The long-awaited tour had finally begun. The members of Celestial gathered in a tight circle backstage, their hands stacked in the center, trembling with both excitement and nervousness.

  "Let's go, Celestial! Fighting!" they chanted in unison, their voices a mix of determination and exhiration. The energy was electric, and even as their nerves ran high, there was an undeniable sense of unity.

  The concert opened with a VCR—a short video montage that set the theme for the show. It told a beautifully choreographed story, weaving through Celestial’s journey as idols, from their humble beginnings to the heights of their stardom. For fans in the audience, the VCR added an emotional yer to the experience, building anticipation for the performance.

  When the lights dimmed, and the first beat of their opening song echoed through the venue, the members took their positions on stage. The crowd erupted into cheers so loud that it seemed to shake the ground. The sea of glowing lightsticks painted the venue in Celestial's colors, and synchronized fan chants filled the air.

  Stepping into the spotlight, the girls gave it their all. Every move, every note, every smile—they poured their hearts into the performance. For them, it wasn’t just a concert; it was a culmination of years of hard work, struggles, and dreams. Seeing the sea of fans supporting them was overwhelming. For many of the members, it felt like a dream they never wanted to wake up from.

  As the first concert in Nagoya drew to a close, the members gathered at the center of the stage for their final ment—the time when they could address their fans directly and share their heartfelt thoughts.

  Emi, the youngest member, was the first to speak. She stepped forward with teary eyes, gripping her microphone tightly.

  “Hello, Dreamers,” she began, her voice trembling. The audience responded with an encouraging cheer. “I… I don’t even know where to begin. I’m the youngest in the group, and when I first joined Celestial, I was so inexperienced. Honestly, I didn’t think I could keep up. But…” Her voice cracked as tears rolled down her cheeks. “But I have these amazing older sisters who taught me everything. They were patient with me, and they believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

  The other members surrounded Emi, hugging her tightly as she broke down.

  “I’m so proud to be part of Celestial, and I hope… I hope we can continue walking this path together with all of you. Thank you for coming today. Please keep cheering for us. I’ll work even harder! Thank you!”

  The crowd erupted into cheers and appuse, shouting words of encouragement to Emi as she stepped back into the circle of her groupmates. Ayumi and Hikari were next, delivering their own emotional speeches filled with gratitude and hope.

  When it was Mirei’s turn, the fans’ cheers grew even louder. As the former leader, she was still a central figure in Celestial, and the audience hung on her every word.

  “Hi, Dreamers!” she greeted, her signature bright smile lighting up the stage. “Thank you so much for coming here tonight. Your support means the world to us. It’s because of you that we can stand here and share our music, our passion, and our dreams.”

  The crowd roared, and Mirei paused, letting their energy wash over her.

  “I want to thank not only all of you, our fans, but also our incredible staff who worked so hard to make this concert possible. And, of course, my amazing groupmates—my sisters. We’ve been through so much together. There were times when it felt impossible, when the pressure was too much, but we always found strength in each other. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”

  Mirei’s voice softened as she continued, “This is only the beginning. We’ll keep growing, keep striving, and we hope you’ll stay by our side every step of the way. Thank you for everything. I love you all!”

  Her words were met with thunderous appuse and chants of her name. Minami closed the ment with a heartfelt message, thanking the fans and promising even greater performances in the future.

  The concert ended with their final two songs, leaving the audience in awe. As the lights dimmed and the girls took their final bow, the cheers of “Celestial! Celestial!” echoed throughout the venue. Their first day of the tour was a resounding success.

  ---

  Days flew by in a whirlwind of performances, travel, and preparation. The members barely had time to catch their breath as they moved from city to city, but the adrenaline and the love from their fans kept them going. Each concert was sold out, with media outlets raving about their incredible performances.

  Finally, it was time for the grand finale in Tokyo. The anticipation was at an all-time high, with the two-day event set to be the crowning achievement of their tour.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Kaede sat in her room, trying to avoid the barrage of news and social media posts about Celestial’s successful tour. Despite her best efforts, it was impossible to escape. Every headline, every trending topic seemed to be about the group.

  She sighed, memories of her life before being transported to this world flooding back. The cities Celestial was performing in mirrored those from her old world. She even remembered the first concert she had ever attended—Celestial’s Tokyo show. It was the same.

  “Kaede, tomorrow is the day, isn’t it?” Yukina’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

  “What day?” Kaede asked, feigning ignorance.

  Yukina crossed her arms, giving Kaede a knowing look. “You know exactly what I mean.”

  “I’m not going,” Kaede said, forcing a smile. “Mirei wouldn’t want to see me anyway.”

  Yukina sighed, but before she could respond, Risa burst into the room with a dramatic fir.

  “Kaede! You. Are. Coming. With. Us. No excuses!”

  “What? Why?” Kaede protested.

  “Because we’re going, and you’re not staying behind!” Risa decred, waving three invitation tickets in front of Kaede’s face.

  Kaede’s eyes widened. “W-wait, what?”

  “These are invitations from Mirei,” Risa expined. “She sent them to us. She still considers us friends, Kaede. The least we can do is show up and support her.”

  Hearing Mirei’s name made Kaede’s heart skip a beat. She hesitated, her gaze fixed on the tickets.

  “I don’t know…”

  Risa smirked, pulling the tickets away just as Kaede reached for them. “Interested now, huh? Well, you can have yours, but only if you promise to come with us tomorrow!”

  Kaede sighed, knowing she couldn’t win this argument. “Fine. I’ll go.”

  “Deal!” Risa handed her the ticket with a triumphant grin.

  Kaede opened the invitation, her heart sinking slightly as she realized it was just a standard tempte like everyone else’s, but when she turned the invitation over in her hands, her heart racing. On the back, there was a small handwritten note from Mirei:

  “I hope you’re coming, Kaede.”

  The simple message made Kaede’s chest tighten. She smiled, a warmth spreading through her despite herself.

  Yukina and Risa exchanged a knowing look, happy to see their friend’s spirits lift. Tomorrow, they would attend the concert together, reconnecting with old memories and perhaps creating new ones.