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Recently Minori had been feeling… Not the best. She was trying to catch up to her friends! They were all such amazing idols with infinitely more experience than she had. But recently it seemed like she was doing everything wrong. She was taking longer to memorize dance routines, she kept falling and ending up with bumps and scrapes. She never got a chance to even talk in streams. But one day she did! They were asked a question and Haruka suggested that Minori answered it! An amazing opportunity from the amazing Haruka!
She tried explaining how she memorized dance routines! The bubbling mixture of shaky nerves and shimmering excitement was a little overwhelming. Talking was… Difficult. She couldn’t seem to form her thoughts into words. Which certainly wasn’t a good thing… Maybe she should try explaining visually? That was usually what her friends tried guiding her to do when she was feeling non verbal! So she showed a dance, and did amazing! But… But why were Airi and Haruka giving her those looks? The viewers didn’t seem to think it helped, Haruka was moving past the topic… Oh. She lost her chance
Haruka and Airi handled the rest of the stream mainly. Her friends reassured her she’d been fine… But Minori wasn’t so sure. On her way home she heard a group mention More More Jump! She listened in eagerly, people were talking about them! They mentioned Haruka and Airi and Shizuku and then… The amateur. They… Barely even remembered her name. Minori felt tears well up in her eyes. Was that all she was? Just an accessory for the other three? No! She could do this! She wiped away the tears and rushed home to practice! She needed to do everything perfectly, she needed to catch up, she needed to be good enough
A few days later they had their stream with Nanamin, and Minori was determined! Determined to do things right! To take chances! To get noticed! Nanamin saw that, saw her drive, saw her desperation. She was given the opportunity to prove herself! By… Copying a dance. After seeing it only once. That was impossible… And she was wearing heels. But there were comments excited to see her do it! But when she saw Nanamin perform the dance it felt overwhelming again. Haruka was offering her a way out, one she was tempted to take. But then she read a comment “You're always dragging everyone else down, so get it right for everyone else's sake!” Minori stood up and moved to do the dance
The beginning went well! But she was already falling apart by the middle. Literally… Falling. The rug slipped under her and she fell, she fought the urge to cry by forcing laughter, keeping a happy face after an accident. She didn’t remember much else of the meeting. It was all just a fuzzy blur in her mind as she struggled not to cry. She rushed through the talking and ran home. She went right to her bed and collapsed, her grip on her headspace completely slipping as she sobbed into a stuffed animal. And checked her phone though and saw a message from Airi “Meet me in Sekai!” Minori didn’t even think, she was so eager to please someone that she just dropped the stuffie and pressed play on “Newly Edgy Idols”
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Airi had been noticing Minori’s mood dropping. Minori was trying, so so hard. But things were taking their toll on the poor girl. Minori… Was not prepared for this industry, the cruelty of the people. It was rough adjusting. She’d been wanting to reach out the past few days but didn’t want to disrupt the girl when she was already surely hard at work. But today had been the last straw. She tried catching Minori after the stream but the girl had rushed out… That was fine! She could do this. She messaged Minori to meet her in the Sekai and quickly went over to start setting things up
Airi asked the Virtual Singers to let her have the stage, reassuring them that she was worried Minori would get overwhelmed, it wasn’t anything personal. She grabbed some cute shaped bandaids and soft blankets. She filled up Minori’s favorite princess sippy cup with some apple juice and grabbed some cute animal coloring books and crayons. All hidden away in a bag. She just had a hunch, but her hunches were usually right. Before long she heard sniffling coming from center stage, she turned around and felt her chest ache at the sight of a red eyed Minori shaking
Airi stepped forwards and gently reached out for Minori’s hands, the girl eagerly accepted the touch and Airi slowly reached up to wipe her tears away “Well hi there. Rough day huh?” Airi smiled sadly at her and Minori sniffled in response. Airi gently reached up to ruffle her hair “Come sit down with me alright?” Minori nodded, quick to follow Airi to the soft blankets. They sat down side by side, Airi still holding both of Minori’s hands “Have I told you how amazing you are?” Minori seemed to cringe at the words, bullseye. Airi gave the youngers hands a gentle squeeze, not letting her pull away
“Well you are amazing sweet pea! You’re so inspiring to watch, you always do every single thing with all your heart. You do everything in your power to help those around you. And no matter what you never give up. You won’t let one bad day change that will you? Not what I love the most about you…” Minori slowly shook her head, her tears had started flowing again. Airi reached up to wipe them away and gently brush through Minori’s hair “See? You’re so super strong! I know a lot of people that would’ve given up a long time ago. But not you. Honestly if I knew you when I was just starting out you would’ve inspired me!”
Minori’s eyes seemed to sparkle, and not just with tears. Airi chuckled “Yup! But now let me have a chance to spoil you ok cupcake? Yay!” Airi threw her hands up in the air, an action which Minori slowly copied with the tiniest little giggle, Airi, taking this wonderful opportunity, reached down to start tickling Minori’s sides. That got a much more genuine giggle, a shrieking laughter as Minori tried squirming away. After a few moments of this Airi pulled her hands away, but her fingers were still wiggling menacingly “Hmmm how old are you feeling love bug?” As Minori’s giggles started dying down she held up 5 fingers proudly
Airi gasped “Just four? Four and under means the tickle monster attacks!” The shrieking giggles returned for a moment but then abruptly stopped “Oh waittt there were five fingers! Silly me, such a big girl means you’re safe!” Airi booped her on the nose which prompted more giggling. Airi chuckled along and ruffled her hair “How about you go back home, grab a plushy, then come back ok?” Minori seemed sad about needing to leave, reluctant to get up, so Airi spoke up again “I’ll have a surprise for you if you can be a big brave girl for me!” That instantly caught Minori’s attention and the girl was gone in a flash
Airi chuckled to herself and grabbed the things she’d brought. Minori came back hugging a yellow cat plushy, super tight! Airi gasped “Good job! What a lovely friend you brought us!” Airi patted the blanket next to her and handed over a pink sippy cup “Ta-Dah! A surprise for m’lady” Minori gasped in excitement and started happily babbling. And babbling meant happy girl! Airi chuckled and ruffled her hair again, mission accomplished “You like your juice princess?” Minori eagerly nodded which led Airi to laugh again
Airi encouraged the little ones babbling as she applied band-aid’s to Minori’s scraped up knees. A heart on the left and a star on the right, then she got out the coloring book! Minori continued happily babbling as she colored in a picture of a kitty cat. She was explained how she made the fur yellow to match her plushy, the paws and the ears and the nose pink for Airi, then the eyes blue because blue was her favorite color! All Airi heard though was “Aababab abbaabbaba!” Airi encouraged the babbling though, always asking questions and praising Minori for her hard work! It was a nice break for Minori. They played and colored until Minori was yawning. Airi instructed her to go home and get ready for bed. Minori agreed, but she barely managed to change before she was passed out in her bed sucking her thumb. The only tragedy of the night was the fact that Airi didn’t get to see that adorable sight