03x06 - Crossroads

[bunniefuu]

OUTSKIRTS

Mr. Hyodo really knows nothing, it seems.

What a cheap way to express music!

Creating something just to be different
isn't always a good thing.

Did you see everyone's expressions
when she started singing?

They were all horrified!

I totally knew it would end up like this.

I bet the seats
will be practically empty today.

Oh?

Accounting manager?

Why, I had no idea you were there!

Why don't you sit here?

No, I'll just stand here.

Ah, sorry to be a nuisance,
accounting manager, but...

Buy me some oolong tea.

Right.

It's almost time.

No way!

What is going on?

RAGE



We've hit a new level!

How is this even possible?

It was a full house back there.

Have you heard of The Idol Chief?

"The Idol Chief"?

I have. It's a geeky blogger who writes
articles about underground idols.

He's really famous!

See?

This blog's owner
happened to come to our concert.

He heard our new song
and spoke highly of it in his blog.

The tickets sold out thanks to him.

They're just making a fuss
because of the article.

I bet they'll already be bored
by the next concert.

Maybe so.

See... See what I mean?

There are a lot less this time!

Nuh-uh, there's more.

Onto the next challenge!

After recruiting a fourth member,
the OTM Girls have been reborn.

We will release our first CD.

We will start out with 3,000 copies.



Do you want to put us in the red again?

You realize selling 3,000 copies
won't be easy, right?

Most people don't even own a CD player.

We're not selling our customers music,

but an experience from the past.

An experience?

We'll provide a reason for even those
without CD players to buy our CD.

What do you mean by that?

Handshake tickets will be included
in the packaging.

Handshake tickets?

We'll put tickets with serial numbers
inside the CD cases.

Each of these tickets will award fans
with three seconds,

the amount of time they get
to shake your hands!

Two tickets for six seconds,
three tickets for nine...

Fans get a chance to come into contact
with the very idols they adore.

The song you sing

will become a tool to enhance
this three-second experience.

Be professional.
Be expressive. Be captivating!

Turn yourself into their goddess,
their girlfriend, their sister, even!

Needless to say, the most crucial way
to build your fans' trust

is through face-to-face communication!

If you're afraid of being found out,
then you're not fit to be an idol!

Prepare yourself.

Okay...

Ms. Gori, on second thought,
maybe this is a bad idea.

Let's just call it a day, okay?

Why are you backing down now?

Don't you want to know
what she's doing behind closed doors?

Well, yeah, but...

We're acting like stalkers.
What if someone reports us to the cops?

She's on the move.

What's with that minivan?

She got in it!

What do we do?

Hey, taxi!

Now this is suspicious.

Just where are they headed?

Ms. Gori!

The airport?

What's wrong? You don't look good.

This CD's already been released,
hasn't it?

Yes, it's been well received online
and at various stores nationwide.

Would you just get over it already?
Quit resisting!

Did you get anything?

"Get over it already! Quit resisting!"

That doesn't sound good.

What if that shady guy is planning
to sell Retsuko off somewhere?

We have a while before we need to board.

Shall we go ahead
and get something to eat?

What? That's so boring.

If we're going through with this,
we should eat there.

I want salted salmon roe!

All sorts of crab!

There's no budget for that.
Be happy with street-stall soba noodles.

-No way!
-No way!

That's so cheap.

-Salted salmon roe!
-Assorted crab!

What did they say?

"Salted salmon roe!" "Assorted crab!"

Could it be that they're headed for...

Hokkaido?

It'll be difficult
to follow them beyond here.

It's a shame, but...

Hmm?

Haida?

I'll check
if they have any available seats.

But aren't last-minute tickets expensive?

Haida!

Haida...

I'll leave the rest to you.

PERFORMING TODAY

Hurry up. The rehearsal will start soon.

Right!

What's the point of trying
To be a good girl?!

I still get stepped on
By the foot of this crap world

If you're hearing this
And you wanna gaslight me

Sapporo!

RAMEN TAIGA

One miso ramen!

Thank you.

MANAKA, MIGGY, HIDARIN.
A TOKYO-BASED TRIO!

MADE IT TO SAPPORO! IT'S SO COLD!

PERFORMING TODAY

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?

EATING...

EATING RAMEN!

SOUNDS GOOD! WHAT FLAVOR?

One miso ramen, please.

Got it!

Man, it's so chilly today.

Huh?

Long time no see.

What are you doing here?

What a surprise. It really is Retsy.

Did you know before this?

No, she didn't tell me anything.

I just happened to find out today.

Haida...

you're in love with Retsy, aren't you?

Huh? It's not like that!
What are you on about?

Despite hearing nothing from Retsy,

you happened to come to Hokkaido,
to their live performance, even.

The only possible explanation
is that you followed Retsy.

That's not what happened!

As her friend...

No, as her coworker,
I was just a bit worried.

I've asked her a million times already!

But she always says that she's fine.

No matter how much I want to help,
I can't do anything.

I don't even know what she's thinking.

Well, you're an outsider, after all.

You're right. I'm just an outsider.

I don't actually know anything
about Retsuko.

But that's not a big deal.

Sorry?

Knowing nothing about her
isn't that big of a deal.

It's wishful thinking to believe
you can understand someone completely.

You'll end up parting ways
if you actually think that.

Ah, don't mind me.
It's just a lesson from my past failures.

Thank you for coming today!

Thank you for your support.

My dear Manaka!

No way! You came all the way to Sapporo?

I'm so happy!

One, two!

Manaka!

Our national treasure!
You're always in our hearts!

Regulars are an important source
of revenue. Don't let them go.

I know that.

Please do your best. I'm rooting for you.

I'm a huge fan!

Um, thank you.

Next!

Face-to-face. Don't forget that.

It's an honor to meet you.

Thank you very much.

The first time I saw you,
it was like lightning had struck me!

Oh, you're too kind.

I actually have a blog
called "The Idol Chief."

"The Idol Chief"?

So it really is you, Retsuko.

Hey! Where are you--

Bathroom break!

Retsuko...

Don't worry,
I won't tell anyone at work about this.

Komiya, would you cut that out, please?

I haven't told anyone!

A coworker found out that I'm an idol.

That maniac is the only one
who knows for now,

but if OTM Girls become famous,
the others will eventually find out, too.

Honestly, I think it's about time...

What's so bad about them finding out?

As a responsible member of society,

it's not good to let anything
interfere with my main job.

You're being too vague.
Who, specifically, says that's bad?

Who...?

Why are you an idol?

Uh, what do you mean?

You forced me to be one.

That's not what I asked!

Why are you an idol?

I...

Retsuko!

Just count to ten,

and I'll be everyone's idol.