Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Rooftop
Haruka
Okay, good!
We're all set for our dance routine.
We're all set for our dance routine.
Minori
Thank goodness! I'm glad we finally figured it out...!
Shizuku
Thank you for coming up with this, Haruka. I'm sure the students will really enjoy this since they should be able to learn it and dance with us.
Airi
That means our show is good to go and so are all our props... Which just leaves our little sneak preview for the event!
Airi
We haven't done anything like this yet, so I'm sure our viewers will get a kick out it too!
Haruka
Right. Let's keep doing our best.
Haruka
But it's getting pretty late, so shall we call it a day?
Minori
Okay!
Shizuku
Oh, that reminds me.
How about we all visit a cafe after this? I feel like we deserve a little reward for all our hard work.
How about we all visit a cafe after this? I feel like we deserve a little reward for all our hard work.
Minori
Then why don't we stop by where I work? We're doing a special dessert menu right now for a limited time!
Haruka
Oh, that does sound nice.
Shizuku
Yes, we should go!
What do you think, Airi?
What do you think, Airi?
Airi
Sorry, can I get a raincheck today?
There's something I need to do after this...
There's something I need to do after this...
Airi
Have fun, you guys!
See you later!
See you later!
Shizuku
A-Airi...!
Minori
What's going on with her? She didn't mention anything about having to go somewhere before...
Haruka
That message must really be eating away at her...
Shizuku
I think so too...
Minori
Huh? What are you talking about? What message?
Shizuku
Remember when we read all those student messages? We think Airi saw one that really bothered her.
Haruka
Here... This one.
Minori
<My favorite part was when you dressed up as The Masked Variety Idol, Happy Everyday.>
Minori
<The way you fought against really strong people and fell into all those mud traps was the best! I can't believe I get to meet the real Happy Everyday!>
Minori
Yeah, I remember Happy Everyday! Airi played her on that variety show, right?!
Minori
This is what's bothering her? I don't understand...
Airi
When I was part of QT, the only job offers I would get were for variety shows.
Airi
The Airi Momoi that appeared on variety shows always wore a confident smile and never missed the opportunity for a clever quip no matter what anyone said to her.
Airi
After a while, the public started seeing me as nothing more than that girl from those shows...
Airi
Eventually, random people started saying things to me when I was just going about my own business, expecting me to have a good comeback or laugh it off...
Minori
Oh, I see...
Airi
A person's image can be a powerful thing.
Airi
Well, in my case, the hardest part was having the agency and my fans are expecting me to be Variety Show Airi Momoi...
Airi
It was pretty tough being told nobody wanted to see Airi Momoi the idol...
Minori
...
Haruka
Airi hardly ever talks about her own past, so it's easy for us to believe that she isn't bothered by it anymore. But I guess it still does in some small ways...
Haruka
When she was on all those variety shows, losing her identity as a proper idol just kept weighing down on her.
Minori
Right...
It'd be hard not to forget something like that...
It'd be hard not to forget something like that...
Shizuku
It's true that people didn't necessarily want to see Airi as an idol...
Shizuku
But some time ago, when she was about to change agencies...
Shizuku
She told me that she feels like she hasn't been able to deliver anything to anyone as an idol.
Shizuku
I tried to cheer her up by saying that's not true, but it didn't help much in the end...
Haruka
I see...
Haruka
This also happened a while ago, but we were on a show together this one time...
Minori
Huh? Really?
Haruka
Yes. It was just during a short segment for this one show where Airi briefly appeared in a video. We weren't actually on set together but...
Shizuku
Please continue, Haruka.
Haruka
Sure. It was a thirty-second slot where Airi and her group would introduce some new songs by other idols.
Haruka
They weren't necessarily well-known idols either, but they did a great job describing them to everyone while throwing in a few laughs.
Haruka
I didn't really know Airi then...
Haruka
But her work ethic and dedication really left an impression on me.
Shizuku
That's so true. She's always been such a hard worker and so passionate about being an idol.
Shizuku
Because she's takes being an idol so seriously and loves it so much, she even made me want to work a little harder.
Haruka
Right...
Haruka
And it's so sad that others don't get to see that side of her.
Minori
Airi...
Shizuku
Isn't there anything we can do for her?
Haruka
I don't know. How can we cheer her up...?
Haruka
Oh...
Shizuku
Did you think of something, Haruka?
Haruka
Yeah, what if we tried this...?
Airi's Room
Airi
Why...?
Airi
Why did you say that, you knucklehead...? Now they're gonna be really worried about me...
Airi
That event happens less than a week from now too. I need to get myself together, fast...
???
<Airi!>
Airi
Huh? Who's there?
Where's that voice coming from...?
Where's that voice coming from...?
Len
<It's me, Airi.>
Airi
Len?!
What are you doing here?!
What are you doing here?!
Len
<I'm having trouble coming up with what to talk about during our show.>
Len
<Everyone says that you're the best at coming up with this kind of stuff, so I was hoping to pick your brain a little.>
Airi
Oh...
Len
<I also know that you're busy planning your own event, so you don't have to if you don't have time!>
Airi
No, it's okay. I'll help...
I could really use a distraction right now.
I could really use a distraction right now.
Len
<Huh?>
Airi
Never mind that!
Let's go, Len!
Let's go, Len!
Stage SEKAI
Rin
Hi, Airi!
Thanks for coming!
Thanks for coming!
Airi
I heard that you're having trouble coming up with what to talk about while you're MCing, so I'm here to help.
Airi
What specifically are you having trouble with...?
Rin
Len wants to be all cool and suave, but I think it's super lame!
Airi
Oh, okay?
Len
I'm not trying to. It's just how it sort of came out.
Len
You're pretty much trying to get a whole standup routing in there, Rin. Can't we just talk like normal?
Len
We're idols, so we should try to show everyone how we are just naturally...
Rin
Yeah, we're idols, so I want everyone to have as much fun as possible!
Airi
Okay, you two, time out!
Airi
Neither of you are wrong, per se.
But you need to strike a balance.
But you need to strike a balance.
Airi
You two have amazing chemistry, so you should use that and think about how you want to say what you want to talk about when...
Len
Got it! Thanks, Airi!
Next Chapter: As An Idol