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mikachan history bc wiki is bare
Feb. 17th, 2020 02:52 pmMika's always been a lonely boy, more comfortable with girls since he'd be picked on for his girlish name (it's even in hiragana, which makes it cuter) and his mismatched eyes (which are legit), and this continued into his first year at Yumenosaki Academy... until he was "called out to" one day by Shu Itsuki, who brought him into Valkyrie, an idol group consisting of two second-years: himself and Nazuna Nito. Mika treasures this memory to the point that it started a devotion to Shu that's unbreakable; several people are concerned at the perfectionism that is Shu's methods and harsh attitudes towards Mika, but Mika brushes off the worries. It's just how Shu is.
Reminiscence ✻ End of the Marionette's Strings - Mika works hard on a birthday gift for Nazuna. He's able to complete it some time after his senpai's birthday, which is great! It lifts Nazuna's spirits, which have been sullen due to recognizing Valkyrie's weakness and just going along with it; in contrast, Mika doesn't think anything wrong at all, entrusting everything to Shu entirely and admiring the vision he has for every live they perform. At this point, they're the top group of Yumenosaki.
Unfortunately, things don't stay that way. Due to what appears to be an unrelated electrical accident during a live against fine, a new group, Valkyrie are left on stage without a single sound; because of Mika's shyness and lack of esteem as well as Nazuna's changing voice, Shu had opted to have recordings of their voices play during lives instead of them actually focus on singing. Revealed as a sham, Valkyrie fell from the top right into the pits of hell.
On top of this, Nazuna left the group not long. The remaining two members kept on the down low after their fall from grace, each with differing opinions on their lost third: Mika, who considers Nazuna a traitor for abandoning Shu and Valkyrie in such a bad state, and Shu, who feels regret for the "doll" he forced away with his inflexibility and attentions.
Avoiding the competitive lives that fine had put in place of the old system, Mika dedicated the rest of his first year to part-time jobs in order to support the broken Valkyrie and the weakened Shu, who he lives with due to his hometown being Kansai.
Sometime after the start of the school year, Rabbits and Valkyrie face off in a live (Puppet Sovereign, one of Shu's sub stories, goes into it a little more). Nazuna catches them after the fact to give his thanks for Valkyrie, for the live they performed together, for the careful observation put in a report and the advice given in it, and to truly break free from the strings he'd allowed himself to gain during his time with Valkyrie. This would be their last interaction for a while.
The Flag's Honor ✻ Crowned Flower Festival - With Shu's mood and health ever low, Mika focuses on part time jobs to help with upkeep of Shu's household and Valkyrie's dwindling funds. Due to the Flower Festival that's going on, there's a lot of day jobs, which Mika picks up one after the other... though he laments that he thinks he might be getting "tired" from them, since he has a bad habit of just accepting the jobs without any thought to himself. All he wants to do is be useful to Shu, after all.
He gets directions to his next job (working at a storefront selling flower-shaped bread) from Kanzaki Souma, who he's quite amicable with and admires the high quality of his live outfit and sword. The bread sells really well for being no different than usual outside of the shape! Shu, having heard that Mika was taking jobs in the festival's area, comes by to settle his worries about if Mika's going to turncoat to the student council... only to find that it really is nothing, and Mika hadn't even thought about doing something like that.
With fine and Akatsuki being the participants in the Flower Festival live, Mika suggest they go scope out their enemies, since those are the two Valkyrie would have to defeat once they'd revived. Shu muses on Mika's innocence, wanting to stay on the battlefield despite the decrepit state of the group, and mentions that an "old friend" was part of fine now, so it'd be nice to see how that one was doing.
After the live, Mika helps to clean up for a little bit until Shu's exhaustion reaches it peak and excuses himself. Wataru Hibiki, an old friend of Shu's, catches them before they leave proper and talks with Shu for a bit, as does Kuro Kiryuu, who's also an old friend. Once the fuss dies down, Shu and Mika leave, both secretly moved by the Flower Festival and the performances shown. Performing in a live is exactly what they want to do, it's just a matter of money ("war funds" as Mika calls them).
Revival Festival☆Easter Night - Mika searches for part-time jobs in the same part of town that's holding the Easter Live and nabs one painting chocolate eggs. Tsumugi, a member of Switch and the Handicrafts club, finds him and fusses a little over the state of his health, thinking that Mika puts too much strain on himself between whatever practice he does and part-time jobs. He follows up by asking Mika to let Shu know that he'll be dropping by the club room to ask him for some help with the Easter Night outfits he's working on, though he knows that Shu isn't his biggest fan due to being part of the fine that destroyed Valkyrie, and Mika tells him to let him talk to Shu.
Later on, Mika seeks Tsumugi out to let him know about Shu and muses about the rush of excitement he got watching the Flowerfes. He wants to do lives too! But Shu wouldn't appreciate it, probably, since he's still in low spirits... despite that, Tsumugi offers him a spot in their Easter Live, since it doesn't cost anything but what they can bring to the table unlike the school lives, which are expensive. Mika wants to participate, but isn't sure.
Shu claims that, while he'll advise Tsumugi with the costumes he needs to make, Valkyrie won't be participating in the Easter Night live; if Valkyrie's performances cannot be perfect, they won't be shown.
While Switch is practicing for the Easter Night live, Mika comes in looking for Tsumugi and becomes somewhat nervous at the strangers (Natsume and Sora). Tsumugi assure him that they're good kids who'd get along with him and Mika acts surprisingly friendly towards Natsume, much to the other's surprise; it's because Natsume is one of the Five Oddballs and has a girlish face that Mika feels more at ease around him. Mika'd actually come to fetch Tsumugi on Shu's orders.
Natsume asks Mika if he can't convince Shu to have Valkyrie participate in the live (because apparently Mika is the one that Natsume viewed as their best chance to convince Shu into it) and Mika laments that he'd already tried and been rejected, even if he'd really like to... if Shu doesn't, then it's pretty hopeless, because Mika can't imagine himself doing things on stage all alone due to his shyness. Natsume asks him to join Switch's performance, then, since they get along well, and Mika thinks he's a pretty nice guy.
Tsumugi and Mika return to the handicraft's club room, where Shu demands to know the progress on Tsumugi's costumes... and mentions that Mika can join the Easter live if he'd like, since it's an out of school live it won't matter if it turns out to be a disaster since it won't affect Valkyrie. Mika mentions that Natsume suggested he join Switch's performance so he isn't up there alone and wishes that Shu would join too, but since Shu isn't form fit he rejects the notion.
But even if he isn't joining in, he is making Mika's outfit for the live, sending Mika off to help Tsumugi with Switch's despite claiming he's bad at such things. Mika says just the same, offering to do side jobs like clean and make tea, but Tsumugi assures him he'd like Mika to help with the sewing (though Mika claims he'll only increase the workload, when Tsumugi inspects a part Mika had been working on he finds it sewn quite well).
On the day of the Easter Night live, Mika is nervous looking at the crowd that's gathered for it. Tsumugi goes over what Mika's part is ("hatching" from an egg after Switch's performance) and Mika wonders where Shu's watching from, since Shu'd come to see despite not participating himself (though it's revealed he's done quite a lot in terms of performance flow and ideas). When it's his cue to jump out of the egg, Mika finds he isn't as nervous as he was before because the audience is dark and he can't see their stares, then becomes excited at the knowledge that Shu is out there too and performs in a lively manner.
Shu, who'd come wearing the Easter Night live outfit he'd prepared just in case Mika needed him on stage, realizes that Mika's changed Valkyrie's entire concept with this live alone, smiling and being happy in a way that Valkyrie performances aren't. Wataru catches him and asks him to stay, since there might be an encore, and he ends up doing so to watch Mika.
Frozen Ice - With summer break around the corner, the heat is more oppressive than ever... especially since the AC in the hallways is broken. Makoto, a boy from Trickstar, and Nazuna find Yuuta, one of the twins in 2wink, panicked over someone collapsing, and go to investigate...
... only for Nazuna to realize it's Mika. Apparently, he's been skipping meals for Valkyrie's funds and collapsed due to exhaustion. Makoto and Yuuta bring him to the infirmary while Nazuna and Anzu, who'd followed them, buy ice cream and water despite Nazuna knowing that Mika won't take it due to his being a traitor and Shu's orders not to eat anything that someone else gave him.
Mika wakes to unfamiliar voices and faces, opting to pretend to be asleep in his nervousness. It's only once Nazuna and Anzu return that he stops pretending for the most part, trying and failing to get a piece of candy out of his pocket (it shoots off and hits Nazuna in the cheek, who steps out to wash it off). He and Makoto talk for a little bit, Mika gathering information on what unit he's from and whatnot, and decides he's an "enemy" of Valkyrie since he's part of the Trickstar that took down fine, which was what Valkyrie had wanted to do since their defeat. It doesn't help that Makoto's friendly with Anzu and Nazuna either.
Nazuna reappears and asks Mika how he is, if he's in pain and if he needs anything, and Mika lashes back that he doesn't need anything from a traitor; Nazuna apologizes for being so familiar, not being able to help himself as he's such a busy body, and Mika feels guilt gnawing at him because of Nazuna's expression and words. Mika says he would've preferred if Nazuna had left him there, since they're enemies, and Nazuna says that such things has nothing to do with human decency. And that it was Makoto's pair that helped him here, so he should thank them... the good boy he knew then would've, after all.
Mika reluctantly thanks Makoto for helping out, then says he wants them to leave because they've got class... and because he doesn't want to see Nazuna's face anymore. Nazuna realizes he's overstayed his welcome and apologizes, saying that if he found Mika collapsed again he couldn't pretend like he hadn't seen it, not because it's Mika specifically but because they're both students at Yumenosaki. He bids his farewell after that, asking Mika to take care.
Mika almost calls him back, but lets him leave. He'd wanted him to, after all, and it's not like his words to the other were wrong... but he still feels guilty about it. Nazuna left Shu, who had done so much for him, which made him suffer and he's still suffering. Mika can't forgive him for that. At the same time, he doesn't like the feeling that he's hurt Nazuna either, and decides to sleep off the incoming headache.
When he wakes a second time, he's again befuddled by his unfamiliar environment and pretends to be asleep while class finishes up so he's not drawing attention to himself by coming in halfway. Someone, who he thinks is the teacher in charge of the infirmary, comes in and sits down in front of him, and Mika laments his luck. He peeks open an eye to see who it is and is surprised to find Anzu, who'd come back after class to check on him. And to give Mika the lottery ticket Nazuna had won earlier that, when redeemed, would allow one to get any ice cream they'd like -- even something super expensive. Mika tries to reject it, but ends up having to accept it anyway since Anzu threatened to tear it in two.
It's going against Shu's orders, even if it's just an exchange voucher, but Mika can't help but feel happy despite the guilt mingling in... He thanks Anzu for it, even if it might just stay in his pocket forever.
Dance Performance! Thoughts That Bridge the Milky Way - Resorting to doing lives at an underground club of sorts, Valkyrie's money situation is revealed fully: they're pretty much barely getting by, but Mika continues to dedicate himself anyway. Shu'd been asked by Kuro to do Tanabata costumes since he's no good at cute things and Shu is, so he works on that between sessions.
After a live Shu claims they're "throwing away" on purpose, not letting Mika sing at all, Eichi Tenshounin, the president of the student council and leader of fine, appears from the audience, having watched them. He informs Valkyrie of their potential disbandment if they don't participate in school activities every now and then, even going so far as to threaten Nazuna and his Ra*bits at the Tanabata festival just around the corner. Mika tells Eichi to shut up once he starts dragging Shu and reluctantly backs off from actually hitting the guy after Shu asks him to please stop. Shu mentions he'll need time to think about it and Eichi departs, hoping to see them there.
Sometime after, Kuro and Anzu, the new producer, visit the handicrafts club room to check on the state of Akatsuki's Tanabata wear. Along with Mika reluctantly greeting them at the door, they find Shu in full concentration mode beneath a blanket for the upcoming Tanabata live. Anzu'd actually come about a mistake in their Dreamfes application, which Mika had filled out, and Kuro picks up the outfits Mika kept forgetting to give him, having been completed earlier.
With a sudden shout, Shu comes up with an idea for their performance and quickly recruits Anzu into the mix, as she's the one that's handling the preparations as well. Kuro notes that Valkyrie has a policy that's basically against participating in Dreamfes's and Shu mentions it's Eichi's fault for their participation now, threatening his most precious thing (Nazuna). After sliding a sick burn in Kuro's direction, he begins preparations.
The Tanabata Dreamfes starts well, with Akatsuki and Ra*bits working hard to defeat each other; Akatsuki wins, but is unable to continue on after Keito is called off onto student council business, so Ra*bits stays on stage and Nazuna proclaims they'll defeat any unit that steps up with them.
This is laser-guided karma, in a way, because Eichi steps up and calls him out on that bluff with fine's might in his hand. Nazuna tries to back off after all and Eichi refuses him the chance. Just as things look dire, Mika rushes onto the stage dragging Shu in tow, and Valkyrie challenges fine to a fight. Eichi'd been waiting for them, after all, and once Ra*bits has stepped off the stage it begins.
fine seems to be winning, though Valkyrie's patterns are... off in a way that disturbs fine somewhat, matching their own pace and song until it felt more like a joint live than opposing ones, and with a grand speech Shu informs Eichi that fine is nothing more than a stage of puppets at the moment; Valkyrie has come to perfectly match their tempo, their steps, their song, so they've come to control the other unit as well. Valkyrie proves their worth on the stage, drawing fine into a quicker speed, into an elaborate dance drawn by Shu himself...
... and still ends up losing in terms of votes, which frustrates Shu. Mika's off getting food from the various Tanabata stalls while Shu rests with Kanata Shinkai, another old friend along the same lines as Wataru. Though Valkyrie had lost the live, Kanata notes, they had certainly won the competition; fine would not soon be forgetting the old veterans that had once held the title of Emperor over the school, just as fine did now. Not a single person would ever think that Valkyrie was done for after a performance like that. In short: It was inspiring, something Eichi notes on and feels alive due to.
React★Magical Halloween - Yumenosaki Academy holds a Halloween Party as a Dreamfes for idols to compete in. Though Valkyrie didn't have plans to join at first, they decide on a joint live with Switch as the "demons" that the "magicians" summon and make a contract with. It's this event that Mika notes how strange Shu has been acting towards him lately, being kinder in instruction and "maintenance", praising him the same way he does Nazuna, and is worried somewhat about it. Valkyrie is the way it is because of Shu's harshness and perfectionism, and if he was distorting that for some reason, even for Mika's own sake... he can't help but feel guilty about it. This live is also the first time Shu's tasked him to being center for Valkyrie, which means he more or less calls the shots dancing direction wise.
Another strange thing, since Mika's used to acting under Shu's orders.
Before the joint practice, Mika gets caught by a group of children revealed to be from his hometown in Kansai, having taken the bullet train without telling their parents just to see him. He'd run away from that place since he'd thought everyone thought he was a burden, but he's actually quite well-liked! They consider him something of a hometown hero and have a lot of goods.
The live goes well. Switch performs, has a moment to themselves, and Shu reminiscences briefly about Natsume before Mika fetches him. Shu has long since realized that he's mistreated Mika and has been striving to give him better memories, a future and fortune to look forward to once he's graduated himself, and tries to confirm to Mika that he's caused him a lot of trouble. Mika won't have it, preferring the cruel jeers of his Mentor to kindness, and explains that he can no longer live apart from Shu's brand of warmth, not after being taken from a "garbage dump" and treated so nicely, dressed up and cared for.
No matter what, he'd be by Shu's side.
Shu doesn't understand what Mika calls an "essential thing", but it's left aside as their side of the live begins. Mika wonders if he's allowed to feel as happy as he does, staying by Shu's side, being part of Valkyrie and the masterpieces that'll be passed down even in the afterlife, and sings gleefully.
Discovery! Steampunk Museum - Valkyrie's called on to essentially show off the world of steampunk (their specialty!!! wow!!!) at a museum and 2wink asks to be part of it, keen on grabbing at lives as ever; Shu, busy with preparations on the museum end, instructs Mika to take the twins under his wing and speak his mind about things, to ensure their perfection on stage. As both Hinata and Yuta are adaptable and easy to work with dance moves wise, it shouldn't be a problem, yet Mika doesn't feel self-confident enough to speak up when he feels something wrong with their performance.
When he does manage to, however, things go smoothly, and Mika begins to suggesting the more the twins accept his advice whole-heartedly! The show at the museum goes well, Shu pushing Mika to center stage as he had for many lives before this one... the fact that Shu's so nice to him now is weird, but he's beginning to accept this side of Shu as well: the one that praises him instead of insults, the one who wants to show him off, the one who expects him to lead Valkyrie in his own place next year. Mika's beginning to have a better grasp on his self-worth, though it's still imperfect, and thinks he might deserve to feel happy.
Brilliance★Knights' Starlight Festival - Mika is loitering around the Starfes's stage, generally keeping out the way since the only ones allowed to perform are units... and Shu's bedridden, so he's unable to attend despite being interested to the point of doing paperwork himself. Mika explains that they couldn't do the "Eve of the Eve Live" last time as a result of his own body giving out, so they already had a mark against them, and that a second would be bad... Dreamfes affect them too, after all.
Knights, who have been tearing through the first half of Starfes, decide it's more important to help someone in need than to continue on with what they're doing and split up to help Valkyrie's problem out.
Reminiscence ✻ End of the Marionette's Strings - Mika works hard on a birthday gift for Nazuna. He's able to complete it some time after his senpai's birthday, which is great! It lifts Nazuna's spirits, which have been sullen due to recognizing Valkyrie's weakness and just going along with it; in contrast, Mika doesn't think anything wrong at all, entrusting everything to Shu entirely and admiring the vision he has for every live they perform. At this point, they're the top group of Yumenosaki.
Unfortunately, things don't stay that way. Due to what appears to be an unrelated electrical accident during a live against fine, a new group, Valkyrie are left on stage without a single sound; because of Mika's shyness and lack of esteem as well as Nazuna's changing voice, Shu had opted to have recordings of their voices play during lives instead of them actually focus on singing. Revealed as a sham, Valkyrie fell from the top right into the pits of hell.
On top of this, Nazuna left the group not long. The remaining two members kept on the down low after their fall from grace, each with differing opinions on their lost third: Mika, who considers Nazuna a traitor for abandoning Shu and Valkyrie in such a bad state, and Shu, who feels regret for the "doll" he forced away with his inflexibility and attentions.
Avoiding the competitive lives that fine had put in place of the old system, Mika dedicated the rest of his first year to part-time jobs in order to support the broken Valkyrie and the weakened Shu, who he lives with due to his hometown being Kansai.
Sometime after the start of the school year, Rabbits and Valkyrie face off in a live (Puppet Sovereign, one of Shu's sub stories, goes into it a little more). Nazuna catches them after the fact to give his thanks for Valkyrie, for the live they performed together, for the careful observation put in a report and the advice given in it, and to truly break free from the strings he'd allowed himself to gain during his time with Valkyrie. This would be their last interaction for a while.
The Flag's Honor ✻ Crowned Flower Festival - With Shu's mood and health ever low, Mika focuses on part time jobs to help with upkeep of Shu's household and Valkyrie's dwindling funds. Due to the Flower Festival that's going on, there's a lot of day jobs, which Mika picks up one after the other... though he laments that he thinks he might be getting "tired" from them, since he has a bad habit of just accepting the jobs without any thought to himself. All he wants to do is be useful to Shu, after all.
He gets directions to his next job (working at a storefront selling flower-shaped bread) from Kanzaki Souma, who he's quite amicable with and admires the high quality of his live outfit and sword. The bread sells really well for being no different than usual outside of the shape! Shu, having heard that Mika was taking jobs in the festival's area, comes by to settle his worries about if Mika's going to turncoat to the student council... only to find that it really is nothing, and Mika hadn't even thought about doing something like that.
With fine and Akatsuki being the participants in the Flower Festival live, Mika suggest they go scope out their enemies, since those are the two Valkyrie would have to defeat once they'd revived. Shu muses on Mika's innocence, wanting to stay on the battlefield despite the decrepit state of the group, and mentions that an "old friend" was part of fine now, so it'd be nice to see how that one was doing.
After the live, Mika helps to clean up for a little bit until Shu's exhaustion reaches it peak and excuses himself. Wataru Hibiki, an old friend of Shu's, catches them before they leave proper and talks with Shu for a bit, as does Kuro Kiryuu, who's also an old friend. Once the fuss dies down, Shu and Mika leave, both secretly moved by the Flower Festival and the performances shown. Performing in a live is exactly what they want to do, it's just a matter of money ("war funds" as Mika calls them).
Revival Festival☆Easter Night - Mika searches for part-time jobs in the same part of town that's holding the Easter Live and nabs one painting chocolate eggs. Tsumugi, a member of Switch and the Handicrafts club, finds him and fusses a little over the state of his health, thinking that Mika puts too much strain on himself between whatever practice he does and part-time jobs. He follows up by asking Mika to let Shu know that he'll be dropping by the club room to ask him for some help with the Easter Night outfits he's working on, though he knows that Shu isn't his biggest fan due to being part of the fine that destroyed Valkyrie, and Mika tells him to let him talk to Shu.
Later on, Mika seeks Tsumugi out to let him know about Shu and muses about the rush of excitement he got watching the Flowerfes. He wants to do lives too! But Shu wouldn't appreciate it, probably, since he's still in low spirits... despite that, Tsumugi offers him a spot in their Easter Live, since it doesn't cost anything but what they can bring to the table unlike the school lives, which are expensive. Mika wants to participate, but isn't sure.
Shu claims that, while he'll advise Tsumugi with the costumes he needs to make, Valkyrie won't be participating in the Easter Night live; if Valkyrie's performances cannot be perfect, they won't be shown.
While Switch is practicing for the Easter Night live, Mika comes in looking for Tsumugi and becomes somewhat nervous at the strangers (Natsume and Sora). Tsumugi assure him that they're good kids who'd get along with him and Mika acts surprisingly friendly towards Natsume, much to the other's surprise; it's because Natsume is one of the Five Oddballs and has a girlish face that Mika feels more at ease around him. Mika'd actually come to fetch Tsumugi on Shu's orders.
Natsume asks Mika if he can't convince Shu to have Valkyrie participate in the live (because apparently Mika is the one that Natsume viewed as their best chance to convince Shu into it) and Mika laments that he'd already tried and been rejected, even if he'd really like to... if Shu doesn't, then it's pretty hopeless, because Mika can't imagine himself doing things on stage all alone due to his shyness. Natsume asks him to join Switch's performance, then, since they get along well, and Mika thinks he's a pretty nice guy.
Tsumugi and Mika return to the handicraft's club room, where Shu demands to know the progress on Tsumugi's costumes... and mentions that Mika can join the Easter live if he'd like, since it's an out of school live it won't matter if it turns out to be a disaster since it won't affect Valkyrie. Mika mentions that Natsume suggested he join Switch's performance so he isn't up there alone and wishes that Shu would join too, but since Shu isn't form fit he rejects the notion.
But even if he isn't joining in, he is making Mika's outfit for the live, sending Mika off to help Tsumugi with Switch's despite claiming he's bad at such things. Mika says just the same, offering to do side jobs like clean and make tea, but Tsumugi assures him he'd like Mika to help with the sewing (though Mika claims he'll only increase the workload, when Tsumugi inspects a part Mika had been working on he finds it sewn quite well).
On the day of the Easter Night live, Mika is nervous looking at the crowd that's gathered for it. Tsumugi goes over what Mika's part is ("hatching" from an egg after Switch's performance) and Mika wonders where Shu's watching from, since Shu'd come to see despite not participating himself (though it's revealed he's done quite a lot in terms of performance flow and ideas). When it's his cue to jump out of the egg, Mika finds he isn't as nervous as he was before because the audience is dark and he can't see their stares, then becomes excited at the knowledge that Shu is out there too and performs in a lively manner.
Shu, who'd come wearing the Easter Night live outfit he'd prepared just in case Mika needed him on stage, realizes that Mika's changed Valkyrie's entire concept with this live alone, smiling and being happy in a way that Valkyrie performances aren't. Wataru catches him and asks him to stay, since there might be an encore, and he ends up doing so to watch Mika.
Frozen Ice - With summer break around the corner, the heat is more oppressive than ever... especially since the AC in the hallways is broken. Makoto, a boy from Trickstar, and Nazuna find Yuuta, one of the twins in 2wink, panicked over someone collapsing, and go to investigate...
... only for Nazuna to realize it's Mika. Apparently, he's been skipping meals for Valkyrie's funds and collapsed due to exhaustion. Makoto and Yuuta bring him to the infirmary while Nazuna and Anzu, who'd followed them, buy ice cream and water despite Nazuna knowing that Mika won't take it due to his being a traitor and Shu's orders not to eat anything that someone else gave him.
Mika wakes to unfamiliar voices and faces, opting to pretend to be asleep in his nervousness. It's only once Nazuna and Anzu return that he stops pretending for the most part, trying and failing to get a piece of candy out of his pocket (it shoots off and hits Nazuna in the cheek, who steps out to wash it off). He and Makoto talk for a little bit, Mika gathering information on what unit he's from and whatnot, and decides he's an "enemy" of Valkyrie since he's part of the Trickstar that took down fine, which was what Valkyrie had wanted to do since their defeat. It doesn't help that Makoto's friendly with Anzu and Nazuna either.
Nazuna reappears and asks Mika how he is, if he's in pain and if he needs anything, and Mika lashes back that he doesn't need anything from a traitor; Nazuna apologizes for being so familiar, not being able to help himself as he's such a busy body, and Mika feels guilt gnawing at him because of Nazuna's expression and words. Mika says he would've preferred if Nazuna had left him there, since they're enemies, and Nazuna says that such things has nothing to do with human decency. And that it was Makoto's pair that helped him here, so he should thank them... the good boy he knew then would've, after all.
Mika reluctantly thanks Makoto for helping out, then says he wants them to leave because they've got class... and because he doesn't want to see Nazuna's face anymore. Nazuna realizes he's overstayed his welcome and apologizes, saying that if he found Mika collapsed again he couldn't pretend like he hadn't seen it, not because it's Mika specifically but because they're both students at Yumenosaki. He bids his farewell after that, asking Mika to take care.
Mika almost calls him back, but lets him leave. He'd wanted him to, after all, and it's not like his words to the other were wrong... but he still feels guilty about it. Nazuna left Shu, who had done so much for him, which made him suffer and he's still suffering. Mika can't forgive him for that. At the same time, he doesn't like the feeling that he's hurt Nazuna either, and decides to sleep off the incoming headache.
When he wakes a second time, he's again befuddled by his unfamiliar environment and pretends to be asleep while class finishes up so he's not drawing attention to himself by coming in halfway. Someone, who he thinks is the teacher in charge of the infirmary, comes in and sits down in front of him, and Mika laments his luck. He peeks open an eye to see who it is and is surprised to find Anzu, who'd come back after class to check on him. And to give Mika the lottery ticket Nazuna had won earlier that, when redeemed, would allow one to get any ice cream they'd like -- even something super expensive. Mika tries to reject it, but ends up having to accept it anyway since Anzu threatened to tear it in two.
It's going against Shu's orders, even if it's just an exchange voucher, but Mika can't help but feel happy despite the guilt mingling in... He thanks Anzu for it, even if it might just stay in his pocket forever.
Dance Performance! Thoughts That Bridge the Milky Way - Resorting to doing lives at an underground club of sorts, Valkyrie's money situation is revealed fully: they're pretty much barely getting by, but Mika continues to dedicate himself anyway. Shu'd been asked by Kuro to do Tanabata costumes since he's no good at cute things and Shu is, so he works on that between sessions.
After a live Shu claims they're "throwing away" on purpose, not letting Mika sing at all, Eichi Tenshounin, the president of the student council and leader of fine, appears from the audience, having watched them. He informs Valkyrie of their potential disbandment if they don't participate in school activities every now and then, even going so far as to threaten Nazuna and his Ra*bits at the Tanabata festival just around the corner. Mika tells Eichi to shut up once he starts dragging Shu and reluctantly backs off from actually hitting the guy after Shu asks him to please stop. Shu mentions he'll need time to think about it and Eichi departs, hoping to see them there.
Sometime after, Kuro and Anzu, the new producer, visit the handicrafts club room to check on the state of Akatsuki's Tanabata wear. Along with Mika reluctantly greeting them at the door, they find Shu in full concentration mode beneath a blanket for the upcoming Tanabata live. Anzu'd actually come about a mistake in their Dreamfes application, which Mika had filled out, and Kuro picks up the outfits Mika kept forgetting to give him, having been completed earlier.
With a sudden shout, Shu comes up with an idea for their performance and quickly recruits Anzu into the mix, as she's the one that's handling the preparations as well. Kuro notes that Valkyrie has a policy that's basically against participating in Dreamfes's and Shu mentions it's Eichi's fault for their participation now, threatening his most precious thing (Nazuna). After sliding a sick burn in Kuro's direction, he begins preparations.
The Tanabata Dreamfes starts well, with Akatsuki and Ra*bits working hard to defeat each other; Akatsuki wins, but is unable to continue on after Keito is called off onto student council business, so Ra*bits stays on stage and Nazuna proclaims they'll defeat any unit that steps up with them.
This is laser-guided karma, in a way, because Eichi steps up and calls him out on that bluff with fine's might in his hand. Nazuna tries to back off after all and Eichi refuses him the chance. Just as things look dire, Mika rushes onto the stage dragging Shu in tow, and Valkyrie challenges fine to a fight. Eichi'd been waiting for them, after all, and once Ra*bits has stepped off the stage it begins.
fine seems to be winning, though Valkyrie's patterns are... off in a way that disturbs fine somewhat, matching their own pace and song until it felt more like a joint live than opposing ones, and with a grand speech Shu informs Eichi that fine is nothing more than a stage of puppets at the moment; Valkyrie has come to perfectly match their tempo, their steps, their song, so they've come to control the other unit as well. Valkyrie proves their worth on the stage, drawing fine into a quicker speed, into an elaborate dance drawn by Shu himself...
... and still ends up losing in terms of votes, which frustrates Shu. Mika's off getting food from the various Tanabata stalls while Shu rests with Kanata Shinkai, another old friend along the same lines as Wataru. Though Valkyrie had lost the live, Kanata notes, they had certainly won the competition; fine would not soon be forgetting the old veterans that had once held the title of Emperor over the school, just as fine did now. Not a single person would ever think that Valkyrie was done for after a performance like that. In short: It was inspiring, something Eichi notes on and feels alive due to.
React★Magical Halloween - Yumenosaki Academy holds a Halloween Party as a Dreamfes for idols to compete in. Though Valkyrie didn't have plans to join at first, they decide on a joint live with Switch as the "demons" that the "magicians" summon and make a contract with. It's this event that Mika notes how strange Shu has been acting towards him lately, being kinder in instruction and "maintenance", praising him the same way he does Nazuna, and is worried somewhat about it. Valkyrie is the way it is because of Shu's harshness and perfectionism, and if he was distorting that for some reason, even for Mika's own sake... he can't help but feel guilty about it. This live is also the first time Shu's tasked him to being center for Valkyrie, which means he more or less calls the shots dancing direction wise.
Another strange thing, since Mika's used to acting under Shu's orders.
Before the joint practice, Mika gets caught by a group of children revealed to be from his hometown in Kansai, having taken the bullet train without telling their parents just to see him. He'd run away from that place since he'd thought everyone thought he was a burden, but he's actually quite well-liked! They consider him something of a hometown hero and have a lot of goods.
The live goes well. Switch performs, has a moment to themselves, and Shu reminiscences briefly about Natsume before Mika fetches him. Shu has long since realized that he's mistreated Mika and has been striving to give him better memories, a future and fortune to look forward to once he's graduated himself, and tries to confirm to Mika that he's caused him a lot of trouble. Mika won't have it, preferring the cruel jeers of his Mentor to kindness, and explains that he can no longer live apart from Shu's brand of warmth, not after being taken from a "garbage dump" and treated so nicely, dressed up and cared for.
No matter what, he'd be by Shu's side.
Shu doesn't understand what Mika calls an "essential thing", but it's left aside as their side of the live begins. Mika wonders if he's allowed to feel as happy as he does, staying by Shu's side, being part of Valkyrie and the masterpieces that'll be passed down even in the afterlife, and sings gleefully.
Discovery! Steampunk Museum - Valkyrie's called on to essentially show off the world of steampunk (their specialty!!! wow!!!) at a museum and 2wink asks to be part of it, keen on grabbing at lives as ever; Shu, busy with preparations on the museum end, instructs Mika to take the twins under his wing and speak his mind about things, to ensure their perfection on stage. As both Hinata and Yuta are adaptable and easy to work with dance moves wise, it shouldn't be a problem, yet Mika doesn't feel self-confident enough to speak up when he feels something wrong with their performance.
When he does manage to, however, things go smoothly, and Mika begins to suggesting the more the twins accept his advice whole-heartedly! The show at the museum goes well, Shu pushing Mika to center stage as he had for many lives before this one... the fact that Shu's so nice to him now is weird, but he's beginning to accept this side of Shu as well: the one that praises him instead of insults, the one who wants to show him off, the one who expects him to lead Valkyrie in his own place next year. Mika's beginning to have a better grasp on his self-worth, though it's still imperfect, and thinks he might deserve to feel happy.
Brilliance★Knights' Starlight Festival - Mika is loitering around the Starfes's stage, generally keeping out the way since the only ones allowed to perform are units... and Shu's bedridden, so he's unable to attend despite being interested to the point of doing paperwork himself. Mika explains that they couldn't do the "Eve of the Eve Live" last time as a result of his own body giving out, so they already had a mark against them, and that a second would be bad... Dreamfes affect them too, after all.
Knights, who have been tearing through the first half of Starfes, decide it's more important to help someone in need than to continue on with what they're doing and split up to help Valkyrie's problem out.
