Shiro-san was in an exceptionally good mood by the time we returned to the Founding Anniversary Festival, likely thanks to our intimate session in that mysterious corridor.
Well, as long as she was happy, then my efforts were worth it... even if that forceful persona really doesn't suit me.
"Shall we head back, Kaito-san? Where would you like to go next? Would you like to continue browsing the stalls?"
"Ah, actually, I've seen enough of the stalls for now. I'd like to move to a new area. Though with these crowds, it might take a while to walk anywhere..."
"That won't be an issue. We can change locations as we exit this space. Would a relatively large plaza near the stalls be acceptable?"
"Oh, that sounds perfect. There might be some kind of event going on in a plaza."
It was a huge help that she could adjust our exit point from the subspace, allowing us to bypass the dense crowds entirely and reach our next destination instantly.
Having enjoyed the street food and browsed the various goods at the stalls, I was definitely in the mood for some entertainment. Just like the Sea Dragon Procession I’d seen with Alice, the entire capital had been turned into a venue, and it seemed like various events were happening everywhere.
As I walked beside Shiro-san into the plaza she’d suggested, I was immediately struck by a wall of sound—music so loud it made my very bones vibrate.
Startled, I looked toward the source of the noise and saw a massive stage at the far end of the square. A performance was already in full swing.
Wait, is this... a live concert?! Oh, wow... that's impressive. I knew music was quite developed in this world, and they even had festivals like the Harmonic Symphony, so it wasn't exactly a stretch for there to be music festivals or live shows.
Still, seeing it in person was quite moving. The music was undeniably rock—a genre I hadn't really heard since arriving in this world.
Well, technically, Alice had played some for Aoi and Hina during our birthday karaoke session, but since that was Alice, I’d always considered it an outlier.
Come to think of it, everyone else back then had accepted the rock music without a second thought, so the genre must be fairly well-known here. I’d probably just lacked the opportunity to encounter it. While there might have been some at the Harmonic Symphony, that event leaned more toward classical and pop, so rock might have been omitted there.
"It's really lively. Looks like a music event. If you don't mind, Shiro-san, do you want to stay and listen for a bit?"
"Of course. I have no objections."
I actually like rock quite a bit. Back home, I’d watch music programs on TV or buy CDs of popular hits, but I’d never actually attended a live concert.
There was always a certain barrier to entry for me—the idea of physically going to a venue felt daunting. Plus, I didn't exactly have many friends to go with.
In any case, the sheer power of the live performance was overwhelming. Between the music and the buzzing energy of the plaza, I could feel my own excitement rising.
"All right! The energy in the house is at its peak! Up next is the up-and-coming, popular three-piece band—Dragon Soul!"
The band that had been playing when we arrived finished their set, and the mention of the next band triggered a massive cheer from the audience. They seemed to be incredibly popular. This was going to be fun.
I turned my attention to the stage as three figures stepped out. True to their name, they were each wearing helmet-like headgear shaped like dragons.
The helmets concealed their faces, but their silhouettes were distinctive: a guitarist-vocalist who stood well over two meters tall; a drummer who was, by contrast, quite petite; and a bassist with a build that suggested he was male.
...Wait, hang on. Are those... members of the Four Great Magic Dragons? Is that Eingana-san, Flare-san, and Fafnir-san...? What on earth are they doing? More importantly, did those three form a band?!
Serious-senpai: "This is just a hunch, but I’m guessing Fafnir-san was probably coerced into this by the other two. Since they’re being called 'up-and-coming,' they likely formed right after the Harmonic Symphony wrapped up..."