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>> HANA: (*sigh*...Jupiter. So that's Kuroi's hand-picked trump Unit...)
(As much as I hate to admit it, they completely dominated the ceremony. This is -not- how it was supposed to turn out for us...)
(...I thought I heard Takane's voice just now. She's not looking for me, is she? ...Not likely.)
(...Oh no, she -is- looking for me! And she sounds pretty frantic...what if there's some kind of emergency?!)
Takane?! It's Hana! I'm over here! Where are you?!
Yeah...sorry, I was kind of lost in thought. But more importantly, what's the matter, Takane? Has something serious happened?
...? So, what did you need me for then? I heard you calling my name...
...Premonition? What kind of premonition?
What...?! N-No, I-...!
(Must be her sixth sense picking up something from me again. I really shouldn't expect anything less from her at this point...)
Don't worry, Takane; that's not how I think about it at all.
B-But I do wonder, why all the doom and gloom? You all put on a really good show, but you almost look just about ready to cry...
...What...? Why?
T-...Takane...
(I see now...no matter who's keeping the secrets, both parties feel equally distanced from one another.)
(If I don't want this downward spiral to continue between us, then I have to be willing to take the first step.)
(Share the good things and the bad... that's the only way we can grow together.)
...Yes, I have. There's something I need to discuss with everyone, if you wouldn't mind stepping outside...
You guys need to learn to speak when spoken to, Kuroi.
...If you're here to make a threat, out with it already!
...And that would be Jupiter, you're saying? I have no reason to doubt their outstanding talents as idols, but...
Their potential is wasted on you, Kuroi. Hana Yori Uta won't be losing the Grand Prix to them.
*sigh*...I'm sick of that guy. Just says his piece and leaves, all the time. Like a self-entitled piece of-...
Um...Takane? Is anything wrong?
...Oh, that. Would you mind calling the others and meeting me off the ship? ...It's time for me to stop hiding things from you girls.
I'm positive it'll be painful for you to hear what I'm about to tell you...
But if any of you had to be in my shoes, I would walk that painful road with you any day of the week.
I don't want to see my best friends suffer any more than the next person...
I just have to believe that all of us can pull through it together.
But even if it leaves you bitter with me... it's still better that I tell you, because...
...If the alternative is making you feel isolated from me, I'll gladly bear any amount of bitterness you have for me.
That's why I've decided to-...hm? What? Why the surprised look on your face?
*sigh*...All right Takane, is there something funny, please?
(...You really mean that, don't you...)
I appreciate it, Takane. But, you know...I'd like to help you cast off your solitude too...
It's not a matter of life or death, Takane; nothing that'll stop us from working towards the Grand Prix now that we're nominated.
I want to talk about -after- that. I don't think we've ever discussed what we might do...next.
Actually...there's something that I never told you... that applies to any producer of a Unit that gets nominated.
The IAU affords all of them the chance to study abroad in Hollywood for a year.
...You guessed it. After the Grand Prix is awarded, I can't be with you girls anymore.
Even after I return in a year, I honestly don't know for sure if I'll be assigned to manage the three of you as a Unit again.
The bottom line is, there is a possibility our work together would be over for good.
...I know, Takane. I'm really, really sorry...
But please, I need you to try to smile for me. How can I bring myself to leave you girls if you make that face?
But that isn't true, Takane. You won't lose everything. Even when I'm gone, you'll still have these girls with you.
Besides, a loss isn't anything to be afraid of. Just think of it as...
...Like hitting the Reset button. As long as you don't ever give up on yourself, it's never truly Game Over.
Heh...hey, you're getting pretty good.
(Takane...she's always been good at quickly turning turmoil into personal growth.)
But with that said, the repercussions of my eventual Hollywood trip aren't what we should be focusing on right now.
Hana Yori Uta still has a primary objective to fulfill, and that's winning the Idol Academy Grand Prix.
I became your producer to turn you into top idols. For all of us...we'll earn that Grand Prix together!
>> DIRECTOR: All right! Excellent job today, Shijou-san! That was some terrific acting!
I hope we'll have the chance to work together again! For this shoot though, that'll be a wrap. Good work!
>> HANA: (So we got ourselves a job filming a commercial for a beverage maker's latest coffee drink...)
(With all the stellar acting and glamour that implies...kidding aside though, it does seem like it'll turn out pretty good.)
Huh...it's rare to see you so genuinely excited over the outcome of a job, Takane...
Makes me just feel stupid for having been even a little worried. ...I-I mean, it's good that it went so well, of course...
Uh- no! That's not what I meant to say at all, Takane. I was just thinking, this being a coffee commercial...
Well, we know how the other girls are, but I didn't think you really gave off the image of someone who drinks a lot of coffee.
Well, that's the way I see it. Rather than coffee, I think you would be more likely to regularly drink...
...Wine, you know? Maybe a nice glass of Riesling to swirl, as you gaze out over the skyline...?
T-Takane!? Come on, that's not what I was getting at! I meant you have the kind of cultured image that would be associated with wine!
*sigh*...Really? So, what is pleasing about it?
Yeah, well, that also depends on me doing my job to make sure you get that extra work.
But you know, the great thing about this commercial is that it'll be broadcast nationwide, so a lot more people will get to see you girls.
...? Something to be desired? ...Well, what more could we ask for, exactly?
A -worldwide- broadcast...?!
(...All right "Sir Butler", just what exactly have you been teaching Takane?!)
Hmm...I wonder if we really could air it around the world...
...You know what? You're right. I think it's worth a shot.
Sure. It's...up in the air whether any satellites will be involved, but we do have any number of means to make it available worldwide.
For one thing, we could just post it to a video sharing site!
Though, the procedure obviously has to be a little more formal than that...but you can leave all that stuff to me.
Haha, sorry. It's not supposed to be that difficult. I'm the producer, so the bulk of the work falls on me...
What I need you to do is make sure you draw attention to it on the Internet.
Yeah. We need you to link people to it, or there's no guarantee anyone will see it.
>> DIRECTOR: Yeah, I agree with that idea as well.
>> HANA: ...Oh! Our world-famous director! ...Have you been hearing this?
>> DIRECTOR: *giggle* In fact, I say we go all the way and film a special web-only version of the commercial!
(And just like that, we started shooting another commercial exclusively for web release.)
(Fortunately, all the girls took the sudden request for overtime really well, turning out another magnificent commercial.)
(With this, maybe we'll be able to spread their popularity overseas a little. -That- would definitely help our case!)
(I realize we have to sell our image however we can, but...why the hell a pickle company?)
(Anyway, we're under contract to collaborate on a bunch of commercials with them...we still need to come up with a "signature pose" though...)
Hmm...what are we supposed to-...?
Oh, I'm just having trouble figuring out exactly what pose you should assume for the last shot...
The script calls for a "pickle-related pose", but... I don't have a clue what that's supposed to be. Any ideas?
Oh wow, you can?! That would be a really big help! All right then, you want to go ahead and try shooting the-...
(Aaaand, again with the disappearing act. Well, guess I'll take that as a yes...)
(Nice! Cute expression, Takane!)
Already, seriously?! It's...kinda disturbing that you actually managed to pull that off in one take, but...I guess I shouldn't be complaining.
(That commercial actually became unexpectedly popular once it aired...)
(In addition to boosting pickle sales, it also drummed up some extra general interest in Hana Yori Uta's work!)
(Takane's creative prowess is not to be underestimated, is it.)