Backstage Beauty

Season 1: Behind The Spotlight

Chapter 1: The Dream

Sixteen-year-old Aiko Tanaka works backstage at the prestigious Miyazaki High School Beauty Contest, organizing makeup kits, steaming dresses, and assisting the contestants. She has always admired the glamorous contestants from afar, especially their confidence on stage. Deep down, Aiko dreams of standing under the spotlight, participating in the contest herself, but she lacks the poise, elegance, and confidence required. Plus, she's never entered a contest before and feels stuck, knowing she isn't anywhere close to the level of the participants she assists.

Chapter 2: Frustration and Motivation

Aiko is envious yet inspired by the contestants she helps. She daydreams about her moment on stage but constantly doubts herself. After another long day of helping the perfect contestants, she confides in her best friend, Yui, about her secret desire to compete. Yui encourages her, but Aiko is overwhelmed by self-doubt, feeling she's too "ordinary" to even try. That night, a renewed determination kicks in—Aiko decides she will somehow find a way to enter the contest, no matter what it takes.

Chapter 3: The Reality Check

Aiko learns there's a rule in place: only experienced contestants or those who have been selected by the Beauty Council can enter. However, seeing a flyer for open auditions for the next contest gives her a glimmer of hope. She nervously signs up, only to embarrass herself during the audition. Her walking is awkward, she trips over her own feet, and she barely makes eye contact with the judges. As the other girls laugh, Aiko realizes how unprepared she truly is.

Chapter 4: Enter Kiyomi

Devastated by her failure, Aiko leaves the audition, sulking in the empty hallways. That's when she bumps into Kiyomi Yoshida, a confident and bubbly girl from her school who participated in the contest last year. Kiyomi reveals that she was watching Aiko's audition and saw her potential, despite the rough performance. Kiyomi offers to coach Aiko, teaching her the ins and outs of beauty contests—posing, walking, answering interview questions. Aiko is hesitant at first, unsure if she should trust someone so perfect, but her desperation to succeed pushes her to accept.

Chapter 5: The First Lesson

Aiko's training begins with a reality check—Kiyomi is not an easy coach. She demands perfection and is brutally honest, pointing out all of Aiko's flaws. Aiko struggles through their first practice, failing miserably to walk with grace. Her self-doubt grows even more, and she almost quits, but Kiyomi refuses to let her give up so easily. She gives Aiko an encouraging talk, reminding her that everyone starts somewhere. Despite their rocky start, Kiyomi believes in Aiko's potential.

Chapter 6: A Taste of Improvement

Aiko's hard work begins to show, but only in small ways. She manages to walk a few steps gracefully without tripping, and she begins to understand how to stand with poise. Kiyomi is impressed with her progress, though there's still a long way to go. However, not everything is smooth—during a practice session, Aiko accidentally ruins one of Kiyomi's expensive dresses. A small argument breaks out, but Kiyomi quickly forgives her, knowing Aiko didn't mean any harm. This moment brings them closer as friends.

Chapter 7: Behind the Mask

Aiko starts to notice that Kiyomi has her own struggles. Despite her bubbly exterior and previous success in contests, Kiyomi is dealing with intense pressure from her family and expectations to be perfect. One night after practice, Aiko finds Kiyomi crying in the school bathroom. Kiyomi admits that she too felt like an outsider once and that her confidence was something she had to build over time. This revelation helps Aiko feel less alone, and their friendship deepens as they both support each other.

Chapter 8: The Setback

Just as Aiko begins to feel confident in her progress, disaster strikes. At a practice session, she trips and twists her ankle badly, leaving her unable to walk for several days. The setback is crushing, and Aiko starts to wonder if she'll ever be ready for the contest. Kiyomi encourages her to focus on the parts of the competition that don't require physical movement, like interviews and public speaking. Together, they practice answering difficult questions and building Aiko's charisma.

Chapter 9: Backstage Again

The contest is fast approaching, and Aiko returns to her job backstage, this time with a new perspective. While helping the other contestants get ready, she feels a bittersweet mix of envy and excitement. She's come so far, but she's still not quite ready. Kiyomi surprises her with a solution: though Aiko may not be able to compete this year due to her injury, she can help Kiyomi in a way that will still put her in the spotlight. Together, they devise a plan for Aiko to assist Kiyomi on stage in a special part of the contest.

Chapter 10: On Stage, At Last

It's the day of the contest, and Aiko helps Kiyomi with her final preparations. When the time comes, Aiko is invited to join Kiyomi on stage as part of a special act, where she showcases her behind-the-scenes skills in a small performance segment. Though she's not competing, Aiko gets her moment in the spotlight—nervous but proud. As she stands on stage, she feels a sense of belonging, realizing that this is just the beginning of her journey.

Chapter 11: A New Beginning

The contest concludes, and Kiyomi performs flawlessly, winning the runner-up title. Aiko watches from the audience, inspired and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the event in her own way. After the contest, Kiyomi tells Aiko that next year, she'll be ready to compete for real—and this time, nothing will stop her. Aiko's confidence has grown, and she's no longer the shy, self-doubting girl who stood in the shadows.

Chapter 12: Stepping Into the Light

A year passes, and Aiko has continued her training with Kiyomi's guidance. She's become more polished, more confident, and more determined than ever. As the next contest approaches, Aiko signs up for the audition once more, but this time, she's prepared. She walks confidently, nails her poses, and answers the judges' questions with ease. When the results are announced, Aiko is accepted into the contest as an official participant. She smiles, knowing that she's finally earned her place in the spotlight.