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

"Souta, what's wrong with these audiences? Didn't you find a 'professional team'?!"

"It's not enough that the age group is mixed up, the reaction on the scene wasn't enthusiastic at all. Are you complaining that the money wasn't paid enough?"

In the work area on the sidelines, Manjiro Akimoto accurately grabbed assistant director Souta's collar in the dark.

"Ahem... I don't know either... But the cooperation agreement only requires them to vote as required... There is no additional service of serving as the 'atmosphere group'..."

"How about I call now and add more information?"

Assistant Director Souta was also confused about this situation.

"The show has already started recording, there's no time to add more now, quickly arrange a few more executive directors to guide them on the sidelines, at least we should applaud at the climax and end of each show, right?!"

"For the other audience reaction shots, we can only use the extra 'materials' stored in previous episodes."

Sighing, Akimoto Manjiro could only choose to wait and see.

In the song "Starry Sky Beyond" on stage, Kimura Goro was only responsible for the few lines that were most rich in "era memories", leaving most of the lyrics to the trainees. It can be said that he had no intention of stealing the spotlight, fully demonstrating the righteousness and responsibility of the "idol predecessor"...

The trainees in this group also performed very well. Their vocal skills were on point and their singing emotions were on point. It was obvious that they had polished their skills word by word under the guidance of Goro Kimura.

Because there are more performers than the "PAMS" group, they also carefully added harmonies and simple dances on the basis of the original performance, which is icing on the cake.

But facing this golden song of the era and the carefully designed and hard-polished stage, the audience kept smiling nonchalantly from beginning to end.

This gave the trainees on the stage the strange illusion that they were performing in front of a group of scarecrows wearing masks.

"Clap clap clap clap..."

At the end of the song, the audience, guided by the executive director's gestures, burst into thunderous applause, which made the atmosphere on the scene return to a somewhat lively state.

“Thank you for listening. Singing this song with these youthful and energetic trainees makes me feel like I’m back in my youth…”

The trainees left the stage, and Goro Kimura remained on the stage to continue hosting with his signature smile.

"Then, please stop for a while after arriving at the other side of the ocean and encounter "One Night Stand"..."

The screen wall switched to the night view of Tokyo, and Oda Masaru made a brilliant appearance with Kishi Sho, Basong and others.

Because there were mentors on the final stage, in line with the industry's unwritten rule of criticizing indecency, the mentors' sharp comments segment was naturally cancelled. So Oda Masaru went backstage to prepare slowly when the previous song was halfway through.

"I don't know where to start with this sudden one-night stand."

"Time passes silently, and the words that surge into my heart disappear without a trace."

"You are so beautiful that I can't just fall in love with you."

Although he is over 70 years old and his voice has inevitably deteriorated, Oda Tadashi's voice has just the right amount of hoarseness and a sense of rhythm that makes the song sound tingling...

"The rain is about to stop, in this evening that belongs only to the two of us."

"On that day, at that time, at that place."

"If we had never met you, we would always be strangers."

Like Kimura Goro, Oda entered the "power saving mode" after "making a good first move", leaving the rest of the lyrics to the trainees...

Although this song is somewhat difficult in terms of technique and singing style, this group of trainees with vocal expertise performed it perfectly.

"Don't be moved by other people's sweet words, and don't be sad."

"Even if that's the case, don't take it to heart. I like you more and more every day, and I love you more than I do now..."

"Everything I have has come to you across the barriers of time and space."

"I will turn into wings to protect you tightly, and I will turn into the wind to embrace you gently."

Especially in the climax of the song, the delicate An Ziyao and the "male body and female appearance" Basong sang in a loving duet on the stage, looking very much like a couple.

Listening to this soulful song, it seems as if one sees two men and women reluctantly parting in opposite directions in the morning light after a one-night stand...

Faced with such heartfelt singing, the audience remained quiet, smiling, and intently staring, like towering reefs in the waves.

"Clap clap clap..."

After the song ended, they clapped mechanically again after the executive director reminded them.

"Why is the reaction so bland?"

"There were obviously no mistakes, and the live performance was much better than during the rehearsal..."

Just like the previous group, facing the overly calm audience, Oda Masakazu and the trainees bowed and thanked the audience. Their expressions of excitement due to their extraordinary performance turned into confusion.

"No, didn't you capture any touching, tearful, excited, or affectionate expressions? These soulless smiles are just like they were cast from the same mold..."

“Could it be that the audience has heard too many live concerts of these ‘professionals’ and their threshold for artistic appreciation and emotions has become higher, so they have no reaction to the trainee-level performances?”

"Or, like the 'grin' in the service industry, have they also gone through similar 'pre-job facial expression training'?"

At the edge of the stage, assistant director Souta stared at the monitor, repeatedly replaying the footage of the audience, but he couldn't find a suitable "reaction expression".

Chapter 333: Sea of ​​Fire and Ice

2024-07-13

"Stop wasting time, Souta. When the recording is over, just let the audience stay and collect some 'materials'."

"The most urgent task is to ensure the quality of the performance recording and the results of the final on-site voting..."

"The next one is Hirai Shouta's group... They are both rappers, I hope they can show some strength and beat Xia Fan's group!"

Akimoto Manjiro, who was standing next to him, stroked his stubbled chin and looked at the stage intently...

"Thanks to Mr. Masaru Oda's help, I seem to see the craftsmanship of the vocal music world being passed on at this moment..."

"These two songs in a row made us wander in that dreamy 'golden decade' and we will never forget it."

"But for today's third song, our new generation rapper representative, Shota Hirai, will work with the trainees to let us feel the complex feelings of young people today about love..."

Goro Kimura, wearing his suit jacket again, filled the awkward silence during the curtain call with his high-speed hosting speech.

Then, Shota Hirai, wearing a black leather jacket and a blond middle-parted hair, and the trainees, who had their hair dyed in various colors and dressed in loose hip-hop clothes, appeared on the stage full of energy.

"The final heartbreak has made it impossible for me to like anyone again."

Different from the opening performances of the previous two groups of mentors, this time the opening rap was boldly given to Martin.

"Even though I said that, it was so painful, but I fell in love again. Why?"

"I'm a scumbag again."

Today, he dyed his braided hair white, and his rap did not disappoint...

Singing in standard District 11 dialect, with superb rhythm and casual singing style, the whole song creates a very stunning first impression.

"Even though I met such a good person, I can't trust him now?"

"I'm such an asshole for doubting her no matter what."

"Enough is enough. You are so concerned about her whereabouts and insist on seeing her even though we can't meet."

"I am struggling in this unstable life, and I am searching for the exit called you..."

Following Martin, Takahashi Yu and several other trainees also rapped smoothly and with the right emotions.

This song "Fall" is the electronic (pad) rap style that Shota Hirai is best at. It can be said that the electronic harmony of each line of lyrics is enough to fully charge the listeners' mobile phones.

In addition to the songs, the trainees' group dance is also a rare and powerful pure street dance.

As a mentor, Shota Hirai also showed off a very hardcore "one-handed airplane jump".

"Is this love? This is just an imitation of love. I can't see clearly anymore, and I long for your company at night."

"I'm in love again. Why? I'm falling in love again. I'm such a scumbag."

"On sleepless nights, you are the sleeping pill that saves me. You are my master, and I am like a well-behaved dog that doesn't bite."

As the rhythm of the whole song reached its climax with a strong rhythm, Nagase Kaito, who had a shiny short hair, picked up the microphone and started rapping at a lightning speed!

In previous shows, his appearance, dancing, and singing were all above average, but he always regarded himself as a "rapper". This time he finally encountered a pure rap song, so naturally he gave it his all.

"In your heart, I bumped into someone else's dream. Nan Ke's dream will eventually wake up."

"I can't help myself, cute Barbie. This is all your fault. This is all my fault."

"It must be all my fault that the child turned bad..."

Hirai Shouta, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up and sang in a duet with Nagase Kaito, competing head-on but in perfect harmony...

"Hirai Shouta is worthy of being called the strongest new star of 'poison rap'. His skills and emotions are impeccable, and his lyrics are as morbid and decadent as ever..."

"This Nagase Kaito has great potential, and he is not inferior to us in singing duets. No wonder Society A is willing to let Hirai Shouta sing with him on this stage..."

"The overall performance of this group is in no way inferior to that of professional rappers. Xia Fan's group is bound to lose!"

Admiring the rap stage that was completely burning in front of him, Manjiro Akimoto couldn't help but move his body to the rhythm.

On the stage, when Hirai Shouta and Nagase Kaito were singing the most intense duet, Martin, wearing cautious leather pants, leaped forward and did a "one-handed bicycle"...

By the way, this "riding a bicycle with the thicker left leg" is now his unique signature move.

Just with this one action, I wonder how many more votes those "steel wool" fans will give him.

"In the end you broke my heart and I will never love anyone again..."

When the song reached its last line, Takahashi Yuya performed a difficult power move to end it.

As if inspired by the last performance, he deliberately chose a single elbow swing. Although he lost his balance and was exhausted after only three reps, it was still enough to blow up the show in this kind of rap show!

"This...what on earth is going on..."

"How come the audience below the stage still has no reaction at all..."

Shota Hirai and the trainees maintained a handsome ending pose and managed their facial expressions despite heavy breathing, but they did not get the expected excitement from the audience.

"Even if you don't usually listen to rap, you should cheer a little when you see the acrobatic street dance moves, right?"

"Where are my fans? Why didn't anyone call my name? Didn't any of them get picked to come to the event?"

Only then did they notice that the audience who were "applauding enthusiastically" were rather dull in their reactions.

If the stage is a burning sea of ​​fire, then the audience is a flowing glacier.

“Thank you for bringing us “Fallen”. It was such a great rap battle that I felt like the stage was about to burn up!”

There is no such thing as a third time. Goro Kimura, who had anticipated the audience's reaction, began to express his gratitude in a passionate tone even before he trotted onto the stage, trying his best to avoid a dull moment.

……

While the final round of performance recording for the "Idol Birth Festival" was in full swing, a black pickup truck was quietly parked in the alley outside the studio building.

The independent pickup truck cabin is filled with thick cables, servers and monitors.

These monitors are connected to the cameras in the studio, broadcasting live recordings of programs that are "not broadcast live to the public" in real time.

"If it weren't for the temporary shortage of people in the ninth lesson, I wouldn't have known that Master Xia Fan had been targeted by a dangerous cult. This is truly unforgivable..."

"Under such circumstances, he still continued to participate in the talent show. It's so handsome that it makes people wet!"

The petite Yui Aiba was sitting alone in the middle of the carriage, her big round eyes fixed on the recording situation.

"Soon, it will be Master Xia Fan's turn?"

"The performances of the first three groups were indeed quite exciting. It was really different with the participation of the instructors... However, Master Xia Fan will definitely not lose!"

Looking at Xia Fan, who was ready to go in the waiting corridor, Aiba Yui smiled with pity.

Chapter 334 Villain

2024-07-13

"By the way, if I hadn't been so clever and the program team hadn't caught me in the act of using the support software, Lord Xia Fan wouldn't have been caught up in the public opinion storm..."

"This crime of arrogance is unforgivable. I can only pay it back by using my weak body to serve Master Xia Fan for the rest of my life..."

"Everything has been arranged. As soon as the performance is over, 50,000 Xia Ribing will lead the charge and personally take back the number one popularity position from Lord Xia Fan!"

While watching the recording, Aiba Yui typed blindly on her laptop with both hands like a storm. On the homepage of the "Midsummer Shrine" website, a "Last Cheering Strategy" was being prepared...

"Zizizizi... This is the information team... The facial recognition of the audience has been initially completed. No criminal record or communication or financial transactions with the Amabie organization have been found so far... OVER."

"Received by the field team. Thank you for your hard work. Information team..."

Suddenly, a voice carrying electricity came from the intercom that she had thrown on the ground.