Arc-1 Ep-16

And so, the day of the sixth-generation debut, coinciding with this year’s Reitaisai, has finally arrived. This year’s event is being held at a larger venue compared to last year. With a venue that can seat up to 2,000 people, once staff and media are accounted for, the general admission seats were reduced to 1,400.

When tickets were sold through a lottery, demand reportedly skyrocketed to insane levels. This is likely thanks to the “Rina-san effect” as well as the timing of the event during Obon. According to Taneyama-san, the sixth generation’s head manager, the higher-ups regretted not securing an even larger venue.

The schedule has the event beginning at 2:00 PM and ending somewhere between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Although the venue opens at 1:00 PM, we’ve been gathered here since early morning.

“Here we go, everyone. Stay calm, okay!?”

“Shion-san, you’re the one freaking out~”

“Haha, oops…”

While trying to encourage the nervous members who are speaking less, Shion-san ends up letting her own nerves show. Yuna-san is holding up relatively well, but Mami-san’s laughter sounds forced.

“My stomach hurts from the nerves…”

“Sakiko-san, relax, relax. We just need to stick to the script.”

“Mikuri-chan… you seem so calm.”

That’s probably thanks to the cheat-like blessing from the gods. If I were still the guy from my past life, my voice and legs would probably be shaking, but it seems my courage has been strengthened as well.

“Does it look that way? I’m definitely more nervous than usual, though.”

“You don’t seem like it. But just seeing even one person who’s not nervous makes me feel a little better.”

“If it comes down to it, we’re counting on you, Mikuri.”

The other sixth-generation members look at me with expectant eyes. As I’m thinking about how to respond, there’s a knock on the dressing room door before it opens.

“…Good morning. How’s everyone doing?”

“S-Sachiko-san… I-I’m already super nervous…”

Shion-san, stumbling over her words, answers on behalf of the group to the head manager we’re meeting for the first time today.

“Well, it’s normal to be nervous, but if you’re this tense now, you won’t last until the end.”

“Easier said than done…”

“I can’t just stop being nervous…”

“…In that case, how about we do a rehearsal now? It might help you calm down a little.”

Sachiko-san makes the suggestion with a wry smile. Indeed, just waiting around will only make my fellow sixth-generation members more nervous—except for me.

“That’s a good idea. Jumping straight into a full rehearsal might be tough, though.”

“…Kayanuma-san, you don’t seem nervous at all.”

“Well, I’m a little nervous, sure. Just handling it better than the others.”

Even the head manager sees through my lack of nerves. It’s true, so there’s not much I can do about it.

“More importantly, let’s try that rehearsal.”

“…Alright. I’ll go check with the stage crew about the setup.”

With that, Sachiko-san leaves the dressing room. Since it’s still a long time until the venue opens, it’s difficult to picture the stage setup.

◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆

By late morning, we and a few available staff members run through a rehearsal specifically for the sixth-generation segment, then have an early lunch. As noon approaches, the regular members start arriving, and the tension that had briefly faded quickly returns to my peers’ faces.

Even among the idols from the fifth generation and above, many are showing signs of nervousness.

“Mikuri-chan, even the seniors look nervous.”

“With the popularity poll results being announced, it’s only natural unless you’re completely confident, Nozomi-chan.”

I chat with Nozomi-chan, the beauty I’m currently closest to. As an ultra-refined young lady with high-society connections, she seems less nervous than the others.

“…Alright, everyone. We’ll be doing the final rehearsal from the beginning, so please move to the backstage area.”

A man in his late twenties enters the dressing room and gives us sixth-generation members our instructions.

“G-Got it, Matsuzono-san.”

“It’s just a rehearsal, so there’s no need to be that nervous.”

“E-Even if you say that…”

“Today is only about introductions and greetings. The audience’s attention will mostly be on the current members.”

The man speaking to Shion-san is Masaki Matsuzono, the assistant manager for the sixth generation. That said, he isn’t exclusively assigned to us yet. Until we get busier with work, he’ll temporarily handle other members as well.

“Alright! Let’s do this!”

“…Kayanuma-san, you’ve got some serious guts…”

My fired-up words prompt a quiet murmur from Tomoe-chan, the youngest sixth-generation member, her face looking a bit pale.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? Well, whatever. Let’s go!”

“Y-Yes…”

Taking advantage of the moment, I grab Tomoe-chan’s hand and start walking. Her small, cute hand fits her role perfectly as the sixth generation’s “little sister” and loli character.

◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆

The final rehearsal wraps up quickly since no actual singing is involved. Once it’s over, all that’s left is to change into our costumes and wait for the Reitaisai. Before changing, we navigate the crowded bathroom filled with beautiful girls, then return to the sixth-generation dressing room.

There, the standard costumes for Sistema Solare, shared across the group, are already prepared, waiting eagerly for us to wear them.

“Wow, we’re finally putting these on~”

“Yuna, didn’t we wear them before?”

“That was just a fitting~ This is the first time we’re wearing them in front of people, right?”

As I listen to Yuna-san and Sakiko-san chatting, I gaze at the lined-up idol costumes. They’re frilly, white-based outfits—the quintessential uniform of Sistema Solare.

Each member’s image color is incorporated into various details, with six golden stars on the chest and collar signifying the sixth generation. My image color, decided solely by the president, is red. No doubt, the president intends for me to be the ace of the sixth generation.

For reference, Nozomi-chan’s color is pink, and Shion-san’s is blue.

Since colors are assigned by generation, other generations also have members with similar colors. For example, Rina Takechi is red, and Tomomi Uchikawa is pink.

There are slight differences in shade to distinguish us—mine is pure red, while Rina-san’s is rich red, or so they explained.

“Come on, hurry up and change. Once you’re done, we’ll start with makeup and hair.”

“Got it.”

“We’d better hurry.”

As debutants, we’re still just rookies. There aren’t many makeup artists available, and since our part comes in the middle of the event, the current members performing from the start naturally take priority.

“Alright, let’s get changed.”

“Right, Mikuri-chan.”

While sneaking glances at the beautiful girls changing, I start getting ready myself. Even as a rookie, being able to admire idols changing is pretty great, isn’t it?