Love Live!: SHATTER [PART 9]

X MARKS THE SPOT:

*THE NEXT DAY*

*ENTRANCE - KOTA CITY APARTMENT BUILDING - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

*P.O.V SWITCH - AKIHIKO SUZUKI*

I didn't sleep well last night.

But it's not like I was visited by three spirits or anything...

My mind keeps worrying about Fenix, and how unusually shaken he looked yesterday. And how he's been confiding in me.

First about his brain tumor, and secondly about his half-sister going missing.

Plus you add the factor that he's the most popular male idol in the country and how much work that must bring him. The pressure of keeping a smile on his face, being a shining example for everyone...

How much can one man take, before their mask breaks?

While I like to help others, once again, I won't be of any use this time. Leaving things to Fenix to resolve and hoping for his sister's safety is all I really can do.

I know he's got a lot of faith in me, and I can't let him down by slacking off on my training. So, I'm grateful Takabe has stepped up to help me by using his connections.

He told me yesterday about how Amaterasu Television recently did a TV special at Live House CiRCLE, a venue I've already attended shows at twice.

This afternoon, it'll be different. I'm not going there to look, I'll be there to talk.

There's a lot of aspiring young entertainers there who could give me valuable advice on how I can improve my showmanship.

But first things first: Ayu.

Yesterday she insisted on helping me clean my room today. Classic Ayu, always looking out for me.

And who knows what we'll find buried under all that junk? Old photos, forgotten lyrics, maybe even some motivation I didn't know I needed.

AKI: "Oh, this takes me back. Come check this out, Ayu."

AYUMU: "Akiii... You haven't done one bit of cleaning this whole time. We'll never get this place clean at this rate, you know?"

AKI: "Sorry, my bad. But look at this. It's a photo of you from your very first live show!"