21 Dynamite

I closed my eyes, sucking in a deep breath. This is it. No more interviews. No more practice. The thing I have been wanting for two lifetimes is about to happen.

A hand clapped on my shoulder, startling me from my thoughts. Kenji stood beside me. "We've got this," he said, his voice low but fierce.

I nodded, a grin spreading across my face. "Damn right we do."

The others gathered around, forming a tight circle. Haruto placed his hand in the center, palm down. "For X-Factor," he said, his voice ringing with conviction.

"For X-Factor," we echoed, our hands joining his. It was a promise, a vow. To each other, to ourselves, to the dream we'd fought so hard to keep alive.

The stage manager appeared. "Two minutes to curtain, guys."

We broke apart, a new fire burning in our eyes. This was our moment. Our time to shine.

I took my place at the center of the stage, my heart hammering in time with the chant of the crowd. "X-Factor! X-Factor!"

The curtain rose, and the roar was deafening, a physical force slamming into my chest. 250 faces stared back at me, their fervor and intensity magnified by the intimate setting.

And then the music started. The beat pulsed through the floor, through my body, settling deep in my bones.

I felt the lyrics rise in my throat, the words I practiced for days on end just for this moment.

"Cause I, I, I'm in the stars tonight

So, watch me bring the fire, and set the night alight"

As a sea of lightsticks and phones bloomed in the audience, lighting up every corner of the studio, I let everything else fall away.

It was just me, the music, my brothers beside me. The roar of the crowd was jet fuel, propelling me to heights I'd never known.

I locked eyes with Kenji, our movements perfectly synced as we launched into the first verse. His voice was raw power, a thunderbolt of sound that set the stage ablaze. I matched his intensity, my own vocals intertwining with his in a fierce harmony.

Satoru and Daisuke moved to the forefront.

Daisuke: "This is getting heavy, can you hear the bass boom? I'm ready (woo-hoo)

Life is sweet as honey, yeah, this beat cha-ching like money, huh"

Satoru: "Disco overload, I'm into that, I'm good to go

I'm diamond, you know I glow up

Hey, so let's go"

They played off each other like a well-oiled machine, their words weaving a tapestry that had the audience hanging on every syllable.

Then it was my turn again.

I stepped forward, letting the music build. My feet glided across the stage, as if the polished surface was ice and I was born to skate. The beat pulsed through me, guiding my movements like an invisible puppeteer.

Sliding smoothly from a body roll into a spin, I let the momentum carry me, the world blurring around me until there was nothing but the music and the thrill of the dance.

And then, in a move that sent a ripple of shock and awe through the crowd, I launched into a flawless moonwalk.

It was a dance step unheard of in this world, a move that defied the very laws of physics. My feet seemed to glide backwards of their own accord, my body leaning at an impossible angle.

The audience erupted, their cheers and screams nearly drowning out the music. I could see their faces, see the wonder and disbelief etched across their features. In that moment, I wasn't just Akira, the rookie leader of X-Factor. I was a magician, a sorcerer weaving a spell with nothing but the power of my body and the beat.

=====

Takeshi and Yumi stood at the back of the studio, their eyes fixed on the stage.

Yumi leaned in, her voice barely audible over the music. "They're killing it," she said, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

Takeshi nodded, his gaze never leaving the stage. He'd seen countless debuts, watched dozens of groups fight for their place in the spotlight. But this... this was different.

The crowd was fully engaged, their cheers and chants nearly drowning out the music.

He was already calculating X-Factor's future trajectory. With a debut like this, the possibilities were endless. Tours, endorsements, chart-topping albums... it was all within reach.

But then, Akira stepped forward, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

His movements were fluid, graceful, his body perfectly attuned to the rhythm. And then, in a move that defied belief, he glided across the stage.

Takeshi's breath caught in his throat. In all his years in the industry, he'd never seen anything like it. It was as if Akira was manipulating gravity itself, his feet skimming the surface in a way that seemed utterly impossible.

Beside him, Yumi let out a low whistle. "Did you see that?" she breathed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Takeshi could only nod, his gaze transfixed by Akira's otherworldly performance.

And then, Akira began to truly sing.

His voice was a revelation, a supernova bursting to life on the stage. It soared above the music, above the roar of the crowd, piercing straight to the heart of everyone in the room.

Takeshi felt a shiver run down his spine. This… this was more than a successful debut. It was the birth of a legend, the dawn of a new era in the idol world.

And at the center of it all was Akira, shining brighter than any star in the sky.

Takeshi felt a smile tug at his lips, a rare show of unguarded emotion. For once, he didn't bother to hide it.

Let the world see. Let them bear witness to the rise of X-Factor, to the ascent of Akira Ueno.

Because after tonight? Nothing would ever be the same.

=====

[Ai POV]

I huddled around my phone in the car with Ruby and Aqua, my heart in my throat as we waited for X-Factor's performance to start. We were on a break from rehearsals, the hustle and bustle of the movie set fading into the background as the screen flickered to life.

Ruby bounced on her toes, her excitement palpable. "It's starting, it's starting!" she squealed, her eyes glued to the screen.

Aqua, in contrast, was still and focused, his gaze intense as he watched the camera pan over the stage.

As the music started and X-Factor launched into their performance, I felt my own nerves melt away, replaced by a swell of pride. The choreography was sharp, their movements perfectly synchronized. But it was their energy, the raw passion they poured into every note, that truly took my breath away.

Ruby gasped as Kenji and Akira's voices intertwined, their harmony sending shivers down my spine. "Wow," she breathed.

Aqua nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. It was a rare show of unguarded emotion from my usually stoic son, and it spoke volumes about the impact of the performance.

And then, Akira did something that made my heart stop.

A perfect, fluid glide across the stage that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Ruby nearly dropped the phone in her excitement. "Did you see that?" she cried, turning to me with a look of pure amazement.

Even Aqua couldn't contain his reaction. His eyebrows shot up, his mouth falling open slightly. "Impressive," he murmured, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration.

I could only nod, tears springing to my eyes. Seeing Akira up there, living his dream... it was overwhelming in the best possible way.

As the performance built to its climax, Ruby was practically vibrating with a grin so wide it looked like it might split her face. Aqua leaned forward, his focus never wavering from the screen.

The final notes faded away, and the camera panned over the audience. Their faces were alight with joy, with awe, with the kind of adoration reserved only for true idols.

And Akira... my Akira... he stood at the center of it all. Sweat-drenched, chest heaving, but with a smile that could outshine the sun.

I clutched the phone to my chest, my heart so full it felt like it might burst.

He's definitely getting something tonight.

=====

[Akira POV]

I locked eyes with Kenji, a silent signal passing between us. This was it. The last explosive dance sequence, the moment to leave it all on the stage.

We moved as one, our bodies perfectly synchronized. The steps I had practiced until they were seared into my muscle memory, until they were as natural as breathing.

And then, as the final notes rang out, the crowd erupted.

It was a roar unlike anything I had ever heard, a wall of sound that threatened to knock me off my feet. They were on their feet, every single one of them, their applause a thunderous cacophony.

My heart was pounding, my chest heaving as I took it all in. The sea of faces, the shining eyes, the hands reaching out as if to touch the moment.

We had done it. We had proved ourselves, had shown the world what X-Factor was made of.

Gratitude swelled in my chest, so powerful it brought tears to my eyes.

For this chance, this dream come true.

We had given our all, had poured our hearts and souls onto that stage.

And oh, how they had responded.

With a final bow, we exited the stage, the cheers of the crowd following us like a parting gift.

Backstage was a blur of tears and laughter, of hugs so tight they nearly cracked ribs. We clung to each other, the adrenaline still coursing through our veins, the magnitude of what we had just achieved slowly sinking in.

"We did it," Haruto kept repeating, his voice hoarse with emotion. "We really did it."

Daisuke was crying openly, his smile so wide it looked like it might split his face. Even Kenji, usually so stoic, had tears in his eyes, his pride in our performance written across his features.

And Satoru... Satoru was practically vibrating with excitement, his face a picture of pure, unadulterated joy.

The congratulations poured in - from the staff, from industry insiders, from Takeshi and Yumi who wore matching grins of satisfaction.

"You boys," Yumi said, shaking her head in wonder. "You really are something special."

Takeshi nodded, his eyes glinting with promise. "This is just the beginning for X-Factor. Wait and see."

The buzz in the air was palpable, the excitement infectious. X-Factor was back, and if tonight's performance was any indication, they were here to stay.

As I stood there, surrounded by the people who had become my family, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.

This was just the first step, I knew. There would be more challenges ahead, more obstacles to overcome.

But in that moment, basking in the glow of our triumph, I felt invincible.

Later, in the quiet of my dressing room, I called Ai.

"You were incredible," she gushed. "I am so, so proud of you."

We made plans to celebrate, to revel in this moment of victory. But even as we spoke of the future, my mind was drawn to the present.

To the bond I shared with my members, a bond that had been tested and proven.

To the love of the fans, the support that had carried us through our darkest times.

To the music that flowed through my veins, the passion that drove me forward.

X-Factor was more than just a group. It was a dream, a legacy.

And as I looked ahead, to the next stages and the next challenges, I felt a fire ignite in my chest.

We were ready. Ready to take on the world, to leave our mark.

Because X-Factor?

We were here to stay.

And we were just getting started.

End of Volume 2