The candidates to enter the musical department have been decided
and we, the Kao Council, have also chosen the students for the Star Teams, but--
"Kakeru Tengenji | Toru Nayuki | Yuta Hoshitani"
But, you know--
Huh? Is there a problem?
They have not even met the criteria to pass the entrance audition.
You would pick five students like that and put them on a Star Team?
I have my own passing criteria, though.
Otori, don't get carried away just because you've managed to sneak onto the Kao Council.
You probably just got in because of the chairman--
Akatsuki.
Sorry, Hiragi.
I cannot think you made those choices in your right mind.
I'm always in my right mind.
Très bien! As expected of our class rebel.
Do what you want.
Hiragi!
Everyone on the Kao Council is equal.
Otori, you can choose whomever you want as long as you take responsibility for them.
Then, I'll take you at your word.
The ones who will aim for the future as the newly formed Team Otori are...
...these five!
"Kakeru Tengenji | Toru Nayuki | Yuta Hoshitani | Shu Kuga | Kaito Tsukigami"
He's in the musical department, right?
On top of that, he's on a Star Team!
Musical department Star Team...
"Here!!" "Practice Room"
Team Otori's first practice!
Huh?!
This is where the practice room is?
Excuse me!
Huh?
"STARMYU"
"Act 2"
Oh, Hoshitani.
Nayuki!
I'm Yuta Hoshitani!
"This is a work of fiction and is not related to any existing persons, groups, or names."
I look forward to working with you from now on!
Why are you here?
Why?
You don't think it's strange, you amateur?
What do you mean?
Oh, you're in a different class, so you wouldn't know.
This guy came from a regular school that didn't even have a music course.
That's why he came so late.
But I came when we were told to.
That's when we start practice.
In other words, you should already be done warming up by then, you boor.
T-Tengenji...
I'm in the same team as someone like this?
Hmph, it must be a mistake.
We can find out if it was a mistake or not by asking the one who chose us.
Who would that be?
If I remember correctly, his name is Itsuki Otori.
♪ Stretch out your hand as far as it'll go ♪
♪ Tempted by the passionate dream so hot it practically burns ♪
♪ The curtain goes up on the show ♪
♪ Right now I'm flyin' high in the center of the light! ♪
♪ It'll be a miracle! ♪
♪ If there's something you want ♪
♪ Then yell out that you want it ♪
♪ Words will bring magic ♪
♪ Don't walk, run ♪
♪ Don't run, dance ♪
♪ Chasing your dreams ♪
♪ The best... (That's...) ♪
♪ ...star max! (...star max) ♪
♪ Watch from where you are, and I'll prove it ♪
♪ Open your arms and embrace ♪
♪ These cheers and the swirl of unending applause ♪
♪ Don't just love, be loved! ♪
♪ You have been chosen by God ♪
♪ Flyin' fire bird! ♪
Welcome to Team Otori!
--For the rest of this year-- --Wait a minute!
Isn't there someone who got in by mistake?
Huh? You mean, you?
Just kidding.
All five of you here are part of the Star Team I chose.
There's no mistake.
Now, since we're all here, why don't you introduce yourselves?
Starting with you.
Uh, yes, sir!
I am Yuta Hoshitani. I look forward to working with everyone.
I am Toru Nayuki.
Kaito Tsukigami. Nice to meet you.
Shu Kuga.
I'm Kakeru Tengenji.
Okay, you guys are a team starting from today.
In order to survive this year, the five of you have to cooperate and work hard.
Survive?
Just because you were selected in these auditions
doesn't mean you're in the musical department.
Huh? It doesn't?
Because the musical department is a specialized course,
you will officially enter in your second year.
In other words, as first years, you are just candidates.
The twenty teams, including the five Star Teams, that were selected
have only made it past the first round of the screening process.
After the second round that is the Newcomers' Debut Performance,
half of those--ten teams--will be eliminated.
The final selection will take place on stage at the Ayanagi Festival,
where another half of the teams will be eliminated.
Only five teams--25 people--will be officially admitted to the music department.
Only 25 people...
Also, this should be obvious,
but just because you are on a Star Team doesn't mean you get special treatment.
The only perk you have is that you can learn from us, the Kao Council.
But isn't that a pretty big advantage?
That depends on you all.
Well, why don't we get started?
Now, boys! It's time to play!
"Ayanagi Academy Murder Case" "Act 4"
I'll have you put this on today.
"Ayanagi Academy Murder Case"?
That script contains the climax of the story.
The principal of Ayanagi Academy has been killed,
and a detective has gathered the four suspects, the four sons of the principal,
and is in pursuit of the culprit.
I'll assign your parts.
Tsukigami will play the serious oldest son.
He's fighting with their father about how to run the school.
Okay.
Kuga will play the silent second son.
He's unhappy with their father because of their dead mother.
Tengenji will play the prodigal third son.
He was almost disinherited by their father.
Nayuki will play the shy fourth son.
He always wanted their father to acknowledge him.
Yes, sir!
And the detective chasing after them will be played by Hoshitani.
I-I'll be the detective?
Yeah. Now, get ready.
The detective is the main character, right?
I wonder if this means he has high hopes for me.
It's easy to prepare for the role of detective since what he needs to do is obvious.
It's the perfect part for an amateur.
Oh, I'm so nervous...
Now, shall we begin?
W-Without even a read-through?
It'll be easier to figure out your abilities that way.
Ayanagi Academy Murder Case, start!
Wasn't Father's death ruled an accident--?
I don't have time for this!
What did you gather us here for?
I know who the culprit is.
The culprit is...
...one of you!
That was perfect.
It's hard to play off that.
Hoshitani...
He's overacting.
Th-That's cruel. There's no way we would kill Father.
Say it straight! Who's the culprit?
You have proof, right?
Of course I have proof.
Then who are you saying did it?
Who is it? Please tell us, Detective.
Very well. The culprit is--
U-Um, this is...
Continue!
The curtain is still up.
Don't tell me we're doing improv from day one?
You're quick to understand.
Seriously?
Um... What's "improv"?
You don't even know that?
"Improv" is short for improvisation.
Does that mean...?
That's right.
I'm leaving the rest of this to you all.
I would like you to bring this story to a proper ending.
Th-That's impossible... I mean, even Hoshitani's...
All right!
He's totally confident?!
Okay, places!
Start from the oldest brother's line at the end of the fourth page and keep going.
Now, boys! Let's have fun with this!
Who is it? Please tell us, Detective.
Very well. The culprit is--
The culprit is... The culprit is...
Um... The culprit is...
--Don't tell me, this guy... --Hoshitani...
--...has no plan?! --Um...!
Um... The culprit is... is...
If he says it's me with no plan in mind, it'll be hell!
Wherever he steers us now could make all our hard work go to waste!
I think...
...the culprit is...
Detective, please stop!
Huh?
Who killed Father...?
I don't want to know!
He's pretty good for an ordinary person.
But does he have a proper resolution in mind?
Nayuki's amazing!
I have to keep going, too!
But how should I answer...?
Please wait!
I would like you to tell us how you can even call it a murder in the first place!
He changed the flow, huh?
As expected of a thoroughbred from the musical world.
But I won't let you be the only one to look good.
That's right, you said earlier that you had proof, didn't you?
There's a reason he's called the "young noble of the kabuki world," huh?
That connected well.
Amazing. Tsukigami and Tengenji both sound like they have scripts.
But even I can...
Th-The proof is...!
We're back where we started?
Who's left?
That guy hasn't done anything yet!
Is he really planning on letting it continue without doing anything?
Be of some use, you blockhead!
Why are you always like that?
Pretending that you don't see anything that's going on within the family!
Don't you have a shred of feeling for this family?!
Your brothers are under suspicion, and you--
Please wait! This is the proof!
This is what your father left with his last strength...
...his dying message!
The name of the culprit is written here.
And it is...
Second son! It's you!
P-Poison?!
Idiot! Killing your father won't make your mother happy!
Bastard, when did he prepare the fake blood?
But where did he get that dying message?
Don't you die, too!
Don't die!
Okay, stop!
Well, that was pretty good for your first time.
So, that's enough for today.
Um, Kuga, was it? Thanks for this.
Giving him a note like that won't help him in the long run, you know.
Sorry, I took some.
Sure.
Everyone's amazing!
Jeez, what're you so happy about? This was like a school play, you amateur.
Amateur...
It's understandable that he'd call me that.
Everyone had to keep helping me.
It's not like I was helping you.
I just performed until the end.
You could at least tell me what you thought.
What are you talking about?
You should be more honest.
It was pretty interesting, wasn't it?
Interesting?
It's problematic if the limited Star Team spots were filled for that reason.
Let me put it bluntly.
I do not approve of the way you do things.
Oh? Didn't you say I could do what I wanted?
I did say you could do what you wanted.
However, I will not allow you to do anything that will degrade the dignity of Ayanagi...
...as the Hiragi family heir.
This is pointless.
I pray that your students will not be eliminated at the upcoming test performance.
It would set a bad example for a Star Team to be eliminated before even six months pass.
Well, just watch.
I'll raise them to be musical stars you've never seen before.
You do not understand anything, do you, Otori?
It's not that I don't understand...
It's just that I don't want to understand, Hiragi.
When I think about the play earlier, I lose my appetite.
Why? Your tearful acting was really amazing!
You think so? I could get used to hearing that.
On the other hand, I couldn't do anything.
I have to work harder.
I'm jealous.
It's amazing to be able to always work hard and stay positive.
It's because I have someone who is my goal.
Your goal?
Yeah.
I applied for Ayanagi Academy because I wanted to be like him.
I hope you get to stand on the same stage as him someday.
I see... I might be able to stand on the same stage as him if I continue on this path.
In order to do that, I need to catch up to everyone on the team first!
I can't cause my friends trouble, either.
Friends?
It might be a little early to call you all friends, huh?
Hoshitani...
I'm going to do special training starting tomorrow!
I'll do the special training with you.
Really?
But I have just one favor to ask.
I want you to take back what you said.
Because I
am already
your friend!
♪ Before I knew it, I had gotten a push from behind ♪
♪ And I wasn't just a coward anymore ♪
♪ When I was depressed, your optimism saved me ♪
♪ No matter how small the problem, I want to help ♪
♪ Because you're already my precious friend ♪
♪ Can someone unreliable like me be of any support to you? ♪
♪ Just smiling by your side ♪
♪ Like the sunlight on a clear morning ♪
♪ It reaches deep into the heart ♪
♪ A direct, dazzling brilliance ♪
♪ Even when times are hard, I'll be your strength if you'll have me ♪
♪ 'Cause you're my friend... ♪
Nayuki... Thanks.
These guys might be able to change...
...this tedious estate.
Will betting on this guy pay off...
...or not?
Well, what is it?
Get rid of him.
You could tell with the improv, right?
At this point, he's way below the rest of us.
We would have a better chance of surviving if we got rid of him to form a four-person group.
"Act 3"
Tengenji, why are you so popular?
It's because I'm super cool.
Why are you so cool?
It's because I'm a genius.
Why are you such a genius?
That's because I am the great Kakeru Tengenji!
"Support us next week, too."