UniteUp!

It was once a hugely popular group, but it ceased all activity after the members went their separate ways. Talking with these former idols reveals to Akira the real hardships of the stage, from fierce competition and pressure from producers to the constant need to keep improving. Together with two other trainees at the agency, each with his own reasons for tying his life to music, Akira decides to form a group of their own. What follows is the process of choosing a concept, dividing up roles, searching for a sound and building a repertoire.

The members struggle with a lack of experience, internal disagreements and problems with self-expression, since each of them wants to keep his individuality. At the same time, the agency treats the group as an experiment, testing new methods of promotion and of evaluating the potential of young performers. Rehearsals give way to their first performances, trial recordings and a collision with criticism that exposes the group's weak points. Gradually their musical activities begin to affect the members' personal lives, forcing them to choose between school, work and the stage.