A slight sigh came as the figure stepped into Otonakizaka Academy. It was obvious that the figure was going to stick out like a sore thumb in such an area however he had to do resolve what he steeled himself to do. Reaching his destination, he knocked on the door hoping things would go well.

It was September 12th and lessons were proceeding as per normal at Otonakizaka Academy. Minami Kotori suddenly felt two short vibrations from her skirt pocket. It was a text message sent to her cellphone. She quickly flipped her phone open, away from the sight of her teacher who was writing down equations on the whiteboard. It was a message from her mother, Minami Haruko who was also the principal of the school.

'What does Mom want? Nothing was announced on the PA system so I guess it's not school related.' Kotori thought as the amber eyed teen laid eyes on the content of the message.

"Come to the office after school. There's something that we need to discuss," was all that was written on the message.

She hid back her phone into her pocket and adjusted her slightly loosened ribbon. Suddenly a piece of paper was flung onto her table. It was from one of her two childhood friends, Kousaka Honoka. The brunette was apparently had something to pass to Kotori after school in the Idol Research Club or rather, μ's clubroom. Kotori tossed back the paper, informing she'd be at the clubroom after she talks to her mom. Honoka simply gave Kotori a nod and thumbs-up signaling she understood the situation.

'Still, what could Mom want? I mean, my grades aren't dropping and the school idol part is going smoothly. Could she have found out I'm Minalinksy?' Kotori wondered nervously as she knew her mom would not approve of her working while schooling.

When the lessons for the day ended, Kotori made her way to the office. She could hear a voice conversing with her mother from outside the Principal's office. It was the voice of a male and the teenage was quite confused on why a male would be in an all-girls school.

'Could he be a member of the school's board of directors or something? Regardless, the principal called me so I have to follow through with it.' Kotori thought as she willed herself to enter the room.

Regardless of who was in the room, she knocked on the door politely, asked for permission to enter and stepped in once permission was given.

Her eyes immediately laid upon her mother who sat firmly in her chair then onto the back of the figure she was speaking to. She took note of his dressing, the fringe of his black hair was parted to the side and the back was tied up into a short ponytail. He wore a black sleeveless vest over a white short sleeved shirt and black pants matched with a pair of pure white sneakers.

She took a seat at the remaining unoccupied seat beside the male and the person immediately walked off to sit on the nearby couch in the corner.

'What an unsociable guy.' Kotori thought as she began speaking to her mother.

She began to ask her mom, Minami Haruko on the reason why she was called to the office. Her heart raced at the worry of being found out of being Minalinsky but if this was not the case, she did not want to give it away though the conversation. She was surprised when her mom opened the drawer at her desk to pull out two small boxes and passed them both to Kotori.

"Happy Birthday, Kotori." Her mother congratulated her with a smile on her face.

Her eyes widened. She had forgotten on her own birthday due to the tests as well as μ dance training. She had cleanly forgotten on a third party in the room and gave her mother a hug smiling gleefully.

"Thank you, Mom. I mean, Principal Minami." Kotori responded teasing her mom using her title as a gag.

She left the room in a hurry realizing that she was late to meet up with the μ members.

"Was it alright for you not to tell her that one of the presents was from you?" Principal Minami asked the seated figure.

"No worries, Haruko-san. My intention is simply observe to make decisions and if possible, not get her involved." The ponytailed teen said as he smiled at the middle-aged woman.

'Not get her involved, you're intending to change the decision made, Kazuma?' Principal Minami thought worriedly knowing very well what the boy before him was getting at.

"She's a beautiful young woman, Haruko-san, truly an angel with that smile of hers. I'm not sure how far I can go alone, but I'll do what I have to." Kazuma announced not to the Principal of the school but to the mother of Minami Kotori.

Kotori rushed into the room gripping tightly the two boxes, only to be showered in confetti. Instead of seeing the members watching and reviewing their practice videos, in the room was a cake and a banner with the words, "Happy Birthday" written on it.

"Happy Birthday!" rang every single member of μ causing Kotori to feel touched to the point of tears.

Surprised at the gifts already in her hand, the sapphire eyed Honoka asked who the gifts were from to which Kotori responded it was her mom.

"Lemme see! Lemme see!" came the excited voice of the orange short haired, Hoshizora Rin who was eager to know what presents she had received from her mother.

'Why are there two anyway? It's normally one per person.' Thought the bluenette, Sonoda Umi as she observed the first small parcel being opened.

Inside it was a silver bracelet, simple in design with just slight engraving of Kotori's name on the front. It was an accessory much like Kotori, simple yet beautiful. It was like her mother to give her something that was not too costly yet suited her age.

'What's in the second one? Is it part of a set?' Ayase Eri, the resident father-like figure thought of the most logical reasoning on why there were two presents.

It was unwrapped by Kotori and tension was high due to the curiosity of Rin, the twin tailed Niko and the brunette Honoka. Off went the lid of the unwrapped box and displayed clearly was a hairclip in the shape of two wings being spread out. It was made of silver and the top was layered with small crystals of varying colours. Most of the girls found it beautiful as did Kotori herself however it felt odd.

'It's not like Mom to give something so flashy.' Kotori wondered however, she was suddenly shoved with eight more presents.

"Well you've opened up your mom's gifts, now time for ours." Honoka smiled mischievously as she chuckled at Kotori almost losing balance from the excessive amount of presents she had to carry simultaneously.

Umi and Eri held her steady and reprimanded Honoka for her childish behaviour. Kotori who was having trouble balancing, placed the presents on the table near her. She stood in front of the members and flashed a smile at them.

"Thanks everyone!" with tears still in her eyes, she thanked her close friends and fellow members.

Outside the room on his way out of Otonakizaka Academy, Matsuo Kazuma overheard the cries of 'Happy Birthday' and the thanks that came from a high pitched voice. He felt mixed feelings about carrying out his plane however, he could not stop.

'I can't make her follow through with this. I have a year to complete my task.' He thought as he adjusted the elastic band that kept his ponytail intact.

'Looks like I'll have to talk to my old man and the geezer.' He registered the next process of what to do.

He made his way back home, riding a cab back. He massaged his temples. That sincere smile shown when she hugged her mother. He wondered what it was like to have a mother, as his mother was frail and had passed on after giving birth to him. That bittersweet feeling swelled in him until he reached the large gates of the Matsuo residence.

It was an olden themed house with many different rooms. Currently it was near dinner time and as such the workers inside were busy preparing dinner. He was sick of such treatment for quite some time and normally stayed in the college dormitory however, today was an exception.

He stepped pass the gate and went pass the long corridor. He walked on until he reached a wide closed door at a building detached from the house. It was technically a dojo however, as there were a lack of students, it was a place where two generations of Matsuo males usually were. He knocked on the door awaiting a response.

"Who is it?" came a burly middle-aged voice that sounded more like a roar than something that would come from a person.

'Well, at the least, my old man seems healthy,' Kazuma thought as he removed the band holding his pony tail and straightened his hair which reached slightly below his shoulder.

"It is your son, Kazuma. Father, may I enter?" He asked, switching to a more formal tone of voice.

"Go right ahead, son." The voiced boomed again as the door was slid open.

Kazuma stepped in sitting on the floor on his knees opposite to this father, Matsuo Azuma, who other than his short hair and larger build was practically an exact lookalike to himself. An even older figure sat behind on a cushion on his knees as well. The oldest of the three generations of Matsuo, Matsuo Yamato who smoked his pipe silently.

"Father, Grandfather, we have a matter to discuss." Kazuma said looking his two blood relatives in the eye with strong resolve.

"Involving Minami's grandchild?" The white haired old man spoke for the first time.

'As always, Grandfather is fast on the pick up.' Kazuma thought as the tension in the room increase several fold.

"Yes, I wish to annul my engagement with Minami Kotori." He declared to his father and grandfather.