The Shinonome Laboratories resembled a matte painting. The watercolor world's front doorstep invited the audience into a house where anything could happen. The sun was shining brightly, the camera was in focus, and a chorus of voices waited just off the edge of the page for the most important person of the evening to arrive. The stillness, heavy with anticipation, broke, as the voices rang out.
\Akkari~n!/
A middle school girl, her bright red hair tied into rounded shapes on the side of her head, popped up from the bottom of the camera's line of vision. "Hey!" she said enthusiastically, a faint ennui detectable underneath, "'Akari's Ordinary Life' is now starting!" She looked behind her, noticing the scenery was different than usual.
"Wait, this isn't our clubhouse!" Akari said. "Can we try that again?" The camera nodded, and the picture started to fade to black. Akari could be heard clearing her throat behind the darkness, getting herself into position. The lights turned back on.
\Mai-chan!/
The scenery hadn't changed at all. A girl with long, black hair, glasses and a godlike poker face, stood up before Akari, completely obscuring her. "Hey. 'Akari's Ordinary Life' is about to begin," she held up a Buddha statue to the camera, waiting for the first chapter to begin.
"My name's in the title this time! I deserve to be acknowledged!" Akari protested. She could already hear the music starting to play. She would have to take her complaints to the main program.