Sometimes, when she looks out at the audience, all she sees is blue.

—

Umi gets embarrassed about it. She says she doesn't understand why people would choose her color over anyone else's.

"It's because you're so popular!" Kotori insists.

Umi shrugs. She's dismissive and modest, unwilling to believe that she could have her own fanbase, that there are people who could possibly prefer her over optimistic, excitable Honoka or adorably charming Kotori.

"There isn't much about me to like," Umi states, and it isn't meant to be degrading or insulting to herself. She speaks honestly, and there's nothing more to it.

Kotori disagrees.

To her, there's always been so much about Umi to love, and when they're together on stage, when she can see the energy and delight on Umi's face as they sing and dance and strive as performers to bring the best possible happiness to their fans, Kotori thinks that there's no one else in the world she would rather be watching.

Umi has a presence, a charm she doesn't even realize is there but she can utilize effortlessly. Her movements are fluid and her actions are graceful. Her voice is strong and clear as it projects throughout the stadium. She is poised and reserved, yet just playful enough to satisfy and goad the crowd.

Umi talks about stage fright, but seeing her up there, encouraging the audience during music interludes and joking with the other members between performances, Kotori doubts that anyone would believe it. Umi is a natural entertainer. She's a natural at everything.

—

The song draws to a close and the lights begin to dim. Her arms and legs are burning and she can barely swallow, she's so thirsty. The concert hall is too hot. Too dark. She can't see anything. The others are around her, gulping down air, holding their poses for as long as they can, waiting for the cheering to die down so they can stand up and smile and laugh about fun it was and how tired they are.

A glimmer of white appears. Her color. The star-like glowsticks are scattered about the black mass of people watching them. She spots others too - orange and red and pink and yellow, small dots waving around as the guests support their favorite idols.

But the stars look alone. No matter how many of them there are, it isn't enough.

All of them are swallowed in the sea of blue light.

Kotori turns her head, just slightly, and finds Umi, the center for the song, standing tall and strong and looking so incredibly dignified, so incredibly beautiful, even with the sweat dripping down her face and the hair strands sticking to her neck and the ragged breaths she takes as she struggles to compose herself, and Kotori realizes she can't look away.

—

Every time she sees that sight, she falls for her friend just a little bit harder.