Accidentally become a father-Chapter 97: A Sea of Light

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Night had fallen.

But the field was never dark.

It blazed.

Bright.

As if daylight had been forced to stay.

Spotlights pierced the sky.

White.

Gold.

Pale blue.

Moving slowly.

As if searching for something up there.

Over there—

The stage stood.

A replica of the Parthenon.

Pillars towering high.

The lighting from below made it look... alive.

Long shadows fell behind it.

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In front of it—

The stoa stretched out in a straight line.

Small lights along the path glowed.

Forming a line.

Like a path leading to an altar.

All around—

Iron fences gleamed in the light.

Small pillars stood at various points.

Everything was pristine.

Everything was orderly.

Tens of thousands of people filled the field.

Packed.

Barely a single gap.

The voices of humanity merged into one.

A wave.

Rising.

Falling.

The air was hot.

Sweltering.

Despite the night.

Operational staff moved quickly.

Slipping through narrow gaps in the crowd.

Police were stationed at key points.

Near the stage.

Near the entrances.

Medical teams in their tents.

Small white lights glowing inside them.

Everything was ready.

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On the stage—

An MC stood.

A spotlight fell right on him.

A voice echoed through the mic.

"Good evening!"

A wave of voices answered.

"GOOD EVENING!!"

The MC smiled.

"Tonight..."

"We are not just watching."

"We are going to... enter another world."

The stage lights dimmed slightly.

Only the Parthenon remained bright.

"Before you—"

"The palace of the gods."

The cheering swelled.

"And tonight..."

"We will build it... together."

He raised a hand.

"Welcome to..."

" STAGE OF TIME!! "

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The lights went out.

Pitch black.

Silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three—

BOOM!!!

An explosion of sound.

The lights flashed on all at once.

The music hit instantly.

Drums.

Guitars.

Ethnic-infused synths.

A singer emerged from behind a pillar.

White robes.

Walking slowly.

Their voice began to ring out.

🎵

"On this land we stand,

without a name... without meaning... without significance..."

"Small steps among the gods,

Searching for meaning... searching for purpose..."

🎵

The crowd swayed with the music.

The lights pulsed to the rhythm.

🎵

"If this light... this soul...

Will fade in the end..."

"Will anything remain...

Or will it vanish without a trace..."

🎵

The stoa glowed brighter.

The singer walked forward.

Approaching the audience.

A hand raised high.

The vocals swelled.

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High in the sky—

CRACK!!!

The first firework exploded.

Gold.

Falling like rain.

Followed by red.

Blue.

White.

The sky was filled with light.

Cheers erupted.

Several minutes passed.

The music slowly faded.

The MC stepped back up.

"Incredible!"

"But before we continue..."

"There is someone who deserves our appreciation."

The lights shifted.

Growing more focused.

"This entire stage..."

"The entire design..."

"All of the preparations..."

"None of this would be possible without this one person."

The crowd began to quiet down.

Waiting.

"The stage designer and head of the preparation team..."

"...Itsuki!"

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The spotlight swept across the stage.

Empty.

A few seconds passed.

Silence.

The MC smiled awkwardly.

"...Itsuki?"

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[ The Man Missing from the Stage ]

The spotlight continued to sweep across the stage.

Right.

Left.

Behind the pillars.

Empty.

The MC chuckled.

"...It seems he is still in the back."

The audience began to whisper.

A few laughed.

Some whistled.

"Alright, let’s give him a brief moment..."

The lights dimmed slightly.

Soft background music began to play.

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Backstage—

The sounds of the concert could still be heard.

But distant.

Like another world.

On top of a mat—

Itsuki.

Still in the exact same position.

One arm draped over his eyes.

Breathing slowly.

Fast asleep.

Around him—

A few people were already awake.

Others were still sitting around.

Someone glanced toward the stage.

"...Eh."

"Isn’t that your name they’re calling?"

No response.

"Oi."

He patted Itsuki’s leg.

No movement.

"Oi, wake up."

Still nothing.

"Is this guy dead?"

A few people chuckled.

"Sleeping like a rock..."

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Outside the field—

Near the backstage area.

A black car pulled up.

The door opened.

A woman stepped out.

Long hair.

Impeccably dressed.

A familiar face.

Several staff members immediately turned their heads.

"...Is that—"

The woman walked briskly.

Her steps carried no hesitation.

In the distance—

The MC’s voice could still be heard.

"...Itsuki, if you can hear us..."

"...we are waiting for you on stage."

The woman stopped.

Turning slightly toward the sound.

"...Itsuki? He’s here?"

She murmured softly.

She changed direction.

Toward the resting area.

On the mat.

And—

Itsuki.

Still asleep.

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The woman stood in front of him.

Silent.

Watching for a few seconds.

"...Seriously? He’s sleeping at a time like this?"

Someone nearby let out a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, pretty much."

The woman let out a short sigh.

Then—

Tap.

She nudged Itsuki’s leg with her foot.

Not too hard.

Itsuki stirred slightly.

His brows furrowed.

His eyes opened halfway.

A blank stare.

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"...What."

The woman stared at him flatly.

"They’re calling you."

"...Hm."

Itsuki closed his eyes again.

"...Calling me?"

He opened his eyes.

Sat up slowly.

Messy hair.

Face still entirely blank.

"Where."

The woman pointed toward the stage.

"...Over there."

In the distance—

"...Itsuki?"

The MC’s voice was starting to sound much more awkward.

The audience was growing restless again.

Itsuki stood up.

Yawned slightly.

Looked toward the stage.

"...Oh."

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He started walking.

Unhurried.

Down the corridor.

Stepping onto the stage from the side.

The spotlight caught him immediately.

Thousands of eyes watched.

Silence.

For a moment.

The MC smiled in relief.

"Ah! Finally!"

"Here he is—Itsuki!"

No music.

No special effects.

Just a guy...

With a sleepy face.

Standing in the middle of a magnificent stage.

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[ A Single Sentence Delivered ]

The spotlight shone down.

Right on his face.

Itsuki stood there.

Squinting slightly.

The light was too bright.

The voices of thousands of people...

Like crashing waves.

Rising and falling.

The MC approached.

Handed him a microphone.

"Please, perhaps a few words..."

Itsuki stared at the mic.

...

Silent.

He took it.

Raised it slightly.

He didn’t speak right away.

Took a slow breath.

"...Good evening."

His voice was flat.

Not loud.

But clearly audible.

The audience fell silent.

Waiting.

No follow-up came.

The MC turned his head slightly.

Confused.

Itsuki looked straight ahead.

Not looking at anyone in particular.

As if staring into the void.

Then—

"...Yuna."

His tone remained the same.

Flat.

"Don’t forget to eat dinner."

Silence.

...

...

The MC blinked.

The audience...

Didn’t immediately understand.

A few let out small laughs.

Others were confused.

Itsuki lowered the mic.

Handed it back.

Turned around.

And walked off the stage.

Without waiting for anything else.

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In a small apartment.

The lights were on.

The TV was on.

The sound of the concert filled the room.

Yuna sat at the table.

A spoon in her hand.

A bowl in front of her.

Her eyes were glued to the screen.

The massive stage was visible.

The lights.

The massive crowd.

And—

Itsuki.

Yuna froze slightly.

Her spoon stopped mid-air.

"...Papa?"

She leaned closer to the TV.

As if to make sure.

And then, the voice rang out.

"...Yuna."

Her breath hitched.

"Don’t forget to eat dinner."

Silence fell over the room.

A stark contrast to the loud cheering on the TV.

Yuna stared at the screen.

Unblinking.

Then, slowly—

She sat back down.

And ate.

Quietly.

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Back on stage.

The MC was still a bit bewildered.

"...Well... that was... very personal."

A few people in the audience laughed.

The atmosphere thawed.

"Alright! Let’s continue with the main event of the evening!"

The lighting changed.

More dramatic.

The music swelled.

From behind the pillars—

Someone walked out.

Calm steps.

Graceful.

The spotlight immediately followed her.

Sayaka.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Louder than before.

She stopped in the middle of the stage.

Gazing at the sea of people before her.

Then—

She closed her eyes for a moment.

The music began.

Soft.

Melancholic.

🎵

"Amidst the crumbling pillars of time,

I stand alone..."

"Searching for something once lost...

In the world... In memories... In the journey..."

🎵

The night breeze drifted slowly.

Swaying her hair slightly.

🎵

"If fate is an absolute certainty,

Then let me fight it..."

"Even if sacrifices are required,

I will still fight..."

🎵

The lights swept across the grand pillars.

Like a path leading home.

🎵

"And if you hear this... God.

Let me fight... Let me change your fate..."

"I am still... Here... calling your name... Waiting for you..."

🎵

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Backstage—

Itsuki sat back down on the mat.

Silent.

Someone walked over carrying food boxes.

"Time to eat! Grub’s here!"

Everyone immediately got up.

"Whoa, finally..."

The boxes were distributed.

One.

Two.

Three.

Until they were all gone.

Someone looked at their hands.

"...Eh?"

Everyone was holding one.

Itsuki looked at his own hands.

Empty.

"...Mine?" Itsuki asked.

Someone kept chewing.

"Ah... turns out we’re short."

The others laughed.

"Sorry ’bout that, Boss."

Itsuki remained silent.

Took a breath.

"...Never mind."

He lay down.

Closed his eyes for a moment.

Someone approached.

"Itsuki, you’re being called."

"...Again?"

"Yeah."

"To the actress room."

Itsuki stood up.

Walked.

Down the white corridor.

The door opened.

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Inside—

Sayaka.

Sitting.

With food in front of her.

She turned her head.

"...I’ve been waiting for you."

Itsuki stood at the door.

"..."

Sayaka pulled out a chair slightly.

"Sit."

He sat down.

The food was pushed toward him.

"Eat with me."

Itsuki didn’t say much.

Just started eating right away.

Sayaka watched him.

"...How is Yuna doing?"

His spoon paused for a second.

"...She’s fine."

"Has she recovered?"

"Yes."

"How did you know? That she was sick."

"Seiji told me."

Sayaka looked down slightly.

"...Thank goodness she’s doing well."

They resumed eating.

"Why did you give Yuna to me?"

"Why? It’s obvious. Because it’s you. I wouldn’t entrust Yuna to anyone else. Except you."

"That’s not what I meant."

"Alright, I understand..."

Sayaka let out a soft sigh.

"It’s all because of work."

"That makes it perfectly clear."

Itsuki went back to eating.

From outside—

"Sayaka-san, two minutes!"

She stood up.

Picked up her water.

Took a sip.

Set it back down.

Looked at Itsuki.

"...Take care of her. I’m leaving her entirely in your hands."

Itsuki didn’t answer.

Just kept eating.

Sayaka turned around.

Left the room.

The door closed.

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