Chapter 2 - Ryokan Inn

(Numazu, Downtown)

(Leon POV)

It's so unreal that I met Riko and now we are on our way to see Chika the leader of Aqours...I just hope don't be completely mess as I did with Riko...definitely not weirdo... plus I didn't get pepper spray which is good...that would have hurt like bad...

However, there's something bugging me when Riko says circumstances ugh I can't help it...

"Hey Riko, you look kinda down when I first found you something up? I know we just only met but it's bugging me" I said "What??" Riko asked looked back at me "It's was bothering me is there something going on that I should know about?" I asked confused expression "I knew it was written all over my face when you got worried about me earlier...Am I that easy to read?" Riko asked "Well yeah it's something my friends would tell me being good at but I don't think the case," I said nervously "I'm sorry it's just thinking of a song for the Summer Festival" Riko nervously giggled "Ahh I forgot that you were participating in the Summer Festival," I said rethinking on what Mutsu told me...

"A song??? Is it gonna be a new one?" I asked confused "We aren't finished with it still working on lyrics. Chika mostly in charge of words while I do the music" Riko said smiled "Woah" I said stunned (This is the jackpot I need! I kinda pick the right time to come here! This, not just a win...IT'S GRAND SLAMMMM!!) I thought

"Although we kinda run in roadblock with our song writing, I'm trying to come up with ideas but my mind runs blank...So I come here over at beach to ease my mind" Riko explained "I see, I was kinda the same back when I had my guitar performances" I said sweatdrop "Ah you played the guitar?" Riko asked "I play the guitar and piano but not as much with piano still bit rusty..." I said nervously chuckled "We are almost there and uh sorry for being weird little" Riko said "Don't be, So that's how you write music...I'm fired up!! It feels like I been into a little secret about the Aqours special music" I said "Well, I don't always do this. Just once in awhile! Today is special anyway" Riko said as we continued heading off the road...

(Ryokan Inn)

"This is where Chika lives" Riko said smiled "The...Ryokan Inn...? So Chika Takami lives here at Ryokan?? That's incredible!!" I yelled shocked "Riko!!" Chika yelled "C-Chika!?" Riko yelled got hugged from behind "...Uh.." I muttered (...I hate you) Leonidas thought (Oooo) Ruin thought stunned "Riko, perfect timing I was about to come to find you," Chika said "Me? For what?" Riko asked sweatdrop "Yeah! I came up with new idea for the summer festival song and...Huh? Who's this??" Chika asked looked at me "Uhh...I am.." I said sweatdrop "Oh shoot! Are you a customer?! Please forgive me, sir! Umm, do you have a reservation?" Chika asked "Reservation?? I didn't uh come to stay here at Ryokan..." I said awkward "He's with me" Riko said "EHHH?! Is he a relative of yours or...is he a boyfriend?" Chika asked grin "...BOYFRIEND?!" Riko yelled embarrassed "...WHAT!? It's not like that!" I yelled "Excatly! Chika he came here from Tokyo and came out of his way to meet us" Riko said sweatdrop "To meet Aqours?" Chika asked confused "Yes! I was hoping being able to talk with all of you" I said smiled "It's not everyday you find boy to come looking for school idols" Chika said nervously "...I know and I'm such a big fan of Aqours-" I start to say..."Oh really?! That makes me so happy sure thing let's talk inside!" Chika yelled "Tha-Thanks...is your family okay with me entering??" I asked confused expression "It's fine they are all outside anyways" Chika said smiled following her and Riko inside...

(So this is Ryokan Inn from inside...wow this place looks incredible...Chika family took absolute pride in maintaining it) I thought confused expression observing the place...

"And here's my room! I'm back!" Chika yelled "Welcome back. Oh I see you meet up with Riko" ??? said "Hello, so you're here too Yõu" Riko said (...Wait WHAT KIND OF PARENTS NAME THEIR DAUGTHER YÕU?!) Leonidas thought furiously (...That's very interesting name...but don't be rude Leo) Ruin thought (You're one to talk!) Leonidas thought (...Ugh you guys) I thought sweatdrop waiting outside of the room... "Riko was right out front of the house!" Chika yelled "Great! After you went out I decide it would be better idea to call her till I saw Riko left her phone here" Yõu said confused "Wait who's outside of the room?" Yõu asked "Outside?? Come on in, don't be shy!" Chika yelled "Kay..." I said entering with sweatdrop (...I'm surprised I ain't short on breathe again...) I thought sweatdrop "A boy?!" Yõu yelled shocked expression (....YES I'M FREAKING BOY!) I thought screaming mentality...

"This the fan that came all the way from Tokyo to come meet us" Chika said smiled "Nice to meet you..uh?" I said sweatdrop "Nice to meet you, too. Hey relax a little it's not everyday you see male fans from big city" Yõu said confused expression "Yeah relax!! You look like same age as us. Are you high school student?" Chika asked confused expression "Yes I'm a second-year student," I said smiled "That makes us the same age! No formalities! Have a cracker or two" Yõu said smiled "Thank you" I said smiled "Ah shoot I forgot to asked whats your name" Chika said sweatdrop "Oh I'm Leon Winchester and came from Nijigasaki High" I said smiled "N-Nijigaskai?!" All yelled "Wait what?! You heard of us?" I asked confused "Of course you're school one the School Idol Festival qualifiers in Tokyo!" Chika yelled "That's...Wow!" I yelled shocked (HUH?!) I thought mindblown

"All of the members in that group are so unique and charming! I couldn't avert my eyes for a second!" Chika yelled "They were all great including the dancing and singing were on high level" Yõu said smiled "I don't mean anything bad about this, but I never heard of your school before it's was like a shooting star" Riko said "Oh that's okay we just had that first event about like two weeks ago and they are still practicing back over there" I explained "Plus I'm here for their behalf" I said sweatdrop "Huh? so you came all this way from Tokyo to Uchiura that's pretty long trip" Yõu said "It wasn't that bad" I said smiled "BAD?!" Leonidas yelled "...Uh-huh?" All said "...Well you blew our cover" Ruin said hop down "What are you two doing inside!?" I yelled "I got bored" Ruin said "I tried to stop him!" Leonidas yelled "...As I was saying...the hardest apart of my journey here was to well find Aqours member and just relieving that I am able to see all of you" I said sweatdrop "That's so flattering, I'm actually little embarrassed" Riko said nervously "I mean it plus the fact you all heard about us well everyone back at Nijigasaki would be happy" I said smiled "I bet they would be" Chika said giggled...

"After seeing that joint performance of yours...it really did spark something inside of me to learn more about it. Although I had a close friend of mine explained to me about it" I said "That mysterious passion they kept mentioning about making few fans really excited what I need to know is how it does to people" I said smiled "So the question is I'm asking what makes you have that charming performance to make those people have a lasting impression in their hearts" I explained "Our charm...? Well?" Chika asked nervously "What is it? What does it take?" I asked, "It's uh I dunno, what is it??" Chika asked confused (....HUH?!) I thought (What...?) Leonidas thought (....Sadface) Ruin thought...

"...What?" I asked confused "You mean like Aqours' strength?" Yõu asked confused "No not that something with how we get to our fans hearts, right?" Riko asked "Now I thinking about it, I don't know" Yõu said confused "Y-You don't know??" I asked stunned "I think we are looking for that answer as well. I became a school idol because of watching U's performance. I wanted to shine like sparking jewel-like how they done on stage" Chika explained "Shine??" I asked confused expression "I also soon realized shouldn't intimidate them. So now I thinking of how to shine in our own way" Chika said eyes closed smiled "That's also one of the reasons why we're participating with the Numazu Summer Festival" Riko said smiled "Yep it's fun getting the local people excited, but we thought it will might take our own way to shine" Yõu said "Your own way to shine...hmm" I said eyes closed thinking for a bit...

(I don't think they were talking about individuality so that's Aqours been holding on to their hearts...Shine?? I don't really get it but does sound familar...as much it's important and even so it's also mean a lot to the group) I thought rethinking of what I gathered so far as Leonidas and Ruin were getting annoyed with each other... "Hey you two" Chika said pick Ruin up "No need for hitting each other" Riko said grab Leonidas "....He started it!" Both complained "To search our own way to shine" I muttered the words for little awhile till...

"Leon, I didn't see you standing on stage with the other Nijigasaki Idols members aren't you a school idol?" Chika asked confused "I'm not for obvious reasons..." I said sweatdrop "Really? then what do you do?" Yõu asked also petting Ruin with Chika...

"I'm the president of the Nijigasaki High Idol Group rather than performing i would be supporting them and giving tips also composer of the songs" I said smiled "Wow that's amazing!!" Chika yelled "You got your work cut out for you usually we assigned to the others on that stuff" Yõu said "It's really hard work but I do get by doing planning observing and soon my friends who are Nijigasaki School Idols being adored, admired by a lot of people..." I said smiled "Wow you must really love school idols," Riko said stunned "Well even if I'm not one and male that passion for school idols is something I never experience before," I said chuckled "Unlike everything you never experience before huh? That sounds familar" Chika said confused expression "Haha...that tickles" Leonidas said, "So what are these guys anyway?" Yõu asked confused "I would answer that when well I meet everyone," I said smiled "Ah okay," Riko said confused expression "But they are really friendly and interact with people espically that one," I said pointing at Ruin "He's more of the outgoing type while Leonidas is more strict and serious," I said chuckled nervously "Also even if it takes my full month of vacation I don't mind what happens here I will soon find the answer I seek for Nijigasaki sakes," I said smiled "Are you going to stay here or at somewhere else to stay for the night?" Chika asked smiled "I...crap," I said sweatdrop "We were distracted looking for one of you to just realize that now" I Leonidas said sweatdrop "It's not a big deal you guys can stay with us for a bit," Chika said smiled "That sounds like a plan and maybe get you to meet the rest of Aqours!" Yõu yelled, "Wait really???" I asked shocked "Of course they would like to hear from someone who loved school idols" Riko said smiled "Well where do I go meet you guys then?" I asked confused "How about Uranohoshi?" Yõu asked "...We almost got kicked out and don't wanna make same mistake" I said sweatdrop "Don't worry about it I made contact with the director she's will let you in tomorrow," Chika said smiled "Really? Thanks a ton" I said smiled "At least we don't have to worry going to jail..." Ruin said confused expression as we all laughed...

It's was really great start for us so far...But the main question is WHERE AM I GONNA PUT THE SUIT...?! I never really tell anyone who my real identity as Starlight Sentinel would be since two weeks ago and taking out that weird dark spirit and soul in my body... Although I do know I can't keep hiding this forever...maybe once after meeting the Aqours would tell them who I really am...as a test to see what if I tell Ayu and others who I was...

Just maybe it can work and give confidence I need to tell them all...

To Be Continued