*WEST TOWER BUILDING - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V SWITCH - SHIORIKO*
I knew he had lost his mind, but I had no idea that he was this far gone...
AYUMU: "Shioriko! You're-!"
SHIORIKO: "Yes, I am. Come with me; I'm going to the Clubroom."
AYUMU: "I'm actually on my way to talk to Aki."
SHIORIKO: "I already have. It's not worth it right now."
...
*SCHOOL IDOL CLUBROOM - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V SWITCH - YU*
SETSUNA: "I've been talking to members of the Student Council. We can reserve the Main Auditorium without him finding out."
YU: "Good. We can't let him find out; it has to be a surprise."
MIA: "Yeah, because our last surprise live show was so successful."
LANZHU: "Mia, that was for the fans. This live show is just for the Captain."
RINA: "My Rina-chan Board is still malfunctioning. But I must trust it to hold out for a little longer."
KANATA: "Akihiko was harsh when he freaked out on us, but he did have some valuable insights into what went wrong at our last live show."
EMMA: "Yes, but he could have said it nicely."
KASUMI: "Shizuko's really taking this live show seriously."
SHIZUKU: "My declaration of love for Valentin made Senpai snap. I want to work hard to correct that."
KASUMI: "Geez, Shizuko I already told you. There was nothing wrong with what you did!"
SHIZUKU: "No, it was wrong. The feelings I had for Valentin were childish; he himself said so.
I've got a lot to learn about what it means to be in love with someone truly."
KASUMI: "Well... We all have childish feelings of love sometimes. I know how much it can hurt you when you love someone who doesn't love you back."
SHIZUKU: "You do?!"
KASUMI: "I-I've said too much!"
AI: "Karin, do you think he'll ever get over how we left him?"
KARIN: "Who can say? But we need his skills to help us stop Golden Calf."
AI: "Is that all we're bringing him back for? That's no different to when we were in the Clique and using him when in a pinch."
KARIN: "Perhaps we've still got much growing to do. I've got the body of a mature woman, but my mind isn't the same."
AI: "Coming from you, that's a pretty mature thing to say."
KARIN: *Sigh* "I want to bring him back. He's the only boy that sees me other than for my looks."
AI: "What about Daichi?"
KARIN: "He always tells me I've got a body that screams 'Passion.' Sure, he's a good guy, but I'd rather talk to the Boss."
AI: "Hiro's a nice guy too, but he's a little wacky. He's always climbing up to high places, and I'm worried he'll kill himself one day."
KARIN: "You can only appreciate something when it's taken away.
I know how hard this has been for Ayumu, especially since she's betting on her student status at Nijigasaki on this live show."
SETSUNA: "The Chief's outburst was cruel, but he had a valid reason to be angry. We haven't been honest with him lately.
Me especially..."
KARIN: "What do you mean by that?"
SETSUNA: "It's nothing, don't worry about it..."
KARIN: "Hmm."
YU: "Ayumu, you're back! Did you talk to him?"
AYUMU: "No, but I didn't return alone."
SHIORIKO: "Hello, everyone-"
*SQUEEZE*
SHIORIKO: "ACK!"
LANZHU: "SHIORIKO! Lanzhu missed you so much! Please don't leave her again!"
SHIORIKO: "L-Lanzhu, you're crushing me..."
LANZHU: "Oh! Lanzhu is sorry."
AI: "Long time no see, Shio-ti!"
KASUMI: "Shioko's back!"
MIA: "Thank God."
YU: "Just in time, too!"
SHIORIKO: "Takasaki? Did you join the School Idol Club during my absence?"
YU: "Not exactly, heh, it's a long story."
SHIORIKO: "All I know is that Akihiko has lost his mind. I want you to fill me in on all the information you have."
...
*TWO HOURS LATER*
SHIORIKO: "Is that all?"
KASUMI: "Geez, that was so boriiing! I thought it would never end!"
SHIZUKU: "For being so patient, how about I treat you to some ice cream later?"
KASUMI: "Shizuko!"
SHIORIKO: "It's a relief to see that it wasn't one singular event that caused Akihiko to break down. Rather, a multitude of catastrophic events took their toll on his resolve."
AYUMU: "Liella!'s sudden betrayal, the School Idol Showcase, our neglect of the School Idol Club, everyone calling themselves school idols... Even events before that, such as the Clique saga, being bullied, and the strict expectations he must follow."
*RUMBLE*
KANATA: "Ooh, is someone hungry? I can whip up a nice welcome back meal of-"
EMMA: "It's not hunger this time, Kanata. Listen closer."
???: "DOWN WITH SUZUKI! DOWN WITH SUZUKI!"
MIA: "Oh shit..."
AI: "That's an angry mob!"
RINA: "Where? I can't see."
KARIN: "Here, I'll give you a boost."
RINA: "Thanks."
Below in the courtyard stood a mob of angry students, chanting for Akihiko's downfall.
SHIORIKO: "I knew this would happen, but I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly..."
Picket signs were paraded with slanderous statements—all in protest of our Student Council President. Several students were throwing Nijigasaki Newspapers onto a pile to burn.
SHIRO: "Everyone!"
AYUMU, YU: "Shiro?!"
SHIRO: "Things are getting crazy out there. They all want Akihiko's head on a silver platter!"
SETSUNA: "They what?!"
LANZHU: "Why are they burning copies of the school newspaper?"
SHIRO: "You haven't read it? It's what lit the fuse! Does anyone have a copy?"
EMMA: "A copy is always delivered to the Clubroom daily."
YU: "Yeah, plus two guys in suits came here asking for Akihiko the other day. They came to deliver business cards.
Anyway, that's not important right now. Read the paper!"
Everyone huddled around the single copy we had; inside it contained a sit-down interview with Student Council President Akihiko Suzuki.
----------------------------------------------------
IROHA: "Journalist Iroha Kamishiro of the Nijigasaki High School Newspaper, bringing you a tall-all interview with our new Student Council President, Akihiko Suzuki."
AKIHIKO: *SILENCE*
IROHA: "First of all, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me today, Akihiko."
AKIHIKO: "Suddenly we're on a first-name basis?"
IROHA: "Oh, sorry. Mr. Suzuki."
AKIHIKO: "Mr. Suzuki is my father. I hate my father."
IROHA: "I didn't mean any harm."
AKIHIKO: "Then address me correctly. You're a journalist. Do your part!"
IROHA: "Sorry, President Suzuki."
AKIHIKO: "Thank you."
IROHA: "First of all I would like to ask you about your sudden inauguration as President. Having served as Vice-President since the end of last year, it was shocking to discover that you were promoted to Presidential status."
AKIHIKO: "Shioriko was out of action. Someone needed to step up to steer this ship. I did that."
IROHA: "Yes, although some may have doubts about how you obtained your position."
AKIHIKO: "What is there to doubt? Chairwoman Zhong granted me this seat."
IROHA: "Rumors are circulating that you may have blackmailed the Chairwoman. Is this true?
What dirt could you possibly have on our Chairwoman to force her hands like that?"
AKIHIKO: "There are too many conspiracy theorists in this country today.
90% of the time it stems from jealousy of people more successful and powerful than you.
I'm the new Student Council President, which makes me the most powerful student at Nijigasaki High School. A lot of people are going to hate me for that. Of course they're going to spread rumors.
Blackmail? Really? Do they think that's how I handle my business? It is so beneath me to do something like that. I'd appreciate it if they had better expectations of me.
Besides, what am I going to use to blackmail Chairwoman Zhong? She's a very refined woman and there's no skeletons in her closet.
Frankly, I think it's insulting anyone would assume that of her."
IROHA: "So you're saying it's just a conspiracy theory?"
AKIHIKO: "Yes. People get angry, they're even more frustrated when there's no dirt on someone. So they do their best to create lies to slander them. Being a journalist, I'm sure that you're not 100% honest all of the time, Io."
IROHA: "I don't understand."
AKIHIKO: "Don't act so coy. Surely there have been times that you've had a slow news day and you've spiced up the truth with little lies."
IROHA: "As a member of the Newspaper Club, I take my job very seriously. However, you are entitled to your opinion."
AKIHIKO: "As the President I must have an opinion for everything."
IROHA: "I'm sure you do. Moving on, I want to talk about your first order as President. That being to slash Club budgets in half, when they were scheduled to be doubled."
AKIHIKO: "Predictable."
IROHA: "The people want to know the truth. Everyone is struggling to get by with their shortened allowance."
AKIHIKO: "Understandable. But it's necessary to teach them a lesson in respect. Not to act so entitled.
Our previous President Shioriko Mifune would inspect each club, and they would demand her to double their budget.
Shioriko was a woman of the people, and worked herself to sickness to create that budget sheet.
For the students of Nijigasaki to have such ill regards for their President, I don't think they deserve to be rewarded.
Punishment creates disci......."
IROHA: "Sir?"
AKIHIKO: "........"
IROHA: "President Suzuki, is everything okay?"
AKIHIKO: "D-Discipline. Sorry."
IROHA: "Why the long pause?"
AKIHIKO: "What pause?'
IROHA: "Just now!"
AKIHIKO: "I don't understand what you're talking about. At the end of the day I'm trying to gather volunteers for the School Idol Festival to stop the Clique."
IROHA: "What?"
AKIHIKO: "I said I'm trying to protect the School Idol Club to prevent Golden Calf Productions from taking over."
IROHA: "Are you okay?"
AKIHIKO: "I'm fine. What about you? You're looking a little shifty, is everything okay?"
IROHA: "I think so."
AKIHIKO: "Good. Please continue."
IROHA: "About the School Idol Club, you were President and lead the Club to great things. Suddenly, you quit to become Student Council President.
Why?"
AKIHIKO: "Oh, yes... That... I love the School Idol Club. Everyone in the Club holds a piece of my heart and I would do anything to protect them.
The School Idol Club is my number one priority."
IROHA: "Shouldn't you be there helping them, then?"
AKIHIKO: "I'm sorry, I didn't know that you wanted them to fail."
IROHA: "Huh?"
AKIHIKO: "Do you want me to go back and become a hindrance to them?"
IROHA: "N-No..."
AKIHIKO: *Chuckle* "I'm just kidding. You're great... They're great... So talented. I care about them a lot, so it's okay if they hate me.
Being an idol fan has always been a one-sided love affair. I cheer for them and they look at me in disgust like the goddesses they are.
I devote everything I have to them and they still won't love me back.
Funny."
IROHA: "I think we're done here... Thank you for your time."
AKIHIKO: "Ending it so soon? But we were getting along so well!"
IROHA: "G-Goodbye!"
----------------------------------------------------
EVERYONE: "..."
MIA: "What the fuck?!"
RINA: "Mia, language."
MIA: "I think this the right time for that!"
KASUMI: "Is it just me or does Senpai sound a little...broken?"
SHIORIKO: "A little? I think he's going through a full-blown mental breakdown!"
SHIZUKU: "It reminds me of Shakespeare's 'King Lear'.
The character King Lear thought that his daughters had betrayed him, he lost his position as king and ventured into a storm. He quickly went insane and delusional."
SETSUNA: "He's out of his mind!"
AYUMU: "We've got to stop him!"
SHIORIKO: "But clearly, Akihiko isn't the only one who has lost their sanity."
YU: "Shioriko, we're holding a surprise birthday live show for Akihiko to help him come to his senses.
Are you in?"
SHIORIKO: "Of course."
SHIRO: "Shioriko, are you sure that you can trust him again?"
SHIORIKO: "This isn't a matter of bringing him back to forgive and trust him."
EMMA: "It's not going to be that simple. The trust Akihiko shared with the School Idol Club was shattered."
YU: "Instead, we want to bring him back so that the School Idol Club and Akihiko can work towards repairing that lost trust."
SHIORIKO: "It'll take a lot of work to repair the damage, but we want to try. Our job is to make sure that Akihiko feels the same way."
SHIRO: "If anyone can bring him back, it's you girls. Put your all into practice and never give up!"
Now, it's a straight path to the 28th. Three days is all we have left to make this shine.
Luckily...
YU: "We have a secret weapon."
SHIRO: "You do?"
YU: "A little something Akihiko himself left behind."
AYUMU: "Of course, his notebook! Aki always recorded things in there."
MIA: "Isn't that where Babyboy wrote all his songs?"
YU: "Yes, which is why we're going to need your skills to bring a piece to life, Mia."
MIA: "Replicating a Babyboy song? I don't know if that will work. His songs and mine are completely different."
YU: "That's because you didn't have a guideline. Everything you need is in this notebook. If you can help everyone sing this song, it'll catch him completely off guard!"
MIA: "Heh, you're pretty optimistic about this Baby-chan. That's pretty refreshing. But I can't do this alone."
YU: "Eh?"
MIA: "You play the piano too, right? Plus you're blood relatives with Babyboy. I bet you have a better chance at performing the instrumental than I do."
YU: "Wow... I heard so much about you in New York, but to hear you praise me like that it's just... YEAH!"
MIA: "Man, you really are a baby like your cousin. Oh well, when babies misbehave they need to be taught a lesson."
YU: "Then let's teach Akihiko about the errors of his ways!"
EVERYONE: "YEAH!"
...
*MEANWHILE*
*KAMIJOU'S OFFICE - GOLDEN CALF HEADQUARTERS - AKIHABARA - CHIYODA - TOKYO*
KAMIJOU: "You again? Do I have to start putting lines of salt at the door to keep you at bay? Dog write that on my To-Do List!"
NISHIYAMA: "Y-Yes sir."
ODA: "Now, now, young master. Please calm your hostilities. I wanted to ask for your opinion."
KAMIJOU: "My opinion. That is none of your concern."
ODA: "Akihiko Suzuki is giving you more trouble than you expected. You underestimated him and it cost you dearly."
KAMIJOU: "This Dreieck of his is pathetic. A Golden Calf reject and a crippled dog.
They don't have the investment necessary to stand a chance against Golden Calf's School Idol Division."
ODA: "Sitting comfortable, I see. However, I am certain that you've made many enemies who would love to back young Suzuki's cause."
KAMIJOU: "Then let them come. Golden Calf is the alpha and the omega of this nation's entertainment industry.
The people's adoration for school idols surprised me at first. However, that is mostly due to the efforts of μ's and A-RISE.
Both of them will disband soon, those relics aren't a threat.
The past wasn't a threat but the future was.
In the future three groups will stand at the top, becoming greater than their predecessors ever were."
ODA: "School idols are very popular, and you would hate to see QUASAR's ticket sales plummet."
KAMIJOU: "Three groups, all of which could have been considered threats.
1. Aqours, however that depends on how they evolve after losing their three original founders.
2. Nijigasaki, when Akihiko Suzuki was in command their potential was astronomical. However, without him they are no longer a threat. They will collapse soon enough from infighting. Just like PRISMATIC.
3. Liella!, but you know how I took care of that problem. They work for us now."
ODA: "You hold Kanon Shibuya to high praise. Why is that?"
KAMIJOU: "Years ago, QUASAR saw its greatest era. The great Shiro Okuda was the unstoppable Empress of Entertainment. A wolf in sheep's clothing who would tear through our enemies with no remorse.
Ever since she graduated, QUASAR has suffered a lull under Aki Kashiwagi's leadership."
ODA: "My Aki-chan tries her best."
KAMIJOU: "Her legacy is tainted with the stench of failure. She will never surpass her predecessor, Shiro Okuda."
ODA: "You thought that a robot could do that for you. But unfortunately she went rogue and attacked her teammates."
KAMIJOU: "Suspiciously, her teammates had baseball bats with them for protection. Almost as if her demise was intentional."
ODA: "My, my, young master. You do have such wild conspiracy theories. Why would I ever jeapordize the future of my own group, QUASAR like that?"
KAMIJOU: "It was merely a theory. However, no evidence exists in proving that you had the android idol Stella Silver demolished.
Plus, you are very influential to our company's leading investors. Firing you for no reason would be like shooting myself in the foot."
ODA: "Exactly. It would be unwise of you to get rid of me, after all I was your father's best friend. Who will the older executives believe?
His immature son, or his right-hand man?"
KAMIJOU: "..."
ODA: "Tell me, when will I get to meet the members of Liella!?"
KAMIJOU: "Never. Get out of my sight."
ODA: "Yes, yes, I shall. Leaving your sight will make no difference in the fact that you haven't taken Odaiba yet."
KAMIJOU: "...'Das Dreieck' will burn in our starlight!"
...
*MEANWHILE*
*STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICE - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
AKIHIKO: "Let them all come. To protect those girls, I will take on the whole world if I have to!"
That's the way it has always been.
Me against the world.