Fractal Plane: Beyond Public Eyes

Chapter 10 - Into the Chronodome

1

The big performance would not be starting for a few more hours, but Sayaka Uehara can already feel the excitement just by looking at the crowd that had gathered in front of the Chronodome.

As she adjusted her sunglasses, she tried to make sense of what was happening in the huge open space in front of the colossal indoor stadium, supposedly the biggest one that Shiroki City had to offer.

"Imagine if that online drama from a few days ago did not happen. How much more fans would have gathered at this time of the day?"

You would not think that the planned boycott by the former fans-turned-haters would have mattered, given the number of people decked out in full Yuki-tan gear gathered in one place. She did not have access to an overhead view, but Uehara could imagine a sea of pink, yellow, and green already.

A sea that stretched a few hundreds or meters in front of the gigantic tarpaulin on the domed stadium that showed the smiling idol. The picture of the idol was giving a peace sign while wearing her yellow outfit. She had her hair done in the most recognizable hairstyle: reddish with a sidetail.

Uehara was not too into the whole idol thing, but she knew that Yuki-tan had the habit of rotating wigs occasionally and appearing with new outfits every time, if the amount of unlockable costumes on the Yuki-ON! app were any indication.

Still, she cannot help but feel amused at the sorts of people lined up at noon. Some had plackards, some were in cosplay, while others flaunted their jackets full of pins as they blasted music at full volume. She continued observing the people and imagining what the Chronodome would be like in a few hours before she finished eating a chocolate bar.

When she put her hand inside her skirt's pocket, she was stopped by a voice that stood out from the crowd noise.

"Uehara!"

She glanced to the side to see Amagi running towards her. Instead of immediately replying, she stopped and stared at the girl coming her way.

Wearing a pastel peach dress and a matching skirt, she ran as fast as she can to the shaded area where Uehara stood in wait.

The black-haired girl did not anticipate how an attire like that fit her classmate so much.

Miki Amagi positively looked like an angel in peach.

On second thought, all that was to be expected. While having no idea of what happened before she transferred to Fuyusato, Uehara was positive that Amagi had earned her status as one of the most well-liked girls in school.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" the brunette apologized, catching her breath.

"I-it's fine. It's no problem at all."

"Huh? Anything weird?" asked Amagi. "You've been looking at me quite intently for some time now."

"N-nothing. I just thought that you look really good today."

She saw a blush form on Amagi's cheeks. "T-thanks," the brunette muttered, fidgeting her fingers a bit. "But what about you? You look amazing on that cold shoulder top, too! It fits you so well!"

Now, it was Uehara's turn to blush, but she quickly recovered and coolly replied, "Who was it that helped pick my dress again? Someone should be proud of herself."

She finished with a smile, briefly recalling the nights they spent texting each other. Things had gone a lot better after they had returned from Tenka Peak, and Uehara felt that it was this new friendship that was a big key in them working so well together inside and outside Mu.