“Cough cough cough…”
The gaze of Yuji, who had suddenly fallen silent, was far too piercing.
Even Saitou Miyako, who had been rolling around in the industry for a long time, could not help but cough lightly to mask her embarrassment.
It really was embarrassing.
After all, the current strength of [Strawberry Pro] really couldn’t make it to the big stage.
Placed within the vast sea of agencies in the Japanese industry, it was probably at the very bottom tier.
“B—But Yuji-kun, don’t look at [Strawberry Pro] like this now; back then, we were actually quite a famous small agency in the industry.”
Saitou Miyako still offered a bit of an explanation.
[Strawberry Pro] had also been wealthy before, having cooperated with quite a few behemoth agencies and thriving all the way.
She and her husband Saito Ichigo were eager to expand their departments, wanting to tear off the title of a small agency hanging over [Strawberry Pro]’s head.
Only…
As she spoke towards the end, Saitou Miyako’s expression visibly dimmed.
Because everyone knew the subsequent plot.
Hoshino Ai, the signboard idol of [Strawberry Pro], bloomed like a comet and then passed away instantly, causing [Strawberry Pro] to fall into a slump, only showing a slight recovery today two years later…
She couldn’t help but imagine.
If Hoshino Ai had not died.
If they could still return to the era belonging to [Strawberry Pro]…
how wonderful that would be…
“We will return to that era.”
A steady voice suddenly sounded in her ear, pulling her back from her memories.
Saitou Miyako raised her head in surprise.
Only then did she discover that Yuji was gazing at her with a very earnest expression.
As if drawing something from that sincere look…
Saitou Miyako, who had just been immersed in sorrowful memories, couldn’t help but chuckle.
She spoke teasingly: “Really…
sometimes I really don’t understand why you are so confident, Yuji-kun…
But…
well, it’s normal; you have already proven your strength.”
That’s right!
Saitou Miyako rallied her spirits again.
Although she had lost Hoshino Ai forever, she had found a child actor just as outstanding, perhaps even more outstanding than Ai!
Relying on Yuji’s extraordinary charm and Acting, [Strawberry Pro] would definitely be able to return to the prosperous era of the past!
“I believe you can do it,” Saitou Miyako said so.
And regarding her speaking these words, even Hoshino Aqua on the other side, who’stanned Hoshino Ai for life’, did not show any attitude, as if this was a matter of course.
But what the two of them didn’t expect was…
Yuji, who was always confident, acted uncharacteristically and shook his head at these remarks.
“It’s not just about you believing in me; I have always believed in you too, Aunt Kyoko.”
Indeed, his Acting was quite superb.
With LV8 Acting, not to mention among child actors, even among adults, only those famous actors could barely match him head-on, let alone the fact that he possessed the trump-card trait of a Born Star.
However——
“Does Aunt Kyoko think an agency can be supported by just a single artist?”
Yuji threw out another question.
“…”
The sudden question made Saitou Miyako furrow her brows slightly.
According to her experience as an agency president for two years, a single artist—especially one with obvious’star’ potential like Yuji—could definitely support the rise of a small agency.
Hoshino Ai was a precedent.
As long as there was a top-tier artist, the agency could naturally revolve activities around this top artist, thereby gradually building up a network of relationships in the industry.
At the same time, expanding the functions of other departments and using the built relationship network to feed back into new agency artists—such as bundled sales and greeting familiar producers in advance—this ‘veteran brings newcomers’ model was a very common operational method in agencies.
But for some reason, Saitou Miyako hesitated.
Because she always felt that this answer wasn’t what Yuji wanted.
After all, even she had vaguely sensed it.
The Yuji before her looked 8 years old, but seemed to view issues much more profoundly than ordinary adults.
Probably sensing the hesitation in Saitou Miyako’s heart, Yuji gave his own thoughts.
“Yes, but not entirely; both are answers.”
Is a top-tier artist important?
Of course it’s important!
And unquestionably important!
But besides a top-tier artist?
Equally important is…
“The quality of the agency itself.”
Yuji raised a finger.
Indeed, the quality of the agency itself was also the biggest factor in whether an artist could go far.
Although [Strawberry Pro] had spent a full two-year hiatus, its overall quality hadn’t fallen behind at all.
The staff was sparse, but everyone was taking the job seriously and not slacking off.
This could also be seen from the original work.
[Strawberry Pro] not only successfully survived in the industry, but also grasped the trend of internet celebrities, making a profit year by year.
And all of this was thanks to Saitou Miyako standing before him.
Not only did she smoothly raise Hoshino Aqua and Hoshino Ruby as a single mother, but she also simultaneously managed the development and operation of [Strawberry Pro].
After all, within the Japanese workplace, the unspoken rules of seniority and male chauvinism were already deeply engraved in the bones.
Sometimes, a partnership that was about to be finalized might be directly canceled just because the senior person in charge was a female, with Party A thinking the company was truly unreliable for choosing female employees to discuss cooperation—this was by no means an exaggeration.
So to say without exaggeration—
Saitou Miyako, who could single-handedly carve a bloody path for [Strawberry Pro] in the industry and survive, was practically like a superman.
Therefore…
“I don’t just believe in myself; I also believe in you, Aunt Kyoko.
We will definitely succeed.”
Saying this, a fair palm reached forward.
“…” Saitou Miyako.
Gazing at the fair palm before her, her expression was visibly stunned.
Over the past two years, as a woman keeping [Strawberry Pro] alive to this day, she didn’t know how many hardships she had exhausted her efforts through and how much suffering she had endured.
Yet even so, she still struggled, struggling in the rotten-beyond-repair black mud of the industry.
She had never yearned for recognition from anyone other than her husband, Saito Ichigo.
But until someone truly stood before her and spoke words like “I trust your ability”—
She still felt her heart tremble inexplicably.
She raised her head and swept her gaze around.
The interior of [Strawberry Pro] that entered her vision was full of scars left from two years ago, without a shred of vitality.
Only a few employees were working with their heads down.
But when she focused her gaze, what met her eyes was Yuji extending his hand.
He was looking at her, his eyes seemingly sparkling with starlight-like brilliance.
“Mn!”
Without the slightest hesitation, she lowered her body and grasped the palm he extended.
“We will definitely succeed!”
Yeah…
Must succeed!
Must definitely succeed!
Right in this rotten-beyond-repair industry…
to realize the dreams of her and Yuji!
Although the goal was quite lofty.
But incredibly, holding Yuji’s palm—
She always felt a sense that the goal would definitely be achieved!