Chapter 2
Proper Introduction
**Next day at Otonokizaka**
Kotori and Umi noticed that Honoka was feeling very determined to prove the bluenette dude wrong and with Izumi hearing it, lowered her head with shame because of her actions. She thought that the auburn haired girl was embarrassing herself, while Kotori reprimanded her.
"Calm down Honoka-chan! Can you tell us what's going on?"
"I'm going to become a school idol!" Honoka declared. "To help prevent the school from closing down!"
"Umm...I heard that in a idol group, There is more then one member," Kotori replied sheepishly while chuckling nervously, the aura of determination that Honoka has displaying practically blazing around them.
"But we are only a few and it's just the three of us!" Umi frowned and then huffed as she asked a question, "How's your end Kotori?"
"I'm fine, thank you Umi-chan," Kotori replied with a smile. "While I was thinking about it, to me...it sounded like a really good idea if we think about it. What about you?" She looked at the blue haired girl, who seemed to be stressed.
"Its good actually, but we need a good plan. *Groan* Anyway, what about you Honoka, how's your end from yesterday?" Umi asked while keeping an eye on her, in order to keep her calm.
"I've decided...to become an idol!"
"And, she didn't answer my question..." Umi muttered silently and she sweat dropped. "I thought we talked about this earlier. You still want to do it?"
"Honoka-chan seemed pretty determined," Kotori replied.
Umi groaned mentally as she combed a bit of her long blue hair. The gray haired girl then asked Honoka by a guess, "Have you met someone?"
"As a matter of fact, I have," Honoka replied. "I don't know his name, but he goes to a different school."
"Ohhhh, a guy?" Kotori asked, curious. She was surprised that her best friend just met a guy in interaction and Umi was curious about him, "So, Honoka. What does the guy look like?"
"He had short dark blue hair and was wearing a uniform that looked professional," Honoka answered.
"Almost the same as yours Umi-chan." Kotori then playfully touched her hair, which made friend flustered and embarrased at the comparisons.
"Cut it out Kotori!" Umi shouted as the positive girl stopped touching her hair. "What's your first impression then?"
"He...was sort of offensive," Honoka replied. "I showed him the flyer and then he just told me that it's a waste of time."
"Oh..." Kotori actually felt sorry for her and then said with assurance, "Don't worry Honoka-chan, I know that you can do it and save our school."
"I told you, recruiting is difficult." Umi said with a shrug, because she knew that it was going to be hard.
"I know, but if it's for the school, I'm going to do it, no matter what!" Honoka said with determination.
"Um, a question Honoka-chan. Who would be your members then?" Kotori asked in a curious manner, while tilting her head and her brown eyes staring at hers.
Honoka froze at what her friend has said. Nothing came out of her mouth other than, "Uhhh..."
Umi puts her hands on her hips. "You have no idea do you?"
Honoka then thought hard with nothing coming up in her head as she sat down in her armchair and groaned. "Nothing is coming out for an idea..."
"Don't worry Honoka-chan," Kotori patted her shoulder, "I'm sure you'll get the idea soon enough."
At Yamigara, Tsuyoshi and Sousuke were now just waiting for class as they discussed things outside before they would go in separate ways. "Sousuke?"
"Hmm? What is it?" His friend turned to him. "Is there something you need?"
"After school, wanna go to Akihabara?" Tsuyoshi suggested, because he would feel guilty leaving the megane alone.
"Sure, but what are we gonna do there?" Sousuke asks.
"I want...to see that girl..." Tsuyoshi responds while picturing the ginger haired girl in his mind.
"The one that you offended yesterday?" Sousuke asked while adjusting his glasses in a comfortable position before smiling. "You really want to correct your mistakes. Do you?"
"Of course I do!" Tsuyoshi replied, determined to correct his wrong acts and then sighed. "But, I don't even know her or who she is. I never even got her name.
Sousuke gave him a pat on the back and shrugged. "Let's go, buddy. I want to meet this girl, too."
"We shall, but for now, we have to go to our respective classrooms." Tsuyoshi answered as he checked out his wrist watch and smiled at his best friend megane. "Be careful of those glasses." He chuckled, making Sousuke give him an annoyed look for awhile.
The two arrived in the classroom just in time as soon as the bell rang. While lectures were going on, Tsuyoshi could only think about the girl and what he would properly say to her once he meets her.
Who are you? His mind wandered as he thought of the girl and sighed, thinking that he might not see her again filling his conscience before he shakes the thoughts out of his head. "What have I done? She would haunt me for the rest of my life!" He sighed in quiet exaperation as he thought about it too much, 'Curse my words of bad luck! I'm sorry to the Gods above!'
After class, Tsuyoshi then went to Sousuke's class as he was also finished with class.
"Come on, Sousuke," Tsuyoshi ordered, "We've got to find that girl!"
"Wait!" Sousuke was being dragged and was freaking out as they were going to the train station at Ikebukuro, seeing that Tsuyoshi was determined to see the girl again.
The ride didn't take long to get to their destination.
At the train station, Sousuke groaned as he dusted himself off and shut himself up as he got something from his phone. Tsuyoshi then wondered why he did that.
After arriving in Akihabara, Tsuyoshi leads his friend towards the front of a girl's school. Sousuke as dumbfounded by this.
"This is the place where I met this girl," Tsuyoshi explained.
"So, this is where you met that girl?" Sousuke asked, feeling so confused because its very different, they even saw UTX which was a large Co-ed building, though they just passed by.
"Yes and I have to confess my sins!" Tsuyoshi raised his hands in the air, making the security guard of Otonokizaka snicker at his way of "apology". He didn't know that one of the girls friends might see him and the megane.
Kotori was walking alone when she looked up to see two guys talking.
Umi was actually in the school practicing her archery because she had to be sharp as ever.
Sousuke was actually observing that this girl was going to her workplace and tapping the bluenettes shoulder. "Tsuyoshi?"
"Oh, yes?"
"Are you alright? You're staring into space." Sousuke says, as he adjusts his glasses once more.
Tsuyoshi was being seen by people and groaned because of the embarrassing scandal he has done. They had to make the excuse that this dark blue haired guy is practicing acting way too much.
"Maybe we should buy some drinks. I'm parched." The green haired guy suggested, seeing that possibly Kotori went into a maid café. Who knows what she'll do there
**Maid Cafe**
"Welcome back, Mas-" Before the girl could finish, she gasped at the sight of the two guys in professional uniforms. Are...are those the guys that Honoka-chan was talking about?
"This is a maid café? I've never enter this place Sousuke." Tsuyoshi then saw that the maid was looking at them. "Miss?" He would call her for an order while the megane took a seat while he was relaxing. He saw two girls talking. One has a orange hair and the other, golden brown.
'I wonder who these girls are,' Tsuyoshi thought to himself.
They were just chatting while Sousuke found it weird that one always had a "nya" at the end of the sentence while the other was eating her onigiri (1) as they were discussing about showbiz stuff.
The best maid then asked to the musician, "Master, your order?"
"Just some frappe." He requested, And stop calling me Goshojin-sama (2)! It's too weird for my taste and I'm not even rich dammit! I don't even have my own house, car and I still rent an apartment, paying the train tickets. Heck, I even go to the supermarket for food! He did feel a bit uncomfortable because its his first time to be there and yet he didn't show it.
After ordering, Tsuyoshi and Sousuke sat there, but the dark bluenette couldn't help but look at the maid with ash-brown hair. Unbeknownst to him, there were two other people sitting just two tables behind them. A violet haired girl looked up from her menu as her blonde haired frien did the same thing.
"Hey Tsuyoshi," Sousuke asked after having ordered a carrot cake and drinking water. "What's with that glare of the girl?"
The maid, better known as Minalinsky was entertaining the customers there.
The blonde as well, while ordering her snacks along with her twintailed friend.
"I want to make friends with her." Tsuyoshi thought before calling her over. "Excuse miss, can I talk to you for a minute?"
The girl looked at him and was inspecting him. This dark blue haired man... Could this be the one Honoka-chan talked to?
"Sure."
Tsuyoshi lead the ash brown haired girl to the back.
"Do you know that auburn haired girl?" Tsuyoshi asked, sipping his frappe as he had left his wallet to Sousuke, who was actually looking around, loving the cafe. He heard that they are talking about this newly named school idol group and wonders, 'Idols again? Now who are they?'
"Y-yes, I do," the ash-brown haired girl answers.
Tsuyoshi then sighed in relief and closed his eyes as he apologized."I am so sorry for making fun of her!" He even bowed rapidly.
The maid, stands frozen for a bit. "Why?"
"For baffling her! Its my fault!" Tsuyoshi kept on bowing fast, even if that drained his energy.
She still stared at him in a very observant manner before asking him, "Who are you?"
"... I'm just a student of Ikebukuro." Tsuyoshi got up and then, sighed as he turned his back. "Tell her that, this bluenette says sorry." After those words he went inside and girl stood there confused, before returning inside as well.
Sousuke then hoped that none were observing them.
The ash brown haired girl then observed that the boy had not yet paid his bills as she called him out. "Sir!" Usually, maids in this café calls them "master", but this is not the case this time. "What about your pay?"
"... My friend has money and I'll go back there."
At Sousuke, he checked his wristwatch and saw that it was 7:00 PM and he was waiting for Tsuyoshi. "Come on Tsuyoshi... We have to go back to Shinjuku." He muttered to himself in a soft manner.
As he said that, he acknowledge that Tsuyoshi was now there and nodded as the two head back to their place after they paid their bills.
**Meanwhile, Kotori and Honoka's scenario**
The girl, now at home, was now going to call her friend and was going to tell the news.
"Come on Honoka-chan, pick up." Kotori muttered as she held her phone close to her ear. Currently, she was in her room.
*click*
"Hello?" Honoka says from the other line.
"Its me Honoka-chan. I've seen that boy you mentioned," Kotori informed as she was actually wanting to give her some info about him.
Honoka quickly sat up from her bed. "What!? You did? What did he say?"
"He wanted to apologize and I think that he regretted it." Kotori told her as well that his way of apology was somewhat too funny due to the fast bows.
"Oh, really?" Honoka thought about what he said the other day. "He wanted to apologize?"
"Yes," Kotori replies. "So, he wanted me to pass the message to you."
"I see," Honoka then smiles and sees that relief. "Did you get his name?"
Kotori didn't convince him and she sighed, "No."
Honoka bit her lip as she shifted herself a bit. "We've got to find him."
"Why?" Kotori asks in curiosity.
"He might help us form a school idol group."
Kotori gasps. "Huh? Can we really do that? He goes to a different school!"
"It doesn't matter!" Honoka wanted to get this man of Yamigara to save them, "We have to know where he is."
"He just told me that he is just a student of Ikebukuro." Kotori informed.
"Ikebukuro?" Honoka then realized that he might go to school there, though she didn't know what school he attended.
"We have to find that guy tomorrow!" Honoka declared.
"But what if we don't see him tomorrow?"
"I'm sure that he will, after school!" Honoka felt that she could try to talk to him tomorrow, though they'll try to recruit the first years soon. "I'll call Umi-chan."
**Umi's Room**
The bluenette heard her phone ringing, quickly picking it up. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Honoka," the ginger replied from the other line. "Kotori-chan found the man. He goes to Ikebukuro."
"Wait what?" Umi was surprised by announcement. "Ikebukuro? That's a 23 minute train ride with an additional 17 minutes to go to the train station by foot."
"So that's forty minutes?" Honoka echoes at the total time they'll consume. "Well then, we might as well take our chances."
"No way!" Umi cried. "We don't even know this man!"
"Awwwww. Kotori-chan said that he wants to say I'm sorry to me," Honoka felt too excited to go to the place, "We have to!"
"How will you know if he is good or bad?" Umi asked, still having her doubts.
Honoka stopped for a second. She does have a point, she thinks to herself.
"We may know the place, but we don't know the people," Umi reminds her since not everyone is friendly in Ikebukuro, "Are you sure about your decision Honoka?"
"Yes! I want to meet him!" Honoka says with determination
"We don't know where he lives either," Umi sighed as she shook her head, "I should call Kotori to see if she knows a school of Ikebukuro... "She paused for a bit and then huffed as she continued, "... After all, our principal is her mother."
"Then, we should do that." Honoka agreed with Umi's suggestion.
Umi nodded and then cut off the conversation with Honoka as she then dialed Kotori's number, breathing in and out due to her nervousness to face a stranger soon.
**Kotori's scenario**
After she called Honoka, Kotori heard the phone ring again as she rushed in again as her mother was actually thinking, 'You seem to be active of saving the school aside from Honoka-chan, Kotori. I really wanna say that, you definitely want to go to school here and you don't want the school to be closed down for good.' After those words, she left with a smile, while she was looking out when the door was open.
She answered the phone again.
*Click*
"Minami residence, Kotori speaking."
"Its me, Umi." The girl replied while groaning at what Honoka was thinking about this plan.
"Umi-chan," Kotori was surprised that its almost late at night and she is calling in the same topic... Maybe, "Why are calling this late?"
"Its Honoka," Umi then rustled her long hair, a bit frustrated, at the situation to come. "She want us to go to Ikebukuro and we don't know who that person is and we don't have anyone connected there."
Kotori chuckled at the frustrated tone of Umi, understanding why she acted the way she did. Honoka did make a rushed decision that surprised both of her best friends, as well as being a reckless choice.
"Well, Honoka-chan would do everything in order for our school to be saved. Even if we did go to other schools." She explained a bit about Honoka's brash decision.
"But we don't know what we will do there!" Umi frowned, trying to calm herself down. "Besides, if our purpose is to save our school, why should we go to Ikebukuro when we have our schoolmates in our school?"
Kotori then sighed as she then slumps in bed, "You do have a point Umi-chan. But this is Honoka-chan we are talking about. Once she makes a decision, she'll stick to it."
Umi groaned, knowing that Honoka wouldn't change her mind and she couldn't believe that she was agreeing to this situation. "You are right about that Kotori. Maybe we should stick to what Honoka's decision is and support it." She smiled.
"Umi-chan, its getting late, you should rest and I'll talk to my mother if she knows about this school in Ikebukuro that this man said that he was a student for." Kotori suggested, reminding Umi that it was getting late.
"Alright Kotori. You take care of yourself as well." Umi nodded and then reminded her about health, hanging up and their conversation coming to an end.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
The positive girl smiled and put the phone in its proper place as she went to her mother's room, wanting to talk about going to another place. At the front of her mother's room, who was named Satsuki Minami, heard knocking on her door while she was thinking about the possible situations that won't make their school closing down.
"Mama, its me. Kotori. May I come in?" She heard her daughter's voice as she stood up and folded her glasses, hanging them in front of her shirt and went to the door, opening it and giving her daughter a warm smile.
"Kotori my dear. What can I do for you?"
"Its about saving the school still." She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, feeling that she might be disturbing her. But for Ms. Minami, she didn't think that way and told her daughter to come in, going inside while sitting down her bed.
"What about the school?" She looks her that she wanted to know if Kotori had an idea.
"Mama," Kotori asked with a sheepish smile, chuckling nervously because of the idea Honoka had in mind. "I just want to know if you have gone to Ikebukuro before and visited a school there."
The mother was actually surprised that her daughter was curious about her doings in going there. "My daughter, why did you ask that?"
"Because Honoka-chan met a guy that went to a different school and told me that he is a student there," Kotori replied truthfully and faced her mom. "She said that his uniform is so professional-like."
"Ahhhhh... I see," Satsuki nodded as she thought for a moment, remembering some students who dressed up like that man. "He is schooled at Yamigara Academy, a very prestigious school in Ikebukuro."
Kotori was surprised that Honoka faced a man that was rich, but they didn't know that he was a scholar due to his status as a prodigy. No one knows why though. She only listened and her mother continued. "The musical instruments, the studio, sound equipments are world class and they even have a stage that is equivalent to an orchestra. The people there are very professional and mostly, the rich people school there and are also the competitive, hard working and the excellent schooled types there. I've seen the faculty and some students that are very professional in attitude and quite mature. I visited there once when we were starting to decline in expenses. They have students from around the world as well."
Kotori heard everything her mother had said and was quite impressed. "Thank you for the info mother. I'm sure that this will help a lot." She stood up and went to her, giving her a hug as her mother returned her embrace before departing.
As Kotori left the room, Satsuki then worked for a bit and thought, They even have a scholar there. I'm sorry if I can't tell you this my daughter because I'm not even sure as well. But, this student is definitely a mystery if the rumors are true about Yamigara having a prodigy. She didn't know that they have hidden this boy to the public.
**Later After School (Next day, afternoon)**
Honoka, Umi and Kotori ran out of the school to get to the train station.
"We have to hurry!" Honoka says. "Or we might lose him!"
Tsuyoshi saw that it was afternoon and he was waiting for Sousuke to be done because of him being a senior.
"Did you ask your mother where he schooled?!" Umi asked the ash-brown haired girl, as they ran, being faster and having more endurance compared to Honoka and Kotori.
"Yes!" Kotori replies.
"Where?!" Honoka was getting more curious and excited as this was a big opportunity to see that dark blue haired guy.
"Yamigara Academy!" Kotori answered and then explained of what her mother knows, "It's said that the school is like the premiere school for musical and artistic elites. Only the competitive can enter there and the school is world class!"
The three of them got on the train on time as it headed towards their destination. Umi was feeling even more nervous about confronting this man.
Honoka was getting more excited on seeing the man again, thanks to Kotori's news. As for Ash gray haired girl, she was just wondering about his uniform and his acts.
'Ikebukuro. It's been awhile since I visited here with you mom,' Kotori thought as she was looking at the view of the place, the train operating and running. She was now feeling a nostalgia vibe when she was young.
**Ikebukuro Station**
40 minutes had passed (3), Honoka and her friends had finally arrived at the urbanized area of Ikebukuro, which was at Toshima. Umi was starting to feel uncomfortable thinking they might get lost along the way.
"Honoka," The blue haired girl was not talking to her, "We are at Ikebukuro. Do you think that asking the people around here would be safe?"
Just then, Honoka stopped abruptly at the sight of the familiar man walking.
"That's him!" she exclaims.
"Honoka, wait!" Umi tries to reach for her, but the ginger was already too far ahead.
The dark blue haired man was actually going home to Shinjuku, as the green haired megane was feeling that someone would pounce them. But, that's not the case.
Kotori sweat dropped at the determination Honoka had put in while Umi was surprised that she was running fast as she followed them.
"Excuse me!" Honoka called out, hoping that the man would hear her before she loses him.
"Tsuyoshi," Sousuke poked his shoulder as he saw Honoka, going to them along with her friends and making him turn around, shocking him because he had his headphones on.
'That...girl, he thinks. And then it hit him. He remembered that he was going to apologize to the girl as soon as they met again, so he ran toward her.
"Miss!" he says as he stops when the girl does. "I'm sorry!"
"Honoka!" "Honoka-chan!" The two girls called out as they also saw the megane, who was scratching his head and sighed.
"It's okay." Honoka smiled at him, giving him relief in his chest, "One thing that matters is -"
"I think that we should introduce ourselves." The guy suggested as he removed his headphones and paused his music. Although Honoka got annoyed as he cut off her speech, she knew that he was focused on something else.
"I'm Tsuyoshi Saito and this is my friend, Sousuke."
"Hey." The megane greeted them with a smile, "Sousuke Matsunaga is the name."
"Oh," The girl then offers a handshake to him with enthusiasm, "I'm Honoka Kosaka and these are my friends." She looks at the blue haired girl and the ash haired girl, causing the other girl to shake in nervousness while the ash brown haired girl introduced herself. She may have seen them, but she put the issues aside, despiting being a bit uncomfortable though no nervousness showed.
"I'm Kotori Minami." She waves her hand to meet, "Nice to meet you, Tsuyoshi-kun and Sousuke-kun."
"I-I'm Umi Sonoda," the blue haired girl introduced in a very nervous manner, making the male bluenette chuckle when he faced her. She was definitely shy to any new people she meets, "It's a...p-pleasure to meet you."
"We almost have the same hair color," The man, now known Tsuyoshi Saito remarked as he observed her long hair before finishing with, "Though mine is a bit darker than yours."
"H-h-huh?" Umi then faced the musician, shocked by his words. The same words as Kotori.
"What brings you girls here in Ikebukuro?" Sousuke asked as he adjusted his glasses.
"We want to ask you for our help," Honoka replied as she held up the flier. "We want you to help us become school idols!"
"Yes! Our school is on the verge of closing down! Please, help us!" Kotori was even requesting and pleading that they want help.
Tsuyoshi held the flyer and Sousuke then had to face him because it was his choice if he wanted to join or not. He faced her in confusion because this was unexpected and Sousuke already said no.
"Well, should I?"
"Yes! Please?" Honoka gave him a look that combined pleading and cute with her eyes, his answer? He only gave it to her and sighed while lowering his head. "I'm sorry."
Sousuke seemed to know why.
"Come on, these girls really need your help," he whispered into his ear while the girls were listening.
"But I can't join in! Because an idol group requires one gender and mostly, it's not in a mixed group. In most case, lt's all women or rare cases, men." He whispered to Sousuke, the girls disappointed due to his body language that implied that its a no. He huffed, as he turned to face them. "Girls, I'm sorry if I can't help. But I have a suggestion."
"Oh, what is it?" Honoka asked, "Please tell us!" This time, Kotori and Umi were paying attention.
"You are students, correct?" Tsuyoshi looked at their attire and they were definitely students from an another school, like him. "I say that you should try recruiting your schoolmates." He turned his back and then looked at the train along with Sousuke. "That's all I can give to you Kosaka-san."
When the two boys left, the three girls had to wait for a train at Akihabara, so that they could follow the bluenette's advice. 'Recruiting my schoolmates,' Honoka closed her eyes and thinks, 'I guess that he has a point.'
Though in the far background, a blonde haired boy was eating something and observing before he left the scene with a look of intrigue.
"Alright, girls!" Honoka was determined to do it. "Let's go!"
"And do what?" Umi asks.
"We're going to recruit some girls!"
"Honoka, do you know any of our schoolmates whom we'll recruit?" Umi wondered as they waited for the train going to Akihabara.
While Honoka was thinking at the moment, Kotori couldn't help but think of the dark blue haired guy, who seems to be very cautious on his words and actions. 'Honoka-chan said something about him being very much into music. That must be the reason why he wears those headphones often.'
"Hmm...I guess we'll have to look for them," Honoka decided
After that, they left the scene, now having to find some of their schoolmates by tomorrow.
(1): It is also means as "Rice Cake". It is a very good snack in Japan.
(2): Roughly translated in Japanese for "Master".
(3): This one is actually true when you are taking to a train station of Akihabara to go to Ikebukuro. That's in total of going to the train station by foot and taking the train as well. Some even takes almost an hour to reach there, depending what train station they'll go.
A/N: That's the end of chapter two~! I know that this story is not for everyone and I understand that you are concerned of the girls will be OOC. I can't blame you people for that. But, its too early to judge about the romance being "annoying", "ruining the fic" and we are still in the beginning of the story. I'm trying my best to make it believable and realistic. I hope that you guys like this story and let's step aside our differences. Hehehe~! Thank you for reading~! ;). See you next time at chapter three~! :)
