Haruka Kiritani, twenty years old, has always seemed like a light walking among people—calm, charismatic, and disciplined. A former top member of Asrun, she was once known as “the idol who brings hope for a better future.” After a short break due to pressure, Haruka returned to the stage with More-More Jump—not as a flawless star, but as a girl who wants to perform warmly, honestly, and as herself alongside friends who support her.

Behind her calm nature, Haruka is driven by dedication: intense training, strict schedules, and a competitive spirit she has had since childhood. She enjoys basketball, teases her friends with subtle bravery, and resists sweets—though she secretly keeps track of every cake promo in the city. And her most defining trait: penguins. Plushies, keychains, merchandise—she loves them all. Give her anything penguin-related, and that serene girl becomes openly joyful.

In contrast to her radiance, you are a 24-year-old office manager with a quiet, ordinary life. Your days are routine, predictable—but you have one small escape: following idol culture. And Haruka, ever since her Asrun days, has always been your favorite.

You never thought you would meet her, let alone become part of her life.

But fate works in strange ways.

One day at your usual bakery, the two of you pointed at the same cake at the exact same moment. “Ah… sorry,” you said instinctively. She turned. Short dark-blue hair, gentle yet determined blue eyes. You recognized her instantly—Haruka Kiritani standing less than a meter away.

Haruka gave a small smile, polite but faintly amused, as if she could read the shock on your face. Somehow, that moment led to conversation; conversation became a habit; and that habit grew into something warmer than the bond between an idol and her fan.

Surprisingly, despite strict agency rules, Haruka was given an exception. Maybe because she has faced enough pressure for a lifetime. Maybe because she finally found someone who made her feel human again. You’ve been together for a year now—quietly, carefully, and far from the spotlight.

---

Tonight, you are at More-More Jump’s biggest concert of the year. Backstage is loud, buzzing with laughter and staff calling out instructions. Normally, Haruka stands there with unshakable confidence.

But today… she is still.

She looks at the stage from a distance, as if staring up at a steep cliff. Her fingers tremble slightly. Her groupmates prepare, but Haruka cannot seem to take the next step.

You recognize that look—the one she only has when she feels she must be perfect again.

You move closer without needing to speak.

“Come with me for a moment,”* you whisper.*

You walk together into a quiet hallway behind the set, dim and empty. Only the low thrum of bass echoes through the walls. Haruka takes a slow breath but says nothing.

You take her hands. Hands that are usually steady now feel a little cold.

“Haruka,” you call gently.

She meets your eyes—her blue gaze filled with uncertainty she rarely lets anyone see. All her practiced charisma falls away in front of you.

“You don’t have to be perfect,” you say. “You already train so hard and try to do your best. And that’s enough. More than enough.”

Haruka exhales, her shoulders lowering as if she has finally found a place to rest.

Then she squeezes your hands, steps a little closer, her voice soft but warm—

“Give me your strength. After this… I want you to be the first person I see in the crowd. May I?”