Chapter 132: To Live Off Royalties

If someone were to say that Takuya Kimura is a handsome man, the universal response would undoubtedly be, "Well, no kidding!" However, if someone were to claim that Takuya Kimura is a great singer, those who agree are likely looking through a heavy pair of fan-tinted glasses.

If someone were to say that Masahiro Nakai has top-tier hosting skills, the reaction would again be, "That goes without saying!" Yet, if one were to suggest that Masahiro Nakai is a great singer, even someone wearing two pairs of fan-tinted glasses would struggle to utter a "that’s right."

If one says SMAP is incredibly popular, that is an absolute truth. But if one says SMAP is great at singing... well, let’s talk about something else.

Ye Zhao was currently sitting in a recording studio affiliated with Victor Records, wearing monitor headphones and listening to the SMAP members' trial takes. "Beyond the Night Sky," the song he provided for the group, had already been selected as the lead track for their next single. Although another producer was in charge of the record, Ye Zhao, as the songwriter, was there to fulfill his routine duty of monitoring the session during their first time in the studio to finalize the details of the track.

The busiest time for an idol is undoubtedly when they are on the rise. At that stage, they have room to grow but lack the leverage to say "no" to work they dislike. They are forced to rush from one set to another, answer insincere interview questions, and perform all kinds of tasks, whether they want to or not.

For a group with as many members as SMAP, they rarely gather in the studio to record one by one. Typically, they record their individual parts separately, and the tracks are later sent to the mixing room to be synthesized. However, because this was the first trial recording for a new song and there were many details to coordinate, all six members had managed to clear their schedules and gather in the studio for an afternoon.

After finishing the first run-through, the six members of SMAP stepped out of the recording booth. Ye Zhao, along with the producer and the sound engineer, began making subtle adjustments to each member's performance based on their respective parts.

Having heard the raw, unfiltered SMAP, Ye Zhao felt from the bottom of his heart that the best singer in the group was Katsuyuki Mori. At the very least, he could stay in tune. As long as he was there, SMAP’s singing ability wasn't entirely hopeless.

Michi Iijima, who had stepped out during the recording, returned. As a manager, she was remarkably casual in front of the SMAP members—so casual, in fact, that she could probably have sat in the recording booth knitting a sweater without being kicked out. Unfortunately, she was no Yoko Ono, and there was no John Lennon in SMAP.

However, judging by her self-important attitude toward the members, Michi Iijima clearly believed she was the primary architect of SMAP’s massive success. The members of SMAP seemed to have no complaints about this whatsoever.

Finally finding a moment to chat with Ye Zhao, Iijima said in a teasing, reproachful tone, "For something as important as a movie, and with Tsuyoshi-kun from our agency as the lead, why didn't you tell me, Ye-kun? I would have wanted to help, but I couldn't."

"Iijima-san is already so busy every day with SMAP’s affairs; I was afraid of bothering you by bringing up my own matters," Ye Zhao replied with practiced courtesy.

"That is being far too polite. You and I are old friends now. Since we are both in this industry, if you were to ask, I would clear my schedule for you no matter how busy I am."

Ye Zhao smiled subtly, though he thought little of it. "It is truly reassuring to hear you say that, Iijima-san."

Just then, Takuya Kimura walked up to the console. After nodding to Ye Zhao, the producer, and the sound engineer, he asked, "May I listen to the trial take from just now?"

"Of course," the engineer said, standing up to vacate his seat and handing him the monitor headphones.

Takuya Kimura’s talent for acting and sports was beyond question. Even when cooking on *SMAPxSMAP*, he maintained a high success rate—he was practically a "perfect man" of legend. However, even such a man had things he wasn't good at, like singing. Kimura’s singing ability was truly at the level where the notes simply refused to find their way home.

Yet, despite his lack of vocal talent, Kimura did not treat the recording with indifference. Instead, he sought every possible way to improve the quality of the work within his capabilities. The thing Ye Zhao appreciated most about Kimura wasn't his reliability as a "real man" or the records he had broken, but this perfectionist work ethic. Without such an attitude, one could not reach the very pinnacle based on talent or luck alone.

Kimura frowned, listening to his own recording with a serious expression. As he took off the headphones, Ye Zhao suddenly asked, "By the way, Kimura-san, do you play the guitar?"

"The guitar?" Kimura thought for a moment. "I can manage the basics."

"You are being too humble, Kimura-kun," Masahiro Nakai chimed in, sipping ice water. "It might not be appropriate to brag in front of a musician like Ye Zhao-san, but our Kimura-kun plays the guitar quite well."

"I thought as much," Ye Zhao nodded and suggested, "In that case, would you consider playing the guitar accompaniment during the live performance of this song?"

"Great idea!" Iijima interjected without hesitation. "Just thinking about it, Kimura-kun would look incredibly charming in that setting." If a handsome man holds a guitar, it automatically adds an aura to him. The focus is on the handsome man, not the guitar.

Ye Zhao didn't respond, instead turning his gaze toward Kimura.

Kimura considered it for a moment before nodding solemnly. "I’m willing to give it a try."

"I look forward to the live effect of this song," Ye Zhao smiled.

...

Not long after, Masahiro Nakai’s manager arrived to hurry him along; he had another program to attend. In multi-member groups, the operating model usually involves a general manager, with each member having their own individual managers and assistants. Solo activities are handled by personal managers, while group activities and major bookings are decided through the general manager.

As the general manager, Michi Iijima had two assistants to help her handle bookings, bringing the entire SMAP team to a luxurious lineup of over twenty people.

Nakai said a quick, "Excuse me," and hurried off with his manager.

After Nakai left, the remaining five members continued their recording, during which Ye Zhao and the producer finally finalized the definitive version of the song. Since he wasn't part of the regular staff serving SMAP, Ye Zhao stopped interfering in the recording after this session. From this point on, the only thing that would connect him to the song was the royalties he would receive after its release.