From Fuyuko Niino's Perspective
The stage lights fused with the thunderous cheers of thousands of fans, flooding the concert hall in brilliance. The members of B-Komachi delivered an incredible performance, the energy of the crowd reaching its peak. Fuyuko Niino stood second from the left of Ai, moving gracefully across the stage. Her voice remained strong and clear throughout the performance, every movement radiating pure professionalism. Her eyes scanned the audience; the glowing penlights swayed in perfect rhythm with the stage.
But then, her gaze froze at a single point: Ryosuke Sugano.
He stood in the very front row. His eyes—locked onto Ai Hoshino. Adoringly, worshipfully. Even as he cheered, every word spilling from his lips carried only one name: Ai.
Fuyuko's heartbeat no longer matched the music, but the anger swelling inside her. Even in the middle of the performance, tension flickered across her face. The jealousy welling within her threatened to disrupt the very rhythm of the stage.
"I'm right here instead of her," she thought. "I'm his girlfriend, I'm the closest one to him. Yet on stage, he sees no one but Ai. I was in B-Komachi before Ai—I've stood on this stage longer than her."
Ai danced with her usual radiant smile, enchanting the audience. As if the world had been crafted solely for her—the stage, the lights, the admiration in every fan's eyes… everything belonged to her.
The Confrontation at Home
When Fuyuko stepped into her quiet apartment after the concert, only dim lights and familiar silence greeted her. The warmth of stage lights, the cheers, the overflowing energy—all had faded into a cold loneliness. She dropped her bag onto the chair by the entrance and slowly walked to the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, she grabbed a bottle of water. As she twisted the cap, her reflection caught her eye in the glass. Stage makeup still lingered on her face, but the glow in her eyes had vanished.
"What a fool I am," she thought. "All that effort, all those rehearsals… yet on stage, it was still only her."
She shook her head and moved to the bathroom. Splashing her face with cold water, she tried to ground herself in its chill. Looking again into the mirror, this time she stared straight into her own eyes.
"I'm good too. I shine on stage too. But no one cheers for me. As long as she's there, I'm just part of the backdrop."
She took a deep breath, forcing composure, but the waves of jealousy and anger still lingered. The memory of Ryosuke's expression at the concert replayed in her mind—his eyes fixed entirely on Ai. His cheers were not for Fuyuko, but for Ai.
"Even my performance was swallowed by her shadow."
She drifted into the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. Staring at the ceiling, her thoughts kept circling.
"I work so hard, harder than anyone, yet people only see her. She's always perfect, always the best. But what about me?"
As exhaustion spread through her body, her eyes slowly closed.
Fuyuko's Cycle
These feelings weren't new for Fuyuko; they repeated in an endless cycle. Days blurred together—rehearsals, meetings, stage preparations, performances—yet none could free her from this emotional prison.
A week, a month, or even a year—time had lost its meaning. All that remained were the feelings. She was living in Ai's shadow, and she couldn't deny it.
After every concert, she returned home only to question herself again. She replayed concert footage, watching the passion in the fans' eyes for Ai, seeing Ryosuke's gaze filled with love for her. Concert days became unbearable, watching every spotlight, every gaze drift toward Ai instead of herself.
And now, she was back on stage—once again, beneath Ai's shadow.
Even as music thundered in her ears, her own inner voice was louder.
"I'm here too. I shine too. But why is it never enough?"
In the crowd, she spotted Ryosuke. He had come again. Yet his eyes were still fixed solely on Ai.
Fuyuko stood beside Kyun, who was next to Ai. They shared the same stage, sang the same song. But the lights—the lights always belonged to Ai.
Something stirred inside her. A feeling that could no longer be buried.
"This can't go on."
As the song neared its end, she took a deep breath.
"When this concert ends, I'll talk to her. I'll confront Ai."
And when Fuyuko looked at Ai on stage, her eyes burned with the resolve of someone ready to demand answers.
From Ai's Perspective
As the stage lights illuminated Fuyuko's face, Ai stole a glance. As always, Fuyuko's performance was flawless. Her steps sharp, her voice powerful, her stage presence impeccable. Yet something was missing.
While dancing at the center of the stage, Ai's gaze brushed past her again. Beneath Fuyuko's perfect expression lingered tension, suppressed yet visible. Ai knew the look well—she had seen it before. It was jealousy.
She forced herself to keep dancing, to mask her unease. She understood Fuyuko's feelings. Every cheer that carried only Ai's name, every penlight that glowed only for her—it all must have cut deep.
But what could she do?
On stage, beneath the lights, with all eyes upon her—no one expected Ai to stop and turn back. The stage seemed hers, but even Ai sometimes questioned if that wasn't just an illusion.
Fuyuko danced on Ai's left, right behind Kyun. For just a moment, their eyes met. In them, Ai saw it all: the anger, the frustration, the jealousy.
Ai nearly faltered in her rhythm, but caught herself immediately. Her smile returned, radiant as ever, as though nothing had happened. And as she sang one of the song's strongest notes, a thought slipped through her mind:
"Fuyuko, I wish you weren't so angry at me. But if I could trade places with you… could I really do it?"
To be continued...