We Are Newly Edgy Idols! (MMJ! au)

Cool, Calm, Clear Like Water.

As Minori finally reached the cave, she sat on her knees for a moment to breathe. After the moment, she looked up to see a waterfall, and a beautiful woman standing in the water. She was just humming to herself, she looked so graceful. There were a few swans by the deep body of water, created by the waterfall. They looked at Minori and immediately went to attack her.

"W-wait-!"

Minori didn't even have time to react, they immediately started chasing her around the cave. She tried to run away desperately, only to turn around and see the woman in front of her.

"Are you alright? I haven't gotten a messenger in a while... Did something happen?"

Stunned by bother her beauty and swiftness, Minori stood stunned for a few seconds before re-gaining her courage and attempting to speak more confidently.

"Ah- Uhm! I have been sent here to ask you, Shizuku Hinomori... To return to performing..!"

The girl tilted her head ever so slightly, her light blue hair draping over her shoulder as she did so. She was the whole and complete definition of beauty, she left even Minori stunned. But the determined girl blinked a few times, standing up straight and taking a deep breath.

"I didn't think anyone would ask that... I hope you know, I'm very happy as I am. There's no stress or problems to solve. No one to impress. I'm truly happy here."

Minori felt her throat become dry out of anxiety but pushed on.

"Well... The world isn't in the best state since you all left... You three were the only hope in some people's lives. It's... Hard to manage all of those people."

Minori's words left Shizuku looking at the ground, contemplating. There was a compendium of ways this could go wrong, intruding on someone at an attempt to pull them out of retirement, but Minori was an optimist. She kept this positive attitude, even when Shizuku made an attempt to have her leave.

"I'm sorry, but I really can't handle all of those people relying on me. I've gotten used to this now. To not practicing. I could never keep up with the people relying on me like that again. Thank you, but you should probably talk to someone else for help."

"I really doubt they would do anything without at least one person on board..."

She noticed Shizuku's unchanging expression and suggested something quicker than her brain processed it.

"Could we at least make some sort of deal?"