After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

"Would you like to walk with me next?" Yue proposed the next course of action to Taozi.

"Tomorrow is Golden Week, and I've already told the dorm manager that I'm going home for the next couple of days, so there's no problem. Yue, have you decided where we're going?"

“Yes, I’ve been prepared for a while,” Yue replied.

"Let's go then~"

The two walked and arrived at Tokyo Tower. For some reason, even though it was already the Golden Week holiday, the observation deck of Tokyo Tower was deserted, with only a huge curtain covering an unknown object.

"It feels a little scary..." Peach said timidly as she stepped out of the observation elevator and looked at the brightly lit but empty observation deck.

"I think I have a guess... but I'll talk about it later." Yue looked at this strange scene, but she didn't feel anything at all. Could it be that she was already used to it?

"It's good that no one's around. There are some things I've always wanted to tell you, Peach." Yue walked to the edge of the observation deck and looked out at the brightly lit city below through the glass.

The city's neon lights and streetlights complement each other, creating a dazzling scene in the night, like millions of stars twinkling on the earth.

"Moon, what do you want to tell me? Are you going to tell me the answer?" Momo walked to Moon's side and looked down at the city as well.

"Peach... I've always been afraid of you..." Yue said, revealing her true feelings.

"Afraid of me? Why?" Peach asked, puzzled.

"Because you, Peach, are too dazzling, I was afraid that I would be attracted to you, afraid that I would become your fan, and so I chose to run away."

"Moon...so that's what you've always thought?"

This was the first time Peach had heard Yue say these things to her. She had never imagined that the reason Yue left Shengxiang was because of her.

"Yes, so I chose to leave Shengxiang. I thought everything would be alright once I left Shengxiang, but I found that I still couldn't leave the stage. The dazzling presence on the stage deeply attracted me," Yue continued.

"I was both afraid of the stage and attracted by its brilliance. Later, the giraffe said some strange things to me that I still couldn't understand."

"I didn't understand what the giraffe was saying at first, but then the lamp told me that I was lost and couldn't find my way." Yue continued walking and walked to the side of the curtain.

"What the lamp said made me realize that the curtain hadn't been drawn on the previous stage yet, so I couldn't fully enter the new stage."

Momoko vaguely understood what Yue meant when she heard this. "So, Yue came to see me today to finish the performance on stage?"

"That's one aspect, but another is that I want to have another revue with you, Momo."

As Yue spoke, she forcefully pulled down the curtain, revealing the giraffe beneath.

"A... a giraffe!" Peach looked at the giraffe in shock.

In stark contrast to the peach, Yue showed no surprise, as if she had expected the giraffe to be there.

"Good evening, Hinasaki-san and Kurosawa Momoko-san," the giraffe greeted the two.

Before the stage opens: Chapter Twenty-Eight - The Revue of Closing

"You heard what we just said, right?" Yue asked.

"Of course, this is the stage that the audience has been looking forward to, so why would I stop you? The stage doors are already open to you."

As the giraffe's call faded, the once brightly lit observation deck went dark. The closed elevator turned on again, its lights shining out like spotlights on a stage in the darkness.

"Come on, step onto the stage and give the audience the stage they want to see."

"Sing, dance, this is the destiny of a stage girl, I understand."

The giraffe's enthusiastic voice rang out. After exchanging a glance, Yue and Momoko each boarded a separate elevator.

The stage girl, who serves as fuel, has been thrown down, and the machine called the stage has begun to ignite.

Starting with the weaving of threads, the revue costumes exclusively for stage girls are gradually woven into shape; starting with steel, the buttons representing the stage girls' victories and defeats are forged; starting as ordinary people, each girl gradually becomes a stage girl.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, Yue and Momoko, dressed in Revue outfits, stepped out, each carrying their own weapons.

Peach, dressed in a black Revue outfit with a golden belt that subtly accentuated her slender figure, not only highlighted her youthful physique but also showcased her well-developed upper body and long legs with the belt embellishment. Holding a katana, she stepped onto the stage with a composed and leisurely gait.

"On the stage, everything is dazzling and colorful, but the spotlight will only shine on me. I am Momoko Kurosawa, the chief of Shengxiang Class 102. Let me lead everyone forward."

Yue wore a dark blue outer garment, which split open at the abdomen to reveal a white inner lining. The white lining appeared exceptionally refreshing and pure against the dark blue outer garment, creating a striking contrast. The unique cut of the outer garment accentuated Yue's slender figure and dignified demeanor.

She wore a black skirt adorned with red lines, which cleverly outlined her long legs and added a vibrant touch to the overall look.

Holding a long-handled broadsword, its gleam shimmering under the stage lights, Yue slowly ascends the stage.

"Dazzled by the brilliance, lost on the stage. But even when lost, I never stop. Haneoka Astronomy Club, Hinasaki Tsuki! I stand on this stage following the footsteps of the stars and my own wishes!"

On the stage beneath the Tokyo Tower, which seems to exist for some unknown reason, Tsuki and Momoko each recited their own lyrics, and the stage spotlights focused on them.

The lyrics of the two songs also represent their state of mind. Momo wants to become a leader and lead everyone forward, while Yue, although still confused about her direction, is determined to work hard and move forward.

"Is the moon's lyrics the answer for me?" On stage, Peach was no longer the carefree and energetic girl she usually was. Although she still had a smile on her face, you could tell from her tone that she was very serious now.

"Hmm, does this count as an answer?" Yue said with a smile.

"The moon will give me the answer on stage."

"I guess so……"

The giraffe stood in the audience, its long neck acting as a dividing line, separating the moon and the peach into two areas.

"I understand that parting between friends is always so sad."

"Now, for the special program before Golden Week, the closing Revue begins!"

Sing, dance, and shine on stage! Stage girls are born to shine, mabushii!

As the giraffe's voice faded, Yue and Taozi moved simultaneously.

The two quickly closed in, their swords clashing against each other. The long sword danced, its light flashing, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, fiercely slashing towards Taozi.

Peach remained calm and composed, wielding her katana with dazzling light. Her figure moved like a wisp of smoke, agile yet sharp, as she met Yue's attack.

On stage, Peach sang softly, her voice clear and melodious: "Lost girl, please let me show you the way."

"In this dark night, let my voice be your guide."

The katana in Momoko's hand was like a flashing lightsaber, aimed straight at Yue's button, demonstrating her determination and decisiveness.

Yue responded with a song, his voice deep and affectionate: "The direction she chose is not what I hoped for."

"In this chaotic world, I can only follow my heart."

Yue dodged Taozi's poke, and the interplay of light and shadow on the stage resembled a mesmerizing dance drama.

The two danced to the song, their katana and longsword clashing against each other, the flashing blades creating a dazzling spectacle on the stage.

The katana and the longsword clashed, their blades flashing on the stage like dazzling stars.

The music, seemingly coming from nowhere, grew stronger and more intense, and the movements of Peach and Moon on the stage became more ferocious, as they communicated their inner feelings through flashing swords.

Yue parried Taozi's attack, and the two struggled against each other, staring at each other.

Looking at the peach in front of her, Yue exclaimed, "How dazzling, peach."

Peach forcefully pushed Yue back, her smile growing even brighter. "Yue shines brightly again on stage."

"Thank you for the compliment, but it's about time to bring the show to its climax."

As Yue spoke, she stepped forward again, the longsword in her hand flashing blindingly under the stage lights, and thrust it forcefully towards Taozi.

Peach, without dodging or avoiding, gripped her katana tightly and charged towards the moon as well.

Neither of them made any attempt to defend themselves, so their weapons pierced directly into each other's bodies.

However, no bright red blood gushed out. Instead, endless flashes of light shot out from behind the two men, shining like stars and illuminating the entire stage.

"Ah! まぶしい!"

The giraffe looked at the two people on the stage who were shining brightly and said with fervor.

Both Yue and Momo collapsed to the ground, the weapons that had pierced their bodies ejected by the burst of light and stuck in the ground.

"I'm really fed up with you, Peach. Why didn't you dodge? I was trying to let you win, wasn't I?"

Yue lay on the ground, her words full of complaints, but she was still smiling.

"Since Yue has already said that, I'm too embarrassed to force you back. Once I win, the stage will force Yue back to complete the closing ceremony of our show."

Peach said, lying on the ground.

“I have always said that I want to lead our 102nd generation as a team leader, so after you left, I really wanted to bring you back.”

"But after listening to what you just said, I realize that I did make some mistakes."

“So… Yue, I accept your answer. Go and move on to the next stage.” Momo stood up and slowly extended her hand to Yue.

"I'll be waiting for you on the next stage."

Yue reached out and grasped Taozi's hand.

Today's Revue selection ended in a draw.

From this point on, Hinasaki Tsuki completed her journey on the past stage and officially began her journey to a new stage.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Thanks to reader "Lazy" for all the suggestions for improvement!

Before the stage opens: Chapter Twenty-Nine: Let's Go on a Trip!

The day after Tsuki and Momoko revue on the stage of Tokyo Tower.

The biological clock she has developed daily causes Yue to wake up precisely at 6:30 in the morning.

Yue lay in bed, staring at the familiar ceiling, lost in thought.

Today is already Golden Week, so I don't have to go to school at all, and I don't have to rush to do my homework for a while. Also, no one has asked me to go out and have fun.

That means there's absolutely nothing to do! Great!

After thinking it over, Yue realized she had nothing to do. She had been stabbed by Taozi yesterday and was still feeling a bit unwell, so she didn't feel like doing her morning exercise for a while. She turned over in bed and decided to continue sleeping.

"Tsuki-chan! Tsuki-chan!"

Momoko Kurosawa's voice came from the direction of the guest room, and it gradually grew louder.

Yue Sheng opened her eyes again, feeling utterly hopeless. She realized that her plan to sleep until noon was probably not going to work out.

Yue silently counted down in her mind, and just as she reached zero, Momoko Kurosawa pushed the door open and walked in.