Time flew by during the first semester. Dakota and Erika had settled into the Hunter Academy. But it took a certain someone over 4 months to find out a shocking piece of information.
Esmarie: "Wait… you like Hikaru too?"
That someone was Esmarie. She had her chin resting on her hand, eyes gleaming mischievously at Dakota.
Dakota: "Huh?"
Esmarie's lips curled into a smirk: "Don't play dumb, Dakota. I can see it. That's Hikaru's second single, the 'Shine On You' album cover as your wallpaper!"
A spark went off in Dakota's eyes, the kind of spark normally reserved for witnessing a new episode drop of your favorite anime after a cliffhanger.
Dakota: "You know 'Shine On You'?" he asked, lowering his strawberry milk dramatically. "Not many people do. That track wasn't even on MusicShio until her label re-released it."
Esmarie tilted her head, feigning modesty: "Of course I know it. I've been following Hikaru since her major debut. Her voice has this… sincerity, you know? Like, you can feel sparkles in every note."
Dakota's eyebrow twitched: "Oh, you're one of those fans."
Esmarie raised a brow: "Excuse me?"
Dakota sighed, leaning back in his chair like a man about to impart divine truth: "No offense, but debut-era fans are tourists. You weren't there when she was performing at the park or giving street performances with a busted amp and a dream."
Esmarie's smirk faltered: "Wait… what do you mean? Were you there?"
Dakota: "Indeed I was," he replied, a small, proud smile sneaking onto his face. "Me and my friend saw her live once. Before all the fame. We even bought her homemade CD — the one with the handwritten tracklist. That night…" He closed his eyes, remembering the glow of the streetlights, Hikaru's voice cutting through the crisp air. "…That night was a top 3 experience in my life."
Erika: "Wow! I've never heard this. Are you guys friends?"
Dakota opened his eyes again, his expression grave: "No. But we have talked."
Esmarie crossed her arms: "You're bluffing."
Dakota: "Try me."
Esmarie: "How about you show me proof!"
Dakota pulled out his phone faster than most people draw breath: "I've got a pic saved. Don't even test me."
Esmarie leaned over the table as he scrolled. Sure enough, there it was. A grainy night photo of a small crowd, a single girl under a streetlamp with a guitar, and a cardboard sign that read her first song ever "Hikaru: Song for the Soul."
Esmarie: "Oh my God. That's actually her."
Dakota: "Told you," he said smugly. "I'm one of if not her first fan."
Esmarie flicked her hair and leaned closer with a challenging smile: "Then tell me this, Mr. First Fan. What's her favorite food ever?"
Dakota: "Grilled takiyaki from Yamada's Den."
Esmarie's jaw dropped. "How do you—"
Dakota: "She posted about it once on her story a few years ago," he said with the air of a man who'd memorized holy scripture. "That was before she even had 50 followers."
Erika: "W–wait," she stammered, looking between the two of them. "You guys sound like you're in some kind of fan war."
"Because we are," Dakota and Esmarie said in perfect unison.
***
The debate continued even after classes ended.
Posters printed from Shiogram. Headphones plugged into phones. Shiopedia pages opened for "neutral references."
Erika sat between them, trapped in the middle to mediate this.
Esmarie slapped the table: "You can't deny it! Her debut-era was peak Hikaru, emotional, refined, pure artistry!"
Dakota countered immediately, pointing with a chopstick: "Refined? That was overproduced! The raw charm of her street era is what made her special! That's when she was real!"
Esmarie rolled her eyes: "That doesn't mean it was better, Dakota! People evolve! You wouldn't tell Van Gogh to stay in his doodle phase!"
Dakota: "You're comparing street Hikaru to Van Gogh's doodles?" He slammed his hand on the desk. "Blasphemy!"
Erika, timidly eating her rice ball, whispered: "I think both versions sound nice…"
"Stay out of this!" both of them barked, before immediately apologizing in unison. "…Sorry, Erika."
She blinked: "Hehe. It's fine."
By then, the duel was already spiraling into new territory.
Esmarie leaned forward, her eyes gleaming: "Okay, trivia time. If you're such a big fan, name the three songs that're still only on Shiogram."
Dakota smirked: "Easy. 'Confess Your Love,' 'Streetlight,' and 'Winter on My Street.' Want me to name the dates too?"
Esmarie's jaw clenched: "Fine. How about this: which radio show did she appear on before her debut?"
Dakota: "FM Kyoko 103.9," he answered instantly. "Hosted by DJ Kenga, Thursday slot. I even called in once."
Esmarie: "You called—what?"
Dakota looked away: "She said my question was sweet. That compliment lives rent-free in my heart."
Erika stared in disbelief: "…You're really dedicated, huh."
Esmarie snorted: "Dedicated? Obsessive."
Dakota: "Look who's talking!" he shot back. "You're the one who owns every version of her albums."
Esmarie: "That's called supporting the artist! Not… whatever you call what you're doing!"
Erika raised her hand hesitantly: "Um… what do you call it, exactly?"
Dakota: "Religion."
By the time the sun began to set, the three of them were sitting outside on the steps behind the cafeteria. Esmarie's phone propped up on a water bottle, playing Hikaru's newest single. Erika sat between them again, listening quietly as the melody washed over the fading daylight. It was a simple song, gentle, hopeful, warm. The kind that made you forget the world was full of noise and stress.
When it ended, neither of the two self-proclaimed superfans spoke.
But Erika did: "…She's amazing." Her voice was small, but there was a spark of awe in it. The kind that only comes when someone's heart gets quietly stolen.
Esmarie smiled: "Told you."
Dakota looked off toward the horizon, pretending he wasn't smiling too: "…Yeah. She really is."
There was a brief, peaceful silence.
Then Erika said the unthinkable: "So… which of you is the bigger fan?"
The peace shattered. They turned toward her simultaneously, eyes blazing with rivalry and pride.
Esmarie: "Me!"
Dakota: "Please," he scoffed. "You probably didn't even buy her pre-debut merch."
Esmarie: "I would've if I could've!"
Dakota: "Excuses of the casual."
Esmarie: "Grrr."
Erika blinked as the argument reignited beside her like fireworks: "Um… maybe you can both be big fans?"
"No," they both said flatly.
Dakota crossed his arms: "There can only be one number one."
Esmarie flicked his forehead: "Then prepare to lose, Dakota Smith."
Dakota: "Ow?!"
The next day, the battle escalated.
By morning, Esmarie had printed out a fan banner that read "Team Hikaru 4Ever" with a heart emoji. By lunch, Dakota had countered with a handmade glowstick that he brought with him to the Academy.
Esmarie stood proudly beside her decorated poster: "Artistic representation of devotion."
Dakota: "Well, this is factual representation of loyalty."
Esmarie: "You made a spreadsheet, Dakota!"
Dakota: "It's called data analysis!"
Erika tilted her head: "Why is there a pie chart?"
Dakota: "To quantify emotional investment by era," he said with complete sincerity.
Esmarie leaned in: "Oh really? And where am I?"
He pointed to a sliver: "70%. You're in the normie convert bracket."
Esmarie: "Take. That. Back."
Dakota: "I don't make the rules. The data does."
Esmarie grabbed his poster with rage: "Your entire model's based on bias!"
Dakota: "That's not bias, that's experience."
Esmarie: "Experience doesn't make you right!"
Dakota: "Yes it does! That's literally how experience works!"
Erika's laughter bubbled up before she could stop it: "You two are ridiculous."
They both froze, turning to her: "…What's so funny?"
Erika grinned. "You're arguing about who loves an idol more. The reason you like her so much is because she made you feel something, right?"
Esmarie blinked.
Dakota scratched his cheek: "…I mean. Yeah."
Erika: "So what's the point in fighting? What would Hikaru think if she the two of you arguing over her like this?"
A small silence fell again. Even Esmarie couldn't find a comeback.
Then Dakota muttered: "Yeah, but I still like her more."
Esmarie threw a milk carton at him.
***
After school, as the sky turned violet, the three of them were walking back to the dorms together.
Esmarie was humming under her breath. Erika was scrolling through Hikaru's Shiogram page.
Erika: "So, which song should I start with next?"
Dakota and Esmarie's heads snapped toward each other, then toward Erika.
Dakota: "If you want to understand Hikaru, start with 'Stardust Mirage.' It's the emotional core of her music."
Esmarie cut him off: "Wrong. Start with 'Color your night.' That's where her professional era truly shines."
Erika blinked: "Can I… listen to both?"
They looked at each other. Then at her.
Dakota: "Well, yeah."
Esmarie nodded: "For now."
As they reached the dorms, Hikaru's voice floated from Erika's phone.
Dakota smiled: "She's really something, huh?"
Erika: "Yeah, she truly is."
Esmarie scratched behind her ear. "We should go to a concert next summer."
Dakota: "If she has any."
Esmarie: "If not during summer, then after we graduate."
Dakota smirked: "We'll see."
Later that night, a group chat just for 3 people was made.
Esmarie: okay so who cried first during the second chorus of 'Light Years Away'?
Dakota: that was you, I saw the tissue
Esmarie: FALSE. I had allergies
Erika: you both did :D
Esmarie: betrayal
Dakota: new fan confirmed
Erika: hehe
A pause.
Then two messages popped up almost at the same time:
Esmarie: welcome to the family
Dakota: prepare your wallet
Dakota wondered if he should add Chifuyu. But they made a promise to not be in contact until after they've become Hunters.
Esmarie: what should we name the gc?
Dakota: oshi no ko
Esmarie: be quiet mode
Erika: XD