Chapter Text
“Calm down, Claudine.”
“Calm down? How in the world do you expect me to “calm down” in this situation, Tendou Maya?!”
The two of them were sitting down on a bench, though this wasn’t their initial plan. They had just walked out of the doors of the academy and into the park… but Seisho Music Academy was nowhere near a park, much less right in front of one. But the second they turned around, the academy was gone too. While Claudine panicked for a few moments, she had calmed down since then. They walked out of the park and tried to find their way back, but to their shock, everywhere they looked was unrecognizable. While it was unmistakably Japan, the technology seemed to have advanced by two or three decades. After wandering around for quite a while, they gave up and sat down. This was when Claudine had let out another frustrated outburst.
“Just what in the world is going on…?” Claudine muttered.
“How did we just walk out of the academy, and end up here?” Maya said aloud. “Such an event doesn’t just randomly occur out of nowhere.”
“Are you saying there’s a simple explanation for this?” Claudine asked.
“There might be.”
“What in the world would provide a plausible explanation for-?”
They heard footsteps and turned to see a familiar girl running across the street.
“Okay, Elfnein-chan said that the energy spike was somewhere around here… I think. So that means I should find something around here.” She said to herself. “But am I even looking for-?”
She stopped as she saw the two people sitting on the bench. There was a small moment of silence, before Hibiki broke it.
“Eh?! Clau-chan?! Maya-chan?!” Hibiki shouted, pointing.
“Tachibana-san?” Maya recognized.
“Wait, if you’re here… this is your world, Hibiki?” Claudine realized.
“Y-Yeah.” Hibiki said. So does that mean that the energy spike we picked up was Clau-chan and Maya-chan?
“Well this is just fantastique .” Claudine sighed. “We’re not just in a different city, we’re in a different world altogether.”
“Well, on the bright side, we’re at least with someone that we’re familiar with.” Maya said. “So that’s a start.”
“It’s really great to see you two again!” Hibiki said, running forward and pulling Claudine into a hug.
“H-Hey! At least give me a warning if you’re going to do that!” Claudine shouted, blushing a bit.
“Heh, and she’s the same as always.” Maya chuckled.
“Oh, we should meet up with Tsubasa-san and Maria-san!” Hibiki said.
“Are they here too?” Claudine asked.
“Yes! They were dispatched to this location, but we split up.” Hibiki said. “I know which way they went though, so come on!”
“W-Wait!” Claudine shouted, as Hibiki pulled her (and not Maya) along. “Give me a few moments! And don’t pull me like that!”
Maya had a smile on her face as she followed the two. Now that their panic had considerably decreased, Maya and Claudine took note of the area. Seeing the technological advancements of Hibiki’s world was quite exhilarating, especially since the dates that were shown said it was around thirty years later compared to the date of their world. But seeing all the civilians wearing clothing that was mostly unchanged from their own world made them feel a bit at home. Aside from the monster attacks (Karma Noise, Hibiki had called them?), this world seemed quite amazing.
Though something in particular caught Maya’s eye. There were several posters and advertisements for all sorts of products and shows, but she could’ve sworn she had seen Tsubasa for a few seconds on one of them.
Why would she be there? I don’t understand why-
“Ah, there they are!” Hibiki said, before waving. “Tsubasa-san! Maria-san! Look who I found!”
The two young adults ran up to Hibiki.
“We were wondering where you went, Tachibana.” Tsubasa said. “And-”
Tsubasa and Maria then noticed the two girls that were with them.
“Eh?!” Maria said. “You two?”
“Um, yes.” Claudine said, as Hibiki finally let go of her hand. “It’s good to see you two again, Tsubasa, Maria.”
“So you two were the energy signal?” Tsubasa asked. “Hmm, that wasn’t my first guess.”
Maya hadn’t said anything, hand on her chin in thought.
“Maya-chan?” Hibiki asked.
This was a small annoying issue, and it probably wasn’t a big deal, but this would probably eat at her until she asked.
“Tsubasa-san. As we walked here, I noticed you were on a poster of sorts.” Maya said. “And considering the organization you told us that you were a part of, I’m not sure why exactly you’re on public advertising.”
“A poster?” Tsubasa pieced together what Maya was asking. “Oh, I see.”
“Yes.” Maya said. “So would you mind explaining to me why-”
Maria sighed, but smiled. “Just look at the poster over there.”
The two students of Seisho looked at where Maria was pointing. One of the display boards was playing a video. The video showed Tsubasa singing on a large stage, Maria at her side as they performed a duet.
“Hold on a second… is that...?”
“It is.” Tsubasa said.
“And there’s your answer!” Hibiki said.
“So wait, you two telling us about singing and all that…” Claudine pieced together.
“Tsubasa-san and Maria-san, you’re both idols?” Maya asked.
“It’s more of a part-time deal for me, but yes.” Maria answered. “Tsubasa’s the top idol of Japan, in fact.”
“M-Maria, you don’t have to say that.” Tsubasa said, blushing slightly.
“T-Top idol?!” Claudine repeated.
“It appears that us Top Stars have a long way to go…” Maya commented. “But why did you never tell us this before?”
“Well, it never really came up.” Maria said.
“That’s true.” Maya sighed. “Anyways, what are we supposed to do now?”
“Huh?” Hibiki asked.
“We have no way of getting home.” Claudine said. “Or rather, we’re not sure if we even can go home.”
“You can come back with us to S.O.N.G. HQ.” Maria said. “I’m sure we’ll be able to find a way to get you two back.”
“Oh, and you can meet Miku, Chris-chan, Shirabe-chan, Kirika-chan, and everyone else!” Hibiki said. “I’m sure they’d all love to meet you!”
“As long as none of them drain me like you do.” Claudine said.
“Only one of them might.” Maria said, thinking of Kirika.
Tsubasa chuckled as she watched Claudine groan. Though I’m sure she’d probably get along quite well with Yukine.
“We appreciate the hospitality. Thank you.” Maya said with a small bow. “I only hope that we’re not imposing on you all with our unexpected appearances.”
“There’s no problem at all.” Maria reassured them. “It’s the least we can do for friends.”
“It’s like you both said.” Hibiki remembered. “No matter how far apart we are, we all share the same song within us! We’re still connected!”
Maya and Claudine smiled, touched that Hibiki remembered.
“Then I don’t suppose it would be much of an issue if Tsubasa-san and Maria-san can teach Claudine and I a few more tips?” Maya asked.
“I agree.” Claudine said. “After we met you, the two of us could feel that we were performing far more passionately than before.”
“Wait, I’m not really much of a teacher-” Tsubasa said.
“Of course we can.” Maria said.
“Then it’s been decided!” Hibiki said. “Let’s go to HQ!”
“Don’t I get a say in any of this?” Tsubasa asked, as they started to walk to S.O.N.G. HQ, with their otherworldly friends alongside them.