Across the arena, especially in the sections populated by younger audiences, Minato's appearance and energetic performance caused a stir.
"Oh my gosh, he's so CUTE!" a teenage girl with bright pink hair shrieked to her friend, clutching her chest.
"I know, right?!" her friend, with sparkling eyes, responded. "And he's only, like, ten! His voice is amazing!"
"This song is way better than anything else out right now!" another girl added, already pulling out her phone to record. "He's got so much energy! And those moves!"
"He's the little boy from 'A Million Dreams'!" a group of girls whispered excitedly. "I totally didn't expect him to be so cool live!"
"I'm totally going to make fan edits of this," one declared, already envisioning slow-motion clips of Minato's stage presence. "He's officially my new crush!"
The buzzing conversations about his cuteness and undeniable talent spread through the teenage sections, adding a new layer of fervent excitement to the already electrified atmosphere. Minato, basking in the roar of the crowd, smiled, ready for his next song.
In their seats, closer to the stage thanks to their backstage passes, Minato's closest friends were practically vibrating with excitement. They had been dancing and clapping along with the rest of the arena.
"OH MY GOSH! MINATO IS AMAZING!" Mina shrieked, her golden eyes wide with pure exhilaration. She was practically bouncing in her seat, her pink hair swaying with her movements. "He's so cool! I can't believe he's our friend!"
Kirishima, his face beaming, slapped his knee. "THAT WAS SO MANLY! His stage presence! And that song! I gotta learn the lyrics! He totally owned that stage!" He was grinning from ear to ear, his enthusiasm infectious.
Himiko, usually reserved, had a wide, genuine smile plastered across her face. She was clapping with all her might, her eyes glued to Minato on stage. "He's... he's really good," she whispered, a sense of awe in her voice. "That song made me want to dance!" She even did a small, joyful shimmy in her seat.
Mina turned to Kirishima, eyes still sparkling. "Did you see him? He looked like a real pop star! I bet all the girls are going crazy over him!"
Kirishima nodded emphatically. "Definitely! He's got that charisma! It's super manly of him to go out there and perform for so many people!"
"I can't wait for his next song!" Himiko added, a rare burst of eagerness. "I wonder what it will be."
They continued to clap and cheer, completely caught up in the energy of Minato's performance, their pride in their friend evident in their every reaction.
As the thunderous applause for "Can't Stop the Feeling!" began to subside, Minato held the microphone, a comfortable smile on his face. He let the energy of the crowd wash over him for a moment, then spoke, his voice clear and confident.
"Thank you, Mustafu! You guys are amazing!" he exclaimed, prompting another wave of cheers. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Minato Namikaze. But some people call me the 'Kid with a Million Dreams'!" He paused, and a few excited squeals rippled through the audience, particularly from the younger sections.
He chuckled, a natural, easy sound. "It's pretty cool to be here, opening for the Ban Rei! I'm so excited, I almost tripped backstage!" A wave of laughter swept through the crowd. "Don't worry, I caught myself. Gotta keep my hero training sharp, right?" This drew even more laughter and a few "Yeah!" shouts. He had them hooked.
"Alright, Mustafu," Minato continued, his gaze sweeping across the vast, illuminated faces, "I've got a song that means a lot to me, and I think it might mean something to you too. It's about dreaming big, about building the world you want to see. This one's for all of you, for every single dream out there."
The opening notes of "A Million Dreams" began to float through the arena, a softer, more evocative melody than the previous track. The crowd hushed, captivated by the sudden change in mood. Minato sang, his voice earnest and full of the hopeful emotion that had made the song a viral sensation. He poured his heart into the lyrics, connecting with each word, each sentiment of aspiration and possibility. The atmosphere shifted from energetic dance to a shared moment of reflective inspiration.
As the final, soaring notes of "A Million Dreams" faded, a wave of heartfelt applause and cheers washed over him. Minato let it linger, then spoke again, his voice carrying a sense of gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you!" he said. "Your dreams are valid, remember that!" He paused, then his eyes twinkled. "And now, for a song that reminds us to never give up, even when things get tough. This one goes out to everyone fighting for their dreams, and to all the heroes who inspire us every day!"
With a signal to the band, the familiar, soaring guitar riff and driving drumbeat of "Blue Bird" filled the arena. The energy instantly surged back, becoming more determined, more uplifting. Minato launched into the powerful vocals, his voice ringing with resilience and forward momentum. Many in the audience, already familiar with the HeroTube hit, began to sing along, their voices joining his in a powerful chorus. The arena was alive, a collective energy vibrating with shared hope and an undeniable connection to the young artist on stage. Minato's set was a masterclass in dynamic performance, seamlessly transitioning from upbeat fun, to heartfelt inspiration, and finally to resolute determination.
The final, powerful notes of "Blue Bird" resonated through the Mustafu Grand Arena, leaving a feeling of uplifted determination in its wake. The applause was deafening, a roaring testament to Minato's ability to connect with the massive crowd. He stood there, soaking in the energy, a wide, genuine smile on his face.
He unclipped the microphone again, holding it close. "Wow, Mustafu! You guys are incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Thank you so much for singing along! Your voices really made that song special."
The crowd cheered even louder, energized by his interaction.
Minato's smile widened. "Alright, so I got some new stuff." A wave of excited murmurs rippled through the audience. "This next song… this is its very first time being heard by anyone outside of the studio. You're the first ones to hear it live!"
The anticipation in the arena was palpable. Minato paused, letting the suspense build. "So, get ready for some fun, Mustafu! Because this one is all about pure joy!"
He gave a subtle nod to the band. The lights on stage shifted, bathing him in a warm, inviting glow. Then, the music hit.
The instantly recognizable, cheerful, and incredibly infectious beat of "Happy" by Pharrell Williams filled the arena.
It might seem crazy what I'm about to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care, baby, by the way
Uh
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
A ripple of spontaneous dancing broke out. People, young and old, were swaying, clapping, and laughing. A group of office workers near the front, initially reserved, found themselves uncontrollably tapping their feet, then shrugging and fully embracing the rhythm. Teenagers were pulling out their phones, not just to record, but to record themselves dancing and singing along. Even some of the security personnel were seen subtly bopping their heads. The atmosphere was pure, unadulterated euphoria.
"This kid is a genius!" a middle-aged woman exclaimed to her husband, tears of joy in her eyes. "I haven't felt this light in ages!" "I literally cannot stop smiling!" someone yelled from the back. "Is this even real?! It's so good!"
Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don't hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you
Don't waste your time, here's why
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
In their special seats, Minato's friends were going wild. Mina was on her feet, dancing enthusiastically, her golden eyes sparkling with pure delight.
"YES! MINATO! THIS IS AWESOME!" she shrieked over the music, throwing her hands in the air. "He's making everyone happy!"
Kirishima, despite his usual "manly" stoicism, couldn't resist. He was clapping his hands above his head, a huge, goofy grin splitting his face. "THIS IS INCREDIBLY MANLY JOY, MINATO! SO MUCH POSITIVITY!" He even attempted a small, stiff dance move, which mostly involved rhythmic stomping.
Himiko, initially just clapping, found herself giggling. The sheer infectiousness of the song, coupled with Minato's radiating happiness, was too much to resist. She started to sway, a soft, joyful bounce in her step, a genuine, unburdened smile on her face. "He's really... happy," she murmured, marveling at how Minato could evoke such widespread elation.
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high to bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down, I said
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high to bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down, I said
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
In their own section, Touya, his mother Rei, and his younger siblings Fuyumi and Natsuo were also swept up. Rei, who rarely showed overt emotion, had a gentle, serene smile on her face as she subtly tapped her foot. The stress lines on her face seemed to momentarily soften. Fuyumi was openly smiling, humming along. "This is a wonderful song," she whispered to Natsuo. Natsuo, usually cynical, found himself grinning. "Alright, Minato! This is actually pretty good!" Touya, who had been watching Minato with his usual intense gaze, felt a rare, involuntary twitch at the corner of his lips. He crossed his arms, but a small, almost imperceptible bounce started in his foot. The sheer, unapologetic happiness of the song was slowly chipping away at his usual guarded demeanor. He even saw his mother, his mother, looking truly peaceful. A faint, almost ghost-like smile touched his own face. That damn kid and his stupidly infectious optimism. But he couldn't deny the warmth it brought.
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high to bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down, I said
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
The crowd gasped, then erupted into a collective cheer of surprise and delight. The vibrant, clappy rhythm instantly sent a wave of pure, unadulterated joy through the audience. Minato, mirroring the song's energy, started moving to the beat, a wide, unshakeable grin plastered across his face. He launched into the lyrics, his young voice perfectly capturing the carefree, buoyant spirit of the song. People in the audience immediately started clapping their hands, dancing in their seats, and some even jumped to their feet, completely swept away by the sheer happiness emanating from the stage.