Picking up her phone, Starlight tapped the answer button.
"Hello? Senpai, aren't you back yet— ?"
"Mm, I'm still handling a few things. What's up, Teio-chan?"
"There's something I want to tell you, Senpai."
"Oh~ is that so? It's fine, go ahead. I'm listening."
"Today's performance was truly wonderful, Senpai. You looked so beautiful under the spotlight..."
"The thing is, Starlight-senpai... the Best Idol Selection is coming up soon. Can I form a team with you?"
The moment those words came out, Starlight's face was frozen in shock, her small mouth forming a perfect "O" shape. She quickly used her thumb to fumble for the speakerphone button.
"What? Teio, say that again? I didn't hear you clearly—"
"...Senpai, I want to form an idol group with you and enter the selection."
"Really?!"
"Mm, it's true. If you and I join forces, we'll definitely take first place!"
"Teio~ am I really that important to you?"
Starlight set the box of chocolates back on the table and skillfully maneuvered around Symboli Rudolf's figure. She walked slowly to the window and looked outside.
"Indeed... Teio, your words are so sincere, I simply can't..."
Then, she turned around right under Rudolf's bewildered gaze. She put on an expression of being so moved that she was practically in tears.
"Alright, I agree."
After hesitating for what felt like forever, Starlight sat back down on the sofa and spoke with sudden, cool composure.
"Eh? Really? Senpai, you actually agreed?!"
"Of course. Since you invited me so earnestly, it would be quite heartless of me to refuse..."
"Yay! McQueen, did you see that? I told you Senpai would agree, but you didn't believe me. Now look, you'll have to find a different teammate!"
Amidst a flurry of rustling conversation on the other end, Tokai Teio hung up the phone. Starlight put her phone down, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile once more.
"Madam President, you know me... I just can't bring myself to toy with Teio's feelings~!"
"As much as I wanted to say yes to you, well, Teio touched my heart first. If you have any objections, you'll have to take them up with her."
Standing up, Starlight scooped up the box of chocolates and began to saunter toward the door with a skip in her step. As she turned the handle and was just about to step out, she looked back.
"Thank you for the gift, President. Don't worry, I won't let Teio down. I'll definitely lead her to first place in the Idol Selection."
Click—
The door closed.
Rudolf was left alone in the room, her thoughts in total disarray.
It took a long moment for her to recover, and when she did, a muffled groan escaped her throat.
Her usually stern, old-fashioned face underwent a rare transformation, going from a heated red to a pale green, and finally settling on a deep purple.
Exhaling a long breath of stagnant air, Symboli Rudolf looked out the window with an expression like she was suffering from severe constipation.
I mean... what else could she say?
Could she call Tokai Teio over and say diplomatically:
"Teio, I want to pair up with Starlight. Could you, uh, step down?"
"What! President, you... sob sob sob... okay, I will..."
The mental image was just too crazy, Rudolf had no heart to continue the fantasy. She crossed her arms, an unnameable fire burning in her eyes.
"Very well... Divine Starlight, you just wait—"
Rewinding time a bit, the scene shifts back to Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
This was right after the performance had ended, as the two were walking back to the dorms.
"Ne, ne, McQueen-chan, Senpai's performance today was amazing! If I team up with her for the next Idol Selection, wouldn't we definitely take first place?"
Hearing this, Mejiro McQueen— who had been immersed in thoughts about why Divine Starlight had performed with Helios— suddenly snapped her head up.
"Right, there's also the Idol Selection! I want to team up with Starlight. What should I do, Teio? Do you have any ideas?"
"What ideas could there be? If you want to team up with Senpai, just go and ask her!"
At this, Mejiro McQueen looked out toward the distant coastline. Her brow furrowed as she let out a heavy sigh and shook her head.
"It won't work. Starlight definitely won't agree to that. We have to think of another way to invite her."
"How is that possible? Senpai is so kind and considerate, if I invite her directly, she'll definitely say yes."
Hearing Tokai Teio's words, Mejiro McQueen was skeptical.
"Impossible. You don't understand her."
"Eh? Forget it, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm calling Senpai right now. Just watch— this genius and Starlight-senpai are going to join forces and shine on that stage."
Tokai Teio couldn't help but fantasize about the scene: She and Divine Starlight, dressed in gorgeous gowns, performing together under the lights.
Seeing this, Mejiro McQueen adopted the air of a seasoned veteran, shaking her head in disapproval.
'How could she possibly agree to you...'
Then came the moment Tokai Teio got through. After being asked twice, Divine Starlight decisively agreed.
Since the phone was on speaker and McQueen was standing right there, she heard every single word Starlight said.
As the call ended, Tokai Teio looked at McQueen with excitement.
"Yay! See that? Senpai agreed! You go find yourself another teammate."
Mejiro McQueen: [Clown.jpg]
McQueen returned to the dorm in a total daze. She sat blankly on her duvet, staring into space.
Until...
With a click, the door opened, and Divine Starlight returned cheerfully, cradling a box of chocolates.
"McQueen-chan~ I'm back... want some chocolate?"
McQueen shook her head stiffly. She looked at Starlight with an expression resembling a soul-crushed character from a drama.
Turning to close the door, Divine Starlight continued to ask nonchalantly:
"Eh? Where's Teio? Still in the shower?"
"Probably..."
"I see. Well, let's all eat chocolate together when she gets back. The flavor is actually quite good."
Having said that, Starlight set the chocolate box aside and began to hum a tune happily. As for why she was so happy— did you see the look on Rudolf's face? It was hilarious.
Just as she finished changing into her pajamas and was preparing to crawl into bed, Mejiro McQueen— like a predator lying in wait— suddenly pounced, pinning Divine Starlight down onto the bedding.
McQueen's pupils were trembling violently, her face was so flushed with agitation it looked like something was about to burst out of her at any second.
"Hiss~ That hurts! What are you doing, McQueen... Mc— McQueen? No way, you haven't been possessed by something 'unclean' again, have you— ?"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't agree to anyone? Why did you agree to Tokai Teio so readily just now?!"
Starlight blinked, a bit dazed. She tilted her head in confusion.
"What do you mean 'readily'? Are you talking about being idol teammates?"
"Yes..."
"But... it's not like a romantic confession or anything. I just agreed to form a team with her, McQueen."
As soon as these words were spoken, the cloudiness in Mejiro McQueen's eyes instantly cleared.
She blinked at Starlight beneath her, then quickly let go, her face turning crimson as she scrambled to the side.
"S-sorry. I got carried away. You aren't hurt, are you...?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine..."
Watching McQueen nervously tidy her stray hair with her small hands, Starlight couldn't help but speak up with a complicated expression.
"McQueen... maybe I should find a master to perform an exorcism on you. When you're like this... I'm honestly a little scared."
Squeak—
The door opened, and Teio walked in cheerfully, wrapped in a bath towel. Seeing Starlight's slightly disheveled clothes and McQueen's bashful face, she asked curiously:
"Senpai, McQueen. What were you two doing?"
"N-nothing."
McQueen didn't even dare to lift her head. Seeing this, Teio looked at Divine Starlight and saw her beckoning her over quietly. Tokai Teio set her toiletries aside and leaned in close.
"What happened, Senpai?"
"It's... hard to say. It seems the 'unclean' thing inside McQueen has come out again..."
At those words, Tokai Teio's eyes instantly widened in shock.