Author's Note

Well, thanks to Corona chan, I got more time to write. Okay, bad jokes aside. Hopefully, everyone is still healthy. For this chapter, it originally was supposed to be a little more forceful. I decide to make the transition seem more plausible. Though it did end up dragging out the story by like 600 words. Another somewhat long chapter I guess.

Also, from the review last time. My dialogue writing changed? I don't think I changed anything but would like to know what changed. I am trying to keep a certain degree of consistency so that will definitely help me.

Chapter 20: Single Star, New Yume!

After Yume felt the unusual sensation, she leaves the studio. When she is about to get into the car, a girl that looks like Mutsu went up to her.

Girl "Wait! You are… Yume right? I'm a huge fan!"

Yume seeing a fan goes up to her with a bright smile makes her feel better.

Yume cheers up and answers with a bright look "That's right, I'm Yume!"

"Hmm, Yep! Yume is the best!"

Yume is confused by the sudden praise "Eh? Ah, thank you!"

"Mhmm! Yume shines better when she is by herself."

Yume somehow understands the meaning behind it but still asks "What… do you mean?"

"You are always with your friends. However, whenever you stand on stage by yourself, you always do better."

"I wouldn't say that is the case, but…"

The girl smiles sinisterly "You still have room to grow. Yet, no one seems to be capable of keeping up with you. Even when your rival Rola comes up with Swift Appeal, Rola's satisfaction meter still fell short from your's."

"That's…"

"Besides, you already know how Swift Appeal works and confident that you can do it, right?"

Yume starting to feel fear from the girl. From the training and hints from Rola and Hime, Yume knows that she will be able to do it.

While a little scared, Yume ask "How did you know?"

"That's because I'm your biggest fan!"

The girl then takes Yume's hand. She then creeps up another smile and starts to pour dark energy into Yume. When it happens, Yume slowly calms down. As if the energy eats away her fear. However, Mutsu looks surprised for a second.

Mutsu thinks "Interesting, this girl has the power to become a true idol. Unlike all the other worthless one."

Yume looks at the girl closely "Who… are you?"

"I'm Mutsu! Nice to meet you, Yume!"

Mutsu let go of Yume's hand and gives her a card. Yume takes a look and it says "Absolute idol Agency."

Yume asks "This is?"

Mutsu answers with a smile "I help out with that agency. If you ever thought of going solo, I'm sure our agency can give you full support. Ah! I'm sorry for taking up your time, I'll see you later!" and runs off without waiting for Yume's respond.

Yume blinks with confusion "Later?"

Yume stands in place and watches Mutsu runs off.

While Yume is on her way back, Rola and others already looked around but couldn't find Yume.

Mahiru "I guess Yume didn't show up. Seriously, where did she go?"

Suzu "Sorry, I couldn't find Yume."

Rola "Don't worry about it. It was a last-minute request after all."

Ako nods "That's right. According to my calculation, the chances of you managing to bring Yume here was 50/50."

Koharu "But… I thought Yume was excited to see the surprise."

Suzu "About that… Yume may be talking about an upcoming job."

Mahiru "It's okay, there is always next time."

Rola nods "Besides, it's Yume we are talking about. I would be disappointed if she abandoned her job."

Koharu "You are right."

Suzu then questions "Wait, the four of you aren't worried about Yume?"

Ako "Well, knowing Yume, she'll be fine."

Mahiru "Yep! Yume may complain at first but it won't become a big deal."

Koharu "Right!"

Ako nods in agreement. Suzu looks at the four of them and everyone believes in Yume and the deep friendship they have.

Suzu smiles "I see, then I'll take my leave. But I still feel responsible for not bring Yume here so I'll at least apologize to her!"

Suzu then runs off while Rola, Mahiru, Ako, and Koharu looks at her. They turn to each other and smile.

Koharu "Suzu, she is a sweet girl isn't she?"

Rola nods "Yeah, it's too bad she hasn't been focused on her own Aikatsu."

Mahiru "It's okay, she will become a fine idol too. I can feel some fighting spirits in her. Just like everyone else."

Ako "If you say that much, then it must be true. It'll be interesting to see what kind of idol she will become."

The girls agree and start getting ready to leave.

When Yume returns to Four Star Academy, she notices Suzu is wandering around with a panicked look.

Yume walks up to Suzu "Suzu, what's wrong?"

Suzu turns to Yume "Ah, well… No, nothing!"

Yume smiles "It's okay, if there is something troubling you. I'm always here to help."

"But…"

Yume puts her hand on her chest "Don't worry, it's also part of S4's job to help out our underclassmen."

Suzu slowly nods "Okay, but this is more about Yume…"

Yume tilts her head and questions "Me?"

Suzu nods "Uhmm… I happen to hear some really hurtful things."

"What do you mean? They wouldn't…"

Suzu shakes her head "I thought so too, but I uhmm… really heard it. I also manage to record their conversation."

Suzu readies the recorded file and shows it to Yume. Yume is scared but also curious at what kind of things Rola and others said. Yume slowly reaches out her hand and clicks the play button.

Mahiru "I guess Yume didn't show up."

Rola "Don't worry about it. It was a last-minute after all."

Ako nods "According to my calculation, that's right."

Koharu "But..."

Mahiru "It's okay."

Rola nods "Besides, it's Yume we are talking about."

Koharu "You are right."

Ako "Well, knowing Yume, she'll be fine."

Mahiru "Yep! It won't become a big deal."

Koharu "Right!"

The play backstopped and Yume can't believe what she heard.

Yume looks at Suzu "Is this… real?"

Suzu nods and Yume immediately tries to find them. Suzu however, grabs Yume's hand.

She then slowly tells Yume "Don't go… They are… well, celebrating their successful live right now."

Yume forces a smile "Then I should go congratulate them."

Suzu then looks desperate "But Yume, you look like you are seriously hurt! I knew it… I shouldn't have shown you that recording…"

"Suzu, no, you didn't do anything wrong. Instead, thanks for showing me that recording. Even if that's the case, I still have to do my job and be a good example. The S4 that I want to be is to be the first star. To be the brightest star and also the guiding light for everyone."

Suzu then takes a step back "I see, Yume… You are amazing. Even though you should feel betrayed, you still consider everyone your friends."

Suzu then looks to the right.

Yume then does the same "Hmm? What's wrong? Is something there?"

A few seconds after, a Negadol appears "Negadol!"

The Negadol attacks Yume and Suzu. However, Suzu immediately grabs Yume and they avoid the attack.

Suzu asks "Wha… what is that?"

Yume answers "Negadol!"

"Nega… what?"

Yume looks at Suzu "They are idols that had their dream destroyed."

"But, why is it attacking us?"

"I don't know but let's split up. I draw its attention. You can as for help and let everyone know there is another attack."

Suzu nods and runs in a separate way from Yume. The Negadol chases Yume as she planned. Yume stops after reaching a place with no one around.

She turns around and faces the Negadol "I thought it's over since Gyaku was defeated. Does this mean there is a new enemy?"

"Nega!"

Yume holds up her Live Modules "Precure! Live Modulation!"

Yume begins her transformation but her doubt in her friends and unstable emotion ends up canceling it halfway.

"Eh? What just…"

Negadol attacks Yume and Yume barely manages to avoid. The Negadol slowly gets ready once again for another attack.

Yume then tries to calm herself down "It's okay, focus Nijino Yume! Right now, the Negadol is the priority! One more time, Precure! Live Modulation!"

Yume finish her transformation this time "Shine like the First Star, Cure Diva"

Diva looks at herself and grips her hand tight in front of her "Good, I did it this time."

"Negadol!"

The Negadol leaps in and goes for the axe kick. Diva crosses her arm above her head and tries to receive it. But the kick is powerful enough to break through her defense.

Diva "Ah! Ei!"

Diva recovers quickly and follows up with a kick of her own. The Negadol catches it and throws Diva into the forest. She couldn't stop or avoid and simply crash into a tree while breaking it into pieces.

Diva "This Negadol… Eh?"

Diva stands up as she notices the broken tree. It is the S4 tree, it is four trees that grow while intertwining with each other. However, the impact destroyed 3 of them.

Mutsu then shows up while in a purple business dress "Interesting, isn't that convenient?"

"Who are you? And what do you mean?"

She looks at Diva with a cold glare "Call me Noren and do you not know what happens when plants grow too close to each other?"

"When plants grow too close, they would… fight for nutrients…"

Yume then remembers what Mutsu had said earlier. Combining with the recording she just heard, she is starting to seriously doubt their friendship.

Noren isn't giving Diva any time to think "Negadol!"

The Negadol attacks Diva and Diva can barely hold on.

As Diva is being beaten up, she thinks "Why? How come I couldn't even deal with a single Negadol right now? To be defeated like this… no!"

Noren then taunt Diva "What, can't defeat the Negadol when you are alone?"

Diva turns around "Of course I can!"

The Negadol sees the opening and gathers energy in her hand then punches Diva with an uppercut. The surprise attack hits Diva directly and sents Diva flying into the sky. As she falls, Noren catches her. While still conscious, Diva is barely holding on.

Noren "How weak, to think the idols in this world is this bad."

Diva then thinks "Bad? I am a bad idol?"

Diva starting to fall into darkness while Noren infuses more dark energy into her.

Noren then uses the tone when she visits Yume as her fan "Yume shines better when she is by herself."

Suzu then shows up in her business outfit as well "Even though you should feel betrayed, you still consider everyone your friends."

Within the darkness, Diva tries to shout from within "No, I… Eh? No? That's not right, I should still… think of them as friends."

Noren and Suzu smile at the same time. The two of them put more power into Diva. Soon after, within Diva's mind, she sees a dark figure of herself in her Eternal Rainbow Coord.

Diva "What?"

Dark Yume "I… still want to be better. Even if I have to do it alone."

Diva "Do it alone, no that's… wrong."

Dark Yume shakes her head "Is it really? In the end, the best idol has to be above others. You... We know how many idols could barely continue even when they try their best."

Diva "But their dream. We should support their dream!"

Dark Yume smiles "That is only if they can reach it. If they can't reach it, it's better to break them and have them find a new dream. One that is better for everyone."

Diva tries to retort "But…"

Dark Yume continues "But we know we won't be able to become better at this rate and the reason is…"

Diva looks at her dark self "My… friends. They…"

Dark Yume continues her words "couldn't become a more worthy rival."

Diva looks away "But it might even be a misunderstanding." Diva then looks back at her dark self "They wouldn't…"

Dark Yume looks at Diva with a disappointing face "People change. We need to change too, or else we will be left behind instead."

Diva tries to retort once again but could not. She knows what her other self said is true.

Dark Yume then starting to fade into the darkness "I see, you refuse me all the way. That's fine, if you don't want the power to become a true idol and strongest precure, then I'll disappear."

Diva looks at her other self "Power? Then... are you my… talent?"

Dark Yume fades even more into the darkness. Diva starting to reach her hand out, hoping to grab hold of her undiscovered talent. Diva's transformation comes undone as she reaches out further and grabs Dark Yume's hand.

Dark Yume returns to normal and dark energy grows "So you made up your mind?"

Yume nods "I still don't know if my friends really betrayed me but… I want to become better and shine even more than I am now! If the only way to achieve that is to abandon everything and go solo, then I'll do it!"

Dark Yume gets close to Yume "Then let's do what we…"

Dark Yume and Yume begin to fuse into one "what I have to finish right now."

When the two becomes one, Yume is covered in dark energy. Yume then regains her energy and pushes Mutsu away lightly. However, Mutsu was sent flying. Suzu immediately teleports behind Mustsu and catches her.

Suzu asks "Are you okay?"

Mutsu nod "Yeah, but this is unexpected. Even though her heart hasn't been taken over completely, she is able to use that much power. I guess being a precure made the difference."

Suzu looks at Yume and smiles with a cold sweat "Yeah, but let's go. We already accomplished our objective."

Mutsu and Suzu then both teleport away. Yume then looks at the Negadol.

Yume looks at the Negadol with a cold glare "Time to finish that dull dream."

Yume grasps her Live Module hard and it turns black "Only the brightest star should shine. Precure, Solo Modulation!"

Yume transforms and her outfit becomes slightly different. It is now similar to her Rainbow Étoile Coord but without wings and has a smaller skirt while the whole dress is darker in color.

When the transformation ends "Sole star of the world, Cure Shine!"

The Negadol shouts "Nega!" then jumps in and tries to punch Shine with all of its power.

Shine avoid by taking a counter clock spin and make a palm strike at the negadol's abdomen. The Negadol shows a painful expression and is sent rolling on the ground. Shine then walks over to the Negadol and grabs it. The Negadol grabs her arm and tries to break free.

Shine looks at it "Was it this weak? Whatever, your dream ends here."

Shine do a sideway knifehand chop through the neck region and the Negadol's aura is destroyed. The girl that was turned into Negadol also returns to normal. At this time, Hibiki and others finally arrived. When they get closer, Yume undoes her new transformation.

Hibiki "The Negadol, where is it?"

Yume "It's okay, it is over."

Yume looks at the unconscious girl.

Ako "Did you win by yourself?"

Yume nods "Yep! Ah, that's right. I need to talk to the headmaster. I'll leave the girl to you all."

Kanade "Okay, Hibiki come help me."

Hibiki "Got it!"

Yume then runs off. When Yume is passing by Ellen, Ellen notices something is going on. Yume is running with a stern and serious face.

Ellen "Eh?"

Then the girl wakes up "What? Where am I?"

Ako says "You are in the forest at the academy."

Kanade adds "Right, are you okay?"

The girl shows a bitter smile "Yeah…"

Hibiki questions "But did something happened?"

She nods "Actually, a job I was getting got canceled. This is the 2nd time this week. I'm probably just not cut out to be an idol."

Hibiki "What are you talking about? I'm sure it is for good reason. You shouldn't give up!"

While Hibiki is trying to cheer up the girl, Kanade feels that something is wrong. She then notices Ellen is looking back at where Yume disappeared.

Kanade "Ellen, what's wrong?"

Ellen answers "No, nothing. How is she?"

Ellen walks closer and looks at the girl. Kanade looks back at her as well. Hibiki continues to talk to her for a little longer.

The girl then shakes her head "It's okay, I decide to move back with my parents. I'm going to quit Four Star Academy and follow my parent's footsteps."

Hibiki "But… is that what you want?"

She nods "Yes, I can never be an amazing idol like the S4. So I thought I should try doing something else instead."

She then stands up and bows to the four of them "Thanks for helping me, I'm going to pack up my stuff now."

The girls could not stop her and she walks off.

Hibiki "I guess it's tough to stay in this industry. Alright, let's do our best!"

Kanade and Ellen reluctantly agree and answer with Ako "Yeah!"