(Okay, let's see how Minori's...)
Huff... Huff...
Careful of what your fingertips do... Stretch out your arm like you're about to pluck the sun out of the sky...
Hmm... I'm still not getting it right...
Is it because of how I'm moving my arm?
Haruka made it look so pretty, but it feels so clunky whenever I try to do what she did...
(Oh, she's still worried about the part during the chorus...)
(Out of all of us, she really has the best work ethic...)
Okay, one more time...
Hey, Minori. Working hard?
Huh?! Airi?!
You're back already?!
I got a bit worried, came back to check and saw that you were practicing...
Y-Yeah...
It's our very first solo show, so I really don't want to disappoint everyone who's coming to see us.
So, I thought that I should do everything I can to prevent that!
I see...
Oh, I know!
Would you mind taking a look at this part, Airi? It's been giving me a lot of trouble.
Also, if you could tell me about anything else you think seems off...
Sure, but...
You know I can be pretty tough, right?
Y-Yes, I know! I'm prepared for anything!
Hehe. In that case...
Show me!
Okay!
And lock my arm into place...!
(Yeah, not bad...
Her arm's in a nice, visible position. Must be because she worked on it so much on her own.)
Next, move like water flowing along...
(This is the part she's worried about the most. When we're supposed to stretch our arms up towards the sky during the chorus...)
(Huh? What she just did. It looked like...)
Like this?
I'm trying to stretch my arm out more and more...
...
So, that's where I'm at...
How'd it look?! Did I do okay?!
Well, you have everything down in terms of the actual dance routine...
I do?!
But your presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
What?!
But...
I thought I had it right...
I'll give you that you've been working really hard, Minori. You've been trying to figure out what you're doing different as your dance and make changes accordingly, which is admirable.
However, just copying what we do isn't always the right answer.
Huh...? Copying what you do...?
Ah, you must've been doing it subconsciously.
Regardless, you seem to be heavily influenced by the way Haruka dances...
Oh...
J-Just now, I thought about how pretty Haruka looks when she does that part...
Oh, you...
You're just like me when I was just starting out.
Huh? Like you, Airi...?
Does that mean you've also tried copying others?
Yeah, but in my case, I did it deliberately.
Really...?!
That must mean you were trying to copy someone who was really good.
Actually...
I'm not so sure about that.
If anything, I might've been the better one at singing and dancing.
Huh?
Then, why did you...?
Probably because she possessed something that I didn't...
Something that you didn't possess...?
Yeah, for the longest time...
I always wanted to be an idol who shined on stage.
But that was when I'd just become a trainee...
I thought I'd punched my ticket...
I got an audition to become an idol trainee and believed I was on my way towards achieving my dream.
I ultimately passed and began thinking, “Just watch! I'm gonna become the best idol!” Then, everyone started paying attention to this other girl.
Okay, that should do it.
This one looks really nice.
Thank you very much.
I'll be looking forward to working with you again!
(I had no idea that you took promo pics like this...!)
(I practiced in front of the mirror a ton last night, so I sure hope it did turn out okay. As much as I'd like to ask, a rookie like me probably isn't in any position to...)
Did you hear about the girl that won the Grand Prix for the Cheerful * Days audition? The one for their third generation.
Heard and saw.
She's absolutely gorgeous and has this amazing aura about her. I have a feeling that she's going to get to do some modeling or acting work on top of being an idol.
You think so too?!
She's doing a shoot here tomorrow, right? I can't wait to meet her.
(Oh, I knew that they were auditioning, but didn't realize someone like her had won...)
(Cheerful * Days is this agency's flagship group, so winning the Grand Prix has to mean that she's out of this world...)
Hey, did you see that girl from Cheerful * Days? Grand Prix winners just have this thing, you know? I mean, she was head and shoulders above all the other trainees!
...
(Today's shoot was supposed to be about the trainees... And yet, all this commotion about...)
Shizuku Hinomori, right?
I made sure to immediately memorize her name after I heard the news! I'd also love to meet her, but do you think she's still here...?
She's still practicing at the theater, so you should still be able to see her. I'm sure you'll know who she is just by her incredible aura!
(Oh, the theater's just right there...)
(If we're both aiming for the top, we'll probably end up becoming rivals. Also, if she's garnering this much attention already, I should try seeing her at least once.)
(Alright, in that case...!)
(Here I am...)
(Are they taking a break right now?
I ended up deciding to sneak in for a quick look, but where is this Hinomori girl...?)
...!
Is that the girl who won...?
(Whoa... It's hard to believe someone like her even exists...)
(It's like she's radiating with beauty...
She really is nothing like the others...)
(Can I really make it...?)
(Is it possible for me to survive in a world with people like her in it...?)
(No, this is day one. Why am I being so negative?)
(This isn't about if I can or can't make it...)
(Being an idol is all about having heart!)
There you are! You must be Shizuku Hinomori! The winner of the Grand Prix for that audition, right?