JuuDokiDoki is a 10 member girl group formed by Dokimono Entertainment and debuted on July 19th, 2025. The group’s concept is ‘straight to your heart!’ As they are determined to spark the light and hope of their fans in this ever-changing world. They deliver music full of a wide range of genres while keeping the core jpop idol sound, displaying a wide variety of emotions with every single and performance. With each song aiming to ignite the heartbeat of their fans.

However, despite 5 years in the spotlight, the public has only acknowledged one member. The center, Kase Kagane.

The all encompassing truth? She’s the perfect center. The ace. An iron-clad anchor to a sailing, yet weak ship. With sublime dance skills, stage presence, and vocals. Kagane’s skills far surpass those of her members in both music and performance. While everyone would agree her members have their own charms, specifically in the variety sphere. The agreed truth is the group relies on her too much. As such, the group’s overall popularity is hers and hers alone. Because how could anyone care about the members’ decent variety skills, when Kagane’s personality shines bright off stage too?

But off stage differs from off camera.

Nine girls, including me, sit in the living room waiting for Rina to arrive. Despite what would usually be a comfortable atmosphere, no voice reaches beyond a whisper, and the TV plays barely audible. This is a group meeting after all. Full attendance required. Which means Kagane sits among us.

She’s sitting on the sole love seat in the corner. Long black hair flowing down her torso in perfect uniform streaks. Her thighs push the laptop closer to her long fingers as she types, headphones in. Her eyes single mindedly pierce the bright screen as she presumably writes her weekly blog post. Something that has gained her and the group quite a dedicated fan base.

Because we’ve needed this group meeting for quite a while now, it ended up being during her dedicated writing time. She’s not letting it stop her, but she’s vexed. So everyone does what they can to avoid disturbing her.

Several beeps from the front door pierce the air. Followed by the click of a lock and Rina’s entrance. The satchel she wears to company meetings sits by her hips, and she rolls her shoulder under its pressure.

Her, “Hey guys…” starts strong, then dwindles at the sight of Kagane.

In a lower voice “Company meeting went on a little long, sorry.”

She offloads her bag onto a table. With the help of Haruka, she rummages through it, and pulls out a tablet. Her attention and fingers focus on the screen until she’s standing before us. We sit up for the conversation we need but dread.

With a sigh. “Alright, let’s go over chores,” she says. She knows the amount of bickering we’re about to pull.

“Obviously, everyone for themselves isn’t working. Not everyone here is the most responsible or the quickest at cleaning up behind themselves.”

With a raised hand, Aoi interjects. “I have my own system, I do on my own time, that works perfectly.”

“Yeah, but you’re the only person in this house whose perception of time means two weeks to wash dishes,” Mina spits back. Dirty dishes, dirty anything, grosses her out.

“Let’s not do this,” Rina says, “We all know this isn’t working. There’s been arguments big and small for the past year. Obviously, we need a new system. Everybody, take out your schedules for this month so we can compare.”

We honestly should’ve done this a long time ago. Once the group started getting a little fame, the company has been fairly diligent about keeping members booked. After the completion of group promotions, we’re all in and out of the house at different times. So we have to go by this method.

With all our schedules laid across the coffee table, the negotiation begins. Rina assigns chores each person will be responsible for, on a day they’re most likely free. Every box checked proves our shared procrastination all the more ridiculous.

“And since Kasumi is busy on Wednesday and Tuesday afternoons, Yuzu can do the dishes those days.”

“Mmmn,” I shake my head and raise a hand in protest, “Actually, I haven’t written all of this in my calendar yet, but I’m going to be practicing after six for the time being.”

Nine girls snap their heads my way. Clear bewilderment shared between them.

“I’m free during the day tho,” as the member with the least gigs, I’ll have to take on more household burdens than others. Just not this one. My heart is set.

“’For the time being?’ What does that mean?” Kasumi asks.

I shrug, “I dunno. Until I don’t need the practice, I guess.”

Everyone lets out a puff of air, close to a sigh, but the stress remains. As if they’ve decided to let me be instead of questioning. Rina opts to continue the meeting, and the rest follow, except Kagane.

Her gaze scalds my cheek for who knows how long.

I’ve occupied one of the company’s empty dance rooms for about five minutes now. Although I’ve done nothing but stretch. I can’t help but feel productive for simply being here.

As someone who excels at the bare minimum, I never step foot here without a practice or rehearsal to warrant it. This difference in mind, I can feel it. I am transforming. This is revolutionary. No wonder everyone sprained their neck to face me yesterday. The dawn of a blaring, bright future has cast itself upon me!

I pat my cheeks to regain focus. I’ve done all the stretching I need to do. If I want to improve, I have to get down to business.

I’m only back on my feet for a few seconds before the door swings open, smacking the wall with a thunderous cry and whimper. Its bounce back and whine stopped Kagane’s fingertips. Her look from the doorknob to me akin to a knife slash.

It’s impossible to remain indifferent under such a scowl. The inevitable intimidation has forced executives to lose grip on wine glasses.

“So you’re actually practicing?” Disbelief drowns in her malice filled voice.

But despite it all, Kagane’s voice has a color to it. No matter how light or dark the tone, it remains the most beautiful shades of red.

“Ah! Hi Kagane,” too many wavers audible, “Yes, I am! I said so yesterday, didn’t I? Believe it or not, I always act on my decisions.”

She scoffs. “So does that mean you’ve decided to half-ass everything since pre-debut?”

“Yes!” The answer comes too easy, too fast, and guaranteed to anger.

Even her steps are refined. Her foot follows the other in a perfect line. So perfect, they’re like stacked dominoes. A sequence admirers struggle to abandon. Her posture so straight yet relaxed. It makes her even taller, leaner, and all the more imposing. Yet still, a sight to see.

That being said, not every sight needs to be seen up close.

Her shadow swallows mine as she nears, and I can’t help but stumble back from her approach. She doesn’t stop. Her mission unclear to me, yet decided for her. All too fast, she closes in. Eyes beaming down with punitive resolve, unwavering when the back of my head kisses the wall. Her palm slams the surface beside my cheek.

“What are you up to?”

Kagane’s visage, away from the light, blends perfectly with the shadow that wraps it. Her long black hair bends at her shoulders, some strands tilting forward, nearly kissing my skin. Half tucked into her skirt, she wears a button-up shirt that’s loose at her collarbones. The perfect lines point to the collar of her shirt. Messy after her what she’s done.

“I’m practicing.”

“I know that. I’m asking what your end goal is. You never cared for doing anything above average, and now you’re here after hours?”

“Fair point. Honestly, if you look outside, pigs might be flying.”

I think my quip was funny, but Kagane looks more irritated than before.

“Yuzu, I don’t understand why you joined the group. Nor, why your doing this. But I do know I always use this room for practice, and you’ve booked this exact room 3 months in advance. That’s a little odd, isn’t it?” she says, “Give me a reason. Now.”

I can’t help but be a little amused when she says things like this. Truth is, even if I wanted to, I can’t completely fear Kagane. Especially when she asks me questions like this. It makes me emboldened.

“So mistrustful and for what?”

My fingers slip their way to her collar. The fabric straightens with careless strokes. The side of my lips perk, to see her eyes ever so fastened and hardened.

“Kagane, don’t you think it’s a little ridiculous for you, of all people, to worry about a practice room. You know better than I, it doesn’t change a thing,” I say, “Plus, you and I both know why I’m here.”

Kagane’s scowl remains, but she doesn’t answer.

“I told you during the first audition. I joined for you,” thinking about it, I can’t help but gush, “You’re just so pretty, how could I not!”

My palms cup my cheeks, and I can feel them growing warmer. Thinking about how I feel turns me into a mess. I mean, how could it not! Here she is, standing over me, all intense and handsome. To be so close to Kagane and in her presence almost every day, what a blessing!

I had her in a college class for a semester, we got paired up, she hated me cause I was a lacking partner. I slacked a little, but even when I tried, her standards were too high. As for me, I was charmed.

The effect of my crush, less so now but extreme at the time, would fill my head with air. So when I was walking past this building one day, and I saw Kagane walk in. I kinda just followed. I didn’t even realize I was in an audition till the panel asked me to sing.

Anyway, I got in cause I’m cute. According to them, the rest could be taught. Unfortunately for them, I’m kinda lazy, so I debuted unpopular. Sometimes people who know nothing about me use my pictures for their profiles, but that’s about it. Truly, my visuals are my saving grace. To varying degrees of truth, people say that about a lot of the members. Everyone except Kagane, and that’s the problem.

“And I’m practicing for you, Kagane.”

Her eyebrows twitch. “Huh???”

“You work so hard, and have gained so much respect. You really are the perfect center, but your hard work goes beyond what’s required of you. It’s not fair for one person to carry the burden of nine and an entire company on their back. It’s too burdensome.

“That’s why I’m not slacking anymore. I’m going to work harder, become a stronger performer, a better singer, and a cuter idol. So maybe I can shoulder some of that responsibility for you.”

Kagane doesn’t soften, but it’s as if her anger was put on pause. I can see her biting the inside barrier of her lips. The eyes that scalded me are simply deep. Looking into mine, searching. I have effectively disarmed her. She sees my intentions.

“And I just thought,” the words flow out, “It would be perfect if I could practice in the room that you practice in. It’s like your talented air will cure me, give me a buff!”

“Ridiculous,” she spits.

Oops.

She speaks after a deep breath, “Do you even know what to improve. You don’t even look at the screen during monitoring, and you’re spouting about ‘taking on burdens’, what bullshit.”

My hands fall to my sides, but I can’t help it. I can see her tunneling into a heated rant, so I tug the side of the shirt free from her skirt for her attention. “You mean, you don’t think I can do it?”

She flinches and swallows under my gaze. There’s no teasing or gushing here. I’m being sincere, and she knows it.

“It’s that you’re an airhead,” she answers.

“But only for you.”

Her sharp respire almost quicker than her turn away from me.

“Whatever, practice all you want. But don’t go out there and make everyone look like a mess, or else I’ll make you crumble under that burden.”

She leaves the way she came. A perfect strut to the exit. The door whines to a thunderous collision with the frame. I peek through its window. Kagane’s fleeing back shields her being from me. She turned away too fast for me to see her face. I wonder what expression she has. She’s so masterfully guarded.

But not wrong. I don’t know what exactly to work on since I never watch myself perform. Typically, I wait for someone to correct me. So I suppose that’s what I should do today. What a shame. I could’ve done this from bed if I was only going to sit in front of my laptop and take notes.

But on the other hand. It’s only because of Kagane’s fearsome visit that I know what step to take. She probably had other things on her schedule she’d prefer to do, but she accosted me. Even though she wasn’t the happiest with me, she was still so helpful. Oh Kagane!

Really, it’s like I’ve been blessed!