Not just a regular fever…?
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.
Tsubasa reappeared and indicated for Miyuki to follow her. “As members of AKB0048, we follow in AKB48’s foot steps so much so that we take on the names of original members as our own until we graduate and become civilians again.”
The duo entered a cave, with a lake, a small shrine and many kirara floating about. “These are the Kirara of Succession. They watch members closely, waiting for when you succeed. When your own soul matches a soul of one of the original members, that is when succession happens. Look here.” A kirara floated across and twirled, creating a mirror. The image of Miyuki reflected before morphing into the original Jurina, a bright smile in place.
Again, she gestured for the soon to be successor to follow her. Both Tsubasa and Miyuki washed their hands before entering the small shrine, where the other shrine maidens had entered as they were looking at the kirara. “You’re almost there. After a ceremony to make sure you know your duties and responsibilities, we’ll head back up. After all,” she smiled warmly, “your first concert as a successor has already been announced, and I do believe its already close to sold out.”
Miyuki stared with wonder at the kirara, marveling at how fantasy-like and unreal it all seemed. 'So our succession is decided by the kirara…And to think that I always thought it was the management who dealt with it. I guess these little guys are more important than I thought.' A little nagging feeling tugged at the back of her mind, reminding her that she was yet to have her own kirara…But she brushed that away.
As her own face morphed into that of the original Jurina in the mirror, Miyuki gasped and reached a hand forward, as though wanting to touch it. 'I…I’ve finally reached her. I can literally almost touch her now…’
“She’s beautiful,” Miyuki murmured, eyes still on the mirror before tearing herself away from it as Tsubasa motioned for her to follow. She went with the blonde into a small shrine, and sat herself down respectfully before the other shrine maidens.
“So-Sold out?” Miyuki repeated, surprised. She had never imagined in her wildest dreams that she was popular enough yet to sell out a concert. “Alright, Tsubasa-san,” Miyuki said, her nervousness seemingly gone and having been replaced with her usual, cheeky tone. “Hit me with the duties and responsibilities.”
(Source: jurinathesecond)
