Chapter 2: The 76th Generation's Opportunity!
Continued from Phase One - Empathy
Episode Eight
3 PM - Twenty Hours before Tundrastar's Concert
"The 77th Generation Kenkyuseis will be performing with the remaining two 75th Generation Kenkyuseis." Tsubasa announced.
"Wait...WHAT? Why are they eligible to sing with Kanata and Mimori? What about us, who have a year's experience?" Megumi shot back.
"The 77th Generation have earned their places. If you want to be part of the group, then you have to work even harder for it!" Tsubasa replied firmly.
The 76th Generation member's disappointments were written across their faces. Sensing disappointment and a further strain upon AKB0048 could spell 'advantage DES', Chris and Alito nodded as they stepped forward after accessing the situation.
"Tsubasa...it will be great if we can discuss this pressing issue at hand." Chris calmly replied.
"But I thought I said that the decision was final?" Tsubasa frowned.
"Tsubasa...we can talk about this administrative dilemma in the office. Maybe there are some administrative issues we can settle without straining the relationship between the Kenkyuseis in AKB0048." Chris spoke firmly.
Tsubasa's eyes widened and frowned shortly after.
Back in the AKB0048 Director's Office
Chris exhaled deeply and shook her head as she replied, "Tsubasa, take a look at the 76th Generation, then look at the 77th Generation, then back to you. Over the past few weeks, I have accessed the 76th Generation's performance. Sure, they might have been inches off from the 77th Generation members, but you could not simply deny them the chance to perform with the 77th and the 75th Generation's members just because of one small fluke somewhere upon their training, right?"
"But it is the final decision, Chris! The 76th Generation's members will have to try harder next time! Can't you understand that?" Tsubasa shot back.
"No, you can change the decision, Tsubasa. Sensei-Sensei gave you the power, the authority to choose who should be going for Tundrastar's concert. You can do it now." Alito frowned.
"But I won't...It will be way too unfair for those who have worked hard thus far. It will mean rewarding those who work little for such a privilege - chosen to represent Akibastar in the next concert! You simply won't understand!" Tsubasa firmly replied. "For AKB0048 to win against DES, the idols themselves must elevate above one another! For even that to happen...the hard lesson must be learned. Competition between Generations must happen for constant improvement!"
Chris and Alito were well prepared; their CASIE systems had been well at work over the past few weeks analysing Tsubasa's personality and they felt confident in tackling the Director of AKB0048 head-on.
Accessing Personality Traits - Tsubasa Katagiri
Assertive and Firm
Kind-hearted and Passionate, yet Calm and Mysterious
Pragmatic
Psychological Profile
Tends to dismiss Kenkyuseis' viewpoints, creating an emotional wall behind which she retreats. According to AKB0048's staffs and fans of the formal Seventh Mariko Shinoda, her personality changes from her charming, bubbly, and loving-to-have-fun personality to what you are seeing now four years ago. Interesting note - it is also the year when Atsuko Katagiri disappeared.
Tsubasa views herself as an educator of Kenkyuseis. May be destabilized if her arguments are proven wrong. Due to her major role as Director of AKB0048, she is not used to resistance.
"Look at what happened yesterday, because of the constant bickering and rivalry between 76th and 77th Generation members, AKB0048's Kenkyuseis are destabilising! You know it, we know it, Sensei-Sensei knows it, Chef Papa knows it, and hell...even Ushiyama knows it! What you are trying to do, Tsubasa, is inciting ambicide - it has to stop!" Chris replied firmly.
She continued as she walked calmly towards Tsubasa, who moved back step by step in slight nervousness, "You can't force people to change, or as you would like to call it, the 'Touch luck, try harder next time!' approach! They needed to be encouraged while you guide them, not rule over them, or they will end up resenting you for it! Using the 'Tough Luck, try harder next time!' approach...My god, Tsubasa, that isn't necessary, that's fucking insanity!"
Tsubasa's eyes widened in shock at Chris's firm approach; she never imagined anyone would go against her with such conviction.
"It's not insane, Chris! Yes, it is tragic! Unavoidable? No..." Tsubasa shook her head. "No one has the will to do what I have done. They need to understand that this might be the only way to deal with DES - through passionate idols - and if they cannot deal with it, their weak hearts might as well quit AKB0048 while they still can!"
"What?" Alito shook her head in disbelief. "Am I not hearing things? You are sticking by your beliefs even when you know that the situation is not going at your favor! Whatever high moral grounds you are standing on is nothing but a stack of innocent idols tearing one another's hairs apart, hurting each other's confidence, and even fucking each other's lives! You saw it happening yesterday when Chieri was about to leave AKB0048 because of Megumi's grudge against her! It will happen again and yet you are standing still hoping that, fingers crossed, that it will all go well? If anything, my Lady is right - you are trying to justify Ambicide! In the end, when your beliefs will eventually lead to AKB0048 crumbling down before DES and DGTO, everyone will think that you're nothing but a mass murderer!"
Tsubasa could feel it - pinned against a corner. Is it...am I really...no...NO! My belief is right! It is necessary! She thought.
"My methods are not inhuman, you must understand! Without improvement, this world will be under complete subjugation from DES and DGTO, and many people will never know the joys of life anymore!" Tsubasa argued.
"There are other ways, Tsubasa! By recognizing their strengths, their personalities, and the way they interact with people we can come up with multiple ways to increase AKB0048's strength after strength!" Alito firmly replied.
"No...They must realize that in the end...The cold hard truth is that this world needs competition to survive! There must be teams who can go, and teams who can't go, that's the only way to keep them motivated!" Tsubasa replied.
"Yes, competition is needed, but why are you doing this when there must be other ways of approaching a matter? Well, I will tell you why..." Chris gave a sarcastic simper. "You know, we have wondered why you are making other's friendship rumble to dust and nothingness. For someone like you who believed in the good of idols because you have been an idol before...it does not make much sense, really. Has it got to do with Katagiri Atsuko's disappearance four years ago?"
Tsubasa's eyes became bloodshot as her head shot up, as if a bullet struck the emotional wall and through her heart.
"It has to be, right?" Chris calmly continued. "Otherwise, why are you making them tearing each other's hair apart? Really..." Chris clapped her hands in sarcasm, "The irony in that...It's the kind of irony that can tear you up inside, bit by bit, every day - until you find yourself despising what you're not - having someone who's close to you..."
Tsubasa clenched and slammed her office desk.
"How dare you...! You think...you think I've done all this because...because a fluke to keep Katagiri Atsuko robbed me of my chance to feel happy? I tried everything, damn you, EVERY-FUCKING-THING! Everything I could think of to prevent Katagiri from disappearing amidst the Center Novae's light! None of it worked! NONE OF IT!" Tsubasa cried.
"Is that why you had to fix it? Is that why you became the Director? You must be feeling alone after Atsuko's disappearance, and so you could not bear but to bring people down to your level?" Chris wondered.
Tsubasa snapped and held Chris by her collars, lifting her a few centimetres off the ground.
"I don't want that to happen; I didn't mean for that to happen, but I have no other choice! I..." Tsubasa 's eyes became bloodshot as a jolt of truth slammed her like a sledgehammer upon her spine.
This was not what AKB0048 was fighting for..
"I...What...What..." Tsubasa loosened her grip upon Chris, shook her head in shock and disbelief, and slumped back on her armchair. "What have I done?"
"Tsubasa...we are not trying to manipulate you; we are not fans of manipulating good people like you. We know that you do not mean to bring people down to your level; you are trying to help, but your sorrows since Katagiri's disappearance drag you down eventually 'infecting' other people with your sadness. Forcing your sorrows upon others is wrong. We have our fair share of losing loved ones, but you don't see us going about killing innocent beings just to bring 'em down to our level, right?" Alito persuaded.
"Just change the schedule, Tsubasa. You don't want Katagiri to be looking upon you with disappointed tears streaming down her cheeks, yes? I'm sure as much of a bugger she was to me, Katagiri would not want to see AKB0048 headed in an ambicidal direction. Just give the word, Tsubasa...it can't be that hard." Chris sighed as she extended her right hand.
Tsubasa looked at both Chris and Alito, who were giving concerned looks, and sighed as she held the tears welling up.
"You're right...I guess I have been too caught up in my sorrows, going too far with this 'competition' thing to notice that there are other ways around encouraging friendly rivalry without ambicide..." Tsubasa took a deep breath and exhaled. "It's about time I need to revise certain stuffs. But please...don't tell anyone about the mistakes...yet..."
"It's a mistake, Tsubasa...we know you're doing good for AKB0048, but you let spite and jealousy get in your way; I guess even the most noblest of intention could be corrupted if there's no one to keep you grounded. I mean, two years ago, that shit happened to me." Chris sighed, calming down from the intense argument.
AKB0048 Dormitory Living Room - 4.00 PM
"Tsubasa-sensei and the two maidens are back!" Himeko Ichioka, the young brown-hair girl with a lemon upon her head, shot out eagerly.
Tsubasa cleared her throat and pushed her glasses upwards as she resumed her usual calm and assertive gaze upon the idols.
"Can the 76th Generation perform any set list for the upcoming concert at Tundrastar with the 75th and 77th?" Tsubasa asked calmly.
Hazuki Yanagawa's eyes went wide, not with shock, but this time of disbelief. "T...T...Tsubasa-sempai...you mean...?"
"Yes...let's just say that we have some sort of amicable negotiation, and I have thought through it well and hard - I decided to let you have a chance at performing at Tundrastar along with the 75th and the 77th Generations' Kenkyuseis." Tsubasa simpered with genuine intent.
The cheers from the 76th Generation Kenkyuseis rippled through the room.
"I thought Tsubasa might resent it but...seems she really seen the irony of it all...That's a relief..." Alito simpered as she communicated to Chris via sub-vocal mode.
"Really reminded of myself two years ago before heading towards the Four's dimension, when you gave me pressure by embracing and making me understand that I have gone way too far to do what I am good at - be the best in the automotive industry." Chris sighed in relief.
After the 76th Generation Kenkyuseis went off to have their mini-celebration, Tsubasa turned around and simpered.
"Something tells me that you have managed idols before...it seems you're able to understand the industry well." Tsubasa replied calmly.
"How'd you know?" Chris looked in surprise.
"Wha?" Tsubasa wondered. "I am just...assuming. Serious!"
"We have knowledge of it for two years - it started two weeks after my adventures at the Four Horsemen's dimension and it goes by the idol team of Muse." Alito explained.
"Originally, Alito and I were supposed to find out about the mysterious gooey chemical that made snobbish people attack any people who embraced the idol culture. We traced its origins back to Otonokizaka - at the Otonokizaka Academy - and while we are there, help out an idol group called Muse. Over the two years, Alito and I managed to learn a lot about the idol culture. We, along with Muse, freed the idols from the clutches of greedy management companies who only exploit idols for sexual fanservice and 'purity', and bonded idols and fans together by allowing the latter to understand that idols are free to love - as much as humans. Because idols are essentially humans; not marketing tools for sex or for cheap thrills." Chris explained.
"But what is wrong with idols who wanted to express themselves, or enjoy themselves while doing the gravure shoots and stuffs?" Tsubasa wondered.
"That's the thing...management. The management exploit them and not because the idols and management likes it, but for the management to earn money. If the idols likes it and wanted to be involved in fashion, and I am sure most will, then fine. But when this is controlled by greedy management who thrived on sex appeal against the idol's will for money...anti-fans will misunderstand it as a marketing ploy and hatred will increase." Chris explained.
"That's a relief...In a post-scarcity society here, we do gravure shoots not for cheap thrills, but because the idols themselves love to express themselves. Guess the 'greedy management' isn't with us." Tsubasa chuckled softly. "But I digress; what happened next?"
Alito continued, "By the end of the two years - shortly before our arrival here - my Lady and I found out that the substance came from a sentient dark energy and hate taking life as a feral warrior. It apparently takes the negative energy from people who wanted to prove against people that 'he or she is right and they are wrong', people who don't respect people's likings of the idol culture, and are willing to even bully people who loved idols into submission. The Feral Warrior can even infect those people to draw out more energy that are negative."
"We destroyed the sources and made our statements together with Muse when we won the second 'Love Live School Idol Project' competition that people, fans of idols, and idols themselves should work together to prevent disasters - like the Feral Warrior. The Republics of many countries who made up the Adventurers' Agencies also pledged to work with the idol culture to prevent history from affecting the social networks." Chris sighed. "It's a long way coming, but the idol-cum-adventurers culture is saved...at least in our world."
"You won the School Idol competition the second time round? What about the first time?" Tsubasa wondered.
"The leader of Muse fell sick after overexertion. Despite my best efforts to heal her, the other idols withdrew the application. I felt it's for the better though...the leader needs a fuck ton of rest." Chris shrugged.
"Your experience at managing idols came from managing Muse. Thanks to that, you are able to communicate with the idols efficiently despite the Adventurers Agency's recommendation as AKB0048's Combat Instructor. That is how Orine, Kanata, Chieri, and company warm up to you after a few days of ice breaking; they wanted to help you in finding the truth behind the Fuschia's death and the meaning of humanity. Should the knowledge of Idols' management not exist inside you, it could be worse." Tsubasa simpered. "Count yourself willing to accept people's help."
"Maybe...just maybe..." Chris heaved a sigh of relief.
"Maybe you could help us with Shiori's condition just yet..." Tsubasa sighed.
"What happened? I saw that Shiori had not been herself after the peace ceremony, what gives?" Chris wondered.
"Let's make it simple...Kanata was supposed to succeed an idol. Turns out...Kanata is supposed to succeed Shiori as the next Takamina, and not other idols' name." Tsubasa explained.
"Fearing that she will not be able to do well as Takamina; doubt in her abilities that gave rise to her acting uncomfortable around Kanata, I guess?" Chris wondered.
"How'd you know that?" Tsubasa wondered.
"Alito and I have the same shit as her once...not a surprise when you have the same experiences before..." Chris replied. "We will see what we can do."
6 PM - Dinner at Oktoberfest Diner
"Megumi doesn't look too happy, though." Alito sighed in worry.
"Youko Azamiya...The relationship with her and Megumi became strained the moment Youko became the tenth Sae Miyazawa, but contrary to what the Kenkyuseis think, it isn't inferiority complex." Chris replied calmly.
"How, my Lady?" Alito wondered.
"Tsubasa did say that when a Kenkyusei became a Senbatsu and succeeded an idol's name from AKB48, her personality would change to an extent. Megumi wishes to sing beside Youko - both are best friends before - but the former fears that Youko's succession will change her for the worst. Megumi doesn't know how to express herself, emotional complexity occurs and yala, a rift occurred." Chris sighed, sipping on an apple-flavoured beer.
"So Megumi isn't jealous at all?" Alito wondered.
"Facade, Alito. It's all Megumi's cover-up to hide her true feelings - expressing her fear of losing Youko, and the dream of wanting to sing beside her all the time." Chris sighed.
Chris and Alito wondered what to do when a familiar teenage girl with shirt, green hair and wearing a semi-casual white outfit with a lime green skirt that extended to her knees. She wore a light green ribbon on her hair and had light cyan eyes. Five more girls of the 76th Generation Kenkyuseis arrived along and stood beside her.
"Oh hey...Hazuki," Chris gave a polite simper, "nice to see you here and so do the rest of the 76th Generation members are here as well. It's great to see that you're all cheered up! Congrats about your participation in Tundrastar, we're happy for all of you."
"Thank you...Chris-sempai and Alito-sempai...and sorry..." Hazuki bowed in apology and sighed.
"There's nothing to apologise. You know about our pasts...it's going to be out sooner or later, the truth remains...Don't worry; we won't jump the gun and assume it's our fault yet." Chris simpered.
"Thank goodness..." Hazuki smiled wistfully. "I was afraid you might..."
"Just don't jump to conclusions that you might regret for life. Mmm?" Alito sighed.
"We won't let down your efforts, Chris-sempai and Alito-sempai; we won't let you misplace your faith in us!" Himeko simpered.
"That's great...Just don't over-exert yourself; too much of a good thing can spoil a good broth." Chris nodded and then looked around the 76th Generation Members; one was not here...
"Megumi? Does anyone know where Megumi went?" Chris wondered.
"Well...that's precisely why we came here. We want to thank you for helping us and so we asked Tsubasa about where you are. Megumi...didn't want to go - she's too cooped up with thinking about Youko to notice." Rie Hasumi, the idol with a light indigo hair, two low ponytails, and wearing a light blue dress, sighed.
"So...every one of you knows about the tension between the two too..." Chris sighed as she called for a waiter.
"We don't really mean to bother you at a time like this; if there are other important stuff, it's okay to…" Rie spoke, but Chris interrupted by shaking her head.
"I'm not one to say no to a request, especially when it conflicts with the last will – we will help you." Chris simpered as the waiter approached her.
"It would be a pleasure if you can find us a table that is big enough to seat seven of us, right?" Chris gave a calm smile.
"Sure thing, madam." the redhead waitress nodded as she directed Chris towards a private room, north-east from where Chris and co were.
After settling down
"Megumi...What can you tell us about her? Last I know she's friends with Youko, who is the tenth Sae Miyazawa." Chris wondered.
Hazuki sighed. "You're right...they are friends. Or at least, they used to be..."
"'used to be'?" Alito wondered.
"Megumi and Youko used to be great friends and teammates. They made a promise to each other that they would get to perform on the stage as Senbatsus or failing that, at least side by side. Sadly, after Youko became the tenth Sae, their friendship strained." Rie shook her head.
"I assume it's the schedule, I suppose?" Chris asked.
"Mmmhmm." the rest nodded.
"The performance schedule was constantly packed. Youko and the other Senbatsu members have to perform the most compared to us Kenkyuseis. Megumi couldn't meet up with Youko and thus thought that her best friend forgot about the promise made. Either that, or Megumi thought that Youko's succession to Sae had caused her so much confidence that it went up to her head." Mizuho followed.
"Sae-sempai had wanted to make up for lost time with us and while we are grateful for that...Megumi resented it, constantly giving Sae-sempai the cold shoulder ever since." Umeko spoke with sadness upon her eyes.
"As I have suspected...Inferiority complex is the reason." Chris sighed.
"Pardon?" the rest wondered.
"Megumi felt that Youko was leaving her behind. This feeling will eventually harbour inside Megumi, tear her up from inside out, and make her resent Youko. It's not about jealousy, rather it's more about the misunderstanding that Youko left Megumi behind for dead, when in actual fact Youko was just too fucking busy to be sensitive about Megumi's feelings." Chris concluded.
"We tried telling her that, but Megumi just doesn't want to accept the fact." Umi sighed.
"Appealing her is useless. Megumi is, like Tsubasa, the Omega personality - people who tend to exaggerate and escalate situation." Alito explained.
"Like?" Umi wondered.
"Megumi assumes that Youko ignores her because she doesn't care anymore, when the truth of the matter is that Youko is constantly busy. Youko wanted to make up time but Megumi used that exaggerated thoughts against her, souring her relationship as a result." Chris concluded.
"I assume that created an inferiority complex in her, which affected her in other ways ala the Chieri incident...right?" Hazuki wondered.
Chris and Alito nodded.
"Her social skill is affected as a result of her exaggerated thoughts against Youko. Not a surprise that it's gonna affect a lot of people too." Chris sighed. "But we have to stop it."
"You wouldn't mind Megumi-chan, even if you think she's a prick to you?" Himeko wondered.
"Youko is a part of the Senbatsus, the main cores of AKB0048. If Megumi and Youko's relationship became tattered, Youko cannot concentrate and communicate with AKB0048 and a nosedive in performance will occur. Everything will start falling down in tatters and DES will take advantage. Even with our powers, as long as AKB0048's defeat is absolute for them..." Chris clenched her right fists as both her and Alito continued, "Game Over."
Chills rippled through the spines of the five 75th Generation's Kenkyuseis.
"Megumi might be a prick, but looking back at our journeys, we have met worse...far, far worse." Chris sighed. "We do not know how to save a world, but as long as the innocents are protected from the heartless morons, hell will end. Do we need reasons for protecting innocent lives? No."
"Chris-sempai...Alito-sempai...Thank you..." Hazuki simpered. "If anything, can we help you in finding the truth behind the death of your loved ones?"
"You have helped us, Chris-sempai and Alito-sempai! The least we could do, aside from giving our all in Tundrastar, is to help you find the truth and your humanity!" Rie nodded.
"Even the moon ain't alone; it has stars that helped her shine, right?" Mizuho simpered along.
"Like lemon, when life gives you that, make 'em some sweet lemonade!" Himeko cheered.
Chris and Alito gave small smiles and chuckled. "Thanks...everyone."
"Urgh..." the Icy Maiden, however, winced when her core reactor began glowing softly.
"Chris-sempai! Alito-sempai! Are you okay there?! Can you hear us?"
Both Chris and Alito found themselves helped up by Hazuki and Mizuho. The maidens' eyes were half-closed, weak as they tried to sit up with the girls' help while rebooting their systems.
"It must be the Kiraras' blessing that Kanata, Sonata, and Orine placed upon our Core Reactors...seems they need slightly more time to be accustomed into our systems." Chris heaved in relief. "Still, diagnostics revealed that it ain;t gonna be serious."
"Are you okay there? You don't seem to look in shape now; you're pale!" Umi frowned in worry.
"Yeah...you don't have to worry." Chris simpered. "Just do your best for the upcoming concert and we will see what we can do for Youko and Megumi, mm?" Both Chris and Alito simpered after.
Relieved that Chris and Alito were only having a shortly headache, the 76th Generation's Kenkyuseis nodded.
"Again, we will not let you down, sempais!"