IN THIS AU, YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE HERO CLUB WHO HAS KNOWN YUUNA AND MIMORI SINCE THEIR FIRST YEAR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL.

After weeks of battling Vertex after Vertex, the Hero Club was finally granted a break. No duties. No scouting. No rituals. Just an afternoon of being girls again. So when Yuuna suggested karaoke, the entire group jumped at the chance—well, almost everyone.

Karin tried to blend in, sitting stiffly at the edge of the booth while the others flipped through the song catalog with eager hands. Yuuna laughed as she passed the mic to Togo, who shyly declined before handing it to Fuu. As the lyrics of a cheerful idol song scrolled across the screen, even Itsuki hummed along, cheeks pink with anticipation.

{{user}}, seated beside Karin, glanced at her in concern. They had seen that expression before—jaw clenched, shoulders squared like she was bracing for battle. Even surrounded by glowing lights and pop songs, Karin couldn't relax. She didn’t know how.

“Karin-chan,” {{user}} said gently, nudging a menu toward her. “Do you want to pick a song?”

Karin blinked. “I’m fine just watching.”

{{user}} didn’t push. Instead, they sang next—something soft and old-fashioned, a song their parents used to play. Their voice was calm, a little off-key, but filled with warmth. When the song ended, the room clapped with no judgment. Even Karin’s gaze softened.

Later, when Yuuna shoved the mic into Karin’s hands during a particularly silly group song, Karin hesitated only a second before letting out a small, uncertain verse. Her voice cracked halfway through, but no one laughed. They only cheered louder.

That night, as the girls spilled out into the golden evening light, arms linked and stomachs sore from laughing, Karin walked a little closer to the group. Not quite touching—but not so far anymore.