I thought really long and hard yesterday about whether or not it's okay for us to have our fans work behind the scenes for us...

I mean long. Really long...
And I arrived on this.

When I was still just a fan of you, Haruka, I only ever saw the idol that dazzled everyone... I thought that it must be wonderful to be on stage like that.

You're probably right that I wouldn't have been able to enjoy being a fan and thought that it must be hard being an idol if I saw what's on the other side.

So I do understand your position regarding us having our fans see that.

Okay...

But this is what I really think!

Fans don't just want to see idols shine and sparkle.

What do you mean?

I mean that fans will be there to support their favorite idols through thick and thin! They'll cheer for them no matter what if it means they'll keep shining!

B-But that's also just the way I am...!

Minori...

Haruka, do you remember when that ASRUN event got canceled because it was so windy...?

What...?

Right as you started making your way backstage, you had this really sad look on your face...

That's when I thought this.

Isn't there anything I can do to help cheer up Haruka and ASRUN...?

You were there, Minori...?

Yeah!

Unlike you guys, the event at that elementary school was my first and I still probably don't understand yet just how hard everyone on the other side has to work...

But I'm guessing that the person who sent us that email feels the same way...

Even if they see what's on the other side...No, by seeing the other side, they'll be willing to support us even more! So please...!

...

I understand, Minori...

So that means...?!

But that's just your opinion.

What do you plan on doing if or when our fans aren't able to enjoy things as fans after seeing the other side?

W-We'll...

We'll just try again...!!

What...?

If that happens, we'll just have to try even harder than before to make sure they all have fun again!!

We can do more streams, interact more with our fans and dazzle them even more...! We'll just have to find more ways to spread hope as idols!

By doing that, I'm sure they'll still be able to feel that spark after seeing the “reality” you were talking about!

Find more ways, huh...?
No plan as usual.

...!

Hehe. But it's very you, Minori.

I-I'm so sorry...!
I couldn't come up with anything else...!

But I promise to do everything I can for the people we hire as our staff!

Because I'm certain that doing this will become a really special memory for them in the end!

...!

(Was I worrying too much...?)

(Did I put myself in a corner by focusing too much on the consequences of this “choice”?)

(All the while, Minori...)

(She truly believes in our fans.)

(They won't be brought down by seeing what's real. They'll be willing to face this if it means we're smiling in the end.)

Okay...

Why don't we give it a try?

*Gasp*...!
R-Really...?!

Yes.
But you should also be asking Airi and Shizuku this.

S-So, what do you think...?

I think Haruka's right in terms of how we all think about fans differently, but I also understand how you feel, Minori...

As long as there are fans out there who are willing to support us, I'll do whatever I can to answer their call...

I wasn't sure which was the right answer either...

But I can't help but wonder if Minori's right about how our fans may want to support us even more by putting on this even...

So I think we should believe in them and take this chance.

Understood...
Then, let's tell Saito about our decision.

O-Okay...!
Thank you all so much!!

Hey, we got a response about helping us with our event!

What?! Already?!

That's wonderful. She must've been wanting to help us just that much.

Also, she said, <Would it be possible for us to have a video conference?>

I'd like to do that today if it's alright with you guys.

Right... We'll be able to share information much more quickly by doing this as opposed to replying through email.

B-But a video conference with one of our fans...! I'm so nervous!

You're joking, right? If we ask her for help, we'll probably be meeting every day from here on out.

Anyway, <Yes, we'd love to.>

Oh, looks like she's ready to talk now...

*Gasp*...!
Everything's moving so fast...!

<Oh... Hello!
I'm Ayaka Saito. It's nice to finally meet you!>

Uh... H-Hello!

Nice to meet you, Saito.
Haruka Kiritani here.

First, allow me to thank you for your generous offer. We really appreciate your help.

<No, it's my pleasure! I apologize for sending you such a shady-looking email completely out of the blue... But thank you very much for replying!>

<Th-This is so cool...!! I'm talking to the real deal...!! Excuse me, I need a drink of water... *Cough*... Hack!>

Oh, are you alright?

Wait, I've definitely seen this before...

I know how she feels! I get so nervous when talking to idols too!

<Pardon me. Thank you for waiting!
I'm all better now!>

Anyway, shall we get started?
There are quite a few questions that we'd like to ask you.

<Yes, please!>

<I see. So you're hoping to do a meet and greet, a talk show and a mini-concert at the Okuyama Building's underground hall in Shibuya, which holds up to 500 people...>

<Based on that, I think you're going to need a few more hands helping out...>

Huh?

<I have six MMJ fans among my friends, so my original plan was to have two of them be receptionists, four on crowd control and me overseeing everything...>

<But if you're looking at a 500-person hall, it'd be nice to have some extra hands on board as insurance since you're thinking about doing a meet and greet...>

<My estimate would be ten... No, fifteen more people...>

I see...

That's easier said than done. We've been having a hard time ourselves since the holidays are coming up...

I know this isn't the best plan, but what if we lower the number of people that can attend? Wouldn't that allow us to work with what we have...?

Right...
That is an option...

Or... What if we asked our fans?

Huh?

During our stream with Hayakawa, I remember seeing some comments mentioning how they want to help and to let them know if we ever need them.

Oh...!

We've chosen to accept the help of some fans already, so I think we can ask a few more for their help...

Of course, not everyone will have experience like you, Saito, so there are some risks attached to this. They may even hesitate to do this as a result...

But they're here to support us, which means they genuinely want to help us, right, Minori...?

(She's right. What if there are other fans out there like Saito and me...?)

Yeah! Okay, let's try asking them!

Alright. Then, how about we start recruiting staff for our event once we have a plan all lined up?

That seems fine.
Let's do everything we can to show our fans just how much we appreciate them!

Yeah!