Not just a regular fever…?
‘Happen so quickly…?' Miyuki thought, wondering what Tsubasa was talking about. As they headed towards a car, Miyuki’s worries only grew even more - was she going to be kicked out of 0048? What had she done wrong? Suddenly, she felt like crying. 'This…This is so unfair! Am I really going to go, just like that? Are they chasing me out?' Her insecurities about being left alone resurfaced in her mind with maximum impact, hitting her like a truck.
And then when they were in the car, Tsubasa finally spoke.
Miyuki didn’t take in half the words - she was still in a bit of shock from the sudden influx of memories, all those years she had been alone. But her attention snapped back to the present when Tsubasa said that last line.
Congratulations, Miyuki - not everyone succeeds this quickly.
Miyuki blinked, and her mouth gaped open. It stayed open in a bit of a comical fashion, the scene made even weirder with her red face from the fever.
“Wha…Wha…” The words out of Miyuki’s mouth were incomprehensible as she tried to wrap her head around it.
'Succeed? Really? B…But who? Everyone tells me I act a little like Yuko…But I don’t want her to graduate! Sae? Sayaka? Th…They’re all names that are already taken! Who…Who could I possibly succ-?’
Then it hit her, and a tear slowly rolled down her cheek. Except it wasn’t one of sadness - it was one of pure joy.
“Jurina?” Miyuki asked softly, hoping and praying that she had finally earned that name. The name of the person who she had looked up to all these years, who she had idolised and tried to be like so much. That one word in a question summed up all of Miyuki’s emotions, and it was visible on her face.
Tsubasa had been doing the job long enough to see all the reactions. Some girls sat in shock, others would start screaming happily, others would deny it and others, like Miyuki, would go through the whole range. She’s not one for being able to hide her expressions, but its endearing in a way.
She answered simply, “Who else?” While a girl never truly knew who she would succeed, when the fever hit, it seemed like that disappeared and a certain conviction replaced it. Soon enough, the car stopped. The duo exited and Tsubasa led the way underground.
“You mustn’t tell anyone of this place, Miyuki. The only time people are allowed here is when they succeed. Of course, the residents of Akibastar were sheltered here in the attack, but even then, certain areas were barred to them. Even amongst successors, this place should stay mostly unspoken of.” The blonde smiled wistfully. “Its difficult to explain. There are rules to keep this place secret, but once you experience it for yourself, I’m sure you’ll be unable to place your time down here into words.”
They were greeted by other priestesses, who would help Miyuki change. “A simple cleansing ritual, nothing more or less. By the time you’re finished, I’ll be ready.”
Miyuki followed Tsubasa quietly, still in shock and awe over what had just happened. She was going to succeed Jurina! 'I did it, mum and dad! I wish you were here to see it but…I did it! And I can’t wait to tell my aunt either! I did what we had both dreamed of, I’m succeeding!' She felt like screaming out in pure bliss, but kept it held in. She could save that for the concert. 'The first one ever to succeed Jurina’s name…' she thought dreamily. 'I’m a bit worried if I can live up to the standards the original set, but…I’ll be the best Jurina the 2nd I can be! I’m sure of it!’
By now, they had reached the underground cavern, and Miyuki snapped to attention. “I…I know this place!” she exclaimed as she they made their way underground. “I was held here when the DES attacked Akibastar…It always felt like it had a bit of a mystical feel to it, but I had thought at the time that it was just an underground base of operations, or emergency shelter or something…” She looked around at her surroundings with new eyes. “Ah…Yeah, I was one of those residents who were sheltered here, but yeah, there were definitely some places we weren’t allowed to go in,” she continued, realising that she hadn’t made much sense.
They had, by now, gone much deeper than Miyuki had the last time she had been down here - or had they? She wasn’t quite sure herself; after all, she had been so terrified at the time the DES attacked that she hadn’t truly remembered much of her experience underground.
When they were greeted by the priestesses, Miyuki watched wistfully as Tsubasa left, apparently to get ready. She obediently took off her clothes like the priestesses told her to, and allowed them to cleanse her, while she was painfully self-aware of her flat chest. The priestesses, thankfully, didn’t pay it any mind - again, Miyuki was the type who was overly sensitive about her own bust size.
As they draped a robe over her, she sat down on the ground, staring at her surroundings and taking everything in while waiting for Tsubasa to get back.
(Source: jurinathesecond)
