Game Market 1983
Chapter 231: Tsubaki's Request

"If Erica's first song, 'Cheering Song' was a tune for those exhausted by their daily routines, her second song was incredibly striking with its lyrics filled with the heart-fluttering emotions of a girl in love.

Unlike the relatively mellow atmosphere of the first song, the sight of her singing along with the lively ukulele had this inherent power to make anyone watching involuntarily smile.

When her face was shown close-up on the screen, throwing a wink toward the audience, the heat within the live hall surged momentarily to a deafening 100dB due to the music from the speakers and the gamers' cheers.

"Wow... This is truly incredible, isn't it?"

Kanna, who had somehow appeared by my side, exclaimed while looking out at the audience.

I, lost in the music flowing from the speakers and the gamers' cheers, didn't even hear her approaching footsteps, causing me to startle and hunch my shoulders.

"Feeling a bit less nervous now?"

"Oddly enough, when I was in the waiting room, I didn't feel it, but now that I see the audience packed like this, I'm incredibly nervous. Aoi in Osaka preparing for a live right now probably feels similar, huh?"

"Most likely."

Hamazaki Aoi, playing Kono Azusa, was the youngest among the trainees selected for the virtual idol group. At just 12 years old, now a first-year middle school student, she monopolized cuteness among the trainees.

But just like during the launch event's live performance, she seemed slightly more anxious than the other heroines, perhaps due to a mild case of stage fright.

Watching Kanna checking her stage costume and psyching herself up, a bittersweet feeling intensified within me, prompting me to turn my head towards the screen to conceal my emotions.

&

The first live performance of the Virtual Idol.

Erica VS Azusa's show was fortunately proceeding without a hitch after the release of their new songs. When they swapped their title songs as scheduled, it was the moment when Kanna, who had gained confidence through street performances, truly shone.

Amidst the dazzling lights and spotlights, her unwavering smile while singing received thunderous applause from many spectators. As Kanna finished her last song, "Cheering Song," and bid farewell to the audience, somewhere in the crowd, tiny voices requested an encore.

"Encore! Encore! Encore!"

"One more song!"

"We came all the way from Fukuoka. It's too disappointing to just go back like this!"

"I came from Hokkaido!"

"I loved the Erica version of 'Hold Me' last time!"

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!"

In response to the incessant requests from the audience, Kanna, on the stage, looked at me with a perplexed expression.

Even I, who was mesmerized by her splendid live performance, could understand the audience's reaction at that moment.

However, singing Tsukaki's song again here would somewhat influence her upcoming live performance next week. Therefore, I eventually permitted her to respond to the encore with another song she had sung before.

Upon this decision, Kanna, looking at me from the center of the stage, nodded her head and, with closed eyes, began the first verse of another song.

"The moment I saw you for the first time, I knew of my sad love..."

At that moment, the expressions of the users in the audience who had been calling for an encore froze.

"Oh? Could this song be... No way?"

"No way... Could it be...?"

"Wow... Amazing."

"Could it be that she's singing the ending song of 'Gift from the Gods'?"

Earlier this year, the ending song of 'Gift from the Gods' had become a topic of conversation online as Kanna had personally written the lyrics. It gained much attention, and even though many had tried to replace it at the record shop in front of the station, she, having ended her contract with them, no longer sang there.

Instead, she made her music available for download via terminals at the Pentagon Shop, and her ending song had almost reached nearly 100,000 downloads, indicating its tremendous popularity.

"Could it be that we're hearing this song here...?"

Users, with expressions filled with more than anticipated excitement, found themselves engrossed in her song.

"I wanted to say I love you, but I'm afraid my heart might be revealed~ I've been wandering around by your side all day long."

The ending song of 'Gift from the Gods' embraced the fervent live hall with its warmth, settling the atmosphere in the audience after the fervor.

Finally, as Kanna finished her last song and bowed to the audience, signaling the end of the live performance, everyone in the audience stood up from their seats and showered her with enthusiastic applause.

Although she hadn't sung the song herself, just witnessing this spectacle filled me with such overwhelming emotions. How must Kanna have felt singing on stage? I, too, overcame my apprehensions and sent a hearty applause to her successful live performance.

&

"It's amazing. Incredible!! The last encore was spine-tingling, truly!!"

"Ah, if only I had gone. Who would have thought that Erica's voice actress would be the one singing the ending song of 'Gift from the Gods'?"

"I've been saying all along that their voices for the two songs were similar. But back then, they told me not to say something funny..."

"Zephyros, I was one of those who posted that it was impossible. It's too late now, but I sincerely apologize. Sniffles..."

Two days after Erica's live event.

The Virtual Idol community was full of discussions about Erica's voice actress.

Ultimately, the ending song 'Gift from the Gods' she chose for her last performance had been well received by the users. As a result, Erica's debut points surged by about 1.5 times, showing a tremendous impact.

"Director, are you in the Virtual Idol community chat room again?"

"This is also part of the market research, you know?"

"Yeah, right."

Hayashi, who was looking at me from the next seat, smirked and nodded.

As I turned my gaze back to the monitor, I couldn't help but say a sarcastic remark to the annoying Hayashi.

"Didn't you say you were going dress shopping with Kaori tomorrow? Is this the third time now?"

"... "

“Will she be able to choose a dress she likes tomorrow?”

No matter how picky she was, there was one thing Hayashi, the owner, couldn't resist—shopping with Kaori.

Thanks to her habit of scouring at least five stores for just one item, Hayashi, who had spent over a week picking furniture for their new home due to their simple living style, now trembled at the mere mention of shopping.

Living so minimally that their new home lacked even basic household items, Hayashi poured all their energy into setting up their newlywed house.

However, due to Kaori's sudden dislike of the wedding dress at the last fitting, Hayashi, who had spent the entire last weekend hopping from one bridal shop to another, found it insufficient. He even had to take a day off tomorrow just to help her choose a dress.

“Boss, is marriage really this tough?”

As Hayashi asked, I glanced away from the monitor, adjusting my voice as I brushed my chin.

“Hayashi, about this shopping with Kaori…”

“Why are you suddenly sounding all uneasy?”

“It's like the prologue to a very, very long story.”

“Ugh…”

“Remember last year when I delivered ice cream to Yuki every evening on my way back?”

“Ugh…”

But looking back, Yuki wasn't as adamant as Kaori, so in a way, Hayashi was dealing with something a bit more intense.

“Stay strong, Hayashi... There might be some good after getting married, you know.”

&

The showdown between Erica and Azusa ended with Erica's victory.

Though the attendance at the live event was similar, Kan'na significantly outshined in eliciting audience response.

Having wrapped up this major event, there was no time to breathe.

Immediately this coming weekend, Tsubaki and Cheryl's live performances were scheduled.

Especially this upcoming show, which I myself was eagerly anticipating, had a significant reason—the debut of Tsubaki's new song.

With preparations underway for the song she had collaborated on with Kan'na, instead of the pre-prepared animation live footage, we had to let go of that plan.

Secondly, the hospital didn't permit her outing, so her live performance had to be broadcasted live from the auditorium installed in the hospital.

This forced the staff preparing for the performance to compromise on many things through negotiations with the hospital where Tsubaki was admitted.

And time flew by, leading up to Cheryl and Tsubaki's performance day.

Tsubaki's live event was set to take place at the Event Hall of Pentagon Shop 2.

Originally scheduled for the day of the Complete Laon's launch, her live show was rescheduled after a month and a half.

Cheryl's stage against Tsubaki was set at the Event Hall in Ueno Park. As protagonists who had conquered game soft sales records, even before the events began, a crowd had gathered in front of the live halls.

As I captured the sight of the many audience members gathered before the live events with a camcorder, a thought crossed my mind.

“If Tsubaki could see this scene, she'd have been so happy...”

The sight of fans purchasing merchandise related to Tsubaki and fans verifying their live tickets using Laon filled the seats. After wrapping up the filming, I received a message from the staff at the hospital stating that the preparations for the performance were complete.

As I checked the text message, I directed the staff, and a chime announcing the start of the performance echoed from the speakers in the live hall.

“Wow... finally getting to listen to the live performance.”

“I was disappointed not to catch the launch performance. I hope it won't be canceled today, too.”

I sent the signal to commence the performance with a heart full of anticipation to meet her.

Tick...

As the lights dimmed from the ceiling, the surroundings turned dark. On the huge screen, she appeared in her stage costume.

Her smiling face towards the camera seemed much more fragile than before.

As the camera caught her smiling at us on the other side, she began singing without any further explanation.

The first verse of her second self-written song echoed through the screen, and tears welled up in my eyes unintentionally.

If I could just

Let go of everything

Would it be easier to live with a smile?

Because it hurts my heart again.

Please, don't say anything now.

If I could just

Forget everything

Could I live without tears?

But I know I can't do that,

So please, don't show me anything.

No matter how close you get,

My heart remains alone...

It's too much... It's too much...

My heart

Is breaking and tearing apart like this...

Yet, you're still holding onto me...

Please... it's enough...

>

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