Meow-ru?!
Standing on stage with a smug smile, Nyamu suddenly shuddered. She stared in disbelief at the figure not far away. A black-haired boy in a gothic-style suit stood there, one hand lightly pressing down on the dark-patterned mask over his face.
The collar and cuffs were embroidered with thorny designs in dark silver thread, as if the night flowing across the stage curtain had been draped over his body. This completely different appearance drew startled cries from the audience, and even the girls on stage widened their eyes in shock.
Why?
The performance costumes and Ave Mujica's masks, weren't these all custom-made?
Nyamu was frozen in place. As the one pulling strings from the shadows, she never expected Haru to suddenly appear on stage. Her mind instantly turned into a tangled mess. Yet even her stunned stillness was mistaken by the audience as part of the act.
Sakiko, standing at the center, reacted immediately. She had been unsettled by Nyamu's sudden move, but the moment Haru stepped onto the stage, her anxiety gave way to calm assurance.
She held her mask, spread her right arm wide, and cried out with commanding force:
"Is it you? The doll who has slumbered until now… Lucis, the Light!"
"Have you awakened because of this breathtakingly beautiful moonlight? I never imagined… that I would have the chance to meet you here, on this stage of unpredictable fate!"
So, so unbearably chuunibyou.
Hand still pressing against his mask, the corner of Haru's eye twitched. Just moments before, he had been thinking of throwing out some generic opera-ish lines to bluff his way through. He never expected his little girlfriend to react so quickly.
Every word spilling from her mouth was improvised. For this daughter of the Togawa family, these over-the-top lines that came as naturally as breathing, though it made his toes curl with secondhand embarrassment.
"Mortis(Mutsumi), and Timoris(Umiri), rise."
"You are not a doll that can swap masks at will. You have a living soul. There is no need to overthink… simply play to your heart's content, follow what your spirit tells you."
Haru picked up Sakiko's cue and carried the performance forward. Mutsumi, who had just had her mask removed, quickly calmed down. Her soft golden eyes lifted toward him, her gaze meeting his across the stage, their thoughts aligning in that instant.
She understood.
She was never one to be troubled by losing her mask. It was only the suddenness of the situation that left her flustered. But she knew Haru was behind her, watching her back. So even if her heart shook for a moment, she could find her calm again.
She simply had not expected him to come on stage himself.
The moment that black-haired boy donned the mask of Lucis and appeared under the lights, all her fear and anxiety vanished into the air. In her eyes, there was only the boy with that gentle gaze.
She had nothing to fear.
"Then, please enjoy Ave Mujica's true performance!"
As the backbone of the group, Sakiko lifted her right hand. At once, the stage curtain fell. The dimming lights were met with a wave of wild cheers and breathless anticipation from the audience.
Nyamu still hadn't recovered from her shock. As the crimson curtain fell like blood before their eyes, she turned toward Haru, mouth opening as if to speak, yet no words came.
There was no time.
When the curtain rose again, everyone had to be at their instruments. And suddenly, by Sakiko's side, there was a new figure. The doll known as Lucis now held a guitar.
He... wasn't he supposed to be the keyboardist?
Drumsticks in hand, Nyamu stared at Haru's back. In her investigations, she had discovered he had performed as the keyboardist for two different bands. He also composed music for Ave Mujica, and handled logistics and operations behind the scenes.
But now, he was holding a guitar. Just how much could this guy do?
Buzz!!
The opening blast of Haru's guitar tore through the amplifiers, shaking the air itself. Nyamu had no time to think. He was already striking the strings with rapid precision, unleashing a solo so powerful it rattled the entire hall.
This was the legendary "guitar hero" level of performance.
A mastery that eclipsed even professional skill, rhythm control steadier and more flawless than any seasoned musician. Each strum pierced straight into Nyamu's heart, the sting of inferiority surging in like a flood.
Why?
She, Yuutenji Nyamu, had left home at a young age, alone in Tokyo far from her birthplace in Fukuoka. She had worked harder than anyone, dreamed of standing out more than anyone!
And yet Haru, this kid she dismissed as a clueless brat...
Why was the gap between them so vast?
The roar of his guitar made the entire hall tremble. The wail of electric sound reverberated, joined by Yahata Umiri's bass that built the foundation with flawless synergy, and Mutsumi's rhythm guitar weaving seamlessly into the storm.
A feast for the ears, an overwhelming sensory assault. Not a single member of the audience could look away from the black-haired boy on stage. The melody linked every note into a living bridge.
Nyamu had never imagined Haru's guitar skills could be this extraordinary.
Even professional-level guitarists like Mutsumi and Uika instinctively stepped back, yielding the lead to him. The entire band's melody was now carried forward by Haru's guitar.
"Sō ima wa mujūryoku, shōchō-teki na parēdo!"
In the brief lull of the interlude, Haru eased his furious strumming, raising his head toward the crowd. Nearly every face shone with excitement and joy.
Beneath his black mask, he slowly closed his eyes, fingers lightly dancing over the strings. Then, lifting his gaze toward the petite doll-like girl with hair flowing down to her waist, he began walking toward her.
"Uh?"
Caught mid-play, Mutsumi looked up in surprise. Her golden eyes met Lucis's masked face, and sensing the smile hidden beneath, her small frame trembled slightly.
Both continued to play, yet their eyes remained locked.
The audience was riveted on Lucis, and naturally they noticed the small exchange between him and Mortis. In an instant, cheers erupted, the atmosphere surging with delight.
Noticing this, Sakiko's lips curled upward. She glanced sideways at Uika, who was quietly watching as well, her face softened with a faint smile.
Umiri, never one to hold back, turned fully toward Haru as she played. The new dynamic electrified the crowd even more, joy overflowing in waves.
Nyamu, at the far back, took it all in.
"..."
The heavy pounding of her drumsticks resounded in her ears. The entire performance's rhythm was now guided by Haru, leaving her no choice but to follow with everything she had. Yet the harder she struck, the more unsettled her heart became.
The performance was perfect, flawless in every way. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong in it.
…
After two full hours, the performance finally drew to a close. The quality of Ave Mujica's Masquerade Ball was undeniable, their brilliance laid bare. Before the final bow, the audience erupted into relentless applause, waves of cheers crashing like a storm.
As Yuutenji Nyamu bowed on stage, she could hear countless voices calling out from below.
The loudest voices among the crowd were things like,
"Mutsumi is unbelievably cute!",
"Lucis is so cool, coming here today was the best decision ever!", and "Their interaction was so sweet, do they have a relationship off stage too?"
The heated chatter of the audience left Mutsumi a little overwhelmed. She bowed deeply and followed the others offstage, but the calm mask she always wore now carried a faint touch of softness.
"Everyone was calling Mutsumi's name. It's amazing!"
"Well, Mutsumi was always cute. It's only natural she would draw all the attention."
Uika's praise made Mutsumi lower her head shyly. All her life, the words she heard most often were "Wakaba's daughter" or "the one inheriting Mori Minami's excellence." But no one had ever truly seen her for who she was.
Only Haru had watched her from the beginning, and now even the audience was finally starting to acknowledge her presence.
The Masquerade Ball had been a success. But that did not mean Sakiko could simply smile and brush everything aside. As soon as they returned to the backstage waiting room, she furrowed her brows at the dark expression of Nyamu.
From curtain call to exit, she had not heard a single voice directed at her. The entire audience had been focused on Wakaba Mutsumi and with Yuutenji Nyamu's mask stripped away, she stood out even more awkwardly.
"Yuutenji Nyamu, do you understand what you've just done?"
Unmasking herself on her own, exposing her real face, this was a serious breach for a band that built its identity on masks!
And worse, Haru had previously made everyone sign a confidentiality agreement. By that standard, Nyamu's actions could warrant punishment. If it escalated, she could even be held accountable for damages.
Nyamu's expression stiffened under the rebuke. She still hadn't shaken off the crushing defeat she felt on stage. Yet she quickly forced a smile, speaking slowly, deliberately.
"But wasn't the performance a success? Right now the internet is flooded with news about Ave Mujica. We've even taken the top three spots on the trending boards!"
"You think that's thanks to you?"
Even after softening in private since falling in love, the daughter of the Togawa family still stood like a tyrant before others, cold and imperious, Oblivionis in the flesh.
"I was doing it for Ave Mujica!"
"But I honestly never expected this. So you were hiding a code name like Lucis all along, Haru. The moment you stepped on stage you caused an uproar. Why didn't you ever perform as Lucis before?"
Her tone had lost its usual teasing lilt. The question froze Sakiko in place.
It dragged her back to Mujica's earliest days, when she had invited Haru to join, considering him indispensable. Naturally, she had prepared a code name and a mask for him.
She had chosen the perfect one [Lucis, the Light] and even commissioned a costume that mirrored her own in style, but with inverted colors. All of it, in her eyes, was necessary.
But...
Haru had refused to take the stage, insisting he would remain in the background as support. So the code name was scrapped. Yet Sakiko had never thrown away the mask and costume.
She never imagined Lucis would appear like this.
Lost in thought, Sakiko shook her head slightly. Removing her mask, she frowned with solemn sharpness, fists clenched, and spoke in a cold, clipped tone.
"You did this for Ave Mujica? To me it looks like you were only thinking of yourself!"
"And what's wrong with thinking of myself?!"
Nyamu's jumbled emotions boiled over. Agitation flickered in her diamond-pink eyes. She clutched the Amoris mask in her hand, glaring ahead.
"I only did what Sakiko said at the start. She told me that if I joined Ave Mujica, I would get what I wanted. That's why I came!"
"But how long has Ave Mujica been out now? And what I wanted, I haven't gotten at all, have I?"
Her bitter retort drained the color from Sakiko's face. She bit her lip, took a step back, and clutched her arm as if to steady herself. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.
Haru closed his eyes briefly, then stepped in front of Sakiko.
"Ave Mujica isn't some child's game. You can't just do whatever you please."
"Yuutenji-san, this time you acted recklessly without consulting anyone. For Ave Mujica, that's unacceptable. According to the confidentiality agreement, I have the right to discipline you."
Nyamu went pale. She drew in a deep breath, forcing her usual smile, but her voice trembled. "I only did what Sakiko told me. She's the one who hasn't kept her promise."
"Your activities with the band are suspended, effective immediately."
Still dressed in his dark red performance suit, Haru removed his mask. His face bore none of the teasing smirks or deadpan sarcasm Nyamu knew. He simply gazed at her with unshakable calm.
"You…!"
Her eyes widened, confusion flashing across them.
But after a long silence, she clenched her fists, lowered her gaze, and answered softly, "Then do as you say."
She spun on her heel and stormed out, as if the stares around her were all brimming with malice. Left behind, Haru exhaled heavily and slowly placed the mask on the table.
Unbelievable. He hadn't thought she would dare such a thing.
Once he had calmed down, he turned to Sakiko, his eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry, Sakiko. I made the decision without your consent."
"That's not true! Your decision is my decision."
"Whatever you choose to do, I will never hesitate to follow."
Pressing a hand to her chest, the great Lady Sakiko's eyes flickered with unease. As if to prove her words, she stepped forward, meeting Haru's gaze with firm seriousness.
She looked determined, yes, but somehow a little comical.
Almost like an emperor being quietly sidelined by her own prime minister, each turn giving him more power.
"This time it was Mutsumi and Umiri too, showing their faces along with Nyamu. But all in all, the damage isn't too great. Ave Mujica has built up far more strength than we thought."
"In fact, Uika and I had already been considering whether to let everyone reveal themselves gradually. I just never expected Nyamu to be so impatient, willing to risk punishment just to force a change in the band's direction."
A faint glimmer flickered in Haru's dark eyes. He had been wondering why Yuutenji Nyamu was in such a rush. But nothing in her words gave him the answer. It seemed she didn't trust anyone enough to tell them the truth.
The punishment of suspending her activities was in fact harsher than it seemed.
An indefinite "suspension" meant that without his permission, Nyamu would never be able to take the stage again. And without performing, she would have no way to earn her salary. For a sixteen-year-old girl living alone in Tokyo, this was nothing short of crippling.
Still, Haru had no intention of leaving her cast aside forever.
He decided he would find time later to talk with the restless Nyamu-san one-on-one.
"Of course, suddenly showing your real faces must have made you uneasy, Mutsumi, Umiri."
"So Umiri, how about staying at my place too? I need to keep a close eye on you."
"If you ever feel uneasy, you can always come to me for comfort."
His serious tone made Sakiko blink in surprise. She instinctively glanced at Uika, whose wide eyes mirrored her own. Both girls clearly saw the same shock reflected in each other.
He, he was asking Umiri to move in too?
Living together, that meant she would be living with Haru!
Sakiko and Uika, the only two who still wore masks, froze where they stood. Their lovely faces grew stiff, lips parting as if to speak, but in the end both swallowed their words, looking quietly crestfallen.
"I see. Though I don't really feel uneasy…"
Umiri spoke with her usual blank expression, then cast a sidelong glance at Sakiko.
"But since you insist, I might as well move in."
Mutsumi, Haru's fiancée, blushed and nodded as well. She truly didn't care about exposing her real face; it wouldn't affect her daily life anyway. And it gave her even more chances to lean on Haru without restraint.
Envy flickered in Uika's eyes, though she was a gentle, well-behaved girl. Forcing the thought away, she instead asked, "Since Yuutenji-san has been suspended, what should we do about the upcoming tour?"
Resignation crossed Haru's face. He let out a long breath before answering.
"If it comes down to it, I'll take her place for now."