- It's like a castle! - It's what to expect from a big company.
So that's how they write "Mishiro" in kanji...
The time's come.
Episode 2
So it's like this inside, too.
Makes you nervous, right?
You don't see chandeliers anymore, you know?
Hello there! I'm a new idol, Mio Honda.
I start working here today.
- Congratulations. - Do you know her?
Yes, we've been expecting you.
Please sign in.
Sure...
Please go to the Cinderella Project room on the 30th floor.
Is this all 346 Production?
I bet it is!
Papa told me it's a big company that even makes movies!
What floor?
- Um... - 30, please.
- I'm sorry about that. - Oh, no, I'm fine!
- What floor? - 22, please!
Here it is.
I wonder if there are other girls, too.
Nice to meet you.
Excuse me...
It's beautiful!
But nobody's here.
Huh. It's got kind of a cool atmosphere, you know?
We saw you before...
Good morning.
I'll introduce you.
- This is the girl I told you about the other day Uzuki...
- Uzuki-chan! - This is the girl I told you about the other day Uzuki...
Y-Yes...
Then you're Rin Shibuya-chan?
That's right...
What?
Even if you look surly, you have an over flowing aura. You're no ordinary girl.
She's the final member of this project, Mio Honda-san.
The final member!
I'm Mio Honda! A first-year high school student. Good to meet you!
- It's great to meet you! - Nice to meet you...
It was close, but Mio-chan didn't pass the 1st audition...
...but she did pass the 2nd audition when we had vacancies!
She's very lucky that way.
What can I say? It seems I've caught the eye of the god of idols.
Incidentally, I'm guessing I passed this time
because I was an athletic idol at the academy.
Yes?
Because of your smile.
Smile, huh?
Well, please submit that by tomorrow.
Okay.
Excuse me...
Could you introduce her?
Oh...
I should have said before.
I'm Chihiro Senkawa.
I support this project from various angles, so it's very nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you!
And now I have a little something for you...
- "Energy Drink"... - Do your best.
- We will. - Thank you! - I'll go all out!
What year are you guys?
- First-year high school. - Then we're the same!
I'm a second-year student.
Really?
- I figured you were younger than me. - I thought we were the same year.
Oh, well, since you're a year older, you should be the leader.
T-That's right! I'll do my best!
- Yeah. I'm counting on you! - Right! I'll do my best!
Spoken like a "big sister"!
I'm the big sister!
Producer...
Aren't there any other members?
Yeah! I wonder what they're like!
Yeah!
You'll meet the other members later on.
Before that...
Even though we're pros, we have to have lessons, huh?
They're strict here.
Lessons are important. And it's fun to keep improving.
- So let's do our best together! - You're right.
- I feel like a weight's been lifted. - That's thanks to the "glasses talk"!
That could be.
- Did you just see them? - Yes!
Blue Napoleon!
- We're lucky on our first day! - They were dazzling!
Maybe we'll even run into Kaede-san!
Now I'm even more psyched!
Rin-chan...
Okay...
This'll be your first time dancing, right, Rin-chan?
Honda-san?
- You can call me Mio. - Then... Mio-chan!
I've danced with friends before, but this'll be my first formal lesson.
I see.
I went to a training school so ask me if there's something you need help with.
You're a real sempai! I went to a training school so ask me if there's something you need help with.
You're a real sempai!
I'm your dance trainer.
Nice to meet you!
For starters, try to follow my moves.
Okay, step!
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!
1-2-3-4... and turn!
I'm sorry I pretended to act like a leader.
I was able to do that step before.
Dancing is difficult...
Yeah...
But it does feel good to move around, doesn't it?
Yes.
I feel energized!
There's a spa room.
Spa room?
This is the company, right?
- I wonder if we can use it, too. - I don't know...
Let's check it out!
Mio-chan!
"Secluded hot spring", yeah, right! We had to climb a mountain to get there!
- It must have been exhausting. - I nearly fell once.
Please replenish your energies.
Do you have an appointment?
N-No...
Excuse us!
Did you see?! That was Mizuki Kawashima!
Yes. She sure is beautiful.
I've never heard of a spa room in a company before!
Me neither.
- Hey, how about going on an adventure? - An adventure?
This building is huge, so I bet it's got other interesting features, too!
Let's go!
Natsuki-san's guitar was awesome, wasn't it, Shimamu?
Yes, really cool!
"Shimamu"?
I wish I could play like that!
- So you can play the guitar. - No, not at all.
They're doing an interview!
Oh yeah!
Yes. I get nervous before concerts.
When I'm so excited I can't sleep, it helps if I hold my teddy bear.
How girlish...
That's Miho Kohinata and Sae Kobayakawa!
Are they idols, too?
- That's right! - Aren't there too many idols?
Good morning!
Welcome to 346 Cafe. Here's the menu.
This place has a maid cafe?
I-It looks like it...
Due to certain circumstances, I'm working here today, but my true identity is...
Usami power effects a fairy tail change!
I'm Usamin, the singing, dancing, voice acting idol from the planet Usamin,
but I also go by Nana Abe!
- Good work! - Thank you.
Good morning.
Producer!
Hey, do you know Kaede Takagaki?!
Yes.
Wow!
Maybe you're a powerful producer?
We work for the same agency, so...
That aside, you're late.
Sorry. We made a little side trip and lost track of the time.
You need to be punctual here. From now on, please see that you are.
We will...
Then shall we go?
- I'll introduce you to the other members. - Sure!
At the same time, this will be your first job.
- I see shadows. - Move the lights over. - Okay.
- I want it more subdued from the top. - Wow! It's just like I imagined!
It's beautiful.
I want to take publicity photos of you three here.
- PR photos? - Here on this set?
No. Over here.
The shoot's already started with the other members.
Da.
Checking the photos!
What's this?
The last members?
Hey, are you girls also on the Cinderella Project?
- Yes! - That's right!
- Yay! - All right!
I'm Miria Akagi.
Now we're all here! And I couldn't be happier!
Yoohoo! I'm Rika Jougasaki! I'm a first-year middle school student. I hope we can be friends!
Sure!
I saw you in a tree earlier...
Are you climbing trees again? That's dangerous-nya!
"Nya"?
I'm Miku Maekawa-nya. Nice to meet you-nyan! What kind of actor are you going to be?
- Um... - Nyan? - Actor...
Ahoy!
I'm Kirari!
Nice to meet all of you!
Yes...
I'm Minami Nitta.
Nice to meet you.
I think you're a little older than the rest of us.
Um... Please call me Anya.
Nice to meet you. I'm Kanako Mimura.
I made these sweets myself.
Please help yourself.
I'm Riina Tada.
I'm aiming to be a rock idol.
Cool!
Um...
I-I'm Chieri Ogata.
Um... It's a pleasure to meet you!
My name is Ranko Kanzaki.
I abide by a blood pact and perform in resonance with souls.
The feast begins.
Souls?
- What was that? - I'm not sure.
It seems we're one person short.
I found Anzu-chan!
I'm Anzu Futaba.
Nice to meet you.
"If you work, you lose"?
I'm Uzuki Shimamura! Um... I'll try my best!
I'm Rin Shibuya. Nice to meet you.
I'm Mio Honda and I'm a first-year high school student. Call me Mio!
That's everyone. We now have 14 members.
Then we can finally...
Yes.
The Cinderella Project will begin at last.
Yay! All right! It took so long!
Happy, happy!
Good for us.
Aren't you fired up?
Yes! I'll do my best!
You too, Rin-chan!
Yeah.
Huh? It's kind of noisy in here.
What's everyone gathered together for?
The hot high school model, Mika Jougasaki?!
That's me!
- I saw her before in a magazine. - Sis!
"Sis"?
Jougasaki...
- Hey, what kind of outfit is that? - It's for the pamphlet for my next concert.
I'm Mio Honda!
I just became an idol today!
Are you here for PR photos?
Yes!
I see.aâ‚¬â‚¬I'm with a different department, but it's good to meet you.
Nice to meet you!
You should move over here, Sis!
Well, I do worry about leaving you alone.
That's terrible!
Well, good luck.
Thank you!
Isn't she amazing?
Shimamura-san, please get ready.
R-Right!
That's it! Nice! Smile!
Look this way!
Shimamura-san, please come over.
Right!
Too stiff! Smile!
Look over here!
How's this?!
Act more naturally!
What should we do?
Once more, please.
Roger.
- Let's take a break! - Okay!
This outfit is cute.
I hope I did okay...
You were cute, Chieri.
Really?
Definitely!
I was so unnatural.
Yeah.
I was nervous for some reason...
It's tough to act natural.
I see. Okay.
This time, we wanna get the three of you together,
so try to be your usual exuberant selves.
R-Right...
Usual...
Move around however you like.
U-Um, for now, Shimamu, pass!
Whoa...
Shimamu...
Shibu-rin, pass, pass!
Shibu-rin?
Well, whatever...
Shimamu, set!
Shibu-rin, spike!
Nice spike!
There we go! I like those smiles!
After all, I was picked for my smile!
Me too!
I passed the audition because of my smile!
That's just all he'll say.
I guess we were all told the same thing!
All right! Here I go!
Huh. They look good for their first time.
Hey, is their schedule decided yet?
No.
Okay, that's a wrap!
Hey, let's all get a shot together!
Producer-san!
- How about taking the photo with us? - Come on!
No, you girls go ahead.
I'm gonna take it. Smile!
We're going to be in a concert?
That's right.
I've been on the lookout for girls just like this to back me.
Mika-chan's producer has already given the okay, but what do you think?
Personally...
Yeah, I think they should go for it.
Sooner or later, these girls will be on stage.
Getting their start like this may just be a good idea.
Who's he?
I know I've seen him before...
See, even the manager likes the idea.
Manager?!
Then please get us materials on your concert.
Sure. Right away.
Then that's an okay?
Yes.
All right! Let's have a blast at the concert!
R-Right!
I'm looking forward to working with you!
I'm gonna do it, too!
- You can do it next time. - Why?!
I wanna get my chance to go on stage, too-nya!
Living off of royalties...
A concert, I hope I get the chance someday.
I-I...
Is it really okay to decide this so easily?
It'll be fine!
I'm strong when it comes to the real deal, so I think we'll do great!
A concert...
I can't wait!