Six months have passed since the release of POP IN 2.
You want to cast Ruby from our agency?
That's no problem, of course.
We'll look over the pitch deck as soon as we get it.
Understood.
Okay, goodbye.
July Schedule
Outing Schedule
B-Komachi now has the distinctive air of a group about to hit the big time.
The deadline for the Tsuruya Books event autographs is the 30th! Everyone make sure to hit your quotas! - Ruby
Business started picking up with that music video.
Anemone and Himura-san worked absolute wonders on it
and delivered a product that was a cut or two above your regular idol music videos.
But the biggest factor of them all
was Ruby Hoshino.
Unlike her usual cheery self, she had a dark, mysterious aura to her,
and her piercing gaze left a mark on the hearts of everyone who watched it.
B-Komachi
B-Komachi Channel! 360k subscribers
views
#Trending in Music
Vocals: B-Komachi Ruby Hoshino, Kana Arima, MEMcho
The upload went on to pass an unbelievable 20 million views.
While we'd gone all-out with the promotional push,
that wasn't a number a newbie idol group could normally ever hope to hit.
Maybe Ruby really does have something special about her.
I couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip.
While the buzz was still on people's minds,
Sorry for the sudden DM! I'm MEM from Ichigo Productions. I saw that you were looking for creators to collab with! How would you like to collab with B-Komachi? We'll try to fit it into your schedule as much as possible! Hoping for a positive response!
Thanks for getting in touch! B-Komachi! We're big fans! Yes, please, we'd love to work with you! We'll get back to you with our preferred dates!
I sent countless collab offers to major YouTubers,
Long time, no talk! Are you free for a call right now???
It's been ages! Oh, I'm in a meeting at the moment
I'll call you back! Just let me know what time you're free!
(Collab Proposal) Mi-Mi-Amigo, I apologize for this sudden message. This is MEM from B-Komachi.
B-Komachi Thank you for getting in touch. This is Yamauchi, in charge of planning and production. We've received your proposal for a collab...
and a bunch of them even bore fruit.
Surprise Gifts for B-Komachi Total Budget: 1 million yen x 3!!!
Welcome!
We built up a rapport and became regular guests on their channels.
I also sent out offers to TikTokers, pro gamers, and kids' video creators,
and deepened our video portfolio.
With the help of shorts, I made sure to make a post almost every day,
and we even did some long livestreams.
But going viral for a spell doesn't do anything for long-term subscriber growth.
B-Komachi Channel!
To establish a pipeline that steadily brought in new viewers,
B-Komachi Channel!
we needed constant contact with other creators
so that our channel showed up in their recommendations.
B-Komachi Channel!
Pieyon Channel!
Makky's Trends & Cosmetics ch.
Veggie Channel
Mi-Mi-Amigo Talk Channel
TakaMari's Yoga & Pilates Channel
Over the past six months,
I spent more time, money, and effort on this than I did on my own channel.
Not even a big bonus would be enough to cover it.
B-Komachi Channel! 360k subscribers
Our channel now had 360,000 subscribers.
We'd reached the point where we'd be considered a huge success as YouTubers.
That's a wrap on Akane Kurokawa-san, the main lead!
Thank you so much.
Akane's first movie with her in a lead role was close to release,
and she had a bunch of TV series about to start filming.
She was steadily making a name for herself as a performance actor.
It was all coming up roses for B-Komachi and Akane's careers.
But the one who really surprised me was Aqu-tan.
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
Aqua Hoshino
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!! #120: Lingerie Designer
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
He landed a regular spot on a talk show that streamed online,
all while doing supporting roles in TV series and modeling for fashion mags.
He cast a wide net and pulled it all off with ease,
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
putting him squarely on the path to becoming a multifaceted entertainer.
So wait, you two met as child actors?
Yeah, on set when we were little. We're basically childhood friends, right?
Wrong!
She was a seriously rude little gremlin, and even when we met again years later...
The genius child actor who can lick baking soda just like that.
The genius child actor who can cry in ten seconds flat!
Cut that out!
Lately, I've seen people wondering, "What's Baking Soda-chan's real name, again?"
Sheesh.
Okay, I think we got enough run time with that.
Let's call it a day.
Good work.
You have a dance video shoot scheduled for tomorrow.
The day after that, you have a Pieyon collab in the AM,
and a collab livestream with pro gamers in the PM.
And on the weekend, we have a concert in Hokkaido.
Things sure have gotten busy.
I'm beat, Miyako-san! Hug me and give me headpats!
There, there. You're doing good.
What now? Wanna go grab a bite?
Nah.
If we're done, I'm leaving.
Me, too.
Oh, okay.
Kana-chan and Ruby both seem to have changed a little.
I've decided to start dating Akane for real.
So, you know...
Get this.
Aqua-kun
The sound producer was yelling even more than the director. It was so scary.
Yeah, some people are old-fashioned like that.
There's so much I want to vent to you.
When are you free next?
If luck is with us, I'll be free the evenings of the 23rd and 29th this month.
Someone's gotten busy.
It's what happens when you have TV work.
Aqua-kun
Aqua-kun.
Hmm?
I wanna see you soon.
Yeah. Me, too.
This is B-Komachi's second standalone concert!
Thank you all for coming!
B-Komachi's second standalone!
Just one year since formation, they sold out a 1K-capacity venue in minutes!
Streaming gang, are we here?
I'm so envious of those who got to go...
I'm so glad they had paid streaming tickets!
That's my MEMcho! She has a real nose for business!
We've got lots more to come!
Next up is POP IN 2!
If you add up the live and streaming audiences, that's gotta be a lotta people!
They could fill up arenas or even the Tokyo Dome, right?
Don't be silly, you newb.
Exhibition Hall 7 Exhibition Hall 6 Exhibition Hall 5 Exhibition Hall 4 Exhibition Hall 3 Exhibition Hall 2 Exhibition Hall 1
Arenas? Even one block of Makuhari Messe has a minimum capacity of seven thousand.
It's hard for even groups with a strong TV presence to fill them up.
The Tokyo Dome is a whole different beast.
The only idol groups that can perform there nowadays
Comuse
Stardumst
are the ones backed by the biggest agencies. That's the era we live in.
Not one underground female idol group has taken the stage there in the past 15 years.
Keep your hopes in check.
I don't know...
Boss?
Sure, showbiz has been dominated by major corpos lately.
But since 2020,
more and more musicians who got started on the Internet have had Tokyo Dome concerts.
This could be a big turning point.
From underground to Tokyo Dome? That's a rusty old dream of otaku everywhere.
And it's quite likely that it'll be net idols who make it come true.
You mean a group like B-Komachi?
That's right.
It'll take them at least four years to build a big enough fanbase for it, though.
But...
Not many can last that long.
Kana-chan's a lot gloomier these days. She's not shining like the sun anymore.
Really?
I tend to notice these things about my faves.
I've seen several idols make that face and quit the business shortly afterward.
You could say the same about Ruby-chan, too.
She used to be a lot more innocent and genuine,
but now she feels cynical and calculated sometimes.
Never show me an old man calling her "Ruby-chan" again.
You think something happened?
I can think of one thing...
It can only be one thing.
A new member joins!
When girl groups get awkward, it's usually because of a new member.
Yes, yes.
In such times, good things might happen if you stick to stanning one single member.
I see.
TIL!
Where's Aqu-tan today?
It's filming day for Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!
They shoot three episodes at a time, so they don't wrap until late.
Miyako-san, drop me off at Ebisu. I have something to take care of.
Oh, okay.
What's up?
MEM...
What, you followed me here? Don't you live farther out?
Kinda.
I know you might not like me sticking my nose in your business like this...
but it's about Aqu-tan, right?
Anyone can tell you're having a rough time.
It's been like this for the last six months.
Whenever I visit the agency office, he retreats into his room.
He didn't come to today's concert, either.
Well...
He's quite busy, too.
No, he's avoiding me! I know it!
He thinks he can't be around other girls because he's dating Akane Kurokawa now!
What a show of loyalty.
He's the most trustworthy boyfriend any girl could have.
I know that Akane's talented, beautiful, and extremely nice.
I'll gladly root for the two of them.
And I'd never do anything to upset Aqua.
So why does he have to avoid me like the plague?!
It hurts me, you jerk!
K-Kana-chan...
There, there.
Thanks for today. I'll be heading out.
Good work.
See you.
Heya.
MEM?
I'm betting we didn't just happen to run into each other here,
but I've been working since dawn and I'm tired.
If you want to talk, save it for another—
Another time?
When will that be? Around a month from now?
We both have packed schedules now.
I wonder when we'll just happen to both be off on the same day.
Fine.
Let's at least take it someplace with a couch.
Sure. In that case...
FYI, adults aren't allowed to take unrelated minors around after 11 PM.
It's banned by Tokyo ordinance.
Guh! Let's not be a stickler for the rules!
You seem worn out.
We shot four episodes today.
I've also got rehearsals and stuff for Lalalai's next play.
I want to catch up on my studies once I get home, too.
Oh, yeah. You're pretty smart, huh?
Are you gonna go to college?
That's the plan.
It's the summer of my second year in high school.
Anyone wanting to go to med school has to start hitting the books hard now.
Med school? You wanna be a doctor?!
I'm not sure...
But thinking long-term, I want to keep that option open.
Yeah, you should!
I wish I could've gone to college, too! I'm proud of ya!
It's not like you couldn't still do it.
Just get a GED and take entrance exams.
You're so naïve, Aqu-tan.
Anyone who could think straight like that wouldn't be in showbiz to begin with!
And that's no exaggeration!
Uh, I'm pretty sure it is.
Every adult in Japan knows that going to college improves your future prospects.
But they don't do it, because they have their hands full.
People don't always make the most rational decision.
And that includes you, no?
If you'd been more rational, you would've handled the Kana-chan thing better.
I knew that's what this was about.
You might want to stay out of it, though.
I get that, but you know me. I don't always make the most rational decision, either.
When I see a friend down in the dumps, I just wanna help them.
That's just human.
Kana-chan's performances have actually been getting worse!
Do something about it!
"Do something"?
What more do you want me to do?
I don't have an answer for you,
but you can't just run away after pulling the moves on a girl.
Excuse me?
You're still so young that you probably don't know where to draw the line,
but I'd say what you did to Kana-chan qualifies as leading her on.
You should avoid that kinda thing unless you're really interested—
You're one to talk after you brought a red-blooded boy home like it was nothing.
Aqu-tan?
I'm not exactly clueless when it comes to dating issues, you know.
Quit talking down to me like you know it all, MEM.
Once you decide to keep your distance, you can't half-ass it.
Did you really think I wouldn't know that avoiding Arima would hurt her?
Did you really think I wanted to do this to her?
I've finally started to think about the future lately.
Not just mine, but also those of the people around me.
I have no doubt that Arima will become way more famous.
Let me state the obvious here.
When an idol is found to have a boyfriend, her fans don't take it well.
What if the tabloids run an exposé?
What if someone leaks it online?
What if it gets out that Kana Arima has a lover, and a deranged fan takes it out on her?
Whose fault would that be?
What if he shows up at her place and murders her?
Have you ever thought about that?
I can't stand the thought of that happening again!
Maybe it's the other way around.
Maybe I had it all wrong.
I always thought Kana-chan was down bad for Aqu-tan.
But maybe it's him.
It's Aqu-tan who's got it bad for Kana-chan.
I get it now.
I'm sorry.
And this doesn't count as leading me on?
I mean, people aren't always rational.
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!
See you next week!
Another good episode of the show your brother's on.
You're into it?
Yeah.
My makeup artists say they've been watchin' it, too.
They once tried to find the biggest loser at the racecourse,
and then they interviewed the people who add the censors to porn videos...
I love how they push the envelope with the topics they cover.
My personal favorite was the one
with the undercover report on an exploitative company's employee stand-up comedy event.
How d'they even get approval fer these things?
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
Actor Aqua Hoshino
Your brother's one-liners are the best part.
His gut punches hit way too close to home.
Makes him come off as utterly heartless, and I love it.
That's just how he always is.
Aqua-san's so great.
Looks like Frill's a big ol' fan.
Hey, no! He already has a lovely girlfriend!
I'm not going to make any moves on him or anything.
I just think he's charismatic.
If we get too friendly, I won't be able to enjoy his show anymore.
As a fan, I prefer to keep my distance.
Either way, if things keep going well,
we'll probably get to work together at some point.
Yeah, that could definitely happen.
I'm not just talking about Aqua-san.
Ruby, Minami, you two are getting more popular as well.
I think we'll be working together sooner rather than later.
Me, gettin' to work with the Frill Shiranui? I dunno about that...
I'm certainly looking forward to it.
Ruby, you'll probably get to work with yer bro soon enough.
I mean, twin talents tend to get offers as a pair, no?
Believe it or not...
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
I'm your reporter for Dig Deep! today!
I'm Ruby Hoshino, sixteen!
I'm Aqua Hoshino's twin sister!
Actor Aqua Hoshino
Yay! Are you seeing this, bro?
How does it make you feel?
Actor Aqua Hoshino
You've gotta be kidding me.
"Bro" has his head in his hands!
Someone's got a sister-shaped weak point!
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
Today, our topic is the mythical tragedeigh name "Pikachu-kun"!
It's worth a deep dig to find out if someone out there has it!
Without further ado, let's get down to business!
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!
Digging Deep! Asking a Kindergarten Principal!
Digging Deep! Pikachu-kun's Friends Encountered!
And Pikachu-kun is found?!
Digging Deep! The Shocking Truth!!!
Dig Deep! Chase the Impawsible!!
Man, I didn't know Aqua-kun had such a cute little sister.
Being a looker must run in the family.
Thank you.
You got me good, Kaburagi-san.
I didn't mean it as a prank or anything, but that was a great reaction.
That's not what I'm—
You hide your true self well. Almost too well.
Viewers'll surely find you more relatable after seeing how you act around family.
It might not be a bad idea to put yourselves out there as twins.
Your sister's quite calculating.
Wait, this wasn't your doing?
Nope, it wasn't.
Ruby-kun brought the idea to me.
When did that happen?
At a B-Komachi concert I was invited to.
She said, "Don't you think this would be fun?"
She even had a pitch deck all ready.
She'll go far if she has that in her.
Talent and tireless hard work isn't the only way to make it in this business.
Behind-the-scenes maneuvering can also go a long way.
You'll always have cards to play in the right time and situation.
The ability to recognize and act on them is a powerful asset to any entertainer.
Of course, I only used Ruby-kun because I liked the pitch.
Anything goes, as long as it's fun. That's TV for you.
Ruby made a pitch deck?
She didn't seem capable of this when I met her before.
I wonder if Strawberry Productions gained a good advisor.
Catch anything,
Ichigo Saitou-san?
Episode 25 Down Bad