After Hiko returned to the vocal practice room, he used his master-level musical guidance to train the five-member group in their singing.
He had them sing, then pointed out problems and gave instruction.
After practicing for a while, he took them back to the dance practice room to work on dancing.
Time flew by.
"That's enough training for today, you can go home now," Hiko announced after checking the time on his phone.
They had completed their planned training for the day. Although they started to lose their footing in the last ten minutes or so, and some even fell, they gritted their teeth and finished.
"It's finally over~"
The five exhausted girls exclaimed.
"Everyone else can go home, but the leader has to stay for extra practice!" Hiko said with a stern face. "Ai, as the leader, your movements are still not perfect enough."
"Extra practice again…" Ai felt disheartened hearing Hiko's words; she was already exhausted.
The other four girls were too tired to move as well and prepared to watch the devil coach put Ai through more training.
"If you don't leave now, you can stay and accompany the leader for extra practice," Hiko said again when he saw that no one else had left.
"No extra practice, please!" Niino heard Hiko say they could leave, but then he added that if they didn't leave now, they would be forced into extra practice. She quickly pleaded, "Let us rest for a bit!"
"If you haven't left before extra practice begins, then you won't be able to leave," Hiko replied, allowing them to rest for a while before heading out.
"Aren't you all staying to improve together?" Ai looked at the four girls with hopeful eyes.
"Go, Leader." Niino looked away.
"Ai, keep up the good work with your training." Watanabe cheered Ai on.
Takamine said, "Go for it."
"Ai, you can keep going," Arisa added, looking at Ai.
Since Hiko had singled her out, and the four girls had already been drained of their energy, none of them intended to stay and accompany Ai.
Ai could only sulk in place.
The four girls rested for a few minutes to recover their strength, then left the dance practice room together, preparing to head out of the company.
"Bye!"
"See you!"
"See you tomorrow."
"I'm leaving first."
They greeted the two before leaving.
Only Hiko and Hoshino Ai were left in the dance practice room.
"Hiko-kun, you're so mean, not even letting me rest." Ai saw everyone leave and looked at Hiko, pouting.
"You're already exhausted, how could I bear to put you through more?"
Hiko sat next to Ai. "Leaving you for extra practice was just an excuse."
"As long as it's not extra practice." Ai's anger immediately dissipated, but she was curious why Hiko had kept her. "So, Hiko-kun, why did you keep me here alone?"
"Didn't I say before that if you let me train you, I would fund your first performance?" Hiko recalled.
"I think there was something like that?" Ai pondered for a moment, then asked with a questioning tone. "Even if there was such an agreement, it probably doesn't count anymore, right?"
During this time, Ai, through Hiko's explanations and conversations with staff, had come to understand the income and expenses of idol performances.
If they, an unknown group, were to perform on a large stage from the start, there wouldn't be many audience members.
The money spent would be like throwing good money after bad, and their popularity wouldn't grow much, since the venue itself limited them.
"A gentleman's word is his bond, and I am a gentleman. How can I go back on it?" Hiko replied.
"You're just putting on a brave face, it's not necessary." Ai didn't want Hiko to waste money.
"I always keep my word. Since I've made you a promise, I will absolutely fulfill it," Hiko said firmly, looking into Ai's eyes.
She couldn't dissuade him.
Ai tried twice but couldn't change Hiko's mind, so she could only say, "Then what does this have to do with you keeping me here?"
"Of course it does. We're going to check out venues later," Hiko said matter-of-factly.
"Since you've already decided, wouldn't it be better to take them all to see the venue?" Ai suddenly thought of something, then continued, "If you had told them about this from the beginning, there's no way they would have gone against you."
"I don't need that method. And look now, aren't they all obediently following my lead?" Hiko shook his head, then added, "Besides, this is an agreement between you and me, not between me and them. So it has nothing to do with them."
"If you're planning to only let me perform alone, they'll definitely be jealous if they find out."
Ai replied without thinking, "Then the trust you painstakingly built for me would collapse, and they might even think I…"
She didn't fully voice the unpleasant words.
"Sigh, you're right about that."
Hiko had originally intended to fulfill the agreement and only let Ai perform alone, but now it seemed it wasn't a good idea. Even if Ai didn't say everything, he could understand. "Since there's no other way, then you choose the venue."
Since his decision couldn't be changed, they would choose a smaller venue for the performance stage.
Ai nodded.
"Then let's go, while it's still early." Hiko extended his hand toward Hoshino Ai.
"Holding hands? I don't think so." Ai shook her head, refusing.
She didn't want everyone in the company tomorrow to think she had a good relationship with Hiko.
And rumors might even escalate into outrageous content.
Rumors that she was Hiko's girlfriend, child bride, future wife, and so on.
After refusing Hiko's hand, she walked toward the door.
Hiko was not discouraged by this.
He just felt that the time was not right.
Without a special event, it seemed she wasn't willing to hold hands.
"Where are we going?" Ai walked to the doorway and turned back to ask Hiko.
She didn't know where there were stages they could perform on.
However, she was familiar with the famous Budokan and Tokyo Dome.
"I've researched a few places that can be rented, but I don't think you can support a full concert yet."
Hiko thought about how they didn't know many songs yet. "So I was thinking of having you perform one song as an insert into another performance. This way, you can perform without exposing your weaknesses."
"That's a good idea." Ai felt that this way, it definitely wouldn't cost much.
Hiko had originally wanted her performance to be broadcast on television, but unfortunately, he didn't even know the relevant personnel yet, let alone how to contact them.
"Oh, right, aren't you going to have the president negotiate?" Ai suddenly thought that at their current age, trying to discuss collaborations with others would likely not succeed.
"I've already considered this matter. At that time, a dedicated person will be sent to scout and evaluate the site. We are just going to look at venues now," Hiko explained.