Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or setting of this story.
Author's note:
-This story takes place after the events of the movie. Spoilers of both seasons and the movie.
-The narrator is a limited third person narrator. This means that the narrator only follows the thoughts and feelings of one character at a time.
-Each chapter will follow one of the main nine characters, so each girl will be equally important.
Even though the classes had already started, and the other clubs were having a hectic time trying to recruit new members, the Idol Research Club's room was always empty. Well, the room was almost empty, but the club was still alive thanks to two passionate idols.
Every day, Hanayo Koizumi, the new president of the club, waited in their room with Rin Hoshizora for the other members. She felt really lonely because that room was always full with laughs and music in the past, and then, she could barely smile. The only spark of hope that she had in that moment was Rin, who had always been there by her side. She really was her beacon of hope.
"Kayo-chin! What are we doing today?" Rin asked with a huge smile in her face, she stood up jumping quickly. Hanayo knew that Rin was trying to exaggerate her enthusiasm to make her happier. Hanayo was still sitting, with her arms crossed, looking at the floor.
"This room…" she started to say, but then stopped. Rin glanced at her. She decided to finish her sentence. "This room is so… empty. You know? Where is everyone?"
"I'm here! And you are also here, nya!" Rin hugged Hanayo, and she smiled back. "See? You smiled. And we don't need no one else!"
"Should we try to recruit new members?" Hanayo asked. In fact, she didn't want to do that, because when μ's was disbanded, a feeling of 'and now what?' was created. She didn't want to move on and create another group, but neither wanted to stop being an idol. The whole club had already gone through that conversation several times, they agreed to disband μ's but keep being idols. However, why Maki, Honoka, Umi and Kotori never returned to the room? "Maybe we should talk with Yukiho and Alisa? I heard they are starting an idol group".
"I'm happy as long as I can spend my days with you, nya!" Rin answered. Hanayo understood that Rin didn't want to have new members in their club. She looked at Rin and smiled again.
"Do you want to look for idol videos in the computer?" Hanayo asked. She stood up and walked to the desk.
"Yes! Nya, nya, nya!" Rin went to the computer really fast.
They started watching some professional music videoclips and then, through the magic of the 'related videos' section they ended up watching last Love Live's performances. In their performance they sang Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari, which was their most intimate and meaningful song. Hanayo couldn't stop her tears from falling down, she was remembering all the time they spent practicing in their beloved rooftop. She needed to see her friends again. Rin was looking through the window, with a vague look. Hanayo felt that Rin wasn't going to cry, but get really sad instead. And that was way worse than crying, because when you're done crying that's it, but the sad thoughts remain for a long time.
"Rin-chan," she said. Rin looked quickly at her. "We should talk to Maki-chan, make her come back with us," Rin nodded.
When they were in first year Maki was their classmate, and there was only one group for their year. Now, due to the popularity of the school, enough students transferred and the school was able to have two second year classes. Hanayo and Rin were 2-A class and Maki ended up being alone in 2-B.
"And you know perfectly how she is," Rin added. "I'm sure she's not talking to anyone in her class".
"Maybe she feels lonely…" Hanayo replied with her most quiet voice. She was thinking about Maki being alone in her class, without no one to share meals or talk during breaks. It's true that in the beginning Maki was always alone and didn't want to be with them, but after all they have been through together Hanayo knew that her friend had changed.
"We have to talk to her now, nya!" Rin exclaimed with her mouth wide open and a sparkle in her eyes. She took Hanayo's hand and made her stand up, then they started to run, Hanayo's heart was beating really fast. She was going to shout "someone help me!" but she really wanted to go visit Maki.
"That's not the way to her class!" Hanayo yelled, Rin was running really fast while holding Hanayo's hand, and the last one didn't know where they were going.
"I know exactly where Maki-chan is, nya" she replied laughing. And when they arrived there, Hanayo understood everything.
Rin opened the door below the 'Music Room' sign. And there she was, playing the piano.
"Hanayo, Rin," Maki whispered, her eyes opening wide. Rin entered the room first, Hanayo followed her.
Rin went quickly to hug Maki, who was sitting by the piano "nya, nya, nya!" Rin shouted. Maki blushed as soon as Rin touched her. Hanayo hugged the two of them.
"We miss you," Hanayo said.