Chapter 81: Heterosexuality Is Such a Hassle

Fuyumi Sakamoto took the single from Ye Zhao and held it in her hands. “I met Ayako a while ago, and she told me that you sang one of my songs in the karaoke room at the New Year’s party. I’m truly honored.” Sakamoto, who is counted among the “Five Beauties of Enka” alongside Ayako Fujiji, has a temperament worlds apart from Ayako’s, which made Ye Zhao imagine her as the grand finale performer at a gala. Despite this, the two are genuinely close friends.

“Did Ayako-san really tell Sakamoto-san?” Ye Zhao felt a little embarrassed, not expecting Ayako Fujiji to be so earnest about it.

“That’s not all—she even complained, quite seriously, that you didn’t choose one of her songs,” Sakamoto replied with a laugh. “I’m surprised to learn that you and Ayako are acquainted.”

“Yes, I owe Ayako-san a favor for something in the past,” Ye Zhao answered in a vague tone.

...

After knocking on Masaharu Fukuyama’s dressing room door, Ye Zhao entered holding the single with an expression of utmost respect. Fukuyama, who had been reading a book, looked up in surprise. “What’s this? Have you been abducted by aliens and swapped for someone else?”

With just that one sentence, Ye Zhao’s composure collapsed, and she reverted to her usual casual self.

Once Ye Zhao explained the reason for visiting each dressing room in turn, Fukuyama’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he teased, “Impressive! You managed to greet four senior artists all at once.”

“What else could I do?” Ye Zhao sprawled unceremoniously on the tatami. “Honestly, the blame should go to the Fuji TV staff, shouldn’t it? Even if the usual order is alphabetical, they should at least consider the guests’ seniority. That’s why I prefer the way MS does it—by seniority—it just makes more sense.”

“Don’t worry,” Fukuyama said, the teasing fading as he adopted the reassuring manner of an older colleague. “This kind of thing happens backstage all the time; everyone knows the score. No need to overthink it. Come to think of it, I remember once at TBS, my dressing room was actually placed ahead of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi and Misato Watanabe.”

“And what did you do, Fukuyama-san?”

Fukuyama pulled a wry face. “What else could I do? The same as you—went to each dressing room and apologized in turn.”

“In that case, I think I can return your earlier laughter word for word,” Ye Zhao said, bursting into laughter.

A moment later, Fukuyama unceremoniously kicked Ye Zhao out of his dressing room.

FLYING KIDS was a band with quite the unique personality, and it showed even in their appearance. Toward Ye Zhao, the newcomer who had risen to fame so quickly, the members were neither warm nor cold; after handing over the single, Ye Zhao took the hint and left without lingering. After making the rounds, Ye Zhao returned to the dressing room to find Yuuki Kamimura already back.

“Where did you go?” Kamimura asked.

“I visited the hosts and fellow performers,” Ye Zhao replied, taking a seat on the thick stack of cushions in the corner. “How long until our first rehearsal?”

Kamimura checked his watch. “About thirty-five minutes.”

“Hmm…” Ye Zhao nodded. “Bring me the stage costume so I can get changed.”

“Yes.”

...

The recording process for MUSIC FAIR began with song performances, followed by the interview segment. Before the final take, each performance had two rehearsals. The first to rehearse were Hiromi Go and Fuyumi Sakamoto, who were collaborating on this episode to sing Go’s 1978 single “Apple Murder Case.” The song, originally a duet with Kirin Kiki, uses a half-eaten apple left at a crime scene as a metaphor to tell a story: if Adam and Eve hadn’t bitten the apple, there would have been no descendants, no heterosexuality, and thus none of these complicated affairs.

Although enka singers may seem detached from mainstream pop, in truth, their crossover with various musical styles has never ceased—rock, heavy metal, you name it, they can handle it all.

Aside from the duet with Sakamoto, Hiromi Go was set to perform his upcoming single solo. As a super veteran artist, he enjoyed the best treatment on the show.

Ye Zhao and Masaharu Fukuyama’s rehearsal was scheduled as the second group, and the two arrived at the studio ten minutes early. While waiting, Ye Zhao introduced Kazuyo Kawamoto to Fukuyama. “Fukuyama-san, this is Miss Kazuyo Kawamoto, currently signed to my agency. She’ll be accompanying us on piano today.”

“Hello,” Fukuyama nodded to her. “We’ll be counting on you.”

“It’s my pleasure, Fukuyama-san. I look forward to working with you.” Kawamoto replied calmly. Given Fukuyama’s status as a top star, he seemed to have little effect on her, which made Ye Zhao suspect that perhaps she simply wasn’t interested in handsome men at all…

After her greeting, Kawamoto sensibly stepped aside to wait. Fukuyama took the opportunity to ask, “What’s her background?”

“Nothing special. I discovered her at a club in Roppongi. She’s good at both piano and guitar, and can compose as well. I saw her potential and signed her; I’m currently helping her connect with record companies.”

“Hearing you say that, I’m quite curious about her now.”

Ye Zhao smiled. “That’s easy. I’ve put together a performance video for her—if you’re interested, I’ll send you a copy later.”

“Deal!” Fukuyama snapped his fingers.

At that moment, Hiromi Go and Fuyumi Sakamoto’s rehearsal ended. With the director’s “OK,” the two stars took center stage and bowed to the accompanying band.

“Fukuyama-san, Ye Zhao-san, please get ready!” a staff member called, hurrying over.

Ye Zhao beckoned to Kawamoto in the distance, and the three of them ascended the stage together. Kawamoto took her seat at the piano, while Ye Zhao and Fukuyama each picked up their acoustic guitars.

...

The disaster Kawamoto had feared never came to pass. Whether during rehearsals or the actual recording, everything went smoothly. MUSIC FAIR’s stage may be a crucible for vocal skill, but neither Ye Zhao nor Fukuyama was found wanting. Two guitars and a piano—together, the three delivered a feast for both the ears and the eyes.

...

After the stage performances were recorded, Ye Zhao and Fukuyama moved to an adjacent studio for the interview segment. Although POPJAM, a state-run music show, had a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere, the interview on MUSIC FAIR felt as rigid as anything on MS.

“Fukuyama-san is a regular guest, but this is our first time meeting Ye Zhao-san,” said host Anju Suzuki, making small talk. “Have you seen MUSIC FAIR before?”

“Of course I have. I’ve known about this program since I was a child,” Ye Zhao replied with a smile.

“And how did the two of you come to collaborate?” Suzuki continued.

Fukuyama answered, “Well, we happened to meet on another show, and I asked Ye if he’d like to join me on my radio program. We chatted a bit and discovered we really hit it off, so I suggested, ‘Why don’t we do a single together?’ To my surprise, Ye agreed right away.”

Ye Zhao nodded. “That’s exactly how it happened.”

“So, this time it’s a double A-side single?” Suzuki prompted.

Fukuyama glanced at Ye Zhao instead of replying. Having spent more than half a year in the industry, Ye Zhao immediately understood and slipped into his promotional mode. “Yes, it’s a double A-side single themed around spring, set to be officially released on April 18.”

“Since it’s a double A-side, which song will you be performing today?”

“Today, we’ll be singing ‘Sakura.’”

“That’s right, a song produced by Ye,” Fukuyama added.

“And how does it feel to sing this song?” Suzuki asked.

“I thought it would be easy to sing, but unexpectedly, there are a few high notes,” Fukuyama joked. “So if I feel like I can’t quite reach them, I just move away from the mic a bit and pretend.”

Ye Zhao laughed and explained, “That’s not true at all. For Fukuyama-san, this song is a walk in the park.”

Suzuki concluded cheerfully, “Well, we’ll soon find out for ourselves. Please enjoy Fukuyama-san and Ye Zhao-san’s collaborative song, ‘Sakura.’”

...

By the time recording wrapped, it was nearly seven in the evening. Backstage, Fukuyama made a phone call, then came to Ye Zhao’s dressing room to invite him, “Ye, I’m going to dinner in Omotesando with Yuki. She heard you’re here and asked if you’d like to join us. If we wait to find a place after leaving the studio, it’ll be too late. Why not just come with us now?”

“I’ll pass,” Ye Zhao replied lazily. “It’s rare for you and Uchida-san to have time for a date. If I tag along, I’m nothing but a two-thousand-watt third wheel.” Not that being a third wheel means much, but too much public display of affection is bad for the heart, the stomach, the liver, and the lungs...

“Speaking of which,” Fukuyama teased, “you should hurry up and find a girlfriend yourself. Then the third wheel problem will solve itself, and we can go on double dates.”

“Fukuyama-san,” Ye Zhao replied with a half-smile, returning the words Fukuyama had said to him before rehearsal, “have you been abducted by aliens and swapped for someone else?” How else could he have suddenly turned so gossipy?

“...”