Are you really going to be okay on your own?

I'm sure it'll be easier to get the conversation started if we introduce you to her.

No, that's okay. Thanks for walking me over.

Well, okay then. I'm praying that your discussion goes well.

Thanks!

[Fade in/out.]

Come in. Oh? Who are you? Do you want my autograph, perhaps? If you wait just a little longer, I'll give you my autograph or even snap a picture with you.

No, um… Hi, nice to meet you. I'm the president of the School Idol Club.

You? YOU'RE the president of the School Idol Club?!

How could someone so boring be—

Oh, sorry. Where are my manners?

Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Lanzhu Zhong. Welcome to my School Idol Association.

Um, I came here today to talk to you about something. Are you available right now?

Yes, sure. Go on and have a seat over there.

O-Okay.

So what did you want to talk to me about?

Um. I'd like you to let us use the clubroom like we always have and to continue our school idol activities.

Sure.

Really?!

As long as you join my School Idol Association, we have all the facilities for you to get into your activities right away. I've created the perfect environment.

No, that's not what I meant. I want you to recognize the club for what it is—a club.

*Sigh* Honestly, I really don't get you. Why don't you want to use this magnificent environment I created?

Have a look at this clubroom! What do you think of it?!

It's…very impressive.

*Giggle* And it's not even finished yet. Over there will be a training room with our own personal trainer. I also want to make a shower room, sauna, and hot stone spa.

My friends and I are going to do our thing as school idols, so we gotta have the best environment to do so.

And I'm not just talking about our facilities. We even have elite professionals from around the world to support us as part of our staff.

But despite all of that, the members of the school idol club aren't defecting to us. Why? What could possibly be missing?

(She shined bright on stage as well, but I'm really overwhelmed by her aura when I see her up close like this. Who knew people like her really existed?)

Hey, are you listening to me?

Y-Yes!

You want everyone in your club to perform as school idols in the best environment, right? You're the president, so I bet the others will join me as long as I convince you.

I know you saw me on stage. I have a keen eye on my audience and you looked blissful. I bet you were intoxicated by my singing. So you're already a fan of mine, right?

It seems like everyone in the club adores you, so I'll give you a job to do.

Bring all of the club members over to my Association.

Um, why does the club have to be disbanded? You saw the School Idol Festival, right? Then you should know just how amazing everyone in the club is!

Of course! They're magnificent diamonds in the rough! They're just waiting to be polished up!

For that reason I, Lanzhu, created this new place that's guaranteed to succeed!

Fine! I'll tell you a special secret while I'm at it! Even you'll think the Association is totally better once you hear this!

[Fade in/out.]

This is our superstar composer, Mia Taylor. I brought her here all the way from New York.

Taylor? From New York? Wait, you don't mean…

Ah, I don't need to say much more if you know who she is. That's right. The genius composer Mia Taylor, second daughter of the prestigious musical family, the Taylors.

How many songs written by her do you think ranked in the Top 100 for number of plays?

……

Thirty. You heard me, thirty. I'm sure it's not hard to comprehend how impressive that is, right?

Well? Do you get me now? Do you realize just how special this School Idol Association I've created is?!

Shut up!

Oh? You should've said something earlier if you could hear us. I just figured you couldn't hear because you were so focused.

I really hate how you do stuff like that totally innocently.

You say that, but you really love me, don't you? I mean, you came all the way to Japan together with me, after all.

Come to think of it, how far have you gotten on the new song I asked you to write yesterday?

It's done, obviously. You took your time getting here so I ended up writing five whole songs.

Five songs in just one night?!

Geez, are you trying to break my eardrums? You got a problem with me writing them in a night?

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Nice. The third song sounds like it suits me the best. Do you want to listen, too?

(What is this? The production quality of this song is through the roof. She wrote this in just one night? And another four of them to boot?)

…………

Ai mentioned that you're a songwriter yourself, so I'm sure you're aware of just how amazing Mia's abilities are.

Mia's fully informed on the current hit songs from around the world. Info like that just lands in her lap—she analyzes it in a flash and creates ever more perfect songs.

You can search the whole world if you want, but you won't find another 14-year-old like her!

Fourteen?! Wait, so she's a middle-schooler?

I'm a senior in high school, since I skipped a few grades. I'm a college student back in the States.

What?!

I can't believe I'm back in high school again. It's so bothersome.

You'll have fun as long as you're with me! Let's enjoy our youth!

[Fade in/out.]

Well? Now do you get what the School Idol Association I created is all about? It boggles the mind why anyone would refuse to take advantage of this environment.

I understand how impressive the School Idol Association is.

Well then, in that case!

Allow me to clarify something. Will everyone be able to go about their school idol activities, however they please, if they join the Association?

That depends on them. If any of them have more charm and flair than me, then they'll take on the main role. That's impossible, though.

But you know what? I suppose I could let them take to the stage for one solo song.

I do recognize the skills of your club members. That's why I zeroed in on them when I saw them perform on stage at the School Idol Festival.

They're unrefined, but they're all full of unique character and fun. I'm sure if we polish that up, then they'll become fantastic beams of light to make me shine brighter.

But everyone in the club has their own school idol vision they're striving for, and they all want to be number one.

If they practice and perform under the supervision of the top-class staff members I've gathered then they will, without a doubt, improve. It's a shortcut to the top, no?

B-But isn't it also important to forge your own path towards what you want to do, rather than relying on professionals? We rack our brains writing songs, that's why…

You say some pretty weird things. Hard work doesn't affect the quality of a song. Isn't it obvious that songs written by professionals are better than those by amateurs?

Oh. I get what you're trying to hint at now.

Wh-What is it?

You want to join the songwriting team as well, don't you?

I get that. You'd lose your place if your club members defected, so I totally understand why you're so desperate to stop me from poaching them.

What? Uh. Well, no, that's not—

But that's stretching things a little too far. I don't need you.

I'll be courteous enough to ask Mia for you, but don't get your hopes up.

Anyway! I'm counting on you to convince the others! Bye bye!

Ah…

(There she goes. So much for trying to talk to her. That was a disaster.)