Amagawa Mayu's AiCon Performance: Stage 40

* **Performer:** Amagawa Mayu
* **Episode:** Season 2 Episode 3 (18)
* **Song:** Peak
* **Coord:** Lime Star Burst Coord
* **Appeal:** Splattered Parade

## Start

Mayu anxiously watched Lizzie's performance backstage. Every second passing by loomed closer to her own stage, and while she prepared everything, something felt missing. Words of encouragement? Or maybe even a simple pat on the shoulder? Perhaps any form of attention would work. She figured she deserved it since she lacked that as a child. She certainly wasn't Zander's concern or Ryuu's.

Aguri's presence was the only remedy, yet he wasn't around. Well, not until seconds after a staff member cued Mayu to appear onstage.

"I figured it out!" The door of the dressing room flew wide open, revealing Colorful Parade's Top Designer in obnoxiously colorful lights. Life had seemed to feed in both of their flares for dramatics.

"... Figured *what* out, exactly?" Mayu furrowed her brows, clutching her coord cards to her chest.

"When you pulled out those taffies from the box," he heaved closer despite his need to take a breather. "Those aren't the right cards, by the way. Here." Like trading cards, he took Mayu's deck and entrusted her with a rarer version. "*This* is what you're going to want to wear. I call it the *Star Burst Coord*—the Lime variation. Added some neon to contrast nicely with your stage."

Mayu stared back. "Isn't there some type of copyright violation?"

"There's no time to discuss politics. Look," Aguri placed both hands on the girl's shoulders, "for the first time in a while, I don't just want to sit in my home and muse about all my ideas in my head, dreaming of what 'could've been.' I want my coords to be showcased to the whole world. And you—you're just starting, yet you still have some experience to show everyone how big of a star you can be. How big of a star *anyone* can be.

"Life may get messy, but that's what Colorful Parade's all about; to get a better understanding of yourself—what it is that \*you\* want!" He hesitated, denoting the overwhelming wave of emotion crashing into Mayu by the quiver of her eyes. "If stardom's truly what you're going for, show everyone what they're missing out on!"

Huh. He did it. It didn't seem possible, but he managed to stop Mayu from talking. No sarcastic remark, no protest. She was silent, seemingly searching for the right words to say. "... Alright," she spoke softly, "I'll do my best."

Turning on her heel, she placed the given cards into their respective slots. However, before she entered the Aikatsu system, she looked back at the designer. "If I may ask if you're not too emotional," *Ah, there it was,* "why 'Star Burst'?"

Aguri placed his hands on his hips. "Well, historically, candy symbolizes opportunities, and burst is, you know," he made an exaggerated explosion sound.

"So you want me to blow this?"

"See, yeah, not my best analogy, but it sorta ties into the messy part."

"Eh, I applaud your efforts. One point-old man, Mayu-zero."

"Hey, I'm not an old m—" She was already gone—with a smile—before he could have the complete last words. However, he couldn't help but match her expression. It felt good to do one thing right. Sweet rather than bitter. Aguri could go one day without thinking of the past's haunting consequences.

## Performance

*Resembling the stage she stood on at the Aikatsu Ranking, Mayu blew a shaky breath. She wasn’t so nervous about her selection before, but then again, circumstances changed. Once the music kicked in, the lights brightened only slightly, retaining the dark yet strobe-lit ambiance as though the venue operated as a club–befitting for the fast-paced synth.*

Peak!

*The pop idol pointed to the sky, and for a second, a star shone like a mirrorball overhead. At the same time, her aura appeared. Compared to last term, everything grew in size.*

Peak!

It’s almost like

I’ve breathed in too much air

My feelings towards you

Is bursting out my chest

Love is something

That expands and contracts

Over and over again

Just like breathing

*She hadn’t had anyone in mind upon choosing this song, but now, someone managed to seize control over all her functions–she hardly felt like herself.*

The times we meet

And the times we don’t meet

*Mayu couldn’t decide, though.*

Why are they all

So painful?

*Was this for the better?*

Twenty-four hours

Asleep or awake

I can’t stop thinking about you

Love is a disease

(I love you!)

*She caught her eyes surfing through the audience rather than showing them the gleam of performing. Shaking her head, Mayu spotted a camera and quickly hunched over to draw a heart in the air, not forgetting to wink right as the chorus hit and simultaneously flagged her next move in the dance.*

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

If it doesn’t make my heart pound, it’s pointless

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

Life is fleeting

*Aguri was right. The addition of neon worked nicely with this particular stage, assuring that all eyes laid on her. Hopefully, no one thought she looked like a glow stick, though.*

Peak! Peak! Total passion!

No regrets

Now’s the time to shine

Feel the current

And go with the flow

MAX

*In the brief interim, the tiny stars swimming in her aura became multi-colored heart candies in all different shapes and sizes. Singing the bridge, Mayu walked closer to each section to liven their spirits.*

The precious beats fluttering within my heart shout for joy!

In one corner of this wonderful world, I become a flash of light

Even if it’s just for a split second

Even if it’s ephemeral

I want to shine

*Once she made her way back to the center, she figured her brain must’ve stopped. (Of course, she knew it didn’t. That wasn’t possible! It doesn’t take passing a science class to recognize that.) Mayu didn’t forget anything: her lines to the chorus, the rest of the choreography, none of that. Instead, she found the person she had been searching for earlier, and if you asked what the pop idol saw during that moment, she would’ve sworn with the utmost enthusiasm that the boy grinned.*

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

It’s ok as long as it’s exciting (Ok-Ok!)

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

Even if things become chaotic

*Whether that was because of Mayu or, alternatively, the girl who stood next to him had yet to be a possibility; Mayu was taking this as a win.*

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

If it doesn’t make my heart pound, it’s pointless

Peak! Peak! The highest, the best!

Life is fleeting

Peak! Peak! Total passion!

No regrets

Now’s the time to shine

Feel the current

And go with the flow

Even if it’s just for now

I will love you

Peak! Peak! Peak!

*To finish off, Mayu created a colorful mural through her brand’s appeal, “Splattered Parade”.*

## End

Losing herself to the crowd's roar, Mayu pulled a toothy grin and waved. She even forgot about her losses against Izumi and even Aguri, but there was something that flew right under her nose.

She and Lovisa were tied. 1-1.