B-Project: Kodou Ambitious

Slow down a little bit on the crane shot at the start.

Camera two, move back before we enter melody B.

Let's check the final group shot before we start.

Could we raise the volume on our voices more?

Please turn down the rhythm section a little.

B-Project is standing by.

Ten seconds to rehearsal.

Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three...

Okay, that's a wrap.

Th-These are idols?

You came.

You were watching.

Hey, what did you think of our rehearsal just now?

Wasn't it the best?

The actual performance could be insane.

Yashamaru-san!

Wait. What?

That was incredible.

I look forward to the actual performance that's in just one more week.

The program you're going to be on has lots of viewers,

so B-Project will finally get to stand in the spotlight.

Indeed.

Everyone worked hard day and night.

Yashamaru-san, you don't usually come to our rehearsals.

Did something happen?

Yeah, that's right.

I have something to tell all of you.

Can I have your attention, please?

Starting today, a new A&R is going to be handling B-Project.

Introduce yourself.

I-I started working at Gandara Music just the other day.

I'm Sumisora Tsubasa.

Um... I look forward to working with you!

Really? You're B-Project's first female staff member.

You've come to a difficult place.

You're rather cute, aren't you?

If you're B-Project's A&R, does that mean you're managing three groups?

What? Um...

Huh? Are you scared?

You'll be fine.

Can this little girl really handle being an A&R, Yashamaru-san?

We're going to be training her, so try to go easy on her for a while.

After all, the president specifically appointed her to be your A&R.

The president did?

He chose this girl?

Come on, boys. Try not to be too mean.

We're not being mean.

We're just expressing our affection for you, newbie.

Why, hello. We appreciate your continued business.

Huh? What are you...

What? Are you serious?

Give me one second.

Boys, introduce yourselves to her.

Well, I guess we should introduce—

Me, me!

I'm Osari Hikaru, the eye candy of MooNs.

This is our musclebound idiot, Nome Tatsuhiro.

Don't call yourself eye candy.

That doesn't embarrass you?

Not at all.

Okay, okay. Sorry they don't have any manners.

It's fine.

My name is Sekimura Mikado.

I look forward to working with you. He's...

Onzai Momotaro.

What's this? Is that all?

Your expression's stiff, too.

Come on. Smile, smile.

Stop that.

Then there's our leader...

I'm Masunaga Kazuna.

They call me the leader, but I'm not actually.

I guess it's fine for now, though.

Together the five of us are MooNs.

Nice to meet you.

I-It's nice to meet you, too.

We're next.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Kitakado Tomohisa.

Come on, Ryuji. Introduce yourself.

Korekuni Ryuji.

Our group, Kitakore, is a two-man unit.

Nice to meet you.

N-Nice to meet you.

I'm Ashu Yuta!

I'm so happy to have a new A&R.

I'll do my very best, and I look forward to working with you.

I'm Aizome Kento.

We'll probably be spending a lot of time together,

so if there's anything you don't know, just ask.

Aizome-san, in that case...

Call me Kento.

Quit hitting on every woman you see! It's annoying!

Yeah, but you don't have to kick me, idiot.

Sex addicts don't understand words.

What did you say?

Don't fight, Gochin and Ken Ken.

Come on, Gochin. It's your turn.

Do I have to tell her my name?

She won't be able to remember all of ours, anyway.

Gochin.

Kaneshiro Goshi.

The three of us make up THRIVE!

I-I can't do this...

I can't handle this exceedingly unique group of men who shine so brilliantly.

There's no way.

What's up, Yashamaru-san? Why the long face?

What?

Is it because of your earlier phone call?

Actually...

Your appearance on the FMJ Song Festival you just rehearsed for was canceled.

Sorry!

What?

Yashamaru-san, what's the meaning of this?

Are you underestimating THRIVE?

A performance on a live broadcast was our chance to promote ourselves.

I even sacrificed sleep to work on this.

You should be apologizing to my damaged skin.

One of our agency's clients is returning to Japan on short notice.

I received orders to make room for him in our time slot.

Including B-Pro, five of Gandara's artists were set to perform.

And if one had to be forced out...

It had to be us?

I refuse to accept this!

Why did we have to get knocked out like a bunch of billiard balls?

You know how much money and time we put into this program, don't you?

Gandara Music put in just as much effort.

But... I'm sorry this happened, guys.

I wasn't strong enough.

Maybe it can't be helped.

Masunaga! Why are you acting like a good, little boy?

It's disappointing, but when you consider what's best for Gandara,

it's not even on the same scale.

I guess that means it was the right decision for the record and TV companies.

I hate to admit it, but we haven't achieved enough to argue with them.

This is a heavy loss for us.

You'll pay for this one.

The president of Daikoku Productions?

Our agency handles Kitakore and MooNs.

I-I look forward to working with you.

You used to work at a CD shop, right?

I heard the president of Gandara personally hired you.

Do you have some kind of powerful connections?

No, it's not like that.

I was suddenly hired to work at Gandara.

Really?

Yashamaru-san told me to work as an A&R for idols.

I'd heard of Kitakore, MooNs, and THRIVE before.

But I don't really understand what an A&R is actually supposed to do.

From the record company's perspective,

an A&R is meant to nurture and develop artists.

There's music production, of course, but sometimes they also function as a manager.

Agency employees like myself depend on them, as well.

I-I have that many responsibilities?

Welcome back.

MooNs has an interview with That's TV in Harajuku.

That's starting soon. You'd better hurry.

Yes, sir.

See you later.

Atsushi-san, you might want to leave soon.

Today, he's especially—

Hey, Shuji.

Who do you think you are to wait at the car by yourself?

I was going to tell you he's in a really bad mood.

He certainly is particularly spirited today.

It's not surprising given what happened.

Hurry up and get in.

THRIVE, you have your regular recording session with Toranomon Radio.

Take care, boys.

Thanks for your work today.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Um, Yashamaru-san, I—

Tsubasa-chan, you'll be heading to the Hiroozaka Studio.

I'll let you handle Kitakore's recording of their new song.

What? All by myself?

That's right. After all, you're the A&R.

Yashamaru-san, where are you going?

I have some grown-up things to take care of regarding the earlier incident.