*UPPER DECK - WEDDING CRUISE - TOKYO BAY*
MIA: "Phew... It's over."
CHIKA: "Mia!"
MIA: "Chika! You guys!"
AYUMU: "You sounded wonderful up there! I could feel all the emotions you wanted to convey to the bride from your song!"
RIN: "It was such a passionate and heartwarming performance!"
YOU: "Yeah, it was really great! Congratulations! Well done!" *Pat* *Pat*
RIN: "Hey, no fair, You! I wanna pat her too!" *Pat* *Pat*
MIA: "Hey, c'mon, guys...!"
AYUMU: *Giggle* "Well done, Mia! Here's a pat from me too!" *Pat* *Pat*
MIA: "...Thanks everyone. I hope I did a good job of singing for her."
MAKI: "I think you really got your feelings across. Just look at the bride's face!"
MIA: "Miki's crying...but she looks really happy."
CHIKA: *Giggle* "She started dabbing her eyes with her hankie about three seconds after you started singing!"
MIA: "I guess that means I got my feelings across on her special day?"
MAKI: "Yeah, loud and clear."
MIA: "Chika, Maki... I couldn't have done this without your help. Thank you."
CHIKA: "Hehehe! You're welcome!
Well, now I'm gonna give you some pats too!" *Pat* *Pat*
MAKI: "Hehe, me too!" *Pat* *Pat*
MIA: "Hey! Not you two as well! Ugh, fine, but just for today!
...Hey, wait, where's Babyboy?"
...
While the others took their turns to congratulate Mia, I wanted to show a certain pair of parents how much their little girl means to us.
AKI: "Now don't you see? Mia has a great life over here, she means the world to us."
GEORGE: "...I'll admit. That caught me off-guard."
MIO: *Sniff* *Sob* "I'm so proud..."
AKI: "Listen, I don't want there to be animosity between us. Leave the judgement to my parents instead.
I care deeply about Mia, I would give my life to protect hers."
GEORGE: "You're good. Did you train her to do that?"
AKI: "It was always inside of her, but it's the School Idol Club who gave her that push."
GEORGE: "...Yeah, maybe we shouldn't have been so harsh to her."
MIO: "Maybe we should have given her the push instead..."
AKI: "Well, it's not too late. Tell her how you feel, because I know it will mean the world to her."
GEORGE: "Alright."
The three of us walked towards Mia and the others.
MIA: "Oh, Babyboy! Wait, Mom and Dad are with you...?"
AKI: "Relax, Mia. They've got something to say."
MIA: "...?"
GEORGE: "I... Ah screw it, come here!"
George Taylor brought Mia into his arms for a big hug.
MIA: "?!"
GEORGE: "Geez, have I been a bonehead, Mia... I didn't know you had pipes like that.
You're a freakin' star!"
Suddenly, Mio Taylor joined the hug.
MIO: "I never thought I'd see the day you stood on a stage like that again... I'm so proud of you."
MIA: "Dad... Mom..." *Sniff*
In the heat of the moment, Mia burst into tears and cried into her parents' arms.
MIA: *Sob* "Waaaaahhh!!!!"
AYUMU: "Looks like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders."
AKI: "You bet."
George and Mio Taylor don't seem too bad after all. They clearly have a love for their two daughters.
The expenses they must have paid for this wedding shows it.
But actions speak louder than money ever can. Sure they had love for Mia, but they were expressing it wrong.
Now, Mia can finally be free from the burdens of her past, and can become the performer she was always destined to be.
T.C: "Impressive performance. I knew that Mia Taylor always had it in her."
AKI: "Oh, T.C!"
AYUMU: "T.C?"
AKI: "That's right, Ayu, I want you to meet Trevor Chase."
MAKI: "...EH?!"
AKI: "Maki?"
MAKI: "You're kidding! He's the biggest music producer in America!"
T.C: "Thanks for the compliment."
MAKI: "How do you know each other?"
AKI: "Hey, Ayu, remember when I went on my exchange trip?"
AYUMU: "Yeah."
AKI: "During my time in New York, I got to learn some things from T.C here.
A lot of his teachings helped me get us through our Club's civil war."
AYUMU: "You speak good Japanese, sir."
T.C: "Thank you. Hey, if you don't mind, can I talk with you at the bar lounge for a second, Akihiko?"
AKI: "Oh? Sure."
What's this about?