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

The entire studio went from bright to dark, and Goro Kimura stood on the brightly lit stage in high spirits.

"First of all, I would like to thank God O for sponsoring this program. During the broadcast period, as long as you top up 648 packages in the game, you can not only draw your favorite characters and weapons, but also get popularity tickets to cheer for your favorite trainees. It can be said that you can promote both game characters and idols..."

"Also, you can also get popularity tickets by participating in the "Idol Birth Festival" joint activities of the following sponsoring brands. For details, please visit the program's official website..."

While he was speaking the opening remarks and the slogan, the first team of trainees who were ready to perform quietly lined up at the side of the stage, waiting to go on stage...

"Then, let us welcome the first group of trainees to perform today. Their song is..."

After the opening remarks and interaction with the mentors, the trainees finally stepped onto the stage and began the intense second round of performances.

Because there were more adapted parts in this round of performances and the practice time was short, the number of "stage accidents" such as trainees' incoherent movements, collisions, and physical fights increased significantly.

"..."

Aoi Jinguji, who was standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but yawn as she watched.

"Hey, are you Yayoi Tsuki's assistant? I haven't seen you in the previous recordings. You must be new here."

"I'm Mr. Oda's assistant, Misa Oda. Please give me your guidance!"

A woman sitting next to her spoke to her in a low voice.

"Well, my last name is Jinguji, and this is indeed my first time watching a recording, so please give me your guidance."

Jinguji nodded at her politely.

The other party had the same last name as Oda Masaru, so it must have been a common case of "relative serving as assistant".

"The backstage and work area are a mess, and the live stage effects are not as beautiful as the official broadcast, right?"

"The advancement of shooting, makeup, and post-production technology has gradually made the old saying 'three minutes on stage, ten years of hard work off stage' a joke..."

"In today's entertainment industry, the audience only cares about the glitz and glamour on the surface, and has no intention of understanding the truth behind it."

Oda Misa, who seemed to be very outgoing, rested her chin on one hand, watching the performance on the stage with little interest, and complained to Jinguji Aoi in a low voice.

"Is that right?"

As an "outsider", Aoi Jinguji could only agree softly.

"After working in the industry for several years, I no longer have much hope for the effect of live performances. Apart from your singer who always insists on singing live, many big stars just sing randomly on stage and wait for post-production editing, sound adjustment and track change. The younger idols also follow suit and do not pay attention to the details of the live performance at all..."

"But, in the last round of performances, the performance of a trainee changed my mind."

"His performance taught me that the immersive atmosphere and appeal of a live stage performance have a charm that can never be replaced by post-production."

“Excellent live performances may become less and less, but they will never disappear.”

Perhaps it was their shared identity as "assistants" that brought them closer together, and Oda Misa continued to talk to herself.

"Oh? What kind of amazing performance could change Ms. Oda's mind?"

Aoi Jinguji blinked and asked curiously.

"That was the high-pitched sound that echoed throughout the studio, as if it could penetrate the soul with emotion..."

"When I think about it now, my scalp starts to go numb..."

With a look of realization and a blush on her face, Oda Misa took out her cell phone and pointed it at Jinguji Aoi...

"Hey, this trainee's name is Xia Fan, he's from Long Country, and he's the 'Great Devil Trainee' who is currently ranked first in terms of all-round talents and popularity."

"He is the last one to perform today. Although the piece he picked for this round of performance is not mainly about singing, you can still pay a little attention to him..."

On the dynamic lock screen wallpaper that lit up on the screen, there was a "close-up" shot of Xia Fan kneeling on one knee, looking up at the front with his big star-like eyes.

"Mr. Xia Fan..."

Suddenly faced with Xia Fan's "beauty critical hit", Jinguji Aoi was a little unable to react.

"Great, you also know Xia Fan? Wait, the title of 'Sir' means..."

This strange name made Oda Misa tilt her head.

"No, I mean, your dynamic wallpaper is so exquisite."

Jinguji Aoi changed the subject without leaving a trace.

"Of course, this 4K high-definition dynamic wallpaper is one of the membership privileges of the "Midsummer Shrine" that can only be registered by recommending Xia Fan and answering 100 questions correctly!"

Oda Misa boasted proudly.

"Midsummer Shrine, it seems that Aiba is in charge of that..."

"But isn't Ms. Oda from S-company? Can you recommend idols from other companies?"

The fact that the Burning Group and the three companies J, A, and S are at loggerheads is well known to the industry and the audience.

Although she knew that Xia Fan was very popular now, Jinguji Aoi didn't expect that the assistant from the rival company sitting casually next to her was actually his little fan girl.

"Being an assistant to Oda-san is just a job. Outside of eight hours, I can push whoever I want!"

Oda Misa waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Look, the last stage has begun..."

The second round of competition still follows the process of competition, comments and scoring. Because there are only eight songs in total, it is much shorter than the first round.

In less than an hour, the teams ahead had finished competing, and it was the turn of the last stage, "Oxygen Bomb"...

"Xia Fan is in this game?"

Hearing the announcement, Aoi Jinguji looked towards the backstage excitedly.

"Let me see, the team that goes on stage first should be Xia Fan's opponent's team."

"Someone familiar with the production team told me that this team has the best dancer, Takahashi Yu, and the other trainees are also very good at dancing. They can be said to be the 'best dancing team'..."

After taking a look at the trainees in the waiting area, Misa Oda shook her head in disappointment.

Chapter 289: The Appearance Industry

2024-07-13

"kindness?"

Oda Misa was still gossiping with Jinguji Aoi with relish when a familiar figure suddenly walked past her.

"Director Akimoto actually came to watch the rehearsal in person. This is the first time."

"It seems that Xia Fan's popularity has put more pressure on the production team than expected."

Wearing a gentleman's hat, Manjiro Akimoto stood quietly at the sidelines, staring at the stage expressionlessly.

The lights changed, music started playing, and Takahashi Yu's team of trainees came on stage with calm expressions and began their performance.

Because they were the "all-member dance leaders", they gave a 100% restoration of the classic "sword dance" in "Oxygen Bomb".

"Xia Jun's opponent is really good at dancing..."

The trainees' dynamic singing and neat group dance on the stage made Aoi Jinguji admire them again and again.

Compared with the previous performances, the dance for this piece is obviously much more difficult, and the visual effect is naturally more stunning.

In the neat dance formation, waves of people were surging, occasionally cutting across the stage like a knife edge, making the originally somewhat tired audience become excited and exclaim continuously.

"It's really amazing that they can restore "Oxygen Bomb" to this extent."

"But the dance moves are too neat. They don't look like they were practiced in two days. Instead, they look like they were rehearsed for a long time in advance..."

In front of the stage, Yayoi Tsuki, who was sitting in the instructor's seat, looked at the impeccable dance in front of her and smiled meaningfully.

As she has held many live concerts, she naturally has a relatively fixed dance troupe to collaborate with.

Even those professional dancers who make a living as backup dancers for stars may not be able to perform "Oxygen Bomb" to this level in two days.

"..."

As the song's rhythm grew stronger, the crowd danced more and more fiercely, and the stage suddenly became pitch black...

"Wow, are we finally at this part?"

"Oxygen Bomb" is a classic dance music with strong street dance elements. Shota Hirai, who claims to be a street dancer, is naturally very clear about the content and sits up straight in anticipation.

The spotlight came on, and the only beam of white light cut through the darkness of the stage.

In the darkness surrounding the beam of light, the trainees formed a circle and moved quietly.

At the moment when the light column alternated between light and dark, they appeared one by one under the light column in the center position and performed solo dances...

With their adrenaline stimulated by the live stage atmosphere, this team of trainees performed in better condition, more stable and accurate than what Xia Fan and the others had seen in the "leaked video".

It starts with a seated split, then moves to a standing split, a backflip, a handstand push-up, a 1990 handstand spin, a turtle, and a windmill. This series of moves increases in difficulty step by step. In the solo dance atmosphere created by the spotlight, the visual effect is quite eye-catching.

Amid the low cheers of the audience, Takahashi Yu finally appeared under the beam of light. He did a Thomas move, then alternately supported himself with his hands, did four or five handstand spins in the air, and ended with a gorgeous handstand freeze frame!

"Good, Thai pants! Kill my Lev!"

The moment the show ended, Shota Hirai was the first to applaud loudly.

"This Takahashi Yuu, his dance basics are really solid..."

"Thomas spin followed by a double-handed giant loop is an orthodox breaking move. Although it is not considered top-level difficulty, it is more than enough to win votes from those crazy female fans."

"That pervert who didn't reply to messages probably couldn't answer it..."

Watching Takahashi Yu's team leave the field, Yayoi Tsuki looked towards the waiting corridor with melancholy.

……

"coming."

The next team of trainees stepped onto the stage as the lights changed and took their positions. Jinguji Aoi, who was sitting on the side, saw Xia Fan, who was standing in the second row, at first sight.

"I didn't get the center position, but got the 'dancing leader' in the corner of the second row. The production team was really too harsh on my Xia Fan."

Noticing Xia Fan's position, Oda Misa sighed in dissatisfaction.

"What's wrong, is that a bad position?"

Aoi Jinguji asked curiously.

"Well, you're the main dancer. You do the difficult moves, and others will take the center position..."

"It's like the role of a man who works hard all his life and then entrusts his life's skills, as well as his wife and daughter, to the protagonist. It's a position that's both strenuous and not eye-catching."

Oda Misa complained in a rambling manner.

"Hurry up, get out of the way, feel the oxygen bomb!"

"I am the most dazzling presence on this stage!"

The next second, music started, lights changed, and Xia Fan and his teammates sang and danced to "Oxygen Bomb" to the explosive melody.

"Mr. Xia Fan on the stage is glowing..."

Looking at Xia Fan, whose makeup was delicate and expression was just right, Jinguji Aoi felt as if she was under some kind of curse, with her sight fixed on the other's bewitching eyes.

"Ahhhh, Xia Fan, so handsome!!!"

"Xia Fan, Xia Fan, the devil has come down to earth!"

Beside her, Misa Oda had long forgotten the issue of "company affiliation" and joined many fanatical female fans at the scene in cheering for Xia Fan.

Even when standing at the edge of the stage, Xia Fan's handsome face, bright eyes, and sincere smile were as eye-catching as a work of art, with an eerie magic that made his teammates automatically become the background.

"The time for the mission has come. There are so many people in front of the waiting room. No one can take their eyes off me!"

"Everyone follow me, raise your hands. The king has returned, and it's time to explode!"

After two days of intensive practice, the dances of the people on the stage were so neat and orderly that they looked like layers of raging waves...

"This team's uniformity is also quite perfect, but the details are a little worse than the previous team."

"However, this is a gap in basic skills, which cannot be made up in a short time. The current slightly better results have been achieved through sweat, hard work and talent."

"If the climax isn't too far off, maybe there's still a chance of winning..."

Carefully observing the movements of everyone on the stage with a professional eye, what Yayoi Tsuki sees is naturally different from that of ordinary audiences.

Xia Fan's team's performance was impeccable in terms of singing, rhythm, positioning and uniformity of movements, but they were still slightly inferior in details such as the power and amplitude of the movements.

However, in terms of the overall stage effect presented, so far, the two teams are actually evenly matched.

If you want to know the reason, it is naturally because he is handsome.