At that moment backstage, Kazuma comes to interrupt the Galactic Fairies.
"Kumon. Do you mind if I borrow Fujibayashi and Araki?" "What for?" "Nothing important. If all goes well, they'll want you on stage anyway. If not...well, the entire place is crawling with Miragers."At that, Azusa shrugs. She pats both her partners on the shoulder.
"Don't have too much fun without me, huh?"She walks off back to the stage area, while Kazuma starts leading them towards a corridor towards the security area for the arena.
"I just need to borrow you two for a second. We caught a few troublemakers skulking around the backstage."As they walk towards the security area, they catch snippets of another conversation.
"...a shame. I thought....hm." "You're still looking for someone to wield Brisingamen?" "I have thought Kumon would be able to, but....no, the waveform patterns don't match either." "Brisingamen...that was yours, right? Your Mirage." "Heh. Once upon a time, Javier. Long behind me. It would be useful if we could get it to take a wielder, but....."Freydis simply wistfully sighs.
The conversation continues behind Nagisa and Hagane.
Tsubasa leads the backstage visitors ttowards the main staging area where everyone was earlier.
"Alright, everyone, we're here. Uh....huh. Where'd everyone go?" "Ehhh? I mean, that helps me get ready, I suppose, but-" "Well, what'cha bringin' in for us, Blue?"The audible gasp that emerges from Hikari's mouth as Azusa walks in is incredibly loud.
"Azu...Azus...It's..."Azusa raises an eyebrow at Hikari.
"A fan?" The girl from last time. The one Blue was makin' eyes at. Of course he let 'er in. "HiAzusaI'msuchahugefanofyouIlistentoallofyoursongsandgotoallyourconcertsand-"She places a hand on Hikari's shoulder as the poor girl almost overheats.
"Breathe." "...." "It's just such an honor to meet you, Azu..Kumon-senpai!"She turns to the others.
"I've been following her since she was in the Chili Peppers! I really fell in love with her debut song TWIN-MIX. It's what got me into really wanting to become a musician! Ever since, I've followed all her lives, bought all her albums....I really loved her duets with Aika like Orbital Beat...I should really shut up, shouldn't I? I'm really sorry, I just....it's Azusa-"Azusa chuckles.
"'Preciate it. Can I have a name?" "M-Minase! Minase Hikari!" So it is her. Minase Hikari...shame she didn't pass the Professor's auditions. Someone with that kind of enthusiasm... "Tell ya what, Minase. I like the cut of yer jib. The normal seats for y'all are right at the front....but..."She points at Seitaro, then Misaki, then Hikari.
"How'd you three like to watch from backstage?"Hikari lights up at the idea.
"Eh?! Is that really okay?!""My, my. So rambunctious."A low, sultry voice intercedes, as a tall, voluptuous lady emerges from the direction of the changing rooms. Her long hair is silky, tied in an almost impossible bun and curtain down the back of her hair. She sashays towards the group with careful poise, her black satin dress framing her body with a white fur collar.
"Tres bien. I assume you must be the guests we're expecting. You three give off an awfully interesting aura."She smiles.
"Kamisato Setsuna. It's my pleasure to meet you all."Hikari suppresses a squeal of glee.
Abigail, with some effort, pulls the photo from where it's been wedged.
Upon examination, she finds that it's an image of a younger Haruka, in her mid teens, with a younger girl next to her bearing a resemblance to her, though the younger girl's hair is brunette rather than pink. The skyline of Sendo City can be seen in the background.