信じれば、そこがステージ

[Staff A] Sorry, we're fully booked with performances for the next six months.
[Sorry, we only host concerts by high-profile idol groups, and we've never heard of... noctchill before.] Sorry, we only host concerts by high-profile idol groups, and we've never heard of... noctchill before.
[Staff C] Sorry... I'm afraid you'll have to try somewhere else.
[Toru Asakura] I see, thank you.
[Kana Fujita] How are things going on your end?
[Toru Asakura] No dice.
[Kana Fujita] Sigh... Me neither.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... That was the thirteenth theater. We only have a few more names left on the list.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Hmm... Could we take a little rest?
[Toru Asakura] Sure.
[-] Toru agrees to Hinana Ichikawa's request almost as soon as she makes it. Looks like even peppy idol girls will start to feel tired after rushing from venue to venue.
[Kana Fujita] So what do we do now?
[Hinana Ichikawa] I've actually had my eye on that café over there for a while now...
[-] They look to where Hinana is pointing and see a café called Éternité not far from them.
[Reina Nanami] Welcome to Éternité! What can I get you today?
[Hinana Ichikawa] Three cups of the new blend, please--the one loaded with chocolate ice cream like it says on the sign outside!
[Reina Nanami] Okay, just one moment please... Hm? Oh! Kana, you're here too!
[Kana Fujita] Hehe, I came with some new friends.
[Reina Nanami] In that case, I'll get your favorite booth ready for you all.
[-] Reina Nanami sets up a secluded booth for the three girls. The air conditioning blows out comfortably cool air while the aroma of coffee at the door dispels the summer's day humdrum. After a busy morning, the girls stretch themselves out in the booth.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... Nice and cool... That reminds me... I wonder how Madoka and Koito are doing.
[???] C-Could I bother you for a moment?
[-] A timid voice suddenly cuts into the idols' conversation. The three of them look up to see a girl hugging a doll with a bandaged left hand in the seat next to them.
[???] S-Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you on purpose.
[???] I'm Ayako Morikawa, a student at Aotsuyu Middle School... And this is my best friend, Hanako.
[-] Ayako raises up the doll in her arms, which sports a hairstyle of two silver buns, to greet everyone.
[Kana Fujita] Hello! Is there something you need help with?
[Ayako Morikawa] Hanako says... you were left here... by something strange.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... Do you have psychic abilities or something? That's exactly what happened to us.
[Toru Asakura] Something strange... What did you mean by that?
[-] Ayako lowers her head and whispers something to the doll in her arms. A few moments later, she looks back up and shakes her head at the girls.
[Ayako Morikawa] Hanako says... she's not sure either... but it was something like... an earthbound spirit.
[Kana Fujita] A-An earthbound spirit!
[Ayako Morikawa] Um... but it doesn't seem like a malevolent earthbound spirit or anything... Just a second, please.
[-] Ayako turns to the side and pulls a thick notebook out from her schoolbag and flips through it. Its pages are covered in squiggly symbols.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... Is that a spell book?
[Ayako Morikawa] Earthbound spirits... Ah, here they are.
[Ayako Morikawa] An A-rank earthbound spirit trapped in the elevator of an office building in One Han City. Because it passed away before finishing its work, it will randomly operate the elevator at night to send employees working overtime to the floor where it used to work... Could this be it?
[Toru Asakura] ...But we were on a plane...?
[Ayako Morikawa] I see... It must be another soul then. A plane... Perhaps this one...
[Ayako Morikawa] A plane that went missing 30 years ago was discovered on an island off the coast of One Han City during a project developed by a well-known group. Not only was the plane found completely intact, but even the passengers inside were exactly as they were the year the plane vanished... Except that they all kept saying, "This is the eighth loop..."
[Toru Asakura] But this is only our first time in One Han City.
[Ayako Morikawa] Hm... In that case... Earthbound spirit, plane, first time...
[Kana Fujita] (whisper) Th-This just keeps getting spookier...
[Ayako Morikawa] Hm... The funerary portrait of the old man hidden in the hotel room doesn't sound right either... Huh? Perhaps this blood-red plane ticket that keeps appearing backstage at concerts...
[Kana Fujita] {var:Shake}EEEEK!
[Ayako Morikawa] !
[Toru Asakura] ...!
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha, I got a great shot of Kana's sacred face!
[-] Assailed by all these urban legends, Kana can't help but shriek when she hears one that hits so close to home.
[Reina Nanami] Oh! What's wrong?
[Ayako Morikawa] S-Sorry... That was my mistake... I...
Rushing over upon hearing the noise, Reina asks the girls what happened.
[Reina Nanami] Mmm... Maybe this earthbound spirit has an unfulfilled wish?
[Reina Nanami] Didn't Ichihime say that you and your friends needed to hold a live concert? I think this might be the unfulfilled wish...
[Kana Fujita] So, this isn't some kind of scary ghost story? Thank goodness!
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha--So you're afraid of horror stories!
[Kana Fujita] No... It's just that Ayako spoke so seriously and vividly that I couldn't help but feel like I was actually experiencing it myself...
[Ayako Morikawa] S-Sorry... I-I get kind of carried away when it comes to that sort of thing...
[Toru Asakura] People can have a strong influence on those around them when it comes to things they're passionate about or excel at. It's contagious, I guess.
[Toru Asakura] Or maybe... it's the power of believing.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Believing... in what?
[Reina Nanami] I think it was Ayako's genuine belief in earthbound spirits that made Kana react so strongly to the stories.
[Kana Fujita] Exactly! Ayako was practically glowing just now!
[Ayako Morikawa] U-Um... I didn't mean...
[Toru Asakura] I see... Right. I understand now.
[Ayako Morikawa] Huh...?
[Toru Asakura] I understand why the live venue isn't on the schedule now.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Eh? What do you mean?
[Toru Asakura] I believe that wherever we perform will become our stage.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... You're right! Good thinking, Toru!
[Reina Nanami] If you're not limited to using a theater as a venue... then what about here?
[Kana Fujita] Wait--Are you saying that the live could be held at Éternité?
[Toru Asakura] ...Would that really be okay? We don't have much money to give you for it.
[Reina Nanami] Of course it's okay. As for the matter of the fee... Mmm, I think I can let you guys do it for free.
[Reina Nanami] You need a temporary venue, and I can use the opportunity to promote Éternité. Sounds like a win-win to me.
[Kana Fujita] Reina, you're the best--{var:ShakeChar}
[Reina Nanami] Mmm... S-So dizzy... H-Help--{var:ShakeChar}
[-] The girls rush to Reina's aid.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Aha... I'm getting déjà vu.
[Toru Asakura] Same.
[Kana Fujita] Wow, this is so great! Now that you have a venue, I can finally go back to practicing!
[Hinana Ichikawa] Finally? Kana, did you...
[Kana Fujita] Ahaha... To be honest, the manager messaged me two hours ago asking me to get back to practice... But I couldn't just leave you all hanging.
[Kana Fujita] You have that sparkle only true idols have, so I believe that your stage will definitely shine the brightest. You got this, girls!
After Kana leaves, Hinana and Toru stay to iron out the venue details with Reina.
When the other customers hear that the two girls are planning to hold a live concert in the café, they start excitedly offering up their own suggestions for the stage setup and decorations...
[-] By the time the two girls nail down all the details and leave the café, the sun has long since made way for the softly glowing moon now hanging mysteriously in the night sky.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Yaha... I've never discussed the vibe of the stage so closely with the audience before... That was amazing... I hope the earthbound spirit that's keeping us here in One Han City approves of our decision as well.
[Toru Asakura] Yeah, we've got nothing to worry about.
[Hinana Ichikawa] Huh?
[-] Toru raises that mercurial schedule up high. The neon lights illuminating the city after dark cast their glow onto the white sheet of paper. The space accompanying "Live venue," once blank, now reads "Éternité" in clear lettering.
This live is going to be a success.//n—At this moment, the two idols have deep faith in it.