"Okay, guys! We're behind the curtain now! The moment that the curtain was raised, there's no turning back, we have to perform! Even if the audience is lower than 10 or even 1, we have to perform!"
This is the encouragement Ayano Katachi gave to Nakano Urara and Yumeko Arimoto. The two girls looked at each other and their eyes was filled with determination. Determination to be able to perform while at an almost empty stadium.
They're now in front of the curtains, just a couple of minutes from now and the curtains will rise. The one who's doing the lights, sounds and rising the curtain, was of course, Araragi Hideki.
Azusagawa Reina was helping him arrange the lights and sounds. Both of them are now watching the stage, in a high place. But they still can't see the audience since the curtain was blocking it all.
"No matter the outcome, I'll accept it and still dance. The moment this curtain is raised, we have to dance, no matter what!"
Everyone thought the same thing. Now, in 3, 2, 1, the curtains will rise!
As the curtains are still rising, the three girls already saw how many people came. When they saw the numbers of audience, their spirits broke and can't even speak.
Because the numbers of audience is... zero. Not even a soul came to their concert.
"I see... this kind of thing... also happens, huh? It's only natural, but still... but still... I thought that at least one would come..."
The girls thought that at least one would come, at least one. But to see that no one actually came, is a great punch to all their hard work. They're devastated, especially Ayano Katachi.
She's the one who told everyone that no matter the outcome, they'll dance, but... is this kind of outcome... counted?
The girls just stood there, not doing anything. Meanwhile, at the control room, Azusagawa Reina was giving the girls a worried and sympathetic look.
"What can I say for them to cheer up?"
This is the train of thought of Azusagawa Reina right now.
"Maybe I'll talk to Araragi first, he's the manager and he worked hard too. I'm sure he's depressed too. I can't really speak well, but I'll try my best to cheer him up."
Azusagawa Reina thought that Araragi Hideki is depressed. But that thought is... wrong! When Asuzagawa Reina looked at Araragi Hideki's face, she was shocked.
Because Araragi Hideki is not depressed, in fact, he's still clinging to hope. There's seriousness in his eyes. He's still not giving up!
The raging fire of determination that everyone lost, is still clinging to him! He's looking intensely at the entrance of the stadium. He's not even blinking and just stared intensely at the entrance.
He's clenching his fists and you can see that he's waiting for something. He's waiting for that "something" that is enough to turn all this hopeless situation around.
In short, his trump card! Will this trump card of his, turn this situation around!?
+++++
More and more minutes have passed, and Araragi is now clenching his teeth too. Araragi's calm heartbeat became faster. He's starting to get nervous.
"Did my plan worked at all? Did It worked? Did something changed at all!?"
The seriousness at Araragi's eyes are now starting to fade away. The virus called negativity is now entering his mind.
"So, what now? Did my plan worked or It failed?! Which is it!? I mean, if we lose, I still have 7000 yen, but come on! We're going to have 500,000 yen if we won! That's a huge sum! 7000 yen looks like pocket change compared to that!"
The clenching of his teeth continues! He wants the money so badly that he's getting frustrated if he didn't get it!
"I want it!"
He wants it!
"I want it!"
He wants it!
"I want it!"
He wants it!
Even though his will was about to break and his brain is now filled with negativity. There's still one thing that left to him!
That is... the desire to win! Whether if he's determined or not, negative or positive, he still wants to win.
But he can't do anything except than clenching his fists, and hope for his plan to work. For the 50% of his chance, to work!
"If I have any luck at all, then... then... give it to this moment!"
He closed his eyes for a moment there, wishing for his luck to finally work. The moment he opened his eyes, the miracle he's waiting for... finally occurred!
+++++
Countless people are entering the stadium. They're entering the stadium with their wet clothes, while folding their wet umbrellas. At that moment, Araragi already knew what's happening here.
He immediately turned on the sounds signaled the girls to sing. Even the girls knew that they have to sing, since there are people now.
But this is more than they imagined! Approximately, there 250+ people came here.
"My plan worked!"
Araragi was filled with joy! His plan worked! People came to the stadium! But he knows that more people will come! The best scenario is that this stadium will be filled by people, they'll win against the Sunflowers, and get a huge sum of 500,000 yen!
"Everyone, let's do this!"
As if rising from the dead, Ayano Katachi's spirits came back and the two girls behind her as well.
With that, they've begun to sing their hearts out. They gave their all to their voices and put all their energies to their dance steps. As they sing, more and more people came at the stadium.
At this moment, Araragi was filled with joy and he can't help but grin while watching the whole show happened.
At the end of the performance, the number of people who came to their concert was... 1,009 people. In short, they achieved it! They filled the stadium!
It's all according to Araragi Hideki's plan. But what kind of plan did he established for this miracle to happen?
END OF CHAPTER 21