The lights backstage dimmed, barely illuminating the staff members moving about carrying equipment. The clamor of the audience from inside the large hall could be heard faintly, like a sea of enthusiasm waiting to be shattered by a spectacular performance.
Amidst the din, Kaito stood quietly.
He wore an elegant black suit, just like the one pictured: a crisp white shirt, a thin black tie that fell perfectly across his chest, and a suit that hugged his toned frame perfectly. His silvery white hair remained wild as always, providing a sharp contrast to the neatness of his attire. Small, round sunglasses perched on his face, enhancing his mysterious yet charismatic aura.
As if time had stopped, several staff members who saw him couldn't help but glance twice. But the most visibly captivated were the trio of Mai, Ai, and Mii, who happened to also be preparing in the backstage area.
"Ehh?! Crazy…" Mai subconsciously covered her mouth, her eyes widening. "Kaito-kun… he looks so handsome in that suit!"
"Not just handsome, oh my…" Ai narrowed her eyes, her chin resting on her hand like a professional fashion judge. "His suit looks like it was tailor-made for him. Look at his broad shoulders, slim waist, and his height… perfect."
Mii added, slapping her own cheeks, her cheeks turning red. "I-I can't take it anymore. He has the aura of an international model who happened to wander onto the school runway."
Kaito just smiled slightly, clearly hearing the trio's comments. In his trademark flirtatious manner, he turned to them, raising an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses.
"Hm? Are you three falling in love at first sight?" he asked casually.
The trio immediately blushed, though they still tried to cover it up with a joke.
"D-don't get carried away yet, Kaito-kun!" Mai exclaimed, though her voice wavered.
"It's just… well, to be honest, you look a hundred times more attractive than usual," Ai chimed in, her tone more honest this time.
"If you perform later, every girl in the hall might go hysterical," Mii added with a small chuckle.
Kaito responded with a small nod, then smoothed his jacket with his right hand. "Then, my job tonight isn't just to sing, but also to ensure everyone's satisfaction with this performance. Both with their ears... and with their eyes."
That statement further captivated the trio of Mai, Ai, and Mii. They whispered to each other, as if they couldn't believe someone like Kaito could so easily deliver such charismatic lines without seeming overdone.
A moment later, the organizers signaled that it was almost Kaito's turn. The background music from the previous performance slowly died down, replaced by the audience's thunderous applause.
Kaito took a deep breath and straightened his body. His black jacket swayed lightly with his movements, exuding an air of elegance. The powerful aura that always surrounded him became even more apparent—not a threat, but a natural charm that made anyone near him feel like he was more than just an ordinary student.
Mai looked at him once more, this time with a smile of admiration. "Kaito-kun… seriously, I can't wait to see you on stage. Don't disappoint us, okay?"
Kaito stepped forward, passing the trio, then paused. With a confident air, he lowered his sunglasses slightly so that his crystal blue eyes were clearly visible under the lights. He looked at the three of them one by one.
"Don't worry," he said in a low but firm voice. "I never fail to captivate people."
Then he strode toward the stage, leaving the trio now completely transfixed, their faces flushed, and their hearts beating faster.
The cheers in the hall grew louder, indicating how many students were eagerly awaiting the next performance. The stage lights dimmed, then slowly focused the light on the center of the stage. A female emcee excitedly held the microphone and said,
"Alright, everyone! This is the moment you've all been waiting for! Let's welcome a special performance from… *Kaito!*"
Cheers immediately erupted. Enthusiastic shouts echoed, filling the room and reverberating off the walls. All eyes turned to the curtain as it began to open.
From behind the curtain, Kaito stepped out confidently.
He wore an elegant black suit, a tailored suit that emphasized his broad shoulders, a crisp white shirt with a long black tie, neatly slacks, and shiny black shoes that added to his dashing look. His silvery white hair remained wild and glistened under the spotlight, while his round sunglasses gave him a cool and mysterious look.
In an instant, the hall, packed with students, erupted in hysterical screams.
"KYAAAA! SO HANDSOME!"
"Is that really a high school student?! He looks like a top celebrity!!"
"I can't stand it, I'm going to faint looking at him!"
The girls in the seats, the audience members, screamed shamelessly, some even standing up and waving their hands. Even the boys couldn't help but gasp in admiration, albeit mixed with envy. Kaito's aura was different; he didn't look like an ordinary student just participating in a school festival, but rather a superstar who had descended onto this simple stage solely to entertain.
With calm steps, Kaito walked toward the microphone in the center of the stage. Every movement he made drew louder cheers. His black suit swayed lightly with his steps, and his sunglasses glinted in the lights.
He reached for the microphone that had been set up on the stand and lowered his glasses slightly, revealing a glimpse of sparkling, crystal blue eyes.
That's when the girls' screams intensified.
"His eyes... oh my! They're so beautiful!!"
"He's not real, I swear, he's not human!!"
Kaito smiled a faint, mischievous smile that made anyone's heart flutter. Then he began to sing. Slowly, the crowd's voice died down, waiting for the first verse.
and then the instrumental began.
And finally, Kaito's voice rang out, clear, melodious, and full of power.
*♪ TATTA HITORI DEMO KIMI WO MAMORITAI ♪*
(Even if I'm alone, I want to protect you)
*♪ ITSUMO, ITSUMO, ITSUMO, ITSUMO ♪*
(Always, always, always, always)
*♪ SOBA NI IRU KARA ♪*
(I will always be by your side)
The hall immediately fell silent. Everyone was captivated, lost in the emotional sound. The audience began waving colorful light sticks, illuminating the hall like stars.
*♪ DONNA NI TSURAKUTE DONNA NI KURUSHIKUTE MO ♪*
(No matter how difficult it is, no matter how painful it is)
*♪ KITTO, KITTO, KITTO, KITTO ♪*
(I'm sure, sure, sure, sure)
*♪ GOORU WA CHIKAI KARA ♪*
(The finish line is near)
Cheers rang out again over the music, this time not just hysterical, but genuine shouts of support.
*♪ HOSHIZORA NI KAGAYAKE GINGA ♪*
(The galaxy shining in the night sky)
*♪ MOU ICHIDO KIMI NI AU TAME NI ♪*
(For the sake of meeting you once again)
Kaito's voice soared in the final verse, full of power and sincerity.
*♪ HOSHIZORA NI KAGAYAKE GINGA ♪*
(The shining galaxy in the night sky)
*♪ MOU ICHIDO KIMI NI AU TAME NI ♪*
(For the sake of meeting you once again)
And to his surprise, the audience sang along. Hundreds of voices mingled with Kaito's singing, creating a harmony that vibrated the entire room. The light sticks swung faster, creating a beautiful sea of light in front of the stage.
As the song ended, Kaito lowered the microphone, bowed slightly, and smiled. Thunderous applause and thunderous cheers shook the hall, as if the ceiling might collapse from the sheer enthusiasm.
"KAITO! KAITO! KAITO!" the chants of his name echoed, echoed by hundreds of students who had now agreed that this performance was one of the best moments of the Ten-Oh festival.
Kaito casually adjusted his black jacket and pushed his glasses back into place. He waved to the audience before slowly leaving the stage.
But the aura of his performance didn't fade; it had left a deep imprint on the hearts of everyone in attendance that night.
In the audience, Shiori—or Shidou—was transfixed, unblinking. She even swallowed hard, amazed by Kaito's impressive performance.
"Tohka... look at that...," Shiori murmured softly.
Tohka, sitting next to her, was already mesmerized. Her eyes sparkled, as if she couldn't believe the figure they were seeing on stage was real. "Wow! Kaito looks so cool! His clothes... and his voice... amazing!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, her hands swaying to the beat of the song.
Not far from them, the twins Kaguya and Yuzuru were equally impressed.
Kaguya, with a confident air, crossed her arms and nodded. "Hmph, I have to admit... his performance was truly top-notch. He looked like a king standing on his throne."
Yuzuru chimed in with a flat but acknowledging tone, "Declaration: Kaito is so cool."
Shiori smiled stiffly, feeling utterly defeated in terms of charm. She silently muttered that Kaito seemed to be deliberately exuding an aura that made everyone fall in love.
Meanwhile, in another section of the audience, Reine sat with Yoshino. Although usually cold and suspicious, this time even Reine had to sigh softly. Her eyes narrowed slightly, observing Kaito's every move on stage.
There was no denying it. It was an amazing performance. Although Reine remained suspicious of Kaito, she had to admit... he truly could charm anyone.
Beside her, Yoshino watched with rapt attention. Her small face was beaming, and her eyes sparkled as if reflecting the stage lights. She clutched her Yoshinon doll tightly and exclaimed softly, "Her voice... is so beautiful. Yoshinon, did you hear that? She's really great, isn't she?"
The doll in her hand seemed to nod along, adding to Yoshino's lively expression, as she couldn't hide her amazement.