Aikatsu Crescent!

「Phase 14」Sparkling, Lemonade Dress!

It was yet another eventful day at Celestial Academy, a school where girls from all over Japan gathered to start their idol activities - their Aikatsu! With lessons done for the day, Mai, Tsubaki and Hinata - three hardworking, up and coming idols - were sitting in the courtyard, relaxing after their difficult practice sessions. The former two were discussing their lessons, whereas Hinata was scrolling through her phone. She was scrolling through the website of Exciting Topaz, the brand she loved so much. The brand her favourite idol once wore.

The brand she was rejected from.

Admittedly, it still stung, even if nearly a month had passed. She was hoping that her performance would be enough to sway the top designer but was yet to hear back anything. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to say the designer had likely forgotten all about her, which was the exact opposite of what Hinata wanted.

"This is so frustrating!" She complained, eying different coords through each era of the brand. Hinata didn't understand what she was missing. As much as she thought about it, she was yet to find a clear answer, which frustrated her to no end. Startled by Hinata's outburst, Mai jumped.

"Did you want me to keep you forgetting the lyrics a secret?" She asked, quietly, "I'm sorry."

Hinata glared. "I can't believe you'd tell Tsubaki of all people that I messed up," she said, "But what's more frustrating is Exciting Topaz and it's stupid designer who obviously can't recognise true brilliance even if it punched her in the face."

"Please don't punch Kagayaki-san," Tsubaki said, "If you're that frustrated, maybe you should try again."

"You should! I'm sure she'll come around," Mai added on, and Hinata rolled her eyes.

"Or she'll tell me I'm not unique enough again. If I'm talented, and I revive her most successful era, what does uniqueness matter?" Hinata pouted, resting her chin on the table. Sighing, Tsubaki lowered herself to make eye contact with her pouty friend.

"What matters is that everyone being the same is boring. For both idols and fans alike. Exciting Topaz is successful enough that Kagayaki-san doesn't have to worry about appealing to the masses. She's said before that she just wants to discover as many new forms of Aikatsu as possible."

Mai nodded in agreement, also bringing herself lower. "Being an imitation of someone else is just draining if anything. Your fans, friends and family love you because you're you."

"You can cross off the family part," Hinata muttered, her voice barely audible. Then, she spoke up. "Besides, it's not like I want to do a complete 180 like Mai the other day. I just want to wear the same kind of clothes my inspiration wore."

Then, Hinata's phone pinged. She sat up straight once again, clicking the notification. As she read through, her eyes widened... and then she groaned, slouching once again and planting her face on the table.

"I've been called to the headmistress' office..."

Whilst the headmistress invited students in her office for a variety of reasons, both good and bad, anxiety was rising inside the idol. She wasn't known for always being on her best behaviour, whether it be gossiping to Mai in the middle of class, or messing around. Whenever called out for this, she always had the excuse that she was 'making things more interesting' and fans would otherwise find something like this boring. However, she had a sneaking suspicion that this excuse wouldn't exactly work with the headmistress.

"I'm sure it's nothing bad," Mai comforted.

"When I was called over, it turned it turned out Kasugano-san chose me, despite me thinking I lost all chances of owning a Premium Rare," Tsubaki added on, "Maybe it'll be the same for you."