This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Rascal Does Not Dream light novel series, which was written by Hajime Kamoshida. I do not claim ownership of these characters or the plot of the original series.

I thank Kamoshida for the story and the characters he has created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.

A/N: Hello everyone. This is the first instalment of what I hope will become the Shoko Sakurajima series. This is my first fan fiction in this particular fandom, which is probably no surprise considering how few stories exist for this particular light novel series. Given that this is such a quiet section of the fan fiction universe I am fully expecting that not many people will read this, but I hope anyone who does will enjoy.

Without further ado, let's get started. Enjoy.

Shoko Sakurajima had never known her parents. Her mother, the famous actress Mai Sakurajima, had died soon after she was born, and she had never met her father. She'd asked her grandmother, Mai's mother, who had raised her since her mother's death, but she simply said she didn't know who her father was. And so Shoko resigned herself to the fact that she'd never meet either of her parents.

But she could get to know them. Her mother, at least. Grandmother Sakurajima told Shoko stories of the many roles Mai had played over the course of her acting career, starting from the age of six and becoming a national treasure ever since. Hearing how amazing her mother was, Shoko had wanted to be an actor herself, and luckily her grandmother was a manager who was able to hook her up with all sorts of roles. And she really enjoyed it.

But what had started off fun turned into a never-ending nightmare. As her career progressed, as she became more popular and sought after, Shoko started to feel exhausted. Day after day she was carted around the country; location filming here, fashion shoot there, it was endless with no rest.

And eventually it proved too much. Shoko found herself at home for the first time in two weeks, exhausted and just wanting to sleep, but she knew this was her only chance. She packed a suitcase and headed out into the night.

And wound her way to a large house in the suburbs that she hadn't visited in a long time.

She rang the doorbell.

At first nothing happened. It was late, the occupant was almost certainly asleep, but when Shoko started to worry that maybe there wasn't anyone home a light turned on and a familiar shadow approached the entrance.

The door swung open.

"Shoko?"

Nodoka Toyohama stood there, squinting blearily down at her. She must have been asleep when Shoko arrived as her expression was one of unconfined confusion.

"Hello, auntie," said Shoko, already feeling guilty. "Can I come in?"

Nodoka blinked, and gave her head a little shake. Eyes sharpening, she glanced down at the suitcase resting at Shoko's side, her tightly clenched fist clutching the handle.

"Come in," she said, stepping aside.

Nodoka's house was large and spacious, and very modern. Nodoka had made it big as an idol during her teenage years and early twenties, and had since broken out as a singer in her own right. As a result she was often on tour, and since Shoko herself had just got more and more busy, the two hadn't seen each other in a long time.

Shoko hesitated upon crossing the threshold, before leaving her suitcase by the door and approaching the nearby sofa. She sat, nerves jangling and continuing to grow by the second, as Nodoka settled down across from her.

"I'm sorry for intruding," said Shoko, her eyes finding the clock on the wall and instinctively flinching when she saw how early it was.

"It's alright," said Nodoka, and the ease with which she said it put Shoko at ease. She wasn't just being polite, she really meant it. "I've always told you to come to me if you ever needed anything."

"Yes," Shoko agreed hesitantly. She had always taken those words as referring to much less serious matters, like asking for pocket money to buy sweets or advice about boys. This was far more severe.

"What happened?" Asked Nodoka. She glanced back at the suitcase. It seemed she had a fairly good idea.

But still…

"I ran away from home," said Shoko. She had to be honest about this. "All the work, it just got too much. I needed to get away and I didn't know what to do. So I came here."

She ducked her head. She wished she had a better plan for how to deal with her problem. But instead she had simply gone to Nodoka for help, and relied on her to fix it.

Nodoka tilted her head.

"What? Are you embarrassed?"

Damn, she read her way too easily.

"I figured there was something more I could do on my own," Shoko admitted. "But I can't think of what that might be. I can't really think at all, at the moment."

"There's no need to be embarrassed about that," said Nodoka. "Sometimes you need to ask for help. There's no shame in it. Being willing to rely on others is a sign of strength."

That didn't sound right, but Shoko appreciated the sentiment nonetheless.

"Besides, you came to the right place," continued Nodoka. "When I was your age… a couple of years older, actually… I ran away from home."

"You did?" Shoko gasped. She knew that Nodoka's relationship with her mother had been strained, but she'd never expected that.

Nodoka nodded.

"It was in my second year of High School," said Nodoka. "I had a huge fight with my mum and ran off to stay with Mai."

"Really?"

Nodoka smiled.

"She took me in and helped me work through my problems," she said. "So I'll do the same for you. That's what family's for, right."

Shoko smiled, but then a shadow cast over her face.

"Hm?" Said Nodoka, confused.

"It's nothing," said Shoko, trying to wave her away. But Nodoka wasn't having that. "I was just thinking that it was kinda lame, me running away from home because I couldn't handle the work. I mean, mum worked way harder than I did."

"Actually, your mum had the same problems," said Nodoka.

Shoko blinked.

"She did?" This was the first Shoko was hearing of this. Her grandmother had told her so much about Mai's career, all the roles she had played, the awards she'd received. She had painted the picture of this perfect actress, incredibly professional, talented, hard working. Honestly, it was impossible for Shoko to match up to her. But she had wanted to try.

Across from her, Nodoka seemed to be considering something. She let out a long sigh.

"I suppose there is no point keeping quiet about this anymore," she said with an air of defeat. "Your grandmother probably already knows you are here, and she'll probably expect that I'm badmouthing her anyway. Might as well tell the truth while I'm at it."

Shoko stared.

"What are you talking about?" She wondered. And then, more panicked, "she knows I'm here!?"

"Probably," said Nodoka. "When people run away from home they usually go to someone they trust; like how I went to stay with Mai. Given how much your grandmother has run your life I'm really the only person who fits in that category."

"Do you think…?"

"She'll probably be here tomorrow," said Nodoka. She checked her watch. "Or later today, to be precise. Which means I have to tell you all of this now." She looked straight at Shoko, eyes focused. There was no sign of sleep anymore.

"When your mother was about your age she was in a very similar situation," Nodoka explained, her words simple and clear. "She was incredibly busy, and it was too much. In her case, the tipping point was when her mother signed a contract for her to model in a bikini, even though Mai had insisted she wouldn't do such a shoot. So Mai announced she was going on hiatus."

"Hiatus?" Shoko had never heard about this. Her mother had quit acting?

"Mai ran away from home, bought an apartment, and started attending a new High School," Nodoka continued. "She completely cut ties with her mother, and lived on her own."

"What are you saying?" Shoko wondered. Was she suggesting Shoko live on her own? Was she suggesting Shoko should quit acting?

"Shoko, listen," said Nodoka, drawing her away from her thoughts. "I'm not telling you what to do, just that you don't have to continue with the way things are just because that's what you think your mother would want. Mai left show-business, and even though she eventually came back she would tell you that it had been the right decision. She was able to get control of her life and decide what she wanted for herself. And it was at that new school that she met your father."

Shoko's head shot up.

"What…?" She stared at Nodoka, eyes wide, stunned to see the woman stare calmly back. Nodoka had never mentioned her father before. Shoko had assumed she didn't know him. But that didn't seem to be the case.

"His name is Sakuta Azusagawa," said Nodoka, her words crisp and clear. "He's a teacher at Minegahara High."

A/N: There we go. This is just a short chapter to get things started. Hopefully things will begin to ramp up as we really get into the story.

Please let me know if you have enjoyed. I plan to upload a new chapter once a week, so you shouldn't have to wait too long for Chapter 2: Minegahara High.

Bye for now.