Chapter Text
It was anyone’s guess as to why one of the highest succeeding girls in Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy would want to join a theatre troupe. It seemed that even the girl herself wasn’t sure, as whenever asked as to why, she’d avoid the question altogether. See, Mafuyu Asahina wasn’t entirely sure why the brightly coloured poster had drawn her in, normally ignoring most of the club recruitments that would be posted on the board. Maybe it was the way that the glitter covered most of the writing, or the giant “Wondahoi!” that took up a good portion of the paper. Whatever it was, maybe this was what Mafuyu had been searching for. It didn’t take long for her to sign up, calling the number scrawled onto the back of the poser. A bright voice responded on the other end, a voice Mafuyu would have probably recognised if she wasn’t so caught up in adjusting her schedule.
Haruka Kiritani never really had alone time. Even after retiring, people still recognised her from ASRUN. It wasn’t a terrible life, being able to do things aas a normal teenager had never really been a possibility to her before, but it didn’t prevent her from still feeling off. Haruka felt lonely despite it all, she didn’t really have any friends. Not real friends anyway. But of all places, looking for friends in a theatre troupe certainly wasn’t one she had thought would have ever been a possibility. But there she stood, holding a brightly coloured poster in her hands, bold writing hidden under animal stickers. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss the stage, to be honest, she missed the idea of spreading hope to people most of all. The one thing she could make out on the poster was “Make everyone smile!”. Maybe that was the reason she dialled the number on the back.
Kohane Azusawa wasn’t the type to have friends. Not that she didn’t want them, Kohane wanted to make friends more than anything else, she was just too scared. On a good day she’d be ignored by her classmates, anything more than that caused her extreme stress. Even so much as a classmate asking her for her work notes would be too much for her, going so far as to tear up and tremble all over. And it was an exact reaction like this that she had when the pink haired girl from the classroom next door came bounding up to her.
“Wondahoi!!” She held a poster in her hands and a had a wide smile on her face. Kohane couldn’t reply, instead just watching as her vision became blurry with tears.
“I’m Emu Otori! And you’re Kohane Azusawa! You like phoenix wonderland, right?!” Kohane gave a very slight nod, unable to do anything more.
“Amazing!! Would you like to be part of our cast!? We preform and make everyone smile!!” She excitedly pointed to the big smiley face stickers covering the lower part of the poster she was holding. Kohane couldn’t answer, partly because she was having an internal crisis about the current social interaction, and partly because Emu didn’t even give her time to.
“Please think about it!! Help us make everyone smile!!!!” She not so elegantly shoved the poster into the ever so slightly taller girls’ hands and bolted past her, leaving poor Kohane trembling and somewhat confused about the whole thing.
---
Emu wasn’t normally the nervous type, in fact, her main approach was to face things head on and think later. But as she waited for the new additions to her cast, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat scared. She wanted to make people smile most of all, what if these people couldn’t do that? What if she couldn’t do that?
The first to arrive was a blue haired girl. If she felt nervous, she certainly didn’t show it. She walked up to Emu with confidence and grace, extending her hand as she introduced herself.
“Hello! I’m Haruka Kiritani, a fist year student. I’m here for the phoenix wonderland cast auditions? You must be Emu?” Emu’s face lit up as she said this, and she jumped to her feet to return the greeting, grabbing Haruka’s hand and shaking it excitedly.
“Wondahoi!! That’s right here!! I’m so glad you could make it” Emu said as she gestured for Haruka to sit next to her on the bench. “We’re just waiting for the others to arrive before we can begin!!”
“I do have to admit though, I don’t have much experience with acting, will that be ok?” Despite the poster stating that no prior experience was needed, Haruka couldn’t help but feel somewhat anxious about not being completely prepared beforehand. But despite Haruka’s concerns, Emu shook her head wildly.
“Don’t worry! You just have to try your hardest and everything is possible!!!” Just as she finished another girl came up. This one was shorter and more nervous, tugging at the end of her shirt.
“H-hi. I’m K-Kohane Azusawa? F-for the cast auditions?” Emu jumped at her and threw her hands in the air.
“Wondahoi!! That’s here!!!” As Emu jumped around, Haruka tilted her head.
“Hello, I’m Haruka. You seem a little nervous, are you ok?” Kohane steadied her breath a little before replying.
“Y-yes, I just g-get nervous around people. That’s why I c-came here! I thought that m-maybe acting could help it.” Haruka smiled and motioned for Kohane to sit next to her.
“Well don’t worry then. I’m sure both me and Emu will be very happy to help you.” She gave her an encouraging pat on the back as Emu agreed.
The final girl approached the small group, she had a kind smile and bright eyes.
“Hello! I am Mafuyu Asahina, I’m here for the auditions?” Despite her kind and warm exterior, the colour drained from Emu’s face.
“Oh! You must be Emu Otori, you’re in the class under me.” She offered another smile and Kohane and Haruka sat in amazement. There was just something so friendly and approachable about Mafuyu. Emu, on the other hand, didn’t seem to agree.
“R-right! Yes! That’s me!” She gave a nervous chuckle as she said this.
“Emu? Are you feeling alright? You look a little anxious.” Haruka said as she noticed the change in Emu’s demeanour.
“Oh, it might be because I'm a second-year student. Well, don’t worry Emu, we’re all friends here, there’s no reason to be afraid.” Mafuyu reassured. Emu nodded, albeit a little reluctantly.
“Are there any other people coming? And when do the auditions start?” Asked Haruka.
“There are no more people, and I decide that everyone is accepted!! No need for auditions!!!” Kohane was taken aback by Emu’s words.
“B-but! What if I'm not good e-enough? I-I've never done this b-before.” Kohane looked to Emu for help as she said this, but it was Haruka that reassured her.
“Don’t worry Kohane, I don’t have much experience with this either and we’re the same age. Let’s just try to do our best together, ok!” Haruka beamed as she said this and the three other girls marvelled at her smile.
“H-Haruka... Your smile I-is so bright...” Kohane readjusted her glasses as she said this.
“Ah, a smile of an idol. Quite beautiful.” Mafuyu offered a smile herself.
“Wondahoi!! Haruka is right!! We’ll make people smile in no time if we do our best!”
The girls chatted amongst themselves for a while, talking about possible names and play ideas for the shows. Emu explained that they’ll be renting the Wonder Stage to perform their shows. Eventually they all agreed that Mafuyu should be leader, seeing as the was the eldest of the group and the most reliable.
“As the newly appointed leader, I suggest that we all head home now. It is getting late and we all have school tomorrow.” Mafuyu said this with her usual pleasant smile as Haruka suggested exchanging phone numbers between them, before finally saying their goodbyes and leaving.
Emu watched them all head off and smiled to herself, maybe with this group she could finally bring the park back to what it once was.
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Mafuyu walked across the Sekai, her bare feet echoing across the cold floor.
“Miku.” Mafuyu said to the smaller girl who stood behind her, who looked just as dishevelled as the day Mafuyu first entered the Sekai.
“I believe that I have found something.” This got Miku’s attention, looking up in surprise and relief.
“That is... good Mafuyu.” Miku said. Mafuyu nodded before turning to her.
“I need to change you.” Miku was a little taken back from Mafuyu’s words.
“Why...?”
“I need to test something.”