Following Miss Shima, the group entered a slightly dated six-story building. The somewhat dilapidated structure formed a stark contrast to Ring, which Rin Ito had visited before.
Ring also had professional recording studios, and although Rin Ito hadn't checked the prices, they were surely much more expensive than here.
"What does a recording studio look like? I've never seen one. By the way, Kita-chan, what did you bring?" Walking alongside them, the curious Kaede struck up a conversation with Kita.
"This is a gift for the audio engineer... Seika-san said that audio engineers can sometimes be difficult to work with."
"My sister was just trying to scare you." Nijika rolled her eyes helplessly. "Besides, the gift you brought... 30,000 yen for fruit is way too expensive."
Ryo was shocked by the price, but immediately after, she rubbed her hands together and stared at Kita with ill intent.
Noticing Ryo's money-grubbing expression, Nijika delivered a solid, serious punch.
"Pfft... Cough, cough, cough!!!!!"
The drummer's well-toned forearm delivered a serious blow that almost made Ryo's heart stop.
"Hiss... Nijika, are you trying to kill me?"
"If you hatch any more bad ideas, I really will kill you."
Nijika made a dangerous remark with a completely deadpan expression. It was Miss Shima who steered the conversation back on track.
"That's right, there's no need to bring gifts. The engineer is a very nice person. It's just that I'm not very good at dealing with her." Miyako Shima let out a helpless sigh.
"The studio our company usually rents is upstairs... However, just like our company, it's very bare-bones. Please don't expect too much."
She wasn't being humble.
Miss Shima's talent agency was indeed very bare-bones. The environment where the company was located was so bad that you could easily spot rats—in fact, there were even rats inside the office itself.
Arriving outside the recording studio, Miyako Shima opened the door with a deadpan expression. A woman with a warm, welcoming smile appeared before them.
Her upper half was dressed in what looked like a promotional t-shirt for a hot spring inn, but the sleeves extended past her hands. Her lower half consisted of baggy pants tied with a bow belt. She wore a necklace as thick as two fingers, and her hair was slightly disheveled.
Mmh... truly someone in the music industry!
She perfectly fits the stereotype!
However, Kessoku Band wasn't much better.
Nijika and Kita were fine, but Bocchi was wearing her eternal track jacket, and Ryo... she looked like an old man selling takoyaki at a temple festival.
"Good morning, Kessoku Band~ I'm Uemura, your audio engineer~" After briefly greeting Nijika and the others, Uemura immediately lunged at Miss Shima. "Long time no see, Miyako-chan~ You look incredibly cute today too~"
Miss Shima, with a look of utter disgust, pushed her away.
"Please don't call me that."
"Miyako-chan with a straight face is also wonderful~"
"..."
Mmh, they seem to have a very good relationship.
Just like the relationship between Ryo and Nijika!
...
After brief pleasantries, the group entered the recording studio.
The relatively small studio was divided into two sections by soundproof glass. One side was a space resembling a rehearsal room, while the other housed the mixing console and various equipment.
Additionally, there was a small sofa and a tea table for resting.
"Before we begin, I'd like to chat with you all... We have quite a few people today. Are they all companions of Kessoku Band? It seems we don't have enough seats."
"It's fine, we're just here to observe out of curiosity." Rin Ito and his group retreated to the wall with Miyako Shima to make room, while Bocchi's group and Uemura sat around the small tea table.
Like a magician, Uemura pulled out an assortment of snacks from the pockets of her baggy pants.
"I've listened to every single song by Kessoku Band. In one of the tracks, a very old type of string was used. I really like that unique sound~"
"You could actually hear that!" Ryo was genuinely shocked. She could pick up on such a subtle detail amidst the barely noticeable bass track!
Ryo's affection for Uemura instantly skyrocketed!
From Ryo to Bocchi, then Nijika and Kita, Uemura exchanged a few words with each of them. She could accurately pinpoint elements of their music or their personalities.
In Rin Ito's view, the 50,000 yen for three hours was likely a 'friendship price' offered to Miss Shima.
"Speaking of which... Miyako-chan let me listen to some of your unpublished songs. They're amazing tracks, why haven't you released them?"
Ryo shifted her gaze to Rin Ito nearby. Uemura turned around curiously, and then Nijika explained.
"Those are... songs Mr. Ito gave us. Currently, we prefer to focus on our original tracks."
Nijika's cheeks flushed slightly. She had almost accidentally called Rin Ito 'Papa'.
"Eh... I see."
I thought he was just a normal friend, but he's actually a hidden master!
But for now, let's focus on work!
After chatting for a bit to break the ice, Uemura skillfully organized the upcoming workflow. They would record a basic track in the order of drums, bass, guitar, and vocals. Afterward, she would synthesize and mix the tracks.
The entire process was different from what Rin Ito, or even Nijika and her band, had imagined. They thought they would all play together over and over again while being recorded. In reality, they recorded their parts separately and then combined them.
Starting with the drums, which establish the rhythm, Nijika was the first to enter the soundproof booth behind the glass. If it weren't for the drum kit inside, Rin Ito would have thought it was an interrogation room.
Perhaps because she was being watched, Nijika was visibly nervous. She recorded several takes, but made mistakes each time due to her anxiety.
Left with no choice, Uemura decided to switch.
"Nijika-chan, why don't you take a break? Miss Ryo, let's record your part first."
With drooping shoulders, Nijika walked out of the soundproof booth, while Ryo grabbed her bass, looking disdainful.
"Let me put an end to this farce!"
Uemura briefly comforted Nijika before focusing her attention on Ryo. Rin Ito walked over to the disheartened Nijika and gently patted her head.
Nijika really wanted to hug Rin Ito and let him comfort her, but with so many people in the small recording studio, she was too embarrassed.
Sensing her shyness, Rin Ito led her out of the recording studio. Kaede just glanced at them but didn't say anything.
In the hallway, away from everyone's eyes, Nijika let out a sigh of relief.
"Nervous?" Rin Ito teased with a smile. "I never expected Mama Nijika of the band to get nervous."
"I-I'm not a mama..." Nijika mumbled, looking down. "I... I wanted to set a good example for them, but instead..."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Rin Ito roughly ruffled Nijika's hair, then leaned close to her ear and whispered. "Don't tell me you need to be pumped full of creampie like Bocchi was before to stop being nervous?"
"I-I do not! Mmph!!!!"
Rin Ito pulled Nijika's petite body into a hug and kissed her. His tongue darted out, easily slipping past her lips to find her warm, soft, delicate little tongue.
The squelching sound of their entwined tongues echoed loudly in the empty hallway. In just five seconds, her delicate ears turned from pale white to burning red.