Surprise Company

Miyuki blinked in bewilderment. She stood on the school rooftop, Nanami at her side. Komi waved to them from the opposite side of the rooftop.

“You’re here again?” Nanami blurted out. “Why? This is our private spot.”

“Good afternoon to you as well,” Komi responded. “You don’t mind if I share the rooftop with you, do you?”

Nanami huffed and glanced at Miyuki for her reaction.

“Not at all,” Miyuki said. “I don’t mind. There’s a reason you’re here, isn’t there?”

Komi settled in on the floor, sitting on her knees. “As I said before, I just needed a place to think.”

“Right…” Nanami narrowed her skeptic eyes. “Is that an excuse to talk to Miyuki in private?”

“I’m not obsessed with her as the other students are,” Komi reasoned. “I know a lot about idols, but you won’t find me fangirling over any of them.”

“You’ll have to excuse Nanami, she’s normally not this harsh. She’s in protective mode right now,” Miyuki sat down and pulled out her lunch box.

“If you’re fine with her being here, then I suppose it’s okay,” Nanami joined her on the floor. “But seriously, what’s important enough to think about that you have to come up here? The library’s available, you know.”

“I prefer being up here,” she looked up. “The fresh air and open sky make it easier to think.” A soft breeze ruffled her hair as she spoke. “By the way,” Komi fixed her gaze on Miyuki, “did you look up Erii Mitsui like I suggested?”

Miyuki nodded. “I did.”

“What did you think?”

“She’s pretty good,” Miyuki admitted. “I can see why you said she’d be my greatest opponent. Her music style is closer to mine than any other idols I know.”

Nanami slurped on a mouthful of ramen while she listened to the two chat.

“I’d expect either you or her to take the win on Idol Awards this year,” Komi said.

“What about Luna Rihara? She won last year, wouldn’t she be in a place to win again?”

“Luna will be tough competition, but I doubt she’ll outshine you or Erii this year. If you look at the charts, her popularity is starting to dwindle. She’s not going to make it if that trend continues.”

“She has a plan to fix that. The week before the Idol Awards, she’s going to release a new song,” she informed her.

“One song isn’t going to help her much, unless she partnered with one of the other popular idols to draw in a bigger crowd. This close to the Idol Awards, though, I doubt anyone would help her like that.”

“About that,” Miyuki scratched the back of her head with an awkward laugh. “She might have asked me to be her backup singer a few days ago… and I might have said yes…”

Komi was unamused. She judged Miyuki with a blank stare. “Seriously? Why would you agree to that?”

Nanami spat out the ramen she was in the middle of slurping up. “First I’m hearing of this.”

“I thought it’d be a good opportunity to boost my own popularity,” Miyuki answered in defense. “We’re just helping each other out.”

“Miyuki, do you mind if I go with you this weekend?” Komi inquired with a serious tone.

“G-go with me?” If Miyuki had anything in her mouth, she certainly would have spat it out when the question was asked. “Why?”

“If anyone is going with her, it would be me!” Nanami exclaimed. “We’ve only just met, and you think you can take a long trip to Tokyo with Miyuki?”

“I want to see what it’s like for idols to work together,” she said. “It’s okay if you say no, but I’d really like to watch.”

“Hmm…” Miyuki tapped her forehead in thought. “I suppose you can come. I would like to clear it with Rihara first, but I don’t know how to contact her directly…”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Nanami leaned forward. “If you’re going with her, then I’m coming too.”

“The more the merrier, as they say,” Komi grinned.

—

“And that’s why they’re here,” Miyuki said. She found herself in Luna Rihara’s recording studio, faced with an irritated idol. A black leather couch sat opposite from the glass that revealed an empty recording room. In front of the glass was a desk with a sea of buttons and switches, decorated with a few fancy speakers. Multiple lights hung overhead, lighting the room with a homey ambiance.

Luna’s arms were crossed in annoyance at the unexpected company. She studied the two unfamiliar faces with narrowed eyes.

Nanami and Komi stood on either side of Miyuki like professional escorts. Komi bowed in reverent greeting to Luna. “It’s wonderful to meet you. My name is Komi Koizumi, a friend of Miyuki’s.”

“A recent acquaintance would be more accurate,” Nanami muttered before clearing her throat and bowing herself. “I’m Nanami Machii, her personal bodyguard and best friend.”

“I didn’t think I’d have to tell you to come alone,” Luna murmured, her eye twitch giving away her anger.

“S-sorry, I wanted to let you know before I allowed them to come, but I wasn’t sure how to contact you…” Miyuki hung her head in apology.

“You could’ve contacted my agent,” Luna breathed in quelled fury. “Surely an idol such as yourself should know that.”

“I’m sorry, it didn’t cross my mind…” Miyuki raised her eyes to make eye contact. “By the way, what’s the song we’re going to record?”

Luna turned and motioned for Miyuki to follow her through the door into the recording room. Nanami and Komi placed their feet forward to follow, but were stopped by a glare from Luna.

“That’s as far as you two are welcome. What happens here is between Miyuki and I,” she closed the door, severing the connection between the two rooms.

After a moment of restraint, she turned to Miyuki and handed her a small stack of folded papers she had stored in the chest pocket of the red shirt she was wearing. “I’m having the music recorded next week. Today you’re here to learn what your role is. I highlighted the portions you’ll sing so you aren’t completely lost.”

Miyuki looked over the sheet music and focused on the portions highlighted in yellow. She couldn’t help but notice that the background vocals were already separated from the lead. The song was titled Dangerous Blossom, and appeared to be a mix of pop and rock. The main spots with background vocals were at the beginning of the song and during the chorus.

“Okay, let’s get started, shall we?”