Video x2

[ricericebaby]

[Video; private to members of μ's]

U-um... I know it's been a few months, and a lot has happened, but...

[Hanayo's voice is quiet and somewhat shaky as she opens the transmission, eyes cast awkwardly down into her lap for the first few seconds.  She takes a breath, steadying herself, and manages a much more serious expression once she looks into the feed.]

There's a saying in the performing community.  If you take a one day break from practicing, you will know it.  If you take a two day break, your fellow performers will know it.  And if you take a one month break, your audience will know it.

[Her expression and tone slowly gain in confidence as she continues, pausing there for emphasis.]

We've had a pretty long break.  I know things have been busy, but the life of an idol is like that.  They're always practicing with their Pokemon, working on new routines, constantly reinventing themselves.  If we're all still serious about this... then we need to get back on schedule.

[There's a moment of uncertainty and hesitation.]

...You are all still interested, right?  Because I've already decided.  μ's helped me with that decision.  Being an idol... this is what I want to do with my life.  And even though we all just met and haven't known each other for long, I feel like it's something we should all do together.  What we have with μ's... I think it can really be something special, if we work really hard together.  So, um...

[Yeah, the sheepishness is back.  Hanayo can only sound all take-charge for a little while.  It takes a lot out of her.]

I-if anyone wants to practice, please call me!

[And with a quick embarrassed bow of the head, off goes the feed.]

[Video - open to all]

[Later that day, Hanayo opens up another Warp Band broadcast - this time, to the entire city of Union.  She's in the Water type area of the Pokemon habitat, wearing a cute sailor suit type outfit and standing on a small platform.  There are two Sharpedo floating in the water to either side of her.]

U-um...!  Hello, everyone!  My name is Hanayo Koizumi, and I'm training to become a Pokemon idol!  These are my Sharpedo, Hidari and Migi, and we're going to perform for you!  Th-this is a work in progress...

[And with that somewhat stilted intro, Hanayo and the two Sharpedo begin their performance.  She doesn't have any music backing her up, and isn't much of a songwriter, but at least she's trying.  The song itself is about how much she loves rice - Honoka's earlier transmission gave her an idea and she just couldn't let go of it.  It doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the context of singing and dancing with Water types, so the whole experience is really rather odd. 

And besides that, the Sharpedo on the left seems to have forgotten the routine halfway through.  But hey, at least he's persistent!  A true idol can never abandon the performance halfway through, even if they're a complete screw-up.  Hanayo, similarly, is a trooper, and even though it's written all over her face that she's nervous performing in front of an audience like this, she manages to make it all the way through her song and dance with minimal stumbling and voice cracking.]

Ah... th-thank you very much!  I hope you enjoyed the show!

[The feed is very quickly shut off.]

Comments

[Video; private to members of μ's]

[nicocism]

[Ugh - she's right and it hurts. Nico was so busy getting caught up with the drama between her and Maki, then taking a break after that, still avoiding things, that she ended up avoiding everyone else as well. With Honoka gone, it was so easy to put off but now the other girl's back and... yeah, they really have no excuse]

We... really did get off schedule, didn't we?

[Bad enough that she's being lectured by Hanayo of all people]

[ricericebaby]

Yeah... I was starting to worry a little. You still want to sing with everyone, right Nico?

[nicocism]

Well, yeah... I'm not going to abandon you all, that'd just be irresponsible! [She says it like they were relying on her...]

[ricericebaby]

I'm glad we can count on you, Nico.

video; private to μ's

[kakuto]

[Ah right. With Honoka needing to return home, relationships changing among the girls, and a whole bunch of stuff happening around them, Rin remembers that practice got pushed back for several reasons. She always trains herself every day, but running around and having fun is less fun when doing it alone compared to training with μ's. She even had awkward events in her life where she found herself on a stage of some sort, singing to god Pokémon, and the weird dreams. She promised Hanayo to help her with her dream, but what about her? Does she really still want to do this? She is far from being idol material, people would laugh at her in costume and favor everyone else over her.

She started only doing this for Hanayo and making new friends, but maybe... Just maybe she could think of herself for a little bit. Maybe she should try a cute costume for once. Maybe she should hold back on exploring the world when she is free and focus on idol activities to train herself new things and improve what she has now.

Things wouldn't happen right this second, but thinking over it, she declares that this would be a start of a new Rin Hoshizora.]

-----



Kayochin! Everyone!

[She claps her hands together, looking pretty serious yet her smile is bright and radiating. Someone definitely got pumped up.]

Rin declares we are all going to start training a lot to make up for lost time! I... I still want to sing and dance with everyone! Those training days at the shrine were really fun, so let's do it!

[ricericebaby]

Rin...!

[Hanayo smiles brightly, clasping her hands together and blushing.]

I want to sing and dance with you, too!

[kakuto]

Perfect! We can get through this together like we did with other problems!

I still want a ramen song! If it can't be ramen, then let's just make it a food love song!

video to the group;

[cutiepanther]

I'm not about to let all this work I've done composing new music go to waste. I think Honoka had a good idea bringing people together to sing and dance and make people happy.

[ Maki is surprisingly sincere and serious about this. Then again, anyone who knows her well enough (almost all the girls now) knows she always take music seriously. But at the same time... ]

I-I mean...I like being around you all too. It's fun singing together. So I don't want that to end. O-Okay?!

[ricericebaby]

Mm!

[Hanayo nods enthusiastically, smiling back at her friend. She knows how to translate Makispeak by this point.]

I think it's fun too. It's the most fun I've ever had.

[cutiepanther]

[ Wow this is a very complicated system you aren't supposed to have cracked it already Hanayo!! ]

Well, I'm not giving up. I want to keep singing with you and everyone else.

video; private to μ's

[umiiroshoujo]

It's been far too long. At this point, we need to either step up or give up.

[Even though they haven't really done much together, that hasn't stopped Umi from practicing on her own. Staying in shape is key. She...doesn't really want to give this up.]

I'm usually available for practice too, when I'm not occupied with my studies.

...my Pokémon could probably use some social interaction as well.

[ricericebaby]

Would you like to practice the song I'm writing when I'm done? Honoka gave me a good idea for a love song about rice!

[And this is why they need Umi.]

[umiiroshoujo]

...

Maki has a song she's been working on. [To which Umi has written the lyrics. NO SONGS ABOUT FOOD, TYVM.]

Open Video!

[lunchleader]

[And up pops this guy on the feed, who's wearing some union-style winter clothes with a pack on his back. He appears to be sitting in a make-shift campsite over at the Forest Shrine, and a Lillipup who's dressed in such a cute winter outfit herself is sitting in his lap. On his right is a winter-colored Deerling who's happily munching its way through a small box of basic Poffins; on his left, a curious Riolu is peeking around his elbow. If one looks closely, they might be able to see the tail feathers of a Pidove poking out from behind Right's head.

And Right himself? He's grinning and trying to clap while keeping the camera on him; it's only half-working.] That was pretty cute! You certain did well...Hanayo, right?

Video

[ricericebaby]

Oh... thank you!

[She bows politely and somewhat stiffly, not having expected anyone to actually watch the whole thing.]

Yes, it's Hanayo.

Video

[lunchleader]

Nice to meet you! I'm Right. This here's Wagon-- [He gestures to the Lillipup.] --that's Soft Steel, who I call Softy-- [He points to the Riolu on his elbow.] --and that's Kise, though his full names Kisetsu; kind of a mouthful of a name, huh? [He jerks his thumb over to the Deerling.

Piiii... [~Don't mind me; I'm not here... That demonic device can't see me...~ Came a quiet little coo behind Right's head.]

Video; private. (I'm on team left sharpedo)

[future_sight]

[ Oh, Hanayo was getting serious, was she? Nozomi should probably step up her game too, huh? ]

You've been working on your projecting, haven't you?

Video; private. (left Sharpedo is best Sharpedo)

[ricericebaby]

Did it show? I was trying really hard.

Video; private.

[future_sight]

It does, I'm impressed.

[swanna_lake]

I want to start a regular schedule. We need to keep in top physical condition and Nozomi was complaining that she's the only one who has to these days.

[ricericebaby]

Nozomi was...? Have you both been practicing all this time too?

[swanna_lake]

Of course! We need to stay in shape and in practice.

video; private to members of μ's

[encouragetomorrow]

[Honoka makes a positively anguished sound and shakes her Warp Band.]

I'm so sorryy~~~! It's because I was away for so long that this happened. But I just know we can make it up. We'll work extra hard, and we'll be extra-good!! I'm even building a cart to make sweets from home here in Union so I can sell them and make us some money for things!! And an old friend of mine might be our photographer!!

video; private to members of μ's

[ricericebaby]

[OH GOD NO

Hanayo shakes her head, waving her hands in front of her as quickly as she can.]

I-it's not your fault, Honoka! That isn't what I was trying to say at all!

video; private to members of μ's

[encouragetomorrow]

[She frowns and makes a legitimate :C face.]

Oh, well-- I mean you didn't, but it kind of is at least partially my fault. It's easier to practice when all nine of us are here, you know?