ANONYMOUS MAJOR IDOL GROUP ADDITIONAL MEMBER AUDITION
Why don't you become an idol with me?
TOTAL APPLICANTS: 136,114
1ST SCREENING: APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
SELECT FILE
I LOVE IDOLS. THEY'RE LIKE FLOWERS…
PASSED (APPLICANTS: 1,288 PASS RATE: 1 IN 105.7)
2ND SCREENING: INTERVIEW (AT 8 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE)
IDOL GROUP MEMBER AUDITION
PENDING RESULTS (PREVIOUS AUDITION PASS RATE: 1 IN 12.7)
MEGUROGAWA MIDDLE SCHOOL
To be honest, I'm pretty confident!
I wasn't qualified to apply last time, so I waited two years for this audition!
Yeah! I bet you passed for sure!
Since you're cute and good at dancing too, Ruby!
-Though your singing is, you know. -"You know"?
But you're appealing enough to cover up that flaw, Ruby!
"Flaw"?
Anyhow, I'm definitely gonna pass this idol audition!
And one day, I'll become a top idol like my mom.
My name is Ruby Hoshino.
I have two secrets that I can't even tell my friends.
Over a decade ago, the legendary idol who was murdered by a cult fan stalker,
Ai, was my mother.
And one more.
The fact that I have memories of my previous life.
My body was weak since birth, so I spent most of that life in a hospital.
The only fun I could have was with idol otaku activities.
And I was especially obsessed with Ai from B Komachi.
Even in the last hours of my life,
Ai's singing voice was echoing inside my head.
But the next time I woke up, I was reborn as Ai's child.
Ai…
Those couple of years until Mama died are a treasure to me.
I will become like Mama!
It's okay to dream, but high school entrance exams are around the corner.
You don't get it, Bro.
I'm gonna become an idol.
Schools with entertainment courses prioritize interviews.
Academic skills are only for reference.
I don't have to study if I become an idol. I can kill two birds with one stone!
Don't gamble your life away with some tidbit you got somewhere.
You can dream of becoming an idol, but being an idol is no glamorous dream.
Low pay is standard and you'll have to retire before you're 30.
And your daily life will always be under fan surveillance.
The industry survival rate's low after idol graduation
and the majority shifts to a different field in the end.
A job with the cost and benefit being this mismatched is rare.
So what are you saying?
Life's about doing what you want!
If you worry about cost or benefit, you can't do anything!
There are people who end their lives not being able to do anything!
I don't want that!
Suit yourself.
I'm going to the director's place.
My brother has changed since Mama died.
He always has a glum face on and never seems like he's having fun.
He's been up to something after he began studying under the director,
but he won't tell me anything.
My brother isn't the only one who changed.
We lost contact with Mr. Ichigo after that incident,
so Mrs. Miyako took over the business.
B Komachi, who lost their star Ai, disbanded two years after.
The current Ichigo Production has no idol division
so it extended its business to managing internet personalities to get by.
Hey, aren't you ever going to make another idol group?
It's not as easy as you say.
If I could, I would.
The dream Ai showed us was an unforgettable experience.
1ST PLACE YEARLY RANKING
But we need to think of that as winning the lottery.
The longer I do this job, the more I can tell.
That kind of miracle won't happen again.
Things usually don't go that smoothly in real life.
Besides…
Besides?
Uh.
Nothing. You should be getting your call for your audition results soon.
If you pass, you've agreed to join their agency, right?
They're a much proper agency than us.
Well, that is true, but…
AUDITION
Speak of the devil.
Yes?
Am I speaking with Ms. Ruby Hoshino?
Yes, this is Hoshino!
Yes.
Oh, I see.
Thank you.
Then we look forward to your participation next time.
Ruby.
I didn't make it.
That's reality.
There are all kinds of business politics,
so you can't expect your talent to be fairly evaluated.
Not everyone can be like Ai.
GOTANDA STUDIO GOTANDA
Thanks, Director.
You can even fool your own twin sister, so you're pretty good as an actor.
What if the real agency calls her?
I sent a text message from Ruby's phone to the agency saying she'll withdraw,
and I blocked their phone number as well.
I know what I'm doing.
I don't understand you.
Why go that far to crush your sister's dream?
That girl's a real beauty, she may actually have a chance.
No need to tell me.
But I won't let Ruby become an idol.
I won't let her make the same mistake that Ai made.
Ever.
You and your sister complex. You're overprotective.
Just myself is enough.
I'll carry the plan out by myself.
You were scouted?!
Yup! But it's for those so-called underground idols!
I think this must be destiny!
I've been eyeing underground idol hiring ads for a while!
You know how Mama became an idol from being scouted too?
So, don't you think I'm being led down this path?
Are you sure that's really an idol group?
Not some shady job?
It's nothing like that.
Did you check what's in their contract?
He said he'll show me their concert soon and that we'd go over the contract after.
Huh.
I'm so excited!
Jeez, what a pain.
I gotta find some way to stop her.
There you go again.
Because of Ai's case,
I can understand how you don't want your beloved sister to follow in her footsteps.
Even I…
still think about what it'd be like now had I done something different back then.
I never want to feel like that again.
I raised Ruby like she was my own daughter.
I swore I would protect her.
But because she's my daughter, I can't stop Ruby from pursuing her dreams.
She's starting to look more and more like AI.
And unfortunately, she does have potential.
Either way, she would've ended up this way.
Before we decide, there's something I need to do.
I'm borrowing the agency's card.
What?
What are you going to do?
Hello!
Can I have a minute?
What is it?
I'm from here.
Oh, Ichigo Production?
You know us?
Yes, B Komachi's agency, right? My mom was a fan!
Wow!
So this is Ichigo Production!
You're so young,
so I thought you were a recruiter for a shady job.
This feels like a shady nightmare.
First off, I'm going to investigate the group that Ruby was scouted to.
Since there's all sorts of underground idols.
If they're a worthless management, we won't even consider it.
We can talk about Ruby becoming an idol or not after that.
Lala, you're currently working under an agency called Yilibu, right?
Yes.
We'd like to offer you a better set of conditions.
What kind of conditions are you working under right now?
Um.
A small guaranteed minimum income under the condition of doing all concerts.
And at the photo event after the concerts,
there's a commission based on the number of photos taken.
That's our main income.
Then our outfit and various costs are deducted from there.
Since transportation and makeup fees are out of pocket too,
we don't make 100,000 yen a month most of the time.
Hmm.
Any complaints about your current group?
Of course!
Management's pushing for this one girl, but they over-favor her like crazy!
Why? Because apparently, that girl's dating management.
Oh jeez.
It's not like she's good at singing. Nor does she have a great face.
She steals other members' customers by luring them to crush on her.
I'm doing this seriously,
but we can't become a hit because of half-hearted management!
I feel nothing but bad vibes in the group, and I sense some members quitting.
And I hear management is scouting like crazy too.
If I can move to Ichigo Production…
There are underground idol management that have experience,
but there are many idol lovers who do it as an extension of their hobby too.
Of course, we don't know if that girl's story was even true.
Jealousy and conflicts between members
and complaints toward management producing false rumors are common.
First of all, managing a group of young girls is extremely difficult.
Even with B Komachi,
Ai was the most popular, so favoritism was…
Ugh, just the thought of it makes me sick.
Either way, we're not letting Ruby join a group where rumors rise like that.
Then what are you going to do?
There's countless things. Like hire a detective and expose them online…
Don't make jokes like that.
It isn't a joke.
I don't intend on letting Ruby become an idol.
At least not under a management that isn't trustworthy.
By the way, how about we really hire that girl?
You know we don't manage idols anymore.
Besides, I don't want to hire someone who talks badly about her group members.
Please excuse me for the day.
Goodnight.
Ta-da! Hey, what do you think?
You look cute.
You gotta dress up on your important days!
-Ah, I'm so excited! -She really does.
Ruby, you're serious, huh?
Yeah.
You do know that the world you're about to enter is a tough place?
You may feel miserable for not becoming a hit idol.
It's not just the salary, your private life--
I know! Aqua told me the same thing.
Even stalking is a common story you'll hear about every day.
Despite that--
Of course! I mean, I can become one.
I can finally become an idol too.
I swear I'll become just like Mama!
You're serious?
I'm serious!
Then do not join that group.
What? Why?
I want to seriously become an idol--
If you're serious, then join our agency.
Ichigo Production will launch a new idol group for the first time in over a decade.
Stamp your seal here on the binding.
Seal on the binding?
I don't really understand, but I just stamp here?
EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT
HOSHINO
Okay, now you are an artist belonging to Ichigo Production, Ruby.
If you do anything bad, I'll sue you.
That's super scary.
It's not a joke, okay?
This is also a necessary step to enter the entertainment course,
so don't get mad, Aqua.
I'm not exactly against it.
GOTANDA STUDIO GOTANDA
Aqua, welcome!
Is the director awake?
He's sleeping, but you can go ahead and slap him awake.
Do you want to eat with us again?
No, don't mind me.
Oh, you're here.
Good morning.
Edit this, so it looks good.
Roger.
I'm still a middle school student.
I'm not old enough for a job, so I can't gain experience on set.
That's why I'm working under the director as his pupil,
helping him with film production.
I see.
So your sister's gonna go down the path of an idol after all.
You're okay with it? As her brother?
Rather than having her become an idol in some group from who-knows-where,
she'll be in safe hands if her management is family.
Brother and sister both choose the path of entertainment, huh?
Not both. My goal is to work backstage now.
Weren't you gonna become an actor again?
You're applying to your sister's school, right?
Only Ruby's taking the entertainment course. I'm taking the general.
When you came to study under me,
you looked like you definitely wanted to become an actor.
For me, becoming an actor is just a stepping stone.
To find the guy who put Ai to death.
To find my father to give him a taste of the pain Ai went through.
Oddly enough, the key to finding him is myself.
I should be able to identify him through DNA testing his hair or saliva.
But in order to do that,
I need to get to a position where I can interact with those in showbiz.
Becoming an actor is the fastest way for that,
but if I just need to be in showbiz, I can just work as an AD or backstage.
Although they were minor roles, I can tell after performing in a few of your works.
I don't have a talent for acting.
I was just one of the many struggling actors out there
who try hard but can't get anywhere.
I don't have a special skill of my own like Ai did.
I shouldn't aim for a goal that's beyond my abilities.
If a kid doesn't dream, who will?
Even as a college student, it'd still be too early to give up on your dreams.
Listen,
here's some advice from a middle-aged guy chasing his dream for 20 years.
I'm only gonna say it once, so listen up.
Everyone has a right to dream.
Same with the lottery, you'll n--
Taishi! The food's ready!
M-Mom! I was giving a really nice talk, so don't interrupt us!
How was I supposed to know that?!
If I waited, the miso soup would've gotten cold!
I'll come over once we finish talking!
There was a time when I was struggling just like you.
-Oh, my! -But…
Look at all this mess here! Gosh!
Will you just hurry and go?!
Honestly, this child!
Hey, you're already in your mid-forties, why don't you leave the nest soon?
There's no benefit to leaving your parent's house if it's in the city!
There's actually a ton of guys like me! It's typical in the creative field!
Anyway, you'll never win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket. You need…
The words of a man living in his childhood room doesn't sink in.
There was a time when I believed I had talent like Ai.
But I couldn't become like Ai--
Ai this, Ai that! Shut up, you sound like a pirate.
It's true Ai was incredible. Maybe she really was a special person.
But you can never become Ai, and Ai can never become you.
Did Ai ever have the filmmaking skills like you have right now?
Did she have a brain like you?
Don't chicken out just from being defeated one or two times.
Say that type of thing after you use all the resources you have first.
It's way too early for you to be acting like an average person.
You wanna be an actor, right?
It's written on your face.
And maybe Aqua might be an actor?
Hey, Director.
Hm?
I--
Aqua, you'll eat here, right? I'll go and serve your rice already!
Mature Baby was just about to say something good right now!
Don't come in!
How could I have known?!
This is Youtou High School.
It's a six-year secondary school with a rare entertainment course.
But not everybody can take this course.
A certificate proving you belong to a talent agency is required.
I'm Ruby Hoshino from Ichigo Production!
GENERAL COURSE INTERVIEW HALL
I'm Aquamarine Hoshino…
That's some name you have…
A standardized score of 70?!
Our school is recommended for those who score around 40…
I was drawn to your spirit.
You were drawn to our school spirit that much?!
MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATE
How was it?
Probably okay. And you?
No problems.
If by some chance I don't get in, it'd be because of my name.
That's true, your real name is Aquamarine Hoshino after all.
Though everybody just shortens it and calls you Aqua.
Aqua?
Hm?
Aqua Hoshino?!
Aqua! Aqua?
You're Aqua Hoshino?!
Who were you again?
Oh, isn't she that kid?
The genius child actress who licks baking soda.
The genius child actress who can cry in ten seconds!
We were cast in a film together! I'm Kana Arima!
Ah, long time no see. You were in the entertainment course here?
I'm so glad. I thought you quit for the longest time.
I finally got to see you.
Are you taking our entertainment course?! Are you?!
No, I applied for the general course.
Why?!
Subtitle translation by: Kanami Kitabayashi