Summary of THE iDOLM@STER 1: Melody of Serenity

Summary of THE iDOLM@STER 1: Melody of Serenity
Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?wslaaj65vuznwpm

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Prologue (from other anon)
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The first part is called Main street (October 24th Tuesday evening) "Chihaya".
The office is the opposite way from her school.
She heads towards there when school ends everyday usually.
But she remembers that day during summer break.
She meets 765pro's president Takagi and he introduces himself.
He mentions her being an idol scout cadet but she doesn't believe him?
The sky starts to darken (she mentions it's midsummer).
She tries to leave suddenly but Takagi follows her.
He shows her a business card and an idol magazine but she still doesn't believe him.
He continued, wearing out her patience, and said he'd take her to a lesson on the condition she'd come to the office.
That was the first time she believed his words.
Before her eyes a strict lesson unfolded.
She saw 765 productions, nicknamed 765pro where she as a cadet would receive lessons.
Then she talks about how this is preparation for her becoming a singer.

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Chapter 1: To aim to become a pro
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10/24 - Chihaya receives a sample of her debut song. Hiroyuki Yoshino arrives in Japan. President introduces him to Chihaya as her producer.

10/31 - Chihaya receives a message from her childhood friend, Yuki. Yoshino hasn't been to the agency after the first meeting.

11/1 - Chihaya is about to ask President to change her producer, but Yoshino gets back just in time and they begin their first vocal lesson at a training place, where she meets Proro, a unit consisting of Haruka, Yukiho, and Ritsuko. She is impressed by Yoshino's organ skill.

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Chapter 2: Their distance doesn't get closer
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11/3 - Introduction of Proro's current producer, Yamasaki Takenori, and some background about their former legendary producer who made a debut for the unit in just a month and then disappeared. President asks Yoshino to take care of Proro's lesson along with Chihaya's. Yukiho digs a hole.

Chihaya receives a second message from Yuki, saying he'll cheer her on, which is a great support since he's the only person she wants to work hard for.

11/9 - President, Yoshino, and Kotori have a talk at a bar. Yoshino gives President lyrics for the song "Sayonara étranger" (Goodbye, foreigner), and asks President to keep it a secret from Chihaya that he wrote it. President informs Yoshino about Chihaya debut event on Dec 2.

11/14 - She sends Yuki a message with details about her debut event. She goes to a studio to record her debut song but Yoshino doesn't come with her. It goes well, but the composer says her song still lacks charm, color, and interest.

11/15 - Photo shoot for CD cover. Yoshino isn't present again, but he asks Ritsuko to take care of Chihaya's makeup. Yukiho digs another hole.

11/17 - Yoshino is back. She asks where he had been, and President says he asked Yoshino to do an errand, which is choosing her image for her cover and making a leaflet. He promises he'll spend the rest of the time on producing Chihaya. They go to a record shop to hand out leaflets. Nobody takes it, so her suggests Chihaya sing a song, and finally people gather and leaflets are all distributed.

11/18 - Chihaya overhears Yoshino telling Ritsuko the exact same phrase he told her before during a lesson. "You have talent. You're going to be one of the top-ranking singers. Your song has a power to capture people's heart." She thinks Yoshino's a kind of person who sweet talks to everyone, so her distrust starts to arise.

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Chapter 3: Important feelings that started to be forgotten.
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11/22 - Chihaya doesn't go to a lesson. Proro suggests that Yoshino should visit Chihaya's home. Chihaya is still hurt that she trusted Yoshino's word.

She has a flashback about her younger brother (his name is never mentioned in this novel) and her childhood friend, Yuki. One time, her brother's toy broke and he cried hard. She brought him to the park and sang but he didn't stop. Then, Yuki accompanied and played acoustic guitar, and finally her brother's smile was returned.

Chihaya's mother asks her to go downstairs and she sees Yoshino sitting with her father. Her parents have a bad fight [this part is too heart-breaking to translate ;_; ] and Yoshino leaves.

11/23 - Yoshino meets Chihaya's mother at a crossroads. Yoshino asks her to give his flower to Chihaya's deceased brother. He talks about Chihaya's dream to become a professional singer. He says Chihaya must be lonely, and she is actually a cheerful and joyful girl, but then his tears flow down and he can't finish the sentence. "As I thought, you are…", says Chihaya's mother. She tells him she'll get divorced and states various reasons regarding Chihaya's feeling.

Chihaya goes to a lesson. She recalls composer's word on what her song's lacking, but still can't find the answer. She asks Yoshino to stop flattering her after every single song because she thinks it's not good enough. Proro agrees with Yoshino's compliment that Chihaya really sings well and says they're worried about her. Ritsuko says everyone counts on her talent, but she replies she hates the word 'talent' and doesn't sing for their sake. Then, Yoshino asks her "for whom?", and she answers it's for herself.

"That's wrong!"

He shouts and slaps her cheek. Ritsuko asks Haruka and Yukiho to go outside and bring a cold towel and buy drinks.

"You sing for the sake of someone else."

She recalls her brother's smile. She sings because she wants to see his smile. Even though she'll never meet him again, she wants her song to be delivered to him.

She says it's Yoshino's fault that he takes the word 'talent' too lightly and use it with everyone. Ritsuko gets what Chihaya meant and asks if she overhears her conversation with Yoshino. She explains that because Chihaya had a rare smile when she took a lesson that time, Ritsuko asked Yoshino what he told Chihaya that time, and that made Chihaya misunderstood. Ritsuko asks Yoshino to apologize to Chihaya. That night, she sends two messages, one to Yoshino and one to that person…

Meanwhile in the park, Yoshino receives a message from Chihaya.

"Thank you for today. I was too shy to apologize you face to face, so I sent my apology via this message. If you didn't scold me, I would have approached pro debut while forgetting something important. I'm still inexperienced, but I'm looking forward to working under your guidance from now on."

He gets a call and says he'll leave on Nov 29. He's finished all preparations for her debut event. Then, he receives another message from his PDA. "Sorry, Chihaya-chan", he mutters.

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Chapter 4 : I'm not alone
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[I suggest you read this yourself. It's a fun part.]

11/26 - Her father still opposes her debut, but her mother approves of it and signs a contract for her. Ritsuko and other unit members invites Chihaya to a lunch at a sidewalk cafe. Ritsuko forces Chihaya to call her by her first name, and Chihaya yields since she knows Ritsuko won't give up until she does, then Haruka asks her the same, but Chihaya refuses to call Yukiho by her first name because she is one year older than her. "But Ritsuko is also one year older than me", says Yukiho with disappointment.

"I'm the only one who can't get along with Chihaya-chan. A girl like me…"
"Okay, stop! Yukiho, that joke is prohibited."
"Yukiho, I'll take care of it"
Ritsuko and Haruka snatch Yukiho's shovel that came out of nowhere, and hide it out of sight.
"Amazing. Where did it go?", Chihaya thinks to herself.

Chihaya receives a message from Yuki, saying that he can't go to her debut event, but he'll cheer her on. Proro asks Chihaya who sent her the message.

"Ah, umm… could it possibly be your boyfriend?", asks Yukiho.

Chihaya blushes, and they continue to tease her so hard that she shouts "please stop", not because she's angry but because she wants to cover her shyness.

11/28 - Yoshino reminisces about various things in his room. He plays a song "Sayonara étranger" with his acoustic guitar.

11/29 - A meeting at the training place with everyone. President tells everyone that Yoshino'll resign and go to America tonight. Miki, the legendary producer that was mentioned earlier, wants Yoshino to go back and debut as a musician. Chihaya is shocked, but she promises she'll manage her event on her own, and she wishes him luck on his debut. Afterwards, Yoshino goes to the airport and sends Chihaya his last message.

12/1 - Chihaya stays in her bedroom, sorting out her feelings before the event tomorrow. She checks her phone that has been left untouched for several days, and sees a message from Yoshino revealing that he is in fact her childhood friend, Yuki. Proro calls Chihaya and they try to sooth her. After hearing their kind words, Chihaya cries out of happiness that she is not alone. She has Haruka, Yukiho, Ritsuko, and producer supporting her.

12/2 - Debut event. Everything goes well. She sings her debut song, and then Proro's songs. Audience asks for an encore, but the speaker is broken, so she has to do a cappella. The moment the music starts, she notices it's a melody from acoustic guitar from behind. She turns back and see that person standing there.

"A foreigner who came from a distant town, what are you looking at?"
I reflect upon the meaning of the lyrics while singing.
"At the boundlessly distant world? At the dream you're waiting for?"
Our dreams, together… the timbre of his guitar envelops me gently.
"I don't want to hear that you'll leave to a place far away. Because I want you to always stay together in this town."
My feelings go on with the song.
I know that my feelings are following my own voice.
"The foreigner who is chasing his dream, I want us to dream together."
This song, this lyrics, they are…
"The foreigner who slips into the dusk and disappears, like a wind blowing through…"
I see… That's what it means.
"Leaving without bidding a word of farewell."
I close my eyes after finishing the chorus.

Yeah, that's what it means.
I found the answer while singing.
What the composer told me during a recording.
Lack of charm, color, and interest.

It seems like I've been eager about it.
It's hard to believe that it's what I've been eager about this much.
Surely, it is…
Because of him… Yoshino Producer's melody of serenity.
That's what I think.

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Epilogue
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Farewell at the airport. Yuki says he wants to see the moment when Chihaya's dream comes true, so after he made an announcement on the debut song he wrote, he returned to Japan to attend the event.
"To me, producer… no, big brother, you are an important person."
"Is that a c-confession?"
"Chihaya-chan! Do your best!"
"Ahh… umm… I…"
Proro pops out of nowhere. A few more dialogues, and then they bid farewell.

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Sayonara étranger lyrics
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遠い街から来た異邦人　あなたの瞳は何を見ているの
はてしなく遠い世界？　夢が待っているの？
きっと去って行く　ここからどこか遠くへ
行かせたくない　この街でずっと一緒にいたいから
夢を追いかける異邦人　一緒に夢を見たかった
宵闇に紛れて消えていく異邦人　吹き抜ける風のように
さよならの言葉も聞かずに去っていく