Episode 1: The Sleeping Diva

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After leaving them with those mysterious words, Chika passed out and was brought to a bedroom in the Sarendia Orphanage.

After that, she remained unconscious for a long time, during which Yuuki and the others dutifully watched over her.

Chika
......

Ayane
She's not waking up... I-Is she okay?

Kurumi
I-I don't know... I'm worried about how beaten up she looks all over -- was she attacked by a monster...?

Ayane
In the middle of the city? It's true that... Lately, monsters have been coming into town and causing panic.

Ayane
But also. She looks really sad with her clothes all torn up, so I really want to get her changed...

Ayane
She wouldn't be able to fit in our sizes, but what if we borrowed some of Mama Saren's clothes?

Kurumi
Maybe... Mama Saren is out for work right now, but if we explain things to her once she gets back, she should understand...

Ayane
Yeah. But before we dress her, she's also all muddy, so we should give her a bath... I'll start the water running.

Kurumi
Ah... But the water's gonna be cold in this weather, so we should boil some... They said you're not allowed to use the fire, so how about I do it...?

Ayane
Ugh, why is Kurumi allowed to while I'm not? Do they think I'm too clumsy?

Ayane
I wanna do something, too. Because if I'm a good girl, then Santa will give me presents...

Ayane
But I shouldn't do stuff I don't know about. Suzume just went out to find a doctor, so should we just wait for her to come back?

Kurumi
Big sister Suzume just stepped out, so she shouldn't be back for a while, right...?

Kurumi
It's just started snowing outside, too, so I wonder if she'd slip and fall herself...?

Ayane
That's definitely possible... And the doctors are really busy this time of year, so we might have to wait our turn.

Ayane
Lately, there've been accidents and incidents all over the place, so lots of people are getting hurt... Huh, did you hear footsteps just now?

Kurumi
Yeah... Could big sister Suzume be back...?

Nozomi
Excuse meee! Is Chika okay? Please, let her be okay...!

Kurumi
Waah...!? Y-Y-You surprised me so much, I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my chest...!

Nozomi
Ah, sorry! Um, are you the children from... the Sarendia Orphanage?

Nozomi
I'm her... Chika's friend! My name's Nozomi! I'm in the idol unit Carmina together with her... Do you know us?

Kurumi
Eh, um...? Sorry, I don't...!

Nozomi
Hmm, looks like our name recognition isn't there yet... We've been gaining tons of fans in certain demographics, but maybe we don't appeal to younger age groups?

Nozomi
Anyway. Yuuki got in touch with me earlier, so I wrapped up my work as fast as I could and came over here... Is Chika all right?

Kurumi
I-I'm not sure... Big sister Suzume healed her wounds easily with her magic, but... For some reason, she won't wake up...

Nozomi
Oh? Then you've already been a big help. Let me thank you in Chika's place! Thank you, thank you, I love you!

Kurumi
W-Wah...? Don't hug me like that...!

Nozomi
Ahaha. Usually people are thrilled just to shake hands with us, so getting rejected feels pretty fresh... But this isn't the time for that talk.

Nozomi
I need to calm down... I'll take some deep breaths and try to calm my feelings.

Nozomi
Honestly. Chika looks like a good girl who doesn't cause problems normally, but she can cause a surprising amount of trouble.

Nozomi
I keep telling her that she should quit doing such dangerous things.

Kurumi
Um...?

Nozomi
Oh, let me explain. Chika is a rare person known as a songstress,^[1] someone who can contract with spirits to perform miracle-like acts.

Nozomi
This time, Chika was looking for a spirit whose name had appeared in folklore: "Foggy, the Spirit of Memories." There are days when we have nothing on the schedule, and on one of those off days, she went off to look.

Nozomi
But soon after that, she fell out of contact and disappeared, all the way up until just now. I was incredibly worried about her, and so was another of our friends, Tsumugi.

Nozomi
I'm relieved to have found her, but... The fact that she isn't waking up is making me nervous. Why could it be?

Nozomi
Let me think it through. Maybe that spirit she was looking for, Foggy, did something to her... I feel like that's possible.

Nozomi
But I don't really know much about spirits or songstresses, so I can't say.

Kurumi
Um... Now that you mention, before Chika passed out, she said that name, too... She said "Foggy is coming," and she sounded really scared...?

Nozomi
Hmm? Then, maybe Foggy was actually a dangerous monster, and Chika came under attack and fled... Could that be it?

Nozomi
Well, there's no use in speculating endlessly about it now... Sorry to impose, but can I count on you to take care of Chika for now? I need to report back to the agency about this first.

Nozomi
If Chika wakes up, just tell her that the rest of us can cover for her at work for now, so she can take her time to recuperate... Let her know. I'll repay you for all your help eventually, Yuuki.

Nozomi
... Even I feel like this is a little callous of me. But the fans are waiting, and I can't let personal matters get in the way of work.

Chika
Nn... U-Uh...?

Nozomi
Ah, Chika! What a relief, you're awake! Ugh, make sure you never, ever, ever worry me like that again...!

Kurumi
(Ha ha. Nozomi threw her arms around Chika so tightly. She was saying that work needs to come first, but it looks like she really does value her friends the most...)

Chika
U-Uh...?

Nozomi
Chika? What's the matter, are you hurt? Is everything okay? Umm, is there a doctor in the house!?

Kurumi
C-Calm down...! She might faint if you shake her like that...!

Nozomi
Ooh? But Chika's always shouldering all of her pain and suffering alone, without ever telling anyone about it!

Nozomi
I should've realized it sooner, but I was so thick that I never thought about it...!

Nozomi
I'm sorry, Chika! I should've stopped you -- no, I hsould've helped you with whatever it was that you wanted to do! Since I was the one who pressured you into becoming an idol in the first place!

Nozomi
It should've been my turn to step up! And... A real idol wouldn't have ignored her personal friends like this! Waaah!

Kurumi
P-Please, calm down! She won't be able to breathe if you squeeze her that tightly...!