In a small town lies Kaijo High School, but our story no longer takes place there. In the city of Tokuko, five hours from Kaijo, 4 old friends, who were a part of their high school culture club, alongside some new faces, embark on the next stages of their lives, and this is their story...
October 17th 2024. Tokuko Elementary
Michi: Ok, so Lizzy you'll take charge of the Christmas Play. It's ideal for you since your grade will be more involved in the play
Lizzy: We can start rehearsals next month yeah?
Michi: Yep. Start with song practice and distribute roles to the kids. Don't let them pick or audition just hand them out. Give them some time to learn and practice and then sort of mid to late November you can start doing full rehearsals
Lizzy: Sweet
Michi: CC, you'll oversee the Christmas Post Box again this year since it was a huge success last year
CC: No problem, can we meet to discuss it in a couple weeks as there are a couple things I'd like to tweak
Michi: Absolutely. Alex, I'm not going to put too much on you since you've only just officially taken over the class but if you could work with Lizzy on the play that would be great
Alex: Ok
Michi: Unfortunately, I am undertaking the joyful job of administering the mini exams. I'm currently putting together a timetable but we can expect them in the first week of December
CC: If I can just add, these are genuinely small exams, so Alex and Lizzy, if the kids in your class do get a little bit anxious over them, just remind them that it's nothing to be afraid of
Michi: Definitely. Oh and Lizzy is off for a few days as of tomorrow to deal with something personal. I've spoken to the principal and arranged cover so it's all sorted. Have you left cover work?
Lizzy: I've put a folder together with everything the teacher needs in it. If for whatever reason my return is delayed then, I have some extra plans on the shared drive but we can deal with that later
Michi: Yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ok well if that's everything, you are all free to go
Alex: See you all tomorrow
Lizzy: See ya
Alex and Lizzy head off, leaving Michi and CC behind
CC: Are you sure you're ok taking all of this on?
Michi: Of course, I've deputised for Kieran before
CC: Yeah but now this is permanent. With everything going on as well?
Michi: I have it all under control. I'll let you know if it's too much
CC: We're all a team remember
Michi: I know and I appreciate the support
CC: Is there any update?
Michi: They've gone for an MRI today to see if the tumour has shrunk at all but the doctors aren't convinced we'll get good news
CC: It's been a long round of chemo though
Michi: Yeah and they're absolutely exhausted but they keep pushing through and inspiring me. I just hope it's at least just news, doesn't have to be good but don't want it to be bad
CC: Well I'm thinking of you both
Michi: I just want everything to be ok
Lizzy & Katie's Apartment. October 18th
Katie: Do you want to come with me to this Love Live event today?
Yazzy: Are you talking to me or the plushy?
Katie: .......the plushy....
Yazzy just stares
Katie: But you can come too, it would be nice to talk to someone and they talk back
Yazzy: I've never watched a single episode though
Katie: Don't worry grasshopper, we have plenty of time on the way there to educate you
Yazzy: Can't wait
Katie: First rule though before we go
Yazzy: Yeah?
Katie: Stay away from Riko
Yazzy; Got it
Tokuko Shopping Center
Michi: It's nice to get out for a bit
CC: See I told you. It's nice to see you taking care of yourself
Michi: A rare sight
CC: What brought you out today though?
Michi: My partner....the scans weren't great
CC: Oh no I'm so sorry to hear that
Michi: They've gone to see their parents today and I just couldn't deal with that conversation, I couldn't do it again
CC: That's understandable. You have to put yourself first sometimes, even in a relationship
Michi: Feels selfish of me though to be feeling like this, I'm not the one potentially dying of cancer
CC: But you are potentially losing your partner, the love of your life
Michi: I don't want to think about it today. Let's just enjoy ourselves
CC: Want to go to the Sailor Moon store?
Michi: Is the pope catholic?
CC: Point taken
Michi: Oh before we go......is it obvious I haven't shaved my legs
CC: Huh?
Michi: I'm braving being out in shorts without shaved legs but is it really noticeable
CC: Nah you're good, you can barely see it
CC and Michi cross paths with Tori and Delia but as they don't know each other they all carry on walking
Delia: Did you see that's persons legs?
Tori: Boy scouts could camp under there
Delia: For real
Tori: Why did you drag me here today?
Delia: I have my second interview remember?
Tori: No I know, but like why am I here. I'm not an emotional support bear
Delia: No you're not because they don't hand out abuse like you do
Tori: Ouch
Delia: Look I won't be here long and then I thought that we could hit up a bar and try and pick up chicks
Tori: Pick up chicks? What is this 1999?
Delia: Alright chase some tail, grab some pussy, finger that pie
Tori: Why is it always 0 or 100 with you but never in between
Delia: Because I'm misunderstood
Tori: Yes you are
Love Live Exhibition
Katie: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yazzy: Are you ok?
Katie: RRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKKKKKKOOOOOOOOOOO
Katie runs off into the bowels of the store
Yazzy: This is going to be a long day
Yazzy wonders through the exhibition, hearing the occasional scream from Katie as she stumbles upon more merch. She stops to take a look at some standees of various characters, none of which she recognises. She's not paying attention when she backs into someone
Yazzy: Oh I'm sorry
Hunter: Don't worry about it
Yazzy: Hunter?
Hunter: Yazzy?
Yazzy: Oh my god
Hunter: Yazzy?
Yazzy: Uh?
Hunter: Sorry I thought we were still going. Girl how are you, it's been years
Yazzy: Likewise, you've been living it up as an actor
Hunter: Oh please, that's nothing, check you out, you look amazing
Yazzy: Oh stop
Hunter: What are you doing here, I thought Love Live was Katie's thing, from what Lizzy always said about her?
Katie: RIKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Katie can be heard in the aisle behind as she runs past
Yazzy: It is, I'm just accompanying her. What about you? How's the acting business?
Hunter: It's going so well, I've just wrapped filming on a TV show that's set to air next year
Yazzy: Oh what's it about
Hunter: It's about a community that presents itself as inclusive, but as people join, they're pulled into this dark world. The people they thought they knew well, turn out to be fake and revelation after revelation comes out, leaving just a small band of them dealing with the fallout from it all
Yazzy: Sounds rough
Hunter: Girl you have no idea
Yazzy: When do you leave? It would be nice for you to see the others. Lizzy's in Kaijo for a few days, so if you were still about then
Hunter: I'm only here until tonight, it's just a short visit before I'm off on vacation
Yazzy: Oh that's a shame
Hunter: You know you can message me anytime, I'll always respond, I have Lizzy to thank for that
Yazzy: She used to hurt you if you didn't answer right?
Hunter: I still carry that trauma
Hunter turns around suddenly
Hunter: She's not here is she?
Yazzy: No, I just said that she's on her way to Kaijo
Hunter: Good riddance
Yazzy: Hunter!
Hunter: It's just, I get chills sometimes when I mention her, it's like she knows Tokuko Central Station
Tokuko Central Station
Lizzy: Someone's talking shit about me
Love Live Exhibition
Yazzy: You're good honestly
Hunter: Phew
Hunter spots another familiar face
Hunter: MICHI?!
Michi: HUNTER?!
Hunter: Omg bitch how the fuck are you?!
Michi: I'm good bestie, what are you doing here?
Hunter: Oh you know, this and that, my show just wrapped filming so I've been here for a few days, I'm leaving today though
Michi: Oh that's too bad, you should have said, we could have done something
Hunter: Well with everything you've got going on, I didn't want to add to it
Michi: I always have time for my best friend
Hunter: Oh Yazzy, this is Michi by the way. We went to university together
Hunter turns towards Michi
Hunter: You now teach elementary children now right?
Yazzy: Oh, do you work with Lizzy, are you that Michi?
Michi: Oh my god yes I do
Hunter: She's everywhere
Hunter shudders
Yazzy: It's nice to finally meet you, Lizzy talks about you and the school a lot
Hunter: You never said you were working with the spawn of Satan?
Michi: She's not that bad! She's a fantastic teacher
Hunter: What does she do, tie them to the rack and torture them until they get the answer right?
Tokuko Central Station
Lizzy: Who the fuck is bad mouthing me?
Love Live Exhibition
Michi: She really did a number on you huh?
Hunter: I'll carry that for the rest of my life
Yazzy: So dramatic, Hunter you haven't changed a bit
Michi: Why don't we all go grab lunch or something?
Yazzy: Sure I don't think I'll be seeing Katie for a while
Katie: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yazzy: Case in point
Michi: Let me just find CC real quick, don't want her to think I've abandoned her
Hunter: Michi bestie
Michi: Yeah?
Hunter: Rockin them shorts
Tokuko Shopping Center
Tori: What about her?
Delia: Nah too tall
Tori: Ok, that one?
Delia: With that hair?
Tori: Ok, ok, see that one down there?
Delia: C'mon, she's obviously straight, what's up with your gaydar?
Tori: It's fucked
Delia: I can tell
Tori: This is the problem with being gay, too many options on the outside but the reality is half of them aren't interested
Delia: It's not that they're not interested, they just haven't experienced it
Tori: So everyone's a little gay?
Delia: In a way, some people just won't swing that way, no matter how hard you try, and believe me I've tried
Tori: Oh?
Delia: I was known as 'The Flipper' at uni, make of that what you will
Tori: What are you, a penguin?
Delia: I'll just go to the gym, I'm bound to find someone there
Tori: If not, I'm sure they'll love you at Starbucks
Delia: Oh god
They both go to walk into Starbucks
Delia: What are you doing?
Tori: Coming in
Delia: While I'm having my interview?
Tori: I just want a drink. You wanted me here anyway
Delia: I brought you along so we could go out after, I didn't think you were gonna sit and watch me
Tori: Call it moral support
Delia: Oh god 2 hours later
2 hours later
Delia: Well that was exciting
Tori: The enthusiasm over here is killing me
Delia: I mean, it's a job so it's something, I can't turn it down. I'll just do it for a bit and take it from there
Tori: Delia the barista, has a nice ring to it
Delia: Don't get too used to it
Food Court. Tokuko Shopping Center
Hunter: So Michi, honestly, how are things?
Michi: It's been tough, they had the MRI yesterday and well, the tumour's grown
Hunter: You're kidding? After all that chemo?
Michi: I don't think there's anything they can do anymore, the doctors are talking about potentially starting end of life care
Hunter: Oh no, that can't be happening
Michi: I'm holding out hope, it's not all over yet, the doctor's are researching a couple of experimental methods to try before they deem it completely terminal
Hunter: But another agonising wait for you then?
Michi: I'm so tired Hunter. It's been killing me, I'm trying to hold it all together, keep a smile on my face for them, while juggling work and now with Kieran gone, I've taken on more
Hunter: You should have said no
Michi: I wasn't in a position to. Alex has only just taken over officially, Lizzy only started with us this year and CC has so much going on with the other responsibilities she holds within the school. Plus I was the unofficial deputy so I knew the department best after Kieran and how he runs it
Hunter: You can do it your own way
Michi: No he ran it like the Navy, literally everything was organised to the tiniest point. He'd consulted with all of us as well so the schedule and responsibilities worked best for all involved. There's no way I would change anything, it's exactly how I like it
Hunter: Just don't exhaust yourself, please? You have a habit of going and going and going, before breaking down. I was with you at University bestie, I saw firsthand how you would burn yourself out
Michi: I'm being careful, I am. I'm mindful that I can't overdo it
Michi pauses
Michi: Hunter
Hunter: Yeah
Michi: I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose them