And so the Morning…

This is the first chapter of a serial fanfiction I am working on. Enjoy!

01.

“OI! OI! OI! OI!”

Shouts rang out from the fans. Various colored lights flashed out in the darkness. Nine girls danced at various points on the stage, some held their microphones out to capture the energy radiating off the crowd while the others sang. Sweat poured down their smiling faces. Their hair looked as if they had just climbed out of the shower.

The song ended. The crowds roared. One girl didn’t hear or see any of it, however.

The stage faded, and the girls left the crowd behind. Shouts for a second encore passed into nothing. Two of the girls, their hats lazily pinned up sideways, walked and laughed on their way to the shared dressing rooms. A taller girl followed them, trying to talk to the older of the two.

Two others followed the first three conversing about some random topic, who knew what it was about with them involved….

Another tall girl, one with a perpetual smile that only spoke to a fraction of her energy, followed an older girl, whose cuteness belied her intelligence, attempting to get her to talk.

The final two girls walked slowly behind the other seven, thanking the staff members that the others forgot. The younger of the two still breathed heavily, her face showed none of the usual glow it bore, rather, all color had vanished. Unlike the others, despite having worked up a sweat on stage, she was completely dry. The older of the two turned from the staff members when her companion stumbled towards the wall and sat against it. Her eyes were closed.

“Call an ambulance!” the leader shouted to the staff that now looked on in horror.

“Linlin?”

The younger girl could make out her friend, and leader’s voice – but the sound was muffled – as if she were hearing the voice through a wall. She tried to open her eyes, but whatever strength she had, left her at that moment. Then, silence.

******

Morning Musume member Linlin collapses after Concert. Read the newspapers that carried the story. The concert staff had leaked the story to the press. The agency was on damage control alert.

Tsunku, the producer of Morning Musume, and the rest of Hello! Project, sat across from the head of the agency that oversaw the Project, Up Front International/Works/ Agency. Tsunku’s eyebrows furrowed as the other man continued to talk about something he had long since lost track of.

“We need to use this to our advantage and get Musume back on top.”

“Let them rest” Tsunku said, a feeling of déjà vu taking over the conversation. He had argued this point before.

“We have to strike while the iron is hot.” The other man hadn’t heard him.

How typical.

A knock on the door saved the producer from the other man’s rants. The president consented and in walked Takahashi Ai, the current leader of Morning Musume.

Impeccable timing.

“Sir.” She bowed to the president. “Tsunku-san.” She bowed to her producer.

Still polite, aren’t you…

“Sir. As much as I and the other girls enjoy working so much – I would like to request a brief hiatus… Sir. We are tired. One of the members is sick …she needs time to recover.”

She went straight to the heart of the matter….how uncharacteristic…

“You really think you need a break?” the president asked.

“Yes sir.”

“Ok then. Take your hiatus.”

“Arigatou President-san.” She bowed again, a bit lower than the first time. Then she left; a mixture of relief and worry spread across her face as she turned.

As soon as the door closed the president turned to Tsunku and said.

“Musume has run its course. It’s time for something new. Something better.”

“You can’t mean that?!” Shock and anger spilled into his voice.

“You will tell them… Now. Go.”

Tsunku stood up and made his way out of the office. As much as he wanted…there was nothing he can do. The contract the agency had him under bound him to the will of the president, lest he be cast aside. As soon as the doors of the elevator closed his fist cracked against the metal wall.

I’m so sorry girls…Please forgive me…