The echo of the standing ovation dedicated to Jake Brown's stratospheric score was still reverberating through the rafters of Shibuya's Capital Indoor Arena when the announcer called the next competitor. The public address system thundered in Japanese and English, triggering a tidal wave of cheers that made the arena's glass barriers tremble.
"Representing Japan... Aibek!"
The stadium transformed into a sea of white and blue banners, waved by thousands of fans chanting the name of their young prodigy. Taishi leaned over Aibek's shoulder, adjusting the lapel of his deep blue, silver-embroidered tunic one last time. The phoenix feathers embroidered across the chest of the costume dazzled under the arena's spotlights, reflecting the crisp glow of the broadcast lights.
