Well-kept silky hair.
A baby face that screams innocence.
Her innate airheaded personality.
It's true…
According to my long experience in following idols,
these types of girls gain popularity from hardcore otakus like crazy!
Your perspective and analysis are disturbing.
If she'll get popular, then great. Why don't you try scouting her?
Well, you're right, but…
You know how Loli senpai and my destinies are entwined?
You do?
I mean, doesn't she have like a bad attitude toward me?
Isn't that because you keep saying "baking soda"?
Anyhow, I'll message her to meet up, so at least try talking to her.
If you still think you can't get along, then you can forget it.
KANA ARIMA'S ACTING STANDS OUT FROM THE REST
THE STALKER WAS CREEPY BUT HE WAS SO GOOD-LOOKING
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU AFTER SCHOOL
What could it be?
What does he need to talk to me so urgently about?
Really?
Could it be about…
How troublesome…
Really?
-Sorry for the wait. -Finally.
What took you so long?
Huh? You can wait there forever.
Why is your little sister here too?
Because Ruby's the one who needs to talk to you.
I regret bracing myself.
So, what is it? I'm busy unlike you, so keep it under 20 seconds.
What a blatant attitude.
Bro, if I asked her to become an idol now,
that's like me saying that she's as cute as an idol!
That really gets on my nerves!
What's this pride you have?
Don't you want to start idol activities immediately?
Is this the time to be stubborn?
You're right. It's true.
Ms. Kana Arima.
Would you like to become an idol with me?
Idol? Why all of a sudden?
There's a project to make a new idol unit at Ichigo Production.
And I'm looking for its members.
I heard you were a freelancer.
Well, to be frank, this would be a recruitment.
Is this for real?
It's important and for real.
Give me a little time to think about it.
No, there's no way.
If I begin working as an idol, I'll lose the young actor type of jobs,
and my main work will become the rapidly changing idol-type jobs.
If I don't become a hit idol, I lose both jobs.
The risk is too high freelance-wise.
However…
Ruby Hoshino.
I don't know why,
but this girl bears some kind of resemblance to the genius idol Ai.
I've only worked with Ai once,
but she was meant to become a real star.
My senses as an entertainer sees potential in this girl.
But Ichigo Production isn't a major agency and has no record of any new projects.
First of all, I'm not cute enough to become popular as an idol.
I'm not that foolish to take a wild gamble.
-I'm sorry, but-- -Please.
Kana Arima.
Please become an idol with my sister.
But I'm not that cute--
No, you are cute.
I wouldn't ask you to become an idol so lightly.
Arima, you're much cuter than many of those idols out there.
If it's you, I can put my precious sister under your care.
Uh, but…
Please, become an idol.
-I… I can't! -Please.
I'm not doing it!
Arima, I'm asking you because I trust you.
Jeez! No matter how many times you ask, no means no!
I won't ever do it!
KANA ARIMA
Welcome to Ichigo Production. We're happy to have you onboard.
My brain knows I shouldn't! So how do I always end up like this?!
Let's work together, Senpai!
I didn't think you'd really bring her over.
What kind of method did you use?
Nothing special. Just a personality reading.
Kana Arima is very sympathetic and weak under pressure.
According to her personality, I thought a sob story or over-pressuring would work,
and sure enough, it did.
You know…
If you keep doing that kind of stuff, you're gonna get punished someday.
Be careful when you walk at night.
I don't think I've done anything bad.
You making fun of me?!
It's not like I lied about anything.
Well…
my meaningless title as an ex-genius child actress has only changed
to an ex-genius child actress idol, that's all.
Either way, I did need a boost one way or another.
You're so desperate to convince yourself of reality.
Besides,
if I join the same agency as him, we'll be able to work together more.
There could be some kind of skill I can learn from him.
Really?
Hey, doesn't Aqua have any upcoming jobs or anything?
Umm, well, he does.
That's a bitter look…
This.
What?
Aqua's dating?!
WE'RE ABOUT TO FALL IN LOVE ♥ FOR REAL
A NEW SEASON KICKS OFF
THE START OF A FRESH SEASON OF LOVE
THE SIX PARTICIPATING MEMBERS THIS TIME ARE…
Hello!
Um, I'm Yuki Sumi. I'm a 1st year in high school.
She has a nice style!
She looks good from head to toe.
I'm Nobuyuki Kumano. I'm good at dancing.
NOBUYUKI KUMANO DANCER - 2ND YEAR
I'm Akane Kurokawa, a 2nd year in high school. I'm an actress.
Ugh, there she is.
Oh, you know her?
Well, yeah…
I'm Mem-cho, a 3rd year in high school. I stream on YouTube!
Nice to meet you!
So these types appear too, huh.
She's so cute!
I'm Kengo Morimoto. I'm in a band. Nice meeting everyone.
KENGO MORIMOTO MUSICIAN - 3RD YEAR
Oh, what year are you?
Second year.
Third year.
I see.
So high schoolers who work in showbiz
deepen their relationships through various events on weekends.
And you get to see who gets together or not at the end of the show.
Since this is Producer Kaburagi's program, everybody has a pretty face.
Oh, it's Bro.
I'm Aqua. I'm getting super nervous. Everyone, nice to meet you!
Who the hell is that?!
Bro's usually the dark type who emits a negative aura!
He's totally a poser!
Wow, so cool!
I admire actors!
Agh, my brother's hard on these types of girls who act cutesy.
So this girl's out.
Mem-cho, you're cute too. You're making me really blush.
Huh? Drop dead.
What's with him?!
He told me that I was cute only when I was being recruited!
He's getting carried away being surrounded by women.
I'll have to lecture him later.
So my brother's just a wolf after all.
This is what happens as soon as men find some easy prey.
Calm down, you two. This is all for show.
If he doesn't act that way, the show wouldn't hold up, right?
Though I understand seeing a familiar guy flirting with other women is irritating.
Aqua is an actor too.
I'm sure he's probably there knowing that he has to act out a guy like that.
Acting…
I know that, but…
Don't they actually ask each other out and become couples at the end?
That's right.
Even if it's an act, they'll have to go through with it.
If they do become a couple, don't they kiss and stuff?
That's how it usually goes.
Why did he accept a show like this?
If you're going to continue as an actress too,
scenes with kissing and the sort will eventually be demanded.
You have to accept that as part of the job.
If you keep prudish views in this field, it's going to weigh you down later.
I know that, but…
-So, this is my dog! -Uh-huh.
See? Cute, huh? Look!
Uh-huh, so cute.
What a drag.
It's tough having these empty conversations where all I can do is agree…
Why do I have to put up with this?
If you go on this show for me,
I'll tell you a deep inside story that Ai's agency doesn't even know.
That itself could be about Ai's relationships with men.
I'll just have to go through with it.
So I can get information about Ai from Producer Kaburagi.
That should become a clue to finding our father.
This is how the show flows…
Uh, we don't mind if everyone talks freely with each other.
However, just be careful of the static camera angles please.
When the cameraman closes up, if it's possible,
it would help us if you could recap the conversation you were just having.
Okay!
The history of reality dating shows have reached 20 years,
so its know-how has been built up to some degree.
While guaranteeing its entertainment side of the program,
there are ways to stage reality based on the individuals' personalities.
Um, am I doing this okay?
Uh, I think that's fine at first.
Next time, if you can close the distance a bit and chat, that would help.
Since the audience wants excitement too.
I see…
So these shows really don't have a script.
I don't know what to talk about at all.
I know!
Reality shows don't have a script.
But the staging exists.
It's up to us to take the director's words as advice or directions.
I'm a scaredy cat and not aggressive. Nor am I good at talking.
So I bet I'm just gonna fade out.
Why did you take on this job?
Our agency's star is the type to never decline jobs.
That person takes all the jobs that come in, so I'm bored all year round.
So I kind of wanted to fight my way out.
That's when Mr. Kaburagi…
Ah.
It was perfect since I never dated much until now anyway.
Liar.
Hey, it's not a lie.
I'm still a 1st year in high school.
If you think we're all dating just because we're an entertainer, you're wrong.
Don't you have any interest in dating?
Of course I do. I am a guy after all.
But, I can't get over an old crush…
No, come to think of it, I don't even know if that was a crush.
I haven't fully gotten over it yet, so I can't really say…
Hm? It's complicated?
Oh, like you had a crush on your teacher?
That's pretty close.
Then you'll need to overcome that.
Did you know?
Last season's couple kissed at the end!
Yeah. I did do my research.
I was worried if there would be any good guys…
but I may be able to kiss if it's you.
Wha…
Behind me.
The cameraman's filming.
Don't look toward the camera.
This part will surely be used.
Let's get along.
She's got a sly personality. And she said she's a scaredy cat?
I see, so this is a reality show.
I am your sister supposedly,
so I don't want my brother dating a type of person that I don't like.
Which is why I am going to choose who you should date.
How selfish can you be?
My recommendation is… Yuki-pon!
I'm sure this girl is a good innocent girl!
You're a poor judge of character, so don't date for a while.
Huh?!
Frill is absent again today.
She did say a shoot for a new drama started,
so maybe she's busy?
Hm.
What about you, Minami?
I'm going to my shoot after school.
I see…
My brother's at his shoot today too.
Senpai, you're used to not having work, right?
What do you usually do?
Do you want me to throw a jab at your chin and shake your brain?
If you're bored, you should study.
Idols are short-term jobs you can barely survive off of even if you do get popular.
Doing something to get into a good college will benefit your life more.
That's brutally frank of you…
Isn't there something I could do right now?
The work of new idols are
just singing and dancing at concert halls.
And sometimes accepting jobs from the media, right?
We don't have any songs or even a group name yet.
What's there for us to do right now?
We don't have a group name yet, because you're the one griping about it!
Because it'll become real if we come up with a name.
I haven't really made up my mind yet to call myself an idol.
Why not? Idol Kana Arima.
How embarrassing!
A self-proclaimed idol without any achievements…
How do I explain that to my parents?!
So if you have achieved something, would you make up your mind?
Then let's achieve something.
What is this cheap camera?
Even if it's cheap, it's enough.
It was the norm for new idols
to pass out flyers or perform joint concerts until a while ago.
But times have changed.
The center of idol culture is now on the internet.
This is the most cost-efficient place to take root.
Let's begin with spreading your names on the internet.
You mean to become YouTubers?
Yup. If we make regular customers and call them to concerts, isn't that efficient?
Mrs. Miyako's so smart!
CEO… aren't you underestimating the internet?
Even if you upload this girl with nothing but a good face,
we'll only hit a few thousand subscribers at most.
Say what?
I don't know if we'll hit 10,000 even with my fans.
Since probably only 1% of that will participate in a real event,
I think it'll be pretty tough.
That's if an amateur tried doing that.
But Ichigo Production's strength lies within the internet,
we possess many streamers.
We have the know-how.
I just grabbed someone who can help you, so go learn a lot from him.
Okay, I'll leave the rest to you!
Leave it to me!
It's…
a freak!
Oh, it's Pieyon!
What? Who?!
He's super popular among young kids!
You don't know the masked fitness YouTuber, Pieyon?!
He's our top seller!
First of all, the "masked fitness" genre is new to me!
I don't watch YouTube that much.
So this is what strikes kids' interests nowadays.
We sure live in a distorted society.
How dare you talk like that to Pieyon…
Mr. Pieyon, tell her off!
The internet is just about making strong impressions after all.
It's like a mascot business reusing television schemes…
I make 100 million a year.
I apologize for my foolish words.
Listen well. There are several techniques in order to gain subscribers.
What do you think they are?
Daily uploads!
Original popularity?
Uh-huh, right!
But you two don't have the guts to upload daily or have original popularity, do you?
Brutal.
However, there's a shortcut to gaining subscribers easily!
We've been waiting, Sensei!
Please tell us!
That is…
Peep, peep! The Pieyon Channel!
So today, we have a collaboration!
COLLABORATION
I guess there's an idol unit at our agency now?
They're gonna start one, so they told me to use them on my channel.
I thought of refusing at first!
But since the CEO insisted…
So let's begin our plan today!
Aim for macho muscles!
Even if you peep, don't give up and fight!
Now flutter, muscles!
Break out of your shell, muscles!
Pieyon Dance Bootcamp!
If they keep up with me for one hour, they can show their faces!
Everybody starts with chick muscles!
Be born, new muscles!
Before you start chirping, do it!
You can wear a mask today too! Peep, peep!
This world is survival of the fittest So do it!
Power is strength! Let's survive this tough industry!
Sit down, stretch out your legs And lift your heels.
Keep this position…
This is tough!
Since he claims to be a fitness YouTuber, he sure makes it tough!
He wants us to dance with this stupid mask on? Is he trying to kill us?!
The pose of the silent cicada!
I need oxygen!
The pose of the insomniac bear!
Please think about oxygen!
Why did it turn out this way?
The best way to advertise is a collaboration after all.
To collaborate with a famous YouTuber is the quickest way!
You'll appear on my channel this time, but what should we do?
You two are idols after all, so should we do like a wake-up prank?
Ah, that sounds good.
Huh? But…
If we're told about it beforehand, it wouldn't be a prank, right?
Are you seriously saying that?
What if the crew went to film an idol waking up and she was sleeping with a guy?
Those shows usually notify the person the day before.
Really?!
But this is our very first job.
I don't want to lie.
So it comes down to this?! This is the extreme opposite!
I can tolerate this because I go jogging,
but for a complete amateur like her…
This is tough! It's so tough I'm gonna die!
The hatching pose!
Well done! You may take off your masks now and introduce yourselves!
I belong to Ichigo Production, I'm Ruby Hoshino.
I'm a self-proclaimed idol!
And you!
I'm Kana Arima, a self-proclaimed idol! Hello!
Yes, yes, I've heard of the name.
Only "heard of"?
But well done.
I was going to edit it to make it look like it was an hour,
but you two actually did it.
It's not something the audience will see.
But the people on set are always watching,
so I like you two.
Oh, I forgot to ask something important!
Do you two have a group name?
Uh…
Just choose whatever you want, Ruby.
You sure?
Um, then our group name is…
B Komachi!
What? Is that okay to use?
AFTER MAKING THE B KOMACHI IDOLS DANCE FOR ONE HOUR…!!
Subtitle translation by: Kanami Kitabayashi