The Portal of Zeta: iDOLM@STER Neo Vision

[MetalPredat0r]

I'm thinking about writing up some silly skits involving my characters from time to time in order to show how I really write my fanfics.

As for Story Mode routes, I'm kind of stuck on who to do next. I am thinking of doing Asuka's to finish the Main Character Trio, but I'm also thinking another Vocal specialist like Reika, Nozomi, or Yoshino.

I'd be cool with the comedic skits. I might actually do some for my Wrestling game.

As for who's next, Asuka. Just to get main characters out of the way.

[ZetaFlare]

Thanks for the suggestion. It's decided...I will do Asuka's route next.

I'm still looking for a couple of skit ideas. I think I have got one involving measurement differences between the girls.

[ZetaFlare]

Now to finish off ZetaPro's Main Character Trio with Asuka.

Tendou Asuka’s Route

Kenji first meets Asuka in a dimly-lit room upstairs playing the piano. Having been close friends with her for many years, he is well aware of her talents in music. As Kenji opens the door, Asuka immediately recognizes his face, stops playing, and welcomes him with a bow. She’s very happy to see Kenji again, but is even happier to discover that one of her best friends has been selected to be her producer. Having performed with Sakura over the past few years, she is ready to show what she has learned.

As Asuka and her newly-formed unit pass their debut audition with flying colors, people overhear the name Tendou and begin whispering. Sure she’s got the musical skills, but others say it’s probably just a coincidence that this new idol’s family name happens to be Tendou.

One week after the events in the White Lotus Festival, Asuka, feeling a little gloomy, decides to stick around and chat with Kenji before going home for the evening. Her recent activities got her reminiscing of her time performing with Kenji and Sakura in their little amateur group. Everything they taught her in the past really helped her become more comfortable with her idol work. She had no idea how well-versed idols are in the entertainment community. So that’s why Sakura not only staged performances, but fan-made advertisement videos and gravure photoshoots as well. Asuka feels even more comfortable with Kenji as her producer, seeing how he is very friendly and reliable. As Asuka packs up and prepares to leave for the evening, she hears a familiar song on the radio. Kenji, seeing her interest, tells her it is a very well-known song written by a talented musician named Akihito Tendou. Asuka gasps. That’s the name of her father! Kenji is shocked. He had no idea Asuka has a famous father. Perhaps some of his musical talents have been passed on to her daughter. Asuka herself knows quite a few of Akihito’s songs and has learned to play them on the piano. Amazed, Kenji believes that perhaps this inherited talent of hers will carry her a long way in her idol career.

(to be continued)

Let's see if you can guess who Asuka's main NAZO rival will be...

[ZetaFlare]

Yeah, it's Kagura.

Tendou Asuka's Route, cont.

The weather is hot on the day of the Sunny Beach Festival. Worried about Asuka, Kenji asks Kaito to urge the concert management to bolster the AC. Asuka is slightly startled upon catching a glimpse of her opponent but is ready to face her anyway. After ZetaPro gets blown out of the water, Asuka walks off stage red almost out of breath. Her fears are soon confirmed—her opponent is none other than Kagura Ichimonji, a fellow member and student leader of her school’s choir. Kagura finds it hard to believe that Asuka, of all people, decided to become an idol. To her, Sakura must have tainted her mind with her pathetic view of singing…about how it is fun and makes all who listen happy. She is well aware of Akihito’s legacy. “Where is your pride? Your family honor?” If Asuka is not willing to take her idol career seriously, she will go nowhere and only serve as a burden to her unit. As Kagura takes her leave, Asuka begins to feel groggy, breathe heavily, and cough a little. Nearly stressing out, Kenji urgently asks the stage crew for a bag of ice and asks Kaito what happened. It turns out the stage’s AC blew a fuse during the performance, unbeknownst to management. Kaito and the crew apologize for the mishap and will make it a priority to repair the AC ASAP. Lack of stage AC especially on a hot day like this could prove dangerous. On the way back to the office, Asuka rests with her ice pack over her head and the window open to let in some fresh air.

Once the group arrives back at the office, Asuka is feeling much better. She blames herself for the unit’s loss to Kagura not only because she believes she is nowhere near Kagura’s level, but also because of her “issues.” Even though Kagura is incredibly talented and a member of the super-popular NAZO, Asuka claims she could have performed better if she didn’t almost get sick during the performance. Kenji then asks her to tell everyone her secret. It turns out she has does not have the strongest constitution in the world. She is not very athletically skilled and gets sick more easily than others, causing her to miss school quite a bit. However, she does manage to keep up in her classes by receiving assignments from her teachers via email and lessons from private tutors. Kenji and Sakura are usually in charge of turning in completed assignments to her teachers. The President and the other two idols feel sorry for Asuka. Asuka starts to feel depressed. She really wants to continue to work hard for the sake of her friends, but she is starting to believe that what Kagura told her could be true. Kenji tells her not to let Kagura get into her head. Asuka is very talented in her own right and her weak condition has been a burden to no one…not Sakura’s amateur music group and not her idol unit. Asuka thanks everyone for their support as the unit goes home for the evening.

Meanwhile, Kagura is talking to a mysterious man (you know who). She is well familiar with her recent opponent, so, rest assured, this unit will not give them any problems on their way to the top.

One day after ZetaPro’s showdown with 961Pro/Ryuuguu Komachi, Kenji gets a call from Asuka. She’s home sick with a slight fever and really wants his company. After receiving directions, Kenji swings by Asuka’s apartment. Nobody else is home, so Asuka has to get the door herself. It’s very quiet in her home, but she’s used to it. Akihito is a famous composer who travels the world, but he has been away for so long it’s almost as if he disappeared. To make ends meet, Asuka’s mother works several jobs, often late. Because of her family’s situation, Asuka does not often see either parent…she was only three years old last time she saw her father. While she does maintain a cheerful yet gentile nature around her friends (like Sakura), she is often very unhappy and lonely, especially at home. Kenji and Sakura hold a special place in Asuka’s heart for being her first two friends and giving her a spark of happiness she had long forgotten. As Sakura was developing a passion for singing, she discovered Asuka’s talents and soon became a big influence in helping Asuka get involved in music too. While usually playing a passive role to the more energetic Sakura, Asuka really began to enjoy singing and playing the piano. Then there’s Kenji, who has been very kind and supporting of Asuka not just in music, but in her classes as well. Even if she had to miss a couple of classes due to illness, Kenji would always be there to help her study and catch up. He’s almost like a brother to her. Still, despite all the years he has known Asuka, he had no idea she essentially lives by herself. He decides to prepare a glass of cold orange juice for her to help with her fever. Asuka thanks him with a hug…there’s that kindness he has always shown her again. To her, being around Kenji and her friends is so special it more than makes up for the lack of time with her parents.

(to be continued)

Stay tuned! Someone from 765Pro will soon have a bit of involvement in her storyline...

[ZetaFlare]

Tendou Asuka's Route, cont.

Their little meeting did not go unnoticed. Yamato’s spies have been eavesdropping, hoping to turn Asuka’s constitution problems into a scandal that could possibly destroy her career. Some gossip magazines have articles saying she could be a delinquent who frequently skips school, often using her “sickness” to her advantage. Is she secretly part of a gang? Or some kind of prostitution ring? Then there’s her “heartless” father who essentially abandoned his wife and daughter for his own selfish desires. As Asuka reads the slander-filled articles, she becomes upset almost to the point of crying. How could they make jokes about her poor constitution, but humiliate her father’s name like that? Fortunately for her, for every fan she loses, she gains another ten or more. Her talents more than make up for any of those sick rumors going around.

Asuka is in tip-top shape on the day of the IU prelims. Once she discovers that ZetaPro will compete in the same competition block as NAZO, she begins to lose confidence. Kagura appears before her along with the other two members of NAZO. Apparently, Asuka hasn’t learned her lesson yet. Kagura may have to dominate Asuka’s unit with NAZO’s full force in order to prove her point. Kenji and the others manage to get Asuka’s confidence back before heading out to perform. Much to the surprise of both Asuka and Kagura, ZetaPro manages to pass the audition by placing second, though the gap between them and the first-place NAZO is immense. Kagura figures the legacy of Asuka’s father is finally showing itself, but still she will never be a match for Kagura. To her, Asuka will only burden her unit because of her weak constitution and her beliefs that music is just fun and games. With her frail body and tendency to easily get sick, Kagura is surprised Asuka is able to keep up. The only reason her unit is popular is because of her father’s name and legacy. She should just save the rest of ZetaPro a load of trouble and quit now while she’s ahead.

As ZetaPro proceeds to exit the convention hall, everyone notices that Asuka is looking down in the dumps. She is starting to think that what Kagura said earlier was true. Kenji claims that Kagura is only trying to get into her head. Besides, Asuka has gained all that popularity not because of her father’s name alone, but because of her own talents and perseverance. Still, Asuka is worried that her illnesses will eventually cause her to miss work, lessons, performances, etc. and hold her unit back. For the sake of Kenji and the other idols, Asuka is considering calling it quits. All of a sudden, ZetaPro hears a familiar voice interrupt them. It is none other than 765Pro’s singer extraordinaire Chihaya Kisaragi, whom Asuka has admired ever since her idol debut! Chihaya could not help but overhear their conversation and is highly disappointed with what Asuka is saying. Giving up on her talents because of her issues, even if it’s for the sake of her friends, is just selfish. In fact, Chihaya has heard some of her recent recordings and was very impressed. Just by hearing her voice, she could sense Asuka’s passion for singing. The reason why Asuka has become so popular is not because of her father’s name…not because of following Sakura’s shadow…but because of her own skills and determination. Plus, she should not let personal problems hold her or her friends back…something Chihaya herself has learned recently (getting over the loss of her brother). To her, Asuka really has the potential to become a superstar. She just has to follow her own heart and keep utilizing and enjoying her talents to the fullest. It’s what’s best for her and the rest of her unit. Feeling empowered, Asuka profusely thanks Chihaya for the pep talk as she takes her leave. Asuka tells the unit to forget about what she said about quitting her idol career and apologizes if she caused them any trouble. Kenji claims she has never been a burden to him or her friends even with her poor constitution. Getting to know her better really helps allow the unit to bond. Asuka returns to the van feeling much happier.

Over the next few weeks, Asuka can really feel the progress she has been making since her debut. As soon as ZetaPro receives a challenge to face NAZO at the Harvest Moon Festival, she feels ready to take on Kagura. Unfortuantely, a pyrotechnic malfunction cancels the performance. To make matters worse, Asuka, taking a while to get off stage, cannot take the intense heat of the flames and collapses. Kenji is shocked as she is immediately rushed to the infirmary. All of a sudden, Yamato shows up and proceeds to mock ZetaPro for their shortcomings. The fact they hired such a sickly girl is proof of how low common-class entertainment companies will stoop to make money. They probably used Akihito’s legacy as a selling point. They are probably working her to the bone without even caring about her constitution. Asuka is so pathetic she really brings shame not only to ZetaPro but to the Tendou family name. Kenji angrily strikes back against Yamato’s statement. He and the others do care about Asuka’s well-being. Despite her issues, it was her own talents and passion that allowed her and her unit to come this far. Akihito had nothing to do with it—Asuka became her own musician. Yamato just laughs at Kenji’s defense of Asuka and leaves with NAZO, claiming that keeping Asuka around will eventually sink ZetaPro.

Kenji and the others immediately head towards the medical station. According to the doctors, Asuka will be just fine. They were able to get her away from the flames and cool her off right away. Kenji and the other idols are relieved. It is normally very hard for Asuka to take this kind of heat, mainly because she gets fevers more easily than others. She awakens later that evening and groggily returns to the van with the rest of ZetaPro. Kenji offers her a popsicle to help her cool off and as a treat for such an amazing performance (before the fire), which she quickly accepts.

(to be continued)
Last part coming tomorrow!

[ZetaFlare]

Tendou Asuka's Route, conclusion

Asuka continues to work, take lessons, and perform without incident. On the day of the IU finals opening ceremonies, she overhears a conversation between Kagura and Yamato. Kagura is relying on her producer to guide her to victory in the finals. Yamato knows she must win at all costs for the sake of her family honor. Asuka can hardly believe Kagura also has a musically-based family legacy. As Kagura passes by, Asuka tells her she has heard about the Ichimonji legacy and how it reminds her of Akihito. It almost seems strange how alike they are. Kagura, believing Asuka was eavesdropping on her, feels offended and claims they are far from alike as she runs back to NAZO’s meeting spot where Yamato’s limo is waiting.

On the first day of the IU finals, after Namco Angel gets knocked out in the quarterfinals, Chihaya reminds everyone to keep an eye on Asuka. If anyone has the potential of putting a stop to NAZO, it’s her. She can tell Asuka has become such an amazing idol by herself without regard to her father’s success.

One day later on the morning of the IU final match, Asuka decides to get some practice in on stage before the big performance. Unfortunately, she has a bit of a cough so Kenji urges her to rest, but Asuka insists. Knowing who she’s up against, she wants to be able to put on her best performance yet and bring out the very best of her abilities. Yamato decides to put his master plan into effect. He asks the staff to turn the stage’s heater to its maximum output. As Asuka is practicing, she suddenly begins to feel woozy. She coughs a bit, breathes heavily, and suddenly collapses from the intense heat. Kenji is scared beyond belief. Kaito is quick to react and contacts the staff to get her immediate medical attention. Yamato gets word about what happened and smirks triumphantly. With the unit’s talented leader out of the way, NAZO’s victory is all but assured.

According to Kaito and the medical staff, Asuka developed a slight fever. If it does not show signs of letting up by the evening, Asuka will not be able to perform in the finals. As Asuka wakes up, with the situation looking bleak, she considers letting the other two idols perform as a duet in her absence. Kenji thinks it might be a good idea, but the other idols disagree. To them, the unit does not even exist without Asuka. They would rather drop out of the competition entirely than perform shorthanded. While Asuka appreciates everyone’s concern, she thinks she might not be able to forgive herself if ZetaPro drops out because of her. The others claim she should not say something like that—it was not her fault. The heater was not supposed to be on at that time. If anything, blame the negligent management. Kenji decides to remain by Asuka’s side and wait to see how everything pans out. After Asuka’s partners get prepared, they immediately rush back to the medical center to continue to support their leader. Asuka is happy that everyone cares for her so much, especially Kenji, whom she is quick to give a hug.

Later that afternoon, by nothing less than a miracle, Asuka shows strong signs of recovery. She’s not at 100% but she feels comfortable enough to perform that night. While her partners are overjoyed, Kenji remains concerned. He does not want her to risk it. What if something goes wrong during the performance that will make things worse? Asuka’s last conversation with the group had her thinking. This isn’t about just her anymore…it’s about the unit. They have accomplished so much as three, not one or two. They should be able to perform as three for the biggest concert of their lives. Then there’s Kenji, who has always been by her side even before she became an idol. The kindness, devotion, and support of her producer has also been a big factor in the unit’s popularity. Asuka does not care if she’s not quite fully recovered…she will perform for the sake of her friends. Kenji decides to concede to her words…it sounds like nothing he is going to say will make her turn back now. Perhaps she got this determination from Sakura. As Kaito checks her up one last time, he concludes Asuka has made enough of a recovery from her fever and clears her to perform. Asuka happily goes to the green room to change.

Just before the final showdown is about to begin, Yamato arrives to laugh at ZetaPro’s misfortune. Suddenly, Asuka shows up in her stage attire…a little later than the others because she had to ask for directions from the staff. Yamato is shocked, thinking the staff forbade her from performing because of her fever. Asuka claims she does not know how, but she managed to recover quickly than expected. Kaito shows up with a shady-looking staff member. It turns out he was the guy who turned the stage’s heater on while Asuka was performing. Kaito got him to squeal, saying he works for RyuuseiPro and was following Yamato’s orders. Kenji can hardly believe what he has heard. Did Yamato deliberately make Asuka sick in order to prevent her from performing? He ought to report this to the cops! Yamato scoffs at his threats, claiming he has too much of an influence. Kagura then arrives, demanding her producer to fight fair. Yamato should have thought about how her family’s reputation would be tarnished if she won by dishonest methods. The rest of the final match goes on from there…

ENDING

Asuka invites Kenji to her apartment for a private chat. She’s still resting in bed to recover a bit after her winning performance at the IU finals. She thanks Kenji for all the support and care he has given her throughout her youth and her idol career. She has made so many new friends and feels like she has changed so much after meeting him and Sakura. Suddenly, the doorbell rings. As Kenji opens the door, who should show up but…Akihito Tendou himself! Asuka is overjoyed to see her father again after all these years. Akihito heard the news that his daughter became a big-time pop idol. He buys and enjoys all her CDs. When he heard she was performing at Tokyo Dome for a big competition, he had to purchase a ticket for the best seat he could find. She was so amazing out there. He could tell she became her own idol…it didn’t matter that she was a Tendou. At least he knows where she got all that musical talent from. Akihito is so proud of Asuka’s accomplishments. When Asuka introduces him to Kenji, he thanks him for being such a great friend to his daughter. Akihito soon packs his bags because he can’t stay for long. He’s scheduled to perform in Singapore in two days and needs to book his flight and hotel room. As he takes off he tells Asuka, “Keep up the good work.”

Asuka is crying tears of joy as she embraces Kenji. She can hardly believe that her idol career allowed her to reunite with her long-lost father. It’s like a dream come true. Asuka has only Kenji to thank for this moment. He is a big reason why she became just about as famous as Akihito after all. Asuka then decides to repay all that Kenji has given her over the years by confessing her love for him!

Told you there would be more "Kenji x" shipments!

[ZetaFlare]

I am going to cover Megumi next. Besides, I kind of have a penchant for shy girls.

Minakami Megumi’s Route

Kenji first meets Megumi in one of the practice rooms. She is listening and singing along to music on her headphones. As soon as she notices Kenji, she is startled, immediately turns off the CD player, and apologizes, thinking she could have been bothering him. She claims she is not a very good singer, but Kenji says he really liked what he heard. The reason he chose to produce her is because he sees a lot of potential in her talents. Megumi is beyond surprised. Why let someone as pathetic and weak as her debut so soon? Still, it doesn’t hurt to at least try, so she is willing to give it her all for her producer, no matter how many mistakes she makes. Kenji has quite the daunting task ahead of him…not only to boost her talents, but her spirits too.

As soon as Megumi hears the news that she will lead an idol trio, she immediately has her doubts. “I’m no leader!” Despite her lack of self-confidence, her partners seem pretty interested to what she has to bring to the table.

Megumi is highly unsure she can pass her debut audition, but Kenji says otherwise. The music she knows is playing in the background. Think of it like she’s singing along to one of her CDs. Megumi sees his point, but is still worried she might mess up somewhere and, through some domino effect, drag her partners down with her. She manages to keep her cool and performs comfortably…well enough to pass. Still, Megumi believes the unit only passed because of her partners’ outstanding performances. She apologizes to the unit for somehow holding them back with her “lack of talent.” There’s no way she could have done this well by herself. Kenji and the others claim that she was a huge contributor to their successful debut. She’s a great singer—she just doesn’t know it. Megumi cheers up a bit, knowing she’s now a full-fledged idol and she’s being backed up by two very capable idols in their own rights. However, it will still take a while for her to reach her comfort zone, especially with upcoming promotions and concerts…

(to be continued)

[liza94]

I just want to say I enjoy reading about your characters! I think it would be even better if you wrote about relationships between them as well!

[ZetaFlare]

I just want to say I enjoy reading about your characters! I think it would be even better if you wrote about relationships between them as well!

Thanks! I think that's a pretty good idea. I'll consider posting a few after I finish Megumi's Story Mode route.

Minakami Megumi's Route, cont.

Through hard work and constant support, Megumi claims her first festival victory and gains enough popularity to reach Rank E. She deeply apologizes to Ai after she bursts into tears from 876Pro’s loss. Eri tells Megumi she didn’t have to apologize—Ai is just like that sometimes.

That evening, Megumi decides to swing by a nearby entertainment outlet on her way home, looking for some new CDs. Much to her surprise, Kenji is also there. He has noticed that the unit’s single has recently sold out. Megumi is happy that people enjoy her songs, though she still thinks she’s way behind compared to the talents of her partners. Soon, she notices Yukiho’s newest single and scans it to listen to a demo. Kenji soon hears Megumi singing along to ALRIGHT* and walks over to her. When she sees him behind her, she’s startled, puts the CD back, and apologizes for singing out loud. Kenji tells her she didn’t have to apologize—if anything, he should apologize for accidentally giving her a scare. Megumi tells Kenji she really enjoys Yukiho’s songs. Her accomplishments were her biggest inspiration to become an idol in the first place. When a classmate and friend of Megumi’s heard her beautiful singing and suggested she should try to become an idol, she initially refused, claiming she just does not have what it takes to be an idol and is doomed to fail. Later, her friend decided to take her to see Yukiho in concert. She loved her songs and soon started to sing along. Megumi could tell from the 765Pro idol’s vibes—she was once as shy and scared as her. If someone like her could shed her timid nature and become such a successful idol, maybe Megumi can too. So she auditioned at ZetaPro and, much to her surprise, she passed. Kenji is confident that Megumi really does have the talents to become as popular as Yukiho one day. Megumi thanks Kenji for the chat, purchases the CD, and heads home for the evening.

As the days go by, Megumi gains more fans and confidence. When she hears that 765Pro will appear at the Sunny Beach Festival, she becomes a little uneasy. Sure, she might be able to meet her biggest inspiration, but the idols at 765Pro are so skilled and popular that she might not have a chance against them. At the festival, Himeko shows up in their place, much to Megumi’s surprise. Himeko soon backs up her confidence by mopping the floor with ZetaPro during the performance. Megumi is devastated from the loss and starts to cry. Figuring she’s the timid type lacking in self-confidence, Himeko makes matters worse by rubbing it in her face, claiming she’s pathetic, weak, and a sorry excuse of an idol who can’t do anything right. The unit really should disband because all Megumi will do is cause their ultimate downfall. Kenji tries to make her stop, but Megumi quickly runs back to the van in tears. Later that night back at the office, Megumi blames herself for the unit’s loss, believing what Himeko told her was true. She deeply apologizes to the others for being such a nuisance. According to her, she really is no leader. Why did the staff ask someone as weak as her to lead two other “much more talented” idols? Why did they tell her she has potential when she really has none? “I’m not a leader! I’m a failure to my partners and my producer!” Megumi runs out the door bawling her eyes out. The President worries about her. She really took that loss and especially Himeko’s insults hard. Kenji decides to take it upon himself to save Megumi from her pessimism. He spots her on a bench just outside the office. As he approaches Megumi, she thinks he is angry at her and has come to scold her. Kenji claim’s it is far from that—he’s trying to help. Megumi claims she has no potential, but has she ever heard herself sing, especially when she is singing along to her CDs? It’s not just Kenji, the President, or the other two idols. Everyone who listens admires her voice much more than her…um, other features (she is pretty busty for her age). The unit really couldn’t have become this popular without her contributions. Megumi is just really letting what Himeko said get to her head. Himeko may be extremely talented and popular but she’s nothing more than a pompous brat who is full of hot air. Sure, a loss is a loss, but people learn much more from their defeats than their victories. All ZetaPro can do now is just get back up, shake it off, and really put on a show in their next performance…but they really can’t do it without Megumi’s help because she is that important. She just has to trust in herself and her abilities. Megumi realizes she is pretty much fighting a losing battle. Kenji pretty much has a counter for every pessimistic thought she has. Nobody has ever given her encouragement and support like this before…not even her parents or her classmate who got her into the idol world. Knowing how much everyone in ZetaPro trusts her, Megumi decides to give it her all next week. She still doubts she can change, but with this much support behind her, it would not hurt to at least try.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Minakami Megumi's Route, cont.

It only takes a couple of successful promotions and concerts for the unit to get their groove back. On the night after their festival against 961/Ryuuguu Komachi, Kenji overhears Megumi talking to herself outside the office. She cannot believe how popular she has become since her debut. It’s like she’s living out her childhood dreams—and here she was thinking they would never come true. As soon as Megumi notices Kenji looking at her, she apologizes and tells him she didn’t mean to speak her thoughts out loud. Kenji tells her she didn’t have to apologize. Besides, her ever-growing talents are perhaps the biggest reason for the unit’s success. Megumi disagrees, claiming he’s only saying that to make her happy. Kenji assures her he is telling the truth. Still, he wonders. Since she’s such a good singer, why didn’t she decide to pursue her dreams sooner? Megumi suddenly looks a little down. Kenji is worried he might have mentioned something personal and says it’s just fine if she doesn’t want to talk about it. Megumi actually does feel like telling him, though, feeling she trusts him enough to keep her secret. It turns out Megumi had a passion for singing since she was six years old. Her parents loved hearing her sing along to their CDs and to the TV. She dreamt of one day becoming a big-time idol so that everyone else would enjoy her singing as well. One day when Megumi was seven, she was selected to sing in her school’s talent show. Two other students decided to give her candy for good luck. Little did she know these students were trying to prank her—this candy can clog vocal cords. Needless to say, the curtain closed hard on her sabotaged performance. Embarrassed, Megumi started to believe she was not a good singer at all and felt like she humiliated herself in front of everyone—even her own parents. With her dreams pretty much shattered, she lost all the self-confidence she once had. She tried to avoid making friends and felt like she was completely worthless. Later on, Megumi started singing along to her CDs again, only now she locked herself up in a closed room so nobody else could hear her. While she still kept her passion for singing, she decided not to do anything about it, feeling she was too weak to really be successful. This is why she initially refused her classmate’s request when she heard her singing in one of the choir room’s closed practice rooms years later. After hearing her story, Kenji tells Megumi, “And look where you are now!” That failed concert she held years ago was all in the past. They both still find it hard to believe she made such an amazing transformation. Megumi still might have her shy girl moments, but what has been a passion and a figment of her imagination has become reality. Still, Kenji does not want to stop there. His lead idol really has the talent and the potential to go even further. Megumi smiles, giggles a bit, and thanks his support with a hug. With that, the two of them head home for the evening.

Yamato’s spies have been eavesdropping on their conversation. Feeling Megumi is growing too popular for her own good, Yamato decides to pull out all the stops in order to dampen her spirits and ruin her unit. However, despite all the slander going on about her, Megumi continues to improve her talents and gain more fans.

As soon as the IU preliminary matches roll around, Megumi feels a bit uneasy. She knows several of the country’s greatest idols are going to participate and she doesn’t know if she even measures up to their level. Her confidence worsens further upon discovering ZetaPro has been placed in the same block as NAZO. Himeko appears before ZetaPro. She can’t wait to make Megumi cry again and teach her just how worthless she really is, especially now that she has to face NAZO at their full strength. As NAZO leaves to prepare, Kenji tells Megumi to calm down and ignore what Himeko told her. He plans to surprise Himeko by showing her just how much Megumi and the others have improved. Megumi and the others perform well enough to pass the audition, but place a distant second behind NAZO. Both Megumi and Himeko are surprised at the results. Megumi, however, is still a little upset that Himeko is still way ahead of her after all she has done. Himeko notices this and decides to rub salt in the wound. She claims the only reason Megumi has passed is because of the skill and popularity of her partners. Other than that, she’s still a pathetic weakling, especially for a leader. She holds back the others from their true potential. Basically, she’s a waste of space. She will never change no matter what she does. Besides, Himeko is too perfect and pretty to lose. Megumi is too scared to react to her insults. Himeko laughs as she walks away with the rest of NAZO, leaving poor Megumi in tears. She then apologizes to her partners and Kenji, claiming they would have had a chance against NAZO if she wasn’t so weak. Kenji decides to take drastic measures to help her and takes off looking for something. Megumi feels even more hopeless, believing he abandoned her because of her weakness. Her partners and Kaito try to tell her otherwise, but their words fall on deaf ears. As the group returns to the van, Kenji suddenly shows up with a surprise visitor—none other than Yukiho Hagiwara! Megumi is beyond surprised that her success has garnered the attention of her biggest inspiration. Yukiho tells her she watched her performances on TV a couple of times and really loved what she saw. To her, Megumi shows the potential to become an amazing singer, maybe even better than her one day. Megumi disbelieves her, claiming she’s only saying that to make her happy. Yukiho claims she knows for sure. Looking into Megumi’s eyes, she can see that timid, scared weakling she was years ago. However, because Yukiho’s friends never gave up on her, she never gave up on herself. Like Yukiho, Megumi has so many people supporting her through thick and thin and she doesn’t even know it. Some of them have been right in front of her this whole time…Kenji and the other two idols. Megumi wipes her tears and feels a lot better. She thanks Yukiho for the inspiration and tells her she is really amazing herself. Megumi says she never even considered being an idol until she saw one of Yukiho’s concerts. Yukiho is surprised herself and thanks her for the compliments. They both shake hands, wishing each other the best of luck in their idol careers. Suddenly, Haruka and Makoto call Yukiho back to 765Pro’s van. Yukiho is a bit startled, apologizes to them for taking so long, and heads back. Megumi apologizes to Yukiho for taking her time. She’s a bit happier now as ZetaPro heads back to the office.

(to be continued)

[ZetaFlare]

Minakami Megumi's Route, conclusion

Over the next few weeks, Megumi’s partners help her boost her skills and confidence. They know she tries her hardest and wants to get better. This allows the unit to bond.

Upon reaching Rank A, Megumi can really feel the progress she has made. Once she hears that ZetaPro has been issued a challenge by NAZO, she becomes slightly frightened. It almost seems as if they are just trying to bully Megumi. Kenji assures her that perhaps it just has something to do with the company itself—nothing against her personally. Besides, he believes his unit has become so amazing to the point where they might be able to stand up to NAZO this time around. On the day of the Harvest Moon Festival, Megumi tries her best to remain calm. Sure, NAZO’s skill is unparalleled, but it doesn’t hurt to at least try. Megumi takes a deep breath and takes the stage. Unfortunately, the performance is cancelled due to a pyrotechnic malfunction. Not knowing what to do, Megumi is frozen in her tracks trembling in fear as the flames reach the stage. With time running out, Kenji boldly rushes in and takes Megumi off the stage to safety. Luckily, she was not hurt, but she is in tears and almost out of breath. As Yamato shows up to take NAZO home, he swings by ZetaPro, laughs at Megumi’s situation, and mocks the company for hiring such a helpless, pathetic weakling as an idol. Only a common-class company like ZetaPro would stoop so low. The only reason she could have become so popular is because her fans are a bunch of easily-moved pansies who felt sympathetic of Megumi. Kenji is fed up with his nonsense and angrily defends Megumi. He can tell Megumi has come a long way since her debut. What started off as a glint of self-confidence became much brighter the more progress she made and the more popular she became. She has become willing to try her hardest no matter what the outcome, even when facing near impossible odds. Plus, her two partners really enjoy having her as their leader. Megumi calmly awakens from her rest just as all this is going on. Yamato scoffs at Kenji, claiming he is soft and trying to help Megumi hide from her weakness. She would get fired immediately if she was working with a big-time upper-class company like RyuuseiPro. He laughs as he and NAZO walk away. As they leave, Kenji claims he will show just what Megumi has become once the IU finals roll around. Once Kenji helps Megumi back on her feet, everyone returns to the office.

That night, Megumi tells Kenji she heard everything during her rest. While she does apologize for causing Kenji a lot of trouble because of the fire, she thanks him profusely not only for helping her out of the fire, but always standing up for her against NAZO and their producer. Being around people like Kenji and the other two idols gives her the strength to carry on. She feels a lot more confident now than ever before. Next time ZetaPro faces NAZO, Megumi feels sure her unit will be able to perform at their level. She knows the road ahead will not be easy, but she will try her very hardest for the sake of ZetaPro. Kenji and the others are so proud of Megumi’s newly-found confidence.

On the day of the IU finals opening ceremonies, Megumi 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. Megumi can hardly believe it. Deep down, Himeko almost feels as insecure as she once was. She tries to chat with Himeko, somewhat sympathizing with her insecure feelings. Despite their differences, they have both become very successful idols. Himeko feels offended and tells Megumi they are far from alike. She’s perfect royalty and Megumi is a helpless commoner. Besides, Megumi doesn’t have to worry about her nationality. You know how some Japanese people are towards foreigners. Himeko runs off back to NAZO’s meeting point.

After Namco Angel gets knocked out of the running in the IU quarterfinals, Megumi helps comfort and cheer up Yukiho after Yamato mercilessly insults her. She can hardly believe how similar she is to Yukiho. Sure they still have their weak moments from time to time, but they have both grown so strong and have somewhat shed their timid natures since becoming idols. Yukiho thanks Megumi for her support and wishes her the best of luck in the next rounds. She knows her potential. She will be rooting for her.

Believing Megumi may have grown too confident for her own good, Yamato decides to try to spoil her good mood by flooding the ZetaPro inbox with a truckload of hate mail on the day of the finals. Since Megumi is the shy easily-broken type, he figures something like this will make her have a nervous breakdown, feel useless, and drop out of the competition, if not the idol world entirely.

As soon as Kenji receives the letters, Megumi is shocked. Never before has she seen so many vulgar and threatening insults towards her. Not one of them contained even the slightest bit of constructive criticism. Kenji is worried that all these messages might make Megumi lose her self-confidence. Much to everyone’s surprise, she just shakes them all off. This is not the time to worry about stuff that can’t be helped. Besides, there are so many people who enjoy her and her songs that the people who disapprove of her don’t even matter anymore. Megumi’s unit is about to perform in the biggest concert of their lives. They are going to need all the confidence they have got especially against NAZO. Kenji and the others are surprised. Normally Megumi would break down and cry in a situation like this, but now she’s aware of her abilities and is brimming with self-confidence! Everyone is so proud of her. As they prepare to head for Tokyo Dome, though, Megumi does look a bit concerned.

After ZetaPro gets dressed out and prepares for the IU finals, Kenji notices that Megumi is looking troubled. Truth be told, Megumi actually felt a little concerned about the hate mail flood. Now she is worried that something might happen during the performance much like the prank that ruined her concert almost ten years ago. If something goes wrong now, she fears she will be hated by everyone. Then, all of a sudden, Megumi hears a decent section of the crowd chanting her name. Plus, Kaito soon arrives with a special present for her. It’s a white rose and a letter that reads, “Do your best, Megumi-chan! All of us at 765Pro are cheering for you! Sincerely, Hagiwara Yukiho.” Megumi is so happy she’s moved to tears. All those hate letters mean nothing. Everybody is on her side. Kenji also wishes her the best of luck—he knows she can do it. Megumi confidently takes the stage with everyone’s support, ready to take on NAZO for the final showdown. As Yamato approaches in an attempt to pick on Megumi, he is flabbergasted at the sight. This was not supposed to happen. Megumi tells him she has changed a lot since becoming an idol. She is much more confident in what she does now knowing that so many people are supporting her and her talents, especially her producer after he stood up for her at the Harvest Moon Festival. Yamato claims all that hate mail was supposed to crush her spirits. It turns out he bribed several diehard NAZO fans to flood Megumi with insulting and threatening messages. Besides, he couldn’t have written them all by himself because people would be suspicious if they all had the same handwriting. Kenji overhears the truth and angrily tells Yamato to stop bullying Megumi and fighting dirty. Realizing his back is against the wall and Megumi is eager to take on NAZO no matter what the odds, he decides to fight fair. Now is Megumi’s chance to prove just how much she has grown!

ENDING

Megumi decides it is finally time to talk to Kenji in private. Becoming an idol really helped her change for the better. She has regained the self-confidence she had as a child and then some. Now she puts her all into everything she does without worry of failure. She has grown much more social in her daily life. She now strikes up a conversation with her classmate (the one who discovered her talents and encouraged her to become an idol) every chance she gets. Because of her time chatting with Kenji, she feels much more comfortable talking to other boys too…although she did have to turn down a date offer from one of them (because of the whole “idols can’t love” shtick). Megumi really has Kenji to thank for shaping her into the girl she is today. His constant care and support for her really helped her find some much-needed optimism. Despite feeling useless, being overly hard on herself, and her fear of failure, he never gave up on her, so she never gave up on herself. Megumi is especially grateful to him after saving her from the stage fire at the Harvest Moon festival and standing up to her in the face of Yamato’s insults. To show her appreciation, Megumi gives Kenji the white rose Yukiho gave her…and a big hug for good measure. Sure Yukiho was a big inspiration of hers, but Kenji was an even bigger one. Think of it as thanks for helping her “bloom.”

[liza94]

idols can’t love

Why is it

By the way, who is the next character?

[MetalPredat0r]

Why is it

Apparently, in Japan, idols that get in relationships get widely hated for doing so. I think its a purity thing or something.

[ZetaFlare]

Once I get through with a couple of skits, I'll do Kaori, Momoko, and Hikari next.

I believe it probably is a purity thing. I heard about it on a blog bashing people for making explicit fanart of the iM@S girls. Still, that shtick can become pretty much moot when it comes to those doujin writers.

Speaking of, this issue became a big inspiration for Chiyo's story.

[MetalPredat0r]

Well, fandom in general tends to ignore certain rules just to make their ships possible. If we went by canon, then YukihoxMakoto would be impossible to have, or at least nearly.