OK, finished Miki's story with the Normal Ending.
A few more things I've figured out.
- Depending on who your leader idol is, the screen time Jupiter gets changes. In Miki's story, only Touma makes a significant appearance. The other two are... just there, standing.
- The Bad Ending I experienced with Makoto was short. Very short. But seems like any ending above it is quite long and redeeming for everyone.
Now, seems like there are some confused with the storyline, so here it is:
You're a producer with some experience in the field who gets employed by 765 Pro who's having troubles with success.
After you meet your leader idol, pick two more to form a unit. Takagi wants you to produce a trio unit, since Komachi is succeeding as a trio while the other girls aren't doing so well solo. Yup, there's actually some plot behind the "trio-only" thing.
As a goal for both Komachi and your unit, Takagi wants you to get the Idol Academy awards. As a secondary reward, producers of units who get nominated into the awards gets a trip to Hollywood to learn more about show biz (this is the reason why the producer can't just keep producing the unit after a year, and the explanation behind the time limit.)
Everything seems to go well. While you lose against Komachi and unit morale goes to an all time low, you manage to get them up on their feet again, and finally beat Komachi.
A few weeks after this, you meet Ritsuko at the office. She informs you that her unit lost to Touma despite being 3-v-1, and stresses you to be careful of him, since he's with 961 Pro, a production company owned by a man with a grudge against 765.
Eventually you enter a Fes, and must face Touma. You both bet that once can beat the other, but the battle sides with Touma until lightning strikes the outdoor stadium and the electronics go down. The Fes is canceled and Touma call the bet off, despite him obviously leading. You also find out that one of Touma's speakers was faulty and he was handicapped from the start despite his lead, which seems to demoralize your unit yet again. However unlike your first loss against Komachi, your leader prevents it from happening.
A few more weeks pass, and if you get into the top 20 of album sales by week 36 (Week of Destiny), you are nominated into the awards. If you don't, you are told to participate in the Idol Academy Survival Audition, where an extra nominee is chosen. Whichever route you take, you get a certificate granting you participation for the battle for the IA awards, and a trip to Hollywood at the end of the year.
The IA Awards hold a reception (on a cruise ship!!) after the nominees are chosen, where Kuroi formally unravels Jupiter, with Touma being the lead. Jupiter steals the show with their new song. After the ceremony, you, for the first time, tell your unit that after the IA Awards, you'll be leaving for Hollywood. While the unit members disagree at first, they soon come to accept its for the better of everyone.
Time flies, and it's the week before the Idol Academy awards ceremony. The Academy is holding one final Fes with Jupiter being the participant. You enter it, and have one final showdown with them. After you beat them, Jupiter realizes they may have more power as individuals but as a group, they just can't beat 765 Pro with its family-like atmosphere. They decide to disband and quit, quite to the dismay of Kuroi who swears revenge and disappears.
The week after, the Idol Academy awards take place. What happens after is decided by how you've played the game...
Apart from the basic storyline, depending on your leader idol there are frequent unique events as well.
