- Yes? - Uzuki?
Yes. What's up?
Well, I saw you at the studio today...
Are you... you know, okay?
Sorry to make you worry.
I wasn't myself today...
I'll be back on track tomorrow.
Okay. As long as you're all right...
- Talk to you later then. - Right. Thank you.
All right...
Producer-san!
- Good morning. - Good morning.
I apologize for going home early yesterday.
That's okay. Are you better now?
Yes. And also, um...
Training school?
Like you said, I've been kind of tired.
I think maybe what I need is to build up my stamina so I can do better.
At this rate, I'll just be a drag on Mio-chan and Rin-chan...
So I'm thinking of taking a break from work,
and concentrating one more time on core lessons.
Uzuki Shimamura will do her best!
- Shimamu? - Yes.
Training school...
Even though she's already made her debut?
Why?
She asked to do the core lessons again, and I've accepted it as her decision.
She's already got regular work scheduled with Miho-chan...
Yes. During this period, I may ask all of you to pitch in as necessary.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sure...
Even though the ball is coming up...
I wonder what's wrong with Uzuki-chan...
It'll be okay.
- Let's wait for her with a smile. - Kirari-chan is right.
Da. Smiles are important.
That's right, nya.
All right! Smiles, everyone, smiles.
Shibuya-san, Honda-san...
I'll keep an eye on Shimamura-san as much as possible,
so I'd like you two to focus on your work.
Right.
- Even though she said she was fine... - I'll try calling her later.
Okay.
Okay, turn.
You can use that when there's an opening.
Thank you!
- But don't push yourself too hard. - Right!
I was surprised. Why go back to training school?
I wanted to go back to the basics once more.
I'll do my best so I can sing with you two again.
Are you really okay?
Yes. Mio-chan called me earlier too...
But I'm fine.
I'll be back soon.
Okay. I'll be waiting for you. Talk to you later...
Producer-san!
How do you feel?
- Good. It's going well. - Is it?
I feel kind of relaxed when I come here.
Um, don't you have to visit everyone else on the job?
That's all right. I have time.
I'm sorry for causing all this trouble...
Mimura-san is filling in for Kohinata-san for the time being.
That's good.
I know Kanako-chan can be counted on.
She'll stand in for you until you return.
Right...
I'll hurry and do my best so I can get back soon.
I'm Miho Kohinata. It's nice to meet you.
I'm Kanako Mimura. Nice to meet you too.
Hello! Let's hear from a lot of people in town today too!
We're your reporters, Chieri Ogata...
...and Ranko Kanzaki!
Tremble at the sorrowful voices that reverberate through the ancient city!
Could you change the schedule so that Ranko Kanzaki arrives 30 minutes later?
Sorry about this.
Watch what she does first, then say the line.
Okay, I'll try it that way!
Great. Okay, look right at the camera.
Nice! Just like that!
- Shimamu? - Yes. What is it?
Well, I haven't seen you for a while, so I thought maybe I'd come to visit.
- Invite Shiburin too... - Y-You don't have to!
U-Um, after all, both of you have work to do...
And besides, I'm fine, really.
O-Oh?
Well, as long as you're good...
Yes, and doing my best.
- She doesn't want us to come? - She didn't say it like that,
but it kind of came off that way...
"You're gonna visit me? I missed you too!"
Isn't that what Shimamu would normally say?
I was like, huh?
What was she like when she went home early from work?
I don't really know, since I was watching from across the room,
but I don't think she was smiling.
Before our debut concert, Shimamu spent a lot of time,
practicing all alone, remember?
She didn't say anything to us then.
Maybe she's the type of person who keeps things bottled up...
I wonder if the producer knows the circumstances.
- Good work. - Good work.
I'll leave the script and cast list for "Totokira Academy" right here.
- Senkawa-san... - Yes?
I know this is sudden, but is there some event that my department can take on?
Dance really is difficult.
It's complicated.
I'll do my best to master various steps.
- Shimamura-san... - Yes?
I know this is sudden, but New Generations has a concert next week.
I want you to perform too.
Would you think about it?
After you told me that I was "off" the other day, I finally realized,
that I should go back to taking lessons, and that I wasn't ready yet.
That there are too many things I can't do...
So if I go back now, when I still have no confidence,
it would only make problems for Rin-chan and Mio-chan.
So... um... this time...
- Shimamu isn't enthusiastic about it? - Correct.
Why?
When the three of us have a chance to sing again together...
Producer... Why is she at the training school?
What happened to Uzuki?
I don't really know myself.
But I sensed that she wasn't her usual self.
Ever since both of you started being active outside of New Generations...
It's my fault...
New Generations' isn't as busy since I started with Triad.
Wrong! I mean, it's my fault.
Since I started acting...
She's been depressed about that?
I think your individual activities are essential to you.
And I also assented to Shimamura-san's lessons,
if they were necessary for her to move forward.
But now I think she's not heading in the right direction.
Then this concert...
I intend to keep approaching her until she agrees to perform.
What's wrong, Shibuya? You're not concentrating.
- I'm sorry. - Let's start from the top.
Rin...
Um...
Sorry. Before, I was...
Thinking about Uzuki-chan, right?
She's been off work for several days, huh?
Shouldn't you go see her?
Sorry. You're right.
After our dance lesson...
Just go now. You're so worried that you're forgetting lyrics.
New Gen is important to us too.
We'll smooth it over with the trainer.
Thank you.
I want to see Uzuki.
Mio and I should tell her that we want to perform at the concert together.
Tell me where her training school is.
I'll print out a map.
You didn't say, "Please leave this to me."
This is different from that time.
- Mio... - Shiburin!
Good morning...
Rin-chan, Mio-chan...
Hi.
I'm surprised to see you two.
Are you done working today?
Yeah. You could say that.
Uzuki.
Is it true you don't want to perform at the Christmas concert?
It's not like I don't want to perform. I just don't have the confidence yet.
And Producer told me I was off my game.
I'm taking lessons at my pace,
and as soon as I feel confident...
Is that all?
It's not because Mio and I started working outside of New Gen?
It's because I started looking for other work, right?
N-No! It's not about that.
Both of you shine!
It's really incredible. And everyone in our department, they're really...
The point is,
I need to work even harder,
so I can catch up.
Hey, Shimamu. Let's do the concert!
Doing work apart from each other is just to test our own capabilities.
Let's do everything we can and then take on the ball!
The ball...
You're right...
That's soon, huh?
And yet, here I am...
What have I been doing all this time?
I wonder if maybe I became an idol a little too early...
- Wait. What are you saying... - That's right. It was too soon.
I'm not ready for a palace ball...
You mean you're not going to perform at the ball?
You are kidding, right?
Uzuki Shimamura will do her best!
I'll go back to square one and do my best.
- I may lag behind everyone for a while, - Hold on...
- but one day I'll become a shining idol. - Hold on.
Stop trying to brush it off!
S-Shiburin?
Rin Shibuya didn't go to her dance lesson today. But you already knew that.
Yes.
Her actions are having an effect on Triad, not to mention your department.
Valuing the feelings of each and every idol.
Is this what it gets you?
Cut her loose.
U-Um, Rin-chan...
Do you remember what you told me?
That even with dreams...
A day will come when you can become something that shines.
What about now?
Don't run away.
I'm not running...
What do you think about the ball? About New Gen?
I haven't heard your answer about that yet.
I...
You're not fine at all!
I won't listen to lies like "I don't have confidence yet,"
or "I'm going back to square one"!
- They're not lies... - I don't want to see a fake smile!
When I decided to do Triad, you agreed.
Were your words and smile then also lies?
I'm not lying. I really do...
Unbelievable.
That's what I think when I look at you now.
Say something, Shimamu.
I really did just want to do my best.
To give it everything I have one more time...
To smile naturally...
I had a nice smile, right?
Huh? But I wanted to do my best... for the ball...
I have to shine like everyone else.
Singing, acting, dancing, various things...
Everyone's done their best! I love lessons!
So I thought if I did my best... If I took a lot more lessons... Um...
But I still have no idea what it is.
I don't know what it is
that shines inside of me.
What should I do if nothing changes?
What if the time comes and I haven't changed?
I'm scared.
What should I do if I'm the only one who doesn't find anything?
I'm scared...
The producer said I had a nice smile...
...but... but...
...smiling... laughing... anyone can do that!
There's nothing...
I've got nothing...
Shimamu...
Don't say anyone can do it.
You took the first step.
You said you may be able to shine.
You had a dazzling smile back then, Uzuki.
Because you had that smile, I...
Shimamu.
Before, when I ran away, you waited for me.
You made me feel at ease.
No matter what the situation, you always smiled and said, "I'll do my best."
But that's not always possible, is it? I'm sorry that I didn't notice.
Let's be friends again! From right now!
Think of idols as stars.
You should know if the starlight is going to fade.
A star that's hidden by clouds is worthless.
If you can't see it, it's just darkness.
Nothingness.
All clouds clear up.
And the stars are still there.
She... Uzuki Shimamura is an essential member of the Cinderella Project.
She will come back.
I'm waiting for her.
No... Please let me wait for her.
Um... We're going back.
Okay. See you later.
Uzuki...
I'll be waiting for you.