First of all: I'm sorry for the mistake in the previous chapter. I've already corrected it: Ria is not Sairi's girlfriend but his kindergarten friend. I'm sorry I forgot to correct it from the first draft...

But now let's go on with the story. Have fun with some more bonding inside the band

Chapter 02

"So, here are your new contracts." Their manager passed two copies of a contract to every member of the band. "As we've discussed there are no significant changes besides the terms of validity. You will work under these conditions for the next three years."

The five members of "The Shadow Warriors" nodded and while Ria had already signed her copy without much reading, Shuusei and the others scanned through the pages.

"Still no relationships?" Sairi complained.

"Sorry. I couldn't convince the company. You know…"

"Yeah... so that our female fans could safely go on with their wet dreams about marrying us and give them all their money…" Sairi seemed grumpy.

"Hey, no one keeps you from taking a girl to your room from time to time," Tsukumo teased.

"I would not sign this if it was forbidden," Sairi grinned and put his signature on the line on the last page. "But somehow something serious would also be nice..."

Shuusei just shook his head and continued reading. He was not interested in any relationship regulations but rather in the amount of work they'd have to put in non-musical things like meet-and-greets, interviews and so on. Those were the things he really hated about his job. He was not the most social person.

"You could do this as well, Shuusei. Perhaps it would do you good and you'd lose the stick that sometimes seems to be stuck up your ass when it comes to sexual topics."

Shuusei sighed. "Sorry, I'm not interested in seducing random girls. I don't understand what's so fun about it…"

"Just try and you'll see. I can introduce you to a few girls who would gladly share their bed with you."

Shuusei pulled a face at this thought. "Thanks, I leave the girls to you. I think I can't separate sex from emotion so until have a relationship I won't share anyone's bed. So not for at least the next three years." He was through with the contract and agreed to the workload and put his signature under it as well.

"You miss so much fun. There's nothing more beautiful than a naked girl underneath you filled with lust and passion for your... ouch… Ria!" Sairi rubbed his shoulder where the petite girl just had slapped him.

"Yes you love sex, we know. Be glad you boys are allowed to meet girls. Touko and I are supposed to stay pure… for all those guys to dream on about getting us into their beds."

"Oh, there's nothing written about internal relationships, dearest Ria. I wouldn't mint to make you happy…. Ouw… stop hitting me!"

"Then stop talking bullshit. It's Shuu's decision whether he seduces someone or not. Not every guy is so focused on girls as you are." Ria defended him and Shuusei smiled again.

"Okay. Then let's go celebrate the next three years? I have some champagne in the fridge and maybe something a little stronger? And some good food for you as well, Tsukumo."

The band members handed one copy of the contract back to their manager who would return them to the company for which he worked and which had more Idols and Idol groups under their wings.

"May I join you later?" The manager asked seemingly not wanting to destroy the five friend's moment together.

"Of course, you're always welcome!" Tsukumo nodded. "You're part of our group as well, Ishida-san." The other band members nodded and stood up to leave for Sairi's car.

"Shuusei?" Ishida asked when the band got up. Shuusei looked at him in confusion.

"Yes?" he asked.

"The company wants me to convince you to take model jobs," Ishida said earnestly. "Or act in a movie or two. They think your pretty face doesn't belong only on the music stage. I could barely convince them from putting these conditions into your contract."

Shuusei gulped. Then he shook his head. "You know my answer. I am a musician and nothing more. They shall be happy about me singing. You know my conditions. I am not Sairi who loves to bathe in the spotlight. I'm not Touko who likes acting from time to time. I can't work under pressure. There are reasons for me demanding not to work after concerts and for me not participating at every interview. I stand on the stage to play music and reduce my anxiety, not raise its levels by putting myself into the centre of attention."

"I know, Shuusei, and I want you to be happy with what you do. I'll tell them I did my best to convince you and you will go on just with your music. I support you."

"Thank you, Ishida-san." Shuusei bowed in front of the man. He was really glad that he was their manager. He was someone who cared for their wishes and for who they were and someone who considered their boundaries more important than the profit. Shuusei knew he could earn more money if he took some modelling jobs or started with acting, but he didn't want to. He earned more than enough for a comfortable life and that was all he wanted.

"No problem. See you later at Sairi's" Ishida nodded and left the room shortly before Shuusei who hurried up to join his friends.

Soon after, they arrived at the Shinmei's old mansion from the early 20th century.

"You really have too much money, don't you?" Touko teased when they got off the car.

"You can never have too much money." Sairi grinned and led his friends into the garden, where some of the family's servants had already prepared food and drinks for everyone.

"I'm always impressed when I come here", Tsukumo stated while he already looked towards the buffet to check what kinds of delicious food they would get tonight. Touko shook her head about her brother's antics but she knew and loved him too much to deny him his love for good food.

Shuusei found Sairi's old acoustic guitar near the buffet table and took it to sit down near his friends and started to randomly play. He was no fan of parties so whenever they celebrated something he was made responsible for the music. Be it with Sairi's guitar or later with a playlist or two and Sairi's computer. But for now he wanted to play and enjoy the music. And he was happy to play for another three years with his best friends under good conditions; and hopefully for many more.

An hour later, Shuusei had put the guitar aside and the loudspeakers played joyful music when all five were sitting on a blanket and had their dinner.

"Hey, Shuu... You once told us about your best friend from your childhood. Why don't we know him, yet?" Ria suddenly asked. Shuusei had been listening to the song from the playlist and had missed the moment when they had started to talk about their elementary school days.

Shuusei sighed. "His dad got transferred to Europe and then they had to move a few times and we lost contact," Shuusei answered sadly. "He had found other friends and well... things happen and you just don't know how it happened but the contact breaks. And we didn't use the internet as excessively as in the early 2000s. So I don't know how I could get in contact with him. I don't even know where he lives right now."

"But perhaps he knows about us?"

Shuusei shrugged. Yes, sometimes he imagined how Hotsuma watched their music videos on Youtube, just to know what he was doing. "Perhaps. But perhaps he has a life of his own and all we had is just a happy childhood memory. That's how life works. You can't tell me you're still in contact with all of your first friends."

"Well... no... but when you told us about him you sounded so fond. You still think of him, don't you?" Touko asked quietly.

"I do. I still consider him a friend, no matter where he is and what he's doing with his life."

Shuusei smiled a melancholic smile and got up to get some fruit from the buffet. He really wanted to know what Hotsuma was doing. He should be about done with studying right now. His dream had been to become an astronomer or an astronaut. Shuusei asked himself if his friend had been able to achieve his dream the same way as Shuusei had made his dream of living from the music come true. He shook his head. He'd perhaps never know.

When he returned to his friends he noticed Ishida who joined them with a broad grin on his face. "What happened?" he asked when he sat down. The happy face of their manager pushed the thoughts away.

"I'm becoming a dad! Look!" The man showed them his phone where they could see a sonogram of a fetus.

"Congratulations!" Sairi hollered. "Tanaka! Bring another bottle of champagne. We have another reason to celebrate!

Shuusei smiled but somewhere down in his mind he thought a step further: Ishida's wife lived in Osaka. So... should they prepare to get another manager soon?