The practice room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Mio Hanabira stood in front of the mirror, hands clasped tightly at her chest. Hina adjusted the sheet music on the stand beside her, careful and precise.
"Okay," Hina said softly. "Just the first verse."
Mio nodded. Her voice left her lips, tentative at first, then steadier. Warm, clear, and fragile, carrying an honesty that made the room feel alive. Hina joined in on the second line, her voice lighter, weaving naturally around Mio's.
Harmony.
Not perfect. Not polished.
But real.
They finished in silence, breathless.
"…That was good," Hina said, smiling faintly.
Mio laughed nervously. "I messed up the chorus timing."
"We'll fix it," Hina replied. "We have time."
Mio nodded—but she felt it again.
That sensation.
Someone was watching.
She glanced toward the glass window of the hallway.
A tall figure leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. Black jacket. Calm, confident, and measuring every movement.
Ren.
Mio froze. She hadn't seen him before. Something about him made the air feel heavier, sharper.
"You're… good," he said quietly, voice smooth. "Better than I expected from a rookie."
Mio frowned. "You… you've been listening?"
"Of course," he said simply. "I couldn't help it."
Her cheeks warmed. "Th-That's… kind of creepy."
Ren smirked, but his gaze softened slightly. "Only because I don't want to miss a thing."
Mio blinked, flustered. "What… do you mean?"
"You're new here," he said, stepping a little closer. "But you shine… even when you don't know it yet."
Mio swallowed, her heart beating faster than her singing ever made it. "I… I'm not special."
Ren's smirk deepened. "You don't get to say that. Not when you're standing here like this."
---
A sudden chill crept into the hallway.
Mio's chest tightened. The shadows at the far end twisted unnaturally.
Shizuku stepped forward, silent and precise, her presence cold and calculating. Even after their last fight, her aura alone made the world feel heavier.
"You're practicing again," Shizuku said smoothly. "How… diligent."
Ren tensed beside her. Though he was her teammate, there was a flicker in his gaze—a pull toward Mio he couldn't ignore.
Shizuku's eyes followed the girls, calculating every note, every movement. "The Pop Star Festival will be enlightening. Stages amplify dreams… and expose weakness."
Mio's hands shook slightly. Hina glanced at her, tightening her grip on the music. "We'll be fine," Hina whispered. "Together."
Ren's eyes softened as he watched Mio. He wanted to step in, to protect her… but he couldn't. Shizuku's gaze was sharp, commanding, and he was still her ally.
"I don't intend to lose anyone today," Ren said under his breath, almost to himself.
Shizuku's lips curved faintly. "How… touching. But remember, loyalty is fragile. Hearts are easier to break than bones."
Mio pressed a hand to her chest, sensing the lingering cold, the invisible danger.
"Hina…" she whispered.
"I feel it too," Hina said, resolute, though her own nerves fluttered. "We just have to trust each other."
Ren stayed in the hallway, unseen by the girls. His heart conflicted—friend or foe, admiration or duty.
Shizuku watched silently, cold as ice, reminding him that Mio and Hina were enemies.
And somewhere beyond the walls, the Pop Star Festival poster fluttered slightly, as if the stage itself already knew what was coming.