Location: Dome Shinkiba Arena, Tokyo – Kana Arima's First Solo Concert

  The spotlight cuts through the sky, creating a dramatic atmosphere in the arena. 25,000 fans stand in a wave of light sticks, radiating a collective spirit. The roar of the crowd, the thunderous applause, and the chants of “KANA! KANA!” shake the air like a storm of excitement, amplifying the intensity of this unforgettable night.

  Backstage, Kana Arima sits alone, dressed in an elegant vintage red gown adorned with a small ribbon on her chest and her hair styled half-up. In her hands, she clutches a stack of sheet music and a piece of lyrics she has never sung... not for the public. Inside, she feels a mix of pride and fear; her palms begin to sweat, as if reminding her of the heavy expectations she bears tonight, signifying the importance of her performance in front of her fans and that special someone.

  “I’m ready,” she whispers.

  Her manager, Yamashiro, looks at her intently. “The last song… are you sure?”

  Kana nodded. “I know he will be there tonight. But he might be the only one who won't be applauding.”

  Each word pierced her heart like an arrow. Memories of their painful separation suddenly resurfaced, causing her breath to hitch slightly. She recalled the beautiful moments before everything changed, and the pain haunted her.

  Two hours earlier.

  Fitran sat in the back row, wearing a gray hoodie and a baseball cap that rendered him unrecognizable to anyone. In the shadows of the stage lights, he was just a regular man there to hear one song. With every heartbeat, he hoped that song could be the bridge to reconnect the interrupted story between him and Kana, bringing them back to treasured memories.

  The concert began.

  Kana dazzled the audience. Classic idol songs, ballads, jazz-rock, and even dance-electro harmoniously filled the air. She danced with precision, singing with a strength that echoed throughout the arena. Yet, amid the cheers and shouts, an emptiness lingered inside her, as if she were dancing to fill a void left by the person she missed the most—a poignant emotional tension masked by her spectacular performance.

  But underneath it all, there was only one song she awaited. Inside her heart, tension and excitement blended, creating a vibration that made her almost impatient to share this moment. Every second felt like an eternity, capturing her hopes for the audience's reaction.

  Whispers among the audience began to surface. Some looked surprised, while others nodded with interest. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, igniting a fervent sense of anticipation among them.

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  “This isn't a song about a successful love. This is a song... for someone who made me realize that I can still love — even though I'm not their choice.” The words flowed from her lips with strength and poignant honesty. In an instant, memories of lost love flooded her mind, enveloping her in a painful nostalgia, forging a profound connection between the music and the hidden emotions.

  But there was only one person sitting upright, surrounded by an oppressive silence. He frowned, focusing his attention on Kana as if absorbing every word. Neither crying nor smiling.

  Fitran.

  He closed his eyes.

  Because Kana's voice was no longer a song. It was a confession. In the darkness, he felt every heartbeat, as if vibrating in sync with the soul-stirring melody. Their lives seemed distorted in the stillness that enveloped them.

  After the concert.

  In the backstage corridor, Kana stepped out alone. There were no cameras. No crew. Just… a silhouette standing under a small light. The atmosphere felt hollow, and Kana's footsteps echoed, as if signaling the deep loneliness within his heart.

  Fitran.

  They remained silent.

  Then Kana spoke first. The tension in the air made him feel as if time had stopped, every word he wanted to say trapped in his throat.

  “Do you hear?”

  “Every note.”

  “I don’t need an answer. I just want you to listen.”

  Fitran gazed at him, his eyes conveying sincerity but also doubt. He felt as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and every word from Kana demanded his full attention.

  “If that song is about love... then it’s the most honest song ever sung to me.”

  Kana let out a bittersweet laugh, her smile reflecting uncertainty, like a storm waiting for the right moment to break. “The most honest song from a woman who hasn’t been honest with herself... until it was too late.”

  Fitran stepped forward, gently touching her slightly disheveled hair. He felt the subtle tension in the air. His usually cheerful face now wore a serious expression, mirroring his deep feelings.

  “You’re not too late. You’re just singing it at the right time... for a farewell.” His voice trembled, each word seeming to carry an unspeakable weight. Fitran hoped Kana could feel the sincerity in every sentence.

  As tears brimmed in Kana's eyes, she held back her emotions. Inside her heart, a tumult of pain and deep understanding battled, as if she were grappling with conflicting feelings, striving to maintain her strength in an uncertain situation.

  “So... what happens next?” A figure emerged in her mind, a hazy vision of the future. She posed the question not just to Fitran, but also to herself, desperately seeking certainty amid uncertainty.

  Fitran responded slowly, weighing each word carefully in an effort to provide an answer that might offer hope. Yet, in the corners of his eyes, a glimmer of sadness revealed the difficulty of the situation he was facing.

  “After this... the world will remember you as the singer of the quietest love.”

  “And I... will always be the man who listened, even if I can't applaud.” There was sincerity in his tone, as if he could pierce through the walls of fear and doubt that stood between them, creating a rare moment of honesty that touched their hearts, offering hope for a future they might still be able to build together.

  “Applause for the Ones Who Didn't Clap,” a title that captures attention and holds deep meaning for lives and unexpressed love, becomes a symbol for those who understand but do not always reveal their feelings.

  Within it, the final song is titled:

  “Only He Heard”

  And in the small note of the album booklet, it reads:

  “For the man who didn’t clap... but stayed until the end.”