T/N: I’ll stick to using Japanese honorifics rather than translating to the English equivalent. This is my first time doing a Japanese to English translation so I apologise if any meaning is misunderstood or lost.

Original Work: Sound Horizon

Author: Tokida Tooru

Illustrator: Arisaka Ako

Translator: Moko-Chan

Character introduction:

Noel – An up-and-coming vocalist. Though his skills as a vocalist are excellent, he’s quick to pick a fight, has a wild temperament and a foul mouth. Therefore, he is unable to get along with other people. Furthermore, he’s even more blunt towards women.

Marie*Marie – An interviewer from the Visual Kei monthly magazine [V-Rock Heaven]. She dresses in Goth-Loli clothing and conducts herself in a lady-like manner. She harbors a liking for Noel.
(T/N: 耽美系雑誌to be exact. I get that it’s should be a magazine that focuses on visuals. But in chinese manga/anime terms, 耽美 means BL. It shouldn’t be BL though haha….)

Ichizou Ninosuke – A man who suddenly introduced himself as Noel’s manager. He is a conscientious person and extremely concerned when it comes to matters regarding Noel. His older brother, Ichinosuke opened his own bar [Ichizou]

Shibukawa Eiji – An interviewer from the web-based media [Heavy Edge]. A man with a flashy appearance who talks in a flippant manner. He feels a sense of closeness with Noel and gets involved in whatever Noel is involved in.

Yamaguchi Hajime – An interviewer from music magazine [Sound Around] which covers all song genres. A gentle and elegant silver fox. He watches over Noel kindly and roots for him.

Revo – A musician shrouded in mystery. He usually appears in black clothing and is never seen without his sunglasses. He suddenly appeared in front of Noel and said he wanted to be Noel’s producer. He has a calm demeanor but he does a lot of things in which no one can understand what is going through his head. He teases Noel often.

Prologue – Introduction

The moment the stage lights dimmed, the cheers of the audience grew. Ichizou felt the rising temperature of the hall of the Live House which could accommodate a decent number of people.
(T/N: Live House – Japanese Live Music venues)

The lights illuminated the stage and the cheers, needless to say, grew louder. The temperature rose by one degree, then another.

The bass drum played beats at a low frequency and from there, the bass guitar and electric guitar joined in the rhythm.

Right in the centre of the stage was a microphone stand which was being grasped by a male vocalist. The man’s silver hair swayed as he raised his head and his voice rose from the bottom of his belly.

The wildly enthusiastic audience extended their hands towards the stage, forming what seemed like a rushing tsunami.

Riding on the unrestrained music, the split-up melodies were joined to each other and the man’s strong voice reverberated around the stage.

The ears and skin of the audience started to tingle as the singing voice reached them. This was not merely due to the vibrations in the air. Something had moved their hearts as well, even Ichizou could feel it in his own heart.

“What do you think?”

In the midst of the gap between the melodies, a voice next to him asked this question.

Standing next to Ichizou was a man who was completely garbed in black clothing. In the dark area, that man seemed to faintly appear before one’s eyes but his voice commanded a definite presence.

When the man in black asked that question, Ichizou replied, trying to suppress the excitement in his voice.

“Someone who can sing with such a style really exists, huh……”

To be able to grab people’s hearts so tightly from the top of the stage. All their hearts have been taken away by that powerful voice.

Like a tornado, like a tsunami, Ichizou was pulled towards that strong and wild singing.

The man next to him adjusted his sunglasses and said while looking towards the stage.

“I did ask for you to become his Manager, you know.”

“Then, you really are going to produce records for him……?”

Ichizou lowered his voice while still hiding his excitement and looked at the man with an expectant gaze. The man nodded.

A remarkably loud cheer rose from the audience and Ichizou’s sight focused back onto the stage. The silver haired vocalist raised his hands and through the microphone, his voice echoed loudly.

“You’re all GREAT!”
(T/N: Noel says “Great” in English)

The silver haired man got the audience even more excited. Behind him were his three band members. All of them continued to play the instruments they were holding onto confidently.

“Then, is it with the rest of his band as well?”

Ichizou looked at the man next to him as he asked this and was answered with a shake of the head.

“It’s too bad, but that’s not going to happen. The sounds don’t come together at all. That craziness is his own power, the other members are just riding on his coat tails.”Ichizou stared at the man, dumbfounded, before returning his gaze to the stage.

Was that mad enthusiasm really the result from just the power of that silver haired man?

“……. He’s still an ember.”

“Is it……about that?”

“As you can see.”

Rebuking Ichizou’s words, the man in black said this clearly while looking at the silver haired man.

On that stage, he who had empowered the entire place has yet to…….?

(That…?)

The place where Ichizou was standing was the furthest from the performance. There was significant distance between him and the stage. To make matters worse, the lighting of the place was crammed together. Therefore, when Ichizou looked at the vocalist, he thought he saw something which may even be a trick of the eye. He thought that something, even more than the powerful voice, stuck to him even more. That vocalist, standing on the stage, seemed to be showing a lonely expression.

However, when he looked again, that vocalist did not seem to be making such a face, it was probably a trick of the light after all.

Ichizou focused his ears on the song while looking closely at the stage, and the man next to him spoke once more.

“He has yet to spread his wings.”

After the black clothed man spoke as such, he turned and headed towards the exit. Ichizou tried to stay behind but when the next song started playing, only the people at the stage were allowed to stay.

A thin layer of perspiration had formed on the silver haired man’s cheeks and in a sincere and direct way, as though facing the song directly, he carefully sung those lyrics one by one.

How he would look when his wings have fully spread, Ichizou wanted to see it.

“A damn thank you for coming here today!”

That cracked voice that went through the microphone resounded across the entire hall.