Author's Note

A little shorter than usual but somehow end up writing the whole thing really fast this time. It's probably because I had been wanting to write this chapter as well as the next few for a long time. There is also the fact that I get to toss in Suzuki Airi's song. Her voice is amazing and I really like her songs.

Chapter 35: Suzu's Identity, Rola Challenges Hime!

Early in the morning, Suzu is at her desk working on her song.

Suzu says to herself "Okay, this looks good. Ah... I stayed up all night."

Someone then knocks on the door.

Suzu answers "Yes!"

She walks over and opens the door and sees Yume.

Yume "Hello~ Enjoying your time here?"

Yume walks in and Suzu could not say anything.

Yume sees Suzu's new song and picks it up "Hee, I see. I'm glad you are actually going to restart your Aikatsu."

Suzu looks baffled "What... do you mean?"

Yume "because at least you seem to have the potential to become a Floral Idol."

Suzu "Of course, now that I am going to be an idol again, I'll aim for the top."

Yume smiles "I see, then good luck."

As Yume is about to leave, Suzu asks "Wait, what did you come here for? You must be planning something."

Yume "Yes I am. However, that's a secret."

Yume then leaves the room.

Suzu "This isn't good... I need to let Kanade and others know."

Suzu then contacts everyone and manages to find one hour time at next day morning.

Everyone meets up in the S4 Garden, including Rola, Rei, and Subaru.

Suzu starts "I'm sorry for calling everyone here but I need to share some intel."

Elza "I see, that would be really helpful. So what do you have?"

Suzu nods "A decent amount that I believe it can help. However, I have something more important and dire news right now."

Hime asks "What is it?"

Suzu "Yume is up to something and if I were to guess, it's mass-producing Negastar. They now know the condition for making a Negastar, I think that is very likely to happen."

Subaru "Hold on, are you saying all the top idols are now in danger?"

Suzu shakes her head "No, not all. Even with ABC's power, they will have hard to find out which idol is good enough to turn into a Negastar. I believe Yume will start with those she knows that can become one. For example, Mahiru and Ako."

After a short pause, Suzu looks at Rola and Subaru "Rola and Subaru as well, you two could be in danger. However, since the two of you know the situation, it's probably much harder so I think it'll be fine."

Rola and Subaru look at each other for a moment and nod.

Subaru "Alright, I'll be careful and warn Nozomu, Asahi, and Kanata. If they run into Yume, let me know first."

Rola "And I'll do the same for the S4 and the admins."

Hime thinks for a moment and says "Then I'll inform Tsubaki and Yozora as well. Yuzu comes here often so I'll leave it to you girls."

Suzu "That'll do for now. As for intel on the ABC, I'm sure some information everyone is already aware of. First is ABC has a lot of money. If the company wants something done, it's very easy for them to do it. Second is the agents, like Gyaku, Mutsu, and I."

Hibiki "Agents, but we took out Gyaku already. I didn't like how it ends but..."

Suzu shakes her head "About Gyaku, he is alive. There is no way the boss would let him die. After all, Gyaku is his son and a former idol as well."

Kanade "Ah... So that's why Gyaku acts that way when we defeat him."

Ellen stops Kanade "That's right, but what's important is how many agents are in this world."

Suzu nods "Right now the active ones I am aware of are about 12. Three in America, three in Europe, one in Africa, one in Australia, and four in Asia. This doesn't include Yume."

Elza "That's quite a few. They are even all over the world. To defeat all of them will take time."

Suzu "No, there is no need to defeat all of them. ABC values efficiency so if we defeat Mutsu and bring Yume back, they will most likely start moving agents here."

Rei "But we are still fighting a defensive battle. Is there any way for us to be on the offense?"

Suzu hesitates for a moment "There... is. But I don't recommend going on offense yet. At least we need to bring Yume back and find the last precure first."

Hime nods "That's true, we can think about going on the offense once we are at full strength. For now, we should focus on becoming a Floral Idol and bring Yume back."

Ako "Right, but neither is going to be easy."

Kanade then announces "But Suzu is ready for the challenge!"

Everyone looks at Suzu and she gets flustered "Eh? Ah, yeah. I just finished with my song and choreography. All I need is some practice."

Subaru then asks "How about your dress?"

Suzu takes out three cards "Don't worry, I'll use my old premium rare dress. This Wild Colorful Coord."

Hibiki "What's that? It sounds so cool!"

Suzu shows them the cards. The top has blue feathery frills with open arms and the skirt is a combination of large pieces of multi-colored feathers stitched together with a blue veil underneath. The shoes are a set of red boots.

Elza "Hoo? That's quite a design."

Rola "An easy to move top and it has its unique style. Skirt as well, even though the color would normally only show up in pop style, the veil made it appear to be cool instead. The boots too, help define the style of dress really well. Which brand is it?"

Suzu "Wilderness Crash, my own brand. It's a brand that focuses on the image of going on adventures. It's no longer around, but I plan to bring it back."

Hime "If that's what you want, I can help you do that. However..."

Suzu cuts in "I need to become a Floral Idol and get my name out first. I know, it is my second time and I don't plan on giving up again."

Everyone smiles and Kanade asks "In that case, you need to practice. Your Floral Idol Challenge is tomorrow, you need to get some last-minute training in!"

Hibiki "Tomorrow? Then you have no time to waste!"

Suzu smiles "I get it, I'll go train. I'll write up a report tonight."

Hime "Suzu, you don't have to do it tonight. Just do it by end of the week is fine. You are an idol now, sleep is very important."

Suzu "Ah, right. I guess it's a habit now. I'll have to be careful. Then, if there are no questions, I'll go start my training."

Everyone looks at each other and one by one, they say they have no questions.

Suzu bows "Thank you for letting me being an idol again. I'll definitely do my best!"

Suzu turns around and walks out.

Kanade "Ah, let me help you!"

Hibiki looks at Kanade "Kanade? Then me too!"

Ako smiles and looks at Ellen "Then let's help as well!"

Ellen stops Ako "Stop, we got a theatre play in the afternoon. We need to go in early to get our outfit checked. We got a job so that comes first."

Ako reluctantly agrees "Okay, I get it. Let's go..."

After they left, Elza says "Looks like Suzu may just become the next Floral Idol."

Rei "Yeah. Oh right, isn't it about time for the Four Star Academy to choose a representative to challenge Yume?"

Hime and Rola then remember that is still undecided.

Elza "If anyone is going, it'll be Hime."

Rola "Wait for a second, I want to be the representative!"

Elza looks at Rola seriously "Do you think you can win?"

Rola thinks for a moment while the three of them look at Rola.

Rola "I'm not sure. However, I think I have the best chance to make Yume remember what it is like to be a real idol. The reason is that I am Yume's rival!"

Subaru then asks "So who is going? Don't tell me the two of you going to have a match to decide it."

Rola and Hime look at each other and smiles as if they are challenging each other already.

Subaru facepalms "Never mind, you girls can do whatever you want."

Rola "This'll be the first time isn't it?"

Hime nods "Yes it is and let's do our best."

Subaru sighs and just watches them plan for their contest.

Within the changing room, Suzu and Kanade are together.

Suzu "It's finally time... Haha, I can't believe I'm feeling nervous."

Kanade "Isn't that normal? It has been a long time since your last live."

Suzu "Yeah, but you know... I'm also eager to go right now. I'm an idol again and I want my feeling to reach new and old fans. Though I say that, it's not possible for me to have any old fan in this world."

Kanade "Don't worry, I'm sure it'll reach them. Sometimes, you just need to believe it will reach."

Suzu looks at Kanade surprised "I didn't think you would say things like that. However... you are right."

While Suzu looks more confident, Kanade slaps Suzu's back lightly.

Suzu "Ah! Kanade... I thought I didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff since Hibiki has a job right now."

Kanade "If Hibiki is here, it'll be more chaotic. However, that was a payback."

Suzu stares at Kanade and sighs "Fine, I'll just take it. But! Be careful at your next stage. I'll pay you back again at double."

Kanade gasps and says "I... maybe I shouldn't have done that."

Suzu "Haha. Alright, I should go now. I'll perform my new sung, Identity, with everything I got!"

Kanade nods and Suzu turns around.

Suzu "Kosei Suzumi, turning my new leaf with all my heart!"

Suzu then runs toward the changing device. She takes a deep breath and put down her cards and change.

At the stage, Suzu jumps in and takes a few steps forward.

Suzu thinks to herself before starting "This feeling, I knew it, I really love being an idol. Deep down, maybe I was still an idol. I was a fool to toss all of it away. However... this time... I won't toss my Aikatsu away nor abandoning my fans!"

Suzu readies herself and as soon as the music starts, Suzu sings "Let this melody reach you, I was singing here all along."

Suzu dance and her aura begin glowing. Her aura has a similar form to her dress and glittering brightly.

Suzu "Like, believe in destiny or like there are no inevitabilities. I'm sick of those kinds of arguments. A life that goes around, this unreadable scenario, sometimes breaks my heart. I know that in the end, I want to share laughers with you."

As soon as Suzu finishes singing that part, she puts one hand up and snaps her finger. Light comes from it and the stage transforms into a place as if it is at a city intersection.

Suzu sings once again "Let this melody reach you, always encouraging you. That is the guiding identity. Not comparing to someone with my sense of value, I want to tell you my original love."

Suzu starts her special appeal. She begins as if she is trapped in a mirror with her arm crossed and eyes closed. She opens and the mirror starts breaking. She then spreads her arms open and the mirror shatters everywhere and Suzu makes a pose with her leaning forward and one arm down and another on her hip.

Quickly after, Suzu follows up with her Swift Appeal. Light covers the stage and as it dims down a little, it shows a Daffodil Flower. From the center, Suzu pops out and strikes a pose as if she is flying while looking like she is ready for a fight. To match her dress, she now has yellow trim and gains a three-white thin fan shape mantle on her back.

Afterward, Suzu continues singing while emitting white petals with her aura "Like prioritizing the system or providing numbers, I understand it a little but... Time passes and things change. Your sense of value changes. I don't want to lose something important..."

Suzu continues to sing and her experiences are providing her powerful boost in her performance. When her stage ends, she looks like she is completely exhausted.

Within the crowd, Kanade is watching Suzu's live with Ellen and Ako.

Kanade mutters "Suzu, you really sang with everything you got."

Ellen "Her voice is powerful, not to mention those emotions she carries. It's impossible for her not to become a Floral Idol."

Then suddenly, Rola walks near them and says "That's right, and her rock is definitely amazing."

After saying that, Rola looks a bit impatient and frustrated.

Kanade looks at Rola "Rola, is something wrong?"

Rola looks at Kanade "It's just, I find myself to be still lacking. I'm not sure if I can even win my next fight."

Kanade looks confused "I see..."

Rola smiles "It's okay, I'm going to find a way to win. The only one who can bring Yume back is me!"