01x09 - B Komachi

[bunniefuu]

ICHIGO PRODUCTION

SAITOU

Maybe I should've hired you

as a talent scout.

A popular YouTuber

as well as an influencer, Mem.

I was surprised to know

you were interested in idols.

You have 370,000 subscribers

on your YouTube channel.

And 638,000 TikTok followers.

You seem to be very popular online.

First, I'd like to first ask

what agency you are with, Ms. Mem.

I'm actually self-employed

as an online streamer.

Currently, I'm with an agency called FARM,

but I'm not registered with them,

I work as a business partner.

I'm under a contract where I can freely

take on jobs myself with no problems.

I see.

In that case, Ichigo Production

will be offering idol work to you.

We have many internet personalities too,

so there's no problems with the contract.

It would be perfect for us.

But your expression tells me that

there's something you need to say.

Well, I've got a hunch.

You're lying about your age, aren't you?

Can you tell?

Yes, you look very young

based on your build,

but you can't fool my eyes.

But you don't need to worry.

It's very common for freelancing girls

to lie a few years about their age.

I don't really mind.

Are you sure?

I'm so glad.

So, how old are you really?

Um well

I'm actually

Mm-hm.

You really stretched it!

I apologize!

If you're officially 18 years old,

you got some major guts.

Please don't count!

How many years did you subtract?

Like three?

Double that.

You sure stretched it!

Wait, so you're 24?

I was 24 until spring.

Which means you're 25. Don't try

to struggle your way out at this point.

So you were on the show as a teenager

at 25? You got monstrous mental strength.

There's a reason to this!

My dream was to become an idol

since I was little.

But I was raised by a single mom

and I also have two little brothers.

So I felt that I should find

a job right away.

But Mama told me

Don't worry, just chase your dreams!

Mama will be with you to help!

After that, I started applying

to auditions.

I even made it

to a major agency's last screening.

But during my 3rd year in high school

Mama worked too hard and was hospitalized.

I needed money,

so I took a break from high school

and worked at all kinds of jobs.

Thanks to that, I was able

to send my brothers to college,

and my mom got better too.

But by that time, I was already 23.

You know how you're treated

as a granny at 20 in this world?

Every audition application said,

"Any female up to 20 years of age."

By the time I was in a state

to chase my dreams,

I wasn't at an age to chase them anymore.

I began streaming after losing my way

of becoming an idol.

And I was still on break

from high school at the time,

so I joked that

I was a current high school girl.

But then I got surprisingly popular.

And I gained subscribers like crazy.

Then I couldn't back out anymore!

I continued like that for two years

and here I am today.

I know, this isn't okay.

I lied about seven years, and it would be

a major problem if it got out.

A 25-year-old as an idol could never

That's not true.

Mem-cho!

The real thing! So cute!

I heard the whole story.

Arima.

I'm also someone

who was scorned for their age,

so I can relate a little.

It doesn't seem like a little.

Once I got older in elementary school,

my child acting agency kicked me out.

It really pisses me off!

What?

Mrs. Miyako!

That's why I never said no.

And you, Ruby?

Of course!

Age doesn't matter in becoming an idol!

Because you can't stop anyone

from dreaming!

Welcome to B Komachi!

Yeah Thank you.

There goes my sister

with her sugarcoating again.

Arima, take care of Ruby and Mem for me.

Shut up, don't talk to me so casually.

Go take care of Akane Kurokawa.

You womanizing steward!

I'm gonna keep this group together

even without you telling me.

Hey, let's go out to eat right now.

Let's go!

What's with these girls?

They're so warmhearted!

And like that, Mem-cho joined our group.

And the newly formed B Komachi

made its official start.

Aww, Love For Real ended.

Hey, how did you feel

seeing your brother kissing on the show?

How did I feel?

Can there be anything other

than super mixed feelings?

I thought so.

It was five times as awkward as watching

a brother and sister kissing on TV.

Eek

Ruby, you'll probably meet

Akane one day too.

Since she is your brother's girlfriend.

Girlfriend

But Aqua's feelings

toward Akane is probably

Is this about Love For Real?

Oh, yeah.

You knew about it, Ms. Shiranui?

Well, someone I know is on it after all.

It was interesting.

You don't need to be so considerate.

There were nothing but pretty boys

and cute girls in it.

It was great eye candy.

Eye candy?!

I didn't think a top star would say

something like that too.

Who doesn't like pretty faces?

It pleased my eyes so much,

I think my eyesight got better by 0,5.

She says some funny stuff!

Personally, I liked Mem-cho's maiden face.

If I were one of the boys,

I would've totally made her mine.

I wish they would have put more spirit

into seducing her.

Ms. Shiranui is very cool on TV,

but I didn't know

she was like this in private.

But I hear this is common actually.

Men tend to feel rivalry toward

funny women before romantic feelings,

making it difficult for them

to become popular.

So they're not allowed to joke

while they have on an innocent image.

What an ugly fact.

Maybe it's because I'm watching it

from the cast's acquaintance view,

but it made my heart race.

I'm sure everyone else feels the same too.

I hear Aqua is super popular

with the girls in the General Department.

Some girls in our department

are interested in him too.

But he supposedly has a girlfriend,

so I'm sure everyone

will just watch over for now.

In fact, Love For Real's following

is very high,

and it must've been a major influence

for my brother's future.

But it also made a significant impact

on B Komachi.

With Mem-cho joining,

we're now able to create

more professional videos for our channel.

Wow! We reached 10,000 subscribers!

Well, I created the user flow

from my channel too,

so this much should be expected.

It feels really official!

If it isn't official,

what else would it be?

We only have

self-introduction videos uploaded,

so I'd like to put up our music videos

as soon as we can.

But how is our music-related stuff

going right now?

Looks like the CEO's asking

an artist she knows to write it.

We can't do anything

until the music's ready.

It's still a long way ahead,

so let's just sit back and wait.

Well, we can't do that.

Did you forget that we're B Komachi?

B Komachi has B Komachi songs, right?

Oh yeah! There's no problems

if we use the old songs!

Right!

Mem-cho, you're a genius!

Tsk. So they noticed.

There's a lot we can do right now!

If we waste too much time,

I'll hit my thirties!

So self-deprecating

The first and foremost duty as an idol!

The idol's most splendorous

and toughest part

We're gonna learn the dance choreography!

LET'S B KOMACHI

DANCE LESSON!!

There's 30 songs with choreography

that have footage left.

Don't tell me they want

to learn all of it.

I can't keep up

with these two idol otakus' motivation.

Why did I say that I'll become an idol?

Good work.

Thank

I don't need it! Go away!

You've been acting like this

toward me for a while now.

I know that you mouth off

and have a bad attitude, but

at this rate, I'll get hurt too.

What's with that? Huh?

You were the one who

You're the one

Aqua!

Me telling you this story now is

like digging up someone's grave.

Why do you want to know about Ai so much?

I'm a fan of hers.

A hopeless one.

Do you need a reason beyond that?

The illusion seen by fans shatter

once they know the reality.

There is no exception to this.

Showbiz is pretty much a bluffing contest.

An alluring subject tells an alluring lie

in order to stage a charismatic figure

that doesn't really exist in real life.

What most people do in job hunting

to get into good companies

is what we do for business.

Even so, I'd still like to know.

If you say you're a fan,

it's best not to know.

But no one ever listens.

I connected with Ai and introduced her

some jobs like I told you before.

Back then, Ai was just a country girl

who just moved here from the sticks.

Her level of professionalism was low,

she'd never try to fit in,

and she'd come to work wearing

cheap clothes that never suited her.

She was just a child.

So, I thought it might help her somehow,

so I introduced her

to this one theater's workshop.

A workshop?

It's one that I used to be a part of

during college.

It's called Theater Lalalai.

The theater group that Akane belongs to.

It wasn't that famous at the time though.

They say love changes people.

That's probably the place

where Ai fell in love.

Ever since Ai joined that workshop,

she started to care about her appearance.

And she would ask me

where the good restaurants were.

Of course I couldn't tell

who her dates were,

but I remember she suddenly

looked all grown-up.

If you're curious, I'll introduce you

to Lalalai's superintendent.

You'll surely get closer to the answer

you're looking for there.

Why would you go that far for me?

I'm just a failed actor

with no achievements whatsoever.

Because I see potential in you.

This industry is all about give-and-take.

As you already know, in Japanese showbiz,

the give-and-take between the agencies and

production companies affect the casting.

And depending on the cast, the profit

changes by the hundred millions.

This 40,000-yen sushi

will feel like nothing

compared to how much money

will be exchanged.

By you owing me a favor now,

once you become a star

and you hit your prime,

I can have a big advantage

in the casting battles to come.

This is what a producer does.

Of course, I don't do this just to you.

I see potential in Kana Arima

and Mem-cho too.

Looks like you kids have

started something interesting.

I hear you guys revived

that B Komachi group.

I feel that all of you are quite

the promising investment.

You don't mean

Japan Idol Festival?!

Yeah, the producer from Love For Real

says he has connections.

So if we're interested,

he said he'll squeeze us in.

But JIF's next month, right?!

No way! We're not prepared at all.

If some newbies like us

suddenly went on a big stage like that

Let's do it!

It's JIF, the JIF!

Wouldn't it be cool if the new B Komachi's

first concert is at a big stage like that?

But we'll definitely create

a bad impression to those around us.

I'm sure they'll say

connection this and connection that.

Don't worry!

We're the successors

of the legendary group, B Komachi!

You're the one

who started saying that on your own.

But in reality, there's no way

we let this chance go.

A normal group spends long hard years

to finally get to this stage.

So if we don't do this now,

what are we working towards?

Well, that's true.

If we're gonna do it, let's do it.

This is work after all.

Okay, it's decided!

Then it's time!

We gotta decide now.

What?

Who to have as B Komachi's center role.

Is it that important?

Who cares who the center is?

It is important!

The center is the idol group's star!

The cute one who can sing and dance,

they're the face of the group!

It's the most important position!

Right?

You two really get along.

So, does anyone want to do it?

I-I'm not saying that I wanna do it,

but if everyone insists

This probably has

to be the oldest and wisest.

I don't wanna do it, but my experience

should help bring the group together.

You both look like you really wanna do it.

I mean, shouldn't it be me

who's good at dancing?

Well, no, it should be me who's used to

the media and well-experienced!

If you put it that way,

that would make it Senpai.

Since her "Green Pepper Exercise"

took 1st place on the charts

and she was all over music shows.

Wow, what a throwback!

Don't bring up my embarrassing past!

Let's start the "Green Pepper Exercise"!

Eat green peppers and become Superman

Everybody dance and become Peter Pan

You know how she sang a little off-key

Right? That was so childlike and cute!

They made me dance to it in kindergarten.

Hey, try singing it!

No way!

I know that I suck at singing!

I mean, don't you have to be able

to sing as the center?

That's true, it doesn't look good

if the center doesn't hold a mic.

How despicable.

How about whoever gets

a higher score in karaoke gets it?!

All right!

Senpai, you too, right?!

I'll pass.

What? But

Stupid, the center is

the group's face, right?

If you put me as the center,

this group won't get any popular.

That's not true.

There's enough evidence to prove it.

Even after my one-hit wonder

child star years were over,

you think that I'd only be acting while

I clung to this industry for years?

I tried a variety of fields,

but never got popular.

I put the agency that gave me work

for my child star fame in the red,

but I made sure to take my pay,

so I could feed myself.

To sum it up,

there are no fans following Kana Arima!

I totally agree! Who'd wanna put money

into a foul-mouthed, jaded woman like me?

Oh, that's right, I'll Go with Sweet Today

was in the red too, huh?!

Mem-cho, you have a ton of subscribers.

Ruby, you at least got a great face, and

your innocence will probably win fans.

Besides

the ones who are likable

are honest cute girls like you two.

Not a difficult and bitter woman like me.

You can just think of me as decoration.

Karaoke or whatever,

just choose the center between you two.

Senpai, you're really sulky lately.

Did something bad happen?

Not really.

Don't worry!

Even my brother who never compliments

people said that you're cute.

You're not difficult or bitter at all.

But he said that to Mem-cho

in Love For Real too.

What a difficult and bitter woman

You always have to argue.

It must be tough

for whoever dates someone like this.

Well, most celebrities

are difficult people.

Wait, Aqua's the one

who invited these two to join.

I don't like how I can gradually see

what kind of women my brother likes.

Come join us later.

Okay.

KARAOKE

57 POINTS

LET'S WORK A LITTLE HARDER!

43 POINTS

OH OKAY. TRY HARDER?

I'm surprised you took up this challenge

with a score like that!

Y-You too, you're in the quirky category!

Idols are all about uniqueness!

Even being quirky has value!

But if you suck, you can't help that!

The joy of watching a poor singer

get gradually better live!

I'm thinking of providing this

to the fans! There's a story there!

I should've practiced singing

more seriously.

We both need training!

Please don't put me

on the same level as you.

Why don't we take a quick break?

Right. Let's sing a light song

as a breather.

Why don't we sing

Senpai's "Green Pepper Exercise"?

Ruby, you got a pretty evil personality.

I honestly like it.

-Oh.

-Hm?

Arima released a lot of songs after

"Green Pepper Exercise."

I never knew.

Wanna listen to it?

Yeah.

KANA ARIMA

Seriously, what a difficult person.

And she says she sucks?

97 POINTS

Isn't she too hard on herself?

97 POINTS

AMAZING!!