"HonoUmiMaki"
Rin was an energetic girl, there's no doubt about it, she could keep her entire track team in shape back in middle school, but that didn't mean she didn't know how to behave when the situation called for it.
She got into the dojo quietly, leaving her outdoor shoes in the entry. It was only the first day of classes but the archery club was already practicing for the next competition.
When she spotted Umi, the said girl was pulling the bow string, aiming at the target, then she noticed her lips moving slightly, "Love arrow shoot," If she wasn't wrong.
And the arrow hit the target right in the center.
"Wow! Umi-chan, that's nyamazing!" Rin cheered making said girl turn, startled.
"Oh, Rin, long time no see," She said, holding down her bow and relaxing her expression, "How have you been?"
"Rin's been okay, I heard you won third place in the Tokyo preliminaries last year?"
"Yes, I did."
"Umi-chan you're incredible, nya! Congratulations."
"I don't think it is that amazing," Umi said, turning around, "But thanks, Rin, it's good to see you again."
They way Umi was keeping her cool surprised Rin.
"Umi-chan!" The cat girl basically tacked the older one with a hug.
"Did you come just to visit?"
"Yes, we've missed ya'll, nya"
"Are you by yourself? Where are Nico and Hanayo?"
"Nico-chan went to Maki's and Kayo-chin to Honoka's," She explained, lifting her index finger, "I've come to scout you, nya."
"Let's be school idols together again, the nine of us!"
Rin was clearly excited about it, but the mention of one of her childhood friends made Umi feel a little uneasiness.
"The nine of us?"
"Yes!"
"I'm sorry, this year will be a little hard for us in the archery club, I don't think I can afford any time for idol practice at all."
"Umi-chan."
"Don't worry, I can still help you with song lyrics and dance practice, It will not be everyday but its still better than nothing."
"But I want the nine of us to sing together again." Rin spouted, saddly and quietly.
"The nine of us, huh?" Umi whispered, "Then I don't think it will be possible."
"Why?"
"Have you tried to talk to Honoka lately?"
-
Nico kept walking along the corridors, there was a bad feeling in her gut since her talk with Nozomi, the feeling that something was quite wrong.
The music emanating from the music room wasn't calming that feeling as she was approaching. Maki taught her to understand music and her music always had that strong emotion, something you couldn't describe but left you breathless.
But this music emanated hard emotions and frustration, as if the one behind it didn't want to play.
"Excuse me, I'm going in," She announced herself as usual with Maki.
"Heh!?" The redhead playing the piano jumped in surprise after hearing the door opening, golden eyes locking with red ones filled with fear.
She wasn't Maki.
"Umm? You're not Maki."
"I'm... uh... I'm leaving, excuse me." The girl hastily picked her stuff up and hurried to the door.
"Wait!" Nico grabbed her hand as she passed by next to her, "Do you know her? Nishikino Maki." The girl relaxed her shoulders at hearing the name.
"Maki-senpai hasn't come here in a while, I wonder why too," The girl broke Nico's grip and turned away, "Now, if that is everything you need, I'll excuse myself."
"Do you like playing the piano?" The question was left in the air as the two of them stood there in silence for a while.
"I'm sorry."
-
"Welcome," A known voice sounded from the counter of the shop as Hanayo opened the door, "Hanayo-chan, it's good to see you." She said after turning and facing said girl.
"Good evening, Honoka-chan, it's good to see you too."
"What brings you by here? Are you going to have manjuu today?"
"Ac-actually I came here for you," she said shyly, understanding the other meanings of her words, "I came to scout you."
"Scout me? For what?" She said, as she continued to sort some manjuu in a box.
"µ's." That only word was enough to stop Honoka who stood there looking at the manjuu in the box.
"Is that so?" Her gaze was still on the manjuu, but at the same time it was aimed at nothing in particular.
"Is that a no?"
"Sorry, Hanayo-chan, but I no longer feel like becoming a school idol, not again."
"Why?"
"It made me lose sight of the important things."
"But…"
"Hanayo-chan, it's for the best," Hanayo could not say anything as the things said by her friend drilled trough her head. Honoka was wrong but she couldn't find a way to convince her otherwise, "I'm only good to give up, after all."