“AAAAGH! Get me out of here!” Moon Moon screamed, pleading for her companions’ help.

Yumi-Chan and Himari Starbeam stood frozen, still processing what was happening. They thought they had seen it all during the group’s debut tour, but nothing could have prepared them for this level of chaos.

The crowd of fans moved chaotically, pushing and shoving as they ran in every direction, gripped by adrenaline in a desperate attempt to escape. From the stage, the girls watched as people collided, stumbled, and fell, their panic-driven movements creating an unstoppable wave of disorder.

The stage lights flickered to the cheerful, upbeat rhythm of the song that should have been playing—a stark contrast to the turmoil in the crowd. In that moment, survival took precedence over everything else. The air felt thick and oppressive, as if the atmosphere itself had been compressed by the sheer weight of the crowd's panic.

Above it all, more and more bodies began to float, as if they were being lifted by some unseen force, one by one, defying gravity without rhyme or reason.

“You need to take control before this turns into a disaster. Be the heroes they believe you are!”

The mysterious voice broke through the chaos, calm and commanding. Yumi-Chan and Himari Starbeam jumped at the proximity of the voice, its tone unsettlingly serene. Yet, when they looked around, they realized there was no one else on the stage. The two girls exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement with the strange directive, not even questioning its unknown origin.

At that moment, nothing could be stranger than the sight of people floating mid-air. While their songs often referenced superpowers and intergalactic battles, this scene was far beyond anything they had ever imagined.

Yumi-Chan’s warm, melodic voice rose above the noise, carrying the tune of the group’s biggest hit in an attempt to refocus the crowd.

“As long as we’re here, no harm will come to you!” Himari Starbeam declared, her voice resolute as she joined Yumi-Chan’s impromptu performance.

Despite the absence of their band and instrumental backing, the girls’ vocal mastery—a cornerstone of their success—shone through.

“Let this song touch your hearts,” Yumi-Chan pleaded, her voice gentle yet powerful.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Slowly, children, teenagers, and adults began to regain their composure, their attention turning back to the stage. Even as their bodies continued to rise into the air at varying heights, the crowd sang in unison with the girls, their voices blending in a single, moving chorus.

By the song’s end, Yumi-Chan and Himari Starbeam found their own feet lifting off the ground.

“Don’t worry, girls,” said the mysterious voice once more, this time echoing in their minds. A small figure appeared, holding their hands with the gentleness of a child. Beside them stood an elderly man, untouched by the gravitational phenomenon.

“What are you doing here, old man?” Himari Starbeam snapped, the most impulsive of the group. Her voice was laced with frustration and urgency. “This place is a disaster! You shouldn’t be here!”

Yumi-Chan noticed the neon headband wrapped around the old man’s head, her name glowing in bold letters. Despite his frail appearance, there was an unshakable calmness about him.

“From now on, you’ll be free from her control,” the old man declared, his voice steady and reassuring.

An intense energy radiated from him, flowing into the girls in a continuous wave. A sense of safety enveloped them, revitalizing their strength and confidence.

Meanwhile, only two people remained grounded in the crowd. Kouta knelt on the floor, his mind overwhelmed by unbearable pressure, as though his head might explode. Saori knelt in front of him, holding his face and staring into his eyes, desperately trying to calm him.

“Kouta, look at me. Try to block out what’s happening. Everything will be fine,” she urged, even as the gravitational force on her body began to dissipate. Still, she held onto his hands, anchoring him to the ground.

“Whoever’s behind this, leave Saori out of it!” Kouta shouted, struggling to his feet as he tried to pull his friend back to safety.

“At last, we’ve found him,” boomed a powerful voice that echoed through the stadium.

A surge of energy descended from the sky, cutting through the floating bodies before striking the ground in front of Kouta. The force of the impact sent him hurtling backward.

In the crater left by the blast stood a woman clad in a fully chromed suit that reflected the pulsating stage lights, shifting between shades of blue and orange. The material resembled liquid metal, perfectly molding to her body. A crimson visor obscured her eyes, its intense glow piercing the darkness like the gaze of a nocturnal predator. Sharp antennas extended from her helmet, mirroring the razor-like claws that tipped her fingers, their edges seeming sharp enough to cut the air itself.

Her presence was accompanied by a metallic, menacing sound with every step, like the echo of sharp blades scraping against a steel surface. Each movement seemed to carry an immense weight, vibrating through the floor, while her appearance radiated an aura of extreme agility. The noise evoked a primal sense of danger, a message that no one there was safe.

Her appearance commanded immediate attention, a blend of determination and disdain emanating from her every movement. She strode toward Kouta with calculated confidence, lifting him by the collar as though he weighed nothing.

“What have they done to you, my prince?” she murmured, her tone tinged with bitter disappointment.