While Enfants Terribles was preoccupied with resting and producing their next album, the organizers of the American Music Awards were navigating a frantic schedule.
The awards were set to take place in early September. Consequently, officials were losing their minds trying to select nominees based on various metrics and broader social influence.
The judges reviewed several benchmarks to finalize the nominations.
"Michael Jackson is still as relevant as ever. Look at these fan vote records. That man, a has-been? Hah! The media really loves to spin a tall tale, don't they?"
Unlike the Grammy Awards, the American Music Awards placed a significantly higher weight on public voting than on the evaluations of industry professionals.
For this reason, unless there was an astronomical gap in quality, the sheer firepower of a fandom frequently flipped the results at the AMAs.
"This is just... overwhelming."
"Well, unlike Jackson, they're sucking up votes from every corner of the globe. I suppose it was bound to happen..."
And the firepower of the Enfants Terribles fandom was nothing short of monstrous.
In a way, it was only natural. Enfants Terribles was a group that had sparked a global 'band craze' and was just now entering their absolute prime.
'Even considering that, aren't these numbers a bit much...?'
The AMA judges stared at the fan voting records, let out hollow laughs, and began finalizing the winners. Naturally, there was no room for dissent.
"To think they actually surpassed Mariah Carey to hit seventeen consecutive weeks at number one... isn't this unprecedented for a rookie?"
"They've sold a ridiculous number of albums too. It's a double album, but still, seventy million copies sold? Honestly, once the iPod came out, I thought the era of physical records was dead..."
Enfants Terribles wasn't just dominating the fan votes; they were crushing every other category. The 2007 Billboard charts had effectively been occupied by them.
"The New Artist award has to go to Enfants Terribles, frankly."
"Wouldn't it be appropriate to give 'Favorite Pop Album' to them as well?"
"Look at this. Their critical reception is excellent too. If even a stickler like Paul McCartney gives them a perfect score, that says everything."
As the judges continued their consultation, they noticed something strange.
The name 'Enfants Terribles' was appearing relentlessly in every single category.
"Hah... they're sweeping the whole damn board, aren't they?"
[How Far Will Enfants Terribles Go?! Six Nominations Secured at the American Music Awards!]
[The Invasion Continues! Enfants Terribles Nominated for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Favorite Collaboration, and More!]
Following the wave of good news, the Japanese archipelago was already in a state of loud, hyperactive excitement before Enfants Terribles could even depart for the United States.
In reality, the members were so focused on crafting their second album that they barely spared a thought for the AMAs. It also helped that since the AMA selected winners based on popularity and commercial success, the band members themselves didn't place much prestige on it.
With work on the second album nearly finished, Enfants Terribles appeared at Haneda Airport to catch their flight.
"Hide-kun, what are your predictions for the results?"
A reporter threw a question at the handsome blond youth serving as the leader and frontman of Enfants Terribles.
"Well, won't we just take them all?"
Normally, receiving an award should elicit emotions like curiosity or excitement, but none of that could be felt from the blond youth.
Watching the boy's reaction, the reporter realized one thing.
'That isn't just confidence. It's a rock-solid conviction that they will sweep every single trophy.'
Seeing the other members echoing Hide's nonchalance, the reporters all shared the same thought.
At this American Music Awards, Enfants Terribles was going to create yet another syndrome.
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"Whoa! Why was I being a fool and flying Business Class all this time?"
The bald bassist was receiving a scalp massage on his glistening head while watching a movie on a staggeringly large screen.
"Exactly. I told you we should have been flying First Class ages ago."
"Makoto, still, isn't it a waste to burn twenty million won just for a few hours of travel?"
Unlike Business Class, First Class was obscenely expensive. A single seat could easily exceed eight million won as a base price.
Of course, none of the Enfants Terribles members were hurting for money, but until just a year ago, they were ordinary commoners eating triangular kimbap from convenience stores.
"Hey, Boss! Look at this! Three beautiful ladies are focused solely on me, giving me intensive care!"
"Goddammit."
The muscular Black drummer, sitting in the seat next to the bald bassist, was grinning like a country bumpkin who had just moved to the city, flexing his muscles at the flight attendants while talking to them.
"Ladies, how about we head over to the lounge and have a little chat?"
Yokishi was the only single member of Enfants Terribles. Every time he saw the two couples acting all lovey-dovey around him, he felt a sharp chill of loneliness. In particular, when he first heard that Ai, the group's mascot who received everyone's undivided affection, was dating the blond frontman, he had seriously considered using his muscles to fold Hide in half.
Of course, there had been signs long before that, so he had managed to endure it. In the first place, as her guardian, as long as they didn't cause an 'accident' resulting in new life, it wasn't his place to interfere in who Ai and the Boss chose to date.
"Thank you. This wine tastes excellent."
Meanwhile, Miyazaki Makoto, who had already experienced social life as a PD for [Asayan], was leisurely enjoying his wine while conversing with the chief purser.
"Ladies, what do you think of my muscles?"
"Man! Leader! They sell cocktails here too! It'd be killer to grab one of these and watch a movie!"
Even though there were very few people around anyway, Hide felt a wave of embarrassment at their behavior. Mind you, this was his first time in First Class as well, so his eyes were wide as he took in his surroundings.
"Should we go on a date after we land?"
"Kiyah! This is just the best! The best!"
Ignoring these reckless man-children, the blond youth raised his hand to speak to a nearby flight attendant.
"I have a request, please."
"Sir, is there anything making you uncomfortable?"
One of the attendants waiting near the blond youth immediately clasped her hands and knelt down to answer him.
"Um... you don't really have to kneel..."
The youth found such treatment burdensome. At the same time, he was making a firm mental note never to fly First Class with the secretly jealous Ai. If his beloved partner were to see this sight, he would never hear the end of her teasing and jealous remarks for a very long time.
"Could you bring me a menu?"
"Sir, you can check the menu using the monitor provided at your seat."
"....?"
That was it. Despite all his attempts to act dignified, the blond youth was just as much of a country bumpkin as his bandmates.
"Hey, bring me a menu too!!"
"Ladies, I need a menu over here as well!"
As soon as they spotted their prey, the two men who had been causing a ruckus like unruly children began mocking their leader.
There were no emotions like nervousness or fluttering hearts in their appearance. To the current Enfants Terribles, the 'American Music Awards' had become a trivial matter.