Chapter 7- A business proposition

Seiichiro narrowed his eyes at his youngest sibling and only sister. For her part, Sakura met his stare unflinching. He finally spoke.

"What proposition?"

Instead of answering, Sakura turned to her agent beside her.

"Sumu, could you please hand out the packets?"

"Sure thing, Sakura."

Reaching into his satchel, Susumu pulled out several packets and quickly distributed them to all present. Ren let out a soft chuckle as Reiji whistled softly at the data contained in the pack of papers they had all been given. For their part, Seiichiro, Shining and Junya were quietly reading the data presented to them. Once he was done, Junya turned and smiled at his younger sister, a spark of pride in his eyes.

"Impressive, little sister." he said quietly and Sakura smiled gratefully.

"Yes indeed, it's a pretty little presentation." Seiichiro said as he put down his packet, his eyes meeting Sakura's. "On paper."

The atmosphere, already tense, pulled taunt as a bowstring. Susumu frowned, but said nothing. Shining Saotome merely watched. Reiji shifted uncomfortably, Ren in irritation, opening his mouth to retaliate. However, Junya gripped his younger brother's arm tightly and shot him a look out of the corner of his eye, warning him not to interfere. He recognised the look on Seiichiro's face. It was the one he used when negotiating with a business partner, which meant that he was taking this, and their sister, seriously. And was actually willing to listen to what she had to say, which meant that he, too, had been impressed with Sakura's data. Now Junya only hoped she'd be able to carry through and not choke. Sakura merely stared at Seiichiro, trying to read his expression, which gave her nothing as to what he was thinking. He wasn't just a closed book, he was closed, locked and bound in several layers of shrink wrap. This would be a battle of wills and logical presentation then. So be it. Sakura sat up straighter, her face filling with determination as she faced her eldest brother head-on.

"What do you mean by that, Seiichiro?" she asked quietly, determined not to let her uncertainty through and thus, lose by showing weakness.

This game had just began after all, and she was determined to give as good as she was sure she'd get.

"I meant what I said, Sakura." Seiichiro answered. "You have set up a good proposition and you have good data..."

He paused to look at Susumu.

"However, I'm sure you didn't do this alone."

"Sakura did most of the work..." Susumu began, frowning as he tried to keep his face and voice level.

"You're right, I did have help." Sakura broke across smoothly. "And I couldn't have done it without Susumu and Ai. However, the proposition and idea was mine, they merely supported me and helped gather the data and information I needed."

Seiichiro merely nodded and Junya had to work hard to keep his face impassive. Again Sakura had impressed their brother by not only showing initiative, but being gracious enough to give credit where it was due. As he watched this fight of wills between the eldest and the youngest Jinguji, Junya couldn't help but be unsurprised the two of them locked horns so often, given how similar they were. And they very obviously lived past each other, not understanding the other and their intentions. Which was also unsurprising, given how long they had lived apart, and having never really gotten along given their personalities and the age gap.

"Then, allow me to ask this question-" Seiichiro leaned forward slightly as he gazed at his sister. "How, exactly, do you intend to juggle both of these debuts simultaneously? You seem to be taking this rather lightly, aren't you? I don't think you understand how much work you're about to take upon yourself. Eventually, one of these debuts will suffer, and I can tell you now, it will not be your social one. So why not quit while you're ahead? Why do this to yourself just to prove something? What is it you want to prove?"

Sakura gazed at he eldest brother, trying hard to keep her temper. She knew she was being tested and she gave thought to the questions he had asked her. He was clearly concerned, in his own way, for her well being, and if she didn't give a satisfactory answer, he'd pull the plug. Susumu shifted, but remained quiet. Ren, however, couldn't.

"Stop being such an ass-hat, Seiichiro!" he snarled. "Why can't you just give Sakura a chance to let her prove herself!?"

"Be quiet, Ren, I wasn't speaking to you." Seiichiro's eyes never left hie sister even as he reproached his youngest brother, Junya gripping Ren's arm in a vice grip to warn him to keep his mouth shut.

Sakura took a deep breath and finally spoke.

"I know it may seem a frivolous whim and that I'm not taking it seriously..." she began, choosing her words carefully, even as her ire and irritation were fighting to push through at how Ren was being treated. "However, I assure you that I am, indeed, serious about pursuing my dream of being an idol... like mom. "

Silence permeated the meeting area after this statement and Junya winced as Seiichiro's brow furrowed and he barely suppressed a snarl.

"That's hardly a convincing argument, Sakura."

"I know." she said, facing down her brother. "That's why I had Ai set up several different schedules for me. Schedules which would allow me to focus on my Debutante debut while still focusing on my debut as an idol. You can look at the addendum again if you don't believe me."

Seiichiro eyeballed his sister for a moment before turning to look at the packet of papers and turning to the place she had mentioned. He frowned.

"These schedules hardly seem possible, little sister." he said, gruffly. "And even if they were you'd work yourself into a coma. Which hardly helps your case."

"I never said the schedules would be easy to follow, Seiichiro." Sakura's lip twitched for a moment, but whether it was in irritation or mirth, she was unsure at the moment. "However, I assure you, with the right amount of discipline, it can be done."

Seiichiro scoffed.

"You'd need the patience and discipline of the saints to handle a schedule like this, little sister." he told her. "And you have neither."

"Actually, these schedule's aren't so bad." Ren said, looking at the data again. "You should have seen the schedules Aimi set up for Shinomi and Shorty."

"Aimi?" Junya asked as Seiichiro frowned at the interruption.

"One of my band mates in Quartet Night, Ai Mikaze." Reiji spoke for the first time since this stand-off meeting began while also looking at the said schedule. "And Ren-Ren's right. These schedules are almost tame by Ai-Ai's standards."

Seiichiro frowned.

"I fail to see the significance?"

"The point is, I am 100% positive that, if I follow Ai's schedule, I'll be able to achieve my dream of debuting as an idol" Sakura stated. "as well as fufill my...obligation... as a Debutante and member of the prestigious Jinguji clan."

Her eyes had not left Seiichiro for a moment throughout this ordeal. Seiichiro shook his head and Junya felt his stomach plummet. The head of the Jinguji was unconvinced.

"You have no way of guaranteeing that, Sakura."

"Not if you won't at least give me the chance to try!" Sakura's irritation finally won out as her patience with her brother and this situation wore thin. "I'm not asking for much, Seiichiro! Just 3 months! Can you at least extend the Debute by 3 months...?"

Seiichiro watched her, a dark frown on his face. Sakura waited for him to speak. When he remained silent, Sakura drew a deep breath.

"If, at the end of the 3 month extension, I don't Debute to a good enough standard," she said evenly, getting her temper under control again. "Then I'll leave FrEe SpIrIt behind me."