The wind howls as the students arrive through the gates, hustling and bustling down the corridors. Friends are greeting each other with a hug or a playful punch while newcomers stand looking scared. The seniors stand, tall and proud, a confidence born of experience. Soon the bells ring and everybody runs except an occasional slowcoach or chatterbox. Everybody goes in except one and all is quiet; the girl smiles nervously to herself. "So, this is where my new high school year begins," she thinks before smiling and walking into her new high school for her registration of transfer. The whole process for the registration took almost an hour before she was lead to her new classroom where the teacher and classmates are talking.

Hoshiko 's POV

I nervously entered the classroom, while I walked toward the center beside my homeroom teacher before standing beside her. Anxiousness starts to fill throughout my body, as I dislike introducing myself in front of the whole class.

"Hoshiko Nishiwaki, please introduce yourself to the class." : the homeroom teacher said.

"U-um… Good morning everyone, my name Hoshiko Nishiwaki. I am half Japanese and half Korean, it is a pleasure to meet all of you. I'll be in your care from today onwards." : I said nervously. Everyone was staring at me, which make me feel uncomfortable.

"Okay, Hoshiko. Please sit at the window area next to that girl with short hair over there." : The teacher said, as she gently smiled at me. Nodding my head gently, I walked toward my designated seat while walking gracefully.

With the introduction over, the period for the first lesson of the day began as she started flipping the pages.

As minutes turn into an hour, lesson after lesson, finally, the lunch bell rang and I was freed from the geography lesson that I was able to understand clearly. I packed up my items into sling bag and slung it over the shoulder, ready to leave to the classroom when I was called over by my homeroom teacher, who was at the classroom entrance. "Yes, sensei? Do you need anything?" : I asked quietly.

"Please called me Ichika Sensei." : she said kindly.

"Understand, Ichika Sensei." : I replied while looking at her.

"That's nice to hear. Well, I do not want to take up too much time of your lunch, and caused you to miss your break time. Could you come over the teacher's office after school has over? I have a few questions to ask you. Is it fine with you?" ; Ichika Sensei. Hearing what she said, I quietly nodded my head in agreement. After having a short discussion with her, I make my way to the cafeteria without help. Along the way, I quickly make a mental note of my new surroundings and possible places to avoid huge clouds.

As I walked into the lunchroom alone, looking desperately for an empty table, someone tapped my shoulder. "You look lonely," she smiled at me, a bright smile that made my day a thousand times better. "Would you like to eat with me?"

Staring at her, for a moment, there was no word that I could say. The girl that just asked me, could have graced any billboard or magazine cover, but she was better than those two-dimensional photos shopped models. Somehow her imperfections made her perfect. There was a shyness to her, hesitation in her body movements and a softness in her voice. Her cream blazer attire had a tailored look that was bold against her tanned skin, but I could already see her in jeans and a t-shirt, feet up on the couch and painting her nails. She was right there, only feet away, but in her understated glamour, she might as well be on the television or a girl in a pop video.

Not only that, her eyes, like the indigo ocean, were pools of iridescent blue, sculpted upon her creamy face like dazzling jewels. Strands of molten gold tumbled out of her scalp, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Cherry lips, crystal white teeth: she truly was a beautiful sight to behold.

"Excuse me? Are you okay?" : she asked kindly. This time, her voice brought me out from dazed before I could answer: "Hai ! I am fine."

"So, do you want to eat with me?' : she asked once again.

"I…is it… … fine w…with you?": I stammeringly asked, as I began to feel eyes are staring at me while looking at her. Realizing the situation that began to unfold, she grabbed my hand with a smile on her face, and lead me to one of the empty seats away from the crowd. It was a short distance walk until we reached a quiet place.

"This is … …?"

"The school garden."

Heading to one of the empty benches, we took out our homemade bento once we seated down. "My name is Angela Sono. Please called me Angela. Nice to meet you."

'Nice to meet you too!" I replied. Just as we get to know each other, someone came rushing over and said: "Hey Onee san, look! AKB48 has just released a new song!"

"Really?! Rosa, let me see!" Angela shouted, which surprised me by her change of altitude. Soon, I was left out as I was confused, not knowing what they are talking about. " I'm sorry to interrupt both of you, but, could you tell me what is AKB48?": I asked. There was a moment of silence, as they looked at each other before looking back at me.

"Are you serious?! You don't know who they are?! AKB48 is the most popular group in Japan?!" : both of them shouted in sync. Looking at them with a puzzled looked, I shook my head as I had never heard before. They sighed and patiently explained to me what was AKB48, and even let me heard a few songs.

'Woah! There are many songs that I've never heard before, I better check it out once I reach home tonight': I thought to myself.

"Thank you for sharing this new information!" : I said to them while shaking both their hands. Soon, lunch break has ended and the lesson has resumed. The whole afternoon lesson soon flies pass very like a bird, that it was evening by the time I reached the teacher's office.

"I hope Ichika sensei will not keep this meeting for long," I said to myself quietly, as I opened the door. Stepping into the office, most of the room is already empty except for the person I am looking for. Moving forward, I have greeted her and asked regarding the meeting she had asked earlier during the day.

However, the moment she asked the questions, my mind went blank for the rest of the meeting. As the meeting came to a close, I was in a complete dazed and shocked that I dragged my feet while leaving the school compound, all the way till I reached the dorm.

"Why do sensei asked me to joined the school team? My schedule is already busy with ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, and synchronized swimming, ever since I had transferred here.": I muttered to myself as I tightly hugged my favorite giant teddy bear while laying on the bed. Closing my eyes for the moment, I was left in wondered whether to join the school team.

"Maybe I should try listening to those songs they introduced to me." : I said quietly, as I picked up my phone to typed in 'A . K . B . 4 . 8 . songs.' . Buffering for a moment, soon, a list of music videos appeared under the search name 'AKB48'. Scrolling down, I randomly select one of the music to play before placing my phone down on the bed to listen.

"Interesting.". After a few minutes of listening to various music, soon, I was started to feel drowsing that I could not keep my eyes open. The melody of the music seemed like a lullaby to my ear that soon, fallen asleep while I am still in my uniform.

The following morning, the sound of the alarm clock ringing aloud next to the bed could cause a scare to anyone sleeping. "Mhm… … …" as I struggled to close the alarm clock, while still laying on the bed. Adjusting my vision, I soon able to see clearly and realized that it was the weekend. Leaving the bed, I entered the bathroom to refresh myself for the day ahead. After taking a cool bath, I packed up my bag that contains my leotards for ballet and rhythmic gymnastic, and swimsuit for synchronized swimming.

For the next few hours, as I trained tirelessly under the watch of sensei, while my mind was occupied about the issue that the school teacher asked. While refining my routines, my name was called out over the PA system to come over to the office. Hearing it, I paused whet ever routines at the moment and headed over where I was greeted with a surprise.

"Hoshiko san, I heard that Ichika sensei has invited you to join the school team. Am I correct?" : Takimito sensei (Principle of the studio) asked, which I nodded my head in agreement. "Well, today she came over to the studio, to ask me to assist her in planning their training. Will you be interested in joining them, if I took up her offer?": she asked again.

Hearing her proposal, I wondered for a moment in thoughts about whether to join, before I was interrupted in my thoughts. "However, if you think if it is too much pressure for you, it is okay with you that we could settle on your existing routines." : she continues to say again, as she tried to assure me. Feeling her worries for me, I smiled and finally said: "Sensei, I'll do both! But, is it possible that I could adjust my training hour ?". As she hears my answer, Takimoto sensei smiled with a grin on her face as she feels my passions towards the routines I am doing.

"Well then, Ichiko sensei. Look like we'll have to discuss some important details to discuss over the proposal you have brought over." : Takimoto sensei said, as she turned to face Ichika sensei.

Over the next few days, in addition to having extra practices after school, I started to begin aware of this group 'AKB48' as I hang out with my new friends, twin sister Nagisa and Rosa, daily. It was until a certain day that I did not expect to hear. That was after my training, on my way back to the dorm, while hanging out with my new found friends, which I was asked by them.

"Hoshiko san, could you help us like evaluate to provide tips for us?" : Angela asked cheerfully, as she turned to face me. "Sure. But, may I know for what ?" : I replied out of curiosity while wondering what is still needed since they are already in the show choir. "Well, my Onee san and I will be auditioning for AKB48. But, we are not quite confident in our vocal skills. Plus, also our dancing skills So, could you help us, please? We want to know if there is any improvement we could do.": Rosa said.

Staring at them for a while, there is a moment of silence among us, as I give them a black look and the only words that I could say: " Huh? , help you?"

"Yes. Please help us!": Angela pleaded, as they both hold my hand tightly with puppy looks on their face. "Okay… … I'll help it. But, could we find a location to place our belongings.": I replied as a wonder in doubts. When they heard my reply, they are over the moon that they hug me tightly while thanking me. Along the way, I asked them questions related to the audition and the songs they had in mind, which they wished to perform. After getting a brief idea of what they want, we placed our belongings on the park benches and they soon start performing with the song they choose, one after another.

"Wow, Angela, Rosa, your voice is amazing. No wonder both of you are called the 'Empress Vocaloid' and the 'Princess Vocaloid.' ": I said to them. Hearing my compliments, they both brush ads bright as a tomato when I say that to them. "So, is there anything for us to improve?": Rosa asked me. For a moment, I went blank as I forget about it. Thinking hard for a moment as I tried to recall their performance for a moment, I finally remember a few mistakes they make.

"Well, there's a few. So, let's address them now." : I said to them, as I remove unnecessary clothing which only left my leotards. "Huh? Now ?": they both seemed surprised and shocked by what they said.

" Yeah. Now, so let go."

"But, are you fine with the attire you wearing?'" : Angela asked.

"Yup. It helps me to focus on the point." : I replied to her. Soon, we go through the mistakes together one by one late into the night, that we even attracted a small crowd along the way. "Okay. With that, we're done." : I say to them as I packed my stuff, only to see them laying on the ground once I turned around.

" Wah! Hoshiko, you are really to the point. Now, we know why you are a ballet nerd." : Rosa said. I smiled at them, as I lift them off the ground. "Btw, could you sing a song?" : Angela asked.

"E – eh? But, why? I never want to join AKB48?" : I said. " Oh, come on! Hoshiko, please sing!" : Rosa pleaded. Feeling compelled, I placed my bags on the ground and sing for them. At that moment, I felt that I was in another world as I sang my hearts out. After a while, Angela and Rosa looked at me in shock and amazement. "Um… … , are you okay?" : I asked.

"Hoshika! Yours is incredible! Your pitch and tone are exactly to the point!": Rosa shouted, which caught me by surprise. "Hoshika, you should go to the audition!": Angela continues to say. Hearing what they said, I quickly picked up my bags and said: "Sorry! I'm not prepared for the audition.". After that, I ran off in a hurry leaving them behind.