Because the crowd was so large, Tetsuya's group chose a spot at the very back to avoid the crush as much as possible.
Even so, the constantly shifting crowd around him still made Tetsuya feel quite uncomfortable—
"...Chihaya-nii, you don't seem used to this kind of place."
Seeing the slightly troubled expression on Tetsuya's face, Sakiko found it quite novel.
"Do you prefer quieter places after all?"
"No, I'm just not good at handling crowds."
Tetsuya said as he backed away again, only letting out a somewhat relieved expression when his back was against the wall.
"My stamina makes it hard to deal with the force of people pushing, so..."
"...I see."
Sakiko hesitated for a moment, then followed him back and stood right next to him, pressing close against his side.
"Does this feel a little better?"
"..."
Feeling the support from her shoulder, Tetsuya was startled at first, but he soon felt her consideration from the warmth that gradually spread from her.
[The live is about to begin. We ask all audience members to please switch your phones to silent mode...]
Just then, the announcer's voice from the speakers enveloped the entire live house. In an instant, the clamor of the crowd was drowned out by the immense volume.
As Sakiko was still trying to adjust to the sudden loud noise, a gentle breeze brushed past her ear. Immediately after, a tingling sensation, as if an electric current was passing through her, came along with Tetsuya's low voice right by her ear—
"Thank you, Togawa."
"!?"
Tetsuya's voice and face, suddenly so close to her ear, made Sakiko subconsciously shy away. A visible blush rapidly spread from her ear to her entire cheek.
Fortunately, as the announcer was speaking, the lights inside the live house were gradually dimming, so Sakiko's rapidly changing complexion went unnoticed.
But even so, that fleeting, heart-tickling sensation left Sakiko feeling incredibly flustered.
(That kind of surprise attack is just too unfair!)
Although she knew Tetsuya had no intention of teasing her, it was precisely these unconscious actions that were so effective at making one's heart race.
"...You look happy, Sakiko."
Mutsumi's voice came from her other side.
"Should I push you a little more in that direction?"
"There's no need for that."
Sakiko protested, her face still red.
"More importantly, why don't you stand on Chihaya-nii's other side? He's not very good at handling these crowded environments."
"No."
Mutsumi answered without a moment's hesitation.
"If I do that, I won't be able to concentrate on the live."
"...? Why is that?"
Sakiko was very confused by this.
"Chihaya-nii isn't the type to bother people around him."
"It's not because of Chihaya-san."
Mutsumi shook her head.
"It's my own issue... If I stand next to him, my attention might get divided. So I can't."
"...Eh?"
Come to think of it, on the day they met Soyo, Mutsumi had reported many details of that day's events to her in one go after getting home.
According to her, although she hadn't said anything to Tetsuya that day, he had still understood her thoughts and proactively led her to catch up with the departing Soyo. Under his somewhat forceful guidance, she had felt the same sense of fulfillment and harmony she hadn't experienced since before [CRYCHIC] disbanded.
For Mutsumi, who had always been poor at socializing and expressing herself, an adult like Tetsuya, who could understand others' thoughts without much communication, was precisely the type she admired the most.
Come to think of it... admired?
Hmm, it's probably just a bit of a longing for that thoughtfulness and reliability, right?
Sakiko tilted her head, lost in thought.
...
"Whoa... guys, the situation outside is insane!"
Anon, who had just caught a glimpse of the venue, rushed back to her bandmates with hurried steps.
"I've never seen [RiNG] this packed! Even the hallway by the entrance is full of people!"
"And this is just from [Summer Zodiac] announcing a surprise appearance this morning... If it were one of their own carefully promoted and prepared events, the crowd would be dozens of times larger than today."
Soyo shook her head.
"For [RiNG], a guest of this caliber is definitely worth making concessions for."
"..."
Taki, who had been resentful about being a sacrifice, suddenly felt an involuntary wave of nervousness.
It seemed the truth was just as Soyo had said. Although the audience was indeed here for [Summer Zodiac], it had also brought a far larger crowd for their debut than they could have ever expected.
More than the atmosphere, she was now more worried about her own performance.
...Come to think of it, if even she was this nervous, then Tomori's condition was probably not looking good either!
Thinking this, she quickly looked up at Tomori.
However—
"..."
Although Tomori had a thoughtful look on her face, there was not a single trace of nervousness or anxiety in her slightly dazed eyes.
"...Tomori?"
Taki couldn't help but ask.
"You... you're not nervous?"
"...I'm okay."
Tomori shook her head.
"The crowd is bigger than expected... but more than that, my mind is completely filled with our band right now."
At this, she looked down at the outfit she was wearing.
"The team outfits... are so amazing. I feel like after the five of us put these on, we really became a single unit. If I'm wearing this... I can definitely sing properly on stage."
"...!"
Hearing Tomori's words, Taki was startled at first, then she too couldn't help but shift her gaze to the outfits everyone was wearing.
In these outfits, themed with street graffiti and road signs, she could feel both a sense of freedom and liberation from the graffiti patterns, and at the same time, a motivation to move forward from the signs they formed.
Not only that, but as she focused on the clothes, the comfort they provided, comparable to loungewear, also eased a great deal of her stress.
Just as Tomori had said, if she was wearing this, she definitely wouldn't feel timid no matter what kind of stage she faced—
"That's right, there's nothing to worry about! No matter who our opponent is, what we have to do doesn't change at all!"
Anon came up to the two with a grin and wrapped her arms around them both.
"Even if our opponent is [Summer Zodiac], it's the same!"
"Oh? Are you talking about us?"
Before the two girls in her embrace could respond, a new, unfamiliar voice suddenly came from behind them.
When the band members all turned around, the figures of [Summer Zodiac] appeared right before them.
The one who had spoken to them, was now walking towards Anon step by step, wearing a bright smile that could almost light up the entire backstage area.
"If you don't mind, could I join your pleasant conversation?"