[Bogie Time was a success. So much so that a second season is already in the works, promising new challenges, new punishments, and a new lineup of sparkling idols as guest stars. But more Bogie Time isn't the only thing in the pipeline. GFK left behind a whole bunch of other TV programs in his inheritance, and the four agencies continue to pick at them like birds pecking at a corpse. Which leads to the current situation.
On the Road with Stars! was another one of Godfather's obsolete TV shows. Participants traveled to different locations, spending 2 days and 1 night at each place. Like Bogie Time, it featured cohabitation and bonding rituals, fun challenges, and exciting punishments. And, as with Bogie Time, some of the punishments went a little too far. Not just forced crossdressing, but things like being forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures or eat spicy local food without even a glass of water to wash it down with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this particular show fizzled out after one too many idols suffered setbacks to their health—accidents which could've been avoided with more oversight.
Or so the story goes. According to Ibara, there was more going on behind the scenes. Just as Bogie Time was used to humiliate bottom-tier talent and keep them in their place, On the Road might have been used to weaken or take down idols Godfather perceived to be a "threat."
But Hiyori doesn't care about that gloomy stuff. In theory, none of that should matter, since the new and improved On the Road is going to be completely different.
The format's still the same: a program where celebrities travel from place to place, spending 2 days and 1 night at each one. They'll work together on various challenges, striving to earn rewards and avoid punishment, but the punishments won't be anything too terrible—they'll be silly and amusing, not life-threatening. Anything that might threaten the celebrities' health or public image is a no-go. And since this is being billed as a travel program, participants get to try different regional foods and explore fun, new places! Hiyori likes both of those things, doesn't he?
That was the pitch, anyway. The other members of his unit couldn't sign on: too busy running companies, attending high school, or being too cool for variety work. Hiyori, on the other hand, was deemed a good fit: popular enough to draw in viewers, with plenty of variety experience under his belt already.
So, here he is, freshly arrived at their first location: Kyoto! How scenic. The shrines, the nature... the big billboard advertising the SS competition, which the camera crew makes sure to capture. Yes, just like the original On the Road, this show has a hidden purpose: advertise the upcoming competition for male idols, taking place across all regions including Kansai. But it isn't just a promotional vehicle for idols. CosPro has connections with other agencies and industries, and was able to assemble a colorful cast of talents, including actors, models and musicians—all of whom Hiyori made sure to reserach in advance. There's quite a buzz surrounding some of them, but none of them could hold a candle to him, he's sure.
Anyway, it's time for filming to begin. First, introductions! Then, it's onto the first activity: speed dating. Or "speed questions"—that's the official name, but Hiyori thinks of it as "speed dating." The director clarifies that this isn't a challenge, which means there won't be any punishment. This is just a warm-up and a chance to get to know each other. Still, Hiyori has his doubts. There's always an ulterior motive, isn't there?
For the first round, he's paired with some model, answering basic questions. What are his career goals? Make it to the very top with Eden! His hobby? Shopping! His greatest strengths? That he's always cheerful, always charming, always confident, and always cute! Weaknesses? Er... sorry, he can't really think of any! Unless his weakness is just that he can't think of any weaknesses? (Insert break for canned laughter here.) These are all questions he's answered a million times. Boom, onto the next round.
The second round is all "favorites." Favorite food, favorite color, favorite animal, and so on. Hiyori tries to give his partner a chance to respond, but once the animal question is asked, he ends up stealing the spotlight anyway by talking up a storm about his adorable Bloody Mary. Here, let him show you a picture! (Of course, they'll cut to a real photo of Mary during editing.) After some cooing over his adorable pet dog, the second round is done, and now it's onto the third round.
His partner for this round is some actor with a flashy name. That's all that Hiyori remembers him by, really. His career seemed to include a TV credit in some Internet drama, a film acting credit as a child, and a stint on a reality dating show. (That one had some controversy—one of the participants got flamed online and might've attempted suicide?—but it was apparently resolved with a hug and a happy ending.) He had a theatrical credit, too. Sounds like a reasonable career, if a little all over the place. It hardly matters for this activity, though, since all he has to do is answer more questions, which will probably all be standard stuff.
... or not.
"If you could be reborn as anything, what would you be?"
When he hears that one, he blinks.]
Er...
[What is this, philosophy? Spirituality? It's a far cry from favorite foods, and he's never been asked that one before. But he recovers his composure after a momentary hiccup.]
That one's a bit hard, since I can't imagine wanting to be anyone but myself! But maybe a pretty flower, if I have to say? That'd suit me perfectly, wouldn't you say? Right, Aquamarine-kun?
[And here he looks away from the cameras and turns expectantly to his partner for this round.
His partner who made it very clear earlier that he prefers to be called "Aqua." But Hiyori is someone who forgets stuff on purpose if it's inconvenient to him, or, in this case, if it makes for better reality television that way, so please excuse the lapse in memory.]
[ For better and for worse, Aqua's name was growing behind the scenes. Someone who cleverly and expertly read the mood, and if it were to deviate, knew how to take the precise steps to steer it back on track. If not somewhat precocious (and which teenaged talent wasn't in some regard), an independent talent that required little to no instruction outside of a script, and who would largely hold on his own without contending for the limelight. A shame, some would say, when he'd clearly had the potential for more— but it's the same potential that has producers sending job offer after job offer because any time now, he could have his breakout.
If many of them didn't have access to leads he wouldn't have otherwise as a director's assistant, Aqua wouldn't have given them a single glance. But here he was, and of note was On the Road. A seemingly innocent job offering at first, as most tended to be. And as most seemingly innocent job offerings were, all he had to dig was slightly past surface level to uncover a plethora of metaphorical skeletons the show was built on. Rather than being interested in any of that, though… Ai had taken part, at some point. Had starred, at some point, with cast members that were in the contacts list in her private phone— and that was all he needed to gear himself for inevitable schmoozing.
Before that: if he didn't want to put the cart before the horse he had a job to perform.
Where the first and second rounds go without issue, they're largely unmemorable. He'd recount it more favourably later, of course— something about how he'd found the first industry senior admirable for being able to chase their dreams so relentlessly (typical), and something about how he'd truly resonated with the second peer over their excitement of the show (could they even say otherwise?). But for the third, there's no denying that it takes him a beat longer to process question, mildly appreciating Hiyori for answering first until he doesn't. ]
A 'pretty flower' is a rather barebones answer, isn't it? [ tch ] Given what I know of you, I'm surprised you had enough restraint not to take it a step further and specify a 'flower from the mountaintop.'
[ Is that a jab for calling him Aquamarine? Yes. There's a delayed yet audible groan when he realises that it probably would've been better not to react, lifting his hand to rest on his temple. Temporarily setting how his newest coworker found that one out aside, now there's irrefutable and unremovable proof out there that it's something he's tried to hide, if not actively, by omission. Of immediate mind is Kana… 'Good luck Aquamarine-kun' indeed. ]
As for what I think… [ He mumbles, miffed, still trying to work out the creases from his expression as he lowers his hand. ] I want to believe that everyone's born as they are for a reason, and that straying from that would be wrong. Not in the sense that there's a right way to live, [ full dissociation from this answer is a go, ] but in the sense that you're given your life and what it amounts to is what you choose to do with it.
[ There's his aloof yet confident persona coming into play, overriding most if not all of his personal stake in his answer. ]
What's the point of thinking about being reborn when your ego will cease to exist, anyway? Like how you, Tomoe-san, could be content in being a flower. But my real answer is more or less in line with yours in that I wouldn't want to be anyone but myself in the first place.
[ Just as prideful, but sociable. Loud and dramatic, most likely for effect than anything else. From the moment he'd read about the premise and had seen who his fellow stars would be, he had a feeling for what kind of dynamics the producers had been expecting. So, banter, was it? Not that the other hadn't already managed to elicit a natural response of that kind from him… ]
Oh, no! It'd be much better to bloom in a big garden where everyone can admire me! Though I do see what you're getting at...
[He trails off there. Perhaps his response drew some attention away Aqua's reaction to the full name being used; perhaps not. (Information easily obtained when your producer specializes on digging up dirt on people, though that was all he happened to dig.) The crew wants to hear them chat back and forth, surely, but now it's time to turn the floor over to his partner and hear what he has to say. Which is, surprisingly (?), a lot!
It's pretty in-depth. Aqua takes the question seriously, touching on his life philosophy before arriving at the same conclusion Hiyori did initially. Though he utters almost the same exact line, it comes off different when he says it: all cool confidence, rather than sparkling egotism.
This person underwent some image changes, didn't he? Hiyori didn't watch much from the early episodes of LoveNow, as the central love triangle wasn't neither spectacularly interesting nor relevant to his research. But he did watch the introductions, and he remembers Aqua appearing onscreen with a smile on his face, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear and bashfully calling one of the girls "cute." Different jobs call for different behaviors, and he's taken on other work since then, so it's not a huge shock.]
... well, there you have it. Looks like you can put us both down for "no one but ourselves." It's good to have things in common. Right, Aquamarine-kun? ♪
[...
This should, probably, be the moment when they move onto the next question. This is speed dating (er, "Speed Questions") after all. But it looks like the camera crew has paused, waiting for Aqua to respond to the banter, presumably.]
[ In a big garden where he's totally accessible for anyone and everyone to unroot him if they so desire, that sounds perfect, actually, bravo. Of course, not everyone thinks so cynically and Aqua naturally keeps the unhinged thought to himself, but it's clear that Hiyori had thrown the first thought that came to mind whereas Aqua had an entire spiritual journey with his… how embarrassing. ]
Not quite the brilliant, blooming flower you mentioned or had in mind— but for a more specific answer, have you considered dandelions? They're rather resilient [ read: annoying ] and carefree, [ also read: disrespectful!! ] something I think would resonate with you well.
[ Aaand it gets everywhere that isn't its business. Seeing as they're hardly going for subtlety at this point, Hiyori can enjoy the weed comparison. But Aqua seemingly reels back after that, expression smoothing out into his usual easy smile. Following 'The Beginning of My Love With An Idol', the amount of knowledge he's accrued on fanservice and the importance of building the foundation for it feels forbidden, almost. ]
I wonder… [ Trailing for effect, ] What is it going to take beyond asking you on public television to stop calling me that? If we're already close enough to call each other exclusive names, should I start calling you dandelion-kun? It'll let us share even more ground, if that's what you want.
Ah, another interesting idea! You put a lot of thought into things, huh? Guess we've found your charm point... ♪
[A reference to Aqua's "spiritual journey" as well as his thoughts on flowers. But the dandelion discussion doesn't end there, as Aqua proceeds to suggest it... as a nickname.
What's with this vibe? It feels as though the nickname is being held over his head like a threat, all while Aqua wears a composed and camera-ready smile. And, well, how vulgar! That sort of tactic reminds him of a couple of people he knows, and neither comparison is flattering.
But what about the people behind the cameras, still filming away? What about the audience who will be watching? From their perspective, this must be a win-win. Whether viewers take Aqua's friendly veneer at face value (yay, he wants to get closer to Tomoe-senpai!) or see through to the obvious distaste lying underneath (a clash of personalities, how exciting!), they're bound to be entertained either way. And as long as fans are happy, Hiyori should be happy.
All the same, though, he'd really prefer to avoid being nicknamed after a weed, so it's time to push back! Something he can get away with, since having sky-high self-esteem and being picky about how other people treat him is all part of his image. That's what fans like about him, among his many other wonderful traits.]
It would be nice to share something special, wouldn't it? We'll be living together, if only for one night at a time, so it'd be wonderful if we could become as close as family! But I just don't know if dandelions suit me well enough! And I'm also not sure what ground we'd be sharing, since that nickname has no connection to my real name. My real name has such a lovely ring to it! Yours does too, of course, so I'm not sure why you don't like being called by it... hmm?
[He glances towards the cameras, or rather towards the cameramen, who are doing some sort of motioning gesture. One that seems to say That's enough, time to get a move on. No doubt this momentary pause will be edited out later, but his recovery is smooth.]
Looks like it's already time for the next question. Go ahead, let's hear it! Me and Aqua-kun can have a heart-to-heart chat about this name business some other time.
[No doubt the fans would love that.
The cameras stay rolling, trained on their faces as the next question is delivered. "If you could go back in time and change one thing about the past, what would you change?" Hiyori's smile doesn't falter, but his brows do raise a fraction. What's with this heavy line of questioning? It's the sort of inquiry that calls to mind past regrets and past tragedies, which is sure to put a bad taste in anyone's mouth. But it's his job, as always, to keep the mood light and buoyant.]
Hmm, that one's tough!
[He jumps to answer without having thought through his response—partly because he answered first last time, and also partly because it's only fair. He's the senpai here. His dear speed date surely has even less experience being asked these questions than he does. So he strives to come up with a proper response, voice becoming a little more subdued.]
... I wouldn't want to use it on something like SS. We all would've liked to win, but I wouldn't want to snatch victory away from our opponents. Tasting the bitterness of defeat was necessary for growth. And we've all become stronger, to the point where we'll definitely win this time around, so there's no point.
[He's referring to last year's SS competition—the one that went south when some higher-ups at the agency chose to launch a smear campaign against their rivals in the last round. Bringing that up might reflect poorly on CosPro, but mentioning the competition at all and reminding fans that he'll be in it is good advertising.]
Going back in time to prevent some disaster or another would be good, but I'm not sure how you'd pick just one. And even I don't have the ability to perform miracles. So, assuming you're just asking about our pasts, and not all human history, there's nothing I'd change. Everything worked out to produce the dazzling idol that stands before you now. So! I'll just circle back to summer, and make sure to pick up that one seasonal cake before they all sold out! Or, I'll send Jun-kun to pick it up for me, since I prefer having him run all the errands!
[Cue imagined laughter from their audience. He ends it there, having given a response that covers all the basics: promoting himself and his group, touching on serious topics and then quickly veering away from them towards something frivolous and safe. It's what fans expect from him. But he's not sure what, if anything, they expect from Aqua-kun, who's expected to answer next.]
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no subject
On the Road with Stars! was another one of Godfather's obsolete TV shows. Participants traveled to different locations, spending 2 days and 1 night at each place. Like Bogie Time, it featured cohabitation and bonding rituals, fun challenges, and exciting punishments. And, as with Bogie Time, some of the punishments went a little too far. Not just forced crossdressing, but things like being forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures or eat spicy local food without even a glass of water to wash it down with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this particular show fizzled out after one too many idols suffered setbacks to their health—accidents which could've been avoided with more oversight.
Or so the story goes. According to Ibara, there was more going on behind the scenes. Just as Bogie Time was used to humiliate bottom-tier talent and keep them in their place, On the Road might have been used to weaken or take down idols Godfather perceived to be a "threat."
But Hiyori doesn't care about that gloomy stuff. In theory, none of that should matter, since the new and improved On the Road is going to be completely different.
The format's still the same: a program where celebrities travel from place to place, spending 2 days and 1 night at each one. They'll work together on various challenges, striving to earn rewards and avoid punishment, but the punishments won't be anything too terrible—they'll be silly and amusing, not life-threatening. Anything that might threaten the celebrities' health or public image is a no-go. And since this is being billed as a travel program, participants get to try different regional foods and explore fun, new places! Hiyori likes both of those things, doesn't he?
That was the pitch, anyway. The other members of his unit couldn't sign on: too busy running companies, attending high school, or being too cool for variety work. Hiyori, on the other hand, was deemed a good fit: popular enough to draw in viewers, with plenty of variety experience under his belt already.
So, here he is, freshly arrived at their first location: Kyoto! How scenic. The shrines, the nature... the big billboard advertising the SS competition, which the camera crew makes sure to capture. Yes, just like the original On the Road, this show has a hidden purpose: advertise the upcoming competition for male idols, taking place across all regions including Kansai. But it isn't just a promotional vehicle for idols. CosPro has connections with other agencies and industries, and was able to assemble a colorful cast of talents, including actors, models and musicians—all of whom Hiyori made sure to reserach in advance. There's quite a buzz surrounding some of them, but none of them could hold a candle to him, he's sure.
Anyway, it's time for filming to begin. First, introductions! Then, it's onto the first activity: speed dating. Or "speed questions"—that's the official name, but Hiyori thinks of it as "speed dating." The director clarifies that this isn't a challenge, which means there won't be any punishment. This is just a warm-up and a chance to get to know each other. Still, Hiyori has his doubts. There's always an ulterior motive, isn't there?
For the first round, he's paired with some model, answering basic questions. What are his career goals? Make it to the very top with Eden! His hobby? Shopping! His greatest strengths? That he's always cheerful, always charming, always confident, and always cute! Weaknesses? Er... sorry, he can't really think of any! Unless his weakness is just that he can't think of any weaknesses? (Insert break for canned laughter here.) These are all questions he's answered a million times. Boom, onto the next round.
The second round is all "favorites." Favorite food, favorite color, favorite animal, and so on. Hiyori tries to give his partner a chance to respond, but once the animal question is asked, he ends up stealing the spotlight anyway by talking up a storm about his adorable Bloody Mary. Here, let him show you a picture! (Of course, they'll cut to a real photo of Mary during editing.) After some cooing over his adorable pet dog, the second round is done, and now it's onto the third round.
His partner for this round is some actor with a flashy name. That's all that Hiyori remembers him by, really. His career seemed to include a TV credit in some Internet drama, a film acting credit as a child, and a stint on a reality dating show. (That one had some controversy—one of the participants got flamed online and might've attempted suicide?—but it was apparently resolved with a hug and a happy ending.) He had a theatrical credit, too. Sounds like a reasonable career, if a little all over the place. It hardly matters for this activity, though, since all he has to do is answer more questions, which will probably all be standard stuff.
... or not.
"If you could be reborn as anything, what would you be?"
When he hears that one, he blinks.]
Er...
[What is this, philosophy? Spirituality? It's a far cry from favorite foods, and he's never been asked that one before. But he recovers his composure after a momentary hiccup.]
That one's a bit hard, since I can't imagine wanting to be anyone but myself! But maybe a pretty flower, if I have to say? That'd suit me perfectly, wouldn't you say? Right, Aquamarine-kun?
[And here he looks away from the cameras and turns expectantly to his partner for this round.
His partner who made it very clear earlier that he prefers to be called "Aqua." But Hiyori is someone who forgets stuff on purpose if it's inconvenient to him, or, in this case, if it makes for better reality television that way, so please excuse the lapse in memory.]
no subject
If many of them didn't have access to leads he wouldn't have otherwise as a director's assistant, Aqua wouldn't have given them a single glance. But here he was, and of note was On the Road. A seemingly innocent job offering at first, as most tended to be. And as most seemingly innocent job offerings were, all he had to dig was slightly past surface level to uncover a plethora of metaphorical skeletons the show was built on. Rather than being interested in any of that, though… Ai had taken part, at some point. Had starred, at some point, with cast members that were in the contacts list in her private phone— and that was all he needed to gear himself for inevitable schmoozing.
Before that: if he didn't want to put the cart before the horse he had a job to perform.
Where the first and second rounds go without issue, they're largely unmemorable. He'd recount it more favourably later, of course— something about how he'd found the first industry senior admirable for being able to chase their dreams so relentlessly (typical), and something about how he'd truly resonated with the second peer over their excitement of the show (could they even say otherwise?). But for the third, there's no denying that it takes him a beat longer to process question, mildly appreciating Hiyori for answering first until he doesn't. ]
A 'pretty flower' is a rather barebones answer, isn't it? [ tch ] Given what I know of you, I'm surprised you had enough restraint not to take it a step further and specify a 'flower from the mountaintop.'
[ Is that a jab for calling him Aquamarine? Yes. There's a delayed yet audible groan when he realises that it probably would've been better not to react, lifting his hand to rest on his temple. Temporarily setting how his newest coworker found that one out aside, now there's irrefutable and unremovable proof out there that it's something he's tried to hide, if not actively, by omission. Of immediate mind is Kana… 'Good luck Aquamarine-kun' indeed. ]
As for what I think… [ He mumbles, miffed, still trying to work out the creases from his expression as he lowers his hand. ] I want to believe that everyone's born as they are for a reason, and that straying from that would be wrong. Not in the sense that there's a right way to live, [ full dissociation from this answer is a go, ] but in the sense that you're given your life and what it amounts to is what you choose to do with it.
[ There's his aloof yet confident persona coming into play, overriding most if not all of his personal stake in his answer. ]
What's the point of thinking about being reborn when your ego will cease to exist, anyway? Like how you, Tomoe-san, could be content in being a flower. But my real answer is more or less in line with yours in that I wouldn't want to be anyone but myself in the first place.
[ Just as prideful, but sociable. Loud and dramatic, most likely for effect than anything else. From the moment he'd read about the premise and had seen who his fellow stars would be, he had a feeling for what kind of dynamics the producers had been expecting. So, banter, was it? Not that the other hadn't already managed to elicit a natural response of that kind from him… ]
no subject
[He trails off there. Perhaps his response drew some attention away Aqua's reaction to the full name being used; perhaps not. (Information easily obtained when your producer specializes on digging up dirt on people, though that was all he happened to dig.) The crew wants to hear them chat back and forth, surely, but now it's time to turn the floor over to his partner and hear what he has to say. Which is, surprisingly (?), a lot!
It's pretty in-depth. Aqua takes the question seriously, touching on his life philosophy before arriving at the same conclusion Hiyori did initially. Though he utters almost the same exact line, it comes off different when he says it: all cool confidence, rather than sparkling egotism.
This person underwent some image changes, didn't he? Hiyori didn't watch much from the early episodes of LoveNow, as the central love triangle wasn't neither spectacularly interesting nor relevant to his research. But he did watch the introductions, and he remembers Aqua appearing onscreen with a smile on his face, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear and bashfully calling one of the girls "cute." Different jobs call for different behaviors, and he's taken on other work since then, so it's not a huge shock.]
... well, there you have it. Looks like you can put us both down for "no one but ourselves." It's good to have things in common. Right, Aquamarine-kun? ♪
[...
This should, probably, be the moment when they move onto the next question. This is speed dating (er, "Speed Questions") after all. But it looks like the camera crew has paused, waiting for Aqua to respond to the banter, presumably.]
no subject
Not quite the brilliant, blooming flower you mentioned or had in mind— but for a more specific answer, have you considered dandelions? They're rather resilient [ read: annoying ] and carefree, [ also read: disrespectful!! ] something I think would resonate with you well.
[ Aaand it gets everywhere that isn't its business. Seeing as they're hardly going for subtlety at this point, Hiyori can enjoy the weed comparison. But Aqua seemingly reels back after that, expression smoothing out into his usual easy smile. Following 'The Beginning of My Love With An Idol', the amount of knowledge he's accrued on fanservice and the importance of building the foundation for it feels forbidden, almost. ]
I wonder… [ Trailing for effect, ] What is it going to take beyond asking you on public television to stop calling me that? If we're already close enough to call each other exclusive names, should I start calling you dandelion-kun? It'll let us share even more ground, if that's what you want.
[ This is where the smile turns up to eleven. ]
no subject
[A reference to Aqua's "spiritual journey" as well as his thoughts on flowers. But the dandelion discussion doesn't end there, as Aqua proceeds to suggest it... as a nickname.
What's with this vibe? It feels as though the nickname is being held over his head like a threat, all while Aqua wears a composed and camera-ready smile. And, well, how vulgar! That sort of tactic reminds him of a couple of people he knows, and neither comparison is flattering.
But what about the people behind the cameras, still filming away? What about the audience who will be watching? From their perspective, this must be a win-win. Whether viewers take Aqua's friendly veneer at face value (yay, he wants to get closer to Tomoe-senpai!) or see through to the obvious distaste lying underneath (a clash of personalities, how exciting!), they're bound to be entertained either way. And as long as fans are happy, Hiyori should be happy.
All the same, though, he'd really prefer to avoid being nicknamed after a weed, so it's time to push back! Something he can get away with, since having sky-high self-esteem and being picky about how other people treat him is all part of his image. That's what fans like about him, among his many other wonderful traits.]
It would be nice to share something special, wouldn't it? We'll be living together, if only for one night at a time, so it'd be wonderful if we could become as close as family! But I just don't know if dandelions suit me well enough! And I'm also not sure what ground we'd be sharing, since that nickname has no connection to my real name. My real name has such a lovely ring to it! Yours does too, of course, so I'm not sure why you don't like being called by it... hmm?
[He glances towards the cameras, or rather towards the cameramen, who are doing some sort of motioning gesture. One that seems to say That's enough, time to get a move on. No doubt this momentary pause will be edited out later, but his recovery is smooth.]
Looks like it's already time for the next question. Go ahead, let's hear it! Me and Aqua-kun can have a heart-to-heart chat about this name business some other time.
[No doubt the fans would love that.
The cameras stay rolling, trained on their faces as the next question is delivered. "If you could go back in time and change one thing about the past, what would you change?" Hiyori's smile doesn't falter, but his brows do raise a fraction. What's with this heavy line of questioning? It's the sort of inquiry that calls to mind past regrets and past tragedies, which is sure to put a bad taste in anyone's mouth. But it's his job, as always, to keep the mood light and buoyant.]
Hmm, that one's tough!
[He jumps to answer without having thought through his response—partly because he answered first last time, and also partly because it's only fair. He's the senpai here. His dear speed date surely has even less experience being asked these questions than he does. So he strives to come up with a proper response, voice becoming a little more subdued.]
... I wouldn't want to use it on something like SS. We all would've liked to win, but I wouldn't want to snatch victory away from our opponents. Tasting the bitterness of defeat was necessary for growth. And we've all become stronger, to the point where we'll definitely win this time around, so there's no point.
[He's referring to last year's SS competition—the one that went south when some higher-ups at the agency chose to launch a smear campaign against their rivals in the last round. Bringing that up might reflect poorly on CosPro, but mentioning the competition at all and reminding fans that he'll be in it is good advertising.]
Going back in time to prevent some disaster or another would be good, but I'm not sure how you'd pick just one. And even I don't have the ability to perform miracles. So, assuming you're just asking about our pasts, and not all human history, there's nothing I'd change. Everything worked out to produce the dazzling idol that stands before you now. So! I'll just circle back to summer, and make sure to pick up that one seasonal cake before they all sold out! Or, I'll send Jun-kun to pick it up for me, since I prefer having him run all the errands!
[Cue imagined laughter from their audience. He ends it there, having given a response that covers all the basics: promoting himself and his group, touching on serious topics and then quickly veering away from them towards something frivolous and safe. It's what fans expect from him. But he's not sure what, if anything, they expect from Aqua-kun, who's expected to answer next.]