Mikan's Song

By Ria Rie

In the world of music and pop makers, Mikan Sakura is now living her dream. Her music and her fans are everything to her. Everyone can say that she is almost the happiest and the most contented girl in the world – except for one thing: her raven-haired prince hasn't met her, yet.

Verse 1, Stanza 1– The Familiar Tune

The M-shaped stage was filled with colorful bright lights. The band and the back-up singers were all set in the V-space of the platform as the opening song began to play. As Japan's Angelic Pop Idol moved up the stage, the crowd went wild and uncontrollable. Teenage fans, mostly females, danced with the beat as the singer/songwriter Mikan Sakura sang the first five lines of her hit number one song, Change.

Change, nabika nai nagasarenai yo

Change, I won't be bent and I won't be dragged along

Ima kanjiru koto ni sunao de itai no

I want to stay honest to how I feel now.

Change, nan do demo umarekawaru no

Change, no matter how many times I'm reborn

Kanashimi mo dakishimete

I will embrace my sadness

Hashiri dasu yo…

As I run…

"Are you having fun, Tokyo?" the young brunette energetically up roared her audience. The crowd quickly replied with screams and shouts of 'Hai, Mikan!' and 'Rock on, Mikan-chan!' Those were just the opening lines of the song, but the venue grounds felt like shaking. If people are unfamiliar with it, they will think that a high-intensity earthquake just had struck Tokyo.

Kanashii uragiri ni atte

I was sad when you betrayed me,

Torawarenai atashi ga koko ni iru

But you couldn't catch me; I'm right here.

Tari nai tsukinai nan date

It's not enough and there's no end to it.

Motto hizuma sete yo

Try distorting me even more.

(Takaru) Okashi konna sekai jan

(Infest) This is such a crazy world,

Jibun ga dare na no ka wakaranaku naru

Sometimes it makes me lose sight of who I am.

Wafuu ni hanaritakunai ka

Do you want to leave the traditional ways?

Kimetsukenai de yo

Just don't make that decision for me.

Uchi no michi wo yuku no

I'm going down my own path.

Soko ni itatte, matteitatte

Just standing around waiting,

Nani mo hajimarenai

Never put stuff into motion.

The pretty pop star flew up in the air as the crowd went in awe seeing their idol fly like an angel (it was really a big thanks for the harness strapped on her, though). Her adorable pink knee-length spaghetti dress matched her white angelic wings and boots, while her hair was tied into cute pigtails. Seeing her performing in midair is priceless, the audience thought.

Change, nabi kanai nagasarenai yo

Change, I won't be bent and I won't be dragged along.

Ima kan jiru koto ni sunao de itai no

I want to stay honest to how I feel now.

Dareka no omoi-doori ni wa sasenai wa

I won't let you have your way, oh

Change, nan do demo umarekawaru no

No matter how many times I'm reborn

Kanashimi mo daki shimete

I will embrace my sadness

Hashiri dasu yo

As I run

Anata no moto ni wa

Never again will I

Mou kaerenai wa

Return to your side.

Atashi wa atashi rashiku

I'm gonna do things my way

I wanna change…

I wanna change…

All sounds and screams stopped.

"MIKAN! MIKAN! !"

"Huh? Ah!" A loud thud was heard.

"Ouch! That was painful!" the young brunette said as she sat up, finding herself on the other side of the bed.

Her cellular phone continued ringing with Hotaru's cold voice almost screaming her name. It takes an awful time to wake Mikan up; so her best-est friend recorded that in order for the sleepy head to wake up. Frantically, hearing Hotaru's murderous voice is somehow creepy, but this method usually works for the brunette.

"He-Hello? H-Hotaru?" asked the light-headed pop star.

"You're close to being late. Hurry up or I'll shoot you again, dummy."

"Heh, jeez Hotaru calm down. You're giving me creeps. I'll be there in 20 minutes, okay?"

"Yeah right."

"Oh and by the way good morning-"

Hotaru's phone hangs up.

Ten minutes had passed…

It's a sunny Wednesday morning. Mikan stepped out of her penthouse apartment to breathe the fresh morning air. She is wearing a cute blue tube dress with yellow-laced cardigan. She had simply chose a cute blue-and-white-striped flat shoe to complement what she's wearing. Her hair is tied up like a bun.

Tokyo's streets may be full of smog, unlike the beautiful scent of air in the province, but Mikan didn't mind it all. For 17 years she had been living in this city, the young brunette had always loved its busy and crowded streets. When she looked at her QandQ Limited Editon Floral watch, it read 08:30 AM. "Guess I'd just take my breakfast at Hotaru's studio!" Mikan happily exclaimed.

"Imai-san! The set is ready!" declared Hotaru's assistant, Nonoko Ogasawara.

Hotaru Imai is a big-time professional photographer. Despite of her young age, 18 to be exact, she already earned numerous awards in her chosen field. Right now, she is known as the 'Photographer to the Stars' as she is the very first person who had the most celebrity clients across the globe, not to mention a great number of Hollywood stars in L.A. Why she's here in Tokyo? Well, no one ever knows what's exactly on her mind. Some people says that she's taking a break and will be back in L.A. in a couple of months, but some says that since her best friend Mikan is now a star in Tokyo, it will give her large bucks as she becomes Mikan's official photographer. Whether for personal reasons or not, Hotaru Imai will sure to earn bags of money wherever she goes.

"We'll just have to wait for the dummy to arrive. At the meantime, please gather all the pictures I took from her concert last night," Hotaru said without taking off her face in front of her laptop.

"Hai, Imai-san. I'm sure those photos will earn a lot!" her assistant said excitedly.

Well, Nonoko was never wrong about that. Number one, Hotaru is a famous professional photographer, so all the clients will surely buy her best shots. Number two, Mikan Sakura is Japan's Angelic Pop Idol, period. And number three, Hotaru is Mikan's official photographer, which means she is the only one who had the privilege and be able to get all the best angles she wants for the perfect Mikan snapshot.

As Hotaru's assistant enthusiastically paced to the developing room, Hotaru caught a glimpse of her best friend running towards her.

"Hotaru!"

Instead of receiving Mikan's warm embrace, Hotaru moved to her side which left her best friend stumble on the floor. The whole studio heard the loud crash, and the next thing that happened? Well, Mikan was already on the cement floor, facing the ground.

"Ho-Hotaru? What was that for?" the poor teary-eyed Mikan said.

"I told you before, you're 17 and it's time for you to grow up, even a little bit," the cold Hotaru replied.

Hotaru had always known that Mikan is just being sweet to her, but her best friend's childish attitude often irritates her.

"But I'm already grown up," Mikan sheepishly answered.

"Tch. You're a 10-year old dummy trapped in the body of a 17-year old," Hotaru said while looking through Mikan's eyes with her piercing violet eyes.

"B-But-Ah! Are those photos from my last night's concert? Please let me see them Nonoko-chan!" Mikan's attention suddenly diverted to her pictures. Hotaru just shrugged.

"Let me see them! Let me see them!" she excitedly exclaimed and as she flickered a pair of puppy eyes to her photographer/best friend.

"Ogasawara-san, let her see them," Hotaru told her assistant.

Nonoko gladly handed over the photos to Mikan. The pop star singer gazed at them with amusement, one by one. Obviously, Mikan liked it a lot, Hotaru thought.

"Imai-san, since Ms. Sakura has arrived, shall we start the photo shoot?" Nonoko asked.

"Of course, Ogasawara-san. Let's grab the chance while she still has that big smile," Hotaru told her, smiling.

Song credit: Change by Miwa, Naoki-T