Author's Note

This chapter feels more fulfilling for me than the last. I don't have much to say this time except maybe many thanks for reading my story to this far.

Chapter 28: Betrayal and Doubt, Gillyflower Floral Idol!

When Mahiru and Yurina return to Four Star Academy, they go to the S4 garden. When they walk in, they see Rola, Kohaku, and Ako with Hime. As they approach, they notice the two of them and turns to face them.

Mahiru "Everyone, Hime too, what's going on?"

Hime answers "Oh, I just got back after setting up my plans for the Floral Idol event. With the current number of brands and muse, it's going to be hard to find all 16. So I got some help."

As Hime says that, Mahiru and yurina's face turns grim. Especially Mahiru, she also looks angry.

They all notice the change and Hime asks "Did something happen?"

Mahiru looks at her hand for a second before answering "I met Yume earlier. However, she is like a completely different person."

Ako immediately asks "Really? You found Yume?"

At the same time, Hime and Rola look at each other. Both of them understand they shouldn't let the four of them getting too deep into the situation. However, Yurina notices them looking at each other.

Yurina thinks "Hime and Rola, do they know something we don't? Should I ask?"

Mahiru then continues speaking "Yeah and she said she was betrayed."

Koharu "Betrayed? Who?"

Mahiru reluctantly answers "Us."

Ako slams the table "Huh? What does that mean?"

Hime then says "It's okay, I had Elza help us looking into what happened. She should have an answer too. I'll tell her what we learned today."

Rola "Elza? Well, if it is Elza, she may find something. Mahiru, is there anything else?"

Mahiru closes her eyes in frustration and holds her fist tight "I… I wanted to punch Yume."

Koharu "What do you mean?"

Mahiru looks at Yurina for a moment "Yume told Yurina she could use that mysterious power to become a Floral Idol."

Rola "Se, seriously?"

Koharu "No way, Yume…"

Yurina asks "Uhmm, is having that power so bad?"

Hime answers "Not exactly, but that power is a double-edged sword. The more you use it, the more you'll hurt your voice. Eventually, we will lose our ability to sing."

Yurina "But Yume is using it right?"

Everyone except Hime looks at Yurina while surprised.

Mahiru "Yume is using it?"

Hime answers "Yes, Yume is using it at the very beginning. The sudden burst of strength is probably not that easy to notice by most people if done right from the start. However, for me and Yurina…"

Yurina says "We noticed it."

Rola "Wait, if Yume is using it, isn't she in danger of losing her voice?"

Hime "That's why I looked for help. The sooner we find all 16 Floral Idol, the better."

Hime then looks at Yurina "I know you most likely want to become one even more now. However…"

Yurina talks before Hime finish "I will use it. I'm sure there is a way to prevent it from hurting our voice."

Everyone looks at Yurina while looking surprised and confused.

Hime stands up "There is no way. Even with the latest medical help, we can only stop the damage a little bit."

Yurina smiles "Then I'll ask my mom for help. She found a lot of unique and rare things in her adventures. Maybe she got something that could help."

Hime sighs "Alright, but please be careful. Even if your mom has something that can help. If it is still hurting you, I want you to stop. Can you promise me that?"

Yurina nods "Yes!"

Hime nods and then looks at everyone "Alright, it's getting late. Everyone still has jobs tomorrow right?"

Ako nods "That's right! I got a morning movie shoot tomorrow."

Koharu "Then let's go back."

While everyone is leaving, Mahiru doesn't move. Hime then stays behind and look at Mahiru.

She asks "Aren't you leaving?"

Mahiru looks at Hime and asks a question instead "Uhmm, Hime. What do you think about the path Yume is walking on right now?"

Hime slowly turns to face the night sky "I don't know. However…"

She turns to Mahiru while looking serious "If she keeps this up, we don't know what the future Aikatsu may become. At worst, maybe she would become the only real idol."

Mahiru takes a step forward "Can't we stop her?"

Hime shakes her head "I don't know that either. The only thing I can say for sure is… If we don't become a Floral Idol, then there is no chance for us to stop Yume. In a sense, Yume has already picked a fight against every idol in the world."

Mahiru looks as if she is wavering "Fight against every idol? We are… fighting against Yume?"

Hime nods "That's right, I don't like this either. Mahiru, if you are not prepared to fight Yume, then you should stop..

Hime then faces another way to looks at everyone's' back "I know you girls are all good friends, but this fight is inevitable."

Hime then starts walking off as Mahiru stands still and stayed a while longer, thinking of what she should do.

The next day morning, Mahiru had scheduled her class teacher Miwa to help with her training. He claps his hand with a rhythm and has Mahiru walks.

After a short while, he stops "Enough. Mahiru, what are you doing? It isn't like you to be making so many mistakes. Your eyes are not focused and you are walking off-center."

Mahiru "Ah… Sorry."

Miwa asks "What happened?"

Mahiru hesitates a bit before answering. She explains what happened with her run-in with Yume along with the talk last night.

Mahiru "So… I don't know what I should do. I don't want to fight against Yume like this."

Miwa "I understand, then it's best if you take a break and think about it carefully."

Mahiru "But I don't have that much time left before the challenge."

Miwa opens his fan and turns sideway "With the way you are now, no amount of training will help you. Mahiru, finding an answer, and the will to fight Yume is more important."

Mahiru thinks for a moment and sighs "I know… but… I just can't. Even though someone like Yurina had already found her resolve. Compare to her, I…"

Miwa "Well, just go out and have some fresh air. The training ends here today."

Miwa starts walking away while Mahiru bows "Yes, thank you very much!"

Within an open ground in the academy, Mahiru begins breaking tiles with her karate chops.

Mahiru "Hya!"

Mahiru strikes downward and breaks several tiles at once. Before she noticed, her surround has already become a broken tile landfill.

From behind a hill of broken tile, the S4 Ako walks up "Mahiru, are you in there?"

Mahiru "Eh?" She then noticed her surrounding "Ah… Yeah, I'm here."

Ako climb her way through "Mahiru, don't you think it's a little too much?"

Mahiru looks around "Yeah, I'll clean up once I'm done."

Ako "You are not done yet?"

Mahiru looks frustrated "Sorry, but I…"

Before Mahiru finishes, a strong blast blows every tiles around them away. Ako crouch while Mahiru quickly steps in front of her and breaks any broken tiles that could have hurt them.

Ako "Wha… what happened?"

Mahiru looks forward as the dust clears up "That's… Is that the Negadol everyone is talking about?"

Ako coughs a few times then looks at the Negadol "That's Negadol, looks dangerous… Eh? Mahiru?"

Mahiru ready herself "Precure isn't here yet, so I'll take care of it!"

After she says that, she jumps in and challenges Negadol. Off in the distance, Cure Shine is watching the situation with Suzu and Mutsu.

Mutsu "That person, is she stupid?"

Shine "Mahiru…"

Suzu notices Shine is looking slightly worried and says "Either way, procure will be here soon. You two should get ready."

Mutsu looks at Suzu "You know, I have been thinking. Why do you never fight with us? There shouldn't be any more need for you to attend this academy."

Suzu "There should be more that i can do at the academy. Besides, it's fine for me to leave even after if I am found out."

Shine looks at Suzu "Are you getting attached?"

Suzu looks at Shine and answers with a question after a short hesitation "Are you sure you are not the one still feeling attached?"

Shine looks at Mahiru and smiles "Who knows? Either way, let's get going. Precure is here."

Shine jump towards the fight and Mutsu follows her. When they arrive, the precure finishes transforming. Mahiru is standing behind the cures with several light bruises.

Shine looks at everyone and stops at Mahiru "Heh? Mahiru, you were able to hold out until precure gets here. I'm surprised you didn't faint like last time."

Mahiru "Eh? Who are you? You sound like you know me."

Shine looks puzzled for a moment "Ah! That's right, sorry sorry. Can you pretend you didn't hear that?" Shine smiles and apologizes with her hands together.

Mahiru looks at Shine with a surprise and thinks "Yume? No, wait… why do I think…"

As Mahiru is deep in her thought, Ako pulls her arm and says "Mahiru, let's leave it to the precure. Us staying here will only hinder them."

Melody looks back at them and gives them a thumbs up "That's right, leave it to us. We'll save that girl and stop Shine and others!"

Mahiru and Ako watch the cures fight. However, Mahiru and Ako notice the precure seem to be fighting Shine while talking to her. After a while, Mutsu strikes Muse and she got sent flying towards Mahiru and Ako. Luckily, she didn't crash into them.

Mahiru asks "Hey, are you okay?"

Muse looks at Mahiru and Ako "Yes, but you two should move a little further. It can still get dangerous."

Mahiru and Ako nod and Muse stands up. However before she jumps back in, Mahiru stops her.

Mahiru asks "Uhmm, does the precure happen to know that girl?"

Muse stops and looks at Mahiru for a moment before looking at Shine "Yes, she is our friend. We don't know what happened, but she is helping our enemy."

Mahiru looks at the cures fighting their friend and asks "Why… Why are you girls able to fight against your friend without hesitation?"

Muse looks at Mahiru and turns around to face her properly "Because this is the best way to save her. Besides, this isn't the first time."

Ako asks "Not the first time?"

Muse nods "The first time is actually Cure Beat. I wasn't around but Melody and Rhythm fought hard. Then the second time is my papa."

Mahiru "Papa? You fought against your father?"

Muse nods "Yes, I… No, we fought to save my father."

Mahiru "You fought to save your father."

Ako "Mahiru…"

Mahiru "Fighting to save, not to hurt… Ahhh, jees, what am I doing? Even though my fight won't even hurt Yume, I can't even gather my courage to do it. Cure Muse right? Thank you." Mahiru slaps her face as she says that.

Muse smiles and leaps back into the fight. As the fight goes on, Mahiru immediately turns around and starts running.

Ako doesn't understand why she suddenly runs away turns around and asks "Mahiru, why are you running?"

Mahiru stops and answers "I'm going to train for my Floral Idol Challange! My fight against Yume is on the stage. I'll make Yume realize that it was the wrong choice to leave without telling us and no one betrayed her!"

Ako smiles, but Mahiru says "Oh right, Ako, I'm sorry but I'll leave it to you." then immediately runs off.

Ako questions for a moment "Leave it to me?" She then quickly notice her surrounding with tiny shards of tiles "Eh? No way, Mahiru!"

A few days later, Mahiru is ready to stand on her stage.

Mahiru thinks "My fight against Yume starts here."

She then looks at her cards "A new dress with a new song. My Velvet Night Coord and Song Flower. Yume, I'm sure you are watching. I'll remind you what it means to be an idol and the dream you had."

Mahiru looks forward and filled with fighting spirit "I will fight and shine as a top idol should!"

She then runs forward and changes into her new dress. Her red and purple dress properly outline her beautiful image and could easily be the center of attention even at the fanciest formal party. The music starts playing and she begins to sing after a while.

Mahiru slowly steps forward without dancing "Wind passing in front of you, softly riding on it. Through the clouds, thrusts in an aimed ray of light. If I cannot get a grasp, then going forward step by step, this song will resonate."

The music slows down and when it picks back up, she starts dancing with her aura in full power.

Mahiru "The seed of dreams fell into my chest and sprouts within my heart. Let it bloom, bloom, and bloom. Turns into a flower."

Everyone who is watching and knows Mahiru well is able to tell that Mahiru is shining much brighter than she ever is. The performance has just begun and everyone is starting to be in awe.

Mahiru "Shedding numerous amount of tears, it enters into the light in my heart. Let it bloom, bloom, and bloom. Turns into a flower. Gently become a flower."

Mahiru then proceeds with her special appeal. She spins around and a gentle wind surrounds her to launch her into the sky. Mahiru then strikes a pose by holding her knees together. Then follow up with her Floral Idol transformation and a Gillyflower shows up. It blooms from the bottom up and when the tip blooms, Mahiru jumps up with both of her hands reaching outward while the Gillyflower petals are falling slowly around her. Mahiru continues her performance.

Yume, hiding high up at the stadium with Mutsu and Suzu. She smiles as she sees Mahiru's transformation into Floral Idol.

Yume then stands up "Mutsu, Suzu, let's go."

Suzu then asks "You are not watching her stage all the way through?"

Mutsu then says "Suzu, you should leave the academy. I think you are being affected by all the idols in there."

Suzu looks at Mutsu and Yume "Me? No way. I'm just... curious at why they can keep going even though they saw Yume's amazing stage."

Yume "That's just how they are, either way, we have no need to stay here."

When the conversation comes to an end, Mahiru is close to her last verse.

Mahiru "The dreams I believe in are on the wall high up. To be able to go over it is because of having courage. It's shaking and shaking. Getting lost one after another. Getting hurt by someone's word, become unable to see the place I am going. I believe and believe, with my memories, I'll be singing from now on!"

Yume "Mahiru… those lyrics, are you picking a fight?"

While Yume curse Mahiru's lyric, Suzu is having a different thought "To care so much, even after she left you and others… why?"

Mutsu looks at the two of them and is having her own thought as well "Suzu, what are you thinking? Right now, Yume seems more proper than you. Should I report this?"

The three of them end up watching Mahiru's performance until the end.

After Mahiru's stage is over, the S4, Rola, Koharu, Yurina, and Hibiki and others are there.

S4 Ako "Mahiru! What is that live? That is amazing!"

Ruka "Yep yep yep! Even Ruka is extremely surprised!"

One by one, everyone gives their praise even eventually everyone's praise gets mixed together.

Mahiru "Everyone, hold on. Not all at once."

Hibiki "Eh? Oh, hahaha. Sorry, I guess we got a little too excited."

Little Ako "Well, it is amazing. Aria's stage was amazing too. To be a Floral Idol looks super hard"

Yurina "Yeah, it isn't easy."

Rola then says "But you are going to keep trying, right?"

Yurina "Of course!"

Ellen then asks "So who is going for the challenge next?"

Everyone looks at Mahiru.

Mahiru "Eh? I'm going to pick? Then… Ako!"

Both Ako "Eh?"

Mahiru "Ah, sorry. I mean our cat Ako."

She then complains "Why me?"

Kanade then notices "Ah! Is it because Ako is the only other S4 interested in becoming a Floral Idol?"

Ako then reluctantly accepts "Alright, I'll become the next Floral Idol!"