ID Chapter 1

# Chapter One - "The Biggest Surprise Ever"

### Rinko

    It had only been minutes since the final member of our group officially joined, but even though it was still fairly early in the morning I immediately began blowing up everyone's phones with messages, doing whatever I could think of to get their attention - calling, texting, emailing, you name it! I started with Junko - I knew for a fact that she was already awake - then went through my contacts in order, sending the good news to each girl in turn.

    *"Meeting in the common area IMMEDIATELY!"*

    Everyone responded - eventually - either groggy from being woken up or at least not quite finished with their morning routines, but one by one they agreed to meet in the common area as soon as they were able.

    "While we wait, why not have a little breakfast, Eimi?" Eimi rolled her eyes at me. I still could barely believe that she wanted to be a part of Interlunium. I pinched myself on the arm just to make sure I wasn't still dreaming, but this was real.

    "I already ate a much healthier breakfast than this slop, but feel free to stuff your face if you'd like!" Eimi - IcantbelieveEimisaidyes - looked around the common area as though she had never been here before. Though, come to think of it, I've never actually seen her around, even though I'm pretty sure she lives somewhere in the dorm…

    I went and picked out some fruit from the commons fridge. Eimi had a point - I'm going to need to eat healthier to set an example for the rest of the girls, and that may as well start now. Still, I was starving after skipping dinner yesterday, and I less than gracefully "stuffed my face" with a large green apple and a big bowl of fruit salad.

    "Isn't it a little empty in here today? Not that I spend much time here myself - obviously, given the size of my private suite - but usually when I walk by here there's at least a few people." I did my best to answer her, my mouth still filled with fruit.

    "I guess we're those few people today!"

    Eimi turned away, somehow unamused by my answer.

    The first to appear in the lounge were Dam-Bi and Megumi, having returned - apparently together - from their morning jog. They were chatting with each other as they rounded the corner into the common area, and I had to jump up and stand in front of Eimi to hide her from prying eyes.

    "Hey, Dam-Bi! Megumi! Good morning! Stay over there, by the couches! I have a surprise for you, but we have to wait till everyone shows up!"

    The two girls looked at me like I wasn't making sense, then at each other, then they both started giggling.

    "Okay Hanarin, just let us know when you're ready for us!" Dam-Bi cheerfully agreed to my order, as she and Megumi walked away from us into the lounge room. I looked back over to Eimi, who was cradling her face in her hands.

    "Close call!"

    Chiyo was the next to appear, with Kanon lagging just a few steps behind her. Dam-Bi called over to them both, helping out by telling them to come over to her immediately. Chiyo obediently did as she was told, while Kanon - hungry - pressed on to the kitchen, grabbing an orange for each of them before rejoining her group mates. Despite the absence of Junko, whom I had texted over a half dozen times, I simply couldn't wait another moment.

    "Okay, I'm coming over! I have a very special person with me today!" I grabbed Eimi's hand and pulled her over to the lounge, then presented her to the assembled group with my most excited voice. "Meet Interlunium's seventh and final member - for now at least - the beautiful and talented, Ei! Mi! Inagawa!"

    Chiyo's jaw dropped immediately, overcome by the sight of the girl she had idolized since before she signed on with I MY ME, and Kanon's face lit up - a fairly pronounced reaction for her. Dam-Bi and Megumi smiled and applauded politely, the surprise having been spoiled when they instead surprised us.

    "Eimi! Eimi! I–It's such a pleasure to meet you…! I mean, to be working with you! Both!" The green-haired girl reached her hand out as she bowed, as if waiting for a handshake. Grasping her hand firmly while maintaining perfect composure, Eimi greeted her most excited teammate.

    "The pleasure is all mine. I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet yesterday, but I'm so excited to be working with each of you!"

    Introductions continued for several more minutes, during which Eimi warmly introduced herself to everyone, before she called out across the lounge.

        "Why look at that. I do believe this is our final member, *finally* joining us."

    "Oh, hey Junko! There you are!" I called out, waving to her and motioning for her to join us. She joined the group in standing around one of the old couches. "What took you so long?"

    Junko frowned slightly. "I stopped by Lina's office looking for you, but she made me clean up a spilled cup of coffee…"

    "She sure is clumsy today, isn't she?” I said with a laugh.

    "Ms. Yamato, it is quite kind of you to be so helpful. You're setting a wonderful example which all of us should endeavor to follow."

    Huh? Ms. Whonow?

     "Are you referring to me?" Junko looked as confused as I am.

    Megumi nodded her head up and down, much more excited than made any sense to me.

    "Of course! Remember, I'm going to try and guess your surname?"

    "Oh, how could I forget? Yamato is incorrect. You can try again tomorrow."

    Megumi smiled, though she looked a little disappointed as well, and my phone suddenly rang. I quickly answered it only to see that it was my producer. Does she know that we've been talking about her?

    "Oh, hey Lina! What's up?"

    "Rinko, I just wanted to remind you that the song was sent out last night. Choreography won't take long, but we need the lyrics before we can start. You wanted to do them, right? Have you made any progress?"

    "Ah! Not yet, but don't worry! I'll work on it right now! I'll have them done in no time!" I hung up the phone so I could get right to work. "Okay, girls! Now that the group is together, I really gotta get working on these song lyrics! Feel free to do whatever you guys need! See you when I finish!"

    It was Megumi who seemed the most surprised by this, shooting me a confused glance.

    "Ms. Hanazawa, are you really planning on locking yourself away until you finish?"

    "You bet! It's all part of being the leader. I need to do whatever it takes!"

    "Pardon me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I do have things I should be doing." Eimi interjected herself between me and Megumi, speaking sweetly. "It's been absolutely wonderful meeting you all, but I was wondering, how exactly will I know our schedule? Will Ms. Fujimura handle it, or would you prefer I deal *directly* with you, Rinko?"

    Chiyo, still wildly overexcited, answered that question for everyone.

    "I already set up a group chat!" This was the first I had heard of it, but it sounded like a great idea. "I m-mean, so far it's just me and Kanon, but I was going to invite everyone at our next meetup anyway!"

    The idea met with no resistance, not even from someone super private like Eimi, who made Chiyo's day by inputting her number into the girl's phone personally.

    "Alright, we'll just text here whenever we're ready to meet up! And no matter what, today we'll meet up in Lina's office at two to discuss group stuff!" Everyone shook their heads in agreement before going off on their separate ways - Chiyo and Kanon investigating the kitchen for a more substantial meal, and everyone else disappearing into the stairwell on the way to their rooms.

    *These lyrics need to be perfect!*

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