【Oshikatsu ELECTRA】 I went to the once-a-year festival

Since yesterday was the once-a-year festival, I decided to meet up with two friends on-site and spend the day together. The team's festival is quite famous, and I had been curious about it even before I moved to Tokyo.
They got the tickets for me, and I received them via LINE. Then, I received a gift and opened it. Since all three of us got completely different players, I thought that was fine too.

We walked in the heat, received samples and limited-edition trading cards, and checked things out while looking at the whole venue. We received a map and headed to our assigned seats. It was in the upper section, where I rarely go, and it was right in the middle of the stage.
“Thanks for getting the tickets.”
I said that as I sat in my seat.
“The view is great, isn't it?” we said, as we welcomed the opening ceremony.

I could see my favorite player, but I muttered to myself, “They’re doing something again.” I can guess what they’re like because they’re the type who would do their own thing during a school assembly instead of listening to the speaker.
(What are you doing, seriously?)
Just as I was thinking that, the opening ceremony ended.

After the opening ceremony, a stage event was held. I heard my friend's favorite player would be appearing, so I decided to watch it.
Usually, I would wander off, but this year was special. Perhaps the desire to see my favorite player won out, so I went with that.
When the stage event ended, we headed toward the large track. The track, which is rarely open, was open only for this day.
“Player so-and-so is over there.”
“There are so many people.”
“Let's go over here.”
We walked around in circles while having that kind of conversation.
“Can I take a look at this for a second?”
I said that because my favorite player was there. But it was crowded, so I only caught a glimpse.
I felt a little flutter in my heart, but that was for another reason.
As I was walking around aimlessly, I got a trading card.
When I said I was hungry and ordered cold ramen, my friend's favorite player was there.
I felt like I was experiencing a happy moment.

“What time was the stage live show again?”
There was a paper, but I checked the time on my smartphone.
“6:20 PM?”
“Should we head back?”
“Yeah.”
We said that as we returned to our seats in the upper section. Then, we waited for it to start.
The stage live show was as exciting as every year. The players sang songs they rarely perform and danced.
The rookie players did a great job and performed this song.

This is what the young players sang.

Besides this, this is what the players sang and danced to.

Anyway, I had a great time.
It went by so fast that I wondered why the aftermath of a festival feels so lonely.

We talked about this and that while heading to the station.
We got on the train and said goodbye along the way.
The words that came out were, “That was fun,” and “It went by so fast.”
It was so much fun that I wished tomorrow would never come.

It was hot outside, well over 35 degrees. Though, a breeze had started to blow a little.
When I got home, I sent a LINE message after my shower.
“Thanks for today. It was fun.”

I got a reply from my friend: “By the way, were you able to see your favorite player?”
I replied, “It was crowded, but I caught a glimpse, so that’s enough for me.”
I can talk to them slowly during fan service after practice, so just seeing them today was enough.
I thought that was fine.

—I thought that, once in a while, that’s not bad either.