Chapter 44: From Reunited to Poison Kiss
Having performed with all our heart and might, we gave a wonderful and legendary graduation performance. We graduated while we shined brighter than the lights and stars on that day; we are now fully pledged idols and are officially part of the performing arts industry. After graduation, I started getting various job offers already; I was asked to model for their magazine, others asked me to perform a collaboration album with them, some asked me to release a solo album, and I even got offers to start acting in television series and host some variety shows as well as to try out voice acting. I then realized that we were no longer students; we are now real professionals! I can't believe this; a dream has turned into reality! We're now officially idols under Shining Agency!
Today's morning is wonderful! The weather is good and everything just seems to be happy for some reason. I continued walking thru the cherry blossom trees that surrounded the path towards Shining Agency; the cherry blossom petals were raining down from everywhere. I can't wait to work with everyone at Shining Agency! Just thinking about all the opportunities of meeting wonderful people and all the experiences I'll be having makes me so excited that all my nervousness just suddenly drains away! Shining Agency has always supported newbies who have just debuted by putting them in the master course. The master course was made to help us learn more and polish our skills as well as to get the opportunity to work with other idols who are newbies or seniors. From this day onward, I'm going to go thru the master course. Haruka told me that she, Tomochan, and all the members of Starish are also going to be in the master course. I'm happy to know that I'll be able to see them again and possibly work with them. We'll all be living in the same dorm, except for Tomochan who is living at the apartment of her senior, so I'll get to see everyone every day. Oh yeah, and as usual, we're still forbidden to fall in love since we're in the idol industry and all. I had several thoughts about what the future could bring and the jobs that I would be doing and before I knew it, I was already standing on front of Shining Agency. Haha. This is it! I went inside the building and into the office that I was told to go to and inquire about the master course.
"Good morning." I greeted.
Everyone inside the office was very busy. There were many managers talking with producers, other agents, and contacting all sorts of people; everyone is working really hard. One office lady noticed me as she ended her call on the telephone.
"Hm? Are you here for the master course?"
"Ah, yes I am here for the master course."
"We're kind of busy here in the office. There's been so many talent agencies, producers, and such who are asking about the new graduates and the senior idols under Shining Agency. I won't be able to escort you to the dormitory so is it alright if you just go there by yourself?"
"It's alright. I understand the circumstances." I smiled at her.
"Thank you very much and sorry for the inconvenience. Here is a map; just follow the directions and you'll be able to get to the dormitory."
I took the map from the office lady and thanked her. The phone on her desk suddenly rang and she quickly answered it and started getting a pen and paper; everyone is very busy indeed.
I left the Shining Agency building and started following the map the office lady gave me. The environment here sure is wonderful. There's a beautiful lake with a bridge, there are some wild animals such as deer, rabbits, and such, and then the greenery is also wonderful. As I walked, a sudden thought came to me. I hope Haruka won't get lost on her way to the dorm! I giggled.
After a few minutes of walking, I reached the dorm; the building is quite big. I got into the female dormitory area and went looking for my room.
"Whoa. There are so many rooms! I hope that I'll get to find my room."
I wasn't informed where my room was located so I'll have to find it the old fashion way. I kept looking at the name plates of each room and I didn't find my room so I went to the staircase to go to the second floor and perhaps find my room; I hope that all my things have arrived to my room safely. When I searched the second floor, I found my room at the end of the hallway beside the window; I guess that my room will have a view of what's at the front of the dormitory building. I looked at my name plate outside my room and it made me smile happily; this is truly not a dream. I entered the room and it was quite big; it was bigger than the dorm I stayed at in the academy. My furniture was in the room together with several boxes that contained my personal items. My white piano from home which I retrieved after learning that we were to stay here at the dormitory was also arrived. Since the dormitory rooms are semi-sound proof, I could play any time I'd like. I decided to first arrange my furniture in place and then unload my clothes and music materials for the mean time and unload the rest later at night or tomorrow; I didn't have to do any cleaning in the room since the room was already clean.
I finished fixing my room and things after some time and it was still morning. I decided to go around and look at the facilities. I was happy with the facilities and equipment that were provided; this place is even better than the academy itself. When I passed thru a hallway, I found door that had was labelled as a practice room. I could hear some voices inside. Perhaps the other idols or composers that are staying here? I decided to enter the practice room to check it out as well as to meet the people inside. I wonder who and what kind of people are they? I opened the door and went in.
"Hello. Sorry for intruding." I said as I entered the room.
Not only were the people inside the room were surprised but so was I! The people inside the practice room turned out to be Haruka and the Starish members! Everybody is here!
"Kaori!" Haruka said in surprised. She rushed over to me and hugged me.
"Haruka! How a—"
Before I could finish what I wanted to say, I lost my balance when Haruka rushed to hug me and we both fell onto the floor.
"Kyaaa! I'm sorry, Kaori! I guess I went overboard."
"Haha. It's okay, Haruka. I'm happy to see you too!"
Everyone came over to me and Haruka and helped us get up.
"Are you okay, Haru-chan, Ori-chan?" Natsuki asked as he helped me get up.
"We're alright. We didn't get injured or anything. Haha." I replied.
"You should be more careful next time, Nanami." Otoya said as he helped Haruka get up.
"Yeah. I'm sorry." Haruka replied.
Haruka and I got up on our feet and we all started talking about how we're happy to be together and about how excited we were about everything. I then noticed that everyone had a music sheet with them.
"Are those songs made by Haruka?" I asked.
"Yeah. Nanami made a song for each and every one of us!" Otoya said with a big grin.
"That's awesome! Haruka, you're really amazing as usual!" I said.
"T-thank you very much, Kaori."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a loud and familiar laugh filled the room.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
"Huh?" Haruka was surprised.
Otoya suddenly realized something. "This voice...isn't it—"
Syo also realized whose voice it was. "Could it be?"
We looked around the room and I noticed someone standing on the designs of the room at the corner of the ceiling. It was none other than Shining Saotome-sensei!
"Happy idols share pure love!" he said.
Saotome-sensei then jumped down and at the same time, a blue and pink cloth came out and he grabbed them in midair and was swinging and hanging onto them.
"When did you get here?" Haruka asked.
Saotome-sensei started spinning around with the blue and pink cloth; it was like an act that circus dancers would do. U-uhh...what do you call them? Midair circus dancers?
"Boys and girls, welcome to the master course!"
Saotome-sensei then slid down from the cloths and reached the floor.
"Principal...I mean, president." Tokiya-san said.
Saotome-sensei started dancing. "Your debut concerts were wonderful."
"Th-thank you very much, sir." Otoya said.
Saotome-sensei kept dancing and then he spun around and he began spinning towards Syo. "But!"
He stopped right on front of Syo's face. "The reality is, many bloom splendidly and fade like fireworks."
He took Syo's hat and started spinning it around his hand. "Only the devoted can become actual stars shining in the night sky."
I suddenly heard music play.
Saotome-sensei then stopped playing with Syo's hat and struck a pose. "Allow me to introduce you to some people essential to helping you accomplish that!" He then flung the hat back to Syo and it landed on Syo's head.
Syo then asked, "Who?"
A huge hologram suddenly appeared behind Saotome-sensei.
"Show yourselves...pioneering princes" Saotome-sensei said.
The huge hologram then showed four men who started dancing and singing to the song that was playing. The four of them looked so cool and I was mesmerized by them.
"These guys are here..." Otoya said as he watched the four men perform.
"At the master course." Syo finished Otoya's sentence.
"They're supposed to help us?" Natsuki asked.
We continued watching the amazing and captivating performance by the four men. They were so good that all of us couldn't look away and it was as if they pulled us into their performance.
The holograms then faded away into sparkles and light bubbles and out of nowhere, three of the men we were watching from the holograms appeared on front of Otoya, Masato, and Syo and the three continued performing! It was as if they were actually here!
"A-a-amazing!" Otoya said in awe.
Syo was also greatly amazed. "This song...this dance..."
"Not bad." Ren-san said.
"These guys are...professionals." Masato said.
I felt the same. These guys are so amazing and they really get your attention; I can't even look away for one second! Their song is also amazing! My heart's racing and beating to the beat of their song. I feel like the word "amazing" is not enough to describe what I really feel inside.
Their song was ending and when it did end, the hologram faded and vanished into sparkles and bubbles but a very surprising thing happened. When the four men struck their final pose at the end of their song and the hologram vanished, three of the four men appeared in the flesh!
I was rendered speechless. Everyone was also very surprised.
"They changed into real people!" Otoya said in surprise.
Saotome-sensei then started dancing and spinning again.
"Anyway, I must prepare for the entrance ceremony!"
He grabbed the blue cloth that was still hanging.
"Work hard! Thank you!"
He then swung towards the open window that was near the ceiling and exited.
"Thank you?" Syo said.
Suddenly, another familiar voice came out of nowhere.
"Thanks for waiting, everyone!"
The lights turned dim and we all looked at the direction where the voice was coming from and it was Tsukimiya-sensei! Hyuga-sensei was also with him and they were both on a platform which was decorated with so many lights, flowers, ribbons, and such; they were also wearing such sparkly clothes.
Tsukimiya-sensei waved at us as the platform descended. "Good morning."
"Rin-chan! Your outfit is sparkling!" Otoya said.
"It's a shame you're a man." Ren-san said.
"Even Hyuga-sensei is sparkling..." Syo said.
Hyuga-sensei then snapped his fingers when the platform reached the floor and it caused the platform to stop and turned on all the lights in the room.
Hyuga-sensei got off the platform.
"You are all no longer students but rather professionals trying to make it in the world of performing arts."
Tsukimiya-sensei also got off of the platform and started talking. "You've got to learn on your own and improve yourselves."
Hyuga-sensei then started talking again. "But of course there are plenty of things that you don't know yet or are worried about."
Tsukimiya-sensei then moved his hand towards the three men who came out from the hologram. "Which is why we've called for them; we've assigned them to help you."
"So this is what the master course is about." Otoya said.
Tsukimiya-sensei then started telling us about the three men. "Kotobuki Reiji-kun is assigned to Oto-kun and Tokiya-chan."
Kotobuki-san looked like a cheerful person.
"Nice to meet you." Kotobuki-san said.
Hyuga-sensei then spoke. "Kurosaki Ranmaru is assigned to Jinguji and Hijirikawa."
It's Kurosaki-senpai! He was the one I worked with in the collaboration album "Rocking Hearts"! I wonder if he still remembers me. Oh I forgot; he met Kaoru and not Kaori so he probably doesn't recognize me as the way I am now. But...is he staring at me at the moment?
Tsukimiya-sensei then assigned the last person. "Mikaze Ai-chan is assigned to Syo-chan and Na-chan."
Tsukimiya-sensei then turned to Haruka. "Haru-chan, if there's anything bothering you, come talk to me."
"Okay." Haruka said.
Tsukimiya-sensei was full of energy as usual. "Alright! Let's work hard to become universally acknowledged professionals! Good luck everyone!"
He then put his hand up into the air and a pair of sparkling butterfly wings came out!
"Wow!" I said unconsciously. I'm sorry but I like cute things and surprises. Haha.
"What kind of outfit is that?" Syo said.
We were all about to leave the room when suddenly, Tsukimiya-sensei blocked everyone.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! I forgot to mention something! Sorry!"
Tsukimiya-sensei then looked at me.
"Kaori-chan, you're also going to be under one of the three. You're going to be under Mikaze Ai-chan together with Syo-chan and Na-chan! Work hard, okay? If you need any help or questions, just run to Ai-chan!"
I was surprised to be part of this because I thought that this was meant for the Starish members only. Why am I being grouped with them?
"Welcome to the team, Ori-chan!" Natsuki said.
"Let's do our best." Syo said.
I smiled and nodded at Natsuki and Syo and then I looked over to Mikaze-senpai. Somehow...I feel uneasy. I don't know why but maybe because I'm intimidated by the senpais' talent because of their performance a while ago.
We all then went out of the practice room and walked into the hallway; Kurosaki-senpai, Kotobuki-senpai, and Mikaze-senpai went with us. We made some small talk while walking though most of us were pretty quiet especially the senpais.
"I didn't know that we would have seniors assigned to us." Natsuki said.
"I'm grateful we have someone to teach us." Syo said.
"I'm so glad I came to the master course." Otoya said.
Kurosaki-senpai suddenly stopped walking and said, "You guys aren't anything special."
He turned to Natsuki, Syo, and Otoya and said, "If you rely on others, you won't make it far in this world."
Kotobuki-senpai then butted in. "What's wrong, Ran-ran?"
"We're only doing this because the president asked us to. Ai doesn't look like he cares, either."
Mikaze-senpai then spoke. "You're right. I'm interested in them as test subjects though."
Eh?! T-test subj-jects?! What does Mikaze-senpai mean? Is he going to experiment on us like guinea pigs or hamsters? Is that what he means?
"Kurosaki-senpai, we're serious about this; we're not approaching this halfheartedly." Masato said.
Kurosaki-senpai's face then became stern and angry. "What?"
Ren then smiled with his usual witty and confident smile. "We're prepared. Also, I think we can beat that song of yours."
I sensed some tension and it showed on Kurosaki-senpai's face. "Are you trying to start a fight? Then bring it on."
Kotobuki-senpai stepped forward and blocked Kurosaki-senpai who looked like he was really going for a fight. He immediately tried to break the tension.
"Now, now! Don't you need the guts to defy your seniors to become a universally acknowledged professional?"
"Tch. They look like they've got no will at all to me. I don't have the desire to teach you." Kurosaki-senpai then walked away.
We all just watched him walk away without looking back at us. Kurosaki-senpai wasn't this strict and stern when I first met him. Maybe he's just not really interested in teaching at all?
"It seems we'll have to do what we can by ourselves." Masato suddenly said.
Ren then started speaking. "If we really do get stuck, we've got a senior in the entertainment business right over here, isn't that right Ichi?" He then placed his arm over Tokiya-san.
"Huh?" Tokiya-san is looking at Ren-san.
"Ichinose Tokiya..."
Mikaze-senpai started talking. His voice is quite high but it sounds...angelic?
"You had a lot of work as Hayato."
Tokiya-san then said to Mikaze-senpai, "I agree that a person should fend for himself."
Otoya then suddenly reacts. "What? You too?"
"I agree with him. If you want to get stronger, you have to do it yourself."
Syo...I think he's right too.
Syo then approaches Kotobuki-senpai. "All you have to do is keep an eye on us. That's what you guys are here for, right?"
Otoya then steps in. "What? Really? That's too bad. I was hoping to learn a lot from Kotobuki-senpai..."
"Huh? Kotobuki-senpai?" Kotobuki-senpai then laughed. "Just call me Rei-chan, Otoyan."
"Otoyan?" Otoya was surprised with his nickname.
"That's right. And Toki."
Tokiya-san was utterly surprised with his nickname too and it seems he wasn't very fond of it. "Toki? That name..."
I kind of giggled there; that was kind of funny. A nickname like that is kind of out of Tokiya-san's image haha.