-Ayako's POV-
"Victory!" Kotori bounces up and down in excitement as she scores the last point against Shido in air hockey.
"I declare Kotori is still the reigning champion!" I act like an announcer for a major sports tournament, hyping Kotori up as she prances around the table. Shido gives me a 'really' look and sighs dramatically.
"Kotori, Kotori me next!" Tohka chimes in excitedly. Shido hands her the paddle and I put another coin in to start the next match.
The two girls battle furiously, launching the puck at one another with enough force that even the Yamai sisters flinch a little from the impacts.
I walk away from the table, grabbing my soda and hop up onto one of the unused tables, relaxing a bit as the battle continues. Shido makes his way over and leans against the table next to me. "They're really going at it hard over there aren't they." He remarks casually. Tohka cheers loudly and jumps around as she finally scores the first point.
"No kidding, we're lucky no one else is here today." I remark, knowing full well that this was all Fraxinus' doing.
"The girls all wanted to get out and have some fun on the weekend so we decided to have a group date and come hang out at the arcade." Shido shrugs and I shoot him a sharp glance.
"If this was a date then why was I invited?" He laughs nervously at my question and shrugs again.
"It was Kotori's idea, she thought it might make up for the last date that didn't go well, but I know better than to try anything now, Tsubasa is really over protective." He says.
"Either way it is fun, we haven't gotten to hang out much recently."
"Yea you missed the school trip and were busy most of the break, what were you doing?" He asks.
"I was actually traveling abroad with Tsubasa and another person. We went to America and got to go ride Ten Tacle Land's new attraction before it was open to the public, after that we just kinda went on a road trip." I cheer when Kotori scores a point then turn back to Shido.
"Sounds like you had a pretty good break then." I nod my head. "Still I'm surprised you're getting along with Kaguya and Yuzuru so well, considering you aren't one for crowds."
I shrug and keep watching the game in front of us. "Who knows, maybe I'm getting over it, or maybe because we're all Spirits it doesn't matter. Though, most likely, it's because no one is paying attention to me but you." I chuckle.
"Want to join in once those two finish?" Shido asks, indicating the air hockey table.
I shake my head. "Not really a fan of air hockey, I prefer pool for table games." I tell him.
Kaguya spins around, a smirk on her face as she stalks up to us. "So you play pool do you, Ayako?" I look at her, a bit perplexed by her sudden interest but I nod my head. "Hehe then I challenge you to a Pool duel! Yuzuru and I battled once in Pool and I was the undisputed victor."
"Objection, Kaguya barely beat me when we battled before. I wish to join in this Pool duel against you as well, Ayako." Yuzuru interjected.
"I challenged her first, you can play the winner. Though I don't know why you would bother, I beat you last time so the outcome will be the same regardless." Kaguya brags.
I wave my hands, hoping to shoo them away. "I didn't say I wanted to play, I just said I prefer that to air hockey."
"Conclusion, Ayako is scared she will lose." Yuzuru says. Shido starts to say something but Kaguya cuts him off.
"You said it Yuzuru, if she was ACTUALLY good then she would agree to play with us, guess she's only good at video games, not really all that surprising." I grit my teeth and hop off the table.
Without a word to anyone I march over to where the pool sticks are kept and yank it off the wall. "I'll set, you break, you two will rotate each time I miss a sink." I look at Yuzuru and sneer at her. "Sorry, looks like you won't be playing much."
They watch me, taken aback at my sudden change in attitude, as I set up the billiard balls to play. "Break." I order Kaguya, who lines herself up and breaks the set up, not sinking a ball.
"What? No way I didn't sink one!" Kaguya exclaims and I just smirk confidently.
"My turn." I wander around the table slowly, looking at each angle I can take. I circle around to where I started and bend low over the table and hit the cue ball with a sharp rap. The ball shoots across the table and sinks a stripped ball into the side pocket before bouncing off and sinking another stripped ball in a different one. I systematically walk around the table, sinking shot after shot until I finally miss with 3 balls left and the eight ball. "Damn it, I miscalculated." I grumble.
"Accusation: Using your Angel for figuring out shots is cheating Ayako." Yuzuru accuses me.
"Y-Yea she's right! There is no way you could have made all those crazy shots back to back if you weren't cheating with your powers!" The dumbfounded Kayuga jumps in, knowing full well she will lose if she doesn't get a rematch.
"Geez, just because my Angel is a computer you think I used it for cheating?" I huff in annoyance.
"You just said you calculated wrong, so of course you were cheating." Kaguya pushes and I narrow my eyes angrily, luckily Shido steps in.
"Honestly, if she was using Zuriel I doubt she would've made a mistake." He explains to the sisters. "You guys haven't known each other long but Ayako is the smartest person I know. She's a game developer, software creator, the highest grades in the school, and probably the nation. She really doesn't need her Angel to help her with computing." The twins just stare at me and I shuffle my feet uncomfortably.
"Shido, you didn't need to tell them all that." I mumble, scratching my head sheepishly.
"Can you teach me how to play video games better?! Unless it's fighting games, I never beat Yuzuru!" Kaguya says, grabbing my hands and shaking them excitedly.
"I-I'll consider it if you can beat me in pool." I tell her, a little surprised by the sudden change in attitude.
"Alright! Yuzuru you got this!" Kaguya cries, turning around in time to see her sister sink the cue ball.
I chuckle as Kaguya freaks out at her sister and I snag the ball and line up my next shot. I knock 2 shots then purposely scratch on my third shot as there was no good way to line up an eight ball shot with the next ball, and scratching on that means I lose. "Alright, 2 more shots for me and I win, so here's your chance Kaguya."
I watched as Kaguya takes her time and slowly examines her shots, impressed that despite her excitable and eager personality she would take the time to examine every shot. She methodically sinks 3 shots in a row before missing. "Damn, I thought that one would go in." She complains.
"You needed to hit it to the right a tad more and you would've made it." I comment. I easily sink my last shot, then the eight ball. "Not bad, perhaps if it wasn't a 1v2 you might've done a bit better, sorry Yuzuru but Kaguya is a much better pool player." I smile apologetically.
"Affirmative: Kaguya is a much better pool player than I am, however there are plenty of things I am better at than her, we should play foosball." She challenges me and I just groan.
"No no, I'll take your word for it, I just wanna relax." Kindly declining her challenge. I put my pool stick away and sit on the table in time to watch Kotori demand a rematch from Tohka who is dancing excitedly.
Shido chuckles at the scene in front of us. "It really is nice to just relax once in a while, especially with how crazy things have been." I hum in agreement and take another swig of my drink.
"We should do this again next weekend Shido!" Tohka runs up to him, bouncing excitedly.
"Sounds like fun, we'll have to see if Kotori can arrange it again. Wanna come again Ayako?" He turns to me.
"Can't, I have plans next weekend." I decline.
"Gonna go somewhere with Tsubasa again? Oh, and is she still mad at me?" He asks.
"No actually, I have a ticket to go backstage to meet my favorite singer this coming weekend." I whip the ticket out. "I've never been to a concert before but Onee-sama took care of it. She even got me a seat that won't be crowded and the longest backstage pass time they have." I tell him.
"Who's Miku Izayoi?" Tohka asks, examining the ticket.
"For real? You've never heard of Miku Izayoi? She's only the number one new idol around. I'm going to have her sign the newest CD for me." I tell her.
"Is she that good?" She asks, looking at Shido who shrugs.
"Have none of you heard of her?" I look from one person to another, all of them shake their head but Kotori, who had stomped off to go get something to eat. "Geez, you guys are missing out, you should listen to her when you get home, she's really good. Anyway I gotta head home, Onee-sama asked me to run by the store and pick up some ginger and pork for dinner tonight so I better get going. See you at school tomorrow." I wave bye and head out the door, leaving them to play more.
—- Next Weekend, Ayako's POV—-
"Onee-samaaaa, you don't have to stand in line with me you know." I groan, looking around in embarrassment as Tsubasa holds me close to her side.
"Oh? Normally you would love me holding you close Ayako, what's different this time?" She teases, giving me a loving squeeze.
"It's just weird that you're hanging in line with me even though you aren't coming in." I complain.
"It's not my kinda music hun, but you've never been to a concert before, and I wanna make sure you get in safe." She says and I groan again.
"Yea but it's weird with you hanging out here just to make sure I get into the concert alright. I got a ticket so no one's gonna take advantage of me. No way anyone will be able to hurt me either. You're just embarrassing me!" I pout harder.
"Isn't that part of my job as your big sis?" She smirks. "Alright I'll go, be good and don't cause any trouble." She gives me a kiss on the head and walks off, waving bye to me as she goes.
God I love her, my Onee-sama is the best, but she can be such a bully! I let out a sigh and look around. The line to get into the building was huge, but luckily I wasn't in that line. Thanks to my ticket I was in the VIP line with 49 other people. I'm shocked Onee-sama managed to get this ticket, there are only 50 per concert and more than that how'd she get me backstage access? Miku never does backstage events, not that I mind one bit.
"Excited for this event?" Another person asks, a young man standing behind me.
"Oh yea, it's my first concert so I'm super excited." I tell him, not turning toward him to keep the interaction at just that.
"First time huh? It's surprising you got the ticket then, usually they give return watchers preference over newbies." He says, taking a few steps forward to stand next to me. "In fact a friend of mine couldn't even get prime seating even though he has been to every concert. Say, would you be willing to sell your ticket for double what it's worth? There are scalpers around that will easily be able to get you into the concert."
"I'm not really interested, thanks." I tell him dismissively. Just leave me alone.
"Come on, it's a good deal, you still get to see Miku, my friend gets the ticket he shoulda got to begin with, and you get some pocket money. You make your money back and then some, and if your parents bought it then you get a massive positive." He insists, stepping around so he's in front of me.
"Thanks, but I don't want to sell it. This ticket was a present and I don't plan on selling it to anyone, now leave me alone." I give him an annoyed look. He growls in annoyance but steps back, knowing that there's no way he can push it with so many people around.
"Alright, please go to your designated seats." The guard at the door announces and opens the door up, allowing us to file in. I double check my ticket and make my way to the very front and center seat.
"No way, that's the best freaking seat, how'd you get it?" The guy from earlier complains loudly, sitting 2 rows back from me. I shrug my shoulders and sit down, setting my back to him. "Hey trade with me, you'll still get your prime seating, but come on, I've been her fan since she started."
"How many times do I have to tell you no? Now leave me alone or I'll complain to security." I threaten, shutting him up instantly, though I can still feel his glare burning holes in the back of my head.
After everyone settles in, they open the other doors and the rest of the fans file in noisily. I groan as the whole venue fills with loud chatter as everyone waits excitedly for the concert to start. After a good half an hour that I spent looking things up on my phone, the lights turn off and everyone falls silent. The spotlight turns on revealing Miku Izayoi on the stage.
"Thank you everyone for coming out to see me today! I hope everyone enjoys the show." She says before launching into her most popular song, "My Treasure". I jump to my feet as her singing starts and sing along to every song she sings. All the voices melt together as we sing Miku's finale song with her and she gives one last bow, thanking us again before heading off stage.
I quickly make my way to the door backstage, excited to meet the idol but get stopped at the door. "Sorry miss, no one's allowed backstage, no exceptions." The guard moves to block me but stops as the door opens and a woman in a nice suit steps out.
"Actually Miss Tenshima has a special backstage pass, she will be joining Miku shortly once she has freshened up from the concert. Please Miss Tenshima, there is a sitting room prepared for you." The woman says, motioning me to follow her. She quickly explains that she is Miku's producer and apologizes about the guard stopping her, stating that if she had told the guard, someone else could've potentially come in on accident. She opens the door to a nice sitting room with a few treats as well as tea and coffee. "Miku will be with you shortly, please enjoy what we have here until she arrives."
I thank her and make my way over to the tray of food, picking up a few cookies and pouring myself some coffee, adding generous amounts of cream and sugar to cut the bitterness and take a seat in one of the chairs. After a bit I check the time, noting it's been more than half an hour and refill my coffee.
"Why do I have to do this? I told you I don't want to do private fan meetings." I hear a girl's voice out in the hall.
"I told you that a very wealthy and influential person bought into the company and made this as a personal request." I hear the manager's voice.
"There's no strings attached right? I just have to talk to them for a little bit?" The girl asks. She doesn't seem too eager to meet me, but I can't really blame her I guess, this probably happens a lot.
"She's a nice young girl, she looks about your age, just go talk to her for a bit." The producer tells her. There's a short, quieter exchange before the door opens and Miku walks in dressed in a much more casual outfit than what she wore on stage.
I stand up when she enters. "Hi Miku, I'm Ayako, sorry to take up some of your time. I'm a really big fan of yours, though I'm sure you get that a lot." I tell her, stumbling over my words as I rush to introduce myself.
She smiles at me politely. "No, don't worry about it, please sit down. We have a little bit of time so how about we chat a little before I sign anything you have."
"Sure." I relax a little and sit back down.
I start to relax more as we continue talking about the concert, and her recent events that she has been doing. She happily tells me about her newest album that was just announced and how she wrote all the music herself. The conversation turns to our summer vacations and I tell her about how I went overseas with my sister for a vacation and it wasn't until we got back that I learned I was going to the concert.
"Wow your sister really spoils you, a vacation overseas and a backstage meeting with your favorite singer, she must really love you." Miku comments and I can't help but smile.
"Yea, she's the only family I have, so she and I are really close." I tell her. "And I'm working on a way to thank her for it, but it's not easy keeping secrets from her."
"Hmhm, you're much more interesting than I could have hoped for." She chuckles. "How about you tell me about your hobbies, I would love to know more about you."
"Well I'm honestly not much of a people person. I'm terrible at approaching people, and if people focus on me I get kinda scared honestly, that's one of the reasons I admire you so much. You get on the stage and sing your heart out, it's amazing." I tell her.
"Surely there's something you do for fun or you accel at isn't there?" She pushes and I nod my head.
"There is something I think I'm pretty good at I suppose. My hobby is making video games." I tell her.
"You mean like studying them?" She asks, slightly confused.
"Nu uh, I actually program games. I write the story, make the characters and then build it into video games. I even worked with my sister's company to publish a few games." I tell her, feeling a little self-conscious.
"No way, you've put out actual video games? That's amazing! You shouldn't downplay something like that, be proud, not many people can do stuff like that you know." She tells me. "What company did you work with?" She adds.
"My sister is the CEO of Cupid, the dating sims game company." I tell her.
"No way, everyone has heard of Cupid, they're the most popular gaming company right now." She pulls her phone out and unlocks it. "Even I have the mobile version of their latest game, Yuri Yuri, Love Love."
"Yea the phone port for that one turned out very good, took me awhile to make it work though." I stop and she stares at me in astonishment.
"Wait, you coded this game?" I nod. "You're amazing Ayako." She applauds me and I blush in embarrassment. "So Ayako, what school do you go to?" She asks coolly.
"I go to Raizen High School." I answer.
"Have you ever thought about transferring to Rindouji All-Girls Private School? It's a school for talented young women and I think you would fit in very well there, if you like I can help you transfer there." She smiles confidently.
"Hmm, no I haven't." I tell her frankly and she frowns a little.
"I think you should heavily consider it, it's perfect for young women like you, and we could get to know each other better." She gives me a winning look.
"It's not really my call, I can talk to my sister but I can't make any promises, and I like my school honestly." I confess.
"Hmmmm, well you talk to her about it." She stands up. "Sadly it's about time for me to go, I really enjoyed talking with you Ayako. Say, how about we trade numbers? We can chat whenever we want, maybe you could come out on a date with me and have some fun."
"I don't know about a date or anything, but yes please! I totally wanna trade info with you." I tell her and whip my phone out.
We trade information and she turns to leave. "It was nice to meet you Ayako, I'll be texting you." She shoots me a wink and heads out.
"Today was awesome!" I cheer. I stare at my new contact for a minute then start giggling. Well I better let Onee-sama know to come pick me up, I can't wait to tell her how amazing it was!
