All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Hearing what Merii said, Miyuki Aomori, who was sitting in the driver's seat, immediately shifted from her earlier playful demeanor to a more serious one.

Merii Hizuki was the top agent of Heavenly Spider Agency. Even during the fiercest periods of competition in the entertainment industry, she had risen to prominence with her astonishing intuition, courage, and capabilities that matched her ambitions. In just two years, she had propelled seven artists to stardom and nurtured three to phenomenon-level popularity.

For Miyuki Aomori, Merii was nothing short of a lifesaver. Four years ago, Miyuki had been a virtually unknown, 18th-tier celebrity with neither fame nor resources. Her initial agency had failed to land her even one job in six months, and when she finally got work, it was as a background extra in television dramas. The cycle of being overlooked and unable to prove herself seemed endless.

It was Merii Hizuki who had recognized her hidden talent for singing, buried under her struggles as an actress. Miyuki's previous agency had neither supported her in releasing singles nor allowed her to transition into a music career. Stuck in a loop of unfulfilling acting roles, Miyuki's career stagnated.

When Merii extended an olive branch, offering a contract with Heavenly Spider, Miyuki felt this was her one chance in life.

Merii paid Miyuki's contract termination fees and officially brought her into the agency as a singer.

In her first year, Miyuki released her debut single, which caught the public's attention, gaining her a solid fan base.

In her second year, she entered a prolific phase, releasing five new songs, each surpassing a million downloads on average. Her fan base skyrocketed, and she garnered numerous accolades, even becoming the most popular singer in fan-voted rankings, stunning the entertainment industry as she swiftly ascended to stardom.

By her third year, she was invited to perform at NHK's prestigious Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

In her fourth year, Miyuki was chosen to perform the ending theme for the reboot of a suspense drama that Mai Sakurajima had starred in six years earlier. This particular genre—theme songs tailored for specific shows—often leaned towards niche audiences, limiting their reach and popularity.

Initially, the rebooted drama garnered only lukewarm reception, as most viewers had already watched the original six years prior. However, the show's sixth episode became a turning point. In it, the female lead, played by Mai Sakurajima, discovers her estranged mother's remains on an autopsy table. The once cold and indifferent character breaks down in tears, creating a heartbreaking scene.

It was at this critical moment that Miyuki's song began playing in the background. Her mournful yet redemptive vocals struck a chord with the audience, perfectly amplifying the scene's emotional intensity and moving countless viewers to tears.

The song, which initially flew under the radar, skyrocketed in popularity.

Turning a niche theme song into a hit was far more difficult than promoting an original track. But Miyuki did it again.

Miyuki never forgot to express gratitude to Merii, who had been her guiding star. Without Merii's discerning eye and belief in her potential, Miyuki might still be struggling as a nameless extra in the entertainment industry.

Thus, Miyuki had unwavering faith in Merii's judgment. If Merii said the song she had just heard was incredible, it must be beyond incredible.

At first, Miyuki listened to the recording calmly, but as it progressed, her brow furrowed. When the chorus hit, her face changed dramatically, her mouth falling open in astonishment.

After the recording ended, Merii put down her phone and asked, "So? What do you think? I couldn't understand the lyrics, but the melody and vocals really moved me."

"It's absolutely stunning," Miyuki said, her voice tinged with awe. Her simple evaluation carried the weight of deep respect—for both the song and its composer.

Miyuki had exacting standards for music. Almost all her songs were composed by Heavenly Spider's top-tier producers. Merii knew this better than anyone.

As Miyuki replayed the song in her mind, she grabbed Merii by the shoulders, her eyes burning with urgency.

"Merii-san, do you think the girl who sang this might have composed it herself?!"

"It's entirely possible," Merii nodded, picking up a second phone. "While I was playing the recording earlier, I used the song-identification app on this phone. It didn't recognize the track at all. This means it's likely an unpublished original."

The realization hit them both simultaneously, and they exchanged a determined look.

"Merii-san, we have to find that girl! If she really composed this, then she's not just talented—she's god-tier! A genius composer!" Miyuki exclaimed passionately.

"She could be a 'song god,'" Merii agreed, her tone matching Miyuki's excitement. "No—she might as well be our mother and father combined!"

To underscore her point, Miyuki hastily translated the song's lyrics into Japanese, explaining their meaning.

When she finished, Merii's eyes widened.

"Damn it! I should've gone up to her then and there, fallen to my knees, and called her 'Dad!'" she exclaimed. "If she asked, I'd even call her 'Mom!'"

In today's music industry, a composer's value often surpassed that of the singer. A stellar composition was the very soul of a song. Without it, even the best vocals would fall flat.

And if this girl turned out to be a one-woman powerhouse—writing, composing, and performing her own music—then she was no ordinary talent.

Merii sighed deeply, regretting that the encounter had taken place at night. Approaching the girl out of the blue might have frightened her.

"If it had been daytime, I could've introduced myself and handed her my business card. As it stands, I feel like I missed out on signing a once-in-a-lifetime genius."

Miyuki asked, "Merii-san, did you get a good look at her face?"

"Not very clearly—it was dark. But she had… a couple of standout features."

"What kind of features?"

"Well… her chest was impressive, and her legs were stunning. Like a work of art!"

Miyuki facepalmed. "How are we supposed to find someone based on that?"

"Oh, wait! I remember now—she had white hair!"

"White hair?" Miyuki echoed, surprised. Judging by her voice, the girl was likely no older than 18, probably still in high school. Could high schoolers dye their hair white these days?

"She was out walking her cat that late at night, so she must live nearby. White hair, local resident—I've got it! When we get back to the office, I'll—"

Merii cut her off. "Idiot! If she's a potential genius composer and you tell her you tracked her down, what do you think she'll do? Slap you across the face and call you a creep, that's what."

Realizing her misstep, Miyuki shivered.

Merii continued, "We have to show our sincerity. Starting tomorrow, we'll stake out this area. Morning, afternoon, evening—until we find her. I don't care how long it takes."

Meanwhile, Kotomi was lying in bed, scrolling through her system interface.

"Only 120,000 Fame Points today," she muttered. "It's a lot, but I still have a mountain to climb before I unlock the music skill…"

Little did she know, the music industry was already barreling toward her doorstep.

Kotomi had no idea when she fell asleep. All she knew was that while humming a tune in bed, she had dozed off without realizing it.

When she woke up, she sighed helplessly. Sure enough, she'd forgotten to turn off the lights before falling asleep again.

During breakfast, Aimi came down the stairs, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Upon seeing her sister, she blurted out without thinking, "Onee-chan, did you forget to turn off the light before sleeping last night?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Aimi froze. She hadn't meant to say that! Being half-asleep made her slip up.

Oh no, oh no! Will my sister figure out I went into her room again last night?!

Aimi's anxiety was unnecessary—Kotomi hadn't caught on at all.

"Oh, yeah… I just dozed off without thinking about it. Oops!" Kotomi replied with a sheepish laugh.

"I can't believe you can sleep with the lights on," chimed in their mother, Izumi Akina, after feeding Dragon and Phoenix, the two cats.

"Hehe…" Kotomi could only scratch her head in embarrassment. She still hadn't realized why Aimi knew about her forgetting to turn off the light.

After breakfast, Kotomi grabbed her bag and headed out to school as usual. The white stockings she wore today were the same ones she'd worn yesterday. Even though she had sweated a bit, she figured there wasn't much point in changing them since it was Friday, and they'd get out of school early.

By the way, these were the same stockings she got as a replacement after Megumi had torn her previous pair.

As she left home, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of loneliness. Without Megumi there to greet her like usual, her morning felt incomplete, even though she knew Megumi was heading to Hokkaido today.

As Kotomi walked to school, she pulled out her phone to send a message to Megumi. Turning on the phone, she heard two notification chimes.

Opening her messages, she saw:

Megumi Kato: [Image]

Megumi Kato: [Hehe, my suitcase is all packed and ready to go.]

Kotomi's lips curled into a soft smile as she typed her reply:

Kotomi Izumi: Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself!

Kotomi Izumi: Don't forget to buy me something tasty!

"She's probably on the way to the airport now. If she left early, she might already be at the terminal and waiting. I might not get a reply for a while," Kotomi mused aloud.

Just as she was about to put her phone away, another notification popped up.

Megumi Kato: Received, Commander Kotomi! 🫡

Megumi Kato: [Image]

Just as Kotomi suspected, Megumi was indeed in the airport's waiting lounge with her parents.

Megumi Kato: Getting ready to board now!

Megumi Kato: I'll make sure to get you some yummy treats!

Megumi Kato: P.S. Even though we'll be apart for a few days, it's just three days. Don't you dare flirt with other girls while I'm gone! Don't take the hat meant for Aimi and plop it on my head instead!

Kotomi Izumi: Do you really think I'm that much of a playgirl? Warning: If you keep teasing me, I might just charm some other beauties, and not only will I put that hat on you, I'll make sure it's sky-high!

As soon as she sent the message, Kotomi couldn't help but laugh.

Then it hit her: Did Megumi know that Arisu Sakayanagi would be visiting her house today?

Hmm, probably not.

Oh well, it's no big deal.

Another notification buzzed.

Megumi Kato: Sob sob! My dearest wife, I was wrong! I won't say such things again, or else… I might just tie you up with a rope and keep you by my side forever!

Kotomi Izumi: Wait, isn't that a line from that romance novel I lent you? You're a quick learner.

Megumi Kato: Hehe!

Megumi Kato: By the way, what does your little sister want as a souvenir?

Kotomi Izumi: I haven't told Aimi about your trip to Hokkaido, but she'd probably like some handicrafts from there.

Megumi Kato: Handicrafts? Got it!

…What does she mean by "got it"? Kotomi pondered, a little puzzled.

The two continued texting until the first bell rang.

Kotomi had just arrived in class when she sent a message:

Kotomi Izumi: I'm in class now!

Megumi Kato: Are you one of those students who put their phone away the moment they enter class and study diligently?

Kotomi Izumi: It seems there's some misunderstanding between us. Using a question mark? Let me clarify—no, I am not!

The two exchanged messages until the teacher began the lesson.

Halfway through the first class, Yui Yuigahama finally arrived, running late. Seeing the English teacher already standing at the lectern, Yui decided against entering through the main door. Quietly, she opened the back door, crouched down, and scurried to her seat like a stealthy mouse. Tossing her bag under the desk, she straightened her posture and pretended to focus intently on the blackboard, as if she'd been there the whole time.

The English teacher, who had been reading from the textbook, hadn't noticed Yui's late arrival.

"This passage is quite simple. Let's have someone read it aloud," the teacher announced, adjusting her glasses as she looked around.

Her gaze landed on Yui, who appeared to be paying rapt attention.

Moved by what she thought was Yui's "thirst for knowledge," the teacher smiled warmly.

What a transformation! she thought.

During the last monthly exam, Yui had been the dark horse, showing the most improvement in the entire class. Her current attitude was a far cry from before.

Yui's earnest expression filled the teacher's heart with joy.

"Yuigahama-san, why don't you lead the class in reading this passage?"

"Eh?" Yui froze. She had just sat down and hadn't even taken out her textbook.

And so, Yui Yuigahama was assigned to copy the English passage five times as punishment.

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