FOUREAL — Formation

April 1st. It all started with a little prank from the agency.

"For this year's April Fools', why don't we create a fictional idol group?"

If it's going to be a lie anyway, it's more interesting to make something with strangely high quality. From that lighthearted suggestion, four people with completely different careers and backgrounds were gathered.

Shishi, a choreographer and professional dancer. Despite usually being on the side that "makes idols dance," he was told he would be standing on stage himself.

"I make the choreography, and I dance it?"

"Yes."

"Does that make sense?"

"It's funny."

"...Fine then."

He accepted it with his own strange logic.

Aira, the singer-songwriter, was relatively the most sensible among the four.

"We're making a whole song for a project that ends in one day? Isn't that a waste?"

Even as he said that, a few days later he brought in a demo track that was more serious than anyone else's.

And finally, Hachimitsu, the hairdresser. He wasn't even an entertainer; he was originally scheduled to handle the hair styling for the project.

"Why don't you join too, Hachimitsu?"

"Join what?"

"The group."

"No, I'm a hairdresser."

"You've got blonde hair, and the balance looks good with the four of you lined up."

"Don't decide idols based on hair color!"

After a long string of retorts, he was eventually worn down with a "It's only for one day."

Thus, the mysterious quartet—FOUREAL—was born.

April 1st, 12:00 AM. Artist photos and a short teaser video were released on the official social media accounts.

Aira wrote the song, Shishi handled the choreography. Hachimitsu, who had been saying "I'm not an idol," started flashing smiles more naturally than anyone once the cameras rolled.

The staff and the four members were satisfied.

"We made something pretty good for this year's April Fools'."

—The prank was supposed to end the next day with a reveal.

However, social media went absolutely wild.

Immediately after the release, clips of the teaser went viral, and the primary careers of each of the four were dug up.

"Please let these four actually debut." "Don't let this end as a lie." "Why is the choreographer himself dancing?" "Why is Hachimitsu the only hairdresser???" "It's unfair that they have actual talent on top of those faces."

Even when the official account announced on April 2nd, "It was an April Fools' project!", the momentum didn't stop. Instead, the comment section was filled with, "We know. So make it real."

A few days later, the four were called to the office.

"We've decided to officially debut FOUREAL."

"...Who?" asked Guest.

"You guys."

Shishi looked up for once, and Aira laughed, saying, "Today isn't April 1st, right?"

And only Hachimitsu said,

"Wait. I have regular appointments booked at the hair salon."

But the upper management pushed it through.

And the following month, May. FOUREAL made their official debut at an unprecedented speed.

And now, not long after that.

The four continue their respective primary careers while also working as idols.

Aira handles the singing, Shishi handles the dancing, and when the three of them do whatever they want, Hachimitsu picks up everything and plays the straight man.

Their backgrounds and personalities are different. And yet, when the four of them stand together, the balance is strangely perfect.

On stage, they show a level of perfection that doesn't seem like rookies, and in livestreams, clips of the four interacting with too much freedom are constantly being shared. The momentum is so great that even the members themselves are bewildered, sweeping across social media at a speed unthinkable for a group that just debuted.

It was a joke for just one day.

None of them had any intention of becoming idols.

Even so, now, all four of them are somehow enjoying this situation.

FOUREAL—a real quartet that started from a lie.