The Portal of Zeta: iDOLM@STER Neo Vision

[ZetaFlare]

Shiori's story may become even better than Reika's!

Wow, really? Well, here's the big reveal!

Himi Shiori's Route, cont.

Shiori’s unit bounces back after a couple of successful outings. One day after they reach Rank C and compete against 961Pro/Ryuuguu Komachi, Kenji passes by Shiori’s house on his way home. Shiori walks outside carrying two bags full of garbage. The bags are so heavy she is having a rough time trying to move them, so she has to take out one at a time. Kenji figured she could use some help so he takes the other bag out himself. As Shiori thanks Kenji for his assistance, Kenji notices something that almost makes his heart jump out if his body—Shiori has got a black eye! As Shiori dumps her trash bag into the bin, Kenji notices some torn pieces of paper on top of the pile. They appear to be pieces of perfectly made drawings. Even after all that’s happening, Shiori still keeps a straight face. Kenji is speechless. What could be wrong with Shiori? How did she get a black eye? And why did she tear up and throw away what looked like a masterful drawing? Shiori claims nothing of all this was her doing…it was her uncle and caretaker. He caught her in the basement (her bedroom) working on her drawings earlier. Because she was neglecting her duties, her uncle tore up all her recent artwork and tossed them into the garbage before giving Shiori a serious beating. She was then asked to take care of all the chores she “skipped out” on when she was out working as an idol, which explains why she was taking out the trash earlier. Kenji can hardly believe her family treats her so cruelly. Shiori knows her uncle and his two sons can lift both of those heavy bags with ease, but she is often left with the job as it seems “appropriate” for someone like her. There is a reason that her uncle, aunt, and two cousins treat her like garbage, however. Shiori is actually an illegitimate daughter whose true mother is a prostitute. In order to avoid the responsibility of raising such a child, her true father left Shiori under the care of his brother. Needless to say her uncle was not too happy about it. Even as an infant, she looked inhuman to him and his family. She was treated as a monster not just for her yuki-onna-like appearance and icy eyes, but for her origins as well. While she was still permitted to go to school, she was put in charge of nearly all the housework and was forced to consent to the family’s demands no matter how harsh without even a hint of backlash. For even the slightest mistake, she was punished severely. While her aunt did the cooking, Shiori was often left with nothing but the scraps of whatever the rest of her family did not finish. She would normally sleep in a dusty basement downstairs, but if her tasks were not completed by nightfall, she was forced to sleep outside in order to get back to work the following morning. Her cousins often took full advantage of her, even going as far as to turn the blame over to her for the accidents or trouble they cause. Shiori essentially became a servant the family did not have to pay. When Shiori finally had some free time, her house’s traditional atmosphere and books she has read in the school’s library amazed and inspired her to start creating her own drawings, poetry, and calligraphy. However, her uncle eventually caught on to her sudden absence in the backyard and found her downstairs with her new masterpieces. Angrily believing Shiori was being lazy and wasting time with utter nonsense, he proceeded to wreck her little art studio and rip up everything she had written up to that point. Having grown used to all of her cruel treatment, she managed to suppress her emotions. Before, everyone, especially her cousins, seemed to enjoy watching Shiori cry and look helpless before them. While she still submitted to her family’s demands, her new emotionless responses and cold stare seemed to disturb them a bit, often causing her cousins to suddenly stop bullying her. However, Shiori is still fascinated by the world of art and aspires to become an artist herself. For every piece her uncle takes down, she replaces it with one or two more, often even better than before. Over the years she has learned to manage her time very well in order to complete every task given to her by her family while still completing her school work and setting aside time for poetry, art, or just reading. Unfortunately, her cousins respond to this with more reckless behavior, forcing Shiori to sacrifice her free time for more chores/slave labor. Recently, after the family discovered she was working as an idol, she was beaten, forced to cough up every paycheck she earns—every last yen—to her uncle, was slapped with even more chores, and was forced to sleep outside more often than before. Still, even with new restrictions, Shiori is too immersed in the world of art, from poetry to music, to let any of her family’s abuse stop her now. Underneath her “monster-like” and slave exterior, she will always be an artist deep down. Kenji wonders why Shiori has not talked to her uncle and aunt about her ambitions yet. Shiori claims they will not listen no matter how much she even tries. She suddenly hears a knock on the door. It’s her uncle wondering why she has been outside for so long when there is so much work to be done. Shiori immediately heads back inside to take care of her chores, but not before saying goodbye to Kenji. Kenji is worried. Considering Shiori’s past, it’s almost as if she has grown afraid to voice her thoughts. She wants to be an artist, but her caretakers will not let her. Is there any way to give her the strength she needs to chase her dreams?

Kenji’s conversations with Shiori did not go unobserved. Eavesdropping RyuuseiPro agents are quick to send their hot scoops to gossip panels. “The ice queen idol really is a monster!” “Those who look into her ice-cold eyes are cursed to death!” “Could she secretly be a prostitute like her mother?” Shiori does not mind the slander about her at all. To her, this kind of stuff is false art…like a Venus flytrap designed to draw in its victims. People who are gullible enough to fall for a trap like that aren’t really worthy of being her fans. Still, she always tries her best to truly be the best artist/idol she can be.

Later on at the IU preliminaries, Shiori’s beauty makes her rivals’ heads turn. They do not seem to be startled at all by her gaze. Even Takane seems interested in her. She seems to sense a kind of mysterious air around Shiori that is almost similar to her own. Still, she decides not to bother Shiori about it. Everyone has secrets to them…some they just have to keep to themselves. After ZetaPro discovers it has been placed in the same competition block as NAZO, Himeko anxiously shows up hiding behind Kagura. “That’s her! That’s the monster I was talking about! Don’t look in her eyes! It’s scary!” Kagura does not seem to be fazed at all even after Shiori gives her a blank stare. She tells Himeko she is probably just imagining things or letting her enemy and the enemy’s lies intimidate her. Himeko steps forward and tells Shiori she will “put an end to her evil” now that she is backed up by her partners. Much to Himeko’s surprise, ZetaPro manages to pass their audition, though they still place a distant second to NAZO. Himeko claims that while Shiori may have gotten better, she is still a monster and she knows it. Besides, being an idol is not about expressing a passion for the arts…it’s about winning over the hearts of the general populous by any means necessary. Himeko claims what she has that Shiori lacks is cute looks, a cute image, and a will to win. She is far superior in every way. Shiori should stop being an idol (and an artist for that matter) and go back home to her “concerned” family. Shiori does not even respond. Himeko gets a little annoyed, thinking Shiori is simply ignoring her. Shiori then quietly tells Himeko that although the human body can be seen as a work of art, it is a sloppy mess and solely a means of grabbing attention if used improperly. Himeko takes offense to Shiori’s logic and blows her off as leaves the venue with the rest of NAZO. She assures Shiori she will prove her theory wrong next time they meet.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Himi Shiori's Route, conclusion

As Shiori spends some time bonding with her partners, she begins to adjust more to a modern lifestyle and dabbles in even more intriguing forms of art, all while continuing to improve her skills as an idol. She feels ready to take on NAZO again after being challenged to face off at the Harvest Moon Festival. Unfortunately, the performance is cancelled midway due to a pyrotechnic malfunction. As Yamato shows up, he tells Shiori that someone like her does not belong in the idol world at all. She’s a monster not only because of her looks, but because she was born from a prostitute, one of society’s filthiest creatures. With that kind of lineage, there is no way she can be pure enough to be an idol. What’s disgusting about it is that people love her anyway despite the sad truth. Besides, she has zero emotions. Who in their right mind would come to love an idol with a constant blank expression and an almost inability to talk? It’s like she does not even care. It’s sad to see a middle-class company like ZetaPro go soft for “trash” like Shiori…falling for her little sob story about her family, being treated as a monster, and wanting to be an artist. Shiori once again does not respond to Yamato’s petty intimidation. Yamato laughs. It’s like she has no voice. It’s like she cannot stand up for herself at all. He mocks her lack of a response by telling her to “speak up.” Kenji and the others had enough of Yamato’s banter and boldly take a stand for Shiori. They claim she is not a monster…she is a true artist. Her yuki-onna-like beauty makes her very unique in the idol world, much like Takane. What she lacks in emotion she makes up for with her devotion to the arts. Who cares about her real mother…she has shown no scandalous tendencies at all. She may look cold and heartless, but she really does care about her friends and fans. As for her talents, she just keeps getting better and better every day. Her skills as an artist and poet seem to have carried over into her idol career. Her knowledge in the feelings displayed in poetry and novels led to being able to express herself properly according to her songs’ lyrics. Yamato just does not want to admit that Shiori has become so amazing she could be worthy of the status of “top idol.” Shiori puts her hand over her mouth…while she still looks emotionless, she is almost exasperated. Never before have people stood up to her like that. Before, people have admired her art, but tended to steer clear from her due to her apparent anti-social aura. Her partners, her producer, and her president…Shiori starts to feel as though she has true friends. Yamato scoffs at ZetaPro’s defense of Shiori and claims he will prove his beliefs correct after NAZO utterly destroys Shiori’s unit in the IU.

On the day of the IU finals opening ceremony, Shiori manages to overhear a conversation between Himeko and Yamato while she’s writing another poem. While her rival still claims to be perfect, she feels a little insecure being fully British. She fears that if word gets out (especially about her real name), all the fame and fortune she has will be destroyed and she will have absolutely no chance of winning the IU. Yamato angrily makes her snap out of it. He made her a regal princess idol because she is the definition of pure perfection and proof that the upper class is superior in every way. Her competition will bow to her like the goddess she is. Shiori figured Himeko could have been hiding some kind of insecurity since their chat during the IU preliminaries, but she never figured Himeko would think of herself as kind of an outcast in her own right. Both of them look a little different from other idols. Both of them seem to have traits and origins that would make them seem out of place amongst their peers (Himeko being fully British and Shiori being illegitimate). Shiori decides not to bother Himeko…not only does she not really seem in the mood to talk now, but she’s got some art to finish and needs to concentrate.

One week remains until the IU final matches at Tokyo Dome. Inspired by the support and advice she received from her partners and producer as well as the time they stood up for her against Yamato’s insults, Shiori decides to boldly take a stand for her beliefs. With her family unaware that she picked up her recent paycheck, she sets the money aside for new supplies for her makeshift art studio. She no longer cares about the punishment her family could potentially inflict upon her…she will follow her heart and become the artist she always wanted to be.

As ZetaPro advances to the semifinals and gets to take on the revived Project Fairy, Takane begins to show a particular interest in Shiori. She can pretty much tell Shiori has changed significantly since she first saw her in the registration line at the preliminaries. Nothing seems to be holding her back anymore. She feels determined to express herself even though she may not show it through her emotions. Even after all this change, she still maintains a mysterious air around her similar to Takane’s. Takane is intrigued to see which “supernatural” idol will come out on top—the ice queen or the silver queen. After ZetaPro wins and later has a talk with Iori that night, Takane encourages 765Pro to keep a close eye on Shiori during the finals. She’s got that special something about her that only people like the two of them can understand. If anyone can stand up to NAZO now, it’s her.

With the situation getting more and more out of hand, Yamato decides to hatch his greatest plan yet to put an end to Shiori’s streak of good fortune. Receiving some contact information from his agents, he sends ann email to the Himi household. “Have you noticed the illegitimate girl acting particularly strange lately? Have you noticed she has not been completing her household tasks the way she used to? Well, it turns out she has had it with your harsh treatment of her and has started a rebellion. She said she wanted to be an artist and is willing to do anything to follow her dreams even if it means resorting to violence. She also stored away her last paycheck under your noses as a sign of resentment towards you and your family. Now she’s at Tokyo Dome to display her artistic talents and prove to Japan that she is not the monster everyone claims she is. It sounds like she does not know her place. Are you going to do something about it?” Shiori’s cousins have noticed something different about Shiori lately. They immediately head into the basement and find the stash of money Shiori hid in her dresser drawer (digging through her panties to do so). They proceed to angrily wreck all of Shiori’s art materials, go upstairs, and awaken their parents, telling them the news. Enraged by this defiant act, Shiori’s uncle decides to take the family on a trip to Tokyo Dome to bring Shiori back home and teach her some manners.

The next evening, Shiori and the rest of ZetaPro take the stage and face Yamato and NAZO. Before they could get a chance to talk, heavy hands fall on Shiori’s shoulders. It’s her uncle! He cannot believe the girl he raised nearly all his life would overstep her bounds and turn into some kind of rebel. Shiori forsook her duties for the sake of some stupid, immature dream. All her life he has told her that trash is always trash. Nothing she will ever say or do will change that. Kenji tries to stop him, but Shiori’s cousins block his path, preventing him from interfering. After Shiori’s cousins give Shiori a couple of good slugs, her uncle proceeds to drag her out of the dome. Shiori suddenly yet quietly tells her uncle to stop his foolishness. She tells him she is not a monster…she is not trash…she is an artist through and through, whether it be sketching, poetry, or music. Over the months, Shiori has learned that she should be the one who shapes her own future, not her abusive family. Shiori’s uncle is maddened by her words. He thought he, his wife, and his sons stripped her of her voice and her expressions. He believes her new friends have been a horrible influence to her all this time. Shiori disproves her uncle’s statement, claiming the time she spent with her new friends actually gave her the strength to express herself, voice her own thoughts, and stand up for what she believes in. No matter how much her cousins break her supplies, they will never break her dreams. Kenji could not be any prouder of what Shiori has accomplished as she progressed through her idol career. While her image is still blank and monotonous, the artistic spirit inside her is burning more vigorously than ever before. Security guards suddenly arrive and break up the commotion, escorting the family out of the dome for being nuisances and interrupting Shiori. Kaito soon arrives on the scene. He witnessed the situation and immediately informed security. As Shiori’s family head outside, Kenji hopes they have learned their lesson, will treat Shiori with respect in the future, and will allow her to follow her own heart. Yamato jokingly acts impressed with Shiori’s little speech to her uncle, but he has had enough of her little show of bravery. Why can’t she just accept the fact that she’s illegitimate trash and that she has no place in the common world, let alone the idol world? Kaito weeds out Yamato’s plan. Overhearing an earlier phone conversation, he was informed that Yamato sent an email to Shiori’s angry uncle and told falsehoods about her in order to make him travel to Tokyo Dome, find his rebellious niece, and drag her home “where she belongs.” Not only would she be severely punished, but NAZO would be guaranteed a victory in the finals. Kenji cannot believe Yamato would stoop so low. It looks like he will not accept Shiori’s artistic spirit either. The rest of the conversation goes on as usual from there.

ENDING

The following week, Shiori takes Kenji to her favorite room in the library to chat. It turns out that her little art studio in the basement, hiding her paycheck, and speaking out for herself at the dome caused a revelation among her family. They now realize just how special Shiori has become. She is still human, even if her real mother does happen to be a prostitute and her good-for-nothing father left her in her uncle’s care to avoid the responsibility. To make up for all they have done for her, Shiori’s basement bedroom was given a much-needed fixing up, her cousins bought her a new art studio to replace the one they wrecked, the household chores are divided much more fairly, she is allowed to keep her paychecks (they were all from her hard work after all), and her family does everything in their power to support Shiori’s career, work, and dreams. Plus, thanks to Kenji’s inspiration, Shiori feels a lot stronger than before. She has gained the confidence to speak out her beliefs and express herself in conversations as much as she does in her artwork and her songs. She even got a taste of true friendship with her two partners and Kenji. Suddenly, Kenji sees something in Shiori that makes him cover his mouth in amazement. For the first time…Shior’s face shines bright with an honest-to-goodness smile. “…an artist can show happiness too, you know…”

[liza94]

Shiori's story is my most favourite so far! You don't expect anything like that of an idol-rising game!

[ZetaFlare]

I'm going to do Tamaki's story next. Before I get started though, I made a few changes with Hotaru. Now the father is the concertmaster while the mother is the singer (their occupations have switched). The change was necessary to add a bit of a story element in Hotaru's route. Because of this (and her apparent popularity), I'm saving her for last after Tamaki and Ryoko.

Jinguuji Tamaki's Route

Jinguuji Tamaki’s Route

Kenji first meets Tamaki at a convenience store. She is reading a popular magazine, fawning over the latest, hottest male idols, particularly Touma of Jupiter. Kenji finds it pretty typical for a girl her age to be into that kind of thing. However, he can almost sense something in her as if she is interested in the idol world for more reasons than just the suave guys. As Kenji tries to get Tamaki’s attention, she reacts in shock, immediately suspects he is a creeper, and slaps an ofuda in his face. “Akuryou taisan!” Kenji lies dazed on the floor from Tamaki’s sudden self-defense. Once Tamaki notices Kenji’s ZetaPro ID tag, she apologizes to him for her rudeness, takes the ofuda off his head, and helps him back up. She thought he was some kind of pervert and reacted instinctively…an issue she is aware of that occurred multiple times in the past. Once Kenji tells her the news, Tamaki is bursting with excitement. She cannot wait to show all the pretty boy idols what she can really do.

At first, Kenji and the other two idols see Tamaki as nothing more than a generic fangirl and think she will not take her job seriously. She soon surprises everyone with a rather decent singing voice and a confident, comfortable attitude during recordings. Kenji wonders if Tamaki had some experience singing in the past. Tamaki reveals that she is actually a self-taught singer who learned some basic and intermediate techniques online. Once she felt comfortable enough with her voice and old enough to open a NicoNico account, she decided to make a name for herself as an utaite—someone who provides voice covers of songs. Known on the net as Rei-tan (霊たん), she gained some modest popularity. Her song covers usually involved romance, crushes, and cute boys. Even back then, she was still pretty boy-crazy and would flip whenever a hot guy would subscribe to her page. She even knew Eri during her days as a net idol. As she began to make more song covers, she subscribed to ELLIE, paid close attention to some of her techniques, and put what she learned to good use as Tamaki’s improved covers garnered more views and followers than before. She hoped to one day get noticed by big-time idols, especially the members of Jupiter, her biggest fangirl crushes. Unfortunately, certain circumstances forced her to abandon her NicoNico account. She was not banned due to copyright issues, but it seemed like Rei-tan suddenly disappeared from her fans without a trace. Now Tamaki is using what she learned to become a real professional idol. Kenji notices her earlier work as a net singer is really paying off in her professional career so far. Her training in ceremonial dancing as part of her miko duties have carried over well into her idol career as well as she can learn her songs’ choreography pretty quickly. It seems she definitely prefers how idols dance over the “slow and boring” style of kagura dancing. Kenji is proud of the progress Tamaki has made so far, but it seems like she does not care about being a miko. Could her miko duties be holding her back from what she really wants to do?

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Jinguuji Tamaki's Route, cont.

Knowing the Sunny Beach Festival attracts lots of big-name idols, Tamaki hopes to perform well there and leave a good, lasting impression. Unfortunately, her unit gets crushed singlehandedly by Himeko. Himeko laughs at Tamaki and tells her no one will take someone like her seriously at all. If she thinks being pretty and popular will help her find love, she is looking in all the wrong places and is doomed to fail. Besides, Himeko is a princess. Everyone loves her whether they want to or not. Himeko claims she will steal all of Tamaki’s crushes before she even gets a chance with them. Tamaki snaps at Himeko, telling her someone like her will never win over Jupiter’s hearts. Himeko simply laughs and tells Tamaki she is not fit to be a real idol.

Back at the office, Tamaki blames her partners for her loss, believing their horrible performance made her look like a disgrace. What if Jupiter or some other snazzy male idols saw such an embarrassment out of her? She’d be the laughing stock of the idol world! The more time Tamaki spent with her partners, the more she grew to trust them. How is she supposed to trust them now after they let her down like this? Kenji butts in. Standing up to the other two idols, he claims the entire unit lost. At their current level, even one member of NAZO is more than a match for them. The entire unit does not revolve around just its leader. The best thing they can do now is just shake it off and move on. Even the country’s best and most popular idols will lose sometimes. However, as long as they keep their dreams alive, they can come back even stronger than before. Kenji informs Tamaki the first thing she has to do is trust in her partners. Tamaki gets snippy at Kenji, thinking he is blaming her for the loss. She angrily tells him he does not understand her feelings at all as she runs out of the office in a huff and slams the door. Kenji tries to go after her, but the President stops him, believing this is just another typical case of teenage angst. That loss must have hurt Tamaki’s pride, especially considering how Himeko mocked her after the performance. She probably just needs some time to herself to calm down. As a former producer in his own right, the President is all too familiar with working through situations like this among his idols. Kenji hopes he can stay on Tamaki’s good side, especially considering her impulses.

As Himeko informs her producer of her easy victory, she believes her opponent’s singing voice sounded a little familiar. Still, considering Tamaki’s dreams, impulses, and most recent performance, Himeko’s producer believes Tamaki is just a small fry and not even the slightest bit of a threat to NAZO’s plans.

Next week, Tamaki apologizes to everyone for her rude behavior and promises to be a better team player in the future. Even after a few hiccups here and there, she keeps her promise as the unit is able to get their momentum back. One week after ZetaPro’s encounter with 961Pro/Ryuuguu Komachi, Tamaki arrives at work as usual. However, just before the unit is about to leave for a promotional event, they are suddenly halted by an angry man. It turns out this man is really Tamaki’s father! All this time he was led to believe Tamaki was going to the library to study and do homework or spending time around town with friends when he found out that his daughter had actually been neglecting her miko duties to become an idol. He believed he specifically told Tamaki he forbade her from following that path. To him, it’s a major waste of her young life. For the sake of Tamaki and her family, he drags Tamaki towards his car, hoping to take her home. She tries to resist, but her father quickly slaps her across the face, hoping it would clear her mind of such absurd thoughts. Kenji tries to stop him, claiming he cannot just take her away from the office just like that and asking him if what he is doing really is for the greater good of his daughter. Tamaki’s father angrily silences Kenji, claiming that all the members of ZetaPro have spoiled his daughter and corrupted her mind as he closes the car door and drives off with Tamaki. Worried, Kenji immediately heads towards Kaito’s van, urgently informing Kaito they need to chase down the car, find Tamaki, and see what is really going on.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Jinguuji Tamaki's Route, cont.

Kenji and Kaito arrive at a shrine which serves as the home of Tamaki’s family. The only people at home are Tamaki and her father. Kenji finds Tamaki outside praying at a fountain. Tamaki is happy to see her producer again. She actually predicted his arrival. Not only was she trained to be a miko since her childhood, but she’s also fairly skilled at divination. Her father claims she got that trait from her mother. Tamaki is still feeling a little upset because her father will not let her become a singer. Since she comes from a long line of miko in her family, her father wished to pass on the family’s traditions to their next of kin. Ever since her mother mysteriously disappeared, her father has become much stricter with Tamaki’s training. However, Tamaki scorned the “boring” life of a miko, having to remain at the shrine most of the day doing divinations, prayers, selling charms, and kagura dancing. Instead, Tamaki preferred a more adventurous lifestyle, going out with friends and looking for love in many different places. She would often gush over and flirt with any strapping young man who enters the shrine. She would rather listen to her favorite boy bands than some traditional form of music her father would always play in the background. She was willing to do anything to make the boys go wild over her, even going as far as wearing something revealing (like a bikini) instead of her usual miko garb when doing business with pretty guys. After discovering Jupiter, Tamaki decided to try her hand at singing in the hopes they would recognize and love her. Unfortunately, her father recently caught on to her plans, deleted her NicoNico account, wiped the entire “Rei-tan” persona off the face of the Internet, threw out all of her CDs, and even sold her laptop computer. He highly disapproves Tamaki’s hotheaded personality, boy-crazy tendencies, and desire to be an idol. He believes a love life like that will never work and will eventually lead to prostitution. He also does not like her going out and about as much either…they never know when someone might turn to her for divine guidance. Tamaki was always expected to be pure, polite, and respectful (especially towards shrine visitors), do exactly as she is asked, and take her miko duties seriously. While he sounds like he is treating her like this for her own good and for the sake of the family, Tamaki feels trapped on a path she does not wish to travel. She thought if she could not be an utaite or a net personality, she could become a real idol. After all, boys really love their idols too. As an idol, she might be able to realize her dreams of getting noticed by Jupiter and maybe even find a boyfriend. One night, Tamaki ran away from home and decided to find a talent agency to audition for. It took a couple of tries, but the President of ZetaPro accepted her. Tamaki is having a pretty good time as an idol so far. Her new jobs felt much more exciting than her miko duties or even her NicoNico song projects. All of a sudden, Tamaki’s father interrupts the conversation. Reminding her that prolonged personal conversations with visitors are strictly forbidden, he calls Tamaki back inside. He then asks Kenji to leave as he is becoming a major distraction to his daughter. Kenji asks him if he ever tried listening to Tamaki’s heart for once. She’s old enough to make her own decisions. Perhaps she does not care about being a miko. However, all he gets in response is a loud, enraged “Get out!” Kenji quickly leaves, but still deeply worries about Tamaki. As Tamaki’s father heads back inside the shrine, he tells her to come straight home after school and tend to the shrine and its visitors. No more of this idol nonsense…Kenji has become a bad influence. Tamaki cringes as she begins her divination lessons. Tamaki predicts she will realize her dreams in the future. Her father thinks she’s making up false predictions and tells her to focus, but she claims she was telling the truth. As Tamaki continues to read the cards, her father worriedly looks at her. “If only you would understand…”

Next week, Tamaki manages to escape her confines in the shrine and head back to ZetaPro for her next assignment. In her hand is a gossip magazine with an article that reads, “Rei-tan returns! Beloved net singer thought to have suddenly disappeared from NicoNico currently working as a live idol.” The rumors spread through her school like wildfire. Some people felt dejected that Rei-tan selfishly betrayed them. However, others were glad to hear their net angel’s voice again and learn that Tamaki was able to move on to bigger and better things. Tamaki never really takes gossip magazines seriously at all. With her fortune-telling skills, she can learn the real truth.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Jinguuji Tamaki's Route, cont.

On the day of the IU preliminaries, Tamaki looks everywhere for Jupiter, but cannot seem to find them. She is a little disappointed, figuring they would participate in a tournament this big, especially seeing how they lost to Ryuuguu Komachi in the final round of this particular tournament last time. Kenji eventually finds Tamaki and asks her to stay with the rest of her group so she does not get lost in the sea of idols waiting in line. Tamaki still wants to find her favorite male unit, but Kenji figures they might have some business of their own they have to attend to. It would be best not to interfere with them. Still, Tamaki wonders…who knows if they will run into her later after the audition? After the competition blocks have been assigned, Tamaki gets confronted by Hineko and her two partners. Tamaki is not pleased to have to put up with Himeko’s pompous attitude again. Himeko cannot wait to teach the “lovesick skank” her place and force her to give up her immature, impure dreams, especially considering how she utterly destroyed Tamaki’s unit by herself in their last encounter. After the audition, both Tamaki and Himeko are surprised to see that ZetaPro managed to pass, although they still place a distant second to NAZO. Himeko claims “Rei-tan” only got lucky. When Himeko heard Tamaki’s singing voice earlier, she figured she sounded familiar. The boy-crazy miko idol and the “overrated” NicoNico singer with mediocre-at-best covers and skanky fangirl tendencies who selfishly abandoned her fans are one and the same. Himeko never really liked the Rei-tan persona anyway. She sings tasteless love songs just to try to find love of her own. All her fans are mindless sheep that pretty much fell for her “forbidden black magic.” Once Tamaki’s new fans figure out who she really is, they will abandon her much like she did them. Himeko demands Tamaki quit her shenanigans and let her little boy toys worship their true princess…no, queen. Tamaki suddenly notices Touma exiting the venue and instinctively rushes past Himeko to get a chance to talk with him. Himeko orders her to stop, claiming she has not finished talking with her yet, but Tamaki is too quick for her. Once Tamaki opens the door, Touma and the others are long gone. Tamaki is beyond annoyed, thinking Himeko set her up so she could spend some private time with her dream guys. Kenji disagrees, believing it was just a case of bad timing. With Rei-tan’s old fanbase still fueled by slander and supposed deception, fear of her father potentially catching on to her plans, and Himeko still being a nuisance to her, Tamaki knows she is not out of the woods yet.

Once Tamaki arrives back home, her father urgently calls her to meet him in her room. Tamaki gets a little nervous as she approaches him, expecting the worst to happen. Her father recently noticed a note on her bed saying that he felt like she belongs at ZetaPro. All her life she wanted to be a singer, not a miko. She’s old enough to start making her own decisions and her father needs to understand that. While she does respect her parents’ thoughts and wishes, she never wanted a pre-arranged future. While she originally decided to be the utaite “Rei-tan” and later an idol in order to get noticed by the pretty boy idols she likes and hopefully be able to find her dream lover, her time with Kenji and her two partners felt so special to her and helped her change for the better. She enjoys the idol life from hearing her fanboys’ cheers to the variety shows and advertisements she participates in as well as being able to sing and dance her heart out on stage. After Tamaki’s father noticed she went missing again, he thought she was being stubborn and disobedient. However, once he read her note, he had a bit of a revelation. Ever since his wife (Tamaki’s mother, a well-known miko) suddenly died, all he thought about was maintaining the honor and traditions of both sides of the family without once thinking about his own daughter’s feelings. Nearly all the women on the maternal side of Tamaki’s family have at some point in their lives (if not their entire lives) worked as miko. Her father owns and runs the shrine she has lived in since she was born. Her father knew right away that she acquired her natural beauty and top-notch fortune-telling skills from her mother. He figured Tamaki had what it takes to continue her family’s miko traditions and help his business flourish. One day, however, Tamaki’s mother seemed to suddenly lose her divine powers. Her fortune-telling became inaccurate and her prayers and charms were reported to cause a series of unfortunate events. It became so bad to the point where she was labeled as a fraud, causing rumors to spread around the city. With her family’s honor shamed, she was forced to step down as a miko and leave the shrine’s future in Tamaki’s hands. She only wanted the best for Tamaki, but felt guilty to place such a heavy burden upon her daughter at such a young age. A few days later, Tamaki’s mother’s streak of bad luck reached a climactic moment as she was killed in a fatal hit-and-run accident by someone who was driving under the influence after running a red light. After that, Tamaki’s devastated father greatly intensified Tamaki’s miko training. He heavily disapproved his daughter’s naïve views of love, hoping to keep her as pure of heart as possible just like her mother and almost any other tried-and-true miko. Tamaki’s note left her father reminiscing about his wife. He remembered the pain she felt after dishonor fell upon her…the regret she faced sacrificing her daughter’s free will for the sake of her ancestors’ honor. If she could speak her last wish today, it would definitely be that Tamaki live a free, happy life the way she wants it. If she wants to be a miko, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine too. Tamaki feels very sorry for herself. All this time her father told her she was travelling Japan bringing blessings to everyone who called for her divine aid. The truth was just too shocking to believe. If she would have known earlier, there was a good chance she might have forsaken her dreams in favor of devoting her life to becoming a miko. However, she feels relieved, knowing that both her parents now appreciate and support her dreams. The best thing she can do to make her mother happy now would be to follow her own heart…and her heart is telling her to be an idol. Besides, Tamaki has been even more successful as a live idol than she Rei-tan was as a net singer and she’s participating in one of the country’s biggest tournaments. To make up for all he has done, Tamaki’s father decides to do everything in his power to support her career. Tamaki thanks her father for understanding her feelings. She heads to the outside fountain and prays to her mother, stating that she will uphold her last wish and not disappoint her.

Next week, Tamaki tells ZetaPro the news. They are all very happy she was able to convince her father to let her be an idol. Weeks later after spending some extra time to get to know her partners better, Tamaki feels ready to take Himeko on again after ZetaPro is challenged by NAZO to square off at the Harvest Moon Festival. The wannabe princess does not disturb her anymore. Unfortunately, the performance is cancelled halfway through the performance due to a pyrotechnic malfunction. Yamato shows up and proceeds to mock ZetaPro, mainly Tamaki. To him, Tamaki is only popular because she’s pretty. Deep down, she’s just as hopeless, stupid, and ignorant as any other middle-class girl her age. Trying to do anything to get the guys to love her? It sounds like she could be planning to one day “show off” to her fans. Besides, what Tamaki does not know is that idols are supposed to be pure…no relationships, no exceptions. To think she would learn better especially now that she’s Rank A. She’s selfish and heartless the way she abandoned her net fans (for Rei-tan suddenly leaving NicoNico) and her parents (for giving up her miko duties to become a singer). Plus, she has no real talent. Rei-tan’s voice was just too plain to really stand out above the other utaite singers…there was nothing special about it at all. Both her net and live personae are highly overrated. ZetaPro pretty much hired her knowing that because she gained modest popularity over the Internet, she would be easy money as an idol. It just goes to prove how cheap and greedy lower-class companies can be. Tamaki should just give up being an idol and go back to being a miko like her family wants her to be. Tamaki strikes back, informing him it was not her decision to delete her Rei-tan persona. It was her father’s, but he knows better now. Now she’s free to do whatever her heart tells her. While she has more freedom than before, she knows her bounds and would not do anything scandalous to get boys to love her. Plus, even if she does not find a boyfriend, she doesn’t care anymore. What matters is she made such precious friends over the course of her career, mainly her partners and producer. Yamato scoffs at Tamaki’s statements, believing ZetaPro is spoiling her with their lies. Besides, there is no escape from her past. It will always come back to haunt her. He laughs as he takes NAZO back to his limo. Tamaki is not scared of Yamato’s threats, but hopes what he said about the past does not prove to be true.

On the day of the IU opening ceremonies, Tamaki overhears a conversation between Himeko and Yamato. While her rival still claims to be perfect, she feels a little insecure being fully British. She fears that if word gets out (especially about her real name), all the fame and fortune she has will be destroyed and she will have absolutely no chance of winning the IU. Yamato angrily makes her snap out of it. He made her a regal princess idol because she is the definition of pure perfection and proof that the upper class is superior in every way. Her competition will bow to her like the goddess she is. Tamaki never figured there was more to Himeko than meets the eye. Underneath her proud, rude, self-centered nature beats the heart of a scared, insecure girl. Tamaki figures Himeko is not in the mood to talk right now so she just lets it be for now. Besides, she knows Jupiter is in the near vicinity and really wants to talk to them. She looks everywhere but cannot seem to find them. Unfortunately for her, Kenji tells the group they are heading back to the office. Tamaki is a little disappointed she could not get to chat with Jupiter again, but figures she will get her chance once the actual finals begin.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

UPDATE: Now finishing

Jinguuji Tamaki's Route, conclusion

ZetaPro will face Jupiter in the quarterfinals. Tamaki squeals with delight upon finally seeing her favorite male idols in person, telling them she has been a major fangirl of theirs ever since they formed and was inspired by their work to become a singer herself. She is really thinking about throwing the match to Jupiter in order to allow them to have their desired rematch with Ryuuguu Komachi, but ultimately decides against it. One, Kenji and the others would not let her seeing as through their mission is to defeat NAZO and bring their haughty elitist producer (and the President's son) to his senses. Two, if she did, Jupiter (especially Touma) would not take her very seriously as an idol at all...she really has to prove how and why she made it this far. Once Jupiter is defeated, Tamaki apologizes for knocking them out of the running for the IU. Touma and the others are really impressed by her skill and victory, they congratulate her for her efforts and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. Touma encourages her to give it her all as the heads down the last leg of the tournament, not wanting to be disappointed. Tamaki is so overcome by infatuation she swoons and nearly faints, but Kenji is there to catch her before she could fall. As a sign of appreciation, Jupiter even signs Tamaki's Alice or Guilty CD cover. Tamaki is delighted and inspired. Now that she has realized her dream of being noticed by Jupiter, she feels as though nothing could possibly go wrong now.

Tamaki's unit later defeats Project Fairy and will face NAZO in the finals. With the situation getting more out of hand, Yamato desperately searches the archives for something he could use to put an abrupt end to Tamaki's career. Suddenly, he sees something particulary eye-popping and laughs maniacally...

The next day as ZetaPro arrives at their dressing room, they notice an ominous red letter with a dragon motif. It's obviously from Yamato. It reads, "Dear Tamaki-chan...or should I say Rei-tan, You do realize you have no chance of defeating NAZO. You're nothing more than a Jupiter fangirl with a naive view of love and impure thoughts. I have recently discovered something that will prove to the entire country you are nowhere near idol material. Remember that little risque self-photoshoot Rei-tan posted on Jupiter's fan page? I have got my hands on the photos. Your net persona may be gone, but your legacy has not been forgotten. I will make you an offer...drop out of the IU finals and surrender to NAZO or else your photos shall be released to the public. Like I told you before, there is no escape from your past. Just do yourself a favor and give yourself up, you pathetic fangirl!" Tamaki remembers those photos. To show Jupiter how pretty she was, "Rei-tan" posted pics of herself half-naked performing very dangerous, suggestive poses. There is even one in the collection where she is seen exposing her nipples (though the viewers cannot see this for obvious reasons). Tamaki is so distressed she does not know what to do. She really wants to perform, but is convinced Yamato will go through with his ultimatum if she does. Both her online and offline reputations will be ruined! With time running out and Tamaki growing more and more stressed, Kenji comes up with a plan to counterattack...

Later that evening as Kenji and Kaito search for the photos, they run into Jupiter dressed as RyuuseiPro agents. Touma overheard a conversation Yamato had on the phone earlier today involving the ultimatum he sent to Tamaki. It turns out even if Tamaki did drop out of the tournament, Yamato was not going to keep his word...he plans to release the photos anyway to teach his father the error of his ways as well as prove that Tamaki should not be an idol. Not willing to once again fall for a corrupt manager's lies, Jupiter decides to aid Kenji in putting a stop their former producer's plans, believing someone like Tamaki deserves a fair fight against NAZO. Touma tells Kenji to leave everything to him since he knows where Yamato's quarters are. Once Yamato is away, the male idols are able to fool security, sneak into the room;, and open the computer. Luckily, Shouta finds the folder containing the scandalous photos and deletes them just in time. As soon as Jupiter puts the computer in sleep mode and get set to leave, Yamato suddenly enters, much to their surprise. Once Yamato asks what they are up to, Touma claims they arrived to clean up the room. Yamato thanks the disguised agents for their "service" as they exit their former producer's quarters.

Just as Tamaki's unit is about to take the stage, Jupiter shows up (back in their stage outfits) and lets Kenji know the coast is clear. They managed to delete Tamaki's photos without raising any suspicion. Tamaki thanks Jupiter graciously and hugs them with all her might, much to Touma's annoyance. With Tamaki clear to perform, she confidently takes the stage and meets NAZO face to face. Yamato, still unaware of what Jupiter has done, believes Tamaki must be a masochist for not abiding to his end of the deal. He calls one of his agents to hook up his computer to the dome's screens and display the images. However, the agent claims there is a problem...he no longer has access to the photos. Yamato is surprised. How could this happen? Jupiter suddenly appears before Yamato. Having once before worked with corrupt management who was willing to do anything to crush his enemies no matter how underhanded, Touma could not stand by and watch Yamato score a dishonest victory. Tamaki and her partners are very respectable idols. Yamato just does not want to admit it. Kenji and Jupiter demand that Yamato quit his shenanigans and fight fairly. It's what they deserve. Tamaki swoons as she thanks Jupiter for their assistance. After the conversation, Tamaki takes the stage and lets everyone know that she and the utaite Rei-tan are one and the same. She left the Internet due to circumstances beyond her control, but she loves all her fans, both online and offline. Now she wants to show everyone (especially all the pretty guys out there) the fruits of her perseverance!

ENDING

Tamaki's success and popularity are enough to make her father's shrine flourish more than ever. Some people arrive not for blessings, but for autographs. Tamaki includes a charm with each autograph as a thanks for their support. As a bit of an apology, Tamaki's father buys her a brand new laptop and USB microphone, allowing her to revive the Rei-tan persona, continue recording song covers, and even opening her own blog. One day, she meets up with Kenji again, telling him the news. She could not be any happier than she is right now and it's all thanks to him. She was able to convince her father she wanted to live her life the way she wants, her talents have won the hearts of several male fans, and she was able to get noticed and supported by her favorite male idols. However, she decides to keep a bit of a miko persona while on stage. Before her performances, she would often wave a tamagushi, blessing her audience before dazzling them with her song and dance. She figured both her father and mother would like it if she decided to incorporate both elements in her idol image. Suddenly, she gets a notification on her smart phone. She got a reply on her blog. It's from Shouta! It turns out he has become quite an avid fan of Rei-tan's song covers. He then asks if the two of them could spend a little time together after their respecive units face off in a festival. Tamaki gasps...it's like a dream come true!

[ZetaFlare]

Two more story mode routes to go! Because Hotaru seemed to develop a bit of popularity when I introduced her, I'll save her for last.

Busujima Ryoko’s Route

Kenji first meets Ryoko just outside the office practicing on her guitar. It becomes apparent she has been playing or a few years now and really knows what she’s doing with her instrument. She also shows off her deep and powerful yet cool and controlled singing voice. Kenji can really tell Ryoko has that rock spirit the President told him about. Once he strikes up a conversation with her, he notices her demeanor is very punkish and boyish. If it were not for a certain chest feature of hers, Kenji might have been convinced she was a boy instead. Ryoko assures Kenji she is a genuine girl despite her looks. Upon hearing the news of her upcoming debut, she is fired up and cannot wait to be able to rock the stage. Still, Kenji wonders. Can a rockin’ girl who is even more boyish than Makoto really become a successful female idol?

At first, Ryoko has a very difficult time adjusting to idol life. She really does not enjoy acting cuter and more feminine and will sometimes even refuse to wear a dress, let alone a skirt. During some commercials and variety shows, her rock soul will often get the better of her, causing her to go all out with a loud voice and fiery, overly-enthusiastic demeanor when trying to advertise, often failing to appeal to the product’s target demographic. She would sometimes pass the time practicing on her guitar even during events when her guitar was not needed at all. Even after all that, Ryoko and her unit still gain a modest fanbase and are able to reach Rank E. Once Ryoko’s unit returns to the office after their festival performance against 876Pro, Ryoko decides to talk to Kenji in private. She apologizes for acting snippy with him and the others and giving them a rough time. Despite her rebellious demeanor, she really is a nice girl deep down. She admits idol life is much different than what she is normally used to. The truth is she never intended to be an idol in the first place—her dream is to become a rock star. Ryoko is the daughter of Ryunosuke Busujima, a big time rock singer and lead guitarist of the band known as Cobra. Ryoko devoted nearly her entire life following in his footsteps. She took up guitar lessons and honed her naturally strong yet crisp voice by singing along to some of her favorite rock albums. Because she grew up in a very rock-centered family, she began to develop a strong will, a punkish look, and a brash, boyish personality. Once she got into high school, she tried her best to join garage bands and rock music clubs, but despite her talents, none of them really seemed to accept her just because she was a girl. The fact there were no real female rock bands in her school and neighborhood did not really help much either. She even tried cutting her hair short and spiking it in order to appear more rebellious, but still no band accepted her. Still, she was allowed to perform at Ryunosuke’s favorite bar from time to time, where she became a pretty big hit. Once Ryoko began college, she began taking professional lessons and even tried her best to start up a female rock group of her own, but none of the girls in the school were interested. One day when she was practicing, the President overheard her singing and offered her to become an idol. Ryoko did not have much of an idea what idols were at the time, but her eyes lit up at being able to enter the professional music industry, seeing it as a perfect stepping stone in her path towards the world of rock. Kenji finds her story particularly interesting, especially seeing how she is the daughter of a rock artist he knows pretty well. While Kenji’s main focus is classical and instrumental music, he has listened to and enjoyed quite a few Cobra songs when he was younger. Until she can realize her dream, Ryoko promises she will do her best to become the best idol she can be. The path may a bit rockier than she thinks, but she is the type who always gives 110% in everything she does and never even thinks about giving up. It’s just not her style.

As the days go by, not much has changed. Ryoko does not feel like she’s really improving much as an idol even though her dancing has gotten much better and her voice is still as strong as ever. On the day of the Sunny Beach Festival, Ryoko puts on her best performance to date, but it still is not enough as her unit is crushed by Kagura. Kagura really does not care for Ryoko at all. Due to her looks and demeanor, she is hardly even considerable idol material. It’s like ZetaPro pulled a gangster boy-in-a-girl’s-body from the slums. Even if she was into rock music, there is no way someone like her can be shaped into a proper idol. All she will do is hold the rest of her unit back. No matter what she or her friends do, she cannot change fate. Getting a little frustrated from such demeaning comments, Ryoko tries to defend herself, claiming she is much more caring and dedicated than Kagura thnks, but Kagura quickly silences her, considering Ryoko’s “pathetic” excuses annoying. She then demands Ryoko to quit being an idol as she is a disgrace to both the idol world and the rock world. Just before she leaves, she turns back and tells Ryoko, “By the way…Cobra is overrated.” Ryoko almost snaps and urges Kagura to take back what she said, but Kagura simply ignores her and leaves the festival venue.

Back at the office, Ryoko is really disappointed with herself for snapping at Kagura. It’s like she just proved her statement true. Kenji assures Ryoko that everything Kagura said about her is far from true. He is not quite sure what is going through Kagura’s head right now, but he can tell she is far too stuck up to open up to Ryoko and prove her true feelings do not necessarily match her appearance. Still, Ryoko blames herself for the unit’s loss. Compared to her partners, when it comes to developing her idol aura, she feels as though she is falling way behind. No matter how hard she tries, she is too used to her punkish rock persona, often sticking her in awkward situations. Kenji comforts her, claiming that adjusting to a brand new, completely different lifestyle is never an easy thing. It’s like when you first move from the city to the country or vice versa. Some of the other idols feel like they needed to adjust their styles a bit too. Their adjustment situations often proved to be just as difficult. Rest assured, Kenji will make sure that he and the other two idols help Ryoko change and become the best rockin’ idol she can be, even if it’s just a stepping stone for bigger and better things. Nobody else is giving up on her so she should not give up on herself either. Ryoko thanks everyone for the support. She promises to do her best to help out the unit as much as she can, but still worries that her best might not be good enough.

As Kagura informs her “mysterious” producer of her recent victory, she seems curious about her opponent. Her family name happens to be Busujima…could she really be related to him? Nevertheless, Kagura’s producer knows Ryoko is simply no match for her and is hardly a threat to his plans…

(to be continued)

Expect the appearance and involvement of a 765Pro idol in the next part!

[ZetaFlare]

Busujima Ryoko's Route, cont.

Ryoko’s unit manages to get their momentum back after a couple of successful outings. As the weeks go by, while Ryoko’s natural talents keep on improving, her nature still has not made much change. She still prefers to wear dark colors over cute, girly, or glittery outfits. She still acts very boyish and often winds up sparking awkward situations. She continues to utilize a powerful, rock-type singing voice even during songs where it is not really necessary (i.e. cute, hyper songs or quiet/sad ballads). It almost appears as if she is way too used to her “rock girl” image or simply does not want to change. Even after her unit reaches rank C and faces off against 961Pro/Ryuuguu Komachi, Ryoko still gets complaints from directors and some fans regarding her behavior. According to them, while she shows more and more promise the further she progresses, she just does not seem to fit the general description of a tried-and-true idol with her punkish rockin’ girl attitude. There appears to be almost nothing cute or innocent about her at all. Plus, it seems like she does not even want to try to change her act for the better. Because of this, she is starting to become a burden to her unit. If anything, she should just stick to the rock music word and forget about being an idol. Ryoko is starting to get a little upset reading these messages, not knowing what to do in response. Looking a little depressed, she meets Kenji in the park one day to discuss her problems. People are starting to get the idea that she is not taking her idol career very seriously. If she wants to be a successful idol, Ryoko has to make the appropriate adjustments and look like she really wants to be an idol. However, Ryoko believes that task is becoming more and more impossible and is beginning to understand why. She is just too used to her “rock girl” image and does not want to throw it away, fearing as through by doing that she will ultimately wind up failing her father and all the other amateur groups she tried auditioning for. Suddenly, the conversation catches the attention of a familiar figure. It turns out 765Pro idol Makoto Kikuchi has been eavesdropping on Kenji and Ryoko and decided to lend an upcoming idol a helping hand. Makoto recognizes Ryoko from seeing her on TV a couple of times. Once she hears the name Busujima, her eyes light up…it turns out she has been quite an avid Cobra fan when she was younger and is overjoyed to be able to meet the lead guitarist’s daughter. Still, Makoto tells Ryoko she can really sympathize with her when it comes to her personality. Makoto wonders if Ryunosuke raised Ryoko to be a more boyish rock star like him in order to pass down his legacy. Ryoko tells her she was actually inspired by his success and tried her best to emulate him, especially in terms of his guitar style and personality. Makoto claims her childhood was much different as she was essentially raised to be a boy. Still, deep down Makoto was a genuine girl. Becoming an idol really helped awaken her cute, girly charms, although the road to changing her image was a rocky one. While she is a lot better than she was before, she admits traces of her brash tomboy nature will slip out occasionally even these days, often sticking her in unnecessarily awkward situations or causing her to attract more girls than boys. Makoto assures Ryoko that if she can change her demeanor like that, Ryoko can too. If Ryoko chose to become boyish of her own free will, she would not be failing Ryunosuke at all if she decided to make a few changes to her life. Ryoko then recalls what her father once told her when he saw her playing the guitar along to one of his CDs. All he wanted was for his daughter just to be happy. He did appreciate Ryoko’s adoration of his work with Cobra, but he assured her that she should be the only one who ultimately makes the decisions of what she should do with her life. She should try listening to her heart more than his CDs. Makoto knows Ryoko has what it takes to become a truly magnificent idol. Even though Ryoko claims she did not have much luck when it came to joining amateur rock groups and school clubs, she needs to take advantage of the opportunity ZetaPro gave her to make her first big impact in the music industry. Becoming a rock star may be a future goal, but Makoto reminds Ryoko to keep her focus on the present. To help her on her way, Makoto even offers her some extra lessons to provide some tips in appearing more cute and feminine, including getting used to wearing skirts and glitter. Ryoko enthusiastically accepts Makoto’s offer. Makoto reminds Ryoko that even though changing her nature will be very difficult, the trick is to stay persistent, even if she accidentally switches back to her old tendencies from time to time. Kenji and especially Ryoko thank Makoto for the chat as the three of them head home for the evening.

As the weeks go by, Ryoko’s extra training is starting to pay off. Many more people are accepting her as a true idol now. Kenji and the others are very impressed with Ryoko’s incredible progress. On the day of the IU preliminaries, she cannot wait to show everyone what she has accomplished, especially Makoto, who has told her she too will enter the tournament. Ryoko looks everywhere in the main hall, but cannot seem to find Makoto or her companions. Because she has to stay in line and register with the rest of her unit in person, she cannot find a space to practice on her guitar either, which makes Ryoko slightly more impatient. After registering, ZetaPro discovers they have been placed in the same competition block as NAZO, which makes Ryoko feel slightly uneasy. She really does not want to blow it in front of Kagura again (both socially and performance-wise) after what happened last time. Kagura can hardly wait to teach Ryoko her place especially now that NAZO is coming at them full throttle. After the audition, both Ryoko and Kagura are surprised to discover that ZetaPro has managed to pass. However, the gap between Ryoko’s unit and the first-place NAZO is immense. Kagura figured Ryoko’s family name sounded familiar…she’s the daughter of the “great” rock artist Ryunosuke Busujima. Perhaps his so-called talents…and vulgar, rebellious attitude…have been passed on to his daughter. Still, the way Ryoko acts makes Kagura think she could be a bisexual. This particular comment starts to make Ryoko feel tense, but she remembers what Makoto taught her and manages to calm down (she really does not want to blow her top and appear confrontational). Plus, no matter what Ryoko tries to do, she can never change who she really is. If she chooses one path, she must stick to it the rest of her life. This is what’s called fate. Calmly, Ryoko tries to explain that she really has changed with the help of Makoto, her partners, and Kenji, but Kagura claims they are the ones really holding her back from what could potentially make her the absolute best. They are trying to spoil her and hopelessly steer her away from her destined path. She suggests that Ryoko stop kidding herself, quit being an idol, and stick to being a mediocre rock artist like she was raised. Suddenly, Makoto arrives and intervenes in the conversation. She has been watching Ryoko develop before her eyes and on TV. She can tell Ryoko has become such a fantastic idol in such a short amount of time. Besides, fate cannot decide the path she takes in life…her heart does. Makoto suggests that NAZO no longer underestimate Ryoko or they will soon be in for a big surprise. Kagura has had enough of the conversation and leaves the venue with her partners. Ryoko thanks Makoto profusely for coming to her defense. Makoto knew if she did not see all of that potential in Ryoko, she probably would not have even considered aiding her. After the tomboy idols fist-bump, Makoto overhears Yukiho calling her back to her group as 765Pro is getting set to leave. Makoto heads over towards Yukiho but not before telling Ryoko to keep up the good work and stay determined.

(to be continued)

[Amazing_Grace]

Loving Nagisa even more! Poor thing, but I'm glad I was able to watch her grow as an idol. That part where she found out her mother had died was just heartbreaking.

Shiori is really interesting too. I like her story and pity her from how her family treats her--I find it hard to believe she's only 13!.

Now to catch up on Tamaki who I totally forgot I skipped. Liking Ryoko so far too! Keep it up!

EDIT: Read Tamaki's story! Is it just me, or do a lot of these guys have parents that disapprove of them...? Geez. You'd think their families would LIKE their daughters being idols. I like her. Her past as an utaite and her miko-style performance is unique, and even her motives are nice. I liked her moving from just being boy-crazy to being a true (boy-crazy) idol.
I TOTALLY SHIP SHOUTAMAKI NOW OKAY.

[ZetaFlare]

Busujima Ryoko's Route, cont.

Ryoko decides to spend some extra time with her partners not just to build bonds and get to know them better, but to learn some extra tools in order to help build her evolving idol image. While she does occasionally make mistakes, she no longer considers them unforgivable or beats herself up over them. Nobody can truly be perfect. Once Ryoko reaches Rank A, she can really start to feel all the progress she has made, especially from her extra lessons with Makoto. She is beginning to look and act more like an honest-to-goodness idol. Once ZetaPro is challenged by NAZO to face off at the Harvest Moon Festival, Ryoko cannot wait to show them how much she has improved over time and prove them she is able to change. Unfortunately, their performance gets cancelled halfway due to a pyrotechnic malfunction. Yamato suddenly arrives to pick up NAZO and mock ZetaPro, particularly Ryoko. The fact that ZetaPro hired someone like her is living proof of how low middle-class companies will sink for the sake of money and popularity. They figured they could easily cash in with the daughter of a well-known rock star. They probably do not pay her much and force/blackmail her to change her ways and become a more ideal idol. They just have no clue that no matter how much they try, they will never be able to change who she really is—a vulgar, hotheaded, street-fighting punk-like tomboy who looks and acts like a genuine bisexual—not even close to true idol material. Ryoko cannot take hearing these false accusations anymore and has no choice but to speak up. She claims she joined ZetaPro as an idol in order to take advantage of the opportunity they gave her to set foot into the professional music business, was treated fairly all this time, was kind to all their members, and, due to all the faith her partners, her producer, and a well-known “princely” idol had in her, was able to start adjusting to styles outside her comfort zone. More importantly, she has made so many fond memories with her new friends. Yamato scoffs at her speech, claiming all the time she spent with those “greedy pigs” has made her soft. He laughs as he escorts NAZO back to his limo. Ryoko did not mind snapping a little this time—she just had to voice her opinion. Kenji did not mind at all. Lots of cute, sweet girls tend to show a strong will these days. What she did was not very overly-masculine at all. Besides, she is doing a fantastic job despite slight hiccups here and there. On the drive back to the office, Ryoko wonders. Sure she is still used to the rock persona she has adapted nearly all her life, but her idol training has begun to awaken her dormant girly side. Neither side of her dominates the other and tends to suddenly show up in the most awkward of times. Could there be a way to settle into a happy medium for her sake as well as her fans?

On the day of the IU finals opening ceremonies, Ryoko suddenly listens in to a conversation between Kagura and Yamato. Kagura claims she must win the IU in order to maintain the legacy of her family. Knowing the rough treatment her parents gave her in the past, Yamato assures her he will do whatever it takes for NAZO to win the championship. Ryoko is surprised, finding it hard to believe that Kagura also comes from a musically talented and successful family. She is beginning to understand why Kagura treats her so harshly. It’s not so much as her boyish demeanor, but perhaps more to prove that the Ichimonji family is superior to Ryunosuke and Cobra. Unlike Ryoko who chose to live like her father, Kagura’s parents essentially forced their daughter down the path she is currently taking as if she has no choice but to carry on the Ichimonji family legacy. Feeling as though she might not be in the mood to talk, Ryoko continues to play her guitar. However, she cannot help feeling a little sorry for NAZO’s vocal queen…

During the quarterfinals, Namco Angel loses to NAZO. Makoto reminds everyone to keep a close eye on Ryoko. She has come such a long way since her debut. Makoto can tell there is something special in her that makes her unique among other idols. If there is anyone who can stand up to NAZO now, it’s Ryoko and her unit.

(to be continued)

Sorry, today has been quite a long day for me. I promise I'll finish the route tomorrow.

[ZetaFlare]

Busujima Ryoko's Route, conclusion

The following day, Ryoko spends some time on a bench outside the VIP entrance playing her guitar once again. She seems to be very deep in thought. Kenji soon finds her outside and asks her what’s on her mind. Everyone else is all dressed up while Ryoko is still wearing her street clothes wasting time. As a matter of fact, Ryoko has been thinking about her future for a while now. After thinking about juggling both her rock girl and idol personalities around for a while as well as what Yamato and NAZO constantly tell her, Ryoko recently came up with an idea on how to make the most of them. She plans to combine her two traits into one in order to create a fresh new image the like of which the fans have never seen before. This way she can establish a happy medium while providing fans with something unique. Kenji is quite interested in the idea. However, Ryoko still has her doubts. A hybrid rock idol image can prove to be either hit or miss. While providing something completely different to the table, there is a possibility they go together like peanut butter and tartar sauce and look like a total mess. Kenji encourages her to give her idea a shot. How will she know her idea is a good one without taking the risk? However, her plans may have to be put on hold until the end of the IU. Ryoko will have to perform at her absolute prime in order to defeat NAZO. Ryoko understands, but is burning with enthusiasm for being able to express her thoughts to Kenji as she strums an intense, upbeat melody on her guitar. She stands back up, puts her guitar away, and heads back inside to get dressed up for the performance.

Meanwhile, Makoto is walking through the hall after gathering her belongings from the dressing room when she suddenly hears Yamato’s voice. He is on the phone with what sounds like one of his agents, mentioning something about putting his plans in motion and giving NAZO a guaranteed victory if it progresses perfectly. Makoto is shocked. Not only is NAZO’s producer a heartless jerk for mocking her unit (especially Yukiho) after defeating them in the quarterfinals, but it appears he might not be dealing from a straight deck. Makoto decides to investigate a bit further and find a way to counterattack.

Later that evening, Ryoko and the rest of ZetaPro take the stage to face NAZO and a confident Yamato. All of a sudden, Makoto arrives asking Ryoko if she has done a mic check. Ryoko tells her she has not. It was actually a good thing she did not test her mic yet. Makoto takes the headset Ryoko is currently wearing away and replaces it with a functional one. She also has a CD and a pair of bra pads in hand. To tell Ryoko the truth, they were all part of a dirty scheme set up by Yamato to expose her as a fraud, a lip syncher, and a crossdressing gay boy. Makoto heard everything from a phone conversation with one of his RyuuseiPro agents. They planned to give Ryoko a bum mic, use a prerecorded version of the song she is performing, and expose a pair of D-cup bra pads just before the judges reveal the final scores as if they found them in Ryoko’s dressing room. Believing Ryoko deserves a fair fight against NAZO after all she has accomplished and does not deserve that horrible level of slander, Makoto had no choice but to sneak into Yamato’s chambers dressed as a RyuuseiPro employee and steal the “evidence” from under his nose. He figured if the plan succeeded, Ryoko’s career would be ruined and NAZO would be assured an easy victory over his father’s company. Ryoko and Kenji can hardly believe Yamato would sink so low. All Yamato wanted to prove to Ryoko and ZetaPro was there is no such thing as a happy medium…you are either a punk rocker or an idol. Once you go down one path, that’s the path you are unfortunately stuck down for life. This is what is called destiny. Kenji demands Yamato quit his cowardly tactics and fight fairly. The rest of the conversation goes on regularly from there. Ryoko wants to prove once and for all that she can change her own destiny. Her father knows it. Makoto knows it. Kenji and the other two idols she works with know it. With that in mind, Ryoko decides to put her plan into effect right away. Today marks the birth of a hard-rockin’ idol! “So…let’s rock!”

ENDING

Ryoko’s plan turns into a smashing success! Old fans and new listeners alike love the idea of a combination rock star and pop idol. One day, Ryoko arrives at the office holding a letter. Before she shows Kenji the letter, she thanks him for all he has done for her…giving her the strength to work outside her comfort zone and discover new talents she never knew she had. Her father watched her IU performances and could not be any prouder of his daughter for what she has become. Even after everything she has accomplished and all those extra lessons she took with Makoto, she knows she is still far from perfect. To her, the sky’s the limit and it just gets higher and higher. Ryoko has decided to make a few changes to her future…she will remain an idol in order to continue to promote her fresh new image and encourage fans and new idols alike that they can become whatever their heart tells them to be. With that said, Ryoko opens her letter. It’s an invitation to perform at an island resort festival! Ryoko is even allowed to play her guitar while she is singing! Kenji congratulates her. Ryoko is later seen singing and playing the guitar on stage with Makoto and Yukiho cheering for her from the audience.

[ZetaFlare]

Sorry, I forgot to get around responding to these.

Loving Nagisa even more! Poor thing, but I'm glad I was able to watch her grow as an idol. That part where she found out her mother had died was just heartbreaking.

Shiori is really interesting too. I like her story and pity her from how her family treats her--I find it hard to believe she's only 13!.

Now to catch up on Tamaki who I totally forgot I skipped. Liking Ryoko so far too! Keep it up!

EDIT: Read Tamaki's story! Is it just me, or do a lot of these guys have parents that disapprove of them...? Geez. You'd think their families would LIKE their daughters being idols. I like her. Her past as an utaite and her miko-style performance is unique, and even her motives are nice. I liked her moving from just being boy-crazy to being a true (boy-crazy) idol.
I TOTALLY SHIP SHOUTAMAKI NOW OKAY.

If you think about it, some of their families had their reasons. Yutaka (Reika's adoptive father) wanted to keep Reika away from the outside world so she would not think about her dreadful past anymore. Tamaki's father only thought about passing down the family's miko legacy, especially after her mother died. Hanabi (Kaori's mother) was originally for the idea until she discovered how 573Pro was treating her daughter. Then she entered her judgmental phase, believing all companies promote their idols as if they were just fetish material. She thought what she was doing was best for her daughter. Then you have Shiori's uncle and his family who pretty much only intended to treat Shiori like trash. One, her real mother was a prostitute. Two, it was kind of a way for her uncle to give a big "f*** you" to his brother (Shiori's true father) for forcing the responsibility onto him.

Other than that, everyone else was for the idea. Think about Setsuna's grandparents...Asuka's talented father...Hinata's brother (especially after all the bullying she got, claiming disabled girls can't be idols)...Kotone's mother and grandmother (though if her good-for-nothing father were still around, he'd definitely be against it)...

Who's excited for Hotaru's story (last one!)? It took a long time, but I finally came up with something pretty interesting.

[ZetaFlare]

Here we go! Last story mode route!

Kuroba Hotaru’s Route

Kenji first meets Hotaru at a nearby park. She is simply lying around gazing at the clouds without a care in the world. Kenji tries to get her attention, but she does not wish to be bothered right now and asks him to leave her in peace. She knows Kenji is the producer she saw from the Black Pearl Festival and is pretty sure this does not mean good news for her. Kenji is confused. He knows the president told him Hotaru would be the easygoing type, but it turns out to be a serious understatement. It is like she is completely lazy, uninspired, and even slightly antisocial. Even after Kenji gives her the news regarding her debut, she reacts very unenthusiastically almost as if she does not wish to become an idol. She pretty much knew it would inevitably happen, but claims it is going to be a pain in the neck and a horrible waste of time, especially considering the lessons. Kenji is a little concerned about her demeanor. Will Hotaru’s laziness prove to hold everybody back? There has to be some redeeming factor about her…

Hotaru hardly puts any effort into her first two lessons. She feels a bit relieved after knowing she will be backed up by two other idols, believing she would not have to put in as much time and work as she thought. Still, they expect her to act more like an ideal leader and put a little more effort into her work. Hotaru gets a little disappointed, thinking Kenji and the President just placed an even bigger burden upon her. Kenji is far from willing to give up on her, but how can she become an idol in her current state?

Kenji has his doubts as the unit is set to make their debut. Hotaru is still acting fussy and unenthusiastic. However, she surprises Kenji and the judges alike with an outstanding performance and angelic singing voice. Nobody at ZetaPro figured she had it in her. Underneath her lazy disposition lies such incredible potential. Hotaru claims she was not even trying during her audition. Kenji knows raising her will prove to be a daunting task, but if she can somehow find the inspiration to keep going, who knows what she can accomplish?

While Hotaru still does not care much for her lessons and some of her promotions, she tends to go all-out when she performs on stage or during a TV broadcast. Once Kenji and the others begin to catch on, they hope that sudden spark in enthusiasm will eventually carry over to the rest of her jobs, but Hotaru really sees no point in doing so just because she sees them as a waste of time and effort. However, she still manages to get the job done one way or another. For example, when she is recording for an advertisement, she usually only relies on tricks she learned watching other commercials on TV. Eventually, with the help of her partners, Hotaru’s unit eventually reaches Rank E and claims victory at their first festival. Now that she has managed to rank up, Hotaru believes now might be a good time to kick back and relax for a while. Kenji disagrees. It only means they will be getting more and better job opportunities. He urges Hotaru that because of this, she needs to remain vigilant and put some extra effort in her work and her lessons. If she takes too long a hiatus from her idol career, she may lose some displeased fans and take a few steps backwards. She may think being an idol is just about putting on a show for the fans, but Kenji claims it’s a lot more than that. Hotaru has had it with Kenji’s rambling. She claims he is sounding worse than her parents. Hotaru actually comes from a family tree full of talented and successful musicians. Her mother is a renowned opera singer who once performed with European theater companies. Her father is the concertmaster of an esteemed symphony orchestra in Sapporo who has performed several violin solo and concerto works over the course of his career. Their talents seemed to have passed down to their next of kin as Hotaru began to show signs of incredible singing talent during her youth. However, even after her parents urged her to find ways to utilize her blooming talents to the fullest, she refused to join school choirs and music clubs or take private lessons because to her they were all a big waste of time and not worth the effort. She would rather just relax and take it easy doing things that do not require much effort, like watching TV or playing video games. Sometimes she wished she did not have any musical talent. She would rather be like a cloud…nothing to do but simply float around in the sky. Her parents knew something was wrong with her. To make sure their daughter does not waste her life away like that, Hotaru’s parents sent her to Tokyo against her will to become an idol under 961Pro, aware of their standard of excellence and hearing about Kuroi’s want ads in search for new talent. They informed Kuroi not to allow Hotaru to return home until she becomes a top idol. Kuroi took full advantage of their wishes and used it to get Hotaru off her butt and back to work, much to her chagrin. Even now that she has switched companies, Hotaru still does not want to be an idol and wants to go back home to Sapporo, but she knows her parents will not let her set one foot inside the house in her current condition. The only reason she really puts any effort in her performances is essentially to trick her parents into thinking she is making progress and actually taking her job seriously. Still, reminiscing of her dilemma with her parents got her thinking. Seeing as though she is trapped and has nowhere else to go, she might as well move forward in her career just for the heck of it, even though she will not like it…anything to get back home and relax. Kenji is glad to see even the slightest spark of inspiration. He is still not too sure if Hotaru will use it to the fullest just yet, but a little bit can go a long way, especially considering her musical abilities.

(to be continued)