The Battle of the Tie-ups

"Better terms than usual? Do you have any specifics..."

"They're offering a royalty contract just like us, but it's certain their base offer is much better than standard. Apparently, their producer insisted they absolutely must get Group Sound."

"Sigh..."

The producer of Studio Red Rock took off his glasses and scratched his head vigorously, only to stop abruptly out of concern for his receding hairline. However, several strands of hair were already clinging to his lowered hand. Feeling even more stressed by this, he spoke in a suppressed voice.

"The one B-2 is doing, that's the Jump manga, right?"

"Yes. Torikoi."

I Can't Love Alone—abbreviated as Torikoi—was a popular manga series in Weekly Shonen Jump. It had started as a romantic comedy and nearly faced cancellation due to poor reader surveys, but it made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a dramatic comeback after pivoting sharply into a battle manga. While it wasn't quite on the level of Weekly Shonen Magazine's flagship title, Train Trail, its teen-friendly art style and bizarre, comedic plot progression had made it a massive hit among teenagers. Consequently, it had recently been receiving a major push from the publisher.

"Come to think of it, Torikoi has a band arc, doesn't it?"

"Yes. I think they want to leverage Group Sound for that part. Since the girls are in their early twenties, they fit the demographic perfectly..."

Even the demographics line up.

The producer reached up to scratch his head again, caught himself, and settled for rubbing his eyebrow in deep thought. If he were the producer of B-2 instead of Red Rock, and if he were in charge of Torikoi... he would have reached out to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Group Sound just as aggressively. They were a band that seemed custom-made for such a project.

Of course, the music is ultimately secondary, and the anime itself is what matters most, but...

Tapping his fingers on the desk, the producer pondered. The anime market was not a zero-sum game. One successful show didn't necessarily steal the audience from another. Therefore, as long as everyone did their best in their respective roles, that should be enough. There was no need to treat it as a direct competition.

But while that was true for the market as a whole, the individual players were very much in competition. Depending on box office success and ratings, everyone received a relative scorecard. This show was highly anticipated this season but flopped, while that other show had low expectations but succeeded. This director and producer lack skill. On the other hand, this team exceeded expectations...

"What should we do?"

The producer met the gaze of Director Mishima, who had just asked the question. For some reason, the director's eyes seemed to say: We can't just let them steal the band from under our noses.

"Let's fight for them."

"Pardon?"

"Normally, I'd just look for another singer or band. But since Torikoi is trying to grab them, we can't just stand by. If we do nothing, they'll definitely go to Torikoi."

"Exactly. If the song does well, and they do an in-universe band project... and if that succeeds too... we'll have lost the opportunity to do it ourselves."

Having Group Sound perform the opening theme didn't guarantee a hit. In fact, after listening to their first studio album, the Red Rock producer had initially worried that their style might not fit the anime. But the situation changed when a competitor tried to seize the opportunity. Securing the band wouldn't just benefit Red Rock; it would also deny their rivals a powerful asset.

With that in mind, the producer nodded to the director.

"Let's try to grab them. I'll contact the higher-ups. Director, please organize things from a practical standpoint and talk to them."

"Understood!"

"Isn't it... amazing?"

The next panel of the manga depicted a supporting character drawing his sword back to his waist, preparing to strike against an enemy rushing forward with terrifying momentum. Suyun looked up from the page, only to find Hyun-ah's face inches from her own. Startled, Suyun jerked her head back.

"Whoa, you scared me."

"It's... amazing, right?"

"I don't... really get the appeal."

Suyun twirled her hair idly. To be honest, she found a lot of the dialogue cringey and illogical. For instance, did the character really need to strike such a dramatic pose? And the characters had spent ages talking before reaching this point; wouldn't it have been much faster to just pick the injured person up and run away?

"And, well... drawing a sword like that is so inefficient. Wouldn't it be much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faster and more powerful to just swing it after it's already drawn?"

"What are you talking about...! That's the whole point! The classic! Don't you know battōjutsu?"

"What's that? Is it from a carto—an anime?"

Disappointed by the lack of appreciation, Hyun-ah let out a soft sigh. Suyun closed the manga volume. She had read a few volumes, but it wasn't really her cup of tea. Suyun preferred more serious comics.

"A serious... comic?"

"Yeah. Like Maus. I don't really care for comics, but that one really left an impression on me. Do you know it?"

"Ah... no."

"It's about Jewish people being sent to Auschwitz and massacred..."

Suyun was about to explain the profound impact the book had on her, but she decided to drop it. Hyun-ah's expression had turned distinctly bored. Instead, Suyun changed the subject.

"What about the other manga that offered us a tie-up? Torikoi, was it? Their offer was actually better. Do you not like that one?"

"I... don't really... like that one all that much."

"Why? It's a manga too."

"Why do you... think I'd like... every single manga just because it's manga?"

"Isn't that how it works?"

"Suyun, saying that is like saying blues rock and hard rock are the same just because they're both band music!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"How are those the same? They're completely different," Manager Jung chimed in as he walked into the room. Suyun narrowed her eyes and glared at him. What was he even talking about? The structures of those genres were entirely different.

"That's exactly my point!" Hyun-ah agreed.

"No, those manga are being serialized around the same time. Blues rock and hard rock originated years apart..."

"That kind of distinction is exactly what Hyun-ah was talking about."

It made absolutely no sense to Suyun, but she decided to let it go and move on to a much more important topic.

"Did things go well with Zenith?"

"Yes! There's no clause in our contract saying we have to release a certain number of singles, so we don't necessarily have to release it through Zenith, but they're actually very welcoming of the idea! They feel like we're already a proven asset!"

"Hmm."

Suyun twirled her hair. Which path should they choose? Train Trail or I Can't Love Alone?

Honestly, it didn't matter to Suyun. Neither manga particularly interested her. Therefore, she was perfectly fine with rejecting the better offer to choose Train Trail. Even though the other offer was technically better, the difference wasn't life-altering. Both were royalty contracts rather than flat-fee buyouts, so a slightly higher percentage wouldn't make a dramatic difference in the long run.

But by the same token, there was no objective reason to reject a superior offer just to choose Train Trail. A difference was still a difference, however small.

As for the other members, Seoha had said, "I don't care either way," while Iseor had asked, "Both look fun! Can't we just do both?" showing her usual lack of business sense. Since both of them were indifferent, the final decision rested on Suyun and Hyun-ah.

"Hyun-ah, what do you want to do?"

Suyun put the question to her directly. Ever since the dual offers had arrived, Hyun-ah had been constantly showing Suyun volumes of Train Trail, explaining the plot, highlighting the best scenes, and pitching its merits. It was as if she wanted Suyun to make the decision for her. Yet, Hyun-ah herself had never explicitly stated that they must choose Train Trail. She was dropping heavy hints, hoping Suyun would take the initiative.

"I... don't know. I want to do Tre-Tre, but... we're a band... so we have to consider the business side..."

"That's true."

Suyun brushed her hair back. In the end, they were a band. Even if they played the music they wanted, they still had to operate as a commercial entity. Furthermore, since Suyun—the sole composer of the band—maintained an indifferent stance, it was difficult for Hyun-ah to aggressively push her own preference. After all, she wasn't the one writing the songs.

"Suyun, what... do you want to do...?"

"I think Torikoi is better."

"...Pardon?"

Hyun-ah stared at Suyun, her eyes wide with shock as if she had just been struck by lightning. Unfazed by her reaction, Suyun looked up at the ceiling and muttered.

"Well, the other girls don't really care. And if you're feeling that way too... if it were me, I'd just go with the one that pays more."

"Oh..."

"To be honest, both manga feel pretty similar to me. I don't really know which one is better, but since they're both popular, they must have their merits, right? Even if I don't fully get it, I figure we can just capture that appeal in the music."

Suyun clasped her hands behind her head. It was only logical. If everyone was indifferent, then choosing the more profitable option was the correct business decision. Even Hyun-ah had just admitted they needed to consider the band's revenue.

"But still... don't you... kind of... want to do Tre-Tre...?"

"If you're asking which one I'd rather do, I'd choose the one that pays more. Why? Do you want to do Tre-Tre, Hyun-ah?"

Hyun-ah opened her mouth to say something, but then quickly shut it. Before Suyun could probe further, Manager Jung's voice interrupted them.

"Suyun!"

"Yes?"

"I don't know why, but B-2 sent another offer! They're offering to support production costs and even bumped up the royalties a bit!"

"Oh, then we should definitely do Torikoi. There's no reason not to."

"I suppose so! But we still have a bit of time before we have to decide. The deadline is the day after tomorrow, so we can just wait until then to see if Red Rock makes a counteroffer!"

Suyun gave a brief nod to Manager Jung and then glanced at Hyun-ah. Seeing the look of grim determination on the keyboardist's face, Suyun twirled her hair, wondering what on earth she was planning.

Two days later.

"No offer from Red Rock, right?"

"Nope!"

"What does Team Leader Ko's side say?"

"They said to do whatever we want!"

Suyun had suddenly remembered the tie-up issue in the middle of her work and asked Manager Jung. The response was exactly as she had expected. One side had remained silent, while the other had sweetened the deal.

"Then it's probably best to go with Torikoi. There's no reason to refuse when they're offering that much."

"True! But they mentioned they'd like to sign the contract in person. I think they want to meet us and talk face-to-face."

"Hmm..."

Suyun crossed her arms in thought. Why did everyone always want to meet in person? Her contemplation was interrupted by the ringing of the office doorbell, followed by the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps heading straight toward her.

"H-Have you... made a decision?!"

"About what?"

"The... tie-up...!"

"No, not yet."

"T-Then...!"

Before Suyun could even turn around, a massive stack of manga volumes and notebooks slammed onto her desk. They were covered in countless post-it notes, looking like the result of some feverish, obsessive study session.

"What's all this?"

"L-Look at this...! If you read Tre-Tre... if you look at this, you'll see why... why we have to choose it...!"

"You want me to read all of this?"

"You have to! You need to see how amazing Tre-Tre is! It's so much better than Torikoi!"

Unlike her usual stuttering self, Hyun-ah spoke with absolute, unshakeable conviction. Startled by this sudden transformation, Suyun stared at her with wide eyes.

"Look here! The protagonist's characterization in Tre-Tre is on a completely different level compared to Torikoi! And look at these key scenes. I really think your musical sensibility would shine so beautifully in moments like these, Suyun! Honestly, not choosing Tre-Tre—or worse, choosing Torikoi—would be a huge mistake! There are so many incredible scenes in Tre-Tre, like here, where the protagonist sacrifices himself..."

Hyun-ah grabbed a volume, flipped to a page bristling with post-it notes, and thrust it in front of Suyun's face, launching into a passionate, breathless defense of the manga.

"You can't read a scene like this and not find it amazing! Please, just look at it properly! If you follow the narrative arc starting all the way from volume one..."

"Wait, stop, stop..."

"There's no time to stop!!"

As Suyun found herself completely overwhelmed by Hyun-ah's terrifying, manic energy, she was suddenly rescued by Manager Jung's excited voice.

"Suyun! Red Rock sent a counteroffer! I need to look at the details, but it looks like they're offering even better terms than B-2!"