【OSHI NO KO】 (【推しの子】)

Six months have passed since the release of POP IN 2.

So you're interested in casting Ruby?

Of course. No problem.

We'll look over the pitch deck as soon as we get it.

Okay.

Thank you. Looking forward to talking with you soon.

Hmm!

B-Komachi now has the distinctive air

of a group about to hit the big time.

Business started picking up

after that music video went out.

Anemone and Himura worked absolute wonders on it.

They delivered a product that was a cut or two

above your ordinary idol music videos.

But the biggest factor of them all...

was Ruby Hoshino.

Unlike her usual cheery self,

she had a dark and mysterious aura to her,

and her piercing gaze

left a mark on the hearts

of everyone who watched it.

The upload went on to pass

an unbelievable 20 million views.

While we'd gone all-out with the promotional push,

that wasn't a number a newbie idol group

could normally ever hope to hit.

- So we were quite surprised. -

Hmm.

Ruby was so incredible.

Maybe she really does have something special

about her.

I couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip.

While the buzz was still on people's minds,

I sent countless collab offers to major influencers,

and a bunch of them even bore fruit.

We built up a rapport

and became regular guests on their channels.

I also sent out offers to other influencers,

pro gamers and kids' video creators,

and deepened our video portfolio.

With the help of shorts,

I made sure to make a post almost every day.

And we even did some long livestreams.

But going viral one time doesn't do anything

for long-term subscriber growth.

To establish a pipeline,

that steadily brought in new viewers,

we needed constant contact with other creators,

so that our channel showed up in their recommendations.

Over the past six months,

I spent more time, money, and effort on this

than I did on my own channel.

Not even a big bonus would be enough to cover it.

Our page now had 360,000 subscribers.

We'd reached a point where we'd be considered

a huge success online.

And that's a wrap on Akane Kurokawa!

Oh, well, thank you all so much.

Akane's first movie with her in a lead role

was close to release.

And she had a bunch of TV series

about to start filming.

She was steadily making a name for herself

as a performance actor.

It was all coming up roses

for B-Komachi and Akane's careers.

But the one who really surprised me

was Aqua.

He landed a regular spot on a talk show

that streamed online,

all while doing supporting roles in TV series

and modeling for fashion mags.

He cast a wide net and pulled it all off with ease,

putting him squarely on the path

to becoming a multifaceted entertainer.

Wait, so you two first met as child actors?

On set when we were little.

We're basically childhood friends, right?

-We're not friends! -Huh?

She was a seriously rude little gremlin,

even when we met again years later.

The genius child who can lick--

The genius child actor who can cry in 10 seconds!

Cut that out!

Lately, I've seen people wondering,

"What's Baking Soda Girl's real name again?"

- -

Okay, I think we got enough run time with that.

Why don't we call it a day?

- Good work. - Hmm?

You have a dance video shoot scheduled for tomorrow.

The day after that, you have a Pieyon collab

and a joint livestream with pro gamers in the evening.

And on the weekend, we have a concert in Hokkaido.

Things sure have gotten busy.

Miyako, I feel so exhausted!

-Hug me and give me a head pat! -There, there.

You're doing so good.

So what do we want to do next?

Maybe go grab a bite or something?

No. If we're done, I'm leaving.

- Yeah. Me too. -Oh, okay.

Kana and Ruby both

- seem to have changed a little. -

I've decided to start dating Akane for real.

Just so you know.

Get this.

Back on set,

the sound producer was yelling even more than the director.

Yeah, some people are just like that.

There's so much I want to vent to you.

When will you be free next?

If we're lucky, I'll be free the evenings

of the 23rd and 29th this month.

Someone's gotten busy.

That's what happens when you work in television.

-Hey, Aqua. - Hmm?

I want to see you soon.

Yeah. Me too.

B-Komachi's second standalone concert!

Thank you all for coming!

B-Komachi's second standalone.

They sold out a 1K-capacity venue in minutes.

I'm so envious of those who got to go.

But I got myself a streaming ticket!

That's my girl, Mem-Cho! She's a business genius.

If you add up the live and streaming audiences,

that's got to be a lot of people.

They could fill up arenas or even the Tokyo Dome!

Don't be so dense, you newb.

An arena? One block of Makuhari Messe

has a capacity of seven thousand.

It's hard for even groups

with a strong TV presence to fill them.

The Tokyo Dome is a different beast.

Nowadays, the only idol groups that can perform there

are the ones backed by the biggest agencies.

That's the era we live in, I'm afraid.

There hasn't even been one underground female idol group

that's taken the stage there in the past 15 years.

Just keep your hopes in check.

-Oh, I don't know. - Oh, boss.

Sure. Showbiz has been dominated

by major corporations lately.

But since 2020, more and more musicians

who got started on the Internet have had Tokyo Dome concerts.

This could be a big turning point.

From underground to the Dome?

But that's a rusty old dream of otaku everywhere.

And it's likely that it'll be Internet idols

who make it come true.

You mean a group just like B-Komachi?

Just like B-Komachi.

But it'll take them at least four years

to build a big enough fanbase to pull it off.

But not many can last that long.

Kana's a lot gloomier these days.

She's not shining

-like the sun anymore. - You think so?

I notice these things about my favorites.

I've seen several idols make that face

-and quit the biz shortly after. -Now that you mention it,

Ruby's got that face, too.

I mean, she used to be a lot more innocent

and genuine,

but now she feels cynical and calculated sometimes.

This old man really gave this a lot of thought.

Do you think something happened?

I think I've got it.

It can only be one thing.

Huh?

A new member joins!

When girl groups get awkward,

it's usually because a new member

is being added!

Mm-hmm.

Good things might happen if you dedicate yourself

to a single member.

Oh, I see, I get it now!

Hmm. Where's Aqua today?

He's filming "Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!"

- Huh? -They shoot three episodes

at a time, so they don't wrap till late.

Hey, Miyako, will you drop me off at Ebisu?

I have something to take care of.

Hmm?

Okay.

- Hey, what's up? - Hmm?

Mem?

You followed me?

Why go through the trouble? Don't you live further out?

Well, kinda.

I know you might not like me

sticking my nose in your business like this,

but I couldn't help it.

-It's about Aqua, right? -

Anyone can tell. You're struggling.

It's been like this for the last six months.

Whenever I visit the agency office,

he hides in his room.