Author's Note

Another chapter is here. I'm so glad I am able to write so much right now and I don't feel like stopping soon. I'll probably whip out at least 1 or 2 more releases this week at this rate. This chapter is slightly weird, but all seems good at the end I think.

I also put up my Aikatsu OG series prologue. It's called Aikatsu Galaxy, or AiGala for short. Credit to a little Usagi that came up with the shortened title. Do check it out if possible. Thanks in advance!

Chapter 46: Beat Love, Protea Floral Idol!

Ellen acts out and danced through the commercial shooting. When they are cleaning up, Ellen and Nina are talking.

Nina nods "Good, much better."

Ellen bows "Thank you!"

Kari skips over and asks "By the way, what was troubling you?"

Ellen "Ah, it's a little hard to say. It's like, even though I know it'll be fine, I'm not sure if it is true to go all out."

Kari then bursts out of laughter and says "Hahaha, I can't… Haha, believe it! Hahahaha, you can Nina is like… ha… the same."

Ellen "The same?"

Nina seems worrying about what Kari is about to say but Kari says it anyways "Nina was scared that she'll destroy her opponent on stage once."

Nina "Wait, that's enough! You don't need to say anymore!"

Ellen "Ah, I see…"

Kari looks at Ellen "Sorry, was it not the same?"

Ellen "I don't think so but… what happened?"

Kari answers as Nina trying to close her mouth "Nina… Just shouts… Mhmm, bah. She shouts 'It doesn't matter who wins, we'll still be rivals.'"

Nina stops and sighs "Ah… why do you have to tell her everything?"

Ellen "It doesn't matter who wins, we'll still be rivals. Hehe… Hahaha."

Nina's shoulders drop "Ah… Now she is laughing at my past."

Ellen "No, that's not it. It's just, I feel stupid for worrying over something so obvious. Perhaps, I was scared and envious of those that are able to freely express themselves."

Nina looks at Ellen then asks with a smile "I see, then what do you plan on doing?"

Ellen smiles "I'm going to forget about everything and create a stage that will show everything about me! However, I have a request."

Nina nods "Okay, I'll give it to you."

Ellen blinks "But I haven't even asked yet."

Nina "You probably want a dress or something. However, I really should let go of my brand and pick up a successor."

Ellen "Does that mean?"

Nina "Yes, I think you'll be a good successor to my brand. Use it as you fit, I'm sure you'll be able to transform my brand just like your friend did with Kari's. Just give me a design and I'll personally make it for you."

Ellen nods "Yes! Thank you so much! I'm gonna start working on my new song and dress! Please excuse me for leaving!"

Nina nods and makes a way for Ellen to leave. After Ellen leaves, Nina looks at Kari slightly annoyed.

Nina "Is this why you recommended me to supervise this commercial?"

Kari nods "Yep! After all, I am the sub-leader during our time."

Nina sighs "Yeah and you definitely still is. That reminds me… how are Audrey and Ringo doing?"

Kari makes a wry smile "Ringo is conflicted with what to do with her brand and for Audrey, I have no idea. She should be fine though, it's Audrey we are talking about."

Nina paused for a moment "True. However…"

Nina looks at the door "The level of Aikatsu has really stepped up to another level. It took me everything to try that appeal. Yet, these young girls are able to do it just fine."

Kari laughs with a bit of disappointment "That's true, but isn't it normal? During our time, the unit appeal was the challenge."

Nina nods "I wonder… what else these girls will show us."

The two of them look at each other with a lot of expectation from the current idols.

When Ellen returns to the academy, she rushes to her dorm room and tries to work on a new song. After a few hours, Ellen is stock on her lyrics.

Ellen "Hmm, this here… No, that feels wrong. But that is also too dark. Ahhh, I know what I want but it is just not coming together!"

Hummy "But all of these look good."

Ellen sighs "Maybe, but I just can't get it right."

After a while longer, Ako enters the room and sees Ellen with a messy table.

Ako asks "What are you doing?"

Ellen looks at Ako "Ah, welcome back."

Hummy says the same "Welcome back-nya!"

Ellen then continues "I'm working on a new song. I think I finally got over everything and I want to put everything into a song."

Ako "I see, let me see… Ellen, this lyric…"

Ellen nods "I know, either it's giving myself away to let people know I'm a Precure or it's just too ambiguous."

Ako thinks and Ellen stays quiet.

Ako "I don't know, maybe you should take a break."

Hummy "Agreed! Let's have some snacks-nya!"

Ellen "Haha, you can have them Hummy."

Ellen stands up and grabs her current lyrics and song.

Ellen "I'll see if working outside will help."

Ako nods and Ako decides to accompany Ellen. Hummy stays behind and starts feasting on a bowl full of snacks. After going around the academy ground, meeting some other idols, they reach the S4 Garden.

Ellen "This place is probably still the best."

Ako nods "Yeah, there is something about this place being really nice and relaxing."

As they walk towards the table, they hear some shouting further back in the garden. They look at each other and decide to go take a look. After searching for a minute, they found Mahiru fighting Leon.

Mahiru "Take this!"

Leon avoids Mahiru's punch and quickly counters with a backhand fist. Mahiru docks down and then strikes again. This time, Leon blocks the attack with his arm. After the attack, the two of them stop moving for a while.

Leon "Not bad, if you are this strong, you'll be fine even if a few Negaminions attack you."

Mahiru smiles "Thanks, but only Negaminion? I was hoping I could at least take on a Negadol."

Leon "Negadol's ability is already beyond what a normal person is capable of. Hmm? Ellen and Ako, what are you two doing here?"

Ellen looks at Mahiru and then at Leon "Uhmm, I'm here to work on a new song but… what's going on?"

Mahiru answers "I just thought maybe I can help to fight too. I can't let Yume and others do all the fighting."

Ako "I appreciate that you want to help but…"

Mahiru nods "I know, it's very dangerous."

Leon "I told her the same thing, but she is indeed strong. She got enough power to defeat several Negaminions for sure. Even against a Negadol, I think she can hold her ground for a few minutes."

Ako looks shocked while Ellen says "Amazing, that's really amazing."

Mahiru smiles "Thanks, but I am going to become even stronger! At least to the point where I can fend off a Negadol. By the way, sorry for disturbing you."

Ellen shakes her head "No, it's fine. I am stuck anyways."

Mahiru "Stuck? Do you want my help?"

Ellen quickly grabs her work and shows it to Mahiru "Please!"

Mahiru takes it and starts reading through it.

Mahiru "Hmm, maybe I am missing something but I think you are being too direct. Like here about noise, make you can reword this into a metaphor."

Leon "Hmm? Something about me?"

Leon then leans down and looks at the lyrics over Mahiru's shoulder. From seeing Leon's face so close, Mahiru couldn't help but blush and lean to the side for some distance.

After Leon finishes reading he moves back. Mahiru then immediately steps to the side and faces the other way while holding her face with her hands.

Mahiru mutters "Hold on Mahiru, just what is happening? Leon isn't even human and yet I…"

Leon "Are you okay?"

Mahiru turns around "Ah, I'm sorry. I'm okay."

Leon nods and looks at Ellen "I see, this is good. However, Ellen, let me ask you this. What exactly is noise?"

Ellen "What exactly is noise?"

Ako "Isn't it just sounds that doesn't sound good?"

Ellen thinks for a moment but Mahiru says "Hmm, isn't noise just any sound? The good and bad sounds are all noise, right?"

Leon "I think so too. And maybe that is why I am capable of singing and making good music."

All three girls froze for a second.

Mahiru "Wait! You can sing and make music?"

Ellen "Hold on, when were you able to do that?"

Ako "This is really surprising, why didn't you tell us?"

Leon "Well, no one asked, and is it that surprising?"

All three nod in unison and Mahiru asks "Can you sing something?"

Leon "I wish I can but…"

Leon then poofed back into her bird form.

Ako "I guess that's it for now. Maybe next time."

Ellen "Ah, we need to let Hibiki and Kanade know. I'm sure they'll want to hear Leon sing as well."

Mahiru "That's right, we should let everyone know."

Ellen and Ako nod. Ellen then looks at Leon in his bird form and thinks of something.

Ellen "Ah! I think I get it, I just don't have to be detailed. However…"

Ellen then begins revising the lyric and quickly shows Ako and Mahiru.

Ako smiles and Mahiru says "This is great. It'll also be much easier to sing and simply better as a song."

Mahiru "Now if you have a perfect dress to go along with this song…"

Ellen "Don't worry, I got the perfect dress in my mind. I just have to draw it and send it to Nina."

Mahiru "Nina?"

Ellen "Ah, I mean Horizawa Nina. She seems to be part of an older generation of S4."

Mahiru "Nina… I'm not too sure who."

Ako "Oh, is she friends with Kari? The one Kanade gets her brand from?"

Ellen nods "Yes, Nina is going to give me her brand too."

Mahiru "You two are really lucky. The two of you haven't been an idol for a year and already possess a brand."

Ako looks up the brand "Her brand is called Soul Spark. It's a brand that is built upon the idea of motivating and giving people the shock that they need to keep going or improve."

Ellen "Ah… then my song…"

Mahiru shakes her head "No, it's fine. It will be your brand soon. Besides, your song is also delivering a message that will help people. Even though it is mostly about yourself, it carries a lot of weight and it should help people as well."

Ellen thinks for a moment and nods "I see, I'm glad. In that case..."

Ellen begins to draw up a few dress designs with Ako and Mahiru helping her. After working together for hours, they finally complete it.

Ako "This dress, it's really interesting."

Mahiru "It has a little bit of a cat feeling to it but can be quite cool looking. Not many frills, but with the right fabric, it can look really cool and cute at the same time. However, this doesn't seem to match your style."

Ako "No, it does."

Ellen "I think Ako means a long time ago. Though this is still a little different but…"

Ako nods "It's a new start for you."

Mahiru blinks and then smiles "I see, then go for it. Show everyone who you are!"

Ellen nods and then sends a photo of the dress to Nina.

Two weeks later, Ellen is ready for her first stage with her new brand and song. She is standing in the changing room while holding her new dress in her hand.

Ellen "Striker Noise Coord. The small adjustments Nina made really stand out."

Then with a confident smile "Kurokawa Ellen, starting with a max beat!"

Ellen runs toward the changing device and jumps onto the stage. An energetic song that is slightly different from Ellen's original style begins playing.

Ellen starts singing "Having no place to go is surely sad. You can tell from the way I talk that I don't have much confidence. Even if you hide your feelings it's not good for your heart. Shall I try and be honest with my heart, I wonder?"

Ellen's aura then starts showing and slowly glows brighter as the performance goes on

Ellen "Even if the noise catches up to me I will with a strong heart. Walk down the path that I believe in!"

Ellen did a quick normal appeal that shows a blue heart then continues "Let's go, Beat love, because I want to protect you! Beat love, because we're connected! I want to grab my future self! Someday, Beat love, we'll love each other! Beat love, we'll help each other! For the beat of hope is echoing today too!"

Ellen then starts her special appeal. It is the same one with her playing notes with sparkling little notes around her. After she plays the last note that creates large ones, she follows up with her Swift Appeal. The notes turn dark and shatter into particles. Ellen then fell down with many thorny vines around her until she disappears. Then a small white bud could be seen and as it opens up, the surrounding brightens up and Ellen jumps out with her dress transformed with red trim with a yellow line embroid of Protea flower around her waist. Ellen then continues her performance with the bramble flowers around to the very end.

Above the regular audience, Yume, Rola, Mahiru, Ako, Koharu, and Ruka are watching the performance together.

Rola "Ohh! She did it! It's quite different from her usual style, but this is great too!"

Mahiru nods "Yeah, to be honest, I was surprised that her song turned out to be like this."

Yume looks at Mahiru "Hmm? You know about her song?"

Mahiru "Ah, I helped out a bit."

Koharu "You really take care of our underclassman don't you."

Ruka then retort "Koharu isn't much better."

Koharu smiles "that's true."

Yume leans back for a moment before looks at Koharu and Ruke "By the way, when are you two going to do the Floral Idol challenge?"

Ruka "Hmm, Ruka is a little too busy with all the shows. It's a bit hard to follow what Yuzu was doing."

Koharu "That sounds tough, as for me. I'm doing my best. I will challenge it myself soon."

Yume put on a big smiling face "I can't wait!"

Everyone else nods and agrees.

Koharu is a little surprised "Everyone… Then please watch me!"

Yume answers "Of course! We'll watch Koharu's stage for sure!"

Koharu "Thanks!"