Powertron!
Special Attack!
Curses! I'll get you next time, Powertron!
Hold it, Kingburg!
Damnit! Did he get away?
However, we Powertrons will uphold the peace of the network!
Yeah!
That was nothing like the stuff on TV.
That was so cheap!
Man, that's like way too expensive.
Like I said, it's from that show in Hiroshima.
The one I couldn't go to?
When Rei went fumbling her song 'coz those guys started trouble...
And this is the MiniDisc from when Mima sang in Rei's place.
It's a precious sample of Mimarin's singing voice!
Oh, yeah... Is that rumor true?
Oh, that?
Three left, only three left...
Last issue of CHAMMINGBIRD... only three left.
400 yen... 400 yen...
Yeah, I read about that too.
I heard she's announcing it today coz it's the last concert here.
At a nothing show like this? That's pretty cold of Mimarin!
There's been lots of solo activity going on lately...
And only Mimarin's like worthy of being an actress?
Look, they're back.
The guys that caused trouble last week.
I just hope they don't make a mess today, of all days.
I'm getting nervous!
Come on, sit still!
Hey, what's up with this!? This is all frayed!
Don't look at me!
- Get me some masking tape! - Hello? Yes.
Remember your entrance in the second song, Mima!
Don't pressure me!
I need a drink!
- I'm sorry. I'll call you back. - You can have drinks after the event.
You're on!
And it looks like they're set.
Without further adieu, please welcome to our stage... CHAM!!
Got a question about your love?
Send a cry for help and wait a bit.
Love makes your heart race.
If it means you're loved in the end...
...be much more aggressive...
...because you will get a chance.
The angel of love smiles at you.
Mima! Mima! Mima!
Mima should be acting, not singing!
I can't do this after all!
Mika...
They want her in a drama series.
There are no better deals than this!
She can act AND sing! That should be all right!
Her schedule with the other two is already starting to mismatch!
She didn't go through those hard lessons to become an actress!
The TV producer praised Mima's acting!
But what about MIMA'S feelings!?
...and wait a bit.
Love makes your heart race.
If it means you're loved in the end...
...be much more aggressive...
...because you will get a chance.
The angel of love smiles at you.
Thank you very much.
It was a fun concert, but we only have one song left...
We just got here!
Umm... Before our last song, we have news to tell you...
Um, I, Mima Kirigoe, had a fun time as a member of CHAM...
Out of the way!
What did we do!? HUH!?
Quit showin' off! You're only a part-timer!
Outta my face, ya asshole!
YOU get out of here!
What the hell!? Who are you telling to leave, you fucker!?
It wasn't me!
What are you doing!? Get the hell over here, whoever threw that!
Go home! Go home!
- Damnit! - Go home! Go home! Go home! Go home!
Them again!
We're canceling the show!
But today is...!
Shut up! Goddamnit!
Go home! Go home! Go home! Go home!
Stop it!
Today...
Just today... I wanted to have a good time with all of you!
What attitude from some no-namer!
You little...!?
What do you want, you freak?
Let's go!
A- Actually... as of today, I...
As of today, Mima will graduate from CHAM!
- What!? - Why?
Thank you all.
I'm really happy that I spent the last 21/2 years with you all as part of CHAM!
I hope you'll support me as I do my best as a rookie actress.
So this will be my last song. Please listen.
Well, it totally makes sense from the agency's point of view.
Pop idols just don't make money... right?
Metamorphosis, huh?
I still remember well...
...that warmth you'd given me.
It was in the gentle rays of sunlight.
I had believed that...
...the days past when...
...we were in love, were everything.
Now, embraced by the memories...
...I have become a coward.
I am choosing to live a life that...
...I can't feel any...
- Mimarin! - Don't leave us! Don't quit!
Mimarin! Mimarin!
Thank you.
I'm always looking at Mima's Room!
Geez! This cheese already went bad!
I'm sorry... I forgot to feed you yesterday.
The earthquake that happened in Mie prefecture...
...flattened towns throughout the region.
The government reports 200dead, but the total number of victims are...
...yet to be determined since many more are missing amid the rubble.
Authorities have called in troops for rescue operations...
...however, because the area is already getting dark...
Thanks for all the work over the years.
Bye bye, Mima the pop idol.
"Sing for us forever"...
I really can't do that.
"I always like looking into Mima's Room. I've put up a link to Mima's Room."
What is this?
- Hello? - Mima! You're home!
Mom!
Yeah, I'm fine! How are you?
Really?
Yeah. Today was the last one. No more singing for me.
I remember when you kept saying you wanted to be a singer.
This is my big chance! I told you that already!
Lately, we've all been looking forward to each new single!
Your uncle over in Yamaguchi buys 20 copies every time!
You just don't understand this industry, Mom.
Wasn't singing what you were best at?
The pop idol image is suffocating me!
Besides, nowadays pop idols are...
Wait, I've got a call on the other line...
Yes, Kirigoe here...
Hello?
Mom? Just a wrong number.
Yeah, I know.
Oh, wait! The bath!
Call me back in five minutes.
Oh, Mother!
A fax? Who's it from?
Traitor traitor traitor TRAiTor TrAItoR TraITor
Who are you?
"Who are you?"
Do you know what that note means, Rumi?
It's an Internet home page.
Oh, that thing that's been popular lately!
...and what is it?
How can I describe it?
It's kind of like computer networks.
And?
Considering that this person "put up a link to Mima's Room"...
...this "Mima's Room" thing is the title of a web site.
You don't get it, do you?
Nope. Not one bit.
All right!
Sorry to keep you waiting.
We're ready for the take!
Don't make me laugh!
You're laughing on your own!
5 seconds!
4, 3, 2...
The younger sister of Rika, the murder victim, is here.
Would you like to see her?
Mr. Yamashiro.
Do you know why the culprit peels off the skin of his victims?
I assume he gets sexual stimulation from such activities...
- He wants to become one. - Become... what?
A woman... or...
CUT!
Eri Ochiai is a great actress after all!
She's a completely different person when the camera is rolling!
That's good!
NEXT! Scene 32!
Rika's sister, you're on!
Here!
Hold this!
Nervous?
A bit.
Not much to get nervous about when you have only one line...
How's our star actress?
Mr. Tadokoro. She's just going on now.
"Who are you?"
"Who..."
That's what I mean!
Good morning!
Morning!
Good morning.
Hello, everyone.
Good morning.
Mr. Shibuya! You're here too?
Hi, Eri. How's it going?
Sir, your lines are too hard! I don't want to do it anymore!
Don't say that!
But the story is really good!! I love stuff like this!
You're good at egging people on!
Eri. There were this many fan letters sent to the station! Thank you, Mr. Tejima.
Kuro...
Oh, this one's not for you.
Well, keep up the good work.
So, Sir, tell me!
Who's the criminal?
Sorry, can't tell you. That'd spoil the fun.
So what ARE you going to do about the criminal?
You're gonna have to make your mind up soon.
Good morning, Mr. Tejima! Mr. Shibuya!
Oh, hello there...
Mima's getting good reviews. Even among station staff.
If that's the case, don't you think she's got too few lines?
So he says, Shibuya.
Hey, don't look at me!
Sir! Please! Make use of Mima just a little bit more!
But see... She's a pop idol, right?
They're really hard to use...
That's no problem! She's done with being a pop idol!
Really?
We want to give her a drastic image change, too. We're ready for the take!
Oh, this is for Mima.
"Who are you?"
5 seconds!
4, 3, 2...
Mr. Tadokoro!?
Mr. Tadokoro!
Mr. Tadokoro!!
I'm all right...
What the hell is this!?
I think that letter just exploded...!?
Call an ambulance! An ambulance!
Yes!
...is a warning. The next one will be REAL.
We're all set now.
Rumi, you're really amazing!
I'll sign you up for online services now.
Okay.
What do you think, Rumi?
About what?
About that thing the other day.
Oh, that...
Credit card number...
Shouldn't we have called the police?
Mr. Tadokoro said not to. We can't do anything about it.
But it was a crime!
And it might have been me!
It's okay. It was just a prank.
Fortunately, Mr. Tadokoro wasn't badly hurt.
So you shouldn't worry, Mima.
Anyway, Mima, I'll explain all of this so listen carefully.
Okay!
This is a browser for the World Wide Web.
You launch it by double-clicking here.
Wha? Double-clip?
What are you going to do with a clip?
But...
See, next to "location" you enter the URL.
It's not hard, is it?
Come on, Rumi!
Can't you explain it to me in Japanese?
Boy! Why did you buy a computer when you don't know anything about it?
Because they said it was easy!
Oh, all right. I'll explain it from the beginning once more...
Okay!
H... T... T... P...
Ooh, something came up!
Hey, I'm doing pretty well!
...And now...
There it is!
Mima's Room
Mima's Diary
What's this?
"It was just terrible!"
"I screwed up the choreography, AND forgot my lyrics."
"I feel so sorry to all my fans!"
"This morning, when I got off the train left foot first..."
"...was when all the bad stuff started."
"I always make it a point that my right foot..."
"...goes first into the train and into the bath."
Someone sure knows me! What's this?
"Today was my 21st birthday."
"Yukiko, Rei, and the staff at the agency held a party for me. It was terrific!"
"Coming home, I went grocery shopping at the usual store."
"I got mineral water and milk."
"The milk just has to be Cow Brand milk."
"I have to allow myself at least this much luxury."
"And food for my precious fish, of course..."
"May 12th. I was impressed with Eri Ochiai's performance in Double Bind."
"She's another person when the camera is rolling..."
What is all this...?
How do they know this much...?
Who are you?
I'm Dr. Touko Asamiya, specializing in psychiatry.
I was your late sister's psychiatrist.
There are some things I'd like to ask you.
Detective Yamashiro! Another one!
What!?
This is the fifth victim...
Just three shots.
Is this work really worth leaving CHAM for?
Rumi. Do you know how hard it is to get a character...
...that reappears in a drama series? Even a role like this?
Yes, I do. But...
This is where Mima proves if she can be seen as a real actress or not.
But we should sell Mima as a pop idol!
Really. Times are different from when Rumi Hidaka was a working pop idol.
I know that.
Nowadays, there are no places for pop idols to appeal to the masses.
This is the branch point that will decide if Mima lasts or not.
Well, excuse me for not surviving.
Please, Rumi!
There's nothing better than having Mima be able to change into an actress!
She came to Tokyo to sing...
Think!
On record sales we make practically nothing!
But I do wish that they'd use her a little bit more...
Sorry we're not that profitable!
Good morning!
How's the new CHAM going?
Double Bind
It's the pits!
Double Bind... yeah, I saw it too.
It was so boring!
Why do all psycho-thrillers made in Japan turn out that way?
Mimarin's not in it!
Oh yeah. How many scenes was she in last week? Four?
Three.
Somebody save Mimarin! PLEASE!
A HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET: You can make one too!
This morning, when I got off the train left foot first...
Hey, It's Mimarin!
Good morning!
Good morning, Mimarin!
Break a leg with that drama series!
Hey, wait, Mimarin...
Do they get all unfriendly when they become actresses?
Hit-And-Run at Shinkaido.
Tadashi Doi (18), in critical condition.
Good morning!
Good morning, Mima.
Cheers!
What's going on?
CHAM's new single...
Oh, wow! They got 83rd?
We never even made the charts before.
One, two...
Congratulations!
We did it!
Now we've got to work together really hard!
But will there be anyone in the audience?
Sure there will be, Mima!
Your next script. It has a few more lines.
Yeah.
You've both done great!
CHAM is totally okay being a duo!
Hey, you. Are you currently in any talent agency?
I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry.
Hey!
Wouldn't you be interested in being a model?
Model?
Cut!
OK! We're going to move for the next scene!
Who's that girl?
I don't know.
Hey, hey, hey!
I saw next week's script, Shibuya. You're wonderful!
I didn't think it would come to this!
To tell the truth, I have an even more drastic idea.
Fantastic!
But...
I wonder if it would be all right for Mima...
...or rather, her agency.
Mima's character, Yoko Takakura, changes...
...personalities completely when she's raped by the customers at a strip show.
You're crazy! A rape scene!?
She's the key figure in the second half of the series! It's an important role!
But Mima's a pop idol!
Don't worry, Mima.
We'll ask the producer and get it changed.
Hey, hey. Wait a minute!
The scripts are already behind schedule as is, and the art staff is getting antsy!
How will it look if we make it worse by arguing?
I even told Shibuya that she was changing out from a pop idol!
It's our job to protect the celebrities in our agency!
There's no way Mima can do such a thing!
It's all right, Rumi.
I'll do it.
Because I decided that I WILL become an actress.
Mima!
I see. You're really wonderful, Mima!
This kind of thing is commonplace for actresses! Jodie what's her name did it too!
Mima, please think it out.
Do you realize what will happen as a result of this?
It's not as if I'm really getting raped!
Although... I'm sure my parents will flip when they see me like that.
Anyway, I'll do it. I'll give it my best shot.
Mima...
I absolutely REFUSE to do it!
Well, Mr. Director? How does the set look?
I'd prefer to shoot in a real club...
...but considering what we're filming, nobody will let us shoot at their place.
Sheesh!
Please, I'm counting on you.
Hey, hey, hey, come on, Yada!
What are you going to do with just the DATE of the next meeting!?
That doesn't make for much of a meeting!
OK here!
We're ready to shoot!
Scene 48, "The manager gets dragged down", take 1!
Ten seconds...
5, 4, 3, 2...
Mmmm! Looks good!
Ex-pop idols sure make a nice scene!
No! Stop! Let me go!
Cut it off. Get off the stage!
Shut the fuck up!
Get out of here! I'll call the police!
You think I give a shit about cops?
Stop!
Hands off.
Stop it!
Let me go! Stop it!
Help! Help me! No!
Please! NO!
Cut!
Hey, over there, hold your places!
OK! Now move the cameras!
I'm so sorry...
Oh, no, it's all right.
OK, next up, the rape scene!
Everyone, get ready!
Take 1! Rolling!
No! Stop! No! No! Stop!
Please! Stop!
Cut!
No, no, no! FASTER!
Sorry!
Once again, from the top!
No break yet! Take 2!
Please! Stop!
No! Please! NO!
Stop it! No!
Please!
Mimarin!!
I'm so tired!
Hey, where's Rumi?
Hmm? Oh, she had a meeting to go to for me... Hey, Mima...
You know...
Nothing. You tried so hard...
As a reward for your efforts, I'll treat you to a delicious meal.
Lucky me!
I'm home, fishies!
I wonder if you're hungry yet?
Of course I didn't want to do it!
But I couldn't trouble all the people who brought me this far!!
See, didn't I tell you?
Is that the job that what you wanted?
That was the PITS!
I don't want to do that drama anymore!
The producer is a total pervert, and my role is really screwed up!
Singing in front of my fans has GOT to be the best for me after all!
Oh... that scene...?
Of course I would be lying if I said I didn't have any hesitations...
...but I looked at it as a hurdle I had to jump over as an actress.
I heard the ratings went up.
As always, the public at large are all idiots.
Yes. I'd like to be recognized as an actress.
Not as "the ex-pop idol"?
You got it!
I was fine coz Rei was always the one I liked.
I'm sure all the Mimarin fans are crying right about now.
But CHAM did teach me a lot. It was a great experience in its own way.
Yeah, totally!
They're probably whining, "That's not Mimarin!"