Chapter 8 - Mahiru's Confession!

Author's Note: Hello again! Continuing on with the prewritten chapters… I'm worried with how long these chapters will take and if I will ever be able to be on a "live" schedule. I'll try to let you guys know if I ever go on a hiatus though.

After arriving at the Moon Beauty classroom, Koharu and Mahiru started on their Aikatsu. However, due to the previous conversation, an awkward silence settled over the two of them. Eventually, Koharu gathered up the courage and asked if Mahiru could help her with her runway walks and balance. Mahiru agreed with no hesitation. They started off with walking with smaller water bottles on their head.

"One, two, one, two," Mahiru said as she clapped. Before long, Koharu's water bottle toppled over and fell to the ground.

"Mahiru-chan, how are you able to walk so elegantly with the water bottle?"

"Hmm… well I just remind myself to focus on the basics! Instead of just thinking that I want to keep the bottle on my head, I focus on just walking in a natural rhythm and keep a straight back!"

"Ah, I see! Let's try another rep!"

They continued practicing for a while and Mahiru noticed that Koharu was gradually improving. She had moved onto a larger 2 liter bottle in order to give herself a harder challenge.

"You're doing great, Koharu-chan! Keep it up!"

"Ah… thank you, Mahiru-chan! However, I'm not the one who is balancing a 2 liter bottle on my head."

"You forget that I've been practicing for many more years than you! Also, when we started, you could barely talk while walking, but look at you know!"

"Ah, thank you!" Koharu was getting ready to ask Mahiru about her family to see how she was doing, but before she could do so, Mahiru's Aikatsu Mobile started ringing.

"Ah, Koharu-chan, I think I should take this… do you mind?"

"No, no, not at all!" Koharu replied, waving her hand frantically.

As Mahiru picked up the call, Koharu heard some footsteps getting softer and softer of someone with dark green hair. Maybe it was Mr. Miwa Tamagoro? Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard the voice as her teacher said something that suspiciously sounded like "as expected of a Kasumi." After hearing those words, she suddenly remembered when Mahiru had first told her that her last name was Kasumi. She hadn't put the pieces together earlier because it seemed that Mahiru was reluctant to talk about her family and seemed to actively avoid her sister altogether in class.

•••

In one of the Flower Song classrooms, Yume and Laura were practicing Aikatsu with projection exercises. Laura was on the piano and playing chords for Yume to sing out.

"Wow, Laura, I knew that your mother was a pianist, but I didn't know you could too!"

"It's just for fun, really! Anyways, try singing this!" Laura said as she played a single note.

"AaaaAaAAaa" Yume forced out.

"No, no, Yume. You have to project like this: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Laura sang out with perfect vibrato. Even though she had sustained the note for longer than Yume, she didn't seem the least bit winded.

"Ah.. I can hear the difference. Let me try again!"

Unfortunately for Yume, even after many attempts, she still had trouble and just couldn't project.

"Seriously, Yume…" Laura sighed. She poked at Yume's stomach. "Those aren't even abs!"

"Yah… give me a break! I'm really trying! What about you? Do you even have abs?" Yume retorted. However, contrary to her, Laura indeed did have a strong core. Laura smirked in response.

"Well then, let's try something else then," Laura suggested. She was getting frustrated and decided that they should do some other type of Aikatsu to strengthen their core. She knew Yume was really trying, but she somehow couldn't help but feel annoyed. If they kept at their projection exercises, she knew she would probably eventually blow up at Yume.

•••

After excusing herself and picking up the call, Mahiru said, "Hello, NI-san?"

"Yah… Mahiru! Why do you never give me a call? Also, why did you not acknowledge me at the ice cream shop today?"

"Maybe because I'm busy! And I just didn't want to! Speaking of which, shouldn't you be busy with all of your band events?"

"Awww… Is it because of that again? If you need to talk, Ni-san will always be here! But also, don't be such a loner; make some friends! M4 has been less busy since we're taking a little break after our summer tours and getting ready for the new season. Also, what in the world are you so busy with right now? It's getting pretty late. Make sure you get some proper sleep!"

"Ah, I know, Asahi! Besides, I'm training with a friend right now, so take that!" Mahiru shot back. She knew Asahi was just worried for her, so she didn't take his "insults" seriously.

"What? The Mahiru has made friends?! I don't believe you, send a picture of you and them after this!" Asahi demanded, "Speaking of people on your campus, shouldn't you try and talk with Onee-san soon?"

"Fine, fine! I will just so you will stop pestering me! Anyways, my friend is still waiting for me, so I got to go!" Mahiru said exasperatedly. She completely ignored the last question and uttered a quick goodbye.

By hanging up, Asahi was unable to ask Mahiru about the mysterious purple-haired girl who he saw earlier at the ice cream parlor. He knew the girl looked familiar. He hoped to get the chance to ask Mahiru about her later.

•••

"Ah, Mahiru-chan, you didn't have to hang up so quickly because of me!" Koharu said.

"That's okay, it wasn't too important," Mahiru replied, "Ni-san was being a little annoying today, so it was a good excuse to hang up, hehe. Oh, speaking of, he wanted me to prove I was actually with a friend, so do you mind if we take a photo together?"

"Hahah… sure!"

Mahiru held up her Aikatsu Mobile and quickly snapped a selfie to send to Asahi.

"Anyways, should we pack up for the night?"

"Sure, let's do that!"

As they were packing up, Koharu finally decided to carefully ask Mahiru about her siblings.

"Hey… uh, Mahiru-chan, I heard you say Ni-san earlier and I remember you telling me that you were a Kasumi a while back… Is there a reason why you try to hide it and avoid your sister?" Mahiru didn't respond immediately and froze. Koharu noticed the reluctance and quickly added that she didn't have to answer if she didn't want to.

"Well… it's a little complicated, but to keep it short, I just don't like telling others straight because I'm afraid other people will only value me for being a sister of the perfect Yozora of S4 or the wonderful Asahi of M4," Mahiru started, "I'm just afraid that people won't like me for the person I am and some might use me because of my siblings."

"Oh… I see. Well, Mahiru-chan, I can't speak for everyone, but I'm pretty sure our group loves you just for the person you are! I do really admire Yozora, but you're just as unique and special as her! We will always stick by your side for the reason that you are Mahiru-chan!"

Mahiru smiled at Koharu's kind, thoughtful response and felt more at ease instantly. Before she could respond, another voice interrupted her.

"Koharu-chan is absolutely right!"

Koharu and Mahiru whipped their heads towards the direction of the sound.

"Yah, Yume, keep it down!"

"Ah… we are all caught! Mission was compromised!"

As Yume, Haruka, Laura, and finally Ako slowly emerged one-by-one from the shadows, Koharu and Mahiru burst into laughter.

"She's right, you know" Laura said, "We all want to be your friend, just because you are Mahiru in your own special way."

"Awww… thank you so much, Laura!" Mahiru said, "But why are you guys all here? How much did you guys hear?"

"Well… Yume and I were on our way back because Yume was struggling. As we passed this building, we saw that the lights were still on and thought we should surprise you two!"

"I was not struggling that much! Okay… maybe a lot," Yume retired before she returned to the question at hand. "When we got here, however, you two seemed deep in conversation so we didn't really interrupt! We only heard the last bits of the conversation, though! We're really sorry for eavesdropping!"

"Haha, that's okay! Thank you for coming to get us!"

"What about you guys, Haruka-chan and Ako-chan?"

"We got back to the dorms awhile ago, but it started getting late and Haruka said she was bored and pulled me to go find you guys!" Ako replied, "I wasn't actually too worried or anything!"

"Hehe… Ako, you're such a terrible liar when it comes to the simplest things! Haruka saw how worried you were about the rest of them, so I dragged you along so you could be more at ease!"

The rest of the girls got a laugh out of this as Ako started denying the claim profusely.

"Come on, let's pack up and head to the dorms before we get punishment!"

"Yes, let's goooo!"

"Race you guys there!"

"Haruka accepts this challenge!"

"Wait up for me!"

"Gosh… will that girl ever run out of energy?"

"Come on, let's go, Ako-chan!"