Arc 3 Ep-12

 Today is the day of filming the music video for the new song “Bock Globule.”

Bock Globule seems to refer to a place in space where gas and dust are densely concentrated and stars are formed. 

Because I joined the internal group “Sistema Solare,” the song is said to symbolize my rebirth as someone new.

The lyrics have also been written to match that theme. As for the recording, I heard that the last member finished three days ago.

From there, in order to make it in time for today, the recording engineers apparently worked through the night doing mixing and other tasks.

Even so, it is said to be only a provisional completion, with subtle adjustments still remaining.

Well, today we will film using the provisional version, and once the final version is completed, it should be fine as long as it is synchronized with the footage.

Basically nothing will change, and it seems that only extremely minor details will be adjusted.

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So, today I am stuck at the filming site all day.

Even though it is a weekday, I am taking a normal day off from school. This has happened many times before, but at moments like this, I really feel that I have become an entertainer.

“…It looks like today is going to be long. Sigh…”

The one who let out a gloomy sigh in the same waiting room was Rio Kitado-san.

I had heard that I would be the only one waiting from the beginning today, so why is she here?

“Rio-san. Did something happen? I heard that I was the only one scheduled from the start today.”

“…It got canceled. The TV recording that was scheduled for today, suddenly.”

“I see… Huh? Were you the only one?”

“Kiyota-senpai was also supposed to appear, but it seems she has to show her face at the agency for some reason.”

Since Suzuka-san was also supposed to be there, it was probably a program that gathered cool-type idols. But for it to be canceled on the very day, what on earth was the reason?

“…Did some kind of problem occur?”

“I have not heard the details clearly either…”

Saying that, she deliberately looked around the waiting room where only the two of us were present and beckoned me.

When I moved to the chair beside her in response, she cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned closer.

“Actually… mumble mumble…”

While thinking that she smelled nice, I listened as she whispered the reason into my ear.

The ticklish sensation made me feel strange, but what she told me was quite a scandalous matter.

“R-Really!? That is a crime!”

“Shh! Your voice is too loud. That is why the TV station seems to be in an uproar.”

A sexual scandal involving an extremely popular comedian who was supposed to be the MC and had multiple flagship programs.

If it is an act that could be prosecuted as a crime, it is obvious that it will cause a massive backlash once it becomes public.

“Haah… It has not become news yet, right?”

“Right. So do not talk about it outside.”

“I-I understand. Phew…”

Somehow, I ended up feeling tired from the morning because of something unnecessary.

It feels strange that entertainers can easily know things that ordinary people would never learn.

Knock knock knock

“…In fifteen minutes, Sumi-san will arrive. In thirty minutes, Kiyota-san will arrive.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Understood.”

“The times are tentative, but please prepare yourselves. Well then.”

Fujiyama-san, the genarel manager of the internal group Schus Sola, poked his head in and told us the schedules of the other members.

Junko Sumi-san has a part with the two of us, and Suzuka-san has a part with Rio-san alone.

Today will probably proceed like this, filming the parts that can be shot first with the members who are already present.

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Just before noon, all nine members finally gathered at the last possible moment in the morning.

From here, we will practice the formation together with everyone, check the result, and then proceed directly to filming.

Until that is finished, it has been decided that it will not be time for lunch. Perhaps because everyone disliked that idea, the overall practice and filming proceeded smoothly.

After lunch, filming prioritized members who still had other work, so my appearances were scattered.

“…Mikuri-chan. Is your right hand okay?”

“Yes. It has almost completely healed.”

Finding it troublesome to go back and forth between the filming site and the waiting room, I checked with the staff and stayed at the filming site permanently.

As I sat on a chair in the corner watching the filming, Erika-san, who had just finished her shoot, spoke to me.

“Is your filming already finished, Erika-san?”

“There is still some left. I finished my work outside the MV shoot today, so I am being pushed back.”

Earlier, Rina-san and Tomomi-san, who had been filming together with her, were now filming with Yuka-san and Rio-san.

The two popular members still had other work remaining, so they continued standing in front of the camera without any break.

“Rina-san and Tomomi-san must have it tough.”

“Yes. That is the fate of popular idols.”

“Erika-san is also a popular idol, though.”

She, who has ranked high in popularity polls since the early days of Schus Sola, is certainly a popular idol.

“Thank you. But I guess popular gravure idol is more accurate.”

Well, I cannot deny that her glamorous body is the most attractive part.

“Next week there is the new song reveal and a handshake event. There will also be TV appearances, so gravure shoots will be on break.”

“You are busy. I have the final episode of the drama I appeared in.”

“I am watching it. Young Lady Mikuri-chan is nice too.”

“Thank you.”

Yes, at last the final episode of the drama will be broadcast.

The ratings are apparently average, neither amazing nor disastrous, but there was analysis saying that my presence made it a topic of conversation in society.

Even now, offers for drama and movie appearances seem to be coming in, and the higher-ups are carefully selecting them.

However, I have been quietly told that there is talk of Rina-san reaching out toward acting-related work. Normally this would be secret even from Schus Sola members, but I was told because it concerns me.

The upper management seems to be struggling with how to distribute offers between her, who has no experience in acting yet, and me, whose work is limited.