I do not own any of the songs. They belong to their respective artist(s).

Boys sing in BOLD
Girls sing in ITALICS
Both genders sing in BOTH

Stopping outside the dorms, Hikari began her stretches alongside Syo and Otoya. "At least I don't have to suffer in the morning alone," she said with a huff, blowing at her bangs. "Music doesn't have as much encouragement as competition does."

Otoya let out a laugh, pulling his arms above his head. "It's only fair since you're helping with our gymnastics."

"Yeah," Syo said in agreement. "I definitely couldn't do a backflip without a two handed backbend."

"Trampolines are good for flips. Those, plus the squishy cubes and spheres, were what we used to train on before mats." She fell into step with the teens as they walked into the building.

"What do you think of Masa's new audition?" Syo asked, glancing at her.

"He… might have a bit of trouble," Hikari admitted reluctantly. "Masato really knows the fundamentals, but it's different when it comes to the serious acting as you know. And I read the script, mainly the scene he needs to use for his audition."

"It's something out of his comfort zone, isn't it?" Otoya guessed.

"Oh yeah. It's way out of his zone, only assisted a little by my love for hugs and Natsuki's," Hikari answered.

"Hm… maybe we should help him." Syo and Otoya shared looks.

"You guys can, but Ringo-sensei's been flinging assignments from the Academy to help him grade. I'll visit you lot when I can." They reached the kitchen.

"Why's he doing that?" Otoya asked in confusion.

Syo pointed to the sourdough buns, which Otoya tossed to him as Hikari snagged the toaster. "Is he making you an assistant or something?"

"No idea, but some of the things he has me doing is similar to a Kapellmeister, a conductor." She moved to pull the pans out while Otoya grabbed the eggs and bacon, Syo the vegetables and cheese. "Where's the egg thing at again?"

"Drawer to the left." The trio fell into quiet conversation on why Ringo might be having Hikari grade.

-AA-

"Don't you usually hug Hikari back?" Otoya pointed out and blinked at the exasperation on Masato's face.

"I do, but that's only so she doesn't cling to me like an octopus," Masato answered wryly and the redhead conceded his point.

"You could still act like it's Hikari you're hugging," Syo said, latching onto Otoya so Natsuki didn't pull him into a tight, breathtaking hug. "Or you have a sister, right? Act like it's just a normal hug."

"Ochibi, you do recall it's a romantic scene, right?" Ren asked, leaning back in his chair.

"So? Masa's not really comfortable with that kinda stuff. Shiori-senpai said you need to be at ease when you perform," Syo answered.

"Eh… has she actually ever done any romance movies?" Otoya wondered and screeched as Syo tickled his sides.

"Don't poke holes into my logic!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sor-ree! Ow!"

"My back…"

Shifting in the chair hammock she'd snagged as her own, Tomochika glanced up at a pencil tap on her knee. She moved her headphones back. "Hey, Kari, what's up?"

The other girl smiled, putting a music sheet on Tomochika's folder. "I've got a song for both you and Otoya."

"Ooh." Tomochika straightened, seat swaying as she looked over the notes, beaming. "Sweet! I can't wait to put lyrics to the melody. By the way, Daiki is supposed to be back next week."

"Good. I know I'm good at composing, but not a whole lot of songs in just a go, you know?" Hikari looked at her phone. "Otoya gets back later, so his will have to wait. I wanted to make sure to give you yours before heading to the agency."

"Is Ryuya-sensei making you grade, too?" She asked curiously.

Hikari's relieved face made her chuckle. "Thankfully not. Anyway, I'll leave you to your script. See ya!"

They hugged and Tomochika flopped back against the hammock, tracing the notes with her nails, smiling faintly as excitement thrummed inside her. 'Finally, I get to sing one of Hikari's songs! And if both her and Daiki write the songs together…' She grinned wider, pulling her headphones back on. 'They're going to be brilliant!'

-AA-

Hikari entered her room after returning from the agency. She'd run, wanting to deliver the assignments and try working on the song for STARISH, but nothing was really coming to her. Dropping her stuff on the table, she went and opened her balcony door, slumping against the railing and just existing for a moment. Voices floating up to her made her open her eyes.

"Tomorrow, you'll be studying television programs early in the morning," Camus said to Cecil, scepter tapping lightly on his shoulder as he walked.

"Eh? That early?" Cecil recoiled in mild surprise.

"An idol must charm people." Hikari raised a brow. "Don't worry about such trivia difficulties. Write a report about everything you learned about today and turn it in to me."

"Eh?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Ah, no…"

Camus walked away and Cecil got a sulky look on his face, which disappeared when he spotted her. She wiggled her fingers, inviting him up as she stepped back. Cecil glanced after Camus before moving to climb up the wall trellis.

"I have bottled green tea," she offered, heading back into her room (and eternally grateful she'd forced herself to put her laundry away the night before).

"Please and thank you," he said, settling on her bed. "Camus is always getting mad at me."

Hikari passed him a bottle, settling beside him and leaning against the wall, kicking her flats off. "Are you okay? I mean, he isn't putting too much on you, right?"

Cecil took a sip and sealed the bottle, setting it on the ground before flopping over onto her jean clad legs. "It was worse at the castle," he mumbled and she petted his head, smiling at the fluffiness. "Your room is really relaxing."

"It's not like I have lavender on my balcony or anything," she teased as he shifted onto his back, head facing her desk.

"You still have the flower?" Cecil looked at her in surprise.

"It's an important keepsake. My promise to keep STARISH going after we've begun." Hikari tugged his hair lightly. "I've got your sash, too, although it's kinda a scarf now."

"You must really love STARISH…" Cecil trailed off, frowning as he tried to gather his words. "What's so great about them?"

He scowled weakly at the ceiling for his blunt words, but she didn't mind, preferring things straight. "They're enchanting. Everything they do, when they sing, when the perform, even the things they have to do on variety shows, it catches my attention totally." Her lips quirked into a soft smile.

"You… are their prisoner…"

A squeak left him when she flicked his forehead. "Not in the way you think, goofball prince. It's not just me they enchant. It's their fans and anyone who watches and listens to them. It's like a whole new world and they invite us into it with their songs."

Cecil frowned in thought, still not comprehending, but Hikari knew he'd get it one day.

-AA-

"Am I interrupting something?" Otoya glanced away from Masato and Tokiya to see Hikari standing in the doorway, gazing at the duo in bewilderment. "Is this for the audition?"

"Yeah," Otoya answered, and with a small, mischievous, grin, added, "And no, Tokiya isn't a crossdresser, sorry for the let down, Kari."

"Excuse me?" Tokiya demanded as the girl laughed.

"I didn't think so, but thanks for the images," Hikari teased.

"Why doesn't Hikari do it?" Cecil asked. "Since she's a woman?"

The group shared looks and Hikari shrugged. "Sure, but I'm not wearing the kimono. I'd rather not break anything."

She looked over the script, mouthing the lines before she passed it back and headed over to start the scene. Hikari slid into her role seamlessly and it went on well until the embracing scene.

"I… I can't do it…" Masato said weakly, collapsing to the ground.

A sigh left them collectively and Hikari tilted her head. "I don't know what to tell you, Masato, unless you want to imagine the girl as a teddy bear or something. Shiori-nee had minor screen romances and even then that always had the love interest dying due to the movie or show being an action drama."

"It's fine," Masato said grimly. "Thank you for trying."

-AA-

Masato headed outside, rolling his shoulders and sighing. The script wiggled in his hand as he walked to the lone tree he normally sat at when the weather was okay (but winter was coming and he wouldn't really be able to then).

"Masato."

Twitching in surprise, he looked up to see Aijima in the tree. "Aijima? What are you doing up there?"

"Ah, well," the teen faltered, sheepish as he hopped down. "Camus is angry."

"You'd rather be outside than with him," Masato guessed and Aijima nodded. Tugging out the box of tiny chocolate covered biscuits Hikari had slipped under Tokiya's eyes, he opened it and held it out. "Guess I'm not the only one struggling…"

"Are you sure your audition will be alright?" The prince asked as he took a biscuit, murmuring "Thank you." "Why did you become an idol?"

"Why do you ask?" Masato returned before biting into a biscuit.

"I'm just curious."

Masato looked at him for a moment then looked up at the sky. "I've always been interested in the performing arts. Knowing it would never happen, I kept my dream hidden in my heart. However, one day some people awoken my secret passion and lead me to this path." Thoughts of Hikari singing in the park with kids came to mind, along with the first time he heard Jinguji play the saxophone. "Because of them, I'm here now. Does that answer your question?"

Aijima hummed lightly. "You must love that person."

He stilled, biscuit between his lips as he stared wordlessly at the other teen.

Said teen didn't notice as he stood and brushed at his pants. "You should channel that passion into your acting to succeed. Imagine the actress as the one you love, it should be easy afterwards."

His brain… fried for lack of a better word as he immediately imagined it and felt light headed, cheeks pinkening. He couldn't even make a noise.

"It'd be like a dream, too, right? Might as well as give it a shot… Masato, are you okay? Masato?"

Hikari looked up to see Masato behind her seat, Tomochika across from her in the hammock. Dropping her pencil, she caught his face in her hands, eyeing him upside down. A wide, slightly unnerving grin crossed her face. "You did it."

"Di-Did what?" He asked warily, grabbing her wrists.

"You imagined Ren." Tomochika answered in place of her best friend.

The male froze, eyes widening as he flicked them between magenta and verdant eyes. "How-?"

"I'm an observant person," Hikari answered his unfinished question. "And Tomo-chan is my gossip buddy."

Masato paled slightly. "Have you told anyone else?"

"Mmm." They shared looks and Tomochika waved a hand. "Natsuki is a maybe, he's pretty observant when it isn't him. Everyone else is a no."

"Cecil might," Hikari mused, shifting so she had both of her friends in sight. "But he won't say anything unless he asks you and you say yes."

"Breath, Masato," Tomochika advised. "Hikari can't catch you if you faint. Not from that position."

"I won't." The new voice made them jump and Cecil smiled apologetically at the girls' scowls. "Sorry. But I won't tell anyone."

A weird wheeze left Masato as he leaned heavily against the couch and Tomochika quickly changed the topic, leaning to scrutinize Cecil. "Heeh, so you're the prince everyone has spoken about. How come you never introduced yourself to me, hmmmm?"

He froze in sitting in the arm chair, blinking rapidly. "Uh, was I supposed to?"

Tomochika swung an arm out, making her hammock spin. She continued on strongly. "I am Hikari's best friend, you goof! Of course you're supposed to introduce yourself to me!"

"I'm sorry," Cecil said, finally sitting down and ducking his head as Tomochika rotated back to see him, arm still out. The prince sheepishly made his introduction and the redheaded girl returned it.

"Masato, sit down before you fall over," Hikari aimed at the blue haired male and he silently moved to settle as she pulled some bread from her bag to bite into.

"HIKARI!"

The scream made her jump and look wide eyed at Ringo, whose face was pale and horrified. He was pointing at her bread.

"Wha-what are you doing?!" He sort of screech and they all looked at the bread.

"What do you mean, what am I doing?" She asked in bewilderment, swallowing the bread. "I'm eating hamster bread."

"What?" Ringo stared at her in shock.

"Hamster bread. The features are painted." Hikari tore the body in half, revealing the fluffy bread inside. Her eyes narrowed at him. "Did you actually think I was eating a hamster?!"

Ringo's lips moved soundlessly. "I don't know anymore," he finally said, blinking and looking down at the folders in his arms. "Uh…"

"Sensei, why don't you hand those over to Kari and go take a nap?" Tomochika suggested.

"Nap, yes. That. That sounds good. Nap," he mumbled, placing the folders on the table and walking away silently.

"I think you broke him," Masato said after a moment of watching the crossdresser.

"Wouldn't be the first time I broke someone." Hikari held out the bag. "Hamster?"

Cecil let out a helpless chuckle, accepting one. "You're ridiculous," he said fondly.

"They're good, buzz off," she grumbled and looked back at her papers. 'Where was I again…?'

If no one caught the MasaRen thing early on, I'll blame my weak attempts at hinting at it. There still won't really be romance in this unless it's like S4, maybe. Friendship is what makes this fic move on. There's going to be a lot more happening, too, since I'm a sucker for tying up loose ends in the anime/game (I am dragging things in the game to the anime plots, if that hasn't been mentioned yet).

No songs this chapter (would someone mind telling me what goes on at a concert? I've never been to one).

See you next time!