Location: Main Hall Sumire Arena, Shibuya — B-Komachi Special Live Night

  The spotlight danced like falling stars from the heavens. The roar of the audience shook the walls. The red curtain slowly opened, revealing three girls standing at the center of the stage: Ruby Hoshino, Arima Kana, and Mecho Cho.

  Tonight's performance was a special live concert for B-Komachi — a powerful reminder of the group's enduring spirit, despite the tragic loss of Aqua, and that a new star might be shining from an entirely unexpected place. Each of the three girls bore deep longing and hope, embodying the stage not just as a platform to shine, but as an arena to express their shared pain and yearning.

  Thunderous applause erupted as the opening music resonated. Ruby flashed her wild smile, but behind that smile lay an unspoken tension — as if she feared reliving the beautiful yet melancholic moments that had passed, making every second feel even more precious.

  Ruby smiled—a genuine smile filled with emotion. The music evoked vivid memories of every laugh she had shared with Aqua, illuminating her heart. Kana danced with nearly perfect precision, yet her eyes occasionally flickered to the left of the stage, haunted by the ghostly silhouette of her missing friend. Could she truly meet the high hopes embedded in the hearts of those who loved them all? Meanwhile, Mecho danced as if he were listening to a melody from the future, as though he were privy to secrets yet to be revealed to anyone else.

  Behind the stage, Fitran stood in a simple costume—a sleek black shirt and formal pants. One by one, his legs felt heavy, burdened by the emotional weight of Aqua's words echoing in his mind. He was scheduled to perform as a “surprise guest” in the final segment, presenting a musical poem created by Ruby, titled “Unnamed Light.” His nervousness mingled with hope, wishing that the poem would touch the souls of the audience and bring back the light that had faded from the lives of those who were grieving.

  However, what troubled him more than the performance were the four messages that arrived on his phone just before he was about to go on stage. Each note and message reflected the hopes and wishes of those around him, urging him to stay strong despite everything feeling fragile in the shadow of loss.

  From Ruby: "Don't turn away from me tonight; I want to show you something." In those words lay a gentle plea, filled with deep trust; it was as if Ruby wanted to emphasize that tonight was not just about the performance, but also about the emotions they wanted to share together.

  From Akane: "I know everyone touches you. But who will hold your heart?"

  From Kana: "If you pretend on stage, I will know."

  From Mecho: "The stage is not just for us; it’s for you, to unleash what you hold within."

  Fitran put away his phone and took a deep breath, trying to manage the wave of emotions flooding his chest. Their voices, laden with concern and care, echoed in his mind as he stepped toward the edge of the world.

  “To those of you who have lost your light... and to someone who brought stars to my sky...”

  He gazed toward the side door, his heart trembling as memories of their moments together flooded back. Every laugh, every tear seemed to dance in his mind.

  “...we dedicate this: Fitran Fate.”

  The spotlight shone on the man as he walked to the center of the stage. It felt as if time had stood still, his fingers trembling as he gripped the microphone. Silence enveloped the room. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the revelation from his heart.

  Fitran stood poised and lifted the microphone, uncertainty quivering in his voice.

  “I... can’t sing,” he admitted honestly, his voice barely steady.

  A small laugh arose from the audience. Yet, within him, he felt overshadowed by the memories of the past, struggling against the weight of uncertainty.

  “But I have words to share. And tonight, I want to read one.”

  He opened a small piece of paper given to him by Ruby, a faint smile gracing his lips, despite the doubt. The words represented everything he could not express. And so he began.

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  “When the stars fall between your eyes... I see myself within their fragments.”

  “When you smile despite losing half the world...”

  “I know, I want to be the rest of that world.”

  The audience fell silent, as if they were sharing in the moment. The room was filled with tension and hope, uniting all the souls present. Ruby bit her lip, her eyes starting to well up, unable to contain the overwhelming emotions.

  Fitran continued, his voice finding strength; each word built a bridge between himself and the listeners, merging hidden hopes and feelings that were difficult to articulate:

  “It's not love that I bring.”

  “But myself — in a form you cannot fully comprehend but can hold.”

  A gentle melody followed. Mecho played the piano. Kana and Ruby sang the final part together. Amid the flowing melody, Ruby felt her heartbeat merging with every note, as if the song was a part of her that had long been buried. She exchanged glances with Kana, and in their smiles, they found mutual strength.

  However, backstage, Akane stood. The distance from the spotlight seemed to create a separate world. She watched Fitran standing under the stage light, surrounded by the two girls singing for him. Her heart trembled, not out of jealousy, but due to a profound sense of loss. She felt left behind in the shadows, unable to step away from the beautiful memories that now appeared distant.

  Yet he remained entranced by the figure on stage.

  He was not given space.

  Yet his eyes remained fixed on that man. Deeply. Intensely.

  He stood there, the seconds feeling like years. He imagined what it would be like to be up there, how their voices would blend into harmony. In his heart, he prayed that someday, he too could share the stage, share stories, and share everything.

  After the performance.

  In the dressing room, the air was thick like a fog that refused to lift, saturated with the scent of perfume mingling with sweat, creating an atmosphere dense with hope, relief, and the weight of anticipation.

  Ruby approached Fitran first. “You did it... perfectly.”

  At that moment, her eyes sparkled, as if all their hard work had finally paid off. She couldn't contain the pride swelling within her. “And I want everyone to know that this is also our struggle. We've achieved this together.”

  Fitran nodded appreciatively. “Because your words are perfect, capturing the essence of our shared experience.”

  Kana appeared from behind, arms crossed. “And your expression is genuine. Well done.”

  Mecho sat at the dressing table, gazing at the reflection of the three of them. “Three girls. One orbit. Who will burn out first?”

  Everyone turned toward the door.

  Akane stood there.

  She entered slowly, approaching Fitran.

  Silence enveloped the room.

  “You’ve disrupted the balance,” she said flatly.

  Fitran gazed at her. “What do you mean?”

  “You made us all feel like we were the only ones. But in reality, you haven't chosen anyone.”

  Fitran remained silent, feeling the tension in the air, as if every word spoken could shatter the moment. He recalled how Akane's presence always made his heart race, and this time was no different. He tried to keep his composure, not wanting to reveal any weakness.

  Ruby clasped Fitran's hand. “She doesn't have to choose yet. I just want... to be by her side.”

  Kana scoffed. “Of course, you're the softest one here. But what about me? I've only opened my heart to a single man after all these years?”

  Mecho stood up. “This isn't about who was first. It's about... who truly understands her.”

  They all stared at Fitran. In their gazes, hope and fear intertwined, as if their fates depended on his answer.

  And Fitran?

  He finally spoke, softly:

  “I came into this world because of a loss. But you all... are my reason for staying.”

  A silence followed his words, a confession that filled the space between them with unspoken emotion. How could they feel valued in the eyes of someone who had experienced such profound loss?

  “You haven't answered,” Akane said.

  Fitran nodded. “Because my answer... will hurt.”

  He understood the risks at hand; if he revealed the truth, everything might change entirely. Akane’s determination, Ruby’s gentleness, and Kana’s bravery—all could be engulfed in the fire of a conflict he never wanted.

  “Better to be wounded by honesty,” whispered Kana, almost like a threat.

  Ruby stared at the floor. Mecho closed his eyes. They felt the weight of the choices before them, as if time momentarily paused to give them a chance to reflect on what had unfolded. They were now awakened to a reality greater than mere teenage love.

  And for the first time...

  Fitran realized: his heart was not empty.

  He felt something for them all. But... it took on a different form. Like a faint shadow on the wall trembling by candlelight, this feeling coursed through the recesses of his mind, guiding his thoughts towards an unexpected direction. A point where their presence became more than just togetherness. He remembered little moments—laughter breaking the silence or flashes of excitement in their eyes as they shared dreams.

  It was not an ordinary love.

  It was not obsession, something fleeting or superficial.

  But rather a kind of existential acknowledgment. Within their souls, a mutual need was born, a seed that took root; Fitran understood that beneath their existence lay a deep-seated fear of loss. That feeling was as firmly etched as permanent ink on paper, never fully fading away even as time eroded it, reminding them of the bond they had forged.

  Throughout this journey, their friendship evolved, transforming him; with each step taken, new awareness blossomed. He began to see them not just as friends, but as mirrors reflecting the hidden, vulnerable parts of himself. Every word, every burst of laughter created a bridge between hearts shrouded in doubt and the aspirations yearning to ignite once more.