A/N: Hey everyone, I'll keep this short. This is my first fic I'm posting but it's been a plot I've been contemplating for quite some time. My apologies if I use honorifics incorrectly or the lyrics are not translated correctly – I'm relying heavily on the internet on those for reference, as I do not speak Japanese. There will be romance between female characters and yuri themes throughout the story so if does not interest you, you may want to considering skipping this one.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the MGLN anime, AKB0048, The Idolm ster, or any other songs or lyrics used throughout the story.
Song Reference: Yume wa Nando mo Umarekawaru by AKB0048
Idol Project: Riot Force 6
by: ~Nissanity~
Chapter 1 – Initiative
Hayate sighed with a mixed feeling of relief and anticipation as she took a seat in the producer's booth above the auditorium. Her childhood friend had recently confessed a bold and passionate dream of hers, and Hayate immediately volunteered to help make it a reality. The past three months had been a grueling trial for herself and anyone who had innocently volunteered their time to help achieve this mission, but she knew in her heart that the hard work her friends and colleagues all put in would be rewarded in due time.
It was the day a new group would be formed at Uminari Academy. A group that together would share in the joys, hardships, and successes that her best friend currently faced alone. A new stage was to be set, and those would had the talent and resolve were going to be standing on it, next to one of Japan's hottest and most successful idols.
That is, if they could dare try to keep with up one Nanoha Takamachi...
Nanoha POV
"Next!" Signum's voice boomed across the auditorium, loud enough to be heard clearly by the contestants backstage. Everyone in her immediate area recoiled at the unexpected voice that echoed throughout the building.
I nearly jumped out of my seat with the outburst as well. "Nyahaha, are you intentionally trying to scare the hell out everyone who's auditioning, Signum?" I asked. This was the third time she had a startled me in such a manner.
Signum shrugged slightly. "If they can't handle something like that, then they shouldn't be onstage at all."
I could only nod and smile slightly, and turn my focus back to the next contestant walking onto the stage. She had a point; if Signum's approach made them nervous, then they were in no way prepared for the stressful lifestyle in which they were all so eagerly auditioning for. Her straightforward mindset, along with her talent and experience, were exactly why we had asked Signum, one of the dance instructor's at the school, to assist us at the auditions today.
It was also helpful that Signum was Hayate's older adopted cousin, and would pretty much do anything that Hayate asked of her. I had known Signum for much of my life as well, and our relationship was much more akin to friendship than a student-teacher dynamic.
"Christ Signum, if you shout like that again I'm going to take you out myself," Hayate growled into our headsets from the producer's booth.
The communication system we were using was only capable of one-way transmissions from Hayate in the booth to our earpieces. Signum and I were seated together in the third row of the auditorium that was set up as a judges' area for the auditions.
We had devised a simple response system from ourselves to the occupant seated in the booth: one index finger pointed up in the air meant "yes/understood", and two fingers like a peace sign meant "no/unclear".
I simply held my left index finger up as to say yes, I completely agreed with her statement about Signum's outbursts. I glanced over at Signum, who also had a single finger in the air above her head. It took half a second for me it wasn't her index finger that she had proudly directed in Hayate's direction.
"Signum and her empty promises, I swear..." Hayate trailed off playfully in our ears.
I bit down slightly on my lower lip to suppress an embarrassed giggle and glanced over at Signum, who was slowly lowering her hand. Her eyes were affixed to the stage, complimented with a slight blush on her cheeks, trying to not outwardly acknowledging the statement.
Signum always felt flustered when Hayate, her cousin and seven years her junior, was able to get the best of her through playful innuendo like that.
She cleared her throat twice and announced, "Contestant number 37, Teana Lanster. Thank you for your audition today."
The contestant with auburn-colored hair - dressed in a simple black skirt, black formfitting sleeveless undershirt, sleeveless white vest, and brown accent belt across her hips - had made her way to center stage during Hayate and Signum's last exchange. She was busy having her wireless headset put into place by the stage assistants and finally nodded in agreement to them that everything was placed properly and in working order. The assistants quickly retreated to the wings, leaving Teana alone to face the judges.
"T-thank you for allowing me this chance to audition Yagami-sensei, Takamachi-san," Teana stated into her headset. Her voice echoed through the speaker system, but she did not seem uncomfortable with the projection. I took that as a good sign that she might be familiar with performing on stage.
I was familiar with Teana Lanster as a fellow student of Uminari Academy, two years my junior. Although we had never formally spoke, I had noticed her presence around the school on several occasions. Her hair was usually neat in twintails and bangs trimmed stylishly framing her face. Her uniform always appeared immaculate and her demeanor attempted to portray an aura of confidence. I had always suspected that underneath her rigid exterior though, Teana had some insecurities that she was trying very hard to conceal.
"Let's see, Teana-chan - Oh, is it alright if I address you as that?" I asked. Teana simpled nodded and smiled.
"Okay Teana-chan, it says here on your application you would like to become a songwriter/ music producer someday?"
Teana beamed and nodded again. "Yes, that's correct Takamachi-san. Ever since I started attending Uminari Academy I have studied music theory and composition with that very specific goal."
"And what brings you here to audition for the school's new group?" I was curious to find out her answer, as I'm was sure it would probably be a genuine and well-thought out response.
It was difficult for me to admit, but up to this point not a single one of the prior thirty-six contestants had made a lasting impression on myself nor, I assumed, Signum and Hayate. The previous answers to the same question had ranged from "Because I'm a huge fan of yours, Takamachi-san!" to "I just really want to be rich and famous," and most recently "I would probably land a really hot boyfriend if I became an idol."
Needless to say the performances following these ill-thought out responses were also less than spectacular. "For a school that prides itself on grooming it's students to be top performers in the entertainment industry..." I thought bitterly, but halted my negative internal dialogue when Teana began to speak again.
"I think the only way I can write and produce music for others to perform, would be to first understand what it is like to be a performer. More than anything, I want to bring joy to people through music and to do so, I would like to experience how music is delivered to people from every angle possible."
Teana looked slightly embarrassed in her response but I knew the words she spoke rang true to her feelings. In my heart, I knew that Teana would fit in quite well with the image I had in my mind for this new group that had long possessed my thoughts and dreams. Having a talented songwriter would be a much needed addition to the group, as my strengths lay less in creativity and more with leadership, guidance, and motivation.
"And what song will you be performing for us today?" Signum asked from my side.
I could sense an air of hope from Signum that Teana would become a strong contender for the group, considering what we had seen before, even if she was attempting to mask her intrigue behind her stoic demeanor.
"Yume wa Nando mo Umarekawaru, by Takamachi-San" was Teana's bold reply.
I couldn't suppress the impressed smirk and raised eyebrows that had made their way to my face. This girl was really confident in her abilities to attempt one of my own songs right in front of me. I heard Signum give a slightly amused grunt as she leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms across her chest.
I heard Hayate whistle into my earpiece. "Pretty ballsy. Let's hope she doesn't screw up one of your best songs for all of us, Nanoha."
I simply held up my left hand in the air with index finger extended as the background music I was all too familiar with began to play. Choreography in the initial performance wasn't required but could be incorporated if the performer wished to. I watched as Teana moved gracefully with the beat of the intro music in well-prepared, original steps.
"She has some pretty fluid movements," I murmured. I noticed Signum glance at me, slightly nodding. As the lead choreographer for the new group, I knew she could appreciate these types of efforts and what potential lay in the contestant in front of her.
I leaned forward in my seat as the first set of lyrics were due to start. I had to quell the urge to start singing them myself as was second nature to me.
Yoru no sora kagayaku hoshi wa
(The stars that shine in the night sky)
Nanokukounen no kanata
(Lie billions of light years away)
Tatoe fukai zetsubou ga
(Even if the depths of despair)
Mugen no yami to natte mo
(Should cast an endless shadow)...
I allowed myself to feel a sense of relief to wash over me. Teana not only was performing my song well, but I dare say she was doing a bit better job of it than I ever did. Others might have felt threatened or offended had they been placed in a similar situation to the one I was currently facing, but I felt nothing but excitement.
Teana was giving me a run for my own money, and I knew that was exactly what I wanted when forming this group. I needed to constantly be challenged from those around me to truly feel alive, and in turn bring the best I could offer to my fans.
Knowing in my heart that Teana had secured her rightful place on that stage, I allowed my mind to enjoy her performance and drift off to the time when I first told Hayate about my most persistent lifelong dream...
Three months ago
"Na-no-haaaaa..." Hayate tried unsuccessfully to get my attention for the third time.
"Umhmmm," I replied absentmindedly, transfixed by the beautiful face with long flowing blond hair and burgundy eyes staring back at me from the magazine I was currently reading.
Hayate and I were occupying the private section of the cafeteria the school had constructed for me about two years ago, when it became apparent that my popularity as a Japanese idol was growing quickly and steadily. The section was completely enclosed with a private entrance, but built with windows large enough to see in and out. There was a cafeteria table in the middle, along with a couch on the far wall and a few student desks in the corner in case schoolwork needed to be done.
Usually I try not to take advantage of my status as an idol when at school (or ever really), but sometimes it was necessary just to make life simpler for myself, and more importantly, the special people in my life. Only those with my permission could enter the section so that myself and my friends could enjoy some semblance of a normal lunch, or to hold a study group without constant interruptions from other students.
Even though I appreciated and adored each and every one of my fans, I wasn't comfortable being treated differently by the other students at my own school. Uminari Academy had a strict policy against students treating a fellow classmate like a celebrity, no matter what that classmates status and popularity was. That included not asking for autographs or photos, or excessively embarrassing them with praise and such.
Most students kept mindful of these rules, but on numerous occasions certain students had gone to many lengths to try to befriend me. I was usually able to avoid awkward situations with an overeager classmate trying too hard to get close and insert themselves in my life by simply stating I was too busy to pursue new friendships at the moment (which in reality was mostly true). As long as I was firm and consistent with my answers they usually gave up the pursuit.
"Damnit Nanoha, I somehow feel like I'm going to get pregnant with the way you are staring at her!" Hayate finally exclaimed.
That comment immediately brought me out of my stupor. "W-what?" I said as I felt my cheeks slowly increase in heat. "I'm not... Wait Hayate, how could Fate-chan possibly get someone pregnant?"
Hayate not so gracefully choked on and spit out the soda she had attempted to drink during my particularly naïve moment. She stared at me dumbfounded, slowly wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. It took me a few seconds to realize just how ridiculous my statement had been.
"Tsk, nevermind." I slumped down. "That was dumb."
Hayate grinned and started laughing slightly. "It's okay. Now I just have a really good idea where your brain was exactly while looking through that magazine."
I turned my head slightly to the side, not quite understanding. "Huh, my brain? Well, I was thinking about when Fate-chan used to go to school here..."
Hayate just shook her head at me slowly and moved on. "Yeah, it was only during our first year right? Before she left school and became a professional model. I remember she left after a family emergency happened, but the teacher didn't really tell us any details or anything."
"I remember that too. She was always adorable, with her hair up in those two ponytails. And she was so shy and quiet. Nyahaha, I think I really scared her when I tried to be friends with her! She would always run away from me. Her last name used to be Testarossa, now that I think back." Nanoha glanced at the magazine again.
The model, now known as Fate T Harlaown, was portrayed twice on both sides of the magazine in a double ad from a famous perfume company. One on side Fate was facing away from the camera and was in mid stride, visable from the waist up, in a stylish zip up black hoodie with yellow and red accents. The zipper on the hoodie was three quarters down, revealing a barely-there yellow bikini top underneath.
"Think they're real?" Hayate asked.
"It looks like it," I replied. I unconsciously started to move my finger towards the magazine to touch the area we both eyeing enviously.
Hayate slapped my hand away. "Don't do that, that's too weird even for me."
"Sorry," I said, chewing my bottom lip. The other page showed Fate in the same outfit, but this time with a drastically different pose. Her hands were intertwined in her disheveled hair and she was looking, well, rather seductively towards the camera with her chin slightly raised, full lips parted, and her eyes half open.
Even with her eyes somewhat closed I could still see the same look I had noticed so many years ago when were still children. I always wondered if anyone else saw what I did, or if it was only me who noticed.
"Her eyes... Do you see it too?" I asked absently.
"Huh? See what? They are certainly unique."
"And sad. They always were like that, you know? Like, they seem to store a lot of pain in them." A familiar feeling rushed through my body. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in quite some time but I knew it instinctively.
"I want to save her," was the thought that repeated through my mind, just as it did so many years before.
"It's too bad we couldn't stay in touch with her after she left school. She seemed like she could have used more friends," Hayate said as if reading my thoughts.
"Yeah, but she is a famous model now. Which is great for her of course, but I doubt we would ever be able to get in touch with her or anything."
Hayate slammed her soda bottle down on the table. "Seriously, Nanoha? Seriously! Is this yet another moment where I have to remind you of your own status here on this planet? With one phone call, in five minutes you could probably have Fate's personal cell number, home address, and hell maybe even her measurements if you were so inclined!"
"I think her measurements are right here actually," I stated, flipping to another section of the magazine.
Hayate sighed and stopped my hand from turning any more pages. "Nanoha, you're going to have to help me out with something here."
"What is it, Hayate?" I said, giving my her my full attention since she suddenly sounded serious.
"Why is it so hard for you to embrace who you are? What you are, really? It seems like you have worked so hard to succeed and yet, I don't know. It's almost like you are sacrificing yourself for the happiness of others, and not really doing anything for your own benefit."
I broke eye contact with Hayate as she listed her candid observations of me. She was just too perceptive; I was like an open book to her. I paused for a moment before realizing I should just tell her what had been on my mind for quite some time.
"Hayate, you should know that I do love what I do, and I would do anything for my fans. Despite everything I just... I-I feel so alone sometimes. It's ironic, right? The more people are around me, the lonelier I feel it seems."
"How are you supposed to fix that, I wonder?" Hayate was genuinely concerned, but she couldn't really figure out a solution at the moment to help her best friend.
"Well I do have an idea," I stated. "I don't know if it is even possible, but I'd like to try to see if I can get the school to go along with it. They have been supportive with my career so far, maybe they'll see this as a good opportunity as well."
Hayate raised her eyebrows and nodded in encouragement. "Well?"
"I was thinking of forming a group. Like an all-girl musical group. I want to share my success with others, and have them be a part of the journey with me. I want to belong to something special, not just it being me alone all the time." I was staring at the table, idly rolling a pencil back and forth on the tabletop feeling a bit vulnerable.
Hayate stood up suddenly. "Nanoha, are you kidding me? That's brilliant! It's so brilliant. Oh my gosh, do you even realize the possibilities that -?" Hayate started pacing back and forth in front of me. "You have to tell Linith! She's the head manager, I know she could make it happen in two seconds. And Signum. Yeah, Signum would definitely want to be involved! She's been dying to branch out from her dancing instructor position here. She could be the choreographer. And, and..."
"Hayate?" I started.
"How many girls? Where would you scout from? School you think?"
"Wait, what? I hadn't really gotten that far -"
"You could hold auditions! I'm sure there are plenty of girls here at school with enough talent and just the right look."
"Hold on, Hayate! Nyahaha, you're making me nervous with all your sudden energy." I watched as Hayate refocused her attention on me. "Okay good. Well, it wouldn't mean as much if it were only strangers I was performing with, you know?
"What do you mean?" Hayate looked puzzled.
"Well, I would want to take this on with others I truly care about. Hayate, would you be interested in being the first official member of the group with me, if it ever happened? I already know you can sing, and I'm sure Signum will help you with learning choreography."
I watched as Hayate's mouth fell open in shock. She seemed to be trying to say something but it was apparently lost among her own thoughts. It was the first time I had seen her without words, honestly.
Eventually, I noticed a few tears had formed in the corners of her eyes as she looked down at the floor. She closed her mouth and cleared her throat to regain a bit of composure. Quickly brushing away a tear, she smiled slowly. "Nanoha, you can't be serious about wanting me to -?"
"Hayate, I've never been more serious about anything in my life," I stated firmly, cutting her off. "I can't do this without my best friend by my side. If that curtain ever opens for the first time on this new group, I need you to be right next to me on that stage."
Hayate inhaled deeply, paused, and then made her decision. Approaching me quickly, she grasped my hands into her own as she looked straight into my eyes. "Okay Nanoha, I'll be there with you. I'm going to trust in your vision of this group. So now, I need you to trust me. I will help you make this happen, I swear to you!"
I could feel myself grinning from ear to ear. I knew Hayate would be true to words and that eventually my once distant dream could soon to become a reality. Feeling my own tears forming, I quickly pulled my best friend into a hug.
And through my own tears I simply asked her, "Okay, where do we start?"
A/N: Perhaps a slow start but I am hoping to have a solid foundation for this story. I plan to update with a new chapter every few days when possible. Hope to see you again soon! ~Nissanity~
