Chapter Text
RIIIIIIIIIIING!
Kamiyama High School was as busy as ever as soon as the bell rang. All the students immediately began packing up their things as class ended, excited that school was over for the day.
Among them was a young lady with long navy-black hair and shining icy blue eyes, saying goodbye to her classmates as she packed everything up. When suddenly...
“Ichiiiiiii!!”
A squealing voice was her only warning before someone ran up and hugged her from behind, startling her.
“Huh? Whoa! Saki! You scared me!” She laughed out loud.
Ichika Hoshino laughed as her friend, a girl with blonde pigtails with pink ends and matching pink eyes, hugged her happily. This was one of her childhood friends, Saki Tenma.
“You seem to be in a good mood today.” Ichika commented as she removed Saki from her back to finish packing.
Saki nodded. “Of course I am! We're finally gonna hang out for the first time in forever after school, the four of us!”
“Haha, Saki. It's only been a month since our last one.”
“That's too long, Ichi!!”
Two girls walking down the hallway together caught Ichika's attention. “Honami! Shiho!”
The two turned towards her and waved back with a smile.
“See you guys in a bit!” Ichika called.
The brown-haired girl with the ponytail, Honami Mochizuki, nodded. “Yes, see you!” With that, the two continued down the hallway.
Saki was leaning on a desk waiting for Ichika to finish packing. “Shiho and Hona seem to be in better moods lately! Hanging out with them seems to be bringing us closer together again!”
“Haven't we always been close?” Ichika asked.
Saki frowned at her. “Ichi, don't act like you didn't notice. Ever since that incident, they've been more distant lately! Shiho is always more cautious, while Honami looks like some secret keeps bothering her.”
“I guess you're right. They might be taking the incident pretty hard. We haven't had a single concert since... You know.” Ichika frowned as well as the memories came flooding back to 2 years ago.
-------------------------------------------------------
Flashback to 2 years prior...
“Alright, who's ready for another big night hit!” Saki cheered.
Honami giggled and put her free hand forward in a peace sign. “Shall we?”
The others did the same, forming a four-pointed star in the middle of their group, and they chanted together as they raised their hands.
“Goooooooo Leo/Need!”
A door opened to the backstage area they were in, only to see a blond male standing there excitedly.
“Hi, Tsukasa!” Saki greeted.
“Time for your places, ladies! You ready?” Tsukasa asked.
“Ready!” The girls promised, stepping out onto the stage and grabbing their instruments.
As the curtains opened, they began their first song, “Roki”, the entire audience going wild.
That's right. Ichika and her childhood friends were Leo/Need, an up-and-coming talented band named after the Leonids, the star shower they watched as children. This was their very first solo concert.
As soon as they finished the song, the entire audience cheered louder than ever.
Saki turned to her brother Tsukasa, who was in the wings giving her a thumbs up and a wink.
Happy for her brother's support, Saki waved at him cheerfully. He smiled and waved back...
...Before he suddenly disappeared.
“Huh?” Were Saki's eyes playing tricks on her?
“What's going on?!” Ichika's voice made her jump as the venue suddenly grew darker despite all the lights being on.
Shiho Hinomori looked around. “Could something be shorting out?”
Honami squinted at the audience and pointed with her drumsticks as the applause suddenly became concerned whispers. “Look!”
The crowd, which was once packed with people, was now growing thinner. People were disappearing in a puff of smoke right before their eyes!
As the equipment managed by the staff crashed now that no one was controlling it, the four girls clustered together. “What the heck?! Where's Tsukasa?!” Saki blurted.
Honami turned to her. “He's gone too?!”
“Guys... I feel like something is watching me...!” Ichika shuddered as the venue completely emptied in minutes.
Shiho noticed a strange shadow moving towards them and hugged her bandmates defensively. “Look out!”
As the shadow went to consume them, the girls hugged each other close, not sure what else to do... Before a mysterious light dispersed the shadows moments before it consumed them.
“...Huh? We're okay?” Ichika realized, opening her eyes.
They looked around. The venue was silent.
“Tsukasa?” Saki's voice echoed. “Tsukasa?!”
“Hello?!” Ichika called. “Anyone here?!”
Their only answer was dead silence and their calls echoing back eerily.
-------------------------------------------------------
Present day...
“And to think that this was on the news after that. I know we wanted to make it big, but not like that!” Saki complained as her and Ichika stepped out of the classroom.
Ichika frowned deeply. “Why do you think we were spared that night?”
“I dunno! I just hope Tsukasa's okay, wherever he is...” Saki answered, worried.
“Aren't the police still searching for him?”
“Nope. They gave up a year and a half ago. After six months of no clues, they decided everyone who disappeared that night was a lost cause.” Saki complained, before determination shot in her face. “But I haven't lost hope! He always loved watching me perform with you and the others, so I have a feeling that getting Leo/Need back off the ground will be the key to finding him!”
“But I thought we still were Leo/Need?”
“Yes, but...” Saki's face fell. “It hasn't really felt that way. Hona and Shiho haven't had the time for any gigs ever since the Mass Disappearance.”
Ichika, trying to cheer her up, smiled. “Maybe they're just busy. How about we ask them today when we hang out at Diatama today?”
“Really?! Oh, yes!” Saki cheered, grabbing Ichika's arm and running. “Come on!”
“Whoa, okay! I'm coming, I'm coming!”