Broken Ruby Hoshino.

The lights from the Tokyo Dome still shimmered in the distance, casting faint glimmers of gold across the surface of the evening city. The concert had been nothing short of magical, just like every other night that Ruby Hoshino performed. The roar of the crowd, the lightsticks swaying in unison, the adoration pouring in waves—it was all so perfect. On the outside, at least. As the adrenaline from the performance began to fade, Ruby made her way through the private back entrance, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floors of the hallways.

There was something almost surreal about leaving the vibrant noise of the concert behind for the quiet of the subway. Outside the protective cocoon of the idol life, she slipped into her seat on the late-night metro cab, no longer wearing the sparkling, frilly pink-and-white costume that brought joy to thousands. Now, her outfit was much more subdued—simple jeans, a soft hoodie, and a hat to cover her long blonde hair. Despite the casual disguise, her striking ruby-colored eyes remained impossible to hide. Those eyes that sparkled under stage lights now stared out blankly at the reflections in the subway window, mirroring her hollow heart.

As the train hummed through the underbelly of Tokyo, she found herself alone in the carriage, save for a few late-night passengers who paid her no mind. It was in these quiet moments that Ruby allowed herself to unravel. Her hands clenched tightly onto the strap of her small bag, knuckles white with the effort of keeping her composed façade in place. She told herself it was for the fans—for her late mother, Ai. For Aqua, her brother, her everything. Yet the further the train went, the more difficult it became to maintain that wall, as if with every passing station, a small piece of her strength was left behind.

Her gaze, which had been absentmindedly locked on the window, finally fell to her hands—delicate fingers, scarred from the years of idol training but still soft enough to be considered flawless by any onlooker. There were moments, like now, where the immense weight she carried was palpable, pressing down on her chest, suffocating in its intensity. The world loved her—Ruby Hoshino, the most beloved idol in Japan, and yet here, in the quiet of the subway, she was just a lonely girl trying to stay afloat. At this moment, the few people who were inside the cab were all gone. Unsurprisingly to her. It was still a few stops away from her home, and she was used to this solitude. It was her last refuge. her sanctuary. However, what she did not expect, was that, this time, another person entered the cab. A person who's just taken away her only moment she can be herself.