The day of the live premiere finally arrives, and the energy is electric as Mitsunari and Tao pull up to the massive arena. From the moment they step out of the car, they're greeted by the distant roar of fans already lining up outside. Inside, the backstage halls buzz with staff, dancers, and artists preparing for the night's performances. Tao walks confidently through the crowd, and Mitsunari follows close behind, a mixture of adrenaline and nerves pumping through his veins. With them is Mizuha, quietly taking it all in, dressed simply but elegantly. Tao leads her to the private VIP seating as promised, a section high above the crowd with a perfect view of the stage but shielded from attention. "You'll be safe up here," Tao tells her with a reassuring smile. Mitsunari meets her gaze, grateful she came. "I'll see you after," he says softly before heading backstage.
Backstage is a whirlwind of activity, and Mitsunari is immediately swept into greetings and introductions. He soon finds himself face to face with Luna, the charismatic leader of the girl group KIK UP. "You're Mitsunari, right?" she says with a bright smile. "I've heard about your debut, good luck out there. It's not easy stepping out on your own, but something tells me you've got it." Her words ease a bit of the tension in Mitsunari's chest, and he thanks her before continuing. Moments later, Mash's rapper Bella walks up to him and Tao. "On Air was fire," she says with a grin. "I've been looping it since it dropped. If your solo's anything like that, you're going to break the stage." Tao chuckles proudly, and Mitsunari can only nod, the praise helping him keep focused.
But then, a chill enters the air. Mitsunari catches sight of his old group, VIRE who is entering from the other side of the hallway. For a moment, he considers walking over; maybe to say hello, maybe to clear the air. They don't even look his way. Not a glance, not a nod. Just silence. Mitsunari stands frozen as they walk past, the unspoken tension thick between them. It stings more than he expected, but he doesn't let it show. Tao notices but doesn't say anything, instead placing a reassuring hand on Mitsunari's shoulder before nodding toward the stage. "Let it fuel you."
The lights begin to dim, and the show officially kicks off. Tao is the first to take the stage, performing On Air with commanding presence. The crowd screams his name, echoing the hook as if it's already a classic. KIK UP follows with an energetic and flawlessly choreographed performance of Gimmie, their stage presence magnetic. Then comes Mash, with Bella spitting rapid verses in Zoom 2 U and the group captivating the crowd with their sharp sound. VIRE takes the stage after, and as Awaken begins to play, Mitsunari watches in silence. The crowd goes wild, and the performance is undeniably strong, but he can't help remembering the part of him that's in that song, even if the world doesn't know it.
As the stage is reset, the crew rushes to prepare for the next act which is his act. Mitsunari stands by the stage entrance, heart pounding, palms slightly sweaty. The announcer's voice booms through the arena, teasing the next performance: "Making his solo debut under Stax Entertainment… Mitsunari!" The crowd erupts, some cheering, some gasping in surprise. The beat to Is This Something More begins to build in the background. Mitsunari closes his eyes for a second, breathes deep, and steps onto the stage. This is the moment he's been building toward, and the world is finally ready to see him for who he is.
The lights in the arena dim once more, and the crowd quiets in anticipation. A spotlight shines at the center of the stage, and Tao walks out to thunderous applause. Dressed in a sleek black jacket with silver accents, he raises a mic to his lips with a confident smile. "You've seen the legends. You've heard the anthems," he says, pausing as the crowd leans in. "But now… get ready for something new. A voice you've heard before, but never like this. Making his official solo debut it is Stax Entertainment's very own… Mitsunari!" The crowd erupts into cheers, and the stage lights burst into color as the intro to Is This Something More begins to play.
From the side of the stage, Mitsunari steps into the light, every movement precise and controlled. His heart races, but his expression is calm and focused. The crowd greets him with a mix of cheers, surprise, and anticipation. Up in VIP seating, Mizuha leans forward in her chair, her eyes locked on him, a bright and proud smile on her face. Unlike during the other sets, she looks genuinely thrilled, her reaction more animated than anyone around her. She watches as the beat builds, already familiar with the beat's vibe from all the promotions she's seen or so she thought. The moment feels personal and electric.
As the beat drops, Mitsunari launches into the first verse, rapping with clarity and precision. His delivery is sharply controlled and full of emotion with each bar hitting with purpose. Then as he slides effortlessly into the melodic hook, the arena lights dance to the rhythm and the crowd sways with the chorus: "Is this something more… or are we just pretending?" The words echo like a wave through the venue. Fans begin singing along before the first chorus is even finished. The track is undeniably catchy and polished but raw it's emotional but infectious.
With each section of the song, Mitsunari owns the stage more and more. His choreography is tight, clean, and full of energy, crafted to match every beat and lyric. His dancers move in sync around him, but he never fades into the group as he commands the attention. It's clear to everyone watching this isn't just a former boyband member trying to stay relevant. This is a true solo artist in the making, and the arena knows it. Cheers grow louder with every hook, every verse. Some fans wave their phones with the flashlight on; others chant his name.
As the final chorus ends and the beat fades, Mitsunari stands in the center of the stage, breathing heavily but smiling wide. The crowd gives a standing ovation, clapping and cheering even louder than they did for the headliners earlier. He lifts the mic to his lips again and says, "Thank you, truly. This is just the beginning. I've got more music coming your way soon. So stay with me, alright?" The crowd roars back in response, the energy unrelenting. Up in the VIP section, Mizuha claps with both hands, cheeks flushed and heart racing, her pride unmistakable.
Backstage, as Mitsunari walks off with sweat glistening on his forehead, he's immediately greeted by cheers and applause from other artists. Luna, the leader of KIK UP, runs up and hugs him quickly. "That was amazing, you really killed it out there!" she says, beaming. Bella from Mash high-fives him and adds, "You made that stage your own. I haven't seen a crowd react like that in a while." The rest of both girl groups join in the congratulations, showering him with praise and compliments. Even staff members and dancers give him nods of respect as he walks by.
Tao finally steps forward, arms crossed but grinning. "Told you," He says. "You just needed your moment. And now? You're not just part of the stage… you own it." Mitsunari laughs, the tension of the night melting into a full, genuine smile. For the first time since his departure from VIRE, since all the doubt and silence, he feels truly seen. Not just as an artist but as himself
After the show Mitsunari walks Mizuha home once again, the cool night air wrapping around them as the energy of the evening still lingers. As they reach her door, he hesitates for a moment before asking, "So… what did you think?" Mizuha turns to him, her eyes soft and full of emotion. "I thought it was beautiful," she says sincerely. The words hit him deeper than applause ever could, and his lips curl into a small, genuine smile. Before he can respond, she continues, "Can I ask what inspired the song? I didn't want to assume… but I want to know."
Mitsunari looks at her for a moment, heart beating a little faster, knowing this might be the most honest thing he's said all day. "It's about someone I have feelings for," he admits, voice quiet but certain. Mizuha stares at him, her expression unreadable for a brief second before she steps forward and, just like last time, places a gentle kiss on his cheek. Mitsunari blinks, caught between reality and memory as it feels like déjà vu. This time however there's no uncertainty in her gaze. There's something warm and unspoken between them now, and for the first time, it feels like something real is starting.