DISCLAIMER: I do not own AKB0048, or a lot of these characters.

Chapter 3: Our First Drive

Depending on where in the universe you were, and when you sent in your application, you got the response at different times. It could be in the middle of the night, at the break of dawn, or in broad daylight. Of course, this meant that some got their messages later than others, due to the fact that they were asleep when they received it. This was how it was for Izanami Mikoto. She was fast asleep with the phone on her bedside table when the hologram screen lit up beside her, and a sound, reminiscent of an alarm, screeched in her room.

At the sudden noise, she woke with a shriek. She sat up in bed, completely still as she tried to lower her heart beat. Her eyes were still wide when she looked to her right. When she noticed that it was her phone that had caused the sound, she mentally an annoyed face palm. She didn't know how or when her Ciel and Eriol had gotten access to her phone to change the message sound, but she knew that she somehow would have to get them back.

It wasn't until then that what was stated in sender's field on the holo-screen dawned on her. When she read it, all plans of revenge flowed away like water on metal. She instantly grabbed her phone, unlocked it with nervous fingers, and opened up the message.

Izanami Mikoto-san.

Thank you once again for showing interest in AKB0048's 200th Generation auditions.

Your audition has been reviewed by the management, and we are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.

Enclosed with this message, you will find an E-ticket attached.

Mikoto dropped the phone onto the blanket out of sheer surprise and happiness. She had made it past the first barrier!

It took a few minutes for it to really sink in, but she couldn't help but start to giggle; the euphoria had gone over her head. Sure; She wasn't a member or anything yet, but passing the first round of the auditions was a major step.

After a while, she checked the attached files, and sure enough, there was an E-ticket scheduled for next week's weekend. She fell asleep soon after, with a smile on her face, and her phone (now turned off) clutched tightly in her hand.

Yes, her revenge for the sudden wakeup call was completely forgotten.

The next morning, she awoke to a similar shriek from her phone. This time, the message read

Got you, didn't we?

…She was going to get her revenge somehow before she left for the auditions, but she figured she could put it out of her mind for now. First, she needed to figure out what to bring, what not to, and then how to get to the airport without anyone noticing. That would be the hard part.

Ami was in the middle of her weekly cleaning (courtesy of her mother) when her phone received the message, and seeing as she had music on to speed up the tedious process of straightening up her room, she didn't hear the notice of it.

It wasn't before she had closed her Music Player that she noticed the tell-tale small, blue lamp on the phone. Curious, she picked it up with her left hand.

Fujishiba Ami-san.

Thank you once again for showing interest in AKB0048's 200th Generation auditions.

Your audition has been reviewed by the management, and we are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.

Enclosed with this message, you will find an E-ticket attached.

She quietly closed her phone and put it back on her desk. She blinked. Then a grin started to creep its way onto her face, and within a moment, she was laughing and dancing out of glee.

Likely hearing the commotion from the room next door, Hibiki opened the door and looked inside. "Sis'? What's the fuss? 'You done with cleaning?"

The sudden appearance startled the AKB0048 auditioner to such a degree that she stumbled, and had to catch herself by her desk to not fall over. This proved to be futile, as the excruciating pain of having hit her right little toe into the leg of the desk forced her down on her knees anyway. "OW!" she yelled, massaging the aching digit.

Hibiki's face scrunched up as well, clearly feeling with her elder sister. "…'You okay?"

"..Y-yeah," Ami replied. "Hit my toe."

"D'you want me to get some ice or something?"

"No, it's okay." Ami knew that the pain would disappear within a few minutes, but right now, all she wanted was for those minutes to be over.

"So…" Hibiki grinned, going back to the original question. "What's gotten you in such a happy state?"

"I passed!" Ami's face warped into the same grin. "I passed the first round of auditions for AKB!"

She found herself under a pile of siblings merely seconds later after Hibiki had instantly relayed the message to their younger sister and brother, Mako and Keiichi. Their mother stood in the doorway with an amused and proud smile as she looked upon her children.

The underground pub was, like always when open, crowded, with different colours of lights everywhere. People danced to the music the one currently standing at the table provided.

Danny had once again taken her usual spot; Providing said music. Currently, she was playing a beat she had come up with herself along with several music strips from AKB0048 in the background, and so far, people seemed to like it.

Of course, seeing people appreciate what she did was the best thing a performer knew, and Danny was now smiling brightly herself. Currently, her mind was as far from AKB0048, worries, and anything else for that matter; She was completely immersed in her own little world; The music she was offering, the mix table, and herself.

This is why, she was more than a little surprised when the music output suddenly stopped. It was like someone had literally burst her bubble with a needle.

"Sorry about interrupting today's performance," the club's owners, Danny's uncle and aunt, stood beside her. It was Suso who had spoken.

"Some of you might've already found out," now it was Tono who spoke, "but Danya-Josephine…"

"DJ," Danny interjected. "And what are you doing?"

"…but DJ recently auditioned for AKB0048." The audiece was now looking directly at Danny. They didn't seem too mad about it either; some of them even clapped at the announcement.

"But that's not at all why we interrupted today," Suso continued. "Earlier this evening, the response from

AKB0048 came." Suso held up Danny's phone.

"Did you look in my phone?" Danny asked, now slightly offended. "Without my permission?" Suso merely smiled.

"We figured this would be the ideal place for you to open up that message," Tono winked at the white-haired girl.

"We actually didn't look into it," Suso explained with a smile. "The holo-window appeared to notify you that you had a new message, and the sender was visible."

Danny took the phone into her hands, and opened it up. She was half expecting there to not be a message, and her uncle and aunt were just pulling her (and the audience's) leg, but there, an unopened message sat waiting. She tapped it.

Ishikari Danya-Josephine-san.

Thank you once again for showing interest in AKB0048's 200th Generation auditions.

Your audition has been reviewed by the management, and we are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.

Enclosed with this message, you will find an E-ticket attached.

She shivered as the message sunk in. Having read over her shoulder, Suso grinned, and enveloped Danny in a tight hug.

"I knew you could do it!" she exclaimed. Now the full audience clapped.

"Good job," Tono praised, placing a hand on Danny's shoulder.

Standing there in the cheer, Danny was only vaguely aware that she got ushered back to the mix-board, for a "victory run", and Tono went away to to call her family to the club so they could join the celebrations as well.

Fun fact: Angel actually wrote a part for each of the girls for this chapter, and then picked out the three better of them.

Additional characters in this chapter:

Eriol - Brother of Izanami Mikoto; Twin of Ciel

Ciel - Brother of Izanami Mikoto; Twin of Eriol

Hibiki - Younger sister of Fujishiba Ami

Mako - Younger sister of Fujishiba Ami; Keiichi's older twin

Keiichi - Younger brother of Fujishiba Ami; Mako's younger twin

Suso - Ishikari Danny's aunt; Owns the underground club where Danny performs

Tono - Ishikari Danny's uncle; Owns the underground club where Danny performs