Requiem: Tomorrow’s Smile

[November 22nd, 09:00 JST]

Tokyo Prefecture – Harmonia Foundation Tama Facility, Studio Room 03

The morning sun streamed through the high windows, catching faint dust particles drifting across the room. Tempesta Unit stretched and warmed up as Fujimoto-sensei adjusted the audio panel.

“Alright,” she announced, clapping twice. “Today we combine everything. Choreography and vocals. We have two more days to perfect this performance, so give it your best.”

The girls straightened and moved in position.

Reina’s expression was calm and focused. The weight in her chest was gone.

She raised her D-Mic, a quiet signal to the others. They followed.

The music began.

The beat pulsed through the speakers.

Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm with the melody.

With everyone supporting her, Reina danced with sharp confidence. Every step and turn aligned cleanly; her voice flowed steady and bright.

Fujimoto raised an eyebrow. “Good. Much better,”

The chorus cue arrived.

“Now that I’ve been reborn—”

Their voices wove together seamlessly.

“For tomorrow’s smile to bloom again—”

The line rang strong and clear through the studio.

Fujimoto nodded, arms crossed, satisfaction touching her expression.

They continued through the routine until the final note faded.

Everyone sank down to the floor, catching their breath.

“Not bad,” Fujimoto said, checking her clipboard. “Your dance work is solid—better than I expected. But remember, pros don’t stop at ‘good’. We aim for perfection.”

She turned a page.

“Vocally, you sound beautiful… but some of you are just singing the notes. This song isn’t just about technique. You need to feel the emotion—your job is to make the audience feel what you feel when you sing those words.”

She closed the clipboard. “We’ll stop here for now. Your new homework—understand the lyric, feel it, and bring its emotion into your voice. I expect results tomorrow”

She bowed her head slightly. “Dismissed.”

The girls bowed back. “Thank you, sensei.”

As practice ended, the room loosened into casual chatter. Some grabbed drinks, others stretched their legs, a few wiped sweat from their faces. Amid the movement, Mika quietly stepped away. She walked up to Fujimoto-sensei, spoke a few low words, and the instructor nodded, noting something on her clipboard.

Without another word, Mika picked up her water bottle and slipped out of the room.

The rest of the girls watched her go.

Emi exhaled, slow. “Right... It’s today…”

Reina stepped toward Emi as the others also slid closer.

“Emi,” she said softly, “What did you mean by… ‘today’?”

Emi froze for a moment. Her fingers tightened around her towel.

“It’s… not really something I should explain,” She admitted. “But Mika-san always disappears on this date.” She lowered her voice. “She’s done it every year since we joined Aria Corps together.”

Reina’s eyes softened. “Is she okay? I never knew this.”

Emi hesitated. “I’m not sure. She doesn’t talk about it, but… I once followed her as far as the gates.” She lowered her gaze. “She stopped me before I could go inside. She always goes alone… to Tama Cemetery.”

Reina felt her chest tighten. She had always believed that only she and Takeshi carried that kind of loss… but Mika, too, had been suffering in silence.

Emi looked up again, her voice quieter.

“Reina-chan… you understand this kind of pain more than any of us. If anyone can be there for us… it’s you.”

Reina placed a hand on Emi’s shoulder, offering a gentle and reassuring smile.

“Yeah… I get it. I’m not going to ask her anything she doesn’t want to say. I just… don’t want her to be alone today.”

Emi nodded softly, relieved.

Reina left the room and headed toward the facility entrance. After flashing her ID to security, she walked toward the Foundation’s transport lane. A driver greeted her with a polite nod. Aria Corps Divas were often granted short-distance travel for personal reasons, though Reina rarely used that privilege.

She returned the greeting as she stepped inside the car.

“Tama Cemetery, please.”

Within minutes, the vehicle rolled onto the main road.

Reina stared out the window, her thoughts drifting.

It’s been almost a year since we formed Team 02… and I still know nothing about Mika’s past. What kind of leader am I...

She let out a silent, bitter laugh at herself.

“Arrived,” the driver said.

Reina stepped out. The November air felt colder here. And quieter.

She spotted Mika standing beneath the stone archway, a bouquet of white chrysanthemums held loosely in her hand. Reina realized she’d caught up only because Mika must have stopped earlier to buy them.

Mika’s posture was relaxed, but her eyes carried a heaviness Reina had never noticed before.

Reina approached slowly, letting her footsteps announce her presence.

Mika turned. For a moment, neither spoke.

“If you want me to go,” Reina said gently, “I will. I just... didn’t want you to be alone today.”

Mika held her silent gaze. Reina could almost see the thoughts turning behind her eyes.

After a long, quiet pause, Mika exhaled softly.

“...Follow me,” she said at last.

Reina nodded and fell into step behind her, walking deeper into the rows of silent stones.

They walked in silence until Mika stopped in front of two weathered stones.

Tatsuna Daichi

Tatsuna Mari

Mika knelt and placed the white chrysanthemums carefully at the base.

For a moment, she said nothing. Her fingers brushed over the engraving lightly, as if touching an old memory.

“... Sorry I’m late,” she murmured. “Practice ran longer today.”

Reina stood a few steps behind her, giving her the space she needed.

Mika’s voice was steady, almost too steady.

“I’m doing fine,” she continued softly. “The team’s strong. Reina is... a good leader. And the others... they’re wonderful friends.”

A faint breath. “You’d probably like them.”

She rose slowly, her gaze lingering on the stones before turning to Reina.

“You don’t know anything about my past, do you, Reina-senpai?”

Reina shook her head. “Your background section was redacted. They told me it was for safety reasons”

Mika reached into her pocket and pull out a small silver hiking compass, rubbing her thumb over the metal.

“We were hiking. Just a normal family trip... until we found a cave.”

A pause. “There was a strange glow inside. We heard something move. So we went in to check”

Reina held her breath.

“My dad went first. Then Mom. I followed.”

Mika closed her eyes for a brief moment. “We had no idea it was an ancient ruin. Not until later, when I learned what they were.”

Her voice flattened. “CODA spawned inside. Swarms of them. They attacked immediately.”

She said it plainly. No tears, no quiver.

Just the calm of someone who had carried the story alone for years.

“My father pushed me out. He shouted at me to run.”

Her grip tightened around the compass.

“I did. I ran until I tripped outside the cave. I was ten years old... seven years ago”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“... A Diva saved me. I don’t know who she was. I only saw her back.”

A breath.

“She defeated the CODA. And when I woke up... my parents were gone.”

A breeze passed through the cemetery, rustling the trees as if grieving with her.

Mika continued quietly,

“I joined Aria Corps because... I don’t want that to happen to anyone else. I want to become strong enough to save someone the way she saved me.”

“... And back then, when Nana asked if any of us had experienced death... I lied.” Mika lowered her gaze. “I didn’t see it happen. I only saw what was left. I wasn’t ready to talk about it then.”

Reina stepped beside her.

“... I understand,” she whispered. “You know my past too. Different place, different situation... but I know that feeling.”

Mika looked at her, her expression steady.

“When you brought me into Team 02, I was skeptical at first. But now... I’m proud to be led by you.”

Reina gave a small smile and knelt briefly, placing her hand on the stone.

“...Thank you,” she said softly to Mika’s parent. “For raising someone this strong. I’ll take care of her.”

Mika’s breath caught. A tiny, barely noticeable tremor.

The two stood together in silence, the white chrysanthemums rustling gently in the wind.

As they walked out of the cemetery, Reina called the facility transport line.

Within minutes, the same driver pulled up at the entrance.

Mika paused before stepping in, her voice barely above a breath.

“... Thank you, Reina-senpai. For... being there.”

Reina offered a small smile. “It’s my job.”

The ride back was quiet, but peaceful. Reina’s presence seemed to warm the air around Mika, softening the weight she carried.

By the time they returned to the Tama Facility, the sun was dipping low, tinting the hallways orange. Reina scanned her access card, and the two of them headed toward Tempesta Unit’s quarters.

The moment the door opened, five heads turned.

“Welcome back!” Nana said, waving with a bright smile.

Emi hurried over first, hugging Mika gently without a word.

Momoko followed, arms wide. “You’re home!”

Misaki gave a small, firm pat on Mika’s shoulder.

Emiko hugged her softly. “We were worried...”

Mika stiffened for a brief second, then relaxed.

“You... waited for me?” she asked, blinking.

“Of course,” Emi said simply.

“We’re a team,” Nana added. “You disappear, we panic!”

A small, almost invisible smile touched Mika’s lips.

Reina tapped her shoulder lightly. “We are a family. Don’t forget.”

The group settled around the small living room. Lyric sheets were spread out on the table.

Momoko picked one up. “We were talking about the homework Sensei gave. You know... feeling the lyrics.”

She grinned.

Emiko nodded. “We printed them out for easier reading.” She passed Mika a neatly folded sheet.

Reina sat beside Emi. “Let’s figure this out together.”

Soft chatter filled the room as each girl studied the lines.

Nana lifted her head. “This part... ‘Strength is born the moment we decide to stand after falling.’ I really like it. It feels just like Ibaraki.”

Misaki tapped a line. “This one hit me hard. ‘Even if the sky trembles with storms.’ It’s like telling us to keep moving, even when everything feels impossible.”

Emiko smiled gently. “I think the chorus is the heart. ‘For tomorrow’s smile to bloom again.’ It feels like... painting hope back into the world.”

Reina spoke next. “I think the whole song is about standing together. No matter what happened, we face it for the sake of tomorrow.”

Everyone looked at Mika.

Her eyes held a warmth the girls had never seen before.

“... It’s a good song,” Mika said quietly.

The team exchanged soft smiles before returning to the lyrics.

Reina leaned back slightly, letting the moment settle in her chest.

This is why I fight.

Why I sing.

Why losing them terrifies me.

But maybe... just like Takeshi said...

Everyone carries their own wounds.

All we can do is move forward together.

Never alone.

As the last orange light faded outside the window, Tempesta Unit sang the lyrics softly, sharing a quiet warmth that wrapped around all seven of them.

Reina closed her eyes for a moment.

We’ll make this Live the best performance of our lives.

I promise.