Chapter 14

Chapter 14: 014, Big Trouble! The “Get-Rich Scheme” Cash Flow Has Collapsed!

In the following days, Naoki Nagayama lived a rather lazy life. His only exercise was going out for casual walks and visiting a shrine to pray. As for his grandfather’s side of the family, his father only made a phone call as a form of courtesy visit. Ever since splitting off from the yakuza family branch, it had basically been the same for the past twenty years.

However, after the izakaya reopened, only his mother and Tsuruko remained at home, so Naoki felt embarrassed to keep lazing around. On the fifth day of the New Year, he boarded a train back to Tokyo.

Before leaving, he made a promise with Tsuruko: in April she would come to Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms, and as her older brother, he would properly host her.

The New Year atmosphere still lingered, but Tokyo had already shaken off its holiday sluggishness.

Pedestrians walked briskly, seemingly unwilling to waste even a second on anything other than survival. Only occasionally did children still cling to the festive mood, running around happily.

After exiting Waseda Station, Naoki Nagayama dragged his suitcase and merged into the flowing crowd.

Once he entered the residential area, pedestrians thinned out quickly. In the small flowerbeds along the roadside, traces of snow still remained—the last stubborn sign of winter in Tokyo.

Less than twenty minutes later, he returned to his apartment, which he had only briefly left for a week. There was almost no dust; a quick wipe with a cloth was enough to clean it.

Honestly, although he had only lived here for two days in total, the moment he entered, it already felt like home.

“Even if I get rich in the future, I probably won’t sell it,” Naoki thought while sitting in the living room with a cup of hot tea.

Getting rich was inevitable. That was never in doubt.

Lunch was still some time away, but his mother had even prepared a bento. He only needed to reheat it later.

There was nothing particularly important to do.

He called Nakai Genta, but he was still back in his hometown.

Naoki planned to turn on the TV and continue his lazy New Year life.

Ring—ring—ring.

The apartment phone rang.

“Moshi moshi, is Nagayama-kun home? This is Sanwa Daisei from Sun Music Agency.”

A call from a major client.

Naoki picked up. “Happy New Year, Sanwa-kun.”

“Happy New Year, Nagayama-kun. We were worried you hadn’t returned to Tokyo yet,” Sanwa Daisei replied politely before getting to the point. “About the song recording, it’s basically finished. We need to discuss promotion and release plans in person. Would you be available to meet?”

“Understood, no problem. How about 2 PM this afternoon? At the office?”

“Yes, we will be waiting for you.”

After hanging up, Naoki felt his mood lift. With his wallet down to just over 500,000 yen after buying New Year gifts, he was waiting eagerly for royalty income.

He bought some groceries, filled the fridge, and heated up the bento.

Eating his mother’s cooking again after so long felt strangely nostalgic, as if years had passed. With cola on the side, it felt like a dream from his student days.

Before the appointment time, he walked around the streets. Shops were already open, and New Year promotions were in full swing.

At the agency, a New Year audition was apparently being held. Many young applicants with number tags were waiting in the lounge.

The receptionist didn’t recognize him and handed him a number tag, assuming he was an applicant.

“I’m not here for the audition. I’m Nagayama Naoki, here to meet Sanwa Daisei.”

After being escorted to a meeting room and waiting with tea, Sanwa Daisei arrived.

“No wonder Rina-san mistook you for an artist. You’ve changed a lot, Nagayama-kun,” he said with a laugh.

After some casual talk, they moved to the main topic.

“The song you composed, Cherry Blossom, has been recorded by Seiko-chan. Please listen to the demo.”

The production quality was excellent, and Matsuda Seiko’s voice suited the song perfectly.

After listening, Naoki praised it generously.

“Excellent. It’s really good. Seiko-san is amazing.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Sanwa replied. “The release is scheduled for late January.”

Naoki then asked the question that had been on his mind.

“So, is this meeting only about the release schedule?”

“There’s another matter,” Sanwa said.

“Before the single release, we plan to promote it on television.”

“That sounds good.”

“However… since you are the songwriter and also a fan of Seiko-san, we would like to highlight that story in the program.”

“So?”

“We would like to ask if you could appear on television and talk about your story as a fan who wrote a song for your idol.”

“We will of course provide appropriate compensation.”

Naoki didn’t mind appearing on TV at all.

“No problem. What show is it?”

“Fuji TV’s ‘Night Hit Studio’ next week.”

“That’s fine.”

After discussing further details, they agreed on logistics and pickup arrangements.

Before leaving, Naoki suddenly asked about royalties.

“So, after the record is released, are royalties paid monthly?”

“No. Royalties are settled quarterly. A January release means payment in March.”

“…I see.”

Something felt wrong.

That meant no cash flow for February and March.

The entire “get-rich plan” cash chain had just broken.