Chapter 74: 74: Where is the security guard

Takashi had no idea that he was being watched by so many pairs of eyes. At that moment, he put away his usual laid-back attitude, showing a rare expression of seriousness as he softly sang Lemon. Although going up on stage this time was something Narii had half-forced him into rather than his own choice, for Takashi, as long as he participated in a competition, he would give it his all. It was not only out of respect for his opponents but also a part of his personality. Takashi was the type of person who, if he did something, he had to do it to the best of his ability. "What have you been through?" "What have you witnessed?" "That expression on your face, one I have never seen before." "Where are you now?" Unlike the frenzy that had surrounded Hoshino Ai's performance, when Takashi sang, the audience was neither overly excited nor overly emotional. Most simply listened quietly, as if attending a concert. Immersed in the boy's unique voice and magnetic tone, some closed their eyes, feeling as though a summer sea breeze brushed against their cheeks, carrying a faintly bitter, lemon-like scent in the air. Truly outstanding music could influence a person's emotions. Now, the charm of live music was on full display. Those in the audience who knew Lemon hummed along softly with Takashi. The entire venue felt like his personal concert. As the lyrics continued, Takashi's tone grew heavier, his gaze filled with sorrow: "The sorrow of that day" "And the pain of that day" "Together with my deep love for it all" "Have turned into an imprint in my heart," "The bitter scent of lemon." "Until the rain clears, I cannot return." "Like a sliced lemon." "Even now," "You are still my light." As he uttered the last word, Takashi lowered the microphone. At that same moment, the venue erupted into thunderous applause. On the first floor, Komi Shouko, Tadano Hitohito, and Osana Najimi clapped. On the second floor, Fujiwara Chika was cheering. On the third floor, Hayasaka Ai and Maki applauded as well. But the one clapping the hardest was Narii—her small hands had turned red from how forcefully she was clapping, but she didn't even notice. Her eyes were shining as she stared directly at the boy standing tall on the stage, dressed in a white shirt. It was as if the sunlight favored only him, casting a golden glow upon his face. He merely stood there, yet he occupied all of her attention, standing within the entirety of her youthful, fluttering emotions. ... "Perfect!!! The ratings for this episode will absolutely skyrocket!" The director excitedly smacked his thigh. Even though the result was completely different from what he had originally planned, only an ending like this would make the audience click in. Now, what title should he use? "Shocking! A Random Genius Crushes a Top Idol?" ... On the second floor, Kaguya stared at Takashi for a long moment before finally looking away and speaking in a calm tone: "Let's go. Let's continue shopping." "Kaguya, did you see that? That boy just now was really handsome!" Fujiwara Chika grabbed Kaguya's arm excitedly. "Only those who truly appreciate good looks can understand just how beautiful his singing was." "I really want to know his name~" "Kaguya, what kind of girl do you think he likes? If he likes someone like me and confesses to me... hehehe." The more Kaguya listened, the more ridiculous it sounded. "You don't even know his name, and you're already imagining him confessing to you?" It wasn't even nighttime yet, but she was already dreaming. "Don't bother. He wouldn't be interested in you," Kaguya said in a cold tone, showing no concern for the fact that she was speaking to her best friend. "Why not?" Kaguya lifted her chin slightly, feeling just the tiniest bit of pride, though she didn't show it on her face. "Because he likes me." Fujiwara Chika: "..." When no response came for a long time, Kaguya glanced at her friend. And then she saw Fujiwara Chika looking at her with an expression full of sympathy, as if she were encouraging a terminally ill patient not to give up hope. That look irritated Kaguya. "What's with that look?" How rude! Was she doubting her? Fujiwara Chika quickly retracted her expression. "Nothing." Kaguya became even more displeased. "He really did confess to me. Narii was there when it happened." "Then what's his name?" "His name is..." Kaguya froze. What was it again? She only ever heard Narii calling him "Takashi! Takashi!" She hadn't really paid attention to his full name. "I remember Narii saying his full name once... but what was it again?" Kaguya had a sharp memory. When she saw an image she liked, she could instantly commit it to memory and store it in her hippocampus. But if something didn't interest her, she would immediately discard it. And previously, Takashi had been in the category of things she wasn't interested in. Even when she had considered taking him in as her obedient "pet," it had been more about annoying Narii than any real interest in Takashi himself. "Wow, Kaguya is really full of herself." Fujiwara Chika snickered inwardly. She didn't even know the guy's name but claimed he had confessed to her? Fujiwara Chika admitted that Kaguya was beautiful, but with her personality as cold as ice, who would dare confess to her? Just sneaking a love letter into her shoe locker was already an act of bravery. Confessing to her face? Haha, impossible! ... After Takashi finished singing, the contestants were invited back onto the stage. "That was amazing! Kitahara-kun, I've already become your fan," Hoshino Ai joked. She had taken off her mask and sunglasses, revealing her true appearance. Her features were delicate, with fine eyebrows and gentle eyes. Her nose was small but elegant, and her eyebrows looked as though they had been painted with ink. But the most striking thing about her was her eyes, which seemed to have little stars shining within them. Takashi's internal evaluation: Someone should investigate her family history. She might be a leftover Uchiha. She was petite, but her proportions were excellent, giving the illusion that she wasn't actually short. It was as if she had been born to be an idol. "Security! Security? Where's security?" Hearing this, Takashi suddenly turned his head and started calling for security. The host, along with everyone else, stared at him in confusion. It wasn't until two security guards hesitantly stepped forward that Takashi spoke again: "Seriously, how did you let a crazy fan in? Get her out of here!" The venue went silent for a second before the audience burst into laughter and joined in. "Yeah, what if this stalker hurts our dear brother? Can you take responsibility?" "Take her away, take her away!" "This time we'll let it slide, but be more careful next time!" "Our dear brother doesn't cause trouble, but he's not afraid of it either!" ... The host was quick to react, laughing along: "You heard our superstar! Quick, take her away!" The two security guards immediately caught on, each grabbing one of Hoshino Ai's arms and actually carrying her off the stage while she was still dumbfounded. "Crap, I just became a stalker." ___ 20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you! Don't forget to leave a review too~ Check out the other translations too ___