Kintsugi - Family by Contract

竜弥 (Tatsuya - in reference to dragon).

Osaka was a familiar sight to the young man who stepped out of a taxi onto its asphalt streets. He had only been in this city once before, but he had spent the previous ten years of his youth in another of Japan's metropolises – Nagoya. It was in Nagoya that his love for music was born. The same love had led him here, to a narrow, four story building swallowed up by the two skyscrapers beside it. A few steps and a push through a glass door let him into the first floor lobby of the small multi-media company, ASCENDO.

The faint scent of yuzu touched the intruder's nose, mixed with some other smell he could not quite place. A suited man in his late thirties looked up from behind the lobby desk when he approached, glancing at the younger arrival. Then he turned back to the screen in front of him.

"Konnichiwa," the man greeted without a second upward glance. "Are you here for an appointment?"

"Konnichiwa." This was followed by a polite bow. "Yes,I am. With Mr. Kawano."

The keys clacked briefly. "Tatsuya Hattori?"

"Yes."

"Just a moment." The lobbyist picked up a phone and hit a button. "Please notify Mr. Kawano that Tatsuya Hattori has arrived." A pause ensued, but then the person on the other line evidently gave a return message and Tatsuya watched as the phone was set back in its cradle. "Mr. Kawano is ready to receive you. Go through that door and his assistant will meet you and show you the rest of the way."

"Arigatou gozaimasu." Tatsuya bowed again before moving tensely toward the doorway.

Past the door, a woman in her forties met Tatsuya and showed him down a hall to a small but comfortable private office. Leaning back in his swivel chair, Mr. Kawano watched him enter. He was not more than forty, and thin in frame. His visitor felt quite self-conscious under his bespectacled gaze.

"Welcome. I've been looking forward to meeting you in person. I'm Yukia Kawano."

"Tatsuya Hattori."

"How was the trip here? Did you have any difficulties?"

"No,thank you. The train ride was very uneventful."

"Good, good." Mr. Kawano stood. " Would you like some tea?" Without waiting for an answer he filled two cups from a teapot his assistant had brought in.

"Thank you." Tatsuya took his cup carefully with both hands.

"Sit,sit."

He obediently followed the wave into a chair by the desk while Mr. Kawano returned to his swivel chair.

"So. To business. You have considered the offer?"

"I have. I am willing to sign, but first I was hoping you would be able to answer a few questions, sir."

"Ask away."

"Have you found the rest of the members yet?"

"We are currently holding auditions within our already existing trainees, and I have sent scouts out. We have found two potential entrants. We plan to have a more in depth interview tomorrow and hopefully go from there to writing up the contracts. The next members should enter our radar soon. I am confident that it won't be much longer."

"So you are still searching."

Mr. Kawano grimaced. " Yes."

"You are confident, sir, that this won't fall through? My parents won't easily allow me to continue in pursuing such a career if this contract ends badly."

"Shall I speak honestly?"

"Please."

"Our marketing team is already preparing strategies, and the team that is reviewing auditioners are looking for more than passable candidates. This concept is a unique one in that we hope for most of the members to perform the music themselves as well as singing, which should attract more interest. I have scouters out every day. I can assure you that ASCENDO is preparing in every possible way for this band. We may be small as of now, and we may not have any memorable successes in our past, but I promise you that should you choose to trust us, we will fly or sink with you."