You make yourself comfortable in your new office over on the eleventh floor of Matsuno Inc. HQ.
Matsui Tomo walks into the room with an easy smile and hands you a folder containing several prospective idols.
”Here are the results from the audition, Nagata-san,” she says, “Each of them have a numerical ranking for their skills, their latent potential for that skill, and a personality trait that was noticed by the scouts.”
You take the folder and flip through the candidates, there’s only three of them, but, then again, you’re only allowed to pick one idol to represent for the time being.
Your brow furrows, it’s difficult.
Back during your HR days you had to pick candidates all the time, but it feels a bit different now knowing you could make or break somebody’s dream with a single decision.
“What happens to the ones I don’t pick?” you ask.
Matsui Tomo shrugs, ”The folder will make its way through the rest of the company and a different manager might pick them up,” she says, then winks, “I just made sure you had the first pick considering that I’m your assistant now.”
Matsui-san seems very capable and you tell her as much.
A different manager may have just nodded and perhaps indulged the assistant with a grunt of approval, but you know the importance of voicing your appreciation.
“Thank you for putting this all together, Matsui-san,” you say with a bright smile.
Matsui almost looks taken aback, but then waves the comment off, “What are you saying?” she says, fighting down a chuckle, “It’s my job.”
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/0323c444-eb8e-4082-961e-9c0d593587ef.png]
Kaiba Aoi (Age 18, Rank E)
Looks: 25 (55)
Vocals: 32 (35)
Dance: 21 (40)
Acting: 37 (63)
Personality: 33 (61)
Trait: Gloomy
Interactions with fans will be rolled with disadvantage.
Fame: 0
This idol is completely unknown.
Costs $5,000 per month
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/cc932187-4144-44f9-baa6-3bffc6b4f956.png]
Ichihara Riko (Age 16, Rank E)
Looks: 32 (41)
Vocals: 31 (69)
Dance: 27 (30)
Acting: 44 (68)
Personality: 19 (37)
Trait: Liar
At times may make promises she doesn’t plan to keep.
Fame: 1
This idol has made some minor appearances.
Costs $8,000 per month
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/e49a316b-1ba9-4c6d-b528-ac202a274763.png]
Maki Sumi (Age 15, Rank F)
Looks: 30 (35)
Vocals: 34 (40)
Dance: 15 (54)
Acting: 29 (39)
Personality: 9 (22)
Trait: Secretive
Will be hesitant to share her problems or developments.
Fame: 0
This idol is completely unknown.
Costs $5,000 per month
Budget: $100,000
Date: January 1, 2015
”All these numbers, what exactly do they mean?” you ask, scratching your cheek, "Some are fairly straight-forward, but I don't want to make any assumptions."
Matsui slightly tilts her head, but then her eyes widen as she holds a hand in front of her mouth, “I completely forget you’re new to all this. I’m so sorry.”
”It’s okay,” you reply, “Could you explain it to me?”
She takes a moment to go over the portrayed skills with you.
Looks are the sum total of an idol’s physical appearance.
This skill is used for things like modelling gigs and commercials.
Some jobs might even have a minimum requirement for looks.
Vocals Represent an idol’s vocal ability and their general ability to sing.
Not all idols are great singers, but some jobs require it.
It definitely comes in handy when recording songs and some voice-acting jobs require a voice-actor with vocal skills.
Dance This one is fairly self-explanatory. It’s your ability to move.
Some commercials require it, back-up dancer gigs require it, and most idol groups require it.
High-profile jobs can have a pretty high min. requirement.
Acting Your ability to act out a role.
Used in jobs like voice acting as well as ordinary on-screen acting.
Also used when a situation requires you to lie to a person or crowd.
Personality This is your idol’s marketable personality.
A good personality score means they would be a great addition to a radio show or a reality show.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
It’s a combination of their humours, wits, and general likability.
Fame Ranging from 0 to 10.
Fame is an indication of how well known this idol is.
A high fame state might mean you get offered better jobs and people pay more for your services.
Unfortunately, high fame also comes at a cost.
Security becomes a must at some point and even the slightest slip-up will be broadcast over the web by the paparazzi that hound you at every turn.
> META
>
> What Idol do you pick?
> >Idol #1 - Kaiba Aoi
> >Idol #2 - Ichihara Riko
> >Idol #3 - Maki Sumi
> >Don't pick any and request a new round of local auditions (-$50,000)
>
> Winner
> >Idol #1 - Kaiba Aoi
”I think we’ll go with Kaiba Aoi,” you say, handing back the folder.
Matsui nods, “Very well,” she says, taking the folder and tucks it under an arm, “I’ll make sure to get the paperwork in order.”
She makes her way to the door, but then stops and turns, “We have Kaiba Aoi’s phone number,” she says, “I can give her a call if you like? Alternatively, we can invite her to the office for a short chat?”
> META
>
> >1 - Let Matsui call her and congratulate her on her the start of her new idol career
> >2 - Call Kaiba Aoi yourself. It’s the least you can do as her manager.
> >3 - First impressions are important. You want to invite Kaiba Aoi to the office so you can get familiar with each other. You’ll be working together a lot after all.
>
> Winner
> >3 - First impressions are important. You want to invite Kaiba Aoi to the office so you can get familiar with each other. You’ll be working together a lot after all.
“Let’s invite her over,” you say, “Later today if she has the time, but tomorrow is fine as well.”
Today, January 1st 2015, is a Thursday, so Kaiba might not have time, but tomorrow should be good.
”I’ll make the call,” says Matsui, then walks from the office in a determined stride.
-----
Barely three hours later, Kaiba Aoi is sitting in the chair opposite of your desk.
She’s running her hands over the end of a long strand of black hair, twirling it in small circles,
“Ah,” she begins, then looks towards her feet for a moment, “I’m very sorry. …about the call.”
You hold up your hands in reassuring manner, “It’s quite alright,” you say, trying a smile.
Matsui had to call a total of six times.
Apparently, Kaiba had heard the phone ring, but she didn’t recognize the number so she was hesitant to pick it up.
It wasn’t until the seventh call that Kaiba picked up and, in a very mousy voice, asked if Matsui could stop calling – only for her to find out who was actually calling.
“It’s just that,” says Kaiba, “I didn’t think you’d call. I figured I was too old. That you had already picked somebody else.”
”Idols usually start at a very young age, don’t they?” she ads, then seemingly decides to break herself down even further, “I already graduated high school last year and it’s not easy for me to be happy and cheerful like the idols on TV.”
”I picked you Kaiba-san,” you say, “Because I felt like you have what it takes.”
That appeared to make her somewhat happy, but it seems like she has trouble expressing it.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/72bc833f-1b50-4878-974d-6071885b7df5.jpg]
“Even though I’m like this,” says Kaiba, “And can’t dance very well?”
These self-confidence issues are going to be a hurdle we’ll have to cross at some point.
“I chose you because you’re the way you are,” you reply, “You don’t need to pretend to be something you’re not. It seems like you don’t believe it, but you already are idol material.”
It occurred to you that you might be overloading this poor girl with compliments.
Kaiba’s face was beet red as she began to laugh, only it wasn’t really a proper laugh.
Almost more like a nervous chuckle – stretched out for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“Eh-hEheHeehe,” laughed Kaiba, her face buried in her hands.
You extend a hand towards her, arm hovering above your desk, and it causes the girl to finally look up.
“My name is Nagata Miho,“ you say with a smile, “And I’ll be your manager if you’ll have me.”
The girl takes your offered hand in both of hers, “Yes,” she replies hastily, a sparkle in her eyes, “Absolutely.”
After a long moment you decide to ask for your hand back as she was still hanging onto it.
“Ah,” says Kaiba, letting go, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s quite alright,” you reply, then take out the form that your assistant had prepared earlier.
It was a sheet of questions that Kaiba has been asked to fill out back during the audition.
“While we’re here I’d like to go over some of the answers you’ve given during the audition,” you say, “Just so I can have a better idea of the kind of idol you’d like to be and help you with that.”
Kaibs nods, nerves creeping into her face.
“For the question ‘Why do you want to be an idol?' you answered ‘I don’t know’,” you say, “Could you expand on that?”
Suddenly it seemed like all the progress you’ve made during this conversation was turned null and void.
Kaiba returned to her earlier ways, playing with a lock of hair and turning it in small circles.
“It’s difficult to explain,” she says, “I didn’t know what to do when I graduated high school last year. I’ve been sorta staying at home and in my room during that time. My parents have been asking me to get a job or go to college and I didn’t know what to do. I figured nobody would want a person like me. Sometimes I wish I was different. I’m not happy the way I am. I wish I could be more like other people. Cheer, clap, shout and those sorta things when at a concert. But even when I went to a concert that one time, I couldn’t. I wish I could express myself like that. Be happy – y’know, like idols are. They always seem to have so much fun. I understand that part of that is faked – acting, but I can’t even do that.”
A big part of your years at HR was spend listening, knowing when to just be quiet because you know there’s more to come.
So, you simply waited for the girl to continue.
“I guess I was hoping that if I were to become an idol that I might be able to express myself better and get a ton of friends. Or something,” she concludes, “To be honest I didn’t think I would get picked.”
The unspoken question here was: Why didn’t you write that.
And the answer would be: That would be embarrassing.
The girl on the other side seemed small, her shoulders tight.
As if already regretting opening up and bracing herself for the barrage of questions to come.
“I think that’s a great reason,” you say, clicking your pencil and moving on to the next question.
The relief was clear on her face.
“So on the question regarding what kind of activities you’d see yourself perform as an idol you answered: 'Modelling and voice acting',” you ask, “Can you expand on that?”
“Ah,” she says, wringing her hands, “I figured you wouldn’t have to talk to people that much if you did those. I’m hoping I can be a proper actress at some point, but that feels out of reach.”
She quiets for a moment, but then continues, “I thought that, maybe, if I did modelling and people like it that it would give me some self-confidence. Sort of.”
You begin to notice that this extended conversation is taking a toll on the poor girl and speed your way through the remaining questions.
A short while later you tap the bottom of your papers on the desk, the universal sign for we’re-done-here, “That’s all,” you say as Kaiba lets out a deep sigh.
“Welcome to the Matsuno Inc. Idol Agency,” you say, “You are a proper idol now and will receive your first wage next month. Me and my assistant, Matsui Tomo, will call you tomorrow. Relax and get some rest.”
Kaiba stands and perform a shallow bow, “Ah,” she says, “Thank you. I saved the company’s number in my phone so it’s no longer shown as unknown.”
A pained expression slips onto her face as that memory lingers, “Sorry again for that.”
“It’s quite alright,” you reply, then you say your goodbyes.
----
A short while after Kaiba has left, Matsui comes into the office with a clipboard tucked under her arm.
”Did everything go okay, Nagata-san?” asks Matsui.
You shrug, “I think I have a decent idea of the kind of work that Kaiba Aoi wants to do,” you say, “She might also have to do some idol work that is outside her comfort zone in the future, but I think we’ll play it safe for now.”
Matsui nods in acknowledgement, then raises the clipboard, pen at the ready, “What’s the plan?”