Author's Note:
Well, I'm glad these stories are finally starting a trend of getting shorter again :p even if I missed my self-imposed deadline by a week.
On the Novosibirsk front of things, I - at long last - was able to enter the climactic phase of chapter 5.
This chapter has been taking its time to get written but is now building up with a few nice shocking scenes to a dramatic battle.
I had the title of the sequel to The Road To Crystal Tokyo in mind for a few years now, but I was wondering whether I should change it.
By now, however, I have come to the conclusion that I probably won't find a title that better encompasses the spirit of the story.
So the sequel to my over five-years-old Sailor Moon fanfiction will be called: No Matter How Far Apart, We Come Together Every Time.
For now, please enjoy this short story about the glamorous idol Ai No Shojo AKA Minako Aino.
Overheat Afternoon
The audience slowly dispersed from the venue through the entrance hall where a giant heart with the words "Ai No Shojo" on it hung from the high ceiling.
Many of them would go to the after-party at the club downtown where Minako would have loved to go herself.
But the idol whose fame was now definitely on the rise wanted to be fit the next day.
The presentation of her first album had been an unmitigated success.
After a sequence of evermore popular singles, Ai No Shojo sat down with her producer and songwriter to start work on her first full-length album.
It was an exciting time. They actually flew to Los Angeles to record the album there.
Minako got to meet all kinds of legends in the Japanese and some American pop music business. Apart from her amazing producer, Japanese pop music icon Ryuichi Tsutsumi, of course.
The CD was developed with a romantic holiday theme binding the songs together and came with a booklet filled with lots of pictures of Ai No Shojo in sexy and glamorous leisure outfits against fitting backdrops put together in movie studios.
It might not all have been real, but Minako found she enjoyed the modeling part of the production process.
She bought a few of the clothes with the riches gained from her first major hits.
And then came the concert.
The concert hall was packed tight. When she first got on stage, Minako had to take a second to adjust to the scale of it all.
She performed in large venues before. It seemed to the blonde sometimes that all she was doing lately was performing in one theater or another.
But this was something else. It was something else.
The gang had come out in full force to support her.
Minako eventually spotted Chibi-Usa and Makoto in the crowd after she started her fourth song.
She told them beforehand not to look her up after the show, however, and thankfully Michiru supported her in the request, because…
"I'm so tired…! So tired…! How is this so exhausting…?"
In the dressing room reserved for Ai No Shojo, a sweatdropping Artemis sat on the surface of the makeup table with the mirror just behind him, observing the crumpled form of his prostrate mistress in the stylish light-gray sofa along the wall to his left.
"Come on, Mina-chan," The cat whined. "At least get into the shower. We can't stay here forever."
"Shower?!" Minako whimpered as if she was threatened with torture. "I can't even get out of this uncomfortable settee."
Dejected at the situation he faced, Artemis exhaled and tilted his head.
Minako's left hand was littered over the floor while her right arm hung over the backrest of the sofa. The head of the idol in the glittery silver short dress lay in an unhealthy position over the armrest.
"You were so excited about finally having some time to yourself so you can have that tennis match at Hotaru-chan's club tomorrow," Her pet reasoned. "I know it'll take some effort right now, but the quicker you can get home and go to sleep the fitter you'll be tomorrow."
Artemis observed the motionless blonde with apprehension as his words found their mark.
"I'm sorry, Artemis. It's impossible. You're gonna have to tow me into the shower and wash me."
"I'm still a cat, you know?" The white feline sweatdropped.
"Aah… I'm sorry Artemis," Minako sighed. "I suppose I'm letting my anxiety about that weigh too much on my mind."
"It seems to weigh not just on your mind," Artemis deadpanned as he jumped off the makeup table and walked over to his mistress.
"I really want it to work out," The blonde confided while managing to lift her head and lean on its left side while showing a sulky look to her small friend.
"I love my cooperation with Tsusumi-san and the others, but in time I want more control over the creative side of my career.
It's just that it's going to be so hard."
Looking at the dejected face of his human friend, an emphatic smile appeared on Artemis's face.
Intrepidly, the cat sat down next to the popular idol's hand.
"I'm sure it won't be that bad," He tried to comfort Minako. "After all, the hardest part might be to line up your schedules."
"I hope so," Minako sighed.
Then with a peevish look: "But I doubt it'll be that easy."
"In any case," Artemis smiled sagely, "The journey to success starts with a question. So you'll need to look her up with a fresh mind and be on your best behavior.
Some strategically timed compliments probably won't hurt."
"Ugh…" Minako sighed as her head sank back over her sofa's armrest again.
Her feline friend rolled his eyes and walked over to the door.
"I'll see if one of the backing vocalists is willing to help me drag you into the shower," He deadpanned on his way out.
The next day after a relaxing sleep and a hearty brunch a much more energetic Minako was escorted to the club grounds of Pink Pikas Juban Public Middle School Tennis Club.
"I've been looking out for this all week," The blonde grinned with Artemis perched on the shoulder not occupied by the strap of her sports bag. "It's been far too long since I had a fun game. Even if it's not exactly volleyball."
"Is that so?" Hotaru smiled next to the shorter teen. "Hikari-chan is very excited to have a new opponent too. Moritaka-sensei can organize a friendly meeting with another club from time to time, but mostly we play each other. Not that I'm in need of a challenge personally. I'm still getting used to this game. Ow."
Kneeling to pick up the tennis ball that had hit her on the forehead, Hotaru matter-of-factly rubbed the sore spot.
"Oh, I'm sorry," A girl with a long curly light-green ponytail peevishly grinned with one hand on her hip while standing in the doorway to the indoor tennis courts.
"Some annoying instance of false modesty caused my hand to lose its grip on the ball."
"Hahaha!" Hotaru laughed as she and Minako advanced toward her friend. "Sorry Hikari-senpai. Old habits die hard."
"I think I'm gonna have to have a word with the club advisor about abuse of power," A cross-armed dark-blonde young man in a green sweater and dark-brown trousers growled behind Hikari.
Minako and Hotaru walked past the tennis club ace into the hall.
"Ah, don't get upset Shingo-kun," The latter almost imperceptibly blushed while patting her boyfriend on the shoulder in passing. "It's just some friendly teasing."
"Good afternoon, Shingo-kun," Minako greeted the younger boy. "I didn't expect to see you here. Tagging along with Hotaru-chan in the hope of picking up a cute girlfriend at the tennis club?" The blonde conspiratorially winked.
Hikari burst out in laughter until Hotaru took the shorter girl in a headlock and rolled her eyes.
"That's right. Shingo-kun kept pestering me with questions when I spoke of all the cute new friends I made in the club. So in the end I told him to come along and see if he'd get lucky."
"Exactly so," A nervously laughing Shingo joined in with Hotaru's explanation while rubbing the back of his head. "A young man my age needs to think about starting a family."
"Hotaru-kun! Hang in there! Are you okay?" A concerned Hikari asked when something suddenly got stuck in the black-bobbed girl's throat.
"You sure are a fun group," A sweatdropping Minako and Artemis remarked while observing the trio.
"They sure are," The blonde heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hi, Mina-chan."
Narrowing her eyes, Minako slowly and cautiously turned around to the young woman in the Pink Pika tennis club uniform.
"Oh! Hi, Rei-chan," The blonde greeted. "Hotaru-chan didn't tell me you'd join us."
"I hope you don't mind?" The black-haired miko smiled while holding a tennis racket in her right hand. "It was a last-minute decision. Unexpectedly, I got a call on Monday that there would be no training today in my Thai Club because of a death in Honda-sensei's family.
Hotaru-chan told me you'd join her for a match at her club today and I felt It'd be a waste not to get any exercise on my usual training day, so I asked her if I could come too."
"Did you hear that, Artemis?" A squinting Minako whispered at her cat.
"I did," The white feline replied with a twitch of its left eye.
"It must be fate."
"Don't put too much meaning into it. Stay calm. Be on your best behavior. A few strategically-timed…"
"Not at all, Rei-chan!" Minako sang while showing her friend a challenging look. "Hey, maybe we can have a doubles match? Think you and Hotaru-chan can take me and Hikari-san?"
"Oy-oy…" Artemis despaired as he hung his head.
"A doubles match?" Hotaru repeated with an intrigued look. "Sounds like fun. What do you think, Hikari-senpai?"
"I still love how you have to call me senpai now," The greenette grinned in a low voice.
Then she looked at Hotaru's expectant smile.
"Ahem…" Hikari continued in a normal volume. "A doubles match is a great idea. Hotaru-kun hasn't gotten a taste of a doubles match yet, so that'll be interesting for her.
But I think we should mix up the pairing some from what was suggested.
Because…"
The girl in the pink skirt and violet polo shirt with a pink collar pointed at herself.
"Experienced competitive player."
Then she pointed at Hotaru.
"Inexperienced but remarkably talented competitive player."
Rei found Hikari's pointer finger directed toward her.
"Erm… Knows how to play and had a few friendly matches in the past," She said.
"Knows how to play and had regular friendly matches in the past," Minako said in turn.
"Right," Hikari smiled. "So I think it would be better if Hotaru-kun teamed up with Minako-san while I team up with Rei-san.
Also because this way we have a taller person and a shorter person in each team."
"Sounds right," Hotaru said before turning to her boyfriend.
"Do you think you can be our umpire, Shingo-kun?"
"I can try," The handsome dark-blonde young man shrugged.
"Don't sweat it, Shingo-kun," Hotaru smiled. "You'll do a great job. Gif os you'll best shock!"
"Yes," a thoroughly enamored Shingo chuckled upon hearing the endearing attempt at English pronunciation. "I'm sure I will."
"Hahaha," Minako giggled to the apprehensive amusement of Artemis before proudly correcting her younger friend with a raised pointer finger.
"I think what Hotaru-chan wanted to say is give us your best shot. You still struggle with your English, don't you? Just keep studying. You'll get the hang of it.
Practice makes persistent!"
"Maybe if you persistently practice You'll reach perfection," Hikari - in an attempt to salvage the butchered expression - awkwardly sweatdropped in unison with Rei and Shingo. "Anyway, here's a uniform I got for you, Minako-san. It's the same size as Rei-san's so it should be a slightly loose but nevertheless adequate fit."
"Thanks, Hikari-san," The blonde said while accepting the uniform.
"You can change over there, Minako-chan!" Rei said while pointing at a door near the entrance.
Once inside the dressing area, Minako pulled her light-green sweater over her head and slipped out of her yellow skirt.
"This is lucky," Artemis smiled up at her from his position next to her sports bag on the wooden bench lined up along the wall. "You don't have to go out of your way now.
You can just ask casually."
"Yep," Minako said as she pulled the Pink Pika skirt up her legs and continued under her breath. "Did she really get me a set in Rei-chan's size? This seems a tighter fit than it should be. Oh well… It's comfortable enough.
Anyway…! In this energetic atmosphere, I'm sure my chances of success will be enhanced! And I might get some unexpected support too."
"That's right," Artemis nodded. "If the others hear about that, they might join in with your appeal. But remember to work your way up to the question. Start with a few compliments…"
"Got it!" A fully dressed Minako grinned while pulling the strap of her sports bag over her shoulder. "A fun game of tennis among friends will help me reach my goal! Let's go!"
So, just a few minutes later, Hotaru and Rei stood diagonally opposite each other on the baseline of their respective courts covering the right halves while Minako and Hikari were positioned in the middle of the left side of their courts.
Shingo sat in the umpire's chair where he was trying to peel a pear with a rather blunt knife while observing the court.
"Alright, everyone!" Minako cutely cheered. "Let's have a great match!"
"Here I come, senpai!" Hotaru yelled while serving the ball for the first game to Rei.
Her older friend returned expertly but had to swerve to the right when her black-bobbed opponent hit the projectile her way again.
To make sure her teammate wouldn't get pressured too much right away, Hikari intervened for the return and hit the ball to Hotaru again.
Hotaru tried to target the left-side corner Hikari left unguarded but wasn't able to outsmart her club-senpai who quickly turned and sent the ball wide.
Hikari's kouhai stepped to the left and gave the projectile a wallop that kept the greenette at the back of her court.
Rei cautiously watched how Hikari hit the ball back only for it to be intercepted by Minako, who caused Hikari to move faster than she was ready for as the ball bumped mid-court with the result being that the greenette hit the projectile out of court on the right-side corner of Hotaru and Minako's court.
"You got a sharp eye, Minako-san!" Hikari winked at the blonde.
"Thank you, Hikari-san," The blonde chuckled while Artemis observed her opponents from his position near the umpire's chair.
After moving to the left side of their court, Hotaru served toward Hikari, starting a back-and-forth duel.
When the ball was returned to her for the third time, the black-bobbed teen hit it toward Rei, who managed a quick return.
Hotaru hoped to surprise Hikari and targeted the greenette again. But Hikari had the same idea and returned the ball to Minako, who was quick-witted enough to try and force an error on Rei.
Not one to be caught off guard, however, the blackette attempted a net-kill that saw Minako hurry to the net and return the shot to Hikari.
Hotaru aiming the return shot to Rei again, turned around and ran to her baseline to intercept the opening her senior tried to exploit.
It was Minako who reached the ball first and haphazardly hit it back.
Rei thought she had the blonde on the run and put pressure on Minako by targeting her corner.
But on the return she misjudged the direction her friend was going to hit the ball, allowing Minako to turn the score into 30 - 0
"You're cunning as a fox, Rei-chan," Minako tried her hand at a compliment. "I was lucky to get that one."
"Thanks, Mina-chan," Rei smirked. "Let's see if you stay lucky."
"Should have let her score," Artemis sighed with a roll of his eyes. "But what do I know?"
In spite of those opening scores, the first set ended in a heavily contested 5 - 6.
Hikari and Rei fought a hard battle against Hotaru's athletic prowess and Minako's superior familiarity with the sport throughout the set, which the greenette's competitive experience got the better of eventually.
Rei developed a more intuitive understanding of the match during the latter games, however. Allowing Hikari to get a better insight into her strengths and how best to make use of them.
After Shingo deposited his knife and the remains of his pear on one of the benches on either side of his umpire chair, the match continued.
With Hotaru serving again for the first game of the second set, Hikari braced herself.
The ball went toward Rei, however, because Hotaru had gotten the impression that the older teen was still unsure what to do with a service coming her way and might make a mistake.
Rei did not take any chance and hit the ball to Minako, who lacked the power and speed of her partner and thus was less of a gamble to the blackette.
Minako used a backhand shot, sending the ball to Hikari who guarded the baseline on the left of her and Rei's court.
The greenette aimed for the middle of her opponent's court as she wanted Hotaru and Minako closer together after having noticed that they didn't coordinate too well in such a situation.
Her trick worked since Hotaru bridged the gap to reach the - for Minako - impossible ball.
The most recent addition to the Pink Pikas avoided returning the ball though, and sent it toward Rei.
Rei shot a fastball back, being aware of Hikari's strategy.
But Minako intercepted, allowing Hotaru to move back to her service position.
Rei was forced to run to the right in her attempt to retrieve the ball and returned it to Minako.
The blonde tried to pressure Rei and returned the ball to the position the taller young woman just left.
This necessitated Rei to quickly stop her forward movement and jump back to return the ball to the left without much aim.
The speed with which Rei's movements had been marked since the last few games of the last set was enough to unbalance her friend.
Minako hurried to the right, reached the ball, and returned it to Rei.
Instantly, however, the blackette used her quick volleys to force the blonde into a race to the left that saw Minako stumble and drop the ball
"Oh, sorry Mina-chan," Rei needled her friend with a chuckle upon seeing Minako's red face. "I expected you to reach that. Maybe you shouldn't have gone to the after-party last night?"
"Never mind that," Hotaru smiled as she pulled her partner to her feet while Hikari complimented hers. "She's just teasing you."
"Shouldn't have gone to the after party… Because I'm not as fit as I used to be. Just you wait, Hino Rei! I'll show you how fit I am!" Minako grumbled while dusting her skirt.
The second game of the second set opened with a service from Rei.
The blackette sent the ball toward Minako who quickly returned the projectile.
Rei next tried to emulate her partner and aimed for the right box of their opponent's court, trying to bait Hotaru. But Minako hurried to the right and struck the ball to Hikari.
The ever-alert greenette hit the ball with a backhand, sending it to the blonde's far left.
As Minako hurried to the left to return the ball, Hotaru advanced to try and take the pressure from her partner, but that was what Hikari had waited for.
The greenette landed the ball at her clubmate's feet while confusion overtook Hotaru and Minako as to who would return it.
"Oh come on!" Minako panted as she and her partner reassumed their respective positions. "I can't be this out of shape! What is wrong with you, body?"
"Are you guys ready to continue?" Rei called out upon seeing the blonde gripping her racket with both hands.
"Yes! We are ready to go! Thank you for asking!" A seething Minako struggled to restrain her frustration.
Halfway through the second set, a despairing Artemis heard a girlish voice next to him while he watched Hotaru hit a sharp volley toward Rei.
"Hello Oyaji. How are things over here?"
"Don't you "Oyaji" me!" The white cat yelled at his daughter while the force of his voice made her lean to the other side. "Where have you been all day?"
"Well excuse me if I don't get up as absurdly early as certain people do," Diana huffed. "I need my beauty sleep.
And it's not like the two of us sleep in the same house, so it's not as if it's easy to keep track of her.
Besides, I don't take my missions from you. I take my missions from future you."
"Just what I need today," Artemis whined. "A daughter from the future who is in her rebellious phase."
"Sure. I guess if I'm stating simple facts I'm in my rebellious phase."
"You were so cute as a young kitten."
"They do say I take after my mother," Diana proudly stated.
"No Rei-chan! The company did not provide me with a personal fitness instructor to keep me slim for my photobook! They just tell me to watch what I eat! But thank you for asking!"
"Oh my…" The feline teenager gasped with open mouth at the spectacle in front of her.
"You see what's going on now?" Artemis whimpered. "You gotta do something to make her stop needling Minako! She needs a favor from Rei and I don't know how much longer she can keep from flying into a rage at this rate! Go work your magic!"
"Me?!" Diana exclaimed in panic as her father shoved her toward the miko who had just come to the bench to have a drink from her water bottle. "What makes you think I have any influence over her? She barely acknowledges my existence!"
"Oh? You're here too, Diana?" Rei goodnaturedly observed as her eyes wandered to the right. "Is Luna here too?"
Artemis thought the young woman seemed strangely elated at the notion of his wife coming to watch the match, but Diana rolled her eyes and showed Rei a slightly pitying smile.
"I'm sorry, Rei-chan. Mother isn't here," The cat hesitatingly said. "But I've been thinking… Don't you think Minako-chan is having a bit of a hard time?"
Rei looked farther ahead where Minako sat on the bench to the right of Shingo's umpire chair listening to Hotaru with a sweat-soaked towel over her forward-arched head.
"Yeah. She's not doing too well, isn't she?" The blackette fiendishly chuckled. "I've been asking her about that, but it seems she hasn't had a lot of opportunities for keeping in shape since she started her idol career."
"Yeah… So maybe you shouldn't…" Diana falteringly suggested.
"Gaining a little weight and getting out of breath when you're running to catch the train is a small price to pay for fame and fortune!
Isn't that right, Mina-chan?!" Rei continued to mercilessly prod her friend.
While Rei laughed heartily at the joke, a mouth-foaming Minako who snatched the blunt knife Shingo had left on the bench was handily restrained by Hotaru's vice-like grip.
Sapped of her last ounce of energy by her wild but ineffectual struggle for freedom, the blonde sagged on the bench in the younger girl's arms.
"You are so mean, Rei-chan," She whined. "Do you think it's funny to be constantly tired and never have any time to play? I was looking forward to this day for so long.
I thought it would be the best thing to top off the album launch yesterday evening with finally getting to have some fun again playing tennis with some friends.
But I just can't keep up because I'm so tired."
Rei walked up to Minako and eyed her friend curiously.
"Is that so?" She asked. "Must be frustrating to have to suffer for your dream so much."
"Of course it's frustrating!" Minako exclaimed. "The rest of you can go to school and study and meet up with your friends whenever you want!
However, I am constantly scheduled for performances, recording sessions, and promotional work. And I have to make sure I study in between those to keep up with school."
"That sounds absolutely brutal," Rei smirked. "I wouldn't blame you if you decided to give it all up to become an ordinary girl like the rest of us again."
Minako looked up at the blackette between tired eyelids.
"You must be joking," She drawled. "I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. I love being an idol. Standing on stage in front of thousands of people, wearing those amazing outfits people worked so hard on, singing my heart out, finding that click with the narrative character of the song, and making it all work while moving every part of my body according to the choreography I studied is so cool you guys can't even imagine. I wouldn't give that up for anything in the world."
"Even if you can't find the time to play around anymore until you retire?" Cross-armed Rei asked with a penetrating stare and a tilt of her head.
Minako's eyes didn't waver from hers. But the blonde now understood where the teasing came from. She might have underestimated her opponent on the court.
"It can be exhausting," She said. "And I miss hanging around with you guys and playing volleyball and stuff. But I know you guys are leading busy lives too now.
You most of all, Rei-chan. You're training hard and staying vigilant for the rest of us. But Mako-chan is pursuing her future. Hotaru-chan and Chibi-Usa-chan have their hobbies. Ami studies hard to become a doctor. And I guess Usagi-chan is doing… something…
I'm grateful for the peace we're all enjoying so we can pursue these things. I know if Earth is targeted again by powerful enemies we might have to give all of this up at once. So even though it is hard work and I have to make sacrifices I'll never give up my career as an idol as long as I'm not forced to retire."
"By the way, you were amazing last night, Mina-chan," Rei winked. "Your voice is so beautiful. It's even better on stage than on television or on a CD.
And you're so brilliant you almost looked like Queen Serenity in that silver outfit. Last night's show was one of the most inspiring things I ever saw."
A blush appeared on Minako's cheeks as she listened with open mouth to the lavish but heartfelt praise.
"I'm glad you discovered the price you pay to make your dreams come true and accepted it," Rei continued. "So let's see if we can find some time in our schedules for me to try and help you learn how to write a song lyric."
"What?!" Minako exclaimed in shock. "How did you know?"
"Let's just say a little bird whispered in my ear what you had on your mind lately," Rei said with a sour grin. "And with whispering, I mean whining incessantly until I gave in even though she knows full well how busy I am."
Minako saw her friend looking away for a moment and taking a gulp from her bottle of water.
"Oh… That's right," The blonde giggled while knocking herself on the head. "I told Usagi-chan that I wanted to ask you for help.
"Mind you, I'm far from a professional songwriter," Rei grinned sheepishly. "You said you thought I could teach you because you remembered the songs I wrote for the culture festival a few years back, but I might have slightly understated how much work I put into those lyrics."
"That's alright, Rei-chan," Minako smiled warmly as she got up and took her friend's left hand in hers. "I know it'll take a lot of work for me to learn the ins and outs of writing a great song. But I loved the songs you performed that evening and I know even if it was hard work writing them, you persisted with great results. So I'm sure whatever time we can find to study the process together will be a valuable learning experience."
Rei knew without being told what she would have to endure trying to teach Minako of all people how to write a song lyric. But she felt a deep affinity with her friend's passion for her dream job.
Even though she couldn't help agreeing to the teaching job after Usagi pestered her so cutely, she also knew it was going to be fun and frustrating in equal measures.
But right now it seemed like it might become more fun than frustrating. And Rei realized that this had been Usagi's intention all along.
"Alright then. Let's put our backs into it together. But first, let's finish this fun little match of ours!" She said while slapping Minako so hard on her back that the slender blonde collapsed into Hotaru's arms.
"Oh dear…" Minako timidly muttered as she regained her footing.
"Alright, Rei-chan," She smiled a few moments later. "But please give me a moment to recuperate, everyone. And then I'll be ready to have a fun match with you and write wonderful songs together."