On a wide beach.
The afterglow of the setting sun had completely disappeared.
It was replaced by the orange glow of a bonfire and the sizzling sound of a massive roast being cooked over the flames.
On one side of the bonfire, the Den Den Mushi's gaze finally shifted from Brook to Uta, who stood frozen in place.
Facing such a scene for the first time, even Uta, who had aspired to be a world-famous singer since childhood, felt a trace of nervousness at this moment.
Under the encouraging gazes of Kouta, Brook, and Kuina around her, she bravely reached out and greeted the audience behind the Den Den Mushi.
"Hi everyone, my name is Uta, and I'm a singer. I hope to bring peace and joy to the world with my voice."
"Go away, go away, go away, we want to see Mr. Brook."
"Mr. Brook, where are you? Why aren't you coming out yet?"
Clearly, the fans were not buying it. They weren't afraid of Uta being able to reach them through the screen.
Of course, this was only a small minority. Most of them were adopting a "let's just listen and see" attitude.
The fans' displeasure clearly flustered Uta. She looked at the lake projected onto the side of the Free Bird, a blush of excitement flashing across her face.
"You can do it~"
Brook looked up and silently cheered for Uta.
Tilting her head and giving Brook a slight smile, Uta quickly adjusted her demeanor.
She knew how rare this opportunity was. After all, even if she learned about Den Den Mushi live broadcasts later and had the chance to stream, she wouldn't have so many viewers from the start.
"Hoo~"
Taking a deep breath.
Uta nodded at Kouta, who stood by the piano, and then slowly sat in the position Kouta had just occupied.
At this moment, history took a turn.
Kouta had no idea what kind of flowers would bloom and what fruits would be borne from the decision he and Brook made on a whim.
But no matter what the future held, at least at this moment, they witnessed the beginning of a great diva's rise.
Under the gradually darkening night sky.
As the piano music began, various colorful light clusters, only seen in dreams, gradually appeared around the area.
These light clusters revolved around the area, like little music sprites, dancing to the keys played by the girl's hands.
Gazing at the colorful light clusters surrounding them, everyone fell silent, holding their breath, waiting for the moment the girl would begin to sing.
Raising her head, her fingers flew across the keys. Her gaze seemed to transcend time, falling upon the era she was singing for.
As she opened her mouth, she sang the song she had composed for the era she longed for.
"The new era is the future before our eyes."
"If we can change everything in the world."
"If we can change."
"Obstacles, things we hate, swept away."
"Together with this world."
"Let's transform."
"..."
The girl's singing possessed a distinct personal style, an astonishing brilliance that caught people's attention, a deep inner joy, and a yearning and hope for a new era.
Therefore, from the very first line the girl sang, those who had opposed her on the screen were silenced and quickly changed their attitudes. Their eyes were filled with excitement as they stared at the gray-clad girl surrounded by materialized musical notes.
At this moment, people felt as if they could see through the Den Den Mushi's eyes that the grayness on the girl's body was no longer gray, but had turned white, and that white wings had grown behind her.
This was not a diva; this was an angel, an angel bringing them hope.
The song ended.
Uta exhaled and looked up, meeting Brook's visibly excited gaze (although his eye sockets were completely black, being a skeleton).
"How was it, Mr. Brook?"
"Good, good, good, it was truly wonderful, Miss Uta. You are now my idol."
Brook spun around excitedly and then applauded loudly.
The clapping startled Ah Hua and the others. Their gazes towards Uta were now filled with evident excitement, and they, like Brook, began to clap.
Then, more applause came.
It came from the Den Den Mushi.
It came from the hands of countless excited fans in the projected image.
Watching all this, Uta's eyes were no longer filled with apprehension but with clear confidence. The calm curve of her lips truly lifted at this moment.
"Is this what it feels like to be liked by everyone?"
"It's not the same as being on the Red-Haired Pirates, but it's not bad either, it's quite enjoyable!"
Uta smiled and affirmed herself inwardly.
At this moment, she seemed to have found her life's goal. The grayness in her eyes vanished, and her clear black and white pupils were like the full moon hanging by the sea, just rising, bright, clear, and full of confidence.
"Oh, right," as if remembering something, Brook leaned his head close to the Den Den Mushi and asked loudly, "Miss Uta, you haven't told us the name of this song yet!"
"The name?" Uta looked up at the camera and smiled brightly, "New Era. I hope our future era will be a new era where everyone can live together in peace."
"Indeed! Just like Miss Uta's ideals, I can truly hear that yearning in the song. By the way,"
Having said that, Brook leaned in front of the Den Den Mushi, his afro completely blocking the camera. If he wasn't wearing sunglasses, his skeletal appearance would surely have terrified the countless viewers behind the screen.
"By the way, do you all yearn for the new world of Miss Uta's ideals?"
"We yearn for it, we yearn for it, we yearn for it."
"But Mr. Brook, could you please move aside? We want to see Miss Uta."
"Uh..."
The audience's words turned Brook into stone, and he stood frozen in front of the camera.
Then, as if heartbroken, he lowered his head and grumbled, "How can you all do this? You called me 'sweetie' before, and now that you have a new idol, you're already discarding me."
"Get lost, don't be disgusting, hahahaha!!"
Brook's antics filled the live stream with laughter.
"Alright, enough joking. Now, please enjoy the extreme rock music I'll be performing for you."
"Yohohohohoho!!"
...
"How was it? Do you like this style?"
"Yes, I love it so much."
Beside the piano, Kouta leaned against the piano stand with his back, raised his wine gourd, took a large gulp, and then turned to the girl sitting in front of the piano, still visibly excited, and said:
"I don't know when your ideal began, but music can indeed bring joy and hope to countless people. It's a very interesting spiritual energy that can bridge the gap that people find difficult to cross... at least in terms of spiritual equality."