"Alright class, settle down. Today we have two new transfer students joining us."
The teacher's voice brought the room to a hush.
"Please come to the front."
The door slid open, and Raito Hikari stepped in, radiating warmth like the morning sun. A bright, friendly smile was plastered on his face.
"Hey everyone! I'm Raito Hikari. Nice to meet y'all!"
Right behind him walked Tsuki Kuroi. Where Raito was light, Tsuki was shadow. His expression was blank, his gaze sharp and distant. They were polar opposites in every sense of the word.
From his desk, Mao Isara looked up, his eyes analyzing the pair. Bright and energetic versus dark and stoic, he thought. It was like looking at day and night standing side by side.
Whispers filled the classroom as the teacher gestured to the second student.
"And next, please introduce yourself."
Tsuki took a single step forward, his voice low and even.
"I'm Tsuki Kuroi. Nice to meet you all."
He didn't smile. He didn't move. He just stood there, exuding an aura of calm reserve.
Mao hummed quietly, leaning back in his seat with a small, amused smirk.
"Well well... Sun and moon, huh? Cute."
He folded his arms, shifting his gaze between Raito's blinding grin and Tsuki's unblinking stare.
"So? You two gonna dazzle us with a performance or just stand there looking like a concept photo?"
A few giggles rippled through the class. Raito laughed easily, completely unfazed by the teasing.
"Maybe later~" he winked. "But only if you promise to clap!"
Tsuki sighed—a sound so quiet it was almost lost—but his expression said he had already accepted that his partner would be stealing the spotlight.
Mao chuckled at the playful exchange as the teacher gestured for them to take their seats.
"Looks like the show's over," he joked, grinning at Raito. "For now."
Lunchtime
In the cafeteria, the members of Trickstar were gathered around their usual table. Mao, however, seemed distracted. His gaze kept drifting toward the entrance, searching for something—or someone.
"Mao, you alright?" Hokuto Hidaka asked, poking him gently. "You seem pretty spaced out."
"Huh?" Mao snapped back to reality, forcing a grin. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just... wondering if those new transfers found a place to sit yet."
Hokuto exchanged a knowing look with Akehoshi Subaru.
"Relax, they're probably just getting settled," Hokuto laughed. "You act like you really wanna see them."
"I don't!" Mao crossed his arms defensively. "I'm just curious, that's all!"
"Suuure you are," Subaru teased, grinning widely.
Yuuki Makoto chuckled, trying to smooth things over. "Alright, guys, cut it out. Maybe he just wants to make sure they're fitting in okay."
"Yeah, yeah, like a mom checking on the new kids," Subaru added, earning a laugh from the group.
Mao's cheeks flushed slightly. "Oh, shut it you guys!"
"Oh? Talking about the new students, hm?"
Ritsu Sakuma strolled over, sliding into an empty seat with that signature lazy smirk of his. He had clearly overheard everything.
"You saw them?" Subaru asked eagerly.
"Mmhmm," Ritsu nodded. "Saw them heading up to the rooftop just now."
"The rooftop?" Mao's interest peaked instantly.
"Alone?" Hokuto asked.
"Seemed that way," Ritsu shrugged. "Maybe they wanted some quiet."
"Or privacy," Makoto suggested.
Subaru's eyes lit up with mischief. "Let's go check it out! See what they're up to!"
The others looked at each other. Curiosity won out.
"I mean... what's the harm?" Mao shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Might as well go say hi properly."
"Alright, let's move!"
The Rooftop
They crept up the stairs and slowly pushed the door open just a crack. Peeking through, they saw Raito and Tsuki sitting on the ledge, bentos spread out before them. They were talking quietly, sharing laughs. It was a surprisingly peaceful scene.
"Look at them bonding," Subaru whispered.
"How adorable," Hokuto teased softly.
"The 'Sun and Moon' duo having a picnic," Ritsu chuckled. "They look pretty comfortable together."
Mao leaned in closer. "I wonder what they're talking about..."
Inside the circle, Raito closed his lunchbox with a sigh.
"You know, we could have just eaten in the cafeteria like normal people."
Tsuki didn't look up, continuing to eat calmly.
"And you know I hate crowds." His voice was flat, matter-of-fact.
A moment of silence passed. Then Raito smiled, soft and genuine.
"Yeah... but you still came up here with me."
Tsuki paused. Almost imperceptibly, he gave a small nod.
"...Always."
From behind the door, Mao blinked. It felt warmer than he expected.
"Man..." Subaru breathed out, grinning like he'd witnessed something precious.
Ritsu smirked and started to back away. "Let's go. They aren't alone... they've got each other."
Click.
"You guys should really work on your spying skills... if you don't want to get caught."
Tsuki's voice cut through the air, calm and clear.
The Trickstar members froze. Eyes went wide.
"He... knew we were there?" Hokuto murmured, impressed despite himself.
"Sharp guy," Ritsu snickered.
Mao gaped. "How the hell...?"
"Well, crap," Subaru scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Busted."
Raito burst into laughter, clearly finding the whole situation hilarious.
"You guys really thought you were being sneaky, huh?"
"Dude's like a hawk," Mao muttered, admiring the observation skills. "He spotted us the second we touched the door handle."
Raito looked at his friend fondly. "That's Tsuki for you. He never misses a thing."
The group of five stepped out onto the roof, laughing awkwardly.
"Well, there goes our ninja act," Mao joked.
"We need to practice stealth more..." Subaru agreed.
Ritsu leaned against the wall. "We got too careless."
"Still," Hokuto noted, "you two seem really close."
Raito beamed. "Oh, that's 'cause we've been friends since we were little! Even when things got tough... we always had each other's backs."
Tsuki didn't look up, but his grip on his chopsticks loosened just a little—a tiny crack in his cool exterior.
"He doesn't say much," Raito explained, "but he's always been there for me."
Mao watched them, realizing this wasn't just a new duo. This was a bond that had been built over years.
"...Huh," Subaru said quietly. "They really do balance each other out."
"Our moms were friends, so they introduced us early," Raito explained. "Turns out, it was a great match!"
Ritsu tilted his head, intrigued. "Bet you two have a ton of memories then."
"Oh, loads! Playing tag, hide-and-seek... we even used to stargaze on my roof." Raito's gaze drifted to Tsuki, soft with nostalgia.
Suddenly, Raito's eyes focused on Ritsu. He tilted his head.
"Wait a minute... You look familiar. Are you... Rei Sakuma's little brother?"
Ritsu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised he was recognized so quickly.
"That's right. I'm Ritsu Sakuma."
"Oh! That explains it!" Tsuki muttered.
"The serious genes?" Subaru grinned.
"Or maybe just the family talent for looking mysterious," Raito chuckled.
Ritsu scoffed playfully. "Please. I'm much more charming than my brother, thank you very much."
"Modest as always," Mao rolled his eyes.
"So," Tsuki spoke up, his voice dry as dust, "are you planning to make him beg for an autograph too?"
Raito's face turned bright red. "Wha—Hey! Don't say it like that!"
"What? You gonna deny it?" Tsuki challenged. "You have way more merchandise than a normal person. You even have his photo framed... under your pillow."
Silence.
Then—BOOM—explosive laughter from Trickstar.
"PFFT—UNDER THE PILLOW?!" Subaru howled.
"Dude, that's next level!" Hokuto wiped a tear from his eye.
Ritsu shivered dramatically. "I just felt a cold chill... Please stop, my brain is visualizing things it shouldn't."
"N-Not like that!" Raito waved his hands frantically, face burning. "It's called appreciation! There's a difference!"
"Sure it is," Tsuki stood up, grabbing Raito by the wrist. "We're done here. No more embarrassing displays of fandom on school property."
"Wait—Tsuki! Let go! I wasn't done—!"
As they were dragged away, the Trickstar boys were still laughing.
"That was gold," Subaru sighed happily.
"They definitely keep each other in line," Hokuto agreed.
"I cannot believe this..." Ritsu groaned, covering his face. "My brother has a fan who keeps his photo under a pillow... This is going to give me nightmares."
Mao patted him on the back. "Welcome to the life of an idol, Ritsu-kun."
Meanwhile, in the Light Music Club room, Rei Sakuma was arranging sheet music when he suddenly sneezed loudly.
"Oh my..." He blinked, touching his nose. "I wonder if someone is speaking ill of me... or perhaps thinking of me very intensely?"
"Must be the dust," he shrugged, returning to his work.
The door slid open, and the Aoi twins entered with their usual energy.
"Rei-senpai! Did you hear?" Hinata chirped.
"There are new transfers!" Yuta added. "And they formed a unit called 'Polar Opposites'!"
Kaoru Hakaze walked in, looking amused.
"And apparently, they're quite the topic of conversation. One is like the sun, the other like the moon."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "...Interesting."
"Especially," Kaoru smirked, "since one of them is apparently your biggest fan, Rei-chan."
Rei's pen stopped.
"A... fan?"
"A huge one!" Hinata giggled. "They say he has a whole collection of UNDEAD goods... and your photo framed under his pillow!"
"WHO DARES CLAIM THE TITLE OF NUMBER ONE FAN?!"
The door flew open as Koga Oogami burst in on all fours, followed by a sighing Adonis Otogari.
"A worthy rival?! Is he stronger than my devotion to Adonis?!"
"Please calm down..." Adonis massaged his temples.
Rei just stared into space, his soul seemingly leaving his body.
"...So that was what the sneeze meant," he muttered darkly. "My peaceful life... is over."
After School
"Alright, follow me. I'll give you the grand tour before club activities start!"
The teacher led Raito and Tsuki down the sunlit hallways.
"Wow, it's so big!" Raito marveled. "And you can see the ocean from here!"
Tsuki walked silently, hands in his pockets, scanning every detail like he was mapping the territory.
"Over here are the practice rooms," the teacher explained. "And that's the theater. All the famous units perform there regularly."
As they passed Studio 3, they could hear music playing. Through the window, they saw Mao dancing in the middle of a rehearsal.
Tsuki smirked slightly. Looks like someone forgot we were here.
"Seems like our little visit earlier left an impression," he muttered.
Suddenly, Mao sneezed mid-spin.
"Huh?!"
"You okay?" Hokuto asked.
"Yeah..." Mao rubbed his nose. "...Just felt like someone was talking trash about me."
Elsewhere, Koga lifted his head from the grass.
"...I sense... strong passion..."
"That's just hunger," Adonis deadpanned.
Club Selection
"Ah, right! Since you are transferring in, you need to join a club."
The teacher handed them forms.
"Fill out your top three choices."
"Club time!" Raito's eyes sparkled.
"Rei Sakuma was in the Light Music Club, right?" Raito asked, already vibrating.
"That's correct!" the teacher confirmed. "He was the captain, you know. A legend."
"Then I'm joining!" Raito declared instantly.
Tsuki sighed. "Of course you are."
"What about you, Tsuki?"
Tsuki glanced at his paper. "I put the same thing."
Raito blinked. "Huh?!"
"I mean," Raito stammered, "If Rei-senpai was there... it feels special! And... we're a unit, right? We gotta stick together!"
Tsuki stared at him, unamused.
"So you didn't choose it for the activities... you chose it to stalk his legacy?"
"Call it destiny!" Raito grinned.
The Encounter
"Watch out—"
Around the corner came the imposing figures of UNDEAD. Rei, Kaoru, Koga, and Adonis.
"Oh! Rei-kun!" The teacher beamed. "What a coincidence! These are the new students I was telling you about."
Kaoru smiled lazily, his eyes locking onto the pair.
"Well now... New blood?"
Tsuki immediately shot Raito a look. "Don't. Do. Anything. Stupid."
But it was too late.
Raito saw Rei. His pen dropped. His face went pale, then flushed bright red.
"REI-SAN!!!!"
He launched forward, eyes sparkling with literal star effects.
"You're even more amazing in person! Your voice! Your style! I've bought every single CD—watched every live—you are my god—I mean—my idol—!"
THUD.
Tsuki grabbed the back of Raito's uniform collar and yanked him back as if he were weighing a fish.
"We are leaving," Tsuki announced flatly, dragging the flailing fanboy backward.
"WAIT—TSUKI LET ME GO—I JUST WANTED TO SHAKE HIS HAND—!"
Kaoru burst out laughing. Koga howled in approval.
"A TRUE WORSHIPPER! HE IS WORTHY!"
Adonis nodded seriously. "Good taste."
Rei slowly raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"...So this is the cause of my sneezing," he whispered to himself. "I see now. This year... will be exhausting."
"Come on," Tsuki grunted, pulling Raito away. "Before you embarrass us both to death."
As they disappeared down the hall, Rei let out a long, deep sigh.
"Truly..." he murmured. "Fate is a cruel mistress."
The hallway fell silent save for the fading echoes of Raito's excited shouting and Tsuki's frustrated grunts as he hauled his partner away.
Rei stood perfectly still, one hand still pinching the bridge of his nose, looking as though he had aged ten years in mere seconds.
"Well," Kaoru drawled, breaking the silence with a smirk. "That was... something else."
"He truly possesses the spirit of a warrior!" Koga barked, tail wagging violently. "His passion burns hotter than the sun! I respect him!"
Adonis, nodding solemnly. "His admiration is pure. He has good judgment... unlike some people." He shot a glance at Koga, who was currently pretending to be Raito fangirling over nothing.
Rei finally lowered his hand, letting out a long, weary sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul.
"To think... such a creature exists," he murmured darkly. "My sneezes were not omens of dust... they were warnings of impending doom."
"Don't be mean, Rei-chan," Kaoru laughed, patting his back a little too hard. "He's cute! And besides, it's nice to be loved, isn't it?"
"I prefer my love quiet and dignified," Rei replied, straightening his coat. "Not screaming at me like I'm a celebrity appearing on a talk show."
Somewhere in the School Building...
"Put me down! Tsuki! I can walk!"
"Quiet. You lost walking privileges the moment you tried to tackle a senior."
Tsuki finally released Raito's collar once they were safely around the corner and out of sight. Raito immediately stumbled, straightening his uniform and puffing out his cheeks.
"You're so mean! That was my one chance to talk to him properly!"
"You talked enough," Tsuki deadpanned, checking his watch. "You practically proposed to him."
"I did not!" Raito's face flushed again, though this time it was from embarrassment. "I was just... expressing my gratitude! Art should be worshipped!"
"You worship him like he's a deity."
"He basically is!"
Tsuki shook his head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he looked at his hyperactive friend.
"Calm down, fanboy. We're in the same club now. You'll see him plenty. Just... try not to drool on the equipment, okay?"
Raito immediately perked up, eyes sparkling. "Right! The Light Music Club! We're actually going to be in the same place as Rei-senpai! This is a dream come true!"
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just go get settled in before you explode."
Light Music Club Room
When they arrived, the room was already bustling. The Aoi twins were chatting in a corner, and a few other members were setting up instruments.
Raito stood frozen in the doorway, looking around with awe.
"Wow... this is it... The holy ground..."
"Stop talking like it's a shrine," Tsuki muttered, stepping past him.
They walked up to the club advisor, who greeted them warmly. Soon, they were officially registered.
"Alright! Welcome to the team!" the teacher beamed. "Since you're a unit, you can share a practice area. Make yourselves at home!"
As they walked further in, Raito's eyes immediately locked onto a guitar resting on a stand near the back. It looked expensive, elegant... and somehow familiar.
"Is that...?"
"Rei-senpai's guitar," Tsuki confirmed. "He leaves it here sometimes."
Raito approached it slowly, as if approaching a sleeping dragon. He reached out a hand, trembling slightly, but stopped just inches from the strings.
"I can't... I'm not worthy..."
"You are so weird," Tsuki sighed, grabbing his own sheet music. "Just practice. If you're going to be his fan, at least be good enough to stand on the same stage."
"Right!" Raito snapped to attention, pumping his fist. "I'll work hard! I'll become an idol that Rei-senpai can be proud of!"
"Good. Now tune your guitar. And try not to make too much noise."
Later that Evening
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the room, the club members started to pack up.
Raito was sitting on a sofa, still buzzing with energy, while Tsuki was quietly putting his things away.
"You know," Raito said suddenly, "today was awesome. We met Trickstar, we met UNDEAD... everyone here is so amazing."
Tsuki paused, looking out the window where the first stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky.
"Yeah. They are."
"But..." Raito's voice softened. "We're going to show them too, right? That Polar Opposites is just as strong?"
Tsuki turned to look at him. The serious expression softened, replaced by that quiet confidence only Raito could bring out of him.
"Obviously," he said simply. "We're the Sun and Moon. We don't just shine... we light up the whole sky."
Raito grinned, bright and warm.
"Yeah! Together!"
Tsuki nodded, walking over and grabbing Raito's bag as well as his own.
"Come on, Sun. It's getting late. And you need to rest if you're going to handle another day of fanboying tomorrow."
"Hey!"
Laughing and bickering, the two left the club room, the door sliding shut behind them.
Somewhere in the darkness of the empty room, Rei Sakuma's guitar seemed to glint faintly under the moonlight—as if blessing their resolve.
To be continued