That white scale icon, visible only to players, appeared exceptionally clear under the spotlight.
[Neutral Faction Player — Uta]
As expected.
The last shred of hope in Mikoto's heart vanished. This girl, who had swept the World with her singing, was, like her, a "player" from another World.
Just as Mikoto was sizing up Uta, the diva on stage seemed to sense something. Her gaze crossed over thousands of frenzied fans and landed precisely on a spot in the front row.
There, a girl with short, tea-colored hair was sitting quietly, completely out of place with the revelry around her.
In Uta's field of vision, hovering above that girl's head was a shield emblem emitting a soft green light.
[Guardian Faction Player: Misaka Mikoto]
A flash of surprise crossed Uta's heterochromatic eyes, but it was immediately replaced by an intrigued smile. She raised her hand and gave a light wave in Mikoto's direction.
This gesture was subtle and swift, drowned out by the brilliant stage lights and the deafening cheers, leaving it almost unnoticed by anyone.
Except for Gwen Stacy.
"Oh my god! Peter! Did you see that!" Gwen Stacy grabbed Peter's arm in excitement, shaking it vigorously.
"Uta! Uta is looking our way! She just waved at me!"
The glow stick in her hand waved like a windmill, and she looked like she wanted to fly straight onto the stage.
"Calm down, Gwen Stacy, calm down." Peter was shaken until he felt dizzy.
"There are so many people, she probably just waved randomly."
"No! I'm sure! She was looking at me!" Gwen Stacy's face flushed red with excitement.
Mikoto ignored the commotion beside her. She just watched Uta on stage calmly, observing the innocent yet slightly mischievous smile on the girl's face.
That was not an idol greeting a fan.
That was a player greeting another player.
"I see you."
Mikoto understood the subtext behind that smile. She didn't respond, simply withdrawing her gaze, expressionless, as if everything that had just happened never occurred.
Uta raised her microphone, and her clear, penetrating voice swept through the entire venue instantly like an unstoppable torrent.
"Are you tired of that unchanging melody~"
"Bound by rules, unable to breathe~"
The moment the singing began, the atmosphere of the entire Madison Square Garden changed. If it had been frenzied worship before, now it was pure, immersive happiness.
The singing had a peculiar magic, as if it could pierce through the eardrums and act directly on the human nervous system, soothing all anxiety and unease, and awakening the deepest desires in one's heart.
The stage lights and holographic projections shifted with the music, creating magnificent scenes—sometimes musical notes soaring through the sky, sometimes blooming candy flowers.
Uta sang and danced freely on stage; every movement and every glance of hers was filled with an irresistible infectiousness.
She didn't look at Mikoto again, as if that meaningful greeting just now had been an illusion. She was completely immersed in her performance, using her singing to weave a perfect World of only happiness for everyone.
Mikoto admitted that this singing was indeed impressive.
Setting aside that eerie mental influence, focusing solely on the music itself, whether it was the melody, the arrangement, or the singer's technique, it was all top-tier. No wonder it could make so many people go crazy for it.
As the only "sober" person in the venue.
Mikoto's electromagnetic perception allowed her to clearly "see" that Uta's singing did not carry any abnormal energy fluctuations. No mental interference, no psychic suggestion—it was just... singing.
A song where technique, emotion, and talent had all reached the pinnacle.
This, instead, made Mikoto even more vigilant. Unlike the "Mental Out" of Shokuhou Misaki, which required a medium and left traces, Uta's ability seemed more natural and imperceptible.
She couldn't even judge whether the ocean of frenzy before her was a masterpiece of her ability or a manifestation of her personal charm.
"Really amazing..."
Peter, beside her, let out a dreamy exclamation.
Mikoto glanced at him and found that this science geek, who had scoffed at the concert not long ago, was now gazing at the stage with a look of infatuation. The glow stick he had originally despised was, at some point, already waving to the beat.
Although his movements were still a bit stiff, like an un-oiled robot, the expression on his face was pure, uncontrollable happiness.
Mikoto's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
Idiot.
As the song ended, thunderous applause and screams erupted in the venue. Uta just smiled and bowed, and immediately following that was the second song, "I'm the Strongest."
If "New Genesis" was the trumpet call leading everyone into a utopia, then "I'm the Strongest" was the battle song igniting the fire in everyone's heart. The strong rhythm and powerful lyrics made the floor of the entire Madison Square Garden vibrate slightly.
Peter had completely let go; he stood up along with Gwen Stacy, clumsily imitating the movements of the surrounding fans, waving his glow stick, and humming along to a tune he wasn't even familiar with.
Harry was amused watching from the side, even taking out his phone to record this rare "silly look" of Peter.
Mikoto leaned back in her chair, watching these three friends who had been completely captivated by the music, feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart.
She couldn't blend in, yet she didn't reject it either. It was just like watching a well-produced, highly infectious movie.
The concert went on, song after song. Fast songs made people's blood boil, while slow songs flowed like a clear spring, soothing hearts.
When that song "Backlight" began, the whole venue quieted down, leaving only Uta's clear and slightly melancholic singing voice echoing amidst the sea of glow sticks.
Mikoto's gaze fell on the small figure in the center of the stage. She suddenly felt that this girl named Uta might not be as simple as she had imagined. In her singing, there was a profound loneliness that didn't match her age.
The two-hour performance drew to a close amidst the final encore calls.
Uta stood at the edge of the stage and bowed deeply to the audience.
"Thank you everyone! Tonight, you were the best!"
After saying this, she slowly descended amidst a burst of white light and disappeared beneath the stage.
The venue lights turned back on, pulling people from their dream back to reality.
"It's over... Is it already over?" Gwen Stacy slumped in her chair, her voice hoarse, but her face full of satisfaction and reluctance.
"I feel like I could listen to another hundred songs!"
"Your throat wouldn't last another hundred songs." Harry smiled and handed her a bottle of water.
Peter also sat down; he wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes still a bit unfocused, as if he had just finished a marathon.
"It feels... very strange." He muttered to himself.
Mikoto stood up and stretched her slightly stiff neck.
The probing, confrontation, or even conflict she had anticipated never happened. The other party simply held a perfect concert and then bowed out.
Throughout the whole thing, Uta never looked at her again.
That greeting at the beginning seemed like nothing more than an illusion.
"Neutral Faction..." Mikoto silently repeated the term in her heart.
Perhaps she was overthinking it. This player seemed to just want to quietly be a World diva.
Her nerves, which had been tense all evening, finally relaxed slightly.
"Let's go." She said, her voice as calm as ever, "Aunt May told us to get home early."
"Oh, right!" Peter snapped out of it and hurriedly pulled up Gwen Stacy, who was still reminiscing.
The four of them walked outward with the crowd, and behind them was the massive venue still echoing with cheers of "Uta."
Mikoto walked at the very back; she turned her head to take one last look at that huge stage.
"Tch, she did sing well, though..."
Mikoto muttered in her heart.
Uta, under the spotlight, was like a luminous body, attracting all eyes. Every movement and every glance of hers was full of confidence and infectiousness.
She enjoyed the stage, enjoyed the cheers of thousands, and enjoyed bringing happiness to everyone with her singing.
Mikoto saw that purity clearly.
This made her even more confused.
A person who possessed such powerful mental interference capabilities, yet only used it to sing and make people happy? That sounded... too naive.
In this World fraught with crises, where aliens or perverted criminals could pop up at any time, if this ability were used elsewhere, it could have a far greater effect than just being a pop star.
Did she really just want to be an idol, or was there a deeper purpose hidden behind it?