On Monday after school, Ren had some people from a Shibuya magazine over at the first-class chamber where she served a fine dining menu she ordered. They were a peculiar pair, a leggy young lady with a geek-looking college boy, an intern, as her assistant and photographer.

"Oh no no, Ren-san," said the woman, "we won't be staying long. You could just let us take away a box of pastries or something. Ahahaha."

"Kaede-san," smiled Ren playfully, "you still think you can tarnish our family's reputation for hospitality? Everybody who get served by us will be served."

"Whoa," said Chisato, "they're on first-name basis already?"

"Looks like Matsuura's family has a few connections," remarked Sumire.

"Oh, please don't put it like that," said Ren with a bit of embarrassment. "Kinoshita-kun's aunt is a classmate of Mom's in uni. We've known them before they got their careers. Though I must say the people Mom likes hanging out with tend to have potential."

Kaede laughed. "Moh. What potential does a rookie editor in a smallish publishing firm have?" To the girls, "Besides, this affair is just for archiving purposes. If your group turns out to be really good, our people will dig up this interview and say we got first dibs on you. Imagine!" Flourish. "A budding new school idol group! Loved by good… feared by evil!"

"Even now, Kaede-san? You wouldn't have come here if Riviera didn't have possibilities. I told you, we will both grow together."

And they held a staring contest. Chisato took Kuku aside. "We should probably stay out of the way for now." To which Kuku eagerly nodded.

OP Song

Bouken Type A, B, C!

Lyrics: Aki Hata

Composition and Arrangement: Tatsuya Kurauchi

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#10. At Last, a Song!

They did an individual interview first. Kanon went in whilst the others waited their turn at the bench outside.

"Chisato-chan?" said Kuku.

"Hm?"

"What's Wookie?"

"Eh?"

"Do you know how to speak Wookie?"

Chi-chan turned around to face her. "I hear your class's English teacher worked in the States before he came here." She inched her face closer to Kuu-chan's. "Are you learning exotic languages, too? I'd like to catch some lingo and sound cool when we get back to stage."

Kuku shook her head. "It's not Aoyama-sensei. My two classmates were having an argument about their Moms and one of them said the other one's Mama was so uncool she can only speak Wookie."

Chisato's head dropped in disappointment. "Just stay away from them for a while," she muttered. "It's none of your business."

Next came the group interview. There was just the usual questions asked about girl and idol stuff. Everything was rather mundane, except for the bit about where they like to eat out, and the question happened to fall on Sumire.

"A... A spin-a-wheel?"

Sumire chuckled to herself. "Sometimes it's hard just to choose where to hang out."

Everybody were amazed at selection of trendy places. "You can actually afford all of these?!" blurted Kanon.

"Of course," smirked Sumire. Not all at once, of course, she thought to herself, of that's what you're planning.

Chisato spied one choice in particular and grinned evilly. Suddenly she gave it a spin, and true enough, the pointer landed on that same place as she had hoped. "Heehee, there's a technique to roulette spinning with a 90% success rate. As you can see, it paid off."

The girls drew close, and Kuku promptly went ecstatic, "Woowww... A maid cafe!"

"W-Wait," stammered Sumire, "I... I-Is it really...? There must be a mistake! How can there be a pleb and cliche maid cafe in there?!"

They all gave her a hostile stare. "Are you gonna blame it on us?" said Chisato menacingly.

"Guh..." whimpered Sumire. "Why did I even put it in there?!"

On Wednesday it was Ren's turn to lead Riviera's group practice. The focus this time is on singing—rather, on music, because Matsuura decided that knowing a song inside out was key to performing it properly. To that end, she led them to her own room, in her house next to the school, where she usually played the piano.

"Don't we have a Music Room?" wondered Sumire aloud. She caught herself, and caught Ren smiling her way, whereupon she just looked away sheepishly. Therefore, she largely missed the simple elegance of the mostly wooden furnishings and tasteful chandeliers of the house, which the rest quietly admired.

"Mama is out on a trip to Sendai," said Ren. "Don't worry, we won't bother anyone by our practice."

At the room itself, Ren first played a number of compositions: some songs she composed herself, as well as a few famous pieces. "The piano is the single best place to build our singing. I believe that if you are familiar with even just this instrument, listening to it, even playing it, your understanding of music itself will deepen."

"You're so amazing, Ren-Ren!" said Kuku (who already felt quite familiar with the kindly lady). "That's a classic, isn't it?"

Ren smiled fondly ay her. "Do you want me to teach you the basics?"

"May I? But it might take me forever!"

Ren stood up and motioned a bewildered Kuku to sit in her stead. As soon as the girl was settled, she positioned herself behind Kuku... and suddenly placed her own hands under hers. "I will play again, alright? Feel the movements. You will see how easy it really is."

With this simple method the girls' unfamiliarity with the piano quickly evaporated. Kanon in particular was enjoying herself a lot. "I see you have the makings of a virtuoso," remarked Ren. "You should keep it up."

"Wah?!" She abruptly froze in place. "Uh… N-No, stop kidding me!"

Ren giggled sweetly. "That's too bad. But at least I got you to stop, or we might never get to the actual lesson."

For that lesson, she had the girls stand in a row behind her. "I want you to listen closely, everyone. In order to sing a song well, you need to absorb it first."

The girls hushed and closed their eyes. Everybody began to relax, except for Chisato, who was still a little stiff. What exactly did Matsuura mean by 'absorb?' She wasn't that good at paying attention to tunes or notes; everything tended to eventually mix up in her head into a discordant babble, unless she could associate them with dance steps. Kanon felt her buddy's little tension with her own arm next to hers, and she touched Chisato's hand.

"Every song has a story, Chi-chan," she began. "Even if there are no lyrics. Every melody tells a story. Hear the music, and feel it. Imagine what Ren-chan must be feeling as she plays. And then... Imagine the story behind her feelings."

She remembered the words and closed her eyes. Feelings…

Ah yes… So is this what a person's emotions sound like? Madam was right, the piano did communicate whatever was actually in the player's heart… but only if when you pay close attention as when your eyes were closed. And the exact feelings still eluded her. This wasn't the kind of music she had lived with so far…

And then she remembered the movements of Ren's hands as she played the keys under her own hands. Now that's something she can get behind. Through the physical rhythms of Ren's fingers she began to associate motion with notes, and then follow the rhythm of the song—Wait, that finger training… did Miss Matsuura do that with me in mind?!

Could she be planning something for each of us…?

It can't be. Are we individually important enough? Besides, the thought is a little scary…

After the training session, they went down to the living room where Sumire introduced them to showbiz fashion. In particular, she showed her around on her fashion vlog channel, which had definitely upgraded from "kiddie jewelry," to say the least.

"Is that really you, Sumire-chan?" chorused the girls.

"Fufufu… I make sure my outfits are only the most acceptable." And she showed off the more flamboyant videos.

"Wow, they really are!" chorused the girls.

"Heh. I was sent an e-mail by a petit boutique on the Rue de Charonne a week after I uploaded it, but I didn't answer; I was waiting for a better name to come along, and then I'd probably consider."

"No way!" cried Kanon. "This is your chance, girl! You shouldn't let this opportunity pass!"

"That's what limelight-starved plebs such as you think like."

"No, you gotta build your name first by starting small, that's what Mamaita always says!"

Sumire threw them a black stare coupled with an evil-looking grin. "Ko… Kowai…" mumbled Kuku. "Did I say it right? Kowai?" Gulp.

"Build… you say?"

She swept atop a wooden coffee table and declaimed, "I am the one who will build you up! Rest assured, by this time tomorrow, every last one of you will have a custom-made dress befitting the silver screen, mark my very words!"

"Sumire-chan," said Ren, "you can get down from our table now."

She gulped, trying to hide her embarrassment, and stepped down. "I was going to." Hair flip.

The night sky over the Tokyo skyline turned slowly as it sailed into midnight, and then went on at a leisured pace all through the wee hours, until a touch of purple announced the coming dawn.

The morning rolled over the metropolis and blew a fresh, warm breath to the school grounds.

At lunch, the club gathered at the clubroom so Sumire can hand them the outfits as promised. The girls were predictably awed and even Ren nodded approvingly at every detail of her costume. Keke and Chisato were spinning around with them imagining themselves in their most gracious concert performance.

"Guys," said Sumire, "I just handed it over. You're supposed to examine it later after class. We won't be able to eat if you keep that up."

"I'm not hungry," said Kuku dreamily.

Sumire sighed loudly. Was I actually the one more excited than I should be, giving those clothes out so soon? She turned to see Kanon staring at hers, regarding it and touching it with such love she could have wept on the spot. So far she was the one most deeply moved. But I've been wearing that sort of stuff to sleep since forever. Really now. Will I ever completely understand these people?

She then told the girls she would be missing club later that day as she was staying behind for an intensive study session with classmates.

The study lasted well after school and into nightfall. The lampposts were lit very brightly by the time she parted ways with her classmates. Wow, she thought to herself, is this the same place. There weren't so many last year. This must be the first time I was around to see this. She purposely slowed down as she walked over to the gate.

Eh?

She noticed a single window at the school building where the light was on. Wait… That's our clubroom, isn't it? Who of us girls could be staying behind? Chisato has a work shift. Keke would not want to be caught up in the rush hour so she must have been on the subway an hour ago. Ren… She turned to see the Matsuura residence; the lights were on there, as well. Nah, she's probably home, too. And Kanon must be helping out at the café. Sigh. Chi-chan must have been the last to go and left the lights on in a hurry. Mattaku. She turned back to turn off the light herself.

What?

スーパースターズ! GO!

The costumes she gave out that lunch were still there, hanging inside the open closet. And someone's at the table, staring at the window. Her heart skipped a beat. "K-Kanon?" Sumire thought aloud.

Kanon only shifted in her seat a little bit to glance at her. "Oh…? Sumire-chan."

Sumire only puffed softly and approached her. "Come on, let's clean up. We gotta go home."

They have been putting things away and sweeping the floor for almost half an hour now, but the silence already weighed on Sumire. She glanced at Kanon, who was now wiping the windowpane rather timidly. Isn't she bothered? We haven't been talking the whole time. Is this what happens when the club is down to two people?

"Hey," she said landing at soft karate chop on Kanon's head.

"Wah! Wha—hey… W-What's that for?!"

Sumire folded her arms. "You're acting weird. Are you feeling well?"

Kanon nodded.

"You don't look it. She grabbed the girl's shoulders and looked her straight in the eye with the same sharpshooter stare she used on her back when they first met at the café. Kanon gulped.

"A-Are you taking my number again?"

"I will, and more than that, if you don't tell me what's bugging you right away."

"…"

"Tell me now!"

Kanon whimpered and let her eyes sink to the floor. What's the use hiding stuff now, now that we're a club? She made a small face. "I'm a little uncomfortable in that," said Kanon pointing lamely at something.

Sumire's eyes followed that direction to the open closet. "You mean those?" she asked of the costumes.

She nodded sheepishly.

"You don't like them, Kanon-chan?"

"No, it's not that…"

"Humph. We were wearing concert outfits in public, don't you remember?"

"I mean, our first costumes were just fine, they were quite neat-looking. But this… This is a little too fabulous for me."

Sumire only stared at her in disbelief.

"I simply can't imagine myself wearing that."

"…"

Oh…

Is that it? Is that really it?

She grabbed Kanon by the collar and dragged her along wailing, took a costume out of the closet and shoved it to her. "This is yours, right? Isn't it? Ne?" Kanon nodded hastily, but Sumire, unsatisfied, dragged her out of the room, down the hallway, and out across the grounds.

"Sumire!" she yelled throwing off that grip, only to be grabbed again. "Sumire, you don't understand! I… I didn't exactly sign up for something like this!"

"Idiot!" she thundered back. "Are you saying you blundered into an idol club not realizing what it actually is the whole time?!"

"It's a school idol club!"

"It's a school idol club!"

"School!"

"Idol!"

"School!"

"Idol!"

"School!"

"Idol!"

"It's just a school idol club! It's not supposed to be top-tier or anything!"

"Then what does that make me? Am I that cheap to you?! I'm with you girls now, so measure up!"

Kanon sneered. "Oh yeah. I forgot you were a star. I'm so sorry, your highness, I'm so ashamed!"

"Well, that's just too bad… because I want you to become better than me!"

They both caught themselves. Sumire gritted her teeth and turned away to hide her embarrassment and went on to drag Kanon right up to the gymnasium… across the empty floor… and up onto the stage! She threw down the costume at Kanon's feet and ordered her, "Pick it up!"

"…"

"Wear it! Pick it up!"

"…"

"You're not an ordinary student now. Feel your outfit. Turn around in it. Sleep in it."

When Kanon kept hesitating, she raised her voice even more. "What are you waiting for?! Sing! You're on stage now, and I'm your audience. Don't you dare disappoint me!"

At this, Kanon felt compelled to open her mouth, but nothing came out, not even a puff of air.

"…"

"Come on, sing!"

"…"

Incredibly enough, a song came into her consciousness right at that moment, and she haltingly mouthed the opening lines of Susume Tomorrow. But as Sumire kept staring into her very soul, she found the urge to keep singing, in a firmer voice now, not really it was really any awesome feeling, more like a reflex of running and running to dodge something dangerous. But it did carry her through the song, and at the end of it, the hesitation was gone, and she felt refreshed, as one exhilarated from a long chase.

Kanon stared back at Sumire panting. She wasn't nervous anymore. Sumire smiled and nodded in approval. "So I guess we're all set."

Kanon nodded back quietly.

"Do you know English?"

Kanon gasped, but she was a bit cockier right now and she recovered. "Well… A little."

"But enough for a song? I think this is something you might have heard before, anyway."

Kanon closed her eyes. She wasn't that great at talking in English, but if it was singing, maybe pronunciation glitches might be smoothed over. "OK. I'll do my best."

Now it was Sumire's turn to take a deep breath.

Tell Him

Lyrics: Walter Afanasieff, Linda Thompson, and David Foster;

Arrangements: Walter Afanasieff and David Foster

Their faces were suffused with a majestic serenity even as they were catching their breath from the impassioned performance. They saw each other—Kanon from onstage looking out to (not looking down on) Sumire, but Sumire… she was looking up to Kanon.

In a moment, she felt her hands move on their own and applaud. The tears began to slide down. This is… This is Kanon? She was just fantastic! This was the first time I had such a beautiful duet! Suddenly she caughjt Kanon throwing her a curious look, and only then did she remember to touch herself… the tears. What is this? Was I clapping? Wait… I… Flushed deep red and confused and unable to contain even more tears she quickly turned around and ran away, her footfalls echoing loudly in the silence of the gymnasium.

But Kanon only looked after her. She was smiling. She finally found, no, she finally felt her purpose. Sumire, I know what to do now. You can count on me. I will do this for you. I will do this for everyone!

Later that night she was hard at work, scribbling down furiously on her notebook. The words were still hard to come by, but her feelings were sure, and after an hour or so of insisting on her mind to cooperate, she was able to squeeze out what she could.

She was overtaken by sleep right there at the desk, still holding on to her pen. A little later Mamancame into the room. She smiled warmly, got the blanket and covered her, and put a pilllow on the desk under her.

Early the following morning she picked up where she left off. Her mind was at a faster pace now. Her blood flowed much more freely. She felt the end of her work was closer now... well, not quite. But already she knew where to stop for now.

Finally…

"This is it... my song."

Kanon held out the song to the light. It was only two stanzas and a refrain. There were only some simple guitar chords she learned from Kuku to serve as its composition. But it was hers. Her own feelings.

She ran outside, out to the street. "I want them to hear it! My song!"

It was still dark, the roads were still lit, but the sky was of a lighter hue, and people began to appear everywhere... everywhere... I want them to hear it. I want all of them to hear it. But they were everywhere. Will she be able to reach them all? And... I'm still a little shy to sing to their face, to be honest. But I want them to hear it. I want them to hear my voice. I want them to hear my song!

Wait...

I know!

She turned and hurried back to the cafe. The chimes rattled so loudly as she came in, Manmosu was startled from his sleep; he stared at her curiously, trying to find out if she was still alright. "Manmosu-kun, I hope you can hear me from upstairs. You will listen to me, right?" And she went on giggling excitedly.

The cafe occupied the two lower floors of a five-storey building. The third and fourth floors housed apartments, most of them unoccupied. The fifth floor was empty, and the door to the rooftop was not locked.

Kanon found herself gazing across the huge vacant space from which she could see the other buildings all around. She stepped out to greet the sunrise in her school uniform, holding a microphone and a speaker, the one Kuku left behind for her. Kuku... Did she somehow know this was going to happen? It did not matter now, she was already here, standing on a place where her song will flow out everywhere, to all of Tokyo, and out to the brightening sky.

ED Song

i-n-g, I TRY!

Lyrics: Aki Hata; Composition and Arrangement: Takeshi Masuda

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Next Time! #11. We're Going to the Love Live?!