date plan - ( chapter 3 )

[mandytl]

Location: Kitchen

< Around an hour later. >

 

Kaoru: Okay. Let's talk about our date plans now that we're full.

 

We're going to be publish the ideas we came up with in a women's magazine like Anzu-chan said, so... 

 

Can we go over what we've got for now?

 

That way we can refer to each other's feedback and brainstorm the best ways to approach this on our own. Morrichi can show us how it's done first, I guess.

 

Chiaki: Right! And I've got just the thing in mind! 

 

First, an analysis of my current situation. Lately it seems like I've been building up a fan-base of young female fans as a hero idol. 

 

I'm glad, even if I've been pretty busy because of it!

 

So with that in mind, a reliable dating plan much like a hero would have... 

 

Something "open-minded", in other words, is what I think people expect me to bring to the table. 

 

Niki: Open-minded, huh. Now there's a concept I don't get... 

 

Time for a big hug! Squeeze! ... somethin' along those lines? 

 

Natsume: If anything, I'd say he means something more psychological than physiCAL, like making someone feel at EASE.

 

Well? How do you intend on producing a sense of open-mindedness, Morisawa-senPAI? 

 

Chiaki: Hahah. I didn't think that far ahead yet, but... by showing off my strong, cool side.

 

That's why I think I ought to include some sports elements.

 

Like skiing or bowling... and maybe even some of those hands-on, interactive attractions at an amusement park? 

 

You could kill two birds with one stone and be involved in a hero show if you go on a date at a park. ☆

 

Mitsuru: Ohh. You're giving actual examples! I wanna play a bunch of sports too. ♪

 

But don't they have haunted houses at amusement parks? I thought you didn't like those, Chia-chan-senpai?

 

At Yumenosaki Academy's Halloween Party I'm pretty sure you—

 

Chiaki: T-That's not true! I happened to be feeling off that day, that's all... !

 

Kaoru: You two're definitely cut out for dates where you get more exercise, given how physically fit you are. 

We want to be thinking about how to show off our appeal as idols, I guess.
 

What do you two think?

 

Natsume: It's about what I expected from someone who's only led RYUSEITAI. 

 

It's not easy to come up with an answer when you're usually only thinking of ways to present yourself as a hero everyDAY. 

 

If it were me I'd choose somewhere more reLAXING, like an art gallery or coffee shop. I'm not too fond of noisy places.

 

Niki: A date for food lovers would be great! Making lunch on your own's fine and all, but you might as well spend time at a famous shop or something. ☆

 

Chiaki: Hoh. A girl who's a gourmand would find that that super satisfying!

 

Kaoru: Ahahah. Sounds nice in theory, but a girl might feel like hopping between a bunch of restaurants is a pain.

 

And on the off chance you forgot, this is for a fashion magazine, not a foodie mag.

 

Niki: Hmm... now that you mention it, I guess it might be rough. I don't have the heart to force people into eating either.

 

Mmhhh. Trying to understand how girl's work is hard! I pretty much only think about cooking and nothing else! 

 

Mitsuru: It's a buncha gibberish to me, too. I've never even read a books for women, so how'm I supposed to know the "right" thing to do?

 

Chiaki: Don't worry. I know so little about a girl's heart that I couldn't teach you a thing! 

 

Kaoru: You're way too self-confident, Moricchi. Keep it together. We're the senpai here, remember?

 

Mitsuru: Then teach us all about it! How'd you learn how to read a girl's heart, Hakaze-senpai?

 

Niki: Yeah. I wanna learn the secret to how you do it!

 

Kaoru: A girl's heart, huh... in that case—

 

( Uh... why do I have so much confidence when it comes to knowing how girls think in the first place? )

 

( I approached Anzu-chan and a bunch of other girls I played around with last year, but I barely made it anywhere with any of them. ) 

 

( Do I actually not... understand a single thing about girls... ? )

 

...

 

Niki: What's wrong? You suddenly got quiet.

 

Kaoru: Ah, uh, it's nothing. Sorry, sorry. It's harder to put into words than I thought... 

 

Like, maybe I haven't actually taken the time to analyze them despite getting along with girls reasonably well... 

 

Niki: Eh? That's not helpful at all! I don't wanna be the only one at a disadvantage here, so could you give us some good, concrete advice?

 

Mitsuru: Ahahah. I'm not good at putting my thoughts into words either! So I guess it's worth discussing with an actual girl... like the Producer.

 

Kaoru: Hmm. We probably shouldn't bother Anzu-chan too much. Seems like she's busy running around between the publishing company and the television station for the ES Joint Project Plan. 

 

Let's think about it and come up with answers on our own for now. 

 

Anyone else... have any ideas? Or is asking right away too much?

 

Natsume: Then let me be the one to suggest someTHING.

 

Why don't we consider things from the perspective of our target audience, the readers of a women's fashion magaZINE?

 

Kaoru: Consider the readers, huh... now there's a good idea.

 

Mitsuru: Target audience... ? Mmh, this is still too difficult for me to get.

 

Kaoru: The ones who're ultimately going to end up buying the magazine.

 

We've got things we wanna purchase too, right? So let's draw a plan based around data from people who've actually sold products. 

 

There's tons of teen boys who buy the young adult fashion we wear because they think it's cool, for example... like that.

 

Mitsuru: Now I get it... you thought real hard about stuff like that too, huh. That's awesome!

 

Niki: Hmm. It's true that we've had to consider our audience and the genre of magazine our articles are gonna appear in before all this date plan stuff.

 

You'd miss the whole point if you didn't think it through, huh. 

 

It's like how you've gotta think about the location when you're rolling out a new restaurant, huh. We'd better be conscious with our date plan ideas, then!

 

Natsume: There. Glad to see Shiina-senpai's finally getting the big picTURE. 

 

Fortune-tellers often use techniques in order to have a greater grasp on their subject's MIND. Figuring out our audience will help us in the long RUN. 

 

Niki: Huh? Did I seriously look that blind to you, Sakasaki-kun?!

 

The disrespect! Even though I only care about cooking, it's still a science—a job where you use your brain! Not that I know much besides cooking!

 

Natsume: It feels like you're validating your own claim when you put it that WAY...

 

You're a rare kind of human, Shiina-senPAI. I can't tell whether your self-esteem's high or LOW.

 

Chiaki: Anyhow, Sakasaki's right. For today let's research our target audience.

 

If we think of the opposite party, the ones reading the magazine, as our girlfriends and brainstorm date ideas for them...

 

It'll be easier to come up with some content they'll enjoy reading.

 

Natsume: ExactLY. That way it won't seem as unfathomable for people like Mitsuru-kun and Shiina-senpai who didn't even know dating plans exisTED. 

 

Niki: Uuu. Sorry for kinda holding us back, but whatever makes thinking easier would be a big help!

 

Chiaki: Fufu. Know your enemy as well as yourself, essentially.

 

That said, let's think about how to research our target audience right away in... "Operation: The Ideal Girlfriend"!

 

That all right, Hakaze?

 

Kaoru: Yeah. It's fine, I mean, probably—

 

Chiaki: ...?