Wanderers of Sorceria 

The Moon River Talent Agency New Year's Special

Moon River hosta a special variety show to celebrate their talents as they usher in the new year.

==========================================================

## Opening Medley & All-Star Greetings (10 min)

[OPENING CUE: GRAND FANFARE – TRADITIONAL + MODERN MEDLEY]
A rousing blend of shamisen, taiko drums, and electric synth horns blares as gold curtains part dramatically. Camera swoops over a cheering live audience, many in festive kimono or holding glowsticks.

[CAMERA 1: WIDE SHOT – MAIN STAGE]
The stage is glittering with gold and crimson streamers. A massive LED screen reads:
Happy New Year! The Moon River Talent Agency New Year's Special

[MC ENTRANCE – DOWN CENTER STAGE STAIRS]
MC 1 (Genjiro, 45, charismatic veteran host, tuxedo)
Everyone-- Happy New Year!

MC 2 (Mami, 28, idol-turned-MC, pink kimono with butterfly motif)
It's time for Moon River Talent's glorious chaos to begin!

[CAMERA 3: TIGHT SHOT – AUDIENCE REACTING]
The crowd erupts in applause and laughter. Party poppers go off.

[MUSIC SHIFT: POP-MEDLEY TRANSITION – STAGE LIGHTS FLASH]
Cue a medley of short musical intros from each major Moon River act.

[CAMERA 2: ROTATING STAGE PLATFORM BEGINS SPINNING]

GUEST ENTRANCES BEGIN!

[SPOTLIGHT: SHIZUKA MINAZUKI (elegant, composed, in a modest blouse and long skirt)]
emerges to the sound of windchimes and orchestral shimmer. She bows calmly, her lilac ponytail glinting.

[SPOTLIGHT: MOONLIGHT PRISM – RIKO, HANA, ASTRA (in matching black band jackets over plain grey shirts and slacks)]
each strikes a bold pose. Riko flips her guitar. Hana plays a flourish on her violin. Astra gives a dramatic deadpan look and nod.

[SPOTLIGHT: MIRANDA (in a black short-length qipao with dance shorts)]
executes a high kick, then bows playfully.

[SPOTLIGHT: SEIRA ICHIJO (wearing an outrageous New Year's fashion ensemble – feathered obi, sparkling heels)]
waves dramatically, already mid-selfie.

[SPOTLIGHT: TSUKIKO KISARAGI (in elegant black kimono, demure smile)]
walks slowly and bows deeply.

[Other members of Moon River Talent Agency attending the live show are spotlighted, including Kazuma Saito and Rina Hoshino.]

[MUSIC CUE ENDS – FINAL FLOURISH]
All stars gather downstage for the group greeting. Sparkling confetti rains down.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Wow! Seeing them all here at once is overwhelming! These Moon River stars are giving their all from the very start of the year!

MC 2 (Mami)
Tonight's theme is... 'Only the best can risk embarrassment!' I'm looking forward to this!

GROUP CALL & RESPONSE
MCs raise their hands; the crowd joins in.

EVERYONE:
Moon River Talent Agency - please support us again this year!!

[CAMERA 5: PULL BACK – BIRD'S EYE SHOT WITH FIREWORK GRAPHICS]
Lively music kicks back in as the screen transitions to the first VTR.

----

## Segment 1: "Return of the Nyan-Nyan Cat!" (VTR; 15 min)

[VTR OPENING – DRAMATIC TRAILER MUSIC]

Narrator (deep, serious tone):
In the heart of Akihabara, one guardian has stood between chaos and order... And now... she returns.

[FAST CUT – NYAN-NYAN CAT LOGO SPINS IN WITH A 'BOING!']
TEXT ON SCREEN: "NYAN-NYAN CAT RETURNS!!"

[INSERT – CLIP OF OLD FOOTAGE: SEIRA WOBBLING IN THE COSTUME, FALLING INTO A STAND OF KEYCHAINS]

[SPLIT SCREEN: MCs in the panel room losing it laughing.]
PART 1: Who's Under the Suit?

[SHOT – BACKSTAGE DRESSING ROOM]

Camera sneaks up behind a towering man seated with his back to camera. A costumer is helping him into the oversized mascot head.

Costumer (laughing)
Okay, keep your elbows tucked. Remember-- she's dainty.

Voice (muffled, resigned)
...This is a career misstep.

[DRAMATIC REVEAL: IT'S Kazuma Saito – an A-list, ultra-serious male model known for luxury cologne ads and art-house films.]

On-screen text:
"WHY HIM!?"

Kazuma (deadpan to camera):
They said it would be good for my image.

PART 2: "A Mascot's Journey"

[CUT TO – STREET SHOT, AKIHABARA – MIDDAY]
Bright crowds, idol posters, maid cafes.

[MUSIC CUE: CUTE MARCHING SONG]

Nyan-Nyan Cat emerges into the crowd, waving with exaggerated arm flops. Her pale blue seifuku glints in the sun.

Overlay Graphic: "MISSION: Spread New Year's Cheer!"

"Nyan-nyan! Welcome!"

[TASK 1 – HAND OUT FLYERS FOR THE STORE]

Kazuma approaches a group of tourists.

His big plush paw can't grip the flyers.

He ends up dropping them. A child helps him pick one up.

Child
Are you a girl cat or a boy cat?

Kazuma (sighs audibly inside the suit)
...Nyan-nyan! Welcome!

Panel Room CUTAWAY:
Seira is hiding her face in shame while Riko is laughing.

[TASK 2 – DANCE CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF THE STORE]

Store Manager (cheerfully)
It's tradition! Everyone knows the Nyan-Nyan Cat Dance!

[CUT TO – PUBLIC STAGE]

Nyan-Nyan Cat flails through a pre-recorded, bouncy theme song. Her enormous head nearly falls off during the spin. Her tail slaps a bystander.

On-screen Pop-up: "Cat's got no rhythm!"

[TASK 3 – STREET PHOTO SESSION WITH FANS]

Otaku swarm him for selfies.

One tries to "boop" his plush nose and accidentally tugs the head sideways.

Kazuma (pulling the head back into place):
...Nyan-nyan. Welcome.

PART 3: "Redemption(?)"

[CUT – FINAL SHOT: KAZUMA BACK AT THE SHOP, SLUMPED IN A CHAIR, HEAD REMOVED]
His hair is a sweaty mess, makeup is running slightly.

Kazuma (to camera, stone-faced)
I want to be taken seriously again someday.

Store Manager (off-camera)
We'd love to have you back next year.

Kazuma
...No.

[VTR END – FREEZE FRAME: NYAN-NYAN CAT WITH FIST RAISED, TEXT:]
"NYAN-NYAN! WELCOME!!"

[CUT BACK TO STUDIO – PANEL ROOM ROARING WITH LAUGHTER]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
An absolute masterpiece in public suffering!

MC 2 (Mami)
I think Kazuma-san's tear stains on the inside of the head were the most emotional moment of the show so far!

[Panelist Reactions: Seira has her face buried in her hands. Miranda is howling. Riko's fake-crying.]

Miranda
How is it still funny!? It's been years!

Hana (softly)
Poor Seira will never hear the end of it.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Well! That's one mascot who deserves a raise-- or at least a therapist!

MC 2 (Mami)
Let's catch our breath with something a little more elegant... maybe. Coming up next: a moving performance from Moon River's legendary Enka singer.

[TRANSITION TO NEXT SEGMENT VTR – FADE OUT WITH TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

----

## Musical Act 1: Enka Singer Performance (VTR; 5 min)

----

## Segment 2: Seira Ichijo's "Unfiltered Fan Mail Challenge" (VTR; 10 min)

[VTR OPENING – GLITTERY PINK TITLE SPLASH]
"Unfiltered Fan Mail Challenge – Seira Ichijo Uncensored!?"
A perky idol track plays. The screen sparkles as Seira smiles with suspicious confidence in a close-up.

Narrator (cheerful tone):
Moon River's top model-turned-actress, known for elegance, grace... and absolutely no filter.

On-screen Pop-up:
- "VOICE CHANGER ACTIVE. NAMES HIDDEN TO PROTECT THE GUILTY."
- "ALL RESPONSES CANNOT BE TAKEN BACK."
[STUDIO SET – PINK FLUFFY ROOM, SEIRA ON A CUSHION]

Seira, dressed in casual loungewear and oversized round glasses, looks relaxed. Too relaxed.
A subtle mic and voice changer are applied to anonymize her responses-- but only barely.

Seira (smirking)
You can ask me anything. I'm not scared.

Producer (offscreen)
You're sure?

Seira
Dead serious. Let's go.

[DING!] QUESTION 1: "Be honest... which celeb do you think is the least photogenic at Moon River?"

Seira (with zero hesitation)
Oh, easy. It's Astra. She's gorgeous in person but like, the camera hates her. It's so weird. Her bone structure is chaos.

[IMMEDIATE CUT TO: ASTRA WATCHING FROM PANEL ROOM, expression flat.]
Astra (deadpan):
...I will be flipping her chair later.

[DING!] QUESTION 2: "What was your most embarrassing job?"

Seira (groaning)
Come on, that's not even a challenge. Nyan-Nyan Cat. Full summer heat. That head was heavier than anything I ever wore before or since! That was the lowest moment of my life.

[FLASHBACK CLIP – Seira in the suit, tripping into a cardboard display.]

[Panel Room – Kazuma Saito starts slow-clapping from the sidelines.]

Kazuma
I think we all know where that idea came from.

[DING!] QUESTION 3: "Which Moon River star would survive longest on a desert island?"

Seira
Shizuka, easily. She probably knows how to build shelters and fight boars with her bare hands. Miranda would die first. She would just sit there and wait to be rescued while writing edgy lyrics about it.

[CUT TO MIRANDA in panel room.]

Miranda (grinning)
You're getting it during the break, you know.

[DING!] QUESTION 4: "If you had to room with one Moonlight Prism member, who wouldn't you choose?"

Seira (snorts)
Riko. I love her but she's chaos. She'd eat my snacks and then tell me it was a bonding moment.

[POP-UP: "SHE DID."]

Riko (on panel)
I did! And I'll do it again!

[DING!] QUESTION 5: "What's one thing about modeling that you secretly hate?"

Seira (matter-of-fact)
Pretending to like the clothes. Some of those 'visionary' designs? Trash bags with belts.

[FLASHBACK CLIP – Seira at a high-fashion shoot wearing a garbage bag-style raincoat with dead fish motifs.]

[TENSION BUILDS – QUESTIONS GET RISKIER]

[DING!] QUESTION 6: "Who's the most dramatic person in the agency?"

Seira
...Oh no. It's Rina. Rina will scream if her contact lens dries wrong.

[CUT TO: Rina on panel, visibly offended.]
Rina
That happened one time!!

[DING!] QUESTION 7: "Have you ever lied to fans?"

Seira
I mean, I said I liked that Magical Girl Wars gacha game but I didn't even get past the tutorial. It was just... a lot of sparkles and screaming.

[DING!] FINAL QUESTION – PRODUCER SAYS "WE'RE GIVING YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO STOP."

Seira (leans in)
Hit me with your best shot.

[QUESTION: "What's your honest first impression of Tsukiko Kisaragi?"]

Seira (thoughtfully)
She's super poised and talented, but I thought she was a little creepy. Like one of those quiet girls who never blinks.

[CUT TO: TSUKIKO IN PANEL ROOM – expression serene.]

Tsukiko (smiling faintly):
I don't blink when I'm judging.

[VTR END – GLITTER EXPLOSION WITH LOUD "BUZZER" SOUND]

TEXT ON SCREEN: "SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT CLEAN."

[CUT BACK TO STUDIO – PANEL ROOM IN UPROAR]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Well, there you have it. Every single bridge: enthusiastically set on fire!

MC 2 (Mami)
Seira-san, what part of 'voice changer' did you think was going to save you?

Seira (offstage, yelling)
HEY! YOU DIDN'T ALL HEAR THAT, DID YOU?

[Hana is crying from laughter. Astra gives a thumbs-up. Riko is pretending to bite a snack Seira owes her.]

MC 1
And now that we've all learned too much... let's take a break and clean up the emotional damage. Coming up: chaos, syrup, and possibly trauma as Moon River's musicians take on the ultimate sticky challenge!

[STAGE LIGHTS DIM, TRANSITION TO VTR: "MOONLIGHT PRISM'S MESSY MISSION BEGINS!"]

----

## Live Panel Transition (5 minutes)

Location: Studio Panel Stage - brightly lit with faux shoji screens, New Year's decor, and piles of snacks and tea.

[CAMERA 1: WIDE SHOT – PANEL LAUGHING AS VTR ENDS]
A cardboard cutout of Nyan-Nyan Cat has mysteriously appeared next to Seira's seat.

MC 1 (Genjiro, fanning himself with a decorative uchiwa)
I feel like I aged five years just watching Seira dig her own grave in real time.

MC 2 (Mami, sipping tea)
She started with confidence and ended with... what's the word?

Riko (grinning)
Delusion?

Miranda (dryly)
Self-sabotage as performance art.

Hana (giggling)
I think she accidentally invented a new form of live-streamed confession.

[CAMERA 2: CLOSE-UP ON SEIRA, now seated with arms folded, clearly trying to play it cool.]

Seira
Okay, listen. If you ask for honesty, I deliver honesty. It's my brand.

Rina (smirking from the side)
Your brand is lawsuits waiting to happen.

Astra (turning away)
So noisy.

[CAMERA 3: AUDIENCE LAUGHING & APPLAUDING]
The atmosphere is warm and electric. Light snowflake graphics drift across the screen.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
But now, dear viewers, we move from verbal chaos... to physical destruction.

MC 2 (Mami, teasing)
Our next segment features some of Moon River's most stylish and refined musicians... crawling through mochi ingredients and mystery syrup. Why?

Riko (pointing at Seira)
Because she told the producers about that one time we pranked each other with anko in the greenroom.

Seira (innocent)
It was a cute story!

Hana
We were stuck to each other for two hours!

Astra (looking away, annoyed)
...

Miranda
I'm ready. I did my stretches. Let's go.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
You heard her. These four brave souls will face what we are calling... The Human Sakura Mochi Course!

MC 2 (Mami, grinning)
Rice flour. Bean paste. Syrup nets. And one mystery slime pool.

Riko
They said it was a cushion!

[DRUMROLL – LIGHTS DIM SLIGHTLY]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Let's roll the tape! Time for sticky socks, squishy landings, and shattered dignity!

MC 2 (Mami)
This is 'Musicians' Mayhem: The Human Sakura Mochi Challenge!' Don't blink-- someone might vanish into syrup!

[SCREEN TRANSITION – SPINNING SAKURA BLOSSOMS AND HUGE TEXT:]
"THE HUMAN SAKURA MOCHI COURSE – BEGIN!"

----

## Segment 3: Moon River Musicians' Mayhem Course: "The Human Sakura Mochi!" (VTR; 20 minutes) 

[CAMERA: OPENING MONTAGE --  UPBEAT J-POP BGM]
Slow-motion shots of Hana, Riko, Astra, and Miranda warming up. All wear custom sporty outfits-- T-shirts and track shorts-- with individual color accents:

- Hana in lavender and white with a crescent moon logo

- Riko in electric pink and black with fingerless gloves

- Astra in cool navy and silver with long sleeves

- Miranda in deep red and purple with combat boots

SUPERIMPOSED TEXT: "Who will emerge as the ultimate Human Sakura Mochi?!"

STAGE 1: THE RICE FLOUR CLOUD CRAWL

[CAMERA: FRONT-FACING TUNNEL SHOT]
A low tunnel with rotating flour jets on both sides. The floor is soft, foam-padded.

Announcer (V.O.)
Stage One! A blizzard of rice flour! One wrong breath and you'll be coughing sweetness for days!

[CUT: MIRANDA GOES FIRST]
She charges in bravely.

Panel Cut – MC 1 (Genjiro)
Look at Miranda-- pure rock 'n' roll. No fear!

[CAMERA: MID-TUNNEL]
A sudden flour burst hits her in the face. She freezes, wipes her eyes, then keeps going-- but slower.

Miranda (coughing)
It's in my ears!

[HANA GOES NEXT]
Cautious and low to the ground.

Riko (off-camera, watching)
She's trying not to breathe. She looks like a rice ghost!

[CAMERA: REAR SHOT]
Hana emerges completely dusted-- white from head to toe. She gives a tiny victory fist pump, then sneezes.

[ASTRA CRAWLS IN SILENTLY]
Cool and controlled-- until she hits a timed cross-burst. She visibly winces, blinks rapidly, then mutters:

Astra:
I regret my choices.

[RIKO LAST]
She dives in. Rolls. Spins. Kicks flour up intentionally.

Panel – MC 2 (Mami)
She's making snow angels in it!?

Riko (laughing hysterically)
This is my element!!

STAGE 2: THE STICKY ANKO LEAP

A shallow pit of thick red bean paste, with unstable foam lily pads. The goal: leap across without falling in.

Announcer (V.O.)
Stage Two: Thick, clingy, and sweeter than betrayal-- can they stick the landing or get stuck?

[HANA GOES FIRST]
A careful hop-- then a slip! One foot plunges into the paste.

Hana
Oh no-- ohhh, no-- my sock!!

She crawls to the platform, now one-legged and panicking.

[ASTRA]
Makes it across-- barely. Final jump lands her knee-deep in anko.

Astra (deadpan)
Disgusting.

[MIRANDA]
Attempts a running start. The second platform wobbles violently.

Miranda
"This is so ea--"

[SPLAT!]
Full-body plunge. She surfaces, grinning through red paste.

Panel Cut – MC 1 (Genjiro)
Oh-hoh! Looks like she spoke too soon!

[RIKO]
Jumps. Slips. Falls on her butt, flinging anko onto Astra nearby.

Astra
...Was that necessary?

Riko (giggling)
It was inevitable.

STAGE 3: THE SYRUP NET SCRAMBLE

A horizontal net coated in thin, clear syrup. Crawling is mandatory. The syrup activates everything stuck to them so far.

Announcer (V.O.)
Now they'll scramble like mochi on a grill-- every movement guarantees stickage!

[HANA]
Takes a breath and commits. Each movement makes a loud shlick sound. Her hair is starting to clump.

Hana (gasping)
Someone, send help!

[ASTRA]
Makes decent progress but visibly slows.

Panel Cut – Rina (cackling)
She's finally feeling something!

[MIRANDA]
Muscles her way through, face-down.

Miranda (muffled)
It smells like breakfast death.

Riko (behind her)
I'm stuck to your butt!

[RIKO]
Takes forever. Narrates everything.

Riko:
My elbow is stuck. My knee is stuck. Hana's sock is here. WHY IS HANA'S SOCK HERE?

STAGE 4: THE SAKURA SLIME SLIDE

Final stage: a cheerful, flowery slide covered in sparkles. The bottom is obscured by clouds of fog. The illusion: a soft landing.

Announcer (V.O.)
And now, the grand finale: the slide into the unknown!

Panel – MC 1 (Genjiro)
They think it's over, that there is a nice plush cushion at the end of the slide. Oh no. It's just beginning.

[HANA SLIDES FIRST]
Graceful, trusting-- until she hits the bottom.

[CAMERA: SLOW-MO SHOT]
She disappears into thick, pink slime with a WHOOMF. Only her foot sticks out for a moment before slipping under.

[ASTRA]
Silent descent. Face of grim acceptance. Splashes into the pool.

[MIRANDA]
Does a victory pose before sliding. Big smile. Immediate splat into the goo.

Panel Cut – MC 2 (Mami)
She's still trying to be cool!! Look at her hair-- it's flopped.

[RIKO]
Throws herself down backward, arms up like a daredevil. Biggest splash of the day. Pink everywhere.

[CAMERA: GROUP SHOT – ALL FOUR IN THE SLIME POOL]
Covered head-to-toe in white, red, and pink. Faces exhausted, expressions priceless.

[MONTAGE: RECAP SHOTS, FREEZE-FRAMES OF THEIR FALLS, PANEL LAUGHTER]
Superimposed Captions:

- "Astra: Emotionally Stuck"

- "Riko: The Chaos Engine"

- "Hana: Dignity, 0% Remaining"

- "Miranda: The Fallen Idol"

Hana (standing up in the slime pool, completely covered and dripping)
Hi, Mom! Your beloved daughter is making you proud!

Riko (walks beside Hana, puts an arm around her shoulder)
Hi, Hana's Mom! Hana is having a great time!

[RETURN TO LIVE PANEL – STUDIO IN UPROARIOUS LAUGHTER]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
That was a masterpiece. It was better that I could have imagined!

MC 2 (Mami) (wiping tears)
I haven't laughed that hard since...!

Seira (guiltily)
...I'm sorry. But also you're welcome.

----

## Musical Act 2: Miranda Performance (VTR; 5 min)

----

## Live Panel Segment (5 min)

[Studio Lights Fade Up -- "Live" Segment Begins]

[Cue dramatic fanfare. The curtains part with a puff of smoke. Shizuka Minazuki strides onstage in full "Bratty Magician" attire, top hat slightly tilted over a platinum lob wig, gloves pristine, jacket immaculate, and inexplicably, tight, dark blue boy shorts leaving nothing to imagination. Her blouseless vest shamelessly shows off a lacy black push-up bra and a hint of belly. The spotlight follows her as she saunters to center stage.]

MC 1 (Genjiro, cheerfully)
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves... she's brilliant, she's beautiful, and she's very modest about it-- please welcome, the Grand Magician of Moon River herself... Shizuka Minazuki!

[Polite applause from the panel. Riko cheers obnoxiously loud. Hana tries to clap dignifiedly but bursts out giggling at Shizuka's attire and swagger.]

Shizuka (in character, arching an eyebrow) 
Finally. I was beginning to think this show had forgotten how to open with proper fanfare. (She flicks invisible dust from her glove.) Not that I expected anything less from a program run by amateurs and adored by the tragically unremarkable.

MC 2 (Mami, laughing) 
Oh! And she's already warmed up! Careful, everyone, she might turn you into a frog just for mispronouncing her name!

Shizuka (bored tone) 
As if I'd waste real magic on that. Frogs are elegant creatures. You'd be lucky.

[Laughter from the panel. Riko clutches Hana's arm.]

Riko (to Hana, stage-whispered):
I love this evil Shizuka so much it's unfair.

Shizuka (pivoting smoothly toward them)
Oh, you two in the peanut gallery. Still clinging to each other for comfort, I see. Don't worry-- I'll try to keep the illusions simple. I wouldn't want to overheat your tiny brains.

Riko (grinning)
She's so mean today! I love it!

Hana (bowing her head)
Forgive us, Great Magician-sama. We are but humble musicians in the presence of greatness.

Shizuka (eyes half-lidded, smug)
You may yet learn your place, violin girl.

[The MCs are trying-- and failing-- not to break into laughter.]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
So, Shizuka, what exactly is "The Grand Illusion of Humility"?

Shizuka (dramatically)
A masterwork. A spell so grand, so delicate, it cannot be performed by anyone with even a shred of self-awareness. Which is why only I can do it. Of course, the network insisted I... humble myself, as if such a thing were possible. (she tosses her head) But I'm a professional. I can pretend.

MC 2 (Mami, teasing)
And just how "humbling" does this get?

Shizuka (winking): You'll see. Let's just say it ends with... a symphony of color. One which only I can deliver.

[Gasps and giggles from the panel. Astra audibly mutters, "I bet it's pink."]

Shizuka (pointing at Astra without turning)
Don't test me, Techno Witch. I can make your synthesizer play only circus music for a month.

[The studio erupts into laughter. Riko and Hana are practically wheezing.]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Well, if you're ready...

Shizuka (raising a gloved hand imperiously)
Let's move on, peasants. Behold... the greatest illusion ever performed on variety television.

[Cue: dramatic orchestral sting. VTR begins.]

----

## SEGMENT 4: "The Grand Illusion of Humility" (VTR; 5 minutes)

[A lavish stage dressed like a fantastical painter's atelier, centered around a large, ornate easel with oversized brushes and theatrical paint containers. Off to one side is a covered trough, subtly lit. Concealed nozzles and mechanical gimmicks are integrated into the scenery. Spotlights highlight the easel area and the central floor. A camera crane is rigged for slow zooms and reaction close-ups.]

Phase 1: The Arrogant Introduction 

[Lights dim. Spotlight up center stage. Trumpet flourish.]

[Shizuka enters stage left, strutting confidently.
She wears a lustrous black silk top hat balanced perfectly atop her platinum lob wig. Her indigo jacket and matching vest sparkle under the stage lights, open to a hint of her bare stomach and a sharp push-up sweetheart bra. Her pristine magician's gloves flash as she gestures grandly, each step punctuated by the sharp click of her laced ankle boots.]

Shizuka (with grand theatricality, to audience/camera)
Behold! Tonight, you shall witness not the pedestrian parlor tricks of mere mortals, but the true genesis of art from raw energy!

(She gestures to the ornate easel and paint setup.)

My genius shall transcend the ordinary, creating a masterpiece that will redefine the very concept of color!

(She scoffs, flipping her gloves with affected disdain.)
Honestly, it's almost too simple for me.

[Comedic Assistant enters from side, tripping slightly while adjusting a prop. Shizuka snaps her fingers impatiently.]

Shizuka (imperiously)
Hurry up! My artistic flow waits for no one... certainly not you!

[Audience laughter track cues. Assistant recoils, flustered.]

Phase 2: The Artistic Catastrophe

[Shizuka sweeps dramatically to the easel. A hush falls. She closes her eyes, lifts her hands in practiced grace, and reaches for the paint.]

[Suddenly-- KA-SPLASH! The rigged paint containers violently erupt. A torrent of multicolored paint blasts outward.]

[Vibrant green, red, violet, and yellow paint arcs in from above and either side via pressurized tubes.]

[Some paint showers from directly overhead, hitting her top hat and splashing down her platinum lob.]

[The black silk hat is immediately ruined, sagging and dripping. Shizuka's platinum lob wig becomes streaked with cascading rivulets of color. Paint spatters across her face, chin, and decolletage, drips down her belly and navel. Her indigo vest and jacket now clump with viscous pigment. Her boy shorts are soaked and striped with diagonal streaks of color; her legs splashed and glistening.]

Shizuka (flailing, voice cracking)
GAH! What-- NO! My vision! You've ruined it!

[She waves her now-gloppy gloves, accidentally smearing her face more.]

Assistant (off to the side, over-the-top concern)
I-I think you still look kinda... modernist?

Phase 3: The Entangling Embarrassment

[Shizuka tries to recover, panting, standing awkwardly in a paint puddle. She wipes at her face but only spreads the mess.]

Shizuka (half-deranged composure)
This is merely... abstract expressionism! Yes! A new movement-- modern chaos!

[Suddenly, a loud WHIRR-- then with a SCHWOOMP sound, theatrical sticky white webs erupt from hidden nozzles!]

[Four concealed nozzles shoot jet-streams of stretchy polymer webs that begin wrapping Shizuka from every direction. The strands cling to her paint-slicked skin, jacket, and limbs, forming a cocoon-like visual.]

Shizuka (panicked)
Wh-What is this sticky nonsense?!

[She twists to free herself, only to further entangle.]

Untangle me at once! I demand-- NO, NOT MY HAIR--!

[Her platinum lob wig is yanked partially off to one side, stuck in webs and paint. One eye is partially obscured now.]

[Audience laughter intensifies. The assistant makes no move to help.]

Phase 4: The Sweet, Gooey Comeuppance

[Shizuka is now bound in webs, dripping in thick multicolor paint. Her arms are mostly tangled to her sides; she waddles in small steps.]

[She tries one last dramatic declaration, breathing hard, wobbling forward...]

Shizuka (defiant wheeze)
This shall not... be the end... of my--

[Suddenly, from stage left, a massive custard pie FLIES in. With a SPLAT, it hits her square on the rear.]

SFX: BOING-SPLORT!

[Audience uproarious laughter. Shizuka gasps. Her balance is lost completely.]

[Forward Lurch: She stumbles forward, limbs uselessly bound. Her upper body tilts. She lets out one last horrified shriek. And with a mighty SLORP-- SHIZUKA plunges headfirst into the waiting trough of pink goo.]

[Huge splash. Goo arcs over the lip of the trough. Her feet flip briefly into the air before disappearing beneath the surface. A long beat of stunned silence.]

The Grand Finale: The Gooey Reveal & Comeuppance

[The goo trough begins bubbling. Then-- movement.]

[Shizuka's shoulder breaks the surface. Then, her head rises, slowly, dripping with pink ooze. Her once-silky platinum lob is matted, clinging to her face in strands.]

[Goo mixed with paint and webbing covers her entire body. The sweetheart neckline is now a glossy, distorted outline. A web strand dangles limply from one ear. Goo drips from her lashes.]

[Shizuka kneels in the trough, completely defeated.]

Shizuka (eyes wide, blinking slowly, voice hollow. She appears to be on the verge of tears.)
I... transcended color.

[Beat. A thick glob of slime slides down her nose.]

[With a long, slow sigh, she flops forward, head-first, vanishing again into the trough with a final SPLORCH.]

CURTAIN.

[Audience applause sign and laughter cue activate as lights dim.]

----

Stage Lights Up -- Post-Skit Aftermath (5 min)

[The MCs stand center stage, energized and amused.]

MC 1 (Genjiro, grinning broadly)
And there it is, folks! The Grand Illusion of Humility-- literally dripping with success!

MC 2 (Mami, laughing)
I think the best part was watching the Great Magician get completely slimed. That pink goo is officially the enemy of elegance!

[Cut to panel camera: Hana, Riko, and Astra seated, still catching their breath from laughter. Hana claps enthusiastically.]

Hana (cheerfully)
I swear, watching her try to keep that bratty attitude while drowning in goo? Comedy gold. She looked so helpless and gorgeous all at once-- it was oddly inspiring.

Riko (giggling, wiping tears of laughter)
She really took one for the team. I mean, we had the slime slide earlier, but seeing Shizuka-- the epitome of grace-- faceplant like that? Priceless.

Astra (calm, almost disinterested, eyes on the floor)
The webs were... a bit much.

MC 1 (Genjiro, grinning, nodding toward the panel)
So, Astra, you're the quiet one today. But Hana and Riko-- clearly fans of the slime treatment.

Hana (with a playful smirk)
It's the ultimate level of 'losing face'-- and Shizuka never shies away from a challenge. That pink slime is practically a badge of honor now.

Riko (with mock seriousness)
You know, we should make it a tradition. Moon River's finest all get a pink goo makeover at some point during the New Year's special. It's like a rite of passage.

MC 2 (Mami, laughing)
And speaking of tradition... where is the Great Magician herself? We were promised a grand re-entrance later, right?

MC 1 (Genjiro, glancing backstage with a grin)
She's backstage, of course-- no doubt cleaning up and plotting her next flawless act. Probably plotting revenge for that pie to the rear.

Riko (with a mischievous glint)
I'm just hoping she keeps the top hat dry next time. It looked so sad all soggy and paint-soaked."

Hana (laughing)

Astra (shrugging slightly)
Better her than me.

MC 2 (Mami, chuckling)
Well, folks, Shizuka's 'Grand Illusion' may have ended in sticky defeat, but it was a highlight of the night. And just wait until she returns for the final segment.

MC 1 (Genjiro, raising a glass of water dramatically)
To the Queen of Comedy and Catastrophe-- Shizuka Minazuki!

[Audience laughter and applause track. Camera zooms out as the MCs and panel share amused glances and prepare for the next segment.]

----

Musical Act 3: Moonlight Prism Performance (VTR; 5 min)

----

## Segment 5: "Moon River Talent's Sudden Answer Pie Quiz!" (VTR; 10 min)

[OPEN ON: Energetic VTR TITLE CARD]
A sparkling graphic flies in across the screen with triumphant quiz show music.

ON-SCREEN TITLE:
"Moon River Talent's Sudden Answer Pie Quiz!"
Subtext: Fast brains. Faster pies.

[CUT TO: GAME SHOW SET --  STAGE]
Bright lights. Four gleaming podiums in a semicircle. Behind them, a colorful, quiz-show style LED screen with rapidly shifting patterns and a giant countdown timer.

Each podium has a single contestant. From left to right:

- Takumi Fujisawa-- 23, nervous, glasses, comedy-drama actor.

- Mina Tsurugi-- 21, cheerful, in a bright sweater, known for peppy youth dramas.

- Tsukiko Kisaragi-- 22, poised and elegant, immaculate hair and posture.

- Renji Oda-- 25, stoic, from action films, already looks wary.

Each podium has a red buzz-in button. All contestants wear clear plastic ponchos (mostly for show-- none of them are truly prepared).

Quizmaster (V.O.)
It's time for Moon River Talent's Sudden Answer Pie Quiz! Our rising stars must prove their smarts-- and their survival instincts! For each wrong answer... well, you know the deal!

[SFX: GAME SHOW BUZZER]
[SFX: WHOOSH + SPLAT]

[REPLAY CLIP -- Takumi gets a pie full in the face.]
Cue dramatic sound sting, camera catches the exact moment of cream impact. Audience laughter track swells.

[BACK TO GAME SET --  ROUND ONE]

Quizmaster (offscreen narrator voice)
Question One! What is the capital of Australia?

[BUZZ]

Mina
Sydney!

Quizmaster
Incorrect.

[SFX: THUMP. WHOOSH.]

[Kuroko silently appears from behind her podium and SPLAT-- clean hit to Mina's face. She shrieks and laughs.]

Mina
That's a trick question!! I know it! It's Canberra!!

[ROUND TWO]

Quizmaster
What was the name of the flagship of the IJN Combined Fleet?

[BUZZ]

Tsukiko
Yamato.

Quizmaster
Correct.

[DING!]

[Tsukiko inclines her head modestly. No pie. Audience light applause.]

Renji (muttering)
Of course she knew that one...

[ROUND THREE -- NO BUZZ]

Quizmaster
What's the 14th digit of pi?

[TIMER: 3... 2... 1...]

[BUZZER: TIME OUT]

[SFX: MULTIPLE WHOOSHES]
Four kuroko emerge simultaneously-- one per contestant. Instant chaos.

[SPLAT x4]

[TSUKIKO gets hit clean on the left. She winces slightly, closes her eyes, then straightens her back again without a word.]

Renji
You've got to be kidding me...

Takumi (blinded by whipped cream)
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A JOKE QUESTION!!

[MID-GAME MONTAGE]

Fast-cut editing:

Takumi getting hit three times in a row, trying to shield his face.

Mina answering correctly, only to mispronounce a word the next round and still get pied.

Tsukiko, serene and sharp, dodging pies by answering quickly-- until:

[ROUND SEVEN]

Quizmaster
Name all five members of Moonlight Prism, including instrumental roles!

[BUZZ -- TSUKIKO]

Tsukiko
Riko-- vocals, Hana-- violin, Itsuki-- guitar, Kaede-- drums, Astra-- keyboard.

Quizmaster
Correct.

[DING! Slight musical flourish. Astra, watching backstage, raises one brow.]

[ROUND EIGHT --  NO BUZZ]

Quizmaster
What year was the Heisei Era officially declared in Japan?

[TIMER: 3... 2... 1...]

[BUZZER. MULTIPLE WHOOSHES.]

[SPLAT x4]

[Tsukiko is hit again-- this time from the other side. The pink and white mix on her face is comedic perfection. She exhales silently, eyes closed, but holds her posture. Her bangs stick slightly to her cheek.]

[FINAL QUESTION]

Quizmaster
Who is the mascot character for Sunshine Academy's cultural festival this past year?

[BUZZ -- TAKUMI]

Takumi
Uhh... the bread dog? Toastan?

Quizmaster
...Close, but not quite. It's 'Panpan Dog.'

[SFX: SPLAT]
 
Takumi (groaning)
IT'S THE SAME THING!!

[CUT TO: SCORES SCREEN --  CREAM-COVERED FACES OF EACH CONTESTANT]

FINAL PIE COUNT:
- Takumi: 6 pies
- Mina: 5 pies
- Renji: 4 pies
- Tsukiko: 2 pies

Quizmaster
Our winner, with only two pies to the face-- and the quiet dignity of a true pro: Tsukiko Kisaragi!

[CUT TO: FINAL REACTIONS --  PANEL VIEW (LIVE)]
Shizuka still absent.

Hana
She really is your protege, huh, Shizuka?

Riko (laughing)
Even the way she gets pied is elegant. I love her.

Astra (deadpan):
...must have been fun.

[BACK TO VTR --  SLOW-MO RECAP MONTAGE WITH ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
Every pie to Tsukiko's face, replayed with dramatic lighting and slow-motion.

[ENDING CARD --  VTR OUTRO MUSIC]

TEXT ON SCREEN:
"Sudden Answer Kuroko Pie Quiz --  END"
Sponsored by: Moon River Talent Agency, where rising stars rise-- and get pied for it.

----

INT. MAIN STAGE --  NIGHT --  LIVE (5 min)

[The panel sits back at the desk, still laughing and recovering from the previous mess-filled segments. Music swells into a soft, elegant instrumental. Spotlights gently shift colors to pink and gold as the stage doors part.]

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
And now... please welcome back to the stage, in her New Year's finest... Shizuka Minazuki!

[Cue thunderous applause and polite cheers from the audience. Shizuka Minazuki steps gracefully onto the stage, now in a resplendent, pale pink kimono adorned with delicate cherry blossom motifs. Her lilac hair is pulled into a simple ponytail, the bangs neatly parted to frame her calm, poised expression. She smiles softly, bowing with grace before taking her seat at the panel.]

MC 1 (Genjiro) (playfully)
It's the return of Princess Shizuka! You look like you were never anywhere near a slime pit!

MC 2 (Mami)
You mean the same Shizuka who just got absolutely drenched in hot pink slime not twenty minutes ago?

Riko (grinning)
I blinked, and she transformed from "Sakura Mochi Specter" to "Elegant New Year's Spirit!"

MC 1 (Genjiro) (leaning over to Shizuka)
Did we actually get two different Shizukas this year? One to handle the mess... and one for the fashion shoot?

Shizuka (modestly, hands folded)
I just did my best to return to the stage in a condition befitting the season. Thank you for the warm welcome.

Hana
Graceful as ever! But you look positively glowing after the slime bath.

Shizuka
Ah, but you also had a slime bath. Hana, your skin looks soft and your hair radiant.

Hana (blushing)
Oh, was there something in the slime? It was very easy to rinse off, but it was very... therapeutic?

Shizuka
Yes, it was. It was something Yuki and I found at a spa trip. It was like a mud bath, but with a cherry blossom-scented solution.

Riko (grinning)
So, what you're saying is it really was 'Sakura Slime'? Maybe they should sell it!

Shizuka
They do sell it! You can even try it at home if you want.

Miranda
Oh, are we selling 'Sakura Slime' now? Maybe we can get a promotional sample, too?

RIKO
But we just had one!

MC 2 (Mami)
We can discuss the nature of the pink slime solution at another time. But now we move from physical comedy to vocal chaos! Our next segment is a treat for fans of voice acting... and of total tonal whiplash.

----

## Segment 6: "Voice Actor's Dubbing Disaster" (VTR; 10 min)

TITLE CARD:
Moon River Talent Presents: "Voice Actor's Dubbing Disaster!"

[Upbeat game show-style music kicks in. We see three popular voice actors-- two women and one man-- standing in a brightly lit sound booth.]

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Three professional seiyuu. One serious anime scene. But today... we make it anything but serious!

VOICE ACTOR 1 (female)
I was told this was a war drama... but the character sheet says my role is now... a drunk tanuki?

VOICE ACTOR 2 (male)
My orders are to deliver all my lines in kabuki style. I haven't done that since college...

VOICE ACTOR 3 (female)
And I'm doing a tiny alien with hiccups. Great.

[The serious anime footage begins. A dramatic scene plays of two characters in a rain-soaked battlefield. Voice Actor 1 now voices the gruff war general as a tipsy tanuki, complete with slurred speech and hiccups. Voice Actor 2's lines boom theatrically with exaggerated "Nnngh!" punctuations and grand vocal flourishes. Voice Actor 3 squeaks out her lines in a cartoonishly high voice, hiccuping between syllables.]

CHARACTER A (VO 1)
(slurring) We must... hic... stand our ground or the forest will fall to... the evil raccoons! hic hic!

CHARACTER B (VO 2)
(booming dramatically) I! SHALL! DE-FE-E-END... THE SHRIIINE! turns slowly, voice rising YoooOOOHHH!!

CHARACTER C (VO 3)
(quick high-pitched hiccups) Eeeep! The moon is falling! We're doooomed! hic hic hic!

INT. PANEL STAGE --  LIVE

[The panelists are wheezing with laughter, some of them pounding the desk. Shizuka has both hands politely covering her mouth, laughing softly but clearly amused.]

Miranda
This was supposed to be emotional! That poor composer!

MC 1 (Genjiro, grinning)
That tanuki general deserves his own spinoff. Give the people what they want.

MC 2 (Mami)
Honestly, I thought (Voice Actor #2) was going to explode with how dramatic he got.

Shizuka (gently)
It's amazing how just one voice can completely shift the tone of a scene... or destroy it.

Hana (laughing)
Oh, the poor animation director...!

MC 1 (Genjiro) (clapping)
Huge thanks to our Moon River seiyuu for being such good sports! Now that's voice acting range!

[Cue light transition music as the stage dims slightly, moving toward the next setup.]

----

## Segment 7: "The Un-Modeling Challenge" (VTR; 15 min)

INT. STUDIO SET – PANEL DESK – NIGHT (TAPED FOR NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL)

[Studio lights swirl as upbeat New Year's music plays. The camera returns to the lively panel, laughter still in the air from the previous segment. The panelists, including MCs and celebrity guests, are visibly in high spirits.]

MC 1 (Genjiro, laughing)
What a disaster... and I say that with love.

MC 2 (Mami)
Honestly, I don't know how they kept a straight face! But speaking of disasters-- artistic ones-- this next segment might take the cake. Or the hot glue stick.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Get ready for a very different kind of fashion show. Our next brave soul is none other than...

MC 2 (Mami)
Moon River's own ice queen of the runway... Rina Hoshino!

Cue audience applause and "model runway" sound sting as the VTR begins.

VTR: "THE UN-MODELING CHALLENGE"
INT. WORKSHOP SET – DAY (PRE-TAPED)

[The camera pans dramatically across an "art studio" set built to look halfway between a Project Runway disaster zone and a home economics classroom. Standing in the center, deadpan and immaculate in her stylish off-shoulder sweater and pencil skirt, is Rina Hoshino (age 28), a refined and aloof high-fashion model.]

Rina
(flatly, to camera)
Fashion is about evolution. Destruction. Rebirth.
(glances sideways)
I was told I'd be using... "unconventional" materials.

[A PA brings over a shopping cart. It's filled with pool noodles, aluminum foil, party balloons, dish sponges, plastic hangers, googly eyes, and neon duct tape.]

Rina (CONT'D)
(stares)
This is not fashion.
(pause)
...Let's begin.

MONTAGE: RAPID CUTS WITH UPBEAT, SILLY MUSIC

[Rina furiously tapes together sponges into what she insists is a "post-consumerist kimono."]

[She inflates a balloon using a bicycle pump, then duct-tapes it to her shoulder like a power pauldron.]

[Close-up of her threading plastic hangers through pool noodles while whispering, "It's called the chrysalis of decay."]

[At one point, she stares at the camera with dead seriousness as she hot-glues a googly eye onto a balloon hat.]

Rina (V.O.)
A true artist doesn't explain her work.
(pause)
Unless she's contractually obligated to.

FINAL REVEAL: "RUNWAY SHOW"

[The curtain rises on a dimly lit catwalk. Dramatic fashion show music plays as Rina struts toward the camera wearing her monstrous, glimmering creation: a twisted mass of foil wings, balloon shoulders, sponge boots, and a garish "skirt" of trash bags. Her expression remains fierce and professional despite the absurdity.]

[Behind her, a digital display blinks: "LOOK 1: CYBER RACCOON PRINCESS"]

CUT BACK TO STUDIO – PANEL DESK – NIGHT

MC 1 (Genjiro)
(trying to breathe, wheezing with laughter)
"Cyber Raccoon Princess"! I--  I can't!

MC 2 (Mami)
Rina Hoshino, everyone! Still more fashionable in sponge boots than I am on a red carpet!

Astra (quietly, deadpan)
That was kind of genius.

Seira (nods)
Honestly? She committed. I respect it. The balloon pauldrons were a choice.

Shizuka (smiling modestly)
I can't imagine myself doing that... but now I sort of want to try.

MC 2 (Mami)
We'll have the materials sent to your dressing room, Shizuka-san. Just say the word.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Alright, folks, don't go anywhere-- because coming up, someone you wouldn't expect is about to put their cooking skills-- or lack thereof-- to the test in the next segment: "Idol Kitchen Confessions!"

STUDIO MUSIC SWELLS AS THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK.

----

## Segment 8: "Moon River's Pledge to Entertainment" & Final Words (15 minutes)

INT. STUDIO – MAIN STAGE – NIGHT

[The camera sweeps across the festively lit stage. A starry backdrop glimmers above, reading "Moon River New Year's Special." Glittering streamers descend slowly from the ceiling. All of Moon River's main talents stand on stage, dressed in stylish coordinated outfits of white, silver, and navy. Some sparkle with sequins; others have bold personal accents. There's an air of camaraderie, mischief, and warmth.]

[MCs Genjiro and Mami stand front and center, mics in hand, the energy electric but winding toward closure.]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Well, what a wild ride this special has been-- from pie disasters to sponge fashion to Seira's... unique way with words.

MC 2 (Mami) (laughs)
Don't worry, Seira-san, we've all already clipped that one moment for social media.

Seira (flushed, laughing nervously)
Just make sure you tag me in it, okay?

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Before we close, each of our wonderful Moon River guests will share a quick New Year's message. Let's start from this end and work our way down.

[CAMERA PANS LEFT TO RIGHT AS EACH TALENT SPEAKS BRIEFLY]

Shizuka (bowing politely, with a calm voice)
This year was full of challenges, but also full of growth. Thank you for supporting me in all my strange roles and quiet moments. I hope to continue bringing strength in stillness-- on screen, and off.

Kazuma Saito (stepping forward slightly)
Let's keep having fun, everyone!

Rina Hoshino (still poised, elegant)
I believe fashion is a reflection of life. If tonight taught us anything... it's that life is very, very weird. And I love that.

Hana (soft-spoken, but clear)
I used to think I had to be alone to play honestly. But thanks to Moon River... and Riko...
(glances at her with warmth)
I found out that sharing music means sharing yourself. So I'll keep doing that.

Riko (grinning, arms thrown around Hana's shoulders)
Next year, more love! More distortion! More crying at 3 a.m. because a lyric hits too hard!

Astra (arms crossed, cool and reserved)
I don't talk much.
(pause)
Thanks for listening.

Tsukiko (graceful, subtle smile)
Even when our paths are quiet or distant... we're still moving together. Thank you for believing in what we create.

Miranda (flashing a peace sign)
This year I went full chuuni, full jazz, and full magical chaos.
(grins)
Next year? More. Absolutely more.

Seira (stepping forward with a showbiz sparkle... and then tripping slightly on her heel)
Whoops--!
(laughing, straightening up)
Okay! Let's make this year our runway! And I swear I'll say fewer dumb things on national TV-- no promises, though!

(Everyone chuckles. Seira does a cute wink and shrug.)

MC 2 (Mami)
From heartfelt reflections to unexpected bloopers, I think this stage shows what Moon River is all about.

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Creativity, chaos, and care. Now, let's finish the year the way we started it-- together.

GRAND FINALE – GROUP PHOTO & BOWS

[Festive instrumental music swells-- an upbeat, orchestral version of a Moonlight Prism song. The entire cast of the special, including background staff, support crew, and MCs, joins on stage. Glitter rains from above. Bright sparklers light at the edge of the set. A large camera crane swoops in for wide shots.]

MC 1 (Genjiro)
Everyone! On the count of three-- smile!

ALL (together)
One! Two! Three!
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!"

[FLASH! A massive stage-wide camera snaps the commemorative group photo.]

[They bow in unison. Confetti explodes from the wings. A closing banner appears on screen:]

"Thank you for a year of imagination. Let's make the new year even brighter together."

[Fade to black with soft piano music and the Moon River logo.]

[END OF MOON RIVER NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL]

----

## BONUS: "The Grand Illusion of Humility"

The stage had been dressed like a fantastical painter's atelier-- oversized brushes, gleaming theatrical paint pots, and a grand, gilded easel dominating center stage. To one side sat a covered trough, bathed in suspiciously warm light, though most eyes were fixed on the dramatic shadows pooling beneath the spotlight.

Trumpets flared. From stage left, Shizuka Minazuki emerged in a strut so confident it was practically a weapon. A lustrous black silk top hat perched atop her smooth platinum lob wig, the perfectly measured curl of hair brushing her bare shoulders. Her indigo jacket and matching vest shimmered under the lights, framing a sharp sweetheart bra and the soft plane of her midriff. White magician's gloves caught each glint as she gestured, the click of her laced ankle boots slicing cleanly through the expectant hush.

"Behold!" she declared, voice curling like smoke. "Tonight, you shall witness not the pedestrian parlor tricks of mere mortals, but the true genesis of art from raw energy!" Her chin tilted, and the gloved fingers flicked toward the easel with imperious grace. "My genius shall transcend the ordinary... honestly, it's almost too simple for me."

When the comedic assistant stumbled in, fussing with props, she snapped her fingers sharply, eyes narrowing. "Hurry up! My artistic flow waits for no one... certainly not you!" The audience laughed; the assistant retreated like a scolded child.

Shizuka swept toward the easel, closed her eyes as if invoking divine inspiration, and lifted her hands. The moment she reached for the paint-- *KA-SPLASH!* Pressurized tubes hidden in the set erupted in a torrential rainbow.

In seconds, the black silk hat sagged under the weight of dripping pigment. Her perfect platinum hair turned into a dripping tapestry of green, red, violet, and yellow streaks. Paint splattered across her cheeks and chin, ran down her neck, slicked over her stomach in garish stripes. Her indigo jacket darkened into a clotted mess; the sweetheart bra gleamed wetly beneath. Even her boy shorts and legs were streaked in color, glossed under the stage lights.

She flailed, hands slapping her face only to smear the mess further. "GAH! What-- NO! My vision! You've ruined it!" 

The assistant offered a hesitant, "I think you still look kinda... modernist?" which only made her eyes flash hotter.

Clinging to scraps of dignity, she straightened. "This is merely... abstract expressionism! Yes! A new movement-- modern chaos!" 

But before she could sell the illusion, hidden nozzles hissed. Four streams of sticky white webbing shot out, wrapping around her legs, her torso, her dripping arms. The strands clung greedily to the paint already coating her. She spun in place, trying to shake them off, until one taut strand yanked her platinum wig halfway off her head, the hair now a limp, matted curtain over one eye.

"Untangle me at once!" she barked. "No-- NOT MY HAIR--!" But no rescue came; her assistant wisely decided to take several steps away from her.

She shuffled forward in tiny, bound steps, still trying to reclaim some kind of theatrical finish. "This shall not... be the end... of my--"

*SPLAT!* A custard pie, launched from somewhere offstage, smacked square into her rear with a musical splort. The force sent her off-balance; she pitched forward, arms bound, feet scrambling.

There was a horrified shriek-- then a *SLORP* as she plunged headfirst into the pink trough. A geyser of goo arced into the air. Her boots kicked once, twice, and disappeared.

For a long beat, nothing but bubbles rippled the surface. Then, slowly, she rose from the muck, dripping with thick, bright slime streaked through with paint and webbing. Her once-structured neckline sagged under the weight; her boy shorts were indistinguishable from the mess clinging to her legs. A single web strand dangled from one ear. Goo dripped from her lashes and slid in a slow glob down her nose.

"I... transcended color," she murmured hollowly. And then, with the resignation of a queen dethroned, she flopped forward into the trough again with a final, wet *SPLORCH*.

The lights dimmed, the image of the once-elegant Shizuka now nothing more than a puddled, pink-streaked monument to comedic humiliation.

----

## Behind the Scenes

The set for "The Grand Illusion of Humility" looked spectacular under the studio lights-- oversized prop gears, painted drapery that gave the illusion of a sprawling artist's atelier, and an elaborate, candy-colored trough positioned in just the right place for the segment's finale. In truth, the atelier stage was barely bigger than a small rehearsal room, and the magic was as much camera work as it was sleight-of-hand.

Yuki Kanzaki stood off to the side with her camera, clicking away at every angle she could find. She didn't just photograph Shizuka for publicity-- these were keepsakes, reference shots, and little mementos of a moment they both knew would be talked about long after the special aired.

Shizuka herself, in her deliberately scandalous magician's outfit, looked nothing like her quiet and graceful public persona. She was entirely in "character"-- though between takes she was as professional as ever, walking the crew through staging ideas.

"If we shoot the nozzle from this angle, it'll look like it's coming from way over there," she said, pointing toward an imaginary spot far off to the left. 

The director nodded, adjusting his storyboard notes.

The "paint nozzles" were, in reality, not that far away at all. In fact, they were uncomfortably close. But through careful lensing and stage blocking, they would appear to be mounted on distant walls. Shizuka even worked out timing cues so her character could "react" before each blast, as if the shots had to travel some distance.

When it came to the scene with the sticky "webs," the truth was even more theatrical: the prop web shooters fired nothing but a harmless puff for show. Between takes, the crew stepped in with long, stretchy fabric strips coated in glycerin for sheen, weaving them over Shizuka's arms, shoulders, and waist. She stood patiently while they worked, dripping with bright paint from the previous beat, cracking dry jokes.

"So this is my life now-- being gift-wrapped on national television," she deadpanned, which got a laugh from the boom operator. 

Yuki kept snapping photos, catching Shizuka with her head tilted back in mock exhaustion as another length of "web" went around her.

Finally came the big gag: the "pie in the butt" that would send her tumbling into the pink slime trough. The pie, of course, had nowhere near the force to knock anyone into anything. Shizuka had to sell the hit-- arching her back, staggering forward, and doing the perfect, overly dramatic flail into the vat.

On the first take, she plunged in as choreographed, but then... nothing. The crew collectively held their breath. Ten seconds passed. Twelve. Fourteen. Then Shizuka's head emerged, dripping pink, her expression perfectly on cue for her next line. She delivered it flawlessly, then casually leaned back and plopped herself under again, this time sending a splash into the front row of crew.

When she surfaced the second time, applause broke out across the set. Assistants rushed forward with towels, some trying not to laugh. 

Shizuka grinned and, still bound up in the webs, asked, "Anyone want a hug? If you can get my arms free."

It was all as the aired version showed-- except, of course, for the quiet moments between takes, where the real magic wasn't the illusions or the slapstick, but how Shizuka balanced absolute professionalism with the kind of playful charm that made everyone on set glad they were there.

----

## Markting and Exclusives

The studio lights burned bright against a featureless white background, where Shizuka stood poised in her magician costume for the Moon River New Year's Special promotional shoot. She cut a sharp silhouette: the fitted jacket in rich dark blue hugged her frame, the black bowtie knotted neatly at her throat, white gloves gleaming under the lights. The tan vest she wore gaped just enough at the top to hint at the black push-up bra beneath, its cut teasingly leaving a glimpse of her midriff bare above her snug dark blue boy shorts. Her black laced-up ankle boots anchored her stance.

With a slight tilt of her head, she tipped her black silk top hat with one hand over her face-framing silver wig, her other hand settled on her waist, chin high. The pose was confident, theatrical-- exactly the image of a stage magician ready to step out before the New Year's audience.

Yuki, crouched behind her camera, adjusted lenses and angles on a quick pace. The clicks and flashes filled the otherwise quiet studio, catching every sharp detail of Shizuka's pristine look.

"All right, Shizuka. Chin up a little more... yes, perfect. Tilt the hat just a touch. Beautiful. Hold that. Think 'mystery,' think 'I have a trick up my sleeve,' but also confidence. Like you're about to step out and own the stage."

Shizuka arched her neck subtly, bowing her black silk top hat just so, her other hand settled smartly on her waist. The fitted jacket, the snug shorts, the hint of bare skin beneath the vest-- she radiated poise.

"Lovely," Yuki said, circling a bit for angle. "Give me the smirk now. Yes! That's it. That's exactly what the Moon River special needs."

Then, without warning, a cream pie sailed in from offstage and landed squarely against Shizuka's chest. The explosion of cream spread across her vest, dripping down and matting the polished fabric into sticky patches. A streak of cream clung to her bowtie. Her expression wavered, mouth twitching, her shoulders tightening as though she wanted to break into laughter-- but her pose remained, barely.

She didn't have long to hold composure.

From the wings came a rapid-fire barrage-- one pie after another whizzing through the air like artillery. The first clipped her side, smearing her sleeve; the second struck across her stomach, splattering the bare strip of skin and dripping into her shorts; then came the big one, direct to the face.

Cream erupted outward, plastering across her features, her wig touseling wildly under the impact. Shizuka's grip on her silk hat faltered and it flew off behind her, vanishing somewhere into the white void of the set. She staggered, not out of balance, but bracing herself now, arms tensed against the incoming storm of pies.

The perfect symmetry of her outfit was shattered; her once-crisp jacket blotched in white smears, vest soaked, bowtie sagging under layers of cream. Whipped filling clung to her cheeks, dripped from her chin, and smeared upward into her hairline, transforming her silver locks into a sticky nest. In seconds she was unrecognizable, a walking sculpture of cream and crust.

The whole assault lasted no more than ten seconds, but the studio howled with laughter, crew members doubled over at the sight.

Shizuka bent forward slightly, laughter spilling out of her at last. 

"Job well done!" she declared, wheezing between chuckles, her words muffled through cream still sliding off her lips.

Yuki finally lowered her camera, smirking, cheeks flushed from the excitement. "Mm... not quite."

Shizuka straightened, suspicious even through the cream. "What do you mean, not quite?"

Yuki set her camera down deliberately, reached over to the prop table, and picked up a fresh pie. She turned it in her hands like a sculptor inspecting her clay.

Shizuka backed a half-step, messy boots squeaking. "Yuki! No, you got your shots. Don't you dare!"

"Oh, I dare." Yuki advanced, pie poised. "This one's for me!"

Before Shizuka could retreat further, Yuki lunged in and planted the pie squarely in her face. She rubbed it in thoroughly, swirling it against Shizuka's features until nothing but cream remained, then crowned her with the tin plate, balanced like a ridiculous hat.

Yuki stepped back, arms crossed. "There. Now it's done."

Shizuka peeled cream off her lips with two fingers, laughing helplessly. "You're terrible..."

"And thorough," Yuki finished, grabbing her camera once more. She framed the sight of Shizuka, reduced from glittering magician to cream-smeared clown, crowned with her makeshift 'pie hat,' and clicked the shutter.

----

## The Aftermath of the Special

The week after the Moon River New Year's Special aired was nothing short of a frenzy for fans. Both the official agency photobook commemorating the event and the limited-run Shizuka Minazuki photobook dropped at once. The agency's book, full of glossy stage shots, performer spreads, and cast interviews, was popular. But it was the Shizuka photobook that caused chaos online: "Shizuka Minazuki: The Magician's Masterpiece (Limited Edition)" with only a thousand copies printed, and they sold out within minutes of the order form going live.

Frustration poured out across fan forums. Some fans posted screenshots of their empty carts, others lamented that they hadn't clicked fast enough. A few lucky superfans, however, proudly announced that they had managed to snag a copy. They weren't posting full scans-- partially out of respect, partially out of selfishness-- but they couldn't resist teasing what the book contained.

"The opening spread has her magician outfit in pristine condition," one fan described. "You know, the pose with the top hat tipped and her hand on her hip. Flawless."

The real kicker turned out to be the last page. According to those who had the book, it showed Shizuka with cream smeared across her face, the tin perched on her head like a hat. It was equal parts ridiculous and endearing-- a private sort of punchline preserved for the fans lucky enough to have the book in their hands.

Erika scrolled through these posts that dominated Shizuka Minazuki's largest fan page with mounting envy. She was no stranger to disappointment as a Shizuka fangirl, but this stung. She wanted-- no, needed-- to see those pictures, to know what her idol looked like at her most unguarded, messy, and playful. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard to type some half-jealous comment when a soft chime from her phone distracted her.

It was a summons; Lady Kanna was requesting her presence in the den. At this hour, after Erika's shift had ended?

She made her way through the mansion's quiet halls, tugging at her maid uniform's short skirt to straighten it even though the day was long done. When she entered the den, Kanna was waiting, seated comfortably in her usual regal posture, dressed in an extravagant, plum kimono. The heiress smiled warmly.

"Erika," Kanna said. "Thank you for coming so late. I wanted to give you something."

Erika blinked, caught completely off guard. "L-Lady Kanna, a gift? From you... personally?"

Kanna reached beside her and produced a slim, glossy volume, wrapped neatly in tissue paper. Erika's heart skipped a beat before she even touched it-- she knew the dimensions, the weight. When Kanna placed it in her hands, Erika peeled back the wrapping and nearly gasped aloud.

It was one of the thousand limited-run "Shizuka Minazuki: The Magician's Masterpiece (Limited Edition)" photobooks. But this one was even more special; The cover page bore Shizuka Minazuki's signature, written neatly in silver ink.

"Lady Kanna... I--" Erika's voice failed her. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "This is... I don't even have words... thank you."

Kanna chuckled lightly. "Your service has been exemplary this past year, Erika. Consider this my way of showing gratitude. I trust you'll enjoy it."

Erika bowed quickly, clutching the photobook like a sacred relic. "I will, Lady Kanna. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Dismissed with a graceful wave, Erika hurried back to her room. The moment the door shut behind her, all restraint crumbled. She squealed into her pillow, bounced on her bed like a child, and hugged the book to her chest. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes from sheer joy.

It was signed. It was hers. And Lady Kanna had personally chosen to give it to her.

She clutched the photobook tight to her chest like contraband, already imagining the final photo-- the one with Shizuka, unrecognizable under layers of cream, the tin balanced on her head. The thought made Erika laugh out loud.

Exactly, she realized, what Lady Kanna had hoped for.

----

## The Magician's Masterpiece - Erika's Page-by-Page Journey

**Pages 1–2**

* Title spread: *"Shizuka Minazuki: The Magician's Masterpiece ~ Moon River New Year's Special"* in gold foil lettering.
* A candid photo of Shizuka adjusting her silk hat in front of a mirror.

**Pages 3–8**

* Preface written by Yuki: a short essay about capturing "Shizuka's duality - grace and humor, glamour and chaos."
* Technical notes about the set, cameras, lighting.
* Yuki's little doodles in the margins

**Pages 9–20**

* Full spread stills from the VTR stage performance:

* Shizuka doing her magician poses under spotlights.
* Stills from the taped skit: setwide shots, closeups during the paint deluge, web application process, the pie launch, and the trough dunk.
* Captions highlight "confidence, precision, allure."

**Pages 21–34**

* Behind-the-scenes:

* Shizuka with hair stylists fixing her wig.
* Captions with timestamps and short anecdotal notes
* A small illustrated storyboard showing the intended sequence vs what actually occurred on set.
* A fold-out 2-page spread: Shizuka balancing her hat on one finger, smirking.

**Pages 35–50**

* The formal photoshoot series:

* Shizuka against a white backdrop, hat tipped, hand on waist.
* Variations: standing tall, leaning forward, crossing arms, playfully pointing her wand-like glove finger.
* A 2 page spread of contact sheets (thumbnail film strips) showing multiple attempts.
* Sidebars with short production notes: lighting, lens choices, and how the shots were staged.

**Pages 51–64**

* The Pie Barrage Sequence:

* Page 51 caption: "The pristine magician." Shizuka in her perfect pose.
* Page 53: The first pie hits her chest. She's holding composure, smirk breaking.
* Pages 55–61: Rapid-fire collage of impacts - chest, arms, face, hat flying off.
* Page 63: A full-page spread of Shizuka with cream dripping down her hair and vest, bracing for more.

**Pages 65–72**

* Aftermath candids:

* Shizuka laughing with crew, smearing cream off her gloves.
* A crew member holding up her cream-covered top hat.
* Yuki behind the camera, with a pie in her free hand.
* Small caption in Shizuka's handwriting: *"Yes... I knew it was coming."*

**Pages 73–77**

* The finale shot:

* The final, signature image: the last Yuki shot with the pie tin atop Shizuka's head-- full-bleed, glossy double-page spread and an alternate, tighter crop as a collector plate.
* "Then & Now" pairing: pristine portrait vs. finale image on facing pages.
* Closing note from Shizuka: short, playful sign-off: "Thank you; I'd do it again - almost."

**Pages 78–86**

* Intimate notes:

* Yuki's technical notes: camera/lens/lighting, contact sheet excerpts, which frames were selected and why.
* Shizuka's short essay/Q&A: why she wanted the skit, what the gag meant to her, how she prepared emotionally and physically.
* Wardrobe & makeup specifics: fabrics, costume designer notes, cleaning instructions.
* Short handwritten notes about performance, humor, and vulnerability.
* One line circled in red: "The moment I stop being afraid of looking foolish is the moment I feel free."

**Pages 87–91**

* Outtakes, Bloopers:

* Silly faces.
* A shot of Shizuka pretending to juggle three plates.
* Her mock-frowning at Yuki, who's laughing behind the lens.
* Humorous captions quoting on-set remarks.
* Small "soundbite" boxes with quick crew memories ~ "We held our breath when she didn't resurface right away."

**Pages 92–96**

* Full credits (crew, producers, wardrobe, legal/release notes).
* Photo indexes ~ which images were taken on what day.
* A small list of suggested playlist/links related to the shoot (QR code to a short BTS clip).
* Limited edition back page: numbered copy, with signature.

----

## The Magician's Masterpiece ~ Erika's Monologue

"Okay... okay, Erika, breathe. You were totally normal at Lady Kanna's. Totally professional. Just a maid flipping through a book. Nobody suspected a thing. Perfect poker face..."

Her hands trembled as she set the book down in her lap, flipping back to the glossy pages. The smell of fresh print still clung to it, clean and sharp, like something brand new and sacred.

"She's... she's just... ugh, Shizuka Minazuki, how dare you," she whispered, half-laughing, half on the verge of tears. "Looking that gorgeous, that serious... then letting yourself just... just get demolished like that."

She turned the pages again, faster this time, drinking them in like she couldn't get enough. Every shot hit her harder. The crisp stage stills. The sly glances at the camera. The first pie striking her chest, that tiny, involuntary crack in her composure. Erika pressed a hand against her racing heart.

"And then-- ahh!" She kicked her feet against the mattress as if her body couldn't contain it. "The laughing. The smile. Do you even know what you're doing to people when you smile like that, Shizuka?! You're too cute for your own good."

She flipped to the last spreads. Her breathing grew shallow.

And there it was-- the masterpiece shot. Shizuka, on her knees, angled upwards, a playful, cream-covered goddess. The whipped cream clung suggestively to her face and chest, while a shallow, upside-down pie tin rested playfully on her head like a hat. But it was her piercing eyes, and that finger-- her index finger pressed provocatively against her lips, meeting the viewer's gaze with an intense, "come hither" allure that simultaneously said, "I know what you're thinking," and "I dare you to think it."

Something inside Erika snapped. She pressed the book to her face, muffling a scream, rolling onto her back as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

"I can't-- I can't-- oh god, I can't-- she's perfect, she's perfect, she's PERFECT!" Her words broke into hiccuping laughter. Her legs kicked, her hands clutched at the covers, she could feel herself unraveling all at once.

The number stared back at her when she dared peel the book away. #2/1000. Signed. Hers.

That was it. Erika collapsed into her pillow, clutching the photobook to her chest as her whole body trembled. The world spun, dizzy with joy, overwhelmed with heat and devotion and the dizzying realization that she was holding something nearly no one else on earth ever would.

When the storm inside her finally ebbed, she lay still, sweaty bangs plastered to her forehead, lips parted in a dazed smile.

"...I really... creamed over you, huh, Shizuka..." she whispered, too wrung out to even be embarrassed. Then she hugged the photobook tighter, curling around it like a child with a beloved toy, and let herself drift into sleep.

---- 

## The Morning After

Erika floated into the servants' quarters of the Suzuki mansion the next morning like she had slept on clouds. Her lilac bob shone, her steps were almost springy, and her face-- normally quick to blush, quick to fret-- carried a suspiciously serene glow.

The other maids noticed, of course.

"Erika's awfully chipper today."

"She's humming. She never hums."

"Bet she's in love."

The whispers rippled through the room like gossip always did, and Erika, cheeks heating, pressed her lips together in an effort to hide her smile. She carried herself with forced calm, arranging silverware, adjusting napkins, moving with an almost military swagger-- yet her hands shook just faintly, the glow threatening to spill out at every moment.

It didn't take long for Haruka, the watchful, observant, and, worst of all, teasing head maid, to pounce.

"You look well-rested, Erika," Haruka said sweetly as she passed by. "Not often you're this... radiant."

Erika fumbled a spoon. "R-radiant? Me? Don't be silly!"

Haruka tilted her head, smirking. "Oh, but I know why. After all... *you* were given something very precious yesterday, weren't you?"

The room froze. Every maid within earshot perked up like hounds scenting blood.

Erika's heart stopped. "W-wait, I-- It's not-- it's nothing like that!"

Haruka leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, though loud enough that the others caught every word. "A certain... limited-edition item, perhaps? With a number that would make any fan faint?"

Erika's face went scarlet. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, entirely unable to deny it, which only made the other maids lean closer, murmuring like a storm of bees.

"You mean she really--?"

"No way, she's fawning over a book?"

"She's been glowing all morning, no wonder!"

Haruka chuckled, satisfied at her little tease, and clapped Erika lightly on the shoulder. "Relax. Your secret is safe. Just don't let it distract you from polishing the silver, hm?"

By the end of her shift, Erika felt wrung out-- not from the work, but from the constant prickling heat of attention, every sideways glance reminding her that they *knew*. She scurried back to her room as soon as she was dismissed, locking the door behind her like she was sealing herself in a vault.

Her laptop flickered to life, pulling up the Shizuka Minazuki fanpage she had been haunting for years. The main thread was buzzing with chatter: posts from those few lucky souls who had managed to buy "The Magician's Masterpiece" before it sold out, their gloating photos, their squealing captions. It was only a matter of time before someone posted *that* photo spread. Erika's chest tightened; she remembered how jealous she had felt just seeing them.

And now... she had something rarer still. *#2/1000.* Signed. Her hands hovered over the keyboard, the urge to post swelling inside her like a tide. To finally gloat, to finally say: "look, I have it, I'm special, too."

But as her eyes skimmed the thread, her glow dimmed. She saw the envy in others' words, the bitterness, the quiet heartbreak. She knew if she flaunted her treasure, that anger would turn toward her, and rightly so. It wouldn't make her happy.

With a quiet sigh, she shut the laptop.

Her gaze slid across the room to where the photobook sat on her desk, gleaming under a shaft of afternoon light. She padded over, fingers reverent as she opened it once more, flipping to the very photo.

There she was-- Shizuka, on her knees, angled upwards, messy with cream, the tin on her head. Her bare neck, the contours of her body, and that knowing "come hither" gaze-- her index finger provocatively against her lips-- spoke volumes. It was an impossible mixture of playful submission and confident allure, burning itself into Erika's eyes.

The breath hitched in her throat. She pressed a hand against her chest, sinking onto the edge of the bed, the glow flooding back, overwhelming, sweet and unbearable all at once.

And just like last night, Erika came undone. Again.





===========================================================================

This story is written with heavy AI assistance.

The formatting for this one followed a script format to help the pacing along since this was branded as a three-hour variety show special put on by Moon River Talent Agency.

One of the things that I realized when working this out is Moon River probably doesn't have athletes of pro-sports caliber or J-pop idols; both pro-athletes and J-pop idols likely have more specialized agencies. So while I couldn't fit in a thing to do with athletes, the ideas I had for the J-pop idols was split between the Moonlight Prism girls and Miranda, and Tsukiko and the other 'newcomer' talents. 

The poor enka singer didn't get featured in the story at all. I wasn't willing to put them through the skits, but I also wasn't planning to songfic the acts, either, so that's the way it goes. Similarly so, I chose to leave Itsuki and Kaede out of the special for brevity's sake. Yuki and Arisa wouldn't feature, either, since they aren't talents, but the behind-the-scenes workers.

Shizuka's 'bratty magician' act is directly inspired by Genshin Impact's Furina de Fontaine during her Archon Quest period where she acted like a general nuisance, which I thought was a funny thing to subject Shizuka to. Although of course I sexed up her costume deliberately. I was originally simply going to have her put on her hat and get doused in cream like Mizuki did a long time ago, but that didn't feel particularly funny, so I threw a bunch of ideas into a blender and ended up with this absurd scenario (because it being completely absurd makes it funnier). I was originally going to use that idea in a completely different story, but it didn't pan out.



~ Razorclaw X