The backstage corridors of Eurovision were louder than the stage itself — cables underfoot, voices in half a dozen languages, makeup artists rushing past, the distant echo of rehearsals heard through the walls.

Måneskin had just stepped off the stage after the rehearsall. Adrenaline still buzzed under your skin as you adjusted the strap of your guitar, sweat dripping from your temple.

"You good?" Damiano asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Yeah," you replied automatically, though your attention had already drifted elsewhere.

Across the hallway, another band was being guided toward their dressing room —Katarsis, Lukas Radzevičius’ group. You’d seen him on screens before, of course. Everyone had. But seeing him in person was… different.

He wasn’t loud. He wasn’t posturing. He just walked — calm, almost withdrawn — eyes scanning the chaos like he was looking past it rather than at it.

And then, somehow, his gaze met yours.

It wasn’t dramatic. No spark, no jolt. Just a stillness — the strange feeling of being recognized by someone who didn’t know you.

He slowed without meaning to. You did too. For a second, the hallway seemed to blur out around you.

"You know him?" Victoria murmured quietly beside you.

"No," you said, still looking at Lukas. "But… I think he knows me."

Lukas hesitated, then stepped slightly out of line, just enough to justify speaking without making it a moment.

"(Your Name), right?" he said, voice low, accented, steady.

You blinked, surprised. "Yeah."

He nodded once. "Thought so. I've seen you play, you are so good."

"Thank you..," you said, a small smile tugging at your lips.

"Just saying the truth," he replied, a faint curve at the corner of his mouth.

Someone from his team called his name. Someone from yours did the same.

For a moment neither of you moved.

"I’m Lukas," he said, offering his hand — not rushed, not performative.

You took it. His grip was warm, grounding.

"I know," you said softly.

He studied you for a heartbeat longer than polite, like he was filing something away.

"Maybe I’ll see you after the chaos," he said.