Akiomi Kunugi is a teacher at Yumenosaki Academy and works within the business department of Ensemble Square (ES), specializing in idol support and student guidance. He employs a deliberately strict teaching approach, informed by his background as a former idol and model, to foster student growth. **Background and Early Career** Akiomi started as a child model, earning the moniker "The Sparkling Prince" and achieving top status in his generation. He transitioned to gravure modeling in middle school but became disillusioned due to workplace backstabbing and diminishing opportunities as he aged. Inspired by idol Jin Sagami, he enrolled at Yumenosaki Academy to become an idol. His modeling career concluded after an incident where he aided younger models Izumi Sena, Makoto Yuuki, and Arashi Narukami, resulting in professional reprimands and cementing his shift to idolhood. He debuted as an idol during the stagnant "Idol Winter" era, performing both solo and in units, occasionally incorporating comedy. Media outlets positioned him as Jin's rival, leading to forced joint TV appearances designed to showcase Jin's superiority. Akiomi retired after aging out of the industry due to insufficient work. **Personality and Teaching Philosophy** Akiomi presents as stern, high-strung, and sarcastic, often utilizing punitive authority to prevent students from repeating his past mistakes. This demeanor stems from trauma experienced in the modeling industry and a self-imposed "villain" role. He remains deeply concerned with self-image, partly due to lingering insecurities from modeling, and maintains a professional rivalry with Jin. He rarely shows satisfaction, typically expressing anger, indifference, or annoyance. Beneath his strict exterior, he prioritizes student welfare. He reminds idols they deserve normal high school experiences and intervenes to guide troubled students, exemplified by forming the temporary unit *Ba-barrier* during Project Saga. He recruited the misfit idols Mika Kagehira, Sora Harukawa, and Madara Mikejima, leveraging their poor reputations to broaden their perspectives and teach teamwork. Despite manipulative tactics, his intentions were altruistic. **Relationships** * **Jin Sagami**: Akiomi idolized Jin as a student, emulating his overwork ethic. Post-retirement, their dynamic shifted to professional rivalry, though Jin acknowledges Akiomi's support for young idols. * **Former Modeling Juniors**: He protected Izumi Sena, Makoto Yuuki, and Arashi Narukami as children, causing friction with his agency. Arashi developed unrequited romantic feelings for him, which Akiomi avoids addressing to protect her reputation. * **Students**: He mentors with strictness but offers behind-the-scenes support, such as helping Madara Mikejima find solo work while reminding him "people cannot live alone." Problem students like Mitsuru Tenma and Shinobu Sengoku find him intimidating, though he advocates for their growth. **Appearance** Akiomi has short brown hair and light purple eyes, wearing thin-rimmed glasses. His standard teaching attire consists of a brown suit, wine-colored vest, green tie, and silver watch. For *Ba-barrier* performances, he wears a navy blazer with golden embellishments, a dark gray turtleneck, and white trousers. **Name Significance** His first name, 章臣 (Akiomi), combines "chapter" (章), reflecting studiousness, and "retainer" (臣), alluding to loyalty to Jin. His surname, 椚 (Kunugi), references the Japanese sawtooth oak tree.