CHAPTER 1
Aqours Club Room,
Uranohoshi High School,
Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture,
January 19
The club room was bubbly with excitement. Everybody gathered around Mari Ohara with their eyes opened wide and ears perked up, and it had nothing to do with idol festival. Nor Aqours new music video gaining thousands of views. Nor Aqours rise in school-idol rank. The all-girl school idol group had just been invited to a voyage beyond their wildest imagination.
"Council member Murakami cordially invite Uranohoshi school idol group Aqours to go on a 3-night cruise aboard NYK Stella Polaris," Mari read the letter from a member of National Diet that she personally acquired. "Councilman Murakami is impressed with Aqours performances and wish to have Aqours as part of his cruise around Japan. In doing so, Councilman Murakami expects Aqours to perform in front of invited guests."
*Name: Mari Ohara
*Year: 3rd
*She is Aqours only foreigner and tallest member
"Kawaii, zura!" Hanamaru squealed in excitement. "We are invited to cruise with council members! We're going to perform on a cruise ship! I have cousins and relatives that have been in a cruise ship, they said the food was incredible, zura! I should start making a list of food to sample, zura!"
*Name: Hanamaru Kunikida
*Year: 1st
*She is Aqours logistic coordinator and widely regarded as the prettiest member
"Councilman Murakami?" Chika, the orange-haired 2nd year girl mused. She twiddled with her braid behind her ear. "I've heard that name before. Wasn't he in the news recently, trying to pass a bill?"
*Name: Chika Takami
*Year: 2nd
*She is Aqours leader and lyricist
"It has something to do with Pro Heroes," Kanan tuned in. "I don't know exactly what it is, but I know he's a big supporter of Pro Heroes, and people with quirk in general. You should know him, Chika, since your guy goes to UA. Maybe good to know who to support in the Diet, if you continue seeing him."
*Name: Kanan Matsuura
*Year: 3rd
*She is Aqours de-facto 2nd-in-command and physical trainer
"Dori de," Chika puffed. "I knew I saw him on TV, but I just didn't pay attention. I never knew he is such a big fan of Aqours."
"He is a regular customer of Awashima Hotel," Mari explained. "He must have heard me practicing a lot of times. I guess he pays attention."
"Now we stand on equal ground with The Muse," Dia, the older of the Kurosawa sisters, beaming with pride. "They performed in an airport and had a 787 painted in their colors. Now we can have the legendary Stella Polaris painted in Aqours colors, performing for government officials on board!"
*Name: Dia Kurosawa
*Year: 3rd
*She is the older of Kurosawa sisters and president of student council
"What is Aqours colors?" Dia's sister, Ruby, chirped in.
*Name: Ruby Kurosawa
*Year: 1st
*She is Aqours costume designer and the younger of Kurosawa sisters
"I don't know, red, emerald, blue, yellow, orange, purple, pink, grey, another pink…"
"That's the same as Muse's color," Kanan shot a teasing smile.
"Who cares? I have been waiting for Aqours to break free from Muse's shadow and get its own niche! What are you roasting me for, Kanan? Are you not happy with this achievement?"
"Easy, Dia-chan, Kanan-chan is only having fun," Chika stepped in between the two good friends. "I'm sure everybody is as happy as you to receive this honor. Sou desu ka, Mari-chan?"
"Sou desu ne," Mari replied apathetically.
Everybody was too excited to notice that Mari was not as enthusiastic as the rest of Aqours, but Kanan caught Mari's lukewarm expression. She had known Mari since kindergarten, and she knew when her best friend was bothered with something. But she didn't want to change the mood of the other members, so she decided to wait and see where everything was going.
"Does the councilman have any song requests?" Riko chimed in. "We've been working on some new songs. Fantastic Departure, Jump Up High, Kokoro Magic A to Z, and the one that I haven't finished… or should we just use our classic numbers like Mirai Ticket, Yume de Yozora Terashitai, Mijuku Dreamer…"
*Name: Riko Sakurauchi
*Year: 2nd
*She is Aqours music composer and the most talented musician
"He doesn't say," Mari replied. "I think he will be happy with anything."
"I think we should definitely go with the one that Riko is working on… Smile Smile Ship Start," Chika suggested. "It's probably the most appropriate song for a cruise… and perfect timing too!"
"I'll work on it right away," Riko scribbled something in her notepad. "I should be done in the next few days."
"I'll work with you for the lyrics," Chika added. She turned to You and Ruby. "Where do we stand on costumes?"
"We still have a set from our cancelled tour," You explained. "They're dark blue and are intended for evening performances. For day performances, we need lighter color. Ruby and I can use the pattern to make the same set of costume with lighter color, probably white or light blue. We should be ready in a week."
*Name: You Watanabe
*Year: 2nd
*She is Aqours costume designer
"Then we'll have 2 sets, one for one evening show and one for one day show. If we have to perform more than two shows, we'll just do it in whatever we wear." Chika froze a moment, pondering if there was anything else they needed to cover. "Electronics?"
"I will bring camcorder and laptop for our onboard performance," Yoshiko chimed. "I will also make 'behind-the-scene' scenes through phone. Our fans need to watch our adventure with the 'big-fish', on and off the stage. It'll boost our popularity and hopefully up our chance for Love Live Festival in March."
*Name: Yoshiko Tsushima (aka Fallen Angel Yohane)
*Year: 1st
*She is Aqours video editors and online vlogger / youtuber / tweeter-er / vimeo-er / daily-motion-er
"Thank you, Yoshiko-chan," Chika nodded politely.
"Yohane! It's Yohane!" Yoshiko snapped, annoyed that nobody called her by her 'chosen' name.
"I'll bring my laptop too, for music," Riko added. "And some extra thumb drives. I will need funds to buy more thumb drives though, just in case."
"That is not a problem. Might as well get a few blank CDs," Chika suggested. "We don't know what kind of sound system is available on board, so bring everything." She paused briefly, then turned to Mari with her face flushed. "Mari-chan, do you think we can bring… uhm, guest?"
"Yes, each of us can bring one guest," Mari smiled knowingly. "You're thinking about asking him, Chika-chan?"
"Yes, I am indeed, if you're all OK with it," Chika smiled sheepishly.
"Yosoro! I'm bringing a guest too" You interjected.
"I'm bringing a guest, zura," Hanamaru unexpectedly tuned in.
Everybody gave Hanamaru incredulous look. "Really? Who?"
"Uhm… it's a guy I met at UA when we performed for the UA Cultural Festival, zura," Hanamaru explained. Her face turned as red as an apple. "He's going to a culinary academy to become a chef. He will have a good time to sample the food on a cruise ship, zura."
"That is serious?" Kanan grouched. "Why don't you tell us?"
"That is not serious, zura," Hanamaru cringed. "We're just friends, zura. We have common interest, and I just thought he would enjoy the food on cruise ship as much as I do. Nothing is happening between us, zura!"
"Yet," You remarked, inciting snickers from other girls. "How about you, Ruby? Last time at UA, there's a guy that shows interest in you. What's his name, Shoda or something?"
"Well, he and I communicated for a while, but then we just… stop communicating," Ruby replied with a mix of shyness and embarrassment.
"He's just another guy who tries to take advantage of young girls like Ruby," Dia grumbled.
"Hard to imagine a Pro Hero would do that to people," Riko mused. "I always thought Pro Heroes are respectable."
"UA students are teenage boys with raging hormone, just like any other teenage boys all around Japan."
"Alright, three guests checked," Mari said jovially. "Anybody else bringing guests? How about you, Yoshiko? Don't you have somebody at UA too?"
Yoshiko turned into her Yohane persona. "The Fallen Angel Yohane and the Dark Prince Tokoyami will consummate their relationship on the ship and bring eternal darkness to the world!"
You leaned toward Chika. "Is this real? Yoshiko and that bird… guy?"
Chika replied with a shrug. "That Tokoyami guy was already dating somebody. Just like everything else about Yoshiko: it's all in her head."
"So Tokoyami the bird guy is not coming then?" Mari looked at Chika. "Should I check him in or not?"
"I don't think so," Chika shook her head. "I'll double check, but for now, leave him out."
"I'm not bringing anybody," Riko stated.
"Neither am I," Kanan added.
"I don't have time for boys… or girls, for that matter," Dia huffed.
"What about you, Mari-chan? Are you bringing anybody?" Chika asked.
"Nah… no," Mari quickly shot down the question. "Alright, let's wrap this up. Practice new dances?"
"I'll figure something out," Kanan replied. "I'll let you all know."
"Yosoro! This is great!" You scampered out of the room, presumably to call her boyfriend. "We're going cruising! What else can be better for this captain's little girl?"
"I have to make a phone call," Chika followed her best friend.
"Me too!" Yoshiko burst into a sprint.
"Me too, zura!" Hanamaru was not too far behind.
"Don't forget to bring 'protection', ladies!" Dia muttered sarcastically. "Put that in Aqours budget! We can't afford any of you getting pregnant!"
Chika, You, Yoshiko and Hanamaru didn't catch Dia's snide as they were already busy with their phones.
As everybody made her exit, Mari stayed to cleaned up the papers in a lazy and unhurried fashion. Kanan didn't move from her place. She just stood still until Mari looked up at her. "What?"
"Is everything alright?" Kanan asked.
"Yeah! Sure! We're going on a wonderful weekend trip!" Mari forced a smile.
"You don't look interested," Kanan walked toward her best friend. "You avoided conversation with other members. That's not like you. What is going on?"
"Nothing!" Mari brushed Kanan off. "Why wouldn't I be interested? We're going on a cruise, performing in front of Japan council member, that's a big thing. Like Dia said, we finally got our big break. This is a big deal!"
But Kanan saw overcast in Mari's eyes. "Mari, I have known you forever. I know you are hiding something. Come on, tell me what's bothering you. You don't have to deal with this yourself. I'm here for you."
Mari, however, wasn't about to drag her best friend into her personal matter. She gave Kanan a hug and turned into her usual cheerful self. "Thank you, my friend! I really appreciate your concern. But really, there's nothing to share than this heart-rending joy that we are on a big cruise next weekend! Now let no earthly concern bog us down. We have a lot to be joyful about!"
Mari left the room, leaving Kanan alone. Kanan could see that Mari's burst of joy was forced, as if she wanted to make an impression that everything was alright. But perhaps Mari was not ready to share whatever it was, and Kanan respected Mari's decision. She just made a mental note that whenever Mari was ready to share the burden, she would be there.
Translation
Kawaii: cute, loveable, adorable
Dori de: No wonder
Sou desu ka: Isn't it?
Sou desu ne: It is, indeed
Yosoro: "Take her to sea, Mr. Murdoch. Let's stretch her legs." (not really, but you get the idea)