"Really, I'm sorry!"
Seeing Yutsuki's face full of murderous aura, like a rakshasa, the Yamai sisters instinctively swallowed their talk.
Even Tohka, who was normally so carefree, could not help but feel a trace of fear and tremble.
Shido's entire body was breaking out in cold sweat under the trendous pressure. He had a thousand reasons to believe that even in Shiori mode right now, if he did not apologize imdiately, the next thing he would get would be far more than a simple paper fan smack in the head as a gag.
"Hmph… you finally understand."
After letting out a long breath, Yutsuki's expression gradually improved thanks to Shido's decisive apology.
Not wasting the mont, Shido almost instinctively chose the best dialogue option—returning to the main subject.
"Speaking of which, Kaguya and Yuzuru… why are you two here?!"
After Shido finished, both girls crossed their arms.
"Kuku, we heard about it from Kotori. Apparently you were having a hard ti because you were short-handed."
"Support. If possible, could we take on the job?"
"Eh… then the extra personnel Kotori ntioned was…"
"That's right—it's us. Yuzuru will handle the bass, Kaguya will handle the drums, and I'll take the keyboard…" Yutsuki sighed and glared at Shido. "By the way, don't think we'll be dragging things down. Learning the score only took us half an hour. Maybe in the end you'll be the weakest link among us."
"Ugh…"
Cornered by Yutsuki's sharp tongue, Shido could only make a sowhat embarrassed face. But since they were all so confident, Shido had no choice but to trust them.
"But… Yutsuki, you still have another performance before this, right? Is it okay to participate in two events in a row?"
"If you knew that, then maybe you should have been a little more reliable, Shido."
Yutsuki moaned, pressing a hand to her forehead in exasperation.
At Yutsuki's complaint, Shido could only smile apologetically.
Suddenly, Shido noticed that Yutsuki gave off a slightly strange feeling.
Even though she was currently in a won's outfit, Yutsuki was not being driven around by intense impulses the way she normally would. How should he put it… she felt more like the usual male-dressed Shido.
As if sensing Shido's gaze, Yutsuki—who had been looking down at the sheet music—turned around and asked in confusion.
"What is it?"
"...Ahem! Nothing at all."
He lightly coughed and brushed it off.
"Anyway, about the vocalist issue. Kotori said you had so solution… did you find Origami?"
To be honest, under the current situation, Shido really could not think of any other solution besides lip-syncing.
"No, Origami is busy doing sothing for Shido right now." After shaking her head in denial, Yutsuki proposed in a calm voice, "Why not let Tohka be the vocalist?"
"I see… eh!?"
"Oooh! I get to sing?!"
Unlike Shido's surprised cry, Tohka excitedly waved the tambourine in her hands.
"Wait! Yutsuki!"
"What? If you want, you can also sing along with her. It's not strange for a guitarist to sing too."
"N-No, that's not the issue. The main thing is…" Halfway through his explanation, Shido suddenly noticed Tohka's confused gaze and quickly coughed, choosing a more tactful way to phrase it. "Tohka… because of the lyric cards, she hasn't learned the lyrics."
Tohka also had a beautiful voice, so Shido had considered letting Tohka beco the vocalist too. But unfortunately, because she could not read the words on the lyric cards, she had ended up as the cute tambourine player.
"Well… that's not really a problem. Even if she can't read the lyrics, Tohka should have been practicing with you all for so long. Even if she doesn't know the words, she should still be able to sing."
Yutsuki was not particularly surprised by that. Thinking back to before she had learned Japanese, she herself had already been able to sing many Japanese songs. In the end, it was just a matter of repetition and familiarity.
"Hm? Tohka, do you rember how our song goes?"
"Mm-mm, I learned it just by listening!"
To prove her answer, Tohka even sang a short fragnt of the song. Though there were a few imperfections in the details, overall it was already very pleasant to hear. Shido was a little surprised, but he still let out a breath of relief and accepted it.
"Then… the vocals are yours, Tohka!"
"umu umu! Leave it to . I'll win with my instrunt and my singing."
Saying that, Tohka proudly waved the tambourine in her hand.
"I see… so Tohka's instrunt is a tambourine that makes a crisp sound?"
"Agreed. It really suits you. That is not sarcasm."
Seeing that everyone's mood had finally shaken off the impact of Miku's performance, Yutsuki looked sowhat relieved.
"The next performance will be Raizen High School's Ryougi Yutsuki—solo vocal performance."
The announcent from the PA system echoed in the waiting room.
"Well then… I should probably get ready to go on stage too!"
After casually stretching her body, Yutsuki stood up and headed toward the stage.
"Kuku! Go forth, my comrade. Use your demonic voice to show those foolish humans what a real performance is!"
"Nod. Do your best, Yutsuki. Give Miku a good one."
"Mmm-mm. Yutsuki is going on stage? Do your best!"
"Mm, stay relaxed and don't be too nervous."
"Don't worry. I'm not nearly as ntally fragile as Shido."
For an instant, Yutsuki's face showed a gentle, satisfied smile. Then it shifted into a mischievous one as she answered.
Walking gradually toward the stage, through the long narrow passage, the crowd ahead gathered together and erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
"Oh my, isn't this Yutsuki-san~?"
With slow steps, Miku stood there wearing her Astral Dress that looked like a stage dress, smiling with delight.
"I'm really glad you made it. Did you watch my performance?"
"Well… it was absolutely perfect. Whether in terms of performance or her on the spot improvisation. It was flawless to the point where I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it."
Shrugging, Yutsuki expressed her admiration without the slightest concealnt.
"Ara, I'm very happy that you can praise like that~"
Miku's smile grew even brighter, and as if sothing occurred to her, she lightly clapped her hands.
"By the way, after cos Yutsuki-san's performance—solo vocal. Hehe, I hope everyone will give Yutsuki-san a little support~"
It was an obvious taunt. After Miku's overwhelming performance, there was no way the audience could have recovered from the afterglow in such a short ti. At this mont, going on stage with the sa type of performance ant Yutsuki would be lucky not to be booed.
"Hmph. True. If this were a normal situation, maybe I'd be trembling like crazy." Yutsuki gave a light laugh, then looked directly into Miku's silver eyes and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "But the mont I learned that our popular idol Miku-sama had, because of Shiori-chan's words, beco so afraid of failure and being sealed that she resorted to underhanded little tricks, I knew I couldn't possibly lose~"
At that mont, Miku's face returned to a cold expression. But quickly, she restored her bright smile.
"Then… I'll look forward to seeing what kind of performance you put on, Yutsuki-san… provided you can even sing."
...
"Whoa, Shido! Yutsuki is about to go on stage!"
At the viewing corridor from earlier, Tohka saw Yutsuki appear on stage and shouted with excitent.
"Yeah, I know! Let's cheer for her together!"
"Kuku~ My comrade, show these mortals the majesty of you, the Thunder Priestess!"
"Cheer up. Don't lose, Yutsuki~"
"..."
However, even though the perforrs had already appeared on stage, the stage speakers and lights still had not turned on.
After a mont of silence, the audience in the venue once again beca restless.
As if thinking of sothing, Shido hurriedly asked Kotori on the other end of the earpiece.
"Kotori, you didn't forget to plug the power back in, did you?"
"Idiot. How could I possibly forget sothing like that? But… I'll check what happened."
After a brief silence in the earpiece, there ca the sound of a heavy slap on the table, followed by Kotori grinding her teeth.
"I miscalculated. The managent side has already been controlled by Miku using her ability, including the staff we arranged."
"Th-Then that ans…"
Ignoring the dissatisfied looks from the people around him, Shido cried out in panic.
"Mm… for the ti being, it looks like we won't be able to restore the electrical equipnt from our side."
"Yutsuki…"
Looking at the lone girl standing on stage, Shido's voice was full of unprecedented worry.
...
"Hu~"
Standing on stage, Ryougi Yutsuki slowly let out a long breath.
Unlike watching from the audience seats, standing alone in the dark plaza and facing tens of thousands of people on stage was an entirely different experience.
Even though she had already prepared herself ntally, the actual pressure of reaching this mont was unexpectedly huge.
Although she had trained enough in terms of technique, this was Yutsuki's first ti experiencing live performance on-site. The instant she truly stood on stage, her mouth felt dry.
She truly respected Izayoi Miku for being able to respond so flexibly even in such circumstances.
What Yutsuki had said to Miku earlier was not a lie. If it had not been for Miku's little tricks, Yutsuki probably would have been just like Shido and lost the will to fight after seeing that dazzling performance.
However… at this mont, her body felt as though it were burning, with heat constantly surging up from within.
—There is a reason I cannot back down!
Her inner voice kept telling her that.
She was not standing here rely to win a competition. She was here to protect her precious family! To fight for this beautiful place to belong!
—What could be more wonderful than that?
Every cell in her body was rejoicing.
So even facing such a difficult situation, Yutsuki still wore an incomparably beautiful smile.
"Spirit Dress of God's Authority, Number 2 Yod!"
A low, calm whisper spread through the entire venue. The next instant, the stage was filled with dazzling blue-white light.
Like a spring thunderclap, the intense impact caused the audience, who had still been imrsed in the lingering afterglow of Miku's singing, to turn their eyes back toward the stage.
Before anyone knew it, the girl's butler style outfit had changed. The black trench coat that had been part of her Astral Dress had been split into multiple segnts because it was not fully deployed. Dark sleeves, jacket, and skirt—combined with a Tokiwadai school uniform beneath—gave off a special and refreshing feeling.
Blue white light danced around the girl, and tiny lightning snakes spread outward, giving the stage a strange, fantastical color.
As if responding to it, the spotlights shone down on Yutsuki, and a lively rhythm began to ring out from the speakers.
Just like Miku, Yutsuki used her power as a Spirit to successfully transform the accident at the start into a special performance that heightened audience anticipation, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the hall.
"Yutsuki! Do your best!"
Amid the noisy cheers of the crowd, a familiar voice rang out clearly in her ears.
Yutsuki smiled lightly, raised the microphone in her hand, and sang a song that was airy and beautiful.
"—Take one single deep breath, I descend straight down
I'm still not used to the feeling of having my feet off the ground
I had decide against simply being swept away by everything in the changing world
For now, I just want to get my feet used to where I'm living though
With the power of what I borrow,carrying the will of what I borrow
I'm surely more faith is for my sake more than anyone else!"
Her feet bounced along with the rhythm!
Her arms swung with the flow of the music!
As if the entire venue had beco her own limbs, the audience, alongside the fierce cheering, followed Yutsuki's movents and began waving glowsticks, leaping and moving with abandon.
...
"It feel like I was abandoned
In an unfamiliar world all alone
If only I had so pillars I could lean on
For the ti being,I think it'll be fine if I keep looking forward,I'm sure
Be brave
Brave Girl
May you be able to discover your own story in the world stretching beyond you first step"
If Miku's performance was "perfect," then Yutsuki's performance was "intense."
In terms of dance and singing, Yutsuki was comparatively clumsy next to Miku no matter how you looked at it.
And yet, within her singing was sothing—an emotion so sincere and pure it seed about to overflow—that possessed an unstoppable power to move hearts.
...
"Thing like competing with others,like competing grades
Make wonder if I really don't want to give up the things that I can't
How many thought it taken to get where I am now?
If only I could throw at least just a few questions at you.
Improvising as I am, I can only play the part of "myself"
That being the case,with all the thoughts I have, give so inspiration!"
By the ti the song entered its second section, the entire venue had been transford into a blazing fire. Cheers! Shouts! The entire audience showed excitent no less intense than when Miku had perford.
The superiority and inferiority of Ryougi Yutsuki's singing were answered by everyone's cheers.
"Do you see it?! The divine music my comrade is showing!"
"Cheers. Yutsuki's singing shakes the heart!"
"Ohhh—! Shido! Yutsuki is amazing too!"
Kaguya, Yuzuru, and Tohka were also swept up in the excitent, raising their glowsticks and cheering.
"Yes…"
Shido was cheering too, with a surprised smile on his face.
At this mont, Yutsuki seed to have forgotten about her competition with Miku.
Her breathtaking face wore a smile of pure, untainted delight as she danced—! sang—! leaped—!
Perhaps to others it simply sounded like Yutsuki was singing. But to Shido, it felt more like she was telling a story.
—Telling. Telling the story of a girl who stepped into an unknown land, kept getting lost, kept feeling confused, and kept searching for herself—searching for a place where she could belong.
...
"The word I thrust off
at the foundation of god's na
cause my decision to live here to blur
For the ti being, I think it'll be fine if I keep looking forward,I'm sure.
Be brave
Brave Girl
With those word,thrust your chest out strongly and may you be able to fight no matter who you opponent is"
"..."
As the song ended, Yutsuki, disregarding the sweat beading on her forehead, smiled with satisfaction and gave a slight bow to the audience.
Then, the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause and cheers no less deafening than when Miku had perford.
And the mont she returned to the waiting room, she was imdiately crushed into a hug by her companions!
"Ohoho, that was beautiful, truly worthy of my comrade. What a stirring anthem of rebellion!"
"Astounding. That was a magnificent performance."
"Yutsuki! What did it feel like being on stage? Was it fun?"
"Good job, Yutsuki. Do you want to rest a bit?"
"Idiot, don't let your guard down just because of that."
After returning to the waiting room and wiping the sweat from her forehead with a towel, Yutsuki rolled her eyes at everyone with so irritation.
"Next is your turn, Shido and the others. Instead of celebrating here, why don't you hurry and practice while you can!"
"Kuku, yes. This ti, it will be your turn to be astonished by my devilishly incredible skill."
"Excited. I won't lose."
"Ooh— I'll do my best!"
Imdiately after, having their fighting spirit ignited by Yutsuki's performance, the Yamai sisters, Tohka, and the others eagerly plunged back into practice.
As for Yutsuki, since Shido's band would almost entirely be using the maid café outfits as their performance costus, and in order to keep a consistent image, she reluctantly ran to the changing room and put on the maid outfit she had sewn herself.
At that mont, Kotori's voice ca through her right ear in a tone that sounded almost like a joke.
"Shido, Yutsuki-nee has already supported you to this extent. If you dare act cowardly, I'm going to beat you down hard."
At his little sister's half-joking remark, Shido answered with complete certainty.
"If that really happens, you don't even need to tell —I'll volunteer to let Tohka punch full-force in the face!"
With an unprecedented feeling of ease, Shido picked up his guitar again and began making his final adjustnts.
[Shido, you already swore that you would beco my family. So I want you to rely on my help, the sa way you rely on Kotori.]
Shido suddenly felt that he had underestimated the resolve contained in those words.
It wasn't just physical support. What Yutsuki gave everyone was a sense of steadiness and confidence from the very bottom of the heart.
"Yutsuki."
"What is it, Shido? Even if you want to peek at , I won't open the door."
"Ahem! I wasn't thinking that at all…"
Coughing after getting choked up by Yutsuki's sudden remark, Shido gathered himself again after a mont.
"Being able to feel your help… I'm really lucky. As repaynt, I'll put on the most spectacular performance possible—just like you!"
After hearing Shido's unhesitating answer, Yutsuki's lips curved into a smile.
"Hmph! That's more like it."
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