Vol 1 Chapter 50 –  Summer’s Flames of War【Vol 1 – Turning Point】

『We now commence Day One of M104!』

The moment that voice rang out, the ground rumbled.

Nearly a million people, all moving at a fast‑walk rhythm, pounded the floor.

The unity felt like a single, enormous herd.

Humans averaging fifty‑eight kilos were causing an actual earthquake here.

Then, all at once, it stopped.

“They’re coming…”

“What is…?”

“The flames of war!”

The rhythm ended because the pattern collapsed.

In other words, the customers had poured into this hall.

Yet I still felt a faint tremor. What could that be? The entry lines should have broken up by now.

So what was still stomping the floor in perfect cadence?

While I wondered, the line started heading straight toward us.

“One album and the bonus, please!”

That line went right on forming at our booth—a massive queue.

“Thank you very much! That’ll be 1,500 yen!”

From that point it was a blur; I hardly remember what I did.

“One album and the bonus, please!”

“Thank you very much! That’ll be 1,500 yen!”

I don’t know how many times we repeated that exchange.

Anyway, all ten thousand albums sold out in just five and a half hours. Takekichi‑san handled crowd control alone, and the other five of us sold nonstop. Ten seconds per customer, talking the whole time.

I was utterly exhausted…

The one thing I do recall is someone who looked like Alen‑san showing up. He bought three albums and three bonuses. The second was predictable—probably for Mike‑san. But the third… maybe for Simon‑san? No way; Simon wouldn’t care about the bonus.

Actually, the bonus is a cuddle‑up ASMR track. We borrowed a dummy‑head mic to make it. I flubbed the script and had to retake over a hundred times. Never again.

“Konnichi‑wa! Sold out? May I talk with you?”

“Ah, yes! You’re Alen‑san, right? By all means!”

“Oh! How did you know? Is my Japanese that strange?”

Honestly, in writing it’s fine…

“There’s just a touch of English pronunciation mixed in.”

I’d studied English diction through Pirate Orchestra songs, so I recognized the odd non‑Japanese sounds right away.

“Rin‑chan, I wanted to give you this—my business card!”

It read, “Alen Baker, CEO, Baker Productions.” So Alen‑san worked for a talent agency—that’s what the invitation was about.

“Eh!? Yaki‑Pro!?”

“Yaki‑Pro!?”

Mitsu‑san’s sudden outburst startled me. “Yaki‑Pro” sounds like someone who grills things…

“It’s the nickname for Baker Productions! They’re a major agency for music talent!”

Why Mitsu‑san knew that in detail amazed me.

“Micchi‑Mama!? Standing together, you look like parent and child—so cuuute!”

Grinning, Alen‑san gave us a double thumbs‑up.

“Ehehe, thank you!”

Being called parent and child alongside Mitsu‑san felt kinda nice.

“Oh! Too much wholesome fluff—I might keel over!”

Alen‑san clutched his chest. Come to think of it, what is “tee‑tee”…?

“Alen‑san, are you all right?”

I rubbed his back.

“Rin‑kun, that’s overkill!”

Mitsu‑san stopped me.

“Japanese kawaii is so scary!”

Alen‑san muttered, still holding his chest.

“So! I came just to hand over my card! If you ever want to go to America, give me a call! I’d better leave before I actually die. Bye‑bye!”

With that, Alen‑san hurried off.

“Rin‑kun! You’re super cute, so you have to be aware of it!”

Mitsu‑san grabbed my shoulders and scolded me. I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong…

Still, “be aware I’m cute”… how am I supposed to do that…?

“Hmm, that’s kinda lewd?”

“Wah!?”

Before I noticed, someone from the neighboring circle was leaning on our table, watching.

“Sorry to startle you! I’m the singer from the circle next door—Necoro. Nice to meet you, Akiba’s diva‑chan!”

We’re a wall circle, and naturally the neighbor is too. If she’s a circle singer here, she’s top‑tier, pro quality.

“Ah, yes. I’m Akiba Rin!”

“I know! Your singing was amazing—I’m actually a fan. May I have a handshake?”

Her presence was overwhelming. The way she spoke almost like singing, her hair a wild mix of gold and red—everything about her was flashy.

“Ah, sure!”

“Whoa, tiny hands! You play guitar with these? Isn’t the F chord rough?”

Guitar talk makes me happy. I’d started without knowing basic chords, but I eventually figured them out myself.

“Not hard at all! If I pull the guitar in close, I can use the base of my fingers, so length isn’t an issue!”

“Hmm, you really love guitar, huh?”

“Ah, yes…”

I’d gotten so fired up, I felt a little embarrassed.

“Here’s my number. If you ever want an alto singer, call me.”

With that, Necoro‑san handed me a slip of paper and left.

When I turned around, Mitsu‑san was pouting a bit.