Due to some errors on my part, I have replaced some of the content in this chapter. It was a big mistake though, since Mai, Hijirikawa's sister was actually 5 years old... I am at fault and I am sorry, thank you for reminding me of this :) xX The Girl In Wonderland Xx-san :3 I'm grateful, to make up for that, I made Masato have another sister with the name of "Mina" (Bad name but... I guess it starts with M) as for the mother, her real name is Kotomi Aijima. Oh well, enjoy~ Sorry for the errors, again. I'll try to avoid mistakes in the future, for now I have corrected some errors.
-Narrator's POV- In a private room-
"We need to save Nanami, we can't just sit here waiting and doing nothing."
"Well, did you consider the consequences? Where do we even start?" Ichinose Tokiya sighed.
"Who cares about losing our jobs? Tokiya, think! It's Nanami in danger!"
"No, you think. Did you ever think of how Nanami worked hard for us all? It would all be for nothing when we go there and return successful. I never said I would just sit here, just, we don't go there unprepared."
"Well, one problem, time won't be waiting for us. We need to save her before August 1, or we're all doomed."
"We have gone through this before, we can do it again."
"I wonder how Nanami is... I hope nothing bad happened to her..." Ittoki Otoya didn't bother to cheer everyone up, because he himself couldn't bring to be happy.
"It's Little Lamb, she'll be fine, have more faith in her."
"Why is everyone so down?" It was Nagi and the rest of HEAVENS.
"Do you still need to ask? I don't think so." Hijirikawa was somehow angry, perhaps at himself for being so powerless.
"Look, it's actually weird to see our rivals in this state."
"Nagi, you're not helping at all."
"First off, we need someone who could actually understand Shining Saotome-san's mindset, or we won't even be able to say a word against him."
"I know someone who could help," said Kira."
"Really?" And then Kira nodded. "But-" He was interrupted by a sudden thud at the door.
"Ow... that hurt. Onii-sama! I'm here for you!"
"Karin," said Ootori, "Thank you for coming, we need your help on the case of Nanami Haruka." The girl named Karin was a girl with flowing black hair and golden eyes, just like... Kira.
"Imouto, what are you doing here?"
"Onii-sama, don't you have anything else to say? Ootori-san told me everything, I'll be willing to help. Oh, and I was watching earlier, they were all sooooooooooo cute."
"Oh great, she saw us."
"Let's get back to the topic," suggested Tokiya. "So, we also need to know if Shining Saotome-san lied to us."
"Oh yes he lied, yes he did capture the composer, but he's not at his office, and neither is Nanami Haruka." said Karin.
"Say... isn't Kira's sister the complete opposite of Kira in terms of social ability?"
"Don't talk about onii-chan that way!~"
"Uh... I didn't mean it like that, in fact, lady, I meant it as a compliment to you."
"Ren, stop flirting."
"She's cute~" said Nagi. He seemed to be in a daze.
"Don't make a move on her, she's better to stay innocent."
"Now now, just because she's the cute sister type, don't underestimate her. As a 13- year old, she's very smart. She has a wide range of information and is a good strategist in plans."
"You're too kind, Ootori-san. Anyway, Saotome-san is not exactly an anti-love person. As proved, it is said he has a son, but only a rumor though."
"He's standing in front of you, you know."
"Huh?" Karin suddenly seemed interested.
"See that red-haired boy? He's Saotome's son. His name is Ittoki Otoya~" said Cecil.
"Cecil, why can't you just keep quiet about it?"
"Ittoki, are you keeping secrets again?"
"You should have told us what it was that has been troubling you."
"Well, I do see the resemblance in you."
"So we have our living proof, we can use him as an advantage." Karin smiled like a planner would, a person who thinks things through easily.
"We have one more problem, that is to find Nanami, and we need back-up too."
"We're not barging into a military base you know."
"Actually, you are entering a place very much like that." It was a refined, feminine voice. A girl was standing at the door, she had sky blue eyes and hair with a darker blue colour, flowing down to her mid-back in curls, she seemed to have the air of a rich lady, however young.
"Mai? What are you doing here?"
"Masa, you know this lovely lady here?"
"You have already forgotten me, Jinguji-san. I guess it's been years, so you probably don't recognize me."
"It's been a while since I've seen you, Hijirikawa Mina."
"Ah, Kurosaki-san, it's been a while as well. How is your family?"
"Mina, it is not necessary for you to continue this topic with Kurosaki-senpai any longer, besides, what are you doing here?"
"Masato-onii-sama, father knows of what is happening it seems, I do not know how but he insisted on me going here to see you."
"Hijirikawa, you sure have a kind sister."
"I-it's not like I came here to see you, I am merely following father's orders, d-don't misunderstand okay? So? I trust that you need help upon finding Nanami Haruka?"
"I see she's a tsundere, and on top of that she's a lady. The bliss of having younger sisters." teased Ren.
"Yes, we need the information desperately."
"Very well, according to my information sources, she is located in Shining Agency's hidden underground base. There was a leakage about it known only by few, said to be located somewhere near this very academy."
"As expected of the Hijirikawa group's ojou-sama, she's well-informed."
"Of course! After all, I can predict what nii-sama is doing even if I'm on the other side of the world~ , just by my connections. After all, yesterday I was in America."
"Mai, you don't need to exaggerate your abilities."
"Oh really, nii-sama? You do notice I can use them against you. For instance, you have a daily routine of frequently passing by Nanami Haruka's room and then-"
"Okay, that's enough. Mina, you..."
"Need I continue?" Hijirikawa was completely defenceless against his sister, he merely sighed in return.
"So, is the security system tight in that underground base?"
"Yes, for normal people it would be hard to infiltrate it. It has various traps and several security measures that even professionals couldn't access, even some rooms with unknown codes and protocols that hackers couldn't pass through. In current known records, only people who know Saotome very well have access to every facility."
"Well, the psychological mind-set of Saotome is hard to predict, due to his shift personality change and lack of information on background." said Karin.
"We are however sure that something happened years ago which made Saotome's perspective on love change."
"But aren't we overthinking it? It's normal for idols to not prioritize love and somehow avoid it, or is Saotome's case really that different?"
"Wait, I might know a person who knows what he was like before but... she's dead."
"Ittoki-kun, do you mean your... mother?"
"Yes, I remember my mother saying things about my father, but..."
"Well we just have to find other proof. Perhaps another thing about Ittoki's mother..."
"For the meantime, let's search Saotome-san's office. We might find something there."
-Saotome's office-
"Eh... so this is Shining Saotome's office..." Karin's eyes were curiously scanning the room.
"Is it something to be surprised about?"
"Anyway, where would Saotome likely hide something important?"
"Under his pillow probably."
"No, he's a business like person, his outside behaviour is just in front of his fans."
"Well, it'll probably be somewhere unexpected."
"Everyone! I got some big news!"
"Mina, where have you been?"
"Masato-onii-sama, were you perhaps... worried?"
"..."
"Anyway, what is this big news?"
"I have attained some recordings of what is happening to Nanami Haruka, I found them hidden in the music room. It appears Saotome-san is giving us clues on purpose, as for how I found out they were in the music room... Tsukimiya Ringo-san told me."
"Maybe Ringo-sensei knows everything! Where is he now?"
"Apparently, he's in the music room, he also told me something about the diary of Saotome-san's wife hidden under a hidden safe which can only be accessed by a switch."
"For the meantime, let's watch the recording."
-record-
It was Nanami, she seemed unconscious. Her eyes were closed tight, she was unharmed, physically at least. When she opened her eyes, Saotome started to speak.
"I'm letting your saviors see this video, at least we'll let them see how useless they are, isn't that right? Miss Nanami."
"Saotome-san... I don't know what you're planning, but... if you plan to use me as bait, then this won't work."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, because I know them more than you, because I spend time with them every day, they'll come, I'm sure of that. I'm not sure what you did to make me this stressed out though..."
"You're a disturbance, honestly, to those pure idols who are about to chase their dreams."
"So is this a trap set for them? They won't give up that easily, after all, they're just... that stubborn."
"That's why many idols go to the wrong path, it never works this way, Miss Nanami. I'm doing this for their own good, and for yours."
"This may sound stubborn but... the STARISH they are now wouldn't exist without me, so... I-I'm not sure what benefit this is to them."
"They'll soon forget about you, they'll live their lives to their true potential, as idols. They won't waver, they won't hesitate. That is the basic flaw we humans can never avoid to have, love makes us weak."
"Are you speaking of your own experience? Saotome-san."
"Somehow, yes. Well STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT, if you want to save her, you need to consider what might happen to her first. You'll never know what I can do to her in this very place. Oh, and I'll let her say her last message to you, her last message as your composer."
"Minna-san, please... forget about me. Live on your lives and..." the record was done.
"What did she say? What could have been her last words?"
"Those weren't her last words, I refuse to believe Nanami would say that. We better save her, she's..."
"As for where she's hidden, we have located the entrance to the underground base. Would you like the location now? And... Masato-onii-sama, I need to talk to you privately for a moment."
"Yes, we would like the location now."
"It's located in Saotome Gakuen's auditorium, on the stage."
"For the meantime, let's look for the switch while the two siblings have a heart-to-heart."
-outside the room—corridor-
"Masato-onii-sama, you... love that girl don't you?"
"... That is..."
"I saw the look in your eyes, that serious look I, your sister, saw for the first time in the 15 years of my life."
"Well, she did change my life in a way, there are many forms of love. Family, friendship, and the last stage. I'm not sure where I am, but what's important is that the feelings are there."
"I'll be cheering for you, Masato-onii-sama~"
"Thank you, Mina, let's get inside. We can't keep them waiting, can we?"
"Hai!~ Onii-sama."
-inside the room-
"We've found the switch to the diary, are you sure we should read it?"
"No, just having it is enough. Besides, it's locked."
"We do have a person here who we can get permission from," everyone turned to look at Ittoki.
"It's fine, but... be careful not to break it."
"It seems to require a password." Ittoki then took the diary gently and typed some numbers onto the lock. It opened, just like that.
"What did you type?"
"My birthday, I just figured..." He opened the diary and took a peek at the first page.
"Eh? Some pages seem to be blurred, but there's one folded right here."
January 11
Dear Otoya,
That's the name I plan to give when I have a son, and that's you, Otoya-kun. My husband Saotome is working hard as an idol, but thanks to that we can't even live our life in peace, so we are hidden here, in this small house. I love him dearly, he's a man who works for us so determinedly, sometimes I think he overdoes it. He may not be the most handsome person in the world, but he might as well be one of the considerate. Sometimes, I feel like he hides something from me, but everyone has their own secrets, don't they? After all, I have my own, I just hope to live safely, with this family as it is now, to live life happily with my two most precious people. I hope this message reaches you when you grow up.
With love,
Kotomi Aijima
"Okaa-sama..."
"Ittoki-kun..."
"That doesn't really help but... I shouldn't be saying this now. Ittoki-san, any other marked pages?"
"Yes, here's the next one, but the time lapse is 3 months."
April 11
Dear Otoya,
You have finally come to this world, as a human being. I don't know how much happiness I feel now, a family as a whole. I'm sure you realized all my entries have your name on it, like letters sent to you. That way, I feel I'm not alone, that there's nothing to be afraid of, no shadow of the past that has been following me for a long time. I never told your father about this but... I still remember my other family, but I really wasn't meant to even be there. It was probably right to avoid being the queen of a country known as Agnapolis I don't even know a thing about. Imagine if I had you and you were born to a destiny you perhaps didn't even want, I don't want to be the cause of that, that's why I feel guilty of having another son born into the royal family. I want you to live freely, to live as you want. And in case you encounter your brother, treat him as your brother. His name is... Aijima Cecil.
With love,
Kotomi Aijima
"Cecil is Ittoki's stepbrother? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS WORLD?"
"Nothing surprising really, but at first I didn't know until recently, the king of Agnapolis told me. He told me before I became a part of STARISH hehe~"
"Cecil... you do notice that is important to us."
"Well, it doesn't exactly help, we and Otoyan have different fathers."
"Wait, still, Ittoki could be an heir to Agnapolis."
"NOT HAPPENING!"
"Could Saotome-san perhaps know about the other relationship?"
"No, I don't suppose that's the problem."
"Wait, didn't Ittoki-kun's mother die in a..."
"Plane crash? Then that's the simplest reason why Saotome-san would regret even loving anyone, it's simply logic."
"Then, that's one mystery solved, we don't need any other things, unless that is... something happened to Nanami."
"And besides, due to tight security, it isn't safe for all of us to go together, we need one to infiltrate the base and the rest for back-up, but the girls should go, they can give access to some passages due to their... intuition."
"Hehe~"
"I'm going, its best for all of you to stay here."
"Now Syo, what's with the sudden confidence?"
"This isn't confidence, this is merely my will, to save Nanami."
"My my~ We really have a tough competition involving Nanami Haruka-san~" Karin then whispered something to Kira and Kira nodded in return.
"HEAVENS offers their help to all of you."
"WHAT?! No one agreed to this!"
"I did."
"Kira, you didn't."
"Oh yes he did. Hehe~"
"If Karin-chan wants us to go, I don't mind~"
"I don't want Little Lamb to just exit the stage of our lives just like that, we're coming too."
"No, I need to go by myself, unless... HEAVENS and the girls are really necessary."
"Well, as for the ones who won't be going with Syo-san, you can track him when he has this transmitter on~" suggested Karin.
"...How do you have this?"
"Oh, nothing. Just something that I use to track other people~" It sounded suspicious, but no one really cared. Karin gave the transmitter to Syo and Syo took it, he wore it on his pierced ear.
"Let the plan commence, Operation Assault!"
-auditorium—stage-
"Here's the passage," said Tokiya who found the passage near the curtains.
"Let's go, we don't have any time to waste."
"I don't know how I got dragged into this."
"It's not that big of a deal, besides, how could you resist a command of such a cute girl?"
"Nagi has love sickness." muttered Ootori. As they entered the passage, the rest wished them good luck.
"I won't disappoint all of you, I'll try to bring Nanami back."
"Not try to, will bring."
"Wait, you don't say you're going to save with thaton?!"
"Oh, I almost forgot. I'm going to change."
"So determined... you even forgot about how you were still wearing a frilly dress."
"Shut up."
-Syo changes clothes-
Meanwhile... –Saotome Agency underground base-
"Well, we're here, Mina-san, if you please."
"Yes, as of now, the security traps have been deactivated. We have several agents here who deactivated them, but we'll never be sure if all of them are allies."
"Well, well, we sure have some interesting guests!"
"What a warm welcome, President Saotome-san. Not exactly how I expected it but... it'll do." Saotome's face appeared on a camera, smiling.
"Well, well, look who we have here. HEAVENS, didn't expect the three of you to be here. And as for the two ladies who are with you, introductions can wait later. I'm here with Miss Nanami in the center of this base, you have... 3 hours before she completely gets lulled to sleep, oh but don't worry, she'll only be in a state of a long, long sleep." The camera shut off and they were left in silence.
"Three hours eh? He must think things are too easy."
"Three hours is more than enough, nothing's impossible."
"Isn't this like all those dramas with, 'love prevails all' themes? It might actually be happening, here, live! And... just to be sure, I did bring my video cam."
"Karin, of all times..."
"What's wrong with it? Onii-sama? Don't worry, you won't be in it."
"We'll start by beating up anyone shady we encounter."
"We look shady enough as it is."
"Well then, operation start~!"
"You seem excited about this, Karin-chan."
"In fact, I am."
After correcting the errors, I did chapter 14 ~ :) Syo moments here we go!~ :)
-BerryBliss