The auditorium hummed with anticipation.
Parents, students, teachers, siblings—hundreds of faces filled the seats, conversations buzzing like electricity. The lights dimmed slightly, signaling the beginning.
In the front row, seven people sat in a loose line.
Kaito, expression calm, hands folded.
Hikari beside him, trying to look bored but failing.
Yuki on her other side, bouncing slightly in her seat.
Riko next to Kaito, posture perfect, heart racing.
Aiko (Kaito's sister) beside Riko, warm and smiling.
Kenji (Hikari's brother) at the end, already waving at everyone he recognized.
Mei (Riko's sister) sat with her parents a few rows back, grinning at her older sister whenever Riko glanced behind.
Further back, parents filled the rows—Kaito's parents quiet and dignified, Hikari's parents nervous and proud, Yuki's parents beaming with cameras ready.
The stage lights rose.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sakuragaoka High's 50th Anniversary Festival Performance Night!"
The crowd applauded.
---
First up: Class 1-A's drama. A historical piece about the school's founding. Impressive for first-years.
Then: Class 1-C's martial arts demonstration. Synchronized. Powerful. The audience gasped at each move.
Class 2-A: Live drawing. An artist created a massive portrait of the school in real-time, finishing just as the music ended.
Class 3-B: A comedy skit that had the audience roaring.
One after another, the performances impressed. Each class brought something unique. The energy in the hall built with every act.
Kaito watched with quiet attention. Hikari's leg bounced slightly—nerves or excitement, she couldn't tell. Riko's hands were clasped tightly in her lap. Yuki's bouncing had reached dangerous levels.
---
During a brief intermission between acts, a student rushed up to their row.
"Sato-senpai! Aoyama-senpai!" The underclassman was breathless. "We're short-staffed backstage! The lighting crew is overwhelmed and someone from props just got sick—can you help? Please?"
Kaito and Riko exchanged a glance.
Then they stood simultaneously.
"Show us where," Riko said.
The underclassman nearly cried with relief.
Kaito looked at Hikari and Yuki. "We'll be back."
Hikari nodded. Yuki gave a thumbs up. "Go be heroes! We'll hold down the fort!"
They disappeared into the wings, leaving Hikari and Yuki in the front row, the stuffed cat from yesterday now sitting on Hikari's lap like a mascot.
---
Backstage was controlled chaos.
Kaito assessed immediately. "Lighting cues are behind. Who's running the board?"
A terrified first-year pointed. "Me, senpai."
Kaito moved. Within seconds, he was reviewing the cue sheet, pointing out errors, redirecting with calm precision.
Riko found the props area—a disaster of misplaced items. She organized with ruthless efficiency, sending runners to correct positions, cataloging everything in her perfect memory.
Together, they became the calm at the center of the storm.
Stagehands whispered in awe.
"They're like... superheroes."
"Do they ever panic?"
"I don't think they know how."
---
Onstage, the performances continued seamlessly, thanks to the two behind the scenes.
In the front row, Hikari and Yuki watched, proud of friends they couldn't see.
The festival's final night was unfolding perfectly.
And tomorrow, everything would change.
(End of Chapter 87)