The buzzing energy of the live music show was nothing like Aria had ever experienced.
She stood just offstage, barely breathing, her pressed guest pass lanyard feeling like a badge of both honor and panic. The lights were dizzying, the air smelled like hairspray and sugar, and the stylists zipped past her with trays of glitter and bobby pins like they were preparing for battle.
Aria adjusted her hoodie nervously, her baseball cap pulled low. She hoped it made her look like an intern. Or someone's cousin. Anything except a florist who just happened to be dating the star of tonight's biggest stage.
"She's just backstage," Ryu had whispered when they picked Aria up at the side entrance earlier. "And she's been pacing like a lovesick drama lead for twenty minutes."
Aria blushed so hard she could feel her own ears. "She's not…! I mean… we're just…"
"Right. You're just the girl she talks about every day and stares at pictures of when she thinks no one's looking," Aeri teased with a grin, handing her a tiny bottle of water. "Niña bet Kaelira would sneak you into a live show within two weeks."
"I did!" Ningning shouted from the hallway. "I won! I want a caramel latte later!"
Aria ducked her head as the girls scattered back toward the prep rooms, leaving her alone in the humming corridor of flashing lights and booming bass. She peeked through the curtain to the main stage. The crowd was already roaring.
And then—Aria walked onstage.
Aria's breath hitched.
Kaelira wasn't dressed like the girl who crashed into her flower shop on a rainy night. She wasn't the flustered idol whispering sweet things in Aria's ear under fairy lights. She was glowing. Commanding. A whole storm wrapped in a sparkling navy outfit, eyes lined with stardust, smile sharper than any blade.
And then… she looked right into the camera.
"Next song is for someone who makes the world smell like jasmine and chamomile," Kaelira said smoothly. "You know who you are."
Aria's soul left her body.
The music hit—something upbeat, flirtatious, with synths bouncing like hearts in spring. And when Kaelira started singing, Aria felt every lyric settle directly into her chest.
"You walked in with petals in your hair, and suddenly my whole day changed."
And then it happened.
As Kaelira sang, she pointed just slightly in the direction of backstage. Not obvious. Not glaring. But the camera crew was too good at their job. One wide crowd sweep caught Aria standing near the curtains, hat and all.
Aria. Who was mouthing the lyrics.
Aria. Who didn't realize she was right there on the LED screen behind Kaelira.
"Oh my god," whispered a production assistant nearby. "Who is she? The camera caught her smiling like she's in love."
Another camera operator whispered, "I think that's the flower girl from the rumor account…"
Aria ducked behind a prop plant.
Kaelira saw the screen, caught Aria's expression, and her smile bloomed like fireworks. Her next lyric came out with a barely hidden laugh:
"Your eyes make me forget the crowd."
Aria melted into the floor.
Later, in the green room after the performance, chaos reigned.
Hestia was laughing so hard she spilled her protein shake. "Aria! You straight up looked like a main character in a romcom when the camera zoomed in!"
"I didn't know the camera was—!" Aria groaned, covering her face. "I thought I was safe behind the speaker!"
"You were lit like a spotlight," Yuki giggled. "That was not behind anything."
Kaelira walked in, still in her stage outfit, cheeks flushed with adrenaline. "You saw it?"
Aria didn't look up. "The entire nation saw it."
Kaelira walked over and gently pulled Aria's hands from her face. "You looked beautiful. You always do."
Aria pouted. "You literally sang the lyric at me."
"I couldn't help it." Kaelira smiled, soft and unbothered. "It's true. You changed my whole day. Every day."
Aria blinked. "...You're going to kill me with sweetness one day."
"Hopefully not before our café date tomorrow."
Everyone in the room squealed or gagged or clapped.
Aria groaned again and buried her face in Kaelira's shoulder this time.
Aria held her close and whispered, "You still owe Niña a latte."