Chapter 249: If you can latch onto it, it's a profit!

As mentioned before, idols occupy a very low status in the entertainment industry, only slightly better than gravure models. Although there are people like Yamaguchi Momoe and Kimura Takuya who evolved from idols into superstars, generally speaking, only those who cannot sing, cannot act, and cannot pull off comedy, skits, or impressions end up becoming idols.

Because the barrier to entry is low, the competition is extremely fierce; because the barrier to entry is low, the income is low. 70% of idols earn less than 100,000 yen per month from this job, and many idols have to take part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Besides that, there is no need to mention the high-intensity work and strict image control. According to a survey by Johns Hopkins University... ahem, Tokyo University, the vast majority of idols work over 80 hours a week. Between performances, training, and Handshake Events, they are covered in injuries and illnesses after working for a few years.

Moreover, although idols are pursued by fans, they are often viewed by mainstream media as "entertainment products" rather than artists. For instance, the music criticism circle rarely discusses the artistic value of idol songs seriously, focusing more on commercial results.

YKC48 also debuted from the dark, sunless theater in Akihabara. They struggled for three or four full years, and it was only when the earliest batch of veteran members were quite old that they started to become popular. Only then did the center and top group members begin to get some Terrestrial Broadcast opportunities, starting to appear as supporting roles in late-night dramas outside the "village" and as guests on some variety shows.

So, what is Terrestrial Broadcast?

Terrestrial Broadcast actually corresponds to underground idols. The so-called underground idols are autonomous groups that can only operate on their own platforms, performing in small theaters, livehouses, or even in the open space between two trees on the side of the road, relying on ticket sales and merchandise to earn operating funds.

In this situation, their fans are almost exclusively idol otaku.

Terrestrial Broadcast refers to being able to appear in TV dramas, commercials, large-scale performance events, and variety shows, which means exposure to mainstream media.

It is impossible to truly become a massive hit with only the support of idol otaku. To truly leap from the marginal subculture circle into the public eye, one must have "Terrestrial Broadcast."

In YKC48, even for the center and top members in the front row, the vast majority of Terrestrial Broadcast appearances are just showing their faces in late-night dramas and ordinary variety shows, which is already quite good. Occasionally being able to appear in a Golden Time drama—for example, playing the one walking on the outermost side among the three best friends of the female lead in a school drama—is equivalent to the highest achievement for an idol. And this still requires the agency's management to spend a massive amount of connections and resources to secure.

It seems the only one who debuted as an idol and immediately started appearing in Golden Time variety shows and Golden Time dramas is that immovable center from Akasaka, Hirate Sarina, right?

Yamaguchi Maho only participated in the audition at 18, and to this day she is still a Trainee and not an official member. She never imagined that a role as a vase reading scripts on a Golden Time variety show could actually fall into her lap!

This is something she would obtain at any cost! At 19 years old this year, she is more desperate than anyone else!

So she told them everything.

FNS Production Bureau Chief Abiru Kazuhiko listened quietly as she finished speaking, his brows slightly furrowed.

Yamaguchi's Agent has a very good relationship with Fuji TV. After hearing this news, they reported it to Fuji TV immediately, which led to this meeting. Abiru had originally thought the two had dated, but Yamaguchi confessed that she had only been on three dates with Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Besides Uesugi Muneyuki, have you associated with anyone else? I mean men."

"Um, there were a few, but I cut ties with them ever since I passed the audition!" Yamaguchi Maho hurriedly explained: "Idols have a love ban!"

"Alright, we understand. Thank you for your cooperation. Once our program planning is mostly complete, we will have your Agent notify you." Department Director Abiru signaled that she could leave.

"Yes, thank you very much." Yamaguchi Maho is still a bit dizzy even now.

Am I really going to be on Golden Time? Did I really manage to latch onto it?

Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa in Aomori Prefecture, I'm going to be famous!

As for what Uesugi might think, forget it!

If you can latch onto it, it's a profit!

After Yamaguchi Maho left, the Fuji TV side started discussing again what to do.

"We can use this girl idol to test Uesugi Muneyuki and see what kind of person he actually likes, and what he thinks of our Fuji TV." Department Director Abiru instructed: "Be careful, don't let Uesugi-kun feel any resentment. We are showing goodwill, not threatening him. She's just a tiny idol; being able to give an idol Trainee a chance to show her face on Golden Time is a massive favor... I even feel it's a bit much."

"Yes!"

……………………

Yamaguchi Maho was taken away, and the little idols of the YKC48 group were whispering among themselves. Every face was filled with surprise and jealousy.

Just a Trainee, and she actually managed to latch onto it?

Unfair!

We worked hard for years in the theater with a base salary of only 50,000, and even with perfect attendance for 30 days a month, the income is only 200,000, and occasionally we still need support from home or have to take part-time jobs to subsidize idol expenses. Having struggled until now to enter the selection and get on TV, what right does she have to reach the top in one step? Why?

A Production Bureau Chief of Fuji TV—this is a super big shot!

Ogino Yuka and Nishigata Marina, two of Yamaguchi Maho's peers standing nearby, were even more jealous and hateful. Thinking that Yamaguchi could already meet big shots while they still had to grind in the theater for years to scrape for opportunities, they wished they could tear their peer's face apart!

No one knew what Yamaguchi Maho was taken away to do.

Heh, what if they just saw she was pretty and made her engage in Pillow Business? The little idols thought maliciously.

Damn it, I wish I could engage in Pillow Business too!

Isn't a chance like this exactly what we Wash-foot Maids need?

Not to mention the Wash-foot Maids, even Miyawaki Sakura from the TOP group was jealous; she was also very unwilling.

Sakura has struggled until now, and her monthly income is only about 350,000. She can only occasionally show her face in late-night variety shows and dramas, and she can't say three sentences without mentioning the group.

And just as the YKC48 girls were whispering, several people walked toward them.

"Oh? Isn't this Sakura?"

National actress Shirakawa Mai was like a white pearl melted into champagne, her chestnut-colored long wavy hair flowing with a satin luster. The crescent-shaped earrings dangling from her hair swayed gently with the movement of her head, rippling out circles of honey-colored halos. She was walking with her Agent and Fuji TV staff, and upon meeting Miyawaki Sakura, she took the initiative to greet her.

Senior Mai actually didn't care about these juniors at all, nor did she need to manage interpersonal relationships within the entertainment industry, but she had an impression of Miyawaki Sakura because this was someone she met when she was active with Uesugi Muneyuki.

As long as she is with him, the world is bright, and faces are clear.

"Eh???" The entire group was shocked.

Although they knew Sakura knew Shirakawa Mai, Shirakawa Mai would actually take the initiative to greet her?

"Mai-sama!!!" A brilliant, proud smile immediately bloomed on Sakura's face. She was also shocked that Shirakawa Mai would take the initiative to greet her. The girl trotted over and bowed very earnestly: "Long time no see! Do you have work?"

"Yes, I came to discuss some things with Fuji TV." Senior Mai looked at Miyawaki Sakura, who was as brilliant as a spring cherry blossom turned into a doll, and was in a good mood: "And you?"

"I just came from *Music Station*," Sakura said obediently. She was wearing fluffy chocolate-colored twin tails, with star-like pearlescent hair accessories at the ends, and her amber eyes shone in harmony with the cherry-blossom-pink light on her lips.

"Oh, oh, oh, that's the decades-old program by Tamori-san on Asahi TV, right?" Senior Mai laughed: "Hard work, running between venues is tiring, right? You're amazing."

"Eh~ not at all~" Being able to talk to Shirakawa Mai again made Sakura ecstatic, especially the dozens of envious gazes behind her, which gave her a joy of being above all living things for a moment.

I am the king of the world!

"Then, can Mai-sama reward your Sakura a little bit?" Sakura's pure amber eyes rolled, revealing a hint of a naive girl's expectation: "Can we take another photo together?"

Heh.

Shirakawa Mai saw at a glance that Sakura was acting. This little idol came from the clear and pure Kagoshima; how is she so good at pretending?

However, she didn't dislike Sakura's little schemes, and Uesugi Muneyuki had told her to take photos with her.

Just like that, Senior Mai took another photo with Sakura.

After the national actress left, this time it was Sakura's turn to look down upon the masses. Not to mention the other top members, even Matsui Ju, who was the center, showed a look of shock and envy toward Sakura, and even revealed a hint of jealousy quite unnaturally.

Sakura looked at the photo on her phone with great satisfaction and immediately uploaded it to her email.

She decided that for the next week, the main theme of all her social media would be this meeting.

As for what Mai would think, she didn't care!

If you can ride the hype, you've made a profit!

Thus, following Fuji TV's new project, the wind blew fiercely around Uesugi Muneyuki, and every faction wanted to ride his popularity.

A national trend!

On October 1st, Uesugi Muneyuki, who was resting inside the Sakata Bridge Tower, happened to receive a call from Fuji TV President Kameyama Chihiro.

Kameyama Chihiro formally invited Uesugi Muneyuki to participate in a Golden Time program that Fuji TV had temporarily created for Uesugi Muneyuki on Saturday at 8:30 PM.

"The 24-year-old God's Hand descends; 1,000 corpses and 100 cases solved with a 100% success rate since debut, revealing all the secrets of the 'Legendary Rookie Forensic Pathologist Uesugi Muneyuki' 2-hour SP."

What kind of ridiculous title is this?

Uesugi Muneyuki complained inwardly, thinking it really did have the Fuji TV style.

"Our station invites you with the most sincere attitude and the best treatment; Uesugi-kun, please must participate in this variety show!" President Kameyama said earnestly on the phone: "As long as Uesugi-kun is interested in participating, the script can be changed, the project can be revised, and whichever entertainer you want, we will invite them immediately."

"Oh? Really?" Uesugi Muneyuki was noncommittal.

But Hironaka Mariko in front of him signaled that it was true.

As long as Uesugi Muneyuki could participate, Fuji TV's greatest bottom line was... that there was no bottom line!

"It's true! Please, Uesugi-kun, you must believe in our station's sincerity!" President Kameyama was a bit emotional on the phone: "Our station knows you have a good relationship with Shirakawa Mai, so we spared no expense to invite her, and now we are just waiting for your word."

Shirakawa Mai had said that as long as Uesugi Muneyuki agreed to come, she would agree to serve as the host.

"Moreover, as long as Uesugi-kun agrees to appear, our station has another surprise for you!"

The old fox Kameyama hinted slightly on the phone.

Another surprise?

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at Hironaka Mariko's hand gestures before him, lost in thought.

Yes, after Fuji TV held a Board of Directors meeting, they decided to make a huge gamble, betting the entire station's viewership for the next 30 years on Uesugi Muneyuki.

If you can ride the hype, you've made a profit!

(End of this chapter)