Chapter 24: Vacation
The private dressing room behind Madison Square Garden shut out the roaring crowd outside.
Uta took off the huge headphones hanging around her neck and casually tossed them on the dressing table piled with flowers and greeting cards, then sank into the soft sofa.
The radiant world-class diva who'd stood onstage moments ago was gone. In her place sat a girl whose face showed unmistakable exhaustion.
She closed her eyes. The countless ecstatic faces from the concert still flickered through her mind — the joy, the devotion, the euphoria.
The intense passion of the fans deeply satisfied her, but also left her feeling a little empty.
The dressing room door burst open with a loud bang.
A blond woman in a sharp business suit rushed in on clicking heels, wearing a polished yet genuinely excited smile.
"My superstar, my darling, your performance tonight was nothing short of a miracle!"
Sophia Miller, Uta's manager, swept her into a big hug, enveloping Uta in expensive perfume.
"I just checked the early analytics. The livestream numbers shattered records again! Wall Street is buzzing about your commercial value!"
Her words came rapid-fire. As she spoke, she snatched a tablet from her assistant and flipped through chart after chart.
"European tour requests have already filled our schedule until next summer. Paris, London, Berlin… they're practically fighting over you! So where do we go next? How about Los Angeles? Hollywood has reserved the best dates for us!"
"Sophia."
Uta didn't open her eyes. Her voice carried the faint rasp of someone who had sung nonstop for hours.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I want to stay in New York for a while."
Sophia froze mid-sentence. Her smile stiffened.
"Stay in New York? Why? The promotional cycle here is already over. We should strike while the iron is hot and start the next—"
"I haven't explored the city yet. This is my first time here."
Uta finally opened her mismatched eyes and met her manager's gaze with calm certainty.
"I want a break."
The moment Sophia saw her expression — quiet but unyielding — every business plan she had lined up instantly dissolved.
She knew exactly who she was dealing with. This girl wasn't just a star. She was the company's golden goose, the one asset the board demanded be protected at all costs. Their standing order was absolute: Uta's wishes override everything.
"Of course! Absolutely!"
Sophia snapped back into cheerful mode and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Rest is essential. You've been pushing yourself so hard. It's good to take time off. New York has plenty to enjoy — Fifth Avenue boutiques, the Met, the Statue of Liberty. Should I arrange a guide? Or maybe a private party?"
"No need. I'll explore on my own." Uta shook her head lightly.
"Alright, alright, whatever you prefer." Sophia nodded quickly, then suddenly grew serious.
"But sweetheart, you need to promise me something. New York can get sketchy at night. There are always weirdos in those alleys. The local news just reported two naked lunatics running through the streets not long ago. So you must be careful."
"If you go out, you take bodyguards. At least two. I don't want anything to happen to my precious baby."
"Got it," Uta replied offhandedly.
Sophia fussed over a few more security details, repeating them until she convinced herself Uta had actually listened. Only then did she stand with a satisfied nod.
"Rest well. Your room is ready — the presidential suite on the top floor of the Plaza. If anything comes up, call me anytime. I'll have my phone on 24/7."
She blew Uta a kiss before sweeping out with her assistant, her brisk instructions echoing down the hallway.
Silence returned to the room.
The fatigue in Uta's face slowly faded. What replaced it was a deeper, sharper calm that didn't belong to a girl her age.
She lifted a hand and drew a small motion in the air.
A blue screen materialized soundlessly, visible only to her.
[Neutral Faction Player: Uta]
[Current Total Reputation Points: 1,000,000]
One million.
It was the result of six full months and ten world-tour concerts.
According to the system's evaluation, each successful performance that moved tens of thousands of people granted her one hundred thousand reputation points. It was the most stable and efficient method she had discovered so far.
Using her voice to bring joy to the world and receiving power as a reward.
It felt fair, and it aligned with her ideals.
But she knew it was still far too slow.
Uta's gaze drifted from the number. Her mind replayed the sight she caught during the concert: in the ocean of frenzy and excitement, there had been one girl who stayed perfectly clear-headed. A brown-haired teenager with a soft green shield emblem glowing over her head.
[Guardian Faction Player: Misaka Mikoto]
A player from the Guardian Faction.
Uta had been in this world for over six months and had never encountered another player. She once believed she was the only anomaly here.
"Guardian…" Uta tapped a finger lightly on the armrest, a faint, curious smile rising on her lips.
The system's notes explained that Guardian players devoted themselves to preserving stability and protecting life.
That meant they would be drawn into the major events of this world, either willingly or not.
And events meant large amounts of reputation.
Far more than what she could earn through concerts.
Staying in New York for a vacation was only an excuse. Her real goal was to see what surprises this "Guardian girl" might bring her.
Uta's thoughts flickered and the system display shifted to the list she checked countless times every day: Bond Summon.
She directly ignored the unfamiliar names at the top of the list, and skillfully scrolled down until two names that made her heart skip a beat appeared before her eyes.
[Red-Haired Shanks — Required Reputation: 15,000,000]
[Monkey D. Luffy — Required Reputation: 10,000,000]
Fifteen million.
Ten million.
Two astronomical numbers. They stood before her like mountains she had no way of crossing, weighing heavily on her chest.
Her eyes lingered on Shanks' familiar portrait. In her mind surfaced his warm, carefree grin and the distant silhouette of the Red Force sailing away.
She remembered crying and shouting at his back, declaring she would use her songs to create a new era of happiness. One he would be proud of.
And Luffy.
The cheerful idiot with a straw hat who always laughed while saying he would be Pirate King.
They raced together.
Got into trouble together.
Made promises to the sea together.
She missed them.
And she wanted to ask Shanks why he abandoned her.
One million reputation was not even a tenth of what she needed to summon Shanks.
If she relied on concerts alone, how long would it take?
Five years? Ten?
She couldn't wait that long.
This world was filled with pain, grief and conflict. She had seen more than enough through its news and social feeds.
To create the new era she dreamed of, she needed strength.
Real strength.
And she needed it fast.
Uta closed the system window. The room dimmed as the blue glow faded.
She stood and walked to the tall glass window.
Outside lay New York's brilliant nightscape. Towers pierced the sky and the river of lights flowed endlessly through the streets. The city looked like a steel beast crouching in the dark, vibrant yet dangerous.
To others, it was the world's financial center, a city of dreams.
But in Uta's eyes, this was a huge hunting ground full of "events" and "opportunities."
And that guardian named Misaka Mikoto was the best guide she had found in this hunting ground.
"Misaka Mikoto…" Uta murmured the name, her red and blue eyes reflecting the lights of the city like twin jewels sharpened by predatory intent.
"Show me what kind of fun you can bring me."