---

5:15 PM

---

 

Simpson-san took out her phone during one of the largest explosions on stage. This showed me she wasn’t focused on anything else but her job. The music was hyper and alive, but her expression was one full of determination.

“Sophia, Sophia!”

She called out, passing me, and whispered in her ear. I couldn’t hear them because of the music, but I could assume what was going on by the time now and her erratic behavior…

Taylor-sensei must have lost her tail, and they were on their way. That’s when my phone vibrated. I didn’t want to touch it with Simpson-san in our vicinity though. The last thing I needed was for her to catch me doing anything suspicious right now. So, I silently confirmed that the package was on the way.

Mae-chan and Sora-chan were still full of energy as they danced to the fantastic music. Sara-chan, my favorite out of all the STARS members, was doing a solo, and this only gave me the confidence to press on.

“Hana-chan!”

I cried, pulling the flower to me. Together we danced to the music as I looked her in the eye.

“Your mom…”

I mentioned. She seemed to have known what I was saying as she nodded, still beaming at the music.

“Everyone! I’ll be right back. I have a business call to make!”

Simpson-san finally addressed the group. We all waved as she made her way out of the stage. Now I took out my phone, confirming that they were on their way and that they've successfully ditched their tail.

“Okay, everyone. This is the big moment. Let’s stay focused, and in 2 hours it will all be over.”

“Right.”

We all mumbled. Our goal was to make sure Taylor-sensei didn’t get caught and that Sophia-san got on stage. Meaning we needed the information on what Simpson-san’s strategy was. So, I made my way to Sophia-san, grabbed her, and hopped with the music.

“What did Simpson-san say?”

“She warned me not to do anything erratic. I think I know why…”

She gazed over to the side. An older gentleman was standing, watching the idols bounce around. But he wasn’t moving to the music like the crowd around him. No, he seemed to glance over occasionally.

“I’ve been watching for a while now. When you grow up with people tailing you constantly, you tend to notice people who stick out.”

She jumped, crying out the lyrics to the song, suddenly. I wasn’t expecting it as she held me in her arms. Probably trying to hide any suspicious behavior.

“We are obviously surrounded by security, but they won’t do anything unless Simpson-san orders them to. So, my job is to stay here and not alert her.”

She let go, beamed at me as she tilted her head.

“But I think it’s your job to stick by Eleanor. If she’s already suspicious of you, why not be in her face about it?”

I understood what she wanted me to be. I needed to be a distraction…

“Yuko-chan! Everyone!”

I hopped up to the music, masking my mood with overbearing excitement. The group came over, dancing to the music as they did. Yuko-chan cutely swung her glowstick back and forth.

“Keep an eye on Sophia for now. I’m going to track down Simpson-san!”

"Alright, Mado-chan!”

Mae-chan complied, pulling Sophia-san in her arms.

 

Before I turned around, I felt a tug on my jacket. Sophia-san gazed at me and lipped.

“Good luck~”

 

 

It warmed my chest and filled me with determination to see this through. Sophia-san could show this side to herself that always drew me in, it made me want to protect her. So, I waded through the crowd of fans, rushed up the steps, and made my way to the back room.

As I looked around, Simpson-san was nowhere to be seen...

 

---

5:35 PM

---

 

“Where would she be?”

I had to think. The best place to intercept Taylor-sensei would be the entrance. So, in a hurry, I made my way there. The concert music was blasting through the speakers, giving me that much more of a push to fight this battle. Thankfully, I would be missing too much of the STARS concert’s music because the speakers were exploding with their tunes.

When I made my way out the main doors I spotted the woman in question. She had a group of people in normal clothing around her.

“Eh.”

I caught myself as I hid behind the entrance. This is what I needed. There, right now was the hidden security that she brought with her. But I also had to assume that there were more. So, I took out my phone and got a good shot of the group.

“Okay…forward…”

I sent them to all my friend’s phones, Mari-san and Taylor-sensei included. As I stepped away from the door, I heard footsteps coming from behind me.

“Nakagawa-san, what are you doing?”

I turned back to see Simpson-san with a bright smile on my face. I knew I was being suspicious.

“I had to run to the bathroom, then I figured I’d look for you.”

I lied. However, she didn’t seem to believe me as she took a sigh.

“Listen you little punk, you know what’s going on, don’t you?”

I was taken aback by her language. But I held my ground as I smiled brightly at her.

“Where’s this coming from?”

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but it’ll be stupid if Linda and Sophia meet.”

She crossed her arms.

“You’ll only ruin Linda’s life if you keep messing around in their personal affairs.”

“Why are you bringing up Taylor-sensei?”

She scoffed as her bright eyes turned almost demonic-like.

"My people went back to the Red Roses and searched the locker room. They found her hair there. I know you work there so you could have had it set up. I’m not stupid…I know a lot more about you than you think.”

The gig was up, so I shrugged.

“But don’t you think by keeping them apart, you’re doing just that, Simpson-san? You’re ruining their chances to talk it out?”

“That’s the problem, this is none of your business. When Linda arrives, we’ll apprehend her and take her back home. That’s the end of the story.”

There’s no way she’d recognize Taylor-sensei so that didn’t worry me…but her confidence was off the charts. Why would she be so sure that she’d catch her?

“Maybe…I guess we’ll see.”

She already exposed her plan, didn’t she?

Together we walked in the corridor, leading to the main attraction. She was over the top confident that she’d find Taylor-sensei….and it was obvious why…

“Is everything alright, Simpson-san?”

I teased, putting my hand behind my back. Cutely, I turned my head and met her gaze.

 

 

“Because if you’re looking for someone else, it might be harder than you think.”

Her eyes widened and that made me realize what she was thinking. We stared at each other now. My snark was off the charts as I revealed her secret.

She wasn’t planning to look for Taylor-sensei when she arrived. I’m sure she already realized she’d be wearing a disguise. So instead, she must have opted to look for the only two people she knew that would drive her here…

My mom…and my stepmother. Simpson-san mentioned earlier in the day when we chatted with Risa-san that she knew both of them…without ever meeting them.

That would mean that Simpson-san investigated me after the events at their home. She looked into me…and my family. She…was scary for sure.

“You know…I used to like you Nakagawa-san. But it turns out you're nothing but a little brat that’s a pain in my ass.”

“Ouch, that one hurt.”

I sneered, putting my hands behind my back.

 

---

5:55 PM

---

 

“Madoka-san! My work is all finished, and you are my top priority!”

As we made our way back, Risa-san caught hold of me. The pink-haired snarled at me and my new plus one.

 

 

“Simpson-san, I’ll be in there in a bit.”

“Alright, make sure you get in here soon. Sophia will miss you~”

She teased as she walked back into the crowd.

“That woman is something else, threatening my Madoka!”

I burst out in laughter as I turned back to Risa-san.

“Are you ready to dance, Madoka-san?”

“After you~”

I held her hand as she twirled me around. It didn’t fit the music at all, but we needed to waste time. Soon enough, the main event will be walking on stage, but we had one more obstacle to overcome.

“Oh, did you hand Mari-san her thing during work?”

“Yeah, she’s so shady, so I bet she didn’t tell you…”

Suddenly, Simpson-san raced out of the concert and confronted the two of us still dancing together. Confused, we turned to her.

“Where is she, Nakagawa-san?!”

“Who?”

I played the fool as she stomped on the floor like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Sophia! Where is my Sophia?!”

 

 

“Did you ask about the security that was around us? Wouldn’t they know?”

I taunted as she lit up like a firecracker.

“My team told me she went missing after your friends intentionally pestered them! At some point when you raced off, your group of misfits must have found a way to distract them and usher her away!”

I thought about Hana-chan and the rest of the group. We knew that the staff was going to bring Sophia-san on stage around this time. So, all they had to do was make sure her security couldn’t get to her while the concert staff took her away. Simpson-san, not knowing that Sophia-san was selected to be on stage, wouldn’t know that’s what happened.

I shrugged now. I was being a bit cocky by this point.

“You know what, it doesn’t matter! If I stop Linda by finding Koda Mari or Nakagawa Ayumi then this entire plan of yours is a bust.”

That’s when a call came into Simpson-san. She answered excitedly.

“Oh, you caught her?”

My stomach dropped as her bright blue eyes shone a demonic-like bliss. She turned to me with a cunning smile.

“You see? It was only a matter of time.”

Without another word, she raced off to the front. Risa-san nudged my shoulder.

“Let’s go Madoka-san. Hopefully, it's not what I think."

"R-Right." 

I agreed as we followed behind.

 

---

6:15 PM

---

 

If she was really apprehended, then everything will go to heck. So, I raced off with Risa-san by my side. When we reached the doors, we saw the commotion and their captive.

“Yes, I’m Koda Mari, Madoka-chan’s stepmother.”

Her leafy green eyes caught me as she waved like the fool she was. The group of people around her roughhoused her as they pushed her around.

“Madoka-san! Madoka-san!”

Excitedly, she waved at us as we exited the door. I could see the people around her frustrated at her lack of concern for them. Mari-san was playing it cute and it was...super cool. 

 

 

“Koda-san is an idiot at times.”

Risa-san complained as she hit her forehead. 

Urgently, we approached only to witness the pink-haired one exploding like a firecracker yet again.

“Mari-san, are you alright?”

Concerned now, I patted her shoulder hoping they didn't injure her.

“What, were you worried about me, Madoka-san?”

I couldn't lie, the way they were pushing her around earlier, likely trying to get information from her worried me. Yet here she was, acting like nothing even happened.

“Her security was treating you a little rough. Of course, I was worried about you, idiot! You weren’t even supposed to get caught!”

Annoyed, I nearly shouted. But I only got a hardy laugh from the fox as she pet me on the head.

“Aww, Madoka-san was worried about me?”

Frustrated, I pushed her, but she pushed me back. How that reminded me of Hana-chan and it warmed my chest. I wanted to tackle her, beat her up for making me worry but I held back and puffed my cheeks instead.

“What’s gotten into, Mari-san?!”

I teased.

The pink-haired madness exploded. We turned her way, curiously.

“What do you mean Koda Mari-san came alone?! Where’s her car! Linda had to have gotten out with her!”

"As I said, I came here alone…ah, Simpson-san was it?”

“Oh, don’t give me that! You know just who the hell I am, Koda-san! All of you!”

She pointed at Risa-san and Mari-san then turned her rage towards me.

"Where is she?! She must not be inside. Linda has to go through the entrance to get inside! I need 3 people at the gates and the rest searching the block!”

She was shouting orders like a banshee now. I was used to the calm and collective detective but when push came to shove this is who she was…a little girl panicking for things to go right…

And it actually felt a little sad.

Risa-san turned to her subordinate and chuckled.

“She’s never going to find her, is she Mari-san?”

I questioned.

“Nah, we don’t have to worry, Madoka-san, I think it’s time you go meet up with her though.”

“Oh, alright.”

Risa-san handed me the badge she used to get through the back door earlier. Little did Simpson-san know, each sponsor got two of these. Mari-san already gave Taylor-sensei her badge to slip in unnoticed. Now Risa-san was giving me hers.

“Taylor-san has the second one and she already slipped through the back. Go meet up with her, we’re going to meet up with your friends.”

Mari-san chuckled.

 

“I’m not too crazy about all that jumpy music behind us, but I bet Hana and the rest are going wild. I’ll see you once you’re finished, Madoka-san.”

“Oh, okay Mari-san.”

 

Her eyes were brighter than usual as she spoke my name with a subtle enduringness.

I couldn’t imagine what was going on in her head, but instead of waiting there any longer, I made my way to the back door.