Chapter 47: Crowd Control

Starlight felt a very strong urge to elbow her self-proclaimed manager directly in the mouth. Did it look to her like she was in the mood to smile and wave? The student who had called her name first shuffled closer with an excited smile, stopping a few steps away as she lifted her phone.

"Starlight, can I get a picture with you... please?" she asked, barely containing her excitement.

Before Starlight could answer, several more students began approaching from different directions. Some asked for pictures, others wanted to know if she would sign something, while a few simply tried to get closer for a better look. The crowd thickened around her so quickly that Starlight barely had time to process what was happening.

"Okay, girls, this is our time to move," Elle said to her roommates, immediately stepping forward. Chloe and Ariel moved with her, positioning themselves in front of Starlight and creating a barrier between her and the approaching students. "That’s enough," Elle called firmly to the crowd, lifting a hand as the three girls held their ground with serious expressions. "Everyone, move back. You’re crowding her."

"We just want to take a picture with her!" one of the students near the front pleaded, holding up her camera. "We haven’t seen her since the first day she arrived at the academy. We’re her fans... Dawnbreakers. We just want a photo. It’s not like we’re trying to hurt her."

"Yes, exactly!" another student agreed immediately, clutching a notebook to her chest. "I don’t even mind if she just signs my book!" She eagerly thrust the notebook forward.

"She can sign my hand!" a third voice yelled from the back, waving a raised hand in the air.

Elle immediately raised a placating hand to keep the surging crowd at bay. "Calm down, everybody, please calm down!" she announced, her voice projecting like a veteran event host. "We completely understand how you’re all feeling right now, and we really appreciate all the love and support you’ve been showing Starlight, especially during her time of need. Trust me, she really appreciates every bit of it."

Surprisingly, the crowd quieted enough to listen.

"That’s exactly why she’s already planning something special for her Dawnbreakers," Elle continued smoothly. "Starlight is going to arrange an exclusive fan meeting for those who have been part of her support system during these trying times and spend quality time with all of you. You’ll be able to take as many pictures as you want with her and get as many autographs as you please!"

Starlight stared at the back of Elle’s head, completely bewildered. Even Ariel and Chloe exchanged stunned glances, both looking at Elle with absolute disbelief. Neither of them could understand how the girl managed to spin an entire public-relations pitch out of nowhere without batting an eye.

"But for now," Elle continued without missing a beat, "Starlight just wants to go to the dining hall, eat breakfast, and head to her first lecture, just like the rest of you. You don’t want her to be late on her very first day of classes because of this, right?"

"She’s right, guys. Let’s make way for our Queen Star!" one of the Dawnbreakers called out, stepping forward to push the eager students back. "Make way for her! Can’t you see you’re scaring her? Give her some space, will you?"

The students immediately began stepping aside and making room, while several Dawnbreakers started helping clear a path.

"Let’s go," Elle urged, grabbing Starlight by the arm and pulling her toward the elevator.

The four girls hurried through the opening the students had created. A handful of persistent students immediately rushed after them to the elevator bank and tried to squeeze inside with them, but the Dawnbreakers who had taken over crowd control held them back, blocking the elevator entrance as soon as Starlight and her roommates stepped through.

"Th-thank you," Starlight managed awkwardly, directing the words toward one of the larger girls who was using her body to hold back the crowd.

The girl beamed and nodded as the elevator doors slid closed. A collective of four exhale filled the cramped space, as though everyone had been holding their breath the entire time.

"That was intense," Ariel muttered, rubbing the back of her neck as she leaned against the elevator wall.

Chloe turned to Elle, still looking impressed. "You actually handled that really well."

"Of course I did." Elle tossed her hair dramatically. "I’m not Starlight’s manager for nothing."

"It probably wouldn’t have been that easy without the help of some of the Dawnbreakers," Ariel pointed out. "And since when did Starlight agree to a fan meeting?"

"We can arrange that later!" Elle waved off the concern with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "It’s never too late to set one up. It’s not like I gave them a specific date or time."

Ariel stared at her for a long moment.

"Seriously, Elle, you need to warn us whenever you’re about to start making up plans on Starlight’s behalf," she said. "One of these days you’re going to promise the entire academy something and we’ll only find out about it when it’s already happening."

"Just because I made you two assistant managers doesn’t mean you need to question every decision I make," Elle said with a huff. "You need to trust the real manager more."

"Hah!" Ariel barked out a laugh. "One of these days, I’m actually going to strangle you, Elle."

Elle immediately clutched her chest and staggered backward as though she had been mortally wounded. "Is this the kind of abuse I have to endure for doing my job?" she cried and pointed accusingly at Ariel. "Chloe, Starlight, you both heard that, right? She’s threatening me in broad daylight."

"You need a bit of threat to function well," Ariel shot back without a hint of sympathy.

Chloe simply shook her head before her gaze drifted toward Starlight. The red-haired girl was leaning quietly against the back wall of the elevator, looking noticeably more unsettled than she was trying to let on.

"Are you alright, Starlight?" Chloe asked, concern slipping into her voice.

Elle immediately turned as well, the exaggerated theatrics vanishing from her face the moment her eyes landed on Starlight. "Hey, are you okay?"