They all pushed me!

The staff of the organizer had also finished communicating with Kitagawa Ryo at this time, and after confirming that the other party did not have any other activities this time and had no plans to go on stage, and was just a simple fan, they shook their heads in disappointment.

All I can say is that if it weren't for Kitagawa Rumi's pointing on the stage, probably few people would have noticed that he was there by the end.

After this little episode, in order to draw the audience's attention back to the stage, the accompaniment of the next song was played from the speakers. Kitagawa Rumi, who was already satisfied, also held the microphone and waved coquettishly to the fans in the audience:

"The next song we are going to sing is the next new song that ACE will release soon. Thank you for your support and I hope you will like it!"

Then, Kitagawa Rumi, who had completely entered the performance state, sang the first sentence of the new song "Still". Once again, just like the previous song "The Sun and Sunflowers", she re-attracted the attention and sight of almost all the audience.

Although the other two songs lost to "The Sun and Sunflowers" in the voting to decide the debut single, because the quality was indeed excellent, the three of them practiced it many times and finally decided to release it as a single for the next album. This time, they revealed part of it in advance on the stage of Tokyo Idol Festival.

Considering the overall atmosphere, ACE finally chose the latter between the slightly gloomy "Mermaid Princess" and the rhythmic "Still".

Kitagawa Ryo returned to the audience and this time took out the other two colored cheering sticks from his bag, holding all three between his fingers. He did not perform otaku art anymore, but chose to follow the other fans around him and simply waved the cheering sticks back and forth in unison to the beat of the music, shouting cheers from time to time.

Different from the previous song "The Sun and Sunflowers" in which Kitagawa Rumi was the main center, the choreography and lyrics of this song "Still" took special care of all three people, allowing the other two girls who had been hidden behind Kitagawa Rumi to enter the fans' field of vision separately and fully display their own charm.

Although Kitagawa Ryo in the audience could already feel that Samejima Abiko was almost unable to hold back, if she hadn't really prepared her character in advance, she would probably have been accused of facing the camera with a bad face and criticized on the forum.

However, there are indeed quite a few fans who just like this three-person character setting. Beichuan Liang could even see a big brother not far from him who specially imitated the other party's expression board in the previous program, holding up a piece of emoticon with ≧ ? ≦// cheering in both hands, and kept showing support.

It has to be said that this kind of warm atmosphere really makes it easy to immerse yourself in it. Even Beichuan Ryo was rarely swept away by the surging waves of sound and only stopped when his throat became hoarse.

Of course, the more important reason is that ACE's performance time has ended. After all, Tokyo Idol Festival is a large-scale event co-organized by multiple groups, and this is the most popular main stage. Being able to sing two songs completely is already a pretty good start for ACE, who has just debuted.

After all, this is just their first Live.

Kitagawa Ryo swallowed uncomfortably. He had neither the mood nor the need to watch the next show. He coughed a few more times, cleared his throat, and then, under the cover of night, quietly retreated from the audience, preparing to go backstage to see what was happening with ACE.

But he was stopped halfway.

"How does it feel to be responded to individually in front of so many people by a self-proclaimed popular idol? Cool."

As if she had been waiting here for a long time, in the corridor leading to the lounge from the backstage, Hoshino Ai leaned against the wall in a corner, and the soles of her high heels were tapping the corner of the wall evenly and rhythmically.

"This is again..."

As soon as Beichuan Liang opened his mouth, he felt a little uncomfortable in his throat again. He covered his mouth with his hands, lowered his head and coughed heavily twice.

"What's wrong? Is your throat uncomfortable? Kyoko, Kyoko! I remember you brought some watermelon frost, right?"

Hearing Kitagawa Ryo's obviously hoarse voice, Hoshino Ai, who was a little upset at first, no longer cared to continue slamming her high heels against the wall, and hurriedly trotted to Kitagawa Ryo, and hurriedly called out to Saito Kyoko who was standing a little further away.

"Ah—yes, I'll find it for you."

Upon hearing this, Kyoko Saito unzipped her bag and took out the watermelon frost spray to relieve sore throat. Before she could hand it over, it was snatched away by the hurried Hoshino Ai.

Kyoko Saito, who felt that this scene was strangely familiar, shook her head helplessly and decided not to disturb the engaged couple for the time being. She went to the lounge to check on ACE first.

"Are you feeling better?"

"It wasn't that serious to begin with... I feel much better."

Hoshino Ai used spray on his throat several times. Although Kitagawa Ryo felt that the discomfort would only last for a short while and there was no need to make such a fuss, he still added the second half of the sentence when he saw the other party's eager eyes.

"An actor's throat is very important. Liang should pay more attention to it next time."

"This is a special case. After I came to my senses, I was already..."

Kitagawa Ryo had only said a few words when Hoshino Ai pressed her finger against his lips:

"It's better to talk less for now."

Then the two of them walked towards the lounge together. Beichuan Ryo, who was manually muted, could only listen to Hoshino Ai talking all the way. She walked in front of Beichuan Ryo with her hands behind her back, lowered her head and walked very carefully step by step, as if she was intentionally stepping on the grid on the floor, but soon she suddenly turned around and asked:

"Ryo, do you still remember my first debut Live?"

"Nod if you remember, shake your head if you can't remember."

Beichuan Liang nodded when he heard this. He originally thought that Hoshino Ai would continue with this topic, but he didn't expect that the other party just smiled and nodded, then turned around and stopped talking. The only difference from before was that she no longer put her hands behind her back, but put her hands together in front of her chest and clapped her hands crisply.

Beichuan Liang, who was walking behind, couldn't see the expression on Hoshino Ai's face as she had her back to him. He could only hear her saying this in a normal tone:

"Then let's go congratulate Ruby on the success of her debut Live."

-------------------------------------

"Brother! How was our performance just now? Was it wonderful? I felt it. The 'encore' and applause when we left the stage were the loudest ever."

Kitagawa Ryo and Hoshino Ai had just walked into the backstage lounge. Kitagawa Rumi, who had just changed out of her idol clothes and was feeling a little hot due to sweating all over, stood up happily in just a white shirt underneath, and while walking towards him, she asked questions in one breath like a machine gun.

“Everyone is great.”

Hoshino Ai calmly took two steps forward, stood in front of Kitagawa Ryo, half-crouched, and steadily caught a girl who was about to pounce on her. She smiled and said to the other two people who were resting on the sofa:

"Whether it's MEM-chu, Abi-ko, or Ruby, if I were to judge, their performances were impeccable."

Then, she touched the head of Kitagawa Rumi, whose body was slightly stiff in her arms, and explained to her softly:

"Just now, when Liang was watching your performance in the audience, he was so excited that his voice became hoarse. This is the best answer to Ruby's questions just now."

"Is your throat okay, brother?"

Hoshino Ai's words immediately drew attention to Kitagawa Ryo's throat. Kitagawa Rumi also raised her little face nervously and asked with concern.

"Just slow down and you'll be fine."

In fact, after just a short while, Beichuan Liang felt that the discomfort had almost disappeared.

"That's good."

Kitagawa Rumi let out a long sigh, and quickly broke free from Hoshino Ai's embrace, raising her chin triumphantly towards her:

"Compared to Ai's debut live, how does our ACE's live perform?"

"It is indeed much stronger than we were back then."

Facing Kitagawa Rumi's provocation, Hoshino Ai still had a smiling expression on her face:

"I remember that we didn't even have a hundred spectators at the time, and the venue was in a very narrow basement. I and He-chan and the others spent a lot of time handing out flyers."

"Don't even mention the cheering sticks and cheering uniforms. Basically, all the audience came here just to watch the fun with their eyes and ears. Many even left during the show."

"If I were to compare... four years after my debut, when I was sixteen, my popularity was barely comparable to Ruby's current popularity."

Every time Hoshino Ai said a word, Kitagawa Ryo seemed to see the non-existent tail behind his sister curling up, and it should be almost touching the ceiling now.

"But as a senior, I also want to remind Ruby that even in this fast-changing entertainment industry, idols are one of the fastest-changing professions. For every idol, the popularity period is only a short period of time and it is fleeting."

“Even if you gain a little bit of fame, if there is no follow-up big move, it will fade away again in about a year.”

"It can even be said that this critical period of rapid rise in popularity may determine Ruby's height and achievements ten years later."

Hoshino Ai first taught with the tone of a senior, and then changed the subject:

"But on the other hand, if I can seize this period and the current good start, quickly follow up and arrange future work, and frequently gain exposure and public recognition, then at this rate, maybe when Ruby is 16 or 17 years old, she can become an active super popular idol like me and try to perform on the Tokyo Dome stage."

"Everyone knows this. I will definitely seize this period of popularity and will definitely go to Tokyo Dome as a super popular beautiful girl idol earlier than Ai-nee."

Kitagawa Rumi answered happily.

Saito Kyoko, who had just walked out the door to answer a call, also returned to the room and raised the phone in her hand:

"Several magazines have invited me to interview you. Do you want to go? Or am I too tired today so I'll just stop here..."

"I'm going!"

Kitagawa Rumi, who had just learned the valuable experience of her senior from Hoshino Ai, also had her eyes lit up. Naturally, she did not want to miss this opportunity to be exposed again, so she immediately raised her hand and answered.

"Where are the other two?"

"no problem."

“I’m also available for interviews.”

After all, they only played for more than ten minutes, and the physical exertion was even less than that of usual training. After catching their breath, MEM, who was finally dreaming of coming true and was full of energy, and Samejima Abiko, who agreed simply because Kitagawa Rumi agreed first, also answered.

"Then get ready, clothes and everything. I'll go confirm the time and place."

Forced to work overtime, Kyoko Saito pressed her brows tiredly. When she thought about the complicated relationship between Hoshino Ai, Kitagawa Ryo and Kitagawa Rumi, she felt her head hurt more and more.

-------------------------------------

"Okay, first of all, thank you ACE for accepting our interview with Weekly Entertainment Live. The first question is, the colors of the three cheering sticks are yellow, red, and purple respectively. Is there any special design? Well - let's start with MEM."

"For me, since my favorite idol since childhood is Hoshino-senpai, I chose her support color back then. On the one hand, it is a tribute to her and B Komachi back then. On the other hand, I also hope that our ACE can grow to the same level as them."

Unexpectedly, she was called first. MEM啾 was stunned for a moment, but immediately responded appropriately.

"Where's Abiko?"

"Just picked it at random."

A cold response that fits his character perfectly.

"So, what about Ruby?"

"Well... one reason is my hair color, and the other is that I really like the orange-flavored toothpaste from Morinaga that my brother used to endorse. I've been using it for a long time. Oh, and the same goes for ice cream. I like their Orange Bear flavor the most, so I ended up choosing this color. My brother also used it to support me individually today, so I made a separate response."

Kitagawa Rumi raised the corners of her mouth playfully as she faced the camera.

However, in a corner that she didn't know, Kitagawa Ryo's individual support had not yet ended.

It's just that the cheering stick was held in someone else's hand.

I went to a graduation banquet for a distant relative's child today, and am still on my way home. It should be gone today, so you don't have to wait any longer.

The scene brought back memories of the fear I had when I was dragged by parents to toast at each table four years ago... I really can't get used to drinking alcohol. I can't drink either white wine, beer or red wine, and I don't like to drink them.

Tomorrow is also a day to push Ruby alone.

Chapter 2.0: About Ruby's absence

One morning in late November as winter was approaching, Kitagawa Ryo, who had already gotten up early to prepare for a visit from his two juniors, heard a knock on the door. He estimated that it was about time and quickly opened the door while waiting at the entrance.

"Excuse me, Senior Liang."

"Good morning, Senior Liang."

Akane Kurokawa and Kana Arima, wrapped tightly in scarves and bulky coats, looked more naive than usual. When the door opened and they saw Ryo Kitagawa, they both smiled sincerely.

"It's quite cold outside today, come inside quickly."

Beichuan Ryo pushed the slippers that he had prepared in advance towards the two of them. After they entered the house, he closed the door and said with a smile:

"When Ruby went out this morning, she insisted on wearing a skirt at first, but after going out for a while, she came back and changed into cotton pants."

"Ruby isn't home today either?"

Upon hearing this, Akane Kurokawa also asked curiously.

"Yeah, I'm recording a variety show. That's what I'm doing these days. I'll text Xiao Qian the next time Ruby is home and free."

Beichuan Liang thought that the other party was feeling a little disappointed because his playmate was not around, so he added this sentence.

"……okay."

"It seems that the Tokyo Idol Festival that ended last month has boosted ACE's popularity quite a bit."

Arima Kana, who was much faster than Kurokawa Akane, had already changed into slippers, took off the slightly bulky scarf from around her neck, and stood on tiptoe to hang it on the coat rack next to her:

"I often see news about them when I go online recently."

“The momentum is really good.”

Kitagawa Ryo nodded, took the scarf from Arima Kana's hand, and helped her easily put it on the coat rack which was a little high for a child.

"Thank you, Senior Liang."

Arima Kana thanked him politely, then raised her chin towards the scarf:

"Although it doesn't look very pretty, I knitted it by myself and it's very warm to wear."

"When I become more skilled, I'll weave one for Senior Liang, too. How about that?"

"Then I will definitely cherish it."

Beichuan Liang did not reject the kindness of his junior and nodded in agreement:

“I also wish Kana success in getting the lead role in ‘Homeless Child’.”

Then, he turned around and smiled at Kurokawa Akane:

"Of course, I also wish Xiao Qian the best in being selected as the lead actress in Matilda."

Kurokawa Akane, who was originally stroking the scarf knitted by her mother and looking at Arima Kana trying to show her favor to Kitagawa Ryo in a somewhat depressed manner, heard Kitagawa Ryo's congratulations and for a moment threw all the negative emotions behind her: