Tokyo: Oreimo

The distance from the East Fourth Hall to the corporate area is not far, but the crowds at Winter COMI were too dense. It took the four of us almost fifteen minutes to squeeze to the outer edge of Aniplex's exhibition area.

From afar, you could see the striking black lightbox sign. There was still a long queue at the SAO demo area, and the queue at the Blu-ray sales area was also getting longer. Deep inside the exhibition area, a large crowd had gathered in front of a temporary stage.

The stage backdrop featured a giant poster featuring the theme of "SAO," while upbeat warm-up music played from speakers on both sides. The lighting technician was adjusting the angle of the spotlights, with several beams of white light sweeping across the stage.

"This is it!" Tian Zhongxue stood on tiptoe and peered towards the stage, his eyes shining like an otaku who had discovered a rare doujinshi. "Wait, has it already started? Hasn't it started yet? I saw someone holding a light stick!"

Ayumi grabbed his sleeve. "Don't push forward. Let's just watch from the outside. There are too many people."

Ling Nai stood behind the three people, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and across the side of the stage.

Even from a distance, she recognized that familiar figure.

Ryosuke was leaning against the display wall at the back of the exhibition area, holding a bottle of green tea in his hand. Next to him stood Saori Hououin. The two stood side by side, with Saori's right hand naturally resting on his arm as they whispered something.

Ling Nai pursed her lips slightly.

"Ling Nai? What's wrong?" Ayumi noticed the change in her expression and followed her gaze, only to see a sea of ​​dark heads.

"It's nothing." Ling Nai looked away. "The performance is about to start."

As soon as the words were spoken, the stage lights exploded simultaneously, and the host announced that Dream Chaser was taking the stage. The cheers from the audience almost lifted the ceiling of the exhibition hall.

Tian Zhongxue immediately switched from his rational state to fanatical fan mode, pulling out two light sticks from his backpack. His practiced movements clearly indicated that this was not his first time using them.

"President, you actually brought a light stick?" Ayumi looked at him in disbelief.

"This is basic etiquette! Going to a live concert without a light stick is disrespectful to the idol!"

The spotlights on the stage shone, and Shizuka Hayakawa appeared in the center of the stage, holding a prop rapier. The white background and red trim of her battle dress were particularly eye-catching under the lights, and the red ribbon at the end of her hair swayed gently with her movements, making her seem to be glowing.

The cheerleaders at Tianzhong Middle School waved their light sticks faster than anyone else, chanting slogans in sync with the rhythm of the crowd. Ayumi and Misaki Asakura were also caught up in the atmosphere and clapped along with the rhythm.

Only Ling Nai crossed her arms and looked at the teenage idols on stage with a calm expression.

There's no denying that this guy's performance on stage is outstanding. His smile, his movements, and his interaction with the audience are all perfectly executed. No wonder his popularity has soared in the past two years.

But what really bothered Ling was that Hayakawa Shizuka seemed somewhat distracted.

As her gaze swept across the audience area, it lingered for a moment in certain areas, as if searching for something.

Ling Nai followed her gaze, but the crowd was too dense, and she couldn't see what she was looking for.

After the first song was finished, and halfway through the second song, Tian Zhongxue suddenly let out a suppressed gasp.

"She...she's looking this way!"

"what?"

"Shizuka Hayakawa! She just looked this way! She looked at me for at least five seconds! She even smiled at me!"

Ayumi looked in the direction he was pointing, and on the stage, Hayakawa Shizuka's gaze was indeed fixed in their direction, but only Shizuka herself knew exactly what she was looking at.

Ling Nai noticed that Shizuka's gaze lingered on her position for a moment longer before shifting away.

Ah, I see. Blonde hair and a ponytail—that's probably why I stand out in a crowd.

This guy wasn't looking at her to greet the Takashiro family's sister, but rather to confirm if that guy was there. He probably deduced that the guy was nearby after seeing me.

Ling Nai put her hands in her pockets, and her lips pursed almost imperceptibly.

"She's looking over here again!" Tian Zhongxue excitedly grabbed Bu Mei's sleeve. "Bu Mei, did you see that?! This is definitely not an illusion! She must have been looking at us today!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Ayumi responded perfunctorily, but felt a little strange inside.

Indeed, just as Tian Zhongxue said, she also noticed the idol's gaze and even made eye contact with him.

The performance ended amidst deafening cheers.

Shizuka Hayakawa bowed deeply to the audience, the red ribbon at the end of her hair falling over her shoulders, and then retreated backstage with the other members.

Tian Zhongxue was still immersed in the excitement from just now, reluctant to put away his light stick, and muttering to himself as he savored every moment when someone "looked at him".

"DC was perfect today! I'm going to write this into a forum post, no, into my personal history! That idol looked at me at least three times!"

"President, could you please put the light stick away before you speak?" Ayumi sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"No, I want to savor it again! By the way, Gao Cheng, did you see that part just now? It's when the lead singer hit that high note in the chorus..."

“I saw it.” Ling Nai’s tone was indifferent, then she turned to Ayumi, “Ayumi-senpai, the performance is over now, you can go back to your booth.”

Aren't you coming back with us?

"I have something to do, I'll go see that guy while I'm at it."

Ling Nai took out her phone from her pocket. On the screen was a message from Ryosuke sent five minutes ago: "Saori has some urgent business to attend to and asked me to help entertain the people from DC. Have you finished shopping?"

She replied, "Okay, come pick me up. I'm in this part of the exhibition area too."

Several seconds passed after the message was sent, but Ryosuke did not reply immediately.

Just as Ling Nai was about to send another message, she suddenly heard Ayumi make a soft sound of doubt beside her.

"Hey, isn't that Takashiro?"

Ling Nai suddenly looked up and followed Ayumi's gaze.

Following the flow of people, the group arrived near the side entrance of the Aniplex exhibition area. Several people walked out from behind the display board, with Shizuka Hayakawa, who had just been shining brightly on the stage, leading the way.

She was still wearing her performance costume, and her stage makeup hadn't been removed yet; the sequins at the corners of her eyes glittered under the lights.

The person she walked towards was none other than Ryosuke Takagi.

The two stood at the entrance of the side door, less than a meter apart, talking to each other.

Shizuka Hayakawa's posture was natural, but her slightly red eyes and slightly forward-leaning body angle made it seem like a normal work greeting.

"That person, it really is Takashiro, right?" Ayumi blinked, then turned to Ling Nai, "Ling Nai, Takashiro... why is he with that idol?"

Ling Nai fell silent.

Damn it, why did this guy start talking to her without even telling her?

"Maybe it's just a resemblance?" Misaki Asakura added cautiously. "Takashiro-kun is amazing, but she probably wouldn't have any personal relationship with an idol..."

The cheering stick of Tianzhong Middle School fell to the ground.

He glanced at Ryosuke and Hayakawa Shizuka not far away, then at Ling Nai's expression, his fingers trembling slightly as he pushed up his glasses.

Not right.

Asakura is right. Takashiro is just an ordinary person, right? He's just a very talented fan fiction writer. How could he talk to his idol face to face?

Moreover, judging from Hayakawa Shizuka's expression, these two have clearly met before.

It was a familiar and relaxed demeanor, as if they had some past that no one else knew about.

No, no, no, how could that be?

"I must have seen it wrong," Tian Zhongxue muttered to himself.

"I'm not mistaken, that coat, that profile, it's exactly the same as Gao Cheng's."

Ayumi looked at Ryouna and noticed that the blonde girl's expression was quite complicated.

"And if it's a misunderstanding, Ling Nai shouldn't have reacted this way..."

Ayumi silently added a sentence in her mind.

“Ling Nai, that’s Takashiro, right?” Ayumi asked.

Ling Nai took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Huh?!"

Misaki Asakura let out a very soft gasp, then quickly covered her mouth.

"Wait, Ling Nai, is that Takashiro-kun? How does he know Hoshimi Shizuka? Why can he talk to his idol so naturally?"

Ayumi looked up and saw Ryosuke and Shizuka waving at them.

They must have been discovered.

"Let it go."

Ling Nai glanced at the text message on her phone, pursed her lips, turned around and said something to the club members beside her, and then walked to the side of the booth.

"Huh?"

"That guy is calling us over."

Her golden ponytail bounced up and down, just like Tian Zhongxue's little heart.

.....

As they got closer, Asakura was still nervous about meeting her idol face-to-face and was already rummaging through her bag for something to sign.

Tian Zhongxue opened and closed his mouth but couldn't make a sound.

When he got to Ryosuke, he saw that the newcomer, who was also a member of the manga club, had the same calm expression as always.

Ling crossed her arms, completely baffled as to what Ryosuke was up to.

Is this guy finally giving up? Is he ready to lay his cards on the table now that he's been seen?

“Gao, Gaocheng…” Tian Zhongxue stammered.

He couldn't help but be nervous, because the idol who had just been shining brightly on stage was standing right in front of him, smiling at him.

I was so happy I almost fainted.

"President, cheer up."

Horiuchi Ayumi, exasperated, slapped Tanaka hard on the back.

"Ayumi, what are you doing? You scared me."

"Because you look worthless right now, President, you've completely disgraced the manga club!"

"It's normal to have this kind of reaction when you see your favorite idol!"

Tanaka didn't dare look directly at Hayakawa Shizuka, and could only cast pleading glances at Ryosuke.

This made Ryosuke burst out laughing.

"Don't be nervous, President. Hayakawa is the approachable type."

"So, Takashiro... how do you know the lead singer of DC?"