AKI: "Well? What do you say?"
TSUBASA: "This was unexpected, you're all so innovative! I can't wait!"
ANJU: "Let's give our best!"
ERENA: "We will not lose. That is all."
Gah... They're completely unfazed by our strategy.
I should have expected it, they're A-RISE after all. Something like this is nothing to them.
I hope we rattled Saint Snow's plans around. I couldn't stand to see Ai and Karin lose their spots on the Main Stage. I'd be a failure of a team captain to allow that to happen.
AKI: "Why delay this any further? Let's get this thing started!"
TSUBASA: "Aren't you forgetting something?"
AKI: "Hm?"
ERENA: "We're not dressed to perform yet."
SARAH: "We're ready. Saint Snow are always prepared for anything."
LEAH: "We're not intimidated by your tactics. We already agreed to take on two of your club members!"
Damn, that's correct...
AKI: "Okay, well you can all go change into your idol costumes. I'll wait up here."
...
While I waited on the rooftop, I could see A-RISE's personal stagehands setting up for their performance.
They're on a whole other level when it comes to professionalism. It took a while for our stagehand volunteers to set up the stage for each solo performance at the solo live. Meanwhile here's A-RISE's personal scenographers doing everything quickly and precisely.
Looks like they're going up first. I've never seen them perform live before, but their stage presence in their videos is unmatched.
AYUMU: "Aki, we're ready."
AKI: "Great, have you seen A-RISE anywhere?"
SETSUNA: "I can't say we have. They showed us to our dressing rooms, but then they left."
SHIZUKU: "We thought they would be up here with you."
AKI: "I see... Hm?"
Suddenly the lights around us switched off. Three lights began to shine through three smoke filled holes in the stage floor.
AKI: "I should have known. A-RISE love to make an entrance..."
The three members of A-RISE came rising out of the trap doors through raised platforms.
I thought our mind games were strong by using a sub-unit strategy. But A-RISE have their own ways of intimidating their opponents.
For a group like A-RISE, they need no introduction. They leave that to their performances to tell you just who they are.
...
*CROWD ROARS*
SETSUNA: "Incredible... The crowd are at the foot of the building and yet we can hear them from the roof..."
SHIZUKU: "So this is the appeal A-RISE holds? They're...otherworldly!"
AYUMU: "Don't worry, we've got our number one fan right here cheering us on! With his support, I know we'll be fine. Right, Aki?"
AKI: "..."
AYUMU: "Aki...?"
AKI: "Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah... Sure."
AYUMU: "..."
SETSUNA: "We're up next, let's go."
...