Mio just sat there in shock. Words couldn't describe what her thoughts were, and she later had commented that her mind was filled with "fuzzy, white nothing".

"Miss Akiyama? Are you still there?"

The voice barely registered with the raven-haired woman at the table, but at least Mio had enough wits about her to answer, although it did sound quite dazed.

"Oh? Oh! Y... yes, I'm still here..."

"As I was saying, Mr. Kurusugawa was very impressed with both your press package, and the performance that he witnessed. Therefore, on behalf of Ariola Japan, we would like to offer After School Tea Time a 2 record Rotation, with support for touring and merchandising."

"WHAT?" Mio sat speechless as the woman on the other end of the phone line explained what all this meant

"... now, another I will need is the contact information for your manager."

"M... m... manager? What if we don't h... have one at the m... moment?" Mio asked. She had a horrible feeling that this offer was dead in the water before it even set sail. Also, Mio wondered if she and Ritsu had gotten ahead of themselves by sending out all those press packages so early on in their "career".

"Well, I'm assuming that you're just asking that to know, but essentially, you would be assigned a manager on the interim by us, and you, as a band, would pay for him or her from the band coffer. Now, this may seem like an ideal situation, but our in-house managers are very picky, and if none would be willing to work with you, we would give you 1 week to hire a 3rd party manager, and following such time, we would terminate the offer. Now, you can re-submit your press package one year from the date of termination, but as you well know, the music industry changes so fast that you may never get an offer from any company again. But, I can tell that your manager is very competent, mainly because the press package that we received was one of the best I've seen."

Mio sat and listened in shock. If After School Tea Time couldn't find a manager... well, they might be out of luck. This was almost too much at once. First, a record offer, then the harsh reality of it: No manager, no deal.

"No, just... curious is all. Is there anyway I can get a number to call you right back? I've got... something to take care of now." Well done, Mio thought to herself, way to lie to her.

"Certainly, I'm sure you want to discuss this with the rest of your team. Get your manager to call me at 003 1351 1154, and we can schedule a meeting for contract intent and to decide course of operation and fine details of the offer. When you call, dial extension 2211, then ask for Mayumi Ikaruga. Thank you for your time, Miss Akiyama"

Mio wrote all the information down, thanked the woman again, and hung up. Then the excitement of what happened hit. HARD.

"OH MY GOD!" Mio yelled. Then, with more enthusiasm than was normal for the tall, beautiful bassist, she ran around her apartment like a young girl on the morning of her birthday. Needless to say, the outburst, and the ruckus of her running around woke the other occupant of the small apartment.

"MIO! Have you lost your mind? Anyways, what has you so worked up at... ten after nine in the morning?" Ritsu was not to happy about being woken up on one of the few days she had to sleep in, but it was fairly obvious that something very good happened... but whatever it was, it had better be good enough to warrant making enough noise to wake the dead.

"RITSU!" was all Mio could get out before she hug-tackled Ritsu, knocking the brunette back, onto the floor of her room.

"OUFF! What the hell is wrong with you? That hurt..." Ritsu started, but was cut off.

"WE GOT SIGNED, RITSU! A REAL CONTRACT! 2 ALBUMS!"

"... WHAT?"

Both Ritsu and Mio sat at the table. Ritsu let Mio do all the talking; Mio had taken the phone call anyways, best let her explain it to the others.

"... so if anyone has any ideas about a manager, please, tell us. It's incredibly important."

Ritsu looked around the table, judging everyone's mood.

Yui, as to be expected, was vibrating with excitement. It's not everyday you get the chance to become a rock star, and she had worked incredibly hard the last 3 years to make herself a better musician. She had learned how to read music and had taken basic guitar repair and maintenance lessons at the local music store. She had even matured a bit. She was no longer the lazy girl Ritsu had met 6 years ago in High School, but a serious musician with a penchant for eating sweets and occasionally being a little... dazed. Those where not the only changes with the brown-haired guitarist. She had grown to be a very beautiful woman; not quite a model, but very close. This was evident by the number of men who had, unsuccessfully, asked her out on dates. Music was life's number one priority to Yui, and as such, it has a happy and fun one.

Mugi was... Mugi. Except her smile was much... brighter today. Mugi had changed very little in the years since High School graduation, having enrolled in the music program at the same university that Mio, Ritsu and Yui attend. Mugi was the first one called to the apartment, because she was the most level headed of the band, and her reaction was almost hilarious, consisting of "Oh my... This is great news! How wonderful!", followed by an almost dangerous dreamy look coming over her that lasted for about five minutes. Then, in true Mugi fashion, she had gone to the kitchen and proceeded to make tea.

Azusa was, as far as Ritsu could tell, still in shock. Unlike the rest of the band, Azusa had graduated High School with applying to any universities. Instead, she had joined the instructional staff the local music store as a guitar teacher for children. And how the kids loved her. At the end of her first year as instructor, the children were able to play very well, and it showed at the end-of-year concert, in which the students all played a few songs in front of their parents. Azusa had asked permission for After School Tea Time to play at the end of the concert, and the performance went over so well that the store had to increase the instructional staff to accommodate all the new students that had enrolled. Azusa had also taken a more active role in the band in the last year, bring two new songs to the band, and she, as well as Mugi, had started singing as well. Though, Ritsu thought, physically... well, I thought Mio was prettyAzusa had grown taller in the last 4 years. This along with certain... assets becoming more predominate, made Azusa look like a slightly younger Mio... if Mio cut her hair to the same length as Ritsu...

"I know!" Ritsu snapped back to reality, and looked at Yui "Call Nodoka-chan! She's in management in the university, y'know! I'm sure she'd say yes."

Of course, Ritsu thought, why didn't we think of her before. Not only is she friends with Mio and Yui, but is definitely smart enough to do it.

"... and that's why we're asking you, Nodoka. You're the only one who can help us."

Nodoka Manabe sat back on her couch. This... well... a very tempting offer. The chance to be the manager of a rock band... the concept was mind-boggling! The things she'd see, the places she'd visit... but at the cost of her degree. Also, the thought that she could end up unemployed and uneducated in the event that the band couldn't cut it... it was a hard decision to make.

"Why me, Mio? Why not Ui or Sawaka-Sensei?" Even to her, that sounded like a stupid question.

"Well, you're responsible, unlike Sawaka-Sensei, and I am sure you understand why Ui isn't a logical choice, being Yui's sister and all... besides, think of this as a learning experience you'll never get in a classroom. Besides, you've helped us a lot in the last 6 years... please, help us again."

"Alright, alright. I'll do it." Nodoka couldn't see it, but she was sure that if she could, Mio would be putting on that incredibly cute pleading look she had used against her so many times in the past. And what member of Mio's fan club could turn THAT look down?

"REALLY! Hey, she said yes, everyone!"Nodoka had to immediately pull the phone away from her ear, for the noise on the other side of the phone... well, it was REALLY loud.

After a few minutes, Mio came back on the phone. "Well, Nodoka, thank you some much. I don't know how to thank you..."

"Don't worry, Mio. We ARE friends, you know... we'll figure it out."

"Well, I'll email you all the info for the band and the label. If you need anymore information, just email or call me and I'll send it to you. I've gotta go now, so call me once you've arranged the meeting with the label. See you!"

Nodoka stood up and looked down at her phone.

"Well," she said to her empty living room, "It can't be that hard, managing a band."