@Kikk4r - I would have updated faster if I could.
But, hopefully it will be worth the wait...
@oddball - Expect a lot of SayuJun in the future...
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(This is a fan fic based on the "public images" of various Hello!Project artists and is no way shape or form trying to imply anything about the personal lives of the real people behind the public images.)Petals 7 - Chapter 4 - part 2 - A Second TeacherEri starts to read again.
Natsuki and Miyu walk up the stairs of their dorm.
"So, this school has some strange rules, but you'll get used to them. One rule is that one must never wander about campus after dark. It's pretty up in the mountains, but there is no real way to prevent wild animals from invading at night."
"What about during the day?"
"There's too much activity, it scares them off."
"Okay." Natsuki stops at a stair landing and points through a window. "Oh, what's that building over there?"
"The super ornate one? That's the dorm of the super elite student council. All of them are being groomed to be top chefs and they rarely if ever talk to ordinary students."
"Kon nicha wa!" A strange student passes them going down the stairs.
Miyu seems star struck. "Aoi-sempai!"
Aoi turns around. "Oh, hi Miyu. Sorry I didn't recognize ya."
"Aoi-sempai, let me introduce you to the new girl. This is Natsuki. Natsuki, this is Aoi. She's one of the student council. She is being groomed to be the next god of Hakata Ramen."
Aoi bows and holds out her hands. "Pleased to meet ya."
Natsuki shakes her hands and bows.
"Sorry if your hands smell now. It's kinda the danger with working with garlic so much."
Natsuki smells her hands and is nearly knocked on her butt. "That's okay, I love Hakata Ramen."
Aoi winks. "Maybe I can make you a bowl sometime." Aoi runs off.
Miyu sighs. "She's so dreamy."Eri's phone rings. "What's up, Reina?"
"So, what outfit should I wear on Saturday?"
"You're asking me? The genius of lack of fashion sense? Is this some trick question, where you're going to do the opposite of what I suggest?"
"I'm just so nervous!"
"Aren't you worried about tomorrow's practice?"
"Jun Jun said I was doing okay, so hopefully the next teacher will also think I am doing okay. I just can't worry about stuff like that."
"True. I am like that also. But, for a different reason. I figure that the teacher will be harsh on me, but there's nothing I can really do to prepare."
"Makes sense."
"I've been reading a manga instead, trying to get insight into Risa."
"That's cool. Which one?"
"Scattered Petals."
"I never got into that one. The school uniforms were
so uncool."
---
Risa walks into the practice room.
"Rival!"
Panicking, Risa looks around. "Kanon-sempai?"
"Yeah, I'm teaching today. I hope that you don't mind, but I want you to be my assistant teacher today."
"Me?"
"It will be easy."
The rest of the group, along with Jun Jun, enter the room.
Kanon gets their attention. "Okay, folks. Today we are going to be exploring a new avenue of singing. Ai-kun tells me that most of you guys do most of your singing in Karaoke. Is that true?"
The group members nod in agreement.
"That's good practice, but, it's not the same as singing in front of an audience. While being on pitch is important, it is also important to be able to communicate emotion with your voice. So, I have prepared some exercises for us to do, and we can do them as a group."
The group members look at themselves with worried expressions.
"Now, Ai-kun, I want you to be our first volunteer. I will give you a card with an emotion on it. I want you to sing a major scale behind the piano so the group can't see your face. Okay?"
Ai-kun gulps and nods.
Kanon gives Ai the card. "Okay, everyone. Concentrate hard and think about what Ai is trying to express."
"
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
"Okay, Sayumi, what was Ai trying to express?"
"No clue."
"Anyone?"
The rest of the group shake their head.
"Ai-kun, I don't think anyone got that you were trying to express sadness. Let me give the next card to my assistant Risa."
Ai comes out from behind the piano. "Your assistant?"
"She has done these exercises before during a drama workshop."
Risa goes behind the piano and does the scale.
"Reina, what do you think?"
"Fear."
The rest of the group nods.
"Great, that was correct. Now, I am going to split people up into pairs and give you guys three cards each. Practice among yourselves. There is no right or wrong way to do things, just ways that work for you. Feel free to experiment, but don't use visual clues to guess the emotion. Turn you back on your partner if you need to."
The rest of the group nods.
"Now, let's have Sayumi with Jun Jun, Reina with Ai-kun, Eri with Risa, and Riho with Mizuki."
Riho and Mizuki find a corner of the practice room by themselves.
Riho holds the cards out, face down for Mizuki. "Pick a card, any card."
Mizuki picks one.
Riho turns around so she cannot see Mizuki. "Okay, let's go."
"
Doe, ... R-Ray, ... M-Me, ..."
"Why are you being so apprehensive? It's just me listening."
"Correct!"
"Wow, very cool."
---
Reina turns around. "Okay, kaichou, let me have it."
Ai sings the major scale.
"Kaichou. You just sang a major scale. What in the world were you trying to express with it?"
"Excitement."
Reina cringes, then thinks for a bit. "Try it again."
"
Doe, Ray, Me, ..."
"I heard that Sayumi practiced with Mizuki yesterday and improved an amazing amount."
"
... Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe. She did?"
"No, I was lying. But, you did kind of sound more excited after I said it."
---
Eri turns around. Whenever you're ready, Risa-kun.
"
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
Eri frowns. "That was a tough one. Slight assertiveness?"
"Kuso. It was supposed to be conviction."
"Try it again, slowly."
"
Doe, Ray, ..."
"So, after practice, do you want to go up to the school roof and make out?"
Risa violently shakes her head even though Eri has her back to Risa. "
... Me, Faa, Sol, La, TEA, DOE! Why are you continuing with these stupid come on lines?"
"Because you sang the scale with great conviction."
Risa turns red. "Oh, sorry."
"So, you
will go to the roof with me?"
Risa pulls her right eyelid down and sticks out her tongue. "Beda!"
---
"What's wrong, Sayumi-chan?"
"It's just so hard to concentrate on showing an emotion when I know that you will be all over my pitch control."
Jun Jun laughs. "Nonsense. That's not the point of the exercise. Sometimes singers will go off pitch slightly if they can use this to convey an emotion. Don't worry about about pitch at all, just go for it."
Sayumi smiles. "Okay!
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
"Okay, I'm getting 'happiness' from that."
"You did? Oh my god!"
"Am I correct?"
"Yes!"
"But, you were happy about not worrying about being on pitch, right?"
Sayumi's smile falls.
"Just teasing. It's whatever works, right?"
"Hai!"
---
"
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
Mizuki smiles. "My goodness, Riho, you sure sounded angry there."
"Right."
"How were you able to do that? That felt so real."
"I was just thinking of things that made me mad."
"Such as?"
"Um, Mizuki-kun, there are some things I'd rather not talk about."
"Okay. Besides, what would make you mad might not be the same things that would make me mad."
You can say that again.---
"
Doe, Ray, Ma, Faa, Sol, La, Ta, Doe."
Ai scratches her head. "No clue."
Reina rubs her forehead in frustration. "It's supposed to be curiosity."
Ai smiles a sinister smile, facing away from Reina. "Try it again."
"
Doe, Ray, ..."
"I'm wearing some special panties today."
Reina turns red. "
... Ma, Faa, Sol, La, Ta, Doe."
"That seemed a lot better."
"Why did you bring up panties?"
"Because I know that you would be curious if my idea of special panties would be a crime against fashion."
Reina gulps. "Yeah, that's it. I was worried for your style."
---
"
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
"Excitement."
"That is correct."
"That's amazing Eri-kun. I was able to tell what you were feeling each time."
"Not what I really feeling. You heard what I was expressing."
"Wouldn't it be easier to just feel what you were trying to express?"
"Easier?" Eri gets a puzzled look on her face. "It just comes naturally for me I guess."
"But is that such a good thing, to be able to fake people out so easily?"
Eri blushes. "Never thought of that before."
---
"
Doe, Ray, Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe."
Sayumi stares straight ahead.
What the heck was that? "Sorry, I couldn't tell what that was."
Jun Jun pouts. "It's supposed to be anger."
A gleam appears in Sayumi's eyes. "Try it again."
"
Doe, Ray, ..."
"For someone who can dish out criticism on singing, you're really not that good at singing yourself, aren't you?"
"
... Me, Faa, Sol, La, Tea, Doe. I am going to kick your ass so bad."
"But, that was so much better."
"What was?"
"Expressing anger."
Jun Jun turns pale. "Oh, sorry, Sayumi. I thought you meant it."
"No problem. But, I
did mean it."
"What?"
"Well, I figure that if it's the truth, then there's no harm in saying things."
Jun Jun smirks. "Let me guess, the girls that I heard you bullied, you were just telling
them the truth?"
"Of course. If I was spouting nonsense they would have ignored me."
Jun Jun nods her head. "Maybe you're not as ugly on the inside as I thought."
"I hope not."
---
"Okay, I hope everyone here has picked up some new tools to use today. But, these tools need practice, so I hope every works on them this weekend. During Karaoke practice, I hope you all will pick a couple of emotions and try them out without worrying about your score. Okay?"
"Hai!"
"Thank you for having me. I am really interested now in seeing how all of you will develop."
Risa stretches.
Wow, that was a lot of hard work."Hey, Risa."
"Yes, Takahashi-sempai?"
"Are you doing anything on Saturday?"
Risa blushes beet red. "What's going on?"
"Well, since I'm really bad at this, maybe you can give me some pointers at the Karaoke club?"
"Sure!"
---
"What the heck is this?" Sachiko holds up a bunch of soba noodles with a pair of chopsticks. "These are totally over cooked. Rookie, have you even cooked before?"
Natsuki looks down at the floor.
"Teacher? Why did you put this novice in with the elite group? We have standards to keep up here."
"Sachiko, I think you're overreacting. If she needs help, I could tutor her."
"Aoi, stop thinking with your hormones. Cooking is a serious thing."
Natsuki finishes packing. That entire class was one long session of Sachiko pointing out my flaws. Of course, the teacher never stopped Sachiko since Sachiko is being groomed to be the next god of Tonkotsu Ramen.
Good thing that Miyo is off at Aoi's tutoring class. She would try to stop me from leaving.
Natsuki grabs her stuff and heads down the stairs. I hope I don't meet someone who tries to change my mind. There's no way that I could endure another class like that.
Natsuki reaches the outside without incident. Wow, it's really dark and desolate out here. I hope there aren't any wild animals.
Natsuki makes it halfway to the school gate when she steps on a twig. She suddenly hears a horrible noise that sounds like howling.
Oh crap!
Natsuki starts to run, but stops dead in her tracks when she sees the first one. Wait! These aren't wild animals, they're m-m-monsters!
Natsuki finds herself surrounded by around six creatures that would have looked human if it wasn't for giant holes in their abdomens.
"Hungry.."
Oh no! They think I am food!Eri sighs.
I guess Jun Jun isn't as harsh with me as Sachiko is with Natsuki.---
Risa arrives at the Karaoke place. "Takahashi-senpai, I'm here."
Ai turns around. "Good. We're being joined today by Eri and Reina. Between the four of us we should make great progress."
Risa gets a mortified look on her face. "Takahashi-senpai, who's idea was it for this little group?"
"Reina. I think it's great that she's getting in the swing of things and helping out."
Must not upset Takahashi-senpai by pointing out the obvious. "Um, okay. I guess that's good."
"Kaichou! We're here."
Risa shoots daggers with her eyes at Eri.
"Risa, I am glad you could make it. I am very interested in learning how you feel emotions."
I'm sure you are. Risa glares at Eri.
Ai points to the booth that she has reserved. "Shall we get started?"
Eri smiles. "Boss, is it okay if we don't order food during the session? We are at a mall so we can can grab food afterward."
"Eri, you're very serious today."
"Thanks."
Risa rolls her eyes.
Serious, but not about singing.They enter the booth.
"Kaichou, let's do one together with grading to warm up."
Ai nods.
"
Look for your love girl, sending my love with telepathy. Always a girl, I'm having improbable dreams ..."
Risa whispers to Eri. "So, this is you two's idea for a double date?"
Eri grins. "Yes. However, I guess it's not likely that I will be successful."
"You got that right."
"However, let's at least work together? You might think I joined the club to chase you, but I
am very serious about the idea of being an idol."
"
... Anyone under this open sky will want to look for their own path ..."
"Serious? You?"
"Well, I guess my seriousness is expressed differently than most people."
"
... Right now a small piece of romance like this is linking with a wonderful future. Tomorrow will shine more brightly."
Reina looks at the two scores on the Karaoke machine. "Wow, spot on as always, Kaichou."
Ai turns to Eri and Risa. "Why don't you two warm up?"
Eri smiles. "Sure. Let me pick the song."
Risa puts on a happy face. "Okay."
This had better not be some hentai song."
Before we knew it, we casually bumped into each other. Gathering kindness together we continued our game of hide-and-seek. No, wanna sell your soul, a stylish yellow touch. No, forget smile again, I just want to keep dancing ..."
"So Kaichou, what panties are you wearing today?"
Ai blushes. "Just normal ones."
"But this will not do. We must find better underwear for you."
"Why?"
"Because if you perform and you do a high kick to show your fans some service they shouldn't see unstylish panties. That would ruin all of their dreams."
"Is that so? Never thought of that."
"
... Take the good things and the bad things, add them together and divide by two and live well, wanting to surpass time."
"Sugoi, Risa, you scores are getting better all the time."
Risa smiles at Reina. "Well, I have been getting a lot of help."
Eri looks dejected. "I think I might be falling behind."
"Don't worry about it, Eri. We're all here to work on our singing."
Eri nods and forces a smile for Ai.
"So Risa, why don't you pick me a song and a emotion and check to see how I do with it?"
"Sure." Risa shoots a triumphant look to Reina who makes a face back at her.
Risa looks through the song list. "Why don't you try Yuzurenai Negai?"
"How should I sing it?"
"How about with sorrow?"
"I'll do my best."
Risa starts the machine.
"
Heading to the dream to the future with no end. Holding close a wish, a wish you can't yield to anyone..."
Reina and Eri start writing things down on napkins.
Risa looks at Ai in disbelief.
Is she even trying to express sorrow?"
... Take the map to your heart, the one that will not fade, and hold it up to the light. So, how did I do?"
Reina nervously giggles. "Well, Kaichou, if we didn't have to work on things, we wouldn't need to practice, right?"
"That bad?"
Eri points to her notes and then to her chin. "Boss, the first thing I would change was the way you were standing."
"Eeh?" Risa looks at Eri in surprise.
Eri ignores Risa. "You were standing in a very carefree way. For sorrow, I would have slumped my shoulders some."
"Isn't this supposed to be about singing, not about appearance?"
Eri turns to Risa. "Yes. But, appearance does affect singing."
Risa has a shocked look on her face.
"Boss, try it again, but this time slump your shoulders."
Ai repeats the song.
"What do you to think?"
Risa and Reina nod to Eri.
"See?"
"That's amazing Eri. I never would have thought of that."
---
Ai stretches. "I'm so tired! You guys really wore me out. How am I ever going to remember all this stuff?"
Eri smiles. "It will come with time."
"Kaichou, there's no time to be tired now. We still have to shop for panties."
"What about Risa and Eri?"
Eri smiles. "I can treat Risa to some food, that is, if she will let me."
"It's okay."
Reina drags Ai off.
"I'm happy you agreed."
"Well, I guess I owe you an apology for thinking you were not serious about being an idol."
"No problem. I'm sure I give off the wrong impression frequently."
"That was an amazing amount of advise you were giving out."
Eri blushes. "Well, I was trying to compensate for being the worst in the room for being on pitch."
"So, where should we go?"
"There's a stall in the food court that serves Hakata Ramen."
"But won't Reina be upset that we're leaving her out? She's originally from that area, right?"
Eri laughs. "It's okay. Actually, Reina doesn't like Hakata ramen. She much prefers Sapporo ramen."
"Eeeh? From all the way up North?"
"Well, she is a rebel. Shall we go?"
"Okay."
To be continued!