"Okay… so you see here how on Nanashi Mumei's Karaoke stream, she wears fingerless gloves. That was a common aesthetic during the punk-pop era of the 2000s."
"According to?"
"According to Professor Fantano!"
"Right…"
Emotions were filling my eyes now as I heard Mumei thank her chat.
"Okayyyyy Chatttttt one more for you guys before we go dun dun!"
"Dun dun," Calypso said under her breath.
"Huuuuuuuu," I gasped looking at her with hopeful eyes, "did you just… oww…"
She hit me hard with her shoulder.
"Ughhh… let's go back to practicing or recording something…"
"What! No! This is important too!"
I put on my serious face.
"Okay, so let me use professional sports as an example here."
"Professional sports like Kuroko?"
"No… real non-fujioshi fanbase sports…"
"Caitlyn Clark could be a Fujioshi, you don't know for sure."
"… I'll ignore that. Anyways, as I was saying, in sports, often-times before a competition, athletes do this important thing called "Film study", where they see other athletes who are known to be "elite" at certain aspects of the game they play. If a player is really good at spacing in basketball for example, players will try to imitate that player and the film of them. You have to view these Nanashi Mumei clips in a similar way in your pursuit in becoming a star."
"…are you a fucking stupid?"
"What? Your voice kind of sounds like hers."
"…"
"…"
"There's no way the free copyright will last forever you know…"
"Sigh… you're right," I said closing the YouTube clip on her phone, "which is why we still must be doing a variety of things in order to gather further stardust!"
"Oh yeah… is there like a numeric measure of that or something?"
"I'm glad you asked, I can conveniently give an exposition dump now!"
"Talking meta is just confusing for the readers you know…"
"True, but that's not why we talk meta…" I replied, "anyways… currently we are at a stardust counter of .05. Each view we get .01 stardust, and each new subscriber is worth .05 stardust."
".05… and how much do we need to gather?"
"Well… there's no exact number, but we have quotas we have to hit monthly. The first month is just training though so we don't have to hit any specific target. We should at least try to get close to the monthly target though!"
"Which is?"
"10,000 stardust!"
"…"
"…"
"10,000… Sol…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm not that good at math but… I'm pretty sure that means we need…1 million views…"
"No,"
"Yes…"
"We could also get 100,000 subscribers and then we would only need 500,000 views!"
"… right…"
She faceplanted her head on the table.
"I'm stuck with a pretentious idiot who thinks he's JYP!"
But what she did not know about the pretentious idiot, is although he may have exaggerated some parts of his knowledge and story, the roots of the pixie academy and its credentials were no lie. In fact, the academy had recently received several awards in magic.
"Thank you thank you!" Professor Palavi said when she accepted the awards, "you are all wonderful! And I hope the pixies continue to thrive in the gathering of stardust every year!"
But beneath the surface of glamor and awards, was still the inevitable truth Sol knew all too well. Which that at the end of the day… the academy was a business. And although the pixies and stars made at the academy were always high performers, there was one exception to the academy that set it apart from the others in being exceedingly profitable.
The rule was made 20 years ago at the foundation of the academy. Back then, and even still today at all the other academies, assigned star humans were only humans with significant merit.
"No…" Professor Palavi, not only the head professor, but the founder of the academy said as she pitched the idea to the pixie government in the area, "this place… this place will be different!"
She handed a proposal letter to the other parliament members of the government. In pixie society, the head professors at academies doubled as politicians, with the head Prime Minister being voted on by the other members at the time, Prime Minister Gardevoir.
"I say!" Prime Minister Gardevoir said, "what is the meaning of this nonsense. You propose to gather stardust from…"
"That's right!" Professor Palavi said, "non-talented humans with potential…"
The other members of parliament burst out laughing.
"Oh yeah! I'm suuuuurrreeeee that will work!" Professor Graves said laughing, "surely you can't be serious about this proposal, can you?
"But I am…" Professor Palavi smirking, "haven't you heard? The fake… in its deliberate attempt to become real, becomes more real… or in this case… more of a star than people who were "born" to be stars?
"Yeah… and I'm sure you don't read BL at night either hahahahahaha" Professor Graves laughed.
"…"
Professor Palavi had a not very amused look on her face as the other parliament members laughed around her. All except Prime Minister Gardevoir, who seemed to give the proposal several readthroughs thinking it over in her head.
"I dare say…" Parliament member LCP YANG said also looking skeptical about the proposal, "do you not value at all dedication and practice to craft? Surely those who train from the very start, will always rise throughout the entirety of life."
She seemed unsure however and looked at Prime Minister Gardevoir to see if she could gauge any sort of reaction.
"Oh, come on! Surely you can't be considering this seriously, Prime Minister!" Professor Graves said walking up to the Prime Minister, "continued effort and progression starts with a star born as such. It's not even a matter of being pretentious! But simply a matter of length of time I'd say. Surely you think what Professor Palavi is saying is ridiculous!"
"Length of time you say…" Prime Minister Gardevoir said putting the paper down. For as long as she lived, Gardevoir had always been told she was special. From when she was an elementary schooler as the only girl who joined the YMCA after school club and knew how to do the silly dance. From the time she had been first chair violinist at her own pixie academy. To even now where she stood alone… as the unanimously voted Prime Minister of the pixie nation. For she was fair in her judgment of all things.
"Well, I mean… there's always that X factor as well that you need, ya know," Professor Graves said making a smooching face at Gardevoir, "Yuri service xoxo, you know what I mean!"
"Which can work but only if the artistic vision actually matches…" Prime Minister Gardevoir said pushing Professor Graves away. She looked back at Professor Palavi.
"It certainly is… different. And while true, I share many of the same pre-cautions as the other Professors here…" she smirked, "oh what the hell, it is getting a bit boring around here! Let's put your little proposal to test then at the new academy!"
"WHAT…" Professor Graves said, stammering her feet as she walked towards Gardevoir… "But…"
"What is your objection Professor Graves?" Prime Minister Gardevoir asked, "it is merely a trial I suggest. If we can receive the required quota of stardust to power of society, then who cares who it is that we are gathering the stardust from?"
"But…"
"Plus, don't you remember thematically how the main characters of stories are supposed to power up?"
"… WHATEVER Gardevoir…" Professor Graves said crossing her arms and sitting back down. "Not my problem if we don't make quotas this year…"
Gardevoir smiled turning back to Professor Palavi.
"Alright Professor, you know what, we'll give it shot!"
That was 20 years ago. And every year through some twist of magic, Professor Palavi and the newly built Oliva Academy of Pixies was able to do the proper training and scouting necessary to meet stardust quota in their graduates. Though the humans assigned to the Oliva Academy students didn't necessarily thrive in their abilities any more than the special chosen students of the other academies, by saving on costs in training as well as a higher emphasis on variety, the most budget friendly of stardust activities, Olive Academy was still able to at least meet quotas year after year keeping the academy running well pass the proposed trial period Gardevoir had set.
That was… until this year.
It was just another day in Professor Palavi's everyday life as she looked down at the picture of her and the recently graduated class.
"Oh, I'll miss them," she said almost shedding a tear. Her emotions were interrupted however, as she suddenly heard a knock on her door.
"Professor…"
"Yes, what is it Student Teacher Rheni, please come in," Professor Palavi said.
"Umm… you might want to actually come get the door yourself for this one!"
"What? Why?"
"There's someone important here…"
"…Professor…"
Professor Palavi had a sinking feeling in her stomach as she slowly went to open the door. She knew that voice all to well… as behind the door revealed a very smug Professor Elizabeth Topstring Graves…
"Orders from the court!" Professor Graves said stepping into the room, "your stardust numbers are down this year Professor."
She grinned as student teacher Rheni handed Professor Palavi the reports in her hands.
"What… come on, is it that bad?" Professor Palavi said looking over the report, "we're only 5000 Stardust short, that can't be that far below average!"
"It's the 11th month in a row below average," Professor Graves said as she handed Professor Palavi the paper in her hand. The Professor adjusted her glasses as she read through the reports. And as she did… a cold sweat ran down her neck.
"I knew the untalented never worked hard…" Professor Graves said looking at Professor Palavi smugly, "especially that bitch Pixie Sol… they're really letting anyone graduate these days aren't they?"
"Oh?" Student Teacher Rheni said with a smug grin of her own looking at Professor Graves. "Does one of our students give you special interest or something? You're not a shotopixie are you?"
"What NO! Of course not!" Professor Graves said blushing slightly before coming back to her senses, "I just think he's a worthless good for nothing! His buddy Damian too… No wonder your stardust quotas are down this year. Unlike Olivin Acadamy… where we always… exceed our quotas!"
"Ma'am yes Ma'am!"
Behind her were several Olivin students in neatly pressed tuxedo outfits giving salute. One of them came over wiping the slight bit of dust on Professor Grave's shoulder before returning to his designated post.
"…host clubs are so last year Professor Graves! Haven't you heard of artistic variety?"
"Pshh… Variety…" Professor Graves scuffed. As she said that, a few of the Olivin students grabbed a silver encrusted throne chair placing it so Professor Graves could sit down. One of them also happened to have a tea set on hand and poured a cup of tea handing it to the Professor.
"What a useless talent this 'variety' is. Only those lacking in the more aesthetic arts of dance and music fall back to such a thing. But I mean… the least popular member always has to do SOMETHING to carry her weigh I suppose," she scuffed folding her arms, "but that's not going to save you this time Professor…"
Beads of sweat were now slipping down Professor Palavi's chin. For the words written and signed by Prime Minister Gardevoir were clear.
"You have to beat them to keep the academy running," Professor Gardevoir wrote, "it's what the council voted on…"
"THAT'S RIGHT…" Professor Graves said grabbing the paper back from Professor Palavi, "we're closing down your silly academy from my simple proposal alone!"
"How… how did… how did you convince them?"
"Convince them?!" Professor Graves gave out a laughter, "I didn't need to convince shit! The lack of real talent at your academy was clear as day! Bwhahahahahahahahaha."
She leaned close to her.
"But you're right… the challenge was my idea."
The final test to see if the Oliva academy is worthy or not to continue running, will come down to a duel. All the other council members without my knowledge, led by Professor Graves, issued something that had never been issued in pixie society in 50 years…
"Pascal's Magical Wager…" Professor Graves said, "a challenge of who can gather more stardust in 3 months between my chosen star child and your top student!"
She groaned looking at the paper.
"Why is it that dumbass Sol…"
"Because he tries the hardest secretly!" Professor Palavi said pulling the paper away, "and for stardom, that's all you need sometimes! Belief!"
"Oh, I have belief alright…" Professor Graves said staring at Professor Palvi angrily, "but you'll soon see… belief means nothing without the proper discipline and work ethic to get it… that's what all stars have professor… whether you admit it or not…"
She stood up getting close to Professor Palavi's face.
"That's why you can't win Professor… and why as the proposal says, when I win… this sorry academy will finally close and Prime Minister Gardevoir will double the funds for my prestigious Olivin Academy instead. Where the REAL STARS shine. Bwhahahahaha. You see this picture of the star child I'M ASSIGNED TO Professor?!?! You really think some struggling artistic rejects are going to win?!?"
And although Professor Palavi could give whatever speeches she wanted about inner beauty and personality to help the journey… even she couldn't help but be in awe at the picture of the woman Professor Graves was assigned to for her Magical Wager… A woman who from every part of her body, from her clean blonde hair to her clean-shaven legs fitting in high heels and modestly classy dress, looked ready for a sort of artistic performance that no mortal, man or woman, could possibly not enjoy. That woman of course… with the name…