Preparing for their comeback in December, [B-Komachi] was leading an incredibly busy life due to album production.
There had been a moment where a dating rumor between Hide, the leader of Enfants Terribles, and Ai, the center of [B-Komachi], was leaked by paparazzi. However, this actually acted as a godsend, providing a promotional effect that boosted [B-Komachi]'s recognition. Consequently, demand for the group skyrocketed.
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"Damn idols! It's okay! You can all do great!"
""What?!""
Their hectic routine also included fan signing events. The purpose of this specific fan signing was to calm public opinion among fans confused by the dating rumors and to prevent the fandom from churning due to the gap in active promotions.
Normally, for an idol group, maintaining the size of the fandom is critical. Unless a 'catfish' with the public recognition and musicality of Enfants Terribles enters the market, music chart rankings are typically determined by the sheer size of the fandom. This is because collective fandom actions, often called 'organized streaming drives,' exert a massive influence on chart positions.
"Yup! Just trust in Ai! ☆"
B-Komachi members Meimei and Nino looked at their center, Ai, who was responding with such confidence despite the chaotic situation.
However, regardless of her confident answer, Ai's legs were trembling. Noticing her honest reaction, Meimei and Nino gave her warm smiles and grabbed her shoulders.
"Ai! You're not the only one in [B-Komachi]!"
"Good grief! Our youngest is so cute! It's way too obvious you're just acting tough, Ai!"
The other members also chuckled as they saw Ai's legs shaking—a stark contrast to her bold declaration.
When [B-Komachi] first started, the members felt envy and jealousy toward Ai for hogging all of [Strawberry Productions]' attention. But as the agency got onto its feet and the members began receiving equal treatment, their skills as idols improved as well. This allowed them to notice and eventually embrace Ai's underlying loneliness.
And now, after realizing that Ai had always treated them with true sincerity, they were doubling their efforts so that the youngest member of [B-Komachi] could finally lean on them.
They knew now. They knew that the [Ultimate Idol], who was always so dignified and looked up to by everyone, was actually just an ordinary girl who felt nervous, made mistakes, occasionally fell into despair, and shed tears—just like them.
"""Alright! [B-Komachi], fighting!!"""
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"Haa..."
[B-Komachi]'s center, Ai, chugged from a water bottle, her face uncharacteristically stiff with nerves. Though she had shown her face on YouTube since the dating rumor broke, this was her first time standing in a public setting.
Furthermore, as many as 300,000 people had attempted to buy tickets to attend the fan signing of the group involved in the scandal. The sheer digital firepower was so intense that [Strawberry Productions]' website was shut down due to a massive traffic overload.
"Ai, aren't you drinking too much water? Are you okay?"
"Mhm...! Of course! Ai doesn't get nervous over things like this!"
Usually, Ai felt no anxiety at all when standing before her fans for a performance, but the situation was different this time. Even if things had improved since she met Hide, she was still a coward at heart, and she feared that the fans might lash out at her like a certain subset of netizens had.
"Okay! [B-Komachi], please enter now!"
Ai let out a breath heavy with tension and followed the staff toward the stage where the fans were waiting.
As the security guards and staff opened the iron gate—the only gateway to the stage—nearly 3,000 people began to cheer wildly for [B-Komachi].
"[B-Komachi] is so pretty!!!"
"The princesses' visuals are insane!!!"
Though she felt a dark premonition about this fan signing even before it started, Ai acted like a professional, suppressing that feeling with a smile and a wave.
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Next is our lead story. Around 8:00 PM today, Hoshino Ai, a member of the idol group [B-Komachi] under [Strawberry Productions], was injured by a box cutter hidden inside a gift box while she was opening presents from fans.
According to the announcement from [Strawberry Productions], the box cutter was uniquely modified, resulting in a 6cm laceration on her palm. She suffered an arterial injury and significant blood loss, but thanks to emergency first aid provided by the fellow [B-Komachi] members at the scene, she was moved out of critical danger and is currently resting.
In fact, according to Tokyo Tanakawa Hospital where Ai is recuperating, the situation could have been fatal due to the arterial damage, but the bleeding was stopped in time. Further detailed examinations have confirmed that there was no nerve damage caused by the wound.
The perpetrator was identified as a 21-year-old college student, Mr. 'M', who has a history of mental illness. He was caught on CCTV footage submitting the gift, and detectives from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department executed an emergency arrest upon confirmation.
Meanwhile, the victim's agency, [Strawberry Productions], has stated that there will be no settlement regarding this incident. They expressed their firm stance to ensure the perpetrator receives a punishment befitting the crime to prevent such horrific events from ever occurring again.