Studio Day

-10:00 a.m.-

Mai made into the studio lobby.

“Good morning, Mai-san,” the receptionist said. The vocalist walked past her. The receptionist tilted her head.

“Hm,” she said.

Mai made it to the recording booth. She sat down and took a breath. She rubbed her forehead.

“Damn it,” she muttered. Mai never wanted to be a lady. Raja tried to mold her into a submissive housewife. That wasn’t her. She had always been a tomboy. He could never understand. For the most part, she tuned him out. But when it came to her love lift though…

Mai shook her head. “So annoying.”

She looked up when the door opened.

“Who’s there?” she asked. The door slowly creaked open. Mai peeked up. Isao poked his head inside.

“Oh,” he said. “You’re here.”

“Yes,” Mai snorted. “What of it?” Isao shrugged.

“Not much,” he said. The male vocalist walked into the mixing section. He gave her an odd look.

“You writing in here?” Isao asked. Mai frowned and turned her head away.

“No,” she muttered.

“Oh, you just wanted alone time in here?” he asked. “I see. I do that too sometimes.” Mai wrinkled her nose but said nothing. Isao tilted his head.

“That bad, huh?” he asked. She didn’t answer.

“Cool, I guess,” Isao said. He took his seat in the mixing booth.  The other vocalist snorted. Look at him. He thinks he’s so cool. She rolled her eyes. So annoying, Mai thought. She noticed him staring at her.

“What?” the LD vocalist asked. Isao rubbed the back of his head.

“Your uncle, man,” he said. Mai raised her eyebrow.

“What about him?” she asked. Isao sighed.

“He’s an ass,” he said at last. “I don’t mean to sound ugly but…”

“No, you are right,” Mai said. “He is an ass.” She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t want to get married and have kids.” Isao gave her a strange look.

“Okay then…” he said. “That was rather random.”

“But that’s what he wants for me,” Mai said. She sighed. “Ever since my parents died, he is al I have.” The LD vocalist rubbed her forehead.

“He tries to doll me up and marry me off,” she complained. Isao blinked at her.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked. Mai shrugged and shook her head.

“No idea,” she said. “Just venting, I suppose.” Mai turned her sharp gaze on him.

“Don’t get used to it,” she said.

“Fine,” Isao said. “Whatever, you say.” Mai rolled her eyes. Did he have to be so cool?

“You are kind of annoying, you know that?” she asked. Isao dropped back his head and groaned.

“You don’t have to be so cold,” he said. Mai sneered at him. She would not give into his charms.

----------

Meanwhile, Raja started to put his plan into motion. He had to call in a simple favor.

“Hello,” Raja said on his phone. “It’s me. I need your help with a little project. Are you in?” There was a pause. The businessman grinned.

“Good,” he said. “How soon can you get here? Good, good. I will see you then. Later.” Raja hung up, grinning. And now his plan could get moving on the road.