211 – Jenny Smith – The Everdistant Dream

"Heh." Titor glanced to the side and said, "Making a flashy entrance as usual, my other half?"

Jenny covered her mouth and giggled. "Well, a girl has to make an entrance properly, you know?"

The camera panned to show the crowd. A crowd completely covered by a wave of digital hearts shooting towards the stage.

Jenny giggled again as the hearts reached her and exploded into pink particles. "My! You're all certainly eager, aren't you? But I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. It's not my show, after all. Still, I don't want the girls to come in all serious like... so let's have some fun and warm up before we welcome them, okay~?"

The crowd erupted into cheers. When they did, every one of them suddenly materialized a pair of glowsticks in each hand. At the same time, a ripple spread in the distance. When it calmed down, the silhouetted figures in the seats also had a pair of glowsticks. And above those figures, tiny speech bubbles popped up, showing messages and heart emotes.

Jenny turned to Titor and said, "Can I count on you for the mixing and vfx?"

Titor chuckled. "Reduced to a mere disk and video jockey, am I?"

"Well..." Jenny tilted her head and placed a finger on her chin. "Did you want to perform as well? I know a duet song we could do~."

Titor hummed. "Amusing... but perhaps another time. It would be a crime to steal the mythical Jenny Smith's short time."

Jenny giggled. "If you say so~"

Titor smirked and then walked off while waving. "Try not to go overboard, oh Everdistant Golden Princess."

Jenny smiled and said, "I won't!"

"So you say... But so be it." Titor walked off the side of the stage, vanishing in a haze as he passed an invisible veil.

Jenny turned back to the crowd. "Well... here I go!" She smiled and held out her right hand. When she did, golden lights gathered there, swirling around. And after a few moments, they condensed, turning into a white microphone with golden stars etched along its side.

Grabbing the mic, Jenny held it up to her face and took a deep breath. Lowering her head, she smoothed her expression, waiting.

The lights dimmed, leaving only the few focusing on Jenny.

Then music started. Four cymbal hits, counting down. And after the fourth, Jenny started to sing.

[Play 【Hatsune Miku】 World is Mine / ryo（supercell）【初音ミク】]

"I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest~! So you should know what to do, just treat me nice, treat me right... okay?"

Jenny winked and strutted along the stage with one hand held against her hip, stepping in time to the music. But after a bit, she giggled and said, "This song's a bit embarrassing... but it's pretty fun, so let's go!"

Guitars joined in, along with drums. After that, Jenny flashed a peace sign and then fixed her expression, putting on a haughty face before singing.

"So let's start with a simple rule just for you: look at me every time you think of a girl. And- you listening? Don't look away when I ask if I look okay!"

Jenny narrowed her eyes and pointed at the crowd. "After that! Whenever I look down just hold me close. Tell me that there's nobody else you want in the world!"

The crowd roared and started waving their glowsticks.

Jenny smiled. "It's not hard you see? So if you think you've got it down then come on and show me right now!" She swept out her arms, causing her white skirt to sway and sang. "'I love you.' Just tell me those three words and then you can leave- Ha! Yeah right." She raised up her chin and then held up her right hand, staring at her fingernails. After that, she looked at the crowd. "You need me! Every single part of you just screams that you can't live a day without me!"

Jenny giggled, hiding her mouth for a bit. And then she smiled again and picked up the song. "I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest. It's alright to forget this once, but I won't forgive another mistake!"

A wave of hearts flashed in the background, appearing over the heads of the silhouetted crowd. At the same time, crimson, pink, and yellow flower petals scattered on the stage, laid out at Jenny's feet.

She winked and then sang, "Your life and more, lay it out right now before my feet. Come declare your love~ And maybe I might just grant your wish... If you just be good~"

Jazzy piano and an upbeat interlude. A brief lull in the vocals.

Jenny giggled and twirled around the stage. After that, she stopped and started clapping her hands in time to the drum beats. Looking out at the crowd, she said, "Come on everybody. I'm not that mean, am I? Join in! Let's get some positive vibes going!"

The moment she said that, the crowd roared. Applause filled the air and then everyone started waving their glowsticks in time with her claps.

"That's the spirit! Let's go!"

The music started to ramp up again. Jenny smiled and then held up her mic to sing. "Don't you know that every girl is precious? Fragile flowers always have the prickliest and sharp thorns!"

A giant rose materialized behind Jenny before shattering into a flurry of crimson petals. They quickly wreathed her body, forming red frills over her white outfit. With that, she shook her head and sang, "That's right, that's right, I'm just a liar. There's nothing in this world that I don't desire. Even so, from you I want something simple: Just love me! And don't you dare forget!"

Jenny stuck out her index finger and pointed at the crowd. "I'm the very best and no one comes close. I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest. So please look at me, and not them."

Her haughty expression dimmed a bit, turning vulnerable.

"I need you more than you could know... Yeah right! As if that's true. Look at them all that you want!" She huffed and tossed her head, causing her hair to sway. Giving a sidelong glance, she sang, "I don't need you anymore at all- Wait, that's a lie don't leave me here alone!"

She looked panicked and ran forward, reaching for the crowd. But then she stopped, that expression wiped away. In its place, there was a sly smile. Jenny leaned forward and winked, singing, "...Is what I'd say if I really cared at all. Ah! Hey baby~!" She hugged her chest and leaned over, revealing just a bit of her skin... and then she stopped, twirling around and finishing the song with a scream.

And then it was over, ending with Jenny pointing one hand at the lights and her head turned to the side, holding her mic up to her face.

After that, the lights brightened.

Jenny turned around, her face flushed a bit red. She giggled and said, "Haha! That song got me more excited than I thought! How is everyone? Doing okay?"

A roar and a blur of waving glowsticks answered her. After that, the stands filled with hearts and hundreds of bouquets flew onto the edge of the stage.

Jenny giggled again and let out a bright smile. "Good! That's great to see! Keep up that energy and positive vibe, okay? We aren't done yet!" She winked and said, "But I won't forgive you if you spend it all on me, you know? There's still three girls waiting for you after me~"

Jenny turned her body, causing her skirt to sway and her chest to shift a bit. After that, she glanced over at the side and said, "Are we still good on time, Mister Titor?"

Titor's disembodied voice immediately responded. "Why of course, my other half! We have as much time as the Mythical Golden Princess wishes to remain in this world!"

Jenny hummed and placed a finger on her chin. She looked over at the crowd. "Do you guys want me to stick around a bit longer?"

Thunderous applause and roaring cheer filled the stage.

Jenny giggled and said, "Fine, fine. But I'm only doing one more song to set the mood! After that, I'm going to step back and let my girls take over... So you have to treat them well, okay? I won't forgive you if you don't. Now... This one's a favorite of mine! Unlike the last, it's a real idol song... so let's enjoy the last bit of this fleeting dream together, okay~?"

A flood of crimson hearts. Countless bouquets and flower petals flying towards the stage. Applause and cheers.

Facing that, Jenny winked and then the lights dimmed again. But that wasn't all. The surroundings flickered, distorting like a glitchy monitor. And then the surroundings were different. Instead of a concert hall, the stage was floating in the middle of Shibuya, at the foot of a towering building with 10P written in glowing orange.

[Play Kiria Kuruno - Reincarnation]

A guitar starts playing, paired with muffled bass and then-

"Embrace my heart! Tear down all the walls I've built up to hide from the world. You're the one who can just change it all, until I fall, keep me alive!"

*Reincarnation! Realization! Reincarnation!*

Jenny reached out her hand and put on a delicate expression. "Don't let me fade in the night..."

HappyVainGlory

For those who want the lyrics to read along with the song:

I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest~! So you should know what to do, just treat me nice, treat me right... okay?

So let's start with a simple rule just for you: look at me every time you think of a girl. And- you listening? Don't look away when I ask if I look okay!

After that! Whenever I look down just hold me close. Tell me that there's nobody else you want in the world!

It's not hard you see? So if you think you've got it down then come on and show me right now!

'I love you.' Just tell me those three words and then you can leave- Ha! Yeah right.

You need me! Every single part of you just screams that you can't live a day without me!

I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest. It's alright to forget this once, but I won't forgive another mistake!

Your life and more, lay it out right now before my feet. Come declare your love~ And maybe I might just grant your wish... If you just be good.

Don't you know that every girl is precious? Fragile flowers always have the prickliest and sharp thorns!

That's right, that's right, I'm just a liar.

There's nothing in this world that I don't desire. Even so, from you I want something simple: Just love me! And don't you dare forget!

I'm the very best and no one comes close. I'm number one, the princess better than all the rest. So please look at me, and not them.

I need you more than you could know... Yeah right! As if that's true. Look at them all that you want!

I don't need you anymore at all- Wait, that's a lie don't leave me here alone!

...Is what I'd say if I really cared at all. Ah! Hey baby~!