*MEANWHILE*
*S.I.D TRAINING HALL - GOLDEN CALF HEADQUARTERS - AKIHABARA - CHIYODA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V SWITCH - KANON*
My body... I can't let it betray me; I must put in these hours for Kinako's sake!
As the leader, it's my responsibility to bear the burdens of her failures.
This is a hell I must walk through, if I'm going to make every student at Yuigaoka smile.
We'll show μ's, Aqours, and that other group that they were wrong to ignore us...acting like we don't exist.
This is the only way people like them will ever listen. They're all buddy-buddy with their nepotism...
Like Kami-P said, we must use force to break through their glass ceiling!
Only then will Liella! reach the stars and be given the respect we deserve!
CHISATO: "Kanon, please. Take a little break..."
KANON: "No, Chii-chan, because if I don't do this then nobody will!"
CHISATO: "Kinako said she would continue her practice. You don't have to do this!"
KANON: "You saw her collapse... Not to forget what happened to Wien, and she's still out of action! We haven't seen Katsuo for a while, either... I'm not going to let anything happen to any of you. As your leader, I'll make all of this right."
CHISATO: "But you're not just a leader; you're my friend!"
*DING*
The sudden chime of the elevator was enough to send a shiver down all our spines because it signaled that someone important was about to pay us a visit.
KAMIJOU: "Stars of Liella! Stand tall, frontline and center!"
At Kami-P's command, the nine of us stood in formation, awaiting his command. He is our producer, and we are responsible for following his orders.
Because to do otherwise was a breach of contract and would result in severe consequences.
Alongside Kami-P stood our drill instructor Shiro Okuda, the three members of 'DISCIPLINE,' and...
Huh?!
KINAKO: "?!"
KEKE: "That's Leah Kazuno from Saint Snow!"
KAMIJOU: "I don't recall giving you permission to speak, Tang."
SHIRO: "BEHAVE!"
KEKE: "Y-Yes..."
Hitomi held Kazuno in a headlock, dragging her to the center of the room before throwing her in front of us.
LEAH: *COUGH* *COUGH*
KAMIJOU: "Go ahead, Kazuno. Tell them EXACTLY what you think of them."
LEAH: *Cough* "Go to hell."
KAMIJOU: "Eventually, I shall. But I vowed to make Liella! the most powerful school idol group on this filthy sphere we call Earth."
LEAH: "..."
CHIZUKO: "My, my, you were so bold before. You told Kami-P exactly what you thought of him, but you're afraid to tell the group you hate?"
LEAH: "No, I'll tell them... How much of a bunch of conniving snakes they are!
You're all going to pay for what you did to A-RISE!"
So that's it...
KAMIJOU: "Speak."
KANON: "It's been a while since Liella!, Saint Snow, A-RISE, and the other group stood on the UTX rooftop."
LEAH: "Other group? At least say their name! Especially after they embarrassed you at Diver City!"
SUMIRE: "Oh really? If we were so embarrassed, why do we have a trophy and a spot on the School Idol Festival's Main Stage?
It's better than anything Saint Snow ever accomplished!"
LEAH: "..."
KEKE: "Hey! Saint Snow are a great duo, so treating them like that is unfair!"
SUMIRE: "They're our enemies, Keke; put down the penlight and open your eyes for once."
KEKE: "..."
LEAH: "μ's, Aqours, Nijigasaki... At their Joint Solo Live Show, I, my sister, and A-RISE all sent challenges to Nijigasaki.
We dared to do that, but you? You hid behind A-RISE's limo like a bunch of cowards! Until Anju exposed your asses!"
SHIKI: "What?"
MEI: "Eh?"
KINAKO: "Su?"
NATSUMI: "Natsu?"
CHISATO: "We bought tickets to that show. We were curious to hear what A-RISE had to say.
That was until you almost killed us with your motorcycle stunt!"
LEAH: "Sarah knew what she was doing!"
KAMIJOU: "Tell me, child, do you know what YOU'RE doing?"
LEAH: "What are you saying...?"
KAMIJOU: "Putting down the whale soup, digging yourself out of the snowy wasteland of Hokkaido, and taking a one-person flight to Tokyo all to challenge Liella!...?
All without your sister's permission."
LEAH: "Someone had to stand up for A-RISE, and my sister said no... If she wasn't going to do it, I was!"
KINAKO: "Flying here alone from Hokkaido must have taken a lot of courage... I know."
LEAH: "I didn't ask for your opinion."
So Kinako tried to relate to her, and she brushed her off? Seriously?!
KAMIJOU: "Look around, you ignorant hick. This isn't Hokkaido, this is the big city.
Coming here alone? That is a deathwish.
This place will eat you alive and leave no trace of your remains. Welcome to the den of wolves, and before you stands the pack's alpha."
OKUDA: *Chuckle*
LEAH: "Sh-Shiro Okuda... The Empress?!"
Even Leah knows about her. Your name travels far and wide when you're the Empress of Entertainment.
Someday, I want my name to be known like that.
KAMIJOU: "Since you made the effort of traveling this far, alone, I will listen to what you have to say.
What do you want?
LEAH: "You should know what I want! Saint Snow VS Liella!"
KAMIJOU: "We refuse."
LEAH: "Huh?"
KAMIJOU: *Chuckle* "We don't fight for free, we're not a charity. You have nothing of value worth fighting for."
LEAH: "We'll put up the whole of our Hokkaido school idol territory."
KAMIJOU: "Seems like it fell upon deaf ears the first time... You have NOTHING of value worth fighting for."
LEAH: "Hokkaido."
KAMIJOU: "I hate Hokkaido; it's full of inbred, lazy country bumpkins. It would be better if we pushed that entire island north into the Pacific Ocean and into the tundra of Siberia!"
LEAH, KINAKO: "..."
KAMIJOU: "Degenerates like you are the scum of the earth. Disgusting trash, get out of my-"
*KICK*
Suddenly, Leah had lifted her leg and kicked Kami-P in his, uh...family jewels.