As it turned out, [Sumr Zodiac]'s surprise guest appearance affected far more than just Anon's group. All the bands that perford before them had also beco sacrifices to build anticipation.
Except for the band that perford right before [Sumr Zodiac]. To facilitate the transition, they acted as the backing band for [Sumr Zodiac], and judging from their reactions, they seed more than happy to do so.
"After all, this is almost equivalent to free promotion. Even just being in the background is a rare opportunity."
Sakiko said as she watched the band on stage, who had finished their own set and were now tuning their equipnt.
"They'll probably be the only beneficiaries of today's live."
"...The atmosphere has changed."
Tetsuya said, looking around.
Before [Sumr Zodiac] was about to co on, everyone was watching the stage with the mood of viewing an ordinary show. While it wasn't dead, it was far from lively.
But now, as the band on stage tuned their instrunts, the audience mbers who had co for [Sumr Zodiac] began to whisper amongst themselves, their previously calm expressions growing more and more excited.
Like clouds gathering and emitting low rumbles of thunder before a downpour, the entire live house was caught in this subtle resonance.
"And this is just for a surprise event announced less than a day ago..."
Sakiko pressed her lips together slightly.
"If it were their solo live in May... it's hard to imagine what the venue would be like."
A packed venue, a fervent atmosphere, an infinitely rising sense of anticipation.
And in that situation, if Hoshino Ai were to suddenly reveal her relationship and announce her graduation for it...
A bone-chilling cold instantly swept through Sakiko's heart.
This small live house alone had already shown her the profound impact of [Sumr Zodiac]'s popularity. If it were on a much larger stage, the "destruction" she would cause might truly sweep through the entire idol industry... and even the entertainnt world.
At this thought, she turned to look at Tetsuya, as if to warn him.
However, the mont she turned her head, her expression froze involuntarily.
"...Once you co to a live show, even if you were just a casual observer before, you can easily be swept up by everyone else and beco a fan."
Tetsuya was smiling as he looked ahead.
"It's making a little excited too."
"Chihaya-nii..."
Sakiko blinked blankly, then she couldn't help but say:
"Um, I don't think I need to remind you at this point, but Hoshino Ai ca here for you."
"I know. But in any case, I have to watch her live before I et with her."
Tetsuya said.
"So until then, let's just focus on enjoying today's live. As for what happens after, we can talk about it when we et."
"..."
Hearing Tetsuya's words, the anxiety in Sakiko's heart instantly cooled down.
That's right. Until the two of them actually et, the future is still an unknown. Before that, all her worries were just fruitless, wild thoughts.
And... it wasn't just Hoshino Ai performing next. There was also Uika, with whom she had a close relationship, and the new band ford by her forr bandmates from [CRYCHIC].
For her, even without considering Ai's presence, today's live was extrely important in its own right.
THUD!
Just as Sakiko reined in her wild thoughts, preparing to enjoy the live with a purer heart, the lights in the venue suddenly went out. Imdiately after, a single spotlight illuminated a corner of the stage.
As everyone's gaze subconsciously gathered on the spot lit by the spotlight, in the next second, that brilliant flash of a golden star pattern made the long-accumulating clouds finally erupt with a deafening thunder.
[Sumr Zodiac] took the stage.
...
Under the lights, the specks of light emitted by the golden embroidery were even more stunning than they appeared in the music video.
And when she stood still, officially facing the entire audience, the previously clamorous crowd instantly fell silent.
Including Sakiko in the back row, who subconsciously straightened her posture and stared, almost in a daze, at the person on stage.
(...So beautiful.)
No matter how complex her thoughts had been before, the mont she saw Hoshino Ai, they all ceased to matter.
At this mont, on this stage, in all of [RiNG]... no, in this world.
There would never be another person... who could shine more brightly than Hoshino Ai!
"..."
On the other side, when Tetsuya actually saw Ai, his expression first fell into a mont of shock, then lted into an irrepressible smile.
No longer separated by a cara lens, no longer just an image on the internet.
After countless fruitless searches, to arrive at this distance of rely ten-odd ters, he had waited for seven whole years.
He was no longer that pitiful orphan with nothing, and she had blossod into such a bright and beautiful young woman.
This sense of contrast and being moved, as if a lifeti had passed, made Tetsuya's eyes grow slightly warm.
He subconsciously raised a hand to cover his mouth, as if trying to hide his excitent and the turmoil in his heart. But how could such a sharp movent escape the notice of Ai on stage.
"...!"
Even though the venue was now lit only by the spotlight overhead, even though the faint reflected light was not enough to make out the faces of the audience below, Ai still caught sight of Tetsuya in the back row in an instant.
She had already taken her position and was about to begin her usual simple interaction with the fans.
However, when she actually saw Tetsuya's face, the professional persona that had long been ingrained in her muscle mory simply refused to function.
"..."
At the sa ti, seeing Ai fail to greet the audience as usual and instead stare blankly in one direction, Uika imdiately understood what had happened.
It seed that for the expectant audience, and for these two ill-fated people who had waited seven years for each other, no more opening remarks were needed.
Thinking this, Uika first smiled silently to herself, then gave a hand signal to the drumr behind her.
Da, da, da, da...
The performance began—
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