The gymnasium was packed to the gills for the Culture Festival.
After Shinonome Nukko Girls with Boze did an incredible set, the crowd thought that they had seen the last act. It had ended well with Emily Adachi's confession to Kazu, the now hugely popular Flame King. He had agreed to date her and the raucous crowd had expressed their approval with thunderous applause and cheering.
"Kogarasumaru!" someone hollered.
"Where's the Sky King?" another called out.
"We want Ikki!" several demanded in unison.
Ringo gazed backstage to see Ikki standing near a sound and light board. He had the been the one to shine the spotlight first on Emily then on Kazu.
Ikki smirked then nodded back at Ringo. He gestured for Onigiri and Agito who had also been watching from backstage.
"You're gonna perform?" Princess Sarome asked gleefully.
"I guess," Onigiri replied. "This was unplanned."
Ikki sauntered onto the stage, followed by Agito and Onigi. The crowd erupted.
"Come on big guy!" Yayoi waved to Buccha who was in the audience.
The big teen strode on up with Orca tentatively following him.
"Kogarasumaru has taken the stage!" DJ Plugman said excitedly to those tuning in on the internet.
"Kazu_sama!" Emily embraced her new beau as he jumped up on stage to join the rest.
Ringo handed Ikii a microphone.
"How's everyone doing?" Ikki played to the crowd. "Weren't these girls awesome?"
He had the crowd eating out of his hand.
"Sing something!" encouraged several front row students.
Agito leaned in close to Yayoi by the drum set. He gave her arm a small squeeze.
"I'm gonna keep these girls on stage with us because they are all part of the team and have been with us since day one!" Ikki said. "And we've been through battles and stood by each other through the thick and thin."
"It was all about believing, in each other and ourselves," Ringo leaned in and added.
"So before we play, I'd like you all to welcome my cousin Ray!" Ikki shouted with a huge grin.
"Cousin Ray?" Ishiwatari looked at Emily in bewilderment.
Before the latter could answer, the crowd went in a frenzy when a lean 17 year old with long hair and a Gibson Les Paul walked on stage. Ryusuke Minami of Beck needed no introduction. He was just as famous as his cousin, the Sky King. For good measure, the rest of his band followed and took their places, instruments in hand.
"We're playing with Beck?" gasped Ishiwatari who almost fainted.