HEEELLOOOOOOO EVERYOOOOONNNEEEEE! Yuujin Zone here, bringing you the sixth chapter of Living Things! It's been...what? Three months? Yes, three months have passed since I last updated the fanfic. Sorry for keeping you waiting for the sixth chapter to drop. You see, I originally planned to put this chapter back in May and was already completed before the proposed date.
But, when it's time for me to edit it before publishing, I... I contacted COVID-19...
Thankfully, my symptoms weren't severe as I only got a fever, cough, tiredness, sore throat and irritated eyes. I never felt my chest feeling heavy or have not lost any taste or smell so fortunately, I'm not on critical condition. However, when I tested positive, I holed up myself in my mother's room for 10 days along with my two brothers who were contacted and tested positive for Covid. I must have got it from my elder brother as I slept in the same room before he was tested if he has Covid or not. Soon my little brother followed and then I'm the third person to have Covid. My mother and third brother thankfully didn't contacted the virus because we were holed up in two separate rooms, one for me and the other for the two.
Because of Covid, the sixth chapter is delayed for about two-three weeks. It sucks to be quarantined as I'm holed up in my mother's room. At least my stay isn't boring as I have a Switch and PS4 to play games like Kirby and Lost Judgment. All I have to worry as I'm confined is for Covid to go away and hoping my mother and third brother aren't infected. After ten days, I become well again.
Okay, enough about Covid! With the reason why three months have passed without any chapter published from me cleared up, let's go right to chapter six, shall we?
"Damn it, this is getting really annoying..."
Inubashiri whined in displeasure, looking at the website displayed on his laptop. Stretching his arms, the assistant spares a look on the homepage of Franchouchou, which the sentence below the title reads, "You are our 666th visitor." A number like that may instill fear in a superstitious person but he chalks it up as nothing. Aside from that, the only page displayed is the update about the winner of Gatalympics Mud Tarzan event appearing in the new Drive-in Tori commercial, who the assistant knew as Number Zero.
Ever since Arata Okoba took notice of Franchouchou, he has a feeling that one of them, a white-haired girl only known as Number Four, bears striking similarities to an idol from the 80s named Junko Konno. Before he even realized who she was, Okoba suspected Number Zero when she showed up in the commercial and had a feeling he may have seen her before. With his eyes set on the local idol group named Franchouchou, Okoba and Inubashiri have been researching info about them for a week only to come up empty. A stroke of luck may have appeared in the form of Franchouchou's official website, which looks too bright and outdated but they hoped that the site could have info of the girls.
"...I can't believe none of them are on social media," Of course, as his complaint can tell you, Inubashiri hasn't come up with any info about the girls at all except for their idol activities displayed on the homepage. "There's nothing here except their idol activities." He lamented.
"I kind of like it," Okoba enters the scene holding a cup of coffee, looking satisfied glancing Franchouchou's website. "Feels like they are not letting their times dictate their style." He opined.
"Come on, Okoba-san. You're the one who wanted to look into them." He said to the reporter taking a sip. "It's been a week and we haven't been able to dig up anything! That goes double for their strange bodyguards too. Damn it..." Looking back at the homepage, Inubashiri wonders who the girls and their bodyguards could be. He hopes that it's not gonna be long before they can dig up even the tiniest bit of info about any of them, as even he is getting a little interested in these mystery girls and boys.
Speaking of the girls, they are busy rehearsing their dance performance for a new song in the practicing room. With one hand raised above their heads and their feet moving in rhythm of the music, the girls follow Ai and Junko's lead while facing the mirror for better tracking of their movements. Interestingly, the lead voices of the song are the two idols. Being that they are leading the group for an upcoming performance in the future, it's no surprise that the two must perform well with the others following their dance moves intently for maximum adequacy.
"Stop!" Ai shouted.
The girls stopped dancing when she shouted, with Saki turning off the audio player as Ai, with her hands on her knees, tells the girls about their moves and the tempo of the song. "We're still going a little too slow at this part."
"I'm sorry..." Junko apologized, having difficulty matching the tempo for a while but tried to manage it until Ai told the girls to stop.
"It's okay. I'll just have to match up with you." Despite Ai's reassurance, Junko isn't satisfied with her inability to match up with the tempo, especially since Kotaro told the girls that the two are out in the front this time as the lead vocalist. It is imperative for her to do her best if she were chosen to lead the song together with Ai. "I feel bad considering I'm supposed to be the lead vocals..."
"Well, the tempo's faster than usual," Ai didn't deny the problem as she takes a sip from the water bottle. "We'll just have to work on making sure we're perfect for the most crucial parts. I'm going to review the overall flow of the performance, so the rest of you should take a break and watch me if you want."
The girls heeded her advice, letting Ai practice her dance moves alone as the song goes back to the beginning. While resting, they watch the Heisei Idol go through the choreography of the practice, keeping their eyes open on any possible change of the dance moves, whether it's in her head, hands, arms and legs.
As everyone pays close attention, Sakura has not deviated her eyes off from Ai, perhaps not even blinking. Then suddenly, another flash of memory occurred in her head, and like the first memory, she found herself cheering for a smiling idol singing up on the stage shined by colorful lights.
The idol in question is ｢Ai Mizuno｣, wearing a different idol outfit and pretty much ｢alive｣.
Ah... It happened again...
The memory quickly disappears, leaving Sakura to ponder on what that memory could mean. It is becoming clear she must have known Ai even before they both died and become zombies. Digging deeper, she may have recognized her outfit to be the same as the ones in her first memory she got after finding out she has amnesia. Now, the question lies on how much she knows about Ai Mizuno before either of them died and what she can make out of that second memory.
But if there's one thing she can glean from both flashes of memory, they may occur when she's performing or watching someone perform. It's just a theory for now, but if another memory appeared in her head for the third time, Sakura may have found the pattern needed to get her memories back.
For now, Sakura sets the memory aside for now as she and the girls continue to watch Ai Mizuno rehearse by herself.
"ARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARI! ARRIVEDERCI!"
"EMERALD SPLASH!"
Sticky Finger's rapid punches and Hierophant Green's hard emeralds bring a swift end to the colony type Stand made up of small, bee-like imps with red eyes and pointy stingers protruding from where the mouth should be.
Kakyoin and Bucciarati watch the colony Stand break into pieces before disappearing in the wind while maintaining a flamboyant pose that has formed when they managed to find an opening in the enemy. Two seconds later, Kakyoin starts wobbling on his feet before, with a noticeable blush and unconcentrated eyes, falls on the ground. "Uuugggghhhhh... Damn it..." He lets out a groan after catching himself mid-fall, preventing him from kissing the dirt. "My head is... killing me... Can't believe I'm (hic)... still standing... while... drunk (hic)." He rises slightly, getting in a kneeling position with his hand on his head as the headache pounds on his skull.
"You're gonna be fine, Kakyoin. We just... need to... wait and... go back to normal..." Bucciarati, with one eye closed, puts his right arm around his shoulder and stands up to assist him. "Hopefully, our injuries and drunkenness... disappear too."
"Here's hoping..." Letting out a sigh, Kakyoin tries to focus and set his mind straight despite the amount of alcohol circulating in his body. This is the first time he has gotten drunk and it's all because the enemy Stand covertly injected alcohol into their veins, making them inebriated.
Under Kotaro's orders, Rianima move out in the city to look for an enemy Stand called ｢Harvest｣ that, according to Kotaro, operates as a colony type Stand consisting of tiny, six-legged creatures divided into six groups consisting of at least 36 of these little critters. The producer believes that Harvest is the cause of people's belongings and possessions going missing, stolen by the tens or hundreds of these little creatures and hauling them off somewhere else. What's curious is that the Stand never went as far as claiming it as their possession. Rather, it only serves to royally annoy Saga's populace by their rampant theft. If that is its purpose, then it is doing a great job thanks to them being invisible to normal humans and their small size allowing them to go on to even the smallest cracks of an alley.
After learning the nature of the colony Stand, the zombie Stand users in disguise hit the town using Kotaro's van and search the annoying critters who are causing trouble to the people by stealing their belongings. Surprisingly, when they encounter one colony, it didn't take long before they called the other groups and form one, single group of 216 Harvests...
...Or wait. Are there even more Harvests than before?
Either way, eliminating them takes priority next. Kakyoin, Avdol, Bucciarati and Gyro lay waste to the little Stands attempting to latch on their bodies and attacking them. With Sticky Fingers and Magician's Red making sure that they didn't stay long on their bodies, the number starts dwindling down until there are few Harvests left to dispose.
However, the seven underestimated the colony's intelligence because Narancia, Johnny and Rai suddenly got drunk, leaving them unable to attack. They tried to resist it but the amount of alcohol on their body proved too much and before they knew it, they went fast asleep.
Realizing three Harvests had sneakily gone under their clothes and injected them with alcohol, the four quickly found one Stand each on their legs. They killed them but by then, they are injected with alcohol and start getting drunk, causing them to wobble and lose focus. In Avdol's and Gyro's case, the fortune teller doesn't bring out Magician's Red because it is radiating too much heat and fire than it needs, probably a side effect of being drunk while the latter is unable to throw his steel balls and concentrate on the Golden Rectangle. That leaves Kakyoin and Bucciarati to tackle the remaining Harvests, ending up on the roof of a building. While their drunken states and a few attacking Harvests try to impede their chase against the retreating Stands, they ended up cornering them through Hierophant Green's sending out tentacles along the ground and latching on their tiny legs before the chase begun, stopping them from running further.
It didn't take long before the two eliminated them all while resisting the alcoholic effect circulating in their veins.
As the two continue enduring the intoxication, the sound of cracking glass is heard coming from the two. Kakyoin and Bucciarati's relief in hearing something cracking, a statement they thought they would never say, is doubled when their skin shatters, turning them back to their zombie forms.
Well, with them being in makeup, it isn't noticeable but the two are aware of them not breathing and their heart not beating, signs that they are very much not alive.
With the effects gone, Kakyoin gets off Bucciarati and stretches his arms up with a relieved smile. "Haaahhh... Thank God it's over. I don't think I can take myself being tipsy anymore."
"Be careful Kakyoin. There's a chance you will suffer a hangover as a result of drinking alcohol." Bucciarati warned him, his mind returning to its normal state as he turns to Kakyoin with a concerned look.
"Oh yeah. Hangover. I forgot the after-effects of being drunk." He rubs his head when he hears that. "Still, we only take a little bit of alcohol so I think we might not suffer a bit of hangover.
"I suppose you're right. As for the others though..." The gangster turns his head to where he thought the others are below them.
"Well, let's go back and check up on them. Hopefully they are not a little tipsy considering we saw Narancia, Johnny and Mamezuku-san take a lot of alcohol in their bodies." Kakyoin told him, worried about his friends.
"Let's just hope."
With their Stands assisting them, Bucciarati goes first, jumping off the roof and using a zipper installed on a wall to slow down his descent to the ground after making sure no one is around below, satisfied with a job well done. Bringing out Hierophant Green, Kakyoin was about to drop off the roof with a single tendril wrapped around his waist when he noticed an animal perched near him on the edge of the roof. "Hm?"
Turning to the animal, Kakyoin sees it's a great horned owl with dark brown, black and white feathers and yellow eyes. Said owl seems to ignore him in favor of looking around with its rotatable head, stopping once when it saw something that interests the owl.
"...Well now. This is a surprise," Kakyoin said to the owl, who is now looking at him after hearing him. Deciding to humor the owl for a bit, Kakyoin crouches down near the owl's height and moves his index finger near its face. The owl proceeds to preen his hand after seeing him non-hostile and the man chuckled from the owl's action. "What's an owl doing here in an urban city? Looking for food? I believe a forest is where you should be hunting for food, little one."
"Hoo, hoohoohooooo... Hooohoohoo... Hoohoo..." The owl hoots, its yellow eyes staring at his lavender eyes.
"Oh? You responded," Kakyoin lets out another chuckle. "Perhaps you are listening to me?"
"... Hoo... Hoohoohooooo... Hooo... Hoohoo..." It hooted again."
"Haha. Well, it's nice to see you here and talk with you, but I must go. I cannot let my friends wait longer for me," Standing up on his feet, Kakyoin bids the owl a farewell before moving to the edge of the roof. He jumps off to find his friends waiting in the van.
The great horned owl looks at where Kakyoin jumped off. It moves its head around for a moment before it looks up in the sky, being careful the sunlight does not hit its eyes.
Above the roof of the mansion, Romero sits with its paws on the tiles as the full moon shines its moonlight to the zombies and producer's place of residence. The zombie dog, like all the wolves in fiction, lets out a howl. "AWOOOOOOO!"
At the same time, Kotaro Tatsumi is taking a bath, holding a shower head on his head to brush his hair in preparation of applying shampoo. The sight of a muscle-toned man washing himself is normal. What's not normal, however, is that he is wearing his sunglasses whilst taking a bath. Beyond that, the fact that Kotaro chooses to put his glasses on when its night brings question to his willingness to keep wearing it all the time.
"Aaahhh~" Kotaro lets out, swinging his head backwards to let his hair sway along breathtakingly.
The man in shades pump some shampoo into his open hand, only to find it empty. He tries the second one but it's empty too. "Ooooooiiiiiiiii... I'm all out of shampoo. I need a refiiiiillllll." He proclaimed, raising his voice up so the zombie boys and girls could hear his plea.
Little does he know, the thirteen zombies were in his office using his computer. They are seizing the chance that he is taking a bath to surf the Internet and look for anything that is needed for them, with Ai sitting on the chair and the zombies standing around the computer looking at the monitor.
As Ai searches the net for idol groups of past and present, Yugiri is curious of the device very much like Kotaro's handheld laptop. Johnny and Gyro are also curious like her, with their red eyes looking at the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and computer case wondering what to make of the device that, in their view, looks futuristic and advanced.
"What is this box?" Yugiri asks.
"It's called a computer," Being on her side as always, Lily happily answers her. "We're gonna look up what idols are kinda big right now."
"Huh. Never thought I would be around to see this thing exist." Johnny commented, turning back to the monitor.
"Hmm, with you saying that this is a computer," Gyro has his hand on his chin as he asks a curious question to Lily. "What about the other thing Kotaro has?"
"Other thing?" Saki repeated.
"Y'know, the one that looks like a... mini... computer the other day?" He described with his hands making a shape of a rectangle.
"Oh, it's a laptop," Lily sees what object he is describing and tells him. "It is like what you said, a minicomputer with the same functions as a normal computer that you can take with you everywhere."
"Interesting... The future sure doesn't fail to surprise." Gyro smiles in delight. He has a feeling he's not gonna tire of learning new discoveries and oddities of the future.
"Indeed. They really come up with wildest things." Yugiri taps the monitor with her kiseru. Even though it's a light tap, the monitor bends from the hit, prompting Ai to straighten it and chastise the courtesan from almost breaking it. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry." She apologizes to her.
"I hope Kotaro-san doesn't catch us." Sakura expresses her worry over Kotaro catching them using his computer and getting scolded. They may need a break from Kotaro's usual tirade of shouting and jeering.
"Do not worry. We should have at least twenty minutes to spare." Ai assures her.
"Are you sure?" She asks.
"This is the third time I used a computer, after all."
"Huh?" She lets out in surprise. Ai has used Kotaro's computer for a while without him or anyone knowing?
"Actually, this is the sixth time anyone other than Tatsumi used his computer," Bucciarati speaks up. "I happen to use it when he's not in this room and search the net about my former organization's status together with Narancia. Also, Mamezuku has his turn after we're done, searching for a town called Morioh. I'm guessing he wants to know how different this world's Morioh is to the Morioh he knows."
"What he said." Mamezuku nodded.
"Former organization? Y'mean Passione, right? The Italian mafia organization you two used to work in?" Saki asked the two, curious of the mafia organization, considering she used to be second-in-command of the biker gang.
"Yeah." Narancia confirms with a nod. "Currently, from what articles and info Bucciarati can find due to Passione wanting to stay secret, the organization pretty much has its influence in the entire Italy thanks to Giorno's outstanding leadership, especially when he banned the distribution of drugs. I still can't wrap my head that some unknown boy two years younger than me who Bucciarati showed immediate trust became the leader after usurping the previous boss."
"Two years younger? Narancia, what age were ya in before you bit the dust?" She questioned him, with everyone including Ai waiting to hear his answer.
"I'm 17."
"17? That's my age too!" Kakyoin exclaims.
"I think I'm 17 too!" Sakura added.
"Really? I didn't know you two and I are both the same age!" Narancia expresses his surprise with a grin.
"Hold on, if Giorno is two years younger than you Nara, that makes him what...? 15-years-old?" Saki does a simple math calculation and says his age out loud. This causes a wave of awe and surprise sweeping over everyone when they realize that Giorno became Passione's leader at just 15 years of age. "Holy crap... He began leadin' a large mafia organization at only 15!?"
"That's... That's unbelievable!" Sakura said.
"This Giorno boy must have an impressive set of talents and skills if he can lead Passione up to this day." Yugiri guesses, keeping her head cool while being surprised as well.
"From what I have seen from him, Giorno definitely has the qualities of a leader," Bucciarati affirms her statement with a proud smile. "Whatever he is doing now in his 17 years of leading Passione, I only pray for the reformed mafia's continued prosperity."
"Just so you know, Passione started as a criminal organization," Ai reminded, resuming typing on keyboard. "They're not morally spotless and have likely engaged in illegal acts. I believe Bucciarati-san and Narancia-kun have likely done something objectionable in the eyes of an innocent. That goes for Saki too."
"Eh, whatever you say." Saki shrugs, taking her blunt words in stride.
"You hear what Ai said to us, Bucciarati?" Narancia snorted, apparently insulted of her statement.
"I do. Interestingly, you seem okay to have someone from a mafia protect you and the girls." Bucciarati is amused by her critique, taking it in a stride like Saki. "I'm hoping you're not afraid a hardened gangster like me stands guard by your side."
"I'm only stating the fact, Bucciarati-san." She replied with a chuckle.
"Hm, sure you are."
"Hey, hey! Do we have our very own homepage?" Lily changed the subject back to popular idols, asking Ai to go to Franchouchou's official website and see how they are faring in popularity.
"We do, and I am never looking at it again."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because it's so lame that you will die. Even if we're zombies already."
"...Is it so bad?" Avdol wondered.
"Think of the T-shirts we were forced to wear in Gatalympics and apply the design to the website. That's how lame it is."
Everyone cringed when they remembered the shirt's tacky design made by Kotaro and having to wear it during Gatalympics. If what she said is true, then they are grateful from being spared looking at the homepage, which Ai have already seen based on her disgust.
"...I think I shouldn't ask about it." Avdol thought out loud with a displeased look.
Meanwhile, Tae, who is on the same floor as the bathroom, showed Kotaro a clothing detergent for him to use upon hearing his plea of getting him a new shampoo. Obviously, it is not what Shades had in mind.
"Anyway," Ai continued. "After looking around a bit, I'm surprised by how different things are from when I was alive." The monitor shows many articles about idol groups disbanding for various reasons like a disagreement between members, a group splitting or giving their fans one final show attracting 100,000 attendees. "There are a bunch of groups who are really popular, and when it seemed like they would last, all of them have broken up."
"Idols as a concept go through their booms and busts, after all." Junko stated that fact, knowing from experience when she was alive.
"Wait... Does that mean that right now..."
"Even if that's the case," Ai stops Sakura from saying about Franchouchou's fluctuating popularity. "We still have to try our best. Right?"
"Y-You're right..." She concurs after her little reassurance and smile are directed at her to quell her worry.
"I guess we can check out idol events in Saga." Ai said before typing the keywords, and in an instant, the search page changed related to the searched keywords.
"This is so convenient," Junko is impressed by the many articles displayed in a second. "There are so many searches!"
"I never would have imagined technology would progress to the point where it is inseparable from the everyday lives of many. Back then, the Internet was not so advanced as it is currently, so I am impressed of how the Internet become quite useful for us." Kakyoin agrees, smiling at the number of articles scrolled down by Ai.
"Even if I like to live simply as a fortune teller, I cannot deny the benefits the Internet has for everyone years after my untimely death." Avdol is the last of the trio hailing from the 80s to agree and be fascinated by the Internet.
"Let's start by looking into anything that seems interesting." As Ai said this, one article piqued Saki's interest, prompting her to eagerly ask, "Whoa! Is that ｢Saga Rock｣!? Sounds cool!"
"Do you like rock music, Saki-chan?" Sakura asks her friend, seeing how a boisterous and tough girl like Saki would be so into the genre of rock.
"Yeah! Everyone knows how Mentai Rock is a big deal in Kyushu!"
"What is that?"
"You wish to die?"
"Can you stop saying that? You're way too aggressive..." Sakura exasperatedly said after hearing her say that for an umpteenth time. If she was not joking, she would be wary of her for months.
"Well, at least I can see why Saki is big on rock music." Kakyoin shakes his head as the memory of Franchouchou's heart-pounding metal performance replays in his head. Especially the part about Saki letting out a roar through a megaphone. Even though she's not awakened yet, that interest has spilled in her mindless state back then.
"If you want to know Sakura, the Saga Rock Festival is the largest outdoor rock event in Kyushu." Ai explains the event exclusive to the prefecture.
"Seriously!? We gotta get in on that!" Saki suggested enthusiastically.
"Well, there's no problem with getting onto a bigger stage but..." Clicking the festival's homepage, Ai shows a picture of audiences cheering for the band performing on the stage and another one showing the entire venue, which is quite big as befitting for a festival.
"Wow! It must be amazing to be on stage with that many people in the audience!" Narancia exclaimed, picturing himself, Mista and Fugo doing the "dance" in front of the audience.
"Even for a jockey who is used to be ogled by anyone for my equestrian skills, do you think you can handle that many people watching you seven?" Johnny questioned.
"I'm totally used to it thanks to press presentations!" Lily told him, having used to it when she was alive and playing the actress role.
"Let's do a good job! I bet if we practice a lot, we'll all make it up there some day!" Sakura encouraged.
"It's not that easy."
Junko's assertion causes everyone to turn to her, surprised by her words coming out of the blue as the zombie continues what she is saying to everyone. "Performing a concert at a venue of this size requires a comparable amount of work."
"Oh. Y-Yeah..." The redhead nodded, seeing she got ahead in thinking they can perform in a venue like Saga Rock.
"It's better to take on a diligent step at a time instead of fixating on big dreams." She offered this bit of wisdom, coming from experience.
"S-Sorry..." She apologized after hearing her.
"I get what you mean, but our time frame is much shorter than what others had," Ai provides a counterpoint to her remark, also coming from experience. "The main thing is to find a way to get your name out there. I mean, the group I used to be in was performing in front of audiences in the ｢tens of thousands｣ a year after our debut."
"Only a year?!" Junko is surprised to hear her having to achieve popularity just a year after she debuted. "And you were able to impress an audience that big?"
Seeing Junko might be hanging on to her now-outdated way of being an idol, Ai tells her own bit wisdom based on the current view of idols and her experience. "If you're trying to be perfect from the get-go, you won't be able to manage anything. If anything, a lot of fans like seeing groups improve over time and contribute to that growth."
Reeling in surprise over how much has changed from then and now, Junko tries to say something, but Ai has something more to say, cutting her off. "Of course, that doesn't mean we don't try our hardest every time." At this moment, Ai is browsing the artist section, containing the names of various idol groups such as Melancholy X, Sorry Girls, and ｢Iron Frill｣. A surprised Ai focuses on the enclosed words next to it that reads ｢Special Appearance｣.
"Oh! That's... That's the group you were in, right Ai-chan?" Sakura asks her.
"Where? Where?"
"This one! Iron Frill!" She pointed for Lily and the others. "They're going to be at Saga Rock!"
"Your old crew is so badass!" Saki praises her. Everyone is either interested or happy to see Ai's previous group slated to be present in the festival, unaware of Ai's internal turmoil over seeing the group still existing after ten years. Whatever emotions are going on in her head, it is clear she is...perturbed.
Hm? Ai? The only one who noticed her going quietly in surprise is Bucciarati, who is standing at her side and has seen her expression. He is worried, wondering why she has gotten quiet all of a sudden.
Meanwhile, Kotaro looks at the soy sauce bottle brought over by Tae. The zombie is peeking from outside the bathroom together with Romero as she assumes the soy sauce is what he needs to wash his hair.
...Looks like I'll be staying here longer than usual if this keeps up. Kotaro sighs, sending Tae and Romero off to find an extra shampoo. Hope he gets to sleep for the meeting tomorrow.
If there is one thing they expect the meeting between the fourteen zombies and Kotaro will go is that the producer would engage in an act before he announces the topic of the meeting. No matter how weird it is and what lengths Kotaro would go to achieve that, everyone is very much treated to the sight of Franchouchou's crazy shaded producer's little show unimpeded of their opinions and growing displeasure. And even if the latter is true, they just have to get used to it.
The zombies except Tae are reminding themselves of that last part as the sight of Kotaro performing a kabuki act provoking many raised eyebrows from some zombies. With his legs crouched down, feet flat on the ground, head titled to the side, arms spread wide and palms facing forward, Kotaro brings out the best kabuki performance he ever has. "Aaaaaaaahhhh, my fair laaaaaaadiiiieeeesss of Fraaaaaaannnchoooouuuchoooooooouuuuuuuu. Ohaaaaaaayoooooooouuuuuuuu goooozaaaiiiiiimaaaaaaaassssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."
As everyone gawks in confusion, Tae is seen with her arms raised over her head and legs spread out in an attempt to imitate his kabuki-style act. The producer continues his greeting, kabuki-theater style."Yooooouuuuuu are aaallreeeaaaaddyyyyyyyy in the preeeseeenceee of an idoooooooool maaaagiiiis-"
"ENOUGHT ALREADY! Just get started with this meeting!" Saki irritatingly told him after having enough with his kabuki "show". She can speak for the annoyed zombies too like Ai, Lily, Kakyoin, Narancia and Johnny.
Dropping his act, Kotaro stands up straight and, with hands on his hips, announces, "Okay then. Today, I have some great news for you girls. It turns out that Franchouchou deep breath has ｢FAAAAAANS｣!"
The girls are surprised, and delighted, to hear they have fans.
Pacing left and right, Kotaro continues with his announcement. "The Drive-in Tori commercial and Gatalympics footage have been uploaded online, aaaaaannnnnndddd there's just a little bit of chat about you aaaalllll!"
"There is?" Sakura muttered.
"See, I told you!" Saki is pleased with what she is hearing. "I told you guys Drive Tori was freakin' awesome!"
"Well, good or bad, at least we've got some attention now." Ai offers this fact.
"What're you talking about? This is all because you're gems that sparkle with polish... And that's not all! Our loyal bodyguard group, Rianima, happens to have few fans and some recognition too!"
"We have?" Kakyoin said, having expected he and the boys would garner some attention by being Franchouchou's bodyguards but he was not expecting they would have some sooner than later.
"You heard me! While the fans are more interested in the girls, you boys have got some attention thanks to your participation in Gatalympics. An article even referred your group's name, Rianima, and called you seven boys as the flamboyant, tall and intimidating bodyguards recruited by one Kotaro Tatsumi, that is me, to stand guard on Franchouchou's side. Isn't that ｢great｣?"
"I suppose it's something good, but can Franchouchou benefit from our presence?" Bucciarati asks him.
"Oh, you have done quite enough for them! You and the boys have disposed ｢four｣ enemy Stands already which includes the colony Stand yesterday and the mannequin Stand who can perfectly copy anyone the Stand touches! Whether it's for Saga's protection or the girls, I'd say you have done quite enough help and protection for them!"
"Uh huh. I have a feeling our occupations as bodyguards for Franchouchou aren't going to be ignored completely in favor of the girls." Mamezuku nodded as his own guess about catching someone's eye is unavoidable. The percentage he gave was ｢17 - 34 percent｣.
"Hahaha, very nicely done!" Kotaro starts enacting Cocco-san's pose with his back turned and a goofy smile. "Drive-in Tori! Like that?"
"No, that's an incorrect pose! Kakyoin, help me show him the correct way of the pose."
"Huh? W-Wait, Sakura! I didn't-" Cherry Boy tries to stop her as he is pulled by Sakura towards Kotaro.
"It's fine! We're just gonna show him how it's done." Number One assures him, who is already performing the correct way of Cocco-san's pose. "To~ri~! Come on Kakyoin! Do the pose!"
"Err..." He tries to bail but soon gives in and, with a sigh, enacts the pose half-heartedly. "To...ri..."
"Oh, I get it! Like this, right? To~ri~!" Kotaro noticeably did a different and silly pose to Sakura's disapproval.
"No, no! Like this! Tori~!"
"Please pay attention Tatsumi-san. Tori~."
"Right, right. To. Ri." This time, Kotaro pointed his fingers left and right.
"Wrong. See, it's like what Kakyoin and I showed you-"
"IT DOESN'T FREAKING MATTERRRRR!"
Kotaro suddenly shouted Sakura and Kakyoin, cutting off the former as he proceeds to engage in another one of his loud tirades, causing the two to back away from the approaching producer out of panic and irritation. "WHY EXACTLY DO I HAVE TO MASTER THE DANCE?! DON'T LOOK YOUR POINTY NOSES DOWN AT ME JUST BECAUSE YOU TWO GOT A LITTLE BUZZ, YOU PINOCCHIO ZOMBIES!"
"P-Pinocchio...?" stuttered Sakura.
"SO SIT YOUR POINTY NOSES DOOOOWWWWN!"
Kotaro would have force Kakyoin and Sakura back on their seats by pressing their noses hard but, knowing Kakyoin's already-known irritation of him and not wanting to incur his wrath, he wisely chooses not to, only shouting the last word louder so the two sits back from the volume. It doesn't stop Kakyoin from compounding his annoyance against his action though, marked by his glare.
Geez. Kakyoin sits down as he tries to clear away the ringing in his ears. Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't engage in another shouting rant again, Tatsumi-san? Maybe next time, I will retaliate for sure if you go way out of line...
M-My nose isn't like Pinocchio. And pointy too. Sakura thought unhappily, grabbing her nose with pitiable eyes.
"That being the case," What he says next, switching gears from an irate, shouting man to a calm and focused manager of an idol group. "I want you all to start interacting with your fans as soooooooon as possibleeeeeeeee."
"Right away again, huh?" Saki stated to her chagrin, still not getting used to him announcing the event they are about to partake in happening sooner than she thought.
"I announced it on the homepage, already!" He retorted.
"Excuse me," Junko chimes in. "When you say interacting..."
"Gotta starts with photo ops, I figure." He ignored her as he walked away from them
Turning to Sakura, who is still holding her nose out of protection and is likely gonna answer her question, Junko asks, "Minamoto-san, what exactly does he mean by photo op?"
"Well... There are probably gonna be people with instant cameras, not digital." Sakura imitates taking a photo from a camera with her hands, even closing one eye as if she's focusing on getting a better shot for a picture.
"Digital?" Kakyoin repeated, wondering what kind of camera that is digital.
"Hmm, how do I describe it... It's like, they let you look at the pictures right away instead of waiting for a photo to develop."
"Oh! Like Polaroids."
"Huh? Ah! So it's like that?"
Sakura blinks when the two arrive at a wrong conclusion, all because they are thinking about technology from their time.
"So we are going to be taking glamour shots with Polaroids..." Junko assumed, thinking she gets the idea.
"I see. That's what Kotaro meant by photo ops, right Sakura?"
"No... That's not exactly right."
"That's basically it, though."
Surprised by Ai seeing where Junko and Kakyoin are getting at, Sakura asks, "R-Really?"
With everyone's ears on her, Ai explains how the girls are gonna interact with their fans. "Usually there's a mini concert and merchandise sales first."
"Merchandise..." Sakura feels herself wincing and sighing over their merchandise. "It'd be nice if we sold a bunch of T-shirts but..."
"You okay, Yugirin?" Lily addressed the Meiji-era courtesan, concerned if she is finding any of what they are saying confusing at best or incomprehensible at worst. "Are you following all of this?"
"Well, getting confused by what's going on won't help things, so I've decided to just accept things as they come." She calmly replies this, explaining how she isn't at least surprised by the things that came a century after her death. Lily is impressed that she chose to take all of it in stride.
"Camera? Photo? What the hell are they talking about, Johnny?" Gyro asks his close partner, hoping that his answer may help him make sense of their nonsense properly.
"What, you don't know what a camera and photo is?" Johnny raises one eyebrow over his apparent cluelessness.
"Of course, I know. It's just that, considering how so much have changed in a century, even if some of them might be unique in this reality, I'm a bit curious. You are curious, right? Don't you want to know the things that came after a hundred years have passed? I bet you are!"
"...Yeah, I suppose so." Johnny rubs his head.
"I know, right? By the way, all these talk about photos and cameras and whatnot... I have come up with an original gag of mine that I would like everyone to listen to!" Gyro appears excited to tell a joke after not joking for a long time.
"...Um, what joke is it, Gyro-san?" Sakura hesitantly asked, wondering if she's gonna regret hearing his "joke".
"Did you know about a man who tried taking a picture of himself only to die suddenly?"
"...Yes?" Kakyoin answered with a skeptical look over finding his joke funny.
"Do you want to know why he died so fast? 'Cause he shot himself! Get it? He was trying to shoot a picture! NYOHOHOHOHAHAHAHA!" After revealing the punchline, Gyro bellows out a boisterous laugh that threatens to tip his chair due to finding his "joke" so funny he's laughing his heart out.
As for the others...
"Ah, yes. Shoot a picture. What a funny joke you did, Gyro," Johnny wasted no time responding to Gyro's attempt at a joke sarcastically. "I'll be careful when it comes to that. I wouldn't like getting caught and killed while taking a picture of myself!" He "praised" him while seemingly cringing from the (terrible?) punchline.
"Do not try to encourage Gyro. I don't think he can detect your sarcasm." Lily regrets not covering her ears, for she is wincing at Gyro's "joke" too.
"Well, even though I do not find it funny, I can see Gyro-han did try to come up with such an original joke." Yugiri has no idea how to respond to the joke, so she complimented Gyro's attempt a little.
"Hahaha... Why am I laughing? I don't... I don't find it funny at all." Sakura tried not to chuckle more, as if she liked a terrible joke.
"I-I agree. I wonder if he knows all of us are not laughing at his joke?" Kakyoin stated, eyes sweeping from Kotaro to every zombie bearing grimaced looks from Ai, Junko, Avdol, and Bucciarati or unimpressed ones from Narancia and Saki.
"I've got an even bigger project in the works! So you all better make this photo op a GOOD ONE!" Kotaro closes the meeting by enacting the kabuki act again, ignoring Gyro's attempt at joking while having high expectations of the girls to not mess the fan interaction up and the boys continuing looking after them.
"Hello! We are Franchouchou! Thanks for comiiiiing!"
Franchouchou takes a bow for the cheering audience as their mini concert is finished except for Tae, who has her arms raised waving her hands with a dull look on her face. This is seen as an odd act and will make anyone curious suspicious, but they don't seem to care about it one bit.
Among the audience, Okoba and Inubashiri are present, having attended when they heard Franchouchou is performing a mini concert in Saga Live House Geils, which is also the same venue Franchouchou did as they are starting out, just in a different room. The two journalists don't know that since they haven't the necessary amount of info about these girls at the moment.
Also present are Rianima keeping their eyes peeled before, during and after the performance. After seeing the venue is safe, all that's left for them is to stand guard and make sure everything stays safe and that no signs of an enemy Stand have infiltrated the venue. So far, nothing's amiss and the seven have enjoyed watching the performance and most likely hearing a new song.
Good job girls. You will be earning more fans as you continue. That goes double for you Sakura. Kakyoin commended in his head, especially to Sakura. He is happy to see her so dedicated to being an idol, singing her voice out and dancing beautifully. Of course, he isn't forgetting Saki, Ai, Junko, Yugiri, Lily and even Tae considering they did a great job but among the girls, he seems to favor Sakura a lot. He doesn't find it weird though, chalking it up as because she's the first zombie he met. Also, aside from Junko, Yugiri and Lily, Sakura is the friendliest of the girls who looks after everyone out of kindness.
People really showed up. We really got fans now! Sakura thought in disbelief, seeing how her hard work and cooperation with the girls come into fruition in the form of fans, whether they are kids or adults. Remembering the second flash of memory she has, she wonders if she can get another memory if she continues working as an idol. Knowing being an idol is the cause of the brief sense of recollection, Sakura hopes a third memory flash isn't gonna take long. Besides, she did tell Kakyoin about her memory about watching Ai when she was alive and hear his take or opinion. He only confides in him because he's such a calm and welcoming teenager who has stood by her side ever since that day, having a handsome smile, charming eyes and a nice figure.
Of course, she hasn't forgotten the other bodyguards, it's just that she favors Kakyoin a lot compared to them.
"W-Well, y'know..." Saki starts saying something to remind the audience of the opportunity to interact with them up close after the mini-concert. "Today is a photo op session with Franchouchou and it's crazy to think y'all came to see us, so uh... Thanks!"
After her little speech, everyone starts recognizing Tae as the woman from the Drive-in Tori commercial, with some even calling her Cocco-kun despite Saki's insistence that it's Cocco-san. And then, as if responding to them wanting her to do a rooster crow...
"AAACK! AH DOOODA DOOOOOO!"
For an audience this small, their cheering is pretty loud, who are all doing Cocco-kun's/san's pose and Tae's distinct rooster crow. Franchouchou could only awkwardly stand still as Tae continues doing her chicken act.
"Hahahaha! Can't believe Number Zero is riling the audience by being Cocco-kun!" Narancia laughed, addressing Tae by her codename.
"It's Cocco-san, not Cocco-kun, Li'l Bomber." Avdol corrected, addressing him too by his nickname.
"What are you, Number Two?" He stares the fortune teller with an annoyed look, clearly displeased of hearing his nickname.
"I'm only telling you the correct pronunciation."
"Sure. That makes you sound like Number Two, alright." Johnny sarcastically stated, merely raising an eyebrow over Tae's action. At the same time, Kakyoin, Bucciarati and Gyro try to keep the memory of being almost bitten by Tae out of their heads when the zombie in disguise starts crowing for the audience.
"We're now going to be selling these original Franchouchou T-shirts and towel." Kotaro announces to the fans lined up to either get the T-shirt or a towel with a cute figure of Romero and the group's name embroidered on it. Sakura and Ai are standing behind the table together with Kotaro, who continues speaking through a microphone for the eager fans. "Anyone who purchases either will be eligible for the photo session!"
Looking at the towels, Sakura wonders, "When did he have those towels made?"
"And what's up with this design?" Ai questioned, staring at the embroidery of Romero with sparkling eyes, puppy smile and a heart held in its paws. Since Romero looks like a zombie all the time, she'd think any person would find its appearance creepy and question the nature of their pet dog.
After they have purchased the shirts or towels, the photo op session starts as many fans lined up for their desired member of Franchouchou. When the lines are full, someone holds up a cardboard with writings on it that reads, "End of line", which the phrase itself is exactly what it means. The first duo announced to be taken with pictures are Numbers Zero and One (Tae and Sakura) and after that, Numbers Two and Three (Saki and Ai). In the meantime, the bodyguards keep their eyes open and see if there is any foul work involved. Earlier, Kotaro explained to Rianima on how idol fans can be rabid in meeting with their favorite girls. While he doesn't need to worry about that for a moment considering the as-of-yet growing number of fans, he felt the need to inform them just in case. The last thing they need is some fan almost hounding any girls. If it comes to it, they won't hesitate to retaliate.
Without the use of Stand, of course.
Among the crowd of fans waiting in line to meet up with their favorite Franchouchou members, there is one certain man waiting in Sakura's line. Compared to the ordinary appearance of the people lined up, this young looking, tan-skinned man stands out among the crowd for his unkempt but aristocratic and somewhat elegant appearance, making him appear like he came out from the late 18th to early 19th century. He has short messy gray hair with an uneven hairline, gray eyes with prominent eyebags, and slightly short height wearing a gray waistcoat with yellow buttons over a long-sleeved white shirt with pinned cravat and cuffs, and gray trousers tucked into his black boots. A black coat with a tailcoat covers his upper body and rear while a chain necklace with a lapis lazuli gem anchored at the end hangs over his neck.
While some look at the man in wonder, they have business to tend to, so they continue doing what they are here for: meeting their favorite idol member. This is what the man is here for too, choosing to meet Number 1 after purchasing one shirt. After Sakura greets the unexpressive man with a smile, the two pose with peace signs as Kotaro takes their photo. Once he receives the photo, he gives the two a curt nod before making his leave through the crowd. Sakura and Kotaro find him a bit eccentric since he has not spoken a single word to the two, but they are not here to scrutinize his behavior, for there are many fans who want to meet Sakura.
Standing in the sidelines, Junko and Ai watch the photo session go, waiting for their turn. Well, it's more like Ai is waiting for her turn while Junko looks a bit anxious. "What... is this?" asks Junko.
"You take pictures with people who line up for you. This is how we interact with fans." Ai tells her.
"Huh?" Surprised that this is what a photo op is about, Junko could only watch Ai walk as her turn comes up. Looking at the line directed at her, she sees the crowd too overbearing for her own good. While she is okay performing together as a group for an audience numbering hundreds, having to interact with fans up close is entirely new and foreign for her.
Compared to Junko, the six girls are doing well for the group's first interaction with their fans. Watching over them and the fans are their bodyguards, whose menacing aura and intimidating build strikes a chord of fear onto weak-willed fans. Their flamboyant appearances are not a detriment to it, for their piercing eyes can strike fear in anyone who looks at them oddly. While they try to not appear threatening to the fans, some of them are fearful of them regardless.
At the same time, Ai flashes a smile and two peace signs next to a lanky metalhead as Kotaro takes their picture.
ピカット
A bright flash appeared from the camera, shocking Ai so much she shut her eyes. The picture is taken but to Ai, the brief flash, for some reason, disorients her. Feeling afraid all of a sudden, Ai wonders what just happened. That bright flash... Why does it bring her a bad memory?
What... What was that...? She only has this to think in response.
After the designated girls are done, it's Junko's, Yugiri's and Lily's turn. As Number Five is instructed to take a picture with a folding screen, Number Four, who is overwhelmed by the prospect of interacting with her fans up close, is sitting by herself with her head down. Sakura and Ai walk to her with the former stating it's her turn. "Junko-chan! It's your turn now!"
"I can't..." What Junko said to the two, surprising them. "I can't do this..."
"What are you talking about? Come on!" Despite her refusal, Ai is not keen on her decision, so she reaches for her hand. Junko snatches her hand away with a shout of "No!" before facing her back to the two.
"You've got the most people in your line!" She told her with a frown. "Don't you see that?"
"Being an idol is about dazzling people from up on a stage!" Junko notified her with a glare of her own. "How is this anything like that!?"
She didn't dare lower her volume when she voiced her displeasure of what she is seeing so it's no surprise her little quarrel with Ai has got everyone's attention. They are wondering what's going on between the two, including the two reporters, as Kotaro looks at them just as he was about to picture Yugiri and a fan.
Looking at the two staring each other down with Sakura on the side trying to pacify their bickering, Gyro blinks twice in confusion, asking, "What's going on? Why are Junko and Ai arguing?"
"I'm... not sure," Bucciarati replied, also confused and curious about their altercation. "But from what I heard, it must be related to interacting with fans and Number Four appears to be against it."
"No surprise there," Mamezuku speaks up. "I only take a look of her behavior once and I can tell she may not like this."
"Uhhh, what now? Should we interfere?" Narancia proposed, turning between her companions and the two idols.
"Kotaro seems to be already working on it. However, it's not anything positive. I can tell from his look." Kakyoin pointed to him announcing to the fans that the meeting is abruptly cancelled due to Ai and Junko's disagreement. He can see that the manager is not happy of his decision and the reason behind such an outcome.
Knowing him, he's going to rip the girls, especially the two, a new one when they go home.
"What the hell was THAAAAAAT?!"
As expected, Kotaro didn't spare any second scolding the girls the moment they were in the basement, pacing left and right.
"I am sooooo disappointed in you all! Y'know how disappointed I am!? If I had to give a metaphor, it's like... Y'know... You...! Dumbasses! AGH!" After that one irritated interjection, Kotaro leaves them be.
Looking at the door where he left, the zombies have never seen Kotaro so angry and disappointed, especially to the girls. His shouting tendencies and pompous attitude were combined to give the girls their chiding. It seems he doesn't care who he is shouting at, equally yelling their ears off regardless of their involvement of the cause of cancellation. As much as the boys want to stop Kotaro, they reluctantly let him scold the girls while they are standing off to the side under Bucciarati's insistence, stating that this is Franchouchou's problem, not theirs.
Coming from a leader of his team back in Passione, he must have known when to voice his displeasure at his team.
"...You understood what you did, right Junko? Running out on a job doesn't just affect you." Ai started, not daring to look at her.
"That's part of the job?" Junko asked, still not getting over the concept of fan interaction.
"A big part of it."
Everyone keeps themselves quiet, seeing this is something Ai and Junko need to talk about.
"But it was so brazen. I don't want to do it."
"Listen. We need people to learn who we are, and then feel like we're within reach."
"But that's the thing!" She exclaimed before bringing up Ai's word from last night and interpreting it in her own view. "And when you bragged about being so successful after only one year, do people really think they can just placate the fans instead of paying their dues?"
"Hah!?" Ai is taken aback by her belief. She has this to say to the Showa Idol. "When did I ever say that? Are you trying to start something?"
"Come on you two, knock it off." Saki starts interfering when she is sensing another quarrel is gonna start.
"Ai-chan, Junko-chan." Sakura is with Saki, trying to pacify the conflict before it gets worse.
Even Rianima are unable to look away from this as they start surrounding the two in a semi-circle, with Kakyoin, Avdol and Bucciarati attempting to stop them from arguing more.
"I'm just saying we need to think about what our relationship with our fans is." Junko does not stop as she continues voicing what she felt to be a problem with the current way of idols interacting with their fans.
"You're the one who doesn't seem to understand what that relationship is." Ai insinuates, seeing she is adamant on the old ways of how an idol communicates with their fans.
"W-What should we do!? What should we do!?" A panicking Sakura blurts out.
"C-Come on, you two! We don't need to escalate things here. Maybe we can-"
"We might both talk about 'being supported by fans', Mizuno-san," Junko cuts off Avdol. "But I think we mean something totally different! An idol shouldn't be independent on the good will of fans!"
Getting riled up, Ai stands up, giving her a dirty look as she tells her this fact related to how things change for good or bad. "That sort of above-it-all pride is ｢too old-fashioned｣!"
"You're ｢not exactly current｣ yourself, you know!" Junko remains seated while staring her down with a fierce look. Ai doesn't like what she said, making it look like a quarrel is imminent.
"Please stop!"
"You two, enough!"
Lily's and Bucciarati's pleading and stern words did not prevent the escalation of the clashing ideologies embodied by Junko and Ai. Whether Lily's begging or Bucciarati's blaring command stopped their words momentarily, the two are not keen on agreeing with their words, with Ai giving this statement. "If we're going to be serious about being idols, then thinking like that is going to be a problem."
Shaken up by her words or having enough of it for her own good, Junko quickly leaves.
"Hey, don't ya think that's going overboard?" Saki asks and reprimands her. She may not still get this idol business down yet but as a leader, it's her job to hear what her team has to say and has the right to rebuke someone who's out of the line.
Keeping quiet after all that, Ai takes her leave too against Saki's urging.
A few seconds of silence pass by before it's broken by Johnny's words. "Now what?"
Aw man. Is this really happening...? Sakura thought gloomily. Franchouchou would be affected greatly for sure if the two are not on good terms. She has to get all her memories back if she wants to remember what she is before she died. The group's existence depends on it.
Everyone didn't need to answer Johnny's question as they already know what to do: calm Ai and Junko down and, hopefully, solve their clashing ideologies without any more altercation.
To be continued
Onomatopoeia:
ピカット (Pikatto) - Camera flash