May 8th, 8 PM, Serra
It was a beautiful night, it seemed possible to see the clusters of stars from the galaxy's spirals. The silence was such that the crickets could be heard, no cars, no light posts or signs. It was just Nami and Hitomi staying at an elegant inn in the peace of nature.
"Ahhhh! This is it! A day to relax!" said Hitomi, wearing a silk robe, sitting on the bed after a good hot bath. Her expression was relaxed, something hard to see in her daily life, since she was always dealing with the pressure of fashion brands.
"We have to thank Sayuri, who stayed with Hana for us," said Nami, while crouched in front of a small table, lighting a match.
Nami had arranged a small setup with shells and scented candles. When the flame of the match reached the candle wick, a scent both sweet and citrus filled the room.
"Yes, we do! Sayuri is an angel!" replied Hitomi, who soon noticed the scent and commented. "Is that a scented candle? You like these things, don't you!"
"This one is orange blossom! It's calming," she said. "After this season of shows and catalogs, you need it!"
"Ah, Nami! Thank you so much! You're an angel too!" thanked Hitomi, who was affectionate that day.
Nami sat beside Hitomi on the bed, the two hugged and stroked each other's hair. They wanted to enjoy their time together in that relaxing place.
Ayu's show, Event Pavilion, 8:30 PM
The event pavilion was new in the city. Even though the finishing touches were not fully completed yet, it was already possible to hold fairs, exhibitions and even concerts there. The construction was simple and sturdy, with metal structures reinforcing the entire place.
For the main attraction of the night, modular structures had been set up to create space for dressing rooms and the technical team. The stage had been built for the event, its size was impressive and it included a runway for performances.
Lighting structures, cranes and safety cables would allow the performance to be executed with mastery, after all, it was not just a show. It was not a simple show, it was a concert, with singing, band, dance and theater.
Akiko arrived excited, greeting Minami and Aino, who were already in line.
"Hii!" greeted Minami.
"Finally! I thought you weren't coming anymore!" said Aino, hands on her waist, watching everyone arrive.
For the show went Minami, Aino, Yukino, Akiko, Naoko, Hikaru and Seki. They all got VIP seats, which were very close to the stage and had assigned places. The entrance was opened and people quickly filled the space.
After everyone sat down, the lights were turned off to signal that the show would begin soon. Spotlights lit up the place. Strips of green and blue lights flashed, matching the melancholic and electronic opening music.
When the initial instrumental ended, Ayu appeared on stage wearing a white and silver dress and a single angel wing. Blonde, with sky-blue eyes, she wore silver-toned makeup and her hair was curled for the first act.
Soon after, a quick outfit change brought a lighter look and the songs became more cheerful. The dancers moved across the stage in colorful outfits and Ayu was now closer to the audience.
Yukino sang along to every song. Akiko, Minami and Aino only knew the most famous ones and Hikaru enjoyed the sound without following along. The most out of place were Seki and Naoko, who just watched.
"Pretty lively, huh?" Seki commented, unsure whether he was enjoying the concert or not.
"Yeah. At least the band is really good," Naoko replied, paying more attention to the instrumentals.
After a long moment with only the dancers and the band, Ayu appeared again on stage. This time she wore her usual straight hair and a large, flowing pink dress, worthy of a princess.
While the show continued with great beauty and grace, the band played the pop songs with a rockish feel. Uptempo, midtempo, summer-like, whatever the rhythm. And as everything was impeccable, they were also dressed according to the show's theme.
Long-sleeved coats and tailored pants, combined with the stage lights. The feeling was of heat, and the one who seemed to suffer the most from it was the drummer, a young boy with black hair, pale skin and sky-blue eyes.
So… hot… thought the boy, already close to feeling unwell in that outfit.
Quickly he found a solution. Next to him was a small table with a bottle of water. In a quick and discreet motion, he grabbed the bottle, opened it in a hurry and poured the water over his face. The thermal sensation dropped quickly, but his hair, face, shirt and part of his coat ended up soaked, dripping onto the floor.
"OH MAN!" the drummer exclaimed, his eyes nervous, knowing he had done something wrong.
In front of him was Ayu, staring at him with disdain. Her look clearly warning him that they would have a serious talk.
She saw it, she's going to kill me, he thought, reading the singer's expression.
After that act, a thirty-minute break was announced for stage changes, outfits, and for the band and dancers to rest. But not everyone went straight to the break.
In Ayu's dressing room, she, still wearing the large dress, and the drummer, who had already taken off his jacket, discussed what had happened. It was not a heated argument, and by their tone it seemed they already knew each other well. Both spoke on equal footing.
"What were you thinking?" she asked. "You CAN'T get wet at my shows. My audience does NOT want to see that."
"Hey, hey, calm down! It was hot, that's all!" the drummer replied, bothered by the lecture.
"And you think it's not hot for me? I'm dressed like a cake!" she shot back.
"I get it already! Are you going to keep pushing this?" he complained, impatient.
"Ahhhhh…, just don't traumatize my fans!" she said, placing a hand on her face and looking away in exasperation.
Traumatize? the drummer thought, finding her exaggerated.
"What are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Would Your Majesty allow your servant to rest nearby?" the drummer asked, in a mocking tone.
Ayu heard that and started laughing. To keep from laughing too loudly, she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Go, peasant!" she allowed, playing along.
"Much obliged!" the drummer bowed and left, heading outside the pavilion.
The outside area of the pavilion was in the municipal courtyard, a tree-lined space with places to sit and enjoy the view. Heading outside was Yukino, smiling from ear to ear, unable to hold it in.
Ahhh! This is amazing! Everything's so beautiful! I almost had a heart attack! her thoughts shouted as she felt along the concrete structure and walked toward the nearest bench.
She found a bench near the back, under a large leafy tree. The quiet of the place contrasted with the main entrance, where many people had gone out for a walk.
Good thing Akiko is saving my spot so I can get some air!
She sat down, enjoying the warm autumn night and the cloudless sky, which allowed a beautiful view of the stars.
But her moment alone didn't last long. Soon a boy sat beside her, somewhat carelessly, resting his head on the bench. After a moment, he adjusted himself and lowered his head, trying to take a nap.
Yukino stared fixedly at the boy, who had black hair in a shorter wolfcut style. The pressure of her gaze was so strong that he felt uncomfortable, as if he was being judged.
"Look…" he said, opening his sky-blue eyes and looking at her, bothered. "Could you stop staring at me like I'm a serial killer? I just came here to rest."
"Alright, enjoy your rest," she said, turning her face away, brushing him off.
This is going to get awkward… he thought, noticing her reaction.
"Fan of Ayu? Came to the show?" the boy asked, trying to break the silence.
What a stupid question, he thought, but his face didn't show his irritation.
"Yes, I am," Yukino replied, bluntly.
God, what a stupid question. Why would I be here if not for that? she thought, keeping her serious expression so he would understand he was bothering her.
"I like her brother's band, have you heard them?" he tried again.
"Oh, yeah. Black Dragon," Yukino replied, without much enthusiasm.
"You know them? So you've listened?" he asked, now smiling, more animated.
"I have… yeah…" Yukino said, still not excited.
I'm not going to tell him I wasn't interested, she thought, trying to hide her displeasure.
"Figures you'd be into rock!" he commented.
Nice! She knows it, he thought, smiling slightly, seeming proud.
The boy then looked Yukino up and down, carefully observing her clothes and accessories. After that, his gaze returned to her face, where it stayed.
"Your style looks more like something for a rock show than a pop concert," he said, with a slight smile.
"Is there a rule now for what clothes you wear for each kind of music?" Yukino replied, shrugging, closing her eyes, frowning and tilting her head, showing clear annoyance at his comment.
So grumpy! he thought, letting out a stronger breath. He even found her directness amusing, but didn't show it.
After checking the time, he stood up. Before leaving, he said:
"Well, the break's over. Enjoy the show!"
"Already!? Thanks, you too!"
They went in opposite directions, and Yukino ran back to her seat beside her friend.
"Girl! You took long!" Akiko said.
"Oh, I went to get some air," Yukino replied, choosing not to say anything about the boy she had met outside.