The Troublesome Muse

Another regular day at Otonokizaka Academy, normal school life still went by despite impending doom of school closure. The sole first-year class still lurched on with another boring lesson. Hardly anyone could pay much attention to class, as usual.

"Nishikino-san!"

That call from the teacher stirred Maki from her daze, her mind wandering and eyes averting the others in class.

"Nishikino-san, you've been quite listless today. Do you need to go to the sick bay?"

"No sensei, I will be fine." That was her reply, short and to the point; no additional questions asked.

"Oh… Maki-chan also finds the lesson boring nya~" thought Rin, who was doodling on her notebook.

"Hoshizora-san, this is not Arts and Craft!"

"No sensei!" cried Rin, standing up in shock and everyone in class just laughed.

After that incident involving Rin (again), it was lunchtime for the first-years. Once again, Hanayo and Rin were attempting to get Maki to join them… if they could find her.

"Where is Maki-chan?" wondered Hanayo, "Wasn't she here just now?"

"Maki-chan! Maki-chan!" called Rin, looking out every nook and cranny of their homeroom.

"If Rin-chan didn't get called back by sensei, we could've found Maki-chan before she left," Hanayo bemoaned.

"But where did Maki-chan go? She's just so fast," Rin commented, "Maybe this is Maki-chan's game. We should go find Maki-chan. Let's go nya!"

With that absurd idea in mind, Rin grabbed her childhood friend and whisked her away to find their newfound friend.

"Somebody please save me!" yelled Hanayo, her voice trailing away in the blur of Rin's running speed.

After some time, school was technically over and clubs were in session. The members of µ's gathered in their clubroom as usual, except that Maki was still missing in action.

"We tried finding Maki-chan during lunch, but never did catch her," Hanayo explained.

"Though we tried getting her attention during English, but I got into trouble with sensei for using phone in lessons nya," Rin added on.

"In any case, Maki-chan just left right after lesson without a word," Hanayo continued.

"Boy, she's such a bother," Nico evaluated.

"Maybe Maki-chan is busy," Kotori suggested.

"With our latest Live underway, we can't have members missing out on training," Umi inputted, "She told none of us of her absence, I presume?"

The mutual nods among the eight girls only confirmed Umi's guess.

"Okay, we should go find Maki-chan!" Honoka declared, "We can help her out and then we can practice together."

"Honoka, you don't even know where to start," Eli interjected.

"Besides, my cards say we don't need to waste so much energy," Nozomi interrupted.

On her hand, she held the Tarot card: Judgment.

"Maki-chan will come to us instead," Nozomi explained, "And when she comes, all mystery will be revealed."

"But the Tower I found yesterday was a sign of doom… so I fear for the worst… and Maki-chan is the centre of this crisis…" she thought.

In the music room, it was usually left empty and free for students to use if they feel the need to. Maki occupied that empty room as always, staring at that piano she would always play since she entered this high school… that same piano that led Honoka to her, and brought her to the world of school idols and µ's.

However, the room was just silent and Maki played nothing today. Her mind still recalled the events of yesterday.

"I expected this would happen. This was all a big mistake! That spur of the moment… I should've…"

At last, without playing anything, Maki got up and exited the music room. She knew there was at least one last thing to be done and must be done.

As she walked along the emptied school hallways, they felt like nothing before. Each step was heavy, ticking away to warn others of doom and finality.

All this time, Maki could only see what was in front of her and her thoughts flooded the words of yesterday.

"Maki, I have heard from a patient that someone looking like you have been prancing about in songs and dances. That is indeed you, am I correct?"

"He never reprimanded me like that before."

"This… this juvenile singing troupe is unbecoming of you, the successor to the Nishikino name. Do you still wish to be a doctor, Maki?"

"Of course I wish to… but why must it be so?"

"Your studies are of top priority. These girls just don't understand our kind. Tokyo University is still your goal, no matter what."

"But… Father…"

"Are you defying me, your father?"

"No, I would never!"

That last one, Maki practically yelled that out loud. She then realised she was right in front of the Idol Research Club's clubroom. That racket she raised alerted the other members of µ's to her presence, and they crowded outside the room to find a flustered Maki.

"Maki-chan!" Honoka exclaimed, "We were worried for you. Are you okay today?"

"I'm sorry for disturbing you in English today," Rin apologised, "But you could at least talk to us a little more nya…"

"Stop being so nice to me…"

"As club president, you better have a good explanation for yourself," Nico remarked, putting up airs as club president.

"A good reason, you say… eh…"

Maki searched into her pocket and handed Nico a letter. The petite club president was all too familiar with that letter. A simple envelope with the words "Resignation Letter" written on it: it was clear of Maki's intention.

"I… I… I can't be part of µ's anymore…" Maki tearfully cried.

"So that's what it is…" Nozomi thought.

Nico was horridly shocked by this turn of events, dropping Maki's letter and glaring at that insolent girl who handed her that slip.

"You… I thought you were serious about this!" Nico yelled, "You snotty brat, I will…"

"Nico-chi…"

If not for Nozomi grabbing her in time, Nico would have brawled Maki in a fit of rage.

"Maki-chan, we can work this out," Honoka insisted, "If there's anything about us that upset you, we can do something about it."

"Maybe Maki-chan is jealous that she can't be the centre…" Nozomi joked, only for Maki to glare at her, "I'm just joking…"

"In any case, my decision is final," Maki reaffirmed, "I can no longer be part of µ's."

"Why nya?" cried Rin.

"If you have any difficulty, you can say it," Eli pointed out.

"It's your family, isn't it?" Hanayo quipped.

Maki said nothing in the sea of noises, but Hanayo's remark seemed to be correct. The redhead was tearing away bit by bit. Her only saving grace was to turn back and run.

Even though the other girls wanted to catch Maki, none of them were too shocked by the turn of events to actually bother.

The night before, in the Nishikino mansion, both of Maki's parents were about to sleep for the night after a hard day at work. Both of them still had recent events in their minds.

"Dear, do you think your choice is correct?" Mrs Nishikino asked, "Forcing Maki to resign from club activities."

"A doctor has no need for the skillset of these pop culture singing troupes. Make should focus on her studies and entering Tokyo University," Dr Nishikino explained, "This society is already hard on career women to begin with. I am merely doing what is in Maki's best interests."

"Best interests, you say…" the mother echoed, "Are we sure we have our daughter's best interests in mind?"

"We are her parents. That is enough justification," the Hospital Dean answered, "It's late already. We should sleep."

A quick update (under 24 hours no less)... There is not much to say of in this chapter other than the obvious. With µ's broken (for now), what's next for them?

Trivia: The reference to Tokyo University owes to its position as Japan's flagship and top university. That said, her counterparts in Hong Kong and Singapore are usually higher ranked than Tokyo Uni.