Vol 1 Chapter 41 – Master【Vol 1 – Turning Point】

“Y-yeah… B-before I go, I’d like your autograph…”

“Eh!? An autograph?”

After Tachibana-san taught me the fundamentals of guitar and I’d learned a basic level of playing, she brought out a shikishi and said…

But the problem was, I’d never signed my name to anything before.

“Y-yeah… I really love your songs, Rin-kun. Especially MalumDiva and Mangetsu… I want to support you not just as a composer but also as a fan…”

Now that I think about it, Ryu-san’s attendance at my live shows is 100%. Whenever I’m there, I feel like he’s always there too. He gives me things more valuable than super chats: songs dedicated to me, musical knowledge, passion. Things money can’t buy. So if there’s anything I can do, I want to give something back.

“Um… Would it be okay if I just write my name? I haven’t come up with a signature yet.”

But for a fan, that was the most precious thing of all: the artist’s handwritten name before even designing an autograph. Something like that is normally impossible to obtain.

“Y-yeah… P-please make it ‘To Tachibana-san’…”

At her request, I wrote my name—Rin Akiba—and then 『To my dear Tachibana-san, my music master』. I even added a little heart, because I’d be thrilled to receive one myself.

“Here.”

When she took it, Tachibana-san began trembling.

“Hehe… I’m so happy. So happy!”

She hurriedly slipped it into a frame.

I was happy to see her so overjoyed. And now that I remember, the YouTube earnings had just been deposited into my account.

“Ah—oh, right, I’ll pay you for the composition fee.”

“Think of the composition fee as a super chat…”

Even so, MalumDiva has now hit 4.3 million views. The first million was before monetization, but that revenue isn’t negligible.

“Even as a super chat, that amount is huge! You made ¥330,000 from that one song!”

In other words, you’ve basically earned a month’s salary.

“Th-then, my share is about just under ¥80,000… J-just think of it as a super chat for that amount.”

“Huh? That’s all a composer gets?”

I’d thought composers would earn more. But on second thought, maybe that’s how it is.

However, that’s only the composer’s share. This time, he wrote both lyrics and music. So Tachibana-san had fudged the numbers—his royalties will be almost twice that amount.

“Y-yeah… Th-the composer’s royalty rate is 23.5%, you know…”

Mixing truth into a lie is a technique. It makes it much harder for the lie to be exposed.

“Understood. I’ll just assume the MalumDiva earnings were Ryu-san’s super chat. But I’ll pay you from the next song onward, okay?”

“O-okay!”

I thought I’d claimed victory with an attitude that left no room for argument. But in reality, I was completely under Tachibana-san’s control.

“A-and… t-take this home with you too.”

She handed me a USB drive.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s the data for the new song for the summer market. It’s all on here… It’s the crystallization of my two months of work…”

This was my assignment for the month. True to his style, it combined elements of classical and opera with rock. The title is Monochrome.

“Thank you! I’ll make sure to finish it perfectly!”

That song, by some strange coincidence, resonated with me again. It was a song of reminiscence, singing of a faded past.

“Y-yeah… Rin-kun, you’ll be fine.”

“Do you think so?”

Being trusted is a wonderful feeling. But that very thing makes you want to deliver.

I’ll give it my all once more—until I’ve expressed this song’s story completely through my voice.

“W-well then, please be careful getting home. A-and I hope you’ll come again next month.”

“Next time, I’ll come to learn the violin!”

I still feel my violin skills are too half-baked. I’ve been forcing it just by ear. So I really want to learn the violin properly too.

“O-of course. I’ll teach you as much as you want.”

That’s why Tachibana-san is my music master.

“Thank you so much! Well then—see you!”

“Y-yeah! See you!”

I left Tachibana-san’s house. If I hurried, I could still make it to my singing slot. And since it was Sunday, I was sure plenty of viewers would tune in.