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[ reference song (Click this) ]
Up on the stage, the crew sprang into action.
One by one, the instrunts were brought up.
From a massive traditional drum that took several people to lift, to a shamisen carried with the utmost care, to bamboo flutes, all the way down to a keyboard and other modern equipnt.
The stage lights still burned bright.
The crew jogged back and forth, making sure every cable was properly connected.
The chatter of the audience gradually died down.
All eyes turned toward the stage.
Before long, the preparations were complete.
The last crew mber stepped off the stage.
The MC stepped back up to the center.
"Before we kick off our main event..."
He smiled.
"Let’s cool things down a bit first."
Applause rippled through the crowd from all directions.
Then—
Blackout.
Every light on the stage cut out at once.
The crowd instantly fell even quieter.
In the midst of the darkness, the sound of footsteps echoed.
Quick.
Light.
asured.
Several figures moved into their respective positions.
Then—
*Click.*
The lights flared back to life.
Spotlights bead down onto the stage.
The musicians were already in place.
Sitting neatly in a row.
Dressed in traditional attire.
Yukata, kimono, and various sumr festival accessories.
Sitting dead center was the lead singer.
Her hands rested neatly in her lap.
Her head was slightly bowed.
For a few seconds, there was absolute silence.
Then, the voice erged.
Soft.
Crystal clear.
Gentle as a breeze sweeping across a adow.
The first note drifted out slowly.
Rising a little.
Falling.
Then flowing outward like a calm, rolling wave.
The entire festival grounds seed to hold its breath.
Even the little kids who had been running around stopped in their tracks.
Listening.
The singer’s voice rose again.
A little higher.
A little deeper.
And right at that mont—
*Thoom.*
The massive drum was struck.
The vibration reverberated right through my chest.
The vocals continued to flow.
Then, the other instrunts began to join in.
One by one.
Slowly.
Unhurried.
As if they were painting a landscape out of sound.
Then, the keyboard entered.
Filling the empty spaces between the traditional notes.
The backup singers began to harmonize.
Their voices blended together.
Soft.
Floating.
Like a thin morning mist.
I stared at the stage.
And for so reason, the air around felt different.
It was still sumr.
The air was still warm.
The lanterns were still swaying in the night breeze.
But the song carried sothing else entirely.
A chill.
Not an uncomfortable, biting cold.
But a cold like snow falling softly on a quiet night.
As if winter had paid a brief visit right in the middle of a sumr festival.
Beside , Yuna was quiet too.
Mika was no longer chatting.
Even Hana, who was usually so calm, looked incredibly focused.
The backup singers gradually stopped singing.
They stood up.
Then began to move.
Dancing with gentle, graceful steps.
Their long sleeves trailed after every movent.
Twirling slowly.
Like leaves caught in the wind.
The lead vocals climbed higher.
Grew stronger.
The instrunts followed suit.
Note after note layered on top of each other.
Rising.
Rising even higher.
Until it finally reached its peak.
And right when everyone thought the song would just keep building—
everything stopped.
Silence.
Just for a mont.
Then, applause erupted from all directions.
Cheers filled the festival streets.
A few people even shouted.
"AMAZING!!"
And clapped even harder.
The musicians bowed politely.
The stage lights changed color once more.
Signaling that the first performance had co to an end.
_
Amidst the lingering applause, I glanced around.
Yuna had clearly enjoyed the performance.
Her eyes were still glued to the stage.
Mika was even clapping enthusiastically.
Hana offered a faint smile, calm as always, as she clapped softly.
And Yuria—
Bardy’s daughter with the long golden blonde hair—
looked thoroughly impressed.
Her gaze remained on the stage.
Her hands clapping slowly.
As if she hadn’t completely shaken off the lingering atmosphere of the song.
"Hahaha..."
Bardy let out a light chuckle beside .
"What do you think, Itsuki?"
He pointed at the stage.
"The stage you built."
"Combined with this sumr atmosphere."
"And that song just now."
I observed the stage for a mont.
The festival lights.
The night sky.
The lanterns swaying in the breeze.
And the thousands of people enjoying the event.
Then, I gave a faint smile.
"Yeah."
"It’s not bad."
Bardy raised an eyebrow.
"Just ’not bad’?"
"The sumr atmosphere,"
I continued.
"And then a song that brings the chill of winter right into it."
"It’s a contrast."
"But that’s exactly what makes it so captivating."
I glanced back at the stage.
"It feels like soone throwing open a window in the middle of a sweltering day."
"A sudden draft of cold air rushes in."
"Just for a mont."
"But enough to leave a lasting impression."
Bardy nodded.
"A fine analysis. Did you plan all of this?"
"I wouldn’t know about that."
I shrugged.
"My job is just to set up the stage."
"Not to run the event."
"Hahaha."
Bardy laughed again.
"How about you try running the events, too?"
I turned to him.
"What do you an?"
"We’re a stage production agency."
"Not an event organizer."
"So?"
Bardy leaned against the guardrail separating the street from the sidewalk.
"Does that an we can’t?"
"Is it forbidden?"
"We easily could."
"If we wanted to."
"So?"
He smiled.
"What do you say?"
I shook my head imdiately.
"No."
"I’m already swamped enough just dealing with the stages."
"If you throw event managent on top of that, I can’t even imagine what my days would look like."
"Hahaha."
"Co on, I’ll give you a bonus."
"And extra pay to match the workload."
"Forget the bonus."
I replied without missing a beat.
"I’ll consider it if both jobs are actually sitting right in front of ."
"If it turns out to be more trouble than it’s worth, I’m turning it down."
"Alright, alright."
Bardy raised both hands in surrender.
"Very well, Mr. Itsuki."
He shook his head slowly.
Right then, I noticed sothing.
Everyone around us had gone quiet.
Misaki.
Yuna.
Mika.
Hana.
Even Yuria.
They were all staring at .
Wearing almost the exact sa expression.
Confusion.
I furrowed my brow.
"What’s up with all of you?"
Misaki was the first to speak.
"Itsuki..."
"Yeah?"
"I had no idea your work was on such a massive scale."
I blinked.
"Huh?"
"What do you an?"
Misaki pointed at the stage.
Then at the street lined with food stalls.
Then at the lights, the giant screens, and the speakers dominating the festival grounds.
"This."
"All of this."
I looked around.
Then back at Misaki.
"But I just put the stage together."
"It’s nothing that huge."
Misaki just stared at in dead silence.
Like I had just said sothing completely absurd.
I let out a sigh.
"I don’t do it all by myself."
"I’m just one of dozens of people."
"Sotis hundreds."
"Everyone has their own specific role."
"So it’s not like this is solely my achievent."
Misaki nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"I get that."
"But still."
She looked back toward the stage.
"It’s incredible."
I didn’t know how to respond to that.
"Alright, alright."
Mika suddenly chid in.
"Mister, you’ve got to share so free tickets next ti!"
"I want to see an idol! Up close!"
I imdiately turned to her.
"Huh?"
"I’m a stage builder."
"Not an event organizer."
"What’s the difference?"
Mika clearly didn’t get it.
"I’m the guy who builds the stage."
"The event organizers are the ones who actually run the show."
"Hahaha!"
Mika laughed.
"That’s basically the sa thing."
"It’s not the sa."
"It totally is."
"No, it isn’t."
"Yes, it is."
"No."
"Yes."
"Hahaha!"
Yuna giggled as she watched our little debate.
Even Hana covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Then, Bardy suddenly interjected.
"Without a stage..."
"The event cannot begin."
I instantly got a bad feeling about this.
"Bardy-san..."
"Wait."
He raised a single finger.
Then, he continued in an exaggeratedly serious tone.
"Without the world..."
"Humanity would simply cease to exist."
I stared at him.
Silence stretched for a few seconds.
"..."
"..."
"Hahaha!"
Even Misaki burst out laughing this ti.
"That’s stretching it way too far."
"It’s called an analogy."
"It’s called an exaggeration."
"But it’s true."
A light chorus of laughter rippled through our group.
The atmosphere grew light.
Warm.
And comfortable.
Then, from the direction of the stage—
the sound of the microphone echoed out once more.
"Alright!"
The MC reappeared under the spotlights.
The crowd gradually quieted down.
"Let’s keep the night going!"
Applause erupted once again.
"Next up..."
The MC opened a small cue card in his hand.
Then, he smiled.
"Let’s all listen to..."
"A song by NARI, titled..."
~~ • ~~
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