Yes... it's Hurting Claudine hours again... I'm sorry it needed to be done. The price of being my favorite...

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.


Chapter 5. Dire Stakes

The next morning, Maya insists Claudine stay in bed to recover. She tries to reason with her that a single day of rest might do her some good; at the very least to let her body physically heal, even if it won't do anything to recover her radiance.

But Claudine refuses, deaf to Maya's pleas, as well as the pleas of all of her friends.

She'd still gotten dressed, all the while with Maya trying to reason with her to no avail. As she'd staggered down the hallway, her friends had come to her to try and persuade her. But Claudine had stubbornly continued onward, and given the same response.

"I have to try..."

None of them could oppose, no matter how badly it hurt to see her like this.

The nine of them walk quietly to school that morning. Any conversation that strikes up proves to be fickle and short-lived. Even Maya can think of nothing more to say to her partner, be it falsified words of optimism or an honest admission of doubt.

The atmosphere surrounding them has become laden with tension. Maya in particular, still can't erase the images of yesterday evening from her mind, of Claudine broken nearly beyond the point of repair, her body and soul alike shattered…

This cannot go on. It has been made clear that Saijou-san will not be able to regain her radiance on her own like this, no matter how ardently she tries. There must be some other way. Or-

Maya stops herself, shaking her head sharply. She refuses to even acknowledge the possibility that it might not be feasible for Claudine's radiance to return. She won't consider it.

There must be a way, she tells herself. For someone who has dedicated her life to the stage as Saijou-san has… For someone whose entire purpose in life is to stand in the spotlight… For someone who has worked so hard - perhaps harder than anyone else…. There must be a way…

They just have to think of it before it's too late.

At this rate, it's common knowledge that Claudine's understudy is already being planned for use during their performance in a few weeks' time. It hadn't been announced officially yet, but Maya knows it's only a matter of time if Claudine continues down this lightless path.

We must think of something, and soon…

Claudine doesn't breathe a word for the remainder of the walk to school, nor along their walk to homeroom this morning. But as they make their way through the hallways, Maya catches wind of mutterings through the crowds.

"Whoa, is Saijou-san still coming to class?"

"She still thinks she can be in the play? Honestly, that's kind of pathetic…"

A flare of rage blasts through Maya's body. It takes everything she has not to round on those girls.

How can they say such things? After Saijou-san has been trying so hard to regain her skill…

She very nearly snaps. But a pacifying hand finds its way onto her shoulder to stop her. Maya glances sideways to find Nana shaking her head slowly.

"Maya-chan, don't listen to them. They aren't worth it."

A few paces ahead of them, Karen, Futaba and the others have all started to chat more loudly about random topics in order to drown out the unfavorable comments.

"Ah! I sure hope there's pudding for lunch today!"

"Leave it to Karen to be talkin' about food again already right after breakfast."

The others laugh, trying to be as nonchalant as possible as they filter into the classroom, keeping Claudine at the center. Maya lingers in the hallway for a moment with Nana, feeling her anger subsiding just a little.

"Daiba-san." Maya exhales, trying to find the right words. "This cannot go on. There must be some way we can help Saijou-san-"

"I know," Nana murmurs. "I've been thinking the same thing. I think we all have." Nana lowers her tone so even Maya can barely hear it. "She isn't getting better. At this rate, she's really going to hurt herself."

Maya flinches; only she knows that's already happened. She hadn't told anyone else about what had occurred in the studio last night. She just hopes things haven't already surpassed the point of no return.

"Do you have any theories?" she wonders. "Anything at all?"

Nana shakes her head in dejection.

"Not really… But maybe tonight we can go to that stage… Maybe the giraffe or Elle-san knows something. Even if there isn't a ReLive, if we all go together, I'm sure they'll let us in."

When Maya considers the idea it puts her at ease, just a little bit. She had briefly considered that option before herself, but now that someone else is proposing at as well, it seems all the more plausible. She wishes she'd spoken up to Nana and the others sooner.

"Very well," she nods. "Tonight, then. We should spread the word to the others."

"Right. We'll just need go at a time when Kuro-chan won't miss us."

"That may prove difficult… I'm certain that, no matter what I say, she will insist on staying late again after classes to train. Perhaps I could stay with her as per usual, and the rest of you could go."

"Okay," Nana says. "We'll fill you in later on whatever we find out."

Maya dips her head. She feels immensely better now that they've worked out somewhat of a plan.

I should have been relying on everyone else from the beginning… They are just as worried about Saijou-san as I am, after all.

After a moment, she and Nana enter the classroom and take their seats.

Throughout the morning, the two of them gradually spread the word to their friends of what they'll do tonight, keeping only Claudine out of the loop.

Maya finds she isn't the only one of them who keeps casting worried looks at her partner throughout their classes. Claudine has become quiet even in their lectures now - even in the classes she was still capable of excelling in. Maya can't shake away the festering discomfort in her chest.

It's surpassed the point of her radiance being gone… Now that she's lost that, her physical and mental health are deteriorating…

She decides then and there that she wants to find her instructors before lessons today and put in a covert request to have easier training regimes this afternoon.

When it's time for lunch, the girls do as they'd done earlier in the day. Karen and Mahiru chat a bit more loudly than usual about a baseball game Mahiru had watched last night, Futaba loudly discusses washing off her bike to Kaoruko, and Junna busily makes comments to Nana about something in their history text book.

Maya keeps to Claudine's side as they all enter the cafeteria, wary of the judgmental glances that come their way. But even though her friends put in the effort to drown out the whispers, Maya knows Claudine still hears them.

"Saijou-san has really sunk to the pits, huh?"

"Can you believe it? She used to be second-ranked! Now she's just…"

"Does anyone even officially know what happened? She collapsed a few weeks ago, right?"

"I heard they thought it could be a stroke of some sort."

"Yeah right. And she just forgot everything to do with acting specifically? I don't buy it."

"I think you're right. I think she finally realized she couldn't handle the pressure and broke."

"I mean, can you blame her? Trying to keep up with Tendo-san for so long…"

This time, Maya actually turns toward the girls who had spoken. The unbridled fury in her eyes alone is enough to have them all turning away quickly and scurrying off. Turning back, she finds her friends all disheartened and upset. Claudine hasn't lifted her head or said a word.

After a moment, Karen blurts out a comment.

"H-Hey! Why don't we eat outside today?"

"G-Good idea, Karen-chan!"

The girls wait in line and hastily pick up their food, all the while standing around Claudine in a protective formation. But even as her friends strike up more conversations, Claudine is unresponsive. She simply picks up her tray and follows them outside.

Maya steps close to brush against her shoulder, but is shocked that even such a light contact makes Claudine sway. She has to quickly flash out her arm to steady her before guiding her to the table.

"Saijou-san?" she asks pleasantly. "Would you like some of my baumkuchen today as well?"

Claudine takes her seat and begins picking away at her salad without looking up.

"I don't need it."

Maya's heart sinks with her shoulders.

"Very well. Should you change your mind, all you need to do is ask."

Again, the girls talk about anything and everything other than the upcoming play. Claudine says nothing, but for now, Maya is just glad she's eating.

When lunch is over, they head back inside the building to prepare for their afternoon lessons. For their dance block, Maya still intends to ask their instructor if they may have an easier sort of day today. She trusts the teacher will understand it would be for the purpose of letting Claudine take things easy, and if it was an order from the instructor, no one would oppose it.

But before Maya can even hope to enact this plan of hers, there's already an excited bustling coming from the girls inside the studio. Junna comes forward to address them.

"What's going on?"

"Schedule change!" one of them smiles. "Turns out we'll be using our dance period to rehearse for Snow White as well. Sensei wants everyone in the auditorium as soon as possible to run through the entire play!"

Maya bites back a curse; rather than having a more relaxing afternoon for Claudine, now it's unavoidable that just the opposite will have to happen.

And it's clear none of the others are all that happy about it either.

Futaba even reaches out to try and hold Claudine back from entering the studio.

"Oy, Kuro-"

But Claudine pulls away.

"You heard them. We have rehearsal." And with this she struts off toward the changing room.

The others watch her back until she disappears.

"Non-non…" Karen whimpers. "This is no good, you guys…"

"Kuro-chan can't-" Mahiru is already getting choked up. "She can't keep doing this…"

"At this rate she's going to collapse again," Kaoruko mumbles. "And I fear she won't be able to get back up…"

It's something they'd all been fearful of. But hearing it said out loud really drives it home for them.

"We'll just have to try," Junna says. "We'll help her through rehearsal as best we can, and then tonight we'll go to the giraffe. Tendo-san, you're going to stay with her, right?"

"Yes."

With everything decided and confirmed, they slowly file into the changing room. Claudine leaves just as they're entering, and she doesn't pause to wait for anyone as she heads for the auditorium. Maya hurriedly puts on her track suit and follows.

When they arrive at the auditorium, people are already standing around and talking. But Maya notes that, as soon as she and Claudine enter, there's a brief hush.

Have they decided to make the official announcement? she wonders, feeling a pang in her heart. That they'll be using an understudy for the performance?

She doesn't know how Claudine is going to react to that news once it's officially spoken. She may refute it with all her being, scream and fight and desperately try to prove that she could handle it herself…

Or she might accept it quietly, and give up knowing she never could have done it.

Honestly, Maya isn't sure which one she'd dread more.

As she walks up onto the stage with her partner, she watches to see if anyone intends to approach them to give them the news. But for the moment, it would appear the instructors are willing to give Claudine one more chance today. Maya is a little grateful for that.

But she still can't shake away the tension that's been eating away at her from the inside. It's stifling, jolting more and more by the second, as though firecrackers were going off and clogging her chest with smoke and heat.

When Claudine finally stops at the center of the stage, Maya forces a smile and offers her hand.

"Shall we stretch?"

Claudine doesn't say anything. Her eyes are despondent, as though her soul is somewhere far away from her body. Eventually, Maya's smile fades, and she lowers her outstretched hand. She sits down and begins to stretch out on her own.

This can't be… This is not the Saijou-san I know… We must do something to get her back-

She bends forward to touch her shoe, using the stretch as an excuse to hide her face into her knee, covering her expression with her arms as she feels the sting of tears coming on.

But then, there's a slight shuffle of sound.

Slowly, Maya lifts her head to find Claudine has come to sit beside her. There's a bit of a stirring in her eyes now, a flicker of life amidst the fog, weak as it may be. She lowers her gaze in apology.

"Sorry…"

Maya's spirits lift just a tiny bit. It's proof enough that her Saijou Claudine is still there somewhere. She's lost inside herself, but she's still there, and she doesn't want to be this way any more than the others want her to be.

Maya wipes her eyes, and this time it's a genuine smile that forms on her lips. Reaching out, she gently rests her hand over Claudine's to convey that she's more than forgiven.

From there, they stretch together quietly as their other friends join them up onstage. The lighting and stage crew have set up the shadows and narration for the warlock's part so the actresses can get a feel of how to move and respond to the character. Once everything is set up, their instructor calls for the leads to get ready.

Maya goes to Claudine privately and puts a hand on her back.

"Saijou-san? Would you like to review the script for the opening scene one more time before we begin?" She knows she normally would never have to ask such a thing. Claudine would've had the entirety of the script memorized a week ago, including the parts that weren't even hers.

But even as she is now, Claudine shakes her head.

"No. I'm fine."

Maya holds back from saying anything more.

As they move to the center of the stage, Maya can sense the entire room is crackling with unease. Everyone knows Claudine isn't herself. They're all anticipating the same awkward gestures and lifeless lines. The pressure is palpable, so much so that even Maya is at a loss for what she can do. She can only imagine how heavily it must be weighing on her partner.

"Saijou-san-" She nearly makes the offer to have her stop all of this here and now. Maya only just barely manages to catch herself.

No. I mustn't. Not when she's come this far…

So instead, Maya changes what she'd almost said at the last moment.

"I look forward to your performance."

With this, she leaves Claudine alone at center-stage, beneath the gleam of the spotlight. Maya retreats to the side of the stage near the curtain, where the rest of her friends have gathered in preparation for their scenes later on.

Everyone is fidgeting with unease.

"Do you think Kuro-chan will be okay?" Karen whimpers.

"She would be," Kaoruko huffs. "If all those harpies would keep their mouths shut!"

"For real." Futaba agrees with a growl. "All those things they're sayin' about her… it makes me sick."

"It's horrible!" Mahiru cries softly, bringing her hands to her face. "We have to do something…"

"We will," Nana says quietly. "We're going tonight, and we'll make the giraffe give us answers. No matter what."

There's a call from their instructor to begin. The lights go out momentarily, and then reappear, shining down on Claudine as the narrator begins reading the lines.

"Once upon a time…"

Maya watches. For the opening scene, Claudine doesn't have any lines just yet, but rather only has to move herself to shy away from the shadows of the warlock.

But just as everyone had expected at this point, her movements are flat and dull, lacking any spark of dramatic flare or emotion. Hikari actually steps back and turns away; clearly, she is reliving the time when she herself had lost her radiance, and it's too much for her to bear to see it happening to one of her friends.

The others are equally as dismayed, with tears filling their eyes and voices wobbling.

"Kuro-chan…"

"Someone stop this-"

"I can't watch-"

It's as though everyone is holding out, waiting for Claudine to suddenly snap out of her trance and begin her real performance.

But even after she has started her speaking lines, nothing changes.

It's agony to watch.

Maya looks desperately to their instructor, who is consulting with a few of the crew members at the moment. Maya bites her tongue and proceeds onstage when her character is set to appear.

Claudine turns to her, and she's supposed to be smiling brightly at the sight of her childhood friend and the Princess she will one day fall in love with. But the expression she shows to Maya now is one of confusion and fear.

"Ah-" Claudine chokes. "Princess. You've come to see me again today…"

Maya dips herself forward chivalrously, still giving her all for her own role and trying to speak clearly past the tightness in her throat.

"But of course, Snow White! We have plans to play make-believe and befriend dragons today, don't you recall?"

"R-Right-" Claudine fumbles the line, cutting off abruptly. Maya sees the panic in her eyes. She can think of only one way to try and help her, and that's by putting an end to this. Maya breaks character, letting her expression fade into a look of genuine concern.

"Saijou-san-"

But at the same moment, Claudine talks over her.

"Line-?"

There's another uneasy pause, another murmur from the crowd. Eventually, someone calls out the line.

"'Then let us go now, while my father is busy in his study.'"

Claudine gives a sharp nod, determined to keep going in spite of Maya's efforts to stop her.

"Saijou-san-"

"Then let us go now, while…"

Maya watches it happen.

She watches that final spark of light fade from Claudine's eyes.

All at once her eyes roll back. Just like last night, she falls to her knees, landing hard on her palms, and retches.

Maya cries out, and all around them their classmates and friends scream in horror.

"Saijou-san?!"

"Oh my god-!"

"Sensei-!"

There's a flurry of footsteps as Maya's friends come rushing to their side. Kaoruko is already reaching out with her handkerchief to clean Claudine's face while the others gently ease her and Maya away from the mess.

"Kuro-chan!"

"Kuro…"

Mahiru is already in tears, and like before, Hikari can't even bear to look. Nana and Junna stand up to keep everyone else away, only letting Miss Sakuragi through.

"Saijou-!" She crouches down beside Maya, who's still holding her partner in her arms. Maya is shaking all over, heart pounding as she looks down to find Claudine has lost consciousness. Her teacher reaches out to take Claudine from her.

"I've got her, Tendo. I'm bringing her straight to the nurse. Hoshimi, call for the sanitation workers."

"Yes, ma'am."

As Miss Sakuragi stands with Claudine in her arms, she barks an order to the rest of the frantic girls.

"You're dismissed for the day. Everyone go rest up. Move along." She then looks back at Maya and her group and speaks a bit more softly. "That goes for you girls, too. Leave Saijou to me. We'll make a decision about what to do once we know her condition." With this, she hurries off, calling a few other girls to come with her for assistance.

Maya and her friends are left in complete shock staring after her. Only Junna hurries off to briefly make a call to the main office to request a cleanup crew.

Mahiru is still in tears, and by now most of the rest of them have started to cry as well.

"Kuro-chan…" Karen hiccups, pulling Mahiru and Hikari close to her sides. "I've… never seen her like that before… or anyone…"

"This is bad-" Futaba chokes out. "This is really bad, you guys… Damn it…"

"Poor Kuro-han…" Kaoruko drops her dirtied handkerchief and moves away.

Maya shakily pushes herself to her feet with Nana's assistance.

"The fault for this lies with me," she confesses. "I… last night, Saijou-san also pushed herself until she was ill… I tried to have her stay in bed today, but she wouldn't hear it. And before I could make the request to Sensei to lighten today's classes…" She tapers off, burying her face into the crook of her elbow. "Oh, Saijou-san…"

They all remain quiet, save for the sounds of crying. After a moment, Nana speaks up.

"We should go now. Once Junna-chan comes back, we should-"

But before she can finish, there's a chorus of shrieks from backstage. Half a dozen of their classmates who have lingered now show themselves to observe the scene of the chaos. Their voices are cruel and sickening as they chatter amongst themselves. Maya recognizes the voices as ones she'd heard saying awful things before.

"Whoa! She really threw up, huh?"

"Gross! What kind of top student is she?"

"It's disgraceful."

"I told you she couldn't handle the pressure. Saijou-san finally snapped."

"She used to be so good. I used to envy her, but now I just pity her…"

"For real…"

The anguish that has overtaken Maya now begins to churn into fury. Nana narrows her eyes at the outsiders, and Futaba utters a curse. Kaoruko jumps to her feet with an accusatory shout.

"Why you-"

"What do you know about Kuro-chan?!"

To everyone's surprise, Mahiru is the one who shouts the loudest. Karen and Hikari gasp in surprise, but Mahiru doesn't stop there.

"What do you know-?!" she cries. "Kuro-chan's worked herself to the bone every single day! What would any of you know about her-?!"

"Mahiru-han is absolutely right!" Kaoruko snaps. "Kuro-han has put more effort into herself in a single day than you lot have in your entire lives!"

"Damn right!" Futaba shouts, getting to her feet as well. "You bitches don't know shit! Screw you!"

"Kuro-chan's always been trying her best!" Karen wails.

"You have no right to judge her," Nana utters in a more threatening tone. "You're just jealous, that's all."

Maya is astounded by their ferocity, but with every word they say and tear they shed, she feels her own emotions culminating. She feels their fury, their frustration, and their love for Claudine as strongly as she feels her own.

"Indeed," Maya says coldly. "People such as yourselves would know nothing of effort or passion. Even when she is at her lowest point, Saijou Claudine still towers stories higher than any of you ever could."

With all of their counters combined, the other girls start to stagger backward. Junna appears behind them on her way back from making her phone call. She gives each of them a hard glare, and then lists off their names.

"I'll make note of this behavior to Sensei," she mutters. "Now get out."

The cluster of shaken girls turn and scuttle off.

By now, Maya has helped Mahiru, Karen, and Hikari to their feet as well. Junna joins them, looking as somber as the rest of them.

"We have to do something."

The others nod agreement. Nana raises her voice.

"Giraffe! We know you can hear us! Take us to that stage!"

Maya braces herself as the lights suddenly go black. The sensation of falling washes over her once more, and she hears her friends moving around her to hold onto each other. The rumbling fades within seconds, and when the lights come back on, they find themselves on a different stage.

The giraffe stands before them on the stage, where all of the spotlights shine down. All but one, which is so dull it's nearly out altogether.

Beside him stands a girl - this time the older version of her.

"Elle-san!" Karen blurts. "You're here!"

Elle dips her head.

"Yes… The real me just settled down for an afternoon nap. And I sensed I was being summoned, so I came here. I'm glad I did. I want to sincerely apologize." With this, Elle bows forward to all of them.

"Eh?" Mahiru sniffles. "Elle-san, why-?"

"Because," she says. "What happened to Saijou-san was my fault. She's like this now because she was protecting my younger self…"

"That isn't your fault!" Nana cries. "It was an accident that you ended up here at that time."

"But…" Elle lifts herself up slowly, and tears begin to form in her eyes. "Because of that, Saijou-san is-"

"Ojou-sama." Maya steps forward a pace, holding a hand to her chest to indicate her sincerity. "I can assure you that Saijou-san does not regret what she did. Not even for a second."

"Maya-chan's right!" Nana agrees. "She'd do it again to save you, or any of us!"

"That's right!"

"Any of us would!"

Elle looks up at them all with wide eyes as a few tears drip free. She wipes her face and tries to compose herself.

"Thank you…"

With the air clear between the girls now, the giraffe cranes his neck.

"Now then, it would seem there is quite a dire matter at hand. I understand."

The girls all look up at him, then back down to each other.

"Indeed," Maya says quietly. "We wanted to inquire if either of you knew… if there was anything we could do to help Saijou-san."

"She can't go on like this," Hikari says. "It's already really bad."

"Please!" Mahiru cries, clasping her hands together. "If there's anything you can think of-!"

"What if we kill more Korosu?" Futaba offers. "And somehow that'll give Kuro her radiance back since that's what took it from her?"

Elle and the giraffe look at one another, but remain doubtful.

"As I've mentioned," the giraffe says. "Nothing like this has ever happened before. Not in this manner. As such, I am unaware of how to mend it - if it can even be mended at all."

"No. There has to be a way," Elle says. "I'm sure of it."

"There must be something," Maya declares. "Saijou-san… as she is now, her condition is becoming severe."

"Indeed, I understand." The giraffe lifts his head fully again and gazes over at the spotlights, to where the orange has withered to nothing more than a faint buzzing. "For a Stage Girl to be robbed of her radiance, not by a fellow Stage Girl, but by a Korosu… I understand."

"A Stage Girl's radiance is her life," Elle mumbles. "The stage is your lifeblood, your pulse, your very souls. Especially to someone as committed as any of you. At this rate, Saijou-san's life itself is at stake."

A terrified gasp sweeps through the girls. Maya feels a surge of nausea.

"Her life…"

"No! We won't let that happen!"

"There must be a way!"

"Please! Anything!"

Their voices all swirl around Maya, until the words don't make sense anymore.

Claudine is dying. Right now, her life is dwindling away. Because she'd selflessly saved a defenseless child, now Claudine is losing everything while in unimaginable pain.

What can we do…? What can we possibly do to save her…?

As all of her friends try posing theories, tears well up in everyone's eyes. But even Elle and the giraffe are truly at a loss.

Maya's head is pounding. Every second they are here, Claudine is suffering alone. If they can't even get the answers they've come here for, then what was the point-?

Her skull feels as though it's about to crack from the pressure, her chest clogged with distress.

But just before Maya, or any of the others, can lose themselves to despair, an unexpected voice speaks up from the crowd.

"I think…" Hikari steps forward, the only one of the group with her eyes and voice alike being clear as day. "I may have an idea."


A/N: I feel like so many Mayakuro stories (mine included) are just them all the time, which is fine, but I wanted to change it up for once and actually have the other girls be involved a bit more. And I've always written the giraffe as his usual annoying cryptic self, but never one who wants the girls to be injured or unable to perform completely. He still has some morales.

Please review!