And then, the fateful day—the morning of July 30th had finally arrived. Even though I say morning, it's still 4:30 AM! Honestly, give me a break!

As I was getting ready, the agency's car came to pick me up right on time. By the way, ever since the day I came down with that fever, I'd been living back at my own home.

Maybe because it was so early, we reached the Takaido Interchange in no time, but as soon as we got onto the Metropolitan Expressway we were caught in a traffic jam, creeping along at a snail's pace. Will we make it on time? If we're late... Shudder... I can't help but tremble. Argh—I can just picture Midori-san's angry face floating before my eyes.

Today's schedule: arrive at the studio at 6 AM, a brief meeting, and then we're immediately on air. But even though we're called assistants, we're not doing anything too major. First, the main host of *24-Hour TV*, ○●○-san, will give a quick introduction of us, Tinker Bell. About an hour later, we'll perform our debut song "In a Dream," then travel through the relay points—Tokyo → Yokohama → Oiso—before returning to the studio. We're slated to be back around 22:00, and after that, just a short break. Other than that, we'll be standing around until dawn... sigh. If I were still a guy, I'd be growing a full beard by then!

On top of that, the day after *24-Hour TV* (in other words, the very next day) we head straight to school, and after school we fly to Osaka. In Osaka we'll make a guest appearance on TOP10, then catch the last flight back to Tokyo. Ugh, there's no way my body can hold out! How on earth is Midori-san unfazed by all this?

"Miki-chan, what are you muttering about? We've already arrived."

Manager Osawa-san (a fairly good-looking, 26-year-old bachelor) called out, snapping me back to my senses.

"Eh? Was I saying something?"

"Yeah, something like 'if I were a guy, my beard would...'"

"Ahhh... n-no, it was nothing!" My face flushed a little on its own.

"Hahaha. Miki-chan, you're so cute~"

"Oh, come on, Osawa-san, p-please don't tease me."

My very first TV studio. I look around and there are celebrities everywhere... well, I guess that's a given!

As I was looking around in wide-eyed wonder—

"Mi~ki—! Over here, over here!"

"Ah, Midori—!"

"Did you just get here?"

"Yeah. We got stuck in traffic on the way, it was crazy."

"Now, hurry up and get changed, or we'll be late for the meeting."

Staaaaaare...

"Eh? Is something weird about me?"

"No, I was just thinking, Midori, you're incredibly cute!"

"Oh, this? It's probably because the makeup artist already did my face, don't you think?"

"Ah, is that it? Wow, Midori, your eyelashes are so long~"

"It's the mascara. Oh, that's right—about our names."

"Our names?"

"You know, like 'Mii' and 'Ke○', or 'Sachiko' and 'Shō○'—that sort of thing."

"Oh, that. What about it?"

"You're so slow, honestly... 'Miki' and 'Midori' aren't balanced, right?"

"You think so?"

"Ahem. Starting today, Miki will be 'Miki,' and I will be 'Saki.'"

"Ehh? So I'm not changing at all."

"It's fine. By the way, 'Saki' is from the 'zaki' in 'Kanzaki.' Okay? Understood?"

"Yes, yes. 'Saki,' huh..."

"We've gotta hurry or things will start without us!! Come on, let's go to the dressing room, Miki."

"Excuse us~! We're Saki and Miki from Tinker Bell. Makeup staff, costume staff, thank you for your help."

"We've been waiting~! You're Miki-chan, right? Quick, take off your clothes!"

"Ah, h-hold on a second!"

In the blink of an eye, hands reached out, and before I knew it my clothes had been whisked off and I was already in the same Tinker Bell stage outfit as Saki.

"Right. Next, over here. Sit down here."

I was led by the hand and seated in front of a big mirror, and the makeup artist quickly did my hair and makeup.

"There, all finished! Wow~ Both Miki-chan and Saki-chan are super cute~"

"Really. With looks like this, they'll be instant hits, no doubt."

Being told that by the stylist and makeup artist was a little embarrassing, but I was happy too.

"Th... thank you very much♪"

All of that, in just ten minutes. Before I even knew what was happening, everything around me was moving ahead at breakneck speed.

"Tinker Bell, are you ready? If you are, please hurry to Studio 3."

"Oh no, the AD's come to fetch us. Ok~ay, we'll be right there~! Come on, Miki, let's go!"

"Y-yeah."

Pulled along by the hand by Saki, I ran toward Studio 3.

"Hey~! Tinker Bell, over here, over here. Hurry!"

Pant, pant... wheeze...

"Right, let's begin the meeting! First, for the opening..."

Fweeh... I... might not be able to keep up at this rate~