Chapter 60: The Day of the Live Performance

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Translator: Soafp

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Normally, an idol live show is something you watch while enjoying yourself.

But… worried that things might unfold just like in the “nightmare,” I kept my eyes fixed on the stage, unable to relax.

(Just like promised, the center of the stage is left open.)

No matter how I thought about it, it had been an unreasonable request.

The fans seemed confused by the sudden change in formation, but since the performance didn't feel too unnatural, they appeared to accept that there must be some kind of reason behind it.

People like me, who weren't that knowledgeable to begin with, were simply enjoying the show.

“Whoa, Kokoa-chan just blew a kiss at me!”

“Idiot, no way. That was definitely for me.”

At the highlight of the first song,

Kokoa winked, pressed a kiss to her hand, and sent it flying toward the audience.

The energy around us surged even higher.

…It was fan service she hadn't shown in the dream.

“Hey, don't you think that kiss was meant for you, Ren?”

“H-huh!? R-Ren, you… you've been flirting with another girl again!?”

“Think about it logically—there's no way. That was for all the fans.”

The way Nodoka said it made me sound like some kind of playboy.

All I did was pay out of pocket because I wanted to save Kokoa's life.

“Alright, next one!”

There were more original songs than I expected, but there were also a few cover songs mixed in.

Some of them were famous enough that even I recognized them.

They performed them impressively—easily on par with the originals.

Kokoa in particular stood out, excelling in singing, dancing, and hyping up the crowd.

(She really earned that position through pure ability.)

The other four girls were cute too, and it wasn't like they lacked skill.

But standing on the same stage inevitably led to comparisons.

Among the five of them, Kokoa drew the most attention.

(It must be the result of serious hard work.)

That's exactly why she had strongly objected when I asked them to leave the center of the stage open.

…Though in the end, I managed to push it through by offering a bigger reward.

Next to me, Airi muttered,

“Idols are just too dazzling… I don't think they suit me.”

And yet, she seemed to enjoy bright anime and web novels just fine.

I still didn't fully understand her.

Meanwhile, unlike Airi, Nodoka was completely absorbed, enthusiastically waving her penlight.

“This is actually really fun! I think I get why people become idol fans now!”

Maybe because she's naturally energetic, she seemed to be enjoying it even more than I was.

She might actually have the makings of a hardcore fan.

According to the timetable we received as sponsors, the live was about to reach its midpoint.

Despite the sweltering heat, Kokoa maintained her idol-perfect smile and nailed the finishing pose of the song.

“Next up is a song that's been getting a lot of people to try it out—thanks to that, we've evolved from anti-personnel landmines to anti-tank mines!”

“Kokoa, Kokoa! But doesn't it make you a little unhinged when you see people doing it better than us?”

“Oh, I know what you mean! Like, wow, there are so many people out there even more ‘mine-like' than us!”

“No, that's not what I meant…”

It seemed like a brief MC break.

The five girls started a coordinated back-and-forth.

…To be honest, the humor didn't really land for me.

But Nodoka burst out laughing, completely blending in with the surrounding fans.

At this rate, she might become a Kokoa fan.

“Alright, here we go!”

The MC ended, and the music started.

At the same time, cheers erupted from all around us.

…Nodoka threw both hands in the air, shouting with excitement.

“Don't even think about breaking up with me! Before I bury a landmine in front of your house♪”

The moment I heard those lyrics, my entire body tensed.

The lyrics didn't matter anymore.

This was where the “nightmare” began.

Drip… drip.

Cold drops of water struck from above.

Before I knew it, countless dark clouds had filled the sky.

I immediately whispered to the two of them,

“Nodoka, Airi. Put on your raincoats.”

“Okay!” “Got it.”

That morning, there hadn't been even the slightest hint of rain in the forecast.

Part of me had wondered if maybe the dream hadn't been about this live after all.

But just like in the dream, the black clouds began pouring down heavy rain.

Rumble… rumble… thunder gradually drew closer.

“Eek!”

Suddenly, Nodoka dropped her penlight and clung tightly to me.

Her small body was trembling.

“What's wrong? Are you scared of thunder?”

“Y-yeah… I'm scared… Please, don't leave me.”

Come to think of it, when we stayed at a hotel before, she insisted on keeping the lights on because she didn't like the dark.

She didn't look it at all, but Nodoka was surprisingly timid.

I gently stroked her head to calm her down.

“Alright, alright. I'll stay with you. Don't cry.”

“I-I'm not crying…”

Then what's with the sniffling?

Seeing this side of her—so different from usual—made her seem even cuter.

“Ren, I'm scared of thunder too.”

…In a tone anyone could tell was fake, Airi leaned against me as well.

“Liar. You're not scared at all.”

“That's mean, Ren. Well, you're right—I'm not scared. But seeing you only clinging to Nodoka makes me jealous.”

Airi really was straightforward.

So straightforward that it almost threw me off.

With a soft laugh, she took my free hand and wrapped it around her waist.

“Like when you treated me like a host before.”

“Hey, that was…”

That had only happened because of the shady casino situation.

Airi had a subtly provocative way of guiding me to act on my own.

As she asked, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

She smiled faintly in satisfaction.

(…I feel like people are staring.)

From the outside, we probably looked like an absurdly lovey-dovey couple.

Or maybe just a guy being way too close with two girls.

But those gazes quickly disappeared.

“Everyone! Looks like we've summoned a thunderstorm again! Guess that's what happens when you're ‘landmine girls'!”

Kokoa said the same pun she had in the “nightmare.”

It was just as corny to me, but the fans burst into laughter.

Nodoka was laughing along with them.

The five idols, led by Kokoa, resumed singing and dancing.

(She really is amazing…)

The rain made the stage slippery, and their mistakes started becoming noticeable.

Not just in dance, but in rhythm and pitch as well.

But Kokoa alone remained steady, performing flawlessly despite the conditions.

The more I learned about her, the more impressed I became.

But the true climax was about to arrive.

“It's almost time. Stay sharp, both of you.”

““Okay.””

The three of us put in the earplugs we had prepared and covered our eyes with our hands.

And then—

BOOOOM!!

A blinding white flash seeped through my closed eyelids and fingers.

A deafening roar, like an explosion, pierced through even the earplugs.

Everything unfolded exactly like the “nightmare.”

“What was that!?”

“H-hey! Look at that!!”

What differed from the dream was that, thanks to our preparations, our eyes and ears were unharmed.

We immediately ran up to the stage to check on Kokoa and the others.

(Just as I thought… we couldn't completely avoid injuries.)

Kokoa, who had been closest to the strike, trembled violently as if the strength had left her legs, collapsing onto the spot.

The other members were in similar states—one clutching her ears on the verge of tears, another with minor burns, another unable to open her eyes, panicking and muttering, “What…? What just happened…!?”

Though their symptoms differed, all of them had collapsed.

(But it doesn't look like anyone is critically injured or dead.)

No one seemed to have lost consciousness.

Ideally, I would have canceled the live from the start, but as just a sponsor, it was difficult to push that far.

For now, there was only one thing I needed to do.

“Nodoka, Airi—just like we planned, let's start first aid immediately.”

““Okay.””

The three of us split up at once and rushed to the members.

I went straight to Kokoa.

“Are you alright, Kokoa? Can you recognize me?”

“Huh…? O-Oh, the sponsor…”

“There was a lightning strike on stage. For now, the live is canceled—let's get you to a hospital as soon as possible.”

“O-Okay…”

The manager, who had finally grasped the situation, hurriedly called an ambulance.

---

After seeing all five of them, including Kokoa, off to the hospital, we returned to the inn.

With the tension gone, I collapsed in the room.

A few hours later, Airi spoke with the manager on the phone and relayed the update to me.

“They'll need to be monitored for a few days, but for now, it seems everyone only has minor injuries.”

“I see. That's a relief.”

At least that's one weight off my shoulders.

…Though honestly, I didn't need this kind of thrill on a trip.

“Ren, hey Ren—this is blowing up right now.”

Nodoka held out her phone to me.

It was a video uploaded by a fan who had been recording with a dedicated camera.

The footage clearly captured the exact moment lightning struck the center of the stage.

“No matter how many times I watch it… that's insane.”

The camera had fallen over from the shock of the strike, so it didn't capture the moment the members were injured—or us rushing in to help.

Honestly, that worked in my favor.

There's nothing good about standing out unnecessarily.

And for Kokoa and the others, they wouldn't want footage of themselves injured spreading around anyway.

But Nodoka spoke with a dissatisfied tone.

“Still, everyone's calling it a miracle… saying they just got really lucky. Even though it only worked out because you put in the effort—and the money.”

“Well, I didn't save them to get recognition. So it's fine.”

“If you say so…”

This time, Nodoka and Airi had helped a lot too.

Maybe, even if I didn't care, part of them wanted some kind of acknowledgment.

“Still, thanks again, both of you. It would've been a lot worse without you. Want anything as a reward?”

“Oh? Like a wish ticket? You'll grant one thing, no matter what?”

“Well… within reason, yeah.”

“A-anything!?”

Nodoka gulped nervously.

“Just so we're clear—keep it within common sense. Don't cross any lines.”

“I-I know that!”

“That's a shame, Nodoka. You could've used your wish ticket to have a baby with Ren.”

“W-Wh-What are you saying!? I-I wasn't thinking anything like that at all! D-Don't lump me together with you, senpai!”

…That reaction felt a little too intense for someone who wasn't thinking about it.

Must be my imagination.

Yeah… probably.

I glanced at the clock and spoke to them.

“I'm heading out for a bit.”

What I needed to do today wasn't over yet.

There was still one thing left.

As expected, Airi caught on immediately.

“Kitayama?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see. Take care. Call me right away if anything happens.”

“Got it.”

That's right.

I needed to find out why Yuzuki—who had once decided not to attend the summer training camp—ended up coming after all.