Cinia Pacifica Posts

7/10

AWESOME

Grats on six years.

(This post stars: Tabi Aomori and Toudou Yurika.)


[size=13]The Lessons of Dracula’s Daughter:[/h]

It was the sixth of May. Yurika and Aomori stood before a mansion. Everywhere they looked; was dark and black-ish. Trees already rotted to death, grounds with black soil. A black gate stood before the two, it was, too, black. The mansion was as creepy as it could get, almost as if taken out from a horror movie.

“Unfortunately, we aren’t allowed inside today,” Yurika began, a bitter smile hung over her face as she looked up to the establishment before her. “But this place itself outside is good enough. It really sets the mood for something… dark and gothic, right?” Yurika walked past the gates. They weren’t allowed into the manor, but they did had the permission to stroll outside – according to Yurika.

Surprisingly enough, there was a bench before a foggy location. Was that the garden? Yes, yes it was, as a breeze of wind soon revealed black roses. Just how much money was pitched in to make this a realistic scene out of a horror flick?

“So, what do you wanna do?” Yurika asked, sitting down. “I was told to help you make a character, but you should try to come up with something,” she then pointed towards the bag that Aomori held in her hand. Yurika, of course, handed it to her initially treating her like a lackey. “You may get some ideas from the books inside that bag.”

Aomori followed Yurkia through the creepy courtyard of the manor, taking interest in all the little things. The place was like something out of the television. She was almost positive that they used this place for a movie scene at one time or another. As the two of them found the bench Aomori was snapped out of her daydreaming by a pressure on her chest. A bag being handed to her. Aomori almost dropped the bag since it was practically thrown at her.

“Hmmm,” she replied as she sat next to Yurika on the bench and opened up the bag. “I definitely want to do something with a little creep to it,” answered Aomori as she scavenged through the bag for ideas. Inside she was finding all kinds of props. A magic wand, a magic book, some fake fangs, and many other things. Nothing was really clicking until she pulled out a folded hat. Taking it out she unfolded it and turned it around looking at it before putting it on her head. It was a giant sorcerer's hat. A bit too big for her so it almost completely covered her eyes. Continuing to go through the bag she found manga. With the hat on she had trouble seeing it so for the time being she took the unwieldy thing off.

“This looks like something that my roomie would read,” said Aomori opening the cover and starting to read it. “Woah it is about witches! But it is kind of sad…” Aomori found herself reading about a witch who’d stalk on a particular knight every chance she got. This witch was, obviously, in love. The story, however, was a tragedy, as it ended with the knight himself killing the witch. The witch confesses her feelings just before passing on, and using a magic to cure a disease he just caught at the time. The next comic Aomori opened, featured a princess who was secretly a witch. She was a righteous fairy tale figure in the morning, and a practitioner of magic at night. Her father finds out, however, and exiles her from the kingdom, after which she finds her love. The story after that features a girl who’d sick life energy from humans to raise her magical capabilities… she’d use her sexual appeals to pull it off, of course. The books got stranger and stranger as Aomori progressed.

“That first one was really good...” commented Aomori as she realized she had spent quite a bit of time reading those book. “Sorry I took so long.”

“So, what’s your opinion on it?” Yurika asked, her eyes strangely starry with excitement. “The feeling of a maiden who was branded a vile witch just because she was born from someone who was a practitioner of dark magic. A lady fitting to be my servant~!” She said, with her hands joined locked together before her chest as she pictured the witch serving her in an estate while she drinks tea from an expensive cup.

”E-eh Servant?” said Aomori looking at Yurika’s expression. She was really blown away how Yurika found a way to work her character into her normal life. It was to the point you couldn’t really tell what Yurika believe to be true anymore. It would take Aomori a very long to get to that level. Holding the book in her hands she smiled. ”I think I could enjoy playing a witch like that…” she said rubbing her hand over the cover of the book.

“Ahem,” Yurika cleared her throat as she shoved away her excitement. “This one may need a lot of work. A maiden in love, but also a witch with dark powers. Not only that, she also plays the role of an antagonist intentionally to slay those corrupting the system of the human community for the knight’s sake… she also tries to use her beauty to win over the knight. There’s a lot to work on,” Yurika elaborated on the difficulty. “Are you sure?”

”The most satisfying things are the ones that take a lot of work to master right?” answered Aomori looking to Yurkia. ”Yes I am sure about this. Where do we start?” Aomori answered holding the book a bit tighter.

“Hmm… we probably have to start with how she feels. You must understand how she feels, before you take her feelings on yourself,” Yurika answered.

”Should I start studying this book then?” answered Aomori. ”I think I can say I have the basics down. But I want it to be perfect.”

“Of course, I can’t have you any other way than perfect,” Yurika said. “Try acting like her for a bit,” Yurika said before rumagging for items in the bag before pulling out a dark and black cloak. It seemed more like a cape upon closer inspection by Aomori. “Clothes and fashion brings life to performances – try this on.”

Standing up Aomori set the book down on the bench as she took the cape from Yurika. Pulling it over her shoulders she tied the strings in the front securing the cape around her neck. After a few adjustments she had it fitting nicely. The black cloak covered all but a middle section her body. “So, how do I look?” said Aomori spinning once in the cloak making it flutter in the air.

“Not bad, try acting like her… use this page,” Yurika said, holding up the book to show an illustration of the page. It described the witch playing the role of the antagonist.

Placing a hand on her chest like the witch in the book she laughed sinisterly. “I am the witch that will plague these lands! You shall all fear me, and not your throne or knights can save you!” She announced waving her arm and making her cape bellow behind her.

“Are you even trying?” Yurika furrowed her eyebrows as she approached Aomori. “Raise the corner of your lips like this,” she said, as she smirked; raising the corner of her lips. “You need to sound more threatening than cheerful, but there needs to be a subtlety, as if you seem too serious you won’t appear to be cute to the fans, at all.”

”Be cute, and subtle,” she repeated as she took a deep breath. Curling her lips into a smile she posed pointing at the bench that they were at before. “These lands will remain cursed for all time, and not even your...knight can save you,” she said as she tried to think of an embarrassing moment to force a blush as she mentioned the knight.

“This seems better than before,” Yurika nodded to express her opinion. “Use a line that expresses her feelings of the knight… it should be somewhere in the book where she talks about her feelings for him behind his back, while observing him,” Yurika said.

”I think that I remember that scene...” replied Aomori as she ran behind a tree and pushed herself against it. From the side she could see Yurika looking at her. “It’s him! Armor scratched and worn from use. A true man who has tested his mettle against fate, and came back alive. A man..worth admiring...” she said.

“Try again, you’re not putting enough emotions in this,” Yurika said with a clearer frown than before. “Focus on the... s-shyness! T-The fluttering of the heart!” Yurika said, half-way she started having her own imaginations, which made her blush and stutter. “A maiden wouldn’t be as monotone as you!”

Was I really that bad? She thought. Clearing her throat she clung to the tree and prepared to give the line another go. “I-It’s him! Right there..the knight that claimed my heart with little more than a glance. A man that through all his obstacles still has the time to be...a g-gentleman. I wish to one day be worthy of his a-advances…” she acted.

“Now it feels like you’re trying too hard...” Yurika said with a bland expression, apparently disappointed. “Try again!”

And I tried so hard on that one too! thought Aomori. Pulling herself together she gave it one more try, and cleared her throat. ”I should go right over there, and tell him how I feel. N-no that wouldn’t work. He is too righteous for a witch like me…”[/b] said Aomori.

“I don’t even know that line… also, your expression is still wrong!” Yurika pointed to Aomori. “You’re hardly acting like a maiden in love.”

”What am I doing wrong?” said Aomori starting to get a little discouraged. No matter how many times she tried the line she couldn’t seem to grasp what Yurika was trying to get her to do.

“I already told you what you did wrong,” Yurika answered, furrowing her eyebrows more than before. “Don’t try to just act it, go become the witch yourself.”

Reading over the material one more time she tried to do her best to follow what Yurika was trying to say. Perhaps that was the difference in her, and Yurika. Part of Yurika truly believed that she was a vampire. Taking a deep breath she tried to enter the right state of mind.

”Am I truly unworthy of being with such a man, simply because of my birth?” Began Aomori. ”A man tempered in the fire of war, but still acts like a gentleman. A knight that has no equal...in my heart.” she said touching her hand to her chest.

“Hmm… not bad,” Yurika said, placing her hand under her chin. “It seems like you’re starting to understand how it works,” she nodded in agreement to herself. “Now we need to work on the particulars of your character. Then all you have to do is practice it.”

”Looks like I better find all the volumes of that manga,” joked Aomori. ”With any luck my roommate might have them in her collection.”

“We’ll meet each other here the next day, I’ll message you the timing details on your AiSuma,” Yurika said, calling off the activity for the day.

”I’ll keep myself glued to it so I don’t miss your summon, mistress,” answered Aomori hoping to bring back that reaction she had to the witch earlier.

(This post stars: Saotoshi Haruna, Hoshii Miki.)

After classes ended, Haruna got a message from Miki in her AiSuma as the tone rang out. The message was short, only specifying a particular room where they could practice dancing. It took Haruna a few minutes of walking to find the room after she read the message, and tried to make sense of it. Upon entering, she found Miki with a music player placed before her, to which she crouched down to place a disc in. Miki was clad in a white tracksuit that was decorated with orange colored stars and stripes. “Ah, you’re here,” she said, looking to Haruna’s direction before standing up.

“Did you think I wasn’t going to show? I’m hurt, senpai.” Haruna replied with a now reinvigorated smile. She felt confident the training was going to go well.

“No, I thought trip in the corridors and be late?” Miki replied, jokingly before she smiled. “We’ll start with the dance of Idol Activities! Since, you didn’t look good doing that in the video,” Miki said. She looked down and up towards Haruna, who wore the white tracksuit colored with blue stars and stripes. A cool type, huh? She pondered.

“Well jeez, senpai. Since you said it like that, you make it seem like I’m an idiot!” Haruna replied with puffed out cheeks and hands placed on her hips.

“I didn’t intend to mean it that way but… if you think so; it may be true?” Miki’s smile grew wider before she skipped the chit chat altogether. “Alright, let’s start.” Miki then ushered Haruna to get over to where she stood; before the music player.

“So what will we begin with senpai?” Asked Haruna before walking over to Hoshi’s requested spot. She figured dancing as an idol was arduous enough, she nearly dreaded what Hoshi had in store for her.

Miki tilted her head, frowning like back in the lunch break. “I already said that we’re starting with Idol Activities! And that obviously means you’re dancing, we won’t be doing any vocal training. Are you deaf?” By the end of her sentence, her mouth was a gap with disappointment. “You’re funny,” she said, not really laughing. She sighed yet again. “We’re starting,” she said before she pressed a button on the remote controller; starting up the music.

Miki and Haruna danced. Haruna somehow seemed to have lagged behind as they capered together along with the song. What went wrong? Nevermind that, her steps were all over the place, and the mistakes were piling over each other. It didn’t even take fifteen seconds, Miki stopped the music.

“Stop, this is abyssmal,” she said, unable to bare with the mistakes.

“I-I don’t know what I’m doing wrong…” The exhausted Haruna said, she grimaced her performance. “I am no dancer, senpai.” She complained, this was already established in both of her recent performances.

“An idol needs to be a dancer, though,” Miki replied coldly with a pout. “You’re an idol right now, hence you’re a dancer, too, now. So, get to it,” she added before walking back and leaning to the wall. “I’ll watch from here,” she added before sitting down on the floor, and bringing her knees to her face; resting her arms over it.

“Tch.” The girl began to lose her patience as she went over the steps once more.

“Time yourself with the music more!” Miki shouted. “The chin, it’s far too lowered; raise your head more! Your legs are to-” But before Miki could finish, Haruna fell flat on the floor. “Ouch, are you okay?” Miki asked, running over to Haruna, before offering a hand to her.

“Uwaahh?” Haruna was completely dumbfounded at this point, she could not go any longer. “I’m fine, I just messed up…” Haruna said as she weakly took her upperclassman’s hand, struggling to her feet. The fall didn’t hurt as much but Haruna did find herself sore afterwards.

“Hmm… this just seems like something you’d need to get used to,” Miki expressed her opinion of Haruna’s state, while rubbing the back of her head; pondering about what she should do with the girl. “There are some other issues, don’t think whether you can or cannot pull off the steps at least; otherwise this will end terribly,” she added informatively. “Make sure you slightly lessen the distance between your legs next time, try to do things faster, too. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes here, you’ll eventually be getting used to this, and fix them one by one.”

“Ugh, I hope so, otherwise I may need to start bringing knee pads to practice.” Haruna joked for a moment.

“Actually, just bring them from tomorrow onwards,” Miki said with a gleeful face. “I’ll be around everyday around this time, if there’s a change in schedule I’ll inform you via a message,” she informatively added. “I have a concert coming up at the end of the month, so there’s plenty of free time for other things till it gets closer,” most idols would be practicing hard by now, but Miki’s laidback nature and laziness prevented her from doing so. The moment Miki stopped dancing to watch Haruna, was when half of her lost motivation and got lazy, too. Her sloth was a huge deciding factor to her decisions. However, she also needed to pinpoint Haruna’s faults and mistakes.

“Fine, fine. I’ll try to practice whenever I have the chance.” Haruna replied in a determined tone. She knew she would not be able to succeed as an idol on singing alone, dancing was the bane she had to conquer in order for her to prosper.

“If you do well, I’ll give you these cards,” Miki said, flaunting three cards from her right hand. From the left, the cards were: Setup Tweed Jacket, Setup Tweed Short Pants, Pink Beige Gore Booty. Non-brand Aikatsu Cards, but they were definitely stylish. They’d go well with a sexy type idol. Who knows why Miki considered this particular coord for Haruna – who’d be called a cool type idol.

Haruna jumped with sudden exhilaration, from what knowledge she gathered from the idol world, getting cards was a big deal-- meaning Haruna’s chance in becoming one step closer to idoldome, and one step closer to gaining the funds required for her younger brother’s operation. This fueled Haruna’s will to continue. “Alright! Let’s do it!” she said with fire in her eyes.

“You done resting, we’ll start again,” Miki said. And so, the horrid training went on for hours to come. Haruna would eventually find herself grasping the fundamentals while showing embarrassing mess ups...

(This post stars: Saotoshi Haruna, Hoshii Miki.)

Haruna found herself searching the many crags and orifices of Starlight Academy in search of her upperclassman, Hoshii Miki. During her search she managed to trip over herself from time to time, she had to get out of sight before she created a scene. She looked in various locations, and even checked the dormitory. Unfortunately, she had no idea which room was her Miki’s, so she couldn’t check if she were in her room. She even checked the main building where classes are usually held. She had to get back there before recess period would end.

Time was so short, however. She wondered if she’d be unable to find her before going back, as she listlessly walked. At such a moment, she approached a fountain. There was a rainbow over it, and a blonde girl looked up to it with curiosity. There she was! Hoshii Miki stood beside the fountain and watched the rainbow with a rare expression of interest with her green eyes.

“Miki Senpai!” Haruna called out as she waved to the girl to gain her attention.

“Mnm?” Miki turned to the strange girl who waved her hands towards her. She shifted her gaze from the rainbow moments after hearing the voice, apparently not wanting to let go of the sight. Her hands were locked behind her back as she took light steps to approach Haruna. “Oh, it’s you, what do you want?” She asked, tilting her head to express her curiosity further. A blank face greeted Haruna as she spoke to her upperclassman.

“Umm, well, I’ve been wondering if you’d be willing to help me hone my skills as an idol.” Haruna said as she poked her fingertips together nervously. Her eyes darting in various directions as Haruna was not accustomed to asking for assistance, but with the way the fashion show turned out along with Madeko’s attitude, Haruna thought there was room for improvement-- and there was an entire space for it.

“Hone skills as an idol, huh?” Miki bluntly responded, there was hardly any reaction or emotion shown. She took out her AiSuma from her navy-blue coat of the Starlight Academy. She’d soon miss this uniform as the summer uniform would soon be doned by the students, including herself. She checked something in her phone’s display screen, and seemed to be considering something. It took almost a minute as she stood with her hand under her chin. Not to mention; her eyes closed due to her process of deep thinking. “Sure, fine by me. I’ll help you out,” she said.

Haruna raised her arms and cheered in victory, “All right!” She squealed with over joy and happiness. She knew that with the assistance of a popular idol in her free time, Haruna’s abilities would improve in time. It was only a matter of time before she started winning in future competitions-- let alone being any challenge at all.

Miki smiled lightly at the celebrating girl, before wandering to the bench before the trees and bushes to rest, still holding the AiSuma in hand. “Hey, did you entered in any auditions? Or performed in any already?” Miki inquired, contemplating if she should dig out the performance Haruna gave in the Nationwide Audition Caravan. However, if Haruna performed after entering the academy; she’d have more newer footage to reassess her with. She’d know usually, but lately, there wasn’t so much that bored her, so she was fairly occupied enough to not have to look for anything for entertainment.

“Guh,” Haruna still grimaced the thought of her recent performance, she grabbed her chest and hunched over as if trying to avoid Mikki’s question. “M-Maybe…?” She pathetically replied.

“What? Give me a clear answer,” Miki said almost strictly as she slightly furrowed her brows. Well, seemingly strick. What was this girl trying to hide, though? To begin with, she’d need a reason to ask someone such as her for help, were teachers not good enough, or did she not know how to book an extra private lesson period with a teacher via AiSuma? Regardless of the intent; Miki didn’t liked people who beats the bush. Since she’d rather finish her business with them as fast as possible.

“...Y-Yes.” Haruna responded in defeat. “I participated in the fashion show a while back but… my performance wasn’t what you’d call...good.” She replied almost regretted having the thought to ask Hoshii for help. After that performance Haruna wanted everyone having the displeasure to witness it would either die or disappear from the planet altogether. Typical of the girl, she talked big in front of Madeko but couldn’t even stomach her own work.

“Hmm… what’s this?” Miki uttered, finding apparently another video. “A seemed to have performed with someone else, too?” She asked, finding a particular video. She soon played it; the hologram showed the video where Haruna danced alongside Koyama Koyuki in the special audition where one won to become her temporary manager. “Doesn’t seem like you participated in the fashion show, only,” Miki said.

“...Yes, I participated in the contest to become Ichigo’s temporary manager as well.” Haruna said, unmoved and petrified as if Miki would be tempted to change her mind. Even the slightest word would make Haruna break down in shame.

“Jeez, be more honest, next time,” Miki tersely replied before focusing her eyes to the performance that was playing in front of her. The music buzzed and the two idols were dancing. Haruna was noticeably slower, and out-of-sync. Moreover… she almost slipped and fell, but regained balance, and then exclaimed †˜safe’ when she prevented herself from falling with her face flat on the floor. Her palm travelled to her forehead without a thought due to the sheer disappointment. “Funny, that other girl also came in past the Nationwide Caravan audition, and heck; I’m the one who got you to become an idol… what went wrong here?” She asked herself instead of Haruna as she scratched the back of her head. Albeit, she was only responsible, Haruka was the one who fully vouched for her, and brought attention regarding this particular girl.

Haruna fell on all fours, wallowing in her failure. The reason as to why she blurted out †˜safe’ in the middle of a performance was even a mystery to her which made her feel worse. Haruna’s mood went from overjoyed to riddled with regret in under a minute. “I’m sorry, please forgive me…” Haruna said weakly as she bowed to the idol before her.

“Well, don’t apologize to me; the mistake only makes it worse for yourself,” Miki replied, half-caring even now. Miki is casual towards most people. Laidback, in fact. She was, however, very blunt with her opinions. Hence her preference to honesty. “It’s pretty clear that you need to work with dancing first. I’m going back to class now. I’ll message you the details, come meet me after classes are over,” Miki said as she stood up from the bench, then made way for the Starlight Academy building. It seemed that she started watching her fashion show performance as she left the scene.

(This post stars: Saotoshi Haruna, Amaiya Madeko, and Ayase Eli.)

Madeko found herself trying to balance herself. With a leg afloat the air, with both arms spread out to the sides, and with a single leg connected with the floor; she was sweating profusely – her form resembled a ballerina figure… one who is the worst tier, perhaps. She looked up to Eli with a look of protest, but it was shot down instantly with the strict look of the upperclassman who took the time to †˜train’ Madeko. Madeko had fell to the floor ten times from trying to dance; she tripped. She fell even more after Eli started giving her balancing-training. This would, however, greatly improve Madeko in how to dance. The first and foremost important aspect of dancing needed one to know how to keep balance of their body. Knowing where the center of gravity lied, and how to effectively deal it so as not to wobble and fall was but a basic element of dancing often forgotten – as many tends to learn the easier way by simply going to the beat of a groove. Having a strong basic foundation was Eli’s belief to being a good dancer.

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuu….” Madeko groaned. It seemed to her like this was hell, having close to no experience of dance training prior to this. But it was a good experience, she figured, for she knew that this was but a tenth of what was going to come. However, straying her mind from focus she fell again.

”Ayase-senpaiiiiii, my legs are numb already… it would be nice to have a little break..?”[/colour]

“No! It hasn’t even been three minutes yet, you have to endure this for a while longer,” Eli said, sternly rejecting Madoka’s plea for rest instantly. “Two more minutes. You’re almost there,” she added.

Madeko groaned again. ”I didn’t think it would be this tiring,” as she shivered and stumbled among her place. [/color=#40d0d0]”When does this end~”

“I didn’t think you’d in this bad a shape, either...” Eri said, trailing off before looking back to her timer. “Another minute.”

Before the timer even stopped, Madeko’s legs finally gave way and she fell again.

”Agh, why am I so bad at this?” she said, stumbling to recover her position. ”I thought I would at least handle this pretty well…”

“I thought the same, it’s like not I’m making you do the dance moves, yet...” Eli said. Considering her current state, Madeko was hardly ready to even dance for practice, much less for performing on stage.

“Well, this is a problem, you’re hardly ready to dance as you are now,” she stated openly. “If you don’t do some extreme training; you’ll hardly be ready for the auditions at all.”

”Yeah…. That’s what you get when you don’t have any experience at all, I guess,” Madeko figured her placing was, if not close, at the bottom of the standings. She sighed. ”Let’s continue.”

“Then, this should be your next form,” Eli said. Lifting a leg to the air with grace; she stretched her arms to their limits. What supported her was her other leg, which seemed to be curved. A posture reminding Madeko of ballerina performers, Eli almost appeared to be like a swan. Now, Madeko was supposed to try this out. “This is a bit more challenging; but it should help out better with your sense of balance,” she stated confidently, smiling while maintaining her posture.

Madeko stood amazed, wondering just how Eli could still talk in a calm tone even after stretching herself to that point. She tried the posture herself, challenging oneself to their limits was the only way to go about this, after all. Madeko tried pulling up her leg, then raised it. Creak! She could feel the twists of her muscles. Oh, the pain. She winced, but continued regardless. Somehow stretching her arms; she could feel her whole form wobbling dangerously. Desperately trying to keep up, Madeko tried her hardest, before falling over once again.

“Ah! Are you alright?!” Eri asked hurriedly as she saw Madeko fall. She ran over immediately after dropping the posture of a ballerina. Perhaps it was too tough a job for Madeko after all?

”Eh… uh, yes, I am…” Madeko said expressionless, rubbing her calves. She needed to train very hard to accomplish even the slightest of goals. She wasn’t going to give up so easily and let go her chance of making something happen. ”I’ll try it again,” she said with a determined look. ”I need to do this…” prepping herself up again.

“Is that so… then we’ll proceed with the training,” Eli said, flashing a determined look back to Madeko as she recognized the look of a resolute idol in Madeko for the first time.

(This post stars: Amaiya Madeko, and Ayase Eli.)

”Mmmmm, I guess nothing for now, yet…” Madeko wanted to avert her gaze from Eli’s and hide her dire state from her lest she jests. She felt like her performance was all due to her incapabilities, and didn’t want to burden her senpai with extra †˜duties’. Leaning against the table once more her face returned to the usual, void of expression.

“...You aren’t hiding anything from me, are you?” Eli asked, a frown with a look of suspicion arose from her face as she stared into Madeko from the side. “Don’t forget now; trust comes first. And that’s only possible when you’re honest,” Eli advised, before smiling to her.

”Definitely.” Madeko gave the slightest of smiles. ”I did fail both of my auditions just now, but I guess that’s nothing to matter?” Madeko tried to make a sarcastic remark while not being too stern as to not disrespect, but realised her mistake.

”---I mean, everyone fails once in a while…”

“Oh...” Eri was at a loss of words for a moment. She vividly remembered her loss in the first audition she tried to win, too. It was never easy. But everyone needed to move on from it! Being all mopey or depressed about it wouldn’t solve a thing. “That’s alright,” she said. “It’s alright,” she smiled sweetly and kindly. “Just use that frustration, take it out while training and practicing; it helps,” she advised, apparently speaking from past experiences. “Most of the idols lose their first auditions, anyway,” she said, a painful experience lied behind the smile she portrayed to the young fledgling idol.

”Well, I don’t do very well in practices either,” Madeko reminisced at her first-time experience with the cameras as well as the robot.

“Maybe because you’re not putting enough effort? Or is it that you lack motivation in general?” Eli asked, tilting her head questioningly.

”Well, if you put it like that, I guess…” Madeko couldn’t help but to agree, as she had little to no excuse to save her from her miserable performances. ”I guess I hadn’t prepared enough.”

”It’s still hard to believe I made it past the auditions, and doing what I do here,” she winced. ”Being normal is what I do best, after all.”

“Will you get over the subtle act of self-depreciation and instead work on your flaws?” Eli asked, furrowing her brows, implying that she saw enough of this. “Those words aren’t gonna make you shine on stage. Not to mention that just working hard, or trying to, doesn’t cut it. Not for us idols, anyway. What cuts it is pure motivation. It helps if you can just have fun instead of overthinking.”

”It’s not something I can just get over like that, Ayase-sama,” Madeko said. ”I can try, but it would take me a long time. I am having fun, but only if fun allows me to have it…” Her gaze veered away.

”That said, I do enjoy performing, it’s just… hard to describe the feeling of wanting to do something, but you can’t. Madeko squinted, not sure whether she phrased it right. ”It’s tough, but somehow it’s fulfilling.”

Eli sighed. “Oh, is that so?” Eli asked, a bitter smile showed through her face as she pulled up her AiSuma from her pocket. “Then, allow me to see you having †˜fun’ as you claim,” she said, pressing a few icons over the display screen of the phone. A hologram soon showed itself hovering out from the AiSuma as Eli played a certain video. It was Madeko’s performance. It was her performance for the fashion show audition.

Five seconds into the video, and Eli already found herself commenting, “you don’t look like you’re having fun at all,” she said from looking at her expression. Eli was more than bored as she placed the phone in the middle of the table, then rested her head over her hand, which she placed over the table in a dull manner as she looked into the video. She could already see some people not looking towards the performer anymore – people were almost starting to just converse among themselves; waiting for the next performer. Eli didn’t allow the video to finish, but she watched most of it before pressing on a button to stop the video – making the hologram vanish. “You started late, your walk was a disaster, and you even fell,” Eli commented, pointing out her obvious errors. She didn’t know what to think of it, she thought Madeko would at least pull off a decent performance.

”I did, really hard, didn’t I… couldn’t believe it either, but what happens happens,” Madeko tried to keep her embarrassment of having her none other than her own senpai watching her hideous performance. ”Well, at least I still sang… a little.

“...Are you fine with being like that?” Eli asked, as if to confirm Madeko’s resolution. Not that she felt any of it from the girl to begin with, she tried to look the other way till she’d develop it, initially. Some girls do like to become an idol on a whim, after all. “Hmm,” she pondered. “It seems like you lack the more basic skills, plus you’re over-cautious. To top that off, you’re too self-depreciative, and the list doesn’t even end there… when’s your next audition? There’s no choice; I’ll help you with your prepping work for it,” she said, coming to a conclusion on how to spend her free times. “There’s some time before the Marine Cool Girl audition begins, so I have time for this, at least.”

”Really?” Madeko was surprised she would receive help from who she knows is one of the coldest people, at least for now. ”I’ve never received proper dance training in my entire life, so I might be a bit underperforming…” She tried to put emphasis on the fact that she’s really -never- got anything special when it comes to dance. ”But I’ll hope to at least endure it till the very end. I should- no, I must.” Knowing full well she’s in a bad position against all of her peers, Madeko needed to make something happen. ”So that I won’t disappoint the both of us.”

”I don’t know when the next audition is, by the way.”

Eli nodded with a firm expression to Madeko’s words. She’d need to get over this. If she couldn’t, she’d be kicked out of the industry in no time in this brutal world of idols. The fact that she’s still lasting is due to be able make to Starlight Academy… through some kind of a miracle. That miracle couldn’t save her twice; she’d need to get over this wall with pure efforts of her own. With a little push; Eli felt this could be possible. A human body is adaptable; anyone can do anything!

“Right now it’s the lunch period, so we obviously can’t begin the training now – it’s an improper time for it,” Eli stated, looking at the time shown at the corner of her AiSuma’s display image. “Meet me in the last dancing room on the corridor. I’m sure that you’ll know it when you see it,” she said, taking down her frown and strict face. “As for the auditions...” she drew up her AiSuma again to show her an image via the holograms. “I’ve actually done some research on auditions that are suitable for rookie idols… or well, doable, at least. The first one is this,” Eli said, as the hologram showed the image of Kiriya Aoi clad in Prism Cyber Coord. A coord that glittered, just as the name in silver shiny font did; stating †˜Glittering Web Girl’ audition. The smaller description in the image below stated that it’s hosted by Futuring Girls, and is being judged by the top designer, and Kiriya Aoi and Kamishiro Rei. The performances are net lives where only streamers will be the viewers. The winner would be able to promote a certain new website that plans to sell Aikatsu products.

The two names that Eli mentioned didn’t sound any familiar to Madeko. She didn’t know exactly who they were, nor did she remember meeting them at all. Maybe they were idols of equal standing to Ichigo’s. This girl shone on the hologram in all colours of blue. Nevertheless, the thought of having only net viewers watch the audition was a bit of good news to Madeko, as she’d prefer not to have live viewers. But then again, it would stump her chances of overcoming stage fright again, if she ever had one again. The Internet, of all, is one of Madeko’s places to be when she’d been secluded from the real world. She had been spending the most of her time at home just on the Internet all the time… maybe she could shine there for a new start. Madeko ultimately decided to put this on hold, since it piqued her interest.

The next audition that Eli showed was called the Fresh Beauties’ Fashion Show audition. The image was decorated with only a silhouette of Shibuki Ran. The fashion show would be for rookie idols to demonstrate their charm with a passionate walk. Shibuki Ran, alongside Tachibana Anna would be judging for the audition. They seemed to be actively searching for new and †˜fresh’ models. “I’m not sure if this audition would be fitting for you. But any audition is better than doing nothing, right? It’s not like anyone will come and give you the job of your dreams – it’s arrogant to think that way – an idol would do any job they may have a possibility to get. I wouldn’t tell you to enter many auditions at once just for that reason, though.” After that, Eli showed the next image, which contained a girl skipping high up before the name of Vivid Girl. The Vivid Girl audition apparently needed a model for their next issue, and this was a chance they provided with that excuse. A girl would need to be greatly appealing to win. Turned out that it was a fashion show, too – as mentioned at the end of the details. “This may be a good choice, there isn’t a brand hosting it, so you can avoid having to use a coord of Spicey Ageha, or a Futuring Girl dress. It seems like the participants will be performing in the Neon Road Stage, though.” The audition was set up take place later at the end of the month, however. The earlier one could take decisions; the more time they could have to prepare – is what Eli thought.

Another two names Madeko have never heard of. Madeko wasn’t so sure herself of Fashion Shows; she’d been humiliated herself the first time she ever auditioned in one. She didn’t think she had the charm, body, nor appeal -at that time- to even accomplish something like this. Even Eli said so herself, it didn’t fit Madeko at all. Madeko then decided this would only be a last resort if she didn’t went in anything else. She needed to do something, after all. ”You’re right. I’ll hold off the decision of entering the Fresh Beauties’ for now,” still pondering.

The Vivid Girl Audition, as well; another one Madeko didn’t exactly like at first glance. †˜greatly appealing’ really isn’t a word to describe her being. Again, it was another Fashion Show, even at the Neon Road Stage, too- she trembled just thinking about what she had done to stain what would have been glorious. However, she wasn’t too afraid to try again, she wasn’t limited to her coords as well; just shaken up by the fact that history could repeat itself again. ”The Vivid Girl one, as well, I’ll probably hang on to the thought, but not very likely to chose it either.”

Finally, the last audition was something that seemed like an yearly occurrence. The Pon-Pon Crepe Campaign Girl audition. Eli picked this up from its site itself. It’s a famous audition, anticipated each year. Also rumored to be the audition for the rising stars – critical to climbing the staircase to the idol world. The last winner was Kiriya Aoi – according to the post made on the front page. “The most appealing part for this audition is that you can choose your own song – which means you’re also able to pick out a stage yourself. This may get your name out more if you do well, too.”

Again, this †˜Kiriya Aoi’, she seemed like a very amazing idol, one who likes to work extremely hard, and had the intellect for it, too. Something more conspicuous to her was the option to choose her own song and stage, coupled with the added bonus of being more well-known if she performed well, pretty much sealed the deal for Madeko. She’d have thousands of songs to choose from, her very own stage choice, as well. Although, she knew that there is a very good chance of it backfiring on her, resulting in a heavy hit on her would-be career as a rookie idol… but she thought it would be fun. “This one’s definitely the one for me!” Madeko exclaimed. ”I just know it.”

”The Glittering Web Girl, as well, It looks like something that I could at least be decent in.”

“Then that’s that. I’ll prep you up for it good,” Eli said with a nod, before smiling with a determined look. “I don’t hold back when training, by the way. Be prepared!”

(This post stars: Saotoshi Haruna, Amaiya Madeko, and Ayase Eli.)

[size=13]Haruna’s Dilemma and Madeko’s Falling Confidence:[/h]

The fifth of May, Haruna sat over a chair in the cafeteria. It was the lunch time in Starlight Academy. She sat alone. She felt as though it was proof that she hardly made friends here in the academy, so far. That is, until Madeko walked over to her table to take a seat opposite to her. It almost felt as though she was her saving grace – Haruna thought, feeling all happy-go-lucky. Recently, the two were defeated thoroughly in their auditions. Their performances just weren’t good enough. They wondered if they even had a chance of winning – even if there weren’t any other good performers, save for them. It was embarrassing to say the least.

Haruna still remembered exclaiming †˜safe!’ while she danced in the audition to attempt to become Hoshimiya Ichigo’s manager. Thinking of this now made her cheeks flush up uncontrollably. She was still clueless as to how her teacher; Asakura Miwa left the performance hall when she witnessed the utter failure of an idol. She also did badly in her other audition apparently – the fashion show, more specifically. At least, she felt that she did moderately fine. Some would say †˜ignorance is bliss’ at this point, to Haruna.

On the other hand, Madeko could picture the performances she gave. She wondered how many people stopped watching half-way. There were so many flaws and mistakes; it seemed as though she hardly practiced for it. It made her feel hopeless. It may be pointless to keep trying. Who knows what kind of humiliation and failure lied in the future. Madeko fell to a pit of depression as she wailed internally. She didn’t even feel like getting off her bed, and come over for class. Yet something inside her refused to give in, ending up making her legs carry her over to the building from the dormitory.

Madeko stared at her tray. There wasn’t anything special in it, to her food was just… food. She stared blankly, wondering if she really did deserve to stay in Starlight Academy, otherwise how long. Resting both elbows on the tabletop, Madeko held her face in her hands and sighed.

Haruna took notice to this and passed a hand of comfort of Madeko. “What's the matter Madeko-chan?” She said softly, feeling her gloomy aura from across the table. From that day they met Haruna was so used to seeing her roommate's pearlescent smile-- seeing her like this now made her uneasy, something was definitely wrong.

“It’s...nothing, Haru-chan,” Madeko said, her face still in her hands. She didn’t want to down the mood of anyone else with her own inadequacy. “Just a bit overwhelmed.” She parted her face from her hands, then leant towards the table, staring at her tray.

“Oh? From the fashion show?” Haruna questioned. From what what she could recall Madeko was among the girls who didn't do so well, unlike the rest Haruna wasn't so bereaved from her lackadaisical performance. She saw it as a chance to correct her mistakes, besides moping over a failure will not gain one progress over anything-- she thought. She clapped a hand over Madeko’s forehead as she was annoyed by her attitude. “Deko-Chan, you won't get anywhere being being all gloomy like that!” Haruna exclaimed sincerely as she's ever been the remainder of of her stay in Starlight. “Do what I do and keep on going, no matter what happens!”

“D-Dekooooooo….” Madeko groaned. “To be honest, it wasn’t just the Fashion Show, it was most, no- -all- of my auditions I was in…”

“Maybe I didn’t prepare enough… I was pretty weak even during lessons, after all.” Madeko stated, now slumped over the table. She knew that she wouldn’t do well, but doing this badly gave her a huge shock. In this she knew she wasn’t a match for anyone else, yet. “But that’s enough about me I guess, how did Haru-chan fare?”

Haruna made made a flatulence sound with her lips, just thinking about her performance made her feel ill. “I'd rather not talk about it,” She said slumping into her chair as well. “Same as you, I guess.”

“S-Still! You passed your entry audition and got into Starlight Academy-- we both did, not many girls can say that, y'know.” Haruna stressed the girls' worth.

”That was luck, mostly...” Madeko looked down. ”Honestly, even I’m surprised that I made it.”

Madeko rested her cheek on one hand elbow against the table. Contemplating, she closed her eyes, as if she wanted to go back to reality, however realizing the obvious. ”But I guess that’s what matters, after all.” She let a thought out of her mind. ”That I’m here, and you are, too.”

“Mhm!” Haruna shook shook her head in sheer self righteousness. She was happy to see that her words had gotten through to Madeko at all if not a little.

“I wonder how you stay motivated even despite setbacks...” Then again, this was Madeko’s first real failure as anything she’d been, so she wasn’t surprised she’d be this attached about it.

“I...get some help,” Haruna replied. She smiled weakly as she looked down at the the table. “You always gotta have something to keep you going, Deko-Chan.”

”Must be nice, getting help…” Madeko started to take a small bite out of her food. ”I’ve been with myself most of the time for the most part until now, so I guess I can only help myself here, I guess,” she said after finishing chewing. For some very odd reason, Madeko couldn’t digest any more of her food, much less what has been happening. Not even half of her food went through had she pushed her tray away from her. Cleaning her lips with a piece of tissue she sighed again.

“What †˜helping myself here’? As your assigned senpai – I am inclined to help,” a voice spoke from behind Madeko – before her cheeks were caught and pulled upon. “Isn’t it you who keeps it all to herself instead of calling out for help?” She said, taking a wild yet accurate guess regarding the rookie idol she was speaking to. Madeko recognized the voice. It was Eli. The strikingly blue-eyed blonde idol graced her with presence yet again. She wore a frown and a strict air around herself as she let go of Madeko. “If you really need help, why not just say it?”

Madeko grimaced. ”Sooooooooorrrryyyyyyyyy………..” while hitting her hand against the table, trying to make Eli stop, but the result was obvious. Her bouncy cheeks were left swollen and red.

“Yeouch, that looks like it hurts…” Haruna said under her breath at the mysterious girl. “Who might you be?” She questioned while she tilted her head to the side all the while maintaining her rosey smile.

“Ah, are you a friend of Amaiya-san?” Eli said, facing the girl on the other side of the table, her stern expression dropped as she did so. “I am a second year student here – Ayase Eli – I was assigned to Amaiya Madeko-san here, to help her out,” she explained. “Thank you for taking care of her,” she courteously added with a bow.

Haruna was taken aback by her sudden change in her attitude. From stern to well-mannered in almost an instant. “I-It’s no problem at all, I’m just helping a friend,” she said waving her hand to the girl. “It’s nice to meet you though, Saotoshi Haruna is the name,” she saluted to Ayase.

“I see, it’s nice to meet you too,” Eli said, replying with a smile. “Amaiya-san, what’s your schedule after class, today?”

After finishing her food Haruna bolted from the table. “Well, I’ll leave you guys to talk about… whatever you’re gonna talk about, my senpai is probably looking for me, as well. See ya!” She waved goodbye to the two and skipped out of sight.

Maximum weab.

Don't go, Uncle Freak.

Who's gonna provide me with the sources of various lewd stuff when I need them occasionally?

So I saw a certain someone's twintails recently.

My inner fetishes beckons to me... ever so much...

More like I can't fathom why you'd say pink of all colors.

Maybe more believable if you'd have said white.

Amira is lighter blonde or the fabled platinum blonde. I didn't mean Jeanne because I watched episode 2 after I made the comment... but now that I think of it; I suppose she does count.

Regardless, I'm enjoying Amira's personality. It's sad that the MC wants to kill her.

5.5/10

So,

I'm playing Koenchu.

Pretty much the same opinion.

But I like the heroine cus blonde tho...

sup sup

Good day.