Natural? That's cruel!
Why? Because I'm the leader?
Forget it!
I'm gonna give up on being an idol!
Mio, are you serious?
Mio-chan!
After all, I...
Mio-chan will come, right?
Don't tell me she's really...
Producer-san!
Hey, Mio's not here.
So it seems.
That's all?
U-Um, I thought I'd try going to her house...
Tell us her address.
Please...
...leave this to me.
Mio-chan's not coming, huh?
Maybe she's tired from the concert...
...or something.
Is Mio-chan quitting?
Then is New Generations disbanding?
Even though they just made their debut yesterday.
Then she's unfit to be a pro, nya!
Even though they debuted before we did...
- Rin-chan! - Shibuya-san, are you okay?
Y-Yes...
Sis, some producer guy is here to see you.
Send him away.
Tell him yourself.
I don't want to see you.
Don't come to my house.
Let me just talk to you for a minute...
I said, I don't wanna see you.
Go away.
Everyone is waiting for you.
This isn't an issue that affects you alone.
I know that!
Producer-san!
Did you see Mio?
She turned you away?
Um, I think we should go to Mio-chan's house after all.
Tell us her address.
I can't do that.
Why not?
If Honda-san says she doesn't want to see anyone right now,
I'd like to respect her wishes.
And that's it?
- I have something to do. - Wait!
Is it okay to let him handle this?
Uzuki...
Is something wrong?
Sorry. With everything going on,
maybe I'm just tired out.
Oh. Nobody's here yet.
Uzuki isn't here...
She called.
She doesn't feel well, so she's taking the day off.
What about Mio?
I haven't been able to get in touch yet.
What's going to happen with us?
If Mio doesn't come back...
I'm making arrangements.
Arrangements? What do you mean?
Um, I'd like everyone to do what they can.
I can't.
What is this situation?
What do you intend to do?
Give me a decent answer.
I admit there has been a difference in outlook.
Then even more so!
Why don't you just bring Mio back?
She doesn't seem to be herself yet...
Don't escape.
Remember what you told me?
That if I came here, there would be a different world.
When I performed on stage for the first time.
When I heard our own finished song...
It felt like I was going to find it...
That something I can be passionate about.
But right now, I don't feel it.
Tell me. What do you mean by "difference in outlook"?
Why won't you bring Mio back?
What are you thinking?
I'm sorry.
And I thought I could trust you...
Rin-chan?
What do you mean she went home, nya?
- I didn't have time to say anything. - I guess Uzuki-chan is also off today.
They may really be disbanding...
Maybe because I invited them to participate in my concert...
What should we do, sis?
What did your producer say?
Nothing...
I don't know what he's thinking.
Oh, you're home early.
And that's the outline for the next event.
If there's anything you don't understand, please ask about it.
Okay.
Excuse me.
Um...
How did you feel about the performance the other night?
When we were on stage, my mind was a blank,
so it was all I could do just to focus on the song.
But after we finished singing, the people clapped.
I was so happy, thinking this was our first step...
...but now, under these circumstances...
I do not know what to do.
Your fever's down, anyway.
Take it easy the rest of the day.
Maybe I made Rin-chan worry about me...
I'm sure Mio-chan will go in today, right?
What is it, Mama?
How do you feel?
I apologize for just showing up.
I just wanted to drop off a get-well gift,
but your mother insisted I check on you.
U-Um...
I'll just leave it here...
Get well soon.
P-Producer-san!
U-Um, please wait for me downstairs.
I'll be right there.
I apologize for getting a cold at an important time like this.
Don't worry about it.
Is she doing a good job being an idol?
Yes.
She was so nervous about that last concert, all she did was practice.
And then...
M-Mama! Enough!
Take your time.
My mom likes to talk...
Do you have a cold, too?
You seem kind of listless.
No.
I wonder what kind of work we'll do next!
What do you want to do from here on out?
I've always wanted to be on stage, and now I've done that.
I made my CD debut and got to be on a radio show, too.
It'd be cool if I could be on TV next time.
Um... Actually, about that last mini-event...
I feel some regret...
Even though it was a chance to perform, I didn't smile all the way to the end.
So the next time we perform on stage, I want to smile all the way through.
Together with Rin-chan and Mio-chan!
I'll be better tomorrow.
Don't push yourself.
Okay.
Producer-san! I look forward to working together again from tomorrow!
P-Producer!
Tell us.
What's gonna happen with this division?
What about Mio-chan? And Rin-chan?
Are they going to quit?
The beginning of the end...
I finally...
I finally believed that I just needed to be patient about making my debut...
What should we do?
It's okay.
New Generations isn't breaking up.
And no one is going to quit.
I promise...
I promise I'll bring them both back.
So please wait here.
Hi. What's wrong, everyone?
Um, we're...
...waiting for the producer.
Well, shall I tell you a story in the meantime?
A story?
Yes. Once upon a time, there was a very straightforward, upright man.
He always led the way in a straightforward fashion.
So the Cinderellas would proceed down the right path,
it was always straight ahead with him.
But depending on time and circumstances, sometimes even the correct path,
even with straightforward guidance, the results are a mess.
In the end, several Cinderellas left the man.
From then on, the man became a coward.
And he became a silent chariot that will take the Cinderellas to the palace.
That's...
...the producer?
Well, let's wait a little longer to see if the spell can be broken.
Shimamu, I'm sorry.
I'm a failure as a leader.
Downstairs right now?
Why?
After what I said...
Hey!
I'm sorry. He looked suspicious to me...
Well...
Please, wait!
I told you I was quitting.
Honda-san!
Please hear me out once more!
What is it?
Photos from the event.
What is this? I'm not smiling at all.
The other day, when I said the results were "only natural,"
I didn't mean that it was a failure.
I think it was a success.
How? Even the audience wasn't into it...
Look at the next one.
I think those are nice smiles.
Certainly, apart from friends and relatives there weren't that many people.
But those people stayed in one place and listened to your song.
Even though they clapped...
I'm such a loser.
No, I should have...
I was so busy counting heads...
I see. Then it wasn't a failure.
Jeez! Then that makes me an even bigger jerk!
My misunderstanding ruined it for everyone...
And then I ran away, even though I'm the leader...
I'm hopeless!
Honda-san, come back with me.
How can I look them in the eye?
After the trouble I caused...
That's exactly why you can't leave things like this.
I can't afford to lose you three.
Let's begin a fresh, evolution,
revolution, generation...
Shiburin!
Mio... Producer...
Shiburin, I...
I'm sorry!
I'm sorry for saying I quit...
For running away, even though I'm the leader...
And for causing everyone trouble!
But I don't want it to end like this!
I want to continue being idols together!
Shibuya-san...
You were right. I may have been trying to escape.
From facing you girls eye-to-eye.
I made you all confused and that hurt you.
I hate this.
I'm still not really clear on what an idol is.
Even though I was in the dark, things started up.
I got this far, still in the dark...
But I hate things as they are.
Not knowing who to trust when I feel lost...
I can't stand it.
I'll try harder.
So you can trust everyone one more time...
Shiburin!
Let's try to find it together once more...
What you can be passionate about.
I'm looking forward to working with you again from tomorrow.
Me too!
I'm sorry!
Rin-chan! Mio-chan!
Thank goodness!
I'm sorry...
Thank you for waiting, everyone.
Again, I want to move forward with the Cinderella Project.
Let's climb up the stairs together, one step at a time.
Yeah!
Excuse me, Producer!
Why not try speaking more casually?
True, he is a bit stiff, nya!
A time to climb over that steep wall...
I think that's a good idea, too!
I agree!
I also think it's a good idea!
I also think... that would be...
...easier to talk to you that way!
I will... make an effort.
Why don't you go in?
I'm an outsider, so I'll hang back.
I'm looking forward to the next stage.
You're always determined, Uzuki.
That's kind of cool.
Okay, then one more time...
Fried... chicken!