Although it was an emergency, both the stage director and the agency staff were experienced professionals. The moment the power went out, they immediately moved to activate the backup power supply.
Just as a staff member was about to reach the backup power switch, the lighting director, who had been watching the stage intently, suddenly turned to the sound engineer behind him.
"Sound engineer, after the backup power restarts, don't play the backing track right away. Open mics one and two first, then wait for my signal to continue playing from the cutoff point!"
Although he had no idea what was happening on stage, at a critical moment like this, even a second's hesitation could lead to a completely different outcome.
And so, under the lighting director's instruction, he focused his full attention on the control screen before him.
Soon, the moment the backup power kicked in, he hit the pause button with lightning speed. At the same time, the lighting director didn't immediately resume the original lighting plan, but instead slowly lit the stage from the edges toward the center—
"This is what you mean, right, Chihaya?"
[That's right!]
The next second, along with a burst of ear-piercing static, Chihaya Tetsuya's voice came through the staff's internal walkie-talkie.
[Now! Sound engineer, please play the backing track!]
...
At first, when the lights and music suddenly vanished, many in the audience immediately realized it might be an accidental power outage.
However, when a figure that seemed to carry the starry night sky with her slowly walked from behind the scenes to the center of the stage, they began to wonder if this was a deliberate act by the show's organizers.
Then, the lights at the edge of the stage suddenly came on, providing just enough illumination to see two blurry silhouettes.
The next second, when Misumi Uika's voice once again rang out from the speakers, everyone was instantly convinced that this was a carefully planned special effect for the show—
[That's right, that's right, that girl is the special one / Hai, hai, ano ko wa tokubetsu desu]
The figure, visible only by points of fluorescent light, slowly circled Hoshino Ai, who was still standing in the center of the stage.
[We were extras from the beginning / Wareware wa hana kara omake desu]
Her voice was almost devoid of emotion, like she was stating a commonly known fact.
[BS that acted as adornments for the first magnitude star's leading role, everything we've accomplished is thanks to her — no!— / Hoshi no hikitateyaku B desu. Subete ga ano ko no okage na wake nai!]
Although it was a rap, it carried an incredibly strong and genuine emotion.
As the long skirt, adorned with starlight, continued to dance, almost everyone's attention was captivated by the wondrous scene before them.
BANG—!
The lights closer to the center lit up again.
The figures of the two on stage became a little clearer.
Finally, there was enough light for the audience to see both idols clearly.
At this moment, most of the stage lights were still focused on Ai.
But it was precisely because of this that the starlight embellishing the long skirt continued to shine brilliantly in the darkness outside the main lights.
On this stage, the two once again commanded an equal presence, leaving the entire audience in a dazzling state of not knowing where to look.
...
(In such a short amount of time... she turned an accident into part of the performance through improvisation...)
On stage, watching Uika who had deliberately stepped out of the light and remained in the darkness, Ai's gaze couldn't help but waver slightly.
Even if she could go back in time one minute, she probably couldn't have come up with such a genius impromptu performance in such a short time.
This was where she could never win against Uika.
Her sharpness and intelligence gave her near-perfect control of the stage.
At the same time, the gauze skirt, handmade by Tetsu, also provided the indispensable power for her improvisation.
It was that long skirt, shining in the darkness, that had turned all the audience's anxiety and doubt into anticipation and surprise.
In other words, the turning point of this show from crisis to safety... was built entirely on her and Tetsuya's efforts.
Seeing Ai's gaze, which was filled with awe and admiration, a slight smile appeared on Uika's face:
[How impudent— How could envy and jealousy not exist? / Sharakusai netami shitto nante nai]
[This isn't some made-up drama for appearances, so I cannot forgive myself— Can't forgive the you who isn't perfect, can't forgive myself for losing to you!]
This was not part of the original choreography, nor was it a segment seen in rehearsal.
However, when Ai saw Uika's finger slowly pointing at her, she instantly understood how to use the emotion she had just stirred up—
[I cannot acknowledge any version of you other than the one stronger than everyone else! / Dare yori mo tsuyoi kimi igai mitomenai!]
This was probably Uika's declaration of war.
From now on, she would no longer be considerate of her, or take care of her as she had in the past.
She would become her rival in the truest sense, and on stage, she would steal the gazes that had once been focused solely on her.
BANG!
This time, all the lights finally came on.
And the gauze skirt, which had only been emitting faint points of fluorescent light in the darkness, now, under the full lights, revealed the star-shaped embroidery pattern from the double-layered embroidery Tetsuya had repeatedly tested on its hem.
On this stage, at this moment, two "gods" appeared at the same time.
(Ah ah... this time, I'm really going to get jealous, Tetsu.)
Ai also raised her hand, and together with Uika, she lifted her microphone:
...
[Someday, surely, I will have it all in hand / Itsuka kitto zenbu te ni ireru]
[That's the kind of greedy idol I am / Watashi wa sou yokubarina aidoru]
This time, the chorus became a duet.
And when Uika's figure in the gauze skirt was fully visible to the entire audience, the atmosphere of the live show soared to its absolute peak!
"Uika is so beautiful!"
"That skirt is too gorgeous, isn't it?! Not only does it glow in the dark, but under the lights, it has star patterns just like Ai's!"
"This is definitely the work of the same designer!"
"As expected of 'Summer Zodiac'."
Before they knew it, the ratio of light stick colors in the audience was no longer imbalanced.
All the audience members holding two light sticks involuntarily adjusted them to be gold and red, respectively.
At this moment, the two idols on stage had both become the main characters!
"...Phew."
Seeing this, Tetsuya finally let out a long breath.
"Sorry, here you go."
He said, returning the walkie-talkie in his hand to the still-dazed staff member beside him.
The moment the blackout had occurred, he had rushed to this staff member without a moment's hesitation, snatched his walkie-talkie, and issued those commands to the backstage crew.
"It's a good thing the lighting director and I already knew the flow of this program like the back of our hands when we were setting up the lighting plan."
It was because of this that the two of them were able to use that subtle pause, and Uika's subsequent improvisation, to turn a near-disastrous stage accident into a surprise performance.
"With this, the crisis should be completely resolved..."
Just as Tetsuya felt completely relieved, the two on stage, for some reason, suddenly pointed in his direction—
[I shall lie today as well, hoping that one day, these words will become true / Kyou mo uso wo tsuku no, kyou mo uso wo tsuku no kono kotoba ga]
[And yet, still, I have been unable to tell you, and you, alone / Sore demo mada, kimi to kimi ni dake wa iezu ni ita kedo]
Tetsuya, now in the center of the stage, looked up in stunned silence.
At the same time, the two idols also cast incredibly fervent gazes in his direction:
[Ah, I've said it now at last / Ah, yatto ieta]
[This is definitely not a lie—I love you! / Kore wa zettai uso janai—aishiteru!]
As the final lyric ended, the entire audience instantly erupted. The almost deafening cheers made Tetsuya realize that in his rush, he had ended up in the area directly in front of the stage.
The gesture the two had just made probably wasn't directed at him; it was just a coincidence that he happened to be standing here.
But, if that was the case...
"Why are you two still looking at me when the music has already stopped?"
Tetsuya first looked around. Seeing that no one seemed to have noticed anything unusual, he quickly pretended to be a staff member and quietly retreated to his previous position.
At the same time, the two on stage had already finished their performance and were bowing to the audience.
The next second, just as Tetsuya thought the usual interaction segment would begin, Uika's words made him almost cry out in surprise—
"Everyone, what did you think of that performance?"
"THE BEST!!!!!"
"Thank you, everyone. Well then, I'm sure you all have a pretty deep impression of the skirts the two of us are wearing right now, don't you?"
Uika said, giving a light twirl. Beside her, Ai, getting the hint, put down her microphone and struck a common pose for a model.
"Before this live show, you may have heard, either here or online, that our costumes for this show were all provided by the same designer! So now, let me take this opportunity to make a major announcement!"
"After this live show, [Summer Zodiac] will officially sign with a new fashion brand called [Starry Sky] and become the brand's exclusive models! And at this year's September [TGC], Ai will be wearing a costume provided by this brand to complete her first-ever runway walk! Please look forward to it, everyone!"
"Oooohhh—!"
And just like that, this [TGC] announcement, which was incredibly exciting for the audience, once again triggered the fans' cheers, and major media outlets began to rapidly record this unannounced major declaration.
In this sea of celebration, only one person wore an expression of utter shock, as if he had been struck by lightning:
"...Huh?"