"Quarrels and a known place"
µ's side

"It's afterschool, Nya!" Rin celebrated when the teacher dismissed them, jumping from her desk and almost tackling Hanayo with a hug, "What are we doing first, Hanayo-chan, Nico-chan?"

"I'm glad you asked, Rin," Nico brings her hands to her waist, "Because we're not doing anything yet."

"Ehhh? Why not?" Rin felt confused, she thought they were starting out right on their first day.

"There's a lot of things to do, as Eli said, we need to find members to join our club." Nico's explanation seemed to calm down Rin. Hanayo only nodded behind them.

"First, we should find Honoka and the others, and then convince Maki to join us again."

"So where are we going first?"

"We should search for them, since we don't know what they're doing," Nico pointed her finger at Rin, "You go to the archery club to find Umi, Hanayo's going to Honoka's," She pointed at Hanayo and then at herself, "I'm going to the music room to find Maki."

"And what about the others?" Rin asked, not getting why they will be searching only for these three.

"We've already talked with Eli and Nozomi, so we should not bother them for now, and we don't know if Kotori's back yet, so we should go with this for now."

"Why am I going to Honoka's?"

"'Cause you seem to be closer to her than us and you have better sense than Rin, as for her, she's going to Umi because they're almost sisters."

"And you are going to Maki because you have a senpai-complex." Hanayo said almost in a nonchalant tone, catching Nico off guard and making her cheeks red.

"T-that's! Erm, not, that's not it!" She hastily picked up her bag and walked to the door, "For now, let's get going!"

"She is avoiding it, nya"

"Indeed, she is." Those words were the last she could hear as she walked along the hall.

"I told you, it's not like that," She was pouting, "It's not."

The quiet corridors calmed her as she approached the music room, she knew Otonokizaka beforehand, she once sneaked in and went searching for Maki, who was playing the piano energetically, well, not just once, they had too many things to talk about, but lately they hadn't been able to keep in touch due to Maki's exaggerated worrying about her grades and Nico's cramming for entrance exams.

"Going to the music room?" An unexpected voice startled Nico as she was approaching said room.

"How could you know? Nozomi." She tried to avoid the question, but only got a knowing grin.

"I know. I also know you've been sneaking around for like, one year and a half?"

"You haven't told anyone, right?"

"Don't worry, I haven't."

Then Nico just kept walking, Nozomi following her, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," They walked quietly, almost in uncomfortable silence, until Nozomi spoke up, "I was worried, you know?"

"About what?" Nico gave Nozomi a quick glance, noticing her grin was replaced for a worn expression.

"About Maki, right when we were in first year she was friendly enough with us, but she started to withdraw herself again, I'd check on her often." The girl stopped, not knowing exactly how to continue.

"And?" Nico urged her on, stopping her pace as Nozomi just stood there.

"I felt surprised when I found about you, surprised and relieved, I didn't have to worry to much about her, because you were there with her."

"Of course The number 1 Idol in the Universe would take her time to keep the company of her number 1 fan." Nico who didn't know how to reply just used her idol persona, striking her trademark pose.

"Thanks," Nozomi turned, "I have to go, Elicchi must be wondering where am I, good luck with Maki."

— — — —

Aquors side

"So… this is your plan…" You wonders, looking at the flier Chika showed her, "'Come join us at the school idol club, you'll have lots of fun!' There's a drawing of you and some mikans."

"So, what do you think?" Chika stared patiently at her, eyes shining with a sparkle You couldn't quite recognize, she wasn't sure, but it could be enough.

"Right, it sounds like a good plan."

"Right?"

"If its you, I'm sure you can do it."

"That's it, we just need another three members to join and we'll be a club," Chika looked at You in the eye, as if wanting to tell her something, "Then we'll shine on stage."

"Yeah, yeah," You kept quiet while her head processed the words of her best friend.

"Hey, what do you mean with 'we', have you already got a member to join?" She asked, staring back at the girl, "I'm not going to join, you know?"

"Eeeh!? Why!?" Chika jumped at her tackling her with a hug, "You-chan, let's do it together…"

"I'm sorry, the swimming competition is coming up and I'll be busy with training and the swimming club."

Chika heard the words 'ace of the team' echoing in her head as she undid the grip on her best friend's torso and pouted.

"Meanie."

"Don't worry, Chika-chan, if you ever need something, don't hold back and ask."

"I need you to join my club." She turned, still pouting.

"Chika-chan…"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry."

"Are you mad?"

The girl wasn't facing her, so she couldn't say, but a soft giggle gave her the answer she needed, "No, I'm not mad, thanks, You-chan."

-

"So?" A sharp voice asked, cold enough to freeze you to death, she could feel the blood draining from her body, "What was all that ruckus you were elating earlier." The raven haired girl was waving one of the fliers she was handing out.

"Aaah, you see… you know, when you want people to join your club you usually try to promote it, and-" She was clearly nervous under the glare her upperclassman was giving to her, the fact that they were alone in the office was not helping at all.

"I don't remember any school idol club existing on this school."

"That's why I'm making one."

Dia stood from her seat, clearly enough, she was pissed off.

"Are you aware of the fact that you aren't allowed to do any kind of scouting for a club until it gets official approval from the student council?"

"But how am I supposed to scout someone if you don't let me?"

"That's up to you to figure out," The slight grin on Dia's face pissed Chika off, making her stand and walk to the door, "Even so, there's no guarantee that I approve your club." That made Chika turn to face her, she was clearly upset.

"Why is that?"

"Our school gets smaller and smaller by the second as there's fewer applicants each year, so our budget for clubs must be cut."

"That is…" Chika was left speechless, was everything against her?

"That's how things are, they can't be helped." Chika walked towards the door, defeated.

"I'm sorry, Takami-san," She could almost hear as she left the room.

"I'm sorry, Mari-san, but I've got to be the bad one this time."