The studio door clicked open—
and there he was.
Ibara returned like a storm rolling back in—calm, composed, but carrying weight in every step.
Raito and Tsukki turned instantly, still buzzing from Nagisa's words when Ibara stopped before them, eyes sharp as ever.
> "Change of plans," he said coolly.
The room quieted.
> "Starmaker Production's *fine*—Eichi Tenshouin, Wataru Hibiki, Tori Himemiya, Yuzuru Fushimi—"
> "...They've aligned schedules."
> **"They'll be joining your photoshoot."**
Silence.
Then Raito blinked.
> "Wait... *the* fine? The 'voice of a thousand colors' fine?! As in *Eichi Tenshouin*, the guy whose smile is literally trademarked?!"
Tsukki didn't speak—but his breath hitched just slightly. He'd seen them perform. Studied their choreography. Knew exactly how far ahead they were supposed to be.
Ibara watched their reactions carefully...
then tilted his head—just once—and allowed the tiniest upward curve at the corner of his lips:
### > "Yes. And when they arrive... you don't freeze."
### > **"You rise."**
He stepped closer:
> "This isn't a crossover for fun."
> "It's COSMIC testing what happens when two forces collide."
His gaze locked onto theirs—one sunbeam away from burning through doubt:
### > "So tell me..."
### > "**Will you shine brighter... or fade out?**" 💫📸🔥
The answer?
Haven't been written yet...
Raito's smile froze—just for a second.
Tsukki's fingers twitched at his sides, clenched like he could grip the fear and crush it.
*Eichi Tenshouin.*
The name alone was a weight.
Calm. Calculating. A leader who didn't shout—he *orchestrated*.
Wataru, the genius composer with eyes like storm clouds.
Tori, whose charm melted crowds without trying.
Yuzuru—the elegant dancer who made perfection look effortless.
And now?
They were coming here.
To share their stage.
Their light...
Their *moment.*
Raito swallowed hard—but then forced his spine straight, shoulders back like he'd just remembered:
> "So what if they're legends?"
His voice wavered at first—then grew firmer:
> "We're not here to bow... we're here to *compete.*"
Tsukki took a slow breath—eyes low... then up—
meeting Raito's gaze—
and giving that quiet nod again:
### > "Then let them see what polar fire really looks like." 🔥🌙
Just then—
the studio doors slid open with a soft *hiss.*
A breeze swept through.
And there they stood—
**fine:**
Eichi smiling softly—unreadable as ever,
Wataru adjusting his hair with quiet focus,
Tori grinning like sunlight on water,
Yuzuru gliding forward like poetry in motion.
For one heartbeat...
no words.
Just two units sizing each other up—
not as rivals...
but as stars on collision course,
burning toward the same sky...
🔥💫🌙
The room seemed to hum.
No—the *world* seemed to.
Raito and Tsukki had faced pressure before—
but this moment wasn't just about them.
It wasn't about Eden, Valkyrie, or 2wink—
it was about COSMIC's vision:
a new era,
where talents as different as the sun and the moon
could share the same spotlight.
So neither unit looked away...
until Eichi's smile widened ever so slightly.
> "Well now... we meet at last, Polar Opposites."
Raito and Tsukki snapped into a sharp, synchronized bow—fast, deep, and just a little shaky.
> "F-fine-sama! W-welcome!" Raito blurted out, voice cracking slightly mid-bow.
> "We're h-honored to share the s-stage with you!"
Tsukki stayed bowed lower a second longer—his quiet respect cutting through the nerves like moonlight through fog:
> "...We've... watched every one of your performances."
> "...Please... guide us."
The room *stilled.*
Even Ibara raised an eyebrow.
Because yeah—they were trembling.
Hands nearly buzzing at their sides. Knees tight like they might bolt.
But they didn't run.
They *bowed*—
not out of fear...
but **reverence.**
And that?
That earned silence more powerful than any cheer.
Then—
Eichi stepped forward,
his smile softening—not mocking, not cold,
but *genuine.*
He reached out—
and gently tapped Raito's forehead with two fingers (a gesture as legendary as his voice):
### > "No need to call me 'sama.'"
> > **"Just Eichi."** 💫
Wataru chuckled behind him:
> "You're braver than you look."
Tori leaned in with a grin:
> "Ooooh~ They're cute when they panic!"
Yuzuru simply gave a small nod—one pro to another:
> "...Let's make something beautiful together."
And just like that...
the tension cracked—
not broken...
but transformed.
Into warmth?
No.
### Into fire. 🔥✨
Raito and Tsukki's eyes widened—then they both ducked behind Ibara almost in sync, clutching at the back of his coat like a lifeline. The rest of fine watched with amused smiles—except Yuzuru who stayed unreadable, but his eyes softened just slightly—while Ibara himself had raised an eyebrow behind the cover of his bangs.
> "You two are about to see one of the most famous idols in the industry... and you take cover like rabbits."
Eichi—and his unit—exchanged glances.
Raito and Tsukki had *potential*, that was obvious.
But... they were shaking like rabbits.
Literally.
Eichi's eyes softened.
Wataru hid a snicker with a cough.
Tori couldn't keep the amusement from his smile.
Yuzuru's eyes widened a fraction—a silent surprise flashing over their icy depths.
But it was Raito, voice shaking as he hid behind Ibara, that caught Eichi's interest.
Raito peeked out from behind Ibara, still clutching a bit of his coat like a shield. Eichi's eyes met his—and in them, Raito saw... something unreadable.
Concern, maybe? Curiosity?
Eichi's voice interrupted his thoughts, soft and smooth as moonlight.
> "Are they always this... nervous?"
Ibara didn't move as Raito and Tsukki clung to his back like startled kittens, their fingers tightening with every soft word Eichi spoke.
He sighed—low, dry—and turned his head just enough to glance over his shoulder at them:
> "Hmph. They weren't trembling when *we* judged them."
A flick of his eyes toward Eden's direction.
> "No flinching during Valkyrie's stare-down.
Not even when Crazy:B dropped their *'final form'* surprise choreo."
Then he looked straight at Eichi—
and allowed the faintest smirk:
### > "But you?"
### **"You're not just an idol unit."**
> **"You're legends who walk like they own the sky."**
A beat.
Raito whimpered slightly.
Tsukki whispered: "...He once canceled a fan event because someone used the wrong shade of blue in a lightstick wave..."
Eichi blinked.
Then—chuckled. Low. Warm. Unfiltered.
It rolled through the room like sunlight breaking through clouds.
Wataru, muttering: "So they fear him... as a concept."
Tori grinned: "Iconic."
But Yuzuru stepped forward—quietly—and knelt slightly so he was eye level with their hiding spot behind Ibara:
> "...We were scared too... once."
The words were soft—but cut deep.
And slowly...
Raito peeked out again.
Tsukki loosened his grip—just a little—
as Eichi smiled that impossible smile—the one that wasn't power...
but *promise*:
### > "Let's stop being scary legends..."
### > **"And start being rivals who shine together?"** 🌙☀️✨
The rabbits?
Still trembling...
But now?
They dared to take one tiny step forward—
not away from fear...
but toward fire. 🔥📸
The photoshoot resumed—lights flared, cameras clicked, and magic sparked.
Raito and Tsukki moved with surprising grace beside Wataru, Tori, and Yuzuru—
syncing poses like their polar contrast *belonged* beside fine's refined brilliance.
> With **Wataru**?
They matched his calm intensity—one frame capturing Raito leaning forward as Wataru looked up in quiet challenge.
> With **Tori**?
Pure charm chaos—Tori winking mid-pose while Raito burst into laughter... Tsukki deadpanning behind them both.
> With **Yuzuru**?
A dance of silence and elegance—one hand almost touching in a mirrored stance that looked like fate drawn in light.
But then—
the director called:
> "Alright! Final grouping! Let's get Eichi with Polar Opposites!"
And just like that—
Raito froze mid-smile.
Tsukki instinctively took a half-step back.
Both twitched—like rabbits sensing the storm sky shift—and slowly turned...
to see Eichi approaching with serene grace,
his soft smile somehow *more* terrifying now that he was inches away.
He stopped between them,
looked down at their stiff shoulders,
and sighed—not annoyed... but *amused.*
Then he did something unexpected:
he crouched slightly—just enough to meet their eye level—
and whispered:
### > "What if I told you... I was nervous too?" 🌟
Silence.
Camera flashes paused mid-burst.
Even the staff leaned in slightly—
because no one had ever heard those words from Eichi Tenshouin before.
His voice stayed low:
> "My first shoot? I tripped over a cord."
> "I once bowed so deep I knocked over a light stand."
>
He tilted his head, smirk playing at his lips:
>
### > "And yeah... I hid behind my senpai for ten minutes."
Raito blinked. Slowly... slowly...
a giggle escaped him. Then another. Then full-blown laughter:
"Y-you?! N-nervous?!"
Tsukki finally exhaled—and for the first time since fine arrived?
Looked at Eichi not as an untouchable idol...
but as someone who had once stood where they now trembled.
The photographer grinned: "Okay! One last shot!"
Eichi stood tall again—but this time placed one hand on each of their shoulders,
pulled them close,
and faced the camera—
three generations of light aligned under one flash:
🌙☀️✨📸
Polar Opposites...
finally standing without fear...
beside the legend who taught them how to rise.
"—wait, *what?*"
One second, Eichi was stepping back with effortless grace—
the next?
His foot caught on a stray monitor cable.
A blink.
A stumble.
Then—**thud.**
Not a fall...
but a *dramatic lean* —hands slamming both palms against the wall on either side of Raito and Tsukki's heads—
trapping them in place—
close,
too close,
Eichi's perfect composure cracked into wide-eyed surprise—
and Raito & Tsukki?
💥 **Instant rabbit mode: activated.**
"EEEEEE—!!" Raito squeaked, freezing like he'd been struck by lightning.
Tsukki went completely rigid—eyes wide, face pale, soul possibly already halfway to the afterlife:
> "H-HE'S GONNA ABSORB US..."
And in that one wild, unplanned second—
**FLASH!**
The photographer didn't hesitate.
Captured it all:
- Eichi mid-stumble—hair slightly messy, tie askew,
- Polar Opposites trapped between his arms like protagonists in some forbidden drama,
- Pure terror radiating off them like heat waves,
- And somehow... still *incredibly* photogenic?
Silence fell.
Then—
Wataru snorted.
Tori burst out laughing.
Yuzuru covered his mouth—but shoulders shaking said everything.
Eichi slowly pulled back—and straightened up with a cough, brushing dust off his sleeve as if nothing happened:
> "...I tripped."
> "...It meant nothing."
But then he glanced at the monitor where the photo displayed...
...and actually *blushed.*
Because honestly?
It looked iconic.
And Ibara? From the corner—he smirked:
### > "Publish it." 📸🔥
Raito finally unfroze—with tears in his eyes:
"W-Was that... real life or simulation?!"
Tsukki whispered:
> "...I think we just got framed for romance."
At STARMAKER PRODUCTION...
Eichi leaned back against the wall, holding up a magazine with a grimace.
His eyes scanned the cover:
**POLAR OPPOSITES x FINE**
and there—splashed across the front? A perfectly timed shot of his fall:
- his hands planted on either side of Raito & Tsukki's heads,
- their faces frozen in rabbit-mode terror,
- his own expression caught in that brief moment of shock—
- and a bold caption beneath:
> Polar Opposites: Trapped between a wall
Eichi shook his head, mumbling,
> "That photographer had no sense of self-preservation..."
Suddenly, Wataru appeared beside him, grinning like a demon.
> "But you gotta admit... that was a gorgeous shot, Eichi-chan ✨"
Eichi shot a flat glare:
> "Don't call me that."
Wataru feigned innocence, shrugging.
> "I'm just saying... you look great! Like some handsome villain who's cornered two helpless victims. Very 'main character' moment."
Eichi didn't respond—but he glanced at the magazine again,
then quickly turned and tried to walk away,
but Wataru fell into step beside,
still grinning ear-to-ear.
Eichi walked faster,
trying to slip away—
but Wataru matched his pace perfectly,
still *talking.*
> "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it became an iconic photo. The internet's probably *losing* it right now—"
Eichi quickened his stride—nearly a march now,
but Wataru?
He kept moving like he was having the time of his life,
always just a few steps away.
> "—you know how social media is. All it takes is one good meme... and that photo could blow up."
Eichi clenched his jaw—and suddenly broke into a run,
trying to outpace his annoyingly chatty classmate.
> "—or even become some weird trend, like the whole necktie challenge thing from last year—"
Wataru's casual voice chased him down the hall,
laughing.
Running.
Still *talking.*
> "—can you imagine if it spawned a bunch of copycat photos? Like fans trying to recreate the pose—"
Eichi kept running,
racing through the hallway,
almost *dashing* to the end—
but Wataru?
He was right on his heels.
Unfazed.
> "—it might even spark some shipping fanart... or worse, fanfiction...
Eichi *sprinted*...
Wataru *galloped.*
Tori and Yuzuru stood at the crosswalk of the hallway—like sentinels of chaos—watching Eichi flee and Wataru pursue like a man possessed.
Tori blinked slowly.
Then sighed, leaning against the wall:
> "...Is this what happens when Eichi *finally* meets something he can't control?"
Yuzuru didn't answer right away.
Just stared.
Serene. Observant. Deep in thought.
Then—
### > "No."
>
A single, calm word.
>
> **"This is what happens when Eichi meets something he can't *deny.*"** 🌟
Tori's eyes widened slightly—
then crinkled into a grin:
> "Ohhhh... so you're saying..."
He leaned forward, voice dropping to a playful whisper:
### > "The untouchable king has been *flustered*?" ✨
Yuzuru remained still—but just for a second...
then turned away,
hiding it well...
but not well enough:
👉 A flicker.
👉 A tiny smirk.
👉 The ghost of amusement in moonlight eyes.
And somewhere far behind them—
Eichi finally slammed the practice room door shut...
only to realize—
he was now alone...
except for his reflection...
and that cursed magazine cover staring back at him from his own hands...
💥📸🔥
The moment the door slid shut behind him, Eichi slumped against the wall—exhaling. For a few seconds, the room was quiet. Peaceful. Then the silence shattered as he hurled the magazine *hard* against the wall, yelling:
> ***"DAMN IT!!!"***
His voice echoed back at him—sharp and venomous in the empty space. Eichi clenched his fists, chest heaving with anger and frustration.
Meanwhile, the crazy:B unit leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on the magazine. Rinne let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a smile.
> "Hooo boy... look at that. Our boy's famous."
Hinata let out a low whistle, echoing Rinne's words.
> "More like 'infamous.'"
Kohaku, ever the pragmatist, simply commented:
> "I guess there really is no such thing as bad publicity."
Rinne, lounging on the sofa, raised an eyebrow.
> "I mean, he looks pretty good, though."
Yuta nodded in agreement, adding:
> "Yeah, in a kind of dramatic, villainous way."
Niki, the group's resident foodie, looked up from the snack he was munching on:
> "I wonder what the online rumors will say..."
The room fell into a momentary silence as that thought sunk in. Everyone knew that rumors in the entertainment industry could spread like wildfire. Even more so with a single viral photo.
Jun broke the silence, glancing at the magazine again.
> "The gossip sites are going to have a field day with this one."
Ibara, ever the voice of reason, spoke up, cutting through the chatter.
> "It's not just the gossip sites. Fans will be reacting too."
Hiyori nodded, adding:
> "Some might be supportive, but others... well, they might not take kindly to their idol being portrayed like this."
Shu's gaze darkened slightly, his voice sharp.
> "Precisely. This could have an impact on his reputation."
Mika, who'd been quiet until now, spoke up bluntly.
> "It's risky."
But Rinne, ever the optimist, threw in a playful retort:
> "Or it could be amazing PR!"
Across the room, the unit from Polar Opposites sat silently on a couch, their usually energetic spirits noticeably dampened.
Tsukki was leaned back, staring off into space, his usual stoicism tinged with something darker.
Raito had a pillow clutched tightly against his chest, his normally bright eyes now dulled with uncertainty.
They looked like shadows compared to the vibrant units around them.
Hiyori was the first to break the silence.
> "They look... off."
The others nodded in agreement, their eyes drifting toward the unit in the corner.
Jun sighed, folding his arms.
> "To be expected, I guess. That photo... it must've been shocking for them."
Ibara spoke again, his voice quieter this time.
> "They'd been doing well until now. Handling their rise with dignity."
Shu's eyes lingered on the unit for a moment. There was a hint of compassion in his usually distant expression.
Mika, ever blunt, voiced his observation:
> "They're scared."
Raito froze.
The phone buzzed in his hand—vibrating like a warning bell.
**Caller ID: Mom (23 Missed Calls)**
His face drained of color.
Tsukki slowly turned his head, eyes widening in silent dread.
Across the room, **everyone** noticed it—
the way Raito's fingers trembled,
the way he stared at the screen like it was about to summon a demon,
and how—without a word—he slowly began to lower the phone... face first... into the couch cushion...
> "Noooo... not now..." he whispered.
> "*Anything but her knowing.*"
Jun blinked.
> "Wait. You mean..."
Ibara sighed, adjusting his glove with quiet finality:
### > "Raito's mother runs *half* of Japan's idol gossip forums." 🌪️📱🔥
Silence fell again—but this time, laced with horror.
Because suddenly?
That magazine cover wasn't just scandalous...
It was **apocalyptic.**
Hinata gasped:
> "Oh no... she'll turn it into *fan fiction.*"
Yuta added:
> "With tags. And shipping names."
Niki dropped his snack:
> "...She'll call them 'Sunwall Shipping'."
"**NO!**" Raito screamed into the pillow—muffled but desperate—legs kicking slightly in pure panic.
Even Tsukki looked pale now:
> "...We're trending aren't we?"
At that exact moment—
Raito's phone lit up again—
not with a call...
but with a notification from *"IDOL SCOOP DAILY – by Mama Hikari"* ⚡
Preview headline flashed on-screen:
### > **"MY SON TRAPPED BY A HANDSOME VILLAIN?! EICHI TENSOUIN'S WALL SLAM SCANDAL EXPOSED!! 😱💖🔥"**
💥💥💥
Polar Opposites collapsed inward—curling into each other like two souls caught in an internet storm,
as COSMIC watched...
and realized something terrifying:
---
# The real villain wasn't Eichi...
### It was **Mama Hikari.**
💻💣🌙☀️
Ibara, the ever-practical leader, swiftly re-centered the group's focus.
> "We should focus on preparing for the *plushie* advertisement shoot."
As the word "plushie" left his mouth, Raito and Tsukki snapped to attention, the stress momentarily displaced by the mention of their upcoming task.
> "Plushie... right!" Raito said, the word acting like a magic charm that shifted his focus.
The mood in the room slightly lifted.
Raito and Tsukki stood up from the couch, all thoughts of the gossip magazine and Mama Hikari fading as they mentally prepared for their plushie ad shoot.
Hinata, ever the optimistic one, couldn't help but smile at the abrupt shift.
> "There they go... the power of cute stuff."
Niki, still holding his snack, nodded in agreement.
> "Plushies > gossip any day."
Yuta chuckled, shaking his head slightly
> "Plushies, the ultimate distraction."
Hime nodded in agreement.
> "And Raito and Tsukki's plushie ad shoot will probably be even *more* distracting. Those two together in plushie form..."
A collective sigh went through the room.
Even Ibara was not immune.
Raito and Tsukki exchanged a quick look, both realizing what everyone was implying.
Tsukki coughed, slightly flustered:
> "Just... a regular commercial, everyone. Nothing dramatic."
Raito added, a tinge of pink on his cheeks:
> "Yeah, it's just... well, a plushie ad."
The others chuckled at their reactions, clearly amused.
> "Sure, 'regular' when it's those two..." Yuta teased.
The ad began.
On-screen, Raito and Tsukki held the miniature representations of themselves—plushie versions, perfect in every detail. *Almost* too cute to be real.
Raito looked down, gently holding his plushie self against his chest, a soft smile on his face.
Tsukki, on the other hand, was carefully inspecting the plushie version of himself, his eyes slightly widening in surprise as he noted the tiny details.
Ibara's directions rang out:
> "And... ACTION!"
Raito immediately switched into performance mode, holding the plushie version of himself up to the camera with a bright smile.
> "Hey hey~ Have you seen these cute plushies?"
Tsukki held up his plushie self as well, a more natural, albeit still reserved, smile on his face.
> "They're soft, they're cuddly, and... they actually look like us."
The camera panned slowly between the plushies and the real Raito and Tsukki, emphasizing the uncanny likeness.
Raito continued:
> "Perfect for cuddling on cold nights... or when you're feeling lonely..." he added, a touch of playful innocence in his voice.
Tsukki added in a quiet, but sincere tone:
> "...or when you just need a little comfort."
To be continued...