“...... Sure enough, this is like the New Year, the family sits together for a reunion and eats a meal, watching the red and white song party. Grandpa Ikoma took a sip of wine and said with emotion.

"Well, there's nothing better than spending the New Year together as a family!" said Grandma Ikoma with a happy smile.

The Rina Ikoma siblings sat there eating and laughing, and everyone was enjoying the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, watching the red and white song battle held by NHK TV on TV while eating.

The Red and White Song Festival, which stands for Red and White Song Battle in Japanese, is held annually by the RB Broadcasting Association (NHK) and is a singing evening that represents the highest level of RB. The contestants are all the most powerful, popular, and well-behaved singers selected from the RB music scene that year, and are loved by the majority of fans. The singers are divided into two teams according to their gender, in which the female singers form the red team and the male singers form the white team. The contest usually starts with the singers of the red team, and then the two teams of singers alternate between the two teams, and the contestants can be solo singers or groups of people. The first edition of the Red and White Song Battle was held on January 3, 1951. At that time, it was only played on the radio, and the name was not "red and white song battle" as it is used today, but "red and white music trial", and it is said that the US military command (GHQ), which controlled the internal affairs of the RB at the time, did not allow the use of words such as "joint war". Initially, it was planned to be held once, but it was so well received that it continued to be held in 1952. In 1953, it was broadcast on TV for the third time, and it was decided that from that year on, the "Red and White Song Battle" would be an important event to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. The fourth edition was held on December 31 of that year, and since then it has been held on December 31 every year. Join the live audience from the 4th session. It was originally held at the former NHK Broadcasting Center in Uchiyukicho, the Takarazuka Theater in Tokyo, and the Sankei Hall in Yurakucho, and has been performing at the NHK Concert Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo since 1973. Today, this singing evening, which is loved by RB's vast audience, has a history of more than 60 years. With the development of society and the advancement of technology, the cultural and entertainment life of modern RB has become more colorful, and the requirements and tastes of the audience have become more diverse. Despite this, because the participating singers of "Red and White Song Battle" have the highest level of artistic talent, personality charm and good stage style of RB, the audience is still "infatuated" with this show, and they continue to love this evening party with both RB characteristics and international perspectives. In recent years, the ratings have gradually decreased due to the increase in competitive programs due to the opening of a large number of local television stations and the diversification of people's lives, but the ratings have also been maintained at 40%-50%. In fact, the "Red and White Song Battle" is not a competition in the true sense of the word, it is just a competition between male and female singers to show the best singing and musical art of RB. Its main purpose is to review the grand occasion of the RB music scene, provide a high-level theatrical evening for the audience, and at the same time discover and cultivate new talents in the music world, and promote the development of RB songs and music art. Now in RB, it has become one of the traditions of the RB people to sit together as a family to watch red and white together during the New Year.

"Ah, AKB is out!" Rina Ikoma watched very carefully when she saw the members of AKB48 appear on TV.

"Then the Red Team sent out AKB48~" the hostess introduced to the audience.

"Please advise!" said all the AKB members who appeared on the stage, bowing to the audience and in front of the TV.

"2011 has been a year of constant conversation for all of you. The hostess said.

"Thank you. The captain of AKB48's TeamA, Minami Takahashi, replied politely.

"Although you are very busy, I heard that many times this year, the members rushed to the disaster area to give condolence performances, and it was really hard and touching. The hostess said.

"Yes, from May this year, all of our members will take turns to go to the disaster area, hoping to bring our smiles and strength to everyone, and ask everyone not to lose confidence in life. We will continue to cheer you on in the new year!" Atsuko Maeda said earnestly.

The members also learned from each other and helped each other, and after a year, the relationship became better and better. Minami Takahashi, who was next to him, also added.

"Then you can come on stage and prepare. The hostess prompted, and the members of AKB48 began to walk towards the main stage.

"AKB48 mobilized 130 people to perform on stage last year, and this year, sister groups from Hakata and Jakarta, Indonesia, joined the show, and a total of 210 people participated in the performance, which is really amazing!" said the male host Jun Matsumoto and the other members of the Arashi group next to the female host. This time, the host of the white group of the red and white song party is the super popular group RB, the male idol group group Arashi under Janiss, and the female host of the red group is Miss Mao Inoue.

"So, please enjoy the super best-selling suites they bring!Red & White 2011, AKB48 Special MIX!RB Come on!" The hostess finished speaking, and the camera switched to all the AKB48 members who were already ready on the main stage.

When the show began, Rina Ikoma stared intently at the TV, carefully watching the AKB members' performances, and at the same time, there was a huge wave in her heart.

"Everyone, they are very confident, they are very imposing, and they are very serious...... Maeda-san, she's really dazzling...... Is this center...... The people who stand at the front of a group like AKB lead everyone...... Not only Maeda-san, but also those seniors behind her, everyone looked radiant...... We, we are Nogizaka...... No, I can't be without faith! Maeda-san said that I can't lose faith in the true meaning of center, and I must, together with everyone in Nogizaka, one day, we will also become such a combination!"

At the same time, in addition to Rina Ikoma, the members of Nogizaka also watched AKB48's performance on TV at the same time, and each member's heart was more or less shocked. "As the official opponent, Nogizaka 46 must be on the same stage in the future!" is the goal that everyone has silently determined in their hearts today.

After the performance ended, the tense expression on Rina Ikoma's face gradually relaxed, and these changes were seen by Ikoma's grandfather.

"Rina, since you have become an idol now, you must strive to be the best idol you can be, and don't forget the teachings of your ancestors. Grandpa Ikoma said slowly.

"Mmmm, I see, Grandpa, I'm not going to bury the reputation of the Ikoma family!" Rina Ikoma nodded heavily, indicating that she would definitely do it.

"Rina, we all believe in you, let's do our best!" Ikoma's mother also encouraged her with a look of relief.

"Mm-hmm, I'll definitely do it!" said Rina Ikoma with a smile.

The whole family continued to watch the Red and White Song Party, and Rina Ikoma took out her mobile phone at this time to watch the chat group of Nogizaka 46, and the members were talking about something.

After watching the AKB performance, most of the members were nervous, thinking that they were really too bad in comparison, and they were afraid of the future, and then everyone just encouraged each other and cheered each other on. Rina Ikoma looked through the chat history, and didn't find anything special, and she edited the New Year's greeting text messages sent to her by the members one by one, and sent them back, and returned them to the agent, Nango Yui, Yoshio Konno, etc. also sent New Year's greeting messages, and then put the phone back in the pocket.

"I'm done eating, and I'm going to rest in my room for a while. Rina Ikoma said, standing up.

"Well, rest early, I'll call you again tomorrow morning when I go out. Ikoma's mother nodded.

Rina Ikoma turned around and went back to her room, and her brother got up and went back to his room, while the adults were still sitting there watching the show.

"Rina looks tired. Grandma Ikoma said with some concern.

"I guess I was stimulated by the performance of AKB48, which is the official opponent. Ikoma's father took a sip of wine and said slowly.

"Isn't the combination that Rina is in Sony, it shouldn't be wrong. Grandpa Ikoma replied.

"Speaking of which, father, you said before that you would ask Sonny's people to take care of Rina, right?" Ikoma's father suddenly remembered that his grandfather seemed to have told him this before.

"Well, through my connections, I got the contact information, and finally gave up this old face to ask others. Rina is still young, and it is really difficult to live alone in Tokyo. Fortunately, I heard that Rina performed well and adapted well, so I was relieved. Grandpa Ikoma said with satisfaction.

"You're really, don't you often call back to report your safety? "Grandma Ikoma thinks it's a bit too much.

"I'm also worried about Rina, and she deliberately told us every day that she was doing well in order to reassure us. We can't see how she lives, finding people around her is the most reliable way, and we can also find out if Sony really cares about a little idol group like them. Grandpa Ikoma said earnestly.

Everyone else nodded in understanding. Ikoma's father's glass was filled with wine again, and he solemnly held it up to his father, Rina Ikoma's grandfather drank it all, thanking him for his concern for Rina Ikoma, more than anyone in the family.

"You can't be wrong with this kid. Grandpa Ikoma smiled and drank the rest of the wine in his glass in one gulp.

In the room, Rina Ikoma was lying on her bed, thinking quietly and meditating with her eyes closed.

Thinking back to the day I finally passed the selection, the memories of each day came to my mind, and every day I was moving forward with more progress than the previous day.

"It's not enough...... Certain...... We must do more, more to put in all the effort!" thought to herself.

With the pendulum countdown and the hands pointing to 12, the New Year's bell strikes.

In 2012, it began.