The Idol Story 8 Chapter 8 It's Against School Rules

The next day I noticed that my schedule only had my schedule for the next day and nothing else, i decided to send a message to Yamato asking her about wether or not her schedule says the same thing on it. She immediatley replies with a yes. I then proceeded to send a message to Miss Uzumi asking about the said schedule spreadsheet, Miss Uzumi then replied saying that she'll give the both of use a new copy of the schedule when she picks us up the next day.

The day after that my father calls us to his office office after we finished our lessons for the day. We were then told that we're gonna be having our lessons only twice a week and we'll start doing some jobs like modeling for fas.h.i.+on magazines.

"Welcome back, Miss Kasumi." Akari greets me as she notices me being back, I hear my sister talking to someone in the living room as i was on my way to my room to get changed. I got to curious about who she was talking to so i decided to head to the living room first, I notice that it was Uzuki that she was talking to.

"Welcome back, sis" Darjeeling greets me as she notices me by the door of the living room.

Uzuki gets up from where she was sitting and grabs onto my hand, "We need to talk." she whispered to me with a serious look on her face.

She never makes this face unless it's something serious... Don't tell me... did she find out that i'm currently training to be a idol?

I told Darjeeling that we had something important to talk about, We both headed up to my room. "So? What did you wanna talk about?" I asked as I sighed.

in-response Uzuki sits on my bed with the same serious face that she had a little bit ago, "I heard about a rumour about you being an idol-in-training. Is that true?"

I sigh once again, "Yeah... It's true. But, I didn't have a choice when my father asked if i wanted to be one and he's scary when he gets mad so i decided to just--"

She gets up, "I can't believe you didn't even consider our promise of being idols together!" She bolts out of room before i could even say anything back, I ran after her but she just ignores me.

~~~

I know she'll find out eventually but, I can't believe she found out via a rumour... I don't even know how I'm gonna make it up to Uzuki... I sighed as my family's driver takes me to my campus.

"Hey, Kas-- uh... Did something happen?" Chieri wonders as she sees me get out of my family's car.

"Well... Me and Uzuki ended up arguing when she came over yesterday..." I answered in a monotone.

Uzuki notices us on our way to our cla.s.srooms but she just ignores me once again, I start feeling bad once again in-response to her reaction.

During lunch time i decided to stop by Uzuki's cla.s.s, As i open her cla.s.sroom's door i notice Uzuki right infront of the door. She looks away from me the moment i tried making eye contact with her, "H-Hey Uzuki... We need to talk... so... uh... Can we?" I inquired.

"Isn't that Miss Kasumi? I wonder what she needs from Uzuki?" A girl in Uzuki's cla.s.s whispers.

"Who knows..." Another girl replied.

I just ignore them, "Come on~ Please~" I begged clasping my hands together.

"I-It can't be helped then..." Uzuki's face turns red as she tries to make eye contact with me.

We go headed to the school roof, "What did you want?" Uzuki crosses her arms.

I start sweating nervously, Ok, Now all i have to do is think of a way to make up to her... but, the question is... How am i gonna do it? Oh, I know... I'll talk to father about her to see if he can get her to become part of my unit... I'm pretty sure he'll agree to it since we've been friends since we were kids... Yeah, that's it!

I muster up all the courage i have and told her that i'll talk to my father if she can become a part of my unit. "I-If he agrees then... I'll forgive you." Uzuki said to me before heading back downstairs.

I sigh as started to head back downstairs. I'm glad that made her calm down...

"Have you heard? Uzuki and Miss Kasumi are fighting." A girl started whispering to another as i got to the shoe lockers of my school. Oh great... People are starting dumb rumours... I face palm as i get to the school gates. "Wait... Miss Uzumi isn't here yet... Did something happen?" I mumbled Taking out my smartphone out of my skirt pocket.

"Did you say something, Kasumi?" Chieri inquired making a curious look on her face.

"It's just that... Remember that woman that picked me up that one time? It doesn't seem like she's here yet, ya see..." I answered.

"Well, I gotta go so... I'll see you tommorow." Chieri stated walking away.

I wave back to her as she walks further and further away from the school campus.

"Sorry I'm late, Miss Kasumi." Miss Uzumi stops her car infront of the school gates.

---

"We're heading to the CEO's office again first before we start your lessons" Miss Uzumi stated as we enter the elevator at the agency. What could father be telling us this time? It's already been a whole week since we last went to the agency...

We arrived on the floor we needed to be in no time flat, "You wait out here for now, Miss Yamato." Miss Uzumi stated as she opens the door to father's office before beckoning me to enter the said s.p.a.ce. Why'd Miss Uzumi make Yamato wait outside the room? Is the topic something only for me to know about?

My father was looking through a bookshelf in his office as we entered the room, "I'm pretty sure you know about this already but your mother's side of the family is a family of music prodigies, right?" Father Inquired taking a folder from the said bookshelf before turning to me.

So it IS true then... what mother told me when i was little... "Yes, Mom told me about it when i was little." I stated taking a seat on a sofa in the room and placing my school bag on the coffee table parallel to the sofa.

Miss Uzumi leaves the room meanwhile Father takes a seat at his desk and starts to look through the folder that he just took, "Then, I'm pretty sure it's pretty obvious by now that that's why i asked you to be an idol." He closes the folder and places it on his desk.

"Yes, I don't really see any other reason as to why you'd ask me to be one."

He sighs, "You look like you wanna ask me about something, what is it?"

I freeze up for a sec, "Well... You remember Uzuki, right?" I asked my hands getting a little sweaty.

"Oh yes, that girl... what about her?" He crosses his arms as he leans back on his chair.

"Can you... Include her into my unit?"

He puts his left hand on his chin, "Hmm... She needs to pa.s.s the auditions first if you want her to be in a unit with Yamato and You."

Well, I guess she'll be happy with that... Atleast father didn't say no to that idea...

Father gets up from his desk and starts to smile, "What are you getting all tense for? I was about to hold another audition for a 3rd member of Dual Rozen anyways so you just asked me at the right time, did you think i'd say no?" he proceeds to laugh.

Now all she needs to do is pa.s.s the auditions... I get up from where i'm sitting, "Then, If she pa.s.ses will you let her be in the unit?"

Father turns to the window that's right behind his desk, "Sure, if she manages to pa.s.s."

We both hear someone knocking on the door

"Come in" Father responded turning to the door. "Excuse me, sir. Are you done with your discussion?" It was Miss Uzumi that knocked on the door. "Yes, we are. We just finished." father sits at his desk once again.

She proceeds to beckon Yamato into the room, Yamato enters the room with nervous look on her face. She sits next to me, "Why do you scared, Yamato?" I whispered trying to calm her down. "It's nothing..." She tries to not make eye contact with me. Well, If she doesn't wanna talk about it then i won't force her...

I proceed to sigh, "Ok then... If you say so..." I hope this doesn't affect our training...

Miss Uzumi and Father started to talk about the future plans for our unit "Dual Rozen". Miss Uzumi turns our way, "Oh, You two can go ahead and head to the dance studio. I still have some things to discuss with the CEO." We both nod and proceeded to leave the room. Miss Uzumi usually accompanies us to the studio... Why is she making us go there by ourselves?

"So... Wanna grab drinks first before we head to the studio?" I inquired.

Yamato just nods.

It's really creepy that Yamato's being really quiet today... This is really making me more curious about why she looked so scared when she entered father's office... Too bad she doesn't look like she doesn't wanna talk about it...

~~~

"Welcome back, Miss Kasumi. You're mother just arrived from england and is waiting for you in the living room."

Wait, what?! She has? I'm pretty sure she wasn't gonna be back for two more months atleast...

I decide to head to the living room

"There you are~ How have you been Kasumi?" Mom gets up and gives me a hug as soon as i entered the room.

"I-I've been well, Mother..."

"That's good to hear..." She sits back down on the sofa and puts on a serious expression.

"So... I heard your father got you into a idol unit..."

Wait... did my father just make her come back so that she can make idol costumes?

I sat on the empty s.p.a.ce on the sofa and placed my school bag next to me

"Yes... But, we're still looking for one more member."

"Oh good, I thought he was pulling my leg or something...." She takes a sip from a tea cup that's been placed on the coffee table that's parallel to her.

"You know... I'm really happy that he did it, Mother...." I let out a gentle smile.

Akari enters the room carrying a teapot and a tea cup, "Would you like some tea as well, Miss Kasumi?"

"Yes, I'd like some. Thanks." Akari places the said tea cup on the coffee table and pours out some of the tea into the cup.

After a few minutes of just chatting with my Mother Darjeeling finally got home from school.

"M-Mother?! When did you get home?" Darjeeling's gla.s.s like eyes lit up as soon as she saw our Mother in the living room.

Mother just smiles as she sees her.

"Just around an hour ago."

~~~

I went back to Uzuki's cla.s.sroom to tell her about the audition that she needs to pa.s.s during lunch time.

I open the door like i did before... and i see Uzuki at her desk just reading some kind of light novel, I went to her desk.

"Hey... Uzuki?"

As soon as a tried speaking to her... her cla.s.smates started whispering again just like yesterday.

She puts the said light novel down and turns to me.

"What?"

"Well... You see... Can you meet me up on the roof after school?"

"Is Miss Kasumi gonna confess to her?" one of her cla.s.smates whispered to another.

I decided to just ignore them again since it'll probably just start another stupid rumour that'll probably ruin my reputation at school.

Uzuki tilts her head in confusion...

"Sure? But, why?"

Are you serious, Uzuki?! Have you forgotten that thing that we were arguing about?

"It's for that thing that i promised you yesterday."

"Thing? What are they talking about?" Another one of her cla.s.smates whispered to another.

I really need to watch what i said or do at school, huh...

"Oh... that.... sure, i'll meet up there later."

"Ok, don't forget about it." I said jokingly.

I walked out of her cla.s.sroom quietly but the whispering just kept going...

~~~

I went straight to the school roof as soon as the dismissal bell went off...

I opened the door leading to the roof... I saw Uzuki standing there waiting wearing the same p.i.s.sed off look that she had the past day...

"So... Did your dad agree?"

"Yeah, he did but you need to pa.s.s the upcoming audition. Luckily he was gonna be holding an audition for a 3rd member anyway when i asked him about it."

Uzuki puts her left hand on her chin.

"An audition, huh? I already knew that it's gonna be like that... Well, whatever. I just have to pa.s.s it, right?"

Her face turns red for some reason as i noded at her...

"W-What are ya' nodin' for?"

"Oh, nothing... It's just that you're so easy to please."

I smiled at her in a smug way to mess with her...

"Who you callin' easy to please?!"

Wait... since when did she have a kansai accent? I'm pretty sure her family isn't from that region...

I couldn't help but laugh from how confused i am...

"What's with the kansai accent?"

She looks away from me and covers her mouth with both of her hands with her face still all red... She probably just noticed that she was doing an accent... .

Uzuki to mumbling to herself, "I can't believe i let my accent come out.... Now Kasumi-nee won't be friends with me anymore..."

"What are you talking about? I don't care if you have an accent or two."

I hug her from behind...

"Lemme go!" She started to struggle as i do so.

I hear the door to the roof open behind me which causes me to let go of Uzuki in turn.

"Oops..." A girl holding a camera probably trying to start another rumour said as she nervously got up from her crouching position.

"What do think your doing?" Uzuki inquired angerly.

The girl holding the said camera suddenly froze up for a little bit in-response to Uzuki getting mad at her.

The girl swollowed her saliva before she started to say: "I-I'm sorry... The Prez told me to do it!"

Prez? Is it the student council president? no... I don't think she'd make someone do something like this...

The girl continued: "She heard a rumour about the two of you fighting then she told me to take photos of you together while you were on the roof." After she stopped talking she suddenly started crying...

Could it be the prez of the newspaper club... Hmm... I heard she likes to make her club members do stuff like this but...

To confirm my suspicion i asked the girl: "Is it the newspaper club's prez you're talking about?"

"Y-Yes, She was pa.s.sing by Uzuki's Cla.s.s when she heard you ask Uzuki to meetup on the roof."

I just sigh...

I swear.... She just loves making her members do these things...

"We were just talking, we weren't even gonna be arguing up here." Uzuki stated winking at me.

"I didn't even wanna be in that club... I was trying to join the Light Novel club... but she forced me to join her club." The girl places her camera on her left coat pocket and stops crying.

It's against the school rules to force someone to join a club. What the h.e.l.l is going on here...

I clench my fists... "Does the student council prez know about this? Did you tell her?"

The girl shook her head, "No... I was afraid that the prez would just start to pick on me if i did that..."

I sigh once again... "It's against the rules to force someone to join a club and to bully anyone. Didn't you memorize all of the school rules?"

"I didn't... I thought it was fine to not to..."

Uzuki stops me from talking... "You should've done so... Fine, I'll accompany you to the student council room and report that club president." Uzuki Replied.

Uzuki still hasn't changed a bit ever since we were kids... She would always help people that are being bullied...

"You can go home now, Kasumi-nee. We're done talking, right?"

"Yeah."

Uzuki goes downstairs with the girl...

~~~

Yamato finally stopped looking so nervous when we picked her up at her campus... She probably got over the thing that she was afraid of...

"Do you remember when you asked me what i was so nervous about?" Yamato inquired sitting next to me on the floor of the dance studio.

"Yeah..."

Is she finally gonna tell me? Ofcourse she is! Why else would she bring it up?

I drink from the bottle of water that i'm holding.

"Well... I had a nightmare about our unit Dual Rozen getting disbanded last week... And so i couldn't stop thinking about it... But, I'm ok now though. I'm so sorry that i worried you..." She clasped her hand together.

Oh, so that's why... I doubt that's gonna happen though...

I give her a gentle smile, "Oh, come one... You worry too much. My father was actually telling me that he's gonna be holding a audition for a 3rd member pretty soon, that's why Miss Uzumi let me in his office first."

Yamato starts laughing probably because of that fact that she was worrying over nothing...

"So that's what that was... I can't believe i made myself look like an idiot."

I started to laugh as well because of the fact that i got worried about her being all scared and all.

I get up from where i was sitting, "It's about time for our voice lessons. Let's start heading to the Music Room."

Yamato nods in-response getting up.

~~~

We finally finished for today's lessons and started heading to the lobby...

"Hey, wanna stop by a bookstore nearby?" I inquired showing a picture of a bookstore's online ad on my phone stating that they just got some new books on sale and since Miss Uzumi told us that she had a meeting to go to so she won't be able to drop us off.

Yamato agrees immediatly without thinking about it first.

--At the bookstore

The latest issue of my favorite cosplay magazine should be out by now.... The blonde-haired girl Uzuki thought looking around the bookshelves of the magazine section still in her school uniform.

"Oh, here it is!" She muttured reaching for the said magazine issue.

(It'd be embarrasing if anyone from school sees me buying this kind of thing... I need to hurry up and pay before someone does.)

As she was about to get out of that section she was in... She gets spotted by her childhood friend the pink-haired Kasumi. She quickly hides the magazine behind her as Kasumi approaches her...

I'm So screwed right now... if Kasumi-nee sees me holding this magazine she'll probably think i'm a otaku.... Kasumi smiles at uzuki before saying: "Fancy seeing you here Uzuki."

Uzuki gets a cold sweat as she notices that Kasumi has someone with her.

"Y-Yeah... I-It sure is..." Uzuki could only laughed nervously at her current situation.

Uzuki knew that being an otaku would get people to look down on her since otaku are quite misunderstood in j.a.pan. But despite that face she still became one...

Uzuki started averting her eyes from Kasumi.

(I need to get away from here before she sees this magazine...)

Uzuki in the heat of the moment tries to change the subject in order to get away from Kasumi and her friend Yamato: "S-So.... what brings you here, Kasumi-nee?"

Kasumi instantly notices that she's hiding something behind her. "What are you holding there, Uzuki?"

(I hate myself for even coming to the bookstore today... Since i b.u.mped into Kasumi-nee...)

Uzuki continued to not make eye contact with her. "N-Nothing? I'm not hiding anything, I promise."

Kasumi suddenly smiles in a kinda "Oh really now?" way before saying: "Really~ Are you sure~"

Kasumi tries to get behind her meanwhile Yamato not wanting anything to do with what's going on just stood still.

Uzuki immediatley starts to avoid Kasumi from seeing the magazine that she's hiding behind her. But despite her efforts... Kasumi still managed to grab the magazine from her.

Kasumi tilts her head in curiousity, "I-Is this a cosplay magazine?"

I AM so done... Now Kasumi-nee knows my secret now.... uzuki thought but-

Kasumi continued: "I didn't know you were into this hobby, Uzuki.... You should've told me." Kasumi smiles in a friendly way.

Uzuki can't help but smile nervously as to how Kasumi could react to her hobby.

uzuki got another cold sweat.

"Y-Yeah..." She averts her eyes elsewhere once again.

Kasumi gives the magazine back to her before finis.h.i.+ng her sentence: "I could've joined you."

(What?!) Both Uzuki and Yamato froze up in-shock at what Kasumi had just said.

"Y-You're kidding right?!!" both Yamato and Uzuki shouted both at the same time.

People in the store started staring at the trio as they heard the two suddenly raising their voices.

Uzuki suddenly has stars in her eyes because of how happy she was.

Oh G.o.d... what is with this situation... Yamato thought as she just blankly stared at the two.

Kasumi just ignores the people that are currently staring at them and continued:

"No, I'm quite serious. Would i joke about something like this?"

Uzuki started to walk backwards slowly in-response to Kasumi's answer before saying: "I... gotta go pay for this... So... I'll be going now..." Afterwards she started running towards the counter.

--Back to Kasumi's POV

Why'd she suddenly run... Well, whatever... I just shrug off what just happened and turned to Yamato.

"Yamato? What are you s.p.a.cing out for?" I wave my hand in front of Yamato's face in attempt to get her attention.

"N-Nothing, I was just thinking about some stuff. Anyway, who was that girl just now?"

"That's Uzuki my childhood friend, and also one of the Duel Rozen 3rd member candidates." I said as a take my smartphone out of my skirt pocket.

"Member Candidate? You mean she'll be in the upcoming auditions?" Yamato's light green eye's suddenly lit up.

"Yeah, pretty much."

I start looking some light novel releases on my phone to see if there are some that i might be interested in when suddenly... "Hey Kasumi? Are you interested in Light Novels?" Yamato asked looking over at my smartphone's screen.

I suddenly jump in surprise. "Woah... Don't scare me like that...."

Yamato just laughs at me.

I avert my eyes to her before responding: "Yeah, I've been into them for a while."

What's so funny about being into Light Novels?

I then continued: "It's more like a past time though..."

Yamato puts a hand on her chin and looks like she's in deep thought...

I return my attention to my phone's screen and continued to search online.

Looks like there are about 20 series that just came out today...

After a moment of scrolling i finally found about 3 series that i was interested in and tapped Yamato on her shoulder.

"I'm just gonna head to the Light Novel section real quick. Where are you heading?"

Yamato lets go of her chin before saying: "I'm just gonna stay in this section. I'm gonna look for the latest issue of my favorite music magazine."

I put my smartphone back in my skirt pocket. "Ok, Then i'll meet you here in a bit."

I started heading to the said section...

According to the signs that are around the store....The Light Novel section should be on the 2nd floor.....

~~~

I finally get to the stairs that lead to the upper floor but then....

"Kasumi? Is that you?" I hear someone's voice from behind---I turn around to see who was calling my name...

It was my mother calling me....

"Mother? What are you doing here?"

"I supposed to be buying some fas.h.i.+on magazines but i saw you pa.s.s by." She shows me a shopping basket she was holding containing several magazines.

Oh, c.r.a.p... I can't let her find out that i read Light Novels.... She might think that i'm one of those "Otaku"...

My mother continued: "What are you doing here? I thought you were on the way home by now..."

I started getting a cold sweat. "I was just gonna by some books since i saw that this store had a sale going on online."

"Is that so? Should i wait for you at the counter then?" She smiles at me.

"I have a friend with me so... You can go home before me." I play with my hair as i answered her.

She raised one of her eyebrows... "Is it a guy?"

"N-No... It's a girl. She's in a unit with me."

"Ok then, I'll be heading back before you then." She said then left.

I sigh in relief.... That was a close one... I somehow managed to make her leave...

I finally got to the Light Novel section and started to look for the 3 series that i wanna check out...

After a little bit of looking around i finally found one of the three which was called "That time when i got reincarnated as a sl*me...

This one apparently got a adaptation recently.... I should probably check it out if i like the story of this source material.

--Several minutes later....--

I got all three novels that i wanted and got back to the magazine section...

I spot Yamato reading a magazine and i tapped her shoulder before asking: "Have you found the magazine you wanted?"

She nods and shows me the magazine that she was reading.

We finished paying at the counter and suddenly my phone starts ringing. I took it out and it looks like it's a message from Miss Uzumi saying:

"You'll be having a test fit of your costumes tomorrow so i'll be picking you up at campus after school."

I turn to Yamato. "Hey Yamato, looks like we'll be stopping by at the agency tomorrow for some costume test fitting."

"Got it."

~~~

--The day of the Auditions for the 3rd member of Dual Rozen (temporary unit name), 942 pro (Lobby)

There's less people than i thought... Looks like Uzuki isn't in the line. Could she be inside the Audition area already? I thought as i saw the girls that are lined up to audition.

I should stop worrying and focus on my lessons, what am i even doing...

"Miss Kasumi, the elevator's here!"

"I'll be right there!" I started running towards the opened doors of the elevator as to not get left behind.

"worried about Uzuki?" Yamato inquired as i got on the elevator.

I shook my head "Not really, i mean it's not like worrying is gonna help her."

If i remember right... We'll be having rehersals for our debut concert today.

I started messing with my phone as i wait for the elevator to get to the floor that we need to get off at.

"You're on your phone alot lately, Kasumi. Have you found a game that got you're attention?" Yamato inquired, although i am on my phone a lot lately. But, it's really because of a mobile game...

"No, I'm just looking out for novel releases and stuff." I smile akwardly as to not let Miss Uzumi find out that i'm actually looking up some Light Novel releases.

- - -

We finally reached our destination... We start walking to the changing room but--

"If it isn't Kasumi." The Black-haired Yos.h.i.+no suddenly gets up from a bench that's next to the door of the changing rooms.

This looks like this is gonna get annoying...

Yamato steps forward: "What do you want?"

Looks like Yamato is still mad about last time. Honestly though, i don't know why Yamato would still be mad about what Yos.h.i.+no said that time since it was so childish.

Yamato continued: "Can you please let use pa.s.s? We need to change."

Yos.h.i.+no points her finger at me. "I'll defeat you at the upcoming debut concert."

What's her problem? Like seriously? Yeah, we're rivals and all but that doesn't mean she has to act like this.

"What's the commotion?" Miss Uzumi walks up to us.

I turn to her. "I-It's nothing. It's just a rivalry, that's all."

"Ok then." She walks off.

Yamato clenches her fist. "Ok, seriously. What's your problem? You've been acting like a jerk since we first seen you."

Yamato laughs. "You're so childish for getting mad this fast." she smiles that looks like she's underestimating the two of us. I just decide to stay quite again.

"Wh- Why you little..." I stop Yamato's hand that was about to slap her. "Calm down, Yamato." "L-Let go of me! This girl just keeps on annoying me!" I sigh. "Will that make her stop?"

"No, but--" "Let's just go get changed." I start heading to the changing rooms still holding her hand.

--Back down in the lobby

'I just wanna check Kasumi's progress but I'll probably gather unessesary attention...' Kiara Alcott thought walks towards the reception desk.

A woman wearing a business suit with wavy black hair tied in a ponytail is sitting at the said reception desk greets Kiara with a smile as she sees her approach the desk.

"I'm here to see the CEO Takehito Alcott, I'm her wife."

The receptionist grabs the phone at the back of the reception desk and starts calling the CEO office as she heard Kiara's reply. After a few seconds she starts guiding her to one of the elevators but--

"Excuse me, Are you by any chance Kiara of one of the former idols?" A girl in her teens approaches her and asked.

'd.a.m.n, I knew it....' Kiara sighs.

"Yes, why?" She smiles at the girl.

Stars appear on the teen-age girl's eyes. "I knew it! Can i get your autograph, senior?" She pulls out a notebook and pen from her pockets.

'I didn't know i still had fans nowadays... It's already been twenty years since i retired.' Kiara thought as she gives the girl her autograph.

"Thank you" The teen girl walks away.

'I finally got her to leave me alone...' Kiara with the receptionist still guiding her started walking towards the elevators once again.

- - -

'Finally... Now where is that dance studio again?' She said to herself walking off of the elevator.

After a few minutes of wandering around she finally manages to find it. She opens the door...

Kasumi notices the door opening and stops dancing to the song that they're rehearsing. "M-Mother?? What are you doing here?" Kasumi said surprised.

"Just wanted to check up on your progress." Kiara smiles.

Yamato notices Kiara in the room and also stops dancing. "M-Mother? That's your mom, Kasumi? That foreigner?" Yamato's asked wide-eyed.

Kasumi turns to Yamato. "Yeah, Didn't you know that I'm a half?"

Yamato shakes her head. "No, But now that you mention it. You're family name IS foreign and you kinda look like a foreigner too...." Yamato puts a hand on her chin.

Kiara closes the door behind her. "I'm also one of the former idols of this agency, you know?" She stated in a joking way.

"N-No way... You're--"

Kiara cuts her off and continues: "Well, that was twenty years ago anyway.... And yes i'm THAT Kiara."

Yamato falls from her feet.

Kasumi gets startled by Yamato's reaction asks: "W-Were you THAT famous mother?"

Kiara laughs. "I honestly had no idea that some of the young people know me. I was really surprised when a girl down in the lobby approached me just a few minutes ago. Wait, didn't i tell you that my name got pretty well known when one of my alb.u.m releases reached gold?"

Kiara who in her high school days went to j.a.pan as a foreign transfer student was asked by her father the former CEO of the talent agency that their family owns to be an idol is in-front of Yamato who is now starstruck by her sudden visit to the agency to just check on her daughter's progress.

Yamato gets up on her feet and approaches the former idol. "N-Nice to meet you, I'm Kasumi's friend and unit-mate (A member of the same unit) Yamato."

Kiara smiles again as she heard the purple-haired girl's name. " So you're Yamato... I heard about you and how you pa.s.sed the auditions."

"R-Really? That audition was just a fluke though..." Yamato laughs akwardly.

'What's with this atmosphere...' Kasumi thought noticing how much her mother Kiara knows about Yamato.

"Uh Mother? We still have to do some rehearsing... And uh..." Kasumi stated in a nervous yet timid way.

"Oh you're right, sorry. I'll be going to you're father's office then." Kiara opens the door once again and leaves the room.

'Looks like she's doing fine so far... Well then, time to check on my husband.' Kiara stretches before walking towards the CEO's-- Her husband Takehito's office.

- - -

Kiara knocks on the door of Takehito's office before waiting for the response of her husband to let her in... A "Come in." was heard from inside the room in-response to her knocking.

"Oh good you're here." Takehito who was once again looking through the bookshelf in his office said as she notices her wife enter the room.

His office had any other CEO's office would have in it including a bookshelf filled with important doc.u.ments and two sofas facing each other in a parallel fas.h.i.+on in front of his desk with a coffee table in the middle of them, his desk had some folders on it that really makes you think that he's a really busy guy.

Kiara takes a seat on one of the sofas in the room before saying: "I came to check on how our daughter Kasumi was doing on her training and it looks like she's doing good so far."

'She's acting all strict again...' Takehito gets a cold sweat as he takes a seat at his desk. "Yes, well" He clears his throat before continuing: "She IS a prodigy, after all."

Kiara looks at takehito in the eyes with a reliefed look on her face since she saw evidence of it when she quickly stop by the dance studio on her way to his office. "Prodigy or not you really get her trained properly, I don't wanna see her mess up during performances."

Takehito proceeds to sigh at her. 'I am giving her proper training...'

"I know you're worried but there's nothing to worry about. Her training is going as planned, you don't need to worry about it."

'I sure hope so...' Kiara thought.

[End of Chapter 8]