木曜日夜のライブハウス Archived in time, the memories remained fresh in my mind. I was a member of the popular idol group, RED 虹-gasmus-, and we had just performed a sold-out concert. The crowd’s cheers still echoed in my ears as I sat in the backstage room, changing out of my costume.

Behind the glitz and glamour of being a junior idol lay a harsh reality. Sleep deprivation, endless rehearsals, and scrutiny from our strict management agency took a toll on my physical and mental health. Some days, I felt like I was just going through the motions, trying to please everyone else instead of myself.

I thought about my friend, Takeshi, who had just left the group due to burnout. If he, with his incredible talent and charisma, couldn’t hack it, what did that say about me? I tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on the upcoming music video shoot instead.

Natural light poured in through the room’s windows as I began to get ready. The morning’s sunshine seemed like a mockery, a cruel reminder of the routine that awaited me. Was I ready to put on a smile and pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t? Only time would tell.