From the back of the stage, Kenji saw the "Wotagei" beginning in the crowd. This was the organized cheering, a choreographed dance of glow sticks ( cyalumes ) performed by the fans. It wasn't just cheering; it was a ritual. It was Omoiyari —the empathy to support the idol wholeheartedly. The fans didn't just listen; they participated. In exchange for this devotion, the industry demanded an unspoken contract: the idol must remain an ideal. They could not age, they could not date, and they certainly could not be human.