The final scene wrapped under golden sunset light filtering through the studio windows.
The director stepped forward—clipboard in hand, eyes warm with pride.
"Alright, team!" he called out, voice thick with satisfaction.
"That's a wrap! You all... *crushed* it."
He smiled at each of them—Tsukki brushing dust off his costume, Rei already unbuttoning his coat like armor being shed, Mayoi stretching with a rare grin on his face.
"Seriously," the director continued. "I've worked on dozens of projects—but this? This felt *alive.* You didn't just act... you *connected.*"
Aira clapped once dramatically: "Justice has been served!"
Ritsu wiped imaginary tears: "And so has family drama!"
Then—
The director pointed at Mayoi.
"You... that last monologue? Chills. I swear my soul left my body for three seconds."
Mayoi blinked—then actually blushed. "...T-Thanks..."
"And Tsukki!" he turned next. "Fainting scream combo? Pure gold! Emotional range from 'scared kid' to 'stoic moon child' in one take!"
Tsuki grunted—and looked away fast—but not before muttering:
"...It wasn't *that* special."
(It was.)
Finally:
"And Rei! Your protective older brother energy?" The director sighed dreamily. "Legendary."
Rei gave only a slight nod—his version of applause acceptance—with Tsuki rolling his eyes beside him.
As everyone began packing up and saying their goodbyes...
Raito slung an arm around Mayoi and whispered:
"See? Told you—you're not weak."
Mayoi didn't argue this time.
Just smiled quietly into the fading light—
as shadows stretched long behind them...
not as chains anymore,
but proof they'd finally walked through the dark...
together.
🌙🎬 **End of Shoot – But Not the Story**
As everyone finished packing, packing up the equipment and costumes and props for storage—Tsukki stretching and groaning that his shoulder hurt from the dramatic fall—Rei zipped his coat back up, ready to go...
Then felt a tight grip on his sleeve.
He looked down, eyes wide faintly with surprise.
There—
Was Ritsu, holding on tightly, refusing to let go.
Ritsu stayed clinging on as if his life depended on it, looking up at Rei with pleading eyes.
"Onii-chan..." he said quietly. "Don't leave."
Rei blinked.
...And then slowly knelt down.
"Is something wrong?" he asked quietly—never harsh, only concerned.
Ritsu fidgeted a little, fingers shifting around the fabric of Rei's sleeve.
"...No," he muttered after a pause. "Just... don't go yet. Stay."
A beat passed.
Rei stared at Ritsu—really *looked* at him.
Then it hit him.
Not anger. Not jealousy.
Just... a soft, quiet *ache.*
His little brother had spent all day watching someone else play the role he'd always claimed—the one who got to call "Onii-chan" with tears and warmth and trust...
And Tsukki, of all people, had worn it so naturally—even if it was for drama—that Ritsu sat through scene after scene like he was being slowly erased.
And now?
Now that the cameras were off...
He just wanted his turn back.
Rei's expression softened—just barely—but enough to shift the whole room's atmosphere without a word spoken.
Then—
Slowly...
He reached up... and ruffled Ritsu's hair with deliberate gentleness—a rare crack in his usual stoic shell.
"Ah," he said quietly, voice low but warm. "I get it now."
Ritsu blinked rapidly once... twice...
Trying not to look too desperate.
Trying not to melt instantly.
Failing both.
"I wasn't ignoring you," Rei murmured. "But I see what you need."
Another pause.
Then:
"...Stay for dinner?"
Rei asked—not as an order, but an offer only family could make real.
Ritsu looked up fast: "...With tomato soup?"
"...Even that."
A smile—smaller than sunrise but brighter than stars—
Finally broke across Ritsu's face like he'd won something precious again:
"*You're my Onii-chan.*"
"And only mine," Rei replied flatly—as if stating a universal truth written in stone... while still holding his hand tighter on the way out. 🌙
(...Behind them? Tsukki watched from afar—with just a faint nod.)
Mission complete:
The title was never stolen...
Just shared—for healing's sake.
🖤🍅
A few weeks later.
The city lights shimmered under a cool night sky as the neon marquee lit up with bold, glowing letters:
**"Detective Brothers: Shadows at Midnight"**
*Now Playing – Premiere Night!*
Outside the cinema—
Laughter echoed.
Raito bounced ahead, camera phone already recording. "This is *historic!* Our first movie screening as idols—*in theaters!*"
Tsukki trudged behind him, arms crossed. "You're filming again? You've recorded every snack purchase for two hours."
"Documentation is vital!" Raito declared dramatically. "This moment must live in my heart—and my cloud storage."
Behind them—Rei walked silently with Ritsu clinging to his arm (again), wearing matching black beanies like rival mafia heirs on a casual night out.
"I still can't believe they cast me as your little brother," Tsuki muttered, glancing sideways at Rei.
"You were convincing," Rei replied simply—with only a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"That's not what I meant—"
"Ohhh~?" Ritsu cut in sweetly. "So you *liked* pretending he was your Onii-chan?"
"No."
"Yes he did~" Mayoi sang quietly, smirking—a rare boldness now that therapy-through-horror-movies had done its work.
Aira clapped his hands together: "Alright! Popcorn vote: salty or sweet?"
And just like that—the group spilled into the theater buzzing with energy...
Not just performers anymore...
But something deeper now:
Friends.
Idols.
Found family.
🎬 Inside the darkened hall—
The screen lit up.
Music swelled.
And there they were...
Larger than life... their faces on film for everyone to see...
As screams echoed from fictional morgues and heroes stood strong,
Ritsu squeezed Rei's arm tighter during Tsukki's faint scene—
Tsuki noticed... and didn't comment.
Mayoi watched his ghost monologue play back—and this time?
He didn't look away when people gasped at how real it felt.
Because it *was.*
And somewhere near the back row?
Raito paused his filming just once—to watch his friends laugh softly together under soft blue light,
and whispered—not into a lens—but to himself:
"...Polar Opposites isn't just our duo name..."
"It's our story."
☀️🌙
*(End credits roll — but no one gets up yet.)*
The next month.
In the dimly lit backrooms of the practice room, UNDEAD prepared for their upcoming concert:
Adonis lifted barbells, muscles straining like steel.
Rei stretched by a back wall, expression distant with focus.
Kaoru lounged on a practice chair, tuning his guitar perfectly.
And Koga paced between them, restless.
"I don't get why we're rehearsing again" he grumbled as he passed Adonis. "We already ran through everything twice yesterday."
"Practice makes perfect," Rei replied flatly, bending down for a leg stretch. "The performance needs to be flawless."
Koga scoffed, folding his arms. "We've been rehearsing non-stop for weeks. We've got it perfect already."
Kaoru glanced over from his chair, strumming a chord. "And it's better to be over-prepared than under."
"Easy for you to say," Koga retorted bluntly. "You're not the one doing all the stunts!"
Koga pulled out his phone and tapped open the video—there it was again:
Tsukki, in full character, shrieking like a horror movie victim before dramatically collapsing.
*"AAAAAAHHH!!"*
Then—*poof.* Limp on the floor. Perfect faint.
Koga grinned, rewinding and playing it a third time.
"No way..." he muttered under his breath, shaking his head with disbelief. "That quiet little moon kid from my club actually *did that?*"
Adonis looked over mid-lift. "You're still watching that?"
"Wouldn't you be?" Koga smirked, tossing the phone toward Rei. "Your new 'little brother' screams like a haunted teakettle!"
Rei caught it without looking—watched the clip once through—and gave a single nod of approval.
"...He committed."
Kaoru smirked, setting aside his guitar. "Committed is understating it. Boy *fainted* on command."
Koga chuckled, watching the video on Rei's phone again. "Kid's got some hidden talents, for sure."
Adonis set down the barbell—glancing over at the screen. "He was convincing as the younger brother."
Rei looked up at that, eyes flickering. "...Very convincing."
Koga caught the faint emphasis—raised an eyebrow, grinned: "Aww, got a soft spot for the moon kid?"
Rei pocketed the phone without a word.
Then stood up—slow, calm, and authoritative.
"Enough distractions."
He looked at each of them in turn—Kaoru with his guitar half-slouched on his lap, Koga still smirking at Tsukki's faint for the tenth time, Adonis mid-cooldown stretch.
"We have a concert in six days," Rei continued, voice low but firm. "Not a rehearsal show. Not a test run."
A beat.
"This is *UNDEAD.* On the biggest stage we've had yet."
The room quieted.
Even Koga stopped grinning.
Rei crossed his arms.
"If you're done watching ghost siblings and fake faints... let's earn our spotlight."
Kaoru straightened first—slung his guitar over his shoulder with a sharp nod.
"Alright then. Let's run it from the top."
Adonis stood up silently—a mountain of focus now—and cracked one knuckle like thunder:
"First song?"
Rei said only one word:
**"Breakdown."**
And just like that—the lights dimmed slightly overhead...
the beat began pulsing through floor monitors...
and UNDEAD stepped back into shadow,
ready to burn bright again—
not as idols who rest between roles,
but as fire that never stops burning.
🖤🔥
At the quiet corner café where Tsukki worked part-time after school, a sudden *achoo!* broke the hum of soft jazz and clinking teacups.
A customer looked up from her scone.
"Bless you!"
Tsukki wiped his nose with a napkin—expression deadpan as ever.
"...Someone's talking about me."
Raito, who just walked in with camera already raised (naturally), paused mid-step.
"Oh? ESP upgrade now? From 'stoic moon child' to psychic?"
"No," Tsuki muttered, grabbing a tray. "Just bad timing."
But then—
He glanced out the window... at the distant glow of practice room lights across campus...
And for just half a second?
Let himself wonder—
*Were they really talking about me again?*
Then shook it off.
"Back to work," he grumbled—walking toward a table with perfect posture, black apron tied tight...
as Raito sighed dramatically behind him:
"So cold... even when you're being adorably aware of your popularity~"
📸 *(Flash!)*
"DELETE THAT."
"Not in this lifetime." 🌙
"Why are you *here*," Tsukki said flatly, turning to face Raito with a tray in hand—like he already knew the answer and regretted it.
Raito grinned, unbothered. "Supportive duo member energy!"
"You're here to spy on me," Tsuki deadpanned.
"Observation is vital for content creation!" Raito corrected dramatically, lifting his phone again. "The public must witness the legendary moon child in his *natural habitat!*"
A nearby customer cooed: "Aww, are you two idols?"
Tsukki immediately looked at her—cold stare activated:
"No."
Raito gasped: "*Betrayal!*"
But before he could protest further—
The manager called out from behind the counter:
"Tsuki-kun! Table 7 needs their order!"
Tsukki didn't flinch.
"...Coming."
He turned away—but not before muttering under his breath so only Raito could hear:
"If you don't stop filming... I'm putting wasabi in your matcha latte."
Raito froze. Horrified.
"...You monster."
And yet—
He still pressed record as Tsuki walked off—apron tied neatly, expression blank,
but just—*just*—a flicker of satisfaction at finally having the upper hand...
even if only for a moment.
🍵🌙
As dusk settled and streetlights flickered on, Raito finally packed up his camera gear—reluctantly—after what felt like *hours* of silent stalking (aka "documentary work").
Tsukki was still wiping down tables, completely ignoring him.
So Raito cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted across the café like a theater villain making a grand exit:
**"GOODNIGHT, MY SHINING MOON OF CONTENT! I'LL DREAM OF YOUR COOL EYES AND COLDER ATTITUDE!"**
A few customers looked up. One dropped their spoon.
Tsukki didn't even turn around—just raised one hand behind him... middle finger extended with *perfect precision.*
Raito wiped an imaginary tear.
"So poetic... so cold... such artistry..."
Then whispered to himself while backing out the door:
"Tomorrow—I film *the walk home.*"
And vanished into the night—
leaving only echoes of dramatic footsteps...
and one very tired moon child slowly questioning every life choice that led to this moment.
🌙🎥💔
After their concert rehearsal, UNDEAD walked the streets—hungry for food, but also just enjoying a rare night of down time.
Adonis walked with a hand shoved in his pockets—always the most unruffled, even after hours of intense practice.
Koga, on the other hand, was restless.
"This area is so *boring."*
"Then pick a place to eat faster," Kaoru deadpanned.
Koga folded his arms: "Hey, it's not my fault this street is just buildings and trees."
Rei pointed at a familiar café:
"**There.**"
Kaoru raised an eyebrow: "Are you serious."
"...Why not?"
Koga made a face: "Is this a joke? That one is for rich old ladies—not us."
"So?"
"So," Koga said bluntly, "it'll be overpriced and full of tea snob grandmas."
Adonis glanced at it.
"...They have good sandwiches," he commented.
Despite Koga's protests, they walked into the café.
The place was elegant in its simplicity—low lighting, soft music, soft chatter. No other idols or teenage fans, just a few regulars sipping tea at a distance.
Kaoru blinked, looking around in mild surprise. "Huh. It's actually quiet."
Koga rolled his eyes: "And classy. Which is *boring.*"
"Just sit down," Rei said flatly, already pulling out a chair.
Reluctantly, they all took their seats—Koga and Kaoru still looking like they expected a tea-obsessed auntie to come over and force them to drink green tea with honey any second.
"This menu sucks," Koga grumbled, flipping through the fancy booklet. "Where's the ramen? Or the meat?"
"You eat like a dog," Kaoru said, skimming through the menu with a bored expression. "Maybe try something sophisticated once in your life."
"Can I have your orders?"
Four pairs of eyes snapped up.
Silence.
Even the background music seemed to pause for one long, *painful* second.
Tsukki stood there—completely calm, pen in hand, notepad ready—his expression as flat and unreadable as ever.
But deep in his dark eyes?
A flicker.
Amusement?
Revenge?
No—
*Justice.*
Koga dropped his menu.
"**WHAT.**"
Kaoru blinked slowly. "...Well. This is a twist."
Adonis just nodded solemnly: "So this is where he works."
Rei said nothing at first—just stared... then quietly closed his menu with a soft *snap.*
"...Fitting," he murmured.
Tsukki tilted his head slightly—the ghost of something dangerous behind those cold moon-colored eyes—and said simply:
> "Can I take your order... *senpai?*"
Koga pointed at him: "**NO WAY! YOU'RE MOON KID?! AND REI'S FAKE LITTLE BROTHER?!**"
"Yes," Tsuki replied dryly. "And also... your waiter."
Ripples spread across the table like someone had thrown ice into fire.
Kaoru smirked: "Oh, we are *so* getting extra tea now."
"Actually—" Tsuki continued, voice smooth and deadly calm—"you get what's on the menu."
Four pairs of shocked eyes blinked at him at once.
"What?" Koga echoed hoarsely. "What do you mean we get what's on the menu?"
Tsukki raised an eyebrow: "The menu that has tea options and sandwiches? I mean, that."
Koga was on his feet in an instant. "I did NOT come here for bread triangles and water leaves!"
Kaoru shook his head. "That's tea leaves, you uncultured dog."
Tsukki's fingers tightened slightly on the notepad.
*Good.*
Raito had left earlier.
No camera.
No squealing.
No "OMG IT'S REI-SAMA FROM UNDEAD, I'M BEING BLESSED—FILMING IN HD!!!"
A silent sigh of relief slipped through his thoughts.
Because if *that* had happened...
Not only would the café have gone viral in 0.5 seconds...
But he'd be dealing with a full-scale idol fan meltdown—
**From his own partner.**
And worse?
Rei would've known Raito was filming him like a rare wild animal spotted at dawn.
Tsuki couldn't let that happen.
So yes—tonight was quiet.
Serene, even.
Just four shocked, loud senpais gaping up at him...
and one stoic waiter quietly savoring his power over their fate:
> "So..." he said coolly, pen poised above the pad again.
> **"Still refusing bread triangles and water leaves?"** 🌙☕
Koga growled, gripping the edge of the table. "**Don't mock me with salad names!**"
Tsukki blinked—deadpan. "I didn't name them."
"Fine!" Koga snapped, slamming a fist down (lightly enough not to break anything—barely). "**I'll take the biggest meat dish you have. And extra rice. And no tea leaves!**"
Kaoru sighed: "Just give him whatever won't poison us."
Adonis nodded calmly: "The grilled salmon set, please."
Rei?
He didn't move.
Just stared at Tsukki like they were locked in some unspoken duel...
Then quietly said:
"Matcha latte."
Tsuki's pen paused.
"...No wasabi," he replied flatly. "Since I'm feeling generous."
Koga spun to Rei: **"YOU'RE DRINKING TEA?! SINCE WHEN DO YOU DRINK TEA?!"**
Rei ignored him.
And Tsuki?
He turned on his heel—walked off toward the kitchen with quiet grace—
but just before vanishing behind the service door?
Allowed himself one small smirk.
*This was fun.*
And for once...
he wasn't fainting from fear or pretending to be weak.
Nope.
Tonight?
He held all the power—
and let UNDEAD *sweat* over their sandwiches like mortals beneath a moon that finally learned how to shine on its own terms.
🌙🖤
Tsukki walked into the kitchen—smooth and silent—a tray balanced in one hand—and immediately paused.
"You know," his boss stated mildly, polishing a wineglass on the side, "I'm pretty sure those boys are idols."
Tsukki said nothing.
"Famous ones too, from what I heard," the man continued casually, setting down the glass. "UNDEAD, wasn't it?"
Tsukki nodded slightly.
The boss chuckled: "And you're serving them with a straight face. No fan squeals or fainting. Impressive."
Tsukki didn't flinch. He just turned, calm and composed, and met his boss's eyes with the quiet confidence of someone who'd stood on stage beneath stadium lights.
> "I'm not a fanboy."
>
> "I'm an idol too."
A beat passed.
The boss blinked—then slowly lowered his polishing cloth.
"...Wait. You mean... *Polar Opposites?*"
Another nod.
"Huh." The man leaned back, studying Tsukki like he was seeing him for the first time—no longer just the quiet boy in a uniform, but someone who burned bright in his own right.
"So that's why you're so unimpressed..." He smirked. "You're used to being stared at."
Tsukki said nothing more—just picked up their order from the pass-through counter: four neatly arranged trays stacked with grace only perfectionism could achieve.
Then walked out—
not as a server playing servant to stars,
but as one star passing among others—
knowing full well...
he wasn't beneath them at all.
🌕🖤
When he returned to UNDEAD's table—the silence returned again like gravity resetting itself.
Koga squinted at him suspiciously as Tsuki set down Adonis' salmon plate first... then Kaoru's tea... then Koga's mountain of meat (which made him nearly cry with relief).
Finally—Rei's matcha latte.
Tsuki placed it gently before him...
then paused—with pen still in hand—and looked Rei straight in those sharp red eyes:
> "No fake screaming tonight."
>
> "But if you ask nicely—I might bring extra sugar."
Rei held his gaze for one long second...
...then gave the smallest nod imaginable:
"...Thanks."
And somewhere deep inside?
UNDEAD learned something new that night:
Moonlight doesn't beg to shine—
it waits until everyone can finally see it.
☕🌙✨
It was well past midnight when he finally finished his shift, and the other chefs had left.
Tsukki sighed, stretching—tired but satisfied—and started washing his hands in the sink.
But just before he could turn off the lights, he heard a faint noise at the entrance...
Like the soft tap of footsteps.
Tsukki paused mid-drying—his senses on high alert—and slowly turned.
Moonlight spilled across the empty café, but one figure remained:
Rei.
The sight was strangely surreal:
Moonlight on polished floors.
Empty chair tables.
And the tall silhouette of a vampire idol leaning by the doorway, half-hidden in shadow.
For a second, they just stared across the quiet space—as if the whole night paused in place, frozen by the sight of something that had never happened before.
A beat passed.
Then... Rei stepped out of the shadows.
Tsukki didn't flinch.
Didn't move a muscle.
Just folded the towel over his shoulder...
And waited.
Tsukki's voice cut through the silence—calm, guarded, but not cold.
Rei stopped just a few paces away, red eyes glinting under moonlight like embers refusing to die.
Then he reached into his coat pocket—
Tsuki tensed.
But what came out?
Not a weapon.
Not an order.
Not even a snide remark.
Just... a single folded note on crisp white paper.
Rei held it out without speaking at first—the kind of silence that felt heavier than words.
Finally:
> "You didn't flinch."
Tsuki blinked once. "...What?"
"At the café," Rei said quietly. "When you saw us—you didn't panic. You didn't hesitate." His eyes narrowed—just slightly—as if dissecting memory in real time. "You served UNDEAD like we were just... customers."
A pause.
Then:
"That takes strength."
Still holding out the note, he added:
"This is from me—not as your senior or rival—but as someone who *gets* it now."
Tsuki stared at him... then slowly reached forward and took it without breaking eye contact.
> "I don't need pity," he said flatly.
>
> "I'm not weak."
>
> And never pretended to be."
"I know," Rei replied—finally stepping back with something almost resembling respect in his voice:
**"That's why I left my number."**
He turned toward the door—but paused before vanishing into night...
"...Next time you're overworked and Raito's being unbearable..."
"...Call me."
"UNDEAD has group therapy sessions every Thursday."
A beat passed.
Then—with no warning—Rei was gone...
leaving only echoes behind...
and one stunned moon child standing alone in an empty café,
staring down at unfolded paper with silent disbelief.
🌙🖤
*(And somewhere far away... Raito sneezed again—with no idea how close fate had come to ending him via unpaid delivery of matcha latte revenge content).*
☕📞✨
The month
Backstage hummed with quiet chaos.
Red lights pulsed along the ceiling.
Adonis warmed up silently, stretching like a predator before the hunt.
Kaoru leaned against a wall, tuning his guitar one last time—eyes closed, breathing steady.
And Koga?
He was pacing. Again.
"Why's it so hot back here?" he snapped, tugging at his collar. "This place feels like a damn furnace."
Kaoru didn't look up. "That's your nervous energy cooking you alive."
"I'm not nervous!" Koga shot back—then immediately adjusted his sleeve for the fifth time in two minutes.
Adonis cracked one eye open: "You're sweating."
"I'm *steaming!* Big difference!"
"Big difference indeed," Rei said drily—leaning against a nearby pillar with one foot up—trying (and failing) to hide a smile. "One's a normal bodily reaction. The other involves self-immolation."
Kaoru snorted. "At this rate, you're gonna melt before the show even starts."
"Shut it—I'm not that bad," Koga grumbled. "It's just... a little warm in here, that's all!"
Adonis' dry voice cut in: "So why are you wearing *two* undershirts?"
Koga looked down at his layered shirts—flushed red now—and gave a weak cough. "...For... comfort."
Rei crossed his arms. "Comfort or not, you're gonna overheat if you keep fidgeting like that."
"Hey, I'm just getting pumped!" Koga protested, pacing again. "I can't stand still. You expect me to go on stage and not be *hyped?*"
Adonis raised an eyebrow. "There's hyped, and then there's vibrating."
To be continued...