The night of Lumina's comeback arrived, but it wasn't the comeback CYN had planned.
The company's version of the performance—with Eira, scripted chemistry, and edited lyrics—was still preloaded for the broadcast. But what went live wasn't the file they uploaded.
What went live… was revolution.
---
Backstage, the crew buzzed with confusion.
"Wait, where's Eira?"
"She's not here. She backed out last minute."
"Didn't Kael say he was sick?"
"Nope. He's mic'd up."
Kael stood at the edge of the dark stage, eyes closed, heart pounding. Beside him, Klan adjusted his in-ears with shaking hands.
"You okay?" Kael asked.
"No," Klan admitted. "But I'm not scared of the stage anymore."
The lights dropped. Silence held for a breath.
Then—
Boom.
The first beat of "Eclipsed Hearts" exploded through the stadium.
---
They had one shot.
Kael stepped forward, his voice cutting through the dark like a flame:
> "They told us to smile while hiding bruises.
Told us love was dangerous when it didn't look like theirs."
The choreography was sharp, unified—but different. Honest.
When Klan entered center stage, arms outstretched, the crowd roared. Not out of surprise… but recognition. Fans had seen the secret smiles. The exchanged looks. The way Kael's voice always softened when he turned to Klan.
Now, it wasn't a whisper.
It was a war cry.
---
Halfway through the performance, screens behind them lit up with phrases:
"Truth isn't a scandal."
"We're more than your image."
"LUMINA = Light. Even in the dark."
The fans screamed.
Cameras tried to cut the feed. Too late. The broadcast had already synced to the alternate file—leaked by Eren and Sion an hour before.
They didn't ask for permission.
They asked to be heard.
---
After the performance, chaos ruled the company.
The CEO called Kael twenty-three times.
Kael didn't answer.
Instead, he posted a message on the group's official fan app:
> "We won't perform lies anymore.
What you saw tonight was real.
If that ends our career—
At least we ended it honestly.
With love,
—Kael & LUMINA"
---
Back in the dressing room, Klan sat with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes were red, but he was smiling. Tavi handed him a juice box like they were kids again.
Eren exhaled. "Well… we just burned down the industry."
Sion laughed. "Then let's build something better."
Kael leaned against the wall beside Klan. He didn't say much. Just took Klan's hand under the table—where no one could see.
Except this time, they didn't care if anyone did.
---