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
The day of his birthday, Cecil screamed and headbutted Hikari when she hovered over him, sending her back holding her forehead in pain.
"I told you not to loom over him," Camus said dryly and earned a pained noise.
"I didn't think he'd react like that," she whined and he rolled over to the edge of the bed, rubbing his forehead and eyeing her.
"Why are you here?" He asked groggily and blanched at the suddenly exuberant smile on her face.
Hikari planted a kiss on the forehead and slid a piece of paper beside his torso. "Happy Birthday, Cat Prince!"
Pushing himself up, he picked up the paper and she beamed from her kneeling position. "My song?"
She nodded and stood. "Yep! Got it finished yesterday, but we came back too late. And, of course, it made for a good birthday present." Hikari and him looked over to see a slightly impatient Camus and she hugged him quickly. "I'll see you later. Have a good day, you two!"
Cecil shook his head as she jerked Camus into a hug and dodged the flick before bolting to the room laughing. His fingers traced the notes and smiled, wondering what lyrics he should put beneath them. He didn't notice Camus's considering stare.
"Hey," Cecil said suddenly, looking at Camus in confusion. "Did you tell Hikari when my birthday was?"
"No, why would I?" Camus looked at him strangely before continuing to pack and Cecil looked at the music sheet in bewilderment.
'Then how did she find out when my birthday was?' He thought in mild confusion as he slid from his bed.
Hikari stretched and heaved a sigh, breathing in the fall air as she looked around the resort area. Her friends were murmuring in awe. Honestly, she'd always prefer the outdoors, even as it got colder. Speaking of…
She eyed her friends weirdly. "You guys are seriously going to get wet in the creek? When it's this cold?"
Otoya bumped their shoulders, grinning. "Just because you can't stand the cold doesn't mean we can't."
"I can stand the cold," she corrected. "I just don't want to."
"Wimp." Syo squawked as she tripped him, heading to her cabin. "See you at the barbecue!"
-AA-
Startling at the sound of a thud above their heads, Ranmaru scowled at seeing the composer on their roof. "Oi! What're ya doin' up there?!"
Nanami peered down at them sheepishly. "Sorry. I can't stand being stuffed in a small cabin. My room is bigger than the cabin."
"Cabin fever?" Ai mused quietly. She dropped onto the porch.
"I guess you could say that, but not really. Rei-senpai, mind if I join you? I can focus on my composing while fishing," she wondered with hope on her face.
Reiji brightened. "Sure! Hey, Masa-yan said you gave people your extra songs…?" He trailed off as she flipped, curled into a ball before landing in a crouch on the porch.
Smirking, she replied, "I do have some if you want to go through them. You guys, too." Glancing at Reiji, she pointed into the forest. "Wanna head to the creek over there? STARISH isn't over there, so less distraction and noise."
The two headed off, Nanami dropping a folder on the table. He eyed it warily before picking it up with a sigh and standing.
"You're going to choose some of the songs?" Ai asked, head tilting.
He scoffed. "No. I just don't want those brats scolding me for losing her songs. It's a pain to hear 'em gripe. And, I don't know if you saw the show she was on, but she's got a crazy thing for glitter and I do not want it near me." Ranmaru grimaced at the thought of his clothes being covered in pink glitter.
-AA-
Reiji peered over as Hikari growled lowly and threw yet another paper ball at the ground. "What's wrong?"
Her eyes blinked at him distractedly before she turned to her sheets. "I have some kind of block for this."
"It's for STARISH, right? What kind of block are you hitting?" He asked as he gently dumped the fish back into the creek.
"It's missing something," she said with a sigh.
"Mmm… well, maybe you need to take a break," Reiji suggested. "I think the boys were planning a barbecue. Let's go put our stuff away."
He slugged the stuff over his shoulders and stepped closer. She offered him a faint smile. "I think I'll stay a while. You can head back first."
Pouting, he nodded. "Alright. Just make sure you come in time or I'll eat your share."
"I brought glitter with me, senpai, you really want to test me?" She teased, grinning and waving him on.
"If it means I get more food…" Reiji laughed, dodging a paper ball and jogging back to the cabins.
-AA-
Hikari jogged through the woods, scowling to herself. 'I can't believe I lost track of time like that!' Huffing to herself, she slowed at seeing Cecil. "Hey, Cecil!"
He didn't respond.
She promptly moved closer, kneeling beside him. "Hey, what's wrong? What're you doing here? It's time for dinner, let's go together, ne?"
"I can't."
"Eh?" A squeak left her as he tugged her onto his lap, pressing his cheek against her head. She looped her arms around his back, hugging him.
"I can't hold back anymore," he said. Her brows furrowed in confusion. "I can't hold back my feelings anymore. I love you." He eyes went wide. "I came here to make you happy… only you… and yet I - I can't forget all their smiles. I want to see smiles on all kinds of people, not just yours. I want to become an idol. I want to become an idol and make lots of people happy."
Her lips curled into a wide smile as she pulled away, cupping his cheeks. "Really?"
"I'm sorry, Hikari, I've failed at being your prince." His eyes were down, so he hadn't seen her smile.
"Goofball. You'd be more of a prince if you did became an idol." She pulled him into a hug again, arms over his shoulders. "It's way more princely to make people happy… and you've already given me something valuable, even before wanting to become an idol."
"The formation of STARISH." His arms tightened slightly.
"Cecil, please become an idol. Honestly, I've been thinking for a while how brilliant it'd be if you became an idol, because I know you'd be an amazing idol who made people happy.," Hikari said gently.
He pulled away, looking into her eyes. "Hikari, are you sure?"
She pressed their foreheads together. "I support you and whatever you choose."
"Arigato."
-AA-
"Eh?! Cecil wants to become an idol?" Syo exclaimed.
Hikari nodded, snatching up a crab cake before darting back biting into it with glee.
"Why not? Reiji smiled cheerfully. "I'll support him."
"He does have the right character," Ai mentioned.
Ranmaru scoffed. "It was just a casual suggestion. I can't have people become idols over something like that."
Masato glanced at him before looking up. "He has been studying seriously. That must have been what is was about - Hikari, stop stealing."
"Sorry," she mumbled, but still snagged the roll basket and ducking behind Reiji.
"Could he have been wondering about it for a while?" Otoya wondered, snickering as Syo grabbed Hikari into a chokehold, passing the basket to Ren and squawking as she took him down.
"Ah," Natsuki smacked his fist into his palm. "Now that you mention it, he hasn't spent any time since coming here with us."
"Where is Cesshi?" Ren asked, untangling his grappling friends and holding Hikari up by her hoodie.
She deadpanned. "He said his heart was so full he didn't want to eat anything."
"His… heart was full…" Syo deadpanned, too. "Unbelievable. After insisting he didn't want to be an idol… Alright! Let's go tease him after we eat!"
Hikari snickered and lightly nudged Ren, who put her on the ground as Otoya let out an, "Eh?!"
Tokiya nodded sagely. "Well, he can't help being teased for this."
She shook her head as her boys began laughing and accepted the plate Reiji passed to her.
-AA-
Hikari glanced over at the forest, smiling lightly and waved at Camus as she jogged off to find her friends, bag swinging on her side. She sped into a run and happily jumped onto Otoya's back, beaming up at the stars. "Aren't they clear?"
"Ah," Masato hummed. "You can't see them well in the heart of the city."
She pointed up. "You see that red star there? That's Aldebaran, a star in the Taurus constellation. Above it Pleiades cluster and by the lowest horn is the Crab Nebula."
"What other constellations are there?" Syo asked curiously, leaning against her and Otoya.
"There's Orion!" Natsuki pointed out.
"And by Orion is Gemini!" She added. "See that one star? That's the North Star, connected to Ursa Minor." A small sigh left her and she dropped her head onto Otoya's shoulder. "They're even prettier at the farm, with the wildflowers blowing their scent around in the wind. No obstruction blocking them from view."
"We should see if we can get a break sometime during the spring or summer," Tokiya mused.
"Oh, by the way, how's the song coming, Kari," Syo asked, tilting his head back to look at her.
"I've got a few, but nothing that satisfies me." Her lips pursed as she slid from Otoya's back. "I think I'm missing something, but I don't know what."
"Well, you still have time," Masato stated. "So don't worry too much."
"We'll support you." Tokiya smiled softly at her.
"I'll do my best," she promised them, eyes shifting back up to find Taurus, wondering if Haruka was cheering her on.
-AA-
Her head lifted and she tilted it as she listened to Cecil, falling into step with her friends as they followed his voice to a bridge and she blinked, the boys stepping past to join in as back up singers. Eyes widening, she realized what she'd been missing for their song. Hikari twitched when Reiji, Ranmaru, Ai, and Camus stepped up, the former two in yukatas. Her attention was dragged to a pink, glowing heart and she held up her hands, watching as it burst at contact into a bunch of music notes, music notes from the first staff on Cecil's song. 'Muse… arigato.'
Then she blinked rapidly, wondering for a moment just how it was all possible and figured the Muses were conspiring with Shining about STARISH and how to make people happy. Then she blinked again, realization hitting hard.
"IT WAS YOU!" She erupted in Kazakh, making them all jump as she jabbed a finger dangerously at Cecil, making him freeze like a deer, slinking sideways behind Natsuki. "IT WAS YOUR VOICE THAT WAS MISSING!" She switched to curses in all five languages she knew and vanished from the bridge, heading to start writing because dammit, Cecil was going to be a part of STARISH and she'd let those idiots of hers figure it out.
Her fingers were already shifting in the air, playing air piano.
-AA-
Twirling her pencil, Hikari ran all the times she'd heard Cecil sing, along with Otoya, Syo, Masato, Ren, Tokiya, and Natsuki. She bobbed her head in time, a melody slowly forming, Cecil's voice adding to the harmony and she grinned hugely, notes jotted down slowly and steadily. At one point she paused and looked at her window, feeling something shift, but couldn't place it. Lips pursing, Hikari set it to the side for the moment and went back to composing.
"Hey!" Natsuki heard Hikari call out. "You guys made breakfast?"
"Yeah, we- What the hell happened to you?!" Syo blurted out, goggling her horrible appearance.
She glanced down at her rumpled clothes, her hair stuck in a really messy bun, and her feet were bare, shoes hanging in her hands. "What?"
"You look like you went for a tumble down the hill!"
Ren put his stuff down and leaned closer to her face. "Did you not sleep?" Masato moved past him and tugged her hair free, finger brushing the strands and plaiting it.
"I got your guys' song done." Natsuki's eyes went wide.
"All night?" He wondered and she nodded, rolling her eyes sheepishly. "Hah! I felt the same way! The harmony excited me so much I could barely sleep!"
"You were up all night, too," Syo muttered.
"So were you," Natsuki returned, grinning widely as his cute friend began to sputter.
"Aahh, I want to sing with Cecil," Otoya blurted, bouncing slightly.
"I agree," Masato said and Tokiya hummed in agreement.
"Ne, Kari-chan, did you Cecil-kun on your way here?" Natsuki asked.
"Uh-uh. But, I also went through the forest." She recoiled from Masato when the teen held out a vine, scowling slightly at him.
"I'll go get him then, so we can eat." Natsuki shifted and blinked as he spotted Camus.
"Aijima is no longer here," he said.
"Eh?" The more verbal members of the group said, blinking collectively at him.
-AA-
"He returned to Agnapolis to inherit the throne," Camus said as Hikari touched the music sheet and stared oddly at the necklace. It seemed to flicker even as she looked at it, reminding her of the fireflies that usually appeared. Her eyes closed as she gently picked up the necklace, saying a silent prayer. 'I will hold and keep his necklace safe until he returns, Lady Euterpe.'
She slid it onto her neck and let it rest beside her own necklace, absently noting his was a darker blue, and turned to her friends, noticing Camus had left at some point. "He'll come back," Hikari cut Tokiya off, smiling faintly. Sliding past them, she added, "Trust me."
-AA-
Dressing in warmer clothes, her hair remaining in the plait, she settled on her bench and looked over the new song, tapping a high note on the piano. The necklace warmed on her chest and her fingers began moving along the keys. It came to an end and she jerked over more sheets, pencil moving as she copied it over to the sheets, wanting to pass out six of the parts at least since Cecil wasn't there, but she set his aside in a folder.
Sliding paper clips over the ones for a single person, she stood and headed to her door, tugging it open and nearly screaming when Natsuki nearly popped her in the head. "Oi!"
He flailed. "Sorry, Kari-chan! I was going to knock!"
"It's fine," she huffed, nudging him back as she left her cabin and shut the door. "C'mon, the song is really done now."
"Really?" Natsuki made grabby hands that she fought back as they moved down the steps.
"Stop it," Hikari chided and bounced over to the others, swiftly passing them out and taunted Natsuki by wiggling his, then ducking behind someone. She and Tokiya squawked when Natsuki simply reached over Tokiya and grabbed Hikari, squishing Tokiya between them and snatching his music sheets. A sputter left her as she staggered away from Tokiya. "Seriously?"
"Let's get started!" Otoya cried out, bouncing gleefully. "We can leave Cecil's parts blank!"
-AA-
Hikari sprawled out on a rock, acting like a snake sunning itself, and watched with idle curiosity as Shining appeared on a motorboat, Ryuya driving with Ringo in the other seat.
Shining flipped through the air before landing beside Otoya, pulling his son in a greeting hug (she recalled when they told the people in the agency and held back a snicker as Tokiya took on a pained expression) and released him.
"I bring you all some good news. You're next song has been decided," he began and she coughed, getting his attention.
"Did you see the one I emailed you?" Hikari called and he paused.
"You sent one over email?" At her nod, he stilled then turned to Ringo. "I have an email?"
"Old geezer," she grumbled into the rock, propping herself onto an elbow.
Ringo looked at him flatly. "Yes, Shiny, it's what you use on your PDA."
"I do?" Shining began patting his pockets, pulled his phone and PDA. He put his phone back and stared at the PDA before wordlessly holding out to Ringo, who sighed and poked at the screen.
"Old geezer~" Hikari sang out and Shining gave her a flat look.
"Here," Ringo said, passing it back and Shining accepted looking it over and frowned.
"This is a song for seven people," he said slowly.
"I think you already know the seventh person," she drawled.
"He's gone to start a new life-"
"Life can change in seconds-"
"Is this going to be a repeat?"
"Yep! Time, old man. It can be repetitive at times."
Shining stared at her hard and promptly switched topics. "You've been nominated for the UtaPri awards!" All eyes focused on him immediately, stopping their tennis game between flicking to Hikari and him. He easily ignored her quiet snickering.
"Chincha?!" The more verbal members cried out, not noticing their Korean slippage (Hikari cackled quietly into her palms, realizing she'd rubbed off on them a lot). (Seriously)
A laugh left the man as he began explaining. Something she'd heard from her aunt Rin when the Ripplers had been in it (it actually kinda sounded like the exact same words and she eyed him suspiciously).
"Miss Nanami!"
"Hai?"
"How long?"
"Eh?" She blinked.
"How long will it be till life changes?" His head tilted and she hummed.
The necklace warmed and she smirked. "Orion isn't clear tonight." At their confused looks, she pointed up, seeing Cecil falling from a plane, parachute on his back. "Told you he'd come back."
Cecil called out via speakerphone. "Saotome! Please, listen to this miraculous harmony before you make any more decisions!"
Hikari slid from the rock to grab her portable piano and returned swiftly, startling Ren before he assisted her with the legs. She wordlessly handed the necklace over to Syo, who passed it to Cecil as he stepped closer to the boys.
Looking them over and noticing Shining give a slow nod, she began playing.
"It's 2000% (Hey!), this amazing LOVE! (Get you!)
Let's start (Jump!), yes! This happy live (syun syun!)
Thanks for waiting! In the star-filled sky, (We are ST RISH!)
Love is a shooting star! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
I need you…S…
I feel you…T…
I miss you…A…
I kiss you…R…
I believe you…I…
I hold you…S…
I want you…H…
ST RISH forever!
Just like this, look,
It's overflowing!
Give me,
Give me your love. Give me, ah…
Just 1000%
Isn't enough!
We'll give you
2000% LOVE! (LOVE!)
With this song,
You'll be born again!
Love is
Explosive!
Dance & Dance!
Can you hear it?
See?
The voice of my heart
Thank you!
It's pulse is
Beating with excitement!
We are ST RISH! 3, 2, 1, let's go!
Everyone will share this bond!
It's 2000% (Hey!), this amazing LOVE! (Get you!)
Just with you (Jump!), yes! This happy pulse! (syun syun!)
This starlight revolution! We seriously love you! (Yes, we love you!)
Forever…
At max power, full throttle, we love you 2000%!
Ba-Bang! Ta-dah! Love you!"
Hikari was grinning widely when she opened her eyes, smiling smugly when she noticed the surprised seniors and adults. She laughed gleefully as she threw herself at Masato and Syo, both smiling back.
"You're staying, right?" She demanded, twining her fingers in Cecil's shirt sleeve and he grinned at her.
"If you'll all have me," Cecil said and yelped as Otoya and Natsuki forced them all into a group hug.
"Of course!" Shining roared, scaring the hell out of all of them.
"Ohmygod, howdidweforgethim?" Otoya wheezed, sagging against Ren before they all moved to see the man.
"This song and the seven of you… As the president of Shining Agency, I cannot abandon that here. I shall officially name you again… The seven of you are… starting today, you are the new STARISH!" Shining grinned, tossing a hand out towards the group and Hikari beamed. "And this song… As soon as it came to me… the title of this song is Maji Love-"
"2000%!" STARISH chorused.
"My, my, my, you're starting to get the picture. Well, I must go speak with the officials concerning Mister Aijima…" Shining trailed off, seeing Hikari beaming even more and Cecil joining in. "Unless you two have dealt with it."
Cecil wordlessly produced a document and she giggled. "Oyaji's got more contacts than you, geezer."
Shining snatched the document and she cackled as he slumped. "I'm supposed to be ahead of people," he moped.
Syo and Otoya whooped loudly, the redhead picking up Cecil in his excitement and swinging the startled Prince around, promptly causing another group hug, this one only STARISH. Hikari laughed in glee, shaking her head as she slid back onto the rock, propping her elbows on her knees as she grinned. Her eyes widened at the sight of light pillars appearing, just like it had when STARISH initially debuted. Hikari tilted her head as she listened to the announcement, making note that it really was similar to when the Ripplers attended. A goofy grin formed when it was announced STARISH was one of the groups. She… was ashamed to say she goggled when HEAVENS appeared, seeing Otori Eiichi and noting the resemblance with Eiji. 'He's got a brother?! They must be Raging's kids… Weird.'
Vaguely, she listened to her boys speaking to each other as she pulled out her phone to call Eiji, taking a picture of the hologram and sending it to him.
Eiji chuckled as he answered. "Yes, he is my older brother."
"You're a little troll," she huffed, grinning despite herself. "Are you at their concert hall?"
"No. I'm with Yamato and Shion at a cafe. You said it was okay to use your card, right?" Eiji's tone tinged with worry.
"It's fine. I'm worse when I go out," she placated absently. They fell silent, listening to Eiichi, Nagi, and Kira. "Your brother and Nagi sound like little shits."
He choked, coughing and sputtering. "Hikari!"
"I like them already," she continued, snickering.
"No matter what happens, promise you won't egg them on," he pleaded, Yamato speaking in the background and the sound of scuffling came over the phone.
"Oi, midget, what'd you say to make Eiji try and drown me in hot chocolate?!" Yamato snapped.
"Eiichi and Nagi seem like little shits," she repeated quietly. "Cosmically cute - try saying that three times fast."
He snorted. "You're worse than they are, from what I've seen."
"I am."
"You're not supposed to agree!"
"Oops, oh well."
"You - ow!"
The phone made shifting noises. "Hikari?" Shion said quietly, ignoring Yamato's loud grumbling.
"Yo - oh, hell, is he trying to get me in the shot?" She jerked her feet up quickly, squirming back up to the very top of the rock and nearly falling off in her haste.
"The UtaPri Committee, with the help of the Nami Agency, has come up with a specially prepared location, appropriate for a battle between the two groups!" The man announced.
"Do you know anything about that?" Shion asked curiously, making her twitch. She'd forgotten he was on the phone, he was so quiet.
"No. Must be something big, then," she mumbled. "Crappy relatives."
"Hikari," he admonished lightly, but she knew he was amused.
Hikari stilled when Shining suddenly flipped over her, kneeling behind her and she quickly winked at the camera, sliding the phone to the side. "Miiisss Hikari Nanami!" He revealed the songs she had written for STARISH that she'd dropped off a while back, letting them hang loosely beside her head. "Her songs will be used as an condition of sorts!"
"Take one and arrange it however you wish," Hikari continued, easily understanding where he was going with having hung out with him a few times after the reveal. 'Even though they were meant for my boys…'
Raging smirked over the hologram. "I was wondering what you had in mind… It will only reveal the difference in strength. You have a deal!"
Shining cackled. "This should be an interesting battle!"
She kept a calm smile on her lips till the whole thing ended, not even twitching a Raging's words. Not even Shining's (though she wanted to shove him off the rock).
"Shining," she whispered and he hummed as he stood up, papers disappearing.
"Yes?" He returned just as quietly and froze beneath her empty smile.
"The next time you want to get into Raging's pants, just proposition him." She beamed brightly as he released a series of choking, flustered noises, and shoved him off the rock. "Crap geezer."
"Uh… Hikari?" Shion said weakly.
"I broke Eiji, didn't I?"
"U-un…"
"Oops."
"You're not sorry at all."
"Not a bit."
"You're horrible."
"You find it funny."
"... I do…"
A giggle left her. "Is he still breathing?"
"Yes." A chuckle left him and there was the sound of a slap over the line.
"Oi, Eiji, snap out of it!" Yamato was heard barking and she cackled, earning puzzled looks from her friends.
Song is from S2, E9, "Maji Love 2000%." Hmmm… First off, I think I should thank grapplingheart for help on the HEAVENS characterizations (not sure if you can tell, but I'm not good at writing the really quiet/formal/flirty people) otherwise I'd personally be SOL. Erm… Secondly, Hikari's concert will be different from an idol one, more like a 2 hour long kinda thing (never been to a concert myself, so I gotta wing it /.\). Think that's it for now, unless anyone's got concerns or something similar.
See you next time!