After waiting for a while, the stage was finally set to begin.

"Well, thank you for waiting!　First up are the four members of Twinkle Stars, entry number one!　Here you go!

　The stage was lit up under a full moon, and when the woman who seemed to be the MC with a loudspeaker left the stage, four girls appeared on stage instead of her.

　They were not Rio and the others.
　However, the girls, dressed in pretty rental costumes, were all quite good-looking.

　A band of musicians stationed at the back of the stage began to play loudly.
　The girls on stage began to sing and dance to the up-tempo music.

　It's good... I think.
　I've been watching our girls practice for a while now, so I feel like my eyes have become more discerning, but these girls are quite good, even from my point of view.

　A cheer went up from the audience.
　A group of people who seemed to be the girls' parents started cheering especially loudly.

　The girls respond by smiling and waving at them in a way that doesn't interfere with their dancing, and then they smile at the entire audience.

　...... aren't they almost professionals already, huh?
　It's not like you're an amateur.

　But of course, every child has people cheering them on.

　My kids are not special.
　Every child has their own story to tell, and they are all trying to be special.

　As the songs and dances gradually build up, penlights begin to be waved in the audience.

　...... Oh no.
　I hadn't prepared any of those cheering items.

　Maybe I'll just use some light magic to cheer them on...
　As I was thinking this, a vendor selling penlights walked by.

　Thinking that I was a good businessman, I paid the vendor and bought a penlight.
　I waved it and started to cheer for the other kids.

　At that moment, a man next to me with an incomprehensible look on his face began to mutter something like this.

"Hmmm, ......, the annual public idol auditions, the Twinkle Stars have raised the bar yet again. Unless some super-duper new group shows up, it's going to be the Twinkle Stars this year.

　The know-it-all man nodded his head.

　Oh, so the first group of girls are the candidates for the championship.
　No wonder their level is so high.

　Soon, the first group of girls finished their performance to loud cheers and left the stage.
　Then the second group started.

　The second group started, but it was not our turn yet.

　The second group was also of a good standard, but compared to the first group, their expressions were a little stiff, their movements were stiff, and their performances were not as good as the first group.

　The third, fourth, and fifth performers continued on stage.
　Still not coming, still not coming, still not coming.

　Sixth, seventh, and then...

"Finally, the last group, the Stray Cat Bravers, here they come!

　Here they come, our boys!

　Uru, Rio, Iris, and Maifa came out from the right side of the stage in that order, and as they stood side by side on the stage, the four of them bowed to each other.

　When they entered, there was a buzz in the auditorium.
　This was a reaction that had never happened with the group before.

　All four of us had good looks, but the other girls in the group were pretty too, so we didn't stand out that much.

　The problem is the costumes.
　The costumes were obviously much more glamorous than those worn by the other girls.

　Moreover, it was custom-made by a first-class designer named Liselle, who had made it especially for our girls.
　There is no other way to describe it than to say that it brings out the best in each of them.

　To put it simply, they are foul.
　They were already on a different level from the rest of the group in terms of appearance.

　And look at Liesel, the girl who made it...

　The elf girl stood up from her seat, drooling and watching the children on stage.

　...... Ah, yes.

　I'll pretend I didn't see that.
　That's not a good look for a beautiful elf girl to have.

　I turn my attention back to the children on stage.

　From the looks of it, Uru was nervous to the bone.
　It's understandable, since she has so much passion for this day, and it's probably the first time she's been the center of attention for such a large audience.

　Rio, Iris, and Maifa, on the other hand, seemed relatively calm.
　They seem to be moderately tense and moderately relaxed.

　They had already stood in front of a large audience at the tournament to determine the strongest new heroes.

　The three of them began to look around the audience.
　When they saw me, they smiled and waved at me.

　I looked at them and nodded vigorously.

　They also nodded and looked away from me to the whole audience.

　The orchestra at the back of the stage begins to play accompaniment.
　Rio pats Uru on the back to relieve her tension, and then steps forward to sing and dance.

　Iris and Maifa follow suit, and Uru hurriedly follows along.



　I want to tell the person I love how I feel.
　I wonder if it's true. I want to tell her, but I don't want to.

　My heart is pounding, and sometimes it feels like it's going to burst.
　If I keep it, it'll break.



　The three of them, Rio, Iris, and Maifa, started off in a quiet tone and gradually began to act in a cute way.

　The three of them stepped forward to protect Uru, who was nervous, but as Uru performed, her stiffness gradually loosened.





　That's why he's a donkey.
　I want you to attack him.

　I want her to notice me. I don't want her to notice me.
　I don't even know which one I am.



　With their cute expressions and gestures, dainty dancing, and lovely singing voices, the four of them charmed the audience.

　The audience was welling up.
　I joined the crowd and waved my penlight.

　The man next to me, who looked like he knew what he was doing, murmured, "Oh.

At the last minute, there's a dark horse. He seemed to be nervous at first, but once he loosened up, he began to lead the other three with his skilled performance. The other three actors, while rough, had a good foundation, and their occasional daring arrangements were brilliant and did not miss any important points. When I saw the costumes, I thought they were going to be a big hit, but they are not to be underestimated. And best of all... she's cute!　I'm not sure what to make of this. ......!

　A man with a curious look on his face widened his eyes.

　I chuckle next to him.
　I'm sure you're right, aren't my kids cute.
　You're a good judge of character.

　Meanwhile, my students' stage was reaching its climax.

　They waved their smiles at the audience and used the entire stage for their performance.



　The climax of the story is the fulfillment of love, but that's not all I want.
　I'm happy now. That's important too.

　You can do whatever you want.
　You don't even know it, DONKAN.

　DONKAN HAPPINESS
　DENTOU GEINOU
　It's not so bad.

　DONKAN HAPPINESS
　LUCKY SUKEBE
　Please make me more excited.



　That's how we finish.
　The choreography was supposed to be one hand on the chest, one hand in front of the other, looking around at the entire audience...

　Uru's performance followed the basic choreography.

　But Rio, Iris, and Maifa were all staring right at me at the end.
　...... Hmm?

　I can't help but have a subtle look on my face.
　I don't think they've ever made a mistake here in practice.

　But you know what, no matter how many times I see it, the three of you are always so cute. .......
　If you stare at me like that, I'll seriously fall in love with you, so please stop.

　On the other hand, next to me, a man with an incomprehensible face was shaking.

He was looking at me. ......?　What's with the excitement in my heart? What a thrill to be able to remind me of such a thrilling feeling that I've long forgotten ....... Stray Cat Bravers, this is a huge newcomer. I've got to write about this. ......!

　It's not you, it's me, don't talk in your sleep, I'm going to kill you, I thought, but somehow I managed to hold back without punching you in the face, I think that's great.

　But that's the thing, idols are no good.
　My girls are too cute, and they'll make more guys misunderstand them.

　Yeah, this is not good. This is not good.
　No more idol activities.
　We can't have any more bad boys.



　And so the stage for my students ended.

　After the judges discussed the results, the grand prize was announced.

　The grand prize went to... Twinkle Stars.
　They were the first group to perform.

　Oh, come on, you judges, you're not blind.
　I thought that our girls were definitely the prettiest, but it couldn't be helped.

　On the stage, the members of Twinkle Stars were receiving their awards, and they were all crying tears of joy and expressing their gratitude.

　...... Well, maybe this was for the best.

　It probably means that the group that has been working so hard for so many years has finally been rewarded for their efforts.

　Some time later, Rio, Iris, Maifa, and Uru came back.

Oh, we lost the championship!　I'm so disappointed!　We practiced so hard!

We practiced so hard!" "But the winners sang and danced so well, so it can't be helped. I thought they must have practiced for a lot longer than us.

...... Huh, I admit defeat for today. ......The next time we meet, it won't be like this.



But we had so much fun!　I was so happy to dance with everyone, to be seen by so many people, and to wear such an amazing costume. ...... I'm so happy, I'm afraid I'll get punished.

What are you talking about? You've been through a lot in your life, haven't you?　You're not going to be punished for being a little bit happy, are you? If there's a god who does that, I'll punch him!

　The girls were talking like that, making a lot of noise, laughing happily together.

　Seeing these children, I felt very happy to have arrived at this place.



　Thus, the commotion that my students and I encountered in the artistic city of Ravilton came to an end under the night of a full moon.

　Later, when we returned to the village of Rit, we received a letter from Ur.

　In the letter, he expressed his gratitude to us and wrote the following.

　The dwarven craftsman Galdon and the elven craftsman Liselle have teamed up to create the Galdon brand, which has become so popular that orders are flooding in and people are waiting years to pre-order.

　In the event that you're a fan of the brand, you'll be able to find out more about the brand's products and services.

　Or that Uru is on good terms with the Copper Dragon, and that she continues to work hard and not give up on her idol career.

　And above all, the fact that Uru had the courage to tell the master of the bakery all about her situation, and as a result, the master and his wife hugged her, and the werewolf girl was able to find her place in the world.

　I put the letter in my pocket in front of the ramshackle hut called the School for the Brave under the setting sun.

　Then I took the children who had finished their training and we all headed home.