Though before this, her family hadn't benefited from the Saegusa surname. Her mother was hospitalized, and she often juggled multiple jobs, working part-time everywhere to earn living expenses for the family. Her younger sister Hiyori also had to do part-time work.
Maybe that was why, beneath Hiyori's energetic and lively personality, there was a faint inferiority.
Saegusa Hazuki wasn't one to wallow in self-pity. She quickly adjusted her emotions and looked around at the idol groups scattered here and there, chatting and taking photos around the garden water pavilion behind her.
There were so many people in the idol agency, it was naturally impossible for all of them to line up and watch the people in front take photos. That would not only run out of time, but each person called up would be under too much pressure.
They could also take photos of each other to get used to the feeling of being photographed.
Although only the Producer could take the improper group photos, they themselves could only take proper commemorative group photos. The shooting equipment in their hands would also have to be handed in and returned to the Service Club, and after inspection, the photos would be given to them if there were no problems.
Calculating this way, with two-person, three-person, four-person, and five-person idol groups being photographed together, there was no need to worry about them being too nervous.
"Smile, smile, keep smiling!"
"Don't be too nervous. It's just a few photos. There are so many of us, if the Producer really wanted us all to accompany him, he wouldn't be able to handle it either."
"Yeah! I'll do my best!"
The idol groups that had already dispersed were also uneasy inside. Even comforting each other, it was still hard to eliminate the nervousness in their hearts.
Actually, most people's cosplay outfits had a lot of fabric. Even swimsuits, which had few use scenarios, were actually fine.
What everyone found embarrassing were the cosplay outfits that looked normal at first glance but actually had only chest straps on the sides, a bit of fabric at the waist and hips, and metal connections.
Of course, they had also mentally prepared themselves for the Producer taking embarrassing photos.
Just being photographed in slightly bold photos, just being seen by the Producer alone, just...
There were so many people on site. Five minutes per person probably wouldn't even be enough to photograph all the idols present today. They estimated they'd be like those idols who went to concerts and sang before, background music for the Service Club's games.
As for being personally developed by the Producer and personally trained into a magical girl?
That was at least a benefit only popular idols could get. They, these unknown small idols, could at most serve as side dishes.
However, because the mermaid songstresses had no reservations at all, their photo shoot would very likely become much bolder...
All sorts of complex factors came together, constantly tugging at their emotions. Many beautiful girl idols who hadn't formally debuted couldn't stay calm at all.
"Are you all ready? Then we can pretty much start..."
Though it was said to be only ten minutes, in reality half an hour passed before Elusi was carried over by Hachiman, leaning against his chest, lazily lifting her eyelids.
Whether it was her or the others, everyone present knew very well that they definitely couldn't photograph all those idols' cosplay photos. The hot spring doujin convention wasn't just prepared for them idols.
However, today was mainly to let them idols understand their own situation.
Letting them be mood-setting background decorations didn't mean they wouldn't be pulled in to play together.
Because the President didn't like it, they couldn't do anything forceful, but they could subtly influence things.
With so many beautiful girl idols firmly in hand, how stupid would one have to be to have no way to turn them into their own people?
The only thing to worry about in this process was other small groups competing for people.
"Everyone is ready. May I ask if Producer wants to start taking photos now?"
Clerk Saegusa Hazuki, temporarily filling the Producer role, came to the pond's edge figuring the behavior her cosplayed Kuki Shinobu would make, knelt on one knee, and reported the completion of her task to Hachiman.
Although she was only pretending to be calm on the surface, she couldn't help stealing glances at the situation behind Hachiman.
Himemiya Elisa, Satsuki Botan, and Sakurako Kujou, who had been beside Hachiman just moments ago, had already been sent to the pavilion to rest.
The crystal-clear pond had only a few scattered girl floating on the surface.
In just half an hour, two top idols and one popular idol had been utterly defeated.
Only the three mermaid songstresses remained by Hachiman's side, still with rosy complexions.
Actually, as popular idols and top idols who had been debuted for a long time, Himemiya Elisa and the others had strong singing and dancing skills, and their stamina wasn't bad. It was just that with the photo camera and Immoral Fascination boosting things, even though it was their first time facing Hachiman, they were critically hit hard.
Plus, time was tight and there was no time to give them mid-group awakening, so they had no choice but to drag their exhausted bodies to rest first, and next time bring the others for the magical girl awakening ceremony.
"Miss Hazuki, cosplaying Kuki Shinobu..."
Hachiman held Elio and Ayla with one arm each, letting Elusi in his arms cling to him with buoyancy and bite force, and looked at Saegusa Hazuki, who looked very much like Kuki Shinobu after putting on the mask, pondering for a moment.
Saegusa Hazuki, Saegusa Mayumi.
These two surnames, just hearing them, one could tell there was a connection.
However, Saegusa Hazuki really didn't seem to be a member of the Saegusa family. It was simply that her surname was the same as the Saegusa family's.
Without actual blood relation or adoption relationship with the Saegusa family, not even a branch family, Saegusa Hazuki naturally wouldn't receive any preferential treatment or privileges because of it.
Of course, after the Saegusa family discovered that Saegusa Hazuki was working at an idol agency, all of this changed.
Saegusa Hazuki, a Saegusa of ordinary commoner origin, had become a Saegusa with a financial conglomerate family background.
Like Sakurako Kujou, whose real name was Sakura Kono, after today she wouldn't need to borrow the tiger's might. Sakurako Kujou could not only rightfully use Sakurako Kujou as her real name for promotion, but the Fujiwara family would also casually express their recognition of the popular idol Sakurako Kujou.
"Producer?"
Saegusa Hazuki, who had her head lowered, noticed that Hachiman hadn't spoken for a while and couldn't help but hesitate. But at this moment, she didn't know whether she should raise her head to look at Hachiman.
Because with her lowered gaze, she had already noticed that the mermaid songstress Elusi, who had been humming and whimpering the whole time, still hadn't left Hachiman's embrace.
Elio and Ayla, who were serving by Hachiman's side, were also waiting for Elusi to run out of strength. It seemed that as soon as Elusi couldn't hold on anymore, they would snatch him away.
The three mermaid songstress idols showed not a trace of reluctance at being forced. Instead, they were full of the desire to monopolize Hachiman.
"Hehe, Miss Hazuki, don't be nervous. Sorry to trouble you during this time."
Hachiman stopped comparing the size of the cosplayed characters' buttocks on Elio and Ayla, raised the pink photo camera, took two photos of Saegusa Hazuki cosplaying Kuki Shinobu, and then spoke with a smile to reassure her.
Perhaps his earlier playful stint as the mermaid songstresses' manager had made Iris and Meroune think he had a special hobby for beautiful girl idols. Even though he hadn't gone back to being the transparent fourth member at the mermaid songstresses' concerts afterward, Mermaid Princess Meroune had always kept the Producer position open for him.
Although in reality he wasn't an agent at the execution level responsible for resource coordination and daily affairs management, nor a producer behind the scenes controlling work quality and being responsible to investors, so the idol agency combined the functions of both and arranged a special Producer position for him, raising idols, arranging daily training, playing idol raising.
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