We started the afternoon looking for people to take photos with, again. It's not like we like taking photos of anything we do, but we do like having photos of events like this, so that we have great memories of this, and being able to look back at them.
It didn't take long to find the first person. I didn't hesitate to ask for the photo, which is already a step forward.
Although I did it quickly, I spoke as little as possible.
After that came another, and after that, another.
We went to a stall where I found a huge, giant, MASSIVE prize. It was a figurine. It cost 16,000 yen, which, considering the size of the figurine—about 20 cm tall—with all the detail it had, and the original design, felt like stealing from the seller. I bought it without hesitation.
" You're crazy…"
"Just buying this made it worth coming here!!!" I couldn't be happier than I am now, and I couldn't contain my joy. "I might not buy much stuff after this, but I do gotta buy my sister a figure. Take it as a gift from her awesome brother."
"What are you going to buy her? And also you're not awesome at all..."
"A Code Geass figure, preferably."
"Okay, if I see a cool one, I'll let you know."
He didn't buy anything at that stand, but he did end up buying a plush toy from one of those series he likes. It was a normal size, and it was pretty good.
"And that settles me!"
" I hope you don't put a hole in it. I can see you're capable."
"I'm not going to carry the stuffed plush just for that!"
"Yeah, yeah. Excuses."
We continued walking aimlessly. Aside from asking strangers for photos, we didn't do much else. We were just goofing around, more than talking.
Unfortunately, we haven't met the two girls yet. I honestly don't know why I care about that. Their witchcraft is affecting me.
I just hope I never see them again. I don't want to have to go through anything like that again... It was too embarrassing.
As we were walking, we saw a small stage in the distance, where three people were singing. It was karaoke.
&$%"! He grinned from cheek to cheek, staring at me.
"I think it's about time, don't you?" He said in a slightly excited tone, pointing at the stage. I sighed at his request.
"…Just so you know, you owe me those 5,000 yen."
"Duhhh, I will. Man, you're such a bumer."
We both headed over to the venue. In front of the stage, there was a large group of people singing or cheering on the people on stage, about 10 or 20 people, at least.
We headed to the side of the stage, where the people who ran the place were. There were only two people in the queue, though I couldn't tell if they were together or not.
Fortunately, when the group that was singing finished, the two women went up on stage after telling the manager what song they wanted to play. As soon as they started singing, at least half the audience sang along.
I felt like every second was ticking by. I was getting nervous.
I had an internal conflict. I didn't know if it was because of excitement or shame. What was I going to do in the end? Am I going to go up? What if I sing badly? What if people look at me funny? I don't want to. No-
The girls finished singing. After they got off, the manager spoke to us.
"Hello. What song are you going to sing?"
"Oh, yes. We wanted to sing 'Colors' by the group 'Flow'."
"I'll look it up right now."
In the brief time he was typing and searching, &$%"! and I didn't look at each other for a moment. He was excited, but I was very tense.
It didn't matter that I liked the song, that was too much for me.
" Okay, I have it, I'll put one with its vocals, okay?"
"Yes, please."
We waited until the girls on the stage finished. Seeing how they left passing right by us, I got chills down my whole body.
"Okay, then you can go up on stage now."
Before I could even start up, I stopped &$%"!
"What's going on? Are you going to back out?"
"Y-yes. I really don't want to do it."
"But it's not going to be anything! You've seen how the rest of them sang. They're singing half of the song wrong! Even more, the girls who just sang were laughing their asses off up there! They're not going to tell you anything for singing badly!"
"I don't care, I-I-"
&$%"! He grabbed my arm and led me with him onto the stage.
"Eh!?"
I had managed to get on stage, but I didn't want to be there. I was the center of attention. Even though there were only about 15 people there, they were all looking at me. They were all looking at the stage. Looking at me, with their eyes.
I couldn't leave. If I did, they'd think badly of me. They'd talk bad about me. They'd see me as a killjoy, as a coward. I can't run away.
I want to do it. But…
If I only look at him…
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I don't have anyone around me. Yeah. No one's looking at me. I'm just going to sing. I'm going to sing with him, that's all. I don't care about that. I can do it.
They gave us both a microphone. I looked at &$%"! for a moment, and he looked back at me.
I took a deep breath. I took a deep breath and let it out. Just then, the song started.
-I forgot everything. I left behind who I was and everything I cared about to sing alongside Daiki.
It was a wonderful thing, almost the entire crowd was singing along with us, and about 7 more people came to see us sing.
I don't regret doing it. Even now I'm nervous, but I was so excited.
When the song ended, everyone applauded. I never thought so many strangers could act so kindly and energetically.
"That was awesome!" I exclaimed once we had gotten off the stage.
" I told you it was going to be worth it!"
"I'm telling you right now, you don't have to pay me anything, this was worth every second."
"Well, something I'm saving, hehe."
"You pay me double for being a big mouth."
"No!"
"Then triple!"
Not only did my mind go blank, but I felt as if I were living in the now, and not as if I had a camera behind me, through which I see how that "I" lives my life.
-I felt like I was seeing my life through my own eyes.
It took me a while to calm down, as I was so happy. During that time, I felt like a different person. Not only did I laugh more than usual and even seem sillier, but I also opened up to people more.
Several people asked me for a photo, and some asked me if I was acting like Subaru, which I obviously denied.
The only thing I'm surprised at is not having asked for any contact, or that they asked me to.
I don't care much, since my phone is full of photos.
And that's enough for me. I'll never forget this.
I was also able to buy Amaya a figure. Just as I'd planned, I bought her a figure of a character from 'Code Geass.' If I liked the figure myself, I can't even imagine how my sister will react.