✨ Chapter 9 — Glow

- Original song: Hatsune Miku https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wzo69SAdME - Cover: Megurine Luka https://youtu.be/ucqv8SG0GbU?si=seQIvwpe0XzgQJBa - Cover: Kamui Gakupo https://youtu.be/qUUufs0m2C8?si=v6zBhNJI2q51L5j_ - glow / 初音ミク x Leo/need(星乃一歌・天馬咲希・望月穂波・日野森志歩) https://youtu.be/YyV9jowj9PY?si=F75_C80xBBj2xLnE 💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 Years later. Time moved forward like an invisible river, flowing quietly without anyone noticing. Seasons changed. The world slowly moved on. And some dreams were finally drawing closer to the light. The debut date had actually been decided months earlier. Schedules had been arranged. Promotional posters had already been printed. It just happened that the day fell on his birthday. The city had not fully woken yet. The sky held a pale shade of blue. Gakupo sat inside the recording studio. Several sheets of music lay on the desk. Beside them was a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. The clock on the wall moved quietly. Today had finally arrived. From the first time he stood in front of a microphone to the moment of stepping onto a real stage, countless days and nights stood in between. Practice. Recording. Revisions. And starting over again. All the invisible time had led to this day. His phone screen lit up. The company’s official account had just posted an announcement. “Official debut today.” The promotional image appeared on the screen. Stage lights shone down on him. Gakupo looked at the image and stayed silent for a moment. Then he opened his messages. At the very top of his chat list, one name had always been pinned. Luka. Over the years, they had never completely lost contact. Sometimes they still exchanged a few messages. Sometimes just a simple greeting. Sometimes a melody that came to mind late at night. Sometimes just sharing a piece of music that had just been finished. The messages were not frequent, but they had never truly stopped. A few months earlier, when the company officially confirmed his debut plan, the first message Gakupo sent had also been to her. That day, he only sent a very simple line. “Looks like I might finally debut.” Luka replied quickly. “Really?” A small smiling emoji followed. After that, the debut date was gradually confirmed. Promotions began to take shape. The stage slowly became real. And today had finally arrived. Gakupo paused for a moment. The glow of the screen reflected in his eyes. After a while, he slowly typed a message. “Today is my debut.” The message was sent. Outside the window, the sky was slowly growing brighter. From years of time to the real stage, a new light was beginning. In a distant country, a phone vibrated softly. Luka was sitting at her desk, writing a melody. Sheets of music were scattered across the table. Morning sunlight had just begun to enter through the window. She picked up her phone. The screen lit up. A notification appeared. Sender: Gakupo. Her hand paused slightly, as if an old melody had suddenly returned. She opened the message. There was only one sentence. “Today is my debut.” Luka looked at the words and smiled gently. She lowered her head and typed. “Happy birthday.” She paused. Then added another line. “I’ll watch the livestream today.” The message was sent. The room became quiet again. After a while, she opened her computer. The official livestream page was counting down. The stage’s promotional image appeared on the screen. Lights. A stage. And that familiar name. Luka sat quietly in her chair. Outside the window, the world was slowly becoming brighter. From the farewell of that morning years ago to today’s stage, time had traveled far. But some melodies had never really left. She watched the countdown on the screen. The numbers slowly decreased. The stage lights were about to turn on. And on the other side of the world, Gakupo was standing behind the stage, waiting for the light. — From the darkness behind the stage to the moment the spotlight fell, time seemed to slow for a second. Gakupo stood at the side of the stage. The sound of the audience slowly rose around him. Lights moved slowly across the ceiling. Staff members made their final checks. He held the microphone in his hand. His fingers tightened slightly. From the quiet recording studio years ago to this stage today, so much time had passed. So many nights. So many melodies practiced again and again. The stage manager spoke softly beside him. “Ready.” The music’s intro began to play in the hall. The lights suddenly came alive. The spotlight fell at the center of the stage. Gakupo stepped forward. Applause rose like a wave. The audience shimmered with countless lights. At that moment, the stage was no longer just a stage. It looked like a star that had finally begun to shine. Gakupo stood in the light. He lifted the microphone. The first line of the song slowly left his lips. His voice was steady and clear. Compared to years ago, there was now a quiet strength within it. It was the voice of someone who truly belonged on a stage. — In a distant country, Luka sat in front of her computer. The livestream showed the stage. The audience lights shimmered like a sea of stars. The camera slowly zoomed in. At the center of the screen, Gakupo stood there. The music continued. His voice came through the speakers. Familiar. Yet more mature than before. Luka watched quietly. She didn’t speak. From the farewell of that distant morning to this stage now, time had traveled far. She looked at the person on the screen. The one who had once sat on the floor with her singing together. Now he stood at the center of a stage before thousands. Lights fell around him. Applause filled the entire hall. The corner of Luka’s lips lifted slightly. It was a genuine happiness. Like watching a star finally rise into the sky. But within that smile, there was also something she could not quite name. Like a melody suddenly returning to her heart. For a moment, she remembered the room from years ago. Sheets of music scattered across the floor. The quiet morning light outside the window. And the song they once sang without instruments. Luka lowered her head and let out a soft breath. Then she lifted her eyes again. On the screen, Gakupo was still singing. The stage lights grew brighter. The audience’s cheers echoed through the speakers. Luka sat there quietly, watching the screen. As if watching a melody finally reach its ending. From the two of them in the past to two different countries now, the distance was far. But the song was still there. And the light on the stage continued to glow gently.