Category: Diary

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

We leave tomorrow.  It’s been really fun and I’m glad I got to meet all the idols and everything… but I’m glad to be going home, too.  This wasn’t ever intended to be a big deal, just…  something interesting to do.  And who knows where it might lead???

Anyway, this morning, Miki’s big sister came over with a change of clothes.  I guess they’re…. well, not close, but her big sister kind of dotes on her, which is kind of cute.  She wanted to meet us, so we spent a little while chatting while Miki was in the shower.  I guess her parents really don’t support her being an idol.  They’ve never actively tried to stop her, but they would rather she get good grades in school and get into a good college.  Yuki seemed to understand – there’s a lot of pressure on Japanese to perform well in school.

But she is a relatively successful idol – she’s not center ace or anything, but she’s pretty well known, and she does get the occasional modeling job, etc., so she’s not doing too badly.  Plus she does get some money for every single she’s in.

It’s a cut throat business, and her big sister seems to see both points of view.  She’s supporting Miki because she knows she won’t be able to change her mind, but she’d prefer she take a more traditional path, too.

Anyway, her sister left for home or school or wherever it is she went when she’s not bringing Miki a change of clothes, and we all took care of our business and took the train to the studio.

They did our hair and makeup because, well, we were going to be on camera, and no bad hair and un-made-up faces on camera!  But otherwise we all filed into a conference room, and Yuki was told to basically just tell the idols all the things she learned and give them tips on how to be better idols.

And, well, Yuki delivered.  The camera people went all around the room getting videos of everyone’s faces as Yuki spoke, but no one was really paying attention to that, not even Yuki.  She told stories about her time as an idol, she talked about some of the things she learned, some of the regrets she has, some of her most treasured memories.  She took a few of the girls up on stage one by one and showed them how to improve their stage presence, and also told them things they could do to improve, like specific exercises, or whatever.

And then she kind of sat on the desk, and had a heart to heart with them.

She told them that being an idol is fun, and it can open up many doors that they just have to walk through, but at the end of the day, their popularity is manufactured and that they really only exist as idols to sell CDs and give people a parasocial experience.  She put it a little differently, but that’s what she was saying.  She said that the only thing that really matters are the friendships and relationships they make, both with each other, their senpai and kouhai, and the various other people they meet on the way.  She told them to have fun and make memories, but to never, ever forget what was really important in their lives, and that their idol lives were only of secondary importance.  Their idol life would fade away, and eventually so would their beauty, and that would be all that was left.

Even the camera people were focusing on her at that point.  They knew something amazing was happening.

A couple of the girls looked a little upset, but slightly more of them were sniffling and wiping their eyes.  A couple even looked at the girl next to her and gave her a hug.  Yuki’s speech really affected them.  It affected me a little, too.

After that, we had our “free day”, and we just basically wandered around Shibuya as a large group.  We went to game places and played games, we all went to a maid cafe and had some tea and pastries.  The maids knew who they were and they were really fawning over them. Afterwards, a few of the girls wanted to pick up some new manga so we went to an Animate and otaku’d out (you’d be surprised how many of those girls are secret and not-so-secret otaku!), and we went to a park and a spontaneous game of tag broke out with some of the local children, which was hilarious.  The camera people were having a field day (well, literally, actually), and the girls pretty much completely forgot about the camera, they were having so much fun.  Afterwards a couple of the children told the idols they were pretty, which made them blush, and.. that should make for a really funny DVD.

After that we all went to a hot pot place, and…  something was different about the group.  I think Yuki’s talk affected all of them, because they didn’t seem so much like they were putting on airs, even though there were cameras planted around the table.  They seemed, I don’t know, like they were valuing their time together in a way they hadn’t the day before.

I’m glad for that.  Yuki has a lot of good memories, but a lot of regrets.  I don’t think she wants those regrets for them.

They’re not sisters, but… maybe they’re a little more friends now.

We all went to the studio afterwards, and it was time for Yuki and I to say goodbye.

And I was so embarrassed…  Miki had been talking.  All the girls stood up at once, bowed, and clapped at me.

Sigh.

The producer wondered what the heck that was all about, and I just said “long story.”  He muttered something about “baka joshi”, bowed, told me to keep in touch, and went back to his office.  Oh, and he handed me a pay envelope too and said that I’d get a small (very small) cut of all the DVDs they sold.  Hopefully that adds up but I’m not too worried about it.  Yuki got a pay envelope too, which she seemed really grateful for.  Was it a lot for either of us?  No.  But it was enough to make our trips worthwhile.  At least until Uncle Sam takes his cut…  For Yuki, it at least paid for her flight and gave her a little extra to boot.

I did have a conversation with the producer about… another matter.  What’s that?  It’s a surprise!!!  But it looks pretty certain I’ll be going to Houston to see the idols this summer.

All the girls said goodbye to Yuki and me.  Some seemed a bit perfunctory, a few seemed genuine, and Miki started crying.  Aww.  I told Miki to find people she could open up to here, and that I’m always available for a video chat if she needs me.  She hugged me so hard and said she’ll miss me.

I’ll miss her too.

But I’ll see her again.

And Yuki and I went back to the hotel.  Of course, she got mobbed on the train.  Sigh.

As I said, we’re leaving tomorrow.

It’ll be nice to go home.

But this was so much fun.  I had a good time.  And I got at least one more sister out of the deal.

Time well spent, I think.

Oh… remember how I said that Tanagawa Rika seemed to be best friends with Miki?  That’s…  a bit one-sided, it seems.  Aww.  Looks like maybe idols aren’t only parasocial with their fans sometimes.

Our flight arrives back in Houston at about 7:30 AM.  Sabby will be there to pick us up.  And…  I can’t imagine there won’t be a lot of sleeping…

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Yuki and I are so tired!!!

So we got up really early, barely having had much of a chance to sleep, and we headed right over to the studio so they could do our hair and makeup.  They dressed us up like ordinary, pretty Japanese women.  I had a nice skirt and jumper, she was dressed like a business woman.  (Yuki really rocks the businesswoman look, I had no idea! – and I’m half-Japanese, so I can pull it off)  Then we took a bus over to the train, and got on.  The front half of the train was clear, the back half had a camera or two, some lighting, a couple of production folks, and a whole pile of backpacks and purses.  There wasn’t enough room for the whole crew, so they just made do.

And we spent the next four hours going back and forth on the train from station to station and making a video.

They weren’t actually singing, they played the music on some loudspeakers, and they did their dances and stuff in relative silence.  It was actually a little eerie.  They’d do a few seconds, then someone would yell “kitte” (cut) and one of the idols would get a talking to, or they’d reposition the cameras, and do it all over again.  They got a few closeup shots of me looking annoyed, and a few closeup shots of some of the idols as they danced.  At one point they formed a line and ran up to the camera and then veered off, I’m sure it made some really cool footage, but it looked silly from my perspective.

They had Yuki yelling “Yamette kudasai” (stop!) a few times, and then they had all the idols sit quietly looking abashed.  Then they had me say quietly “minna daisuki mo” (I love you all too) and we took a break for lunch.

It’s pretty exhausting sitting there looking annoyed, honestly.

I guess the producers were off looking at the footage and making sure they had everything they needed while we had lunch.  We were at Shibuya station so we went to a food court and got some bento and stuff, and just kinda sat around eating.  Surprisingly no one came over and bugged us for an autograph, though a few were staring from a distance.  The girls were dressed pretty garishly.

Miki came over and wanted to talk to me.  She speaks almost no English, so this is in Japanese.

“Your Japanese is good.  Not perfect, but good.”

“Thanks.  My birth mother is Japanese.  I met her a couple of years ago.  I’ve been studying a lot.”

“You’re…  not like Japanese,” she said, softly.

I just looked at her.

“No, no,” she said, waving her hand, a hamburg steak still in her chopsticks.  “I didn’t mean it like that.  It’s…  a nice change.  I don’t…  I can be myself… a little more,” she said, softly.  “It’s hard sometimes.”  She ate her hamburg steak.

“Yuki told me being an idol is hard.”

“How do you know Yuki?”

So I told her the story, of how I met Yuki.  How when I met her I didn’t even know who she was, and how Yuki seemed to find that refreshing.  How we became pretty good friends and how she’ll always be Yuki to me, and not an idol.

Yuki and Minami came over to sit down. Yuki had an eel bento, and Minami had a gourmet omurice.  They looked delicious.  “I really love that,” she said.  “In the US no one knows who I am, so I don’t have to worry mostly about getting recognized and fawned over.  If someone likes me, they really like me.”

“Must be nice,” Miki said forlornly.

“I didn’t know who you are either,” I said.  “I’ve never seen your group before they offered to bring me over.”  I took a bite of my tempura.  It was amazing.

A couple of emotions warred across her face.  Disappointment and relief were the two biggest.  “It’s hard.  You always have to be on your guard around these girls.  They’re nice, and it’s fun working with them, but… you never really know where you stand, and who is going to the producer and making trouble.”

“That’s happened?”

“A couple of times.  Not often.  Nakamoto-sensei doesn’t much like it when girls do that.  He prefers we deal with our problems amongst ourselves.  It works out most of the time.”  She told a story about one girl who went to the producer, who took her back to the group, told them exactly what she had told him, and then forced her to apologize while bowing deeply.  She never pulled that again, and they eventually forgave her.  Eventually. They have to get along to work together, so it ended up working out, but it took her a very long time to get back to the point where they’d socialize with her when the cameras were off.  She said he deals with problems directly when needed (at least one idol got kicked out of the group) but not those little things that girls tend to fight over most of the time.

While I ate, Yuki then told a few stories of her time as an idol, stories she’s never told me.  Stories of jealousy, backstabbing, infighting, hurt…  but also of friendship, fun, good times…  and at the end, she said “Just remember…  these are your memories.  Your time as an idol… it will come to an end.  All you’ll take from it is your memories.  Do you enjoy it?”

Miki nodded.  “When you’re standing in front of twenty thousand people in a stadium, it’s… it’s like nothing else.”

“Treasure that,” Yuki said softly.  “I still miss it… a little.  But I don’t miss some things either.”

“Come to the US when you have time,” I said.  “It’s different there.  We have a live music venue, and it’s a lot smaller than a sports stadium.”

She nodded.  “We have a concert in Houston coming up later this year.  I’ll be sure to invite you.”  She had finished her food, so she stood up and impulsively gave both of us a hug.  “Thank you,” she said.  “It’s lonely sometimes.”

Then Yuki did something that really embarrassed me.  She told Miki the story of how I’m a “walking shrine”.  Miki looked dumbfounded, and then sighed.  “I knew there was something different about you,” she said softly.  “It’s like you were calling to me.”  She stood up, bowed, and clapped.  “Thank you,” she said, very formally.  That got us a few funny looks but everyone was too busy eating to really care.

Minami hadn’t said much, just listening to Yuki and Miki telling stories, and eating her lunch.  We asked her if she was enjoying herself, and she said she was having a really great time, and learning a lot too.  She said Miki was a really good senpai, and Miki looked embarrassed.

Soon the producer came to round us all up.  We had to get our clothes and makeup touched up before we made up for all of the stuff we missed in the first shooting.

Another four hours of filming later, and we were done.

We were then told that, as a treat for our hard work, the next day all of us (Yuki, me, and the idols) would have a free day where we could do whatever we wanted, all the basics paid for, we just had to let a camera crew come along to film us for a bonus DVD.  And before that, Yuki was to take a couple of hours and give an idol masterclass, which they’d record too.  Yeah, Minami warned me about that, but…  it’s okay.  It sounded like fun, and I did need to buy some omiyage for my sisters back home anyway.  I guess I get to have the actual life of an idol for a couple of days.

It’s not like I want to be, it’s hard work, but…  it’s fun, for a couple of days, anyway.

We all went out to eat that night, and Miki was hanging around me for some reason.  She asked to come back to our room for a little while.  I didn’t see why not, so, she did.   And the three of us spent a long time just chatting.

She really is a lonely girl.  A very lonely girl.  But…  she’s also really sweet.  I think I might have found another sister.  She…  feels like she can be herself around me.  Maybe it’s partly because I’m not an idol, partly because I’m not Japanese, partly because I’m a “walking shrine”, and partly just because that’s how she feels.

And I’m okay with that.

She’s crashing on our sofa right now.  I guess we’ll just let her sleep.  I’m sure she’ll want to take a train back in the morning to get cleaned up before we have our “fun day”.

You know how many people would kill to have her crashing on their couch?  But here she is, and it’s because we wouldn’t kill to have her crashing on our couch.  She’s our friend.

It’s amazing and sad how few people treat these idols like, well… people.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

And I’m TIRED!!!!!

OMG what a day!!!

So Yuki and I checked out around 8 AM and got to the gate at plenty of time, and boarded around 10 AM.  We got to Japan at about 4 PM the next day, the flight was late.  Aww.  But that’s okay, Yuki and I took the chance to get some sleep.  We got seats next to each other so we just kinda snuggled up and had a little plane girl-pile.  Usually she’s not the keenest on that, but hey, small quarters and at least we’re friends.

Yuki wasn’t kidding.

When we were waiting for the plane, she got recognized and people asked for her autograph.  When we disembarked, she pretty much got mobbed.  I guess someone at the airport posted on LINE that she was there, and there was a huge crowd of people waiting for her to leave security.  It was embarrassing, actually.  She took it all well, but I get it now.  They just wouldn’t leave her alone.  Even the taxi driver was acting a little star struck.

And it’s worse because she’s not the only one.  After they got through mobbing her, someone yelled “TRAIN ONEE CHAN” and it was my turn to get mobbed.  They seemed amazed that I signed my name in English, but everyone just seemed happy to meet us.  It was the strangest thing.  I think I’m starting to see why they wanted me to make this video with them.  Apparently I’m a bit of a celebrity.  Not as much as Yuki, but I hold my own, I guess.  I guess it was kinda big news that Yuki and train onee-chan were both getting off the plane together and seemed to know each other.

But she told me she was glad I was there because it helped her to feel a little more safe and grounded.  Doesn’t hurt that I could flatten any of them, I guess.

And she… helped take some of the focus off me, I guess.  Well, a lot of the focus, I suppose.

Anyway, we got picked up by a taxi and taken to the producer’s offices in Shibuya.  We met the producer, who was very polite (as I expected) and I got to meet all of the idols.  They were doing idol stuff, but when I showed up, all the idol stuff stopped and it was “meet the new star and Yuki” time.  They of course mobbed Yuki, but this was more professional admiration than fangirling, though there was some of that too.  After that we all went to dinner at a high end ramen place.

OMG was that delicious.

The idols are so interesting, there are about ten of them (including Minami now) and they all have such different personalities.  They started with their idol introductions (“With a bright smile and happy face, Happy beam!  Yamamoto Miki desu!”) But I told them to cut that out, we’re all friends here and I want to know who they really are, not their idol faces.  They seemed very surprised at that, (that was not very Japanese of me, but I’m not Japanese), but then many of the pretenses dropped and I got to know them a little for who they really are.

There’s Kashiwagi Reina, who’s kind of quiet and reserved but shovels down the ramen almost as fast as Yuuko does anything.  There’s Yamamoto Miki, who’s bright and cheerful and bubbly but has a tinge of sadness when she thinks no one’s looking.  There’s Takahashi Mikoto, who always seems to have a book with her when she’s not doing her idol stuff.  There’s Tanigawa Rika, who seems to be best friends with Miki, and they always want to sit with each other.  She’s a bit quieter though, just seeming to enjoy watching Miki when she goes off.  There’s Tanaka Yui, who doesn’t seem all that remarkable but is a trained pianist and musician, who probably could give me a run for my money if she wanted to.  There’s Hanada Rei, who is spectacularly beautiful and apparently does a lot of side work as a gravure model.  There’s Toyoda Safaia, who is actually of the famous Toyoda family (you know, the cars) but prefers to run around singing and dancing than acting like an heiress (she hates her name, much like the eponymous character in “Sound! Euphonium”), there’s Takagawa Rie, who seems a little moody and a little snappish, but everyone seems to like her anyway, and Ogawa Miko, who is almost as beautiful as Rei and seems to be the glue that holds the group together.  The producer is Nakamoto Kento, and he brought along a couple of assistants, and you can’t forget Minami, who seemed to be absolutely bubbling over and was so happy to see me and Yuki she could hardly contain herself.  Anyway, it was a full house, and most of them seemed so full of energy, even though they’d been practicing all day.  Gotta admire their dedication.

Amazingly, most of the people in the ramen shop ignored us, I guess they’re such frequent visitors there to one degree or another that they’ve gotten used to that.  Though the girls were all laughing at me being “train onee-chan”, they thought it was hilarious that that one thing that my sisters did went so viral that they were going to be doing a video with me.  They didn’t seem to mind though, other than the more standoffish ones they thought it was a really fun song and were really looking forward to performing it.  I got the impression that the standoffish ones… it wasn’t personal, they just weren’t too keen on strangers.

After we got back, we had a meeting with the producer, who told us what he has in mind.  Tomorrow we’ve hired out a train, and we’re going to film on the train.  While it’s going from station to station they’re going to do all their dancing and stuff, and my job is to just sit there and be annoyed.  They have a few other things for me to do, but they promised I’m not going to have to dance around.  Whew.  I’m in pretty good shape, but those girls are trained for it, I’m not.  I asked if they had something in mind like “Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari”, and the producer kinda cringed, and said something like “Yeah, we almost didn’t do this because of that, but the subject matter demanded it.”

They just want Yuki to be another person on the train a couple of seats down from me, just kinda minding her own business.  Maybe she’ll be reading a manga or something.  Apparently they just want her to be an uncredited cameo, they figure there’ll be a lot of hubbub when people figure out who she is.

They’re probably right.

They played the song for me that they’re going to sing, and it’s hilarious.  It’s basically about a big sister everyone loves.  It’s perfect!

After we do all the recording, if we have some extra time, they’ve asked Yuki to do an idol masterclass for the girls.  After all, she’s got a lot more experience than some of them – some of them are close to our age, but some of them are more like thirteen.  Yuki has a lot of things to teach them.  I might sit in and watch, that sounds fascinating.  Besides, it’ll be cool to see Yuki in her element again.

We have to be at the studio bright and early to get our makeup and outfits done and get on the bus though.  So Yuki and I are back at the hotel now and we’re going right to bed after this. It’s like morning our time, and we’re tired.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Yuki and I are leaving for Japan tomorrow.  No chartered flight this time, but we knew that was pretty much a once in a lifetime thing anyway.  We leave at 10AM from Houston for Haneda, and get there at about 3 PM.  So…  Yuki and I are in a hotel room tonight.  It just seemed to make sense, rather than trying to drive two hours early in the morning, and getting there right around rush hour.  It took a bit to find a hotel that would rent to us, because we’re both below 21 (Yuki is 20, I think) but we figured it out.

We got a nice, but utilitarian room.  Yuki is showering now so I thought I’d write here.

This morning Sabby wanted to talk a little.  I mean, I’m always up to talking with Sabby, but I never quite know which Sabby I’m going to get.  Will it be the comforting, mothering Sabby?  The pensive, insecure Sabby?  Or Claire Huxtable Sabby?  This morning it… was a combination of all three, actually.

It finally hit her that I’m an adult.

I mean, it’s true she hasn’t known me my whole life.  She met me when I was fourteen (even though I didn’t know it at the time), and she’s kinda tried to make up for lost time in some ways.  She loves me, a lot, but I think she feels bad sometimes that she didn’t really raise me and there’s not a whole lot she can help me with.  I mean, for as much trouble as David and even Beth can be sometimes, she did raise them.  But me… I came to her mostly fully formed, just with a lot of gaps.  It seems to bother her sometimes.

And it really bothers her that, not only do I not share her beliefs religiously, in some ways I’m… kind of beyond religion.  If that makes sense.  I don’t really need the trappings of religion in many ways because the reality is all here, in my head and heart.  I don’t always get to talk to… well, whoever I talk to, but when I do, it’s… what’s that big theological word the pastor likes to use all the time…  imanent.

(I’ll still call him the pastor.  That’s how I know him.)

She told me she’s worried about me… but also jealous in some ways.  She thinks I don’t need her.

Well, in some ways… I guess I don’t.  I don’t need her financial help, really.  I don’t really need her spiritual help… not really.  I don’t need a whole lot from her.  But I still need her.  I need her when I need someone to cry on, I need her when I need someone to tell me how stupid I’m being, I need her when I need some really delicious spaghetti, or a lot of cookies and other pastries.  I know these don’t seem like big things, but they are to me.  How would I survive if I didn’t have her chest to cry on when all the tears are coming out so hard I can barely catch my breath and all I can do is sob my heart out?  She always just presses my head to her chest and strokes my hair, and tells me to just get it all out and then we can talk about it…  and what kind of treasure is that?  All the money in the world can’t pay for that.

So, of course I need her.  I don’t tell her as often as I should, but I need her sometimes more than I can possibly tell her.  I mean, I give her chocolate when I could eat it myself.  What does that say?

But now I’m about to go off on my own.  I’m heading to Japan pretty much on my own right now, I’m about to graduate, and maybe go to Japan for “good”, and the next chapter of my life is going to start.  And I will be far away from her, maybe for extended periods of time.  But that doesn’t matter.  She’ll always be my mother.  Always.

She fussed so hard over me when we left this afternoon, but…  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I think she asked if I had my passport like five times.  And Jack came over to, to send me off with a hug and a kiss that was far too long for Sabby’s comfort, but I didn’t care.  Not this time.

Oh, Yuki’s out of the shower.  I guess it’s my turn.  Yuki’s really looking forward to one of those deep baths, the kind they have in Japan where the water can even spill over and the overflow can drain too.  But showers have their own charm, too.  She’s not really looking forward to going back to Japan… but she feels like it’s time.  She’s ran away from it long enough.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Maybe I’ll write from the airport, but my next post will probably be from Japan.  I suspect they’re going to pick me up and take me right to the studio.  When I post, I’ll probably post in the evening in Japan, but backdate it to evening here the previous day, because prior experience taught me that’s HELLA confusing.

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Selfish.

That word has been reverberating through my head still today.  So much so that I…  went to see the pastor.

I didn’t tell anyone.  I had class anyway, so I just… went.

He was in his office, doing, well, pastory stuff, and I knocked and entered.

He looked genuinely surprised.

“Lily?”, he said, “I thought I’d never see you again!”

“You almost didn’t,” I said.  “I’m pretty upset with you.  I’m even more upset with you than I was before.  But…  I don’t think it’s right to not talk things over.  Someone told me I’m being selfish.  Damn her,” I said softly, “but she’s not really wrong.  But…  I don’t think I’m the only one here who’s… ummm”

I felt a kind of knocking on my head.  “Really?  Now?,” I thought to myself, just heard a chuckle, and that voice saying “Let me talk for a little bit.  It might make things a little easier.”

“Fine,” I thought, and let whatever was going to happen, happen.”

“Bryan,” ‘I’ said, “Lily has a gift.  A very special gift, one that I gave specifically to her.  There are very few people in this world with this gift.  She is very special to me, for she has given much, had much taken, and had much given in return.  However, while you consider her a part of your ‘flock’, which is understandable, she is not. She is your equal – only her commission is different.  Treat her as you would the most precious of things, because that is everything she is to me, and more.  Do not forget what you promised when you prayed to me, all those years ago.  Do you remember, Bryan?”

He nodded mutely.

“You have served me well, Bryan.  However, Lily is not wrong.  You have never hesitated to take advantage of or use people if you felt it was in furtherance of my kingdom.  Do not forget whose kingdom it is, and there is no place for that there.  Lily is not perfect and will not always guide you perfectly, but she is my daughter, and I expect you will treat her, and the rest of your flock, as such from here on.  They are my children, not yours.  You are but the shepherd.  Am I clear?”

He nodded again, mutely, and looking a little like a chastened puppy.

“Keep doing my work.  While I care about everyone, I do not chasten those who do not care about me.  I return Lily to you.”

It was quiet in the room.  There was a clock in the corner resolutely ticking, it felt a little bit like an omen, and a little bit like a promise.  Tick, tick, tick.

Finally, he spoke.  “I…  guess I stand corrected,” he said.

“That’s not very comfortable,” I said, softly.  “It feels like my brain is being twisted in directions it doesn’t want to go.  I hope that doesn’t happen frequently.”

He blew out a breath.  “Honestly, me too.  That was not pleasant.”

“So where from here?,” I said.  “I’m angry with you.  You’ve done some very good things for all of us, but when push came to shove, you didn’t treat either me or Anathema very well.  You tricked me, and you used Anathema at a very vulnerable time for her.”

“I want to argue.  But it seems someone agrees with you. And I can’t very well argue with him, can I?”

“You can.  I don’t think it will do you any good.”

He was quiet for a little while.  “So…  what do you want?”

“I want to feel safe in your church.”

He flinched.  “That hurt.”

“Maybe it should.”

“Maybe it should,” he repeated back, and sighed.  “There are so many things a person with your gift could do,” he said, a little wistfully.  “But I suppose it never was my place to try to shape you in that regard, was it?”

I shook my head.  “Your job is to counsel, to teach, maybe even sometimes to admonish… but never to shape.”

“I see,” he said, quietly.  “That may have been my mistake.”

I nodded.  “It may have.  Let me explore my gifts in my own time.  Don’t pressure me.  Let me be a part of the community in my own way.  We… seem to be on the same team, after all.”

“What… team do you think we’re on?”

I shrugged.  “The same one.  I don’t understand any of this.”

“Do you… want to learn?”

I thought for a bit.  “No,” I said, softly.  “Not right now.  I feel like the more I learn, the more I’ll try to shape my gifts to match what I’ve learned, and I feel like…. that will quench them.  No, just let me be.  I will seek you out when I have something to talk to you about.  And you may feel free to do the same with me.  But only that.  No more.”

He nodded.  “Do you…. have any advice?”

I thought, and I even asked.  Nothing.  “No.  It seems everything has been said that needs to be said.  I’ll take my leave now.  Thanks for seeing me with no notice.”

“Thank you, Lily.  I have much to think about.  I would speak with Anathema when she has time.  Can you arrange that?”

“I can.  I’ll speak to her.  She might come to church again before I can arrange that.  I have an overseas trip to make this weekend.  I won’t be here.”

“I understand.”

I stood up, shook his hand perfunctorily, and walked out.  There wasn’t much more to say.

I told Sabby what happened.  She…  doesn’t really seem to know what to make of it.  She’s still a little cheesed at me, but I think she realizes there’s something going on that’s bigger than her, so she’s just kind of keeping her head down.  I bought her a chocolate shake, though, for old times’ sake.  She seemed to accept it in the spirit it was intended.  Of course I got one for me too… because I’m not going to pass up a chance for chocolate, duh.

Yuki is over tonight.  She has been teaching me a lot about Japanese work culture, with an emphasis on idols.  There’s a lot to remember, but I think I at least know enough to not seriously stick my foot in it.  She also gave me a few acting tips.  It’s not like I have to be Sir Lawrence Olivier or anything like that, but it might help to be a little convincing.

Minami has been in touch too.  She’s so happy I’m coming over to see her, and to see her work.  She’s going to be on that dance team too.  Not the center or anything, but I dunno, maybe eighth girl from the left?  She’s been telling all her idol friends about me, and me all about them, and they’re looking forward to meeting me too.  She’s trying to schedule an afternoon where all the idols and me can go out for boba or something.  She warned me if that happens, cameras are probably going to follow, and to not be surprised if there’s a “making of” video at some point where I figure prominently.  Figures.  She also said they’re probably going to try to get Yuki to participate a little, too.  Not surprising.  That’d make perfect sense.  She said she’d decide if or when they tell her what they want her to do.

I hope I’m not a disappointment.  At this point, I don’t know if I’m their senpai, their kouhai, or something else entirely.  Maybe a combination of all three.

Oh well, onwards, I guess.  I’m going to forget about church and the pastor for right now.  Everything was said that needs to be said, and I have a trip to Japan coming up, so yay.  Plus after I get back I need to meet with the conductor, so…  need to practice a lot over the next few days.  And maybe the studio has a piano I can use.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

And… ummm…

So…  the Anathema drama isn’t quite done.  She came over today to talk to me.  I had to leave for class and she needed to get ready for work, but… she wanted to talk to me.  So…  I made some time.

She wanted to know why I was so upset at the pastor.

So… I told her.  How he took advantage of me, and tricked me into going up on stage…  and how something took over and, well.. how unhappy I was with what he had done.

She thought for a bit.

“I…  see why you’d be upset,” she said.  “And he did do something similar to me.  I see why you would think he was being insensitive.  He, well… I guess he was, in a way.  You’re not wrong…”

She thought for a bit.

“But you’re kinda being selfish, aren’t you?”

Oh, that did it.  I just about went all Claire Huxtable on her.  But…  I said “just about”.

“What do you mean?”, I said.  “And you’d better make this count, because them’s fighting words.”  I don’t remember where I learned that turn of phrase.  Dave, maybe?

I guess the truth of what I said was obvious, because she gulped.  “Well,” she said, “You’re a ‘walking shrine’, or an ‘ark’, or something.  Sometimes someone, someone with apparently great power, at the very least the power to change lives with a word, talks and acts through you.  Do you know anyone else who has these abilities?”

I shook my head slowly.  “No,” I said, not liking where this was going.  “As far as I know, I’m the only one in the world.”

She sighed.  “I understand you not wanting the attention.  And you’re right to protect yourself.  I mean, if anyone knows what it’s like to get unwanted attention and have to protect yourself…  I’ve got a very, very gorgeous sergeant in the military who comes over every night after work to sweep my apartment, and… “, she got a dreamy look in her eyes.  “Where was I… oh.  Anyway, I know what that feels like.  But you’ve gone beyond protecting yourself… you’re actively withholding your abilities  You can change peoples’ lives.  Something… someone… has chosen you, given you a gift…  and you’re squandering it.  Because you don’t want to share it.”

I sighed and leaned back.  This girl was about to give me a headache.  Or a stroke.

“let me ask you this – if someone else, not the pastor, came over and asked you to do something to help them, what would you do?”

“I’d…. I’d…” I shrank.  “I’d slam the door in their face.”

“You’d…. slam the door in their face.”

I nodded.

She stood up.

“Selfish,” she said, softly, and rubbed my head.  “I can’t say I wouldn’t feel the same in your position.  But…  your abilities…  they don’t belong to you.  And you don’t have the right to hold them back like you’re doing.  You’re…  throwing something beautiful away.”  She blinked a few times.  “And I know what throwing something beautiful away, is.”

She kissed my forehead.

“Think about it, lil sis.”

And she left.

Lil sis.

Lil…  sis…

Imouto-chan….

Oh my god.

I went upstairs, and I took out the Lycoris Radiata – you know, the one I found on my chest one night.  And I looked at it, I mean, really looked at it.  It was still warm, it was still kind of comforting, it still shone with an unexplainable inner light.

Selfish.

That word reverberated through my head all day, through class, through dinner, through everything.  Selfish.

It’s still reverberating now.  And the Lycoris Radiata is sitting on my shelf, both comforting me and silently judging me.

Well…  I guess I can’t be too mad at her.  I mean, well… I started it.

Liz is over tonight.  I’m not sure I’m very good company.  But we’re having an okay time anyway.  Yuki’s coming over tomorrow to plan our trip.  I guess she has some stuff to talk to me about.

Love you all!!! ❤️

I guess.  Not like I’m showing it.

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Well, I guess it was a Sunday.

So this morning, Anathema wanted to go to church.  I was very, very surprised.  I think anyone who know Anathema – back when she was more cat-girl than Anathema, would have thought if she walked into a church that the place would go up in flames and a pit into hell would open up right in front of the crucifix, and a bunch of dancing demon-girls would come out of there and start seducing everything that moved.  But…  I guess surprises are going to keep happening.  Sabby and I asked her why, first.  She just said “It…  doesn’t seem like it’ll hurt, does it?”

I guess I can’t argue with that logic, really.

So she went to church.  But, she wanted me to go with her.  I don’t know why, something about being with a “walking shrine” making her feel safe.  Dangit!!!  What the heck?  And Joe, well… he wanted to come along, too.  I guess there are a lot of Christians in the military.  A few less now before, to hear him talk about it.

So…  dang it all, we all went.

I honestly didn’t want to go, but I felt obligated.  I mean, after all, I’m the reason (by proxy, but still) that she’s having all these upheavals right now.

And, well…  I’m kinda glad I went, and I’m kinda not, because it was hilarious.  Well… right up until it wasn’t.

No, she wasn’t hilarious.  Said pit to hell didn’t open.  We all walked in and it was actually pretty uneventful.  The old ladies welcomed me back and, I’ll admit, I was a bit standoffish.  I’m not going to be a “walking shrine for hire” or even an “ark for hire”.  I just want to be Lily.

Until she got recognized.

Some guy walked up to her and started yelling and screaming that someone like her shouldn’t be attending his church, and don’t we know what she did, and how dare she?

She just sat there, while he, in front of his wife and kids, berated her.  She was very calm, and I didn’t understand how.  Both Joe and I wanted to pick that guy up and carry him out, but she called us off.  “I can deal with this,” she said, softly.

Finally, after he wore himself out and the pastor was coming up to deal with it, she just said seven words.

“How do you know what I did?”

He turned red.  His wife looked at her calculatedly.  “What did you do?”

“Up until a few days ago, I was an adult model.  Your husband here,” and she looked pointedly at him, “was probably one of my fans.  Hmm.  What was your nick anyway?”  And she recited a pretty dirty nickname, which he immediately responded to.  He turned even redder, because, apparently, she knew her fans, and remembered his nick.  Though, she did tell me later it was just an educated guess.  Good guess!

“Yeah, you paid for quite a few, umm…  things,” she said, softly, with emphasis.  “Does your wife know how much money you gave me that should have gone to them?”  And she looked at the kids, who didn’t seem to know what was going on, and thankfully.

“Anyway,” she said, “I gave it up.  I deleted the whole thing a few days ago.  I’m, umm… turning over a new leaf, I guess?  God, or at least I think it was God, gave me a second chance.  Maybe your wife will give you one too.”  She shrugged.  “I wouldn’t.”

His wife looked at her with loathing, but looked at him with a fiery loathing that caused parts of him to shrink you couldn’t even see, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him out of the church, the kids following along confusedly.

‘Bye!,” she waved, cheerfully.  “Thanks for all the support!”

And then, after they all left, she sat down and burst into tears.

The pastor looked at me, then her.  “I hate to ask,” he said.  “Will you give a testimony?”

And that’s when I lost it.  I told the pastor that he could have at least waited for her to stop crying, and that’s why I stopped going in the first place, and while he’s a nice person and has always treated us pretty well, his one huge flaw is that he doesn’t care about individual people nearly as much as he cares about his church as a whole, and…  I was ramping up to go Claire Huxtable on him, Sabby-style.

And she stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“Yes, I will,” she said, sniffling.

I just crossed my arms.  “Fine,” I said.  “If you want.  But,” and I looked at the pastor, “I’ll never come back again.  Not while you do stuff like this.  It’s just like what you did to me, but at least you asked her,” I said bitterly.

So the services started.  Sabby was kind of giving me the stink eye, but I didn’t care.  You know how everyone stands up and sings and sits 22down and stuff?  I just sat there.  I didn’t move, I didn’t talk, I didn’t speak.  She did stand up, and she did give her testimony.  And…  she just had to bring me up.

I mean… I guess, how could she not?  I’m an integral part of the story.

I’m not mad at her.  She was truthful.  She didn’t lie, she didn’t prevaricate, she didn’t pull punches, and she didn’t exaggerate either.  I am what I am and I did what I did..  And I still think it was entirely inappropriate, far too soon, and the pastor was, well, I’m done with him now.

He’s done a lot for me – for us.  I probably wouldn’t have found my family without him, Crystal wouldn’t be where she is without him, and I’m grateful for that…  but…  that was out of line.  Very, very, very out of line.

As she turns out, though… she thinks Jesus was talking to her, through me.  Eh?  Dang, I wish she hadn’t said that.  Now it’ll even be worse.

After services, I just walked out of the narthex, right out to the parking lot, went right to the car, and waited for everyone else.

Sabby was pretty upset at me.  I don’t care.  I’m right.  Dave actually more took my side, which was lucky for me, because they spent most of their time arguing with each other than scolding me.  She got a few licks in on me too but I didn’t care.  I’m right.

Anathema will probably go back.  That’s fine.  I won’t hold it against her.  But I won’t.  Never again.  Even if the pastor apologizes, gets on his knees, and begs.. I don’t think I’d go back.

The girls came over this afternoon and we practiced.  It didn’t feel right.  But we did it anyway.  Sometimes you just gotta bust through and do it.  Right?  Crystal really is improving.  I’m actually kind of amazed.

I don’t like being an ark.  A walking shrine.  A prophetess.  Whatever the heck I am, I hate it.  I don’t want to be it anymore.

Anyway, Jack and I went out, tonight.  I wasn’t very good company.  He was just glad to be spending time with me.  I don’t deserve that boy…  that man.  Maybe…  maybe there are lot of things I don’t deserve.

Anathema and I are still talking.  she’s not mad at me and I’m not mad at her.  But…  I’m not going to support her in that way ever again.  She doesn’t understand.  But I’ll only tell her if she asks.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

And I have a LOT to tell you my internetey friends!  Is that a word?  It is now!!!

Okay…  first, night before last.  Apparently Joe and Anathema had their coffee date, and, well, to hear Anathema tell it, it went really well.  They stayed up past midnight talking, and she came out of it even more besotted than before, but at least comfortable enough to stop dropping dishes.  Joe, well, I don’t know what he’s thinking, but he didn’t reject her.  Even after she told him about her (recent, even) past and how she’s pregnant.  He seems to be willing to let the past be the past as long as it doesn’t leak into the present.

So, last night.  I didn’t post last night because we were out late and when I got home we just went to bed.  I was telling you about that concert…  well, it went well.  And…  it didn’t.  Let’s just say Joe proved his worth and we might be hiring some off-duty cops to help him.

What we were afraid of, happened.  Someone came in after Anathema.

It was before the concert, everyone was filing in, and some guy walked in acting really suspicious, and asked if cat-girl was around.  But he used her online handle.  She was pretty smart and never used her real name.  I think she called herself Brandii or something.  Anyway, he came in asking for her, and, well, he didn’t look like he was up to any good.  Sabby signalled Joe over, and Joe told him he’d better scram.

Guy reached into his waistband.

Guy ended up on the ground with his arms twisted rather painfully behind his back, very quickly, and a gun to the back of his head.  We called the cops, and they showed up pretty quickly

Yeah, he had a gun.

He’s lucky he’s still alive.  It, umm…  turns out Joe doesn’t mess around.  And thank goodness he doesn’t.

Anathema was pretty shook up, though.  As the responding cops were dragging the guy away, we told them why he was probably after her, and they said they’d be pressing charges for, at the very least, felon in possession of a handgun.  Guy had a record, I guess.  Joe, well…  I guess he got some major points.  After they left he took her aside and told her that as long he was there, no one was going to hurt her.  I don’t think that was because she’s Anathema, I think it was because he’s Joe.  But that…  well, she’s not really looking at him doe-eyed anymore.  She’s not even looking at him like a piece of meat.  She’s…  looking at him like he saved her life and she would do anything for him.

And with Anathema, anything is a lot.  But, the difference now is… only for him.  She’s his for the taking.  But… I don’t think he’s going to take her up on that so quickly.  And… well… I don’t blame him.  He’s only known her for a couple of days, and she does have a past.  But… he still hasn’t turned her down.  And, at least for the short term, I don’t think he’s going to.  She, frankly, needs to learn a little self-control, and I think he took my “supplemental mission” seriously.

Oh.  And it didn’t hurt that Joe told the guy that if he ever came anywhere near her ever again, he wouldn’t hold back next time.  Considering how, umm… wet his pants got, I guess the message came though.

Anyway, we’re going to hire one or two off duty cops, and put the word out that cops get free coffee and pastries if they hang around for a bit while eating them.

It’s all we can do.  Let’s hope that there aren’t many more people like that.

Anyway, the concert was really fun.  All the girls came to see it, and the band played a lot of original music, and they were actually really good.  They sold a bunch of merch too, and part of the deal is, we get a cut of the profits, so…  it worked out for everyone.  After it was all done, though…  We went home.  Joe and Anathema… well, they left together.  I don’t know where they went, but I asked Anathema, and she said he was a perfect gentleman and took her on a real date.  Took her home and everything.  And did not take her up on her offer to come in for a “nightcap”.

But he did do a sweep of her apartment and told her not to open the door for anyone she didn’t know, no matter who it was.  To call him or the police, and they’d deal with it.

Apparently when an active duty Sergeant in the military tells the police something, they at least take him seriously.

She’s a little frustrated, but she’s also… well…  she seems secretly pretty happy that he’s holding off.  It means he’s treating her seriously.

So… ummm…  today, we did Dave’s birthday at the shop.

We roasted him.

You know, like those roasts on TV where everyone swears and tells someone how awful they are?

Well, we were a little nicer than that.

Just a little.

Sabby got him good.  I don’t remember everything that was said, but it was pretty funny.  I couldn’t bring myself to be too mean, so I just recounted the story of the cayenne pepper in the chocolate and how I nailed him in the groin when he tried to scare me.

Anyway, after everyone took their turn, he just stood up, looked over all of us, and said “I’ll remember this”.  And we all knew what he meant.  He would remember that it was a token of our appreciation for him, and also…  he’d remember this.  Haha.

Anyway, we did all give him presents after, and he had a pretty good time anyway.

So….  it’s Saturday night now.  It was a long day.  Anathema seems alright, she didn’t seem too badly affected.  I think she might have been if it’d escalated further, but Joe did a really good job.  Hear that Mrs. X?  Give that guy a medal.

I know, I know.  But still.  He deserves something.  Maybe a little leave?

Okay.  Gotta go now.  Lots to do.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

OMG this is so hilarious!!!!

I went to the shop today because even though I have a lot on my plate, I had to see it for myself, and… omg it’s all true!  Hahaha!!!  I said hi to the military guy (guess I should tell you his name now that he’s going to be in our store more frequently… it’s just a typical name, Joe.  Nothing unusual, like, you know, Anathema.)

Speaking of which, omg, she’s like a blushing teenager!!!  The minute he looked in her direction, she’d squeak and drop stuff!!!  She offered him a pastry, and you’ve never seen such a subservient maid.  Her head was down, her cheeks were pink, and he just said “thank you” and she blushed and scampered off.

For his part, he asked me about her.  I couldn’t tell if he was interested, curious, or trying to get information for a restraining order.  I just said he should get to know her, she’s actually a pretty cool person once you get to know her – and that her current behavior was very out of character for her.  He just smirked.  “I sure hope so”, he said, “I don’t know how you can keep replacing those dishes otherwise.”  He looked over at her and she dropped a plate.

Yeah, he had a point.

So I pulled her into the office.  I just looked at her and smirked.

She kind of had a challenging look to her, then she deflated.  “I know I know…  I.. this has never happened before.  What do I do?”, she asked, almost in tears.  “It’s like I completely lose all sense when he even looks at me!”

“You’ve never had this happen before?”, I asked.

“No!  I’ve always been the one in control.  Men are supposed to act like this with me!”

“Well, congratulations,” I said, “You’re a girl after all.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll have to figure that out,” I said.  “I have to put my boss hat on right now though – please stop breaking dishes, they’re expensive.”

She sighed.  “I’ll try.”

“You should talk to him after work,” I said.  “The best way to get over this is to get through it.”

“I guess,” she said.  “I’ll try.”

“I guess this is a part of your new life,” I said.  “Enjoy it.  If you’re unlucky, you’ll have learned something about yourself.  If you’re lucky, someone will get to sweep you off your feet for a change.  Either way, have fun.  But try to stay professional, okay?”

She nodded.  “Okay.  But…  when have I been ‘professional’ before?”

I frowned, remembering what she wore on Halloween and what she got in trouble for with a customer.  “Good point.  But now’s the time to start,” I said.

I went out, and had a quick chat with him.  “What’s your rank?”, I asked.

“Sergeant,” he said.

“Sergeant, I have a supplemental mission for you.  Ten-hut!”

He smirked, but humored me and stood at attention.  “What is it, ma’am?”

“Give her a chance,” I said, softly.  “She’s…  just had a major life change.  This is all new to her.  I can’t order you to… well… do anything, really, but I especially can’t order you to give her a chance.  But…  I remember what you said to me as you left my birthday party.  Let her shoot her shot.  Worst case, you both learn something.  Best case… maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for, too.”

He nodded, and walked over to Anathema.  “Ma’am”, he said crisply.  “2300 hours, after you get off, do me the honor of sharing a pastry and coffee with me.”

She eeped, but nodded mutely.  He nodded and went to stand by the door again.

“As you order, ma’am,” he said to me and saluted crisply.  But he was smirking.

I saluted back, probably doing it absolutely wrong, but he nodded and went back to, well, being vigilant, I guess.

I went home and practiced.  We have a band playing tomorrow night, so I might attend.  I don’t know which band it is, some local band.  I hear they’re pretty good, they’ve sold more than a few tickets.  Definitely met their quota.

This weekend we’re celebrating Dave’s birthday.  It was last weekend, but he wanted to put it off, so we did.  Besides, we all had a great idea anyway.  It’ll be fun.

I hope Anathema texts me in the morning, and I hope it’s something a little… more wholesome than she would have texted in the past in the same situation…

I have a feeling it will be.

Yuki bought her tickets on the same flight as me, and she’ll share a room with me.  They’re putting me up in a pretty nice room, and it can fit two.  I told the producers Yuki is coming along and, well, since they saw the concert that Minami was at, they know we’re friends, so they’re not surprised, but they were very happy to hear she’s coming.  They mentioned that maybe she can give a little pep talk to all the idols, you know, as their senpai.  I asked Yuki.  She’s fine with that, particularly as Minami will be a part of the group.

Even as a former idol, she’s very respected.  That’s pretty cool.

Oh well.  I guess I should to to bed.

Love you all!!! ❤️

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

So, umm… Yeah. I’m going to Japan again.  Next weekend (not this weekend, but the week after).  They have some production stuff they have to arrange.  But they did send me an itinerary, so I’m going.  I forwarded it to Yuki, and she’s coming along too.  Jack understands, but he does want to come with me sometime soon.  I get it, I really do.  But this one’s business, of a sort.  They are paying me, just not very much.  I mean, it’s not like I’ll be able to retire on it, but it’s enough to pay for a semester or two of college, so there’s that.  I guess it doesn’t take much talent to sit there and look annoyed.

I wonder why they want me specifically.  Maybe I’m just really good at looking annoyed.  Or maybe they just want to capitalize on a viral video.

Well, that was unplanned.

I guess the bright side is that while all the idols are learning lyrics and a dance, all I have to do is sit there.  No rehearsal or anything required, except I just have to look annoyed.  And I remember how I felt when the girls first did that, so I think I can do that really easily.

I won’t be spending much time there though, not much more than a weekend.  It’s not like I have a huge role, and it’s not like they’re going to need multiple takes – of me, anyway.  They set me up for three days.  I guess that works.

I asked them if I need to bring any clothing or anything, and they said they’ll provide everything, even makeup and hair, I just have to show up and let them do whatever.  Works for me!!!

If it were Hollywood I’d suspect ulterior motives, but this is Japan.  They tend to be very upfront about stuff.  I think it’ll be fine.  And it is Minami’s talent agency, and she seems to be having a blast.

So…  I guess no real point in talking more about that until I get closer to leaving.  So… in other news…

Remember that military guy who was escorting Mrx. X at my birthday?  Well, he showed up again.  Apparently he has orders to be our security.  Seems like an… interesting way of spending taxpayer dollars, but she sent along a note, and apparently it’s a part of my “compensation”, such as it is.  I’m enough of a “high value” person that they are willing to protect me if needed.  That’s…  a bit scary. But cool.

But here’s the cool thing.  I wasn’t there when he showed up, but Anathema was.  And…  to hear Sabby tell it, she turned into a blushing, nervous mess.  Started dropping things, turning red, refusing to look him in the eyes… this girl has more experience in her little finger than I do in my entire body, but apparently a well muscled guy in a uniform is enough.   He didn’t quite return the favor, but he had a little smirk.  He knew exactly what was going on.  He was pretty kind about it… he didn’t lead her on but he didn’t outright reject her either.  I remember what he said to me when he left my party, about wanting to maybe find someone to settle down with.

OMG IT MUST BE LUUUUUUUUURRRRVVVVEEEEE

I can’t wait to tease Anathema about it.  But just a little bit.

I wonder if they’ll go out soon.

Anyway, gotta go now.  Lots to do, still.

Love you all!!! ❤️