While the cheers of the audience shook the entire main hall, in a special room on the top floor of the building, the atmosphere was much calmer. A large screen reflected every detail of the spotlight stage, the cheers of the audience, and, of course, Kaito, standing gracefully in his elegant attire.
Miku Izayoi, the Diva, sat back in her chair with her legs crossed, her long purple hair waving beautifully in the room's light. Her sapphire blue eyes narrowed, staring at the screen with an expression that was hard to decipher, a mix of awe and annoyance.
"Hey, who's that guy?" she asked the Raizen High student assigned to accompany her. Her voice sounded lazy yet full of curiosity.
The student straightened herself and replied politely, "That's Kaito, one-sama. He's the most popular guy at Raizen High School. Almost all the girls like him... especially for his handsome face, his mysterious demeanor, and now... his amazing voice."
Miku snorted softly, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "Tch... a man, huh? Hmph. I hate men... but..." Her eyes narrowed even more sharply, staring at Kaito, who was still singing with such feeling. His voice, though she hated to admit it, was able to penetrate to the very core of her heart.
"I have to admit... that was an amazing performance. His voice... beautiful, almost perfect." Miku said softly, as if forcing herself to swallow a bitter truth.
The female student accompanying her turned, slightly surprised to hear that confession come from Diva's mouth.
However, a cynical smile immediately reappeared on Miku's face. She straightened, her slender fingers reaching for a strand of her hair and twirling it gently, her expression changing to one of determination.
"Even so... I still hate men. How can a man have such a beautiful voice? That... that should be my territory."
Her tone turned cold yet fiery, like a newly lit ember. "Then... I won't stay silent. I'll show everyone a performance even more stunning than his. I'll keep all eyes and ears glued to me, until they forget they ever heard of Kaito."
Miku stood gracefully, turning her body toward the mirror in the room. A beautiful, confident smile spread across her face. "Hmph, just a man... I, Diva, will prove who the true ruler of the stage is."
Behind her, the female student remained silent, unsure of what to say. Deep in her heart, she also felt that if one-sama actually took the stage, the battle of charms between Kaito and Miku would be something no one could miss.
...
In the private dressing room, Kaito stood in front of a large mirror that clearly reflected his figure. His silver-white hair, slightly disheveled by the glare of the stage lights, was now gently smoothed with his fingers. The elegant black suit he had been wearing earlier had been removed and hung neatly on the side rack. Now, he wore only a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway, making his appearance more casual yet still exuding an unconcealable aura.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the system panel that floated transparently before him.
[Ding! Random mission has been released]
[Mission: Participate in the Tengu Festival]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward: 1x Rare Ticket, 1000 XP, 1000 PS]
Kaito stared at the row of glowing letters and smiled faintly. "Heh... not bad. Looks like the system really knows when to give rewards."
Without further delay, he immediately activated the Rare Ticket. A golden-blue light enveloped the room, and a virtual gacha wheel spun rapidly, revealing various prizes that were fleeting: weapons, skills, artifacts, and even... a mysterious humanoid shadow figure.
When the wheel stopped, the system screen flashed with a golden shimmer.
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Stand: The World]
Kaito's crystal blue eyes immediately reflected satisfaction, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Ooooh..." He let out a small sigh, his satisfaction clearly evident. "Now this... can be called a jackpot."
Kaito closed his eyes for a moment, feeling something different, as if a new entity had connected to his soul. From the darkness of his consciousness, he sensed a presence: a muscular humanoid figure, pale gold with bronze ornaments, standing majestically behind him. Its aura was heavy, oppressive, yet completely bound to him.
"The World..." Kaito murmured softly, savoring every second of the unfamiliar feeling that was now a part of him.
He opened his eyes again and leaned back in the dressing room chair, intertwining his fingers. "Stand... a concept from another world. If I remember correctly, this Stand originates from the legendary JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. And The World... belongs to one of the strongest and most iconic characters: Dio Brando."
His gaze narrowed, as if dissecting memories and information.
"Essentially, a Stand is a manifestation of one's soul power, which can take the form of a humanoid, an object, or even an abstract force. And The World…" his smile widened, "…is one of the most terrifying Stands, especially because of its abilities."
Kaito then stood up and stepped to the center of the room, attempting to maneuver his new Stand. The large golden figure appeared behind him, following his every movement with perfect precision. He felt a dense vibration of energy, as if the room had become heavier just by its presence.
"Brutal attack power, nearly unmatched speed at close range, and of course…" Kaito raised his hand, then whispered in a low, awe-filled voice, "…the ability to stop time."
Kaito's eyes reflected a sharp blue glint. "Za Warudo… the core ability of this Stand is to stop time for a few seconds. During that pause, I can move freely, while everyone else freezes. The domino effect of this power is… insane."
He then chuckled softly, his expression a mix of amazement and hunger for new power. "Just imagine. With my observation haki, plus my reflexes and speed... combined with time stop, even the strongest enemy will lose the opportunity to react."
His hands clenched, feeling the flow of The World's energy as it seemed to merge with his own muscles. "And this is just the beginning. As I train, the duration of the time stop will definitely increase. At first it's only a few seconds, but eventually... it could be longer. Heh, how terrifying it would be if I could control it completely."
Kaito paused for a moment, staring at his Stand's reflection in the mirror. The World stood tall behind him, as if projecting itself in a more ferocious and frightening form.
"It's funny..." he muttered. "I already possess the power of the system, haki, and various other abilities. Now, with this Stand... it's as if the universe is truly preparing me for something greater. As if even the other world has entrusted its weapons to me."
He laughed softly, his low voice echoing in the dressing room. "How satisfying. The perfect reward."
Kaito then leaned forward, staring intently at his reflection in the mirror. "The World… you and I, we will break through all existing boundaries. Nothing can hold us back. Not spirits, not even gods."
Kaito's black shoe was clutched in his hand, light under his sole yet heavy with hidden intent. A faint smile appeared on his face, his crystal blue gaze gleaming with curiosity.
"Alright… let's give it a try, The World."
With a light movement, he threw the shoe upward. It spun slowly, cutting through the air in a simple trajectory that should have fallen back to the floor. But just as it reached its highest point—
Kaito clenched his fist, and a resolute inner voice echoed:
"ザ・ワールド――時よ止まれ!"
(Za Warudo — Toki wo Tomare!)
In that instant, the room fell silent. The hands of the clock on the wall seemed to freeze. The shoe, which had been floating, now stopped in midair, motionless, as if the world itself had lost its flow. Kaito's hair swayed gently with his own movements, but everything outside him stilled, even the dust in the air seemed to be frozen in place.
He stepped slowly around the shoe, his gaze sharp and filled with satisfaction. "Hmph... how beautiful. Time frozen. This world is completely in my grasp."
Step by step, Kaito looked around the room. The squeaking of the neon lights, the thumping of the air conditioner, even the pulse of the world outside, all vanished, utterly silent. Just himself, the Stand The World behind him, and the space that had stopped breathing.
"Duration... nine seconds." He counted silently, feeling the pressure growing as time passed in that frozen world. "It may be short at first... but for someone like me, these nine seconds are more than enough to crush an opponent or change the entire situation."
And just as he finished his thought, a faint click sounded, and time flowed again. The shoe, which had been floating, now fell to the floor with a simple thud!, as if nothing had ever happened.
Kaito smiled in satisfaction, bending slightly to pick it back up. "Heh… what a wonderful gift." He put on his shoes calmly, then stood up straight and looked in the mirror once more. His reflection was different now, more than just a handsome man in an elegant suit. There was a deeper, more dangerous aura, as if anyone who looked into it would be aware.
Tapping himself on the shoulder, Kaito took a deep breath and then walked towards the dressing room door. "Enough playing around. This festival is just the beginning. The real arc… is about to begin."His hand pushed open the door, the hinges creaked softly, and the light of the hallway greeted him. A mischievous smile spread across his face again, hiding the storm of strength he had just tested.