-1: 62
The Ark, midnight. A private restaurant reserved by Mustang.
Anis stepped inside, smoothing down her sweatshirt.
Because it was supposed to be a conversation, she'd changed into a casual outfit to not stand out on the way there.
...Well, that was the original plan.
But as she was heading down to the Ark, she realized that her face was plastered everywhere. So, just like in the old days, she put on a face mask and wore an old T.T.Star hoodie to cover the rest of her face.
Once inside the restaurant, Anis took off her face mask, unhooking it from behind her ear with a sigh. "Man. I didn't think I'd ever have to do this again."
"Eeeeeentertainment!"
A boisterous male voice immediately called out in response to Anis's words.
Anis let out an exasperated sigh and headed towards the source of the voice. "Boss... do you have to do that even when it's just us?"
From a booth in the back, Mustang laughed and adjusted his sunglasses. "It's showbiz, my popstar! Like your commandant would say... One must commit to the bit, non?"
Anis sat down in the booth across from Mustang and then said, "So what'd you want to talk about, Boss?"
"Non, non!" Mustang waved his finger and said, "No rush, my popstar! We have, as they say, all night long~"
Anis gave Mustang a blank look. "Boss..."
Mustang chuckled. "Very well, very well. I will... refrain from the jokes." After saying that, he pulled out a bottle from a wine cooler by his feet and poured a glass.
Anis noticed and looked amused. "I thought popstars weren't supposed to drink, Boss? Or idols?"
"Oui. But my popstar... right now, we are not here on business, but personal matters, non?"
Anis took the glass and smiled. "I guess so."
Mustang poured himself a glass and smiled back at Anis.
Anis stared at Mustang and said, "...You never did confirm it. But Boss. You... ARE Boss, right?"
"Oui." Mustang winked. "Your manager, Hanson is dead. But I am, as you say, the boss of T.T. Star."
It was an answer without being an answer.
Anis let out a wry smile and said, "I figured. That important thing you said you had to do back then... the one where you missed Riss's death. It had to do with 'Mustang,' right?"
"...Oui." Mustang's smile dimmed a bit. "Tetra had to... as they say, pivot. But now, it's simply eeeeeentertainment!"
Anis's smile lightened a bit. "Yeah. It is."
Seeing Anis lighten up, Mustang relaxed a bit as well. Sipping on his wine, he looked at Anis and said, "I'm glad. It seems the commandant has been good for you."
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Anis blinked. "I mean, I won't say you're wrong. But am I that different?"
"Oui." Mustang let out a warm smile. "The Anis in front of me sparkles just as much as the Anis in my memories."
Anis blushed and said, "I-I wouldn't say so... That Anis..." Her golden eyes took on a distant look and said, "...She won't ever be back."
"Non." Mustang shook his head. "That Anis never left. She was simply covered in the dirt of the Ark for a while. But now that popstar has been picked up, brushed off, and polished to a shine for all to see." He winked. "But I suppose that's the power of love, non?"
Anis's face turned red. "BOSS!"
Mustang chuckled. Then he said, "Fine, fine. Enough teasing." He pulled out a small box and then opened it up, revealing homemade dishes. Nothing fancy, but grilled chicken, a tossed potato salad, and light meals. The sort that Hanson used to make for them on their tours back in the day.
Anis's breath hitched. "...You're really pulling out all the stops, huh, Boss?"
Mustang smiled and served a plate for Anis. "Here, my popstar. Enjoy."
Anis nodded and then dug into the food.
It was the same taste she remembered. Nostalgic and filling, but not overly so. Back when she used to care about her figure.
Anis chuckled and said, "It's the same as I remembered."
"I'm glad." Mustang served a plate for himself and said, "It's been quite some time since I've cooked."
For a moment, Anis just quietly ate. But then she said, "How's Mint and Prika?"
"Ah. Well... they are still waiting for you, my popstar."
Anis pursed her lips. "...Still? After all this time?"
"Oui." Mustang nodded. "T.T.Star... it has always been three. And they don't wish to continue without you."
"...I can't, Boss. You know that."
"Can't, my popstar? Or won't."
Anis paused, thinking about it.
...In the past, it would be "can't."
Anis was sure of that.
She was bitter, and she had seen the worst of the Ark. Performing for bastards like that...
She couldn't.
But now...
After seeing Yoyo- No, 'Suri' again...
After meeting her ridiculous commander who was blatantly dating multiple women at once and dared say he loved all of them...
And after seeing that her ridiculous commander was not only sincere about that, but actively doing his part to communicate and ensure each of the women he pursued FELT loved...
Then there was also the fact that after her commander's speech, the quiet supporters of Nikkes were slowly becoming outspoken...
"..."
Mustang smiled. "See? My popstar... You've gained your light again. Non?"
"...It's more like I was forcibly lit up." Anis let out a helpless laugh, thinking about her ridiculous commander who kept teasing her about her idol days. Then she shook her head and looked at Mustang. "Even if I wanted to though, a popstar can't be involved, right? Considering me and the commander..."
EVERYONE had seen her being carried around like a bride by their commander. Not only that, but the rumors were pretty cemented about their relationship.
Anis was being talked about as "The Valiant's Bride" and "The Princess of the Valiant" among other ridiculous titles.
"Oui." Mustang nodded. "Becoming a popstar- Non, an idol is off the table now. BUT!" He pointed at Anis and said, "That does not mean everything is off limits!"
"H-Huh? What do you mean, Boss?"
"My popstar... Once." Mustang held up his finger. "Just once. Perform with Mint and Prika. The debut and finale of T.T. Star. After... After, you can spread your wings and fly off with your commandant. But just this once, perform on stage together."
Anis hesitated. "...I'm busy though. You know how it is-"
"Are you not here right now?"
Anis paused.
Mustang looked at Anis, his face uncharacteristically serious. "My popstar... you wish to help your beau, non?"
Anis felt her face heat up. "H-He's not my... I mean, kind of. B-But we haven't... Ugh. J-Just what do you want, Boss?"
Mustang looked at Anis and said, "The darkness in the Ark... it is growing. Slowly but surely. And the stars, they have gone."
Anis paused, quiet.
Mustang continued and said, "Now, more than ever, the darkness has creeped in and blanketed the hearts of many. BUT!" He pointed in the sky. "Because the commandant is as brilliant as the sun, this is EXACTLY why T.T.Star must return! The hope and dream that Pretty gave her life for, the wish that our Riss prayed for, and the vision that your commandant sees for us all... THAT is why you must return. For one concert, one adieu."
Anis pursed her lips. "...Even then..." She was quiet and said, "...Can I? It's been so long, Boss."
"My popstar!" Mustang laughed. "Do not undersell yourself! The commandant has told me! How easily you respond to cues, to rhythms! After all, that is his commanding style as well, non?"
Anis blushed. "Th-That's...!"
...True.
It was true.
Commander Hoopa DID have those ridiculous orders. The precise directions. The 'badum-tsh' type rhythm timing orders.
And Anis went along with them like it was natural.
Mustang smiled and said, "My popstar. You do not need to be an 'idol.' Non, non. That is Mint and Prika's dream. However, you... You must become the Ark's star. The shining light in the darkness while your commandant is the sun that brings the dawn of the new day."
"...You always did have a way with words, Boss." Anis laughed. "...Fine. Say that I agree to this. I have one condition."
"As many as you want, my popstar!"
"If I'm doing this... IF." Anis looked at Mustang and said, "I want the last song- No, the last number to be with my commander."
Mustang's eyes sparkled and he pulled out his phone.
Anis froze. "W-W-Wait. B-B-Boss, what are you-"
"Mon amie, Commandant! I have un question for you!" Mustang stared at Anis, a twinkle in his eyes. "In the hypothetical, say I asked you to perform with Anis on a stage, what do you say?"
*Huh? That's a weird question... but I'm down. Do I get to pick the song?*
"Oui! Any you like!"
"Boss...!" Anis reached out for Mustang's phone to try and end the call, but he easily dodged it.
*Alright. Then let's do Rewrite the Stars, but ending on 'changing the world to be ours.'*
Anis froze, her breath hitching at the immediate response.
Mustang's eyes softened and he said, "Un classique! And perfect for the story! Oui, oui... That's eeeeeeentertainment!"
Hoopa's laughter echoed on the other line.
*Great. Now, I'm in the middle of getting to know a new member of our team, so I'll talk with you later. Oh, and if Anis is there, hey, Love. Don't worry, she's not interested. Still just you, Mari, Rapi, and Endless.*
Anis felt a flurry of emotions the moment she heard his words. Anxiety, jealousy, anger, grief, and then soft love and the sincere consideration. "...Dammit."
Mustang laughed. "Adieu, mon amie! Bonne nuit!" After that, he slipped his phone into his pocket and smiled at Anis. "Well, my popstar. Shall we rewrite the stars one last time?"
Anis angrily shoveled a bite of her potato salad into her mouth before chewing on it. Then she swallowed and said, "Looks like it's a done deal already, Boss. So sure."
"Perfect!" Mustang clapped his hands together. "Then, Mint! Prika!"
Anis froze. "...Boss. No."
Mustang's eyes twinkled and he said, "Shall we have our first reunion of T.T.Star?"
The back doors opened and a pair of women walked out.
The first was a petite beauty with flawless skin and silky black hair. Wearing a white blouse, short white skirt, and white leggings, she gave off the impression of a refreshing pure idol with just a hint of tantalizing charm.
The second was a tall woman with short-cropped gray hair. Wearing a crop-top white sweatshirt and soft pastel green jeans, she looked like a cool beauty.
Mint and Prika, Anis's fellow idols and the other members of T.T. Star.
Mint smiled at Anis with mischief in her eyes. "Well, our princess is here in the flesh! I'm surprised."
Prika looked amused as well and said, "You actually got her here, Boss. I was starting to think we'd keep playing cat and mouse for a while."
"Y-You two...?" Anis stood up and looked between Mint and Prika. "W-Why are you here?!"
Mint giggled. "Why else? Boss insisted... and also, I was curious!"
Prika nodded. "Yeah. Everyone saw how you looked being carried around the Ark, so we wanted to see for ourselves."
"Ugh... Commandeeeeeer! This is all your fault!"
Even as Anis pouted, she couldn't help the warm smile on her face.
"Well! Since we're all here." Mustang got up. "There is one more person that should be here. Un miracle that I learned about by chance! Miss Nami?"
A different door opened. Not the back, where Mint and Prika had entered, but a side door around the corner. One that should be leading to the bathrooms... and one that was perfect for eavesdropping.
"Huh?" Anis glanced over, confused. "Nami?"
It was the same person that Anis was comfortable with now. That shy mass-produced iDoll Ocean model who Commander Hoopa had picked up from Tetra Line along with Suri and Hana-
Suri, who ended up being Yoyo.
Anis's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Nami with trembling eyes. "No. No way. It can't..."
"Hm?" Mint looked over at Anis, confused. She shifted her gaze between Anis and Nami. "What's wrong, Anis?"
Prika looked confused as well. "Anis...?"
Anis didn't respond.
Nami looked different. First of all, she was smaller. In more than one way. She also didn't wear glasses.
But the way that Mustang said 'a miracle.'
The fact that Yoyo was still alive.
And then a thought that had bugged Anis for decades.
The fact that Yoyo said she killed Anis's manager. The fact that Yoyo had those glasses on her when Anis snapped.
And considering that the Ark routinely took the brains of recently deceased 'for the greater good...'
Anis walked over, her eyes watering. "No... way..."
Nami let out a trembling smile, brushing tears out of her pink eyes. "...It's been a while, my star."
A voice that didn't match. A face that didn't match.
Everything about her was different. Not like Yoyo, who looked mostly the same.
But, now that Anis was looking at her properly...
That nervous smile. The expression that looked like she wanted to say so much but couldn't bear to say anything.
Mint's breath hitched.
Prika gasped.
Anis broke out into tears and ran forward, pulling Nami into a hug. "RISS!"
Nami- No.
Riss let out a choked laugh and hugged Anis back tight. "I'm sorry for ruining everything..."
"Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut up...!" Anis couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying.
Before Anis realized it, Mint and Prika had rushed over as well, pulling them all into a group hug.
In the rush, Prika's headphones unplugged from her phone, a familiar song echoing in the background.
*Just look inside yourself*
The song always playing on the car as Hanson drove them around.
*What do you see?*
What Riss always teased Anis about when they practiced. The reminder that Anis was Riss's star even if she couldn't see it herself.
*Searchin' for miracles ain't easy*
...Yes. Searching for miracles wasn't easy.
But...
"Boss!" Anis looked over at Mustang. "How...?!"
Mustang... no. Hanson. He pulled off his shades and let out a warm smile. "Well. After it came to my attention that Yoyo was still alive and in storage, managing to become a mass-produced Nikke, I took a thorough review of our 'products.' It turns out that the brain of a certain 'squirrel' of ours..." He nodded at Riss. "...Had been placed in a special storage 'in case of emergencies' for leverage against T.T. Star. It was just lost in the mix-up of Tetra Line's pivoting... until recently."
Anis laughed. "That's...!"
It was ridiculous.
Cruel.
Unbelievable.
But the proof was right there.
Everything about her was different. But the demeanor, the mannerisms, the way she talked...
Riss.
Anis's first fan.
The one she thought was gone forever.
And all because her commander had asked Mustang for some mass-produced Nikkes to join their team.
Hanson brushed his eyes, wiping away tears. Then he let out a bright smile and said, "Like I said. Un miracle... non?"