Chapter 368 (2/2)

In his core, Stan felt extremely strange. After the sick feeling and melancholy passed… there was just a strange, shivering sensation, almost as if his arm had fallen asleep, and now it was slowly reviving. His chest tingled, feeling rushing back into it after so long of it being numb. It was… a joyous occasion…? Stan couldn’t tell.

“How long am I performing?” Raina asked, folding her legs underneath her carefully to sit next to the Ghosthound without damaging her dress.

‘You know the answer to that,’ Stan wanted to say, but instead he said nothing, because he knew there was no point. The vibrations had shifted from prickles to tremors, his chest twitching, his heart thumping painfully.

“Not a big deal. Just finish with the song that you sang the first time I saw you,” The Ghosthound said. “That will be a signal that I recognize. Then we will come up for the press release. Afterwards, if the audience isn’t bored to tears, feel free to sing some more.”

In a very indelicate way, Raina snorted and rolled her eyes. Then her expression became serious. “But… thank you. This is nice, to have this opportunity.”

‘She’s lying,’ Stan wanted to say, his chest cracking and erupting, strange, deep things moving there. But there was no point in him saying it, was there. His mouth twisted bitterly. She would look at guys like this, at guys like Tykes, and he… well, he would always be the simple manager. That was his role. It was a role that he was satisfied in. His connection, his understanding of her-

“Easy, you don’t have to fake it. This is hard for you. But thanks for doing it anyway.” The Ghosthound said, setting the plate down.

Both Raina and Stan froze. Stan began to panic as he couldn’t tell why she froze. The dampening from the Ghosthound… The rumbling was growing worse, and more painful…

“I-” Raina began, but the Ghosthound waved her off.

“I should be thanking you. I didn’t build this, even though everyone thinks I did… The people that were here, living, built Donnyton. Like you. Celebrate that. The peace here… you accomplished that.”

Then the Ghosthound stood and left, taking the numbness with him. Towards the end, Stan was about to explode, unable to truly understand what to feel about the fact that his connection with Raina wasn’t one of a kind. That this man could look at her and understand her too. This great man-

But then Raina’s emotions rushed back in, cool and cloying at first, but then sweet and warm. Happiness, surprise, a low longing, a begrudging admiration, relief…

Stan sighed with relief.

****

“Thank you for your time and attention everyone!” Raina shouted, smiling brightly, even though she was clearly covered in sweat.

Randidly rolled his eyes. He shouldn’t have said sing as long as she wanted. The girl had gone for almost an hour and a half. At this point, due to the dancing and singing components, even a System enhanced individual would have a hard time keeping their breath. But the crowd didn’t see that. They only saw the sparkle.

“And now… we have something special. Donnyton’s leaders want to announce a few things for you all. But first… what we’ve all been waiting for… the most adorable person in Donnyton… what is her name! Let’s hear it for Annie and Dozer!”

The cheers were loud, but much more low and masculine, as it seemed Dozer’s Squad had come in force. Again, Randidly could only roll his eyes. Annie and Dozer walked out onto the stage, Dozer fully 3 times the size of Raina, a hulking mass of meat and muscle.

Very perfunctorily, Annie walked up and took the mic from Raina, and then tapped it three times to make sure it was on. Then, she said, “I do not approve of this being such a big deal. But she is the first baby in Donnyton, so… well, her name is Delilah. Please stay away from my child.”

Then she handed the mic back while the crowd laughed, and began whispering excitedly, the name Delilah on their lips. Again, Randidly rolled his eyes. They took it as a joke, but Randidly knew that Annie was actually threatening these people. Hopefully no one got too excited to see the first baby of the Village.

“And now, let’s bring to the stage the Counsel of Donnyton!”