“I can’t believe I, of all people, overlooked such a talent… It’s all because of the church meddling and making senseless rules. What’s all this about divine prophecy? Modern idols should be more closely associated with the public, a down-to-earth existence! But they keep invoking divine will indefinitely… grumble grumble.”
After hearing Rain’s song, Johnny began to mutter to himself with such fervor that his chair rattled. Feeling like things might get out of hand if I left him alone, I called out to him.
“Um, Johnny-san?”
“Hm? What is it? Oh right! Quickly, release me! I no longer have any intention of turning you in to the guards. No, considering that you introduced me to this girl, I should probably even thank you.”
“Understood. Then, I’ll untie you now.”
I moved behind Johnny and cut the ropes binding his hands and feet. Johnny stood up from the chair, rolling his wrists to check his condition.
“Phew, finally free… But it’s really a good thing. If someone other than me had recognized her talent, but if she had fallen into the wrong hands and had been corrupted or crushed, or if she had given up on her idol dream without anyone noticing, it would have been a loss to the industry… no, to the world! Don’t worry. This girl… Rain-chan, was it? I’ll raise her to be the best idol with my guidance. But then, the problem becomes the remaining two members…”
“Ah, about that, I was thinking that Tia and I could fill in for those two, what do you think?”
“…You two?”
At my proposal, Johnny looked at Tia and me alternately with a puzzled expression. However, she soon sighed lightly and sat back down in her chair.
“Phew, alright. Then, show me what you two can do.”
“Understood. Tia, you go first.”
""
“Okay. I just need to sing the same song as before, right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Okay. Then, I’ll sing.”
With that, Tia began to sing as well. It was a folk song passed down among elves, and the unique rhythm and simple yet expansive melody carried by Tia’s clear voice echoed in the room. Before I knew it, I found myself swaying to the music.
But next to me, Johnny was watching Tia with a serious expression, listening to her song. And when she finished, he gave his evaluation with his chin in his hand.
“Hmm… it’s so-so.”
“So-so… should I be happy with that?”
“Why not? At least you were complimented, right? Isn’t that right, Johnny-san?”
“Yes. I think she can at least reach the level of a top-tier idol. But she seems… difficult.”
“Um, is there a problem?”
I had never thought about whether Tia was suited to be an idol, so I asked Johnny with anxiety. He frowned in response.
“There are some kids who just don’t do well with coaching. And this girl is definitely one of those. She’s naturally talented, but if you try to polish it, it gets rough, and if you try to shape it, it breaks. So, this girl will have to bring out her talent on her own. Of course, I can provide basic training, but beyond that, it’s up to her. In that sense, I think reaching the top half of the industry is her limit.”
“I see…”
“Huh. I didn’t know I was like that.”
Tia and I were both satisfied with Johnny’s explanation. It’s true that Tia’s charm lies in her naturalness, and I don’t think she would do well with standardized movements.
Even though I was the one who brought him here, I have to admit that professionals are amazing, to understand Tia’s personality in such a short time, even without having a skill like mine.
“Now, it’s your turn.”
“Ah, yes…………….”
“Eda, good luck!”
“Good luck, Eda-san!”
And then came my turn, which I would have rather forgotten. With Tia and Rain cheering me on, I resigned myself and sang a song. Ugh, Johnny’s gaze as he watched me was so intense…
“…Well, that’s how it is.”
“…I think you could barely make it to second-tier.”
Johnny, making a bitter face, said so and shook his head while holding it. That’s okay, I knew it… wait, huh?
“Hmm?”
“Johnny-san!? W-What is it!?”
For some reason, Johnny stood up and leaned in close to me. The face of a man in his forties coming so close that I could feel his breath is frankly terrifying.
“It’s just odd. From your song and behavior, I understand that if I were to sell you, it would be as a rough and wild character… covering up your poor singing with flashy movements and provocative words to lure the audience, but I see something different within you.”
“Something different, you say?”
“Yes. I catch glimpses of a little devil-like girl who maximizes the use of your body, draws people in with flattering behavior and calculated poses. If I could bring out that part of you, I feel like you could aim for the top-tier, if not the super first-class…”
“Ugh!?”
Could it be… he saw through to my Last form!? It’s true, this body was created by reproducing Last’s body, and if I imitate her behavior, I could literally captivate male fans…
“No, no, no, no! That must be a misunderstanding, Johnny-san! Look, I’m absolutely not suited for that!”
“…Right. I did overlook a great girl like Rain-chan, maybe I’m a bit tired.”
“That’s right! It’s probably because I forcibly brought you here, you’re suffering from mental fatigue! But more importantly, how were the two of us?”
There’s no way I can imitate Last in any sense, and I don’t want to. As I forcibly change the subject, Johnny’s expression instantly hardens.
“I’ll be clear at this point, no matter how hard you two try, you won’t be able to match up with Rain-chan. No, as far as I know, there’s not a single girl who can match up with Rain-chan. So if you two are to form a trio… no matter how hard you two try, you’ll just end up as support for Rain-chan. Especially you. Your name is…”
“You mean me? Edd… no, it’s Eda. And the girl over there is Lunaritia.”
“Eda and Lunaritia, huh. If it’s Lunaritia-chan, she might have a chance to rise to the top through Rain-chan.. But you’ll end up just as a supporting role. It’s probably a more miserable future than not becoming an idol. You’ll be talked about as a comparison for the “lowest”, ridiculed by various people and referred to as “better than that guy”. Are you prepared to accept that?”
Johnny strikes with reality, straightforwardly and without sugarcoating it. But that attitude is the main reason I wanted to entrust Rain to him.
That’s why I can answer with a smile.
“Of course. Tia and I aim to make Rain, who is truly amazing and seriously aiming to be an idol, a real idol. So it’s okay for us to just be a stepping stone. If a more suitable girl is found, we won’t complain if we’re replaced on the spot. Right, Tia?”
“That’s right. That’s what we planned from the beginning, and it’s enough if we can enjoy the time until that happens.”
“Eda-san, Tia-san…”
We reiterated the promise we once made. As we did so, Rain looked at us with moist eyes… and then Johnny flashed an unsettling grin.
“Good. That’s good. I’ve raised many idols so far, but there hasn’t been a single one who was ready to be thrown away from the start. Of course, anyone who aims to be an idol wants to be number one. But you two aren’t like that. And I can tell that you’re not lying or trying to brush it off. Hahaha, it’s good, it’s interesting!”
Johnny, who stood up with a thump, clenched his fist in front of his chest. His eyes were burning with passion, and he looked around at the three of us with a challenging grin.
“I got it. Then I, I will make Rain-chan the best idol! And to that end, I will train you two to be the best stepping stones! Our first goal is… top acceptance at the audition in three months! To achieve that, we’ll start intensive training from tomorrow, so all three of you, be prepared! I won’t tolerate any compromise or laziness!”
“Y-Yes! We’ll do our best!”
“Yeah, let’s work hard!”
“Yes, let’s do our best!”
Rain, who was a mix of nervousness and excitement at the sight of the fired-up Johnny, straightens her back and responds, followed by Tia and me with a smile. Hmm, it feels quite different from the original plan… Well, it’s okay. I’ll go along with it.
I don’t know if this is by God’s will or not, but anyway, for the first time in my life, I am about to undergo training to become an idol.