You wouldn't understand, would you?
The suffering that comes with simply living a normal life.
It's not like I'm stuck in a particularly awful situation.
For sure, there are plenty of unpleasant and troubling things.
Breakups, fights...
Any number of things that leave me feeling miserable.
Sorry! Have you been waiting long?
Nope! Not at all.
But all of that is normal, too.
So, where do you wanna go?
There's this café I've been wanting to go to.
I'm ordinary.
The usual kinds of joy and sadness anyone could imagine.
Success and failure.
Going to the beach with friends. Bowling. Karaoke.
Going to the aquarium with my boyfriend. A Christmas date at home.
I do think they're all wonderful experiences.
To me, they're precious memories.
But...
From the perspective of brilliant first-magnitude stars shining in the sky,
they're events so tiny, so minuscule, and they're no more than grains of sand.
To people like you, who captivate tens of millions of fans,
refine your own unique worlds,
and keep climbing ever higher in both body and mind,
we're not even looked down on.
We're invisible to you.
You're just not interested.
Stars like you don't have the time to face each and every one of us,
to care about our happiness or our misery.
You're just shining the way you naturally do.
You haven't done anything wrong.
If anything, you carry more effort, more hardship, more pressure than anyone else.
Diamonds don't waste time complaining about invisible pieces of trash, do they?
All they have to do is shine.
Other people don't matter. You don't have time to look at them.
Even though we spend all our time looking at you.
Look at me. Look at me. Look at me.
My family, my friends, my boyfriend, they all matter to me.
Of course I know that.
But it's not enough.
I want you to see me, no matter what.
Even for just a moment, let me be close to that radiance.
Call my name.
Hey, look!
That talk event from the other day is blowing up like crazy!
This is your friend, right, Kache?
That's amazing! Next time, get me an autograph!
I don't know. Michica might not like that.
Aww.... Come on, work your magic!
Man, school's such a drag. I seriously hate it.
This place may be a suffocating little world,
but wherever you go, people are the same.
Why can't people live in a cooler, more decisive way?
As things stand now, you're no different, Kache.
Aren't you just the same as everyone else in class?
What, is she different?
Well, uh, I mean,
more rock, more punk.
Like, "I'm never gonna conform to a screwed-up world like this!"
That kind of attitude.
What's gotten into you?
I've been listening to that kind of music lately.
So Michica broke those windows?!
She's amazing, isn't she? So cool.
She wears these really gorgeous clothes, and she's around here pretty often.
I see her sometimes.
Not that I'd ever talk to her, though.
It kind of feels like she lives in a whole different world from us.
I mean, she's on TikTok and everything.
If you hang around here, you'll probably spot her.
Kache, you and Michica are pretty close, right?
Do you know where she is?
Introduce us!
I don't know. Michica might not be into that.
What?
GOTH-LOLI SPOTTED!
Aren't you just the same as everyone else in class?
You've been searching that desperately for me?
Are you a stalker?
I mean, I was worried about you.
The truth is, you were just lonely, weren't you?
That too!
That's part of it, but...
I really was worried about you.
And it looks like you hadn't gone home.
And besides...
This area isn't exactly safe.
Michica.
This world is filthy no matter where you go.
Michica!
Compared to the suffocating pressure of school and family,
this place is still more freeing.
But...
Maybe that's true, but...
That aside, since when did you start blowing up on TikTok?
It seems the masses of the mundane world are into that sort of thing.
At least it means I don't have to worry about getting by.
You're actually pretty happy about it, aren't you?
Whoa! It really is her!
It's that goth-loli girl!
She's so skinny! Totally cute!
I just want to live however I please.
Wait, no way! That's her, isn't it?!
That is her, right?! Her face is so tiny!
She's actually here!
Could I please get your autograph?
So don't worry.
Even in a world like this, I'll savor what little beauty remains,
as much as I can, and then I'll pass on of my own accord.
Wait! What do you mean by that?!
Don't die!
I'm not going to die. I'm simply going to awaken from this dream.
WAIT
Kache.
When you get tired of that suffocating little world, come to me.
I'll be here.
Once in a while...
"Once in a while, I might not mind listening to you."
That's what she told me.
Hey, this is bad. Is she gonna jump?
That's Michica, right?
Hey, Kache. Do you know anything?
You like high places, don't you?
A little.
Maybe I should push you off.
Cut it out.
Michica, did something good happen?
There's nothing in this world that could possibly make me happy.
Oh, come off it. You're a little more upbeat than usual.
What would you know?
I know.
Thanks for the ridiculously expensive champagne.
"Kache" @kache Majoring in Nail Art at Shibuya Beauty Academy Guest Appearance: Hourly + Sales Package Type 40%~70%
It's fine, it's fine! Really!
You'll spend some time with me afterhours, right? Please?
The manager'll get mad at me.
Aww, come on! That's not what you said!
I've got first period lecture tomorrow morning.
What? Then let's go on a date on your day off.
How much did you make today?
Today was a little better than usual.
One of my customers ordered champagne for me.
So I exchanged more of my precious youth for cheap money again.
How... disgusting.
You fucking troll! Just die!
Ahh, man, this pickup group is dead.
Hey, wanna ego-search your name, Kache?
Huh?
EAST AREA THEMED CAFE CAST KACHE
Wow, damn, that's pretty impressive.
Next, let's take a look at what people really think.
Kache totally phones it in with customers,
so it's kind of a mystery why she's still pretty popular.
Saw her in person and she looked painfully normal lol. Filter catfishing fr.
Kache fandom's turning into hell with how many serious simps it's got now.
People were already saying she had a harsh personality
back when she was still doing guest shifts.
Honestly, doesn't Kache seem super full of herself lately?
See? Told you!
Kache's the only one in the shop with a different vibe, and not in a good way.
If you look closely, she's actually kind of fat. She just hides it with her big boobs.
She overdoes the filters. In real life her jaw looked thick and kind of chunky.
She probably has some manwhore boyfriend and all the money's going to him anyway.
She seems like she gets around.
I don't want to see this.
But it's important to see blunt, honest criticism too, right?
You really think a message board's biased opinions count as fair criticism?
You can tell she's got a guy just from how much food is in the photos of her room.
Man, I wanna bang Kache, too.
I wonder how long she stayed a virgin.
She looks like she was already doing it back in middle school.
Why don't you ego-search that band name of yours instead?
Might be nice for once to actually face your own fans.
Who cares? Those idiots would never get my music anyway.
Seriously, stop!
I'm tired right now.
Thank you so much for inviting me to the talk event!
Everyone was so full of life, and I really had a great time!
Really? What part, exactly?
Uh...
Meaningless words, spoken only to keep from rocking the boat.
Say what you really think in your own words.
MICHICA GOKUBARA
Ah, no, um...
I'm not really good at, like, putting things into words, so,
I just thought it was amazing.
I really do think it was seriously amazing.
No, really, it really was amazing.
So basically, she means it was totally legit and insanely awesome!
NECHIKA-SAMA
Something like that.
In the modern world,
"read the room" and "live as an individual"
exist side by side in blatant contradiction!
DEADLY POISON DENPA GIRL PURPLE LOLLIPOP
What a pain. Here comes the annoying one.
The purple hag makes her entrance.
Shut up! You losers need to read the room more!
Anyway, where was I?
They treasure the cogs that conveniently keep society turning,
and yet they demand that people value the "individual" like it's perfectly reasonable.
With the rise of the internet, conformist peer pressure has only gotten stronger.
People are envious of those who stand out, so they dox them, bash them,
and hammer down the nail that sticks up!
Because if everyone stays flat, if everyone is on their level, they feel safe.
And before they know it, the nails that got hammered down and lost
start aligning themselves with the majority opinion and assimilate into the masses.
There is clearly something wrong with Lollipop's head.
A-Anyway!
If you keep chickening out, saying bland, inoffensive things, and killing off your true self,
you'll end up going through life without ever finding your individuality!
That is completely, utterly un-punk!
She's a weird, toxic, "denpa" girl, but I don't hate the way she thinks.
Everyone sure is obsessed with rock and punk.
All of you... Karamazov is strong.
Even when people comment on the talk event
and nitpick everything from a KAngel-biased perspective,
because she was already more popular to begin with,
you don't let any of it get to you.
That's really cool.
You don't have to look at things you don't want to see!
She may not look it, but she actually takes things pretty hard.
She used to be a totally normal social media addict, after all.
How long ago was that?!
Until pretty recently.
Still, our leader's gotten strong enough to shut out the noise.
No rabble's words can ever dim our brilliance.
Diamonds do not break.
The babbling of crawling vermin doesn't even enter my field of vision to begin with.
And then there's this type, too.
You're not punk enough.
Live cool.
Hi, cuties! It's your Internet Angel, KAngel!
Today, I think I'll read some viewer mail.
Okay, let's go with this one.
Individuality, huh?
When it comes to individuality, I think it means,
"having your own sensibilities and way of thinking instead of going along with other people."
It's hard, right? Hard to really picture what that means.
Let's see...
For example, do you know the purpose of art?
Do you all hate art museums?
Maybe you and I met in an art museum.
Even when you look at an amazing work of art,
a lot of the time you still don't really get it.
But by exposing yourself to all kinds of things like that,
you start discovering what you like, what you dislike,
and what grabs your attention.
I think the meaning of engaging with fine art is to engrave those feelings inside yourself.
That's why art, like music, paintings, and sculptures,
gives you an "individual self" by making you intuit what you feel,
and the unique sensibilities that set you apart from everyone else.
So you don't have to force yourself to like KAngel's streams.
Just treasure whatever it is you felt when you saw me, exactly as it was.
That's what individuality is!
Ah, but when people look at KAngel,
LOL LMAO WUT? HUH?
the first thing they always think is just "Wow, she's hot," huh?
Hey! I keep tabs on the hate comments, you know.
I'll ban you, damn it!
All right, everyone, tonight's fun stream starts now!
Kache! What happened to your hair?! It's so flashy!
It suits you, but wow, that was a bold move.
I've made up my mind.
What?!
Does that mean you're not coming in as a guest anymore?!
Preparation complete!
Is everything okay?
Preparation complete!
I'm sorry. But I've already made my decision.
But I bought you champagne!
Did she get a boyfriend?
Bitch, you look like shit.
Uh, maybe don't have that conversation in front of customers? Zero professionalism.
One of you wrote shit about me on that message board, didn't you?
Which one of you was it?
Whatever.
I'm not there anyway.
See you. I still have one more thing to do, so I'm heading out.
Hey, apparently your friend Michica used to do compensated dating back in the day.
Whoa, look at this!
Someone even made a whole thread about it.
Acting all prim and proper, but she's a total slut after all, huh?
You gonna hook me up already?
You're seriously an idiot.
What the hell is up with your hair?
Looks good. You need more dick or something?
I searched your band's name, you know.
No one's writing about you anymore.
No fans. No haters. Total ghost town.
Right now, you're nowhere.
What's your problem, Kache? You on your period or something?
If that's it, just tell me.
I'll go buy you pads or whatever.
Then we can cuddle and crash together.
You like that, so...
Everyone gets lost sometimes, and it's important to stop and rest.
Ow! Shit!
Hey, what the hell are you...
But you...
You took a little too long.
Time's up!
Bang!
Get out.
Don't get all high and mighty with me! You think you're better than me?!
That's right! You're beneath me!
You forgot something!
I'm gonna make the greatest music ever and make you regret this!
You actually picked it up, huh?
That sounds good.
Right? Just wait. I'm gonna take over the world someday.
Kache, you really do love that subculture stuff.
It's just mimicking it, though.
I don't know the first thing about actually performing.
It's nowhere close to real rock.
Hey, you're heavy!
He did have his cool moments, though.
I can't see the stars.
Well then...
PLAY THE NEXT VIDEO IN 3...
PLAY THE NEXT VIDEO IN 2...
PLAY THE NEXT VIDEO IN 1...
The band is back in action!
So anyway, after this long period of creative input...
Creative input?
More like you were just mooching off some girl at her place, weren't you?
Idiot! As if! No, I've been on my own the whole time, totally alone!
So anyway!
Listen to the music we made after getting our heads straight!
I know you'll be satisfied.
- Thanks for the support! - We'll be waiting!
P! Look at this! These people seriously piss me off!
I can't stand the way she talks. Just shut up and watch, this is the current era's Goddess. Hurry up and say something funny, this is getting boring. She's so good at selling herself it makes me sick.
I am abso-fucking-lutely paying more taxes than they are!
Who the hell do they think they are? Drop dead!
Monkeys!
Log off and hang yourselves!
Die! Die! Die!
AHHH!
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
Karamazov's first live performance, "Crime and Punishment."
Thinking that something is missing, Lollipop wanders the night.
Then, she sees the figure of a lonely girl.
Next time, "Whatever."
EPISODE 5