Author's Note

Took a little longer this time. Maybe I'm a little burned out from writing. I have also started a new story that's based on this one. AKA a movie. This won't be like the Christmas chapter but a new story by itself. It'll take place before chapter 20 so Yume is still with everyone. I may end up releasing new chapters a little slower for a while. I may go back to like 2 chapters a month unlike recently.

Chapter 23: My Little Heart, Aria's Home

Few days after the incident, Moroboshi called Sakuraba Rola and Hanahata Nana.

Moroboshi begins "I'm calling you two here is because of the empty S4 position Nijino was in."

Rola immediately rejects "I'm not taking it. Besides, I'm sure Yume will come back."

Moroboshi seats back then look at Nana "Then how about you? If we go by the result of last S4 selection, you are in a position to take it."

Nana thinks and answers "Well, if Rola isn't taking it, then I don't think I should."

Moroboshi sighs "I understand, then we'll leave that spot open for now."

Nana then asks "Uhmm, about Yume. Her stage and the Floral Idol Event…"

Moroboshi then pushes his glasses "I know, I'll be making an announcement with our situation soon. However, the whole Floral Event and the… what was it?"

Rola face turns serious "Floral Premium Rare Dress. Like the one Yume had obtained. Unlike the Star Premium Rare Dress, this dress seems to focus more on our individuality."

Moroboshi nods "Which is also our strong point. It opens up for any Premium Rare Dress a chance. I'm also expecting you two to do your best and become a Floral Idol."

Rola and Nana "Yes!'

On the same morning, Aria meets up with Hime at My Little Heart. However, Aria doesn't have the usual energy.

Hime immediately asks "Aria, are you okay?"

Aria shakes her head and asks "No. Hime, have you heard anything from Yume? I tried messaging her, but she is not answering."

Hime shakes her head "Sorry, I can't get in touch with her either. But Aria, you know what you need to do right now."

Aria nods "The new premium rare dress. I know, but I just can't..."

Hime smiles "I know how you feel. However, if you want a chance to meet Yume, you need to focus. But, given the situation, why don't you take the day off? That should help you."

Hime then walks Aria out of the office building. When they exit, Hime notices a girl wondering around and looks to be hesitating in her decision. Aria notices a moment after and is pushed by Hime. The Hime immediately walks back into the building.

Aria "Ah…"

The girl is Yurina and she looks at Aria "Ah, sorry. I'm not anyone suspicious!"

Aria nods "Yes. Uhmm, do you need something from My Little Heart?"

Yurina immediately answers "Not really, but I am looking for someone."

Aria "Oh, actually me too." and then smiles

Yurina "I see, umm, her name is…"

Aria cuts Yurina off "Ah, why don't we find a place to sit down? Also here, a flower for you."

Aria gives Yurina a delphinium and says "This flower means to have fun and joy, but also passionate about something."

Yurina takes the flower and nods "Yes, my dream it to be like my senpai. I think that's what I am most passionate about. However… I don't know where she went."

Aria nods "Let's go inside. Ah, I'll also make some tea. Please wait."

Yurina couldn't resist and Aria takes her inside into My Little Heart office building.

Aria brings some tea and prepares one for Yurina.

Yurina accepts "Thank you. Ah, I am Shizu Yurina."

Aria sits down "Futaba Aria. Nice to meet you, Yurina."

Yurina thinks for a moment "Futaba Aria… of the Neo Venus Ark? Ah, that's right! You are My Little Heart's muse right now."

Aria nods with a smile "Yes! By the way, the person you are looking for is?"

Yurina takes a sip and answers "It's my senpai. She is quite well known but normally I am able to get in touch. However lately…"

Aria looks at her own tea "Me too, I'm looking for my senpai as well. She suddenly changed and it feels like she lost her way. I want to ask her what happened. She helped me a lot when I started my Aikatsu and I want to help her."

Yurina nos "Yes! Me too!"

Aria then looks down "But… I also have other work. Normally, everything is fun but right now is not."

Yurina thinks for a bit "Hmm, it is not fun? Then why not try remembering why you become an idol?"

Aria closes her eyes and thinks back to remembers her home. How she is surrounded by nature. Her meeting with Hime and getting introduced to Aikatsu.

Aria then takes a deep breath "Right, I fell in love back then."

Yurina is confused by it "Eh? Wait, hold on… what?"

Aria then starts laughing and puts Yurina even more confused "Uhm…"

Aria explains "Sorry, it is just you had the same reaction as my senpai. I mean fell in love with Aikatsu."

Yurina calms down "Ah, I see. But really, that is so misleading."

Aria laughs it off "Sorry sorry. But what should I do? I fell in love with Aikatsu back in Finland."

At the same time, Hime enters the room.

Hime asks "So have you found any ideas?"

Aria nods with a big smile "Yes! Thanks to Yurina here."

Hime looks at Yurina "Yurina, ah! I think you are... the idol Yume picked up at the audition."

Yurina nods and stands up "Yes! I'm Shizu Yurina. Uhmm, you are Shiratori Hime, right? Me and my senpai both look up to you!"

Aria raises her hand "Me too! I'm sure Yume as well!"

Yurina looks at Aria "Yume? Is the senpai you were talking about is that Yume?"

Aria nods "Yes! Ah, are you looking for Yume as well?"

Yurina answers "Yes, but… If amazing people like you two can't find Yume, then I don't think I'll be able to find her."

Hime smiles "That's not true, just like earlier. You helped Aria right?"

Yurina looks at Hime "Ah, right…"

Aria then adds "Besides, I think everyone is trying to find Yume. Even Elza is trying hard to reach out to Yume."

Yurina smiles "I see, then I'll just have to keep trying and look everywhere. Aria, good luck on your dress!"

Yurina then gets up but Aria stops her "Wait, would you like to join me for a picnic? Hime too."

Hime nods "Of course, it's been a while since we had some time together."

Yurina then tries to refuse "But for me to go with you two…"

Aria shakes her head "Eh? But I think it'll be fun if we go together."

Hime then adds "Yurina, Aria is using the picnic to help her with her dress. Besides, watching your senpai at work is also a great Aikatsu."

Aria nods "Yes, that's right! Let's go picnic, no. Let's go Aikatsu together!"

Yurina looks at the two of them and agrees after a few seconds "I… I understand. I'll be in your care."

Aria then fill with energy "Then let's go!"

Yurina "Wait, right now? Also where?"

Aria then grabs Yurina's hand "Yes and to Finland!"

Yurina then gets drag by Aria while shouting in surprise "Ehh? But I have work tomorrow afternoon!"

Hime who walks along "Don't worry, we'll be back by then."

Seven hours later, the three of them get off from a private jet that flew almost at mach speed.

Yurina "No way… so fast."

Aria grabs Yurina's hand "Yurina, let's go!"

Yurina nods and the three of them start heading towards Aria's home town. When they reach Aria's home town, it is like a village with wooden houses and a few farms.

Yurina looks around and takes a deep breath "Amazing, it feels completely different here."

Aria then put her hands by her ear to listen "Mmm, I can hear it…"

Yurina looks at Aria then do then same "Hear… what?"

Hime answers "Yurina, just listen. Don't think about anything."

Yurina looks at Hime. Hime is doing the same as Aria and Yurina try again. This time, she is able to slowly hear the sound of nature around them. The sound wind, grass, and even river that is far away could be heard.

Yurina "This is…"

Aria "Yes, it is the sound of this forest."

Yurina nods "Yes, it's calming…"

Aria "Ah! That's right, the picnic. Let's go shopping!"

Yurina nods but then looks around "Right… but where?"

Aria starts running a bit then turns back "Come on, this way!"

Yurina looks at Hime and she nods. The two of them then follow Aria.

They stop in front of someone's house.

Aria knocks on the door "Hello?"

Yurina asks "Aria, what are you doing?"

Aria answers "Shopping."

Yurina blinks "Eh?"

A middle-aged man opens the door and sees the three girls "Hmm? If it isn't Aria? When did you come back?"

Aria says "Just a while ago and I came back for a picnic."

He looks at Hime and Yurina for a second "I see, so I guess you want some ham and cheese. Give me a minute."

He then walks back into the house and Yurina asks "So this is how you shop here? Interesting. I guess experiencing this is also Aikatsu?"

Aria thinks then look at Hime "Is this also Aikatsu?"

Hime nods "Yes, of course. It's important to remember what defines you."

Aria looks at her hand for a second then grips hard "This is also Aikatsu."

Yurina smile but then questions "By the way, where are we going?"

Aria answer "It's a wonderful place. You will definitely love it!"

The man comes back with a big bowl at perfect timing "Here you."

Aria takes the bowl and gives him the money "Thank you!"

The man and Aria begin to chat a bit. Meanwhile, Yurina asks Hime some questions.

Yurina takes a look at the bowl "Eh? We are buying the bowl as well?"

Hime shakes her head "No, we'll bring it back later."

Yurina "Eh? But what if someone doesn't bring it back?"

Hime explains "Well, that's that. However, people here rely on each other. So they develop trust for each other. It will probably be different if Aria isn't here."

Yurina "They rely on each other… That reminds me of that exercise."

Hime questions "Exercise?"

Yurina hurriedly explains "Ah, the class help out with Yume's stage last month and we get to know what it's like to be working in backstage."

Hime chuckles upon hearing that "I see, what do you think about it?"

Yurina thinks for a moment "It really showed me how much work is put into one stage. If I were to get a chance for my own stage, I'll definitely do my best in every area!"

Hime smiles "I see, that's a good answer."

Hime then turns to Aria "Aria, we should get going. If we don't start preparing, we won't have time for any picnic."

Aria stops talking with the man and looks back "Ah!"

She bows to him "I'm sorry but we should get going."

He raises his hand to stop Aria "It's okay, stop that. We'll have more chances to talk in the future. Just come back more often, okay?"

Aria then put up a dazzling smile "Yes!"

The three of them say goodbye and move towards the forest.

The three of them walk into a forest and keep walking for a while.

Yurina asks "Uhmm, how far… are we going?"

Yurina starts to become tired of traveling in the dense forest.

Aria looks back "Are you okay? We are almost there."

Yurina nods as Aria looks ahead. Soon after, Aria put a big smile on her face and dashes forward.

Yurina looks at her "Eh? Aria!"

Hime "Looks like that's it."

Hime picks up her pace and Yurina struggles to keep up. When Yurina reaches Aria and Hime, she also finds a small lake with water lily. She takes a closer look at Aria's back and she spins around to show Yurina the place.

Aria "Tada, this is it!"

The water sparkles behind Aria. Along with the water lily that makes a nice background put Yurina in awe.

She mumbles "Like a fairy…"

Aria tilts her head "Fairy? I think Yume said the same thing before but… why?"

Hime smiles "I wonder why?" Then she looks at Yurina.

Yurina looks at Hime for a second then back at Aria "It just means you are a forest fairy-like idol."

Aria looks at Yurina "Forest Fairy? … That's it!"

Aria drops everything she was carrying and immediately takes out a notebook then start drawing.

Yurina asks "Umm? What?"

Hime looks at Aria and answers Yurina's question "You just helped Aria again. Aria is working on her new dress right now."

Yurina "New dress… Like a dress for a forest fairy?"

Aria quickly finishes and says "Yes! Look!"

Yurina "That's, amazing. But is it possible to make a dress like that?"

Hime smiles and answers again "Don't worry, our staff will manage. I believe that our staff at My Little Heart can do it."

Yurina then thinks about it and says "I see, even if it seems impossible, you should trust them."

Hime "I'm not saying always, but I know they will manage somehow. After all, we still have some time."

Aria then nods "Yes! And Yurina, thank you so much! I don't think I will be able to make this dress without you!"

Yurina "Eh? I didn't do much. All I did was saying what's on my mind."

Aria then looks at Yurina then says "Similar…"

Yurina looks at Aria wondering "What do you mean?"

Aria nods as to confirm her thought then answers "Yurina and Yume is similar."

Hime looks closely at Yurina "Now that you mentioned it, she is a bit similar."

Yurina takes a step back while waving her hands in front of her "No way! For me to be similar to Yume… But… That makes me a bit happy."

Hime asks "Why?"

Yurina calmly answers "It's because part of the reason I want to become an idol is because of Yume. I really look up to her a lot!"

Hime smile softly "Yurina, do you… Want to become an idol like Yume?"

She thinks for a while then shakes her head "I'm not sure. I know I want to become a top idol like Yume but… I'm not sure if I want to be just like her."

Aria nods "Then I'll help you find it, the idol that you want to be!"

Yurina "Thanks… But I think I'll try to find it myself. The type of idol that is unique to me."

Hime then grabs the food "But before that. Let's enjoy our picnic. We came all the way out here after all."

Aria and Yurina "Yes!"

The three of them begin to enjoy the picnic deep in the forest.