1. Glossy hair that is well cared for.
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2. A baby face that hasn't lost its innocence.
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3. A personality reminiscent of an airhead.
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4. I must admit...
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5. based on my experience of
following idols for many years,
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6. she's the kinda girl who'd be
crazy popular with hardcore otaku!
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7. I don't much like your perspective or analysis.
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8. If it seems she'll be popular, it's all good.
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9. Why not at least try asking her?
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10. Well, I get your point...
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11. But, you know, Loli-senpai and I have
a rather unusual relationship, right?
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12. You do?
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13. I mean, isn't she kinda obnoxious toward me?!
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14. Probably 'cause you always
saying "baking soda" around her.
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15. Anyway, I'll call her over, so at least try talking to her.
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16. Then, if you still feel there's no hope of getting along,
you can forget the whole thing.
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17. What could it be?
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18. What's this all about?
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19. "Something important"... He sounds so serious.
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20. What?
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21. Is he going to...?
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22. Oh, boy...
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23. What?
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24. Sorry to keep-
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25. We've been waiting.
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26. You're late.
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27. Huh?
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28. Go wait till hell freezes over.
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29. Why's your sister here too?
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30. It's actually Ruby who wants to talk to you.
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31. I got psyched up for nothing.
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32. Well, what is it? I'm busy myself,
so you've got 20 seconds.
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33. Talk about being blunt...
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34. Aqua!
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35. Right now, if I ask her to be idol with me, isn't that
basically telling her I think she's cute enough to be one?!
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36. That really irritates me!
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37. What's with that sense of pride?
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38. You want to start being an idol
as soon as possible, right?
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39. It's no time to be stubborn, is it?
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40. Yeah, true... Good point.
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41. Kana Arima-san, would you be an idol together with me?
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42. "Idol"?
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43. Where's this coming from?
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44. Strawberry Productions is working
on putting together an idol group.
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45. And we're looking for members...
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46. I heard that you're a freelancer, so...
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47. Well, to be frank, I guess I'm scouting you.
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48. Are you being serious?
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49. I'm serious, and this is important.
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50. Give me some time to think about it.
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51. Nah, it's a no for me.
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52. If I become an idol, I'll lose out
on jobs reserved for young actors,
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53. and my main work will be idol gigs where
the old is constantly giving way to the new.
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54. And if I don't find success as an idol,
I'll be out of work on both fronts.
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55. As someone responsible for crafting
her own image, the risk is too great.
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56. That said...
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57. this is Ruby Hoshino.
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58. There's something about her that
reminds me of the genius idol, Ai.
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59. I only worked with Ai that one time, but she the real deal -
it was natural she became a big success.
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60. My keen nose as an entertainer...
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61. senses the potential in this girl.
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62. But even so...
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63. Strawberry Productions isn't a major agency, and they
don't have a track record in launching new projects.
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64. Above all, it's questionable if I'm cute enough
to find success as an idol...
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65. I'm not so foolish as to take on a reckless gamble.
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66. I'm sorry, but-
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67. I beg you, Kana Arima.
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68. Please be an idol with my sister.
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69. But, I'm not all that cute in-
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70. No, you are cute.
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71. I wouldn't just ask you to be an idol on a whim.
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72. You're far cuter than the run-of-the-mill idols out there.
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73. I feel that my precious sister
would be safe in your hands.
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74. Oh? But...
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75. I beg you, please become an idol.
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76. Th-there's no way!
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77. Please.
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78. I said no!
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79. I'm placing my trust in you and requesting you do this.
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80. Jeez! No matter how many times you ask,
it's not happening!
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81. I'll never do it!
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82. Welcome to Strawberry Productions.
We'll give you a warm reception.
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83. Intellectually, I know this a bad decision!
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84. Why am I always like this?!
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85. Let's give this our all, Senpai.
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86. I never imagined you'd actually get her to join...
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87. How'd you pull it off?
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88. Nothing special. I just read her like a book.
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89. Kana Arima can be very empathetic,
and she's susceptible to pushiness.
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90. Based on her personality,
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91. I thought tearfully pleading and twisting her arm
would be effective, and, sure enough, they were.
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92. Oh, guys like you...
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93. If you keep pulling that stuff, one of these days
it's gonna come back to bite you.
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94. Be careful when you walk alone at night.
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95. Hey, can you still cry in ten seconds?
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96. I don't feel I've done anything wrong.
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97. Huh? Are you mocking me?!
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98. Besides, it's not like I lied.
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99. Not at all!
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100. Well, a former genius child actor -
a title that no longer means anything -
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101. has simply become a former-genius-child-actor idol.
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102. In any case, I needed a shot in the arm of some type.
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103. You're desperate to convince yourself, huh?
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104. Plus, by being with the same agency as him,
we'll have more chances to work together,
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105. and I feel like he's got some techniques I can steal.
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106. You think so?
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107. Hey, does Aqua have his next job lined up?
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108. Hmm...
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109. Well, he does, but...
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110. What's with the sour face?
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111. Here.
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112. What?!
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113. Aqua's in a dating show...?!
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114. Hello!
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115. Uh, I'm Yuki Sumi. I'm a 1st-year in high school.
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116. She has an amazing figure!
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117. She's well put together from head to toe.
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118. I'm Nobuyuki Kumano! Dancing is my specialty.
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119. I'm Akane Kurokawa, a 2nd-year
high school student and actor.
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120. Whoa, it's that girl.
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121. Oh? You know her?
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122. Well, I guess so...
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123. I'm MEM-cho, a 3rd-year high schooler.
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124. I stream on YouTube!
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125. Nice to meet you!
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126. They have those types on the show too, huh?
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127. She sure is cute!
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128. I'm Kengo Morimoto. I'm in a band.
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129. Nice to meet ya!
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130. So, what grade are you in?
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131. Second year of high school.
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132. Third year of high school.
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133. Oh, you're all older than me.
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134. Ah, I get it.
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135. It's a show where high schoolers
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136. That's okay! Right?
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137. Yeah.
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138. who're all entertainers get to know each other
better through various events on the weekends,
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139. Of course.
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140. How kind. I look forward to being on the show with you!
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141. and in the end they either couple up or don't.
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142. Yeah, same!
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143. I wonder who the last person will be?
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144. Yeah, me too.
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145. Given it's one of Producer Kaburagi's shows,
it's no surprise everyone's good-looking.
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146. Oh, it's my big brother!
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147. Hello!
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148. I'm Aqua! Whew, I'm feeling really nervous.
It's nice to meet you all!
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149. Uh, who's that?!
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150. Isn't my brother a sulky guy
who gives off a gloomy aura?!
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151. He's taking putting on a character too far!
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152. Aw, you're so handsome! I really admire actors.
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153. Aww, my brother is critical of these cutesy-girl types.
She doesn't have a chance with him.
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154. You're cute yourself, MEM-cho.
I'm feeling all bashful now.
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155. What? Drop dead.
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156. What's his deal?! He only ever called me cute
when he was trying to get me to join you!
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157. Must be in a good mood surrounded by all those girls.
I'll give him a talking-to when he gets home.
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158. In the end, he's just another male.
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159. Look how he acts the second he finds
a female who's an easy target.
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160. Girls, this is a show for public consumption,
so just calm down.
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161. If he doesn't act like that, the show won't work.
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162. I can understand how seeing a guy you're close
with flirt with girls would tick you off, though.
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163. Aqua's an actor, too.
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164. Perhaps he thinks he should be portraying
that kind of character?
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165. Acting...
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166. I know, but still!
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167. This is a show where they really profess their feelings
and become a couple at the end, right?
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168. Yeah, true.
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169. Even if it's for form's sake,
they'll probably stick to that storyline.
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170. If the profession of love works out,
they kiss and stuff, right?
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171. Well, that's normally how it goes.
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172. Why'd he ever agree to be on the show?
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173. If you keep on acting, eventually
you'll be asked to do a kissing scene yourself.
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174. Being businesslike about it is part of the job.
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175. In this industry, if you cling to strict views on chastity,
you're asking to get hurt in the future.
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176. I know, but...
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177. And, here's my dog...
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178. Uh-huh.
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179. See, pretty cute, right?
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180. Take a good look!
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181. Yeah, what a cutie!
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182. What a pain...
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183. And, and, look how cute that little butt is when my doggie's eating.
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184. This standard teen chat where we agree
with each other about everything is getting to me.
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185. How'd I end up doing this?
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186. If you agree to the show, I'll give you the inside scoop
on Ai, including stuff even her agency didn't know.
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187. For example, details of her relationships with guys.
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188. In any case, I've got to follow through... for the sake
of getting info on Ai out of Producer Kaburagi.
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189. That should provide some clues
in the search for our father.
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190. Now, this is how the show works:
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191. You can go ahead and converse freely with each other.
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192. However, please do pay attention
to the angles of the fixed cameras.
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193. When the cameraman gets closer - if you're able to -
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194. it'd be a big help if you can have a chat that sums up
what you'd been talking about right beforehand.
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195. You're good to go!
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196. Dating reality shows have been around for 20 years,
so a reasonable amount of know-how has accumulated.
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197. Okay!
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198. The style of directing for reality guarantees
the show's entertainment value
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199. while also leaving things in the hands
of each individual on screen.
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200. Excuse me... Is the way I'm doing it okay?
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201. Aah, I think that'll be fine initially.
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202. Well, if you can make it seem you're on closer terms
next time you're conversing, you'll be helping us out.
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203. The viewers want a heart-racing experience too.
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204. Oh, makes sense.
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205. So they really don't use scripts on these shows, huh?
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206. I have no idea what we're supposed to talk about.
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207. Yeah, right?
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208. Reality shows don't have scripts.
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209. However, they do feature directing.
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210. People differ in whether they take what
the director says as advice or as commands.
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211. I'm timid and unable to put myself out there,
and I'm not a skilled conversationalist either.
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212. I bet I'll get overlooked.
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213. Why'd you decided to take the job?
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214. The public face of my agency has
a policy of not turning down any jobs.
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215. She sucks up all the work that comes into our agency,
so I'm basically free year-round.
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216. I at least wanna put up a struggle.
And then, Kaburagi-san got in touch...
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217. Oh.
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218. It was good timing, plus I've never been
in a romantic relationship before.
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219. Oh, get out!
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220. Aw, come on, I'm telling the truth.
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221. I'm still a 1st-year high schooler, you know?
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222. You're way off base if you think
all entertainers must be dating someone.
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223. You're not interested in romance?
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224. Don't be silly. I mean, I'm a guy, right?
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225. But, I've been unable to shake a past love.
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226. Well, on reflection, I'm not sure it was romantic love.
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227. I still haven't fully digested it... even a bit.
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228. Hmm... It was complicated, huh?
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229. Oh, did you get a crush on a teacher or something?
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230. Something quite like that, maybe.
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231. Then, you've gotta get over it, right?
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232. Hey, did you hear?
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233. The couple from last season kissed at the end.
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234. Well, yeah, I did some prep for the show.
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235. I was worried there might not be any quality guys...
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236. but, I might be able to do a kiss if it's with you.
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237. Behind me.
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238. The cameraman's recording us.
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239. Don't look right at the camera.
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240. I'm sure they'll use this in the show.
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241. Let's get along, okay?
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242. She's got a nice personality.
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243. "Timid"? I think not.
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244. I see... This is how it is with reality shows.
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245. At any rate, I'm your little sister, so of course you going
out with a type of girl I dislike would bother me!
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246. Therefore, I'll decide which girl you should date.
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247. Talk about self-centered.
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248. My top recommendation is...
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249. Yukipon!
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250. I bet she's a pure-hearted good girl!
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251. You're not a good judge of this stuff,
so stay away from dating for a while.
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252. What?!
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253. Frill-chan's absent again today, huh?
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254. She said she started filmin' a new TV drama,
so she must be pretty busy.
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255. Hmm...
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256. What about you, Minami-chan?
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257. I'll be headin' to a shoot after school.
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258. I see...
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259. My brother's filming again today...
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260. Senpai, you're used to not having any work, right?
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261. How've you been passing the time?
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262. Watch it or I'll give ya a brain-shaking jab to the jaw!
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263. If you have free time, then study.
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264. Being an idol is a job
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265. where you're at your peak for a short time and
struggle to support yourself even if you sell well,
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266. so it'll benefit your life if you do something
that helps you get into a good college.
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267. That's rather blunt.
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268. Isn't there anything we can do right now?
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269. New idols do gigs where they sing and dance at clubs,
and occasionally they take on a media-related job, right?
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270. On top of not having any songs,
we still haven't decided on a group name.
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271. What could we possibly do right now?
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272. We don't have a name yet is 'cause
you keep making things difficult!
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273. Well, once we have a name, this'll all start feeling real.
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274. It's like, I still can't bring myself to call myself an idol...
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275. Why not? "I'm Kana Arima, an idol"!
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276. It's embarrassing!
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277. How am I supposed to explain to my parents
I'm a self-proclaimed idol with no track record?!
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278. If you had a track record, could you stop shilly-shallying?
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279. In that case, let's build one up.
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280. What's with that cheap camera?
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281. It might be cheap, but it gets the job done.
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282. For new idols at the bottom of the ladder, it used to be
standard to hand out flyers and perform at joint concerts,
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283. but times have changed.
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284. These days, the heart of idol culture is online.
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285. It's also the best value for money
for generating grassroots support.
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286. So, you two should also start by
making a name for yourselves online.
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287. You mean like YouTubers?
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288. Yes. It'll be efficient if you establish a built-in audience
and then invite them to your concerts, right?
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289. You're so smart, Miyako-san!
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290. President, aren't you taking
an overoptimistic view of the internet?
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291. If you put a girl like this who's just a pretty face online,
we'll only get a few thousand subscribers at best.
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292. What did you say?
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293. Even with my fans, it's questionable if we'd reach 10,000.
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294. Besides, we'd only be able to get about one percent to
show up to an offline event, so it'd be really tough going.
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295. Well, I'd agree if we were talking about amateurs.
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296. But Strawberry Productions manages many streamers
and excels in the online segment.
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297. We've got the know-how.
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298. In fact, I've just gotten hold of someone willing to help,
so I hope you learn a lot from him.
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299. Well then, they're in your hands now.
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300. Leave it to me!
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301. I-it's a pervert!
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302. Oh, it's Pieyon!
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303. Huh? Who?!
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304. He's super popular with elementary
and middle schoolers!
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305. You don't know Pieyon, the masked
strength-training YouTuber?!
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306. Muscular cheep.
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307. He's out top earner!
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308. It's my first time hearing of the
masked strength-training genre!
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309. Abdominals and thighs!
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310. I barely watch YouTube, you see.
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311. So this is the kind of thing kids are into these days...
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312. Cheep?
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313. Sure enough, we live in a warped society.
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314. That's no way to talk to Pieyon!
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315. Pieyon-san, please tell her off!
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316. In the end, the internet is about
making the biggest impact,
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317. or I should say it's a character-based business
that reuses material from TV shows.
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318. I bring in 100 million yen a year.
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319. I'm sorry for belittling you.
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320. Listen up. There are several techniques
for gaining subscribers.
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321. What might they be?
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322. Uploading every day!
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323. Already having name recognition?
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324. Well, yeah, that's true.
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325. But you two have neither name recognition
nor the perseverance to post daily, right?
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326. Harsh...
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327. However, there's a secret technique
for quickly and easily gaining subscribers.
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328. I was waiting to hear that, Sensei!
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329. Please, teach us!
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330. Well, you see...
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331. Cheep, cheep, cheep!
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332. Pieyon Channel!
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333. Okay, today, I'm tied down by obligations.
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334. An idol group at my agency?
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335. It seems they're putting one together,
so I was told to use my channel to promote them!
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336. At first, I thought I'd decline...
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337. but given it was the president asking...
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338. And so, today I bring you...!
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339. Pieyon Boot Dance! If they can keep with me for
one hour, they can reveal their faces - let's go!
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340. This's tough!
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341. He's living up to his strength-straining
YouTuber branding given how intense this is!
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342. Put on these silly masks and dance,
he says. He trying to kill us?!
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343. I can't breathe!
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344. Doesn't he know we need oxygen?!
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345. How'd this happen to me?!
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346. A collaboration is the best way to promote yourselves!
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347. Collaborating with a famous YouTuber
is the quickest and easiest path!
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348. This time, you'll be appearing on my channel,
but what angle should we take?
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349. Since you two are idols,
maybe I could prank you while you're sleeping?
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350. Oh, that sounds like a good idea.
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351. Huh? But if you tell us you'll prank us
in our sleep ahead of time, it won't be a prank, right?
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352. Are you being serious?
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353. If a crew went to film an idol getting woken up,
what would happen if she were sleeping with a guy?
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354. With this kind of thing, they're notified the day before.
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355. Really?!
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356. But, this will be our first job.
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357. I don't want any lies.
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358. And that led to this! It's too extreme!
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359. I can endure this since I've been going on long runs,
but for a rank amateur like her...
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360. This's rough... I feel like I'm gonna die.
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361. Okay, well done! Now take off
your costumes and introduce yourselves!
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362. I'm Ruby Hoshino... with Strawberry Productions.
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363. I'm a self-proclaimed idol!
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364. Okay, now you too!
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365. I'm Kana Arima! I'm a self-proclaimed idol! Hello!
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366. Hey, I recall hearing that name.
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367. You heard it is all?!
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368. Well, fantastic, just fantastic.
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369. I'd been planning to edit it to make it seem
you lasted an hour, but you really cranked it out.
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370. The viewers won't be able to tell,
but people on set sure see it.
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371. You know, I like you girls.
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372. Oh, there's something important I forgot to ask!
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373. Do you have a group name?
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374. You can just go ahead and decide for us, Ruby.
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375. Really?
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376. Well, let's see... Our name will be...
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377. B Komachi!
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378. Huh? Is that really okay?
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