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earth_colors) wrote2013-07-09 12:02 am
earth_colors) wrote2013-07-09 12:02 am
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Amachan: Week 15 (Episode Guide) Part 1
Week 15."My battle without honor and humanity" Part 1
"I think the ones who move the world aren't those in first place but the ones who come in second..."
(A week of adorable and intense episodes, like a rollercoaster ride, you'll be laughing and crying... Btw, I'll be changing Ellen's name to Eren, and Meg to Megu ^^)
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 85. Takuma is at a meeting with his peers at the company. Five of the GMTs (Kaoruko seems to be absent) come inside the meeting room, wearing their respective costumes. They line up in front of everyone as Takuma passes out proposal hand-outs for a fanmeet which will also serve as the unveiling of GMT6. "There'll be handshake meetings, photo sessions, of course we'll be serving local specialties. It's to promote the local flavors. It'll be a strategy that will increase awareness..." But AmeJo chief manager, Kawashima, cuts him off. "Did Futomaki-san give a go-signal for this?" Takuma says he wanted to check the feelings of everyone about it. But Kawashima says he should check with the president first. Unless he shows it to Futomaki, "our feelings will be like this..." He points at the disinterested staff, not really listening to Takuma nor reading his handout at all. "If he says 'Do it,' then do it. Futomaki-san is the one who drew up the vision and shapes it... Our role is to be his employees, Mizuguchi."
Then, Futomaki arrives and greets his staff, and vice versa. Futomaki: "Wouldn't it be good to say your greetings in a dialect? Like "Menso~re!" (Okinawa) or "Maido!" (Osaka)." His staff laughs. He sees Takuma's hand-out. "What is this..." Takuma: "A fan meeting of GMT... We plan to expand the fair to the second floor of the Idol Cafe..." But Futomaki, too, cuts him off. "Hmm, don't you think it's too early?" Kawashima agrees and adjourns the meeting. Meanwhile, Aki is finding something strange about Futomaki ever since she told him about her mother, like he has gone cold to her and distant. "Am I overthinking it? Or has the President seem to have changed since that day?" Aki watches her Boss, puzzled.
Upon going home that night, the girls are disappointed with what happened. Shiori: "What does he mean 'It's too early...' It's already late! Surely if only Mizuguchi-san insisted on the thought..." Mana: "It's the president after all, he can't go against him." Aki is staring at a poster of Futomaki, still wondering about him. The girls decide to eat at a ramen stand when two boys approach them. "Excuse me, you're all from GMT, right?" The girls say they are. The boys say they saw them on the internet, and were surprised. And also for the upcoming election, they'll be voting for the GMT. The girls are thrilled to hear about it. Mana wants to shake one boy's outstretched hand but he retracts his. He asks, "Where's Onodera-chan?" "Huh? She has several exams so she seems to be studying..." The other boy hands a gift-wrapped item to them, and the girls scream, "Uwah! Thank you!" The boy corrects them and says it's for "Onodera-chan."
When they arrive at the dorm, Shiori feeling pissed, shouts, "This is a present for Onodera-chan! Can I just throw it away?" Then they see Aki's dad sitting in the living room, browsing the internet with a laptop. Mana who doesn't seem to remember him shouts at him, "Who are you? You're suspicious!" Aki reminds her that he is her dad. Then, they see another woman present. "Whose mother is she?" Kaoruko who is standing nearby, answers, "Mine."
Masamune later shows the girls the blog he's always checking in between his breaks. It is Kaoruko's blog. The girls read it. "'What will I do, if I don't get into the Top 40, I'll be fired.'" Masamune is concerned about it. "I wonder how this is going to work out. Just because adults think it's a good idea, making our precious daughters compete against each other, and trying to judge who is better and who is not, is that allowed?" Kaoruko's mother, Onodera Satomi admits she is the one who wrote the article in her daughter's blog. Aki's dad says she and he should protest the election together.
Just then, Takuma comes home. He greets Aki's dad whom he had met before in Kitasanriku (last autumn when he came for Aki's birthday). Masamune does remember him but couldn't place it exactly. Aki tries to remind him, "He was the disciple of Ben-san of the Amber." "Ben-san of the amber? Ben-san of the amber..." Masamune tries to rack his brains for a memory of Ben-san's face. "Oh, sorry! Though I do know it... I can't remember his face at all!" He exclaims in frustration. Takuma: "Oh, it's okay. I'm not Ben-san's disciple." Masamune (stands up, angry): "So why didn't you say so! You wasted my time!" Aki: "He was a scout! He was pretending to be his disciple." Takuma: "Yes. I'm their manager now. My name is Mizuguchi. (They all sit down) Is there anything I can do for you?" Masamune explains about the blog and how he found out about the election. Takuma says to Kaoruko's mom, "It was you who wrote about stopping the elections, wasn't it?" Masamune is surprised that he knows about it. Takuma: "Yes, of course, since I'm the manager." Satomi shares her feelings about the elections. She says it's unreasonable. "It's a fine way of saying you're being fired. They haven't had much chance to do showbiz work yet. If she gets fired, both of us will go wandering in streets with nowhere to go!" She also says her daughter has to prepare for her high school exams, too. Takuma keeps nodding his head and says he understands her plight. Masamune is seemingly sympathetic with Satomi. "I heard you have divorced your husband and getting ready to move to the city..." Satomi: "We're desperate! Leaving her hanging in the air! And I will not accept this half-baked form of dismissal." But Takuma reminds her that her daughter could be fired IF she will be in the Bottom 6. "If she gets into the Top 20 instead, she will be promoted to a regular." The mother scoffs at that. "No way!" Takuma retorts back, "What do you mean, 'No way'? Even if your daughter is cute, she's not THAT cute enough, is that what you mean?" Masamune, stands up, mad. "Hey!" Shiori tries to calm the situation, "Mizuguchi-san is exaggerating." But Takuma, annoyed at the pessimism of all the people around him, stands up to get himself a cup of tea. "So you're protesting on the assumption that they'll be in the Bottom 6, and will get fired? You know, you sound like those parents that don't want the race results to be announced... This is not a sports day at an elementary school. Do not underestimate show business. If you don't like the way things are, you may ask your daughter to withdraw." Masamune: "Withdraw?" Takuma: "Yes, please do not let her participate. Then we will give the chance to another girl." Satomi: "Then, you're saying we go back home?" Takuma: "Or let her continue doing more tepid shows until she's too old to be an idol." Everyone has gone all quiet, as Takuma's caustic remarks sink in. "I'm sorry. I also at first thought that it wasn't fair... These 6, fighting in the same ring as the AmeJos... lacking experience and name recognition, too. But that's why, once they are ranked, people would be asking, 'Who's she?'... Right? Right?" Still, everyone does not say a word. Takuma continues, "A country bumpkin with an accent, a nameless rookie... Wouldn't it be interesting if all of them get into the top? Am I right? Huh? Right?" Aki, getting fired up by Takuma's sarcasm-laced pep talk, jumps up and shouts, "Yes!" But everyone is still quiet. Aki realizing she wasn't able to read the atmosphere (considering she is not really from the regions, she failed to see what the girls are feeling) "Areh?... Jeh! Please think of my 'Yes!' as an interlude..." Embarrassed, she sits back down. Takuma, seeing the unconvinced reaction of the girls, says, "Fine. Then, if one person from this group will be fired, I will also resign." Everyone finally reacts to that. "What?!" Takuma: "I will also take responsibility for the dismissal. (To Satomi) How about it, Ma'am? I will also work hard to death to put all 6 into the Top 40." Aki looks at Takuma in a new light. 'I didn't know. I never knew... Mizuguchi-san had so much stake on us... I don't understand his expressionless face but he can somewhat be fired up too, I guess.'.
Later that night, Masamune and Aki are inside the former's taxi cab (probably father and daughter went out for a ride somewhere near Aki's workplace) He says sorry to her. "You're close by, and yet I'm not raising you..." Aki: "It's okay, forget it. I understand that you have your own life." Masamune: "We've broken up." Aki: "What?" Masamune: "The woman at the apartment that time, the woman from my class reunion. We broke up." Aki: "Jejejeh!" Masamune claims he wasn't dumped. "How to say this... Your dad was shaken up." They weren't aware that a female passenger has come the back seat and has joined in on their conversation. She asks, "Is it the so-called 'fade-out*'? (*Relationship that just died a natural death) Masamune: "No we talked properly about it. And so we parted." Passenger: "The magic of class reunion, I guess had melted away huh." Masamune: "I guess so. And I guess... I guess I love my wife after all." Finally he realizes that he's talking to a stranger. He looks back quickly at the passenger seat. "Who are you!?" It happens to be Suzuka Hiromi. She seems to have come from Burai Sushi, a bit tipsy and/or tired. She greets him with a sleepy smile. "Hello. Please take me to Tsukishima district." Aki introduces them to each other. To Masamune, "Right now, I'm serving as her assistant." Masamune: "Heh~, is that right?" Aki gets out of the cab and says goodbye to her dad. Masamune looks like he's uncomfortable to be left alone with a famous actress. But when he looks back, Suzuka Hiromi is already asleep.
At the GMT dorm, Takuma is in his room, browsing the internet (I love the way his room is designed as cluttered and darkly lit for this scene, seems really legit and realistic; Japanese dramas in general are awesome when it comes to small details and stuff like this). Aki knocks before entering. She asks if he's working. Takuma says he's looking for possible venues for GMT's fanmeet. "Even if the company isn't going to help out, I can't let that stop us..." He remembers the 'promise' he had made a while back. "I did say such a thing in front of your dad but... the one who will get into the worst trouble with the dismissal is me." Aki: "Sorry." Takuma sits on his bed, takes an amber and looks at it. "Somehow... Sometime during the discussion, I remembered what Ben-san had said... Ben-san of the Amber. (And finally, he admits) My mentor..." He tells her what Ben said, that his work is like amber, 'No matter how rough (his work) is... If you polish and polish it, it'll become a gem.' "Finally, it dawned on me what he meant... Right now, the 6 of you are rough stones... Like what Ben-san said, to polish and polish it... and will become a gem. That's what my work seems to be." Aki smiles at that nice idea. "You should have said that in front of everyone." Takuma laughs. "I can't say that." He looks at the print-outs of possible venues he found and tosses them on the floor. "No good. All the venues are too expensive," he says, flopping down on his bed, feeling tired. Aki: "Why don't we do it in the streets?" Takuma: "What?" Aki: "Let's have a presentation... like at a station, or at a rotary... At any rate, it should be where we can be seen by the public." Takuma gets up and ponders on the idea. "Street huh..." Aki: "It's like in Kitasanriku... For example, you just shout, and everyone will be gathering around." Takuma: "It's because it's the countryside." Aki: "Eh?" "Tokyo's different. It's scary here," reminds Takuma. He gets up and goes out of the room while saying, "Don't underestimate the coldness of the concrete jungle..."
Later on, Takuma and the girls are pushing through with the live event. They set up a booth somewhere on a street in Tokyo, promoting GMT. Takuma dressed up in a bright red happi coat over shirt and tie, and holding a megaphone, distributes GMT leaflets. "New generation Idol GMT6, please get a flyer, thank you. For sure, it's gonna be GMT6 next year. It'll be the dawn of GMT6..." The girls, meanwhile are excitedly fired up, and setting up the stand. "Alright! Let's do this! We are the GMT6!" Aki: 'Sorry for doing away with the preliminaries, Yui-chan... We the GMT6, in the meantime, will start from here.'
Ep. 86. Aki: 'But if we do not persist here, then it'll be dismissal for us. GMT is without name recognition... So with a sense of crisis, we started our promotional activities.' The girls psyche themselves up as they start their own fanmeets. "Let's take the world!" "GMT!" "Let's get outta the Hole!" "GMT!" "Let's quit our part-time jobs! Let's quit getting allowances!... We are... GMT6!"
During their events, they'd set up flags and announce the schedule of their fanmeets. They'd sing and dance to AmeJo's "On the Calendar is December" while people pass by, not really interested enough to stop and look. There'd be a few otaku photographers taking their pics. Aki has also asked Anbe to cooperate. She is asked to serve mamebu of course, as well as specialties from the other regions, and to promote it around the Tokyo Edo theater. The girls are happy with the dishes Anbe is serving, like Zunda-mochi of Miyagi; Tebichi (stewed pig's feet) and pig's ears Chiragaa of Okinawa and Saga's Grilled Mutsugoro (blue spotted mudskipper). The girls start offering the food to the guys waiting outside at the theater. "Those who are waiting outside, thanks for the hard work!" Shiori: "Try our Saitama's specialty, Gyouda Fry!" Ayumi: "It's Tokishima's specialty, fish-katsu!" A guy approaches them and asks: "Don't you have anything that's not fried?" Eren: "Here's Okinawa specialty, Sata andagi (sweet deep fried buns)." Guy: "It's greasy." Shiori: "Kyan-chan, put it away!"
Aki: 'Such straightforward activities have bore fruit... For the first time, the GMT has received a request for an interview in a magazine...' The girls are at the office, where some camera equipment are set up. Takuma explains to them that they will be featured in a magazine 'Weekly Playguy,' and it'll be in a popular column called 'Hibiko Ichiro's I Don't Approve'. Aki has heard of that name before... Aki: "Eh... Hibiki?..." And sure enough, it's Hibiki Ichiro, dressed in a bright flowery jacket. He hasn't changed though, still rude and brutally honest. Hibiki greets the girls. "Yo, I'm still setting up right now," and goes to prepare his camera. Aki: "Jejeh!" The girls ask if she knows him? Aki: "Yeah... Well, when we do events, he'd always be at the front row." Hibiki pipes in, making it clear to Aki that "I'm doing this for Yui-chan... Got nothing to do with you, Ugly." Aki: "I'm not ugly!" She goes over to throttle him (like good old times ^^) but Takuma stops her and reminds that "Right now, Hibiki-san, is on the frontline of the idol critics." Hibiki chimes in, "And photographer, too." Kaoruko (to Hibiki): "I know you. Ever since you featured AmeJo in your column, they had a break, right?" Hibiki announces the start of the pictorial and asks them to begin with their self-intros. He points at Shiori: "Starting from 'omae' (you - impolite)." Shiori: "'Omae?'" Aki tells her not to mind it. Hibiki (to Shiori): "You're the leader? You are, right? Ugly." Shiori: "Ugly?" She, too, wants to throttle him but Aki says, "It's his favorite term, so don't think that you're ugly." Shiori: "Is it an okay kind of term... Like Doku Mamushi-san*'s 'Old hag'?" Hibiki tells them impatiently he doesn't have much time. So Shiori goes and starts without anymore complaints. "We don't have an ocean but we do have a dream..." Hibiki scoffs, "There is no ocean nor dream, huh!"
At a fanmeet on some river bridge, the girls are as usual doing their routines of self-intros. Watching are the usual few photographers, along with Hibiki. Of all the girls, it seems only Kaoruko has come up with a new one, with some help from her 'cheerer', Takuma. And she also has a new supporter in Hibiki (traitor! lol)...
Kaoruko: "Coming from Miyagi Prefecture...Onodera Kaoruko, 15 years old."
Hibiki: "Onodera-chan, yay~!"
Kaoruko: "Speaking of Miyagi?"
Takuma: "♬~Zunda Zunda~!"
Kaoruko: "What is my name?"
Takuma: "Onodera-chan~!"
Kaoruko: "Eh? Yonda?"
Takuma: "♬~Yonda Yonda!~ Yay!" (omgosh *dead*)
Hibiki goes to Takuma and asks him to teach him that cheer. Aki next tries out her self-intro. "Hailing from Kitasanriku City, Iwate Prefecture, I have been doing Ama! I am also a qualified diver! I'm Ama-chan, Amano Aki!" Passers-by only glance at them nonchalantly, not really stopping to watch. Aki: 'This is big city Tokyo. There were only 2-3 people who stopped to look... Still we endured their cold stares and did our best.'
Then, they start their handshake meet. Few guys start lining up, but only for Kaoruko. "Good luck, Onodera-chan." It was over in a minute so the guys ask Takuma if they can line up again. Takuma: "Only for today." And once again, they only lined up for Kaoruko, while the other girls can only look on jealously (haha, this was really difficult to watch).
The girls come home, feeling exhausted and frustrated. Ayumi: "Ah! I don't want to do this anymore... It's not going to help with our votes. Doing things like that, isn't going to help with our votes!" Mana: "I didn't come to Tokyo to do such embarrassing things like that." Shiori calls for a meeting to assess what happened. "First of all, why were there only three mics?" Eren: "A mistake on the order." Ayumi: "Fortunately, the CD we used had songs in it, so we could continue lip-synching." Shiori: "No, no, in the first place, why did we bring a CD with songs anyway." Eren: "A mistake on the order." Shiori: "Geez, whose mistake was it?" Eren: "Mine." Nervously, she takes a drink of water but Shiori grabs the water bottle, and scolds her, "Do it properly! We're in public! We're not in the Hole, you know!"
At the Office, Futomaki is reprimanding Takuma. "I told you didn't I? That it's still too early." Takuma: "I'm sorry. But if we continue not to take any action, they'll be dismissed, and it'll bother me." Futomaki: "You know, I'm not being an 'oni' (demon or ogre) here, Mizuguchi. No, well, I AM an oni. An oni of the industry, kinda like a friendly type of oni... An open-hearted oni. The election is a form of strategy. But this is not a restructuring. While it's making the lackluster members to be more active, it's also giving a chance to motivate the newcomers. That is the purpose. It's just that..." Takuma: "What is it?" Futomaki: "That... Sea girl... From Iwate." Takuma: "Yes. Amano Aki." Futomaki: "That girl... Something is different." Takuma: "Eh?" Futomaki repeats, "Something is different." Takuma is confused, "Different... 'different' in what way?" Futomaki, suddenly becomes annoyed, "What? The Oni says it's different, so something is different! Am I wrong?! (it really sounds funnier in Japanese)" Takuma apologizes but tries to defend Aki. "But even this event... the idea came from her... She has more enthusiasm, more than the others..." Futomaki cuts him off, "That IS the problem..." The president goes out of the office, without an explanation. He just hums a song, leaving a confused Takuma behind.
At Burai Sushi, Umezu is setting up shop (for the night). Aki and Hiromi are also there, having a read-through of a scene together from the drama, 'Expectant Lawyer'. Aki is seated at the counter, holding a script while Hiromi is pacing about, saying her lines. " 'The prosecution's claim that there was murderous intent is unreliable... The defendant... the defendant'..." She forgets and looks at Aki, who has apparently fallen asleep (while sitting up). Hiromi shouts, "Defendant!" waking up Aki, who in turn shouts, "...Chief Justice!" Hiromi: "You were sleeping, weren't you?" Aki: "I wasn't sleeping, Chief Justice." Hiromi (annoyed): "It's 'defense lawyer'. (She shows her her script with the actress' name written on it) It's 'Expectant Lawyer, Kotobuki Ranko'." Aki: "I'm sorry. Since the event this morning, I've been standing the whole time." Hiromi: "Then you wanna quit as my assistant?" Aki: "No!" Hiromi: "In that case, focus properly! The lines don't match mine!" "Yes!" Aki eats some 'gari' and says "I will eat pickled ginger to keep myself awake!" Hiromi tries again, "'The prosecution's claim that there was murderous intent'..." But Aki starts snoring again, but wakes up abruptly and shouts, "...Chief Justice!" startling Umezu. Hiromi (exasperatedly): "Ah, go home already!"
Aki, looking really tired and sleepy, is about to go home on her bike when Taneichi tells her she forgot her script. She says it's not hers but he shows the cover of the booklet, and says "Suzuka-san's name is not written on it." Aki: "So I guess it's mine, then." She takes the script and quickly leafs through the pages. Taneichi, noticing how tired she is says, "It's difficult, isn't it... You'll be having an event tomorrow?" Aki: "Well, yeah." She tosses the script in her bike's basket. Taneichi: "You want me to come and watch? The boss and I could pretend to be fans and we'll do the handshake meeting side by side." Aki: "I'm happy with the offer, but it's not allowed." Taneichi smiles understandably. "I see. Well, goodluck." (Aww~ it would be great if he finally falls for Aki but what about poor Hiroshi-kun?). Aki goes off but stops and utters a "Jeh!" She gets the script again and looks at a certain page. "Jejejeh!"
"Taneichi-senpai! Did Suzuka-san go home?" Aki is so excited she rushes back to the shop, even bringing her bike along. Taneichi: "Sh-she just went out... What's the matter?" Aki shows him the script where the list of actors are printed. Taneichi reads: "'Condo Neighbor C, Amano Aki'!" Aki (happily): "Right, Senpai? That's me, right?" Taneichi: "Yeah, it IS you! That's great, Amano!" The two jump up and down in glee.
"It's a barter, huh..." says Takuma, after learning about it. He and Aki are discussing about the good news in the living room at the dorm. Aki: "Ba... ba... Barter?" Takuma: "For letting Suzuka-san use you as her assistant... She negotiated with the director and the P (producer). You haven't said thank you properly." Aki: "To the director or the P~?" Takuma: "To Suzuka-san, of course. Thanks to the Suzuka-san, you'll be appearing on TV." Aki nods. He asks, "So, will you have a line?" He looks at the script. "Oh! There is one! lol" Aki: "(giggles) There is, right? Just one." She stands to practice her one line: "(With an accent) 'Sumada-san had moved last week'." Takuma (chuckles): "Too much accent..." Aki: "Can't I make the neighbor a person from Tohoku?" Takuma: "The Director will decide on that." Aki: "Yeah, you're right.... What shall I do? I haven't called Natsu-bappa about it." She snatches the script from Takuma's hands and runs up the stairs eagerly to her room.
Natsu is at home alone with her pregnant pet cat. "What? You'll be appearing in a drama?" She says on the phone to Aki. Aki is on her bed while Kaoruko and Shiori are in theirs. Aki is trying to whisper so as not to wake the others. "Since it's not that big a role, keep it a secret still." Natsu: "Got it. I will not tell anyone. I will never tell anyone." Aki: "Well, nobody will see it, that would make me sad, actually." Natsu: "lol You're right... It's true, they would want to see it... Are you coming home for the New Year?" Aki: "No, I'll be too busy then... Okay, I'm hanging up now." After the call, Natsu sighs in dismay to hear that Aki is not going home...
Meanwhile, Kaoruko who happens to hear her phone conversation, says to her, "Congratulations on your drama." Aki apologizes, "...Did you hear?" Kaoruko: "Yeah. From now on, maybe it would be nice if you do your calls outside." Aki: "Eh?" Kaoruko: "You're not the only one who wants to be in a drama, Aki-chan." Shiori below, who is also listening, pretends to cough, making it known to Aki that she too is awake and probably shares Kaoruko's feelings. Aki realizes that she should not be carried away, considering that each girl is trying so hard to survive in the idol game, making the situation sensitive for everyone. "I see, of course." Kaoruko says she IS sorry and says goodnight.
Aki: 'Hibiki-san's article on us in his magazine, was effective..." Days later, the girls' hard work seem to be paying off. They are seen doing their event in a street with more and more onlookers. 'Gradually, people are stopping and the number of photographers have also increased in number...'
At their handshake event, the two otaku boys from earlier who said they are fans of Kaoruko tell her they have decided to root for her (oshi = fan). Aki: "I see, thank you so much!" 'Maybe luck is just around the corner somehow...' Aki thinks happily. Just then, someone catches her eye from across the street. It is Yoshie, looking happy and alive, laughing and walking briskly with a man by her side. "Jeh!" 'No doubt about it, it was Yui's mom... Uwah~! I have seen something awful!'
(* Doku Mamushi or Mamu-chan = entertainer/radio personality)
Ep. 87. "Jeh!" Aki leaves the handshake event and goes to get Anbe. "Anbe-chan, look! Look over there!" Yui's mom and the man she's with are walking away down the street at a rather far distance, their backs to Aki and Anbe. However, Anbe instead sees someone else who's headed their way. "It's Mimata Matazo*!" Aki, distracted, says, "Jejeh! No way? Where? Where?" "Over there! He's from Iwate Prefecture! He's the son of a doctor from Hanamaki. He was also an attendant in a croquette shop." Aki realizes that Yoshie has already disappeared. "Oh, no!" But Anbe is still dishing out some celebrity info. "From croquette, that's how he got his stage name, Ham-Egg (ham and eggs)!" Aki (dismayed): "Ah, geez, she's disappeared somewhere!... Why is that... (To Anbe) You have too much information about Mimata Matazo!" Anbe hushes her as the comedian passes them by.
'Let's say it was her that I've seen...' Aki is in bed that night, going over the thing that she had seen in her head, many times. 'Yui-chan and Stove-san's mom... The most blessed person in Kitasanriku, though she's called that without exaggeration... One we equate with happiness, the wife of the Adachi house... That was the first time I saw her smiling happily.' She sits up, and exclaims, "No way, no way!" 'Maybe it's the wrong person! I was just too anxious in Yui's behalf, that's why I saw an illusion! I probably was wrong. But...' She remembers what happened when she was at the Adachi home, when Yui says her mom was only lying about being happy. "No no no no!" she exclaims again, bothering nearby Kaoruko and most especially Shiori who were trying to get some sleep. 'As Yui-chan had said, it was all a lie!' "That's right! That's right!" 'And finally, she abandoned her sick husband and up to the expense of her daughter's dream, she came to Tokyo. Ararararah... A horrible woman, an Oni wife.' "I have to tell her!" She stands up and starts calling Yui. But her tummy starts to hurt out of nervousness, worrying Kaoruko. 'I can't tell her... Yui-chan will get hurt even more!' "No no no no!" "Shut the heck up!" Shiori gets up, fuming mad. "Listen, you knucklehead! Do you know what time it is? (Menacingly) Go to sleep!" Later, Aki lies in her bed but she looks like she can't keep still...
Meanwhile, Yui is in her still messy room. She checks her cellphone, with all unanswered messages from Aki. She starts dialing Aki's number but hesitates and decides not to go through with it...
Mizuguchi is browsing the internet in his room. He hears a knock on his door, as well as sounds of someone crying. "Yes." He opens it and sees Aki, whimpering, and holding a pillow. "I can't sleep," she says. Takuma just looks at her and asks, "How old are you?... Then don't sleep anymore. Please lie in your bed and just keep still." He tries to close his door but Aki persists, "I WAS still, but I was told I'm annoying, and that I should I get out."
He let her in and Aki tells him about Yui's mom. Takuma could not believe it either. "Eh? Yui-chan's mother? That elegant wife... the type who's like in a commercial for cold medicines that would never cheat on her husband? She's in Ueno with a man?... That sort of thing... certainly deserves a 'jejejeh'." Aki asks what should she do. Takuma: "Either way, it's because of this reason that they have reported it to the police... It would be great to report to them that someone who looks like her had been seen." Aki: "What about Yui-chan?" Takuma warns her never to tell Yui. "Despite Yui-chan's despair, her mom had intentionally disappeared into Tokyo... Plus, if she hears that her mom is with another man, it'll break her heart completely." Yui sighs and agrees. Takuma asks if she heard from Yui yet. Aki: "Ever since that thing happened with her mom, she hasn't replied to my emails, and hasn't answered my voice mails." Takuma stands up and goes to the kitchen to get himself a drink. "Somehow, I feel responsible... 'Cause I was originally the one who split the two of you apart. That time, you were on very good terms..." Aki follows him out and sits down. "Yeah. The time I was there, we would talk for hours every day. Right now, even when I can connect to her by phone... I honestly dunno what to say to her. At least, if our positions are reversed... (Probably she means to say that it would not matter if it happens to Aki, because Yui would at least be in Tokyo). But Takuma seems to be thinking of something else. "Maybe it IS like that..." Aki: "Eh?" Takuma: "It's what you said before, right? 'Yui-chan is the one who is cute... the one who has the glow...' But sometimes I wonder the ones that are moving the world... aren't the cutest or the most talented people... but I think it's the ones who come in second... When the No. 2 tries so hard, so she won't have to be ashamed to face No. 1, that's when they become successful." Aki: "I wouldn't be ashamed to face Yui-chan?" Takuma: "Yeah... Oh, I'm not saying you're No. 2, okay." Aki (annoyed): "You already said 'Yeah', didn't you?" Takuma: "No, that would be no good right now. Right now, you're trying to get into the Top 40, and it's a critical point so... Then, there's also the filming of the drama..." Aki, realizing it. "Oh, you're right!" Takuma asks if she has you perfected her line. She stands up to show it to him. "'Shimada-san had moved last week'." Takuma comments, "Too monotonous." Aki: "Nah, nah, I wasn't being serious just now." Takuma goes over to the sliding door separating the dining area and the living room. "Then do it seriously, by using this door." He goes to the living room, shuts the door, and sits on the sofa. Aki prepares for it. "Ah, ah, 'Shimada-san.' Testing, testing..." Takuma: "Okay! (presses an imaginary doorbell) Ding dong!" And Aki opens the door and gives her line. "'Shimada-san had moved last week'." Takuma comments on it and makes her practice it over and over again... Aki: 'Even if I think about it, it can't be helped... I for the time being have decided to immerse myself in my work and get into the role of Neighbor C... For the first time in my life I will act in front of the camera... I do feel nervous, of course but... the truth is, I don't want to think of unnecessary things right now.'
Aki is thankful that she's busy doing the event during the weekends so she won't have to think about anything else. But still... Aki: '...when I do remember, I would lose focus.' She messes up during her performance when she does remember. Shiori and the girls are vexed with her. They reprimand her when they get home. Shiori: "Get your act together! Maybe because you're gonna record the drama soon, that's why you can't concentrate but this is just too cruel!" Anbe who is nearby making their meal, asks if they're having an evaluation meeting. Ayumi: "Not just the dance, you were acting weird during the handshake event, too." When the fans were shaking Aki's hand earlier and wishing her goodluck, Aki replies with 'Shimada-san hikkoshimashita (Shimada-san has moved)' instead of 'Arigatou gozaimashita.' Ayumi: "Who is Shimada?! We have no member by that name!" Aki apologizes to everyone. "I'm sorry, I swear, I wasn't aware!" Shiori: "We're at the end of our rope here! If you're not into this, then, just withdraw! 'Cause you're pissing me off!" She stomps away and up the stairs while Anbe calls to her and says, "Ararah? Saitama girl, aren't you gonna eat Gyouda Fry?" Shiori shouts that she doesn't want it. Kaoruko explains, "I guess we're all nervous." Mana: "It's unreasonable. Deadline of the elections is just one week away." Aki seems to only realize now that's it's already 'On the Calendar is December'. "Jejeh! Sorry. I was only thinking about myself... Oh, right! The day of the ballot-counting is also the day I'll be filming the drama! What should I do?" Aman: "Aki-chan, you'll be okay." Ellen agrees, "Your fans will root for you, and you're doing well with your work." Aki, finally smiles, happy with the encouraging words from her groupmates. "Nah, nah, nah..." Ellen: "Areh? You're smiling... It's proof you ARE confident!" They begin tickling her and Aki laughs. Ayumi: "If possible, I want all 6 of us to remain." Aki, being positive says, "We'll remain together. There's no other way but to remain together!" But Takuma who is all along seated at the dining area, all quiet and kinda glum, is remembering what Futomaki had said about Aki. ('That sea girl, from Iwate... Something is different.') "Hey, Mizuguchi-san!" Aki calls him, breaking his thought. "If all 6 of us are here during New Year's Eve, Anbe-chan will make us Toshichoshi (Crossing the New Year) Soba noodles." Anbe: "Oh, you want me to make Mamebu, too?" Takuma: "Make something that's more delicious." Anbe (to Takuma): "Jeh! You fiend..." Takuma stands up to go to his room, still looking pensive. In a sort of sad 'come-what-may' mood, he says in a monotonous glum tone, "Anyway, since all of you did your best so far... so that you won't have any regrets, fight fair and square... accept any result... and try to move on..." His voice trails off as he closes his bedroom door behind him. Ayumi shouts at him: "But you said, we're 'GMT til the end!'"
Then, Aki feels something has fallen on the floor. It is one of her misangas which had naturally broken off from her wrist. "Jejejeh!... Anbe-chan, look." Anbe: "Jejeh! That means your wish will come true if it breaks!" The girls get excited too when they saw it. "So this means, that the 6 of us will pass?" They call Shiori. "Leader look! The misanga broke!" Shiori: "Take the world! We're gonna take the world!" the girls are elated and fired up. Meanwhile, in his room, Takuma is still pondering and feeling bothered by what Futomaki had said...
The day of the counting of the results of the Idol Elections has arrived. Fans and spectators are gathered at the theater in Ueno where there is a giant screen display on top. The people do a countdown, and clap as they watch Futomaki appear on screen. He is apparently in New York at this time. Meanwhile, the GMTs minus Aki are in the Hole, anxiously waiting for the event to begin...
Aki is of course at the filming of "Omedeta Bengoshi" She is dressed up looking like an older office lady with curled hair. She is introduced to the staff, and says her 'yoroshikus.' Koike, the AD announces they will be having a 'dry' for the meantime. Hiromi wearing her lawyer costume, and bulging fake pregnant belly tells her, "Today, we are co-stars, so we are on equal terms." Aki is worried what a 'dry' is and asks Hiromi. But Takuma is there, and answers her question. "It's to determine the set-up of the scene." Aki (surprised): "Jejeh! You're here? Why?" Takuma: "It's only natural for the manager to come to the filming, isn't it?" Aki then thanks Hiromi for everything the actress has done for her. Hiromi: "Eh? Retiring?" Aki: "Yes! I'll do my best like there's no tomorrow!" Then, the filming begins. Director: "Ready! Action!" Aki: 'Sorry for doing away with the preliminaries, Yui-chan, Mom, Natsu-bappa... Also, Daikichi-san and everyone over there... Finally, I Amano Aki, will debut as an actress!'
(*Mimata Matazo = comedian and talent)
Next: Week 15 (Part 2)
Previous: Week 14 (Part 2)
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
"I think the ones who move the world aren't those in first place but the ones who come in second..."
(A week of adorable and intense episodes, like a rollercoaster ride, you'll be laughing and crying... Btw, I'll be changing Ellen's name to Eren, and Meg to Megu ^^)
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 85. Takuma is at a meeting with his peers at the company. Five of the GMTs (Kaoruko seems to be absent) come inside the meeting room, wearing their respective costumes. They line up in front of everyone as Takuma passes out proposal hand-outs for a fanmeet which will also serve as the unveiling of GMT6. "There'll be handshake meetings, photo sessions, of course we'll be serving local specialties. It's to promote the local flavors. It'll be a strategy that will increase awareness..." But AmeJo chief manager, Kawashima, cuts him off. "Did Futomaki-san give a go-signal for this?" Takuma says he wanted to check the feelings of everyone about it. But Kawashima says he should check with the president first. Unless he shows it to Futomaki, "our feelings will be like this..." He points at the disinterested staff, not really listening to Takuma nor reading his handout at all. "If he says 'Do it,' then do it. Futomaki-san is the one who drew up the vision and shapes it... Our role is to be his employees, Mizuguchi."
Then, Futomaki arrives and greets his staff, and vice versa. Futomaki: "Wouldn't it be good to say your greetings in a dialect? Like "Menso~re!" (Okinawa) or "Maido!" (Osaka)." His staff laughs. He sees Takuma's hand-out. "What is this..." Takuma: "A fan meeting of GMT... We plan to expand the fair to the second floor of the Idol Cafe..." But Futomaki, too, cuts him off. "Hmm, don't you think it's too early?" Kawashima agrees and adjourns the meeting. Meanwhile, Aki is finding something strange about Futomaki ever since she told him about her mother, like he has gone cold to her and distant. "Am I overthinking it? Or has the President seem to have changed since that day?" Aki watches her Boss, puzzled.
Upon going home that night, the girls are disappointed with what happened. Shiori: "What does he mean 'It's too early...' It's already late! Surely if only Mizuguchi-san insisted on the thought..." Mana: "It's the president after all, he can't go against him." Aki is staring at a poster of Futomaki, still wondering about him. The girls decide to eat at a ramen stand when two boys approach them. "Excuse me, you're all from GMT, right?" The girls say they are. The boys say they saw them on the internet, and were surprised. And also for the upcoming election, they'll be voting for the GMT. The girls are thrilled to hear about it. Mana wants to shake one boy's outstretched hand but he retracts his. He asks, "Where's Onodera-chan?" "Huh? She has several exams so she seems to be studying..." The other boy hands a gift-wrapped item to them, and the girls scream, "Uwah! Thank you!" The boy corrects them and says it's for "Onodera-chan."
When they arrive at the dorm, Shiori feeling pissed, shouts, "This is a present for Onodera-chan! Can I just throw it away?" Then they see Aki's dad sitting in the living room, browsing the internet with a laptop. Mana who doesn't seem to remember him shouts at him, "Who are you? You're suspicious!" Aki reminds her that he is her dad. Then, they see another woman present. "Whose mother is she?" Kaoruko who is standing nearby, answers, "Mine."
Masamune later shows the girls the blog he's always checking in between his breaks. It is Kaoruko's blog. The girls read it. "'What will I do, if I don't get into the Top 40, I'll be fired.'" Masamune is concerned about it. "I wonder how this is going to work out. Just because adults think it's a good idea, making our precious daughters compete against each other, and trying to judge who is better and who is not, is that allowed?" Kaoruko's mother, Onodera Satomi admits she is the one who wrote the article in her daughter's blog. Aki's dad says she and he should protest the election together.
Just then, Takuma comes home. He greets Aki's dad whom he had met before in Kitasanriku (last autumn when he came for Aki's birthday). Masamune does remember him but couldn't place it exactly. Aki tries to remind him, "He was the disciple of Ben-san of the Amber." "Ben-san of the amber? Ben-san of the amber..." Masamune tries to rack his brains for a memory of Ben-san's face. "Oh, sorry! Though I do know it... I can't remember his face at all!" He exclaims in frustration. Takuma: "Oh, it's okay. I'm not Ben-san's disciple." Masamune (stands up, angry): "So why didn't you say so! You wasted my time!" Aki: "He was a scout! He was pretending to be his disciple." Takuma: "Yes. I'm their manager now. My name is Mizuguchi. (They all sit down) Is there anything I can do for you?" Masamune explains about the blog and how he found out about the election. Takuma says to Kaoruko's mom, "It was you who wrote about stopping the elections, wasn't it?" Masamune is surprised that he knows about it. Takuma: "Yes, of course, since I'm the manager." Satomi shares her feelings about the elections. She says it's unreasonable. "It's a fine way of saying you're being fired. They haven't had much chance to do showbiz work yet. If she gets fired, both of us will go wandering in streets with nowhere to go!" She also says her daughter has to prepare for her high school exams, too. Takuma keeps nodding his head and says he understands her plight. Masamune is seemingly sympathetic with Satomi. "I heard you have divorced your husband and getting ready to move to the city..." Satomi: "We're desperate! Leaving her hanging in the air! And I will not accept this half-baked form of dismissal." But Takuma reminds her that her daughter could be fired IF she will be in the Bottom 6. "If she gets into the Top 20 instead, she will be promoted to a regular." The mother scoffs at that. "No way!" Takuma retorts back, "What do you mean, 'No way'? Even if your daughter is cute, she's not THAT cute enough, is that what you mean?" Masamune, stands up, mad. "Hey!" Shiori tries to calm the situation, "Mizuguchi-san is exaggerating." But Takuma, annoyed at the pessimism of all the people around him, stands up to get himself a cup of tea. "So you're protesting on the assumption that they'll be in the Bottom 6, and will get fired? You know, you sound like those parents that don't want the race results to be announced... This is not a sports day at an elementary school. Do not underestimate show business. If you don't like the way things are, you may ask your daughter to withdraw." Masamune: "Withdraw?" Takuma: "Yes, please do not let her participate. Then we will give the chance to another girl." Satomi: "Then, you're saying we go back home?" Takuma: "Or let her continue doing more tepid shows until she's too old to be an idol." Everyone has gone all quiet, as Takuma's caustic remarks sink in. "I'm sorry. I also at first thought that it wasn't fair... These 6, fighting in the same ring as the AmeJos... lacking experience and name recognition, too. But that's why, once they are ranked, people would be asking, 'Who's she?'... Right? Right?" Still, everyone does not say a word. Takuma continues, "A country bumpkin with an accent, a nameless rookie... Wouldn't it be interesting if all of them get into the top? Am I right? Huh? Right?" Aki, getting fired up by Takuma's sarcasm-laced pep talk, jumps up and shouts, "Yes!" But everyone is still quiet. Aki realizing she wasn't able to read the atmosphere (considering she is not really from the regions, she failed to see what the girls are feeling) "Areh?... Jeh! Please think of my 'Yes!' as an interlude..." Embarrassed, she sits back down. Takuma, seeing the unconvinced reaction of the girls, says, "Fine. Then, if one person from this group will be fired, I will also resign." Everyone finally reacts to that. "What?!" Takuma: "I will also take responsibility for the dismissal. (To Satomi) How about it, Ma'am? I will also work hard to death to put all 6 into the Top 40." Aki looks at Takuma in a new light. 'I didn't know. I never knew... Mizuguchi-san had so much stake on us... I don't understand his expressionless face but he can somewhat be fired up too, I guess.'.
Later that night, Masamune and Aki are inside the former's taxi cab (probably father and daughter went out for a ride somewhere near Aki's workplace) He says sorry to her. "You're close by, and yet I'm not raising you..." Aki: "It's okay, forget it. I understand that you have your own life." Masamune: "We've broken up." Aki: "What?" Masamune: "The woman at the apartment that time, the woman from my class reunion. We broke up." Aki: "Jejejeh!" Masamune claims he wasn't dumped. "How to say this... Your dad was shaken up." They weren't aware that a female passenger has come the back seat and has joined in on their conversation. She asks, "Is it the so-called 'fade-out*'? (*Relationship that just died a natural death) Masamune: "No we talked properly about it. And so we parted." Passenger: "The magic of class reunion, I guess had melted away huh." Masamune: "I guess so. And I guess... I guess I love my wife after all." Finally he realizes that he's talking to a stranger. He looks back quickly at the passenger seat. "Who are you!?" It happens to be Suzuka Hiromi. She seems to have come from Burai Sushi, a bit tipsy and/or tired. She greets him with a sleepy smile. "Hello. Please take me to Tsukishima district." Aki introduces them to each other. To Masamune, "Right now, I'm serving as her assistant." Masamune: "Heh~, is that right?" Aki gets out of the cab and says goodbye to her dad. Masamune looks like he's uncomfortable to be left alone with a famous actress. But when he looks back, Suzuka Hiromi is already asleep.
At the GMT dorm, Takuma is in his room, browsing the internet (I love the way his room is designed as cluttered and darkly lit for this scene, seems really legit and realistic; Japanese dramas in general are awesome when it comes to small details and stuff like this). Aki knocks before entering. She asks if he's working. Takuma says he's looking for possible venues for GMT's fanmeet. "Even if the company isn't going to help out, I can't let that stop us..." He remembers the 'promise' he had made a while back. "I did say such a thing in front of your dad but... the one who will get into the worst trouble with the dismissal is me." Aki: "Sorry." Takuma sits on his bed, takes an amber and looks at it. "Somehow... Sometime during the discussion, I remembered what Ben-san had said... Ben-san of the Amber. (And finally, he admits) My mentor..." He tells her what Ben said, that his work is like amber, 'No matter how rough (his work) is... If you polish and polish it, it'll become a gem.' "Finally, it dawned on me what he meant... Right now, the 6 of you are rough stones... Like what Ben-san said, to polish and polish it... and will become a gem. That's what my work seems to be." Aki smiles at that nice idea. "You should have said that in front of everyone." Takuma laughs. "I can't say that." He looks at the print-outs of possible venues he found and tosses them on the floor. "No good. All the venues are too expensive," he says, flopping down on his bed, feeling tired. Aki: "Why don't we do it in the streets?" Takuma: "What?" Aki: "Let's have a presentation... like at a station, or at a rotary... At any rate, it should be where we can be seen by the public." Takuma gets up and ponders on the idea. "Street huh..." Aki: "It's like in Kitasanriku... For example, you just shout, and everyone will be gathering around." Takuma: "It's because it's the countryside." Aki: "Eh?" "Tokyo's different. It's scary here," reminds Takuma. He gets up and goes out of the room while saying, "Don't underestimate the coldness of the concrete jungle..."
Later on, Takuma and the girls are pushing through with the live event. They set up a booth somewhere on a street in Tokyo, promoting GMT. Takuma dressed up in a bright red happi coat over shirt and tie, and holding a megaphone, distributes GMT leaflets. "New generation Idol GMT6, please get a flyer, thank you. For sure, it's gonna be GMT6 next year. It'll be the dawn of GMT6..." The girls, meanwhile are excitedly fired up, and setting up the stand. "Alright! Let's do this! We are the GMT6!" Aki: 'Sorry for doing away with the preliminaries, Yui-chan... We the GMT6, in the meantime, will start from here.'
Ep. 86. Aki: 'But if we do not persist here, then it'll be dismissal for us. GMT is without name recognition... So with a sense of crisis, we started our promotional activities.' The girls psyche themselves up as they start their own fanmeets. "Let's take the world!" "GMT!" "Let's get outta the Hole!" "GMT!" "Let's quit our part-time jobs! Let's quit getting allowances!... We are... GMT6!"
During their events, they'd set up flags and announce the schedule of their fanmeets. They'd sing and dance to AmeJo's "On the Calendar is December" while people pass by, not really interested enough to stop and look. There'd be a few otaku photographers taking their pics. Aki has also asked Anbe to cooperate. She is asked to serve mamebu of course, as well as specialties from the other regions, and to promote it around the Tokyo Edo theater. The girls are happy with the dishes Anbe is serving, like Zunda-mochi of Miyagi; Tebichi (stewed pig's feet) and pig's ears Chiragaa of Okinawa and Saga's Grilled Mutsugoro (blue spotted mudskipper). The girls start offering the food to the guys waiting outside at the theater. "Those who are waiting outside, thanks for the hard work!" Shiori: "Try our Saitama's specialty, Gyouda Fry!" Ayumi: "It's Tokishima's specialty, fish-katsu!" A guy approaches them and asks: "Don't you have anything that's not fried?" Eren: "Here's Okinawa specialty, Sata andagi (sweet deep fried buns)." Guy: "It's greasy." Shiori: "Kyan-chan, put it away!"
Aki: 'Such straightforward activities have bore fruit... For the first time, the GMT has received a request for an interview in a magazine...' The girls are at the office, where some camera equipment are set up. Takuma explains to them that they will be featured in a magazine 'Weekly Playguy,' and it'll be in a popular column called 'Hibiko Ichiro's I Don't Approve'. Aki has heard of that name before... Aki: "Eh... Hibiki?..." And sure enough, it's Hibiki Ichiro, dressed in a bright flowery jacket. He hasn't changed though, still rude and brutally honest. Hibiki greets the girls. "Yo, I'm still setting up right now," and goes to prepare his camera. Aki: "Jejeh!" The girls ask if she knows him? Aki: "Yeah... Well, when we do events, he'd always be at the front row." Hibiki pipes in, making it clear to Aki that "I'm doing this for Yui-chan... Got nothing to do with you, Ugly." Aki: "I'm not ugly!" She goes over to throttle him (like good old times ^^) but Takuma stops her and reminds that "Right now, Hibiki-san, is on the frontline of the idol critics." Hibiki chimes in, "And photographer, too." Kaoruko (to Hibiki): "I know you. Ever since you featured AmeJo in your column, they had a break, right?" Hibiki announces the start of the pictorial and asks them to begin with their self-intros. He points at Shiori: "Starting from 'omae' (you - impolite)." Shiori: "'Omae?'" Aki tells her not to mind it. Hibiki (to Shiori): "You're the leader? You are, right? Ugly." Shiori: "Ugly?" She, too, wants to throttle him but Aki says, "It's his favorite term, so don't think that you're ugly." Shiori: "Is it an okay kind of term... Like Doku Mamushi-san*'s 'Old hag'?" Hibiki tells them impatiently he doesn't have much time. So Shiori goes and starts without anymore complaints. "We don't have an ocean but we do have a dream..." Hibiki scoffs, "There is no ocean nor dream, huh!"
At a fanmeet on some river bridge, the girls are as usual doing their routines of self-intros. Watching are the usual few photographers, along with Hibiki. Of all the girls, it seems only Kaoruko has come up with a new one, with some help from her 'cheerer', Takuma. And she also has a new supporter in Hibiki (traitor! lol)...
Kaoruko: "Coming from Miyagi Prefecture...Onodera Kaoruko, 15 years old."
Hibiki: "Onodera-chan, yay~!"
Kaoruko: "Speaking of Miyagi?"
Takuma: "♬~Zunda Zunda~!"
Kaoruko: "What is my name?"
Takuma: "Onodera-chan~!"
Kaoruko: "Eh? Yonda?"
Takuma: "♬~Yonda Yonda!~ Yay!" (omgosh *dead*)
Hibiki goes to Takuma and asks him to teach him that cheer. Aki next tries out her self-intro. "Hailing from Kitasanriku City, Iwate Prefecture, I have been doing Ama! I am also a qualified diver! I'm Ama-chan, Amano Aki!" Passers-by only glance at them nonchalantly, not really stopping to watch. Aki: 'This is big city Tokyo. There were only 2-3 people who stopped to look... Still we endured their cold stares and did our best.'
Then, they start their handshake meet. Few guys start lining up, but only for Kaoruko. "Good luck, Onodera-chan." It was over in a minute so the guys ask Takuma if they can line up again. Takuma: "Only for today." And once again, they only lined up for Kaoruko, while the other girls can only look on jealously (haha, this was really difficult to watch).
The girls come home, feeling exhausted and frustrated. Ayumi: "Ah! I don't want to do this anymore... It's not going to help with our votes. Doing things like that, isn't going to help with our votes!" Mana: "I didn't come to Tokyo to do such embarrassing things like that." Shiori calls for a meeting to assess what happened. "First of all, why were there only three mics?" Eren: "A mistake on the order." Ayumi: "Fortunately, the CD we used had songs in it, so we could continue lip-synching." Shiori: "No, no, in the first place, why did we bring a CD with songs anyway." Eren: "A mistake on the order." Shiori: "Geez, whose mistake was it?" Eren: "Mine." Nervously, she takes a drink of water but Shiori grabs the water bottle, and scolds her, "Do it properly! We're in public! We're not in the Hole, you know!"
At the Office, Futomaki is reprimanding Takuma. "I told you didn't I? That it's still too early." Takuma: "I'm sorry. But if we continue not to take any action, they'll be dismissed, and it'll bother me." Futomaki: "You know, I'm not being an 'oni' (demon or ogre) here, Mizuguchi. No, well, I AM an oni. An oni of the industry, kinda like a friendly type of oni... An open-hearted oni. The election is a form of strategy. But this is not a restructuring. While it's making the lackluster members to be more active, it's also giving a chance to motivate the newcomers. That is the purpose. It's just that..." Takuma: "What is it?" Futomaki: "That... Sea girl... From Iwate." Takuma: "Yes. Amano Aki." Futomaki: "That girl... Something is different." Takuma: "Eh?" Futomaki repeats, "Something is different." Takuma is confused, "Different... 'different' in what way?" Futomaki, suddenly becomes annoyed, "What? The Oni says it's different, so something is different! Am I wrong?! (it really sounds funnier in Japanese)" Takuma apologizes but tries to defend Aki. "But even this event... the idea came from her... She has more enthusiasm, more than the others..." Futomaki cuts him off, "That IS the problem..." The president goes out of the office, without an explanation. He just hums a song, leaving a confused Takuma behind.
At Burai Sushi, Umezu is setting up shop (for the night). Aki and Hiromi are also there, having a read-through of a scene together from the drama, 'Expectant Lawyer'. Aki is seated at the counter, holding a script while Hiromi is pacing about, saying her lines. " 'The prosecution's claim that there was murderous intent is unreliable... The defendant... the defendant'..." She forgets and looks at Aki, who has apparently fallen asleep (while sitting up). Hiromi shouts, "Defendant!" waking up Aki, who in turn shouts, "...Chief Justice!" Hiromi: "You were sleeping, weren't you?" Aki: "I wasn't sleeping, Chief Justice." Hiromi (annoyed): "It's 'defense lawyer'. (She shows her her script with the actress' name written on it) It's 'Expectant Lawyer, Kotobuki Ranko'." Aki: "I'm sorry. Since the event this morning, I've been standing the whole time." Hiromi: "Then you wanna quit as my assistant?" Aki: "No!" Hiromi: "In that case, focus properly! The lines don't match mine!" "Yes!" Aki eats some 'gari' and says "I will eat pickled ginger to keep myself awake!" Hiromi tries again, "'The prosecution's claim that there was murderous intent'..." But Aki starts snoring again, but wakes up abruptly and shouts, "...Chief Justice!" startling Umezu. Hiromi (exasperatedly): "Ah, go home already!"
Aki, looking really tired and sleepy, is about to go home on her bike when Taneichi tells her she forgot her script. She says it's not hers but he shows the cover of the booklet, and says "Suzuka-san's name is not written on it." Aki: "So I guess it's mine, then." She takes the script and quickly leafs through the pages. Taneichi, noticing how tired she is says, "It's difficult, isn't it... You'll be having an event tomorrow?" Aki: "Well, yeah." She tosses the script in her bike's basket. Taneichi: "You want me to come and watch? The boss and I could pretend to be fans and we'll do the handshake meeting side by side." Aki: "I'm happy with the offer, but it's not allowed." Taneichi smiles understandably. "I see. Well, goodluck." (Aww~ it would be great if he finally falls for Aki but what about poor Hiroshi-kun?). Aki goes off but stops and utters a "Jeh!" She gets the script again and looks at a certain page. "Jejejeh!"
"Taneichi-senpai! Did Suzuka-san go home?" Aki is so excited she rushes back to the shop, even bringing her bike along. Taneichi: "Sh-she just went out... What's the matter?" Aki shows him the script where the list of actors are printed. Taneichi reads: "'Condo Neighbor C, Amano Aki'!" Aki (happily): "Right, Senpai? That's me, right?" Taneichi: "Yeah, it IS you! That's great, Amano!" The two jump up and down in glee.
"It's a barter, huh..." says Takuma, after learning about it. He and Aki are discussing about the good news in the living room at the dorm. Aki: "Ba... ba... Barter?" Takuma: "For letting Suzuka-san use you as her assistant... She negotiated with the director and the P (producer). You haven't said thank you properly." Aki: "To the director or the P~?" Takuma: "To Suzuka-san, of course. Thanks to the Suzuka-san, you'll be appearing on TV." Aki nods. He asks, "So, will you have a line?" He looks at the script. "Oh! There is one! lol" Aki: "(giggles) There is, right? Just one." She stands to practice her one line: "(With an accent) 'Sumada-san had moved last week'." Takuma (chuckles): "Too much accent..." Aki: "Can't I make the neighbor a person from Tohoku?" Takuma: "The Director will decide on that." Aki: "Yeah, you're right.... What shall I do? I haven't called Natsu-bappa about it." She snatches the script from Takuma's hands and runs up the stairs eagerly to her room.
Natsu is at home alone with her pregnant pet cat. "What? You'll be appearing in a drama?" She says on the phone to Aki. Aki is on her bed while Kaoruko and Shiori are in theirs. Aki is trying to whisper so as not to wake the others. "Since it's not that big a role, keep it a secret still." Natsu: "Got it. I will not tell anyone. I will never tell anyone." Aki: "Well, nobody will see it, that would make me sad, actually." Natsu: "lol You're right... It's true, they would want to see it... Are you coming home for the New Year?" Aki: "No, I'll be too busy then... Okay, I'm hanging up now." After the call, Natsu sighs in dismay to hear that Aki is not going home...
Meanwhile, Kaoruko who happens to hear her phone conversation, says to her, "Congratulations on your drama." Aki apologizes, "...Did you hear?" Kaoruko: "Yeah. From now on, maybe it would be nice if you do your calls outside." Aki: "Eh?" Kaoruko: "You're not the only one who wants to be in a drama, Aki-chan." Shiori below, who is also listening, pretends to cough, making it known to Aki that she too is awake and probably shares Kaoruko's feelings. Aki realizes that she should not be carried away, considering that each girl is trying so hard to survive in the idol game, making the situation sensitive for everyone. "I see, of course." Kaoruko says she IS sorry and says goodnight.
Aki: 'Hibiki-san's article on us in his magazine, was effective..." Days later, the girls' hard work seem to be paying off. They are seen doing their event in a street with more and more onlookers. 'Gradually, people are stopping and the number of photographers have also increased in number...'
At their handshake event, the two otaku boys from earlier who said they are fans of Kaoruko tell her they have decided to root for her (oshi = fan). Aki: "I see, thank you so much!" 'Maybe luck is just around the corner somehow...' Aki thinks happily. Just then, someone catches her eye from across the street. It is Yoshie, looking happy and alive, laughing and walking briskly with a man by her side. "Jeh!" 'No doubt about it, it was Yui's mom... Uwah~! I have seen something awful!'
(* Doku Mamushi or Mamu-chan = entertainer/radio personality)
Ep. 87. "Jeh!" Aki leaves the handshake event and goes to get Anbe. "Anbe-chan, look! Look over there!" Yui's mom and the man she's with are walking away down the street at a rather far distance, their backs to Aki and Anbe. However, Anbe instead sees someone else who's headed their way. "It's Mimata Matazo*!" Aki, distracted, says, "Jejeh! No way? Where? Where?" "Over there! He's from Iwate Prefecture! He's the son of a doctor from Hanamaki. He was also an attendant in a croquette shop." Aki realizes that Yoshie has already disappeared. "Oh, no!" But Anbe is still dishing out some celebrity info. "From croquette, that's how he got his stage name, Ham-Egg (ham and eggs)!" Aki (dismayed): "Ah, geez, she's disappeared somewhere!... Why is that... (To Anbe) You have too much information about Mimata Matazo!" Anbe hushes her as the comedian passes them by.
'Let's say it was her that I've seen...' Aki is in bed that night, going over the thing that she had seen in her head, many times. 'Yui-chan and Stove-san's mom... The most blessed person in Kitasanriku, though she's called that without exaggeration... One we equate with happiness, the wife of the Adachi house... That was the first time I saw her smiling happily.' She sits up, and exclaims, "No way, no way!" 'Maybe it's the wrong person! I was just too anxious in Yui's behalf, that's why I saw an illusion! I probably was wrong. But...' She remembers what happened when she was at the Adachi home, when Yui says her mom was only lying about being happy. "No no no no!" she exclaims again, bothering nearby Kaoruko and most especially Shiori who were trying to get some sleep. 'As Yui-chan had said, it was all a lie!' "That's right! That's right!" 'And finally, she abandoned her sick husband and up to the expense of her daughter's dream, she came to Tokyo. Ararararah... A horrible woman, an Oni wife.' "I have to tell her!" She stands up and starts calling Yui. But her tummy starts to hurt out of nervousness, worrying Kaoruko. 'I can't tell her... Yui-chan will get hurt even more!' "No no no no!" "Shut the heck up!" Shiori gets up, fuming mad. "Listen, you knucklehead! Do you know what time it is? (Menacingly) Go to sleep!" Later, Aki lies in her bed but she looks like she can't keep still...
Meanwhile, Yui is in her still messy room. She checks her cellphone, with all unanswered messages from Aki. She starts dialing Aki's number but hesitates and decides not to go through with it...
Mizuguchi is browsing the internet in his room. He hears a knock on his door, as well as sounds of someone crying. "Yes." He opens it and sees Aki, whimpering, and holding a pillow. "I can't sleep," she says. Takuma just looks at her and asks, "How old are you?... Then don't sleep anymore. Please lie in your bed and just keep still." He tries to close his door but Aki persists, "I WAS still, but I was told I'm annoying, and that I should I get out."
He let her in and Aki tells him about Yui's mom. Takuma could not believe it either. "Eh? Yui-chan's mother? That elegant wife... the type who's like in a commercial for cold medicines that would never cheat on her husband? She's in Ueno with a man?... That sort of thing... certainly deserves a 'jejejeh'." Aki asks what should she do. Takuma: "Either way, it's because of this reason that they have reported it to the police... It would be great to report to them that someone who looks like her had been seen." Aki: "What about Yui-chan?" Takuma warns her never to tell Yui. "Despite Yui-chan's despair, her mom had intentionally disappeared into Tokyo... Plus, if she hears that her mom is with another man, it'll break her heart completely." Yui sighs and agrees. Takuma asks if she heard from Yui yet. Aki: "Ever since that thing happened with her mom, she hasn't replied to my emails, and hasn't answered my voice mails." Takuma stands up and goes to the kitchen to get himself a drink. "Somehow, I feel responsible... 'Cause I was originally the one who split the two of you apart. That time, you were on very good terms..." Aki follows him out and sits down. "Yeah. The time I was there, we would talk for hours every day. Right now, even when I can connect to her by phone... I honestly dunno what to say to her. At least, if our positions are reversed... (Probably she means to say that it would not matter if it happens to Aki, because Yui would at least be in Tokyo). But Takuma seems to be thinking of something else. "Maybe it IS like that..." Aki: "Eh?" Takuma: "It's what you said before, right? 'Yui-chan is the one who is cute... the one who has the glow...' But sometimes I wonder the ones that are moving the world... aren't the cutest or the most talented people... but I think it's the ones who come in second... When the No. 2 tries so hard, so she won't have to be ashamed to face No. 1, that's when they become successful." Aki: "I wouldn't be ashamed to face Yui-chan?" Takuma: "Yeah... Oh, I'm not saying you're No. 2, okay." Aki (annoyed): "You already said 'Yeah', didn't you?" Takuma: "No, that would be no good right now. Right now, you're trying to get into the Top 40, and it's a critical point so... Then, there's also the filming of the drama..." Aki, realizing it. "Oh, you're right!" Takuma asks if she has you perfected her line. She stands up to show it to him. "'Shimada-san had moved last week'." Takuma comments, "Too monotonous." Aki: "Nah, nah, I wasn't being serious just now." Takuma goes over to the sliding door separating the dining area and the living room. "Then do it seriously, by using this door." He goes to the living room, shuts the door, and sits on the sofa. Aki prepares for it. "Ah, ah, 'Shimada-san.' Testing, testing..." Takuma: "Okay! (presses an imaginary doorbell) Ding dong!" And Aki opens the door and gives her line. "'Shimada-san had moved last week'." Takuma comments on it and makes her practice it over and over again... Aki: 'Even if I think about it, it can't be helped... I for the time being have decided to immerse myself in my work and get into the role of Neighbor C... For the first time in my life I will act in front of the camera... I do feel nervous, of course but... the truth is, I don't want to think of unnecessary things right now.'
Aki is thankful that she's busy doing the event during the weekends so she won't have to think about anything else. But still... Aki: '...when I do remember, I would lose focus.' She messes up during her performance when she does remember. Shiori and the girls are vexed with her. They reprimand her when they get home. Shiori: "Get your act together! Maybe because you're gonna record the drama soon, that's why you can't concentrate but this is just too cruel!" Anbe who is nearby making their meal, asks if they're having an evaluation meeting. Ayumi: "Not just the dance, you were acting weird during the handshake event, too." When the fans were shaking Aki's hand earlier and wishing her goodluck, Aki replies with 'Shimada-san hikkoshimashita (Shimada-san has moved)' instead of 'Arigatou gozaimashita.' Ayumi: "Who is Shimada?! We have no member by that name!" Aki apologizes to everyone. "I'm sorry, I swear, I wasn't aware!" Shiori: "We're at the end of our rope here! If you're not into this, then, just withdraw! 'Cause you're pissing me off!" She stomps away and up the stairs while Anbe calls to her and says, "Ararah? Saitama girl, aren't you gonna eat Gyouda Fry?" Shiori shouts that she doesn't want it. Kaoruko explains, "I guess we're all nervous." Mana: "It's unreasonable. Deadline of the elections is just one week away." Aki seems to only realize now that's it's already 'On the Calendar is December'. "Jejeh! Sorry. I was only thinking about myself... Oh, right! The day of the ballot-counting is also the day I'll be filming the drama! What should I do?" Aman: "Aki-chan, you'll be okay." Ellen agrees, "Your fans will root for you, and you're doing well with your work." Aki, finally smiles, happy with the encouraging words from her groupmates. "Nah, nah, nah..." Ellen: "Areh? You're smiling... It's proof you ARE confident!" They begin tickling her and Aki laughs. Ayumi: "If possible, I want all 6 of us to remain." Aki, being positive says, "We'll remain together. There's no other way but to remain together!" But Takuma who is all along seated at the dining area, all quiet and kinda glum, is remembering what Futomaki had said about Aki. ('That sea girl, from Iwate... Something is different.') "Hey, Mizuguchi-san!" Aki calls him, breaking his thought. "If all 6 of us are here during New Year's Eve, Anbe-chan will make us Toshichoshi (Crossing the New Year) Soba noodles." Anbe: "Oh, you want me to make Mamebu, too?" Takuma: "Make something that's more delicious." Anbe (to Takuma): "Jeh! You fiend..." Takuma stands up to go to his room, still looking pensive. In a sort of sad 'come-what-may' mood, he says in a monotonous glum tone, "Anyway, since all of you did your best so far... so that you won't have any regrets, fight fair and square... accept any result... and try to move on..." His voice trails off as he closes his bedroom door behind him. Ayumi shouts at him: "But you said, we're 'GMT til the end!'"
Then, Aki feels something has fallen on the floor. It is one of her misangas which had naturally broken off from her wrist. "Jejejeh!... Anbe-chan, look." Anbe: "Jejeh! That means your wish will come true if it breaks!" The girls get excited too when they saw it. "So this means, that the 6 of us will pass?" They call Shiori. "Leader look! The misanga broke!" Shiori: "Take the world! We're gonna take the world!" the girls are elated and fired up. Meanwhile, in his room, Takuma is still pondering and feeling bothered by what Futomaki had said...
The day of the counting of the results of the Idol Elections has arrived. Fans and spectators are gathered at the theater in Ueno where there is a giant screen display on top. The people do a countdown, and clap as they watch Futomaki appear on screen. He is apparently in New York at this time. Meanwhile, the GMTs minus Aki are in the Hole, anxiously waiting for the event to begin...
Aki is of course at the filming of "Omedeta Bengoshi" She is dressed up looking like an older office lady with curled hair. She is introduced to the staff, and says her 'yoroshikus.' Koike, the AD announces they will be having a 'dry' for the meantime. Hiromi wearing her lawyer costume, and bulging fake pregnant belly tells her, "Today, we are co-stars, so we are on equal terms." Aki is worried what a 'dry' is and asks Hiromi. But Takuma is there, and answers her question. "It's to determine the set-up of the scene." Aki (surprised): "Jejeh! You're here? Why?" Takuma: "It's only natural for the manager to come to the filming, isn't it?" Aki then thanks Hiromi for everything the actress has done for her. Hiromi: "Eh? Retiring?" Aki: "Yes! I'll do my best like there's no tomorrow!" Then, the filming begins. Director: "Ready! Action!" Aki: 'Sorry for doing away with the preliminaries, Yui-chan, Mom, Natsu-bappa... Also, Daikichi-san and everyone over there... Finally, I Amano Aki, will debut as an actress!'
(*Mimata Matazo = comedian and talent)
Next: Week 15 (Part 2)
Previous: Week 14 (Part 2)
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Character Guide: Link