"So I really didn't mishear…"
"It's actually him!"
Ijichi Seika stared at the search results on her phone screen with an expression of genuine surprise before lifting her gaze back to the figure of Kasumigaoka Touji on stage. She felt a flicker of curiosity about how her younger sister had come to know someone like him.
Speaking of which—
"This song… it seems to have been revised…"
Ijichi Seika's ear, finely tuned to music from years of managing a live house, twitched slightly. She listened intently, finally confirming that the musical arrangement had indeed been altered from the original version she'd heard before. This current iteration sounded… better.
"Did Winter-sensei revise it himself?"
Ijichi Seika watched Kasumigaoka Touji with a thoughtful, appraising look, a glimmer of interest lighting her eyes.
Simultaneously, within the audience below, a spontaneous wave of light sticks began to sway.
What started as one or two isolated points of light soon grew into patches, and then coalesced into a continuous, undulating 'sea of auroras.' The entire venue seemed to pulse with a collective, rhythmic energy.
Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Ijichi Nijika's heart hammered against her ribs. An irrepressible, joyful smile blossomed across her face.
'The atmosphere is heating up! This is amazing!'
'A complete success!'
A surge of pure exhilaration coursed through her, filling her with boundless vitality. It felt as if an endless wellspring of energy had opened within her. She swung her drumsticks with renewed fervor, responding to the audience's energy with even greater passion.
Yamada Ryo turned her body slightly, her light golden eyes sweeping first over Kasumigaoka Touji, then over to Ijichi Nijika. A subtle, contented sway entered her posture as she fully immersed herself in the joy of performing.
Kasumigaoka Touji gazed out at the shimmering 'aurora sea' below. His own heart raced with excitement. He closed his eyes briefly, humming along to the melody with a touch of intoxication. Performing on stage was infinitely more thrilling than he had ever imagined! He was beginning to truly savor this feeling!
And inside the cardboard box—
Gotou Hitori's heart, too, was swelling with emotion.
'So happy!'
'Playing in a band with others, performing together… it's such an incredibly joyful thing! I really want to continue… to keep being in a band with them!'
"…"
"Onii-chan is so dazzling!"
Below the stage—
Watching the young man performing under the brilliant spotlight, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a surge of pride. Her brother was radiant at this moment. Ever since Kasumigaoka Touji first picked up his guitar and transformed into the online persona 'Winter-sensei,' she had harbored a premonition that he would one day step onto a proper stage and stand beneath the lights. Now, that premonition had come true—!
"The performance was amazing!"
"Especially Kasumigaoka-san—he was outstanding!"
As the final notes of the song faded and Kessoku Band bowed in unison on stage, preparing to exit, Kumin Tsuyuri couldn't contain her admiration.
Kato Megumi, meanwhile, quietly saved the video she had been recording. She then lifted her gaze toward the stage once more, the young man's image lingering in her eyes.
The audience, however, had grown restless—
"Encore! Encore!"
"Don't go! One more song!"
"The one in the box—take it off and let us see you!"
"Aaaah… Winter-sensei!"
"Winter-sensei, please! 'Fireworks'! One more 'Fireworks'!"
"Why does Kessoku Band only have one song?!"
"We demand another song!"
…
"Ahaha… It seems everyone really enjoyed Kessoku Band!"
"Their performance was a huge success. They've instantly gained a lot of fans."
As the performance officially ended, the host retook the stage. Kasumigaoka Touji and the others made their way off the platform.
"Great work!"
The members of the second band, 'Forest,' who were waiting in the wings, offered their congratulations. Their gazes swept over each member of Kessoku Band in turn—including the still-boxed Gotou Hitori.
"Ehehe~."
Ijichi Nijika, who seemed acquainted with them, stuck out her tongue playfully. "I made quite a few mistakes just now. I need to practice even harder next time."
"You guys do your best later! I'll be cheering for you!" She added, clenching a fist with vibrant energy.
"Mhm~."
"Of course!"
"You guys warmed up the crowd so well; we won't let the energy drop!"
"By the way… did Winter-sensei join Kessoku Band?" The sole female member of 'Forest,' her makeup bold and striking, directed her question toward Kasumigaoka Touji.
At her words, the other two band members also looked his way with curiosity.
"No, I was just filling in temporarily," Kasumigaoka Touji replied with a calm wave of his hand.
Hearing this, a faint flicker of disappointment passed through the eyes of both Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo. They had harbored a secret hope of recruiting Kasumigaoka Touji as a permanent member, but it seemed he had no such intention…
"I see…" The female member of 'Forest' regarded him with a hint of surprise.
Just then, the host's voice rang out from the stage, formally inviting the members of 'Forest' to take their positions.
The three band members promptly bid their farewells and strode out from the wings.
Kasumigaoka Touji also removed the borrowed guitar from his shoulder and addressed Ijichi Nijika. "Nijika-chan, I'm done with this. Let's return it."
"Okay."
"Winter-sensei… would you consider joining our band properly?" On the short walk to the equipment room, Ijichi Nijika ventured the question tentatively. There was no harm in asking!
Beside her, Yamada Ryo subtly turned her head to observe Kasumigaoka Touji's reaction, her gaze subtly tinged with anticipation.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have any plans to join a band with others at the moment."
"If you're looking for a member, I recommend Gotou-san." Kasumigaoka Touji declined politely but firmly, then gestured toward Gotou Hitori, who had finally emerged from her cardboard box and was trailing behind them.
"Eh…?" Suddenly thrust into the spotlight of the recommendation, Gotou Hitori froze for a moment before becoming visibly flustered under the combined gaze of Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo.
"Don't be fooled by her current demeanor. Gotou-san's guitar skills are genuinely… well, for specifics, you can search for 'Guitar Hero' on YouTube and check out her uploads."
Kasumigaoka Touji stated this with complete certainty.
"Eh…?"
"Gui-Guitar Hero? That's her?"
Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo were visibly shocked by this revelation. They spun around to look at Gotou Hitori with expressions of frank disbelief. They were both familiar with the online persona 'Guitar Hero.' She had been uploading performance videos for several years, and her guitar playing was objectively excellent. This socially anxious girl was that same person? The disconnect was so vast it left them both thoroughly stunned and incredulous.
For her part, Gotou Hitori was equally surprised. She was certain she hadn't told Kasumigaoka Touji about her online activities. How did he know?
"Why do you look so surprised too?! Is what he said not true?" Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but complain, directing her bafflement at Gotou Hitori.
"Uh… That's not it…"
"She's probably just surprised that I knew about it." Kasumigaoka Touji stepped in smoothly with a light chuckle, deftly steering the conversation.