Act 2,
A world without dreams or miracles does not mean that we are not allowed to create our own ones.
We just have to rid the thinking that everything is hopeless.
"I... am disbanding mu's."
"Why are you doing this!?" Rin screeched as the impact of Honoka's words set in on all of the members of mu's.
"Nozomi... This letter mu represents the nine singing goddesses, right?"
Honoka sighed when Nozomi gave a reluctant nod.
"If Kotori leaves... This means we only have eight members left. We can't go on! Mu's needs nine of us! Nine including Kotori! No one else can replace her! It won't be the same!"
"This is why... I am disbanding mu's."
'This is why... I want to disband mu's.' Nico let out an internal gasp as a sense of deja vu came to her, like she had heard the words before, but spoken in a different way. A much, much hopeful way, that mu's could pull through and convince her.
This time that Nico 'heard' it again, Honoka did not have a shred of hope in her voice and eyes. It was full of utter despair.
"Kotori's on the plane already," she whispered. "She's not coming back. And neither are we, to bask in the spotlight once again. As your leader, I officially disband mu's. I do not wish to hear objections."
... That was not right! Honoka had no right to disband mu's after everything they had gone through, even though she was their leader. What about the times they had spent together. What about the times they went through practice together. How about the times enjoying the feel and thrill of standing on the stage as their fans cheered on with glowsticks?
"I-I guess it's no use then." For an entire minute, Nico didn't believe that she had said that. Did she seriously want to do this? No! No she couldn't! Not when she had a promis-
"I-I'm fine with disbanding mu's." Umi spoke up, hands trembling ever so slightly. "I would like to do one thing, however, if it is fine with you before we disband. Honoka, may I?"
"... Go ahead, it will not change my desicion in any way, no matter what you do."
"... Really now..." Umi's face turned nasty for a split second, and Nico actually wondered if this extremely shy yet strict girl had put up a front all this time. "I shall not stop, as you agreed."
A ringing sound echoed throughout Honoka's right ear a second later, and she was sent flying to the left.
No one had time to process what had happened, as there was no time in between. There was no looking up, walking, or stretching out her hand.
Umi had just slapped Honoka with such force and precision that only the leader of the archery club could have, and it took one second from her original position.
Honoka reeled back from Umi, scrambling. Suddenly it seemed like keeping her appearance was less necessary than getting away from Umi, when in one of her rages.
Rin and Hanayo looked absolutely terrified. Even Maki, who usually put up a cool front and tried not to show any forms of weaknesses, was trembling. Hanayo felt sorry for Honoka, while Rin pitied her.
Eli and Nozomi were proud of Umi. They nodded to each other as Umi actually walked up to the shaking Honoka... And spat on her.
Destroying the things most important to Honoka as well, her friendship with Umi, their shared memories and-
Her pride.
Until now, the girl was still thinking about her pride.
"... So, Nicocchi. You know, don't you?"
"About what, Nozomi?"
"The past life we led. The memories that the past us held."
"... What if I said I do?"
"That is good. It seems that I was right after all. I was worried that you would not know and I would look like an idiot."
"... Since when were you an idiot, Nozomi?"
"I suppose you are right. I would have argued back then, against the impossible odds if I was one."
'I should have. I really am an idiot, impossible odds did not mean no odds.'
"Hey... Nozomi. Do you not feel a deep hatred for Honoka?"
Nozomi despised the name. It had felt so familliar back then, when she called out her name whenever she was needed, or just for fun's sake.
Right now, the name felt like the worst word she could name.
The name just being mentioned, made her feel like killing the named person.
She made Nozomi's life utter chaos again. She would not be able to settle down anymore, with only Eli and Nico to be friends with again-
-Her father might even move her away again if he found out that his daughter's fame has now all flushed down the drain-
-No! Nozomi would not accept that!
"I'll be honest, Nicocchi."
"Yes. I do not mind it, even if it does involve a ten hour long death scene planned out to the extreme detail."
"I-I do want to kill her off, Nicocchi. She ruined it all! She ruined my-my life in this school! She ruined my chances of success here!"
"Mine too..." Nico murmured, not intended for Nozomi to hear.
Nozomi caught it.
"A-Ah, Nico-chan." Hanayo bowed low as she saw Nico, her face unusually red. Unusually, being an angry shade of red.
"Hanayo-chan. I am assuming you met her."
"... Y-Yes... I yelled at her, that she was a bully."
"... I'm proud of you, Hanayo."
"..." Hanayo's lip trembled suddenly. "N-Nico-chan, I-I'm so scared! W-Where can I go now? T-The idol group was all I had! Now what do I do?" She buried her head into Nico's shirt.
"I have a solution, Hanayo-chan. For all your problems."
Hanayo walked with Rin at her side, who was chatting to her amicably. When she saw a tuft of orange hair in a small ponytail at the side... She didn't stop, run or hide behind Rin like Rin expected her to.
She swept past the carrot bitch with flawlessly executed grace, and continued on like she wasn't even there.
Rin was surprised, but glad. "Kayochin~!" She patted Hanayo on the back.
"Huh? Did I do something to be commended about?" Hanayo was actually truly confused.
"Eh?" Rin was too.
Didn't she just see Kayochin walk past Honoka without caring a single bit that she was there?
It was strange how Kayochin had changed so fast.
It was nice how Rin-chan believed my act completely...
"I-I have something to talk to you with." Eli walked up to Nico the day after.
"Hmm?" Nico was currently behaving in quite the uncivilized manner for a student council president. Her feet were propped up on the table as she leaned back on the chair she was sitting in, her hair was down and she was crunching on some snacks.
"... Slacking off, are we?" Eli sighed.
"Mmhm. But that's not what you're here for, is it? Just to tell me I'm slacking off?"
"... As expected, Nico-chan, you saw through me." Eli's voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah, just tell me what you're here for already."
"... It's a really personal matter, actually..."
"Since when did we all keep matters, no matter how personal, from each other?"
"You're right. That is why I seek help from you, student council president."
"I believe that this chatter has gone on for long enough."
"It seems to be so."
... ...
"I-I can't do it! I-I'm scared, Nico-chan! I-I'm scared of everything!"
"I-I was a fool for believing that I could fit in with the idols! I mean, they're all such talented people... Who could sing and dance so well..."
"But-But then I actually became famous! I was actually admired by people! I was so, so glad..."
"And then-! We-we were forced into disbanding... I-I don't know what I want to do with my life now! I have nowhere, nowhere to go back to!"
"And to think that I was actually confident in myself back then, that I would have a bright fu-future..."
"Don't you hate her for disbanding mu's?"
"... Yes..."
"Me too... After all, she did something else that was extremely disrespectful... Not just being selfish and caring only about herself... But something worse..."
"..." Eli couldn't help but feel like Nico was hiding more than she let on.
Maki scurried towards the student council room.
She didn't know what had possessed her, but there she was, walking- running, towards the place where she felt that her safe haven from this situation was.
There Nico was, waiting for her.
"I knew you'd be the last one to come to me, Maki."
"Do tell me your problems, like everyone else had."
"Ah, how shallow your reason is." Nico commented when she finally heard them.
"I-I know that, alright! B-But you said to tell you the truth, so I did!"
"Heh. Lack of popularity?"
"S-Shut up, stupid!"
"Wanted more stage time?"
"I-I said-"
"Destroyed your dreams on being a top idol sensation?"
"...!" Maki flushed a deep, angry and embarassed shade of red.
... ...
"... Well... It is actually understandable, given your nature. I take it that you hate her for destroying your dreams?"
"Yes... Indeed I do."
... ...
"Hmm... Actually, my dreams were destroyed too."
Maki looked up, startled at this comment.
"Might as well not keep this from you all anymore... But..."
Nico smiled wanly.
"You see, when I was really young, at five maybe, my father died. He was murdered."
"However, he did leave down something for us to always hold on to... Our smiles."
"Hearing me go 'Nico Nico Nii' must be so frustrating and annoying, no?"
Maki honestly had no idea how to respond to this comment that she made.
"Well, he used to go 'Nico Nico Nii' all the time, to cheer me up when I was sad or angry, you see. He wanted us to always smile, and never be angry or upset about anything. He was such an optimistic person..."
'I wonder if daddy can see me now... Cheering other people on as well just like he did... Making people smile, brightening up their day with my Nico Nico Nii...'
Nico gasped.
"No, no. Nothing." She replied under the concerned gaze of Maki's.
'What was that?'
"... So this is how my father lives on with us even in death... He is always living with us in our minds and souls... In our hearts and smiles when we do our signature 'Nico Nico Nii'..."
"But just when I thought that I had finally, finally made him proud of me! She decides to disband mu's..."
"You don't know the rage I feel! You don't understand it at all!"
"... Nico Nico Nii... Calm down..."
Maki was surprised that those words came out of her mouth.