I became a girl group idol for my sister.

"Ah, of course, I have something to ask you."

Sakagami Minami spoke, her eyes darting around behind her sunglasses.

I invited her out for a meal simply because I was a little worried about her condition, but now she seems to be fine. Did I go to the wrong place?

Sakagami Minami was filled with unease, and for a moment she didn't know how to continue speaking.

"senior?"

Miyamoto Seimi Sakaue Minami suddenly stopped talking and leaned forward slightly.

"N-no, it's nothing. I was just thinking that you're going to perform at Shibuya Public Hall next month, so you have to do your best!"

"Thank you for your concern, senior. We will do our best!"

Hearing Sakagami Minami's encouragement, Miyamoto Se immediately responded, appearing very serious.

Ah, no, that's not what I meant. Wouldn't that create even more pressure? Like the pressure of seniors' expectations!

"No, it's just... don't put too much pressure on yourself. Although you must be very tired right now, you can also trust your companions more and not put all the pressure on yourself." Sakagami Minami quickly changed her words.

"Pressure? Trust your teammates?" Miyamoto laughed when he heard this. "I trust them a lot. They have always worked very hard and they also trust me. Of course I trust them too. Actually, I don't feel much pressure. I just do my best to do what I can."

As long as I do these things well, then even if I leave, it won't be a big deal. They can continue to move forward on their own, and I can go back to school. Next year I'll be a senior in high school, and the year after that I'll take the entrance exam in January or February to go to university...

At that time, I would probably go to the theater as an ordinary fan, sit in the audience and cheer for them. They wouldn't know that someone had once been with them on stage. That would seem pretty good.

Miyamoto thought to himself, and as he imagined himself in the audience, his smile softened considerably.

That smile!

Looking at Miyamoto Sei's peaceful smile, Sakagami Minami felt that there was a kind of magnanimity in that smile, as if she did not care about Miyamoto Nana herself, as if she herself was unimportant.

This feeling……

A word suddenly popped into Sakagami Minami's mind.

No desires, no wants!

Why does she give me this feeling? But no matter what, that smile is just so healing!

"Nana-chan, actually, we first generation members also fought our way out of difficult situations back then. Not only the first generation, but the second generation did too. Although the situation was much better afterward than at the beginning, Sakurako and the others still overcame one obstacle after another!"

Looking at that smile, Sakagami Minami felt she should say something; otherwise, she felt uneasy.

So she spoke slowly.

"It's not because each of us is exceptionally capable, but because we're willing to support each other, that we've been able to overcome those difficulties!"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but reach out and grasp Miyamoto Sei's hands in one go.

"So please, don't try to carry this alone. You're also a member of the team, you absolutely have to be one!"

"senior……"

Upon hearing this, Miyamoto felt a strange emotion rise from the bottom of his heart, making his heart race slightly. It seemed that Sakagami Minami had seen through his thoughts.

"Of course I'm part of the team, so I'll do my best to perform for the fans. Seeing them happy makes me happy too."

As he spoke, he recalled the expressions of the fans during their performances, their enthusiastic shouts, and the smiles of the people he saw when they performed at a wedding.

Miyamoto smiled, a very natural smile.

This smile is different from before. Nana is genuinely happy to make her fans happy. Perhaps I've been worrying too much. She is indeed much stronger than I imagined. And someone who can make herself happy because her fans are happy is someone who can truly continue on the path of an idol.

Sakagami Minami breathed a sigh of relief as she thought about it, but then her body stiffened.

She then realized that her hand was holding the other person's hand, and holding it very tightly.

She immediately let go and quickly returned to her seat, feeling the burning sensation on her cheeks; her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.

At this time, the meal was served. It was a simple meal of two dishes and rice, served separately, of course.

Miyamoto looked at the meal: a pork chop, a plate of fresh vegetables, and a fried egg. It looked very luxurious.

Across from her, Minami Sakagami was eating a pork cutlet rice bowl. The bowl contained rice, topped with a pork cutlet, and coated in egg yolk. It looked incredibly appetizing.

"Eat, eat!"

When the pork cutlet rice bowl was served, Sakagami Minami picked up a piece of pork cutlet and took a bite. She temporarily forgot her shyness and showed a happy expression.

So, it turns out that Senior Nan likes pork cutlet rice bowls.

Seeing Sakagami Minami's expression, Miyamoto Sei chuckled inwardly and made a mental note of the matter.

Watching Sakagami Minami eat heartily, almost without any girlishness, and remembering the saying within the group that "Sakagami Minami is actually a man," Miyamoto Sei continued to eat while smiling. He found it quite relaxing to be with Sakagami Minami, even though she seemed to have some misunderstanding about him.

After finishing our meal and resting for a while, we saw two people walking towards us from a distance.

Both of them were wearing sunglasses and had disguised themselves. Miyamoto looked at them and immediately recognized them as Rina Asuka from Team S and Minami Shiigishi from Team K. The two of them, along with Minami Sakagami, formed a group called no3b. So although they were not in the same team, they often had to work together.

So, Senior Nan actually had work to do here today, and he just took some time out of his busy schedule to call me over?

Upon seeing the two of them, Miyamoto immediately had a guess in his mind.

"Alright, the date is over. Time to get ready, Apple!"

"Yeah, it's time to get ready for work, we can't go on a date anymore!"

Each of them said something, making Sakagami Minami blush bright red.

"I told you it wasn't the case!"

Dating? Shouldn't it be with a guy?

That makes sense, it's a girl group after all. Misaki is even jokingly called the "boyfriend of the whole group," and many girls are completely infatuated with her.

Miyamoto thought to himself, not taking their teasing to heart, figuring it was pretty normal, and got up to greet them.

"Shiigaki-senpai, Asuka-senpai, thank you for your hard work!"

"Keep your voice down, or you'll be surrounded," Asuka Rina said, while Shiigishi Minami chimed in with a grin, "Don't be too stressed. I think your plan is pretty good; it should work very well!"

"Thank you for your encouragement, senior. I have a good ability to handle pressure, so please don't worry!"

After saying goodbye to the three, Miyamoto turned and headed towards the theater. He had to perform in an open space that afternoon and needed to get the preparations done.

Watching Miyamoto Sei's departing figure, Shiigishi Minami said with a grin, "She seems like a nice junior, and just like she said, she doesn't seem to be under a lot of pressure."

"Whether it was the R performance or the S performance, she completed her task very well. Most importantly, she has a strong ability to learn and grasp the styles of the two teams. I think that Nana, and the trainees behind Nana this time, should be able to show a different kind of brilliance than the previous trainees."

As Rina Asuka said this, she reached out and patted Minami Sakagami on the shoulder.

"But you've improved, Apple. You actually took the initiative to ask him out today, whereas you would usually run away at the mere sight of him."

"What do you mean by fleeing in disarray! I clearly, I clearly just..."

"What is it? Just say it." Asuka Rina said, deliberately giving Shiigish Minami a wink.

“That’s right, just say it! We won’t know if you don’t tell us,” Shiigaki Minami said with a grin. “After all, apple sauce is so small.”

"It has nothing to do with height!"

This triggered Sakagami Minami's outburst once again.

Chapter Sixty: Plaza Performance [First Update]

The place chosen by Miyamoto and the others was a plaza, outside a huge shopping mall. A dozen girls stood there, wearing outfits that, while not their special stage costumes, were specially selected to showcase their individual characteristics.

At this moment, because they were just standing there with a speaker next to them, passersby couldn't help but stop in their tracks.

"What are you doing?"

"Is it a street performance? There are so many girls, are they underground idols?"

"Being an underground idol is tough. You have to attract people from different places using these methods. I've heard that some idols have to work part-time while being idols, and some even engage in compensated dating."

People were discussing in hushed tones. Even though SKR had become a hit, Miyamoto and the others were just graduate students. They couldn't compare to the selection groups that had appeared on various TV shows and even in various magazines.

However, no matter what, there are enough people in this place, and as long as you work hard, you can always attract the attention of one or two people.

Having already assumed their positions, Miyamoto said in a low voice, "Everyone, let's begin!"

"Ok!"

The reply was spoken in a low voice, but it was enough for his companions to hear.

Miyamoto pressed the start button, and the music started playing loudly enough for everyone in the square to hear it clearly.

They may not be known to others now, but that doesn't matter, because their music has already become a hit.

"Isn't this SKR's 'Original Intention'?"

"They're planning to sing SKR's 'Original Intention'? They've got guts!"

"This is a Team R song, so if it wants to be successful, it has to show the corresponding cuteness!"

People started discussing the song, but they didn't have high expectations for the girls who were planning to perform. The reason they stopped now was more because they felt they were about to see a mediocre performance, or rather, a joke.

Then, the girls started dancing and singing.

Bathed in sunlight, their faces beamed with radiant smiles, smiles that blended seamlessly with their singing and dancing.

"Hey, isn't this great?"