MARI'S POV

I can't believe it!! Maki is the Queen?!! Or some ruler judging by her entourage and outfit!! And one of her bodyguards happens to be Nico herself?!!

I get it now. There's no use denying it. I am finding myself in a new world. This ain't a dream or illusion either!

In my world, Muse are legendary school idols. Two of their members: Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa are very popular ones. The very reason Kanan, Dia, and I formed Aqours to be school idols is through our direct inspiration from them. Now you are telling me my idols are rulers/queens of this foreign society?!! NO WAY!!

I had no choice. I had to follow them. I am hoping I could somehow speak to them and find a clue to what is going on right now and if I can return back to normal. Somehow.

Following the entourage is difficult amidst all this crowd. I kept pushing forward. I kept yelling at their names even though they won't understand or care to look at me.

"Maki-sama! Nico-sama! I wanna talk to ya!!"

If I don't seize this chance, I might not see them again. My opportunity to find someone who can help me out here and also get an autograph from will be wasted!

I followed the entourage until I found it impossible to move pass the noisy crowds. I had to switch paths and take a turn at an alleyway. When I ran deeper through there, a glimpse turned my head away. I saw a lady walking by wearing a white robe with stripes. She had blue hair tied in a ponytail.....wait a minute!!?

"Kanan?", I uttered as I see said lady walk deeper within the crowd.

I suddenly changed my mind out of sheer instinct to pursue this lady. I have no doubt it's her! In an instant, Maki and Nico were no longer my priorities.

"KANAN!!! KANAN!!!"

I kept shouting as I looked for her. My heart races as someone valuable to me would finally be in my reach. Someone who can help me.

"KANAN!! KANAN!!"

Soon enough, I bumped into her. She is shocked at my sudden appearance, but when I saw her face, I am filled with joy. It is Kanan!

"Whoa! What is it, stranger?", she said again in a foreign tongue. As far as my experience with Yoshiko is, this meant that Kanan probably does not recognise me too. I waited for a but to see if she would react in a way that seemed to indicate otherwise.

"Hey Kanan, what's up?!", I said to seal my judgement. The result?

"Ummm....you need anything, miss?", she said. At this point, I can't help but sigh.

"Oh no....not Kanan too. She does not recognise me or understand me. My god, what world have I gotten myself into..."

At this point I am rendered clueless. Forget about Maki and Nico, I bet everyone I will come across will speak in a foreign language and not recognise me. I can't deny that. This is bad. Looks like I have to resort to provocative methods.

"Okey....if you don't seem to need anything from me, I will just go..."

"KANAN! KANAN!! KANAN!!", I shouted. I intentionally called her by her name. I hoped doing it would make her respond to me.

"Wait, what? Did you just call me by my name?!", she said as she suddenly held my shoulders and gave me a very shocked look. It worked! Now I bet that this otherworldly Kanan will have no choice but to give me her attention. Surely, she won't let it slide that someone knows her namr which she does not know.

"Hey, say something! Tell me how you know my name!"

I smiled at Kanan teasingly as I pointed my finger on the book Yoshiko gave me earlier. I can't understand the title but I assume it means "How to Speak Whatever Language This World Is" or somethin'. I showed her the book. When she saw it she suddenly looked depressed. I know what that means!

"I can't believe I'd bump into a foreigner who does not understand our language. Geez....just when I have something important to do."

I assume she is saying that she has to babysit me for a while and help me. Success!

"Hey, blonde girl. I know you can't understand what I am saying but, I'll do what I can to make sure you do! Good thing you have that book! I don't need to look for a library to borrow one!", she said as she held my hands and dragged me somewhere outside this busy parade. Thank god, it looks like I can finally progress somehow!

---

I found myself in a quiet spot near the entrance to the town. The scenery is divided between forests and civilization. There's a bench nearby.

"Come! Sit with me!", said Kanan as soon opens the book and invites me to begin our language lessons. I feel so awkward but now is not the time to be choosy.

"Okey, so....let's start with the basics. This is an alphabet. You pronounce this letter as "ah". This one is "beh". Over here you have a line with two circles which is pronounced as "zoh"...."

I just listened patiently and did whatever she asked me to do. If she sounded like she wants me to pronounce, I will do as she wishes.

"You picked it up quickly, nice! Alright, let's move on quick! You need to learn how to read some words and then I will teach you basic phrases to help you find a place to stay here at least!"

I guess for about more than an hour, she taught me words and stuffs. I developed a bit of familiarity with the language, but I am no total master in such a short time. All I managed to learn was basic phrases so I cannot yet bet on picking individual words to make a message. Grammar is still an issue for me. Overall, at least I learned to speak a bit.

Our "lessons" inevitably led me to remind myself of the Kanan and the world I know back then when I was little. The way she is teaching me now is just like the way she taught me Japanese when we first met. I remember the days when she brought me to a shop and told me what a ramen is. When she told me the etiquette in eating Japanese food. When I saw her cute, round face happily smiling to find a new friend.

I am thankful that the Kanan I meet here is just like how I expected her to be. Amidst being in a weird situation in a weird place, I found someone who I can understand.

I am curious though what kind of world this is. Why Maki and Nico are both celebrities surrounded by soldiers? What does the Yoshiko and Kanan in this world do? What will I discover in this world?

Then a bell rang. Soon enough, Kanan's attention turned toward it.

"Oh no....it's time...."

"I have something important to attend to so I gotta leave ya behind. Sorry. Here, it is a ticket to my room at a nearby inn. I don't need it anymore so you take it so you have somewhere to stay. Look at this letters okay?"

She kept writing all these letters and signalled me with various body language. I realised soon enough she is saying she has to go now but will leave me notes on where to go and all. I am lucky to get what she is trying to say.

"I have to go now! There is a festival I need to attend to. I wish you best luck in learning Minamisian. Bye!"

Then she left. I wanted to stop her but I know I can't do that. I had to bear seeing someone precious leave me again, but it didn't hurt me much because I believed I would see her again soon. She is in this town for a reason after all. The chances of meeting again are likely high.

I am saddened she had to go, but I am also relieved she left me some notes which will help me not get lost. I understand that I have to find a place to stay through these notes she gave.

It worked. I found the inn which had the letters in it's signpost. I showed the ticket to the owner there and she led me to Kanan's room - she understood some of my words which is a relief. She sounded friendly to me and left me where I am. I finally found a place to stay at and rest. Hooray.

Soon enough, I decided to sleep in the bed for a bit. I wanna stop thinking for a while. Before I slept though, I rechecked my purse and stuffs. My smartphone is still fine at full battery. My other stuffs are okay. I am glad no one tried to pickpocket my stuff.

I slept until I heard multitudes of bells which woke me up.

After a while the day turned night and the sky is dominated by a sunset as I looked through the window. Seems as some big party is definitely gonna happen. I thought that I should go outside and check it out. Not like I can do anything here right now.

---

Thanks to Kanan's tutorials, I used whatever bits of basic phrases to ask people where to go. My aim is to find something to pass the time whilst hoping I might see Kanan, Maki, and Nico again. I used phrases like "zu nu tay?" and "ichido maru?", but overall I am still hardly able to comprehend this foreign language. Especially as to what people are saying around me.

As a result of my efforts to ask and search for my way, I found myself in a huge festival, filled many crowds. The dark blue night is lighted by a huge flame at the center of the courtyard. I am certain that a big event is going on. This is the spot.

Everyone seemed to participate in the spectacle. Everyone is rejoicing. I keep hearing praises and songs. People are dancing around the large bonfire. Furthermore, I got to see familiar faces.

I see Queen Maki, Nico and her entourage near the bonfire, sitting on thrones while watching the celebrations. I am surprised to see Umi, Rin, and Kotori are all over there too! Umi is wearing a white general's outfit and is probably a guard too. Rin is wearing the same musketeer-like getup that Nico has. And Kotori is dressed like a princess or queen?

At this point, I have to assume that Muse is somehow important in this world. I dunno why, but it is the only explanation I have got.

---

I just watched them. They were too far away to hear. I had no choice but to enjoy the spectacle as Maki and her companions chatted with each other through soft whispers.

"Maki, our reports confirm that the Diamond Empress' ships have moved away from the Isle of Yuka. I can assure you that war right now has been averted."

"Don't be so cosy yet, Umi. The mere fact that the Empress tried something provocative is suspicious alone. Keep an eye on the coastlines."

"I understand."

"How's the mood of the people while I am gone? I entrusted you to observe carefully if there seemed to be any dissidents who wish to conspire against me and my throne."

"None that I have heard of so far, but my agents remain full alert."

Soon after, I see Queen Maki as she is about to drink a golden cup. I noticed however that she suddenly stopped drinking and looked at it. Suddenly, she threw it away - the cup fell on the ground and broke, givi a sound which caught the attention of the crowd and the celebrators.

"Maki-chan!!? Why did you throw your drink away?!", Umi gasped. Maki turned her head and calmly said:

"Why? Because I can tell it was poisoned.", she said. Then, someone seemed to whisper:

"Geez. Looks like my stealth tactic failed."

Suddenly, Kanan came out of the shadows and jumped right in front of Her Majesty herself. Her appearance caught all of us off guard. The viewers beside me looked panicked. The guards surrounding Maki quickly got into defensive formations. All music and celebrations ceased, resulting in a tense moment of silent.

Kanan opened her cloak to reveal a sword which she unsheathed. Her outfit looked like that of a warrior or mercenary. With a calm yet furious face, she pulled her sword out, pointed it at Maki, and said:

"Queen Maki! Let me be straightforward. I have come here to take your head!"

Even though I don't understand what is going on and what she is saying, the tone of her voice and her gesture of pointing Maki her sword makes me nervous. I had an instinct it had something to do with death or killing.

Oh no...what should I do?

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A/N: Next page will be bloody as hell. We are getting into the fruits of this first arc so be a bit more patient. See ya in another chapter.