Preshow ✧ 6

Surrounded by kids of all ages, heights, and Aberrances, little Adal started his music performance. His small yet talented arms reached for the keyboard, meanwhile two of his arms held the trumpet to his mouth. Soon, it became apparent what the spinning chair was for: it was so that he could play the drums and the bell with his legs! Somehow, it made for a fun picture: a very elegant and proper looking young boy tapping away on the instruments with his feet.

Without even realizing it, I had switched places with Mimi. It was rather strange of us to switch this often in one day, however I shrugged it off. It's not like I got to have such an exciting day on the daily, the heightened emotions could have been a trigger of some sort.

That being said… I simply could not wipe the wide grin off of my face. While little Adal’s talent was undeniably captivating, everyone else surrounding him made for an incredible show… Somehow, all the Aberrant kids moving around freely, with all their bright smiles and adorable dance moves was the biggest spectacle of the evening for me.

I had never seen this many Aberrants in one place, let alone such happy ones.

It was not only the kids having a blast with the cheerful music performance. With all the teens and adults and even some elderly dancing in their seats, it made for quite the magical picture. I clapped my hands, swayed on my seat to the beat of the music—and noticed that even the more ladylike Nilsu was beaming like the kids down on the ring. She was making all sorts of noises, which I guessed were either her laughter, or her singing voice. As much as I enjoyed the live music, I really wished it could be a bit quieter just so I could hear Nilsu better… even as a muffled version, it sounded like one of the best things my ears could ever hope to be blessed with…!

When Adal finished his performance with the final notes on the keyboard, the audience practically roared with all the clapping, whistling and shouts of praise. Some people even yelled for an encore performance, however they soon quietened down, seeing how the little gentleman was rather out of breath.

He wanted to speak, but couldn't bring himself to produce any words. Seeing this, the blonde woman of the breathtaking knife show entered the stage once again. The audience kids moved aside, and they laughed loudly as she did some flips on the air. She held the microphone to speak in Adal’s stead.

“These next words will be impromptu, but I just have to say them. Excuse my broken language! So very fun, yes?”

All the kids surrounding her shouted yes. Since she didn't have a script to follow this time, her language was slightly broken, while still being rather passable for a foreigner.

“We are beautiful! Do not forget! So sad to say bye bye!”

This time the kids made sounds of protest. How could such a fun evening end? Even I wanted to wail…

She pouted, hearing the disheartened reactions of the kids. “Yes, so sad… But, good kids need sleep!”

Amidst the groans of the young audience, she suddenly covered her ears, and after a few seconds, announced something with a bright smile. Did she receive information from backstage? But she didn't look like she had an earpiece on… maybe it was a nude colored one? It's not like my eyes were as sharp as the people with the so-called “Eagle Eye” Aberrance.

“Ah, they said we can stay a bit more. Who wants to party more~?”

With the loud cheering of the kids, popular music of the current times started playing from the speakers around. The woman looked up to the audience still in the seats and called us to join.

“Everyone, everyone! Together now! No shy!”

Just like the kids earlier, there was some hesitance. However, the kids jumping and yelling for their parents and older siblings to come join them melted the reluctant hearts, and soon the ring was filled with more people. Me and Nilsu met eye to eye, and the amber and aqua eyes communicated without a word.

We went down to the ring, and danced with the crowd. The other Circus members had joined us too, and the atmosphere was simply amazing.

I don't know if it was all the smiling people, or the fact that I knew the music, I was singing my heart out. I never knew the term could be so literal… I was so sure that my throat wouldn't be able to produce a sound tomorrow, but I still couldn't stop myself. Some people had even heard me and started to clap directly facing me. I was way too thrilled to feel any shyness, though Mimi was feeling a little distraught.

“Uh… these people are totally looking at you… Are you not embarrassed?”

“Mimi, let them look! I'm having an amazing time right now, I can't have regrets!”

The exuberant atmosphere had made my friend leave behind her guarded demeanor too, and she was holding hands with some kids and jumping. Her widely smiling face was easily the most beautiful amongst all the crowd, I couldn't help but admire her. How would it feel to be this pretty…?

After some time, people left the scene family by family, seemingly not wanting to be too late on their way back home, or perhaps wanted a headstart on the traffic that would occur soon. As the crowd diminished, it made me calm down, and even blush a little. Something else had taken over me, and now as the adrenaline left my system… it was difficult to be as boastful.

My eyes scanned for Nilsu within the remaining crowd, and I waved when I spotted her, only for my arm to stay up in the air.

She was… crying?!

I rushed to her side, possibly hitting my shoulders with some people, but I couldn't focus on anything else but my friend.

I patted her shoulders gently and inquired.

“Nilsu, Nilsu… are you okay? Did something happen? Are you hurt?”

She was sobbing in her unique way, which made some people stare at her, in not so polite ways. I crouched in front of her, wanting to block people from seeing her. These mean stares wouldn't help for sure.

“Why are they staring so harshly. Weren't we all ‘peace and love, being an Aberrant is awesome’ just now.”

“I don't know, Mimi… God, what should we do? It's not like she can tell me what's wrong…”

“For now, let's get her somewhere more quiet.”

Following Mimi’s words, I gently took her out of the ring, and sat down towards the left side of the tent, which was more quiet and away from the eyes of people.

I patted her shoulders and kept on saying “It's okay, it's okay… I'm here for you. I'm here.”

After a while, she finally raised her head and stopped hiding her tearful face behind her small, delicate hands. That's when I realized… she was actually smiling!

She made a sound of bubbles forming, which I could only assume was the sound of her… laughter? And then she nodded, as if to say “Don't worry”.

“Uh. Like, say that from the start.”

I ignored Mimi’s comment, and sighed not in annoyance, but relief.

“Ah, you're okay, right? Nilsu?”

She nodded and once she had calmed her feelings a little, she took out her worn out notebook to scribble something. Her writing was more shaky compared to all the earlier sentences resting on the page.

“I'm sorry to make you concerned. I just felt so happy. I never saw so many happy Aberrants. I was really moved. I never thought we could be considered beautiful”

I chuckled heartily. “I agree. I'm from a village in Salen, I didn't know this was possible either. I really have to thank the Circus for the lovely evening.”

This seemed to give her an idea, as her eyes shone and she hastily stood up. She tugged on my sleeve, and it looked like she was trying to say something with her eyes, but I couldn't exactly decipher what she needed me for. My confused eyes must have communicated my thoughts, as she brought the notebook to place it on her right arm and started writing on it with her left hand. It looked like she was rather used to such a move.

“I have to go thank them! I have to! Help me find them and say thanks in my stead! Be my voice!”

Alright, so it was obvious that I couldn't ignore her request when she was this eager, sparkling with her feelings of gratitude. The problem was… I suddenly felt extremely shy and anxious. I stammered.

“Er… I understand your excitement Nilsu. But where can we even find them? You mean the crew, right? Some of the members are still in the ring, we can—ah!”

She tugged on my sleeve even harder, and soon enough I found myself being dragged out of the tent. Her grip and arm strength certainly didn't match her small and delicate frame, and her other arm wiping the tears from her face indicated that she didn't intend to give up on her goal.

I sighed and told her that I'd follow her, and that she didn't have to pull me so harshly.

“Though, can you tell us, I mean, me—where we are going?”

Out of habit, I had tried to hide that I was two people in one body, though I had no need to, as she already knew. And then I covered my mouth, not from that blunder but because I had said something so stupid. Tell us? Tell? She couldn't speak…!

She didn't seem to mind, and she just kept on walking. We were out of the tent, and I realized there were some caravans ahead to my right field of vision. Suddenly, she came to a halt, and made me bump into her back in my distracted state.

When I moved my gaze to see my front instead of the caravans ahead, I realized she had stopped because there was someone else standing in front of her. If she didn't stop in time, we would bash into that figure.

This tall figure had a neat, decorated suit. It looked rather expensive. His face behind a flashy mask couldn't be seen clearly. As I was already in a nervous state, my heart beat loudly against its cage, hoping we didn't offend this gentleman in any way.

However, all he said was a cool “Excuse me,” in the language of Lartica. Nilsu nodded, and the man kept on walking forward, going towards the parking spot for the audience vehicles.

“What a pretty mask… say, do you think he is an Aberrant who hides his face? He didn't really have to do that, I don't think this particular audience is made from people who would judge...”

Nilsu didn't react in any way, she was set on going towards the row of caravans. Passing by the ones which said ‘Sound Systems’ and ‘Performance Equipment’, we stood in front of the one that said ‘Director’.

She nudged me. I was particularly sweating standing in front of the door. What was I even supposed to say…? Who would we meet behind the door…?

“The Director, duh.”

“Mimi… I know that much.”