Love Live School Idol Project: The Next Generation

Chapter 22 - Hanabi's Curiosity

Elena is swayed by the new song of Aphrodite. She starts dancing secretly and tries not to make any noise. The contrasting melody of the song has touched her heart. Just as she was about to finish her pirouette. She misses a step and loses her balance. Luckily she is also a member of the school's basketball team. She recovers just in time as Aphrodite has just finished practicing their new dance routine. However she suffers a minor sprain on her left ankle and gets a small bruise because of hitting the stairs leading to the rooftop.

The little noise she made didn't escape Haruka's attention. While the others are discussing among themselves. Haruka decides to go where Elena is. The young version of Eli Ayase quickly goes down and heads to the student council room limping. As soon as the latter goes inside she didn't see what made the noise. The former is now inside the student council office and starts filing all the request forms of each club.

Hanabi notices that Haruka is suddenly gone. Just as she is about to tell the others that Haruka is gone. The ginger haired girl is now coming out of the rooftop entrance. Hanabi decides to ask her where she went.

Hanabi: Haruka-chan where did you go? You disappeared all of a sudden.

Haruka: I'm sorry Hanabi-chan. I thought that I heard something from downstairs so I decided to look for where it's coming from.

Hanabi: I see. Did you find out what it was?

Haruka: No I didn't. It must be my imagination.

Meanwhile at the student council office. Elena heaves a sigh of relief after nearly getting seen by Haruka. She continues to arrange all of the documents on her desk. Especially the budget requests of the different clubs. Including the Idol Research Club which almost got disbanded after failing to get the necessary minimum number of members required. Little did she know that Najenda followed her from the rooftop down to the student council office. Once again she goes for a washi-washi stance and stands behind Elena. Without warning, she gropes Elena's boobs.

Elena: Eeeeeyaaaaa!!! Najenda! What the hell did you do that for?

Najenda: To get you back to your senses.

Elena: I can get back to my senses on my own. But I want to know know why you have to resort to that.

Najenda: It seems that you have been to the rooftop earlier.

Elena: (Gets surprised by what Najenda said.) How did you?

Najenda: Your bruise on your left leg. You're limping on your way here.

Elena: So you notice my bruise huh. Papa and mama will be upset about this.

Najenda: Why is that?

Elena: Because they never let me get hurt. No matter what the cause is.

Najenda: I see..... Then I guess I have to give you this. (Takes out a bottle of petroleum jelly out of her pocket.)

Elena: What is that?

Najenda: It's petroleum jelly. It's perfect for treatment burns and bruises.

Elena: Uh..... Thanks..... This will definitely help me covering my bruise.

Najenda: Yeah..... But not your limping. It must have been a nasty fall.

Elena: Yeah. But what were you doing at the rooftop anyway?

Najenda: I was thinking about joining Aphrodite. So I decided to watch them. But then I saw you walking away from the rooftop entrance in a hurry so I followed you.

Elena: You mean you were there all along before I came?

Najenda: Not necessarily. I was on my way there. But I hid in the opposite direction as I watched you dancing to their new song.

Elena: I hope that you didn't see my nasty fall.

Najenda: Nope. But I did see something interesting.

Elena: Something interesting? Like what?

Najenda: Like you're wearing striped panties.

Elena: (Covers her skirt with her hands.) Najenda you pervert!

Najenda: Ara Ara..... Is my precious Elena blushing in embarrassment?

Elena: Will you stop it! Let's get back to work and finish this ton of paperwork. How does mama and papa manage to do all of this?

Najenda: That's something only your parents can answer.

As Elena and Najenda start doing all the paperwork. Aphrodite has just finished practicing their voice blending. Once again repetitive counts of one to eight echoes on the place that Muse once practiced on. Haruka is enjoying every minute of their dance routine practice. She has Muse to thank for showing her the ropes. Her radiant smile that is reminiscent of Honoka Kousaka's smile is infecting the other girls in a positive way.

Mika Yazawa who is in her final year of high school is also enjoying every moment of their practice. However she and Akame would get on each other's nerves once in a while. Just like her parents Maki and Nico when they were still members of Muse. While they continue to practice. Hanabi is bothered by Elena Ayase's aura. It was the same kind of aura that Eli showed when she first met Honoka. Yomi notices it quickly and decides to stop the dance practice. The five other girls gives out a joint sigh of relief when they took a break. Yomi decides to talk to Hanabi about is bothering their energetic leader.

Yomi: Hanabi-chan can I talk to you for a moment?

Hanabi: Sure Yomi. What do you want to talk about?

Yomi: You seem to be bothered by something. Can you tell me what it is?

Hanabi: It's Elena-san. I can sense that she's hiding something from us.

Yomi: Are you sure about that?

Hanabi: Positive. I can feel that she has been in the limelight. But something must be holding her back from telling the truth.

Yomi: Well whatever it is. I'm sure that one way or another it will come out.

Hanabi: I hope so.

After the little chitchat both girls decided to resume practice. The other members of Aphrodite didn't complain. Instead they felt a renewed surge of energy. Most especially Mika Yazawa. The burden that she has been carrying for almost three years has disappeared. While Haruka is beginning to reap the benefits of training with the original school idols of Otonokizaka. Added to the fact that she also possesses Honoka's charisma. Something that endeared Tsubasa Kira and thus making her fall in love with the ginger haired girl.

Somewhere in the seaside province of Uchiora. Particularly in the city of Numazu. A new school idol group that has recently formed and will have to wait for a few more months before joining. But things won't be easy for them. As both Aphrodite and Venus are determined to bring home the trophy to their respective schools once again and become an inspiration to the other students.