[Amai Yume]

I do think that her ero-kakkoi image got her noticed more but looking at sales, her sexier singles didn't really beat out her other ones.

Yume no Uta / Futari de...
Koi no Tsubomi
you
etc...

So I agree that Maki seems interested in getting away from her old cute image in order to be taken seriously as a "Real artist" and from pics we're getting, it looks like we'll see sexy Maki. However...I know a lot of fans on forums and stuff are dying for a return to ero-kakkoi from Kumi but it seems like the fans in Japan aren't going for it. Thus would having Maki go sexy really help them profit? Luckily she's already built a name for herself so it's not like they are starting from scratch. It's a lot to wonder about but namely, Maki is Maki and Kumi is Kumi. There is no second Kumi...she's the one and only. As for Maki, I think we need to see how well the 1st single does. If it does gain popularity, then of course avex will attempt to capitalize on it but if not...