Take music seriously, dammit!
The critics were all screaming in unison. But that, too, turned out to only be a tiny blip. U was way bigger than they thought.
Still…
I’m just really into this song for some reason
Why?
How come?
In order to ensure a fair range of views unswayed by fake news, hate, prejudice, or extremism, U used a powerful verification system that other social media platforms didn’t have. As if to prove that system’s effectiveness, the initial critical response to Bell shifted over time to an increasingly positive one.
I feel like she’s singing for me.
It’s like a private concert just for me.
No, she’s singing for me!
No, for me!
Why?
How come?
Tell me!
All these comments and images and videos related to Bell came together like the parts of a mosaic, forming multiple windows onto a single enormous picture.
That picture was Bell, or at least the general image of her created by the combined consciousnesses of everyone on U.
On her back was a pair of huge, outstretched white wings.
She was like a glimmering angel fluttering down to U.
“……!!”
I stood there blinking wide-eyed at this incredible development. How could she have more than thirty-eight million followers? My face was twitching.
“Hey, have you heard of Bell?” I heard someone say. I glanced back at the classroom in surprise. Some girls were talking as they changed out of their gym clothes.
“Of course I have!”
“Who’s Bell?”
“You mean that girl on U?”
“She’s pretty amazing.”
Seriously? The ripples were spreading into the real world. My heart was pounding in my ears. I didn’t know what to do.
I hunched over and tried to sneak out of the classroom. I must have looked suspicious, because one of the girls called out to me as she pulled up her socks.
“Suzu?”
I darted from the room, down the hall, and out of the school before hurrying through the shopping arcade in Obiyamachi.
This was serious.
Very serious.
Hiro, I’m in trouble!
I broke into a frantic run. I couldn’t process this on my own. I was headed for Hiro’s house, but I was so worked up I accidentally ran past the front door. I backed up and dove into the entryway.
“Hello!” I spluttered.
Hiro’s mother came out to greet me in a summery lace top. “Oh, hi, Suzu! Hiroka’s in the sitting room.”
Hiro’s family owns the local bank. They live in an old-fashioned mansion downtown, with who knows how many rooms in it. I clattered down the long, wood-floored hallway and burst into one of the sitting rooms.
“Hiro! You won’t believe what happened!! Bell—”
Hiro had turned the teahouse-style sitting room into her study. Several large monitors loomed over a computer set up on a low table, and piles of thick, hard-cover tomes and art books crowded every available space.
“I know,” she said, spinning to face me in her leather chair like a queen. “She’s on U’s Global Music Hits chart. As I expected.”
“No, not that! People are trash-talking her like crazy!!” I shrieked, standing in front of a Kawada Shoryo partition screen. Hiro remained unruffled as she glanced at the social media feed on one of her monitors.
“I expected that, too,” she said. “People are just freaked out because she’s so good. Hmph. If you only get positive comments, it means you just have intense fans. That’s the minor leagues. On U, it’s the honest feedback from both sides that polishes true talent.”
I gripped my head and writhed in agony.
“So half of them hate her?! I’m gonna die! I’m legit gonna die!!”
“That means the other half love her. Have some confidence!” she snapped. “Why do you think they like her?”
“…Because she looks like Ruka.”
“And?”
“Because some people arrange her songs.”
“And?”
“Because you’re the producer. Plus the clothes and dance moves and—”
“No!! I mean yes, but no!!” Hiro banged on the monitor. “The biggest reason is because this is U! U’s body-sharing technology draws out each user’s hidden abilities. If it didn’t, you’d be spending the rest of your life crying like a little baby instead of singing. Oh, and look at this.”
She shoved her phone in my face. The message on the screen read Who is Bell?
“Bell’s true identity… Eek! Why are they trying to figure out who she is?!”
“They’re so off the mark it’s hilarious. Do they honestly think she’s some big-name celebrity?” Hiro cackled demonically.
“This isn’t funny at all!”
“No one would ever guess Bell’s actually a frumpy teenager from the sticks,” she said, cackling again.
“You’re scary,” I said, hugging myself.
“This is the funnest game ever. I’m gonna turn this gloomy freckle-faced high school girl into a U megastar. Heh-heh-heh!”
On screen, top designers were dressing Bell in various outfits. Hiro’s AS with the little round hat pointed at the scene in sync with the real Hiro’s motions. When Hiro’s shoulders shook with laughter, her AS’s shoulders shook, too.
“You might make tons of money, but don’t worry. I’ll donate all of it anonymously to charities for you.”
Another window on the screen was cluttered with articles about child abuse, child poverty, and similar topics. She probably did intend to give all the money away.
My eyes rested on an article about single fathers. There was a picture of a kindly-looking dad and his two sons, both of whom looked younger than me. I wasn’t the only kid in the world with a single parent. Was Hiro planning to give them some money if Bell became a success?
Bell was standing on the whale’s head, belting out a song.
lalalai
lalalai
How can I
find a love lost in time? There’s an answer in the stars for me
All the way across the galaxy; go on forever