> 🌑 ***"And I can see your smile... delighted..."***
Adonis stepped forward,
voice strong yet almost tender.
Not the commander now... but like a friend,
a leader,
a ***believer.***
> ***"Beyond the nights when no tear's falling down... When I wished..."***
Then, quietly:
> ***"Believer..."***.
🌑 "Don't need creative thoughts... A perfect swap's ideal... Inside that processed heart unholiness reveals..."
Rei's eyes scanned the crowd like he was searching for something no one could see but him.
He'd sung his verse alone before...
but this time,
he seemed to echo across every corner of the arena,
like the silence that followed a gunshot.
> 🌄 *"If I were a flower... I'd simply sway when that wind goes by... Or flutter and dance... If I turned into a butterfly..."*
Raito took the mic,
voice soft like the first light at dawn.
He was smiling as he sang...
not with the practiced grin of a singer,
but the gentle curve of a boy finding hope in sunrise.
> 🌑 *"And up until the very end... I wanna feel okay being wrong... Prospects and hopes held in that old vessel... That is drawn and fatigued..."*
Tsuki joined in,
voice heavy but steady,
like the shadows that keep the night safe from the sun.
He was singing for himself now,
not because he had to or because it was his duty...
but because he still believed in the future,
even when hope flickered low.
> 🌑 *"Not enough, come and show me love... Exhaust all of your feelings... The need to show someone missing it all... The need to get it too."*
Kaoru's voice was still ice-cold,
but now it was almost gentle,
like frost-covered flowers in moonlight.
He wasn't singing just to the crowd...
he was singing *to himself*.
> 🌑 *"That is why you can't settle... I'm your Believer... Let's close our hearts, no gateway... As everything is now flowing away... Regrets remain throughout your spirit..."*
Adonis sang with a determination that was almost fierce...
but also with a quiet understanding,
as if he, too, had regrets he was only just starting to confront.
> 🌄 *"While in the dream I was shedding my tears... And wishing believer..."*
Koga's voice was rough and almost hoarse...
the sound of emotions held back for too long finally breaking free.
> *"Believer"*
> 🌄 *"Even if I fall apart or get broken countless times... Despite it all... I know for sure I'll keep on standing and endure..."*
Raito and Tsukki sang in unison,
voices blending like the first rays of sunlight piercing through clouds.
It was a promise more than a song,
a commitment to keep going...
even when the world kept saying to fall.
> 🌑 *"Not enough, someone show me love... And count every life thereof... Now tell me 'bout this love... Exhaust all words you could say... Exhaust all your feelings away..."*
Kaoru joined forces with Adonis,
voices echoing like a heartbeat in the night.
And as their lines intertwined, it wasn't just a song...
it was a **declaration**,
a cry for love and understanding,
and a call for connection in a world too often cold and lonely.
> 🌑 *"Tell me, oh tell me 'bout this love... Exhaust all words you could say... The need to teach someone missing the light..."*
Rei stepped forward,
voice almost gentle but still tinged with an undercurrent of pain.
He was singing to the world...
to the people out there who needed to hear it...
and to the part of himself that still remembered what it felt like to be hopelessly lost.
> 🌄 *"The need to live it too... For that reason, for the sight... I'm your Believer"*
Koga's voice echoed across the arena,
almost as if he was singing to every soul gathered there.
He was singing with a conviction that came from **experience**,
a heart that knew what it meant to struggle and doubt...
and still choose to believe.
> 🌑 🌄 *Let's keep our hearts connected... As everything has sparked and ignited... And I can see your smile, delighted... Beyond the nights I wanted to cry is...*
Polar Opposites and UNDEAD stood side by side, their voices blending into a chorus that reached to the very last corner of the arena.
This song wasn't just a performance anymore...
It was a declaration of unity,
a promise that even in the darkest nights,
there was always **light** waiting to be found.
> 🌑 🌄 *"Where I met you... and I prayed... Believer"*
The chorus echoed throughout the arena, a powerful declaration that went straight to the hearts of every person there.
It was a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is encountering the right people at the right moment to find your light... and your reason to believe.
The arena erupted in uproarious applause, a wave of sound that was both deafening and euphoric.
Polar Opposites and UNDEAD stood on stage, breathing heavily.
They had poured their hearts into each note, each lyric, and each dance move...
and they had connected with their audience in a way they'd never expected.
The crowd's cheers were thunderous, a roar that shook the very foundation of the arena.
"RAITO! TSUKKI!" fans screamed, waving lightsticks like stars in a night sky.
UNDEAD—stoic as ever—couldn't hide the faintest glow in their eyes. Adonis gave a small nod. Rei adjusted his earpiece, but didn't look away from the crowd. Kaoru smirked—not his usual teasing grin, but something softer. Koga whooped and raised both arms.
And Raito?
He was crying.
Bright, shining tears rolling down his cheeks as he beamed at Tsuki.
> "We did it... we really did it!"
Tsuki didn't say much.
But he reached over—
and squeezed Raito's hand tight,
standing shoulder to shoulder with their seniors,
their idols,
their *friends.*
The stage lights blazed like dawn over Yumenosaki Academy,
reflecting off sweat and tears and smiles—
not just performers now...
but **believers**, all of them.
💫🎤🖤🌅
And somewhere beyond the ocean breeze?
A brother stirs in silence...
and dreams of moonlight dancing with the sun.
*"Believer..."* still echoes—
not just in song,
but in hearts finally unbroken by honesty.
💞🔥🎶✨
Eichi watched the performance with a hint of a smile on his lips—not a manipulative or artificial one, but almost nostalgic.
Wataru was beside him, eyes sparkling with amazement.
Tori was recording the performance on his phone, eyes wide.
Yuzuru stood back, arms crossed, expression cool...
...but there was something like approval in his gaze.
Eichi leaned closer to Wataru as the performance continued, his eyes never leaving the stage.
"It seems we found some hidden gems, Wataru." he said quietly.
Wataru grinned, nodding in agreement. "Indeed! Their unity is something to behold, isn't it? It's like they've found a common ground in their individuality. It's inspiring."
Tori, who had just finished recording, raised an eyebrow. "You're not planning something, are you, Eichi?"
Eichi chuckled, his eyes still on the performance. "Can't a former student council president appreciate genuine talent and unity when he sees it?"
Yuzuru huffed. "Spare us the sentimentality, Tenshouin."
Eichi smirked. "Ah, Yuzuru. Still allergic to emotions, I see."
Eichi's gaze returned to Polar Opposites as their performance went on.
A thought flickered in his eyes—almost speculative, but not scheming.
Wataru noticed, nudging him slightly. "You've got a look, Eichi. Planning something?"
Eichi chuckled. "Nothing concrete yet. Just... considering potential opportunities."
Tori rolled his eyes. "Of course. You see a group with potential and your first thought is, 'how can I use them?'"
Yuzuru shook his head. "Same old Tenshouin."
As Polar Opposites sneezed on stage, Eichi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, picking up on the shiver.
Wataru frowned. "What was that?"
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow. "Just a cold, perhaps?"
Tori, ever the skeptic, huffed. "Or they're just reacting to your calculating gaze, Eichi."
Eichi's lips curled into a half-smile. "They do have sharp senses, it seems."
Wataru chuckled. "Or maybe they're just attuned to the atmosphere."
Yuzuru rolled his eyes. "Or they're allergic to your manipulative vibes."
As Raito and Tsukki spoke on stage, their trembling figures and confused expressions didn't go unnoticed by the others.
Tori frowned. "Are they okay?"
Yuzuru's eyes sharpened. "Looks like something's off."
Wataru's lighthearted demeanor vanished for a moment. "They seemed fine a moment ago."
Raito apologized to the crowd, his voice slightly shaky.
Tsukki followed, his expression unusually tense. "Something feels off."
Eichi's gaze lingered on the retreating backs of Polar Opposites, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
Wataru looked concerned. "They don't seem right."
Tori crossed his arms. "Probably just nerves getting to them."
Yuzuru's lips quirked up in a rare small smirk. "Or maybe they sense a predator in their midst."
Eichi met Yuzuru's gaze, eyebrows raised.
"What's that look for, Yuzuru?"
Yuzuru's smirk widened slightly. "Just interesting how your attention always locks onto potential, even in times like these..."
Tori rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Here we go."
Wataru, ever the peacekeeper, chuckled nervously. "Now, now, let's not jump to conclusions..."
Eichi shrugged, unbotped by the teasing. "Just observant, that's all."
Tori snorted. "More like opportunistic..."
Yuzuru's smirk deepened. "Admit it, Tenshouin. You're already thinking how you can use whatever is happening to your advantage."
Eichi simply smiled, a glint in his eye that said everything and nothing at once.
"Perhaps," he said smoothly, gaze flicking toward the shadows where Raito and Tsukki had disappeared backstage. "Or perhaps I'm simply... preparing for what's coming."
Wataru blinked. "Wait—so there *is* something going on?"
Tori groaned. "Oh no. He's already scheming."
Yuzuru exhaled sharply through his nose — almost a laugh.
"Called it."
Wataru broke the tension with a concerned question.Â
"Eichi, are you planning something with Polar Opposites?"
Eichi smirked, not denying it.
"Perhaps."
Yuzuru rolled his eyes. "There it is."
Tori huffed. "You're always involved in something, aren't you?"
Eichi chuckled. "Oh, come now, I can't help it if opportunities present themselves."
Wataru frowned. "But... they're just kids. Shouldn't we let them live their lives peacefully?"
Eichi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Wataru, always the altruistic one."
Tori snorts. "More like the naive one."
Yuzuru smirked. "Idealistic to a fault."
Eichi shrugged. "They're talented. It would be a waste not to nurture that talent."
Wataru still look doubtful. "But... they're not pawns. They're people."
Eichi's expression softened, just slightly. "Of course they're people, Wataru. But in this world... talent without direction is like a star with no sky to shine in."
He glanced toward the stage again, voice quiet.
"I'm not going to use them. I'm going to give them a path—one they might not even know they need."
Tori crossed his arms. "And who made you their guide?"
Eichi smiled faintly.
"Maybe no one did."
"But someone has to."
Backstage, Raito and Tsukki sneezed simultaneously, both shuddering slightly as UNDEAD looked on with concern.
Tsuikmi wiped his nose, looking slightly pale. "What's..."
Raito sniffed, rubbing his arms as if chilled. "I don't know. I can't shake this feeling... Like someone's watching us."
Tsuki and Raito huddled closer, both feeling eerily cold despite the warm backstage. Kaoru, ever observant, noticed their discomfort.
"Are you guys okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.
Tsuki nodded slowly. "Just... feeling...weird."
Raito tried to smile, but it was strained. "Yeah, like someone's got their eyes on us... It's a bit creepy."
Koga stood next to them, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows. "Feels like... a predator hiding."
Rei pulled out his phone, quickly typing a message—no calls, no trace.
> **"Stop watching them like prey. They're not yours to claim."**
Sent.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket without a word.
But Adonis noticed—the slight tension in Rei's jaw, the way his fingers lingered near his device.
"Tenshouin?" Adonis asked quietly.
Rei didn't answer.
But he didn't have to.
Across the venue—
Eichi's phone buzzed silently in his coat pocket.
He pulled it out, read the message...
and *smiled*—slowly, knowingly—like a king spotting a rival on the battlefield.
Adonis stepped forward first, offering a rare nod. "Your performance... was genuine. That takes strength."
Rei adjusted his glasses, voice calm but with quiet approval: "You didn't just sing the song—you *lived* it. That's more than technique."
Koga grinned, clapping Raito on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. "Not bad, junior! You've got fire—and heart!"
Kaoru crossed his arms, smirking slightly. "You held your ground... even when it hurt. I respect that."
Tsuki blinked—rarely did UNDEAD give praise so freely.
Raito wiped his eyes again—not from sadness now, but from joy.
"Thank you," he said earnestly. "That means everything coming from you guys..."
Then Tori's voice suddenly rang out—
"Oi! Don't get too cozy!"
Everyone turned.
There—in the doorway—stood Wataru and Tori (Yuzuru and Eichi just behind).
Wataru waved with an awkward smile. "We were just passing by! Totally not spying!"
Tori rolled his eyes at Wataru's lie.
Eichi stepped forward smoothly, hands in pockets—smiling like sunlight wrapped in shadow.
"Bravo." He clapped once, twice... slow... deliberate.
"The harmony between darkness and light tonight was... captivating."
Tsuki tensed instantly.
Raito felt that shiver again—but stronger this time.
And Eichi?
He simply smiled wider—
like a storm about to break into bloom.
💥💫🖤🔥
Raito rubbed his arms, teeth chattering slightly. "I-I don't know... It's not the cold. Feels like... someone's watching us through my skin."
Tsuki nodded stiffly, voice low. "It's not just that. This chill—it's familiar. Like when you sense a storm before it hits... but worse."
Kaoru narrowed his eyes at Eichi in the doorway. "They're not imagining it."
Adonis stepped forward slightly—blocking Eichi's line of sight like a shield made of silence and steel.
Rei didn't speak.
He just typed one last message to Eichi—cold, final:
"Touch them with intent, and you answer to all of us."
And somewhere beneath Yumenosaki Academy,
the stage lights flickered—
like the heartbeat of something waking up.
⚡🌑💥
The next day
Tsuki and Raito walked to school together, both still a little shaken from the performance.
Raito shivered. "Man, I still feel like someone's watching me..."
Tsuki rubbed his arms. "I know what you mean. It's like there's...something just out of sight."
They walked down the school corridor, students chatting around them.
Everything seemed normal.
Until they got to their classroom.
Tsuki and Raito entered the classroom, expecting to settle back into the routine. But as soon as their classmates saw them, they were swarmed with questions.
"How was the concert?"
"You guys were amazing!"
"Everyone's talking about your performance!"
Tsuki and Raito exchanged a glance. They'd just spent the night trying to shake off that eerie feeling...
Now, they faced a different kind of pressure: *being the talk of the school.*
As the morning went on, more and more classmates approached them with praise.
"I didn't know you two could sing like that!"
"I think you guys were better than UNDEAD, honestly."
"You're like, instant stars now!"
The compliments kept coming... so much so that by lunchtime, Tsuki and Raito looked like they were drowning.
"I need air," Tsuki murmured. "Want to eat lunch outside?"
Raito nodded quickly. "Yeah. Let's get out of here for a bit."
Mao skipped toward them with that familiar, flashy grin—Trickstar's energy wrapped in one loud, confident package.
"Yo~! Raito! Tsukki! Did you *see* how many people are talking about your performance? You guys went viral!"
He dropped into the seat beside them like he owned the cafeteria.
"I mean—UNDEAD? Collaborating with *you*? That's like, legendary-tier exposure right out the gate!"
Raito blinked. "Wait... we're *viral*?"
Tsuki pinched the bridge of his nose. "...Great."
Mao leaned in, eyes sparkling. "C'mon, don't be humble! You two were fire! Passionate! Emotional!" He threw his hands up. "Even Rei looked moved—and that guy has a face like stone!"
Then Mao squinted at Tsukki.
"You okay? You look... tense."
Tsuki didn't answer.
He was staring past Mao—
straight at Eichi Tenshouin,
who stood calmly at the end of the hall,
watching them again...
with Wataru nervously tugging his sleeve to leave.
And this time—
Eichi raised his hand.
A small wave.
Like greeting prey he already knew would run into his trap.
⚡🖤
Raito rubbed his arms again, teeth chattering.
Tsuki looked even more tense, eyes never wavering from Eichi.
Mao glanced between them, frowning with concern.
Then he turned and saw what they noticed.
His eyes widened.
Eichi Tenshouin, staring at Tsuki and Raito like a predator stalking his prey.
Mao stood.
"Tsukki?" He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Tsukki..?"
Tsukki jerked in response, eyes snapping to Mao's face.
"Y-Yeah?"
Mao's eyes flickered with concern. "You're shaking."
Tsuki looked down. His hands were trembling.
"I..." He glanced back at Eichi. "It's... It's him."
Mao followed his gaze. "Tenshouin...?"
Mao's playful expression hardened into something rare—protectiveness.
"No way..." he muttered, watching Eichi's calm, unreadable stare from across the hall. "He doesn't just observe... he orchestrates. If he's got his eyes on you two..."
He turned to Raito and Tsukki, voice low.
"Listen. Eichi Tenshouin doesn't do anything without a reason. If he thinks you're special? That means one of two things—either you're about to get pulled into something huge... or used as pawns in his next game."
Raito swallowed hard.
Tsuki clenched his fists.
Both still shivering—but not from cold anymore.
From dread.
And behind them?
Wataru finally yanked Eichi away by the arm, whispering fiercely:
"Eichi! You're scaring them! We said we were just observing!"
Eichi didn't resist—
but as Wataru dragged him off,
he glanced back over his shoulder...
one last time...
and smiled like the future itself had just bowed to him.
🌑💥✨
The storm hadn't arrived yet.
But everyone could feel it coming.
⚡🖤💫
The rest of the day passed in a haze of nerves and whispers. Polar Opposites tried to act like everything was normal—but everyone kept asking about the concert.
Even Koga noticed. As their club ended, he held Raito and Tsukki back.
"You two okay?"
Raito tried to laugh. "Haha... yeah. Why wouldn't we be?"
Koga looked them over. "You're shaking."
Tsuki crossed his arms. "We... had a run-in with Tenshouin."
Koga's eyes darkened instantly. "Tenshouin? What'd he say?"
Raito rubbed his arms again.
"It's not just that. He's... been watching us. Ever since the performance, we can't shake this feeling like somebody's staring..."
Koga frowned. "He didn't try to make a deal, did he?"
Tsuki shook his head. "No. Just... stared at us like he already had plans."
Koga crossed his arms, still frowning. "Tenshouin's a scheming snake. If he's fixated on you two... be careful, alright?"
Raito nodded. "I'm sure we're just overreacting. Probably a side-effect of nerves from the performance."
Tsuki still seemed uneasy, but forced himself to nod. "...Yeah. You're right. It's nothing."
As they gathered their bags, the Aoi twins walked up.
Hinata glanced at Raito and Tsukki, concern flickering in her eyes. "Are you both okay...?"
Tsukki and Raito gave unconvincing nods. "Yeah," Raito said with forced bravado. "We're fine."
The twins turned to Koga, silent.
Koga gave a barely perceptible nod.
Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly. Yuta crossed his arms—quiet, but alert.
They didn't need words.
The message was clear:
*Eichi Tenshouin is watching.*
And if *UNDEAD's president* is warning them...
then something *real* is coming.
🔥🌀🖤
Later that night, Hinata texts the group chat:
> **"Keep an eye on Raito & Tsukki. Tenshouin's game has begun."**
Yuta adds one last message beneath it:
> **"And we're not letting him win."**
The other idol units received Hinata's message.
Trickstar: What?!
Knights: This is unacceptable.
AKATSUKI: We're on it.
rabits: We'll do what we can!*
2wink: No one hurts our juniors.
Valkyrie: We won't let Tenshouin get away with this.
Switch: We're watching, too.
Raito and Tsukki stepped out of the school gates—only to freeze.
There he was.
Eichi Tenshouin stood beside a sleek black car, hands in his coat pockets, expression smooth as polished glass.
Beside him: Wataru (fidgeting), Tori (arms crossed, unimpressed), and Yuzuru (leaning against the car like this was all beneath him).
But it wasn't their presence that made Raito's breath catch or Tsukki go rigid.
It was *the car.*
A symbol. A silent offer. A threat disguised as opportunity.
Eichi smiled—warmly, charmingly—as if he hadn't haunted their every step since last night.
"Raito. Tsukki."
His voice cut through the quiet afternoon air like silk over steel.
"You've caused quite a stir," he said lightly. "Everyone's talking about you two... even outside Yumenosaki."
Raito forced a nervous laugh. "Haha... really? We didn't mean to..."
"Oh, but you *should*," Eichi interrupted gently. "Talent like yours shouldn't hide."
Then his eyes sharpened—just slightly—and his tone shifted:
"You know... doors are opening for you now." He gestured toward the idling car behind him—the kind with tinted windows and no visible driver.
"But not all doors lead somewhere safe..." He tilted his head slightly.
"Some lead straight into the fire."
Wataru flinched at that—but didn't speak up fast enough—
until finally bursting out:
"Eichi! That came out wrong!"
Tori groaned loudly: "You're terrifying them again!"
Yuzuru exhaled sharply through his nose—but didn't stop Eichi either.
Because they all knew:
This wasn't random interest anymore.
It was recruitment disguised as danger...
or salvation wrapped in shadows?
And deep down?
**Polar Opposites could feel it—their world had just split open wide—and Eichi Tenshouin stood at its edge,** waiting to see if they'd jump...
or be pushed.
🖤🚗💥⚡
The car doors shut with a soft, final *click*—like a lock sealing.
Inside the black vehicle, the air was cool, quiet... too quiet.
Raito and Tsukki sat side by side on one seat, hands tightly clasped—white-knuckled.
Their breaths came in shallow waves.
Not from fear alone...
But from the *weight* of being inside this car—with Eichi Tenshouin and FINE across from them like royalty inspecting new courtiers.
Wataru offered a strained smile. "Haha... it's not that scary! We just wanted to talk!"
Tori sighed deeply. "You say that now, but last time you 'just wanted to talk,' someone ended up transferring schools."
Yuzuru said nothing—he simply watched out the window as Yumenosaki Academy faded into the distance.
Eichi leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees.
His voice dropped—gentle but unshakable:
> **"You two don't belong in small stages."**
He smiled—not cruelly. Not kindly.
But like he already knew their answer before they did.
> **"You were made for something bigger."**
Raito opened his mouth—but no sound came out.
Tsukki's grip tightened around Raito's hand—
not because he was afraid of Eichi...
but because deep down,
he wondered if *the monster* wasn't danger at all—
but salvation wearing its darkest mask.
🖤🚗🌀✨
And somewhere beneath it all?
A message echoed through secret chats:
> *"They're in motion."*
The game had begun.
🔥🌑💥
To be continued...