"I want to fulfill everyone's wishes—to stand on a grander stage and deliver hope through song."
On the humble makeshift stage, Robin bared her heart to her two closest companions. Every person carried dreams in their heart—and realizing them must be the happiest thing in the world.
The halo above the girl's head shimmered with warm radiance, her small wings somehow radiating a power that could shelter the entire world.
"You can do it, little sister!"
"It's 'us'," Robin corrected, hopping down from the bed to grasp Anming and Sunday's hands simultaneously. "We'll let more people hear our music together."
[Age 6]
You began performing regularly in concert halls, appearing on interstellar broadcasts as the celebrated piano prodigy. Robin always dragged Sunday to sit in the front row, cheering louder than anyone else.
She never concealed her adoration for your playing—becoming your very first devoted fan.
"Robin, I want to play for you."
"I... I'm sorry."
For once, Robin appeared flustered, hands twisting behind her back as she bit her lip. "My singing... isn't worthy of your piano yet."
Compared to Anming's masterful performances, her voice still felt childish and unrefined.
"Your voice carries hope," Anming insisted, gently taking her small hands in his. "That's exactly why I want to play for you."
"Today's my birthday. I'd love... to perform for you in front of everyone."
"Really?" Robin's eyes sparkled like starlight as she nodded vigorously. "If you're willing!"
"Anming!"
The dressing room door burst open as Sunday charged in, clutching a box of donuts like a weapon. "Are you bullying my sister again?"
"You're overreacting," Anming said calmly, not releasing Robin's hand. "We're friends."
"Best friends! The very best of friends!" Robin declared solemnly, her tiny wings fluttering as she selected a donut to offer Anming.
"Little sister, you're too kind to him. Boys like this grow up to be womanizers—absolute scoundrels," Sunday proclaimed with grave seriousness, only to make Robin burst into giggles.
"Brother~ Anming isn't like that," Robin murmured, barely containing her delight. "I just... want him to play for me someday."
Children's affections were pure and uncomplicated—what they loved, they loved wholeheartedly. From the moment she'd heard his piano in that sunlit music room, Robin had been captivated.
Sunday stood frozen, his world momentarily crumbling around him.
"Come on, no time for spacing out," Anming said, shoving a guitar into Sunday's arms, his smile bright enough to dispel all darkness. "We're doing this together."
He extended his left hand. Robin watched with hopeful anticipation.
After a moment's hesitation, Sunday grasped it firmly.
When the curtains parted, they revealed three children hand-in-hand—a naive but earnest symbol of friendship.
Anming gave Robin an encouraging nod. As his fingers touched the keys and his eyes met hers, the music flowed effortlessly.
"Our Anming has grown into quite the romantic, hasn't he?" An whispered to Chen from the audience, her sparkling eyes adding See? Even without an arranged marriage, things turned out this way.
"Robin talks about him constantly at home," Gianna chuckled beside her.
"Let them remain children a while longer," Chen sighed in mock exasperation. "The performance is about to begin—that's what matters."
The piano's melody soon filled the hall. Robin clutched her lyric sheets nervously—this being her first time on such a grand stage—but the moment the music began, the world fell away.
By the time she realized, her voice was already soaring freely.
In that golden melody, she lost herself in Anming's gaze—warm as sunlight that never burned.
She had found her sun.
No words were needed. Their souls spoke through the music. A bird spread its wings, ascending toward the heavens.
Sunday watched Anming quietly, finally understanding what his sister saw.
The piano became their wings, carrying them to a world without pain or sorrow.
The applause came late, as if the audience had forgotten to breathe.
Then—
A single dissonant note.
The concert hall's massive dome shattered without warning.
A cataclysmic strike vaporized a quarter of Kachi-Pei's surface. The collapsing roof screeched as steel supports twisted like paper.
"ANMING—!"
Chen's voice cut through the chaos. Anming turned just in time to see his father shove An and Gianna to safety—before disappearing beneath the rubble.
Blood roared in Anming's ears. The world tinted crimson.
A phantom piano thundered in his mind as he grabbed Robin's frozen hand. "RUN!"
Sunday snapped into focus instantly. "Backstage! NOW!"
An scrambled onto the collapsing stage, her elegant gown torn. Unspeakable grief flashed in her eyes as she knelt to kiss Anming's forehead.
"Move forward."
Her lips trembled.
"Don't look back."
The ground split apart. The dome crashed downward.
Beyond the ruins, the sky had turned violet—the Stellaron weaving its curtain of death, annihilating all life and hope.
Screams. Children weeping. The most heartbreaking music imaginable.
As silence swallowed the world, Anming understood:
He could change nothing.
Familiar hands shoved him to safety. His mother's eyes remained as tender as ever.
This time, she couldn't embrace him.
"I love you."
Time refused to stop. Anming was flung across the fissure, slamming into a wall. Agony stole his voice.
His outstretched hand grasped only empty air as An vanished into the abyss.
This world was never happy.
Only he had been—because they loved him.