Preparing for their comeback in December, B-Komachi was living an incredibly hectic life due to the demands of album production.
There had been a moment when paparazzi leaked dating rumors between Hide, the leader of Enfants Terribles, and Ai, the center of B-Komachi. However, this actually proved to be a godsend, creating a promotional surge that skyrocketed B-Komachi’s public recognition. Consequently, demand for the group exploded.
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"You idols! It's okay! You're all going to do great!"
""What?!""
Their grueling routine also included fan signing events. The purpose of this specific event was to soothe the public opinion of fans confused by the dating rumors and to prevent the fandom from eroding during the gap in their 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 volume 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 bold answer, Ai's legs were trembling. Noticing her honest reaction, Meimei and Nino gave her warm smiles and gripped 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 chuckled as they saw Ai's legs shaking—a stark contrast to her confident 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 found its footing and the members began receiving equal treatment, their skills as idols improved. This allowed them to notice, and eventually embrace, Ai's underlying loneliness.
Now, 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 admired 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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<Celebrating the Comeback! B-Komachi Fan Signing Event Held!>
"Haa..."
B-Komachi's center, Ai, chugged from a water bottle, her face uncharacteristically stiff with nerves. Though she had appeared on YouTube since the dating rumors broke, this was her first time standing before the public in person.
Furthermore, as many as 300,000 people had attempted to buy tickets to attend the fan signing of a group embroiled in a scandal. The sheer digital firepower was so intense that the Strawberry Productions website crashed 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 when performing for her fans, but the situation was different this time. Even if she had grown since meeting Hide, she was still a coward at heart, and she feared that the fans might lash out at her the way certain 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 entrance 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 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 her 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.
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