The Star’s Flow Festival has begun.
The main event, the live performance, starts at 6 PM.
But the event hall opens at 8 AM, and fans who arrive at that time can start purchasing merchandise and participate in various events happening at the venue.
Of course, we aren’t just resting until the live starts; we have two tasks to handle.
The first is the event broadcast on the official Star’s Flow channel.
We’re introducing the atmosphere of the venue to fans who can’t attend and running several themed broadcasts.
And the second is the fan meeting.
When purchasing tickets for the event, there was a raffle for the chance to participate in a fan meeting, where those lucky enough to win get to have a 1:1 conversation for about five minutes at a designated booth.
Natsune and the first-year seniors will meet from 3 PM to 5 PM.
Our second-year group meets from 12 PM to 2 PM.
The third-year juniors will hold their fan meeting from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Then, during any remaining time, we’ll participate in the event broadcast on the official Star’s Flow channel.
Of course, there’s some time for rest.
It would be absurd to exhaust ourselves completely before the main event live starts.
Whenever we aren’t doing event broadcasts or fan meetings, that will all be rest time.
Looking at the schedule, my rest time is marked from 11 AM to 12 PM, and then from 2 PM to 6 PM.
And to say it differently…
[The Advancing Star’s Flow: Star’s Flow Festival Free Stage]
It means I’m participating in the opening ceremony of the event broadcast, which can be considered the most important part.
Why on earth?
Joining me are Natsune and senior Kurokami.
Of course, it makes sense for Natsune, as the symbol of Star’s Flow, to participate in such an event.
And Kurokami, who definitely holds everyone together when it comes to first-year students, is also someone we can expect to see here.
But why me?
If anyone is the center of the second years, it should be Suzuha.
Wouldn’t it be better just to feature Natsune and Kurokami and run the fundamental unit of Shichihokuboshi?
Why on earth are they trying to include me to create Hinaami?!
Are they trying to kill me with anxiety, those evil Star’s Flow people?
“Uuugh…”
“Are you very nervous, Izumi?”
“Y-Yes…”
Behind the venue, accessible only to staff, where today’s temporary studio is set up, I was shaking, and Kurokami-senpai gently patted my head with a kind smile.
“Are you, Kurokami-senpai, okay…?”
“Well, to be honest, I’m not really nervous. It’s not like I’m unaccustomed to talking in front of people…”
If it was just a casual conversation with Izutomo, I wouldn’t have felt anxious at all.
But being tasked with announcing the start of such a major event brought a weight greater than I had expected.
Especially when the screen right in front of us was displaying how crowded the event hall was.
All of my concerns from yesterday regarding how many people would come meant absolutely nothing.
“But since this is your first event, it’s understandable…”
“Hmm…”
Hearing my remark, Kurokami-senpai tilted her head slightly and continued.
“Although it is also my first time here, it feels a lot lighter than talking in front of a gather of relatives. After all, everyone watching this broadcast is a fan of ours, right? So, there’s no real danger.”
“Eh…?”
Wait, did that mean Kurokami-senpai finds it dangerous to chat when her relatives gather?
What on earth? That’s terrifying.
What kind of place does Kurokami-senpai come from…?
“It’s just a joke, a joke.”
Seeing me tremble for a different reason, Kurokami-senpai spread her palm wide.
Surely that must be it. It has to be a joke, right?
That really startled me, haha…
“Hikarin. Are you making jokes again?”
Then Natsune, quietly listening to our conversation, chuckled and chimed in.
“When Hikarin makes such jokes, they don’t really sound like jokes, so you shouldn’t do it.”
“But it’s always so much fun to see this reaction!”
Phew. I’m glad.
Seeing Natsune say that makes it clear she really was just joking.
“From the start, Hikarin’s role is to catch relatives, not to be the one caught, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“…Eh?”
Wait a moment.
Does that mean Kurokami-senpai is the one doing the catching…?
I-I need to apologize. For everything… even for thinking she was just a prankster.
“…Pfft!”
“Ah?!”
Then I realized as I saw Natsune and Kurokami-senpai laughing softly.
I got tricked again.
“This is also a joke, a joke! There’s no way, Izumi!”
“Hehe… The fun of teasing Izumi is just too good.”
“Uuugh…”
To get tricked back to back in such a short time.
I feel like a plaything.
“Still, you feel a bit more relaxed now, right?”
Nodding silently at Kurokami-senpai’s words, I acknowledged that, indeed, thanks to that joke, my racing heart had calmed down to some extent.
Though in another sense, it almost turned my head white from shock.
“Alright, everyone get ready!”
At M-chan’s words, I took one last deep breath and stood up.
Time was now just before 9 o’clock.
It was about time to start the opening ceremony.
★
[The Advancing Star’s Flow: Star’s Flow Festival Free Stage]
[Opening Ceremony]
On the broadcast screen beside us, the phrase announcing the opening ceremony appeared.
Below that were pictures of me, Kurokami-senpai, Natsune…
And the president, Rena, as well as Hayama, the MC for today’s opening ceremony, were lined up in order.
“Then, let’s get started!”
As those words were said, the broadcast screen switched.
A completely empty, virtual-feeling studio.
Behind us, the phrase ‘Star’s Flow 1st Festival’ floated, and in the center were black, gold, and blue stars twirling around.
At the staff member’s gesture in front of us, the three of us jumped in place simultaneously.
Then the three spinning stars vanished with a pow! effect, and our avatars appeared in the void left behind.
…This is super virtual indeed.
I almost exclaimed in amazement but managed to hold back.
“Waah~!”
Natsune was the first to cheer, waving both her hands, and Kurokami-senpai and I also waved enthusiastically towards the camera.
-Waah!
-All three of us, hello!
The chatroom exploded in excitement as well.
It was hard to believe they had set it to low-speed mode with the sheer volume of messages flooding in.
“Today! Finally, we’re kicking off the Star’s Flow Production’s first festival! For those who have come here in person! And those enjoying it online! Are you all ready?”
As expected, Natsune was the one to lead the proceedings.
She skillfully drew out the atmosphere and participation from the crowd, while Kurokami-senpai and I clapped in sync.
Then the camera turned to Kurokami-senpai.
“Ohohoho! I never thought I would appear at the opening ceremony, but upon reconsideration, it makes sense for me to be called to such an honorable event. I’m really excited to meet all of you at this grand event!”
-What kind of PON will she be showing at the opening ceremony?
-👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Kurokami-senpai continued speaking as if she was not nervous at all, close to how Natsune was.
…Could it be that what she said earlier wasn’t a joke?
But well, thanks to that joke, I felt relaxed enough to go on stage without problems.
Finally, the camera turned to me.
I stretched my right hand forward and opened my mouth.
“I-I didn’t think I’d be coming out like this right from the start… Uh, anyways, I’m really glad to meet you all!”
-You were really nervous, huh?
-Let’s go calmly, Mei-chan!
Maybe because it’s that kind of occasion?
The Izutomos seemed particularly kind.
Yeah, after all, Izutomos are generally nice folks, so it makes sense.
“Anyway, the opening ceremony for the First Festival will be hosted by the three of us. So, once again! From the shining star of dreams, I’m Natsune Nanase! Konhoshi~!”
-Konhoshi~!
-KONHOSHI!!!
“Whaat?! I can see all the chats you’re sending! I can’t believe there are so many people enjoying the opening ceremony, thank you all so much! Now, let’s move on to the next…”
“Ohohoho! How is everyone doing today? I’m Kurokami Hikari, the proud villainess of Star’s Flow!”
-Welcome, Young Lady!
-OJOUSAMA!!!
“Everyone, Ko, Konzumi! I’m Kainoh Izumi, the mood-maker of Star’s Flow…!”
-Haizumi!
-HIZUMI!!!
And with that introduction… I finally started to feel the Star Fest was truly beginning.
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