I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Aki Tomoya shook his head. Whether it was a prank or not didn't matter, as long as no one was hurt.

He wasn't angry now, but he thought the TV station was really good at keeping quiet, only coming out to explain after the police arrived and restrained the person.

Afterwards, TBS interviewed the three members who were being observed about their feelings. In front of the camera, no matter how much dissatisfaction they had, they had to hold back. Their managers had taught them what to say and what not to say, and that they had to leave a good impression on the people watching on TV.

When asked about her relationship with Tomoya Aki, Michiru Hyodo kindly reminded her to clarify their relationship, since they are both artists who have been in the industry for some time and have accumulated a lot of fans.

“He is a relative of mine in Tokyo, studying at the University of Tokyo. I’m so glad he helped me, otherwise I would have been terrified.”

Michiru Hyodo remembered the rules of the agency that forbade her from associating with members of the opposite sex, and she needed to explain them clearly, otherwise she would be scolded by her manager again.

It's perfectly reasonable for people to ask relatives for help when they encounter danger or an emergency!

And to be honest, after being tricked, Michiru Hyodo was somewhat annoyed.

TBS also wanted to interview Aki Tomoya as an uncertain factor in this prank, and he just casually mentioned how worried he was, and then asked them to blur his face!

The police, in front of the camera, also cooperated by saying that if you encounter something like this, you should definitely call the police immediately.

After the TBS staff left, Himekawa Tokino immediately began to explain.

"My manager told me not to say anything. She said it's TBS's Human Observation, and it would be a great help if we could appear on the show!"

Himekawa Tokino was prepared to be beaten.

This variety show, although it's supposed to be a prank, is very popular and famous in Japan.

According to the agent, appearing in this show would definitely be a worthwhile opportunity.

Although this arrangement was only told to Himekawa Tokino in advance, the agency also wanted to increase their popularity. However, it did scare the other three people.

"I don't care about that. That guy will definitely accuse me of contacting outsiders again!"

Michiru Hyoudou said through gritted teeth that their agency was so strict that they even controlled contact with the outside world, especially since they had repeatedly emphasized that dating was forbidden, so having contact with the opposite sex was also taboo.

Although they want to pursue a career focused on talent, their agency is currently arranging for them to adopt an idol style.

"Your entertainment industry is full of tricks!"

Aki Tomoya couldn't help but make a comment, then rubbed his eyes.

He took a taxi directly from home to Bunkyo Ward. He didn't want to talk about how much he was worried about his wallet anymore; as long as everyone was alright, that was all that mattered.

"You should be able to explain to your agent that we are related and it shouldn't be a big deal. Besides, they shouldn't say much about what happened to you. It's getting late, I'm leaving now."

"Hey, are we leaving now?"

"What, are you so scared that you can't even sleep?"

Aki Tomoya noticed the lingering fear in Hyodo Michiru's eyes and then understood.

She's usually very easygoing, but when faced with something like this, she gets completely terrified and loses her composure.

Chapter 281 Can You Take the Game or Not? (1/?)

ice.tail's dormitory is not very big.

The room has a living room, a bathroom, a bedroom, two bunk beds, and decorations they bought themselves.

The four members of the band lived together, which made it feel a bit cramped.

However, as newcomers who have been in the industry for less than a year, they are already luckier than many underground artists because they don't have to solve their own problems with food, accommodation, and transportation.

Aki Tomo didn't leave either; he stayed as a guest for a while, trying his best to comfort Hyodo Michiru, who was still shaken.

Listening to their scathing criticism of Himekawa Tokino, Aki Tomoya sighed inwardly.

"I didn't want to either! Do you think I enjoy seeing you all so scared? It was the manager's order. The agency only cares about getting us on camera; they don't care about our feelings at all!"

Himekawa Tokino couldn't hold back any longer and shouted it out loud.

Cameras can be hidden in their dorm rooms to film them; after all, this is one of the few places where they can let their guard down.

Being on a popular variety show is one thing, but being pranked is another.

Even though they might appear on famous variety shows during prime time, they can't really be happy.

I was genuinely terrified after being treated like that.

However, in front of the camera, they could only pretend not to care.

"Don't you think this kind of prank is too much?"

Aki Tomoya sat on the tatami mat, carefully observing the expressions of Hyodo Michiru and the others.

Their unpleasant mood was clearly displayed on each of their faces.

Himekawa Tokino, who was the mole, was also very aggrieved at this moment.

I still remember the barely suppressed expressions on their faces when the TV station took away the hidden cameras in the dormitory just over ten minutes ago.

After the TV station staff and police left, the girls and Aki Tomoya helped them thoroughly check every corner of the dormitory before they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

What did they do in the previous hour or so?

Without being informed, they thought they had encountered a wanted murderer, and were so scared that they were like a group of rats huddled in a corner, making people laugh.

In the Japanese entertainment industry, they are not the only ones who get pranked; it's just a matter of degree.

“If you think it’s too much, just say it. Anyway, there are no outsiders here, and it won’t be shown on camera so that some people will think you’re delicate and can’t even handle this little bit of grievance.”

Seeing that they were all pursing their lips and not saying a word, Aki Tomoya knew what they were feeling wronged about.

When something like this happens, don't be too scared. It's impossible to comfort them with something like, "Appearing on a popular variety show will help their popularity," without considering the context.

"How could I not be angry? Anyone would be upset if they were treated like that!"

Michiru Hyodo then spoke up.

The real entertainment industry was very different from what she had imagined.

Here, she can reach a bigger stage, but while pursuing her musical dreams, she can no longer be as free as before.

The firm's strict management, the obsequiousness to seniors, the constant fear of making mistakes, and the need to smile even when being tricked—if you're talking about hypocrisy, this place is more hypocritical than anywhere else.

But if you want to talk about authenticity, it is indeed authentic.

In terms of tactics, there are countless variations.

This is certainly not the first time ice.tail has been pranked by a TV program, and it will definitely not be the last.

However, this time the resentment that had been building up is starting to show.

Ultimately, life isn't easy for anyone down there.

Then one by one they started complaining, saying how difficult it was.

"After all, it wasn't back when Iori was helping you find a live house."

Aki Tomoya's words brought the dormitory back to silence.

Back when I was performing at livehouses, I didn't need to think about so many things.

Back then, thanks to Iori Hashima's connections, it was easy to find a live house where they could perform.

ice.tail was quite free at that time.

It was thanks to their performances at livehouses that they were spotted by talent scouts from agencies.

She signed with an agency, received systematic training arranged by the agency, debuted, released her first CD, and appeared on TV shows. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

but……

Is choosing this path really a good idea?

Back then, we were all so passionate about pursuing our musical dreams and becoming big stars, but becoming a big star is incredibly tough.

Minor artists have no say.

"You all look like you've eaten a bitter melon. Are you thinking of giving up?"

Aki Tomoya sighed softly.

When he first heard that Michiru Hyodo had signed with a legitimate agency, he was very worried.

Whether one can adapt is one question, and whether one can persevere is another.

If you can't change the environment, you'll only be changed by it.

"I'm not going to give up! I already have a fan club website, my first CD, and I've been on TV. I'm not going to turn around and quit now!"

Michiru Hyodo still has some ambition.

She wasn't one to passively accept her fate; as someone with aspirations and ideals, she didn't want to die halfway through her journey.

"Of course, I reckon you can't run away even if you wanted to. Do you have the money to pay the penalty for breach of contract?"

Aki Tomoya rolled his eyes at Hyodo Michiru and said something incredibly hurtful.

Want to run?

Have you asked the firm?

Running away isn't just about having two legs; you also need money.

Even without Hyoudou Michiru explaining, Aki Tomoya could guess what kind of contracts these newbies had signed.