Magiclad Girls and a Mob who will save them, or else the world is doomed!

Chapter 104: Eh? You're going to say it here?

[Aoi PoV]

I'm getting nervous. My throat is unusually dry, and my breathing becomes erratic even though I haven't done anything. Normally, I wouldn't get out of breath without running ten kilometers...

[Come on, Aoi-chan, let's do our best!]

[If anything happens, let us know.]

[We're looking forward to it!]

Everyone is expecting something from me. I don't think I can deliver, and as the performance approaches, I feel more and more anxious. I've improved my facial expressions somewhat, but the anxiety about not doing well is reaching its peak.

There are so many people here. I'm afraid they might look at me strangely. What if they start whispering that I'm scary again? What should I do?

Tick-tock, tick-tock. Time feels like it's passing quickly. Panic, panic, panic, panic. The anxiety is growing stronger and stronger. I'm so afraid of people's stares.

"It's your turn."

"Ah, yes..."

My turn has come. I'll start with the scene where I'm being bullied. Can I do it? I'm terrified of the stares, the eyes of the people, the evaluations. What if I can't do anything? That's what I'm thinking as I approach the stage. I can't see it yet, but when the curtain rises...

There's still a little time left. In the audience, there are students, teachers, and regular people. Hundreds of them. I need to calm down. Let's drink the clear water he took from the other world...... it's delicious.

My grandmother used to say, "If you get nervous in front of people, imagine they're a potato, a pumpkin, or a yam." I peek my head out and look at the audience... Um, it might be impossible, Grandma...

"Five minutes until showtime."

Five minutes, 300 seconds... 298, 297... Oh, what should I do? What should I do?

"Are you okay?"

It felt like a huge rock had been thrown into a pond, disturbing the ripples of anxiety. I had heard that voice many times.

"Why are you here? This is the waiting area for second-year students."

"I got worried... about you..."

"I see... Thanks."

"Uhm, you're nervous, right?"

"Well, yeah, to some extent..."

It's not just to some extent. I'm so nervous that my legs are shaking.

"...We always worry about how we're perceived by others, don't we? Especially with so many people around, there's a unique atmosphere... and the fear of what might happen if we fail can be overwhelming, right?"

"..."

I listened silently to his words. Maybe he knows everything about me.

"Uhm, sorry... I can't really say much..."

"No, even that much is appreciated..."

"............"

He seemed to hesitate a bit, as if struggling with something. After a moment, he took something out of his pocket. It was a container with liquid, like a contact lens.

"Use this..."

"What's this?"

"You'll understand when you try it on..."

I put it on as he instructed. There was no time, so I hurriedly put it in. Then, I looked at him... and his face turned into a potato. Huh? What's going on?