Concert Begins
The arena went black. Then—boom!
A spotlight flared on stage as the icy-blue glow of Kuromu-chan swept across the crowd. She wore a dazzling outfit that shimmered like snowflakes in moonlight, her long silver hair tied up in twin tails, her smile radiant but slightly… forced.
"Let's shine brighter than starlight! I'm your ice princess, Kuromu~!"
The crowd erupted. Iruma clapped, smiling gently.
Ameri nodded beside him, impressed.
"She's… skilled."
Iruma said nothing for a moment. He was watching more than just the performance—he was observing the emotion beneath it. There was a weight in her voice. A flicker in her eyes.
He recognized it. He had worn that mask before.
The crowd roared as the magical orb spun in midair, a cascade of glowing symbols flashing across its surface before settling on one number.
"Seat A-001!"
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Congratulations to the fan in the front row—come meet Kuromu-chan backstage!"
All eyes turned toward the front row.
Iruma blinked slowly. Ameri glanced at him.
"That's you," she said, surprised.
Iruma offered a soft, sheepish smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Guess I'm lucky tonight."
Ameri nodded once, not entirely convinced. Something about his presence tonight—his expression, his aura—it had changed. Just a little. Sharper, colder, more composed.
Onstage, Kuromu-chan froze mid-smile. Her microphone trembled slightly in her hand as her wide eyes scanned the crowd.
Then she saw him.
Iruma. Calm. Unmoving. Watching her with those unreadable crimson eyes.
Her heart skipped.
Why is he here…? Did he find out…? No—no, it can't be—
The panic hit her all at once. The pressure. The heat. The suffocating weight of all her magic and performance anxiety colliding.
Her vision blurred.
Not now… not in front of everyone…!
She swayed.
The crowd gasped.
And just as her legs buckled—
Thump.
A dark blur moved like a shadow.
Iruma stepped up—one foot on the edge of his chair, the other pressing off with grace and force. His body sailed upward in a clean, practiced motion, catching Kuromu before she hit the floor.
His hand wrapped firmly around her waist, the other gently supporting her back. He held her effortlessly, as if catching a falling feather.
The spotlight caught them both in a halo of white and frost-blue.
The arena fell silent.
"Tch," Iruma muttered under his breath, almost bored. "You overdid it."
Kuromu stared up at him, dazed.
"I-Iruma…?"
His gaze didn't waver. Cold, clear, calm.
"If you're going to perform like that…"
He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping low so only she could hear:
"…then don't fake your smile. It ruins efforts" Wishpire
Her breath caught.
Was he mocking her? Encouraging her? It was impossible to tell. His face gave away nothing.
But somehow… the way he held her felt safe. Like someone who'd been in the spotlight before—and walked through fire to come out the other side.
Stage assistants scrambled to help, but Iruma had already stepped forward, gently lowering Kuromu into their arms.
He turned without another word and walked back toward his seat, hands in his pockets.
The crowd exploded into cheers—not just for Kuromu, but for him.
"That was cool!"
"Who is that guy!?"
"Did he just fly!?"
"He caught Kuromu like a prince!!"
Clara, all the way in the last row, shrieked.
"IRUMA-CHI!"
Alice sat frozen, his eye twitching.
"…Wow?"
Back in the front row, Ameri watched him closely.
She noticed it again—that faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. That aura of practiced grace, subtle detachment, and sharp observation.
This wasn't the same Iruma she met at the beginning of the year.
And part of her wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
Backstage
The room was cold. Literally. Frost curled on the walls. A single spotlight glowed, and in it stood Kuromu, waiting.
She turned.
And froze.
Iruma.
His posture was calm. His expression was unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes saw through her.
"…Crocell-san."
The idol flinched.
"W-What are you… talking about…"
Iruma raised his hand.
"Your magic leaves a cold trace. And your hands… you hold the mic the same way in class when you're nervous."
Kuromu's breath caught.
"You… recognized me?"
Iruma nodded.
"You're amazing, Crocell-san. Your performance, your control, your presence… It's more powerful than magic."
Her eyes widened.His voice was calm, honest—no judgment. Just quiet admiration.
And that… broke her.
Tears welled. Her icy magic cracked at the seams. Her body trembled from exhaustion, suppressed emotion, and shame.
"Why… why do you get to be noticed without trying? Why do people chant your name!?"
Her magic surged—then collapsed inward.
"Ah—!"
She fell.
Iruma moved instantly, catching her in his arms.
"Crocell!"
Her body was cold. Her pulse racing. Her eyes fluttering shut.
In the distance, staff rushed in. But Iruma only looked down at her with quiet sadness.
"You don't have to burn yourself to shine," he whispered.
The next morning, the school was buzzing.
"Did you hear!?""Kuromu fainted during the concert!""But someone caught her! They say it was a mysterious, handsome demon from the front row!"
Kerori sat in the back of the classroom, sunk low in her seat, her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, covering half her face.
No one saw… right? No one knows it was me… right!?
But she was wrong.
Because just two seats away, a pair of crimson eyes looked her way, silent and calculating.
Iruma leaned back in his seat. A breeze brushed past the window, ruffling his dark hair. His expression unreadable.
But then—
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Lunch Break – Empty Music Room
Kerori crept into the practice room, her heart pounding. She needed to vent, to scream, maybe rehearse a new song to calm her nerves.
But when she opened the door—
He was already there.
Iruma stood at the window, arms crossed, looking out over the concert hall. The sunlight barely touched him, stopped by the shadow of the window frame. His posture was relaxed—too relaxed. Like he'd been waiting.
She froze.
"Y-You!"
He turned slowly, eyes narrowing just a bit.
"Took you long enough."
His voice was low. Calm. Teasing.
Kerori's cheeks lit up instantly.
"Wh-What are you doing here!?"
Iruma took a step toward her, then another. Each step deliberate.
"I was thinking…" he said softly, his gaze locking with hers, "…that Kuromu's i mean your's magic wasn't the only thing slipping last."
Kerori stuttered back, bumping into a chair.
"Y-You—you were watching that closely!?"
Iruma tilted his head.
"It was hard not to. You were trying so hard, it was painful to watch."
She puffed her cheeks, flustered.
"T-That's not fair! I worked hard for that concert!"
Iruma stepped closer again—now only inches from her.
"And it showed. That's what made it… impressive. Not gonna lie"
His voice lowered to a whisper."But you were breaking. Pretending to be someone you're not... that's exhausting, isn't it?"
Kerori blinked.Her voice caught in her throat.For a second, she saw it—not just teasing, but something sharper behind his eyes. A quiet storm.
"…You've felt it too? But i kinda like that way or else its to embarrassing " she asked.
He nodded once, eyes darkening.
"Every day."
A long silence stretched between them. Then—
"You're mean," she mumbled, pouting.
Iruma smirked again.
"I get that a lot."
Outside the Room – Clara and Alice Eavesdrop
Clara had her ear pressed to the door, eyes wide.
"He's flirting! IRUMA-CHI IS FLIRTING!"
Alice looked pale. "He's smirking. That's never a good sign."
Back Inside – Final Words
Kerori folded her arms.
"You're acting weird lately, Iruma-kun."
Iruma turned away, hands in his pockets.
"Maybe. Or maybe this is just the real me, finally coming to the orginal."
He glanced back, his Mangekyō glinting faintly beneath his eyelids, just for a split second.
"Try not to faint next time, Kuromu.""...You're kind of heavy."
Kerori gasped, bright red.
"I-I AM NOT!!"
He chuckled under his breath and walked past her toward the door.
"See you in class."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving a speechless, overheated Kerori behind.
Why does he feel so different now!?