As one of the stars of the concert, Kana will definitely use up a lot of energy later, so it is very important for her to keep herself fresh and full of energy. With this thought in mind, I speak out in support of her manager.
[player]Kana, there's still a lot of time until the concert starts, so it will be better if you get some rest first.
[Manager]PLAYER, when did you arrive?
[player]Um, probably... when you were busy dealing with everything.
[Manager]Can you keep Kana company backstage while she rests? She should be more relaxed with you around.
[Kana Fujita]Ah! You're using PLAYER to change my mind. That's so sly of you.
The atmosphere of the backstage is actually not much more relaxed than around the busy stage. Everyone is moving around in a hurry, and staff carrying stage props pass by the door of the lounge from time to time.
To prevent these trivial matters from disturbing Kana, I walk over and close the door of the lounge, but this doesn't really have any significant effect as she is still very tense.
[Kana Fujita]I wonder how Mia and Akane's rehearsals are going... In addition to the lifting platform, we'll also need to use wires for this performance. I'll need to check them as well in a moment...
[player]Your manager will sort those things out. Kana, you should just focus on resting for now so that you can show everyone your best self on stage.
[Kana Fujita]The stage... Yes, I should practice more to improve my balance in the opening dance again. I must...
[player]Wait!
Noticing that Kana is about to get off the recliner and stand up, I ignore social etiquette and quickly step over and grab her hand, forcing her to sit back down.
[player]I know you care a lot about this concert, but your manager is right. What you need the most right now is rest.
[Kana Fujita]But there are still so many things to do...
[player]W.I.N has held many concerts since its debut, and there haven't been any stage accidents so far. Kana, you should try to trust your team members and staff more. After all everyone has the same goal as you to create the perfect stage.
Being nervous for a long time has caused Kana's stamina to be exhausted even faster. After she realizes she can't stop me from stopping her, she falls silent for a moment before obediently lying down.
Just as I think she has fallen asleep, Kana suddenly responds to something I said earlier.
[Kana Fujita]It isn't that I don't trust them. I just... don't want to disappoint anyone.
[player]Oh?
[Kana Fujita]Akane is a very talented musician, and most of our songs are written by her. Mia is a very talented idol. Even though she hasn't been able to participate in a lot of our training because of school, she still hasn't fallen behind.
[Kana Fujita]Compared to them, my talents and abilities are nothing worth mentioning. I'm only able to stand on the stage and perform thanks to the support and encouragement of my fans.
[Kana Fujita]I don't want to disappoint anyone, so I can only repay them with several times the effort. I always want to do better...
Curled up on the recliner, Kana's voice becomes softer and softer. It seems that the constant temperature of 25°C maintained by the air conditioner in the room is still a little too cold for her.
I didn't expect Kana, who always seems so energetic, to have moments when she has no confidence in herself. Confused and helpless, she is like a lost baby bird that gives people the irresistible urge to comfort her.
[player]In my heart, you're really amazing, Kana.
[player]You only see Akane and Mia's talents, but you've forgotten that you choreographed the group dance. If you get to the bottom of it, each of you makes an indispensable contribution to the team.
[player]Kana-chan, you're my No.1 idol. I've always believed this, so you should also be more confident in yourself.
Kana gradually calms down as I comfort her. She looks at me with a hint of eagerness for affirmation in her voice.
[Kana Fujita]If... um, this is just a hypothetical question, if I stop being an idol one day, will you still support me like always?
[player]Of course. To me, there's only one answer to this question.
[player]I like you, Kana. Not just because you're the idol Kana Fujita, but mainly because you're yourself.
[Kana Fujita]Haha, don't worry, that will probably never happen in this lifetime.
Kana is obviously very satisfied with my answer. She shuffles into a more comfortable position and surrenders herself to the recliner, allowing her tense body and spirit to relax.
[Kana Fujita]Anyway... thank you, PLAYER. I feel a lot better after saying everything weighing down on my heart.
[player]Haha, you're welcome. I also just spoke my mind.
[Kana Fujita]Mhm-hmm, although inviting you to watch the concert made me more nervous, I think it was the best decision ever!
[player]Really? I... you became more nervous because of me?
[Kana Fujita]Haha, it's because you're my most important fan. I have to do even better so that I don't disappoint you.
[Kana Fujita]I've already made things so obvious. If you still don't understand what I'm saying, then you are just too dense!
The girl suddenly gets closer to me with a faint smile on her lips, so close that the tip of her nose almost touches my cheek. Her eyes stare at me brightly, as if she has discovered something interesting.
Embarassed by being stared at, I avoid Kana's eyes and try to divert my attention elsewhere.
[Kana Fujita]Oh, by the way, PLAYER, for how much longer are you going to hold my hand?
The clear and melodious voice in my ears reminds me that I still haven't let go of Kana's hand since grabbing it earlier. Her fair and tender skin has become a faint pink because of how tightly I've been gripping her hand.
[player]Oh... S-Sorry!
[Kana Fujita]Haha!
Laughter, reminiscent of tinkling silver bells, echoes in the lounge. The girl's eyes form a charming crescent shape as she laughs, and she looks especially radiant and in good spirits after her previous confusions are swept away.
Although there were some twists and turns, I guess the outcome... meets the manager's requirement for her to get some rest!
The concert is about to start, fans have already started to enter the venue in an orderly manner, and Kana and her team members are also making final preparations. Before changing, she pushes me out of the dressing room because she wants to "give me a surprise."
I laugh involuntarily and follow her instructions to return to the audience stand. Many fans are already seated here. Although the VIP seats are positioned quite far apart to provide a more comfortable experience, the distance doesn't affect everyone's interest in chatting.
The enthusiastic fans start talking to me as soon as I find my seat.
[Fan A]Hey, you look a little familiar. Have we met before somewhere?
[Fan B]I also think you look familiar... Ah, I remember now! When I look at you from certain angles, you look like Kana's rumored new lover in the scandal incident.
[player]Ahem, you must be mistaken. I just have a very common face.
The keen perception of the fans put me under a lot of pressure, so I pretend to be calm and hope they won't find out. Fortunately, no one really thought I would be the rumored lover, so they laugh and change the subject.
[Fan B]Haha, speaking of which... I'm actually a little envious of that rumored lover for being able to be in such close contact with Kana-chan.
[Fan A]If you put it like that, I'm more envious of the "mysterious person" on CatChat.
[player]What "mysterious person"?
[Fan A]Don't you know? Whenever Kana-chan posts something on CatChat, the comments made by a mysterious account are always liked by Kana. We call the owner of this account the "mysterious person."
[Fan B]Kana-chan even gave me a like when I was one of the first to reply to that person's comment!
Fan C
[Fan C]Me too! Hmph, I'm so jealous of that person!
[Fan A]Well... What about you?
Several pairs of eyes stare at me, causing my nerves to tense up again. To avoid being discovered that I am that "mysterious person," I have no choice but to echo what the other fans have said.
[player]I-I'm also very jealous of this "mysterious person." I wish I could switch bodies with this person so that Kana will notice me.
[Fan B]Great minds think alike!
The fan in the front row tearfully held my hands and handed me an umbrella, probably because they were touched by my words.
[player]This is...
[Fan B]Oh, be careful with that. Put it down gently. It's an umbrella that Kana-chan signed! I'm only giving it to you reluctantly because I can see that you're also a fan who truly loves Kana-chan.
[player]This gift is too precious!
[Fan B]Haha, there's also a story behind this signed umbrella. When W.I.N released their first album, there happened to be a major power outage in the city, and they lost the headlines because of this.
[Fan B]Since then, it's like they are cursed with a strange attribute, and their album release always coincides with an accident, which is how Kana-chan ended up being known as the "second most popular trending topic."
[player]Haha, I know what you mean! It's funny how an attribute that should be fragile turns out to be unexpectedly resilient. Kana must be very upset about that.
[Fan B]I was given this umbrella by one of Kana-chan's fans when I went to her signing event in the rain. She said it was Kana-chan who gave her this umbrella. And Kana-chan hopes that it can shield her fans from the wind and rain, and that her fans can help each other.
[Fan B]Since we've been brought together by fate, I'll give it to you now. Hope you'll also pass it on to the next predestined person.
Thanks to Kana's influence, her idol-loving fans are starting to exhibit good qualities such as kindness, innocence, liveliness, and enthusiasm. Perhaps this is what it really means to be an idol.
I accept the umbrella solemnly, becoming one of the torchbearers of this spirit to keep this wondrous thing alive.
The waiting time passes quickly while we chat cheerfully, and the huge screen above the stage starts to play interview videos of the three members of the girl group, heralding the commencement of the Rainbow Light Concert.
[Kana Fujita]The turning point that made me become an idol... At first, a scout found me when I was playing arcade games on the side of the road... Haha, but I realized I loved it from the very moment I stepped on the stage.
[Akane]I've written many melodies, and I hope people will hear them... and like them.
[Kana Fujita]Well, I was the first to join this group. I was really nervous about it too, but I'm happy I met such good team members.
[Mia]I'm so lucky I managed to meet Kana and Akane.
[Akane]W.I.N... is where I met everyone.
[Kana Fujita]I want to thank everyone who has accompanied me along the way. You have made it possible for me to keep improving and becoming a better Kana Fujita.
[Mia]The fans made me realize that people out there do notice my efforts.
[Akane]The only thing I can do is to give back to everyone with my singing...
Twang--Twang--Twang--
The strumming of a guitar after all the interviews are played announces the official start of the concert. Music with a strong beat fills the venue. All the lights gather on the stage in an instant, revealing the figures of the three members of W.I.N that the fans are eagerly looking forward to on the stage.
Fans
[Fans]W.I.N! W.I.N! W.I.N!
[Kana Fujita]Listen! The stars are approaching on the tails of the clouds...
The microphone sends the girl's light-hearted voice to every corner of the venue, easily touching everyone's heartstrings.
The lighting and glasses-free 3D effects complement each other to create a sea of stars on the stage. Kana, Mia, and Akane start dancing in the stars like fairies in the mortal world.
It can be seen that the team has put a lot of thought into this concert. Both the stage design and the appearances of the members greatly exceed the expectations of the fans.
[Kana Fujita]The light and shadows cast by the shining stars enter people's eyes--
[Fan A]Ahhhhh! Kana-chan winked at me! Oxygen-- I need oxygen now!
[Fan B]Kana-chan! We'll support you forever!
[Mia]In this lonely interstellar space, encounters are miracles--
[Fans]Yeah!
[Akane]Faint starlight illuminates our hearts--
[Fans]Yeah!
[Chorus]You must believe that everything is the proof of love--
[Fans]Yeah!
Their opening song lights up the atmosphere, filling the air with the cheering and screaming of fans. The heated atmosphere makes it impossible for anyone to stay calm and rational. Everyone is waving their cheering sticks and cheering for their beloved idols.
Kana is shining brightly on the stage. The fans around me are all extremely excited, but I feel a little sad and uncomfortable.
The distance between the stage and the audience stands infinitely magnifies the gap between me and Kana. Only now do I realize just how big the gap is between myself and a popular idol like her. Kana has always acted like an ordinary high school student in front of me, which is why I've been able to ignore this problem all along.
Although Kana brought me here to the venue, in the eyes of the other people, I'm just one of many fans.
[player]As an idol, Kana has never belonged to just me...
[MC]Can everyone tell me that I'm not the only person who is enchanted by the beautiful singing of Kana, Mia, and Akane?
[Fans]Don't forget about me--
[MC]Compared to your response when W.I.N takes the stage, everyone's response to me is so half-hearted. Haha, I get it though, after all, half the concert is over by the time I appear here.
[MC]I can't help it though. I need to come on stage. I mean, I've already been paid and I don't want to give it back. Anyway, that's enough nonsense from me. Let's welcome our three members of W.I.N to the stage with our applause!
[Kana Fujita]Hello everyone! I'm Kana-chan, the No.1 idol! Remember to cheer for me today!
[Mia]I'm Mia, and here I come! Boom, boom! Here comes the sweet attack of love! Let's all have a sweet summer!
[Akane]I'm Akane! You and music are both very important to me.
[MC]Oh, I see that you've all changed the colors of your cheering sticks at the right timing. You guys are really paying attention! It's time for the next part of the show now, and the member who wins it will get a "special reward."
[MC]Let's start this game that tests your observation and imagination-- Guess What I Drew!
[Fan A]Kana-chan! You can do it!
[Fan B]Kana-chan, I'll always support you!
Maybe it's because she is enticed by the "special reward," Kana takes the game very seriously and isn't affected at all when the MC teases her.
Mia, the youngest of the three, loses first, and there's only a one-point difference between Kana and Akane. The last question will determine the final winner.
[player]Um... This is...?
When the question appears on the screen, the abstract painting technique used for this drawing makes my eyes twitch uncontrollably as I can only see messy lines. There's no way I can connect this image with the correct answer: cinema.
The fans who see the answer on the screen shout it out loud, but it doesn't help Kana and Akane because they are wearing headphones that block out all sounds.
[MC]First of all, I want to declare that all the images used in "Guess What I Drew" were provided by the W.I.N Global Fan Club. Hmm... I wonder if the fan who created this masterpiece is with us here tonight.
[MC]Let's give Kana and Akane a little time. I wonder who will win this!
It's clear that they are both troubled by the abstract image, and I see Kana frowning with a look of confusion. Suddenly, she raises her head abruptly and looks at me for help from the stage.
