I am the stone that is a approaching🎶
Provoking pebbles in isolation🎶
Ah, *cough *cough
Oh hi!
This fanfic is nearing the end… of the first volume. The second volume would be about the summer arc and there should be some actions in it.
Also, I'm planning to also post this fic on another platform so, do you have any recommendation?
Anyway, good reading, everyone.
(Pic at the end)
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"Um, hello everyone!"
"Ah, it's really Mai-chan! U-um, I really love the song "Rainbow barometer" that you sung with Haruka-chan in an album! The two of you were so in sync! A-and, and..." Minori immediately went into her fan girl mode as she saw Mai from ASRUN.
We were actually in Emu's room in her house. Yeah, just like Yuu, his cousins also bought their own house. Well, instead of buying, Emu apparently asked for one to be built. Unlike Yuu's mansion, hers was a normal house, well, a bigger one but not a mansion.
With her help, we made a video call to Mai after messaging her. After the call connected, Emu went away saying she had to help her newly caugh Pokemon.
"Uh, umm... T-thank you?" She responded awkwardly.
"*Sigh* Calm down, Minori, you're troubling her." I told her.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!"
"Ahaha..."
"Anyway, Mai, what can we do for you?" I asked.
"Um..."
"Let me guess, it has something to do with Haruka-chan, right?" Said Shizuku.
"... Yeah, I wanted to apologize to her. I always wanted to do it before but I was too nervous to do it and kept procrastinating by saying I should meet her, that I shouldn't do it with phone calls or video calls. But before I knew it, she went to your actual school and even contacting her was impossible.
"That's why when I saw your post on Pidger, I couldn't help but to try to contact you in hope I would be able to talk to her. Momoi-san, Hinomori-san, and Hanasato-san, can I ask you her contact informations?"
"I'm sorry but that wouldn't be possible. In normal case, students in this school are prohibited to contact the outside and the phone that we use here can't reach outside. The reason we could contact you right now is due to some exceptions but we won't tell you about it since we aren't allowed to talk about the scone rules. The only thing we could do to help you is to call her to come here. That aside, if possible, can you tell us why do you want to apologize to her?" I responded.
"Well, I don't mind telling you about it. I want to apologize to her because it was my fault that she quited being an idol."
"Wait, what? What do you mean, your fault? What happened with Haruka?" Three of us were stunned hearing that. It was very well known that Mai and Haruka were best friends when they were still in ASRUN.
"... You see, I entered ASRUN because I admired Haruka. "If today isn't a good day, tomorrow might be a better day. If you work hard while holding onto hope, I'm sure you'll find your way." Haruka-chan's words always helped me to move forward when I was struggling."
"Wait, you too?" Exclaimed Minori suddenly, which made Mai chuckle a bit.
"You too it seems, Hanasato-san. Anyway, before I knew it, I wanted to be an idol like her. I desperately practice singing and dancing, so, when I passed the audition to enter ASRUN, I was overjoyed.
"As I started working as an idol, things weren't easy but I could overcome the hard trainings and though schedules because Haruka-chan was always there to encourage me.
"Before I knew it, my own popularity was slowly rising and I was even able to sing beside her. I was really happy at the time. Everything went well until in my third year in ASRUN, I feel into a slump.
"It all started when I couldn't do well for my group's new song. No matter how careful I was, I always messed up on my own part. Even during concerts, I kept worrying about failing that part so I stopped being able to dance with full energy. And because of that, I kept dragging everyone down.
"I was really crestfallen at that time. I kept complaining about myself and was worrying about the public's opinion. But as usual, Haruka-chan was there to encourage me.
"Everything would've been fine if it wasn't for the fact that I was too excited and ended up pushing myself for hours. Even when my voice coach told me to stop, I kept on practicing. Due to that, I ended up damaging my throat. Because I practiced to much, I couldn't hit the high notes anymore.
"When I went to the hospital, I was told that the recovery speed depends on each person, so I might take several years, or even longer. For me, that meant I wouldn't be able to continue being an idol anymore."
Being unable to hit the high notes... People might think that it's a major problem and say "If you can't hit the high notes, you just need to sing at lower notes." That's not how things works.
Japanese idol industries is highly competitive and agencies would expect the best from their idols. Therefore, they would have the idols adapt to their songs and never the other way. Not to say that most of idol songs have high notes. Which is why her problem is very serious for any idol.
"At that time, it felt like I was thrown in a darkness. Everything I built was crumbling and there was no hope on which I could cling anymore. And due to that, I ended up lashing everything out onto Haruka-chan. "All your talk about hope and whatsoever was a lie! I… I worked hard, and that's why this... Give them back! My time, my days as idol, give them back!" That's what I told her.
"I always regretted what I said that day. Haruka-chan have me hope… so many time. I admired her and she was my most precious friend. But I just said those words to her." Tears fell from Mai's eyes as she says that.
"That's why when I heard she was retiring a few months later, everything before me went blank. I knew it was my fault. That's why I have to apologize to her. I know apologizing might not do anything, but I have to do it."
Friend may have some conflicts sometimes and you may end up hurting them. It may not be easy to apologize but the more you postpone your apologize, the harder it would be to do it and the more your relationship would deteriorate.
I was lucky with Yuu helping me when I did the same to Shizuku or else it would've been harder for us to make up.
"… So that was it. We might not know much about the two of you, but if you have something to tell her, you should really talk it through."
"Yes, even if you have hurt her, by having a good talk with her, the two of you might be able to move forward."
"Momoi-san, Hinomori-san, thank you very much."
"Okay then, I'm going to call Haruka here."
…
"I'm sorry for making you wait. What did you want to talk about..." A moment after I called her, Haruka came in with Emu who, this time, didn't go away and stayed in the room with us.
"…Eh?" Haruka was surprised when she saw Mai on the monitor's screen.
"Haruka-chan!"
"Mai, why are you…"
"I'm sorry for disturbing you. But I really wanted to apologize to you. Haruka-chan, I'm sorry! What I said to you that day, I always wondered why did I say something like that. I always wanted to say I'm sorry, I'm really sorry! But then, I heard you quited being an idol. So I'm sorry! I know it's too late to apologize, but even so… It was my fault you…"
"Look at me, Mai. I'm sorry too. I always wanted to apologize. I ran you down and made you suffer, but I couldn't do anything for you. And you're having the wrong idea. It's not your fault I quit being an idol."
"…Eh?"
"I wanted to study as a student, I wanted to try a non-idol thing, so…"
"That's a lie, I always worked with you and you're my best friend so I can tell, that's not what you really think."
"…"
"I'm… sorry…"
"That's really all the is too it. So there's no need for you to feel responsible. Thank you for contacting me, Mai."
"Haruka-chan…"
After Haruka and Mai talked a bit more, wewe ended the video call.
"This was like a sneak attack, sorry about that, Haruka." I told her.
"No, you were worried about me because of what I said."
"Well, yeah. But Haruka, was that really fine?"
"*Sigh* Well, it's true I though I had no right to be an idol because of what happened with Mai. But I will never tell her that, ever. I don't want her to keep being bound to the past."
"Haruka-chan…" (Minori)
"The fact is, I have no regret left for being an idol. I've done everything I could. And… there's nothing left for me to give."
"…"
"That's not true!" Shouted Minori suddenly.
"Minori?"
"It's not true there's nothing you can give! You're given me lots of hope. That's why I can work towards being an idol now. Even after failing fifty auditions, I can still go on without losing hope. It's because you've given me a hope for tomorrow. So don't say there's nothing you can give."
"Thank you, Minori. That makes me really happy. But, I really can't give anything anymore. Because… even if I want to, I no longer can stand on the stage."
"""What?"""
The three of us were taken aback by what Haruka just said.
"Whenever I try to go on a stage, my feet won't move anymore."
"That's…"
"Ever since Mai said those words to me, everytime I went to the stage, I became nervous and my legs were trembling, something like that never happened before.
"And then, that day came. It was an important day for ASRUN as it was the first day of our tour where each venue had the capacity of more than 30,000 people. When it was time to step on the stage, my feet refused to move, no matter what, so they had to improvise and perform without me.
"I talked with my agency, and also went to the hospital. But I was told it's a mental problem, that all I can do is to change my way if thinking. I consulted an expert and read many book, but it was all the same.
"I still did whatever I could to stand onstage again, I tried and tried, but no matter what I did, nothing works. At that timeI though 'Even if give hope, I'll only post someone over the edge again.' So, I decided to accept it and give up."
"But, Haruka-chan…"
"Minori, working hard don't always solve everything." Minori tried to tell something but haha interrupted her.
"Thank you for worrying about me, everyone. I'll take my leave."
"Wait a minute, Haruka! Sure… sure, it may not have been easy. But you don't need to give up yet. Aren't you still fifteen? You never know, you might think it's impossible, bit something still might change." I told her.
"We don't understand your pain as you do, but are you fine with that?" Added Shizuku.
"Whatever I'm fine with it or not, there's nothing to do anymore."
"In that case, why not asking for Yuu-sama's help?" Emu who started silent until now suggested.
"Yuu? Why?" I asked.
"That's because he should be able to help you. He's very good at solving mental problems like this."
"Really? Then we should ask him, right Haruka… well, if that's alright with you." I was a bit excited to the idea but I remember the decision isn't ours to make.
Haruka hesitated for a bit then turned to Emu and asked.
"Are you really sure he can help me?"
"Yup. He actually solved a few case before coming to this school so it shouldn't be a problem for him."
"In that case, let's do it."
…
"And that's why we decided to ask you for help." Airi finished.
"I see. From what I understand, you have developed a serious case of stage fright coupled with a trauma. It may be a little complicated but nothing that couldn't be resolved." When I said that Kiritani's eyes lit up and get friend also beamed in joy.
Also, there were some other people in the clubroom who reacted, it was the WonderShow group. They were looking at Nene.
"Really? That's really good! Isn't it, Haruka-chan?" Exclaimed Minori.
"…Yeah, if that's true, then it really is." She answered.
"Um, Yuu-sama, since your a specialist in mental problems, can I also ask you to help Nene-chan?" Interrupted Emu.
"Specialist you say..." How can you say that when I myself can't resolve my own problem? That aside…
"Nene, can you tell me what do you need help with?"
"Ah… um… I-I also have a stage fright…"
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MMJ
Don't forget the power stones.