START: DASH! Again- A µ's Fanfiction

18

---Eiko's POV---
~April 29~
"EIKO!" Julia yelled. "YOU'RE GETTING THE STEPS WRONG! IT'S JUMP, LEFT 180°, CLAP! HISA! YOU'RE NOT STANDING STRAIGHT! YUNA! YOU'RE TRIPPING OVER YOUR SHOE LASE AGAIN! KIKO! PAY ATTENTION! YOU'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE TODAY!"

"Is she always like this?" Akari whispered to me.

"No." I replied. "This is the first I am seeing this particular side."

"Eiko?" Koharu asked. "Should we be talking about her like this?"

"KOHARU!" Julia yelled. "DO YOU EVEN CARE?! YOUR PACING IS WAY OFF!"

"Was this part of the cards plan?" I asked Hisa.

"Not sure." Hisa replied.

"RIO?!" Julia screamed. "WHAT IS WITH YOU TODAY?! SHAME ON YOU! ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE YOU'RE WORTHLESS?! BECAUSE THAT IS HOW YOUR ACTING YOU LEIVAYA SUKA!" Rio froze for a moment. It appeared she was tearing up. Akari walked over and hugged Rio.

"We're rapping up now." Yuna said, coldly. I walked over to my bag and grabbed it. I followed Hisa down stairs and out the door.

"I can't believe Julia would say such a thing." I stated.

"She has been on edge lately." Hisa stated. "However, I don't know why Rio began to get emotional."

"It's her father." A voice from nearby stated. We both looked over and saw Haruki. He's the shinzō dokidoki from our brother school, Sora High. Fourth generation apparently. No matter how many girls go after him from Otonokizaka or UTX, he turns them all down, so he never had a girlfriend. Every time Hisa, Julia, or I ask him about it, he gets all red and mumbley.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Umi is like an aunt," Haruki stated. "Which makes Rio like a cousin to me. I was only half a year when Tatsuo was arrested, but even behind bars, when he sees Umi, he gets verbally abusive. However, I'm not sure how he was with Rio the other day."

"Poor Rio," Hisa stated. "I knew she was troubled, but I didn't know it was that bad."

"Yeah," Haruki stated. "It breaks my heart seeing her upset. Yet, at the same time, Julia had trouble of her own, correct?"

"She did." Eiko stated. "She wanted to be an idol a long time ago. However, she was abused mentally by our dance teacher. That teacher was so hard on Julia specifically. The rest of us were fine."

"Julia refused to tell her mom," Hisa stated. "So Eiko-Ei told my Aunt Nico, who told Aunt Eli."

"So that's why she doesn't like idols." Haruki mumbled. Julia walked down the stairs.

"I honestly feel so bad," Julia stated. "I took my anger out on her without- Haruki!" Julia and Haruki both blushed.

"Julia-Chi has a crush on Haruki-Chan." I whispered to Hisa.

"And he has one back..." Hisa whispered. We both giggled.

"Uh," Haruki stuttered. "I b-b-better go get Yuna. If she walks home alone, then she will get, uh, easily distracted. S-she is like our mother that way. I'll, um, see you girls later." Haruki took off up the stairs. Hisa and I turned to Julia and grinned.

"You have a crush on him," I stated. "Don't you Julia?" Julia went pale.

"N-no," Julia stuttered. "I do not. I, um, just had a good workout today, that's all."

"You're really red." Hisa teased. Rio came down the stairs with Yuna and Akari.

"I'm sorry again Rio." Julia stated. "I didn't know."

"I understand," Rio stated. "I get you're trying to help up Julia-Senpi." Yuna jumped down. Akari followed.

"Yuna!" Haruki scolded. "You're gonna hurt yourself!"

"Julia!" Yuna cheered. "I caught you just in time! Listen, I want to ask you something!"

"What is is Yuna-kun?" Julia asked.

"Listen," Yuna stated. "Hisa stated the other day that an idol group made up of the daughters of µ's wouldn't be the same without you, the daughter of Aysae Eli. So, would you please join Infinity?" Yuna bowed.

"Yuna insisted." Akari stated. "However, we will need a massive group therapy session."

"We can't work together unless we sort things out." I stated. "Otherwise the negative energy will go into the fans, and Eiko-Ei won't become popular." Julia giggled, then put her hand out.

"Of course I will join you." Julia stated. Haruki blushed. Yuna shook her hand.

"Yay!" Yuna cheered.

"I think I know someone who can sit with all of us," Akari stated. "And discuss our feelings. I'll get dad to give her a call."

"Who?" Rio asked.

"My dad's former step sister." Akari stated. "They've remained good friends after my sofu and his ex-wife split."

"Sounds like a good idea," Hisa stated. "We need to be open with each other in order to succeed."

"Book an appointment," Yuna stated. "We all have problems and we need to solve them." Akari nodded. I sighed.

"Do we have to spill all the beans?" I asked.

"Yes." Akari and Rio stated at the same time. I sighed.

"Fine." I stated. "Even Eiko-Ei, the greatest idol in the universe, has problems."

"Horosho," Julia stated. "We'll meet up in the club room tomorrow after classes are done."

"But that room hasn't been used in over 20 years." Rio stated.

"What can be wrong with it?" Akari asked.

"Who knows?" I asked.

"Come on Julia and Eiko," Hisa stated. "We need to get home. Mommy is probably worried about me and I know Aunt Eli and Aunt Nico are worried also." We said our goodbyes and began to walk home.

I walk through the door and looked over to my mom. She was working on some financial information again.

"Mom?" I asked. "Is everything okay?" Mom looked over at me.

"Yeah," Mom replied. "We're just a tad bit behind on the store's electric bill."

"Mom," I stated. "I hate to say it, but you need help paying the bills. I can help you out after-"

"No." Mom scolded me. "Hanayo and I are fine. We just need to raise the prices by a few yen, that's all." I sighed.

"Alright." I stated. "Goodnight." I walked to my room and sat at the edge of my bed. I knew mom was too stubborn to accept my help. However, I refuse to give up on her.