I'm sorry everyone...

Especially after coming all this way...

It's not your fault! If only I was more...

More...

...

What are you getting so down for?

That was only one agency!

What happened to the Minori who keeps at it no matter how many times she got knocked down, huh?

B-But... When I fail an audition, the only one that gets hurt is me.

Now I'm dragging all of you down as well.

It's all my fault that you won't...

Minori, I agree with Airi.

It's too soon to give up.

We still have plenty of other connections, so let's just keep looking for an agency that will work with us.

Haruka...

We knew this wasn't going to be easy.

There's no reason to get discouraged yet.

And we aren't going to leave everything up to Haruka either. I still have a few strings I can pull too.

I know some people from when I was still modelling who I can speak with as well.

Airi... Shizuku...

You're right. I can't let one agency get me down. I'll do what I can too!

That's the spirit! We're just getting started, and we're gonna find a way to get over these obstacles together, right?

Yeah, that's right...!

Let's all do our part and see what we can come up with!

Yeah!!

Sigh...

This isn't going so well...

The agency I talked to said they'd only hire me and put Haruka and Shizuku at another agency under the same parent company.

Another agency I spoke with said they would only sign Shizuku and me.

I went to a bunch of different agencies to ask if they'd let us audition, but they all turned me down.

I've been asking some of the smaller agencies as well...

The last few days, they've started hanging up on me as soon as I gave them my name.

I wonder why...

They were willing to hear us out before.

What if we asked different agencies to hire us each separately and see if they'll agree to let us work together as a group?

Yes, I thought about that too. However...

There's no guarantee that they will allow us to perform as MORE MORE JUMP!

That first agency did say that marketing me along with all of you would be too difficult. They're probably all thinking the same thing.

We also have to remember that every agency already has idols working for them, and that they want them to succeed too.

The chances of finding an agency that is willing to let us debut as a group when there is no guarantee that we will succeed may be slim.

You're right...

The debuting process costs a lot of money so...

Sob...

I knew it. You would all be better off without...

We're not doing this without you, Minori.

You're the reason why the three of us even decided to become idols again, remember?

Yeah...

Anyway, there are still a lot of places we haven't tried yet. So no more complaining for now, got it?

Right...! I'll do my best...!

Turned down again...

We barely got in a word before they kicked us out...!

I really thought this might be the one...

Something's not right...

Huh?

The agency we talked to the other day seemed really excited at first, but now we're getting turned away at the door.

Well, if it isn't Airi and Haruka. And two friends as well... I take it the rumors I've been hearing are true then.

Oh! Good morning!

Hello. It's been a while.

Who's that...?

He's a producer I used to work with on some TV shows a while back. I guess Airi knows him as well.

Yep! He's really nice to work with!

Hey, hold on...

Didn't he just say something about a rumor?

You don't think there's a strange rumor going around about us, do you?

Oh...!

Is that why we're getting shot down before agencies even meet with us?

That's a distinct possibility.

(If someone started some awful rumor about us...)

Excuse me!

Can you tell us more about this rumor you mentioned?

Oh, it's nothing bad. I just heard that the four of you were looking for an agency is all.

Huh...?

Really?

Is that all?

Then I don't understand...

Why would that turn into agencies refusing to meet with us?

The agency you worked for before was one of the big ones, Haruka. Now, you've even teamed up with Airi and Shizuku to boot...

From a smaller agency's point of view, hiring three big names, such as yourselves, comes with the risk of making the big agencies think you were cherry picked.

They could also come under pressure from your old agencies and cause other idols to lose work.

From what I've heard, that's what everyone's worried about...

Oh...

I see.

Finding an agency won't be easy, but good luck with your new group. I hope we get the chance to work together again...

Yes, thank you very much.

We'll be looking forward to it!

...