Ah, right. Apparently it just began.
Sunny Side Up's disbandment performance.
Is that so?
Check the surveillance camera
So, it was the start of the hottest summer in your life.
What happened after that?
Well...
With Sunny Side performing at this big festival,
they started to become more popular.
Nine months after the Idol Summer Festival
This one and... Isn't this one cute, too?
Hana-chan, she's such a cutie.
- This one's nice. - How nostalgic~
Then would you like to wear the same T-shirt as everyone else?
The T-shirt.
Oh, really?
Now Nori-chan must be at a point where she doesn't have to work part-time anymore?
Thankfully she doesn't, yes.
What about Hana-chan?
She has also become more popular,
but she still needs my support for now.
Is something the matter?
"Sentimental Journey" (1981) by Matsumoto Iyo
It's a "Sentimental Journey."
I'm Takafumi, and I'm only 52.
He must be implying that a popular group will gradually become more distant.
Like, you want them to become everyone's idol, but also you don't...?
Exactly!
Now, now!
What are those lukewarm words I hear from you, Shiiba-san?
It's an ota's job to boost their oshi!
I know that...
Which reminds me...
Is it true that you and Karin-chan used to be an item?
You were!?
You were an item?
What?
We weren't.
You see...
It happened when my previous oshi graduated.
Yes, go on.
On the very same day,
"Time Machine" by Fujifabric
Yasashiku shite kurenai kai Can you please be kind to me?
I happened to see Karin sing by herself on the street.
Ookina koe de utaeba todoku kato If I sing loud enough, will it reach you?
dekiru dake utaunda I'll sing as much as I can
Hey!
Excuse me, but there's a suspicious person over there!
Please hurry!
Okay, okay, what kind of person?
Well...
Just hurry!
Over there!
She's already done...
- Excuse me! - Yes!?
Thank you for earlier.
Just one second!
Here, a little thank you.
I'm sorry I can't give you anything else.
I actually would love to perform at a live house, but...
Well, I don't have the money
and you have to sell a certain amount of tickets.
Then...
How about being an idol?
What?
If you're an idol,
live houses usually don't bother about the ticket quota.
But...
Me being an idol?
Well, I'm sure you have different goals.
I guess I could try?
That kind of thing.
I'd do anything as long as it includes singing!
I mean, that's why I came to Tokyo in the first place.
And so, we started working together until she caught somebody's attention.
Her current management, that is.
Eventually more members were gathered and Sunny Side came to be.
So you weren't actually going out with her?
What's your problem, Old Lady?
It's just...
I can relate somehow.
Your oshi's dream is your dream, right?
You know, it seems you've become a fine otaku yourself.
Right?
The next step would be Budokan, I guess?
Budokan it is.
Budokan? Aren't arenas better these days?
Budokan!
Budokan has been THE venue for idols ever since Pink Lady!
Yamaguchi Momoe's retirement concert in 1982.
Matsumoto Iyo in 1982, the youngest idol to perform at Budokan at the time.
It's a special and sacred place with a long history where many top idols
have performed and had their status amplified ever since!
However...
unbeknownst to the optimistic bunch that we were,
the warning bells of an imminent breakup were already ringing.
The warning bells?
Translation: HPriest @ d-addicts Twitter: @hpriestsubs
Yes?
Hana? It's me.
I'm sorry, but...
Understood.
Yes.
Apparently she has to earn credits and won't be coming today.
"If my credits drop my parents won't allow me to be an idol anymore,
so I won't be coming today."
Didn't she use the same excuse the other day?
That was for a different course, she said.
How come she always has to earn credits when we have events?
There's no point in getting angry at Hana.
Sorry.
Well, it also means we get a higher split.
Let's stay positive.
I guess you're right.
Hello everyone! We're...
Sunny Side Up! Thank you very much!
Huh? Idols even have to do such things?
They do.
Anything to become more popular.
Tell me Rin, why are you doing this idol thing?
I don't really get it.
For job hunting.
In order to become a TV announcer.
Besides, some of the jobs are actually not that bad.
Look.
Yes, okay. Let me check them real quick.
No credits to earn today?
Today's fine, so yeah.
Is that how it works?
Yes.
It's not like I have to earn them every day.
You wouldn't know, since you don't attend university...?
Shio, you know what I mean, right?
Well...
Let's do the next pose.
Okay.
Rin, Karin.
You have a second?
Yes.
The manager here would like to have Rin
wear the yukata on the cover instead of Karin.
Well, it's just her preference.
Okay, I'm counting on you. Thanks.
- Okay... - Okay.
Okay, please look at the camera.
Yes, very cute.
It's an entirely different story on stage,
so you should allow me that much.
Right, Leader?
Well, it's their decision, I guess.
Things were still fine at that point, but their management got too excited...
Rinrei Night
They want to please her increasing number of fans.
Well, fan service is important.
How about we think of it as a birthday festival?
Right.
That certainly helps.
I messed up again, right?
Ah, I made it in time!
It's Rin-sama all over the place, huh?
You don't own their debut single!?
What's with him?
He must be getting sick of all the new Rinrei otas.
And you call yourself fans? You can have one of mine.
- Here, it's yours. - No, thanks.
I can ask their management to give you a new copy.
Excuse me!
Azuki-san, please stop that.
You...
There's no point in them being fans if they don't spend any money!
But they're all buying her designed hair clips!
Lame.
No, that's not true...
- Lame.
Aren't they cute!?
What do you call this kind of situation again?
- A proxy war. - That one!
Hello~
No huddle today?
We want to be your tim...
...suns again today.
I'm Rinrei, the yolk of the group. Thank you very much!
Ohhh?
Wasn't your dream for the future to become a TV announcer or something?
She did that on purpose, since she's too beautiful and could...
- All announcers are beautiful! - Please be quiet!
A timy sun.
Such a cute mistake by our Rin.
Today I'll be the one to protect her as the shell!
Please give me your support!
- Karin! You're the best!
Unlike her otas!
Alright, please listen to our song, "Psyllium Planet."
Tiger! Fire! Cyber! Fiber! Diver! Viber! Jyaa jyaa!
Tora! Hi! Jinzo! Seni! Ama! Shindo! Kasen!
Man, this is a train wreck.
A train wreck.
I see, that's what it is!
She's doing it for Karin-chan!
Look, if she did it for real,
wouldn't Karin-chan lose her position?
Leader, you're mistaken.
Leader...
That's my part today!
Are you jealous?
Could you please control yourself?
- Don't you care about our audience? - I do care about them!
That's exactly why I did that!
I had to save them from this unbearable sight!
Rin, come with me.
Hands off!
Hey!
Have you even seen yourself!?
Karin's twitter, no updates since the event
No updates from Karin-chan either...
There's a new direct message.
Could you give me some advice?
Who's this?
Excuse me. It's my secret account (Hana).
My apologies for the sudden DM.
Well, I don't mind...
But isn't that forbidden by your agency?
It's an emergency situation.
They still haven't made peace?
No.
Our manager gathered us after yesterday's performance.
Noritama-chan, Shiorin and I.
And then he told us to help them reconcile somehow.
Isn't that the job of the management?
We told him the exact same thing!
But you were the one who slapped her first.
Because she seized my microphone!
Why do I, the victim in this situation, have to apologize!?
That level of singing was a crime!
Why do I have to apologize even though I stopped that fraud!?
Both of them are unapproachable.
And now you come to me for advice?
Yes.
I figured a working adult like you would know various techniques
on how to resolve such a situation.
Well, normally you'd just keep your distance, but...
In your case...
Our next performance is in two days.
I know.
How about talking it out over some drinks?
- We're minors. - Right.
Then, how about a mediation?
Mediation?
You know, get some distinguished person,
someone that would make them pardon each other for his/her sake.
- A distinguished person... - Yes.
You know, someone who would make both of them listen.
Could there maybe be such a person?
I don't...
I'll ask Norichan and Shiorin if they know of such a person.
But I'm a little surprised.
You know, for you to take the lead and doing all that.
It's the only place where I belong.
Belong?
I... was...
Morning.
Hana?
People used to bully me and call me gross.
Gross? How so?
My laughing face, I guess?
T-That's...
They're just jealous of your cuteness!
No, I don't think that's it.
It must be something I'm not aware of
- Why?
or something I must have done...
At that time, I saw the live performance of an idol on TV.
The way everyone was cheering for her with their glow sticks
made me really envious of her.
After half a year I was about to lose faith in ever getting scouted,
when our current agency happened to pick me up from the streets.
For me, Sunny Side...
It's like I've finally found my paradise.
So...
That story...
Do the other members know?
No...
If they hear this story,
I think they'll want to continue with Sunny Side for your sake.
You don't really want people to know?
- Yes, I'm not really that open with... - Right. My bad.
But still...
I'd like to keep that feeling in mind
and make the two of them reconcile with each other.
You two are the pillars of Sunny Side...
With the two of you fighting, the rest of us will be in trouble...
For our sake as well, there must be some way for you to make peace with each other.
Please!
Have they made peace yet?
I'm no different...
"I think it's going to be announced at our performance today, but..."
WHAT!?
"Our group is going to disband."
Wha... What do you mean?
How did this happen?
It appears that I was mistaken again.
What?
Please!
So...
You chose to play
the passion card?
I think it's be better for me to quit.
To be honest, being an idol...
...has never been more than stepping stone for me.
I actually didn't expect to keep doing it for such a long time.
Thoughts like that...
The level of earnestness...
The emotional attachment...
It feels completely different from the rest of you.
Would you call Sunny Side, with that leader at your center,
a genuine idol group that's good at singing and dancing?
Isn't that what you should be aiming for?
No...
Being called genuine and things like that...
I wouldn't say I'm that confident...
I don't have the abilities either.
But being called genuine isn't everything!
That's exactly why we're being...
Are you saying we don't work as a group?
Something like that, yes.
I...
I like the current Sunny Side!
The five of us, it's nice.
That's because...
No other major agency wants you, right?
You wouldn't have anywhere else to go
and that's the only reason why you like Sunny Side.
That's not...
Then tell me!
For example, if some major producer were to approach you
and asked you to join their group, wouldn't you take the offer?
I wouldn't.
Even if he offered you the center position?
For me...
There's something about Sunny Side that makes this group special.
And what's that?
Tha...
That's...
What's wrong?
It's just...
I'm slowly getting angry.
I'm sorry.
I was mistaken again.
For Karin-chan to even ask that and for you to have no answer...
Why do you think we're supporting you?
You see,
we chose to support Sunny Side out of numerous other groups.
We spend time and money, believe you're the best.
And yet...
You girls...
The people we support think they're worthless!
What have we even been rooting you for?
Everyone's in the dressing room, right?
I guess I have no choice but to give them a right royal dressing down.
I'll do it!
You say that, but do you have what it takes!?
But it's just...
It's just that we...
This is something we have to solve on our own.
I can't really explain, but that's what I believe.
It's...
Please wait here!!
Excuse me, Karin-chan, about the talk we had the other day.
I'm sorry.
We were the worst, huh?
We were only talking about ourselves.
Okay, let's put on a great show again today.
Hana.
O-Okay...
About the talk we had the other day...
Ah, somehow...
I feel like there might be a meaning to me being here after all.
Maybe I just need to be a little more engaged.
It appears that Azuki-san made Karin-chan see reason.
- Azuki-san did? - Yes.
He disillusioned her about her plan to go solo.
Disillusion...
You're always going to support me, right?
I wouldn't be so sure about that...
I mean, a stupid quarrel in public,
reluctant to make peace, disbanding...
Think about it.
If your favorite artist did such a thing.
Could you still like that person?
Forget what I said.
Thanks.
As for Rin-chan...
She received this.
This is...
It's me, Kakizaki! I wrote a thesis about you in class! Please read it!
An essay about Rin-chan Kakki submitted at this university.
"Rinrei's Existence in the Idol World"
Apparently it's about the effect
she could have on the idol world?
Leader.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
- Sunny Side! - Up! Up!
They're back.
Rin-sama, well done!
Hey! That was all Karin.
What's wrong?
Have you seen Ai-san?
We want to be your tiny suns again today.
We are...
Sunny Side Up!
Thank you very much!
Man, what's taking her so long?
Shiiba-san won't pick up his phone!
After that, Sunny Side...
...were appointed for an egg web CM.
It was around that time
when strange things began to happen.
Strange things?
Yes.
Yes, what's up?
Urita-san?
What about him?
Once again, "Time Machine" by Fujifabric
Daitai souda hontoni souda That's about right, it really is
subete ga umaku iku wakenai Not everything goes well
Daitai souda narubeku souda That's about right, in most cases
koukai dake wa shitakunai no desu I just don't want to have any regrets
Translation: HPriest @ d-addicts Twitter: @hpriestsubs - ko-fi/patreon: hpriestsubs