Chapter 3! OMG did you all see episode 36! It was so great! Like, the best! I loved it so much TTuTT

I do not own the characters

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After settling themselves along the bleachers again, headmaster Morohoshi approached the stage.

"A tally of the points will be kept on the board above me." He said, gesturing upwards where the large screen had the different team names and their scores written in a chart by order. "The next challenge will be our first judged challenge. Get ready for makeup and hair!"

Laura and Yume gasped, while Mahiru looked surprised, and they turned to Ako.

Ako smirked proudly. "What can I say?"

Mahiru smiled. "I guess I'll be doing this one."

"You can do it Mahiru!" Yume cheered.

"Go show them what Mahiru Kasumi is capable of!" Laura said.

Ako high fived her. "Do your best!"

Mahiru went down to the field, where small tent like curtain booths were set up. She approached one of the assistants. "Mahiru Kasumi here for team Star Squad."

The woman nodded and checked a paper. "Good. You are in booth six. Don't go in until we start."

Mahiru nodded and went down the aisle to the booth with the number six above it. A deep red curtain covered the entire thing, but a slit was in the center for entrance. Mahiru guessed that someone was inside, who she was to give a makeover.

A minute of waiting later, a horn blew and Mahiru entered the tent. Looking up, she saw a girl around her age with tanned skin, brown eyes, and long wavy dark brown hair.

Mahiru smiled. "Hello."

"Hi," the girl greeted. "I'm Sachiko."

"Nice to meet you." Mahiru replied. Mahiru paused and looked at her, then smirked. "I think I know what to do with you."

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After her makeover was complete, Sachiko was left inside the tent where the judges would go to make their choices.

Mahiru went up to the stage with the other team participants.

"The judges will now go to decide the winners. This events special judge is Fu Chiyo, writer of the magazine 'Lovely Doll'." Morohoshi explained. "Please be here in half an hour, when the judges choose the winners."

The girls nodded, and Mahiru went off to find her team while they waited.

Half an hour later, Mahiru was with Yume, Laura and Ako on the bleachers.

Headmaster Morohoshi went to the mic. "The results for Makeup and Hair are here. In last place, earning no points is team Falling Petals." Morohoshi continued until second place. "Second place, earning nine points, is team Sparkle Hearts! And first place with ten points is Star Squad!"

Mahiru grinned and around her Yume and Laura cheered.

Ako smiled. "Of course you could do it."

Mahiru nodded happily. "Thanks you guys!"

Headmaster Morohoshi continued. "Onto the next challenge! It is audience instrument play!"

The girls gasped and Yume, Mahiru and Ako snapped their gazes to Laura.

Laura grinned, her eyes sparkling with eagerness and determination. "Looks like it's up to me now!"

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Laura entered the large tent that they were instructed to go to choose their instrument. The girls around her all gasped in awe at the choices of instruments available. Laura looked around at them; guitars, drums, violins, and many more. But she only had eyes for one. The grand piano.

She went to one of the attendees and told them that she wanted the piano when it was her turn. They agreed, so Laura went to the waiting area until she was called.

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She was the sixth one to go on stage, and she did so gracefully. As she grew up learning, Laura bowed to the audience silently, before taking her seat at the bench of the piano. With a quick survey of the keys, she began playing one of her favorite pieces. Her eyes shut themselves and the sound was incredible.

Soon after, she was done. A short silence followed, then the audience applauded loudly. Laura smiled madly and gave another bow, waved, and walked off stage. She was happy as she returned to the waiting area.

The judges only took about fifteen minutes to decide, then headmaster Morohoshi announced the scores.

"... And first place with ten points goes to Star Squad!"

Laura jumped up in cheer and went back to the stands where her friends her.

Mahiru stood up and went towards her, meeting her halfway. "You did very well! Great job!"

Laura grinned. "Thank you! I am a Sakuraba, after all."

Yume smiled broadly at Laura, but then turned her gaze towards the ground silently.

Ako narrowed her eyes at Yume. "Stop."

Yume straightened up and looked at Ako. "Stop? Stop what?"

Ako crossed her arms. "Stop all that stuff you're thinking."

Yume rubbed her arm silently.

Ako huffed and continued. "It's not your fault. Running isn't your thing, but you can still do it. However, make up and piano are Mahiru's and Laura's specialty, you know that. We'll have our chance to do our best too."

Yume examined Ako. She jumped and grabbed her in a hug. "Thanks Ako!"

Ako turned red. "Y-yea!"

Yume pulled away, then went to Laura. "Great job Laura! I think this was the first time I've ever seen you do a piano performance!"

Laura hummed. "You're right. I'm glad you did though!" She lifted her hand.

Yume grinned with her and they high fived.

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