Chapter 1 Hobbyists on Days Off
Mizuki's POV

At some point while I was in middle school, I stopped going to school that much. This meant that I had a lot of free time on my hands, and I used this free time to do my hobbies like making cute outfits, watching anime, and making videos.

With my parents being busy with work and stuff, my sister working overseas, and my close friend actually going to school, I didn't really know anybody I could talk with my hobbies.

Since there wasn't really anyone I could talk to about my hobbies IRL, I turned to the internet! I found a website where you can post about your hobbies and chat to other people about them. I started an account on the website under the username 'Amia', and started posting about my hobbies.

One night, while I was on the website, I suddenly got a notification.

"What's this", I asked myself. I then clicked the notification to see what it was about. "Oh? Someone's send me a friend request? I wonder who it is?"

With this, I clicked on the friend request, and it led me to the profile of the person who had sent it to me.

TheLittleMermaid

Hobbies: Playing competitive video games, watching movies and going out to see musicals.

"That's an interesting set of hobbies. But non of them are the same as my listed hobbies. I wonder why 'TheLittleMermaid' sent me a friend request?" I asked myself, before shrugging. "I guess it doesn't really matter. I'm going to send 'TheLittleMermaid' a message to thank them for the friend request."

With this, I went to the website's direct messaging feature and sent TheLittleMermaid a message.

Amia - Hey there, TheLittleMermaid! Amia here! Thanks for the friend request!

"And send", I said as I clicked the mouse. Since it was a bit late at night, I didn't expect to get a reply until the next morning. But to my surprise…a message from TheLittleMermaid popped up not too long later.

The littleMermaid - You're welcome, Amia.

When I saw this message, I smiled. "Maybe they're a night owl like me? Since they're online, maybe I should chat with them about something? But since we have different hobbies, what should we chat about?

For a moment, I thought about what to chat about. Then, I looked at TheLittleMermaid's username; and got an idea.

Amia - So, how'd you choose your username? Are you a big fan of The Little Mermaid or something?

TheLittleMermaid - I am. It's my favorite story of all time.

Amia - I see. Then, have you heard of an anime called Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch?

TheLittleMermaid - I haven't. What's it about?

Amia - It's kinda like the little mermaid, but turned into a magical girl and idol anime. The outfits the mermaids wear in the show are so cute!

TheLittleMermaid - It sounds interesting. Maybe I'll check it out sometime?

Amia, how did you come up with your username?

Amia - It's short for 'Mia.' She's the rival character from one of my favorite magical girl anime.

For the next couple of weeks, 'TheLittleMermaid' and I would chat online. Since they were busy with school, we'd chat on the days they had off from school. I'd tell them about anime I thought they'd like, and they'd tell me about movies they thought I'd like.

One day, while I was online, I got a DM from a user called 'L.O. ' I clicked on their message and read it.

Hello, Amia. I am L.O. I saw the fan MV you made for an idol anime using one of ASURUN's songs, and it was amazing!

You may be able to tell this from my username, but I am a huge fan of Kiritani Haruka from ASURUN. Recently, they have announced that they are disbanding, and that Haruka announced will be retiring from being idol.

Hearing this broke my heart. But even so, I want to show Haruka my support! So, after seeing the MV you made, I was wondering if you could help me make a tribute video for her?

Reading this took me by surprise. "They want me to help them make a tribute video for Kiritani Haruka", I asked. Then, I smiled, before sending a reply.

Amia - Hey there, L.O. It's so cool that you want to do something to pay tribute to the idol you love! I'd be more than happy to help you make a tribute video for Kiritani Haruka!

For another couple of more weeks, L.O. and I chatted online to work on the Kiritani Haruka tribute video together. To make it easier for us to communicate with each other, I started a private server on the application Nightcord, and asked them to join it. I also decided to invite TheLittleMermaid to join the server as well, and the three of us would chat about our hobbies.

Then one day, while we were all online chatting to each other, L.O. brought something up.

L.O. - I have something to ask you guys. I have a friend who goes to the same school as me, and we like to walk our dogs together. When I told her about the group of people I talk to about my hobbies online with, she seemed interested in it. So, I was wondering if you guys would be okay with her joining our server?

"Another person wants to join our group? That sounds like fun", I exclaimed. Then, I typed out my reply.

Amia - Invite her! The more, the merrier I say! What about you TheLittleMermaid?

TheLittleMermaid - I don't mind.

L.O. - Great! Then I'll send her an invite!

The next night, everyone was logged onto Nightcord, when a new member of our server sent their first message.

ApplePieLover - Hello, everyone. It's very nice to meet you all. I'm 'ApplePieLover.' Thank you for allowing me to join your server.

Amia - Not a problem! The more people to chat to about our hobbies, the better! Speaking of which, what are you hobbies, ApplePieLover? I'm assuming apple pie is one of them because of your username?

ApplePieLover - It's my favorite food. What are all of your favorite foods? I know that L.O. 's is salmon.

TheLittleMermaid- My favorite food is grapefruit.

Amia - Mine is curry rice and french fries!

As we all continued to chat with each other, a smile came to my face. Then…an idea suddenly popped into my mind.

Amia - You know, I was thinking that we should maybe give our little online group a proper name?

TheLittleMermaid - A name?

L.O. - I think that's a great idea!

ApplePieLover - But what should we call ourselves?

"Let me think", I said, before wracking my brain for name ideas. After thinking about it for a moment, I got an idea.

Amia - I've got it! We're a group that talks about our hobbies, and you guys can only talk when you have days off from school or work. So, how about we call ourselves 'Hobbyists on Days Off?

After sending my suggestion, I waited for a moment, before getting a reply.

ApplePieLover - I think that's a great name!

L.O. - That's a very catchy name, Amia!

TheLittleMermaid - I'm okay with that.

Amia - Perfect! Then from this moment on, we'll be known as 'Hobbyists on Days Off!'