1. Good work out there!Copy !req
2. You too!Copy !req
3. What're your plans after this?Copy !req
4. Hmm, I'll probably head home.Copy !req
5. Oh, what about you, Mana?Copy !req
6. I spotted this cute girl in the dressing room earlier,
so I think I'll watch her perform a bit!Copy !req
7. You've got a soft spot for cuties.Copy !req
8. You're such an otaku.Copy !req
9. What stage are they on?Copy !req
10. The Star Stage.Copy !req
11. Oh, the hellish one...Copy !req
12. It's crazy hot in that place.Copy !req
13. Oh, boss, mind if we stay and watch the next act?Copy !req
14. MEM-cho will be performing.Copy !req
15. I've heard that name before. Who is she?Copy !req
16. Well, she's a streamer. She's pretty cute and entertaining.Copy !req
17. She was recently on this show called Love Now...Copy !req
18. Ah, the one that saw a storm of criticism.Copy !req
19. She joined this group called B Komachi.Copy !req
20. B Komachi?Copy !req
21. You know them?Copy !req
22. Young guys these days don't know, huh?Copy !req
23. They took the name from a group from some years back.Copy !req
24. One of their members was Ai, a legend.Copy !req
25. She was truly incredible,
but she died before realizing her ambitions.Copy !req
26. The same name might be all they share...Copy !req
27. Well, let's watch 'em a bit before heading home.Copy !req
28. B Komachi-san, you can go on out.Copy !req
29. Okay!Copy !req
30. MEM-chan!Copy !req
31. We have a decent audience. Though, with an influencer
in the group, I wasn't worried about that.Copy !req
32. MEM-cho!Copy !req
33. The red glow sticks stand out more than I expected.Copy !req
34. My glow stick color will be red! The same as Ai's!Copy !req
35. I guess I'll be yellow, then.Copy !req
36. What about you, Senpai?Copy !req
37. If any color's fine, then white.Copy !req
38. White, huh?Copy !req
39. Oh? Is that a no go?Copy !req
40. I wouldn't say that, but they're seen as special,
so people tend to cry foul and fight over them.Copy !req
41. Oh, I see.Copy !req
42. That's okay.Copy !req
43. It suits someone like you who's
not an idol otaku in the first place.Copy !req
44. B Komachi!Copy !req
45. It'll be alright. Once I'm up on stage,
I'm not all that nervous.Copy !req
46. Pretty much all the people up front
are waving yellow glow sticks.Copy !req
47. Our audience is big on MEM-cho.Copy !req
48. Everyone's here because they want to see her.Copy !req
49. I bet they would've been happier
with her as the center, after all.Copy !req
50. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!Copy !req
51. As a veteran B Komachi otaku, how do they look?Copy !req
52. They're nothing alike. This ain't the B Komachi I know.Copy !req
53. That group was viable 'cause they had a star called Ai.Copy !req
54. Getting three hacks together does not a group ma-Copy !req
55. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!Copy !req
56. You rock!Copy !req
57. Boss?!Copy !req
58. B Komachi!Copy !req
59. Aw, she's so dazzling.Copy !req
60. Thank you, everyone!Copy !req
61. She loves idols... and always looks like
she's having fun... It's like she was born to be an idol.Copy !req
62. That song was STAR T RAIN! Did you guys remember it?!Copy !req
63. It made me super happy to see some of you really nail the chorus!Copy !req
64. Even right now, she'll steal someone's heart,
and she'll steadily build a fanbase...Copy !req
65. It's girls like her that flourish.Copy !req
66. Alright, time for our next song!Copy !req
67. This is that major-hit song you've all been waiting for...Copy !req
68. Our Sign Is B!Copy !req
69. I'm jealous.Copy !req
70. They have everyone looking at them...Copy !req
71. and wanting them.Copy !req
72. There's no one who looks my way.Copy !req
73. My mom and my manager both ditched me.Copy !req
74. Even my fans only see the remnants of the old me.Copy !req
75. Someone, please look at me.Copy !req
76. I've been crying that out for over 10 years now...Copy !req
77. Say that you need me.Copy !req
78. If someone simply told me that, oh how hard I would try.Copy !req
79. Say that you can make use of me...Copy !req
80. Then, I'd work like a packhorse.Copy !req
81. Praise me like, "You did your best"...Copy !req
82. Hearing that, I'd try much, much harder still...Copy !req
83. Somebody...Copy !req
84. Anybody...Copy !req
85. tell me it's okay for me to be here!Copy !req
86. He looks like an idiot!Copy !req
87. How can he keep a straight face while doing that?!Copy !req
88. He's waving glow sticks for all three of us! Is he posing
as a fan of the entire group? That damn cheater!Copy !req
89. I've decided. So long as I'm an idol,Copy !req
90. I'm gonna dye all your glow sticks white!Copy !req
91. I'm gonna make you love me!Copy !req
92. I'm gonna be your fave - your star!Copy !req
93. Boss!Copy !req
94. That girl's pretty good too, huh?Copy !req
95. Thank you, everyone!Copy !req
96. Her expression brightened up in that second song.
Honestly, I think I can support her!Copy !req
97. Let's really get this place buzzing!Copy !req
98. All three have the looks to be the star of other groups.Copy !req
99. You guys are gonna keep singing along with us, right?!Copy !req
100. In particular, that girl in the center is just
the type otaku love, and she's a great singer too.Copy !req
101. They might make it big.Copy !req
102. Whew, I'm beat.Copy !req
103. So you came, after all, Aqua.Copy !req
104. Well, yeah.Copy !req
105. Anyway, what WAS that back there?
I couldn't help but laugh.Copy !req
106. So, what did you think of our performance?Copy !req
107. Well, I'd say it was fairly good for your first time.Copy !req
108. What the heck?! You can give us more props than that!Copy !req
109. No, I can't.Copy !req
110. You'll go on to have concerts far more amazing,Copy !req
111. so, that considered, it'd be a waste
to give you high marks straight away.Copy !req
112. If you say so.Copy !req
113. It appears the two of them are finally talking again.Copy !req
114. Seems they aren't getting along very well...Copy !req
115. That's not what's going on here.Copy !req
116. Hey, Aqua, are things going well
with Akane from Love Now?Copy !req
117. Well, I haven't seen her since then.Copy !req
118. Oh, is that so?Copy !req
119. Besides, it's just a work relationship.Copy !req
120. We have talked about heading somewhere
to take photos for Instagram, though.Copy !req
121. Work...Copy !req
122. Hmph! Of course it is!Copy !req
123. As if Akane Kurokawa would ever seriously fall for you!Copy !req
124. It's one of those staged-for-TV things!
Happens all the time!Copy !req
125. Poor thing. Don't be catching feelings
in that kinda relationship!Copy !req
126. Oh, for goodness' sake!Copy !req
127. Are you down in the dumps for real?Copy !req
128. Arima-chan is suddenly all smiles...Copy !req
129. There's zero reason to be depressed about it, okay?!Copy !req
130. That's what this is?!Copy !req
131. Arima-chan has feelings for Aqu-tan...Copy !req
132. Akane! Who am I supposed to root for here?!Copy !req
133. Akane!Copy !req
134. Your next job is all lined up.Copy !req
135. Huh?!Copy !req
136. Is this for real?Copy !req
137. Aqua-kun... We'll get to work together again.Copy !req
138. During the lessons, it was you
under Pieyon's mask, wasn't it?Copy !req
139. What made you do that?Copy !req
140. I mean, you weren't talking to me, right?Copy !req
141. That's it?Copy !req
142. That's the only reason?Copy !req
143. You put on that super stuffy mask and
did all that running and dancing just for that?!Copy !req
144. I wore one once too, and it sucked big time.Copy !req
145. And you put on that creepy voice?Copy !req
146. You've got serious imitation skills. Who would've
thought you had that special talent? Impressive!Copy !req
147. And?Copy !req
148. You didn't even want to speak to me,
so you wouldn't have listened to my coaching, right?Copy !req
149. I simply wanted to ensure my sister's
first live show was a success...Copy !req
150. Yeah, yeah, there you go with your sister complex again.Copy !req
151. Quite a convenient excuse, isn't it?Copy !req
152. Well, if you say so!Copy !req
153. What's her deal?Copy !req
154. I'm outta here.Copy !req
155. Oh? You're running away?Copy !req
156. Running away, are you?Copy !req
157. What? No idea what you're talking about.
I'm not running from anything.Copy !req
158. You did something weird 'cause
you wanted to talk to me,Copy !req
159. and now that I've found out you're
fleeing out of embarrassment, huh?Copy !req
160. Okay...Copy !req
161. It seems you have a strange misconception about
all this, so let's discuss it thoroughly. Sit down.Copy !req
162. That's good by me.Copy !req
163. I'm glad to see it looks like they've made up!Copy !req
164. Seems to me they're trying to get
on each other's bad side...Copy !req
165. Oh, it's fine. My brother's the type not
to give most people the time of day.Copy !req
166. Unless someone takes jabs at him like that,
his relationship with them won't last long.Copy !req
167. He wasn't always like that, though.Copy !req
168. Oh, really?Copy !req
169. Well, he went through a lot,
and he ended up with a twisted personality.Copy !req
170. Oh my.Copy !req
171. When he's with Senpai, he's a bit more like his old self.Copy !req
172. Akane...Copy !req
173. You're gonna need to work harder...Copy !req
174. Whoo! I've secured the rights!
It's my first major IP in some time!Copy !req
175. Over 50 million copies in circulation!
An anime film that was a massive hit!Copy !req
176. The manga that's so popular it can be seen as
intimidating, Tokyo Blade, is getting a stage adaptation!Copy !req
177. Oh, yeah, I'm familiar with it.Copy !req
178. My daughter watched the anime and got hooked on it.Copy !req
179. When you say for the stage, is it one of those 2.5D plays?Copy !req
180. Yeah, exactly!Copy !req
181. And I secured a huge budget for it, too!
We're gonna do it up big this time!Copy !req
182. Plus, the stage is in a pretty cool place!Copy !req
183. We'll rotate it 360 degrees, make heavy use of CG, and
bring the atmosphere of the manga to life!Copy !req
184. I've got a good crew lined up, too!Copy !req
185. Hmm...Copy !req
186. I've also arranged the assistance of
Theater Company Lala Lai for this stage adaptation.Copy !req
187. Oh, good stuff!Copy !req
188. I'm impressed you talked ol' Kindaichi-san into it.Copy !req
189. Sure enough, I've got the budget to thank.
Finances are tight everywhere in the theater world.Copy !req
190. Now, about the casting...Copy !req
191. I think I can land Lala Lai's Akane Kurokawa.Copy !req
192. But given the audience,
good-lookin' guys and girls are a must.Copy !req
193. But they have few young troupe members,
so we'll need to bring in some outside talent.Copy !req
194. And you're just the man for that job, Kaburagi-chan!Copy !req
195. Got anyone good in mind?Copy !req
196. I suppose I do...Copy !req
197. They're likely on their way to stardom.Copy !req
198. I can introduce them, but you'll owe me one.Copy !req
199. Not so fast! I'm providin' these kids
of yours a chance to develop,Copy !req
200. so it's more like you'll owe me one.Copy !req
201. We've got ourselves a deal.Copy !req
202. Do you think this is good?Copy !req
203. I can't really say, but I guess it looks fine.Copy !req
204. Well, now we've got evidence
to show the fans we're a couple.Copy !req
205. We should have nothing to worry about for a while.Copy !req
206. So, about that thing... did they already contact you?Copy !req
207. You mean about Tokyo Blade?Copy !req
208. Yep!Copy !req
209. The theater company I'm a part of, Lala Lai,
is at the center of the production,Copy !req
210. so I've been asked to take a part, too.Copy !req
211. Theater Company Lala Lai...Copy !req
212. So, I thought about what might help her, and I introduced
her to a workshop hosted by a certain theater company.Copy !req
213. A workshop?Copy !req
214. It's called Lala Lai, the same theater company
that Akane-kun belongs to.Copy !req
215. Though, it wasn't all that famous in those days.Copy !req
216. It must've been there...Copy !req
217. that Ai fell in love.Copy !req
218. After she started attending the workshop,
she began taking more care with her appearance,Copy !req
219. and she started asking me about nice places to eat.Copy !req
220. As you might expect, I don't know
exactly who the guy was,Copy !req
221. but I do remember how she suddenly
had the face of a grown woman.Copy !req
222. If you're interested, I'll introduce you
to the leader of Lala Lai.Copy !req
223. There, I suspect you'd come closer
to the answers you seek.Copy !req
224. Of course I'll take the part.Copy !req
225. You said it!Copy !req
226. I got an offer to play Princess Saya.Copy !req
227. You'll be playing Touki, right?Copy !req
228. The two of them are lovers.
The person in charge of casting must've set out to get us.Copy !req
229. I thought there's high demand for boys' love
content with 2.5D plays, so is that alright?Copy !req
230. The manga actually features lots of straight couples.Copy !req
231. Of course, many girls do look at it from the BL angle.Copy !req
232. Touki's a supporting character,Copy !req
233. but thanks to the romcom elements,
I think he has a good amount of male fans, too.Copy !req
234. Every week there's excitement around whether
he will end up with the heroine or his associate.Copy !req
235. Touki's associate...Copy !req
236. Tsurugi, right?Copy !req
237. That role should be cast soon, too. I wonder who'll get it.Copy !req
238. That'd be me.Copy !req
239. Arima.Copy !req
240. You need to stop posting in real-time.Copy !req
241. You'll get malicious fans tracking you down
and might even become a victim of stalking.Copy !req
242. It's standard practice to use scheduled posts
for any outdoor photos.Copy !req
243. Do you really want to trouble everyone
with some silly dispute again?Copy !req
244. You never learn your lesson, Akane Kurokawa.Copy !req
245. So you'll be playing Tsurugi, Kana-chan...Copy !req
246. How many years since we've acted together?
I was convinced that you'd called it quits.Copy !req
247. I mean, you're an idol now, aren't you?Copy !req
248. Akane...?Copy !req
249. Is there any point in being stuck on stage
doing jobs that hardly pay anything?Copy !req
250. Oh, come to think of it, weren't you
recently on a reality dating show?Copy !req
251. I hear you got popular by selling away
your private life bit by bit.Copy !req
252. Good for you.Copy !req
253. Arima...?Copy !req
254. Well...Copy !req
255. I was nearby, so I just dropped
in to tell you to be careful.Copy !req
256. You best move to a new spot
for the rest of your work-date.Copy !req
257. See ya.Copy !req
258. You and Arima know each other, huh?Copy !req
259. Well, we're the same age and have been
in the industry since our child-actor days.Copy !req
260. So how could we not?Copy !req
261. Um... try to get along with her?Copy !req
262. I can't!Copy !req
263. She was always taking one role
I wanted after another for years.Copy !req
264. Just imagine how it feels...Copy !req
265. to be a performer born in the same year
as that gifted child-actor...Copy !req
266. But, I won't let her best me this time.Copy !req
267. While Kana-chan was putting out silly songs like
Bell Pepper Exercises, I was constantly training.Copy !req
268. The chance to settle my long-standing grudge
has finally come. I'm not gonna lose.Copy !req
269. I swear, so many actors...Copy !req
270. I refuse to lose.Copy !req
271. I refuse to lose.Copy !req
272. I refuse to lose.Copy !req
273. I refuse to lose.Copy !req
274. really hate to lose.Copy !req
275. I refuse to lose.Copy !req
276. The former child actor who was once called a genius...Copy !req
277. and the performer who is currently called a genius.Copy !req
278. And Kaburagi-chan, who's pitched them
against each other, is pretty darn incredible, too.Copy !req
279. This Tokyo Blade stage play...Copy !req
280. is really starting to excite me!Copy !req
281. You know, I was thinking that maybe
you'll become an idol one day too, Ruby.Copy !req
282. Aqua, will you be an actor?Copy !req
283. I wonder... what kind of adults you'll grow up to be...Copy !req
284. The guy who put Ai through all of that
is someone in the entertainment industry.Copy !req
285. By whatever means necessary, I will definitely find him.Copy !req
286. And to accomplish that, I will...Copy !req