Volume 1 — Chapter 1 - The Dream Before Destiny

Mika Hoshina was fourteen years old.

For fourteen years, Mika had lived an ordinary life.

After school, she helped her parents and her older sister, Yui Hoshina, at their small family confectionery shop.

 The warmth of the shop, the sweet smell of cakes, and the peaceful days with her family were everything she knew.

She never thought that one day her name would be connected to the world of idols.But destiny had already begun moving.

Fifteen minutes before the most important day of her life...

Mika saw a strange dream.She stood alone in a silent world.

There was no ground beneath her feet, only an endless ocean of stars.

Countless lights floated around her like memories that had been forgotten.

Then...

A girl appeared.

She wore a pure white dress that shimmered like moonlight.

Her face was hidden by a mysterious glow, but Mika felt a strange familiarity.

As if she had been waiting for this person for a very long time.

In the girl's hands was a silver pendant.

The same pendant Mika had carried since childhood.

The girl slowly approached.

???: "Finally..."

"You have awakened."

Mika froze.

Mika: "Who are you?"

The girl gently placed the pendant into her hands.

???: "I have been waiting for your arrival."

Mika: "Waiting... for me?"

The girl looked toward the endless stars.

???: "Your journey into the world of idols is about to begin."

"I will be waiting for you..."

"...at the top."

The stars began to shake.

A strange light surrounded Mika.

???: "I hope this time..."

"...everything will be different."

"Your painful and difficult path will become the strength that helps you overcome every obstacle."

Mika tried to move closer.

Mika: "Tell me your name!"

But the girl only smiled.

???: "We will meet again."

The world shattered into countless pieces of light.

Mika suddenly opened her eyes.

The fourteen-year-old girl sat up in her bed, breathing heavily.

Cold sweat covered her face.

She looked around her room.

Everything was normal.

But the feeling from the dream remained.

Mika: "...What kind of dream was that?"

Her hand slowly touched the silver pendant.

For a brief moment...

It glowed.

All day, Mika couldn't stop thinking about it.

Who was that girl?

Why did she know about her future?

Why did she say "this time"?

And why was the pendant connected to her?

That evening, Mika looked at the brochure for Starling Star Idol Academy.

Mika: "Can someone like me really become an idol?"

At that moment, her phone rang.It was Misa Freileray.

Misa: "Mika! Tell me you've decided!"

Mika: "I still don't know..."

"I'm not special like those idols."

Misa became silent for a moment.

Then she smiled.

Misa: "That's exactly why you are special."

"Yesterday, when Luna Kisaragi was singing..."

"I saw something in you."

"Something even you haven't noticed yet."

Mika looked at her pendant.

After a long silence...

Mika: "Okay."

"I'll try."

The next morning, Mika and Misa arrived at Starling Star Idol Academy.

Many young girls had gathered, all dreaming of becoming idols.

At the entrance stood the academy director, Kaede Shirogane.

Kaede: "Welcome."

"Today, you will take your first step toward becoming idols."

"The examination consists of two parts."

"The written test..."

"...and the stage performance."

The written exam was difficult.

Mika knew almost nothing about famous idols, songs, and the history of the industry.

Most of her answers were guesses.

When the results appeared...

She barely passed.

Mika: "I passed..."

The second examination began.

Mika entered the Stage Dress System.

She placed an Idol Card into the machine.

Light surrounded her.

Her clothes transformed into a beautiful blue-and-white costume decorated with silver stars.

The stage curtain opened.

Thousands of eyes looked at her.

Mika froze.

She had never imagined standing before so many people.

Then...

A familiar melody started playing.

The song from Luna Kisaragi's concert.

Something inside Mika awakened.

Her body moved naturally.

"Beyond Tomorrow"

Even if the night hides my way,

I will search for a brighter day.

With every dream inside my heart,

I will find where my journey starts.

Stars above will guide my soul,

Even when I lose control.

I will shine, I will believe,

In the future I will achieve.

The hall became silent.

Then...

The audience exploded with applause.

Mika stood frozen.

She couldn't understand.

Mika: "How... did I do that?"

Among the judges sat a young man.

Seiji Amamiya .

His expression remained calm, but his eyes showed surprise.

Seiji: "That performance..."

"It wasn't learned."

"It was remembered."

Next to him, Minoru Asahina looked at 

Mika with interest.

Minoru: "She doesn't even know her own ability."

Director Kaede Shirogane quietly watched.

Kaede: "The Stage Aura..."

"A power that appears only in those chosen by destiny."

In the VIP room...

The legendary idol Luna Kisaragi watched Mika.

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

Luna: "So the pendant finally found its owner."

"The girl from the prophecy..."

"Mika Hoshina."

Far beneath the academy...

In a hidden room filled with old memories...

The mysterious girl from Mika's dream opened her eyes.

She touched her own pendant.

???: "The Star Bearer has awakened."

"This time..."

"I hope you can reach the ending you deserve."

At the same moment, Seiji Amamiya looked at the symbol on Mika's evaluation file.

A symbol identical to the one from an old legend.

Seiji: "Impossible..."

"The Star Bearer has returned."

Mika looked at the glowing pendant.

She still didn't know the truth.

She didn't know about the forgotten legend.

She didn't know why Luna Kisaragi recognized her.

And she didn't know why Seiji Amamiya 

was watching her.

But her journey had already begun.

End of Chapter 1