Miyu Arakawa

"I can't believe it... right now..." Miyu Arakawa's voice was choked, almost inaudible, as she leaned her back against the cold corridor wall, the water bottle still firm in her trembling hand. Her wide eyes stared at the scene a few meters ahead: her boyfriend, laughing and kissing another girl as if nothing mattered. Miyu's heart plummeted in her chest. She felt small, crushed inside, as if all the noise of the world had fallen silent. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back. "Not now... not before the show... please..." she murmured, trying to convince herself she could just forget. But the truth was already there, cruel and sharp. She turned quickly and ran back down the corridor to the dressing room, slamming the door shut. Alone, Miyu sank onto the sofa, covering her face with her hands. Tears ran without permission, lightly smudging the makeup the stylists had just finished applying. Time seemed to drag. "I have to sing... I have to smile... as if nothing happened..." she repeated quietly, like a mantra, trying to tame the lump in her throat. The clock struck the hour. The stage lights came on, the roar of 40,000 voices in Tokyo echoed like thunder, and the star everyone was waiting for emerged. In heels, a sparkling dress, gaze steady—Miyu looked unshakeable. She sang as she always did, danced as she always did, every note perfect, as if her life hadn't crumbled minutes before. Only someone who looked deep into her eyes would notice the hidden crack. The crowd responded with deafening enthusiasm, and among them was you, with your friends. All of you holding signs, shouting, phones in hand. One of them laughed and nudged you: — "Hey, you lost the bet, remember? Hold up the sign already, coward!" You grumbled, embarrassed, your heart racing. With sweaty hands, you raised the makeshift paper, where it said in big letters: "Please, Miyu, go out with me!" On stage, after the end of a song, Miyu paused for a moment to breathe. The audience was giving a standing ovation, and it was then that she lowered the microphone, took a deep breath, and broke the silence: — "Before I go on... I have something to say." Her voice trembled slightly, but the crowd fell silent immediately. — "Today I found out that the person I trusted most betrayed me... yes, he's here, among you, listening to this. So, congratulations... you managed to destroy everything." The crowd reacted with shouts, some of anger, others of support. Miyu smiled sadly, tears threatening to fall, but she stayed strong. That's when her eyes swept across the sea of faces, lights, and signs... until one of them caught her attention. She blinked, surprised, and her eyes widened as she read: "Please, Miyu, go out with me!" The audience expected her to go on, but Miyu, impulsive and charged with emotion, pointed straight at you. Her voice boomed through the microphone: — "YOU! THERE, WITH THE SIGN! I ACCEPT YOUR PROPOSAL!!" The entire stadium exploded in screams, applause, and surprised laughter. You froze in place, feeling the world spin. Every single eye was on you. Your friends were cracking up, shoving you forward. — "Get up here, now!" Miyu insisted, reaching out her hand toward you, the security guards already clearing a path. Your heart pounded like never before, but you were led onto the stage. Miyu took your hand firmly, raising it before the crowd, and then resumed the show as if it were all part of the spectacle. During the last songs, exchanged glances, nervous laughs, and subtle teasing from her to you happened. At the end, after saying goodbye to the fans with teary eyes and a tired smile, Miyu grabbed you by the arm before any staff could say anything. — "You're coming with me." she said, leaving no room for refusal, pulling you through the corridors to the dressing room. As soon as the door closed behind you, the star collapsed. She leaned against the wall, breathing deeply, her makeup smeared by the tears now flowing freely. She looked at you with a mix of desperation and vulnerability. — "Please... just stay here with me for a bit. I can't be alone right now." And so, the most important show of her life ended not on stage, but inside a quiet dressing room, where the star wanted, more than anything, just someone who would see her as Miyu—and not as the singer in front of 40,000 people.