Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

“The best…”

"It should still be... Xia Fan's, right?"

Souta looked at several executive directors nearby and answered submissively.

Straight shooting refers to shooting a single person's entire performance. Naturally, it is impossible to add special effects or "one cut plum" through post-production as before. At most, we can help with the sound.

In terms of the overall stage quality, Xia Fan is good-looking, has charming eyes, inspiring singing, and his dancing is of such standard that even the choreographer himself could not find any fault with it.

Although the other five-star trainees also performed very well, they all had their shortcomings and pale in comparison with Xia Fan.

"Xia Fan? That boy does have the potential to become a top idol, but it's a pity that he has already signed with the Burning Department..."

"This time, the popularity votes are real money. Company B won't be stupid enough to inflate the votes and help the rival company increase its sales."

"So, Xia Fan is destined not to be able to stand in the nine positions on the main stage."

Clicking on the trainees' straight-shot videos one by one, Akimoto Manjiro's muscles twitched and he smiled without comment.

For this theme song MV, the nine positions on the main stage have already been decided through negotiation by several companies behind the organizer, and they will use "internal votes" to get their own "seed players" on the list.

As for the funds for "internal tickets" to the charts, in this kind of program, it has always been "30% to 70% split of the audience's money, and the company's money is returned in full." It's just a matter of accounting and tax deduction for related transactions between entertainment companies and consumer channel merchants.

Of course, these "companies" do not include Bethesda.

……

Chapter 232: Ticket Swapping

2024-07-13

The next day, in the trainee dormitory, Room 501.

"The food is back, come down and eat!"

Xia Fan pushed the door open, carrying several large boxes of lunch boxes and sponsor-branded yogurt.

"saved……"

Martin, his head and body wrapped in a quilt, with only his two eyes and a mouthful of teeth showing, spoke weakly.

"How lucky I am to have a roommate like you who has a freakish physique..."

Basong, wearing a pink silk tank top, lay weakly on the bed with half of his body hanging in the air, stretching his muscles.

"Hurry, give me food! I'm going to starve to death before I'm killed by muscle soreness..."

On the opposite side, Jack was struggling like a zombie, trying to get out of bed, but every time he moved, his facial muscles would twitch with pain.

After all the members of dormitory 501 passed the theme song test, they were overwhelmed by fatigue and muscle aches. Several people basically spent the entire period from last night to this morning lying in bed.

Of course, Xia Fan, who got four "qualified" scores, was not among them. He still looked fine and even took the initiative to take on the responsibility of "serving meals" today.

"The popularity live video and voting method were launched on the program website early yesterday morning!"

"By the way, have you ever heard of 'Theme Song Law'?"

"In the theme songs of similar programs in previous years, more than half of the people who stood on the main stage and had close-up shots have debuted as a group!"

Martin said to the other people in the dormitory while eating steak.

"Half, is the chance that high? That's great. I also want to go to the main stage with the elevator..."

Basong ate his vegetable salad politely and gazed at the ceiling with longing.

"Hey, this kind of voting is mainly for local audiences... Most of them will vote for the trainees from District 11... International trainees like us have no chance..."

"However, Xia Jun is so popular now, he should have a chance to compete!"

Jack, who had the weakest dancing skills, naturally had the most severe muscle soreness. His shaking and sore hands accidentally poked the meatball into his cheek...

"I'd better forget it. Instead of asking people to spend money to vote for me, I might as well keep the money for myself and eat something good..."

While eating, Xia Fan flipped through the voting rules and shook his head like a rattle.

According to the voting rules announced by the program team, a one-month video membership with a recharge of 1,000 yen can get ten popularity votes, which is enough for him to have a meal at a convenience store.

Before he could finish his words, several message alerts rang out on his LINE.

"Hoshina Hanami: Xia Fan, I spent the whole day yesterday to catch up on the variety show you participated in. Your performance was quite amazing! I heard that President Higashino is mobilizing his connections to help you call for 'friendship votes' in the Burning Department company, so I also asked President Tachibana and the people around him to help. Come on!"

"Hoshina Hanami: But, a senior like Miss Yayoi actually appreciated you so much. Was it because she sang the song you wrote, or was there some other reason? You must explain it to her later!"

At the end of the message sent by Hoshina Hanami, there were a few cute "come on" emoticons.

"Horiie Tsubasa: Xia Fan, I'm writing to you... It's very rude to ask for leave to record a talent show without informing the class monitor. However, even so, my classmates and I will still help you set up a stall in school to canvass for votes."

The news about Horie Tsubasa was as gentle yet firm as ever.

"Calling on students from Tokyo University of the Arts and people from the Burning Department to vote for me? There's no need for that..."

Naturally, he had mentioned his participation in the show to Hoshina Hanami and Horie Tsubasa.

But because I was too busy after the program recording started, I didn’t contact him for a detailed chat afterwards, which led to the sweating now.

"Shirakawa Rika: You said you were going to participate in a variety show, but it turned out to be an idol audition variety show?! May I ask, how is the profession of actor inferior to that of idol?!"

"Shirakawa Rika: I forwarded the variety show you participated in to the work group of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" so that everyone could criticize and condemn it. As a result, everyone actually said that they would send messages to help you canvass for votes... So, I'm kneeling down to thank you with tears of gratitude."

The next message came from Rika Shirakawa, who said one thing but acted another.

“Even the crew of “The Broken Chrysanthemum and the Knife” was involved?”

The strong sense of social death made Xia Fan's forehead drip with cold sweat.

"Mr. Xia, you've been sweating a lot. Are you really too tired these past two days?"

Noticing Xia Fan's unusual expression, Basong gently handed him a few tissues.

"No, it's nothing. I just came back in a hurry..."

Xia Fan was still wiping his sweat when he received two more messages.

"Yayoi Tsuki: Sister, I just bought a new car. Isn't it beautiful? I don't know why, but the 4S store also gave me tickets for the show. I don't know any other trainees, so I'll just vote for you, a pervert, reluctantly..."

The picture behind the message about Yayoi Tsuki is of a valuable red sports car, and a thick stack of "Idol Birth Festival" popularity tickets can be seen on the back seat.

"Hey, this new energy sports car, remember the suggested retail price is over 20 million yen, Yayoi is really rich..."

The smooth curves of the red sports car and the even smoother curves of Yayoi Tsukikoshi reflected in the windshield left Xia Fan dumbfounded.

"Jinguji Aoi: Mr. Xia Fan, the recent investigation into the 'Amabie' case has been very fruitful. Section 9 has uncovered several cult organizations named 'home'. Please don't worry and just focus on recording the show."

Xia Fan was relieved when he noticed that the last message was from Aoi Jinguji's regular work contact, and not someone trying to canvass for him.

"Xia Fan: Thank you for your hard work. It's really weird that 'Amabie' can control diseases. Agents, please ensure your safety. If you need any help, please feel free to contact me."

"Jinguji Aoi: By the way, the agents of Section 9 have been working really hard lately, wearing plain clothes and disguising themselves, hunting down cultists in the wind and sun. I asked Agent Aiba to pick out a full set of skin care products for a year as a souvenir for everyone, and I'll have someone send Mr. Xia Fan's portion over later."

「Aoi Jinguji: picture.jpg」

But after Xia Fan responded, the picture Jinguji Aoi sent back made him open his eyes wide...

Because, in that picture, there is a truckload of "SK skin care product sets" worth a lot of money...

In the upper left corner of the skin care product set, you can vaguely see the suspicious words "Designated popular support product for the idol birth festival".

"..."

Putting down the phone, Xia Fan sighed with lifeless eyes.

"You kid, are you trying to be okay even though you're clearly very tired?"

"The show is still long, and the first public performance elimination round is coming soon, so we must take advantage of these two days to rest!"

Martin and Jack gave him concerned looks.

"No, it's okay, the food is just not to my liking, hahaha..."

Xia Fan quickly laughed it off and continued eating with an uneasy mood.

"This... Now, I'm not going to be accused of cheating again, am I?"

……

Chapter 233: Popularity Support Strategy for Eating

2024-07-13

……

"Brushing votes? How can such a low-level thing be worthy of the glory of Master Xia Fan?"

"Our "Midsummer Shrine" is all about reality!"

"Isn't it just the old tricks used by boy and girl groups to make money by supporting products and attracting users? Look how easily this genius can do it!"

In the small cubicle of the Information Group Office of Lesson 9, Aiba Yui typed quickly on the keyboard with a peaceful smile on her face, muttering in a voice that only she could hear...

In the eyes of the surrounding information team agents, she is just an outsourced, invisible hacker who works quietly...

Little did they know that the homepage of the "Midsummer Shrine" website had quickly updated with a "Popularity Support Guide for Eating Food"...

Things like "Cheering Guide" have long been played by fans in the "Idol Warring States Era" where selling goods in exchange for popularity votes...

The core essence is to guide fans to use the most cost-effective way to convert money into the "popularity" of their idols among a variety of support methods.

But the "Support Guide" released by "Midsummer Shrine" is a little different.

First of all, this "Support Strategy" emphasizes the "Sustainable Support Theory" at the very beginning...

That is, without increasing the consumption level, affecting the quality of life, or increasing extra expenses, according to normal life needs, cost-effective support products will be included in the consumption list, while ensuring "good meals", while taking into account the support and support for Xia Fan.

Secondly, the strategy makes full use of AI and big data to analyze all the support products in detail, compare the sales prices and practical effects of the activities horizontally and vertically, and then match the corresponding "recommended support products" for different income, age, and gender groups...

Then, targeting the student group who have no purchasing power, the guide also provides some activities that only require time to "recruit people" to obtain "popularity votes". It also thoughtfully comes with a "one-click automatic support software" that allows fans to "recruit people" through their real-name authenticated accounts to complete these activities. It also comes with thoughtful little features such as "automatically recommending Xia Fan through social accounts".

Finally, the official of "Midsummer Shrine" promised that as long as Xia Fan can get the C position in the theme song MV, they will unlock the first-hand "unreleased footage of Xia Fan's theme song practice".

As soon as this strategy was released, the "summer disease" fans in the "Midsummer Shrine", which is becoming increasingly popular, naturally responded positively, and by the way, there was another collective outbreak of Xia Fan's straight-shot video in the comment section.

……

Three days later.

In the large meeting room of the "Idol Festival Production Committee", the doors and windows were closed, the lights were dim, and there were only Manjiro Akimoto and Assistant Director Souta.

Obviously, these two were having some kind of "secret meeting".

"There are still 24 hours left before the popular straight shot voting ends..."

"Real-time vote count, what's the situation?"

Akimoto Manjiro asked in a low voice.

"The total popularity of all trainees is approaching 700 million..."

"Director, this data has exceeded the data of previous programs in the same period by 50%!"

Assistant Director Souta stared at the computer in front of him with uncontrollable excitement on his face.

At a time when there are several talent shows online every year and audiences are becoming increasingly tired of them, this popularity can be regarded as an important milestone in his career.

"What about the individual ranking?"

Akimoto Manjiro, however, did not seem very happy.

"Personal ranking..."

"The first one is Xia Fan...his popularity is 1.13 million..."

"The second one is Hirano Yuta...his popularity is 550,000..."

"The third one is An Ziyao...his popularity is 510,000..."

"The fourth is Takahashi Yuu... The fifth is Nagase Kaito..."

Kusata quickly tapped on the keyboard, reporting the popularity data of the trainees' theme song straight shot.

"That's enough... Stop it..."

"I asked you to check with the support channel about the source of Xia Fan's popularity. Have you received a response?"

Manjiro Akimoto interrupted his broadcast in a low voice, with his hands on his cheeks and a frown on his face.