[This is Center District 1, Rose North Platform, please board and alight in an orderly manner.]
Under the transparent glass dome, quite a few people were getting on and off at the brightly lit and spacious station, and most of them were students around 20 years of age, dressed youthfully and chatting happily.
Wearing a light gray coat and matching mask, Tilan and Geyin walked together, threading through the crowd.
Before long, the train they had been waiting for arrived, and they boarded.
Once seated, the doors closed and the train gradually picked up speed, entering a supersonic travel status.
The journey was very smooth; the girl looked at the small display screen opposite her, with the train now traveling at around 600 meters per second, yet the interior was so stable that water didn't even ripple, showing that the public facilities in the Central Star Domain were far superior in technology to those in other remote domains.
A few minutes later, they reached their destination platform.
[This is Center District 5, Acacia Flower Platform, please board and alight in an orderly manner.]
After exiting the station, the two made their way to a quaint little ice cream shop on the street corner as directed by their personal terminals and soon spotted the purple, cat-eared Songstress, Ailu Kelu, sitting inside.
Today, Ailu Kelu wore a pair of pinkish-purple electronic headphones, a jacket, and orange sunglasses, and unless one knew her well, she'd be hard to recognize as one of the highly popular songstresses.
Next to her, Blanchi wore a mask, changed her hairstyle slightly by tying part of it up at the back of her head and letting two strands fall beside her ears. This disguise was enough, as she wasn't often exposed in the media, and her hair color was common, so she wasn't recognized.
"Hi~," Tilan greeted as she walked in, waving back to Ailu Kelu who was signaling to them.
"Two glasses of lemon-verdant juice, please," Ailu Kelu called out expertly, then gestured for Tilan and her friend to sit down.
"You got here quickly; I thought you would take longer to prepare."
In response, Tilan nodded slightly, trying not to speak, and instead looked around the small shop.
The sign of "Yellow Bunny" above was written like lightning; on one side of the interior was the bar, and on the other, four tables equipped with holographic projectors were showing the latest popular programs, making efficient use of the space.
"It's owned by a friend of mine, so I sometimes come here to sit for a while." Alerted by Ailu Kelu's remark, Tilan then noticed that the two clerks in the store were both from the Cat-Ear Tribe.
Soon, three types of ice cubes—yellow, green, and clear—mixed with fruit juice were brought over. The drinks were sour, sweet, and refreshingly cold, and judging by their quality, they were probably Tier 4 beverages.
"It's the best drink in the store, but also the most expensive," Ailu Kelu winked as if to say, hurry up and thank me.
"Thank you for treating us, Senior Ailu Kelu," Tilan said with a bit of amusement, indulging the cat-eared Songstress.
After that, Ailu Kelu started telling Tilan about various idols and bands of the Academy City.
"...All in all, among the students of the university academies, many can play instruments, so with a little organization, it's easy to form a band and then find a venue to perform."
"Don't think it's just for fun; it's because of this playful nature that eventually some serious and talented ones emerge," said Ailu Kelu with the air of an experienced senior.
"Did any of these bands become famous and turn into stars later?" Tilan asked curiously.
"Yes, if they sing really well, they might get signed by a music company, and there are many talent scouts in the Central Star Domain."
"It sounds quite nice," she said, not knowing much about such bands; previously, she had only been in temporary bands at school.
"Okay, let's not talk anymore; it's almost time. Let's get going."
Looking at the clock inside the shop, Ailu Kelu stood up, greeted her cat-eared friends, and then led the group toward their predetermined location.
Along the way, the four of them turned into an alley, climbed the stairs of a side building, walked over the roof of a storefront on the street, and then reached the third floor of another building, which seemed to be a converted warehouse with ample space. One side housed a makeshift stage and the other side a plain open area.
Even though Tilan was prepared, she hadn't expected the environment to be so basic; this old and dilapidated style unexpectedly reminded her of the underground scene back in Payin City.
This is really... she couldn't help shaking her head, feeling a mix of nostalgia and amusement.
By the time they arrived, the place was already filled with about 200 people; many were chatting in groups, some were sitting on the floor playing games, while others engaged in card battles right there.
A few minutes later, several young people in quirky attire entered. They clapped their hands to get everyone's attention and then stretched a simple rope barrier in front of the stage.
"We're starting to check tickets now; please come up one at a time."
Then the once laughing and chattering crowd gradually fell silent, one by one going forward, handing over their paper tickets or electronic receipts, passing the rope, and , the rope slowly made its way through the crowd, ensuring everyone inside had their ticket checked before it was put away.
Next, the windows and doors of the warehouse were gradually closed, plunging the inside into darkness; then the stage lights came on, colorful little lamps started rotating slowly, and the atmosphere began to build up.
After tuning the instruments and the sound system, the performers for the day took the stage for a quick self-introduction, followed by some impromptu instrumental play.
"We are 'Parker Band', and we will be performing for you all today." After that, several members gave a symbolic wave, clearly with some members shy and not adept, leaving the leader to make the mood.