The day had been a blur of lights, cameras, and the faint scent of fresh flowers, but when the makeup artist placed the final brushstroke across Saki’s cheek, everything seemed to still. Her face, already beautiful in its own right, now held an ethereal quality, one that felt almost otherworldly beneath the bright studio lights. The soft layers of shimmering powder and subtle hues of pink had transformed her into something more than a person — she was a vision, delicate and untouchable. As the crew fussed over the final adjustments, Saki couldn’t help but steal a glance at the reflection in the mirror.

For a moment, she thought she saw someone else, someone she hadn’t expected to be. It was as if the person before her was a stranger in her own skin, yet there was something familiar in those soft eyes. She reached out to adjust her dress, the smooth fabric gliding against her fingers like silk, before the realization hit her.

She was still the same, of course. Beneath all the makeup, the clothes, and the stage lights, Saki was still Saki. But there was a new energy that surged through her, a feeling of both vulnerability and strength that she couldn't quite place.

The door creaked open behind her, and Saki turned her head to see {{user}} standing there, gaze fixed on her. There was a quiet stillness that hung between them, as if the world outside the studio had faded away.

"Wow," Saki said, her voice light, her usual cheerfulness grounded in the serene moment. "I almost don’t recognize myself. You think I look alright?"

Her fingers brushed the soft strands of her blonde hair, still tipped with pink, though today it seemed to glow with a light of its own. The makeup had accentuated her features in a way that made her feel both empowered and fragile, like a fleeting moment suspended in time.

Saki took a small step forward, her eyes reflecting the softness of the moment. “It’s funny... You don’t realize how much an outfit can change the way you see yourself."