We actually have a witness.
What do you say? Want to listen to them now?
- I guess so. - Okay.
Excuse me, this way.
Please, have a seat over here.
Excuse me, it's just...
Yes, go ahead.
Please take a look at this monitor.
Okay, okay, okay.
What do you think?
The dispute you witnessed.
Was it this person?
- This person? - Yes.
Translation: HPriest @ d-addicts Twitter: @hpriestsubs
11 months ago
It has been decided that we, Sunny Side Up
are going to enter the 8th Idol Summer Festival Stage Battle Royale and...
...and!?
And release our new song at the same time!
- It's finally that time. - True.
Well, it's already the second year since our formation.
We figured it was time to try and challenge this kind of thing.
So...
...so?
We're looking forward
to everyone's support!
Sunny Side! Sunny Side!
"Aisama or Idol Summer Festival is a gathering
( Aidoru Sama Fesu; short: Aisama)
of all kinds of underground and aboveground idols and their respective idol wotas,
and the biggest summer festival in the world of idols."
That's amazing!
Well...
Am I missing something?
It has yet to be decided if we're going to make it there...
Why? Huh? Why? What do you mean?
That's some bullshit.
It's just a wicked system if you ask me.
Hot!
- Sorry! - You okay?
I'm sorry.
What's she so mad about?
It must be about the voting system of the battle royale.
I mean, it's definitely weird!
1,500 Yen worth of official festival goods equal one voting ticket.
They're basically measuring a group's ability by their selling power alone!
That's just...
Sorry about that.
It's a poisonous world.
Exactly! That's totally unfair.
Unfair?
Nothing about this is fair!
If it was one vote per person, you'd know the group's ability to attract people.
But the way it is, you can buy as many tickets as you want!
This means that some super rich fans,
not to mention some super rich girls themselves,
have pretty much won already!
Then, how would you make it fair if you were in charge?
Like an audition?
Or a preliminary contest with a voting system?
Which means corrupted judges or hired applauders.
You can buy anything with money.
Well, you also have consider this.
You see, the entertainment industry
isn't some sports competition or political election,
so nobody would investigate it thorou...
Hey, this is dangerous!
Isn't it also a showcase of an idol's power to catch those super rich fans?
Maybe...
Well, well, well.
Whether it's fair or not,
this festival is definitely
a huge change for them to gain new fans and to increase their popularity.
I really want for them to perform.
Sure, but...
OK!
Let's do this, guys!
Let's do this battle royale!
Let's buy those tickets!
Let's go! Aisama!
- Come on, old lady... - Ai-san...
No, I'm fine...
- Hurry up! - I get it, sheesh.
- Sunny Side! - Up! Up!
- Now and always! - Up! Up!
I've already used up a lot of money...
A great start for Sunny Side!
So, I won't have to spend money?
- No, stay on your guard! - What's with this lukewarm attitude?
Old Lady, don't you dare take Aisama lightly!!!
S-So...
If we make it to the Aisama Festival,
I'm...
I'm going to cook only wearing a bikini and an apron!
I... I... I said something wrong, didn't I?
No you didn't!
It's perfect!!
Amazing!!
Great!!
Hana is getting fired up~
That's how it turned out today.
Well then, see you tomorrow. Thank you very much.
Crap, it's already that late.
For Hana
Dear Hana <3 <3
Highlighted = Hana's shift at some mart. She's working 8-10 hours every night, six days a week!
Excuse me, this CD is from a group called Sunny Side Up...
- I can have it? - Of course.
Thank you very much!
Did they already do the new song?
- Not yet. - Thank goodness.
Hana!
She seems tired?
Where's Hana?
Hana!? Hana!?
I'm sorry! Excuse me!
Hana! Are you okay!?
- Hey, Hana...! - What do we do?
Did they take her to a hospital?
Doesn't seem to be necessary. Apparently it's just exhaustion.
It's... just... exhaustion?
At least that's what their management says.
I see... I see...
But why is she that exhausted?
Well, that must be because of her part-time...
Kakki...
Huh? What? What?
What?
It's nothing.
What?
No, no, no, it's nothing. "NAI・NAI 16" by Shibugakitai
What? Spill it!
Urita was a really fat spender and with him gone,
Hana has to do part-time jobs in order to make a living.
But didn't we get rid of that kickback system?
We did, right?
Officially, yes.
Let's take this elsewhere.
Right.
Let's go.
It's the number of sold Polaroid pictures now.
The kickback eventually comes down to the number of collected pictures
and apparently there is no real difference to how it was before.
With Urita gone, Hana's kickback must have taken quite a plunge.
And that's why she's working part-time?
Yeah.
What kind of job?
Packaging bento boxes at night and working at a convenience store in the morning, or something.
And with the festival coming up,
it must have been too much for her, I guess.
Still, I'm like spending close to 150,000 Yen ($1500) each month.
And yet she still has to work part-time?
The kickback Karin gets is like 30 to 50 grand ($300-$500).
Per show?
In one month.
Wait, that's... Isn't that weird?
I mean, they make them sing their songs, make them put on live shows,
yet they don't pay salary and the kickback is a joke.
Is that even legal in this day and age?
Wait, what's your take on this, Shiiba-san!?
The contracts between underground idols and their agencies
are not labor contracts but so-called management contracts
and so there are no regulations regarding labor or salaries.
Of course there are different opinions about this,
but the reality...
Well, there are also places who don't pay them at all.
Since they give them lessons, do the promotions,
they don't deem it necessary to pay them. - What the hell!?
But despite those conditions, there's a steady number of aspiring idols.
There's no reason for them to change anything.
Now, let's not talk about this anymore.
So you're just accepting the way things are!?
Okay, wanna go for it?
"Improvement of Labor Conditions for Idols"
A demonstration or something?
Of course not.
If we did that, we wouldn't be able to keep our ota lifestyle
and if things don't go well, it might crush our oshi.
We all do have our concerns.
However, the only present we can give them to make a difference
is to help them become popular.
That's it.
A replacement for Urita, huh...
Hana-san went live.
I'm in a hospital.
She went after all...
I'm really not allowed to do this, but I vowed to keep on streaming.
To everyone who came to our live show today,
please forgive me for causing you so much worry.
The new song is tough,
but I really love this song.
The lyrics describe a "sea of lights"
and before I started doing this kind of work,
I watched the performance of a certain idol.
At that time,
I thought the same thing when I saw all those psyllium glow sticks.
"It's like a sea of lights."
It was so beautiful.
"Ah, must be nice."
"I also want to become like that."
"I'd like to live at a sea of lights."
It made me remember how I felt.
That's why I'm...
Somebody must be calling the nurse station, I guess.
I'm sorry, but I have to end it here. Thank you very much.
Although still imperfect, I wouldn't be here without you all.
- We're not allowed to... - It's fine.
It's fine.
- But I can't... - Just hide it!
- But... - Only this one time.
- Still... - It's a onetime thing only.
Aisama is a big chance.
A chance you must not miss.
Or you'll never make it bigger than this.
Popularity is everything.
That's why you should take a break from your part-time job
and concentrate on the festival.
But we don't even know if we will get the chance to...
You will!
We will make it happen.
So go...
And show me...
...a performance worthy of such a big stage.
It's a promise!
Put it away.
Thank you.
Azuki, a word please.
Thanks.
Looking at the current results,
Sunny Side is third from the bottom.
They dropped quite a bit compared to the last time I checked.
I'm a little surprised...
Weren't you against buying votes with money?
I changed my mind.
You have to take care of them until they can feed themselves.
That's what a mother does!
We're not their parents, though.
So tell me, you really don't mind about their current rank?
Well, all the big ota are actually in contact with each other and are still holding back on purpose.
Meaning their strategy is to overturn the voting in the very last second?
Well, if possible they want them to stay as low-key as possible
and then make a surprise comeback just before the end like a dark horse.
From what you can tell, how much of the votes will they account for?
90%, or...
Maybe around 80%?
80-90%?
So it should be fine if I prepare 10-20% in advance?
Are you sure you can come up with 10-20% of the votes?
Well...
I'll give it a try!
Cya!
W-Wait, how are you gonna do this!?
Say, can you tell Hana?
I'll be busy for a while and can't come, but she doesn't have to worry.
Busy? What are you planning?
A job about drawing circles.
I'm a red circle master.
Ah, red circles...
The hell are you talking about?
See ya, bye-bye~
Excuse me,
but I'd like to start working as of today...
Okay, good evening.
- Good evening. - Good evening.
Excuse me... Karin-chan, Nori-chan.
When you have some free time,
could you take a look at my dancing?
H-Hana is being proactive...
I just...
I want to put on my best performance at Aisama!
Me too.
Then, let's all give it our best shot!
Thank you so much.
- I guess we're staying? - Right.
Man, now I have to change clothes again.
One, two, three, four...
Hana, turn.
Five, six, three, four...
Five...
- Hana, watch your elbow. - Okay.
Seven, eight...
You get one voting ticket per 1,500 Yen of goods.
That's three.
T-shirts, one of each color.
Shiiba! Shiiba!
...and?
The stickers, I guess?
8th place...
I messed up somewhere, geez.
Hana, that was great!
Amazing!
I bought our outfits.
Up! Up!
Ai-san doesn't show up at all anymore.
The voting period is almost over.
Eight seconds, eight seconds...
Ah, seven...!
Oh! They're reaching 2nd place!
Oh, 2nd place!!
Oh, here they come!!
Come on, 1st place!!
( The voting is over. )
AISAMA!!!!!!
Did... the old lady do that?
It's finally time for this year's Idol Summer Festival!
26-Ji no Masquerade with their song "Heart Sunglasses"
Ai!
Why!? Horikawa-san!?
I had to see them at least once.
Wow! I'm so glad!
I made sure to vote for them.
Wow! That's amazing!
Me too.
Ai-san!
Shiiba-san! Long time no see!
Nacchan, this way.
Excuse me, coming through.
This way.
- Ai-san, long time no see! - Indeed!
- Where have you been? - You know, it was kind of busy at work.
It was?
Just a bit more than usual, that's all.
I'm curious, though.
The very last flood of votes, was that you by any chance...?
This means they're coming out.
Okay!
Strike while the iron is hot!
Fry the eggs in a round shape!
We want to become your tiny suns.
We are...
Sunny Side Up!
Thank you very much!
Okay.
Always carrying a sun in my heart!
I'm Karin, the yolk of the group.
KARIN!! AISAMA!!
My precious yolk!
I want to engulf you like a meringue.
I'm Shio, the white of Sunny Side.
- Their introductions are so cute. - I know, it's a bit weird.
A shell made of diamond.
Stronger and more beautiful than anything.
I'm Rinrei, the eggshell leader.
RINREI!!
Call me and I'll jump out like jya-jya-jya-jyan!
I'm always there when you need me.
I'm Noritama, your freeze-dried food.
NORITAMA!!
Full of promise in every aspect.
I'm Hana, the eternal raw egg with potential.
HANA!!
Now let's get straight to our first song!
Please listen to our song, "Psyllium Planet"
Tiger! Fire! Cyber! Fiber! Diver! Viber! Jyaa jyaa!!
Tora! Hi! Jinzo! Seni! Ama! Shindo! Kasen!
Look at them go.
You're not joining them?
I don't yet know the new song too well.
I see.
Huh? Hey...
What's wrong?
She's kept her promise...
I watched the performance of a certain idol.
At that time,
I thought the same thing when I saw all those psyllium glow sticks.
"It's like a sea of lights."
It was so beautiful.
"I also want to become like that."
"I'd like to live at a sea of lights."
- Hana! - I'm sorry! Excuse me!
Hana!?
What do we do?
- That must be because of her part-time... - Kakki...
But didn't we get rid of that kickback system?
Officially, yes.
Is that even legal in this day and age?
So you're just accepting the way things are!?
Then, how would you make it fair if you were in charge?
Isn't it also a showcase of an idol's power to catch those super rich fans?
I really want for them to perform.
Weren't you against buying votes with money?
Popularity is everything.
But we don't even know if we will get the chance to...
You will!
Show me a performance worthy of such a big stage.
It's a promise!
Old Lady, thanks.
Thanks for letting them see this.
It must be incredibly encouraging.
They're...
Sunny Side...!
ARE THE BEST!!
( Sunny Side are the prettiest indeed! )
( They're shining ever so brightly! )
( Their light reaches the end of the universe! )
( Yes, it does! )
So...
The witness...
She confirmed that Urita-san had a dispute...
...with you.
Well, of course she did.
Yes.
Was it this person?
Something...
...looks different.
Ah, right.
Apparently it just began.
Sunny Side Up's disbandment performance.
Is that so?
Translation: HPriest @ d-addicts Twitter: @hpriestsubs - ko-fi/patreon: hpriestsubs