“Are you and your friends enjoying the show?”
Hearing a voice, I turned to find Kotone behind me.
Whew! I’ve been looking for you all night.
Kotone had been nonchalantly deflecting conversations throughout the night when she finally made her way to our group.
On the stage, the show had changed to a game of bingo with lavish presents. My card was pretty spread out with marked-off boxes.
Now wasn’t really the time for bingo, but I couldn’t leave Misaki and Yuzuki high and dry and ignore the event while I stood guard.
Kei was also on watch, but nonchalantly.
Misaki answered with a smile, “We’ve been having a great time, Kotone! The food is amazing, and the magic show you just had was incredible. We’re having so much fun with all these events.”
“Well, it makes me happy to hear that. Your dresses look fabulous.”
Heh-heh.
I turned to Misaki and Yuzuki, and the three of us shared a smile.
Something about Kotone saying it makes it feel extra special.
Hold on a second! Whaaaaat?!! Where’s the Black Tear?!!
“I took your advice and put it back in its safe after getting off stage. It’s well guarded now.”
Kotone must’ve noticed I was worried, because she told me before I could even ask.
Whew… That’s a relief to hear. I did think if Fantasista was going to go for the necklace, it would be while she was wearing it.
I wonder what’s up with him anyway? Did he give up? No way.
“Is something the matter, Asuka?” Kotone asked me.
“Oh, no. Nothing wrong here.” I shook my head. I couldn’t tell her that I was still worried.
“Look, Asuka! It looks like the next show is about to start.” Yuzuki pointed at the stage.
The spotlights clicked on, and a familiar group of five high-school-aged boys was standing on stage. And they were all super hot.
“Is that The K’s?!”
Huh? The K’s? Like the ultra-popular boy band you see on TV?
“It is! It definitely is! Yaaaaaah!”
Even Misaki, who was always so calm and collected, was screaming.
“You’re right! Wow, I didn’t think I’d ever get to see them in person!”
I gave a quick look around, and every girl in the audience was approaching the stage.
“Thank you, everybody! The New Year is almost here! Let’s ring it in with a bang!” One of the singers called out, and it could be heard throughout the venue. A fresh wave of excitement quickly swept over the audience.
The boy band immediately began their first song.
Oh! I know this one!
It was from a commercial, so everyone knew it. The crowd was already worked up!
Even Misaki and Yuzuki were following along with the dance and hand gestures, copying what they saw on stage.
“This is so great!” I said to Kotone, but it looked like she couldn’t hear me over the music. Instead, she looked back at me and simply smiled and nodded.
“C’mon, everybody! Fifteen minutes until the New Year’s countdown! Let’s all go up front and count down!” the vocalist said, pointing toward the exit.
“Whoo!”
Anticipating the next event, the entire audience began to converse among themselves.
Kotone, who was right next to me, however, seemed a bit confused.
Hmm? I wonder what’s wrong?
Though it was odd, we were forced to go along with the audience due to the sheer volume of people already moving toward the exit.
“What an amazing cruise!”
“Everything the Hanasato Group does is amazing!”
We could hear the other audience members talking excitedly as we moved to the deck.
There are so many people here!
The nearly one thousand passengers seemed to be moving all at once.
“We should go, too! Come with us, Kotone!”
We followed the crowd and emerged onto the deck.
It was cold outside, but it actually felt good after all that red-hot excitement!
“Whoa…”
Gazing out at the deck, there were so many people. Some of them didn’t even have coats on; they sure looked cold.
✦ ✦ ✦
BOOM!
✦ ✦ ✦
Then all of a sudden, I felt a loud sound reverberate in my stomach.
Wh-what was that?
The sky lit up.
✦ ✦ ✦
Crackle, crackle, crackle……
✦ ✦ ✦
Just as I raised my head, a firework had gone off, leaving a giant flower blossom in the sky.
It’s so pretty! Is this why we were brought up to the deck?!
✦ ✦ ✦
BOOM! BOOM! Crackle, crackle, crackle.
✦ ✦ ✦
There was a fireworks show happening out at sea, in front of the boat.
Since they’re so close to us, I can feel each boom in my entire body. And I’ve never seen fireworks this close before, and so many. This is wild!
✦ ✦ ✦
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
✦ ✦ ✦
Blue, red, and yellow fireworks went off, one after the other, and the audience was cheering.
It’s like the entire cruise has been put inside a bouquet!
I heard the vocalist from The K’s call out over the fireworks.
“All right, everybody! Let’s all count down together! Thirty—!”
“Thirty—!”
“Twenty-nine—!”
“Twenty-nine—!”
✦ ✦ ✦
BOOM! Crackle, crackle, crackle.
✦ ✦ ✦
The fireworks grew even more intense with the countdown.
Whoa! This is all so exciting!!
I looked over at my friends, and they were smiling.
“Twenty-five—!”
“This isn’t right…”
I heard the comment and turned to see Kotone, who looked concerned.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“It’s just odd, is all. We didn’t have fireworks planned for tonight’s event…”
“Oh… Huh? Then what is all this?”
“I don’t know…but I find it hard to believe someone would throw a fireworks show without telling me first…”
What does that mean? Then who’s setting off these fireworks?
As I was growing more and more confused, I felt a tug on my arm. I turned to see Kei, all sweaty and worried.
“Let’s go, Asuka.”
“Go where?”
Kei wiped his forehead. “Before it’s too late…”
Huh?