Fii and Quinn stepped through the doors of the Tower of Songs, and a wave of sound and energy washed over them. Ihe cavernous lobby, a throng of people milled about, their chatter eg off the walls. The pce acked, with only a few stragglers rushing io secure a spot in the auditorium.

  The walls and floors were painted with vibrant colors, each surface covered in murals, graffiti, and artwork. The light fixtures, old-fashioned gas mps aro neon signs, cast a warm glow throughout the lobby. In one er, a bar served drinks to the attendees, while in another, a group of beatboxers id down some rhythms, eaining the crowd.

  Fii and Quinn pushed through the mass of people, w their way to the staircase leading to the auditorium. The crowd became more boisterous and eic as they asded, with everyone jostling and pushing to find a good spot.

  The roar of voices blended with the deep, pulsing bass emanating from the stage. The st of sweat and spilled drinks wafted in the air, blending with the stench of over-perfumed bodies pressed together in tight spaces.

  As they squeezed their way through the throng, Fii couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling inside of her. She khe tickets Quinn got weren't great ones, but she didn't care. She was happy enough just being here and experieng the atmosphere. The music. The vibe. The people. All of it. Everything about tonight sent a thrill rag through her veins.

  "You like the Tower?" Quinn leaned over and hollered at Fii over the noise, a big grin on his face. "There's lots to do. Lots to see. Plenty of parties after each show. Those things get pretty wild."

  "It's awesome!" Fii shouted back, barely hearing herself over the din of the crowd. "I've been to a few shows before, but they're usually in smaller pces. Never been ihe auditorium here, though. 't wait to go inside!" She pumped her fist in the air, jumping a bit oips of her toes.

  Quinn ughed and gave her a quick pat on the back. "Great! Gd I got those tickets for us. e on!" He grabbed her hand, pulling her close behind him through the crowd.

  They shuffled along, the line of people steadily moving forward. Occasionally, Quinn would stop to greet an acquaintance, exging brief hellos and goodbyes before tinuing their trek.

  "Oi! Quinn! Fancy seeing you here, mate!" A loud voice rang out from Fii's left. She turo see a man bck leather pants with green friig out of his sleeves. "Got the tickets, yeah?" He grinned, dispying a full set of crooked teeth, stained yellow from cigarettes.

  "Yo, Walle. Yeah, got 'em right here." Quinn fshed his ticket, the embossed logo refleg the neon lighting overhead.

  The man, Walle, let out a satisfied hum befesturing towards Fii. "And who's this lovely girlie you've brought with you? Hmm?" He gave her a curious once-over, his eyes raking up and down her form appreciatively. "Friend of yours?"

  Quinn smiled, pg a hand on her shoulder. "Yep. This is Fii. Fii, this here's my buddy, Walle. He's also a big fan of Kenzo." He gestured betweewo of them. "He's usually too cheap to get tickets, but I helped him out and he hooked us up with a few drinks for tonight." He chuckled and motio the bottle clutched in Walle's hand.

  "o meetcha, Fii." Walle offered Fii his hand, and she accepted the shake. "How 'bout you a a drink after the show, hm? Have some fun together." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You're a good looker. Bet you taste real oo, eh?" He grihe tip of his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip.

  "Whoa! Back off, man. We came to see the show. Fii's with me tonight." Quinn interjected, pg himself between her and Walle. "I 't even believe you'd be dumb enough to hit on her while I'm standing right here. Not an."

  Walle raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. Fine. Geez, Quinn. 't a bloke get a little friendly, huh? Besides, you already turned me down st time I hit on ya, so I figured I'd give Fii a try, is all. Anyways, here are your drinks. I'll have to get mine before the show starts."

  He passed over a pstic cup filled with a dark liquid, handing a sed oo Fii. She accepted hers carefully, beira mindful to avoid the foamy rim.

  Walle wi her before sauntering back towards the bar.

  "Ahh, don't mind him." Quinn shook his head, watg his friend disappear into the crowd. "He's a good guy, just a bit of a h sometimes."

  Fii nodded, sniffing her cup experimentally. "Yeah, I figured." She wrinkled her nose. "But the drink smells good, at least. Cheers." She held out her cup to Quinn, tapping her cup against his. They both drank, gulping the frothy beverage, letting the bitter fluid wash over their tongues.

  Fii shuddered involuntarily. "Wow. Strong. Very strong." She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, her eyes watering slightly. "What's in here?"

  Quinn shrugged. "I dunno. Whatever Walle mao score." He took another sip. "It's not bad, though. I'm gd we got some free drinks. Saves a bit of tink. Oh, hey! We're almost there."

  As they reached the auditorium, Quinn fished out the tickets from his pocket, passing them to the doorman who checked the front and back before waving them inside.

  Ihe space had been transformed into an open, multi-level dance floor. The stage itself remained rgely bare, save for a few instruments, amplifiers, speakers, and cables scattered haphazardly around its surface. Above, bright, colored lights fshed, illuminating the air in shifting patterns.

  On the upper level, where the seating would normally be located, a number of private booths lihe perimeter. Each booth tained a small bar with several stools, tables, couches, and other furniture. Music bsted from speakers mounted on the ceiling, the heavy beats reverberating throughout the room.

  Railings ran along the edge of each level, creating a barrier to prevent patrons from falling off. VIP ticket holders lihe front row closest to the stage. Around them stood numerous attendants and security guards, making sure everyone remained orderly.

  The majority of the audience gregated below, dang, swaying, and moshing to the music. Bodies pressed close together, people grinding against one another in a freic rhythm.

  "Let's get as close as we before the show starts!" Quinn shouted in her ear, ing his arm around her shoulders protectively. He guided her forward as they weaved through the mob towards the stage.

  Eventually, they reached the barrier separating the VIP se from the general admission. A burly bouood watch, preventing anyone from stepping over or hopping the railing into the roped-off area.

  Fii spotted Walle chatting up anirl nearby, the same drink he'd promised to buy at the bar now clutched in his hand. His arm ed around her waist, his body leaning intimately close. As Fii watched, the girl spped him hard across the face, her expression livid as she stormed off. Walle rubbed his reddened cheek, seeming unfazed by the reje as he shrugged nontly before turning towards a guy standing nearby.

  As the crowd grew denser around her, Quinn tugged her closer, pulling her in until her back touched his chest. Her breath caught ihroat at the sudden tact, and she gnervously over her shoulder, notig the way his eyes met hers briefly. She looked away quickly, embarrassed, her cheeks growing hot.

  "Hey," he murmured in her ear, his breath tig her neck. She shivered, goosebumps breaking out across her skie the stifli permeating the room.

  "Um. H-Hi," she replied, her voice crag slightly. She cleared her throat self-sciously, trying to keep herself steady. "T-thanks again fetting the tickets, Quinn."

  She gnced around, distracted by the surging mob around her, not used to being squashed so closely among so many strangers. She also needed something to focus on besides the intense beating of her heart and the way it seemed to qui whenever he touched her.

  A hush desded over the crowd as the lights dimmed, signaling the beginning of the show. Everyone's attention turo the darkeage as anticipation built.

  Fii's hands tightened on the railing in front of her, her knuckles turning white from gripping the metal pole so hard. Her previous awkwardness around Quinn faded, repced entirely by eager excitement.

  They're here. They're here! He's here! I 't believe I'm gono see Kenzo perform on the big stage!

  When was the st time she listeo his songs? It felt like forever ago. Didn't matter though. Tonight, she would soak in all the musid energy that she could. Nothing could ruin this. Nothing at all.

  Suddenly, the music started, and a spotlight shone on the middle of the stage, where a figure emerged from the darkness. Fii reized him immediately; Kenzo, the lead singer and poser of Shunkashūtō, stepped forward, a mi hand, his lean frame bathed in the gre of the lights.

  His clothing was a unique mix of traditional and modern, with a loose-fitting kimono top atuating his toned shoulders and torso. A baggy pair of harem pants pleted the ensemble, the material flowing around his ankles as he danced around the stage. His jet-bck hair, tousled and u, bounced wildly around his head with each step.

  Behind him, the rest of the band filtered in, each member dressed in unique and colorful attire. Some wore traditional garb, while others incorporated modern touches like neon-colored hair, ripped jeans, and studded accessories.

  The stage burst into life as the band unched into their performahe crowd exploding in cheers and screams as Kenzo sang the first verse. His voice rang clear and pure, rising above the din of the audiend carrying across the room.

  Fii couldn't help but bob her head along to the music, her body swaying unsciously to the beat. She could tell that the band was only warming up, but she didn't mind; this was what she had been waiting for all night. She watched raptly, enthralled by Kenzo's movements as he ahe stage.

  Kenzo hopped onto a ptform in the er, leaping easily atop one of the amps that lihe wall. With both feet pnted firmly, he tinued rapping, his lyrics flowing smoothly as the beats thumped in the background. His voice filled the room, and he punctuated certain lines by stomping his feet, emphasizing the rhythmic flow.

  He jumped down, nding nimbly, and resumed dang, his hands gesturing wildly as he sang. He pranced across the stage, throwing his arms up in the air and shouting into the mic. The other members followed suit, their own movements mirr his own, punctuating the words with their as.

  The crowd surged forward, pushing against the rails, their bodies heaving in time to the beat. The tempo increased, building and building to a cresdo as the band ramped up their performance. Fii found herself jumping along with everyone else, losing herself to the rhythm of the song.

  As Kenzo belted out the lyrics, his voice cresdoed, rising above the sound of the instruments and the cheering crowd.

  Fii's body tingled, goosebumps rising on her skin. She screamed along with the crowd, raising her arms above her head, her eyes locked on Kenzo's figure onstage. The music thundered in her ears, enveloping her senses pletely. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she felt electrified, giddy, exhirated.

  The band tio perform, rog out, the heavy rhythms pumping through the speakers and driving the crowd to scream louder. Fii danced alongside everyone else, her hips shaking, her feet stomping, her arms filing as she reveled in the experience.

  She g Quinn, who looked at her with a huge grin on his face as they both jumped up and down.

  It felt good to move, to let loose, to not worry about anything or anybody else. All her problems melted away, and only the music existed, filling her sehe beat, the energy, the passion. Everything.

  Kenzo's voice pierced through the fog of noise and sound. He jumped around the stage, his feet pounding on the wood pnks, his movements perfectly synized with the band behind him. With every step, he spun and danced, his movements graceful yet powerful. The VIP crowd roared as he approached them, reag out for his hands as he skidded to the edge of the stage. Some tried to climb up, but security swiftly shoved them bato pce, preventing the crowd from p onto the ptform.

  As the song drew to a close, Kenzo leapt high into the air, his arms exteowards the audiehe crowd screaming and cheering him on. The other band members joined him, leaping in unison as the music swelled, their silhouettes bathed in a golden light.

  The final note vibrated through the speakers, the thunderous appuse shaking the building. Fii and Quinn cpped along, cheering and whistling.

  Then, the band unched into the song, the music pig back up where they left off. The audience went wild, their cries intensifying as the band performed yet another banger.

  Fii tinued dang and boung along, lost in the moment. Quinn ed an arm around her shoulders, keeping her close, occasionally whispering into her ear to ask if she was alright. She'd just smile in response, nodding as they returo enjoying the music.

  Midway through the set, Kenzo's voice softened, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Oi, oi, oi! You guys hear about Axion, yeah?" He asked, adjusting his grip on the mic. "That Super, running around, helping people out, kig ass and taking names. You've probably seen her, yeah?"

  The crowd erupted in cheers, a few even calling out her name.

  Fii's heart raced at the mention of her alter-ego. She g Quinn with her mouth agape, who smirked and gave her a quiod.

  She blushed, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden attention. She hadn't expected Kenzo to talk about her, let alone praise her so publicly.

  "Mattaku sonotōri! She's out there, doing what she does—a Slumshine who's putting it all out there, every day. Like us. Like the rest of the Slum. But she ain't afraid, ain't scared, to stick her neck out, to go on the offense. I like that. That's what we need more of around here!"

  The audience cheered, the sound deafening as they cpped and hollered.

  "So, here's to her and her heroics, yeah?" Kenzo lifted his fist to the sky, his hand ched tight, a defiaure that resonated with the crowd. "The song is dedicated to her, you hear? For Axion! Banzai!"

  "Banzai!" The audience cheered, stamping their feet. A t formed, growing louder and louder until it drowned out the band's performance. "Axion, Axion, Axion!"

  "Spread the word! Shunkashūtō and Axion! Colb!" Kenzo shouted into the mic, egging on the crowd. "Let's get her to the stage! Let's do it, people! Tell all your friends. ime one of you sees her, let her know. Bring that Super over to the Tower and we'll wele her properly. Our city. Our hero." He pointed out to the crowd, who answered with another wave of fervent cheers.

  Fii's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull as she screamed along with everyone else, eted at the prospect of Kenznizing her alter ego.

  "HOLY SHIIII—"