Chapter 70: Chapter 69 - The Anime Concert

After dark, the final day of Comiket kicked off with an outdoor anime concert.

The concert featured a huge stage,prominent lights and a plethora of people waving glow sticks everywhere.

Some had just purchased this as their last purchase for the day, or had been waiting in line since early this morning in order to get some sort of a concert wrist band.

Somehow Kuro Kurogane ended up being alone with only Rika Saionji.

This in itself seemed pretty suspicious as if some higher force wanted them together.

The venue was buzzing with excitement as there were people moving in every way you can imagine cosplayers, music fans, anime groups, and some even still talking about the events of the Day 2 of Comiket had left them exhausted.

Meanwhile, Rika stood next to Kuro,silently holding onto a small concert pamphlet.

In fact, Rika had already taken off her cosplay outfit and was now in regular clothing as she and Kuro had walked through the crowd together.

However it still seems to Kuro as if Rika was exceptionally beautiful in her cosplay outfit, which just created an immediate sense of danger or something equally dangerous in Kuro’s memory.

Sorry for the disturbance before my sister. And the rest of everything that she caused.

Rika shook her head to express that she thought there was nothing to be sorry for. (IT BEGINS)

It was actually a lot of fun - in all honesty - and just simple answer to say was simple, but it brought back Rika’s small, soft smile to her, which Kuro had begun noticing too often recently.

Suddenly a large mass of people being pushed forward toward the main entrance, and Rika stumbled a little and grabbed onto Kuro’s arm, causing both of them to temporarily freeze and then after a few moments,

Rika slowly released her grip on Kuro, saying to him sorry.

Kuro saying it’s hard to get through the crowd (very weak excuse from both of them )So Kuro quietly let her.

That simple touch made what was already an out of control feeling even worse.

It felt oddly more intimate to be able to be with her like this than if they had flirted prior.

The concert finally started a few moments later.

The music exploded in to the night.

Opening songs from anime. Emotional orchestral soundtracks. Fans belt out lyrics with as much drama as possible.

Lights danced off the crowd as glow sticks created waves moving throughout the crowd.

The environment was somehow incredibly beautiful.

And then more softly than anyone could believe possible Rika leaned in and spoke softly enough for him to hear.

"I usually watch concerts on my computer by myself."

Kuro looked over at her.

"Is this your first concert?"

"Yes, and it is the first one I have ever been to with another person."

Kuro’s chest tightened just a little bit when hearing this.

He also felt the same strange feeling of wanting to protect her after every ounce of vulnerability that she exposed.

That is definitely a dangerous trend.

The next song started off as beautifully as the previous one, but now it was slower and softer making the crowd settle down a little.

But even more surprising was how the environment that surrounded them emotionally shifted as well.

Then even more surprisingly Rika’s fingers grazed over Kuro’s hand.

Accidentally.

Or at least, that’s what they both thought.

Neither of them moved for just a moment.

The only sounds were the soft music being played in the background and the lights dancing about above them. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Then very slowly Rika’s fingers began to curl across Kuro’s hand.

It was just a small amount of movement.

And an even smaller amount of courage.

Kuro’s mind had gone blank, feeling her hand in his, gently and naturally.

Rika suddenly stopped herself in the same space, and internally cursed herself for having done that technically she could, and should, let go of his hand, yet she found herself holding on slightly tighter.

Kuro wasn’t holding on, but he was holding on enough to imply that he was enjoying the contact.

The concert had brightened Rika’s face in many ways, as she looked at the performer on stage; however, she desperately tried to ignore the fact that her heart was about to explode out of her chest.

At the same time, Kuro was also looking ahead at the performer on stage while trying not to think about the warmth of Rika’s hand, the softness of Rika’s fingers, or what it felt like to be next to her.

This was an impossible task.

Then, without looking up, Rika spoke.

"This isn’t fair."

"What isn’t?"

"You make me feel too comfortable."

Kuro didn’t know how to respond.

In reality, Kuro felt comfortable sitting next to Rika, without any mind games, chaos, or pressure.

Just pure, warm, calm comfort.

This type of comfort scared him somewhat, as it could turn into something very dangerous at any moment.

Yet another emotional song began playing throughout the stadium; the song was slower, more intimate.

The crowd swayed gently under the glow of the lights.

Then Rika turned her head towards him. Their eyes locked for a brief moment.

And then for one moment of intense fear Kuro thought Rika did not see him as just a friend or classmate anymore she looked at him as a man she wanted.

Kuro felt such an intense rush from this realization.

Instead of panicking, a sense of happiness filled him.

A sense of overwhelming happiness.

Then all of a sudden fireworks exploded above the concert.

The crowd erupted with cheers.

The sky lit up brilliantly with all the colors.

And without even thinking Rika inched a little closer to him due to all the loud fireworks.

So close that their shoulders touched,their arms were still entwined,her hair brushed against his arm,so close that there was tension between them.

Neither one moved away from each other.

Neither wanted to break this peaceful moment.

Then, almost lost in the music she said .

"I don’t want tonight to end."

Kuro turned to her and was silent.

Because for once he could not think of something sarcastic to say, or some way to escape.

Because truthfully he did not want tonight to end either.