Taka shot her a slightly confused look but nodded and stood up to retrieve the materials from a nearby drawer. He placed them in front of her, and Kiko gently picked up the pen. “Thank you,” she murmured before starting to write, her movements graceful and deliberate. She looked up at yumi "Can I have one" she looked at the package of cigarettes. "Sure" Yumi replied as she handed one over to her and helped light it up. 

As she jotted down her thoughts, Kiko’s eyes flicked back up to the others. “So,” she said, then took a puff before continuing “first and foremost, we need a solid lineup. We have you two already, but we’ll need a drummer and a bass player to round out the band.” She paused, her eyes sharp as she glanced between Taka and Yumi. “And we’ll also need a manager. Someone who knows the business side of things—bookings, contracts, that sort of thing. If we’re serious about making it, we need someone with experience in handling those things, or we’ll get swallowed up by the system.”

Yumi blinked, clearly impressed by how well Kiko was thinking ahead. “That makes sense,” she said, nodding.

Kiko’s gaze flickered to Taka. “Do either of you have anyone in mind? Anyone who could fit those roles?” she asked, her tone still graceful but with an edge of practicality. She wasn’t just dreaming about success; she was laying the groundwork for it.

Taka scratched the back of his neck, thinking. “Well, I don’t really know anyone who plays bass, but I know a few drummers around the area. I’m sure we could get some leads if we ask around.”

Yumi nodded, then turned to Kiko with a spark of determination in her eyes. “What’s the next step, then?”

Kiko, still writing, looked up, her expression thoughtful. “We need to go out and scout these people. Find the ones who have the right vibe, the right skillset, and the passion to make this work. We can’t afford to settle for anyone who isn’t fully invested in the dream. Ofcourse, skills will only take you so far. So what we really need are people who are desperate, willing to bet their lives on us.. since we are not a famous group”

Yumi smiled, clearly motivated by Kiko’s proactive approach. “Got it. We’ll go out there and find the right fit.”

Kiko placed the pen down and turned the paper around, revealing her list of thoughts and ideas. “I already have several songs ready to go. Once we find the right bandmates, we can get started right away. I don’t want to waste any time.” She looked between Yumi and Taka, her voice calm but firm. “This is happening, and it’s happening now.”

Taka, who had been a bit quieter than usual, raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious about this, huh?”

Kiko smiled, her eyes sparkling with ambition. “Of course. I wouldn’t waste my time on anything else.”

She paused for a moment, then added, her tone thoughtful and open: “As for the manager… if we can’t find someone with the right experience, maybe we’ll need to find someone who’s just as hungry for success as we are, even if they’re an amateur. If they believe in us, are organized, and want this as badly as we do, I think we can make it work.” She shrugged slightly, offering a confident smile. “We’ll figure it out.”

Yumi’s eyes shone with a renewed energy, as if the idea of taking on the world, even without the perfect team, was suddenly within reach. “Yeah, I think that could work. We’ll just have to find the right person who’s willing to bet on us.”

Taka, still processing Kiko’s pragmatic approach, nodded slowly. “I guess we’ll see who we can find, huh?”

Kiko’s gaze was steady and confident as she looked between them. “Exactly. And no matter what happens, we won’t stop until we get there. I promise you, I´ll make us reach fame. No matter what it takes.”

Yumi watched Kiko for a moment, her mind racing as she processed the calm, collected, and decisive woman sitting before her. The way Kiko spoke, the way she carried herself—it was a stark contrast to the girl who had stumbled into their apartment the night before, exhausted and unsure.

Is this the same person?

Yumi’s mind replayed the scene from last night: Kiko, standing in the corner, barely able to keep her eyes open, her voice trembling as she admitted her fear. She had looked so fragile then, so uncertain. But now… Kiko was a completely different person. She wasn’t just a dreamer; she was a planner, a doer. She was already mapping out their future, making it all seem so… attainable.

Who are you, Kiko?

Yumi couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, not just for Kiko’s abilities, but for the quiet strength she seemed to have hidden all along. She had no idea how Kiko had changed overnight, but something about the way she spoke, the way she believed in herself, made Yumi feel like they could actually make this dream happen. Kiko wasn’t just a pretty girl with a pretty voice—she was a force to be reckoned with.

She’s not the lost girl I met last night.

Yumi leaned back in her chair, glancing at Taka, who was still trying to process everything Kiko had said. No, she’s much more than that. She’s got the spark—the kind of person who makes you want to follow them, even if you don’t fully understand why yet.

Yumi’s smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she glanced at Kiko, who was now organizing her thoughts for the next steps. I guess this is who she really is—strong, confident, driven. It’s kind of amazing to see.

Yumi couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement, mixed with an odd sense of admiration. She had no idea what Kiko’s true story was, but she was certain of one thing now: Kiko is the kind of person who can make things happen.

Yumi took a deep breath, taking a last smoke before putting her cigarette out. “Okay, Kiko,” Yumi said, her voice steady and confident, “wash up first, get dressed, and later we’ll all go out and scout for some musicians. Since it’s our day off, Taka, let’s make it productive.”

Taka, who had been lounging at the edge of the table, groaned but couldn’t hide the faint grin spreading across his face. “Well, you’re right. Guess I’ll go run the bath then,” he said, pushing himself off the floor with a lazy stretch.

“Thank you, Taka,” Kiko replied with a lighthearted smile, her gaze lingering on him for just a moment. She turned to Yumi, feeling the weight of their next steps settling in.

“Oh, by the way,” Kiko continued, her voice gentle but firm, “don’t stress about the manager part. While you guys are working, I’ll keep looking for one. I’ve got that part covered, so you don’t have to worry.”

Yumi nodded, relieved. “Okay, I’ll leave it to you.”

There was a short pause between them, the atmosphere thick with the unspoken understanding that this was just the beginning. As Yumi turned to head toward the bathroom, Kiko’s voice caught her just as she was about to leave.

“Hey, Yumi,” Kiko called softly, almost hesitating, her gaze softer than usual. “I wanted to say… I think you’re amazing too.”

Yumi stopped mid-step, surprised. She turned around, her eyes wide as she blinked in confusion. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Kiko offered a warm, sincere smile that spoke volumes more than words could. “I just think you are.”

Yumi’s cheeks flushed as she scratched the back of her neck nervously. “Oh… well, haha, I don’t know what I’ve done… but thank you, Kiko.”

The air felt warmer in that brief moment, as if the walls between them had thinned, revealing something deeper. Yumi smiled, her usual confidence shaking just slightly. She turned, heading toward the bathroom, still slightly flushed.

“I’ll check if the bath is ready,” Yumi said, her voice a little softer than usual.

Kiko watched her walk away, a quiet smile playing on her lips. She couldn’t help but feel that things were moving in the right direction—that this moment, this little exchange, was a sign of something more to come. Kiko hadn’t realized how much she needed to be seen, to be understood. And yet, here was Yumi, someone who didn’t ask for anything but simply believed.

Kiko’s eyes softened as she stared after her, her heart fluttering a little as the weight of her new resolve settled deeper within her. The journey ahead was uncertain, but with these two by her side, she felt like she could take on anything. Even though, that thought scared her a little bit..