I do not own Uta no Prince-sama or Love Live! School Idol Project. This is also posted on my AO3 account.
A mysterious room was pitch black, with the only light illuminating the area being one from a computer screen. In front of the screen, was a middle-aged man with sunglasses and wild red hair who seemed to have been in deep concentration with whatever the computer displayed to him. You can hear his gruff voice of disapproval as he clicked through various videos and photos of young idol groups after another.
Nothing, nothing interested him. None of them held the talent he was looking for, even if their hard work showed with fruits of labor. None of them were ready either for the world he can easily grant them. They had other dreams, dreams not filled with love-filled music and rhythmic dances. Their voices were sweet, yes, but premature and lacked any soul to put in handcrafted music.
This won't be good. He cannot have his agency only go on with what they have. They need a fresher perspective, he need more women in his agency. With male performers dominating his business, how in the name of love itself would he be able to reach forward to everyone?
And that is when he saw it. Sure, their costumes were plain (school uniforms were never good for stage performances) but he felt something rile up in his chest. Yes, yes this is what his company needed. This music was filled with what he needed, and he would make sure these ladies would reach their dreams through music.
Shining Saotome was going to make them into real idols.
Hanayo Koizumi and Nico Yazawa were by far the most nervous out of the group. Hanayo was breathing heavily, her face stricken with panic. Nico Yazawa's red eyes darted across everyone's faces and appeared calm at expression, but her body was shaking erratically.
The rest of the seven displayed their own array of emotions such as excitement, nervousness and slight worry for the two short girls who were the worst out of them. After all, they never expected to be "scouted" per se by one of the most influential talent agencies in Japan.
M's was a popular school idol group at their time, the first nine was brimming with that refreshing and calming energy that just drew people in. All of their different personalities and traits brought them together as one idol group, and it charmed a lot as if all nine were made to sing with each other.
It did not last forever though, as the eldest three had to bid the group adieu by graduating. It was written in the stars, yet everyone chose to ignore it to focus on their goals as idols together. As school idols, they stop being one once they graduate from their last year in high school.
M's became no more, as the six left behind could not bear having that name be without the rest of the original members. The next school year, the newly enrolled Otonokizaka students flooded for a possible spot in the Idol Research Club, and Arisa Ayase and Yukiho Kousaka were let in.
But the depression was still evident in them, even if the remaining M's flashed a smile and continued with their school idol antics. Umi Sonoda began being as invested as she used to be in the Archery Club, Maki Nishikino now seriously worked on her medical training for her future as heir to all her parents could offer; Kotori Minami began wondering about a future in the fashion industry after graduating while Honoka Kousaka was trying her best to show how capable she was as M's leader while worrying about her life after her incoming graduation with Kotori and Umi. Rin Hoshizora had started on participating more in the school's sports festivities and helping out in the different sports clubs.
Only Hanayo Koizumi maintained the strongest hope that M's will form again. Besides, Nico was attending numerous auditions while Eli and Nozomi just continued on in college life worrying about Nico's complete investment on becoming a professional idol. Nico however, knew that becoming an idol alone won't ever feel the same as her group in high school. But the idea stuck with Hanayo that she cannot shake it off during class. What if the nine of them auditioned together, and they can all move on as one group once more. Would it even work? They were fantastic as school idols of course, but do they have the willingness to go on and become professionals?
That was when it started, when Hanayo nervously brought it up in one of their gatherings. The nine girls still met up in the same fast food restaurant and hung out every week, as friends would do.
Nico supported it wholeheartedly, and Honoka was the second to agree, but the rest were unsure with the idea. After all, some of them (such as Maki and Kotori) had already given thought on their future profession. What awaited for the nine of them though, was a decision that came in too fast before all of them could agree on Hanayo's proposal.
They were all scouted for the Master Course in Shining Agency. The Master Course, where new celebrities-in-waiting are trained and crafted for their big debut as professionals in their field, was an enormous opportunity one cannot turn down. That was all it took for the nine of them to be crammed in a bus provided by Shining Saotome to be brought to the Master Course Dormitory.
"Kayo-chin, are you okay?" Rin asked her best friend with worry. The driver had alerted them that they were fifteen minutes away from their destination.
"I-I am fine!" Hanayo stuttered out, still a bit shaky.
"I can't believe this is happening." Eli voiced out her wonder, as the bus neared their stop.
"We were fated for this moment." Nozomi's voice was laced with wistful thoughts. It has been sometime since all of them performed together as M's, and the idea had excited everyone. Eli was comforted by her words, and offered Nozomi a smile.
"We are going down." Umi informed everyone, causing Nico to jump.
Kotori noticing this, asked "Nico-chan, are you nervous?" with her usual high voice.
"N-no! What makes you think that?" Nico denied immediately, but her shaking body gave her away.
"It's childish to deny it. All of us are nervous, so you are not alone." Maki remarked, standing up to get off the bus. Nico fumed at this, but her coming retort was blocked off with the excited shout of Honoka.
"Alright! Let's go!" Honoka lead the way as she grabbed her luggage and started heading out of the bus. They all now stood in front of the gates of the Master Course, and looking at each other with a vague sense of accomplishment, they pushed themselves to go in.