Thank you to Elcall, Guest and 91101TakaharaShiori01995 for reviewing and other readers/ followers.

Guest: I hope I can keep the characters in character. That sounds weird.

DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN AIKATSU NOR THE SONGS USED

Hey (ねえ) by Wotamin

Momo's POV

"Welcome home, Momo. How was your search today?" Mom asked when I walked through the door. She was cooking dinner in the kitchen with grandma beside her. Dad was probably still at work from the looks of it.

"Nihility. Absolutely nothing." I placed my school bag by the table legs then started to help set up the table.

It's been about a week since I last saw the mystery boy. I've been visiting the shopping district every day after school hoping that he would show up. I didn't see him once. No school uniform, generic bag and so no distinguish clues. I tried asking around yet no one ever noticed a boy singing in the circle. An occasional boy with a guitar case nothing more to catch their attentions. Maybe he wasn't even real but my mind just playing tricks on me. I probably sounded like a complete stalker for being obsessed with the stranger. He could have been a serial killer with a passion for music for all I knew. At least the weather was getting warmer so I didn't have to stand out in the cold for long periods of time.

I set down napkins on the table with a heavy sigh. Why wasn't he showing up? He seemed like the shy type but does he really have to hide away? What would mom do at a time like this? I closed my eyes picturing cartoon me with mom's signature red ribbon. I would stand up on a bench to scream at the top of my lungs. "Hello random shoppers! I'm looking for this boy who was singing on the district circle who I know nothing about! Please help me find him so that I talk to him!"

I shook my head of the thought, slapping my cheeks. 'No way could I do that! I would scare not only the rookie but the shoppers too. I need a different method.' I looked at mom and grandma cooking happily together. Meanwhile I was wasting my time trying to find a total stranger in hopes of just talking to him. He had to show himself eventually. But what if he didn't though? Would I just be stuck here for years without ever seeing him? I can't spend my life just hoping that he'll show up. What about the bento shop? I haven't helped mom in a week since my search started. Grandma was probably up to her neck with the shop and the twins as it is. Especially since Aunt Noelle would have to get back to work soon. I have to help out soon. 'If he doesn't show up tomorrow then I'll stop.' I decided.

I was sitting down on the bench in the same spot that I saw him on. The sun was starting to set giving off a chilly air. I pulled my jacket a bit closer filled with doubt. I watched each passersby going on with their individual lives. After today so will I. I looked up to the sky watching it paint itself into a mix of violet and orange. 'He really isn't coming.' I gave out a sigh.

I straighten out the skirt of my school uniform. 'How stupid can I be? Waiting for someone to show up? I wasted all this time for someone that wouldn't give me the time of day. Why? Because... I could still hear it.' It wasn't the boy's skills that surprised me. It was the power behind it.

I glanced to the side of the bench that I was sitting on, remembering how the boy's gentle eyes and smile looked fondly at the guitar. Dad always told me that music could speak what people couldn't say with words. What was he singing about? I want to know. I want to know what can cause such rich music to come from someone. I want him to listen to me.

I placed my right hand on my chest controlling my breath. I didn't have accompaniment so it could be strange. I could hear it though. The melody that he sung with his heart. The same one that drew me to him in the first place. Closing my eyes I took a breath in.

Waratta koto mo naita koto mo

Kinou no you ni omoidaseru

Dare ni nani wo iwarete mo

Kore wa watashi dake no takaramono

Its not good enough. Music was not just plagiarizing one's song and feelings. I couldn't give him a message if I just copied his style. I needed to make this song my own. I started tapping my foot faster. Taking in a deeper breath I started to sing with my heart. Throwing my voice into the wind I wanted to make sure he heard me.

Omoi wo tsunaide zutto zutto

Anata ga doko ka ni kienai you ni

Anata ga mata waratte kuretara

Kitto sore dake de

Kono te wo

Tsunaide

Watashi wo

Tsunaide

Ah!

I took a second to catch my breath.

Nee arigatou, gomen,

Oyasumi.

I ended off singing my quiet appreciation. I heard clapping around me. Opening my eyes I found that a few people had gathered to listen to me. I felt myself blush a bit until I saw the one I was looking for, still in casual clothing of a white and teal striped shirt with brown khaki pants. He stood still not even clapping either. I bowed once to the audience then approached him.

I stood in front of him wondering what I should say. I didn't actually expect him to notice considering that I haven't seen him all week. "You memorized my song after hearing it one time?" He asked in amazement.

His voice was slightly deeper than his singing which was natural for singers. "It's kind of hard not to. It's the only thing I've been hearing for the past week. Are you free to talk right now?"

We took a seat on the same bench. We sat in comfortable silence as he fidgeted with the strap of his bag. I looked fondly at his hands. They had less bandages on his fingertips. It meant that his skin was thickening from all the practice. An amazing amount of progress in a week. "So how long have you been learning guitar?" I asked as an icebreaker.

He rubbed the back of his neck avoiding eye contact. "Oh um. Only a few months by my brother's influence. In fact I was just practicing last time when I starting singing on impulse. I wasn't expecting anyone to listen. You really gave me the scare. I'm sorry that I didn't try to talk to you early."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. I did consider the fact that it was a bit strange that I tried to find you. I may have seemed pushy. I should give thanks for listening to me. Even more, I should thank you for singing. It's been so long since I felt myself moved from music. Forgive me for being blunt but how can you sing like that? What were you thinking about?"

He cocked his head a little. His eyebrows scrunched up a little while thinking. "I wasn't really thinking much. I was just playing around and lyrics came too- not to say that I didn't revise it at least- ah- but I still need to fix this one part of the chorus-oh- and this chord that I have trouble remembering- but I'm also not a some great musician. Your take on the lyrics and melody was impressive as well. " Amazing. He created an emotional song on whim. I didn't hear the whole song but already I was enveloped in what he wrote.

"In that case I have a proposition for you. Have you ever thought of expanding your field?" I dug through my bag taking out the Starlight flyer. He hesitantly took it from my hands.

"Starlight academy? Boy idols audition?" He sat there re-reading the flyer a few times. His eyes widen when he fully understood what I was asking. He did a double take between the flyer and I with his eyes bulging out. "Y-you want me to be an I-I-I-IDOL?!"

He shook his head hard enough that it looked like his head was about to fall off. "Impossible! Have you seen those people?! Not just singing. Dancing, acting, commercials, modeling! I can't even imagine myself doing that stuff. I'm sorry to disappoint but that's not me!" He said panicky.

He clutched his bag tightly to his chest while his arms were slightly shaking. "Do you love music?" I asked gently.

"Yes! Oh um-" He shrank back behind his bag. "I'm still kind of new to it. My fingers hurt after all the cuts and cramps. Sometimes it becomes difficult to breathe after singing for so long. Money for my guitar and lessons can be cutting it close in payments- but I don't get me wrong, I do love it. You can probably tell that I'm not exactly great at talking." He gave a weak chuckle at his own rambling. "Music was different. When I started playing around with lyrics and rhythm, I just loved it more." I looked into his eyes seeing the same sparkle that came after his singing. I carefully took his left hand, feeling the rough, calloused skin against mine.

"I know it's a bit sudden but I knew it from the get go. A fresh breeze that brings a new kind of technique into the world of idols. That's who you are. I believe- no - I know that your music will reach the hearts of people who listen to you. Not just me. If you can create a song like that just what can you do when expanding your knowledge and experience. In the future I can't even imagine the amount of potential you have once you expand your skills. I see that kind of idol in you." I felt his hand tighten under mine.

"Do you really think so?"

"I know so." I said without any moment of pause. He held up the flyer again.

"Then I'll try. I want to make music. I-I want to be an... Idol." He whispered the last part quietly while his face turned a light pink. "T-then what about you? Are you an idol too?"

"Me? No way." I detached my hand resting them behind me. I looked up to the sky seeing that the purple and orange had already turned to navy blue. "My mom and dad are really big in the industry. If I went into it I'll just be compared to them. That's just how influential they were. Still are actually." I reached my arm up towards the two stars that shined close together. "I wanted to be an idol but what's the point if I'm going to outshine by their names every time."

"Then why don't you shine brighter?" A chill was sent down my spine. 'Outshine mom and dad? Is that even possible?' I dropped my hand looking over to him.

"My parents are Hoshimiya Ichigo and Suzukawa Naoto." His jaw immediately dropped. He shot up a fairly short distance away from me holding his arms out in front of him. Shaking his arms in a sporadic manner he clearly stated the distance between us.

"Y-you mean the top idol and rock star, Star couple?! Wait. You're their daughter?! This all makes perfect sense! No wonder why you were able to sing so well." My eyes downcasted to my lap.

"Yeah that's them." I should have known that he would react like this. There was barely anyone that didn't recognize their names. One second they're complimenting me the next my parents. Mom would have found the rookie by shouting out her request and people would have listened. Dad would have gone with the logical approach by simply being more patient and wait for him to show up on his own accord. Compared to them I took a big risk in singing out. It was pure luck that he showed up.

He blinked a few times slowly lowering his defenses. He awkwardly rubbed his arm. "S-sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But even if your parents are the Star couple I think that you can still shine brighter. You were able to change my song into your own by modifying the tempo, lyrics and adding adlibs. Some people acknowledged you regardless of your parents. That was your own talent. I think that you can shine by yourself." He offered me his hand. I looked up watching a new light hit him, taking my breath away.

This time it wasn't just his eyes that was sparkling but everything about him. An idol aura of a music staff with jumping light green fluffs that had small round animal ears poking out the top danced around him. A small animal that loves music more than anything. "If your parents are the shinning stars then you should the moon. Maybe even the sun? Oh but then there's Soleil. Maybe um... Do you know another big star?" His aura shined a bit brighter when he gave me a timid smile.

I felt my heart swell with hope and a light feeling. 'This rookie was meant to become an idol.' I took his hand pulling myself up. "I guess it's only fair that I give it a shot after dragging you in. I'm Suzukawa Momo and I'm going to outshine my parents."

"Higawari Shouta and I'm going to show people my music."