Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 36 - Heartstrings

Sweat, adrenaline and deafening applause. Do idols really go through this every time? When my song was over, I opened my eyes and what I saw caught me completely off-guard. The crowd had doubled. Tripled? I don't even know anymore. Faces packed together, mouths wide with cheers, arms high with raised phones and clenched fists. I blink once. Then again. Is really this all for a stupid street performance?

''Ryota-san!''

"Now that's what I call a concert, Nino-chan!" He's leaning against a speaker now, arms crossed but clapping slowly. Ryota doesn't even bother setting his guitar down properly—he just lets it fall onto the stage floor, like the moment's too big to care about damage. "You were like Hoshino Ai up there! Well... maybe less dead."

I let out a breathy laugh, but it's half-wheeze, half-hyperventilation. My knees feel like jelly and my vision's still blurry around the edges. "W-What do I do now?" I say, barely loud enough for him to hear. "I'm kinda... stuck up here!"

''First? Salute the audience!''

I take a deep breath. I force my back to straighten and step toward the edge of the stage. One hand clutches the neck of the guitar. And then—I bow. Deeply. Slowly. Folding myself forward like I've seen them do on stage hundrets of times. ''...'' 

Did I make it? Have I said all I wanted to say? Shit, can't even remember the last few minutes. Everything feels like it happened in fast-forward. The adrenaline's still hijacking my brain, scrambling every thought I try to hold onto.

I lift my head and the crowd to see Madoka, but... failed. She must be close to the stage, but I can't pinpoint her among so many people just because the crowd is stupidly huge. I have to get off the stage and go to her. Okay, it was kinda nice to be an idol even for a few minute, but enough is enough.

Just as my foot hovers above the top step, Ryota's hand catches my arm. "Not so fast, Nino-chan. If you're thinking about leaving, I'd hold off on that."

''Why is that? The show's over.''

He smirks, shaking his head. "See, that's where you're wrong." Ryota leans against the wall of the stage, legs crossed like he's in no rush. "Here's a little lesson in showbiz. A performance like that can only have one possible result."

''R-Result—?''

"Shh." He raises a finger, his expression softening with a touch of knowing amusement. "Just listen. Listen to the crowd!"

I don't fully understand what Ryota-san is trying to tell me but whatever, he's the professional musician here after all. ''...'' Keeping my thoughts to myself, I shut my mouth and shift my attention to the crowd before my eyes. It feels a bit dumb, sure. Why the hell not?

''Encore!''

''Encore! Encore! Encore!''

''Encore! Encore!

''Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!''

''Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!''

"...Oh my god!" My words fall from like a dying spark—small, awestruck My voice trembles, barely audible over the thunder of the crowd. ''F-For real? Don't these people have anything else to do!''

"What do you say? Think you can pull off another one?"

Nothing coherent comes out from my mouth. Just a half-squeak, half-gargle that I pray doesn't count as an answer. I shake my head, hard. ''D-Don't know! This is insane—I never imagined it would get this big! I can't... I mean, it's impossible! Absolutely not! Nuh-uh, no way, I'm done!"