After the stylist team and other production teams filed out of the reserved hotel floor, the atmosphere settled into a quiet calm. The stylists left to make last-minute adjustments to the outfits for tonight's concert, while Ayia's team dispersed to tend to final preparations at the venue. For the first time since their arrival, it was just Theo, Aurora, and Ayia, free from the crowd's buzzing energy and the non-stop rush of the past few hours.
Theo removed his mask first, letting out a sigh of relief as he ran a hand through his hair. Aurora followed suit, peeling off her Tsukuyomi persona, her two-toned hair falling into place. The heavy intensity of Moonlight and Tsukuyomi was gone, replaced by their more familiar selves. Ayia smiled at them both, adjusting her own mask before finally taking it off.
"That was intense," Aurora said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I thought we'd never get a moment to ourselves."
Theo nodded in agreement, leaning back against one of the plush couches in the suite. "I wasn't expecting the media to be that overwhelming. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised." Ayia chuckled softly, joining them on the couch. "That's just the beginning. You know how it is. The hype for tonight's concert is unreal, especially with all the mystery around Moonlight and Tsukuyomi."
Aurora grinned, leaning forward. "Did you see the crowd when we got out of the van? They were everywhere. And the way they all screamed Moonlight's name and even Tsukuyomi's name..." She shook her head in amazement. "It's surreal."
Theo smiled faintly, still adjusting to the whirlwind of attention. "It was something, all right. But I think what really caught them off guard was you showing up next to me as Tsukuyomi. I could feel the surprise."
Ayia giggled. "Yeah, they weren't expecting that. You being at the concert wasn't confirmed anywhere. It's like we just dropped a bomb on them."
Aurora's cheeks flushed slightly, still unused to the idea of people outside their close circle recognizing her as Tsukuyomi. "I wonder what they're thinking now. Probably speculating like crazy online."
Ayia laughed, standing up to stretch. "Let them speculate. That's part of the fun, right?"
"But I have to say that the two of you look especially cool and ethereal when you don your disguises." Ayia giggled, "Did you guys see the look of wonder and admiration from the production team when they looked at you two?"
Theo laughed before saying, "Really? I wasn't trying to be cool or anything. But I think that the mask helps build this persona as we don't need to hide our expressions."
"As for me, I was being grateful during the whole time that no one could see my expression, because they would see me getting shy with all this attention." Aurora giggled.
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. It was the hotel's room service. They had ordered food as soon as the production team left, and now the delicious scent of freshly prepared dishes wafted into the room.
"Finally!" Aurora exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I'm starving."
They had only eaten breakfast earlier that day, and with all the tasks and chaos since, it was already well past 2 p.m. The spread that room service brought up was lavish and well-timed. Platters of grilled fish, rice, tempura, and a few Western-style dishes like pasta and salad filled the table. They had gone for a mix of Japanese and international cuisine, something light yet flavorful enough to fuel them for the busy night ahead.
Ayia picked up the food tray at the door as Theo and Aurora were without masks, and no one could see them without their masks.
The three of them sat down around the dining table in the suite, grateful for the meal and the brief reprieve it brought.
As they dug into the food, the lively conversation resumed.
"This feels so weird," Aurora said between bites. "One minute, we're doing something so normal like eating lunch, and the next minute we're getting ready for a huge concert."
"Tell me about it," Theo said with a wry smile. "It's hard to switch between Moonlight and just being me."
Ayia poured herself a glass of water, watching the two siblings banter. "It's not just you two who are feeling that way. This whole thing has been a whirlwind since your debut, Theo. And now, with the Saphire Awards tomorrow, it's even crazier. But look on the bright side-you're both handling it incredibly well."
Aurora grinned as she took a sip of her drink. "We couldn't have done it without you, Ayia- nee. You've been the mastermind behind all of this."
Ayia waved a hand dismissively, but her smile gave away her pride. "It's all teamwork. And besides, I can't take all the credit. You two are the stars. I just push the buttons."
Theo chuckled, glancing at the dishes they had been demolishing. "If you say so. But honestly, I never expected things to blow up this much. I thought we'd have more time to ease into the whole fame thing."
"Fame doesn't work that way," Ayia pointed out, her tone playful. "Especially not when you drop an album like 'Earth to Azure.' You practically set the world on fire with that one."
Theo leaned back in his chair, thinking about the journey since he had released his debut album. "Yeah, it's been a ride. And it's only getting started."
Aurora laughed. "You're already competing in the biggest categories at the Saphire Awards, and you're saying it's just getting started?"
He shrugged with a grin. "I guess I'm not used to thinking of myself as someone in the spotlight yet."
Ayia leaned her chin on her hand, smiling at him. "Well, you'd better get used to it. The world is watching you now."
The atmosphere was light and comfortable as they continued eating. They talked about how far they had come since Theo's debut as Moonlight, the incredible response from fans, and the anticipation building for tonight's concert. Aurora occasionally chimed in with comments about Tsukuyomi's role, excited yet slightly nervous about performing alongside Theo in front of a live audience for the first time.
"I think what I'm most excited for is seeing the fans' reactions in real-time," Aurora said, her eyes sparkling. "It's one thing to see the comments online, but seeing them live is going to be a whole new experience."
"You'll be fine," Theo reassured her, his voice calm but supportive. "You've worked hard, and the fans already love you."
Aurora smiled, her excitement building. "Thanks, big brother. I just hope I don't mess
"You won't," Ayia said confidently, pushing aside her empty plate. "Everything is going to be perfect. We've rehearsed enough, and you two are ready for this."
With their plates emptied and the conversation settling into a comfortable lull, the trio shared a quiet moment. Despite the whirlwind day and the mounting pressure of what was to come, they found solace in each other's company, as they always did.
Theo glanced at the clock on the wall. It was creeping closer to the time they needed to head to the concert venue. "Looks like we're about to dive back into the chaos soon," he said with a
Theo needed to install the whole equipment set that he would use during the concert, plus he and Aurora needed to do a sound check before the concert as well. There were several other procedures they needed to follow to make sure that the concert was in perfect condition. Aurora took a deep breath, her expression a mix of nerves and excitement. "Yeah. But we've
Ayia stood up and stretched. "Let's finish getting ready. We have a big night ahead."
As they gathered themselves, the weight of what was coming began to settle in again. The masks and personas of Moonlight and Tsukuyomi would soon be back on, and the world would be watching. But for now, in this moment of calm, they were just Theo, Aurora, and Ayia-three friends enjoying a simple meal before the storm.