Anya-chan...
Impressive.
Naturally. After all, they're a perfect fit for 346 and I chose them.
Krasivaia.
Thank you so much! We hope...
...you enjoy the rest of the show!
Anya-chan, that was wonderful!
Minami!
Now it's my turn to do my best! Watch me!
I will!
We're up after your senpais.
A lot of people out there are looking forward to your performance.
And this performance will decide whether we get to do the winter ball.
Please forget about that for now.
I want you to smile and enjoy yourselves with the audience.
Right!
Asterisk with Natsunana!
- Shall we make our debut? - Yeah!
- I'm so happy! - My heart's racing!
Let's all be happy-happy!
Let's deliver happiness to the audience!
Yeah!
It's an adventure.
Yeah! We'll follow in Anya-chan's footsteps.
- Yes! - Yeah!
I'm behind you all the way!
Right! I'll do my best!
Kanzaki-san and Shirasaka-san, you two will start.
Thank you.
- Okay. - Yes.
- I hope it becomes a lovely nightmare. - Nightmare...
Kanzaki-san. Please...
...let your soul shine.
Then I shall become an inviting guide for my compatriots.
Cinderella Project, fight!
Yeah!
Shimamura-san, Honda-san...
You're taking a backseat this time, but thank you for your help.
- It's okay! Leave it to us! - Right!
I'm fired up, Shimamu!
- We're here at last. - Yeah.
Our debut. And on a huge stage.
Yeah.
Even though it's already begun, it hasn't hit me yet.
Me neither. But Rin is calm, as expected.
It looks good on you, natch!
Mio...
- Listen... - Wait. Let me say something first.
Sure.
I had a great time doing that play.
It's like I found a new possibility within!
To be honest, I wanted to perform here today as New Gen.
But I have a feeling it's better that it worked out this way.
I love New Generations.
But that's exactly why we should do separate projects right now.
Mio...
You won't know unless you try.
Let's do our best to focus on those things now.
And that'll lead us to the next step.
Yeah. The winter ball, right?
That's right! Stay tuned for the improved Mio-chan's performance!
Or something.
Then I'd really better succeed with today's performance.
Okay! You have our full support!
- Say, isn't Uzuki with you? - Actually...
- I'll put it right here. - Thank you.
- Do your best! - Thank you. We will.
Shimamu! There you are!
I don't have any reason for visiting. Sorry if I interrupted you.
N-Not at all. It's okay.
I've been running around all day...
Shimamu is more fired up than anyone today.
Rin...
There you are.
Sorry.
I just wanted to see you. Later!
- Rin-chan! - Yes?
Do your best out there! I'll do my best, too!
I will. Thanks.
Fight!
Shimamu?
What's wrong? Do you feel down?
I don't know what it is. Maybe I'm nervous.
- Relax, relax! - Right.
However, onlookers, you can't judge this flower that blooms in the abyss!
It's almost time, Arisu-chan.
P-Please call me by my surname!
You too, Sagisawa-san.
Sagisawa-san?
Right...
Do you know Venus? Do you know Venus?
Breaking out of a glass cage
Let me love like that
Not bad at all.
The individuality of each unit stands out, huh?
The inherent goodness in each comes out a lot.
I wonder if this is the Cinderella Project's "power of smile".
I see. As raw material, it seems they have a certain strength.
But that makes them all the more suitable,
for me to produce them in the conventional way.
Don't you agree?
You're stubborn, too...
Excuse me! For the second half,
Sagisawa-san and Tachibana-san, please get ready!
- R-Right! - Okay...
Sagisawa-san...
Sagisawa-san!
- Shibu... - Stop for a minute!
Yes, ASAP!
Don't move!
- Are you okay? - I'm sorry...
- Fumika-chan... - Should we tell Exec. Director Mishiro?
But where is she?
Should I look for her around there?
I guess...
What should we do?
I don't know.
We can't make that judgment call.
Maybe so, but we can't just go on like this...
- Excuse me. - This way!
Producer...
I understand the situation.
We'll change the performance.
Can Triad Primus go on earlier than scheduled?
- Y-Yeah! - Sure...
We can do it.
- Can we make that switch? - Sure, give me a little time.
I'll be sure to let everyone know.
- Please. - Right!
Producer!
Is there anything I can do?
Thanks to Cute Me, the audience really got into today's performance, too.
- Yeah. - Shimamu! Come with me!
Why isn't it starting?
That's strange...
- Maybe there's been trouble, nya... - Everyone!
I need your help!
- What's wrong? - What do you mean, they switched?
I apologize.
We handled the situation quickly to prevent confusion.
Hi, everyone!
Are you having fun so far, nya?
Yeah!
What's this? Is that all the gusto you can muster?
Okay, let's give them an energy infusion!
Hey, Natsuki-chi!
Okay!
Energy...
...infusion!
How was that, everyone?
Were you energized?
What should I do? I don't know if I can do this.
I'm nervous, too.
It'll be okay.
We had plenty of lessons, right?
- Yeah. - You're right.
How do you feel?
Mio... Uzuki...
This is your unit's first performance. Go have fun!
- T-Thanks. - We will...
By the way, do you two know how great fried chicken is?
Walking on an empty stomach. You enter a convenience store.
And they've got aromatic, juicy chicken!
Well, it doesn't have to be meat.
But sing as if your favorite food is in front you.
- Right, Shimamu? - Yes!
That might work.
Nao-chan, Karen-chan...
Take care of Shiburin.
We will!
Rin-chan?
Uzuki...
Good luck, Rin-chan!
Thank you, Uzuki.
See you later!
See you later.
We're ready!
- Anytime you are! - Understood.
It's that time.
Yeah...
I'll be back. Watch me.
Of course.
I'm your producer.
- Let's go! - Yeah!
Chocolate!
So when the charismatic middle school student me put on a smock,
it became the fashion, don't you know!
Good!
And the next group is raring to go...
...so let's keep the fire burning for the second half of the show!
Brightly-colored ripples are blown by the wind
Into the bright, glistening sky
Just what is the meaning of this?
Explain.
The light from the setting sun shines on the keyboard
I'm okay now.
Can you go on?
Yes.
Um...
Staring at a nobly blooming flower
I'm sorry, Tachibana-san.
You can call me Arisu.
Thank you, Arisu-chan.
The chords I'm playing reverberating
All three of them are great...
They sure are.
This intense feeling is overflowing
A clover?
Yeah. It's a good luck charm.
- Let's have a good time. - Like this?
Yes!
- Neither side knew how to act. - We'll get used to each other soon.
Yeah. From now on, we're a team.
Right.
Thank you very much!
- We did it! - Yeah!
Producer...
How were we?
It was a great performance.
- Rin! - Hurry up!
Everyone...
It seems you saved your division.
I just did what I could as someone who was there.
This is nice...
Experiencing the concert from here...
Fight!
The view that you can get from above is beautiful, too,
but the support of all that is right here.
The power of the bond between these girls who share a dream
is what supports that gorgeous stage.
It's the bond of girls who are connected by the dream of being an idol.
Pretty nifty, huh?
Well, excuse me.
I don't have to tell you whether this concert is a success, do I?
- Then the midterm judgment... - I evaluated the current results.
But I didn't take into account your fairy tale, "The Power of Smile."
I made my decision in light of the way your division handled itself.
I'll be waiting for the results from your winter ball.
Yes!
It's only going to get busier from now on, but I'm here with you.
- Okay! - It'll be fine!
- We'll do our best! - This is just what we want, nya!
Also, you two, who are participating in Project Krone.
Anastasia-san will continue as a solo artist,
and Shibuya-san will continue with Triad Primus, but with us as well.
That was decided at a meeting with Executive Director Mishiro.
I'm sorry, everyone...
I'm sorry...
It's fine! Both are important!
Mio...
And we're gonna stay teamed up with Natsuki-chi and Nana-chan.
That's right, nya!
When things get busy, everyone except for me will pitch in to help.
I-I could help, if you don't mind...
We'll all help, right?
Uzuki?
Yeah.
I'll do my best!
R-Right...
What's wrong, Shimamu?
They're the talk of the town.
Yes. It seems they're popular, too.
The idols in all the divisions are happy these days.
Yes.
Hey, have you seen Uzuki?
Shimamura-san is at a magazine photo shoot with Kohinata-san.
You wanted to talk to her?
I've been so busy with the new unit that I haven't talked to her.
Is it my fault?
Right now, I think Shimamura-san needs to work with Kohinata-san.
Would you like to go to the shoot with me?
Wait. Uzuki-chan, that pose is too stiff.
- Could you try changing it? - Sure!
Now smile, you two!
Miho-chan, that's a great smile!
Sorry.
- Uzuki-chan, your expression is stiff. - Sorry!
- You're so good at this, Miho-chan. - Not really!
- Even now, I get totally nervous. - Oh... really?
You can't really change that kind of thing.
Right.
But, work is fun.
Did that come out condescendingly?
No...
- Miho-chan, can I have a minute? - Sure!
Good work.
Good work...
- Um... - I'm sorry!
Uzuki?
Sorry.
Um... uh... when you apologized just now, that was my fault, wasn't it?
Let's get back in the game.
I'll do my best...
I'll give it my all.
Everyone's doing their best, and so will I...
Um... Huh?
I-I'm sorry.
I just keep repeating "I'll do my best", huh?
Maybe we should call it a day.
Apparently, you seemed a little off today...
Off?
Yes.
I understand.
I apologize, everyone.
I'm leaving for the day...
Uzuki-chan...
Hey... What's wrong with Uzuki?
It seems she was out of sorts...
EPISODE 23