Chapter Text
It had been Minori’s dream to become an idol. Ever since she saw Kiritani Haruka on that stage on television all those years ago, she had her heart set on the career she’d pursue.
Just imagining all the smiles she’d see on stage made her heart swell.
She let out a hopeful sigh, looking back at her screen.
Her cursor hovered over the e-mail.
Was she nervous?
Of course she was. This was her 100th application to an agency.
Minori bit her lip nervously.
This had to be it.
She clicked on the e-mail.
. . .
Rejected again.
Something died inside of her at the sight of that.
Minori leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. 100 tries and she had failed all of them.
Why should she keep trying at this point?
Her heart ached at the thought. No, she had to keep going.
But why? Her idol quit ASRUN six months ago. At this point, she’d be crazy to keep going. It’s not like her luck could do her any good any good at this point, either.
Even then, she still wanted to spread hope to others.
Even then, she still wanted to create music just to have one chance at spreading that kind of hope.
There were apps online for that kind of stuff, right?
Minori faced her laptop once again, beginning to type into the search bar.
She needed to start composing.
Click, click.
Minori clicked on her screen, her laptop being her only light in the darkness. It was late, she knew that, but she needed to work. They clicked around their screen more, continuing to work on their melody.
“No, this doesn’t sound right. Maybe if I…”
A ping echoed throughout her room.
“Huh? A DM?”
She moved her cursor to the lit up icon at the bottom of her screen, opening Nightcord.
Yukito
I finished the lyrics for the new song. Can you take a look when you get a chance?
[1 attachment]
Minorin☆
Thanks! I’ll take a look soon (o^▽^o)
Yukito
You’re up a bit late. Are you okay?
Minorin☆
Yeah! You’re up kind of late too though Σ(O_O)
Yukito
Haha, yeah. I guess I just want to do my part and help.
Even though we don’t know each other’s names or faces, I still want to do my best.
Minorin☆
Hmmmm okay!! I can understand that <(￣︶￣)>
Yukito
You’re always up late working on our composition, though. You need to take care of yourself, too. ＼(｀0´)／
Minorin☆
I will don't worry! Thanks for worrying ∑d(°∀°d)
That being said…
They can’t stop composing. Not until she can give someone hope for the future when she’s lost hers. If someone, anyone could become hopeful from their songs, they can be happy again.
Her screen flashed. She blinked, looking puzzled at the addition of a new file on her screen.
“...Untitled?”
Minori hovered her mouse over the file, hesitant, before double-clicking on it. All of a sudden, her room filled with a white light, blinding her.
Minori realizes she is no longer in her room when she opens her eyes. In fact, the area around her is unrecognizable.
The area is dull, empty almost. Large triangular objects are stuck in the ground, worn blankets placed over them. Scaffolding is also placed in the ground in random places.
She shivers. It’s cold.
“Where am I?” She mumbles to herself.
“Minori, this is SEKAI. It’s another world.” A voice answers behind her.
Minori whips around to find the source of the voice. Behind her stands a girl with dull blue and pink eyes. Her long gray hair is pulled into pigtails, fading into blue and pink. One of her pigtails is neatly held up, while the other is loose, with the ribbon holding it being on the verge of falling apart yet never doing so.
“Wha… Miku?! Like the VIRTUAL SINGER Miku?!”
“That’s correct.”
MInori has to be dreaming. If she is, it must be a really good dream to have her meet the Hatsune Miku.
“Wait . . .” she starts, “SEKAI?”
“Yes. That boy . . . his feelings created this place. A SEKAI with nobody to be found. My purpose is to help him find his feelings.”
“That boy? Feelings?” The words swirl around in her head. What on Earth is she talking about?
Miku nods stiffly, looking down at the ground. “When his true feelings are found, they’ll create a song.” She begins to frown, “but, in this empty place . . . he won’t be able to find them.”
Suddenly, she takes one of Minori’s hands in both of her own hands. “That’s why, Minori . . . I beg of you. Help him.”
Minori babbles helplessly. “Me? Help him?”
“It’s alright if you don’t understand, because I’m sure you two will meet in this SEKAI. So . . . please, help him. That boy who is right by your side.”
“I don’t . . .” Minori bites their lip nervously, “I don’t understand what you’re asking me to do . . .”
“We don’t have much time . . . Minori, please.”
Miku releases her hands and takes a step back, looking at Minori with a subtle, desperate look in her eyes.
“Save him.”
Sunlight trickles through the crack between the blinds. Distantly, birds sing a small, simple song. School girls pass by, chatting about the latest gossip, trends, and what-not.
Minori stirs, lifting her head off of her desk. A paper with scribbled nonsense sticks to the side of her face. She gently plucks it off, looking at the window with squinted eyes.
“. . . When did I fall asleep?” They murmur, before turning to their laptop.
Right, she was DMing Yukito.
She clicks on the small icon for Nightcord, resting her head on her hand.
Yukito
Minorin? Did you fall asleep after all?
Yukito
Rest well. I’ll see you tomorrow.
“That was sent a while ago . . . how’d I end up sleeping for that long?”
Minori taps her fingers on her desk absentmindedly. She could go back to sleep. She doesn’t sleep much these days, so it could help her . . .
. . .No. She can’t.
She quickly clicks onto her music application, getting back to work immediately.