Silence like a breath held.
Then Seiya's voice cut through the hall like a starting gun:
"Alright, everyone, let's begin Round One."
He turned to a table to the side, where three judges sat in shadow with iPads ready.
"In this round, our performers have prepared solo performances to showcase their skills. Each judge will offer a score and feedback based on technique, music choice, choreography, and overall performance."
He made direct eye contact with Raito and Tsukki.
"Ready?"
"RAAAAAAITO~!"
Raito stiffened like not now, please no—
A woman in the audience had stood up, waving enthusiastically and grinning like an overenthusiastic cheerleader.
Raito groaned.
This was the one part of being a rookie idol he hated:
The embarrassing relatives in the crowd who thought they could cheer louder than everyone else.
Raito's mom continued cheering:
"MY BABY'S ON STAGE! LOOKS SO CUTE!"
Raito turned to Tsukki with a look that screamed "kill me now."
Tsukki didn't move — face still blank as marble.
But his eyes?
They flickered toward the ceiling, then the exit sign...then back at Raito.
> *"We could fake an injury. Run away through maintenance tunnel 3."*
Raito almost snorted—*almost* ruined their cool entrance.
Instead, he waved extra hard at his mom like she was royalty, grinning so wide it hurt:
> "Hi, Mom! Love you! Please be quiet now!"
The audience *aww'd*. Some laughed.
Even Seiya smirked into the mic:
> "Seems we have... passionate family support tonight."
Polar Opposites gave him the look
"Pleading eyes detected," Seiya said with a small, almost fatherly smirk.
He raised the mic again—merciful.
> "Alright, alright... let's give our idols a moment to *breathe* before they take the stage."
>
> A beat.
>
> "...Round One will begin in five minutes. Use that time wisely."
Raito exhaled like he'd survived a hurricane.
Tsukki didn't move—but his shoulders dropped just slightly.
They turned toward backstage—
but not before Raito leaned in and whispered:
> "We're adding 'escape from family' to our choreography next time."
Tsukki gave one tiny nod:
#### "...Make it the finale."
The other idols were getting ready backstage.
ALKALOID was practicing last-minute high-fives in the green room.
Knights were huddled around a tablet playing "rock paper scissors" to decide a dance move order.
Ra*bits were bouncing around together like excited puppies.
Then—
the door burst open,
and Raito and Tsukki stumbled inside,
panting like they'd run a marathon.
They collapsed dramatically against the wall, gasping for air.
Nearby, Arashi glanced up and raised an eyebrow —
but his lips twitched like he was amused.
Nazuna was openly laughing, hands on his hips.
And Hiiro looked like he wanted to ask if they were okay, but Aira whispered something—probably a joke—that made him bite back a grin.
"What happened?" asked Tomoya from Ra*bits.
Raito looked up, eyes wide with fake trauma:
"My mom's here...and she *knows how to yell.*"
Tsukki just gave one slow nod:
> "Public execution by embarrassment."
"Oooh, that's rough..."
Mitsuru gave them a sympathetic look, while Tomoya nodded sadly.
Arashi laughed and leaned back, crossing his arms.
"Could be worse. You could have *my* mom. She's a professional stage parent."
For a few seconds, everyone stared at them.
Then the room burst into wild laughter,
as Knights clapped them on the back like they were survivors,
Ra*bits offered them cookies,
and ALKALOID patted their shoulders sympathetically like they were comforting war refugees.
From the VIP seats, the crowd of idols watched—
**Ibara's glasses flashed under the lights as he sipped tea, expression unreadable.**
Beside him, **Nagisa whispered**, *"They're going to make it impossible not to watch."*
**HiMERU simply typed two words into his tablet:** _"Emotional damage. Approved."_
At another table, **Koga smirked**, kicking his feet up on an empty chair.
> "Look at that—first real performance and they're already collapsing from parental trauma."
Rei from UNDEAD narrowed his eyes.
> "They have chemistry... too raw for rookies."
Meanwhile — **Subaru Akehoshi of Trickstar leaned forward with a grin.**
> "Hokuto's dad's hosting *and* Raito's mom is loud? This event just became legendary."
Beside him, Hokuto sighed but didn't hide his small smile.
On stage right — where MaM sat silently observing — Madara suddenly stood up:
> "Raito! Tsukki! I believe in youuuu~!"
His dramatic yell echoed through half the hall.
Esu from *Special for Princess!* screamed back:
> "WE BELIEVE IN YOU TOO!!!"
And like dominoes falling—
everyone started cheering,
not just COSMIC PRODUCTION,
but RYUSEITAI clapping wildly,
Trickstar whooping,
AKATSUKI giving a single sharp nod of respect—
even Shu Itsuki looked... almost moved?
In backstage darkness—
Raito heard it all.
He turned to Tsukki with tears in his eyes (happy ones this time):
> "...We've got an army."
Tsukki closed his eyes.
Then softly—
for only Raito to hear:
#### "...Yeah. We really do."
🎤🔥🌕☀️
The stage was massive, lights bathing everything from floor to rigging in white and silver. The applause was a roar, an earthquake, like thousands of stars themselves.
**At center stage, Hiiro turned — and smiled.**
The applause got louder.
Hiiro took a breath.
The applause got *louder*.
He opened his arms.
> "Are you ready?"
The applause *roared* like a chorus of fire.
In the wings, Aira and Tatsumi high-fived:
> Aira: "Here we go!"
Tatsumi: "You got this."
They gave Hiiro one last thumbs-up. He nodded back.
Inhaling...
Hiiro started to sing.
The opening note sliced through the air—clean, powerful, *commanding*.
Hiiro's voice wasn't just trained.
It was **alive**—like a blade of light cutting through shadow.
The stage responded instantly:
Lights pulsed like a heartbeat.
Smoke curled into silver wings behind him as he stepped forward, eyes closed at first—as if pulling sound from somewhere deep inside—
> _"I was born in silence... but I won't die unheard."_
The crowd gasped.
Even backstage,
Knights stopped their joking,
Ra*bits froze mid-snack,
and Polar Opposites turned—eyes wide—to watch in real time as ALKALOID claimed the stage not with flash...
but with *soul*.
🎵🔥🕊️
The crowd was silent *enraptured—*mesmerized by this *raw* performance.
A slow melody built under Hiiro: a heartbeat. A promise. And then Tatsumi came in—his bass a low, echoing beat.
At the same time, Tatsumi glanced at the wing,
Where his partners were watching from backstage:
Aira was bouncing on his toes, fists clenched in excitement like an excited kid.
Mayoi was clapping along from the dark.
For a brief second
Tatsumi forgot his stage persona:
He smiled.
Raito, Tsukki, and the rest of the backstage group watched in awe as ALKALOID moved in perfect sync—each step precise, each note layered with emotion.
But up in the VIP seats,
**Rinne Amagi** didn't clap.
He just sat—back straight, fingers folded under his chin—
eyes locked on Hiiro.
And when Hiiro hit that high note—pure and piercing, like moonlight breaking through storm clouds—
Rinne smiled.
Not a boastful grin. Not a proud leader's smirk.
No—
it was softer.
Warmer.
Like a brother watching a little sibling finally fly on their own for the first time.
The sound in the hall was *massive*—like a wall of applause and music slamming into the night.
When the song ended, Aira leaned against Tatsumi and Mayoi like he'd just run a marathon.
> "H-Huff... *Holy hell*..."
Tatsumi laughed softly, clapping Aira on the back. "You okay, partner?"
> "We need... to sleep for a week or twenty," Aira laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Mayoi glanced at the judges' table. "They'd better...give us top tier
"They'd better give us at least a 95!" Aira added, half-joking.
Tatsumi smirked. "Or we riot."
Backstage, Raito nudged Tsukki:
> "You hear that? A *riot*."
Tsukki's eyes flickered with dry amusement:
> "...We should join."
On stage, Hiiro bowed—still breathing heavily—when the score flashed on screen:
### **96.8 / 100**
The crowd *erupted*.
Rinne stood up slowly in the VIP section—
not cheering like the others,
but giving one sharp nod across the distance,
as if sealing a silent promise between idols,
across blood and stages and silence:
**"Keep going."**
Hiiro saw it.
And for just one second—
he smiled back.
🎶🔥💫
As ALKALOID left the stage, Tsukki was still applauding as Hiiro stumbled into him, almost falling.
Instantly, Tsukki steadied him with a firm hand on his shoulder. "Easy there."
Hiiro nodded, straightening. "T-Thanks."
Tsukki held Hiiro's shoulder a second longer than necessary—just until he was steady.
Then, voice low but clear:
> "Watch yourself, okay?"
Hiiro blinked—surprised not by the words, but by how *quietly* they landed.
Like a brother checking on a brother after battle.
He gave a small nod.
> "...Yeah. Thanks."
Behind them, Aira poked Tatsumi and whispered:
> "Did... Tsukki just *talk*?"
Tatsumi elbowed him lightly as Mayoi giggled.
And Tsukki?
He just turned away—
but not before Raito caught it:
the tiniest softening at the corner of his eyes.
Like moonlight reflecting off calm water.
🌙✨
The room silenced as Knights took the stage.
Arashi and Ritsu were joking;
Izumi was checking his mic,
Tsukasa was going over a dance move last-minute with Leo, and—
On the side, Raito glanced at Tsukki to see him *staring*.
"Tsukki?" Raito said softly. "You still with us?"
Tsukki blinked, shaking his head slightly.
"Right, right. Sorry. Just..."
His gaze drifted back to the stage.
The stage ignited.
Lights flashed like falling stars, and the bass dropped with a *thunderclap* as **Knights** launched into their performance — sharp, powerful, flawless.
Tsukasa led with regal precision—every movement like a command.
Leo danced with explosive energy, grinning mid-flip like he was daring gravity to stop him.
Izumi's voice sliced through the beat—cool, smooth, cutting deep.
Ritsu moved like wind given form—effortless spins and smirks that made the audience scream.
And Arashi?
He didn't just sing.
He *burned*.
His voice rose over the music—raw emotion wrapped in fire—as if every note was a promise:
> *"We don't fight for glory... we fight for each other."*
Backstage,
Polar Opposites stood frozen.
Even Raito stopped fidgeting—he knew that kind of bond on stage when he saw it.
Tsukki watched Arashi closely—
the way he never looked at the crowd,
only at his unit mates...
like they were his only gravity.
> "...They get it," Tsukki murmured under his breath. "The weight of being someone's light."
Raito glanced at him — soft smile forming:
> "Yeah... kinda reminds me of us."
Knights bowed in perfect sync, their breaths coming fast but faces glowing with quiet pride.
The crowd exploded—cheers like waves crashing against the stage.
Ritsu adjusted his mic last-second and grinned:
> "Hope you liked it... 'cause we're just getting started!"
Laughter and screams filled the hall as they stepped back, arms briefly linking — a silent *we did good* passing between them.
Backstage,
Raito clapped wildly.
"Okay, okay—they're *good*. Like, *really* good."
Tsukki crossed his arms, watching Arashi wipe sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
> "...He sings like he's fighting for someone."
Raito turned to him—smile softening.
> "Kinda like you."
Tsukki didn't answer.
But for a second...
his fingers brushed the edge of his sleeve—
where Raito's jacket had touched him during practice...
warm,
unyielding,
*there.*
And he knew—
they weren't just watching idols on stage.
They were standing at the edge of their own storm.
🔥⚔️💫
In the dim glow of the VIP section, **Rei Sakuma** didn't cheer.
He just sat—still as stone, eyes fixed on the stage where Ritsu was laughing and waving beside his unit.
Then...
a single tear slipped down.
Fast. Silent. Unplanned.
He wiped it away instantly—too late.
Beside him, Kaoru raised an eyebrow.
Koga smirked:
> "Crying over your little brother? Didn't think you had it in you."
Rei adjusted his jacket sleeve—calm, composed—but his voice wavered just once:
> "...I wasn't crying."
A pause.
Then softer—
so low only UNDEAD could hear:
#### "...I was just proud."
And in that quiet confession,
even Adonis looked away,
giving Rei one rare moment of peace—
to be not a leader,
not a rival,
but simply... *an older brother.*
🖤💔🌙
**Koga** crossed his arms, still looking at the stage.
> "They're not bad," he grunted. "Better than I thought."
Kaoru raised an eyebrow.
> "You sound like you're complimenting them."
Koga scowled.
> "Shut up. I'm just... acknowledging talent where I see it. *Tch.*"
Kaoru smirked.
> "Sounds like someone's getting soft."
For a moment, Koga seemed lost in thought...
Then his eyes hardened,
as if making a decision—
and he finally said:
> "...Polar Opposites aren't too bad either."
Kaoru raised his eyebrows.
> "You mean to tell me you're *not* criticizing your underclassmen?"
Koga narrowed his eyes.
> "Shut up. I only recognize talent when I see it."
In the wings, **Ra*bits** stood in a circle, hands clasped.
Tomoya was bouncing in excitement;
Nazuna was stretching, hands high in the air;
Mitsuru was laughing at Nazuna's poses;
And Hajime had a smile almost wide enough to reach his ears.
Hajime took a deep breath.
> "Ready, guys?"
Nazuna's face lit up.
> "Ready as ever!"
The curtains drew.
The audience roared—
and Ra*bits moved like the sound was fuel,
feet flying between beats.
Nazuna's voice rose first, high and sweet as the opening note.
Tomoya's drums added a steady rhythm.
Mitsuru's bass was a thrum under every step.
And Hajime?
He was lightning unleashed,
voice bright with the joy only found onstage:
> *"Let hope and love guide us through the night,
so we never lose this light…"*
The crowd went *wild.*
Lights flashed like stars; the bass hit like thunder.
And on this night,
Ra*bits burned—
sparking in bursts of laughter and sound.
On stage,
Hajime twirled;
Tomoya grinned;
Nazuna spun;
Mitsuru danced like the world was on his side.
And even as the song ended, their energy lingered—like a heartbeat echoing down the hall.
The crowd *roared*.
As the last notes faded, Tomoya let out a whoop.
Nazuna threw a fist in the air:
> "Yes!!"
Hajime was smiling so wide it lit up backstage;
> "You guys were awesome!"
Mitsuru stretched, then nodded.
> "No one in the crowd was yawning. I'd say that's a win."
**Tomoya** looked like he'd burst with excitement.
> "We did it!" he laughed, still bouncing on his toes. "I knew we'd knock it *out of the park*!"
Hajime chuckled, giving him a high-five.
> "You did great out there, Tomoya."
Nazuna grinned.
> "Yeah! We might just win this thing!"
Mitsuru smirked.
> "Don't get cocky just yet."
Raito watched Ra*bits return from the stage, grinning like mad.
> "They're so bright," he said softly. "Like… even their mistakes are fun."
Tsukki didn't take his eyes off them—watching how they moved together, effortless and warm.
Then quietly, almost to himself:
> "...We used to be like that."
Raito turned.
"Used to?"
Tsukki hesitated—
then gave a small nod.
> "Before everything got heavy."
Raito stepped closer, shoulder brushing Tsukki's.
> "It *is* heavy… but we're still here. Together."
>
> He grinned.
>
> "And guess what? We're about to light up that same stage."
Tsukki looked at him—
and for just one breath,
the ghost of a smile touched his lips:
#### "…Yeah. Let's."
☀️🌙💫
Polar Opposites' turn was next.
As Ra*bits stepped off stage, breathless and beaming, the spotlight dimmed—
and silence fell like a held breath.
Then…
> **"Next up!"** Seiya announced from the host stand.
> "**Polar Opposites—Raito Hikaru and Tsukki Kuroi!**"
A ripple ran through the audience.
All eyes turned to backstage—
where Raito took one deep breath,
then grabbed Tsukki's hand without hesitation.
Tsukki didn't pull away.
Instead—he squeezed back. Hard.
And together,
they stepped into the light.
From VIP seats across the hall—
*every idol watched.*
COSMIC PRODUCTION leaned forward as one:
**Ibara adjusted his glasses, Nagisa whispered something to Jun,**
**Hiyori typed fast—"Emotional risk: high."**
At another seat—
UNDEAD sat in perfect stillness: **Rei's hands clasped tight,**
Koga muttering under his breath:
> "Don't screw this up, juniors."
Trickstar erupted in cheers: **Subaru whistling**, Hokuto giving a small nod of respect.
RYUSEITAI shouted their names like war cries; AKATSUKI bowed slightly as if acknowledging an equal duel about to begin; Switch grinned at each other — Tsumugi whispering:
> "This is going to be *good.*"
Even Raito's mother stood dramatically:
> "MY SWEET BABIES… SHINE!!!"
And Esu screamed so loud he nearly broke glass:
### "RAITO! TSUKKI! I BELIEVE IN YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!!"
On stage,
the first notes began—
soft at first…
a single piano line echoing over silence…
like moonlight falling on water…
then sunlight cutting through clouds…
Raito stepped forward, spotlight blazing like dawn.
His voice rang bright and bold — clear as crystal:
> **"You might think we have everything,**
> A idol wanna be could ever want.
> A palace full of luxury,
> And helpers who help 'round the clock!"
He spun with a grin — arms wide like he was holding the world.
But in his eyes?
A flicker of truth.
Behind him, Tsukki stood still — backlit in cool blue,
waiting… listening…
knowing this song wasn't *just* performance…
it was *confession*.
From the crowd —
Nagisa whispered: *"They're not hiding anything."*
HiMERU typed: **"Bravery level: reckless honesty."**
And Raito continued,
voice soaring like it wanted to break free:
### *"But behind these golden gates? Just silence. Just echoes...*
### *Where love was supposed to stay…*
### ***It didn't."*** 🌟
Raito stepped back, nodding for Tsukki to step into the spotlight.
And so he did, like moonlight slipping out of shadow:
> **"Looking out through those idol walls**
> **With every minute planned.**
> **What I'd give to have the chance**
> **To hold my future in my own hands…"**
His voice was quieter. More controlled.
But in that quiet, Raito heard a storm raging.
Around him, people leaned closer.
Raito raised his voice, the words rushing like an avalanche:
> **"All they know is from a screen!**
> **So how can I become their star?**"
He spun, his coat flaring like firelight,
as the audience watched,
stunned…
*intrigued...*
Because this wasn't a song.
It was a *war cry.*
Raito threw his arms open like he was challenging the night—
and the crowd went *silent:*
as if they were all suddenly holding their breath,
as if a star was exploding.
> **"I wanna be free,
> wanna be *me;*
> and make my own decisions,
> to chase my own ambitions!
> I wanna go *anywhere,*
> feel the wind in my hair.**"
The music *throbbed* deep as thunder.
Raito's eyes flashed like lightning —
as he continued,
> **"And find myself out there in this world.**
> **I wanna be *me!***
He twirled like he was dancing in rain;
every move,
every word—
was a *demand.*
> **"I'm not a picture perfect idol.**"
For a moment, no one moved…
not the crowd…
not the idols in the wings…
no one.
The music grew quieter, softer, like waves on a night-dark beach.
And in that silence, Tsukki stepped forward:
> **"Everybody needs to feel alive,**
> *yeah.*
> **Everyone deserves a chance to live outside the lines."**
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Steady as the moon itself.
And in that moment,
the audience was silent.
No one *breathed.*
Raito's voice rose like dawn, breaking the tension -
and as he sang:
> **"But idols can't be seen breaking the rules."**
He turned to Tsukki—a silent question.
In the VIP seats, silence reigned.
Then—
**HiMERU's fingers froze mid-type.**
> "They're not just singing… they're *stripping themselves bare.*"
Beside him, **Rinne's smile faded into solemn awe.**
"Ibara adjusted his glasses slowly:
> "**This isn't performance. It's rebellion.**"
At another seat, **Shu Itsuki closed his eyes—**
and for the first time in years,
a single thought crossed his mind:
> _"I wonder… if I've ever sung like that."_
Across the seat,
Trickstar was on their feet—
Subaru shouting:
> "That's what it means to be real!"
RYUSEITAI erupted into cheers: Tetora screaming so loud he startled Chiaki.
And AKATSUKI?
Keito watched with sharp focus.
Souma smirked faintly—then nodded once.
Even Switch leaned forward: Natsume whispering:
> "They're rewriting the rules without saying a word."
Back in COSMIC PRODUCTION,
Nagisa whispered to Jun:
> "Do you think we were ever this brave?"
Jun didn't answer—
but Hiyori reached out and squeezed his hand.
And then…
from MaM—
Madara stood up dramatically again and cried:
### "RAITO! TSUKKI! I FEEL YOUR SOULS BURNING!!"
Esu wailed in agreement — almost sobbing —
while Koga muttered under his breath like a secret prayer:
#### "...Don't stop now."
Every idol had seen polished perfection before.
But tonight?
They were witnessing something rarer.
Something dangerous.
Something true.
🔥☀️🌙
Tsukki continued, his voice as steady as the midnight sky:
> **"You're an idol, you should be making the rules..."**
From the crowd, silence fell in answer like a held breath.
Except for one voice.
From across the room, Madara yelled with such passion he sent a shiver through the air:
> **"DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD!"**
To be continued...