Arc-2 SS-12

August arrived, the month that is invariably guaranteed to be insanely busy every year. For the entire ff•fortissimo agency, this is the month of the Sistema Solare Reitaisai, the largest event on par with the year-end comprehensive concert.

Sales of the BD and DVD of the comprehensive concert released in June have more than doubled compared to last year, and everyone—from the president down to the top executives—cannot stop smiling.

Naturally, the total number of votes in this year’s popularity poll is expected to increase significantly as well. The poll closed at the end of July, and counting had already begun. Votes sent by mail are still valid if postmarked by the 31st, so the total will continue to rise slightly, though with digital voting now the main method, the increase is minor.

It should not affect the final results. Managers are not informed of the rankings until the day of the event. This is because we are in constant contact with the Shusu-Solare members, and there is always a risk of accidentally revealing something.

That said, we can still make educated guesses based on information circulating online and elsewhere.

Among the managers, the prevailing prediction is that the top spots will be a three-way contest between last year’s first and second place, Takechi-san and Uchikawa-san, and the newcomer, Kayanuma-san.

I am extremely curious to see what the results will be. Of course, so are the fans. We prepared a larger venue than last year, yet the ticket competition has become even more intense. Television coverage has also been greatly expanded.

We secured a live broadcast slot on BS for Sunday afternoon, and late-night broadcasts on numerous independent UHF stations across the country have been confirmed as well.

Just like last year, the official channel on an online video platform is scheduled to stream it too. A live terrestrial broadcast in the future is no longer an impossible dream.

“…Oh? Taneyama-san.”

“Gondou-san. Good morning.”

The person who spoke to me while I sat at my desk, lost in thought and staring at my PC, was my senior, Gondou-san. She is a manager attached to the internal group “Sistema Solare,” and her primary responsibility is being exclusively in charge of Takechi-san.

Well, unlike Uchikawa-san, Takechi-san refuses acting jobs, so she is not completely exclusive due to workload reasons.

“Good morning… Kayanuma-san’s drama has become quite the topic, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. The episode where she finally had lines just aired the other day.”

Exactly—episode 4, infamous among fans, had been broadcast recently. Kayanuma-san, dressed in a kimono, caused a huge sensation on social media, and even the network’s variety news programs highlighted it as a topic. Countless men must have fallen for her graceful beauty.

On social media and anonymous boards, there were countless posts from people claiming they had made last-minute votes for Kayanuma-san in the popularity poll.

“Mhm, mhm. I hope it serves as a stimulus for Rina-chan.”

“A stimulus?”

“Yes. Depending on the ranking difference and vote count between her and Kayanuma-san, the higher-ups are apparently considering using that to pressure her into taking on actress activities.”

Lowering her voice, Gondou-san revealed the thinking of ff•fortissimo's top management. As the sixth-generation henarel manager, who has been working closely with Kayanuma-san as well, that is not an idea I particularly welcome.

Once she earns a nickname and enters an internal group, she will have a dedicated manager there, and except for when acting as a sixth-generation member, she will no longer be under my direct oversight. Even so, since we have been working together for over a year, it is natural that my focus leans more toward Kayanuma-san than Takechi-san.

“…If I remember correctly, Takechi-san’s acting lesson evaluations were fine, right?”

“More than fine. In fact, Rina-chan has one of the highest acting evaluations in all of Shusu-Solare… though she still falls short of Kayanuma-san.”

The sixth-generation ace’s acting lesson evaluations rank among the top three even across the entire Sistema Solare. Factor in her face, which is an undeniable celebrity asset, and she could easily be considered at the very top.

Considering that, it is fair to say Takechi-san has remarkable potential as an actress. On the other hand, both of them have aspects that make them difficult to utilize. If cast incorrectly, either could completely overshadow the heroine without effort.

“That’s why the higher-ups have high hopes for this popularity poll. Me too, of course.”

“I see. If she begins taking acting jobs as well, the agency will gain another valuable asset.”

“Exactly. We have to think carefully about how to persuade her. Well then, see you.”

Waving to me, Gondou-san returned to her desk.

The interests of fortissimo and the interests of individual idols—ideally, both could be balanced, but things are never that simple. Above all, it is still unknown whether Takechi-san will ever agree to take on actress work. If she does, what will happen to the volume of Kayanuma-san’s acting-related jobs?

I do not know who will be assigned as her manager, but I sincerely hope she continues to give her best.