I literally just watched the raw version of episode 37 and I am in tears its so beautiful. I feel like I am doing right by writing this fic, and where its going. [im writing chapter 11 now!] THANK YOU OH CANON LORDS. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL I WAS SHOOK.

I do not own Aikatsu Stars!

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After the time allowed for lunch finished, Headmaster Morohoshi announced the end of break and beginning of the second half of the event.

"The next event up is Fashion Design! One participant from each team will have half an hour to design a dress according to each of their given themes!" Morohoshi explained.

"I think," Ako started, "That this is a job for Mahiru!"

Yume nodded. "Yea!"

Mahiru blushes lightly. "Okay! I'll do my best!"

"You can do it, Mahiru!" Laura called in encouragement to her as she left.

The design stations were set up like a classroom, with desks separated and walls around the table top to prevent cheating.

An assistant approached her. "Star Squad, Mahiru Kasumi?"

Mahiru nodded in confirmation.

"You are at station four." She was told.

Mahiru thanked them and went over to the desk with the number four over it.

When the time began, she opened the envelope that was on the desk for her theme.

"Theme: Games"

Mahiru frowned. Games? What kind of dress would she design from games?

She picked up her pencil and wagged it in the air while she pondered a design. Then, she pressed the sharp lead to the paper and began sketching.

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"Fashion design is over!" Morohoshi announced to the audience. "The judges have looked over the designs and scored them!" He began reading the ranks. "Sparkle Hearts in second place! And in first place, Star Squad!"

The girls cheered with pride.

"That's our Mahiru!" Ako shouted happily.

"Mahiru!" Yume cried.

"Yea!" Laura screamed.

Mahiru returned to them soon after and took a seat, while Headmaster Morohoshi went to the mic again.

"Now our next event is... Chess! One member of each team will compete against the others in single games. Winners will battle other winners until the final two face off." He explained.

Yume spoke up. "Ako, you should do this round."

"Me?" Ako asked.

Laura nodded. "I agree. Ako, you would do well in chess."

Mahiru smiled at Ako. "Do your best Ako."

Ako smiled. "Yea! I'm on my way." She gave as a farewell and went to the field. The stage on the field was set with two chess boards, where more of the contestants could play at once.

"Feather Friends versus Shaded Leaves at table one. Star Squad versus Pink Gems at table two for round one." An assistant called out.

Ako climbed up the stage and sat down at the table. Across from her was a girl with short brown-red hair tied up in twin tails on both sides of her face. She had a pair of orange glasses as well.

Ako offered her hand out to shake. "May the best player win." She said.

The girl smiled at her and shook Ako's hand. "Agreed."

Shaded Leaves won the game from the first table, and Ako won against Pink Gems.

Then, she was given a break to watch the other groups play.

In the next round, she played against Gold Shot and won.

She sat out on the next round because there was an odd number of participants. She would battle the winner.

Sure enough, Shaded Leaves was her opponent.

Ako met her challenger before getting into the stage.

"Good luck." The girl said. She had long brown hair that flowed over her shoulders tied in a high ponytail and low purple eyes.

Ako nodded. "You too."

They then went up the stage and began to play as Ako moved her first pawn.

Several minutes later, and the game was still going. Ako could spy her opponents king piece in her grasp with three more moves. But then, she froze.

"Checkmate."

She gawked, looking up at the girl in front of her, who was smirking at her with pride.

"W-what?" Ako asked, baffled. She moved her sight back down to the board.

Sure enough, a bishop piece was about five spaces away from her own king.

Ako felt like slapping herself. How had she not seen that?

"Shaded Leaves has won first place of ten points! Second place goes to Star Squad!" Morohoshi announced.

The girl waved to the crowd, and then turned to Ako. "Good game."

Ako nodded with a neutral expression. "You too."

They were then dismissed to go back to their groups. Ako huffed and walked in the hallway alone, seething at herself.

However, with her looking down at the ground she didn't see the figure in front of her that she bumped into.

Ako huffed, not in the mood. "Excuse me." She said.

"It's okay, again."

Ako stiffened and looked up. "What are you doing here?" She asked bitterly.

"Me? I'm just stretching my legs." Kanata answered casually.

Ako steamed in anger but didn't say anything; he was just fueling her anger.

Kanata raised an eyebrow at her. "Think about your goal, before you get mad." He said simply and started walking away.

Ako stared at his retreating form. Was she overreacting? They had gotten first place on the other challenges. She only got second, but they weren't falling behind because of it.

She scoffed to herself and muttered lowly, not wanting to admit that Kanata had a point. "Sure."

Kanata raised his hand as he turned the corner, as if he heard her, and disappeared again.

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"Hey guys." Ako greeted as she sat down with the girls, now cooled off.

"Ako! Good job!" Laura congratulated.

"Thank you," Ako replied.

"That was amazing!" Yume said.

Laura giggled at Yume. "She didn't even understand what was going on!" She told Ako.

Ako laughed. "That sounds like Yume."

Yume whined. "It's not my fault! I just don't understand it!"

Mahiru patted Yume. "It's okay Yume. You understood that Ako did great."

Yume smiled and nodded. "Yea! More wins for Star Squad!"

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