As recommended by @Lovesick_chick14

Thank you @Lovesick_chick14 for your comments and votes! Really appreciate it! This chapter is dedicated to you.
By the way, apologies if Maki seems to be a little out of character?
Thank you @MelodieSnow for the cover!
Update: requests are closed!
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One day, I heard sounds coming from the attic. Who could it be? Curiosity bubbled in me like a witch's brew. I climbed up the stairs and found out that the attic door was ajar. I peered into the attic and caught sight of Mother rummaging through a box. Mother caught sight of me and waved me over. I stepped into the attic and plopped down next to Mother.

She rarely went into the attic...I wonder what she was looking for?

"Mother, what are you looking for? You rarely enter the attic," I asked after hesitating.

"Maki-chan, I an searching for my old CDs! I want to listen to the songs I sung in the past,"Mother replied.

"I see..." I mused, thoughts swirling in my mind.

Would the same incident occur? Would she travel back in time?

"I found it! I think I will listen to them another day. I have some hospital matters to attend to," Mother decided and got up.

"Take care, Mother. Do not push yourself to the limits," I said. I guess I would not know if the incident would occur.

"Don't worry Maki-chan," Mother assured me and locked me into a quick embrace filled with love. She had changed so much...

-Time Skip to Night-

I settled into a comfortable position on my bed and snuggled under the covers. Slowly, I drifted into a deep sleep...

(Dreaming)

Butterflies and roses surrounded me before transporting me to some kind of room. I swivelled three-hundred and sixty degrees and had caught sight of a table with a three people-one man and two women- sitting behind the table. They were staring straight at me. Why was I in the room? Why were people staring at me?

There was a banner plastered onto the wall behind them- Fairytale project-call for budding idols. Think you've got it? Show us what you've got!

Realisation washed over me. I was in a room that was supposed for wanna-be idols to audition. At least one question had been answered.

Suddenly, the door swung open and nearly hit me in the face if I had not moved away. I was facing a door. No wonder the people were staring at me.

Crimson hair caught my attention and my gaze followed the source of the red hair.

"Good afternoon. I am Rozu Nishikino, number 59. Nice to meet you," the nineteen year-old girl, whom I knew was Mother, greeted the judges and bowed.

"What are you going to sing for us?" A lady, who was sitting in the middle, asked. The lady had raven black hair and striking turqoise eyes.

"Love Novels. I composed it," Mother replied with a confident smile. They lady in the middle nodded, signaling for Mother to start.

(Singing>> Bold+ italic)[A/N: the video above is the approximately 2minutes version but the lyrics below is the full version]

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

It practically takes a genius to be as dense as you

Anyone else would've noticed ages ago

"Huh?"

Pretending it's a coincidence again today

Should I try ambushing you?

But that's so lonely

Look over here!

I'm praying, you know

I'm crying, you know (Please)

My love can't, can' bear fruit (can't it?)

Instead of the main plot, it's a side story (Hey now!)

Fix your habit of going on ahead (I'm over here)

I'm rushing, you know

I'm crying, you know (I've had it with this!)

My love can, can... can, can, can bear fruit?

In short: I like you, so try to like me back (Smooch)

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

I'm trying so hard to make you see, yet you don't get it at all

I keep feeling on edge lately, I just can't relax like this

"Roger!"

You're oblivious to the point of simplicity

My passionate feelings are lightyears away from you

That's why I have to try and do my best
I want to become your girlfriend!

I'm hesitant

I want to feel it (I want to know)

I can, can be caught by love (I was caught)

The whole novel is probably a love story (Lovey-dovey)

I tried writing it for the two of us (It's a happy end, right?)

I'm troubled

I feel it (Geez, you idiot)

I can, can... can, can, can be caught by love!

In other words... Say 'I love you' aloud (Hug!)

(Dododododo do dodo do) Do your best

Lovey-dovey (ey ey ey)

Lovey-dovey (ey ey ey)

Lovey-dovey (ey ey ey)

A happy ending, right?

A happy ending, right?

Come on, come on

I've had it with this

Geez, you idiot

I'm praying, you know

I'm crying, you know (Please)

My love can't, can' bear fruit (can't it?)

Instead of the main plot, it's a side story (Hey now!)

Fix your habit of going on ahead (I'm over here)

I'm rushing, you know

I'm crying, you know (I've had it with this!)

My love can, can... can, can, can bear fruit?

In short: I like you, so try to like me back (Smooch)

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

Try your hardest, never never never give up

Na NaNaNa Na that's what I wanna be

[Song ends]

When Mother was done singing, the lady in the middle paused for a while and smiled at Mother.

"You know what? You're passionate and you have the potential! Usually, I will sene a letter but you, my dear, cannot wait! You are a diamond that needs to be polished. As. Soon. As. Possible! Come over to this building next week and we will start your journey as an idol! What do you say, agree?"the lady exclaimed with verve.

Mother nodded and happiness radiated from her.

"That's what I wanted to hear! See you next week, darling! Oh, and do not be late!"

That was Mother's que to leave. Mother strode out of the room and jumped for joy once she was out.

"Yes! My journey as an idol starts...now!" Mother cheered.

Suddenly, just like in my time-travelling adventure, a bright light engulfed me.

I thought my journey had ended? Why was I even dreaming of that journey?

Just like Father had always said, the brain was something that could not be understood.

I ended up in a studio. It was those studios used for recording albums. The lights were switched on and they gave the room a warm feel. There was a part of the room separated by a glass partition and a table with many buttons and things that I did not knew what they were was placed in front of the glass. The other side of the room was quite empty except for a recording device and a music stand that had a pair of headphones hung on it.

Why was I here? Why was I dreaming about a studio? Questions pounded my skull, making it hurt. I made a quick scan of my surroundings. No one was in the room- except for me.

Just then, I heard the door open and a red-haired lady sauntered in with a raven-haired lady with turqoise eyes and a man.

It was Mother and the lady that had been sitting in the middle of the panel of judges.

"Rozu-san, you will be singing Love Novels as your first single. This man with me is going to record your singing," the lady introduced. The man waved at Mother.

Mother entered a part of the room that was separated by glass and the man sat down on a chair near the table.The woman made herself comfortable on a sofa that I had just noticed. The experience seemed nee for Mother as she stared at everything with curiosity.

Mother placed some papers on the music stand and wore the headphones placed on the music stand.

After Mother noticed the man give her a thumbs up, she started to sing.

No sooner had she sung the first line than the woman stopped her.

"Wait! Think about someone you like! Think about the meaning of the song! When others hear it, they are supposed to actually feel the emotions from you. They have to relate to the song! I know it is your first time but I got to say this. Come on! Is this really the Rozu Nishikino that I heard last week? Give me your best!"

The verbal diarrhoea seemed to be a pep talk and Mother nodded vehemently.

"I will give my all!" Mother said with determination.

"That is what I wanted to hear! Try again!"the woman urged.

Mother took a deep breath and seemed to be collecting her thoughts. The man was adjusting some of the buttons and gave her a thumbs up again.

Then she started to sing.

(A/N: Refer to lyrics above or just listen to the video)

Mother seemed to have woken up from a deep sleep after she was finished. She was not interrupted from the moment she opened her mouth.

Only one word could summarise her singing.

Perfect.

"Good! That is what I wanted! I can see it now- the future star, Rozu Nishikino!"the woman exclaimed with glee. A small smile crept up Mother's face and it morpged into a megawatt beam.

"That is all for today. I will contact you when the CDs are ready or if we need a re-do. Here, take my card," the lady handed Mother a business card.

"Well, see you!"the lady bade Mother goodbye as Mother left the room.

The bright light caught me off guard as I was transported to somewhere else- again.

That time, I landed in a CD shop.

The first thing that attracted my attention like a magnet was the long line of people outside the shop. What were they queuing for? It seemed absurd, not like I cared. I caught myself twirling my hair.

Then, I caught sight of a gigantic poster on the CD shop's window.

Special Meet-and-greet with Rozu Nishikino! Get to see her up close and personal before her second live! She will be signing every CD of hers that you purchase! Stop by now!

So that was the reason for the long queue. If my memory was correct, the meet-and-greet session would be held before the concert that all of us in Muse had seen during our time-travelling journey.

Curiosity fizzed in me. What was Mother doing inside the shop? I sauntered into the shop- and through the bodies of people. I found myself in the midst of a crowded shop that was as quiet as in the hospital- not.

The noise was deafening. Fans were screaming Mother's name and Mother's song, Love Novels, was blaring out of the shop's sound system.

How I wished that the noise would disappear.

As if fate was granting my wish, the crowd quietened down.

"Hello! I'm Rozu Nishikino! It is such a pleasure to meet all of you! However, I hope all of you will line up so that I can meet every single one of you!" Mother flashed everyone a genuine smile.

Everyone lined up and remained quiet. Chatters could still be heard.

"Thanks everyone! Now, let us continue with the Meet-and-great session!" Mother exclaimed and everyone cheered.

The last thing I saw before the dream dissolved was a thought bubble above Mother's head.

I am so happy! Being an idol is great! I love music!

(Dream ends)

Like a diver slowly coming to the surface, my eyelids fluttered open and light entered my eyes. The audition, the recording, the meet-and-greet session. Images of those events surfaced in my mind.

It seemed as though I had been dreaming about Mother's past. It was similar to my time-travelling adventure with the others. A question popped into my mind.

Had I really been dreaming about Mother's past?

That was a question I would never know the answer to.

But in my heart, I think I knew the answer.