Takakura Bunta Studio to integrate with the mainstream international aesthetic...

Takakura Bunta directly rejected it.

…………

In the end, it was Goro who completed the design of the album.

Through the blessing of filters, Takakura Bunta's strong muscle lines look like ancient Greek sculptures under the oppressive light of the "Kill That Tokyo Man" MV.

It has both a sense of power and full of beauty.

....................................

The record was put into the VCD, and the first MV of the album, "Clouds and Smoke Turned into Rain," was playing on the TV.

16-year-old Hirosue Ryoko and 17-year-old Hamasaki Ayumi, both blushed when they saw Takakura Bunta's heroic figure.

"Abu-chan, do you really know Takakura Bunta?"

"Of course. We actually went to the movies together. We watched "The Greatest Cheating War in History" by Namie Amuro."

"Then why have I never seen it?"

"Well...he must be very busy recently."

"I performed as a resident singer at the Night Tokyo Charity Welfare Institute. The director said that Takakura-kun canceled many charity reservations..."

"Then you can introduce me to the MV shooting in the future?"

Hirosue Ryoko participated in the first "ぴかぴかフェイス Contest" (Glorious and Gorgeous Contest) organized by Shiseido two years ago and won the championship.

And last year, she made her official debut as an advertising model by filming a commercial for Shiseido facial cleanser.

This year, she shot the Motorola mobile phone commercial "Hirosue Ryoko, Hirosue Ryoko, Call Forward", which earned her more attention in the advertising model industry.

The music video model market is a new business track that Hirosue Ryoko wants to enter.

"Of course."

Hamasaki Ayumi readily agreed.

....................................

Ayumi Hamasaki did not know that this accidental agreement would change the tragic fate of Hirosue Ryoko.

(End of this chapter)