40 A.C. - FEBRUARY
LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY! LUCKYCYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKYCYAN!
It was another packed show in City X, and Lucky Cyan once again thrilled her fans with her music.
"This way." A guard guided the heroine to her car at the show exit.
"Thank you." Cyan was happy, it was always amazing to see how much people enjoyed her music.
Another incredible show." Her driver commented as he got into the car.
Cyan nodded in agreement. She could still hear the screams of the fans in the stadium. She had to admit that she felt like she was living a dream.
Cyan then noticed a new presence in the car with her. It was a woman with long black hair wearing a suit similar to Ken's. She wore sunglasses and had a small smile on her face.
"Hello..." With a small wave, she greeted the new person.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Mrs. Smith. From now on, I'm your new agent. I'm looking forward to working with you."
"New agent...?" Cyan tilted her head, surprise escaping her voice. She had never been informed of any of this.
"Why? I mean, why now? I didn't need one before, so why do I need one now?"
DOS has decided to invest more in your career, and with that investment, more detailed control will be necessary, which is why I'm here," Mrs. Smith explained calmly.
"Okay, it will be a pleasure to work with you, Ms. Smith." Cyan didn't have much to say. If it meant a few more shows or fan meetings, that was fine with her.
"Of course it will."
The car finally arrived at the Heroes Tower.
"Thank you for today."
The driver responded with a smile to Cyan's kindness.
"Get plenty of rest, tomorrow your schedule is packed." Smith said with a serious, almost authoritative expression.
Cyan nodded slightly.
Well, things shouldn't get too difficult from here on out. Cyan was optimistic about her new activities as a heroine and idol.
_____________________________________________
1 WEEK LATER
Cyan was wrong, this was the most exhausting and stressful week of her life, with every single one of her activities scheduled into a tight schedule.
Day 1: Rehearsals in the morning, charity event in the afternoon, commercial recording in the evening.
Day 2: Album recording in the morning, fan convention in the afternoon, rehearsals in the evening.
Day 3: Charity event in the morning, commercial recording in the afternoon, magazine photo shoot in the evening.
Day 4: Fan convention in the morning, podcast in the afternoon, concert in the evening.
Day 5: Rehearsals in the morning, magazine photo shoot in the afternoon, TV interviews in the evening.
Day 6: Fan convention in the morning, album recording in the afternoon, concert in the evening.
Day 7: Rehearsals in the morning, commercial recording in the afternoon, TV interviews in the evening.
As if this schedule weren't enough, her new agent always demanded high-level results in everything she did. She lost count of how many times she repeated a scene for a commercial or re-recorded a song until the tone of her voice met the standards.
That wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was the constant surveillance she was subjected to every day. Her sleep was programmed so that she would sleep just enough to live to see the next day. Her diet was regulated down to the smallest detail, and she had restricted access to talking to her friends. The last time she received a call from Little Johnny and Queen, her phone was confiscated as a warning not to get distracted anymore.
And every time she asked her agent a small question, she only received the same emotionless response.
This is what fans expect from you, this is what heroes must do for them.
She was exhausting herself both physically and mentally. She just wanted to sleep a little and maybe eat a hamburger..
Leaving a studio after another activity on her schedule, she headed to her car, not at all ready to go to another appointment.
"Thank you..." she thanked her driver once again wearily this week, small dark circles already visible on her face.
The driver just smiled slightly as he began to drive the car to its destination.
A calm silence dominated the trip, Cyan just struggled not to fall asleep right there.
"Hey Cyan," she opened her eyes a little more when she heard her name.
"Here."
Her driver handed her a bag with what appeared to be a hamburger, fries, and a soda.
Cyan blinked, not quite understanding.
"Take it... you're hungry, aren't you?"
Nodding her head, she took the bag, a little hesitant but happy with the gift.
A few small tears of satisfaction were visible in the corners of her eyes as she ate. It wasn't the healthiest meal, but it was still more than she had eaten all week.
"Thank you so much—"
"Shhhh." Her driver had a finger on his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
"This will be our secret, okay?"
Cyan nodded in agreement.
"Why don't you take a nap too? I'll take the longer route, so don't worry."
Finishing her meal, Cyan nodded her thanks as she lay down in the back seat.
She felt happy knowing that she could still count on someone's help in this new routine.
This is the kind of thing heroes should do.
She thought before falling asleep.
_________________________________
2 WEEKS LATER
This kind of secret event between her and her driver happened on a few trips during those weeks of endless commitments.
He always arranged something for her to eat in secret, and took the longest routes so she could rest more between trips.
These were now the most peaceful and satisfying moments she had in her life at the moment, and she was sure she hadn't gone completely mad yet thanks to them.
On yet another morning, she began her routine, stepping off the platform that led to the heroes' towers and heading toward her car.
"Good morning—" Cyan stopped when she saw that it wasn't her usual old driver behind the wheel.
"Get in, we'll be late." Mrs. Smith, who was in the back seat, warned Cyan not to delay any longer.
Cyan got into the car with her head down. Mrs. Smith did not look happy at all.
The rest of the trip was filled with suffocating silence. Cyan wanted to ask what was bothering her, but she was afraid of the answer.
"What—"
"The previous driver?" Mrs. Smith didn't even look at Cyan, as she already knew what her question would be, she just stared at the tablet in her hands.
Cyan nodded in response.
"Out. DOS doesn't need someone who doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the job." Mrs. Smith spoke without any emotion in her voice, as if that person were easily disposable.
Cyan clenched her fists in her lap as her heart sank with guilt. She knew there was a chance this would happen, his constant tardiness so she could get more rest was risky for him.
But in the end, she couldn't say no to his kindness.
It's my fault...
Cyan was resisting the urge to cry right there, this wasn't right, he didn't deserve this.
"Here, take this."
Lifting her head, Cyan found Mrs. Smith handing her some papers.
"What's this?" Taking the papers, she wondered what it could be, Mrs. Smith had never handed her something like this directly before.
"Your new song. Memorize every word by tonight."
"What!? But I didn't write any new songs."
"Yes, your composer did. From now on, your new songs will be written by him, and don't worry, we guarantee that he has studied enough to maintain the standard that your fans enjoy."
Cyan wanted to scream, jump out of that car, and never hear those words again, but she was too tired to do anything.
I'll never write my own songs again...
Cyan held the papers close to her face as she hid her silent tears.
More and more, the idea of living a hero's dream seemed empty to her.
This is a nightmare...
______________________________
Later, Cyan was at another fan convention, sitting at a table signing autographs for her fans.
"Thank you for your support," she smiled as best she could after signing another autograph.
"Thank you so much!! Four hours in line was worth it! I'll never wash this T-shirt again."
Taking advantage of the commotion the fan was causing, Cyan put her pen aside and gently rubbed her wrist with a slight grimace. Her wrist burned with pain from signing autographs nonstop for hours.
This isn't right... I can't keep doing this-
"Look, Mom! It's her!" Interrupting his thoughts, the next person in line approached. It was a little girl jumping with joy while her mother held her hand so she wouldn't get too excited.
"I see her, sweetie," the mother smiled sweetly at her daughter.
Cyan couldn't help but smile sincerely when he saw this scene.
"Sorry about that, she's been looking forward to meeting you for months." Cyan noticed some dark circles under her mother's eyes.
"Your voice is beautiful! When I grow up, I want to be a heroine who sings for everyone just like you."
The child handed her a drawing. Cyan was on stage singing while hearts and lucky clovers floated down to the child with a happy crowd.
Cyan forgot all the pain and exhaustion of the last few weeks for a moment.
This little girl wanted to be just like her, just like...
Part of Cyan felt a little afraid that this child would grow up and go through everything she was going through at the moment.
But still, it was this kind of thing she loved to see most in her life as a hero, it was this kind of thing she could cause as a hero.
"It's a beautiful drawing." With the most radiant smile she had made in a long time, Cyan returned the drawing after signing it.
The little girl's eyes sparkled with happiness.
"Thank you so much!! You're the best!"
"Thank you, I hope I can continue listening to your music for a long time." The mother thanked her with a sincere expression.
"I'll do my best to make that happen."
"Mom, can we go to her next show?"
"Mom will try to take another day off for that occasion."
As the mother and daughter walked away, Cyan took a deep breath and—
SLAP
Cyan slapped herself on each side of her face. In response, her cheeks turned slightly red, but a small glimmer of determination stood out in her eyes.
Okay! They trust me, I'm going to use that trust and overcome all of this like the heroine they believe me to be.
_________________________
40 A.C - MARCH - One month after Cyan's new routine began.
LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN!
It was another night of packed shows, fans eager for another performance from their favorite idol heroine.
However, tonight, heavy clouds surrounded City X, and thunder could be heard as a warning.
ATTENTION CITY X
Heavy rain is expected to hit City X shortly, so anyone on the streets is advised to take
caution and seek shelter to avoid any accidents...
A fan in the stadium read the news on her cell phone before the show started.
"Really? Earlier, the forecast didn't say anything about rain today, what bad luck..." she commented, distressed at the idea of the show being canceled with the rain on its way.
"Hey, isn't it past time to start already?!"
"Where's Lucky Cyan?!"
"Get this show started already!"
LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN! LUCKY CYAN!
Several fans were outraged by the delay in the start of the show, causing a herd effect, and now everyone in the stadium was impatiently shouting for their favorite idol.
cough*cough*cough
"Okay, okay, okay... now say ah."
"Ah."
Cyan was in her dressing room being examined by a doctor, her throat hadn't been feeling well for the past few days.
"Okay, you can close your mouth."
"So, Doctor...
"House, Doctor House."
"Doctor House. What's the situation? Will she be able to sing?" Mrs. Smith asked with a concerned tone, but it was evident that she wasn't exactly worried about Cyan's health.
"Sing? Ha! No. Her throat is in terrible condition, she needs complete rest from that type of activity."
Even with his playful tone at the beginning, the doctor took on a warning tone, indicating that the situation was serious.
Cyan touched her throat with a distressed expression. She never imagined that doing what she loved would lead her to this situation. That was scary.
"What!? We can't cancel the program! That will cause a drastic drop in its trust value." Mrs. Smith frowned, annoyed by the doctor's conclusion. He must be a charlatan to come to that conclusion.
"Well, with or without the show, she shouldn't do that for a long time. No one gets into a condition like this overnight.
"Here." The doctor handed Cyan some medication. "Take one pill twice a day for the next two weeks. If the situation worsens, here is my contact information." He handed her a small card with his phone number on it.
Cyan nodded her head in thanks.
With the doctor leaving the dressing room, Mrs. Smith let out a long sigh.
"In the end, you just give me more work..." She pressed her fingers above her nose in a sign of irritation.
"Okay, the show will go on with or without your voice... get the equipment ready." Mrs. Smith ordered some henchmen who were in the dressing room.
"Yes, ma'am." "Yes, ma'am." "Yes, ma'am."
She turned to Cyan with a smile (clearly a fake one).
"Don't worry, we'll use technology to mimic your voice while you're on stage. All you have to do is move your mouth to the rhythm of the music. You can do that, right? You're not going to disappoint your fans who trust you, are you?"
Cyan felt suffocated, this was the worst thing she could do. She would have to pretend to sing and lie to her fans, lie to her friends, and lie to herself.
She is tired of these rehearsals, tired of these commercials, tired of these fan conventions, tired of these interviews... She is tired of this life as a hero.
But even with these feelings, she still felt guilt deep down, with the possible disappointment of her fans. She got here thanks to their trust, it wouldn't be fair to throw it all away like that, would it?
"Ma'am!" A henchman entered the door with a cell phone in his hand.
"What?" Mrs. Smith didn't even bother to hide the anger in her voice.
"It's the boss."
Mickey (CEO of DOS) was on the other end of the line, and he certainly wasn't happy either.
"Why didn't you say so before, idiot." Mrs. Smith spoke softly as she took the cell phone from the henchman's hand.
"Hi Mickey, how are you~?" Leaving the dressing room, Mrs. Smith spoke cheerfully on the phone.
Now alone in the dressing room, Cyan thought as best she could with the few hours of sleep she had had lately.
What should I do... I don't want to continue with this, but I also don't want to just abandon everything... the fans, Queen, Little Johnny, and Big Johnny will be devastated if I do that.
Cyan had really fallen in love with being able to help so many people with her music. She could hear their screams in the stadium, calling her name...
Letting her gaze wander around the dressing room, she spotted her skates leaning against the wall, and above them a calendar on the wall with a tempting word.
Vacation
Cyan's eyes widened for a moment. Maybe there was a way to take some time for herself and think calmly without all this pressure.
At that moment, Mrs. Smith was apologizing to Mickey.
"Mickey, I'm sorry about this, but Cyan never wanted to stop. She always said she wanted to do her best for her fans' trust. Even though I warned her about her health, she wouldn't listen to me!" Mrs. Smith spoke with a fake tone of crying in her voice. She wasn't going to come out looking like the bad guy in this story.
"MRS.!" Some henchmen came running towards her.
"What is it now?" A vein was visibly throbbing on her forehead with this interruption.
"Lucky Cyan is GONE!!"
"WHAT!?"
"When we went back to her dressing room, we only found this note." A henchman handed her the note.
I'm going on vacation, see you later.
"That damn..." Mrs. Smith's voice was venomous as she crumpled the paper in her hand.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? SEARCH THE ENTIRE STADIUM AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, SHE CAN'T HAVE GONE FAR."
"Y-yes, ma'am." The henchmen left the scene, afraid of Mrs. Smith.
"Tsk... who does she think she is to do this...?"
Finally noticing the cell phone still in her hand... with the call still on, she gulped, this isn't going to end well for her.
Outside the stadium, it was possible to see the henchmen searching for the fugitive heroine as the rain finally began.
_______________________
Unfortunately for them, Cyan was already far from that place. She skated aimlessly through the streets, the rain hitting her harder with each passing minute.
Cyan decided to let luck guide her, turning at every street corner where she felt her luck telling her which was the best choice to make, and thanks to the rain warning on the news, there were no people on the streets.
With luck, she would arrive somewhere better than before.
However, her exhaustion and hunger from the last few weeks began to take their toll on her body. Feeling weaker and weaker, she breathed heavily, trying her best to go as far as possible, until—
"Ah—" She fell face down on the ground, in the middle of a sidewalk on a street she had no idea where it could be. Kneeling down, she could no longer hold back her tears.
She wanted to scream for help, but she didn't have the strength to do so. She felt tired, hungry, soaked by the rain, and alone...
This is a nightmare...
Cyan had tried to stay optimistic for the past month, telling herself that in the end it would be a good thing, that all of this was necessary for her to become a better heroine, but in the end she just felt worse than ever.
She couldn't even tell if she was really crying, the rain hid her tears, Cyan seemed like the most fragile person in the world at that moment. Amidst the rain, small black particles were visible forming around her.
"Huh?" Feeling the rain suddenly stop, she looked up with tears streaming down her face and found a person who had stopped in front of her, using an umbrella to prevent the rain from continuing to fall on her.
He had tousled dark brown hair and dark eyes. He didn't look older than her and didn't have a striking appearance, except for the dark circles under his eyes that matched hers, but what caught her attention most was his expression, his eyes clearly expressed concern.
He reached out his hand to her and said the words she needed to hear most at that moment.
"Need help?"