Nine o'clock in the morning, in the conference room of the Sony SME building.

Toshiryo Muramatsu, Kenji Kitagawa , Yoshio Konno, Yui Nango, and several other Nogizaka staff members are reporting on the current situation of the members and their current status.

Judging from the results of these meetings, Mai Shiraishi made the right decision to keep her at that time, and almost every time she ranked first among the members. Nango Yui said: "There is also Matsumura Sha Yuri, Takayama Ichimi, although it is a little closer, it can be regarded as a close behind." If you refer to the candidates selected in the future according to these data, it will largely be necessary to change a group of people. ”

"Selection, the candidates of the blessed gods are not fixed, haven't you told them a long time ago, our own efforts and results, we will give them a chance, isn't this the only way. Muramatsu said lightly.

Everyone else nodded and agreed. In Nogizaka, there is no other way for the members to follow than to rely on their own efforts, and there is also the most important rule that must be completely obedient to the management arrangement.

"What's going on with the AKB lately?" asked Toshiryo Muramatsu to Kenji Kitagawa.

Kitagawa opened his laptop, then called up a few statistical charts, and enlarged them on the screen through the projector, and everyone looked at and listened to Kitagawa Kenji's explanation seriously.

"Yesterday, AKB also held a meeting to summarize the general situation of this year's single sales, and it is obvious that this year's RB entertainment industry has been affected by Hallyu stars and groups to varying degrees, and on the male artist's side, Arashi's total sales of 2.73 million ranked first, and the second and third were EXILE's 1.38 million and Guan 8's 1.12 million, which was expected. The key is female artists here, due to the impact of external culture, there have been great changes in the rankings, there are many foreign female singers in the top ten, and the eighth place is Lady from the United States gaga, the sixth place is Girls' Generation from South Korea, then the third is Nagoya's SKE48 with a total sales of 1.2 million, the second is the Korean group KARA with a total sales of 1.54 million, and the first is AKB48 with a crushing total sales of 8.33 million, although AKB48 is still a dominant position, but Akimoto Yasu said that this year was indeed affected by some foreign group singers. This issue was also highlighted several times yesterday at the meeting. Kenji Kitagawa said.

"Even those of you who are male artists are counted, so you're really serious. Konno sighed.

"Who wants AKB48 to be so popular now. Kenji Kitagawa said with a smile: "Yasuya Akimoto likes to put all the artists in and sort them out, and then present the results of AKB48's dominance and crushing, which is normal, because it's really cool, it looks cool." Beichuan said helplessly.

"So what does Akimoto mean?" Muramatsu then asked.

In order to consolidate the first, there is also the RB idol world, next year AKB, and other sub-groups, we must work harder, to a certain extent, we must guard against and counter the impact of the Hallyu girl group, and not let its development in RB be too smooth and comfortable, this is what he meant. Kenji Kitagawa said: "I personally think that SKE should be compared to the total sales of the Korean girl group KARA, Akimoto Yasushi felt very uncomfortable, and said several times at the meeting that SKE should also work hard next year, reminding their person in charge to plan and prepare in advance." ”

"So, is the AKB going to start working next year?" said Muramatsu.

"That's right, I think so too, there is no doubt that AKB48 is the first now, if you work hard next year to grab a handful of other sub-groups and bring them up, then the entire 48G family will be a real strong period. Kitagawa Kenji said seriously.

"Then we are Nogizaka ......," Yoshio Konno said worriedly.

"We are Nogizaka 46, although we are Sony Music behind it, but the producer of the group is Yasushi Akimoto, even if AKB48 is popular, the group is the same producer, and we can be more or less helped. Muramatsu said.

"But we used the name of AKB48's official opponent, do we still have to hug the opposite thigh...... I'm afraid the members won't be able to accept it......," Konno said.

"It's not like we're going to hug each other's thighs. Toshiyo Muramatsu emphasized: " What we want to hold is the thigh of Yasu Akimoto, we are Nogizaka 46, in the final analysis, it is still one of the idol groups under his name, we have to make good use of this aspect, we don't need to have too much binding with AKB48, we can have contact, but we can't bind with them, we are Nogizaka 46, we have our own way of operating, behind these members, we are Sony, so AKB is getting bigger and bigger, and it is also the continuous improvement of the ability and reputation of Yasu Akimoto, we can get something from him that is suitable for the development of our group。 This does not prevent us from using the title of official opponent, if there is any problem, Yasu Akimoto will deal with it, we just need to control not to contact too closely, cooperation is okay. ”

"Well, that's fine. Konno nodded.

"Alas, the official opponent, it sounds good, in terms of sales alone, where is there still an opponent in AKB48 now. Kitagawa Kenji complained: "Now AKB is presented in terms of sales alone, it is completely impossible to surpass it, even if it reaches a certain level, there is no female group in China to do it, surpassing AKB, it is simply ridiculous and unrealistic." ”

"But the girls ...... The members are all believing it, and they are working hard for this dream, is it just a dream?" Konno looked a little lonely, thinking that each of those girls was practicing hard every day, for this dream in his heart, if he told them that it was all just a dream, he really couldn't bear to see how they would react, he couldn't imagine it.

"That's right, it's a beautiful dream," Muramatsu said seriously: " But what we can do is to extend this dream indefinitely, they continue to work hard in this dream, to constantly improve themselves, and when we wake up from the dream, we are also fully prepared, and the result of the members' efforts, the potential of the group of Nogizaka 46, will burst out, to face AKB, to send out challenges, even if we can't do it, can't do it to match, but we can do it with the qualifications to challenge, their dreams are not in vain. ”

Muramatsu Toshiliang's words seemed to be a shot in the arm, regaining confidence for all the people present, the dreams of the girls, and the dreams of all of us, will not be broken, the girls just need to continue to work hard towards this ideal, and all they can do is to help them, protect their dreams, and continue to work hard, they can do it after all.

"Well, I don't believe that AKB can continue like this forever, it's just that the problems within the group haven't come out yet. Kitagawa Kenji said slowly.

"Hmm, is there a big problem within the AKB group?" Muramatsu Toshiryo was a little interested in this question, and the others also looked at Kenji Kitagawa who had just spoken amazingly, and it seemed that they were also very interested in this sentence.

"That's natural, AKB's problem, it's not so much artificial, it's better to say that this group has been buried since the day it was established, and the hidden fighting of all the forces at the top, the members at the bottom also have some meaning of ganging up, you look at the Yuan TeamA, it's obvious. And the base of AKB is too large, and the competition is too fierce, you see those theater children, how many of them can really go out from that small theater, don't they still work hard to persevere, wash the feet of the top in the theater stage performance, and then eat a boxed lunch offstage...... The heart is sad and bitter, only they know it in their hearts, but they still work hard for the ethereal dreams in their hearts, hoping to become one of those people who are lucky enough to go up, these people I have seen too much, really. Kenji Kitagawa shook his head, it seems that he did see a lot over there, the most realistic side of the idol world.

"But we Nogizaka 46 can't and won't. Muramatsu listened to Kenji Kitagawa's words, thought for a moment, and said his conclusion.

"Well, of course. Kitagawa Kenji nodded. "They're artists under my registered company, and they're still our own people in the end, and since they're our people, we won't let them go down the same path and make the same mistakes. ”

Yoshio Konno and Yui Nango nodded.

"By the way, the one in the group, Rina Ikoma, how is it doing?" asked Muramatsu suddenly.

"Uh... Ikoma works very hard, both in class and in private, she makes rapid progress. Nango Yui replied, but in his heart he wondered why he suddenly asked about Rina Ikoma.

"Well, that's fine. Muramatsu nodded: "Entrusted by people, loyal to people, Ikoma Rina's grandfather and I asked her, and asked me to take care of her, so I asked." ”

"?" Konno and Nango both wondered why they had something to do with Rina Ikoma's grandfather again.

"Ikoma is the last name, you know it, so ......" Muramatsu didn't finish, but picked up the water cup and took a sip of water.

"I see. The two of them looked at each other silently and understood what Muramatsu Junliang meant.

"Isn't Ikoma the center we chose, so you should take care of her as well, not only her, but any other member in need of help, understand?" Muramatsu said solemnly.

"Well, we will. The two men nodded.

"How's the dormitory problem for the members, I think it's going to be okay. Muramatsu asked another question.

"It's almost, all the houses are cleaned up, formaldehyde and the like are almost volatile, and you should be able to move in immediately. Konno reported.

"That's good, always staying in a hotel, it's still inconvenient. Muramatsu nodded, "So is there anything else, everyone?"

Everyone shook their heads. It means that there is no problem.

"Okay, then the meeting, Beichuan, you wait a minute. Toshiyo Muramatsu announced the end of the meeting.

Everyone packed up their things and went out, and two people were left in the conference room, Kenji Kitagawa and Toshiryo Muramatsu.

"Kenji, do you think Nogizaka will be able to defeat AKB in the future? I'm asking the truth, tell me the answer based on what you know. Muramatsu asked.

"It's impossible to defeat, as Yasu Akimoto said, the only one who can defeat AKB is AKB itself. Kitagawa Kenji said slowly.

Muramatsu Toshiryo stopped talking, and the atmosphere between the two became silent.

"I feel that even if we can't surpass AKB48, we still have a chance to get to the point where we can get to the same level. Kitagawa Kenji said seriously: " Although we lost the best time, and missed the best opportunity, but these girls, the first phase of Nogizaka, the quality is really good, if you take it out separately and put it a few years ago, compared with those of AKB, it is not equal, although we have lost the opportunity, but AKB's internal problems have been initially formed, and will continue to accumulate, there is no eternal dynasty, the dynasty will eventually collapse one day, what we can do is to try our best to let these girls grow up, just need to reach the top, isn't it also a successWhy do we have to surpass each other, since it can't become a reality, why can't we change the result, and when we also reach the top, we see the falling AKB, and we can be considered to have done it. ”

"Well, you're right, we should believe that these girls in Nogizaka will one day stand on the same height, and all we can do is work hard with them and go up together. Muramatsu agreed with Kitagawa's statement.

Kenji Kitagawa smiled, and then packed his things and prepared to go out.

"Thank you, Kenji. Kitagawa smiled and closed the door to the conference room, leaving Toshiryo Muramatsu, who was still pondering alone.