Chapter Text
"Elegant ponytail — check!"
"Fashionable clothes — check!"
"Heh, this audition will be a walk in the park."
Nene fixes her collared shirt and tucks her bangs behind her ears in front of the mirror. Her reflection holds her fiery gaze. "Let's ace this opportunity to reach the world stage!"
She runs down the stairs after turning off her room's light and calls out from the dining room. "Mom! I'm gonna be going now! I won't be long."
Her mom looks up from the kitchen counter. "Alright, Nene! Just be back before dinner!"
"I will!" Nene shouts back with impressive projection as she slings her bag over her shoulder. After stepping out into the porch, she breathes in the fresh air. "The first few breaths of a new era!"
Before she can start her journey to Phoenix Wonderland, her eyes catch on the Kamishiro household. She and Rui haven't had a chance to hang out or talk lately. Every time Nene isn't practicing her vocals or her acting, Rui's parents always say that he's out or that he's busy in his room.
She's snapped out of her thoughts by the birds overhead; she'll worry about that another day when she doesn't have an interview to attend.
A brisk jog to the theme park and her ponytail messier than she'd like, Nene arrives at Phoenix Wonderland slightly out of breath but still full of energy. It's still lively despite it being the middle of the week, proving it to be the perfect place for a diva to start her journey.
Some wandering around and searching for the building later, Nene finds the interviewing venue in time. The last group has just exited the room, and the interviewer calls the next group of people of the day.
"Finally my time to showcase everything I've been working on..!" Nene says to herself as she and a few other applicants enter the room. Though, based on the expressions of the other people beside her, she might've said it too loudly.
This is my chance to stand out from the crowd, and get one step closer to the stage! I can finally show off my skills and talents that I've been working on for a year! I will prove to everyone that I'm better than—
"For the next person, could you please introduce yourself now—"
"The name Kusanagi written as the legendary sword representing valor!" Everyone in that room flicks their head towards Nene. "In the near future, you shall soon hear the name Kusanagi as a world class actress, but for now, I bring you the promise of wonderful shows!"
While everyone is either bewildered, in shock, or awkwardly looking around, a mischievous glint appears in a pair of pink eyes looking from the doorway. "Shows, you say?"
The interviewers remain speechless and stunned (stunlocked, heh!). Nene mentally pats herself on the back for the grand introduction. Just as she predicted, the audition went swimmingly thanks to her radiant self capturing the interviewers' attentions immediately!
Unbeknownst to her, a pink dreamer is concocting her plan to recruit this future diva to perform her visions.
When the interviewers allow them to leave, Nene struts out the room, feeling like she's on top of the world. She returns home with a pep in her step, already preparing her next speech to thank the staff when she gets hired—
"Nene!" The girl yelps from a familiar and energetic voice greeting her from beside her house.
"You need to stop jumpscaring me all the time, Rui!" Nene leans over the fence dividing their two households.
"Eh? I thought you would be an expert with dealing with jumpscares by now. What was the game you played a lot as kids? Fffff-laugh was it?" Rui ponders to himself.
His friend's eye only twitches. "You mean FNAF? As in Five Nights at— we're getting off track! Why did you jumpscare me in the first place?"
"Ah, right! I was working on my next robot project, and I need a model to base it on." Rui's tone turns lighter whenever he talks about his robotic plans. "So I was wondering if I could base it off you."
The initial reaction that shows on Nene's face is shock. Then a split second later, "Well, I can't refuse a way of immortalizing my image! …But why are you modeling it after me anyway, aside from the obvious fact."
"I didn't know who was sparkly enough to be the subject to base my newest and bestest project after except my neighbor!" Rui proclaims. "Ah, it's nice talking to you again after we've been so busy!"
"Yeah, I guess we've busy between our own personal projects, huh?" Nene sighs, reminiscing over the nights they'd have sleepovers or late night gaming session where Rui would pester her with a thousand questions.
"Where'd you go today? You look like you went on an adventure!" He says, pointing at her now messy ponytail and ruffled collar shirt.
"Oh, I went over to Phoenix Wonderland for my audition! It's just a part-time job, but I'm hoping this can be the very first steps to pave my way to becoming a world class actress!" She places a delicate hand on her chest.
"I'm sure you'll reach that level in just a few years, Nene!" Rui giggles at her as he's done many times in the past. "You said Phoenix Wonderland? I remember when we went there as kids, and I tried to bring my robots. I'm still mad they wouldn't allow them in the park… Maybe I should try again this time, now with my sneaking skills improved and upgraded!"
"Please don't get yourself banned from the park, Rui…" They banter until the sun sets below the horizon. Both say goodbye to each other and enter their respective homes for dinner.
Their conversation just then made Nene remember how much she's missed him, but she also remembers when Rui was distancing himself? Every time she approached him, Rui always said he was fine, that he was just busy or tired from a project, but Nene has known him for long enough to know that he's hiding something. She just doesn't know how to fix it.
Her brain retires that chain of thought when her stomach rumbles. Oh well, her dinner is right in front of her, and she'll think of what to do soon.
A few days later, Nene is (naturally) accepted for the job and strides into Phoenix Wonderland, pride evident on her features. "Hehe, this is just the first step for this up and coming diva!" She monologues to herself while making her way to the theme park. "And now that I will be making a name for myself, all of Japan's troupes will be asking and giving me offers for me to join them!"
Some steps in front of her, a pair of siblings are walking side by side. The older is clearly spinning a dramatized story with his own flair to his singular audience member. "But the prince's journey would be far from over as more obstacles would come his way."
"Onii-chan, you said you wouldn't make a sad ending!" His sister tugs on his arm; he wobbles like a ragdoll as they keep moving forward.
"It's not! His story will be a happy one, but I'm rushing through it because you insisted I tell you now!" He clears his throat and prepares his theatric self. However, as he turns around and starts walking backwards, "This prince would soon meet a rival atop the village rubble." he ends up interrupting a diva's monologue.
The two stumble but don't lose their footing luckily. They accidentally shout their apologies at the same time, shockingly enough. The blonde beats Nene to the punch to apologize again.
"I-I'm so sorry! I should've been paying attention!" He holds out a hand in case Nene needs to stabilize herself. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Nene reassures, fixing up her hair. "It's my bad as well! I was having my own soliloquy in my head."
"No-no-no, I should've warned you, Onii-chan! I'm sorry!" In the midst of this apology volleyball game, the boy perks up at the word soliloquy. His theater-addled mind latches onto that more than anything.
Internally, Nene thinks that even if she didn't clarify that they are siblings, she could've deduced that purely based on their appearance and mannerisms. Still, from the little that she heard before they crashed into each other, it reminded her of her monologues in the middle of the night when she'd practice. "Just then, what were you doing?"
"Ah, I was listening to one of Onii-chan's stories! I probably should've waited to listen to it at home." She mentally berates herself for a second. "But his one man plays are super good!"
"Saki…" He can actively feel himself getting redder by the second. "It's true!" She retorts.
Plays? Nene's eyes gain a spark in them at the word for a moment. "A fellow actor?! Could it be that we could meet each other on the stage one day?"
The boy looks back and forth between his sister and this literal stranger. "I really wouldn't call myself an actor but—"
"Nonsense! Talent recognizes talent, and continue on the path of theater, we might meet each other again on the world stage!"
"…Really?"
"Mhm!" Just as she's about to continue, Nene suddenly remembers that she's supposed to be somewhere. "Ah! I'm gonna be late! Anyway, I shall take my leave; till we meet again, future rival!"
Whatever his reaction is, she doesn't see as Nene takes off to the park. Once she reaches the main gate, she catches her breath. The future actress bends down to take some deep breaths in, and when she lifts her head back up—
An involuntary scream rings out from her throat before realizing it's just a mascot. After gathering herself together, the fluffy animal mascot starts talking. "Excuse me, you're Nene Kusanagi, yes?"
At her confirmation, "I am a part of the staff here. Please follow me to the stage."
Nene has to take a couple of deep breaths once more and follows them throughout the entire park. As she looks at the new, fancy attractions and rides, she imagines the future stage she could be performing on.
A few minutes of walking later, yeah, the clearly run down stage did not live up to her expectations. The signboard near the entrance reads Wonder Stage. As she approaches the stage, a whistle can be heard somewhere above her, then a voice.
"Over here!" Nene flicks her head upwards to the roof of the stage to meet a petite, bright-eyed girl. She gives a grand, sweeping bow. "Welcome to Wonder Stage, Nene Kusanagi!"
The girl suddenly jumps down next to Nene, not on her (THANK GOD). "What were you doing up there!? That's nearly two stories!"
"I had to give the newest actor the grandest welcoming I could do by myself." She gives a salute. "Name is Emu Otori! It's a pleasure to be working with you."
"Huh? We're gonna be working together? Wait, why do you know my name in the first place!?" Nene's stern expression breaks as she becomes unnerves at Emu's smirk.
"Who else would know except me? I am the reason you're here at all!" She puts her hands on her hips proudly. The cogs in Nene's head are turning overtime to think of the reason on why this neon pink being knows her full name and is being so cryptic.
"Do you need help—?"
"No! I'll figure this out!"
Somehow — somehow — in the middle of Nene's brainstorming, Emu suddenly pops up on her left when she opens her eyes again. After Emu teasing her, and Nene asking how the other girl seems to magically move like a fairy, Emu takes the time to explain the situation.
"So, you're a cast member for this stage here?" Nene recollects their conversation.
"Mhm."
"And I didn't pass the auditions, but you requested I come by here..
"Nearly there~"
"I'm working here??" She points back to the stage. "At this run down stage!?"
"I wouldn't call it run down. It just needs a renovation or two here and there." Emu hums casually. "But, although I've played a few shows by myself, I know that I need more actors to truly bring the magic of Wonder Stage to the masses!"
Nene blinks, turns to the old stage, then back at her. "The magic of this stage?"
Emu just nods like the answer has been obvious from the start.
"Why this stage specifically? Why can't you join another troupe?" Admittedly, this conversation is getting increasingly more tiring.
"I made a promise." She says, smile gentle and longing. "I want to make people smile right here, and I believe that we together can make that dream a reality if what I saw from the interview was anything to go off from."
"Unless you're not up to the challenge?" Emu changes her tone to have a teasing lilt. "You're always free to bow out if you can't show off your acting talent."
Expectedly, Nene doesn't entertain that thought for a second. "I'm up to the challenge! If anyone can bring an audience here, then it'll be me!"
"I knew you wouldn't let me down!" Emu brightens up instantly. "We'll definitely need to gather more members to bring out our full potential."
"More members, huh?" Nene mumbles to herself, a certain someone popping into her head. "I might have a friend crazy enough to join this… kinda sorta group."
Her kinda sorta employer smiles wider. "Then the manhunt shall be even easier!"
"Manhunt…?? He's my friend, my very weak friend who doesn't realize that somehow. As weird as he is, please don't hunt him down! He might just tumble over and wither away." She sighs like she's had an exhausting day.
"Ah, fine," Emu waves her off, a slight pout on her lips. "How about you bring him here tomorrow, and I'll access his abilities." Her eyes gain a mischievous glint yet again.
"Not ominous at all…" Just as Nene thought this meeting was done, a rather bright and familiar drone comes into their view in the distance. Emu is obviously curious about it and makes her way over before Nene can say goodbye and end this interaction.
As Nene follows a few steps behind her, dragging her feet, she can't help but think that this day isn't gonna end anytime soon.