Sumire looked out over the wildly cheering audience, having finished her performance in grand style. She was thoroughly savoring the attention. This will make a fine video for her newly-launched school idol channel. The student she entrusted with the camera lay directly in front of her in the distance, at just the right place.
Ren skated back to her side, waving and thanking everybody, having to shout above the din of the crowd. She then took Sumire's hand and said in her ear,
"How's that to jumpstart your career?"
She did not answer. She was absorbed in her moment of glory. She took a deep breath and waved at them herself. "I love you all!" she yelled, and was answered by an even more uproarious cheering. But there was one thing that topped it all off, which made victory a thousand times sweeter.
She heard me. She heard me! I'm sure of it.
OP Song
Bouken Type A, B, C!
Lyrics: Aki Hata
Composition and Arrangement: Tatsuya Kurauchi
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#3. A Real School Idol Club?
Kanon stood outside the director's office, gazing apprehensively at the oaken double door. She raised her hand to knock, her third try, but couldn't bring herself to. Ah! What's the matter with you, Kanon?! she chided herself. Chi-chan had to meet with the newly-formed Track Club and couldn't be with her today as promised. She wagged her head as though trying to wake herself up and raised her hand once more... and this time she successfully touched the door. Way to go, Kanon. Now, how to actually knock? Take it a step at a time, Kanon, she told herself, first knock softly. As soon as you get used to it, knock a bit louder. And louder.
Yup! That's right.
Now, what exactly can she expect from Miss Matsuura? Maybe she'll just lecture her, hopefully. Chisato said she probably wasn't the Student President, after all, so she maybe won't impose a stiff penalty on her, especially not when school has just begun. But she was able to issue a school seal... Grrrr, maybe it's time to turn back now, I'll just say I did come but nobody was around.
"Takami-san?"
Eep! She turned to see Ren herself right behind her. But even more startling was... Oh my, what a lovely, lovely figure! She was in a sleeveless jogging outfit. She looks even more of a woman in that! Her complexion seemed even more delicate in broad daylight.
Catching herself, she yelped again and presented the letter with both hands. "I-I'm here as you ordered, Madam!" Geh. Why is she even 'Madam'-ing her? Was it because she was both scary and... uh, gorgeous all at once? And somehow nice, too, she can feel it, and hopefully she will be nice enough to shorten her lecture.
Ren smiled, took the letter, and went into the office. A tense moment later she went out again... with another letter. She handed it to Kanon, who was dismayed to find it had no date like the previous one. "I'm sorry, Takami-san, I don't have time for you right now. I had to check on the Track Club. Sorry you had to see me in this."
Sorry? What on earth are you even saying?! she wanted to tell her. Nobody should be sorry for that kind of bod. "W-When are you calling me again?"
Ren closed her eyes. "Just be prepared whenever I decide to. Don't you worry, I'll be sure to talk to you, Miss Takami." And she went back in, closing the door with a thud of finality, and a sound of a latch locking from the inside.
Kanon huffed in frustration and regarded the letter worriedly. Now she'll be at Miss Matsuura's mercy for who knows how long. Is this how it feels to live with a piano hanging right above you all the time? Hah... Maybe she can strike back at Matsuura by telling people that she wore a jogging outfit into the director's office. Maybe... Ah! What am I thinking? I was the one who told Chi-chan not to be a grapevine. Hah... Never mind. Worrying won't remove the problem now. I better look for Chisato so I can have fun and forget about it for a while.
When she arrived at the field, however, there was a huge ruckus over a game of... rugby? American football? Chisato was on the grass clinging onto a pack of limited-edition noppo bread which somebody had thrown onto their track practice, and which everybody else was trying to wrest away from her. Just then, someone had the bright idea of tickling her. Chisato mindlessly flung away the bread in the frenzy, and then with a vengeance tickled back, which deteriorated into a mess of everyone tickling everyone else, the noppo completely forgotten.
"Eheheh... I guess I'll just see you tomorrow. Bye..."
Kanon arrived home at the cafe, dejected. "Tadaimaaaa... Hahhhh..." Just then Manmosu flew over and perched on her shoulder... and instantly lifting her mood. "Why, hello there! Did you miss me?" She got him some mealworms. "Here. Thank you for being a dear." Nuzzle. Giggle. She let him fly back to his perch.
Mama came out from behind the bar. "Ah, I'm so glad you're back!" she said happily. Hug. "You did a wonderful job last week! I just saw a video of you this morning and everybody had only good things to comment about you! Say, why don't you make a pop idol club?"
"Huh? Uh, Chi-chan only pushed me into it..."
"Heh? Come on now, baby, don't you want to carry on Mama's legacy? If you didn't know, I was a pretty famous enka singer in the country back in the day."
"I'm not you, Maman, I don't have a stomach."
"Awwww, won't you do it for Mamaita, my dearie?"
"Looks like it explains the huge proceeds last week," said Chihiro arriving downstairs. "Can't you do it to help our cafe, at least? Sing and promote our place."
Kanon wasn't amused. "You're making me a money mill."
Chihiro ru8shed over and pulled at her cheek. "Kanon go brrrrr brrrrr." Laugh. "You're our property so quit whining."
"You don't understand how tiring it is to be at a booth," she said in that stretched face. When her sister let go, "Ow. Why don't you try actually earning a buck instead of sticking your head in a book?"
"Oh no. I'm a born academic. Besides, I'll become too popular if I did the singing in your place."
"No you won't, you're a nerd."
Shrug. "OK! That means you will do it. Fine, that settles it."
"Hey!" She just got tricked again. "Don't misquote me!"
"Kanon dear, I'm so glad!" said Mom. She looked her over. "Do your best with the club, OK?"
She gaped in consternation and wanted to speak up again, but with those expectant stares at her, how could she refuse? Whimper. "I guess I have no escape."
That night in bed she tried to call Chisato, to no avail. Who is she talking to at this hour? Is this her uncle using her phone again? Is she asleep already? Just when I needed a shoulder to blubber on! In a fit of frustration she typed out an angry text: "Get well soon, snob." Humph. Send. She then stretched as if to relieve herself of all the day's stress. Hah...
She gazed at the ceiling for a while, ruminating on forming a club. She did become active in extracurriculars back in junior high, in her last year particularly, but she was always just a participant. It was far from her mind to be a ranking member, even further to run a club, much less found one. But... This was a new school. There were so many possibilities. Perhaps it's about time she did something new, as well. But sing? Can I even do it? I only had the guts back at the booth because Chi-chan was with me, I can also dance if I have a good enough partner like Chi-chan. If I go it alone, however... Singing is just about the only skill I have. And my only passion.
But if I love singing so much then what's really holding me back? Is it because singing goes with being a school idol, and it's really just the idoling part I don't believe in? But if you sing, then being a pop star is sure to follow. There's no separating them. So... What is it that keeps me from going pop? Maybe it's because I feel like I'm pretending to be somebody if I become a school idol. Like that Yazawa kid.
She shook her head vigorously. Ah! No. I'm not making a club to promote myself. That's right, I'm doing this for the cafe. I'll do my best to help Mamaita. At the same time, I can cheer everybody up. Yup!
I'll still need Chisato, though.
スーパースターズ! GO!
"Hm-hm-hm~" Kanon happily hummed as she made her way down the corridor to her classroom. She was extra-early today, and she carried in her arm a folded poster she intended to put up on the bulletin board before class starts. Hopefully she would see Chisato soon enough so she can give her opinion on it.
"O-hayou~!" called out a voice heading her way. Chisato. She was also carrying a folded poster. "Why hi there!" Kanon greeted her sunnily. "I see you're just back from the hospital! Ahahahaha!"
Chi-chan laughed with her and said, "Don't underestimate my injuries from yesterday. Hahahaha! You're being rude. But I'll forgive you if you check this out."
"Eh...?" she said still smiling. You can't be serious, Chi-chan, are you? "What a coincidence! I was going to say the same thing to you!"
And they laughed together again.
Chisato took a scheming look at Kanon's poster. Is that by any chance... for a club?"
"Yeah! I'm so delighted you're interested already." She unfolded it. "Hora! My very own popstar club! And you just had the privilege of being a pioneer member with me."
"Oh... So you finally got over yourself, huh? Heh. Well, as for me, I would love to be a pioneer. But..." She now unfolded her own poster. "Maybe you would like to be a pioneer in my club."
Kanon was stunned for a moment. Aerobics Society? "B-But I thought you were going to make a dance club." Which was a shame, as her own popstar club could have doubled as an outlet for Chisato's dance.
"Nah. Aerobics will earn me a quick buck. It's easier to do, too."
"You're not... You're not thinking to run a club as a business... are you?" Suddenly she found herself yanked by the arm to her.
"Gotcha. You're now officially a member of Watanabe's Aerobics."
"Eh?! B-But I-I can't possibly sing in your club, can I?"
"You're still into your school idol schtick? Forget Love Live, it's Live Love now!"
Kanon's face fell flat. "Maybe you're just thinking we can't perform without being eaten alive by that Yazawa kid."
Chisato quieted down a bit. "Urrrrgh... Well... That's part of it."
"It's not part of it. It's all of it."
"H-How can you say that?" she muttered nervously. "Ahahaha..."
"I know you, Chi-chan. You love dance too much to shift away to something else just like that."
"But aerobics is dance, right?"
Kanon took her hands. "Chi-chan, we can't let Yazawa-san get to us. You told me, didn't you? If we have to face the odds, even if the odds are so great, we will pull through it. As Honoka-sama once said...
"Even if today, there's only one or two to cheer for us, tomorrow this whole auditorium, it will be filled!"
"We will not be stopped by anyone, Chi-chan! even if she has the whole auditorium to herself. Believe that! OK?"
Kanon's starry-eyed confidence quickly transmitted itself to to a wide-eyed Chisato, who wanted to cry... almost. "I'm still not into school idols, sorry."
Kanon hung her head. "Just take your time, Chi-chan..." she muttered.
They went on together to the classroom. But just as they were entering, Chi-chan halted in her tracks with a gasp and quickly turned back pulling Kanon away with her.
"W-What's the matter?" asked Kanon.
To which she said "Shhhh!" and hastily beckoned her to sneak back with her to the door to eavesdrop on their classmates, who have formed a large group in the middle of the classroom. Turns out, they were playing videos on two phones, one showing their performance at the booth last week, and the other showing Sumire at the auditorium.
"Yazawa-san sure is amazing! I can't even hope to string together a proper sentence in English."
"How can I enjoy a song when I don't understand it? At least Chi-chan can put up a good show in an apron. Imagine if she faces off with Yazawa-san on a stage."
"Oh no no! Look at that presence! No one will ever top that. I was having the chills!"
"You're right. I'm having chills right now just watching it on a screen. I won't forget that anytime soon."
Long sigh. "Chisato-san may be great with her moves, but I doubt she'll stand a chance against a prima donna."
"Wait. Isn't the true test about pitting them against each other in person? I've seen both of those shows myself, and I think Chi-chan is pretty decent. She's probably close behind."
"Heh. Close behind. But still behind. Yazawa definitely has the upper hand."
"Uh… Well… Yeah."
"She'll be eaten alive in a showdown."
"But Watanabe-san is amazing, too. I can listen to her all day, to be honest."
"We're making a comparison here. If you're gonna side with Chi-chan, you gotta make sure she'll hold her own in battle."
"Then there's really no other way to settle this but an actual showdown. That settles it. Let's get Chi-chan first, and then we march over to Class A."
Chisato's face fell. "I see there are plenty of traitors in our own classroom…" she muttered.
Kanon grabbed her friend by the shoulders. "But you can't give up, Chi-chan! We have gone so far already. We only have to train hard and— Mmmhmph!"
"Shhhh!" Chisato beckoned her away from the door and then quickly led her away by the hand. "We can't go in there right now!" she whispered loudly. "We gotta lay low."
"B-But it will be Homeroom in thirty minutes! We're not staying in the corridor the whole day, are we?"
A little while later, they were both walking back to the classroom, accompanying the Homeroom teacher, carrying her things. "My, you two are so helpful today," said the lady. "What's gotten into you?"
"Ahahahaha," said Chisato. "Nothing, we just appreciate how hardworking you are for the sake of us students. Eheheh… Teachers like you are so noble and selfless."
Hearty laugh. "Let's be honest here, there are a lot of rich girls enrolled and the pay is good. I don't recommend you take up teaching someday, but if ever you do, teach here."
The two laughed woodenly in return, and then Kanon said to herself, "So we both have our motives, huh?"
"I'll get you some sweet treats later for the trouble, don't you worry. No effect on your grades, though, if that's what you're really after, that'd be an abuse."
"Oh no no no!" insisted Kanon. "We're not looking for rewards. We just want to help!"
"Ahaha! You guys look pretty studious, anyway, you don't really need to curry favors just to pass."
"Who do you think we are, sensei?" mumbled Chisato. "We're not that low."
The three of them entered the room together, and nobody could lift a finger as Kanon and Chisato laid the stuff down and proceeded to their seats. Of course, the entire period was silent, as well. But they could feel everybody steal a glance at them every now and then.
As the teacher left, the two again volunteered to carry her stuff. This in-and-out porter service went on with the next three subjects, with the end goal of carrying the bags of the last subject teacher, then hitting the gate straightaway from the faculty room whilst everybody's busy packing up.
At Mathematics, however, the kindly old man handling the subject picked two other girls—who smiled meaningfully at them as they picked up his materials—and right after that was lunch.
Kanon and Chisato watched on in dismay as the party left. They immediately sensed the entire class close in on them from behind. "Ahahahaha!" said Chisato gesticulating wildly without turning to face them. "D-don't get it wrong! W-We're not trying to be teacher's pets, ne, Kanon?" To which she very eagerly nodded.
"Hmmmmm?" they chorused.
"It's true!" she cried. "I mean it!"
A loud thud could be heard from outside their window.
Now the two were cornered by the crowd against the blackboard. "I'm not lying!" insisted Chisato. "We're from the same junior high, right? When did you ever see me kiss up to anyone?"
"There's no use changing the subject, Watanabe. You know what we want. And we all want it." They shoved the video of Sumire to their faces. "We don't care if you win or lose, we want you two to face off with her."
But you're sure we'll lose, anyway? thought Kanon in exasperation. Aloud, "E-Everyone has their own strengths, there's no point in comparing, right, Chi-chan?"
"Who's better?" shouted someone from the back. "µ's or Aqours?"
Suddenly, Kanon happily chimed "µ's!" and Chisato "Aqours!" Whereupon they caught themselves and found everybody snickering.
"You're not gonna escape, Watanabe-san, Takami-san. The matter must be decided."
Chisato finally decided to bluff her way out. "Oh, so that's how it's gonna be, huh? Well, alright, tell her I'm challenging her to an impromptu live at the truck yard at five P.M. today! She better not chicken out on us!" In the meantime, I'll back out and just say my boss is yelling at me, and it will be unfair to Non-chi if she performs on her own.
At this, one of the classmates snapped her fingers, and another immediately left for Class A. "H-H-Hey!" protested Chisato, "I said you'll tell her, right?"
"Exactly. Did you see Kana-chan leave just now?"
"N-N-Not now! Five P.M., that's the deal!"
"Oh no, we can't have that, you have a work shift, we don't want your boss to yell at you, you know!"
"Tch—"
The sound of footsteps echoed ominously through the corridor and reached into their classroom. Kanon gulped. Chisato gritted her teeth. There's no way they can face up to Sumire Yazawa right now!
But it's too late. The crowd parted to make way for the arrival of a party of three, two girls from Class A, and right behind them—Sumire herself! She walked up to them and seemed to tower over them with her super-confident bearing.
"My, what do we have here?" she said sizing up the two. "Why, hello again, my cute little handmaiden," she addressed Kanon. For which Kanon threw her a hard gaze.
"Hey, don't call my buddy a maid!" said Chisato approaching her, only to be startled by her taking her chin.
"You're a fine specimen, if I must be honest. No wonder my classmates keep harping on how you might challenge me in the future."
Chisato threw her off. "You watch out, Miss Bigshot, we're not going to stand for you ambling about our campus like it's nothing at all!"
Sumire laughed. They were thrown off for a moment, it was such a lovely sound that gave her a warm, even innocent vibe. "I'm so glad I brought out the fight in you. I suppose you're more than willing now to duel with me. But don't you worry, you won't have to anymore." A classmate handed her a poster which she unfolded in front of them all. "I welcome you both to my Sumire Yazawa Galaxy Fanclub. I'll make sure to give the both of you a ranking position in my society so you can be fitting support talents for me personally."
"You wish!" said Chisato. "Support? You're pretty assuming, to say the least. Just because you can sing in English? You just wait, I'll be having my own English performance, and Takami here will sing in Norwegian, ne, Kanon-chan?"
"H-Heh?! I-It's Spanish, not Norwegian! I don't even know that much."
Sumire laughed. "I suppose I shouldn't rush you, after all. But I'll be sure to keep up the pressure. Know this! Everybody in this school will not let you rest until they see us on the same stage. Indeed. And there… the whole world will know that Sumire Yazawa is the only rising star of this venerable campus. And from there, my radiance will envelop the whole of Tokyo, and from there, the whole of the galaxy."
It was a silly speech, but it was said in a voice so commanding nobody else could dare speak up, not even Chisato and Kanon even if they wanted to. There was no other sound in the classroom. Every word carried a certain gravity that was unmistakable. This girl must have had some kind of actual showbiz background.
"And," she continued, "just so you know, my school idol channel got 2,000-plus subscribers just this morning, bringing the total to over 10,000, right after I uploaded a few of my music videos. You think you stand a chance against me? Humph. Personally, I don't like bragging in itself, but I guess I won't mind if there is some substance to it, don't you think?"
The entire crowd responded with a collective "Ooh…"
"Also," she further continued, "if you won't accept my challenge, I'll make sure to lure away every last person who you attract to any club you form. I will always find a way to prove my superiority even if you won't do it for me."
The two of them were silently outraged. How could the student body let her get away with this? All because she's just… Well… Uh…
The white clouds drifted lazily over the campus for the rest of the afternoon, uncaring of the goings-on far below.
Chisato was quite listless from today's events over the takoyaki pan that evening. It's not like she wanted this fight. But now that Sumire herself had openly challenged them, there's no way she can let this slide… but how? She still had little to no inkling of how to put together an act to defy the mighty Yazawa. There was also that little issue of her coming up with the idea of performing back at the booth in the first place... and dragging Kanon along with her. I'm so stupid. A slap to her personal pride was enough to demand a response, and now having Kanon humiliated because of her made conflict inevitable.
"Where should I even start?" she muttered.
"You were saying?" Matsuo-san said.
"Where should I start? This is so bad…"
"What is?"
"Eh?!" She caught herself. "Ah, ah, Matsuo-san…!"
"What do you mean, 'where should I start?' You forgot the recipe all of a sudden?"
She went defensive. "W-Were you listening?! That's just rude!"
"You're in my employ, dummy. And talking to yourself is rude to our customers."
"It's not about the food."
"Oh yes it is. The pan is smoking."
Chisato turned to see the batch she was cooking starting to burn. She went frantic as she lifted the whole thing out of the fire and rushed it to the back-kitchen, only there was really no fire and it was actually electric, and the still-plugged cord yanked the pan back and made everything spill onto the floor. Chisato was flustered. Nervous chuckle.
She went home without any pay for that day.
ED Song
i-n-g, I TRY!
Lyrics: Aki Hata; Composition and Arrangement: Takeshi Masuda
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Next Time! #4. Kuu-chan… Choose!