Tales of a Girl Named Tsukiko

“What do you think of Cambridge’s sudden rise in popularity?” 

Tsuki finds herself camped out in front of the boardroom door again, despite what happened last week. She needs to know Sayori’s fate.

“Managing to get the #3 spot is certainly impressive!” the president concedes. “Though I suspect it may be a fluke. If she can keep this up this week, we’ll see about keeping her in a little while longer.”

That’s the last thing Tsuki hears before frolicking down the stairs. Sayori has a second chance! Tsuki hasn’t felt this happy since Madoka showed up for her sleepover last week. It was for half an hour, but the joy Tsuki and Sayori felt carried them through the rest of the night. The thought of having more days to spend with Sayori fills Tsuki’s heart with the same kind of warmth.

“Tsukiii? Tsukiii!” Sayori calls. “We’re waiting for you in the car!”

“I’m on my way!”

Despite an entire lifetime of warnings at her mothers’ house, Tsuki continues running down the stairs. She makes it to the bottom safely, and follows her friend into the car parked just outside the company building. Sayori and Tsuki slide into the backseat next to Madoka, who stares out the window, seemingly unaware of their entrance. 

They’re on their way to Happy-Go-Friday, Jiyukoku State’s premier variety show. All kinds of musical acts get to perform there, sometimes broken up by comedy skits. Though it airs live at 6 P.M, rehearsing the performances, interviews, and skits, along with costume and makeup preparation is a full-day affair. It’s Tsuki’s twelth time going, but with so many different acts changing out every week, it feels like a new experience every time! Still, there are some regulars, like Tsuki herself and Madoka, due to having singles that stay within the top 15 spots. 

A fun perk of being a regular is getting to interact with other musicians around Tsuki’s age, like Roller Breakers and Adios, both managed by Kenji Kezwick of Bakers’ Entertainment. She found Adios to be an overall nice group; Tsuki got along well enough with the frontman, Kenji’s younger brother. He’s a little odd and lanky, but an easy-going guy who manages to get along with pretty much everyone. Roller Breakers on the other hand, Tsuki doesn’t quite know what to make of. They’re definitely a talented group--it’s not every day you see a boyband on roller skates-- but behind the scenes, they’re kind of all over the place. Tsuki mostly chats with the eldest member of the band, Jamie, as he seems the most stable. She can tell he loves his band, but he always seems to hint at some problems going on within. She assumes it might be the kid who always looks on the verge of a panic attack, the mischievous twins, or maybe even the one kid who sometimes disappears to his own devices, but today, she finds out she overlooked the biggest problem of them all.

The short guy.

Tsuki minds her own business watching Madoka finish up her rehearsal when she first overhears his horrible nasally voice.

“It’s not fair.” he whines to one of the older members. “We’re too good to be hovering at #4!”

“We’re still in the top 5, at least.” The chubbier guy looks annoyed with his band member’s complaints. It’s kind of shocking to Tsuki, since he’s normally much more of a gentle person.

“But I don’t understand why we’re not #1!” the shorter one huffs. “We do way more work than anybody else here.”

The older one shrugs.

“Things were going great until those other idols showed up, like Matsudo.” Hearing her own name shocks Tsuki. Doesn’t this guy have manners? “Her and Garcia’s singing is alright and everything, but that’s it. That’s all they do! They don’t spend all their days practicing dance routines like we do, they don’t bust their butts skating like us! And now we’re getting upstaged by some no-name, Cambridge or whatever… I just don’t understand what they have that we don’t!”

“Higgy, please, people could hear you!”

“And?”

Tsuki’s blood boils. How dare this entitled twerp think he can go around bad mouthing her friends like that? A hand yanks her back as she begins marching over to him. She turns around. It’s Sayori.

“Oh, Sayo darling, please tell me you didn’t hear--”

“I did. Tsuki... Don’t, don’t bother. It’s not worth it.”

“It’s not worth it??” Tsuki scoffs. “You’re worth it! Madoka’s worth it! Heck, I don’t even care what he said about me, but I know I’m worth it!”

“What if-- What if he tells Kenji that you yelled at him? You won’t be able to get that autograph like you wanted!”

“If Kenji’s the type of guy willing to defend someone like that, then frankly, he’s not worth our time either!” Tsuki glares back at Higgy, who’s still grumbling and whining. “I have a mind to march over and tell him to stop acting like a child!” She attempts to walk from behind the corner and get his attention, but Sayori pulls her back with both arms. They overhear the tail end of the nearby conversation.

“We need to practice more, Sammy!” Higgy demands. “I was hoping you could talk some sense into Jamie, since he never listens to me.” 

“Unsurprisingly.” Tsuki mutters under her breath.

“I’ll… I’ll think about it.” Sammy sighs. “But I think Jamie’s right. It doesn’t make sense for us to kill ourselves practicing more than we already are. You might be able to handle that much work, but… I think Jamie just wants to look out for the group as a whole.”

Higgy sucks air through his teeth. “...You guys are too complacent.”

“Higgy, wait!” Sammy calls as his bandmate walks away. “I think they’re finishing up with #2’s rehearsals. Don’t you wanna stick around and see if we’re #3 this week?”

Tsuki remembers why she’s waiting at this specific spot. Firstly, to watch Madoka rehearse, but more importantly, she wants to see if Sayori gets called next. Madoka descends the stairs after finishing up, and a staff member follows afterward carrying a clipboard in one hand and a megaphone on her belt. She flips through the clipboard, then reaches for the megaphone.

“Number 3 Spot Sayori Cambridge, please report to the stage. I repeat, Number 3 Spot Sayori Cambridge, please report to the stage.”

Tsuki grabs Sayori’s hands in excitement before sending her friend off to do her rehearsals. She sighs in relief, knowing that her friend won’t be going home any time soon and that a certain whiny brat didn’t get his way.