The man in the black suit went silent.
For a moment—
It was as if the entire arena held its breath.
The crowd that had been churning with noise a moment ago settled into something expectant—not quiet exactly, but pulled inward, like a wave drawing back before it breaks. The announcer stood at the center of the stage and let the silence do its work. He had done this long enough to know that what came after a pause landed harder than what came after noise.
Then suddenly—
He straightened.
His grip tightened around the microphone.
His eyes sharpened once more—not performing intensity, carrying it. The kind of look that belonged to someone who understood that what was about to happen mattered and wanted the crowd to feel that understanding move through them before the words arrived.
"Now…"
The single word echoed across the arena.
