As it turned out, [Summer Zodiac]'s surprise guest appearance affected far more than just Anon's group. All the bands that performed before them had also become sacrifices to build anticipation.
Except for the band that performed right before [Summer Zodiac]. To facilitate the transition, they acted as the backing band for [Summer Zodiac], and judging from their reactions, they seemed 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 equipment.
"They'll probably be the only beneficiaries of today's live."
"...The atmosphere has changed."
Tetsuya said, looking around.
Before [Summer Zodiac] was about to come 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 instruments, the audience members who had come for [Summer 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 [Summer 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 entertainment world.
At this thought, she turned to look at Tetsuya, as if to warn him.
However, the moment she turned her head, her expression froze involuntarily.
"...Once you come to a live show, even if you were just a casual observer before, you can easily be swept up by everyone else and become a fan."
Tetsuya was smiling as he looked ahead.
"It's making me 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 came here for you."
"I know. But in any case, I have to watch her live before I meet 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 meet."
"..."
Hearing Tetsuya's words, the anxiety in Sakiko's heart instantly cooled down.
That's right. Until the two of them actually meet, 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 formed by her former bandmates from [CRYCHIC].
For her, even without considering Ai's presence, today's live was extremely 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. Immediately 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.
[Summer 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 moment she saw Hoshino Ai, they all ceased to matter.
At this moment, 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 moment of shock, then melted into an irrepressible smile.
No longer separated by a camera lens, no longer just an image on the internet.
After countless fruitless searches, to arrive at this distance of merely ten-odd meters, he had waited for seven whole years.
He was no longer that pitiful orphan with nothing, and she had blossomed into such a bright and beautiful young woman.
This sense of contrast and being moved, as if a lifetime had passed, made Tetsuya's eyes grow slightly warm.
He subconsciously raised a hand to cover his mouth, as if trying to hide his excitement and the turmoil in his heart. But how could such a sharp movement 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 memory simply refused to function.
"..."
At the same time, seeing Ai fail to greet the audience as usual and instead stare blankly in one direction, Uika immediately understood what had happened.
It seemed 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 drummer behind her.
Da, da, da, da...
The performance began—