Chapter Text
Naachan arrived much earlier than usual, expected the studio to be empty but she found her coach already there. She was initially just going to hang out in one of the practice rooms in the floor below but she got curious and came to check anyway. It was really convinient that the agency had their own studio, practice rooms and offices in the same building.
The receptionist told her she couldn't go in the live room yet as part if her coach's request not to let anyone in so she went to see if the staff in the control room would let her watch atleast. There was only one person in the control room, and luckily it was one of the usual staff for when she would be recording. He motioned for her come over and handed her a pair of headphones
"I don't think he'll mind," he said referring to her coach ".. but be careful not to touch anything" he added pointing to the control panel.
Naachan took a step back instinctively seeing she had no idea what she's dealing with, she put the headphones on and focused on the person on the other side of the glass. He was playing a tune she hadn't heard yet. Naachan has seen him play a lot of times before but not this engrossed is his on music, he suddenly stopping looking frustrated.
The staff leaned to the mic "Yamada, you've got a visitor today don't disappoint"
Naachan's coach expression changed for minute when he turned over to find naachan and waved over, a bit confused. His expression switched back as he flipped back through the sheet music papers and in the next minute his fingers brushed through a bunch of piano keys before he started again.
***
Yuiri didn't have a lot on her schedule, her assistant was on the phone a moment ago to tell her their last potential client called to cancel their meeting because they got a better offer elsewhere so her morning was free. On any other day she would have been happy for the break but with recent developments the free time is just extra time for to worry and stress over everything.
Yuiri still had enough time to get ready, she was to introduce her assistant to the restaurant staff as part of her regular visit as well as the other locations. They probably won't to cover all of them but it'd be nice to be on familiar ground again, she thought.
She suddenly remembered about the ad they had put out for new staff and reached for her phone to call her assistant.
" Yes, the deadline has passed i have compiled the applications.. I'll bring them with me"
"Great."
" So it's just shop visit today?"
"Yeah.. I sent you the address, we can meet there"
"I also wanted to ask if you're done with the registration forms so I could start the process"
Yuiri had almost forgotten about it, her assistant mentioning it just reminded her of the night naachan refused to sign it.. they didn't speak about it ever since.
"Ah.. about that, " yuiri eyes looked around her desk for the envelope, "..actually, let me get back to you on that"
Yuiris put down her phone, realising its not where she left it her hand reached out to the opened envelope to remove its contents. There was an extra piece of paper clipped on top with naachan's handwriting:
' I realized I might not be around a lot but I can still support in other ways,
signed, your partner, Okada Nana '
Yuiri eyes grew wider as she read the message, hurriedly flipped through the pages to find naachan had already put her signature in every part with her name on it. Yuiri smiled, it really just felt like naachan to pull up something like this, she wondered what convinced her to change mind. Now that she thought about it, naachan came to bed late that night so she probably signed it same day.
Another paper flew out when she trying to put everything back in the envelope, she picked it up and turned it to find that it was a cheque.. the name part was blank but the rest was filled out complete with a signature. Yuiri could tell naachan's handwriting anywhere. She froze when she saw the amount written on it, filling in the dots in her mind from recalling the 'i can support you in other ways' she just read from the note.
***
"I liked the song" naachan said enthusiastically to her coach as he was preparing for their session.
"Ah.. well, thanks"
"I think it's stuck in my head can't stop humming it.. must be because you kept playing the same part over and over" naachan thought out loud. "Can I have it?"
Naachan's coach wasn't sure if she was joking or not, and naachan guessed this so she quickly added that she was serious, "I mean, I get to choose right?"
"Yes but from the demos.. anyway it doesn't matter now the songs to be in your single are already decided"
"Maybe it can be a bonus song.. for like a limited edition type? Let me talk to-"
"I'm very flattered you like it but it's not even finished yet."
"There's still time you can finish it, right?"
"I've been playing around with that tune for months now, what you heard is all I have" he sighed ".. in any case soulful ballad type doesn't seem to fit the breakout star rock theme of the single, so it's likely your producers won't agree"
" I don't care about the theme.. Its just that I think I might have written something fitting for it"
"You wrote something recently?" Naachan's coach got curious
"Yeah.. " naachan replied shyly.
He sat down to think for a moment, "Tell you what, bring me what you have and I'll see.. if I decide I like it and it matches vibe of the song, we can proceed with the conversation about giving you the song. Who knows it might give me inspiration to actually finish it"
***
"I can't accept it" yuiri's voice on the phone seemed made up
Naachan blinked, she could have never expected this.
"I don't understand, why not?"
"That's a lot of money to waste on something we don't even know will be profitable"
"But I'm not some shareholder that only cares about profits.. we're in it together right?"
"We should've talked about this first"
"It was supposed to be a surprise"
"That's still a lot of money.."
"You don't have to use it all at once ok?"
Yuiri sighed, she didn't feel like naachan understood the point she was trying to make at all, it was also useless to try talk it over the phone. Naachan hadn't written the name for who the cheque is being made out to because she wasn't sure whether to address it to yuiri herself or wait for bank details for the new company after registration is done. Yuiri was aware essentially the cheque was just a gesture at the moment, but naachan tends to be serious about things like this.
"All I'm saying is you shouldn't risk all that money on something like this it's kind of reckless-"
"Yuiri, I'd put everything on the line for you.. I was just trying to show I'm ready to support all the way"
"No that's not-" yuiri stopped herself, it felt hopeless "let's not do this over the phone.. when are you coming home?"
"Should I come?"
"That's not what I asked"
"Tomorrow then, I guess"
The call ended with naachan confused, she was pretty sure she had done something nice but it still somehow made yuiri upset. She couldn't help but think they haven't been on the same page lately, and it was probably because they have been staying apart busy with work.
***
Yuiri was exhausted, the day went by quickly but she was finally back home. The cab stopped outside their apartment building, she opened the door to get out but stopped for a moment clearly deep in thought.
"Everything okay ma'am?" The cab driver turned his head to look at what was taking so long.
Yuiri sat back and shut the door, tapping through her phone really quickly " just a moment please.." she said before showing the cab driver her phone " take me to this address"
The screen light shone through the cab driver's eyes as he made out what being shown to him.
Yuiri knew where naachan stayed, but she has never been there before.