Hikari no Matsuri - Nightstar Arena: Auditorium
The sheer scale of this grand room is magnificent, with tiered seating
that provides an unobstructed view of the stage from every angle. The stage
itself is broad and takes up a large section of the room on its own, wide
and deep enough to allow for even the most elaborate and expansive of
performances. The ceiling reaches high, and an intricate system of light
fixtures and overhead stage equipment are clearly visible, ready to provide
whatever special effects are needed at any time.


Kaze dangles his feet off the side of a catwalk.

The crowd seems pretty excited for this one, and the auditorium is quite full
this evening. There's still a few empty seats left, but they are few and far-
between, though some have chosen to stand willingly in order to be closer to the
stage.

Persephone happens to be one of them, and is standing off to the left side of
the stage alongside Hikari's parents, Kaede and Kouichi Fukawa, idly exchanging
back-and-forth conversation as the crowd's excitement drowns everything else
out.

A few stagehands are busy up on the stage itself, making sure everything is
where it's supposed to be and that everything seems to be working properly.

Dangling underneath the catwalk, Abaril has decided to view today's shenanigans
from his bat-form.


Just to the right of center, but front row, sits Sunflash. It's far warmer in
here than the hot springs the last night, so the sorcerer isn't completely
glowing to generate his own heat. Instead, there's a simple teal circle that
might be confused with a good glow-stick, wrapped around his forehead. Not
bright enough to be that distracting, but as the night before it's still
noticeable to those seeking.


Through the crowd, a young beastman girl seems to be trying to figure out a good
spot to be, indecisively wandering from end to end and aisle to aisle without
being able to make up her mind.

She even goes so far as to try an empty seat, but given her short stature, she
quickly gives up on being able to see over anyone by doing so, and continues
aimlessly wandering around in search of the perfect spot.

Notably, she is carrying around an utterly-massive cone of cotton candy, which
she is being very careful to avoid dropping or bumping it into anyone else.

Aludra has managed to score front row seating today, to the dismay of gentlemen
sitting directly behind her. She doesn't sit very still either, squirming across
the pair of seats she's scored. Trying her best to find a comfortable position
across the gaps. At least until she has the brilliant idea to take off her hat
and put it there, letting curly red hair shine in the lights of the stadium.

Kaze stage whispers "(Psst: Alu. We're up here.)"'

As most of the helpers on-stage start to depart and everything appears to be
set, Hikari suddenly pokes her head out from behind the curtain and looks around
for a moment, then beckons her mother up on stage with something she apparently
needs help with.

Notably, Hikari's hairstyle is extremely fancy and done up with meticulous care,
as though she were getting ready for some kind of high-class party or gathering.
Kaede allows herself up on stage and quickly trots to the curtain, disappearing
behind it along with Hikari.


Eventually the beastman girl, and her over-hearted attempts to find a good place
to be, gets noticed by Mr. Fukawa, who beckons her over to stand with them so
that she's out of the way of the aisles and doesn't get trampled by other
people. The girl seems delighted by this, offering to share her cotton candy as
compensation for the kindness.

Rachel is upset she does not have a slurpee.

Slurmp gives a Hikari no Matsuri festive canteen to Rachel.

A short period of time passes, and then a second set of curtains slowly close
over the back half of the existing stage platform. A lot of the crowd grows
quiet as this happens, and after another short period of time, Kaede is seen
exiting from back behind the first set of curtains, going down a short flight of
steps to reunite with her husband and Persephone.

Within seconds of this happening, the lights in the auditorium begin to dim,
which brings the noise level of the crowd down as quickly as the light level.
Carefully-placed lights then begin to illuminate across the outside perimeter of
the stage itself, but visually stop at the edge of the curtains and, more likely
than not, continue on underneath them.

Two large spotlights snap on overhead, shining down on a spot directly in front
of the curtains.

Slurmp gets a lovely flower canteen from Dr. Unne's Bag of SCIENCE.

Slurmp surreptitiously takes a sip from the backup canteen, eyes glued to the
stage.


Sunflash leans back with his arms loosely crossed as he awaits the show. His
eyes seem to dart all over the stage, looking for who knows what.


The music suddenly starts with a burst of strings and cymbals, following by a
rapid onset of guitar and piano. The curtain slowly opens as the spotlight
adjusts, then begins to open a bit faster as the strings suddenly pick up speed
in the intro.

Behind the curtain in the center of the stage is a golden, low-backed chair that
Hikari is seated upright upon, and Mollianne is standing behind her. Both girls
are dressed in absolutely beautiful, regal attire, their dresses flowing down to
their feet in multiple layers.

Hikari's golden curls are done up in a very-carefully-designed bun with multiple
offshoots and a large portion left undone in the back. Mollianne, on her end
with shorter hair, has a simple and shorthand braid that wraps around the back
of her head and comes together in front, with her bangs left alone and peeking
out from under the fore of said braid-crown.

As the song plays through its beginning sequence, Mollianne is using a fancy
-looking hairbrush to carefully comb through the back of Hikari's hair, slowly
and carefully. Both of their expressions, notably, are distant and unfocused, as
if thinking of something far away, and they seem to be taking great care to hold
them that way.

An eyebrow is raised, but honestly Sunflash isn't really surprised. The
performance attires have run the gambit this week, from literally nothing up to
rock bands. Why not formal court attire?


The guitar and strings increase rapidly before falling back into a pop-like drum
rhythm, with a light piano accompaniment. As they do, the girls begin to sing,
trading in and out with practiced care.

Mollianne sings, "Yume..?"

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Daydream..."

Mollianne sings, "Tada no yume..."

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Sweetest dream..."

Mollianne sings, "Nano ni mune..."

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Zutto..."

Mollianne sings, "Furueteru..."

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Zutto..."

Mollianne continues carefully brushing Hikari's hair as they sing, her eyes
still unfocused on the actual task at hand.

Mollianne sings, "Koi wo shitte..."

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Missing..."

Mollianne sings, "Kuchibiru ga..."

Hikari sings, in a low and soft voice, "Wishing..."

Mollianne sings, "Setsunasa ni..."

Mollianne lowers the hairbrush and her head, her voice rising and her tone
becoming insistent. "...anata dake wo yonda~..."

Directly below the stage on front, where it is clearly visible to everyone, a
wide black digital display, more vertical and less horizontal than the previous
performances used, displays the following in bright red letters:

"A dream..? (Daydream...)

Just a dream... (Sweetest dream...)

But my heart still... (Always...)

Is left trembling... (Always...)

I felt love... (Missing...)

And these lips... (Wishing...)

Call out your name in a song of sorrow..."


Sunflash actually lets his head bob up and down a small amount with the beat.
His glowing 'headband' follows along, the only real way to see any movement from
him in the low light environment.


Rachel has gotten stuck in her seat, but is enjoying the show regardless.

There are a couple appreciative whistles, and a good number of people wave
glowsticks in the air to the beat.

Hikari stands from her seat, facing away from Mollianne; as soon as she is
standing straight, both the chair Hikari was using and the hairbrush Mollianne
was holding fade away, as if they were only illusions. Hikari's hands clench
loosely at her side, and Mollianne raises her eyes, looking at Hikari's back,
continuing to sing in an insistent and desperate tone.

"Waiting for you, watashi no omoi ni hayaku..." Mollianne takes a step forward
and reaches for Hikari's hand, entwining their fingers together. "Toiki no hane,
tobashite dakishime ni kite kudasai~...!"

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters: "Waiting for you, please hurry and notice my feelings; fly to me on the
wings of a breath and embrace me tightly, please..!"


As soon as the last word leaves Mollianne's lips, Hikari takes Mollianne's hand
and pulls; the music flares up for the chorus, emphasizing the strings above the
other instruments, and the two of them suddenly take off across the stage in a
well-rehearsed, ballet-like dance, each step carefully-placed and each movement
well-defined.

Both of them have their eyes fixed on each other as they go, making their
external awareness factor even more impressive as a result. Mollianne never
loses Hikari's hand as they dance, their voices filling the air as the lyrics
flow between them. "Daitan na kokuhaku, kokoro ga nozonderu..."

Hikari places her free hand on Mollianne's shoulder, turning the dance slightly
more formal in the process as they suddenly stop, looking deep into each others'
eyes. "Anata wo, mitsumerume kara, hitoshizuku" Mollianne then pulls Hikari
along, turning slightly and leading the two of them back across the stage as
Hikari continues to sing.

"Koboreru jounetsu wa, namida no sei ni shite..." Mollianne twists Hikari around
so that they are facing away from each other, still holding her hand.
"Chikaimashou, futari wa nandomo~" Mollianne suddenly pulls Hikari forward and
tips her back into her arms, leaning down so that their faces are inches apart,
each set of eyes still filled with that distant longing.

With a gentle caress of Hikari's cheek, Mollianne finishes what Hikari started
as the music cuts out. "Meguriau no dream~..." The music then immediately comes
in again with a strong guitar emphasis at the conclusion of the chorus.

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters: "A confession, bold and true, is what my heart requires from you; A
single tear fell from my eye as I looked upon you. This overflowing passion I
blame on these tears of mine, so let's make a vow; the two of us will meet again
in our dream."

The young beastman girl can be heard squealing with delight from the end of the
stage with the Fukawa parents and Persephone, literally bouncing up and down in
excitement. The rest of the crowd isn't exactly quiet, either.


Sunflash gives a low whistle, chuckling. Something about playing with fire and
who was teaching whom, all things considered. He shakes his head as those around
do their cheering, the smirk not leaving his face. Okay, that was mayhaps a
little unfair, but still.

Rachel has fallen even further into her seat but claps enthusiastically.

Quite applause drifts down from Kaze.

As the brief interim plays, Mollianne pulls Hikari back upright, and the two of
them half-skip, half-walk back toward the middle of the stage, twirling and
dropping in individual measures so they they become seated on their knees, back
to back against each other, as the interlude completes and the second stanza
arrives.

It's worth noting that they land in such a way that Hikari's back is nestled in
-between Mollianne's enormous wingspan, having likely taken into account such an
obstacle during original rehearsing.

Hikari takes point for this round, looking straight ahead in the opposite
direction of Mollianne as they two of them let their voices combine once more.

Slurmp 's skin is as blue as ever, but glimmers with appreciation for the
excellent performance taking place.

Hikari sings, "Nami..?"

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Love wave..."

Hikari sings, "Gin no nami..."

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Sweetest wave..."

Hikari sings, "Kono kimochi..."

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Gyutto..."

Hikari sings, "Sarawarete..."

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Gyutto..."

Mollianne places her hand flat on the stage floor on her left side, and Hikari
promptly places her left hand atop Mollianne's, closing her fingers around it
loosely. Both of them glance slightly to that same left side, but not far enough
to be able to see each other.

Hikari sings, "Koishiteru..."

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Falling..."

Hikari sings, "Doushitara..?"

Mollianne sings, in a low and soft voice, "Sailing..."

Hikari sings, "Aitasa ga..."

Hikari looks away, closing her eyes as her shoulders sag, her voice growing
distressed and frustrated. "...osaerareru no deshou..?"

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters:

"A wave..? (Love wave...)

A wave of silver... (Sweetest wave...)

These feelings... (Strongly...)

Are being swept away... (Strongly...)

I fell in love... (Falling...)

What should I do..? (Sailing...)

Will it suppress my longing to see you..?"

Sunflash still finds it hard to allow himself to relax enough to get completely
into any of the performances, but he is very clearly enjoying the music. He's
gotten relaxed enough so that his headband has managed to actually start to,
well, grow upwards?

The music lifts slightly, as Mollianne carefully, with regards to her wings and
Hikari's palcement between them, does an about face while on the stage floor,
rising up on her knees and embracing Hikari around the neck from behind, closing
her eyes; Hikari's eyes remain lowered and her shoulders limp as Mollianne takes
over the vocals.


"Shining, my heart, anata ga watashi no naka de..." Mollianne visibly tightens
her grip, resting her chin on Hikari's shoulder. "Tebasu himitsu, yurusareru
tame ni ai wo kudasai~...!"

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters: "Shining, my heart; I can always find you inside of me. This secret of
mine, please give me your love so that I can be forgiven..!"

The two of them then rise to their feet in swift order, and as she does, Hikari
spins to face Mollianne, breaking her embrace and taking her other free hand so
that both their hands were now locked together. Hikari and Mollianne gaze into
each other's eyes as the music rises in intensity, signalizing the start of the
second chorus, which Hikari takes control over.

"'Eien no tokimeki, aru no' to sasayaita" Mollianne shakes her head, taking over
as her eyes grow misty, her voice inflecting sorrowful frustration. "Anata ga
itoshisugiru to~ kurushikute!"

Hikari and Mollianne pull away, holding each other at arms' length and,
arguably, using each others' weight to keep one another from falling over
backwards as Hikari resumes.

"Yakusoku ga hoshii to, negau wagamama sae; junsui desu, kono mama ima wo~..."
Like a wound-up spring, both of them come together once more, placing each other
so that their cheeks are touching and lips are right at each other's opposing
ear, as Hikari concludes. "Tsutaetai my heart~..."

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters: "'My heart beats eternal for you' I whispered; you're so precious to me
that it hurts! I need your promise and I selfishly yearn for it; pure as it is,
I need to convey what's in my heart."


A pair of violins pick up immediately following the second chorus, running
together in rapid strings as they begin to lead toward a mid-song instrumental
interlude. Mollianne and Hikari pull slightly away from each other, and as the
violins suddenly come in strong and full the two of them clasp each others hands
tightly and take off across the stage in a full-scale ballroom-style dance
routine.

Hikari takes point and leads Mollianne through the musical play-through, their
faces individual measures of sheer focus (a completely opposite of what they'd
been showcasing up to this point, in fact!) as they flow seamlessly from one end
of the stage to the other.

Hikari lifts Mollianne up by the waist and spins her around in a tight circle
before setting her down, not missing a beat as she joins their hands together
once more. The two of them twist, spin, and circle back and forth, much to the
delight of the general audience surrounding them.

Sunflash has completely lost track of his light spell as he continues to enjoy
the jam. The 'halo' has managed to slip off above his head, staying with him but
is now more akin to a somewhat flattened head-sized ball than an actual
headband. Relaxed enough to get too into the music beats, apparently.


Eventually the song starts to ascend in tempo and lead toward the finale, and
with one final twirl between both of them, Hikari comes to a sliding halt on one
knee in front of Mollianne, who is holding one of Hikari's hands in both of her
own as they look at each other, returning to that wistful, longing expression
they had before.


Unintentionally, Hikari falters in her demeanor and cracks a grin in spite of
herself, but she just-as-quickly returns to her more-serious expression,
possibly hoping nobody noticed as she begins to sing in an endearing, insistent
tone. "Daitan na kokuhaku..."

Mollianne responds, squeezing Hikari's hand. "...kokoro ga nozonderu" Hikari
then rises to her feet. "Anata wo..." Mollianne pulls Hikari close. "Mitsumerume
kara... hitoshizuku..!" Mollianne spins Hikari around and holds her at arm's
length as the latter picks up the song. "Koboreru jounetsu wa, namida no sei ni
shite..."

The two then pull close once more, both pairs of hands clasped together as their
voices follow suit. "Chikaimashou, futari wa nandomo~..." Hikari then pivots,
turning and tipping Mollianne into her arms in a reversal from the first act.

Hikari leans in close, brushing her fingertips across Mollianne's cheek as she
finishes. "Meguriau no dream~..."

The vertical black digital display broadcasts the following, in bright red
letters: "A confession, bold and true, is what my heart requires from you; A
single tear fell from my eye as I looked upon you. This overflowing passion I
blame on these tears of mine, so let's make a vow; the two of us will meet again
in our dream."

A guitar-heavy outro immediately cuts in, and with no warning or prior
indication whatsoever, Mollianne wraps her arms around Hikari's neck and closes
the gap between them, initiating a deep kiss that Hikari does not pull away
from.

A visible rose hue spreads across both of their cheeks as the music plays on
around them, heedless of the crowd or the noise they might be making as they
remain locked together for most of the duration of the outro.

Only when the final guitar chords signal the song's conclusion do they come
apart, noticeably a bit short of breath between the two of them and unable to
contain their goofy grins as they glance sidelong at the audience around them,
Mollianne still hanging off of Hikari's neck as they do.

The audience's applause and response is thunderous at best and earth-shaking at
worst, as everything around the two performers becomes sea of hands all coming
together in raucous appreciation. Whistles, cheers, calls for an encore, it's
all there.

The young beatman girl is rivaling some of the loudest in the room, and Hikari's
parents also look like they couldn't be prouder.

Slurmp looks around, embarrassed, but realizes everyone else is cheering too.

Sunflash throws his head back with a cackle, giving in to the peer pressure of
the crowd to help give intelligible cheers. He raises a hand and makes a few
motions, his 'halo' of a flat ball rising just a bit to make some loops and
twirls for several moments before he realizes what's happened to it. Oh well.


Eventually, Hikari and Mollianne split apart and offer low bows and excited
waves to the audience, whose decibel level has not dropped even slightly during
this time. Hikari actually stops to pick up a white rose that someone's thrown
up on stage, and proceeds to entwine it haphazardly within Mollianne's braided
crown, giggling as she does so.


At some point, the two of them give their last bows and proceed to exit behind
the curtain backstage, and the people in the audience, still chattering
excitedly about the performance and wondering if the following day's would even
top something like that, eventually begin to file out of the auditorium.