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"You'll never be a top star." Kaoruko spat, her words taking the shape of her naginata and piercing Tamao's heart. Pain flooded through her, as a quivering breath left her mouth.
"Huh..?"
"You're the one who should drop out of the auditions right now." She had always been like this hadn't she? So blunt and direct, filled with all the courage Tamao could never find for herself. Hanayagi Kaoruko, a stage girl who continues to blossom.
"Oi, Kaoruko…" Futaba interjected, but faltered in actually stopping her.
"I… I can't do that!" The blood from her heart boiled hot, throughout her body and her soul. "Everyone in the Performance Department is counting on us!" Counting on all five of them, counting on her to keep Rinmeikan alive.
"You have some nerve telling me to quit while you won't do the same." What could she say? She stared into Kaoruko's gray eyes, speechless. Those same eyes that used to look at her with admiration. All she could feel from her was disgust. "Well, good luck in the next audition, I guess. Everyone's counting on you, after all." Tamao felt ashamed for asking such a foolish question, to Kaoruko of all people.
"I'm sorry… Please excuse me." Tamao took her leave from the stage, the urge to cry began to well up in her throat and the tears made their way to her eyes. What would her friends say? What would her grandmother say? Asking for Seisho to back down like that? She wanted to curl herself up into a hole and never leave it.
The whole way home all she could think of was the first time she had ever laid eyes on Kaoruko. The tiny blue haired girl in a pink kimono. Neither of them couldn't have been more than six years old. Tamao towered over her then and was always kind to her. The feeling was reciprocated in that special way that Kaoruko connects with people. Even with Futaba around, the two were close. Why had she chosen Seisho? She wondered to herself. What was there that Rinmeikan didn't have? Well I guess a stable department for starters. She sighed heavily and unlocked the door to her dorm.
"Tamao!" the rest of the acting department had stayed up waiting for her. They all looked tired but she could see the relief in their faces as soon as she walked into the living room.
"Good evening everyone." She said with a half-hearted smile.
"Where have you been? Are you hurt?" Fumi began drilling and inspecting every inch of Tamao. Tamao didn't realize how long she'd been gone. Going to the auditions was like entering into a different plane of existence.
"How long was I gone for?" She asked limply.
"For at least three hours," Fumi said, finishing the last bit of her examination. "We got pretty worried when it was time for the meeting." The meeting! After everything that had happened with Seisho--with Kaoruko, Elle and her mole..thing, she completely forgot about the Performance Festival. They need to know… She told herself. Tamao took a deep breath and explained as best as she could without sounding too outlandish.
"An audition? But we have to fight?" Ichie scratched her head in thought.
"A revue. "A show of theatrics in song and dance". We'll be fighting against the other schools."
"Like the ones we're against in the festival?"
Tamao nodded solemnly. Rui looked over at her beloved senior, she could tell there was something wrong. More than what she was telling. "There's something else isn't there, Tamao-senpai?" The question caught Tamao off guard. She chuckled a bit. As to be expected from Rui, she always knew when it came to Tamao.
"There is… an old flame of mine, she attends Seisho." When she spoke she could feel the past creeping up behind her, twisting her arm into silence. Tamao couldn't bear to relive the years before. "Now's not the time to think about her though, we need to think of a plan to save our department. To save us." With determined faces, everyone nodded in agreement.
***
"I'm going to sleep! Nighty night!" Kaoruko hastily retreated back to her room before slamming it shut.
"What was that about?"
"It seems like she knows someone at Rinmeikan. They had a bit of a run-in earlier."
As she slid down the door, she could hear their conversation drone on about that bothersome school. How their department would be shutting down for good soon. Serves them right! Kaoruko thought to herself. Who wants a department not willing to fight for themselves? She rolled her eyes and moved onto her bed, flopping face first.
"UGH!" She groaned into her pillow. Why did it have to be her of all people? She wished they could just fight the other two schools to save Starlight and be done with all of this. To bring Rinmeikan into it...and for what? Seeing Tamao in such a state of uneasiness made her sick. She'd never seen her like that. Tamao was always so cheerful and helpful back then. Rehearsing with her non-stop, always encouraging Kaoruko to move forward.
"You're like a cherry blossom tree, Kaoruko-chan!"
"H-how so?"
"It's just… you are! You're-"
She flipped herself over to face her ceiling.
"Always destined to grow." There was a pause before she let out a heartfelt sigh. "I guess you've stopped growing, Tamao-han." Kaoruko slipped her hand into her coat pocket, reaching for her phone. She began to make a call, after a few rings a familiar voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Gran? It's me, Kaoruko. I wanted to ask you something about Rinmeikan Girls School…" Her voice was barely above a whisper. She knew Futaba could walk back into their room at any time.
"Kao-tan! How are you, my dear? How's Futaba-tan?"
"Gran! I'm fine, she's fine-Is-is Rinmeikan really shutting down its acting department?" She tried to coerce her into the information she wanted to hear but how quickly she always remembered how long her grandmother could talk for. A long, melancholy sigh came from the other end of the line.
"I'm afraid so, at least that's what Chie-tan was telling me." So even her family knows... Kaoruko felt a pang in her heart for this school. Perhaps it was the connotation she had with it, all those days spent practicing and performing there. Perhaps it was the people she spent all that time with. She shook off the thoughts, returning to the task at hand.
"My I remember my days back at the school...Ah, I guess every good thing must come to an end eventually. Oh goodness though my time has long since been over. But you! Oh you and Tamao-tan were always so cute up on that stage! And Futaba-tan too…Do you still talk with Tamao-tan?"
You'll never be a top star.
Kaoruko gulped a bit, feeling yet another pang in her chest.
"Not too much, Gran. But anyways I-"
"Ah Kurumi-san! Good evening!" Futaba had finally made her appearance by snatching the phone from Kaoruko's hand. Kaoruko's face turned the palest shade of white as her mouth dropped open. "Ah, I'm fine! I had no idea you'd be calling! Oh Kaoruko called you? Interesting…Well tell mom my hellos, yes, yes I'll tell Kaoruko...bye-bye." Futaba pressed onto the screen as harshly as possible as Kaoruko let loose her whining.
"FUTABA-HAN WHY DID YOU DO THAT I WAS-"
"Trying to get info on Rinmeikan, right?"
Kaoruko sat dumbfounded for a moment, she wasn't being as discreet as she had originally thought. A mild blush came over her cheeks as she turned her face away from Futaba. She could feel the intense gaze right on her.
"Did you feel bad for what you said earlier? To Tomoe?" Kaoruko turned and looked at her with fervent anger.
"Not in the slightest! I said what she deserved to hear." As soon as she said this Futaba uncrossed her arms with a big sigh. She sat next to Kaoruko and locked eyes with her.
"Would you want to hear that? Honestly?" Kaoruko bit her lip and thought for a moment. Maybe it was a bit rude. But she would never say that aloud, her pride could never let her. She didn't respond to Futaba's question. "I understand why it upset you, I was upset by it, too. But we all have things we're trying to protect."
Everyone in the Performance Department is counting on us!
Kaoruko could see Tamao's face in her mind. A look she'd never seen on her before. She was fearful and hopeful, confident yet unsure. A face that told her she was unwavering to anything that stood in her way. Frustration washed over Kaoruko as she fell into Futaba's lap.
"So annoying." She huffed, Futaba began to stroke her blue hair.
"So are you." Kaoruko pulled her head up to glare at her pink haired companion. The latter burst into laughter at the sight of her bottom lip forming a pout. Her laughter was infectious, spreading to Kaoruko in an instant. There the two were, laughing together as they always had. Until today, she forgot the fact that there used to be a third person to laugh along with them.
The morning light was harsh against Kaoruko's eyes as they began to flutter open. Futaba was already awake as she could hear her and the others talking amongst themselves. Everyone was on their toes today, even Karen was up this early.
"Yeah… I was too worked up to sleep in." Her tone was always chipper but today it felt slightly hollow.
"No wonder, with the auditions starting again."
"Can't expect anyone to remain calm in this situation." Kaoruko had finally made her way into the living area with the rest of the girls and slouched herself on Futaba's shoulder. A brief hush fell over the room. These auditions that started for Starlight… back again to take it away? And who were these Elle and Andrew characters anyway? None of it sat right with Kaoruko. She picked herself off of Futaba and began to watch out the windows. It was fall, the leaves were turning from bright greens to golden yellows and browns. A single leaf blew lightly past the window.
Somehow or another, Kaoruko got roped into going to the campus for practice. She had bickered with Futaba about her skills lacking. They're most definitely not. She reassured herself, but she had decided to get practice anyway. Just in case. As Kaoruko and the rest of the dorm made their way to Seisho there was a halt.
"Hikari-chan? What's-" Karen froze in her tracks. "Oh…"
***
"Ah!"
"Tamao-senpai?"
There she was yet again, here in the flesh. Hanayagi Kaoruko.
"What are you doing here, Tamao-han?" She asked bitterly.
"Why? You have a problem with us being here?" Fumi launched an attack back.
"And you are? I believe I was talking to Tamao-han." Tamao felt firelike shots coming from either side of her. She stepped in front of Fumi and stated their business. "Ah! That's right. You're also going to be at the festival. Good luck to you or whatever. Bye." Without a second glance she brushed past Tamao's shoulders. Not a trace of regret in her walk.
"What's her deal?" Fumi patted her hand against Tamao's back for a brief moment.
"Sorry about Kaoruko. She can be harsh sometimes. Don't pay it any attention." Futaba came in behind for damage control but the damage had already been done. Tamao knew what she had been like in the past but this new her… this attitude was something she didn't know could exist within the same girl she knew all those years ago.
"It's alright."
"See you...Oi, Kaoruko! Wait up!"
Tamao heard a girl in thin pigtails suggest that Kaoruko had been too much, but it was exactly the push she needed.
"There's one thing I want to say." She gathered all her courage in a breath. "We..." She met eyes with the ginger haired girl and made a vow. For not only herself but for the other four girls that stood around her. "We won't lose at the next Revue. Excuse us." Jitters made their way all throughout Tamao's arms and legs and as soon as they were out of sight, Tamao collapsed onto a bench.
A chorus of voices followed behind her as she took in shaky breaths of air. They all worried for her sake now, the pressure flowed through all of them but through Tamao especially. One look at her and you could tell the pain was beginning to settle in. "I'm...I'm sorry everyone." She couldn't think of the words to say to make this look any better, but who knows how much worse this could be. Rui sat herself by Tamao and slowly reached her hand out to her.
"Tamao-senpai… I-"
"Rui-chan, there's no need to worry for me." She tapped her cheeks with two tight plaps and stood back up. As she stood she took in a deep breath, inhaling the autumn air. It calmed her if only a small amount. It was something about this time of year that reminded her of a place in time that she could not recollect. "We best be going, the meeting will start soon." She was met with the most solemn of faces as they turned their heels and made way for the performance meeting. As they were walking a leaf flew in front of Tamao, brushing past her fastly, softly, before it went in the other direction.
The meeting went smoothly as it only lasted for an hour and half. Ichie and Yuyuko stretched themselves after sitting for too long a period. Fumi seemed to be in a better mood than she was and Rui...she was just about as on edge as Tamao. Her heart felt heavy for her underclassmen, to put such emotions off on the ones you should be lifting up...it was despicable. She looked up to Rui, the irony in being older and one of the shortest around.
"Rui-chan, about earlier-" Tamao started but that was all that she managed to say before Rui made a dash across the street.
"Rui-chan?!" The other four girls yelled in unison. They made haste behind her but failed to catch up before they were stopped at a walkway.
"What is she thinking?! Where is she even going?" They jogged in place before the red light turned to green and they started to run after the normally introverted girl. This too was unlike what Tamao was used to. She felt everything she knew was beginning to unravel. As she kept running to where Rui might be, she began to recognize the route. "This is…?"
"The way to Seisho?" Yuyuko finished.
It was in fact, but why? What business would Rui have here? An unpleasant thought arose in Tamao's mind. She knew the purpose for Rui running to the Seisho girls and she herself couldn't approve of it. Challenging the girls on behalf of the department was unnecessary, but challenging them individually? Could it be she wanted to challenge Kaoruko alone …? What good would that do for them? Perhaps Tamao wasn't thinking of it the way Rui had.
Rui's only desire was to help her upperclassman. To defeat the one that had caused her so much suffering, so much torment. It tore at her very being. Rui ran until she saw the specks of a white and red tracksuit mingled with blue and pink hair. She zeroed in on the two and made her claim to them.
"I'm Akikaze Rui. I challenge you to a battle."
"I refuse." The blue haired girl said softly.
"You think I'm not good enough to fight you?"
"Did I say you weren't? In any case, why do I have to fight you?"
"It's for Tamao-senpai." As soon as the words left her lips a grimace appeared on Kaoruko's face. " It's for Tamao-senpai" of all the cliches...give me a break. She pinched the bridge of her nose and looked to Rui.
"Are you kidding? What are you to her? Am I supposed to battle you in her stead?"
"That's correct."
Kaoruko uttered a chuckle. "How sickly sweet and naive." She could see the anger rising in the brunette by the second, her fists tight and her brow furrowed.
"It's not! You have no idea how agonizing this all is for Tamao-senpai! That's why she said what she did to you!" Rui clenched her mouth shut, in order to keep her composure which was quickly fleeting. Kaoruko was dissatisfied with all of this. She had no intention of fighting the younger girl. She hardly held any intention to fight Tamao. She wondered briefly what it might be like to stand alongside her on stage again. Pushing those thoughts aside she returned to the matter at hand.
"None of you stand a chance of making it to the top." She said out of spite. She couldn't take more of this aggravating behavior or these ideas that plagued her mind. Kaoruko believed that these girls were living in a fantasy. Hopes alone cannot and will not further success. Tamao knew that.
"What?!"
"Why are you so focused on Kaoruko anyways?" Futaba questioned. It gave a moment between the tension for the three of them to breathe. Yet Rui seemed as if she wasn't willing to concede.
"..."
"Rui-chan!" Before Rui could any more fuel to the fire, the rest of the Rinmeikan girls had caught up with her. Each of them took a second to catch their breath. Rui made a small hop to Tamao in support of her.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't just sit and do nothing after what you had to endure, Tamao-senpai." Tamao frowned and looked away from Rui. She felt disappointed in herself, letting someone-letting Rui try and take up for her. It wasn't Rui's place to do this. Not to Kaoruko.
"I'm sorry if Rui-chan caused you any trouble. We'll be going now." The rest of the Rinmeikan department began to stride away but Tamao only came closer to Kaoruko.
"I'm sorry about what I said before, Hanayagi-san." Tamao's head bowed a bit before her, before she rose again. "But we'll win. We're not losing to you. We have a place to protect." Kaoruko was caught off guard by her declaration but she was determined to keep her facade.
"Whatever." She watched as the five Rinmeikan girls walked back the same way they came, the same aura overcoming her. Karen, Hikari, and Mahiru had now made it outside. Probably saw the whole thing but Kaoruko didn't really care. Mahiru came closer to Kaoruko and Futaba.
"Kaoruko-chan, why are you so harsh to Tamao-san?"
Kaoruko looked to Mahiru with dead eyes. "It's not your business, Mahiru-han." She looked down at the ground and spoke more to herself than Mahiru. "It's got nothing to do with me either." She walked back into Seisho for the rest of the practice time and didn't come back out until it was time to go home.
It wasn't a day later and they were all summoned to the stage. The light-haired Elle and her abomimole stood at its center. Position Zero.
"The Revue featuring Seisho Music Academy versus Rinmeikan Girls School shall now begin."
Tamao and Kaoruko locked eyes from across the magenta tape. There were no memories, no past to reminisce. Only the future and what their abilities could do for them in the now.
"Hanayagi-san-" Tamao began but she was cut off almost immediately.
"We will be the ones who become top stars."
Tamao breathed through her nose and unsheathed her tachi. In an instant she raised her blade and faced Kaoruko with deadly intent. "We will protect the Performance Department!"