As guests gradually arrived, the time for the stage performance drew near.
"Wow, it feels like way more people are here than even when STARRY was at its busiest… Is Hitori really going to be okay?"
Nijika peeked behind the curtain and looked at Gotō Hitori with worry.
Guitar Hero, on whom Asakura had placed great hopes, now had spiral eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she patted her chest, speaking in a strange tone, as if she had eaten some peculiar mushroom and was talking to invisible little people: "No, no problem, I'm the Queen of the Night…"
"It's over, Hitori has started to escape reality…"
Yamada Ryo said seriously, "It seems only Nijika and I can go up and perform rakugo to turn the tide."
"No, no, no, we have absolutely no foundation in rakugo! Besides, it's too strange for a band to use rakugo to turn the tide. At least use music, music!"
Ijichi Nijika rubbed her temples, a headache forming.
"Ding-dong~"
Yamada Ryo made a successful comedic gesture.
"I wasn't trying to set you up for a joke, hey!"
The blonde girl was a little ruffled.
"Other students who are performing will be coming here soon, so you two should go to the audience seats first."
Asakura told them.
"But…"
Nijika looked at Gotō Hitori with concern.
"Don't worry, didn't I tell you before? We still have a secret weapon. I'll show you Hitori's 'fire-starting power' later."
Asakura said earnestly.
"Doesn't that only appear when you're on the verge of death…?"
Nijika mumbled.
"It's fine. Hitori has been losing HP with every step she takes in public since she left home."
Asakura said.
"That's like being poisoned, isn't it?"
The girl retorted.
"What if Hitori suddenly blacks out halfway through the performance and wakes up in a Poke Center?"
Yamada Ryo also asked, concerned.
Although her concern was a bit strange: "In that case, wouldn't Hitori lose half of her money?"
"There's no such cruel setting in reality."
Asakura responded, "Besides, so many people are watching."
"It's fine..."
Yamada Ryo winked at him, her voice seriously coaxing, "Let's just blame everything on a passing Caterpie."
"Is this really the time for jokes?"
Ijichi Nijika was exasperated. She immediately hooked Yamada Ryo's neck with a Clothesline and dragged her outside.
"Guh… Let go, Nijika! If you do this, Asakura-kun will just keep all the money!"
"Your attempt to falsely accuse him is like a Jew who, after Shaka blew up civilians, specifically went to Kaju to demand a corpse disposal fee."
Asakura sighed and waved at Yamada Ryo, who was being dragged away by Ijichi Nijika.
Then he looked at Gotō Hitori: "How do you feel? Do you want to use the 'secret weapon'?"
"P-please…"
Gotō Hitori said softly.
"No, only you can do this."
Asakura encouraged, "Just follow your heart, and speak the voice that echoes within you—because that is your unique 'Magic'."
That's right, the secret weapon was the girl's own Magic [Song].
What? Have former idol Hoshino Ai fill in? Unfortunately, she's already become a painting. Just as paper characters can't crawl out of the screen, you can't expect someone on a poster to appear in reality.
"N-not like last time, right…?"
Gotō Hitori asked uneasily.
"I'm here."
Asakura responded concisely and powerfully, "The ring is also securely on your hand, so don't worry."
His unhesitating reply seemed to give Gotō Hitori a little confidence.
So the girl took a deep breath, cupped her hands over her chest, and whispered, "Song…"
Asakura didn't feel any Magic fluctuations from the girl, so it was clear that the Magic hadn't activated successfully this time.
Perhaps his previous 'sip' was too forceful, so her Magic hadn't yet recovered, or perhaps it was simply Gotō Hitori's own lack of confidence. In any case, the girl's Magic remained motionless like a cat basking in the winter sun, without any response.
He was silent for a moment, then gave the girl a thumbs-up: "Excellent! You are invincible now! Go on stage and perform!"
"Oh, oh!"
The girl, having received Asakura's approval, looked at her unchanged hands and said excitedly, "I feel full of power! Gotō Hitori, launching attack!"
Just then, the host outside finished his opening remarks, so Gotō Hitori grabbed her guitar and ran onto the stage in a few steps.
"What power is she talking about?"
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had come out from the lounge, asked.
"Gravitational potential energy, I guess."
Asakura replied, not quite sure.
"Her Magic didn't activate successfully, did it?"
Yukino asked.
"You can tell?"
Asakura asked curiously.
"I'm a victim, after all."
Yukino straightened her skirt, answering succinctly.
On stage, a showy guitar solo resonated throughout the venue.
Immediately after, the girl's singing began.
[Running and chasing with a thirsty heart]
[Sorry, I can't do anything for you]
[Even the desire to share your pain]
[You never allowed…]
Gotō Hitori's vocal line wasn't particularly good, and it was clear that her understanding of singing techniques was only superficial, but her guitar skills made up for it.
And it was evident that, although she usually seemed gloomy, she must have practiced diligently at home. Both the lyrics and the music, apart from occasional off-key moments, had almost no major mistakes.
The passionate music instantly elevated the somewhat lukewarm atmosphere of the venue.
In fact, many guests who came here didn't have high expectations for the stage performances, as the performers were just students. No matter how good they were, they couldn't compare to the professionals they saw at various concerts, theaters, and musical performances.
Even if the students on stage made very obvious mistakes, most people wouldn't mind, and would even kindly applaud and encourage them, as they were their juniors after all.
But Gotō Hitori's displayed guitar skills clearly piqued the interest of some music industry professionals present.
"I feel like Hitori's performance this time is better than the one in STARRY's practice room. I wonder what kind of Magic Asakura-kun used to make her so amazing…"
Ijichi Nijika watched Gotō Hitori on stage, her wine-red eyes filled with a touch of envy and longing.
Even Yamada Ryo, who was devouring food, slowed her eating to listen to Gotō Hitori's performance—though it might also be because she realized that no matter how fast she ate, she couldn't win against another short-haired blue-haired girl not far away…
However, at this moment.
A harsh screeching sound rang out—
A string on the girl's rather old guitar suddenly snapped.