EPISODE 9 ~FIRST SESSION
539 Words
The first lunch break since the "three orders" pact felt different. Instead of the usual lighthearted chatter, the air between the four of them was charged with a new kind of intensity.
Shisei led them to a secluded spot behind the music room, away from the prying eyes of the Ishikura Group's informants. She stood in the center of the small clearing, her "adorable" school facade completely stripped away. In its place was a girl with sweating palms and a fierce, burning gaze.
"First session," she said, her voice steady despite the slight tremble in her fingers. "I’m going to perform the chorus of the song I wrote last night. Saito, remember your promise. If it’s mediocre, you tell me."
THE PERFORMANCE
Saito sat on a stone bench, leaning forward with his chin resting on his knuckles. Toshiro and Shoko stood nearby, watching in a rare, respectful silence.
Shisei began to move. There was no music—just the rhythmic sound of her sneakers against the pavement and the clear, resonant tone of her voice. She wasn't just dancing; she was fighting. Every sharp movement of her arms and every high note felt like a strike against the invisible walls her father had built around her. For a moment, she wasn't the Ishikura heir; she was a star waiting to explode.
As she finished, she stood breathless, her chest heaving, staring straight at Saito.
THE CRITIQUE
The silence stretched for a painful ten seconds. Saito didn't move. Finally, he stood up and walked over to her.
"The footwork at the transition to the high note," Saito said, his voice flat and brutally honest. "It was clumsy. You were so worried about hitting the note that you lost your balance for a split second. If you do that on a real stage, the audience will see the fear, not the talent."
Shisei flinched as if he’d slapped her. Her "cold" side flared up for a moment, her eyes flashing with anger. "I worked on that transition for three hours!"
"Then work on it for six," Saito countered, stepping closer into her personal space. "You told me to be honest. You want to be an idol? Idols don't have 'clumsy' transitions. The lyrics were strong, but your ending was weak. You looked like you were apologizing for being there."
Shisei stared at him, her breath hitching. Then, slowly, she nodded. The anger faded, replaced by a grim, professional determination. "Again," she commanded. "Watch the footwork this time."
THE OBSERVATIONS
Back at the edge of the clearing, Toshiro nudged Shoko. "They’re actually doing it. He’s being a jerk, and she’s actually listening."
Shoko closed her book, her analytical eyes tracing the way Saito was now demonstrating the balance Shisei had missed. "It’s not jerky, Toshiro. It’s the first time anyone has treated her like a person with a goal instead of a prize with a price tag. The 'Reality Check' was right—they’re exactly what the other needs."
Toshiro grinned, glancing at Shoko. "And what about us? What do we need?"
Shoko began walking back toward the classroom. "We need to get to History class in two minutes, or your 'mysterious' reputation is going to be replaced by a 'tardy' one."
- Writer
