PHASE 32 - THIS COULD BE LOVE AGAIN

“W-What was with that place?” I’m now sweating as if I forgot to use my towel after a thirty-minute shower. It’s even cold.

Tiara made a gloomy aura as she bowed down, covering her face with the shadow of her bangs. “I-It’s where I was born. My mother and I used to live there until she was burned in a stake by those people... “

“The Brightmore Witch… “ I muttered.

Tiara probably heard my words as she looked into my eyes. Her puppy eyes are about to release tears. I must have offended her. Now I feel guilty.

“I-I’m sorry for bringing that up… “ I said.

Good thing she replied with “It’s nothing.” with a hint of a smile on her face. Then she shook her head to cast off some emotional vibes.

“Oh!” Suddenly, there was a light bulb on her head. She searched her bag for a while and then reached a book of red tickets.

“Um… Rikkun... “ She was shaking as she presented a ticket. It’s clear that she’s mustering all courage she got. “P-Please watch me perform after the exams!”

I looked at the ticket closely. It has a title of “Idol Club presents Post-exam Stress Concert! Relieve your mind from the depressing exam by watching the cute Idols of Dradecim City!”. That’s a long title!

...But I’ve never seen our school Idol Club perform so it should worth a try…

“Interesting.” I held my chin. “How much?”

“Just a thousand~” Tiara tilted her head and made a brilliant smile. She’s sparkling. So adorably bright...

“Too steep!” I shouted. It felt like bubbles would come out from my mouth.

“P-Please watch me!” She cried as she bowed. “Nette-Senpai and Miss Helena will not be attending and Key is not interested in concerts. You’re the only one I can ask you about this… I’ll give it to you for free if you want to, but promise me that you’ll support me from the VIP audience seat...”

“I’m sorry…” I muttered. Her cuteness would usually make me convinced but I know I would be out of place if I went to the concert alone. If only I could drag one of my male friends in that event, there will be no problem. “I would if I could, but…”

“I’ll give four more free tickets so that you can invite the whole nerd squad!” Now she pushed her face to mine. Her eyes are really crying due to desperation. Am I really needed at that concert?

“Y-You sure?” I forced a smile. “You’re spending a lot…”

“Mmm~” She nodded. “Emotional support from a precious friend is always priceless!”

Nothing bad comes from a free concert ticket. So I took it. In exchange, Tiara thanked me while holding both of my hands. Her hands are soft and warm… It was a lot different from the silver-haired witch, which has cold razor claws.

<>

So the hell week started. Exams.

I was able to focus on studying since there was no Eidolon attacking the city. I think I did well in all the subjects because I answered all the questions quickly. On the other hand, Tiara struggled but made it through. She may not be studying at all due to her extra activities, but she was able to cram on the last day.

Amy also has no problems with the exams, I guarantee it. Since first grade, her marks are on par with the top fives. She may even make it to the salutatorian or valedictorian if she throws away her Gate Guardian duty.

My squad is having a bit of a problem. Heushac panicked during our college algebra test and collapsed during our physics. Chrisprel also forgot to review because there was a DotA match the night before exams, and he was with Ranley. Daughty, on the other hand, thinks that he passed the exam. He was overconfident that he can outmatch me. As far as I know, I hold the highest IQ in this squad, so let’s just wait for the results…

After the exams, I invited the whole squad to the city amphitheater to watch the Idol Club concert. Being weabo virgins who want to see cute girls dancing like Japanese Idols, they all agreed to go with me.

We even planned to have a LAN party to Heushac’s place after the concert.

<>

Let’s go to the Idol Club concert. Like what that long title says, most of the students bought the tickets to relieve their stress by watching cute girls sing and dance in the stage. We even bought glowsticks and T-shirts that have the Idol Club logo in it, and it even has the member’s faces. Normally, I would hate this place for being so noisy and crowded, but everything is different if you are with your boys.

Especially that one of my friends will be performing live in this stage. I didn’t even know that Tiara is having the leading role in this concert as if she was the icon of the Idol Club.

She would be in the middle of every number. She even stands out even if they all have the same apparels. All her costumes during the concert fit on her well; whether it’s a gothic dress, nurse costume, pink maid, schoolgirl uniform or white princess gown. She did the dance steps flawlessly and with pure elegance.

Every time she moves, she sparkles. Every time she sings, it soothes. It’s as if Tiara is the only one I notice in this concert.

Then here comes her solo number. The stage and spotlight are only for her, and her alone.

“This could be love again~ All I need is you~ Come back, I’m waiting anytime, until the symphony of our heartbeats come~”

As the soft beats of the loudspeaker made a symphony, my heart gave heavy pumps. It made me hard to breathe, but it’s so pleasant. I feel so warm and peaceful. I feel like I’m in a different place, like in heaven.

Her song is an emotional unreciprocated love ballad. The serenity of her voice combined with the deep words of the lyrics made our hearts shatter and our eyes wet. Idols usually sing joyful songs but this...is different. It’s a lot heavier and sorrowful...

It made me a lot sadder when she finished her number. The crowd went wild, and the glowsticks waved. She is the superstar of the night.

“Thank you guys for coming~” Tiara said on the mic as she waved her hand. The crowd celebrated once again.

Then she located me. Our eyes met, and she waved once more, this time for me. I answered with the same gesture.

“And for my special someone, thank youuu~,” She said as she made a combination of a flying kiss and a wink aiming at me.

At that moment, my perception of time stopped.

I know I’m blushing. I know I’m dumbstruck. I know I forgot to breathe for two minutes. I-Is that song made especially for me? My heart… My heart is going into overdrive!

It took me a while to realize that my nerd squad is shaking my body as they shouted “Eeeeeeeeeey!!!” due to extreme romantic excitement!

<>

It took a while to calm our overheating chest.

The breathtaking concert has finally ended. Since we got the VIP tickets, we are granted to go to the backstage to have a selfie or even an autograph with our favorite idols. Most of the photos taken by the photographers are group pictures with the whole Idol Club, but it’s clear who got the most fans.

Tiara is being disoriented, signing autographs and taking selfies with her fans. I want to congratulate her, but I feel that I need to escape this scene.

“Hey… Is the photographer Macho Steel?” Daughty exclaimed.

It was really Macho Steel..err Mister Kent! He was wearing his American tuxedo and he even has square-framed glasses, but he can’t hide the big body of him. Maybe his part-time is being a journalist for the Daily Planet.

We wanted to hide, but as we do the twinkle-toe-sneaky-escape, he turned to us. “Hey, you jackasses.” Macho Steel yelled. “Aren’t you nerds going to have a picture with these beautiful ladies?”

Then our teacher dragged all five of us in the collar. Such strength! We heard chuckles from the girls of the Idol Club! This is so embarrassing!

Macho Steel took five photos of us, whereas two photos are a formal group picture, one is we are having a V hand sign, and two of those are wacky shots.

After the pictorial was over, I was about to head out because I’m excited about our LAN party, but Macho Steel dragged me again like a kitten.

“Don’t escape yet, Loverboy.” Macho Steel said as she placed me beside Tiara.

Our eyes met. She’s too enchanting in her captivating pink idol costume! I can’t believe that my heart is certainly appealed in this hidden side of Tiara!

“Stick closer!” Macho Steel instructed, and then his camera flashed. “Do a hand heart together!” Macho Steel surely thinks that this is just a pictorial studio for the two of us. This is so embarrassing in so many ways. My face could never be redder.

Click! Click! Click!

“Finished!” Mr. Kent finally stopped. Then he checked all the photos he got on this concert. He reached his laptop and transferred the images via Bluetooth. The Idols and the Nerds went to see the pictures, leaving only Tiara and me who had the idle time to chat.

“Thank you again for watching me, Rikkun! I greatly appreciate your support~” Tiara bowed.

“I-It’s nothing.” I scratched my head. “Y-You’re so cute in the stage.”

Tiara blushed. Our eyes locked once again, forgetting the passage of time. How many times did we have this on this day? Little by little, our faces were drawn together until…

“Hey, Tiara!” One of her seniors shouted, completely destroying the moment. “We still have a buffet party to attend at the convention center! You’re coming, right!”

“R-Right!” Tiara replied. Then she looked at me and waved goodbye at me. “See ya tomorrow, Rikkun~”

“Yeah!” I said as I raised my hand. And then we parted ways. She went to her club, and I went to my squad.

Darn, even the way she waves at me softens my heart. I can’t believe that clumsy perverted shrine maiden has a sweet, compassionate, lovable, charming, adorable and cool side.

“Heh.” I laughed as I looked at my hand. The warm and soft sensation I felt from holding her hand stayed in my palms. I was an idiot for worrying that she might be a traitorous cursed witch. There’s no way that a pure maiden like her will be an enemy.

But there is another problem. That sensation earlier.

I think I’m in love again.