Chapter 119: The Aftermath of the Reveal

The rooftop is silent except for the distant hum of the city and the soft, choked sobs coming from Aiwa. Kenji is still unconscious on the ground, a blissful escape from the current reality. Rina and Haruka are just staring at Aiwa, their minds clearly struggling to process the revelation. Miki and Hana, having finally made their way up the fire escape after witnessing Kenji's dramatic ascent, arrive just in time to see Aiwa crying and Kenji taking a rooftop nap.

"What did we miss?" Miki asks, adjusting her glasses, her tone weary.

"She is LUNA," Rina says flatly, still staring at Aiwa.

Miki and Hana's jaws drop in perfect unison. They look at the crying, purple-haired girl, then back at the spot across the hall where the flawless LUNA booth was just hours ago.

Aiwa finally breaks. The weight of her secret, the exhaustion of the day, the shock of being discovered- it is all too much. She sinks to her knees, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

My own shock gives way to a surge of protective instinct. This is not about rivalries or forbidden love anymore. This is about a friend who is hurting. I kneel beside Aiwa, hesitantly putting a hand on her back. "Hey," I say softly. "It is okay."

My simple gesture seems to break the spell for the others. Hana rushes forward, kneeling beside Aiwa and offering her a tissue. "Matsuki-san, are you alright?"

Even Haruka seems momentarily shaken out of her usual competitive mode. She looks down at the sobbing girl, her expression a complex mixture of shock, confusion, and a flicker of something that might be reluctant empathy. "So," she says, her voice lacking its usual bite. "It really is you. How did you…?"

"It is a long story," I say, answering for Aiwa, who is still incapable of speech.

Just then, Kenji groans and starts to stir. He sits up, clutching his head, his eyes bleary. "Wha- what happened?" he mumbles. "Did I dream it? Was Aiwa-chan really LUNA-sama?"

"Yes, you idiot, she is," Rina snaps, her patience clearly wearing thin.

Kenji's eyes focus on Aiwa, who is now looking up, her face tear-streaked but resolute. The reality hits him again, this time with the force of a divine revelation. He scrambles to his feet and performs a deep, ninety-degree bow towards Aiwa.

"LUNA-SAMA!" he bellows, his voice echoing across the rooftop. "FORGIVE MY EARLIER UNWORTHY THOUGHTS! I AM BUT A HUMBLE WORM BENEATH YOUR RADIANT TALENT! PLEASE ACCEPT MY ETERNAL, UNDYING DEVOTION! I WILL BE YOUR GREATEST FAN! YOUR SHIELD! YOUR SNACK-GETTER!"

Aiwa just stares at him, completely bewildered by this sudden, fervent declaration of loyalty. "Uh… thank you, Tanaka-kun?"

"Okay, Kenji, dial it back about fifty notches," Miki says, pulling him upright. She looks at Aiwa, her expression serious but not unkind. "Matsuki-san. This is… a significant development. Your secret is safe with us, of course." She glances pointedly at Kenji. "Mostly safe."

"My lips are sealed!" Kenji protests. "Unless LUNA-sama requires me to sing her praises from the rooftops!"

"She does not," Miki says flatly.

Rina finally turns her full attention back to Aiwa. Her initial shock has subsided, replaced by a grudging, analytical curiosity. "So," she says, crossing her arms. "The voice? The personality? How do you do it? It is a complete transformation."

Aiwa takes a shaky breath, wiping her eyes. "Practice," she whispers. "Lots and lots of practice. LUNA is… a character. Someone I invented. Someone strong."

The vulnerability in her voice strikes a chord. Rina, the master of transformation herself, sees a kindred spirit. The rivalry is still there, simmering beneath the surface, but it is now complicated by a newfound, reluctant respect. Haruka, too, seems to see Aiwa in a new light- not just as a competitor, but as a dedicated artist with her own burdens.

The rooftop summit, which began as a disastrous confrontation, has ended with an unexpected revelation and the forging of a new, incredibly complicated, and potentially explosive alliance.