BOOM—
A deafening clap of thunder suddenly rang out, causing Misumi Uika, who was looking at her phone in the dressing room, to look up involuntarily.
"What loud thunder..."
She quickly turned to her manager and asked:
"Higuchi-san, today's live show won't be affected, will it?"
"...It won't."
The manager pulled back the curtain slightly to check the rain outside before speaking.
"The weather forecast said this is just a thunderstorm that will last for about two hours. By the time the show is over, the rain will have stopped. And once the live show starts, the sound system at the [K-Arena] will be more than enough to drown out the thunder."
"I see."
Uika let out a long sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Hoshino Ai, who had been staring at her phone this whole time, suddenly looked up.
"Higuchi-san, after the show is over... can I go straight to Tetsu's place?"
"...?"
Although the manager desperately wanted to refuse this statement, which was far too dangerous for an idol, she thought of the girl's volatile and explosive personality, as well as Chihaya Tetsuya's contributions to both idols. In the end, she nodded with a helpless expression.
"...As long as you can guarantee you won't be seen by anyone."
"Yay! Thank you, Higuchi-san!"
Ai let out a happy cheer after receiving the affirmative answer.
"This is great! I can sleep in the same room as Tetsu again!"
Hearing this, Uika asked curiously:
"Has Tetsuya-san already arrived in Yokohama?"
"He has! It seems he was originally planning to take a taxi back the same day, but because of the rain today, he booked a room at the last minute to avoid the dangerous road conditions!"
Ai said, taking out her phone to show their chat history.
"This rain came at the perfect time!"
"I give up on you..."
Uika, long accustomed to Ai's antics, couldn't help but shake her head.
"Speaking of which, Tetsuya-san said he was coming to see the live show with that young lady from the Sakurakouji family, Sakiko, and Mutsumi. Plus, his sister, Chihaya Anon, is also in Yokohama right now... I'm afraid you won't have much time alone with him."
"...Then I have to go even more!"
Ai said with a frown.
"Even if I can't have him all to myself, I absolutely will not allow anyone else to monopolize him... especially not Chihaya Anon!"
"You're still so hostile towards her. Is it because she so easily accomplished what you couldn't in a whole year?"
"Uika, are you trying to pick a fight with me before the show?"
"No, no, I'm just genuinely concerned about your mental states. And just making small talk."
Uika sighed.
"After all, when people are nervous, they always try to relieve their anxiety by distracting themselves."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Ai's eyebrow shot up. She immediately walked over to her side with a wicked grin.
"Seriously? Uika, you can actually feel nervous?"
"...Where do you think we're about to perform?"
Uika said, annoyed.
"That's the [K-Arena], you know. For most idols, it's practically the final destination. As a rookie who just debuted, it's normal to feel nervous, isn't it?"
"? Is that so?"
Ai tilted her head.
"I'm not nervous at all. In fact, just thinking about Tetsu being right here with me makes me feel full of energy!"
"..."
Ah, that's right. The only reason this girl became an idol was for Chihaya Tetsuya. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks.
As long as she received his approval, Ai would be satisfied. And given how much he spoiled her, he would undoubtedly praise her no matter how she performed.
In other words, for Ai, as long as she was seen by him, this live show could already be declared a success.
"Sigh, at times like this, I really do envy your purity..."
To avoid being further provoked by her partner, Uika decided not to talk to her anymore. Instead, she took out her phone to chat with a few other people who were even more nervous than she was—
"It's starting in less than an hour. How are you all feeling?"
...
"Ugh... no good. I feel like my heart won't slow down at all..."
Shiina Taki clutched her chest, her face contorted in pain.
"I know we're just surprise guest performers... but it's still a stage with twenty thousand people. Are we really going to be okay?"
"...It certainly is nerve-wracking."
Nagasaki Soyo, who now fully understood the scale of the stage after the official rehearsal, said with a wry smile.
"At least, when we formed [MyGO!!!!!], I never dreamed we would perform on a stage like this."
"Well, that's true, but we're only guests this time,"
Chihaya Anon said.
"In the future, we'll definitely come back here through our own efforts, under the name [MyGO!!!!!]! Right, Tomori?"
"Mhm! I... think so too."
Since they already had Uika and Ai as vocalists, Takamatsu Tomori wasn't required to be on stage this time.
Even so, she had insisted on participating in the entire rehearsal with everyone and had decided to stay with them until the very end of the show.
"Do your best, everyone!"
"Ugh... It's encouragement from Tomori, but this time I just can't bring myself to be happy about it..."
Taki said in a strained voice.
"Hey, Anon, how on earth do you manage your nerves? Why do you seem even calmer than that stray cat?"
"Eh? Me?"
Anon first pointed to herself, then shook her head with a smile.
"I'm actually nervous as hell, too. But more than the nervousness, just thinking that after this show, our names and faces will be all over the internet gets me so excited... Hey, Taki, think about it. When you go back to school, a whole bunch of classmates who saw the show will come over and interview you like you're a star. Don't you think that would feel super rewarding?"
"...Just for that?"
Taki was dumbfounded.
"A reason as silly as that is enough for you to overcome your nervousness?"
"How rude! Wanting to be popular was my original reason for starting a band!"
Anon declared.
"Haaah~ Just thinking that my dream is about to come true thanks to my brother makes me want to give him a big kiss!"
"You're always trying to get your hands on him even when there's nothing going on, aren't you? Honestly."
Soyo first made her usual little jab at the unreliable Anon, then looked over at Kaname Raana, who had been silent the entire time.
"Raana, how are you? Are you feeling nervous?"
"...Not nervous."
Raana first shook her head, but then she suddenly pointed upwards.
"But, here... there might be a problem."
"? What do you mean?"
"...Just a feeling."
Under the confused gazes of the others, Raana didn't explain further, just stared intently at the lighting rig above.
BOOM—!
As if heralding the start of the live show, a dull clap of thunder rolled again.
The roar of the crowd, accompanied by the static of the rain, began to filter into the [K-Arena].
This live show, which would decide the future of so many, was about to begin.