The morning sunlight streamed into Aria's dorm room, hitting her notebook open to a list of assignments. Between school, her idol group, and rehearsals, she barely had time to breathe.
Okay… I can handle this, she muttered, flipping through her notes.
At the university, the rival girl was already lurking near the classroom door, whispering to her friends and smirking. Aria noticed immediately but didn't let it bother her.
Her focus was on today's group project, a critical part of her grade. The rival girl tried a subtle move—hiding some of Aria's papers and notes—but Aria was too sharp to fall for it. She calmly retrieved the missing sheets from a nearby desk, smiling faintly at the girl.
"You're persistent," Aria said quietly, her voice calm.
The rival girl blinked, taken aback. "I… I don't know what you mean."
Aria smirked ever so slightly. Keep trying, she thought.
During class, Lucien noticed the rival girl whispering again, glancing at Aria with subtle malice. He leaned over and whispered, "Ignore her. Focus on your work."
Aria felt a spark of warmth at his words. Protective, attentive, yet never overbearing. She nodded, refocusing on the project with determination.
After class, Aria hurried to the rehearsal studio. Her idol group greeted her with playful teasing.
"Late again, Queen Aria?" one boy asked, ruffling her hair.
"Not late, just busy saving the world," she replied with a smirk.
They laughed, but she knew they understood. Being an idol wasn't just singing and dancing—it was rehearsals, media appearances, and constant practice. Her group's support made it manageable, but balancing school and idol life was no joke.
During rehearsal, the group challenged her to lead a new choreography sequence. Aria took command confidently, guiding each member with precision while maintaining a playful, encouraging tone.
"You're amazing at this," one member whispered, impressed.
Aria shrugged modestly. "I've had a lot of practice."
Later, she received a quick text from Lucien:
Are you managing both worlds okay?
She smiled, typing back:
So far… thanks for asking.
Almost instantly, he replied:
If you ever need help, I'm here. Not just for school…
Her heart skipped a beat. He notices everything… even my double life.
That evening, Aria returned to her dorm, exhausted but satisfied. She laid on her bed, thinking about the day. Rival girl's petty attempts, school assignments, and idol rehearsals—it was a lot, but she was managing.
I'm stronger than I thought, she realized.
And somewhere, across campus, Lucien was thinking the exact same thing: the girl who ruled both the stage and the classroom was remarkable in ways he couldn't ignore.