Screaming and Gamble

-Isao-

Kaz has come up with crazy schemes in the past. But this…

I made a face at him. “You can’t be serious.” Kaz quickly bowed his head.

“I’m so sorry!” he said. I shook my head.

“No!” I said. “Uh-uh! Uh-uh!”

“There’s no choice,” he said. “The boss wants us in a Zoom meeting to talk about it.”

“Eh? Now?” I asked. Kaz nodded one. I turned to my bandmates. They had nothing to say. I sighed as I rubbed my forehead.

“Fine,” I said. “Where are we holding the meeting?”

“Yokohama,” Kazu said. “We will set up in the lobby.”

“Right…” I murmured. Thoughts of killing him danced in my head. I was going to get him later.

---------

Yokohama was the next stop. Not as big as Tokyo, but still pretty big. Right now, I can’t take in the view. I’m stuck in the lobby with Kaz’s laptop. Mai sat next to me, glaring. I have to fake a relationship with her? I looked back at the screen. Kaz set up the connection.

“Okay,” he said. “Here we go.” He rang up the execs. Just get through this and get back to the music. I put on my professional face.

The screen flickered to life. Both men looked fancy in their business suits. They didn’t have to do anything. They give orders and take the money.

“Good evening,” one of them, Suzuki-san, greeted us.

“Good evening,” the managers, Mai, and I said.

“Can you hear us?” Ito-san, the other exec, asked.

“Yes!” Kaz said.

“Good,” Ito-san said. I raised my hand.

“Yes?” Suzuki-san asked.

“Why are we doing this?” I asked as I lowered my hand. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

“It’s the fans,” he said. “Things… are getting out of hand.” I frowned. Oh.

“Really?” Mai asked.

“We’re not asking you to date in real life,” Ito-san said. “We just want you to pose like a couple. Just long enough for the rumors to die down.” Mai folded her arms across her chest.

“I won’t do it,” she said. I turned my head.

“Excuse me?” Suzuki-san asked. She snorted.

“I refuse to sell out with him!” she snapped. My right eye started to twitch. Seriously? What is wrong with her? Why did she hate me do much? Her manager turned to her.

“But fans and the rumors…” he said.

“I don’t care,” she said. The execs didn’t look impressed.

“See if you are about this,” Ito-san said. “Play along or you could be replaced.” Mai paused.

“What?” she asked. The execs stared her down. Mai stared her down. Mai struggled to speak for about… five minutes. I could tell what she was thinking. They were doing her dirty. Lady Dragon was her band, her pride and joy. I would be mad too.

Mai’s nostrils flared. “What do I have to do?” I turned to her, stunned.

“Shut it,” she said under her breath. I closed my mouth. I didn’t need her wrath again. The execs smiled.

“Good,” Suzuki-san said. I tried to hold Mai’s hand, but she snatched it away.

“What do you need us to do?” she asked.

“We’re calling a press conference,” Ito-san said. “You just pose for pictures and give simple answers.” Although we said nothing, Mai and I  didn’t like the sound of this. We needed a way to make this stop. Tonight.