THE iDOLM@STER #26 TL

THE iDOLM@STER #26 TL
Author: Mana



--- Page 1

[Left margin (text)]
Kikuchi Makoto (1) starts here!

[Makoto (floating, right)] haa
[Makoto (floating, left)] haa



--- Page 2

[Director] Cut!
[Makoto (floating, right)] haa
[Makoto (floating, left)] haa

[Makoto] Ha...ha...

[Director] Please do one more take, just like that!

[Makoto] Okay!



--- Page 3

[Upper-right text, horizontal]
Chapter 26

[Upper-right text, vertical]
Kikuchi Makoto (1)

[Left text]
Now filming
amid popular acclaim
for a TV CM ♥
>NOTE TO TS: "amid popular acclaim" is inside the black bubble.


[Bottom-left]
Original work    BNEI/PROJECT iM@S

[Bottom-center]
Script           Takahashi Tatsuya

[Bottom-right]
Manga            Mana



--- Page 4

[Producer] Heeeey, Makoto!

[Makoto] Producer!



--- Page 5

[Makoto] Thank you for looking after me.
[Guy] No, no, it was our pleasure.

[Makoto] I look forward to working with you again.

[Producer] How did the filming for the CM go?
[Makoto] It was rough~ I was on standby waiting for the right weather for so many hours...



--- Page 6

[Makoto] But I had fun.

[Producer] I see.

[Makoto] Haa...it's cold here, isn't it.
[Makoto (left floating)] haa

[Producer] From what I've heard, it was hot over there.
[Makoto] Yeah.



--- Page 7

[Producer] Sorry I couldn't come with you.

[Makoto] It can't be helped.  It's the end of the year, and everyone's busy.

[Makoto] But...

[Makoto] We did a recording for a New Year's Special Program on Christmas...



--- Page 8

[Makoto] We had a party with everyone at night...
[Makoto] We filmed a CM that's gonna be broadcast next year...

[Makoto] And yet it's still not the new year.
[Makoto] I feel like my head's all tangled up.
[Producer] Ha ha ha.

[Producer] We have a little free time, you know.



--- Page 9

[Producer] Feel free to order whatever you want.
[Makoto] Hehe, alright!

[Makoto] But you're gonna get a receipt, right?
[Producer] W-Well, yeah...

[Producer] Sorry.

[Makoto] About what?



--- Page 10

[Producer] Since winter break started, you've been doing nothing but working.

[Makoto] What are you talking about?  This is exactly what I wanted!

[Makoto] It wasn't even that long ago that I didn't have any work and was spending every day envying people who did.
[Upper left floating text] A completely blank schedule.

[Makoto] All this energy that's been building up inside of me...
[Makoto] I feel like I'm finally letting all of it out!

[Producer] That's promising.
[Makoto] Hehe.

[Makoto] That summer when I went with everyone to the beach...



--- Page 11

[Makoto] I was up at night talking with Haruka and Iori.

[Makoto] Haruka and I were getting all fired up over how great it would be if we got more work...

[Makoto] And then Iori told us that it wasn't going to be that simple.

[Makoto] But when last week's Christmas party came...



--- Page 12

[Makoto] We had turned out just like we said we would.

[Makoto] And we talked about what would happen from here on out...

[Makoto] Ah.
[Makoto] You asked me about that a little while ago, didn't you?

[Producer] Did you think of something?



--- Page 13

[Makoto] Umm...well...

[Producer] There's no need to hurry.
[Producer] Take your time thinking about it.

[Makoto] In one way or another...

[Makoto] I feel like it's time for each of us to build up our own strengths.

[Makoto] We rushed to catch up to Ryuuguu Komachi when they were a step ahead of us...



--- Page 14

[Makoto] We saw Jupiter's performance
[Makoto] and learned how much stronger than us they were...

[Makoto] I was shocked when I watched Miki from behind during our live...

[Makoto] And then that same Miki won the Newcomer's Award.

[Makoto] Chihaya's going to go to her overseas recording soon...



--- Page 15

[Makoto] Haruka and Miki are competing for lead and sub-lead roles on the big stage...

[Makoto] Yukiho's going to be the center for our next new song...
[Makoto] Hibiki and Takane-san, Mami and Yayoi...

[Makoto] Of course, I'm not going to lose to them either!

[Makoto] We'll each work on our own strengths...
[Makoto] and then, when we come together, we'll be the best!

[Producer] ...

[Producer (thought)] Are you all really okay with that...?



--- Page 16

[Makoto] Producer?
[Producer] Ah, sorry.

[Producer] How's practice for the New Year's Live going?
[Producer] I left Ritsuko in charge of that, but...are you doing all right?

[Makoto] Well...
[Makoto] We've all been busy, so we haven't really been able to practice together...

[Makoto] But we've all been practicing on our own!



--- Page 17

[Makoto] Ah.
[Makoto] Speaking of which, I got an e-mail from Haruka asking us to practice together.

[Producer] From Haruka?
[Makoto] Yeah.

[Makoto] At times like these, Haruka always takes the initiative and calls out to us.

[Makoto] It's just like Haruka to do that...or, rather,
[Makoto] it's because she cares about us, right?

[Producer] ...Makoto.
[Makoto] Yes?



--- Page 18

[Producer] For the next live...
[Producer] Can you give Haruka your support?

[Makoto] Give Haruka my...?



--- Page 19

[Makoto] Did something happen with Haruka?
[Producer] No...nothing in particular, it's just...

[Makoto] ...

[Makoto] You didn't even need to ask!
[Makoto] We're friends, after all!

[Makoto] When someone's in trouble, we'll be there to help!
[Producer] Ow!

[Makoto] Wah! I'm sorry, Producer!
[Producer] No, I'm fine, I'm fine.



--- Page 20

[Yukiho] Makoto-chan!  Welcome back!

[Haruka] Did you come straight from the airport?
[Makoto] Yeah.  Ah, but...

[Makoto] Hehe.
[Makoto] I might have gone on a little date with Producer.

[Yukiho] Eh!?
[Haruka] A...A date!?
[Producer] We just went out for tea to kill time!



--- Page 21

[Makoto] Wow!  This costume's super-girly!
[Haruka] Fufu, it looks good on you!

[Yukiho] ......

[Makoto] You'll be okay.

[Makoto] We'll be right behind you.
[Makoto] So just relax and do everything you did during practice.

[Yukiho] Makoto-chan...

[Yukiho] Okay!



--- Page 22-23

[Makoto] You were a magnificent center!
[Haruka] You were perfect!

[Yukiho] Thank you, Makoto-chan, Haruka-chan!



--- Page 24

[Producer] Today was a recording, but this song will debut on the next live broadcast.
[Producer] When that time comes...

[Yukiho] I understand.
[Yukiho] I won't fail, no matter what!

[Makoto (floating)] Yukiho...
[Makoto (floating)] That's the spirit!

[Producer (flashback)] Can you give Haruka your support?
[Makoto] ......



--- Page 25

[Makoto] Hey, Haruka?
[Haruka] Hm?

[Makoto] Is there anything that's bothering you right now?

[Haruka] Eh?
[Haruka] No, not really...

[Makoto] Well, if there's anything on your mind, come talk to me, okay?
[Haruka] Eh?  O-Okay.

[Haruka] Ah.

[Haruka] Now that you mention it, about our group practice for the New Year's Live...



--- Page 26

[Right margin (text)]
Will Haruka's feelings pass by everyone else unnoticed...!?

[ComicREX box (bottom)]
Continued in November issue (on sale 9/26)