Love Live!: TAKEOVER [PART 8]

I NEED THEM...:

*MEANWHILE*

*BACKSTAGE - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

*P.O.V SWITCH - YU TAKASAKI*

YU: "..."

I can't understand it, Akihiko told us that Oda is a man of his word. Why is it taking so long for him to show up?
The girls say we should wait longer before the show starts, but we're already 10 minutes behind schedule.
Honestly, it won't be long before the fans out there give up and leave.

I'm really starting to worry now that Akihiko hasn't shown up. As the Vice-President of the School Idol Club, I know that the responsibility falls on me if he doesn't make it.
He told us to start the show without him if he's late, but the girls aren't sure they can do it without him in the audience.

So, I gave them a ten-minute window for Akihiko to get here, but there's still no sign of him.

Did Oda fail to turn up or something?

I don't know...

SHIRO: "Yu!"

YU: "Oh no, what's going on now? Shiro, is everything okay?"

SHIRO: "I could ask you the same thing. What's taking so long? Are the girls okay back there?"

YU: "Yeah, they seem fine back there. But I can't help feeling worried. With Akihiko still not here, we're really starting to fall behind schedule."

SHIRO: "What?"

YU: "It's unlike him to show up so late for one of the School Idol Club's live shows, so I'm a little worried. He's family, you know."

SHIRO: "Don't worry, I'm sure Akihiko wouldn't miss this for anything in the world. I'll find him and drag him here if I have to!"

YU: "Thanks, Shiro. You're a real friend. Akihiko should be in the Clubroom now. We've got a special guest of honor, and with them here, it'll still be a great show!"

SHIRO: "Really? That sounds exciting! So who is it?"

YU: "His name is Kenjiro Oda."

SHIRO: "...I'm sorry, what?"

YU: "Kenjiro Oda."

Shiro quickly glanced over his shoulder and around the room, his eyes scanning the space with a hint of paranoia. As if to make sure that no one was around to overhear our conversation, he leaned in closer, whispering.

SHIRO: "You realize he works for Golden Calf, right? He's QUASAR's producer and a high-ranking member of their corporate empire. It's not just a casual job, he's near the center of all their operations. We should be careful around him."

YU: "Right, but that doesn't make him a bad guy. Akihiko is pretty close with him, and he's actually a pretty cool guy. He's-"