snek by popular demand

[[AUTHOR'S BEST FRIEND'S NOTE: Lily wrote this with gobi all over the place. We took 'em out to read smoother and save us some space. - Natsuhi Ren]]

Tightrope thread was up on one half of room and other half was spooling out of mouth when Sumire entered practice room and stopped in her tracks.

"What is this - absurd assortment?!" she asked, looking around at balls and trampoline and juggling pins and bed of coals. Couldn't respond because was busy tugging out rest of tightrope, so Ren covered.

"You're training with Lily to bring up your grades, right?" she asked. "We use all this in the prircus to beat our stage fright!"

Tightrope was out. Handed other end to Ren, who climbed up wall by hugging corner to affix. "Came up with training to fix dance grades, lil. Am still thinking about others, but will have solution by midterm, lil."

Sumire was interesting challenge, for manager (even illegal manager). Had skill and worked hard but still flunked all classes. Have to admit, could sort of understand that. But like Sumire, so wanted to keep that from happening to her.

Putting down duffel bag, Sumire wrinkled her nose. "My dancing is designed to highlight Hibiki-sama's preferences. Corrupting it for class would be cruel!"

Oh. Useful. Already knew what problem was. Had learned about this in manager school. Sometimes, idol's problem is not that they can't do things but that they are looking at things in just one small way. PriPara is big place. There is room for lots of small ways, but that also means there is room to try new ways. Only some things in PriPara make doing what you want impossible, and this was not one.

"But Hibiki performs in all kinds of movies, lil," pointed out. Could tell this was going to be long afternoon, so popped open dozen egg carton that had bought from Meganun at school store earlier. Swallowed one. Felt smooth going down. "And she likes people who are good at many things, lil. If Hibiki gets cast in movie where plays against type because can do anything, need to be able to dance with her then, right, lil?"

"If you have to keep saying that I just might hurl," Ren muttered to me. "Isn't there anything else that motivates this girl?"

Just looked at Ren. Ren looked back. Ren did not respond. Have known Ren for a long time, so are able to have conversations that way, sometimes. Is nice.

Sumire missed exchange because she was thinking over what had said. "A greater quality of quills in my quiver would be advantageous," she mused aloud. "Fuwari doesn't dance so much as skip sloppily, does she?"

And Falulu danced like prima ballerprina, but left that out. Half of motivating idols is knowing what not to say. "All dance starts with balance, lil. Climb up onto tightrope and try taking steps in time with claps, lil."

Hands. Hands are useful for managers. Is good, to have hands.

Sumire eyed tightrope like it might bite her. Ren, wearing face she makes when she regrets having said or thought a thing that was kind of mean, slapped her on back and headed over to tightrope. "I'll do it too!" she offered. "C'mon, after you!"

"There's nary a net," Sumire pointed out. Nearly dropped egg - had forgotten. Reached in, but then realized net was still in repairs from when Ren had been using as hammock and Fuwari had stopped by with goats. Goats had had supper. Now had no net. Is not good situation, for prircus.

Manager needs to think on feet (when has feet). Produced trampoline instead and placed beneath net. Produced pillows to fill in other spaces. "Won't let you get hurt, lil," promised, and meant it. "Have seen you balance every day on heels you like to wear, lil. If can wear those all school day, can do tightrope, lil!"

Considering this, Sumire tossed hair over her shoulder. "Normal and natural. Though MOST managers might suggest a balance beam!"

"Am not most managers." Stared flat at her through glasses, same stare as gave Ren earlier. Sumire climbed ladder up to tightrope.

Had egg belatedly, then clapped and counted. "One, two, three, lil. Two, two, three, lil. Three, two, three, lil. Don't, show, off, lil."

Ren was walking tightrope on hands. When called out, she chuckled and flipped back to feet.

Sumire, ahead of Ren, wobbled but put foot in front of foot as counted off. Saw her exhale, center self. Saw smirk flash across her face, figured was thinking of how Hibiki held self. Is good, that Sumire has self-motivational tool. Is especially good because Hibiki has very good balance. Would compliment her manager, but every time see him, mouth waters.

Tightrope finished gracefully. Thought about this, since issue was definitely confirmed not to be lack of physical control but unwillingness to do weird dance. Picked up large inflatable ball and tossed to Sumire, once she was back on ground.

"Next use that, lil."

"This?!"

"For rest of afternoon, will go around campus on that, lil. Ren will show you how to roll feet underneath, lil."

"Roger dodger!"

"But what if Hibiki-sama should happen to --"

"Will distract, lil." Meant that. Would probably distract even if had not promised. If Hibiki were around, Fuwari was probably also around. And when Fuwari was around.....usually made fuss. Hard to keep temperature from getting up too high.  "While doing that, will prepare to tutor in other classes, lil. What subjects do you need, lil?"

Sumire hid face behind hair and muttered something. Stuck tongue out to smell reply since could not hear it. Third eyelid blinked.

"Did just say are failing Hibikology, lil?"

"Headmistress Sapphilociraptor hates me," Sumire said flatly. "She doesn't desire to disclose I could teach that class with superior style! To say nothing of her belief Hibiki-sama should belong to all, when my visions of victory offer other options."

"I'm not sticking around for Hibiki class," said Ren. "Sorry, Sumire, but I don't care if I pass."

"Your tastelessness is not novel." Sumire raised a finger and grinned at Ren. "Spend the time preparing our next perfect plot!"

"Split the work and get twice as much done!" Ren saluted. "Wait for it, Sumire. It'll be smart AND fun!"

She hopped up on ball, because Ren is good at remembering instructions, and made sure to roll past Sumire so Sumire could see what should do with feet. For own part, downed entire rest of egg carton, because was that sort of day. Then downed carton itself, because was still hungry.

"Will meet back here after dinner, lil. Show off what have learned about non-fancy movement, l----hebi!"

Oh, no. Could hear voice in hallway. Hiccuped. Carton came back out. Hiccuped again. Sumire had to roll ball out of way in a hurry because sword came flying across room. Is hazard of working for prircus.

"--ranran, fuwaran-ran, fuwa fuwa lay heee....."

Could feel busted stitches where wings used to be starting to itch. Could feel temperature in face beginning to rise, could see glasses starting to steam. Tasted air. Could taste goat and acorn. Not here, thought. Not now. Not when had not finished being manager for the day -

"Lily!" Sumire did not leave ball, to credit. Instead, rolled over and scooped up just as door opened and bare feet padded in.

"Oh, Sumire! I'm so terribly sorry, truly. I was looking for the little goat-sans. Have they passed this way?"

Sumire turned. Could feel her pulse pounding, because was now coiled around her wrist as bracelet. Tucked head in. Tucked tail in. Tucked last remaining wing in. Reminded self to never go anywhere without ice cream, for temperature control.

"Ah, Fuwari-sama." Pulse skipped when she had to say that. Wanted to look, but did not dare. R-right there...in the room, seeing manager setup, w-was...

Would she think it strange? Was setup for prircus. Had not put out coals that had not used yet. Would need to wait to stow those until were not quite so hot anymore, so as to not get heartburn. Fuwari was there, though. Fuwari could see everything used to be manager. If had missed anything, if was doing it wrong, Fuwari would know. Would have messed up in front of Fuwari!

"My afternoon has been absent of animals." Sumire wobbled on the ball but kept balance. "Yet as you can surely spy, I'm bustlingly busy with a mock midterm. May I study in solitude?"

"So that's what you're doing." There was a long pause. Had lump in throat. Hoped was not another sword. "How wonderful! You're really giving this your all, aren't you? And it looks like such fun!"

Pair of small hands clapped. "Will you show me how you're studying later? I'd dearly love to try it myself!"

Nearly lost grip on Sumire's wrist. Fuwari - Fuwari wanted to - with manager course had DESIGNED ALL BY SELF -

"Should that predicament present itself." Sumire waved. Sumire waved wrist that was on, but did not mind, because was already dizzy. What was a little more? "Best of luck with your hooved hunt."

"Thank you!" Fuwari was thoughtful and shut door behind self. Sumire slumped. Fell off wrist, bounced off ball, and lay on floor, tasting air.

Could feel tentative steps as Sumire dismounted ball. Felt her lift up and gather in arms. "That was rather rude of her!" she sniffed. "Lily, is your ailment alleviated?"

"Temperature...going down, hebi." Was kinda true. Would go down, then remember Fuwari would be trying training course that had designed, then went back up again. "But can't transform until take ticket back to stage gate, hebi. Sorry to have messed up studying, hebi. Was supposed to be helping, not causing problems, hebi."

Sumire sniffed. "If Ren can't understand my terrific taste but support my schemes, the least I can do is advocate for your affections! When Hibiki-sama's heart is in my hands, you may aid Fuwari's agony."

Did not particularly want to do that. Was not sure wanted to do ANYTHING with Fuwari, because tended to stop thinking whenever smelled her. Well. Definitely knew wanted to be petted and stitched again. Maybe wanted to....be worn as....as headband....in nice, clover-smelling hair....

But Sumire was being thoughtful. Sumire came across so self-centered, or Hibiki-centered, but the moment someone needed Sumire, Sumire was always there. And Sumire always believed in future she envisioned for self. Had lost that future, so couldn't help but want to support someone who still had it.

So would put up with Sumire's attitude, and confusion about prircus, and being caught in middle between Sumire and Ren because had no particular opinion about Hibiki save that she was very talented idol and manager smelled like lunch. Would learn to deal with difficult idol, because had already worked with one always eager to please.

If could not be proper manager, could at least raise proper idols.

"Will stay on wrist if all right, hebi," decided. "Can you help put out coals, hebi?"

"I can certainly bear a bucket." Sumire paused. "Balancing on the ball?"

Thought about this. Tongue flicked impishly. "Extra credit, hebi."

Sumire redid "bracelet" and hopped back atop ball. Could not be sure even now that she would pass midterm. But had feeling Sumire already understood something about being idol that was far more important.

Had to be happy with that, for now.