Chapter 80

Synopsis
Kyouko loses confidence in her dreams of becoming an idol when most of her brothers tell her she's not cut out for it. Hoping to lift her spirits again, Chuukichi seeks the aid of the Babysitting Club.

Long Summary
Chuukichi approaches Ryuuichi in the daycare and asks if he knows how to become an idol. Ryuu is surprised with this line of questioning, and asks in turn if Chuukichi was planning on forming an idol duo with Yagi. Chuukichi, patting Taka and Takuma in encouragement of their own big dreams, says that Ryuu is mistaken. He shares the story of an incident that occurred at his home to explain why he wishes to know.

Kyouko was engrossed with an idol anime, mesmerized by the sparkly clothes and dance moves. Suddenly, Kichi and Suekichi barged in and seized control of the TV remote, intending to watch soccer. Shoukichi walked in and took the remote from the twins, planning to use the TV to watch a DVD, only to learn that Daikichi had accidentally destroyed it. Kyouko watched her brothers argue for a while longer before heading into the kitchen to help Chuukichi. She turned down his offer to get the remote back for her in favor of washing potatoes for him. They quietly got dinner ready before Kyouko suddenly asked in earnest if Chuukichi thought she can become an idol. Before he got the chance to answer, their other brothers walked in and expressed clear doubt that Kyouko's wish could come true, while listing their reasons for thinking so. After hearing that she wasn't cute, couldn't dance or perform in front of a crowd, and considered overall boring, Kyouko began tearing up. She ran off crying, her brothers realizing too late how harsh their words were. They sheepishly told Chuukichi that they were only trying to spare her from immense disappointment. Meanwhile, Kyuoko sat in the closet crying, having taken her brothers' words to heart. She truly believed they were telling her the truth, and felt ashamed that she ever thought she could be an idol.

Ryuu is stunned to hear about her brothers' words. Kirin, similarly, is outraged at the story. She insists that Kyouko was extremely cute, which Chuukichi agrees with. Ryuu tells him that he should have just told her so if that is how he really felt, but Chuukichi disagrees. While he has no intention of saying anything cruel, he does not believe in advising anybody on subjects he knows nothing about. Chuukichi thinks that since Kousuke's children at the daycare center, he could learn something about show business by visiting. Usaida states that Asahi was closer to an idol than Kousuke, while Taka exclaims that he would sing. At this moment, Inomata and Ushimaru step inside saying they overheard Kyouko's situation. Ushimaru sympathizes with Kyouko, having admired idols herself as a child. She offers to gather some of her old dresses and let Kyouko try them on.

Later, Suekichi and Kichi suggest to Kyouko that she become a female entertainer in an attempt to cheer her up, but they whisper to each other that Kyouko is not that entertaining. Chuukichi returns home and tells the three that they should go to the daycare center. Kyouko refuses, but Chuukichi lifts her up, determined to bring her there. Ushimaru, Inomata, and the other children greet Kyouko and show her some dresses. Ushimaru smiles as she tells Kyouko that she brought dresses that she cannot wear anymore. Inomata presents dresses that she wore to piano recitals, which shocks Ryuu, who did not expect Inomata to be a pianist. Inomata blushes as she claims that she quit when she was younger. Kyouko begins to cry, saying that she cannot wear them because she is not cute, as Suekichi and Kichi had said. The twins stutter as they attempt to defend themselves, but Ushimaru insists that Kyouko must show her cute side to them. The children also insist that Kyouko is cute. Kyouko asks if she can wear them, and Ushimaru and Inomata immediately agree. They quickly push Chuukichi, Ryuu, Usaida, and the twins outside as Kyouko changes.

Suekichi and Kichi look at their feet as they feel downcast. Ryuu pats their heads, telling them that this is the perfect moment to tell their sister that she is cute. The twins sigh as they explain that they do not have the confidence to lie if they do not believe that she is cute. One of them adds on that Ryuu might be cuter, and Usaida notes that Ryuu is quite cute in female clothing. Ushimaru brushes Kyouko's hair as Inomata looks through the dresses. Even Takuma and Kazuma try on the dresses. After Kyouko is finished changing, Ushimaru opens the door, and Inomata glares at the twins, instructing them to praise her honestly. Kyouko, wearing a dress with bows in her hair and holding a microphone, asks her brothers if she looks weird. Suekichi and Kichi are incredibly impressed, as they tell Kyouko that she looks like a real idol. They pat her hair, telling her that she would be even cuter if she smiled, and Kyouko smiles. She then asks Chuukichi if she looks cute, and Chuukichi responds that he does not know if she looks like an idol, but in his eyes, she always looks cute. The two smile at each other as Chuukichi pats Kyouko's head.

The next day, Yagi asks Chuukichi why he did not invite him to the cute scene, and Chuukichi simply replies that the reason is obvious. Yagi wonders if he would be considered an idol, since people swoon over him all the time, causing Chuukichi to reflect on whether he should oppose Kyouko becoming an idol.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Chuukichi Nezu
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Yagi Tomoya
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Kyouko Nezu
 * Suekichi Nezu
 * Kichi Nezu
 * Shoukichi Nezu
 * Daikichi Nezu
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Kousuke Mamizuka (mentioned)
 * Kisakata Asahi (mentioned)
 * Ushimaru Yuki
 * Inomata Maria