[b]Leiko Hamada: Class 2-1 [/b]

The rest of afternoon classes went by in a blur. Fortunately, the material was mostly light and introductory, leaving Leiko the incentive to daydream a little less often than usual as she listened to the subjects that would be presented for the following year. Most of them sounded rather drab, but she was a hard worker when it counted, so she would be able to get by relatively well in her studies.

"So glad that's over," the girl next to Leiko sighed as the school bell finally tolled for the end of lessons, stretching her arms idly as the surrounding students followed her lead like a Mexican wave. "I can't believe they're already bringing up midterms though. We only just got back from break!"

"Tell me about it. They're like, way harsh." A dark haired girl on the other side of Leiko shuddered in agreement. "Literally the only thing I'm good at is PE, so I'm really not looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll be able to scrape by though. Hey, Hama-chan?"

"Mmm?" Leiko looked away from her notes, clearly disinterested in whatever conversation they were having around her. "Sorry Saya-san, I wasn't paying attention."

"Uhh...that's OK," the girl known as Saya let out an awkward laugh before continuing. "I was just wondering if you were going to check out any clubs with us? Yes, we know that you're the club president for Drama already," she added hastily before Leiko could open her mouth to retort. "But it might actually be neat to join something else too. You know, for flavour."

"Oh?" Leiko quirked a vaguely intrigued eyebrow. "What do you have in mind? Because after my experiences last year, I'm not particularly keen on scouting for anything new." The Student Council had certainly been an interesting endeavour, Leiko recalled with a wry smile. Due to her parents' pushing and prodding into making her do something more 'worthwhile' with her time, the decision to attempt Student Council had been decided for her first year at Warakuma High. Suffice to say, she loathed every aspect of it, from the paperwork to the slightly overbearing President.

Leiko had quit the council within the month and joined Drama within the next. Needless to say, it was one of the best decisions she had made thus far.

"Welllll, I was thinking about something a little more to your tastes..." Saya grinned surreptiously as she reached for something in her bag. "You know, for fun..."

"Oh?" Leiko was trying her best to keep her voice sounding detached, but even she felt a spark of curiosity ignite within her as she eyed the girl's satchel. "Pray tell..."

"Ta-da!" The girl sang in a sudden burst of bubbling excitement as she handed out an amateurish flyer for Leiko to observe with a rare bewildered expression. "It's a new club called the Idols Club! You know that first year idol? Chiaki Nettu? She's the one running it! It's gonna be like...a masterclass on how to be an idol or something."

"..." Leiko was stunned into silence for a moment, her eyes glancing from the crude flyer to her friend in utter disbelief. "What?" was all she could manage, her voice slightly hoarse at Saya's proposal. "What...are you suggesting?"

"Oh come on! It'd be fun!" Leiko's friend whined, seeming somewhat pleased that she had caught the other girl off guard. "I mean, it's only dancing and singing on a stage. It's really not all that different to Drama at all!"

"Of course it's different!" Leiko gasped in outrage, causing several of the students nearby to stop and watch Leiko's reaction in a mix of trepidation and curiosity. "What actors do and what idols do are [i]completely[/i] different."

[i]Actors play their parts with their heart and soul,[/i] Leiko monologued inwardly, her tongue too tied with disbelief to actually voice her words aloud. [i]Acting means something. Idols are just manufactured, chosen because they're sweet and pretty and nothing else. All smiles, no substance.[/i]

"Fine. So they're not exactly the same," Saya agreed with a brief shrug of defeat, although the glint in her eyes told her otherwise. "More the reason to join, hmm? You need to loosen up, Hama-chan. You won't look this young and pretty forever!"

Saya was one of Leiko's louder and more outspoken friends, and a girl that had somehow landed in her class from middle school all the way to their second year at WHS in present day. So, she knew Leiko better than anyone, which somehow gave her the unspoken right to tease her mercilessly.

Honestly, Leiko felt she was getting too soft. But even she couldn't deny that Saya was one of her closer friends, for what it was worth.

"I think we're done here," Leiko remarked sternly, determined not to indulge her friend any further as she slung her schoolbag back over her shoulder. "I'm going home."

"What? No, stay Hama-chan," Saya shot Leiko her best pout. "Just think of all the pretty things we could wear. Frilly dresses, bikini fashion...oh, maybe you could borrow some maid costumes at your home and dress up like-"

"Finish that sentence. I dare you," Leiko's expression was deadly, her face rapidly flushing to the colour of her hair. "Because so help me, Saya..."

"Uhh...never mind then!" The other girl paled sheepishly. Even someone as daring as Saya knew when she was pushing Leiko's limits. And an explosion in Class 2-1 wasn't far off at this point. "You're still sticking around to check out the clubs though, right?"

"...I really think I'll pass," Leiko's answer was trite. "I have to prepare for the auditions tomorrow anyway."

"Thirty minutes." Saya placed her hands on her hips with an expression that was difficult to argue with. "Give me that, and I'll leave you alone. Promise." 

Leiko scowled back, but her resistance was wearing down more by the minute. "...Fine," she finally caved in with a disgruntled sigh. "I'll be holding you to that promise though."

She really was too soft sometimes.