"Where's the curling iron? Did anyone see it?"

"Here you go, hurry up."

"Your brows still need some work, don't move, I'll fix them for you."

"Look at those dark circles—didn't sleep well last night, huh? Too nervous..."

Ruzaki Mami stepped into the backstage makeup room, only to be greeted by absolute chaos.

Several makeup artists were orbiting around her bandmates, constantly swapping positions and tools, their makeup brushes practically leaving afterimages in the air.

Their personal concert—it was finally about to begin.

It was only upon seeing this scene that she truly felt it sinking in.

From a small band with odd makeup, only able to sing and dance at tiny live houses, to now hosting a personal concert at a five-thousand-seat venue, they had overcome so many hardships, so many obstacles, and finally arrived at this moment.

But when all was said and done, at their core, they were still just a group of music-loving high school girls.

Could they confidently face the packed crowd of five thousand outside and pull off the performance?

They could. They absolutely could.

Because Ruzaki Mami believed in the hard work she'd put into practice, and she believed in her bandmates too. They might feel as nervous as she did, but none of their eyes betrayed any hint of avoidance—on the contrary, they blazed with excitement.

Right now, they all had the eyes of warriors!

Ruzaki Mami couldn't help but think proudly.

But upon closer inspection, it seemed like someone was missing—not everyone was here.

"Huh, where's Karen-chan?" she asked.

The Red Pepper Band's lead guitarist, Hoshimi Nana, calmly sat while a makeup artist applied false eyelashes to her. "She went to the bathroom, I think. She should be back soon."

"Ah, okay."

Ruzaki Mami obediently let the makeup artist press her into the chair for her makeup.

But even after she finished, got up, and looked around—Ai Cheng Hua Lian still hadn't come back.

Hoshimi Nana: "Karen's taking forever~"

Saijo Maya: "Don't tell me she's got an upset stomach or something. There's only ten minutes left before we go on stage! I'll give her a call."

The call went through, but the ringtone echoed on the nearby vanity—Ai Cheng Hua Lian had left her phone there.

As everyone began to grow slightly frantic, Ruzaki Mami volunteered with a raised hand: "I'll go look for her in the bathroom!"

"Quick, quick! Bring that idiot back here."

Ruzaki Mami jogged over to the women's restroom and immediately found her best friend Ai Cheng Hua Lian in one of the stalls.

It wasn't due to her sharp instincts or some special skill—it was simply because sounds were coming from the last stall.

Crying sounds.

Someone inside was trying hard to suppress their voice, muffling their sobs and whimpers.

She fell silent all at once.

After all, being such close friends, how could she not recognize whose voice that was?

What broke her heart was that at that moment, Ruzaki Mami couldn't think of anything to say to comfort her; every word seemed stuck in her throat.

She could guess what had brought her friend to this state. This content was first released on *.

But clearly, now wasn't the time to dwell on those matters.

Thinking of the staff still waiting for them outside, Ruzaki Mami hesitated for a moment, furrowing her brow before timidly reaching out to knock on the door.

"K-Karen-chan? The performance is starting soon, are you ready yet..."

It was as if she hadn't heard the crying at all, bypassing the topic entirely and cautiously waiting for a reply from beyond the door.

The sobbing stopped immediately.

Seconds later, the stall door creaked open, and Ai Cheng Hua Lian emerged, donned in her performance outfit. Her eyes were red, and she offered an awkward, embarrassed smile. "Mami, you... heard all of it, didn't you?"

"I-I did..."

"It's nothing—don't get the wrong idea. I just suddenly remembered the last episode of the drama I watched last night. The protagonist died, and I still can't get over it."

"Oh, uh, I see..."

Ruzaki Mami couldn't tell if she was lying or telling the truth—she simply forced a smile and urged her to hurry back and fix her makeup.

Her makeup had been utterly ruined by tears; she looked like a ghost.

With less than ten minutes left before the show, she could already imagine the makeup artist screaming in horror.

Through their frantic efforts, the Red Pepper Band managed to take the stage on time, greeted by a deafening roar of applause.

The five-thousand-seat arena was packed to the brim. The band's first personal concert had officially begun.

In the end, it was a resounding success.

Though Ai Cheng Hua Lian had been low-spirited before going on stage, she quickly regained her composure once she stepped onto it. During the hour-and-a-half performance, she delivered perfectly, meeting every audience expectation.

"Thank you! Thank you, everyone!"

"Did you have fun today? Be sure to come back next time~!"

"Thank you so much for your unwavering support!"

For the encore, the Red Pepper Band changed into their merchandise T-shirts, dripping with sweat, and hugged each other tightly. Together, they bowed to the audience, waved with smiles under the cheers, and retreated backstage.

As soon as they left the stage, they gleefully exchanged high-fives, celebrating their triumph.

The staff clapped for them and handed bouquets to Ai Cheng Hua Lian and the others. They posed for a commemorative photo.

Four vibrant, youthful girls pressed their heads together, bouquets held in front of their chests, hair strands glued to their cheeks by sweat, their bright eyes sparkling as they smiled radiantly.

The memories forged in this moment would surely stay with them for a long time.

After wrapping up various tasks, the four members of the Red Pepper Band, along with their manager, headed to the underground parking lot to board a van back to the company.

Just before getting into the van, Ai Cheng Hua Lian noticed the door of a green Aston Martin open nearby. Kagura Hikaru and Kohinata Motoyo stepped out.

"Kagura? And Little Hinata? What are you doing here?" she asked, stunned, instinctively walking toward them.

"Did you forget, Student Ai Cheng? We promised we'd come to see your concert last time," Kohinata Motoyo replied, hands behind her back. With a swift movement, she revealed a bouquet, "Congratulations on a successful performance—it was electric out there~!"

"Ah, thank you..."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian glanced at Kagura Hikaru, who stood behind, then accepted the flowers.

Behind her, the Red Pepper Band members tactfully nudged the manager into the car, exchanging looks laden with frustration at Kagura Hikaru's insensitivity.

Was he genuinely clueless or deliberately oblivious? Watching a concert was fine and all, but why bring his girlfriend along to see Ai Cheng Hua Lian? That was like rubbing salt into her wound...

Ruzaki Mami eyed Karen-chan's retreating figure, concern flickering in her gaze.

The sobs from the restroom still echoed in her mind. She worried that Kohinata Motoyo might pick up on something from Karen-chan's expression and intentionally persuade Kagura Hikaru to distance himself from her, leaving them without even the friendship they once had.

It wasn't an impossible scenario. Jealousy bubbles hot in the hearts of girls in love.

However, her fears seemed unwarranted.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian displayed an awe-inspiring transformation, smiling warmly and chatting cheerfully with Kagura and Kohinata, even remaining unphased while the couple showcased their affection openly. Ruzaki Mami was practically dumbfounded watching her.

The Karen-chan who used to wear her heart on her sleeve, always a little clumsy, seemed to have grown a lot.

After the couple departed, Ai Cheng Hua Lian's forced smile began to crack, resembling a shattered mask.

Her expression was heartbreaking to behold.

"Karen-chan..." Ruzaki Mami stepped forward, grabbing her friend's hand.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian clenched back, turning with a comforting smile. "I'm okay, Mami, don't worry."

Despite being the one heartbroken, why did she end up consoling others instead...

Ruzaki Mami was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by this tenderness.

"Karen-chan, Mr. Kagura choosing to date someone else just means he has poor taste. You'll definitely find someone way better! Absolutely! And if you really can't... I-I could maybe... (muttering)"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian didn't pay heed to her friend's mumbling.

Her eyes gazed ahead, unfocused, as if fixed on something far away.

[Are you really okay with this?]

Some voice whispered out of nowhere.

[Walking away without doing anything—is this really okay?]

Ai Cheng Hua Lian pressed her hand to her chest.

Ah, the voice was coming from here.