Tsukki's thumb brushed the condensation on the water bottle—
voice low:
> "What is it, Ibara-san?"
Static hummed for half a beat.
Then Ibara's voice—sharp, probing:
> "Are you afraid?"
Silence.
Not dramatic. Not broken.
Just real.
Tsukki didn't answer right away.
He looked down the hall—
where sunlight danced on polished floors,
where Raito laughed in his mind,
where *Polar Opposites* echoed like a promise too big to hold.
Finally, he said:
> "...I'm not afraid of the stage."
A pause.
Then quieter—
### "...I'm afraid of what happens if I can't keep up with him."**
The words hung there—raw. Unpolished. True.
Ibara didn't mock him.
Didn't lecture him either.
Just said:
> "Good."
>
> **"Fear means you care."**
>
> He paused.
>
### "Now go back and dance like you're not carrying that weight alone."
Click.
Call ended.
Tsukki stared at his phone—
then slipped it away without a word,
turned toward the practice room...
and walked faster this time—
not because he was late...
but because someone was waiting who refused to shine without him. 🌙☀️
The practice room was a blur of golden light as Tsukki rushed in,
Raito sprawled on the floor,
eyes closed,
limbs limp.
Tsukki knelt beside him,
pulse jumping:
> "Raito. Hey.
>
> Raito.
>
Wake up."
He shook him again—
harder.
Raito didn't budge.
Just breathed slow.
Like he was asleep.
The infirmary hummed with the sound of medical machinery and the quiet breathing of its doctor.
Sagami slept soundly—
a rare moment of peace amidst the constant chaos of life in an idol school.
He was just drifting back to sleep when the door slammed open,
jolting him awake.
Tsukki strode in,
voice sharp:
> "Sagami-sensei."
Sagami sat up,
rubbing his eyes:
> "What do you want? I was sleeping."
"Please help... Raito"
Sagami froze.
The voice—
not cold. Not quiet.
**Breaking.**
He turned slowly.
Tsukki stood there,
Raito limp on his back,
face pale,
breath shallow—
and Tsukki's eyes—
usually calm, distant like moonlight on water—
were *pleading.*
> "Please," he said again.
>
### "It's Raito."**
Sagami didn't hesitate this time.
No jokes.
No naps.
He stood up fast—
the legendary idol who once carried millions on his smile now moving with the precision of a doctor who knew what it meant to lose someone:
> "Lay him down. Now."
Tsukki obeyed without a word,
gentle as placing the sun back in the sky.
Sagami checked pulse, pupils, breathing—
hands steady but heart racing beneath his white coat:
> "Overexertion... dehydration... and he hasn't eaten properly today, has he?"
Tsukki looked down—
guilt pressing like storm clouds:
> "...I should've noticed."
Sagami glanced at him—
then placed a hand on his shoulder:
### "You're here now.
>
And so is he."
>
**That's what matters."**
Outside,
the wind howled against the windows...
but inside?
Two boys held their breath—
one unconscious,
one clinging to hope...
and one former star lighting the way through darkness. 🌟🩺💫
Tsukki clenched his fists,
voice tight:
> "We were just practicing.
>
> Then I went out for drinks and when I got back... he was like this. I don't know what happened while I was gone... but I found him on the floor, and he wouldn't wake up."
Sagami's brow furrowed,
mind moving fast:
> "Any signs of breathing trouble? Cough, coughs, dizziness—anything like that before?"
Tsukki shook his head—
voice low, raw:
> "No. He was... fine.
> Laughing.
>
Dancing like always.
>
Like nothing could ever stop him..."
He looked down at Raito's still face,
thumb brushing away a strand of hair—
almost involuntary.
Then quieter:
### "I should've stayed."**
Sagami watched him for a beat.
Not with pity.
With understanding.
He adjusted his glasses,
calm returning to his voice:
> "You can't watch someone every second."
>
> He checked Raito's vitals again—
>
> Pulse steadying.
>
### "But he pushed too hard. Too long. And you brought him here in time."
>
> A pause.
>
**"That matters more than guilt."**
Then, gently:
> "Raito didn't collapse because something broke...
>>
>> He collapsed because he gave *everything* —
>> and thought you'd be there to catch it."
Tsukki froze.
Eyes wide.
Because that was...
**Exactly like Raito.**
The infirmary door slid open—
and in walked Akiomi Kunugi,
crisp uniform,
sharp eyes,
presence like a storm wrapped in discipline.
Jin grinned—
still holding Raito's chart:
> "Akiyan~! Perfect timing! We've got an overworked sun on the table."
Akiomi didn't flinch.
Just stepped forward,
arms crossed:
> "So I heard.
>
### 'Practiced until he dropped,' they say."
>
> His gaze fell on Raito—
>
### pale, breathing slow—
>
Then to Tsukki, kneeling silently beside the bed:
>
**"And you?"**
>
**"Did you let him do it?"**
Tsukki looked up—
no excuse, no anger.
Just quiet truth:
> "...I left to get him water."
A beat of silence.
Then Akiomi sighed—
not cruel. Not soft.
*Real.*
> "You can't carry someone by sacrificing yourself... or letting them burn alone."
Jin smirked—
leaning against the counter:
> "Funny, Akiyan... you sound *real* concerned."
>
> He twirled a pen.
>
### "Almost like you're remembering your own collapse back in the day."
Akiomi didn't blink.
Just adjusted his cufflinks,
voice dry:
> "I didn't collapse. I *completed my duty.*"
Jin snorted.
> "You passed out onstage during a summer tour. Mid-chorus. In front of 80,000 people."
>
He leaned in:
>
### "And who carried you off? Me."
>
A pause.
>
**"Don't lecture the moon for not stopping the sun... when you used to be one."**
Silence.
Tsukki looked between them—
two former idols,
one still healing beneath white coats,
one armored in discipline...
and suddenly he saw it:
The same weight.
The same fire.
Different paths. Same scars.
Akiomi finally spoke—
quiet, low:
> "...I just don't want this boy to learn the hard way."
>
He glanced at Raito—
pale but breathing,
alive because someone noticed.
Then at Tsukki:
###
**"And I don't want him to carry that guilt forever."**
Jin's smirk softened.
He placed a hand on Tsukki's shoulder—
gently this time:
> **"You're not alone here, kid."**
>>
>> Then to Akiomi:
>>
>> "See? You *do* care."
Akiomi stood up sharply—
facing the window now, back turned,
but they all knew it wasn't rejection...
it was *protection.*
Outside,
the sky darkened—
but inside?
Three generations of light watched over one rising star...
waiting for him to wake up—and shine again. 🌙☀️🩹💫
The room was quiet...
only steady beeps and soft breaths.
Akiomi leaned against the wall by the window,
arms crossed—
silent and still.
Jin sat on the medical counter—
legs swinging like a child.
And Tsukki knelt beside Raito,
holding his hand—
pale as sunlight.
Then—
Raito stirred.
Eyes fluttering.
Voice weak.
> "...Tsukki...?"
Raito blinked—
blurry lights.
White ceiling.
The scent of antiseptic.
Then—
a sudden yank.
Tsukki grabbed his collar,
voice raw—
**not cold, not quiet...**
### *Shaking with rage.*
> "**DON'T YOU DARE.**"
Raito's eyes widened—
shocked, weak—but Tsukki didn't let go.
> "Don't you *dare* just lie there like you're nothing! Like it's okay to collapse and leave me behind like that!"
>
> His grip tightened.
>
### "I wasn't even there to stop you! I left for *two minutes* and you just—"
>
> Voice cracked.
>
### "...You scared me."
Silence fell heavy.
Jin and Akiomi said nothing—
just watched the storm between sun and moon unfold.
Tsukki's grip on Raito's collar tightened—
eyes wide,
furious.
> "You don't get it, do you? You don't get how much you mean to me! How much I can't lose you, I can't watch you break yourself piece by piece over this—"
>
His voice shook:
>
"You're my *partner.* My *sun.* How can I keep the shadows at bay if my own star collapses and leaves me behind?!"
Tsukki's voice cracked—
raw, broken,
like moonlight shattering:
> "Don't leave me...
>
**Like my brother did.**"
And just like that,
the anger collapsed.
He released Raito's collar—
but didn't pull away.
Instead,
he buried his face into Raito's chest,
fists clutching the fabric of his shirt,
shoulders trembling—
quiet sobs muffled by cotton and pride.
Raito froze—
weak as he was—
then slowly raised a trembling hand...
and placed it on Tsukki's head.
Voice soft, barely a whisper:
> "...I'm sorry."
>
A pause.
>
> "I didn't mean to scare you."
>
### "I'll never leave you. Not if I can help it."
Jin wiped his eyes with the back of his hand—
trying to hide it behind a cough.
Akiomi looked away,
voice gruff:
> "Idols are not meant to burn out."
>
### "They're meant to shine... *together.*"
Outside the window,
the first star blinked awake in twilight—
watching over two boys clinging not just to dreams...
but each other. 🌙☀️💔💫
Raito wrapped his arms around Tsukki—
weak, but holding on like he'd never let go.
Each breath was a whisper against Tsukki's hair:
> "I've got you... I've got you..."
No jokes.
No bright smiles.
Just quiet truth:
> "You don't have to be strong alone.
>
And I won't run ahead ever again without checking if you're still with me.
>
### Promise."
Tsukki didn't speak.
Couldn't.
But his fingers curled tighter around Raito's waist—
as if memorizing the warmth,
the beat of his heart—
proof that he was still here.
Still real.
Still *his.*
Jin quietly nudged Akiomi toward the door,
wiping his eyes dramatically:
> "We should probably... give 'em space."
Akiomi gave a single nod—
but not before murmuring,
just low enough for Jin to hear:
> "...They'll be alright."
>
### "They just needed to say what they couldn't sing."
The door slid shut behind them...
leaving only soft breaths and silent promises in the dimming light—
two broken lights healing each other...
not as idols.
But as *Polar Opposites.* 🌞🌙💞
The weekend air buzzed with tension—
not of performance, but of silence broken.
At **CosmoPRO**, the training hall shimmered under stage lights—
and every idol paused.
Because word had spread.
Not through announcements.
But through hushed voices in the halls:
> "*Raito collapsed.*"
> "*Tsukki... broke down?*"
Then came Polar Opposites—
walking in together,
shoulders close,
eyes forward—
but no longer hiding.
Nagisa Ran lowered his water bottle first:
> "...You scared us."
Hiyori Tomoe folded his arms,
tone sharp—but concern behind it:
> "You two are supposed to be *stars*. Not martyrs."
Ibara stepped forward last,
voice uncharacteristically quiet:
### "Tsukki. You told them."
Tsukki didn't flinch.
Just nodded:
"Yes."
A beat passed—
then Jun Sazanami smirked, leaning on Shu's shoulder:
> "Took you long enough to admit you're human."
Shu gave a small nod, voice calm:
> "Idols break. That's why we stand in groups."
Mika Kagehira crossed his arms:
> "You don't gotta carry everything alone, kid."
From the back, HiMERU adjusted his gloves—
ever elegant, ever sharp:
### "Emotional collapse is worse than physical exhaustion. At least that can be seen."
Rinne grinned, tossing a grape into the air:
> "So? You passed out! Big deal! We all have!"
Kohaku raised a brow:
"Even me—during my first fan meeting."
Niki laughed loudly:
"Bro passed out in a *bathroom* after over-singing for three days straight!"
The tension cracked.
Raito blinked—
then snorted.
Then full-on laughed—
weak but real.
Tsukki looked around—
at Eden,
Valkyrie,
2wink,
Crazy:B...
not as distant legends.
But as *family* who had walked this path before them.
Ibara stepped forward again:
> **"Now you know."**
>
He pointed at both of them.
>
### "Strength isn't never falling."
>
**It's standing up... and letting someone catch your hand."**
Silence fell once more—
until Raito whispered:
> "...We'll do better."
Tsukki added quietly:
#### "...Together."
And somewhere?
The stars began to align. 🌟✨
"Okay! Let's get back to practice-"
The room fell silent—
all eyes on Tsukki.
Raito froze mid-step, smile fading as Tsukki's grip tightened on his shoulder—
not hurting.
**Promising.**
Tsukki's voice was low. Flat. No room for jokes:
> "If you push yourself like that again... I'll tie you to your bed."
>
> A beat.
>
### "...And throw away the key."**
Hinata choked on his soda.
Yuta sputtered:
> "D-Dude, *what kind of threat is that?!*"
Niki burst out laughing:
> "Moon boy went *dark!* I love it!"
But Raito didn't laugh.
He just looked at Tsukki—
really looked—
and saw the truth beneath the words:
*Fear.*
*Love.*
*I can't lose you.*
So he smiled—soft this time,
not bright,
but warm like sunrise after rain:
> "...Alright."
>
He reached up,
>
placed his hand over Tsukki's.
>
### "I promise. No more collapsing."
Tsukki finally relaxed—
just a little—
fingers loosening but not letting go.
HiMERU fanned himself dramatically:
> "Well. That was emotionally catastrophic and oddly romantic."
Ibara smirked:
> **"Good."**
>
"You two are learning."
Then to the rest:
>
**"Now—practice!"**
And just like that,
music surged back to life—
stronger,
closer,
*together.* 🌙☀️💫
Practice was brutal.
Brutal and beautiful.
Because now Raito never pushed too far again—
not because Ibara or Rinne would call them out—
but because of Tsukki's promise.
And Tsukki never pushed himself to the edge or beyond it again—
not because he didn't want to,
but because of *Raito.*
They became stronger,
not as idols...
But as partners.
And together?
They became unstoppable.
The days turned into a blur of dance practices, vocal lessons, and photoshoots.
On campus or at COSMO PRO, the two practiced together as much as possible—
dancing in the moonlight,
singing the sun awake,
challenging each other and helping each other.
On breaks, they didn't talk much—
not like before...
but they didn't have to.
Because they had each other.
And that was enough.
The studio lights dimmed for a moment—
only the glow of monitors and mirrors reflecting motion.
Polar Opposites danced.
Not perfectly.
But *together.*
Every step synchronized—
Raito's energy burning bright,
Tsukki's precision anchoring the storm—
like sun and moon caught in orbit,
not forced,
but *fated.*
From the observation deck,
the others watched in silence.
Hiyori crossed his arms:
> "They've grown."
Nagisa smirked:
> "Like we did. Just... louder."
Jun leaned forward, amused:
> "Tsukki went full bodyguard mode. I respect it."
Shu said nothing at first—just nodded slowly.
Then:
> **"They don't hide now."**
>
Mika added:
>
### "And Raito doesn't fake his limits anymore."
Back on stage, Raito stumbled—just slightly—
but before he could even wince,
Tsukki was there—
hand out, pulling him up without breaking rhythm.
No words.
Just trust.
HiMERU cross his arms, voice soft:
### "How poetic. They've become each other's safety net... without losing their shine."
Rinne grinned:
> "Now they're ready."
>
Kohaku raised a brow:
>
"What makes you say that?"
Niki laughed loudly:
"'Cause now they ain't just idols!"
>
### "They're *real.*"
And from the back—
Ibara watched with quiet pride:
not as a manager...
but as someone who once stood where they are now.
He whispered into the mic:
**"Yeah."**
Then louder—so everyone heard:
### **"Polar Opposites..."**
He pointed to center stage — where two shadows became one light under the spotlight —
**"You're no longer just surviving."**
A pause.
***"...You're finally alive."*** 🌞🌙💥💫
The studio buzzed with laughter and tired voices—
but Tsukki slipped away.
No word. No wave.
Just quiet footsteps down the hall,
until he reached the music room—
dark, still, empty.
He sat at the piano,
fingers brushing keys like they were memories.
Headphones on.
White noise humming in his ears—
not to block sound...
but to find silence *within* it.
And then—
a single note rang out.
Then another.
A melody formed—soft, hesitant,
like moonlight testing the water before rising fully into night.
Then Ibara came in
and watched from the doorway for a moment—
then approached and took a seat beside him.
No words. Just a nod.
A request.
*Let me listen too.*
Tsukki hesitated,
but slowly offered an earbud.
Ibara placed it in his ear—
and they sat side by side at the instrument that held both their dreams.
Ibara listened to the piano—
and felt it.
Not just notes.
A *story.*
Soft at first—
then building,
like tides pulled by something deep,
something real.
He closed his eyes.
When the melody ended—just a lingering chord hanging in the dark—
Ibara opened them again:
> "This is good."
>
> Not loud.
>
### Just true.
>
> Then:
>
**"It's not for performance... is it?"**
Tsukki shook his head,
eyes on the keys:
> "...It's for him."
Ibara didn't need to ask who.
He already knew.
Ibara stood up and placed a hand on Tsukki's shoulder—
firm,
warm,
like an anchor.
> "Then don't hold back."
Tsukki looked up—
surprised.
Ibara smiled—
not his usual sharp, theatrical grin.
This one was quiet. Real.
> "When the sun burns too bright... it's not your job to smother it."
>
> A beat.
>
### "It's your job to write a song strong enough to match its light."
Then he stood straight,
adjusted his coat:
> **"Play that at the Cosmic Festival."**
>
> He turned toward the door,
>
glancing back just once:
>
**"Let *him* hear how much you feel."**
The door clicked shut behind him.
Silence returned—
but not empty anymore.
Tsukki stared at the piano,
then slowly raised his fingers...
and began to play again—
louder this time.
Fuller.
*Braver.*
The moon wasn't hiding tonight.
It was composing its voice...
for the first real duet of their lives. 🌙🎹💫
Many days later
The sky blazed with twilight.
The Cosmic Festival stage rose like a dream—
lights swirling,
crowd roaring,
banners of stars and constellations fluttering in the warm night wind.
Backstage, Raito adjusted his jacket—white with golden seams, like dawn stitched into cloth.
Tsukki stood beside him,
costume sleek as moonshadow,
fingers brushing the edge of his earpiece—
where Ibara's voice crackled:
> "You're on in two minutes."
Raito grinned—
bright, nervous, alive:
> "Ready?"
Tsukki didn't answer with words.
He just nodded.
But it meant *everything.*
Then they stepped forward—
into blinding light.
Raito raised a hand to the crowd—
and *shouted:*
> "Hey, everyone,
>
welcome to the *Cosmic* Festival!"
Cheers roared back—
not like a wave,
but a supernova—
fireworks flashing,
lights sparking through the night,
cheers shaking the air itself.
Raito grinned,
eyes blazing with joy:
> "Ready to *shine* with us?"
The crowd cheered.
Shouts echoed like thunder,
lighting up the night.
Raito turned to Tsukki,
who stepped beside him again—
and lifted a mic to his lips.
His eyes met Raito's.
*Warmth.*
*Light.*
*Trust.*
Raito smiled like sunrise.
Tsukki breathed in—
felt it flow like golden fire—
and said two words into the mic:
> "Let's go."
Music flared up around them—
not a soft melody this time,
but an explosion of sound.
Raito and Tsukki were *alive* here.
Fire burned through Tsukki's veins,
lighting Raito like the first spark at the core of a star.
Moonlight and sunlight,
dancing across the stage.
*Twisting together.*
*Perfect partners.*
And the crowd *roared.* 🌟✨💫
were unrecognizable—
hats low,
scarves high,
glasses glinting under the festival lights.
But their eyes?
**Impossible to hide.**
Nagisa stood near the back, hands in pockets, smirking:
> "Look at 'em... like we're watching our own past."
Hiyori adjusted his hoodie, arms crossed:
> "They've got presence. Can't fake that."
Jun nudged Shu beside him:
> "Bet Tsukki's singing *his* song tonight."
>
Shu didn't answer—
just watched,
eyes sharp,
heart softer:
>
### "...He already is."**
Mika cracked a nostalgic smile:
> "Kid's finally not holding back."
From the middle of the crowd,
Rinne popped a lollipop into his mouth and grinned:
> "Now *this* is love language—full stage, no fear!"
HiMERU fanned himself dramatically—
but his voice was sincere:
### "How romantic... The moon composed a song only the sun could carry."
Kohaku chuckled beside Niki:
"Even if he sings it rough... it'll reach him."
Niki pumped his fist:
"'Cause it's REAL! No glitter, no lies—just heart!"
And Ibara?
He stood slightly apart,
watching with quiet pride.
One hand in pocket.
The other gripping an old ticket stub from *his first Cosmic Festival.*
And when Tsukki stepped forward during the bridge—
voice trembling but strong—
singing words meant for one person alone...
Ibara whispered to no one in particular:
### **"Yeah..."**
>
**"You made it."** 🌙☀️💖
The music swelled.
Light met shadow.
Two hearts beat as one across starlit sound...
and somewhere beneath all that noise and fire?
A dream came true—not just on stage...
but between them. 💫🎶
Tsukki stepped into the spotlight—
voice quiet at first,
trembling like moonlight on water.
> **"I didn't know what you were going through...**
>
> **I thought that you were fine...**
>
### **Why did you have to hide?"**
The crowd hushed—
not by command,
but *feeling.*
This wasn't just a song.
It was a confession.
A question.
A plea.
Raito stepped into the other spotlight—
eyes bright,
voice steady like the first rays of sunlight after a long night.
> **"I didn't want to let you down...**
>
### But the truth is out.
>
> *It's tearing me apart...*
>
### *Not listening to my heart..."*
The two stood facing each other—
sunlight,
moonlight,
two stars colliding.
The music softened—
just a breath,
just a pause.
Raito stepped forward, voice low but fierce:
> **"I really had to go..."**
Then Tsukki answered—quiet, sure—
moving toward him like tides pulled by the sun:
> **"And I would never stop you."**
No anger.
No fear.
Just *truth.*
Two paths.
One promise.
They reached for each other—
not with hands,
but with voices that carried everything they never said.
The stars above burned brighter.
And somewhere in the crowd?
A dozen legendary idols held their breath—
because this...
wasn't just a performance.
It was *love*, sung into existence. 🌙☀️💫
Raito stepped closer—
voice like a star-streaked night:
> **"Even though we've changed..."**
And Tsukki met him—
voice softer but sure:
> **"Nothing has to change."**
The music built again—
like something old coming to life anew.
Like the world itself was listening.
And from the shadows?
A chorus began—
not of the crowd who were watching...
but of idols who had sung here before.
*Light caught moonlight in its arms.*
Raito and Tsukki sang together—
voice and shadow mingling like the sun and moon,
a promise born on cosmic scales.
A vow.
> **"And you can find me in the space between..."**
And the other idols joined in—
Shu and Mika, Hiyori and Nagisa,
2wink and Crazy:B, Valkyrie,
voices building like a chorus of shooting stars...
> **"Where two worlds come to meet..."**
Tsukki and Raito stood together in the center of the stage—
two stars shining like a promise in the night,
as the others sang around them:
> **"I'll never be out of reach..."**
Tsukki and Raito smiled—
not their usual grins—
but smiles that reached their eyes.
As if the stage was not just something to stand upon...
but a bridge between them.
For the first time...
*They truly felt like a team.*
Hand in hand,
Raito and Tsukki stepped forward—
voices rising like twin stars born from one soul:
> **"'Cause you're a part of me..."**
The music swelled—
the lights flared—
and across the crowd,
disguises slipped.
Hiyori pulled off his cap.
Jun let his scarf fall.
Nagisa grinned, raising a hand to the stage.
And all around them—
**Eden, Valkyrie, 2wink, Crazy:B—**
idols once distant,
now singing *with* them:
> **"So you can find me in the space between..."**
>
> **"You'll never be alone..."**
>
### "**No matter where you go...**"
>
> **"We can meet in the space between!"**
Tears glistened on Tsukki's cheeks—
but he didn't wipe them away.
Raito laughed through his own:
bright, real, *free.*
Because this wasn't just a song anymore...
It was an oath written in light and sound—
between sun and moon,
past and future,
dreams lost... and dreams reborn. 🌙☀️💫
The festival roared with color,
fireworks exploded overhead like stars being born anew...
and somewhere deep within that chaos of beauty?
A new legend began—not with fame or glory...
but two voices saying one truth:
### *"I'm here."*
To be continued...