Approximately ten days after filming, a video was uploaded to the Strawberry Productions YouTube channel, which boasted nearly 20 million subscribers.
The video was nothing more than an advertisement for a music academy—the kind of mundane establishment you might find on any street corner. Viewers immediately questioned why such a pedestrian commercial was appearing on the official Strawberry Productions channel.
"Did they get hacked?"
That was likely the first thought in most people's minds. However, not long after the video went live, the reason became clear.
The reason was Hide, who walked onto the screen firmly holding the wrinkled hand of an elderly man weathered by time.
"They say a kite gives birth to a hawk. This gentleman was my kite."
By using that proverb—signifying a commoner raising a genius—the audience realized exactly why the video had been uploaded.
It was a gesture of sincerity, an act meant to repay a debt of gratitude.
It was Hide who sang the opening line. Yet, his solo screen time in the video lasted a mere five seconds.
As soon as Hide's intro ended, the students began to emerge one by one. At first, they sang with textbook precision—perfect, yet utterly boring. Had the flow continued this way, it would have been a forgettable ad, save for those five seconds of Hide's vocals. But then, the atmosphere shifted so abruptly it made people burst into laughter.
The children, who had been singing behind masks of docility, began to run wild like crazed horses.
There was vocal fry that sounded like it would shred their throats, high notes that soared without rhyme or reason, and chaotic dancing that surpassed even Tanaka Shuji's frantic movements, added in like a pinch of spice. And because they weren't actually bad at singing, the strange harmony was almost annoyingly addictive to the viewers.
The crowning glory of this messy video was Hide's own disastrous snake dance. He began to sing while performing a dance that lacked even a shred of traditional form.
Despite being a complete mess, the video made one thing crystal clear: they looked free, and they looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Rock 'n' roll is something anyone can enjoy, regardless of their status. Even the world-renowned Hide of Enfants Terribles was just another common rock enthusiast in this video, refusing to let himself stand out alone.
He was just there, enjoying the music in total chaos.
It looks like a total disaster, but they look so happy. Is this what rock 'n' roll is...?
This was the exact vibe Hide wanted to convey through the advertisement. A boring, static academy? That isn't rock 'n' roll.
"Yeah, this is rock 'n' roll..."
It's idiotic, but it's cool. That was the unanimous sentiment of those who watched the ad.
After the commercial was uploaded, the academy was flooded with calls from those interested in singing. It was a natural result; Hide, the man called the world's greatest star, had personally endorsed it.
Advertising banners featuring Hide's mischievous expression and him flipping the bird were proudly hung in front of the academy. On portal sites like Yahoo!, search terms related to the video hit number one, and the media was aggressively churning out stories about the background of Hide's involvement.
Strawberry Productions was also fanning the flames of this storm to capitalize on Hide's narrative.
"Tell them to distribute more press releases! What? Where?? I don't care if it's Yomiuri or Asahi, just tell them to put it out!"
- Hey, I heard the director of the music academy in the ad took Hide in when he ran away from home and raised him.
↳ Whoa, the narrative is insane.
↳ But why did Hide run away in the first place?
↳ It wasn't running away; Hide abandoned his parents.
↳ A man who changes his own parents. As expected of a Lu Bu-level alpha male like Hide.
- Did the old man in the ad teach Hide how to sing too?
↳ If I learn there, is becoming a world star possible??
↳ Stop talking nonsense lol.
↳ Give it a rest.
- But Hide's loyalty is impressive. It's a connection he could have just buried, but he did an ad for them.
↳ Facts.
↳ Ah... because this is rock 'n' roll...
Rock 'n' roll in the best sense. Hide's act of helping an old connection was being praised by everyone. Above all, in a country like Japan where repaying favors and respecting elders are pillars of morality, his refusal to forget his former mentor garnered massive favor among the older generation.
He has a better heart than I thought.
"A legendary star, but an insolent rascal." That was the prejudice and image most of the older generation worldwide held toward Enfants Terribles, excluding the youth.
Though Hide had done it out of pure goodwill, that sincerity was improving Enfants Terribles' image. Simultaneously, other entertainment agencies were beginning to take an interest in Somnium Music Academy. It was a perfect cycle of positive reinforcement—killing two birds with one stone, or rather, sweeping the yard and finding a coin.
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