#mldd kiro

[dawnsbreaking]

One of my favorite things about MLQC is the frequent use of symbolic imagery and motifs to set scenes and center characters. I think it’s incredibly clever, considering the importance of MC’s dreams, that the dreamlike symbolism is present throughout the story. At times, in MC’s confusion of piecing events together, reading the story almost feels like a sort of dream or vision interpretation. I love how consistent these symbols are for the characters and the way conflicting or contrasting imagery is used to add depth throughout the story. Also, since the story is told through MC’s perspective, the use of imagery shows us that her perception of the world is colored by her care for the main cast. When she’s with Gavin, MC notices fluttering leaves, when she’s with Victor, time slows, when she’s with Kiro, the sun is brighter, and when she’s with Lucien, she’s more attentive to light and shadow.

Under the cut, I have written more (1400ish words more) about symbolism in MLQC and how it adds depth to Lucien's characterization in particular.

Aside from adding to the mood of the story, the symbolism can also be used to narrative effect, showing us how MC is interpreting a character’s actions or motivations.

For example, we can look at how MC sorts through her feelings about Kiro/Helios in Chapter 29. Sun imagery pervaded previous chapters that centered Kiro while moon imagery is associated with Helios. In CH29, MC uses the harmony between the sun and moon as a metaphor when she accepts that Kiro and Helios are one and the same. This adds depth to what MC is feeling about Helios and also serves to contextualize the relationship between the two identities. (Note: I just love the idea that Helios has the same “sunshine” as Kiro but that he reflects it in a subtle way rather than being overwhelmingly positive like Kiro. This dynamic is only ever implied by the imagery and symbolism but it’s so perfect.)

In particular, though, I want to talk about some of the symbolism associated with Lucien and what we can learn from the way these symbols interact with one another.

Light and Shadow

One motif that is very present when the story is focused on Lucien is the balance between light and shadow. (Note: It’s very on the nose at times but executed well, I think, so I’ll give them a pass.) This motif is introduced far before Lucien’s betrayal is ever revealed, as early as his first meeting with MC. (Note: I literally wasn’t sure when the motif was first introduced but I went back to Lucien’s first scene and SURE ENOUGH, there it is. I love how consistent the writing is in this regard. The motifs are handled so well and so intentionally.)

During Lucien’s first scene in the game, light shining in from the window obscures his face. Far ahead of the betrayal, light and shadow are symbolically playing at obscuring his identity from MC. The light/shadow motif is used at first to symbolize Lucien being duplicitous, without much hinting toward his internal struggle. Later, when it’s clear that Lucien is struggling with a choice between metaphorical “dark” desire to continue his mission and “light” of protecting MC, light is used to hint at that internal conflict. An example of this is below, from Lucien's first standoff with Victor in Chapter 11.

Notably, though, sometimes, the “light” represents MC directly while the “shadow” represents Lucien. After Lucien’s internal conflict and desire to protect MC is first touched on in Chapter 16, the two are symbolically juxtaposed by scene-settings back-to-back in the last two units of CH16. 16-24 opens with a description of Lucien’s dark, gloomy room and 16-25 opens with a description of the lamp on MC’s desk casting a bright light. (Note: MC’s Evol is also represented by light often, so I think this imagery for her works even beyond its juxtaposition with Lucien.)

The same thing happens again when MC comes back from the Eternal Winter world, Lucien’s office is described as dark and shadowy when he is alone and then it’s cast in an “ephemeral glow” as soon as MC steps into the room.

Mirrors

A large part of Lucien’s character arc is his failure to properly make sense of his own identity, this struggle is represented by mirrors/reflections. Often, mirrors are shattered or distorted, implying an added difficulty of perception.

Because of the expectations that have been put on him from a young age, Lucien is very disconnected from his own identity. Even with Black Swan set completely aside, because of his savant-like personality and inability to relate to others, Lucien doesn’t view himself as a human being. Beyond that, there is also a struggle between the two identities of “Lucien” and “Ares” implied.

I think that the answer to this struggle is MC understanding Lucien and having clarity about who he is as a person. Light reflected in mirrors represents this concept symbolically in the Mirror Painting date. (Note: I believe this date is only currently available in the CN server, I read this translation) In this date, Lucien and MC paint each other and then use mirrors to reflect light onto the painting when it’s displayed. After being painted and, therefore, symbolically seen by MC, Lucien is finally allowed to turn away from the mirrors and stop worrying about who he is. The mirrors that represent his struggle with identity are able to add depth to a beautiful image when paired with the lights that represent MC’s understanding.

Shattered and Distorted Glass

This goes hand-in-hand with the mirror motif but is worth mentioning on its own because the symbolism is slightly different. While distorted mirrors imply difficulty for Lucien to perceive himself, distorted glass implies a difficulty for others to perceive Lucien. Shattered glass also represents a fractured relationship between the identities of “Lucien” and “Ares” in a few scenes.

On the wall of the abandoned Ultima Bioresearch Lab, MC finds a quotation written on the wall from the Bible. “For now we see through a glass, darkly. The truth is projected into the hearts of men through a glass lens. It’s distorted, blurry, and one-dimensional.” (Note: I’m assuming that this verse was translated from the Chinese dialogue and not transcribed from an English Bible translation, because this is, at the very least, not a popular translation of the verse that I’m familiar with. Ironically, it’s more popular to translate “glass” here as “mirror” so there goes this whole section LMAO.)

Because of the way it’s presented, I think that this image of distorted glass represents not how MC actually perceives Lucien but, rather, how Lucien believes he perceives her. Obviously, this is also foreshadowing the betrayal so, in a way, he’s correct in asserting that she is not seeing all of him. But, on the whole, this distorted glass imagery is delivered in a way that implies the distortion more as an insecurity on Lucien’s part rather than the reality of MC’s vision.

Rainbows

Keeping with Lucien’s themes of paradox and duplicity, one of his main motifs is the appearance of rainbows, despite the fact that he is colorblind. This is, again, representative of MC’s “light” being transformative to Lucien because the rainbows appear when they are together. I think that, rather than being a symbol for Lucien alone, rainbows represent Lucien’s relationship with MC. It’s a sort of combination of MC’s light imagery and Lucien’s refraction/distortion imagery. In the right circumstances, they can create something beautiful together.

It’s also implied throughout the story that Lucien is able to see colors when he’s around MC, so he is truly only able to appreciate the beauty of rainbows when he is with her. (Note: It’s unclear how this works but I think that it’s a side-effect of his Evol mimicking hers. There’s a footage mission where it seems like Lucien has to ask MC to look at something before he can tell the color of it so I think that he is somehow able to see the world through her perspective, possibly by using her Evol to have real-time visions. Does this make sense? Who knows, but I refuse to accept it just as soulmate magic!!!!)

If you haven’t, I highly recommend reading Lucien’s “Rainbow Luck” R&S. (Note: A recording is available here!) In this story, told from the perspective of Lucien’s pen, Iridescent, MC and Lucien see a rainbow together and it’s implied that this is Lucien’s first time being able to see a rainbow because MC is there. (Note: Iridescent as a name itself is an instance of Lucien’s rainbow motif.)

(Note: Lucien's Moments also features a rainbow paperweight at Bond Level 40.)

TLDR: Imagery and symbolism are used in MLQC to imply things about the characters and their relationships with MC. In particular, with Lucien, recurring imagery is used to represent his internal conflict and his desire for love and understanding from MC. The symbolism of light and its reflection/refraction is used to great effect throughout Lucien’s story, implying a complex web of internal struggles.

[shuubah]

Watch all the 4 Encounter Events of Kiro the Bear at W♡nder Cafe. ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ

[darealkatastrophe]

This took longer then I like to admit but now it's finished. These are The MLQC Boys as Iconic videos, sorry that it's short. I'll make more in the future, just because I'm bored. It might take a bit of time.

[putufelisia]

Last day on MLDD. My heart is breaking, but life must go on 🥲🥲🥲

[hikoorie]

[chipupuni]

Mlqc characters: a summary.

[banenaz]

So yeah finally I'm gonna post this :)

First of all I'd like to thank @vellowmlqc for suggesting prompts and @victor-otherboys for designing the poster, it turned out so great 🙌🏻

There are just three simple rules as mentioned in the poster:

- Choose either prompts or both, or you can mix them together.

- You can use OCs instead of MC of course.

- Use the hashtag #mlqctober2021

Posting:

- all entries are accepted, whether it's writing, drawing, edits, or even memes lmao.

- You can post your art on tumblr, instagram, twitter, or even amino, just use the hashtag as I said.

- No need to do every single day, we don't you to feel pressured

- You can start posting on the 1st of October.

And lastly no need to tag us :)

[glitteryarchivereader]

It is the week of Kiro’s birthday! Time to spread some love for our beloved sunshine and superstar by reblogging posts related to him and let more people know of this wonderful man (๑>ᴗ<๑) !

[among-starz]

MLQC/MLDD boys react to finding you asleep on the bathroom floor.

TW: Mentions of nausea and vomiting

A little backstory, a few years back I used to get horribly nauseous for seemingly no reason, but I'd never throw up. It was always so late at night that I'd eventually doze off on the bathroom floor T-T (I eventually learned it was all an anxiety thing and that's why I never actually puked lol.) So, I thought, might as well get some comfort from some fake boys for this little problem of mine.

Gavin

-Gavin was just getting back from a late-night mission.

-He went to your shared bedroom and was a bit confused as to why you weren't there

-Finds the bathroom light on and the door slightly ajar and he runs walks over to find you asleep over the toilet.

-What?

-He kneels down and gently rubs your back until you stir.

-"You feelin' okay, Pumpkin?" He asks when you're lucid enough to understand him.

-When you tell him you're nauseous, he's immediately on the floor next to you rubbing your back some more.

-He sits extra close so you'll warm up from his body heat to prevent you from catching a cold.

-He'll quickly hold your hair back if you actually vomit and whisper sweet nothings in your ear.

-Or, he'll just sit with you until the nausea passes, watching you drift in and out of sleep. When you finally feel okay enough to go back to bed, he'll carry you there.

-"Sorry."

-"You don't have to be sorry, Pumpkin." He says as he sets you down in bed and tucks you in.

-"You must be tired but you sat in the bathroom with me."

-Gavin brushes your hair away from your face as you drift to sleep, "I'll never be too tired to take care of you, silly"

-Stays up a while longer just in case you feel sick again, but will eventually go to sleep when he's sure you're alright.

-Wakes up early the next day to make you breakfast and some tea.

-Will be hesitant about you going to work, but he'll eventually cave after you explain how you're feeling perfectly fine now. He'll let you go on the condition that you take good care of yourself is texting minor and threatening telling him to keep an eye out on you.

-Since he just got off a mission he has the day off and will be there at the speed of light if you start feeling sick again.

Lucien

-My man's a light sleeper, so when you get up to use the bathroom he's awake too.

-What a puppy, he can't sleep without you.

-When ten minutes pass and you haven't come back, he's a bit confused, but brushes it off. His butterfly may just be constipated, he'd been telling you you need to eat more fiber.

-But after a few more minutes, he's padding his way to the bathroom, knocking on the door.

-"MC?"

-No answer

-He tries the door nob, thankfully you left it unlocked.

-Of all the things Lucien thought he would find when he opened that door, you leaning against the wall of the bathroom asleep was not one of them.

-A part of him wanted to laugh, but he was also concerned. He knelt down and gently shook your shoulder.

-You wake with a start, rubbing your eyes.

-"Are you feeling alright, butterfly?"

-You shake your head, "I feel sick" you say, scooting closer to the toilet and hovering over it, afraid you'll puke.

-If you do puke, he'll hold your hair back and gently rub your back until you feel a bit better.

-But if you don't, he'll lead you back to bed and offer to make you a cup of tea or just get you a glass of water.

-Will 100% rub your stomach and cuddle until you fall asleep. But as soon as you're asleep Lucien is trying to think of what could have caused this bought of nausea. Food poisoning? Pregnancy? Anxiety? Maybe all three?

-He'll definitely want to take you to the doctor.

Victor

-When you decided to head to bed early, Victor wasn't at all surprised. You'd been working yourself to the bone lately, and you definitely needed the extra sleep.

-But Victor, being the ever-busy man he is, stayed up to get some more work done.

-He hears you go through your bedtime routine and go to bed.

-And then he hears you go back to the bathroom 10 minutes later.

-He's confused but is so swamped with work it slips his mind. Forgetful? Victor? It's more likely than you think.

-But when he finally finishes his work and gets up to brush his teeth, he finds the bathroom light still on and remembers he never heard you leave.

-He opens the door and finds you laying on the bathroom floor, asleep.

-He gently picks you up and carries you to the bedroom. Despite his efforts to be gentle, you wake up.

-Your turn to be confused, but this sudden ride has got you more nauseous than before, so you don't say anything.

-"Do I want to know why you were asleep in the bathroom?" Plz Victor, just tell her you're concerned.

-"Felt nauseous." you say as he places you down in bed. You stay sitting up, afraid that you'll puke all over the bed if you lay down.

-"Dummy, you'll catch a cold like that, sleeping on the floor."

-Tired, nauseous, overworked, and emotional you start crying at that remark. Great job Victor

-He gently wipes the tears away but on the inside, he's all "Shit shit shit, she's crying."

-He places a kiss on your forehead and leaves the room, coming back with a plastic bucket/trash can, a glass of water, and some crackers.

-Will sit in bed with you until you puke or fall asleep, and he won't get any sleep that night because he's too busy worrying about you making sure you don't puke all over his expensive sheets.

-Is extremely mad with himself, first he overworked you to the point of vomiting, and then he made you cry? He'll insist you take a few days off to recuperate RIP Anna

-During your days off, he'll pamper you. Make you meals that taste amazing and are easy on your stomach, doting on your every whim.

-Will definitely learn to tell when you're overworked and need a break, and if that doesn't help the nausea, he'll take you to see the best doctors around to figure out why you're getting sick.

Kiro

-Kiro's 100% a heavy-ass sleeper, so he doesn't wake up when you get up and go to the bathroom.

-His bladder wakes him up early the next morning, and he finds your side of the bed empty.

-He gets up to use the bathroom and finds the light on.

-"MCCCCC, hurry up! I need to peeeeeee." He's currently dancing around like a toddler.

-He tries the door and is relieved to find it unlocked. He'll pee in the shower if he has to, goddamn it, he's about to die here.

-Thankfully, the toilet is free and he doesn't have to resort to that yet.

-Where are you? He doesn't question it. bladder full, head empty

-When Kiro's finally done, he turns around to wash his hands an-

-"AHHHHHHHH!"

-"AHHHHHHHH!"

-Kiro finds you, screaming on the floor of the bathroom where you were sleeping seconds before.

-"What the hell, Kiro?"

-"You scared me!" If he hadn't just gone pee, he woulda peed himself (Jesus I'm sorry)

-"What were you doing on the floor?"

-"I felt sick, I must have fallen asleep."

-Suddenly, Kiro is sitting down next to you, hand on your forehead, checking your temperature "Did you sleep here all night?" Kiro is worried

-"Uhh,,," He'll take that as a yes

-Suddenly, you're in his arms being carried back to bed. He sets you down and wraps the quilt around you tightly.

-You tell him you have to get ready for work soon, but he won't hear it.

-"You're staying home today, Miss Chips."

-"But I don't feel sick anymore."

-"You slept on the BATHROOM floor, MC!" He's right

-If Kiro can help it, he's staying home with you. Pampering you with warm drinks and foods that won't upset your stomach. No chips or sweets for you today. Kiro, you're starting to sound like Savin.

-But if he absolutely has to be somewhere, he'll call or text you every chance he gets, making sure you're feeling okay and that you're eating properly.

-Will probably want to take you to the doctor, but won't force you to go.

[lunars-babeclub]

𝐊𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 ✨💛

[shinydelirium]

Got Kiro's new chapter karma and spent some more gems to unlock Helios' very first outfit in Go See Him🤤🥵😍

Here are his lines and the translations:

"Are you testing my patience for you?" *When I touched his "junk" 🤭*

"This is not the place you should touch." *When I touched his "junk" again😏*

"I advise you not to try a second time." *Is that a threat, sir? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)*

"You always seem to not heed my warnings." *Does it seem like I care?😒*

"...Save it, I have no need for your concern." *But I love you.....🥺🥺🥺*

"What are you up to?" *Wouldn't you love to know?"*

"As I said, I'm not the person you're looking for." *Don't start that nonsense with me!!!😤*

"There is nothing worth worrying about." *As long as you're here, that is🥰*

[evie-solaris]

Kiro the kitty. にゃん!

Source: 恋とプロデューサー にゃんプロPV [ Youtube Link ]

I didn't know this existed...

The other guys plus MC as cats are adorbs too.

[link4eva]

Kiro’s S2 Chapter 26-29 R&S: Outside the Spotlight Translation [CN]

Hello! 

I apologize for taking so long to translate this. I’ve been busy with my doggos and packing 😅

Anyways...

This translation was done with the power of Duolingo and Google Translate. You can read the chapter that goes with this R&S here! (translated by @keliosyfan​ )

This translation contains spoilers for content that has not yet been released to the ENG server. If you wish to not be spoiled, please don’t look below the cut.

Enjoy~

*Spoilers for future content below!*

[Chapter 1]

* ‘--’ is where the next page starts*

“...Passengers who take this flight, please go to the No. 12 carousel in Zone D to claim your luggage…”

The sensor door slid open silently, and passengers rushed in. I walked to the hall with the crowd, looking around, trying to find the shadow of this city after a few years in my memory.

The dark grey ground reflected the cold light of the dome, and outside of the curtain wall, the roar of the plane could be faintly heard. The scene in front of me doesn’t seem to have changed much from the year I went abroad. It’s just that in the advertising screens around, the faces that capital favours are no longer the same as they used to be.

The new generation is better than the old.

--

I thought sadly, and my eyes were fixed on the advertisement in the corner of the hall.

On the screen, Kiro smiled, and his eyes were as blue and bright as the ocean reflecting the sunlight. Occasionally, a traveller slows down as he passes by the screen. Although he suspended the event a few months ago, the commercial value does not appear to have been significantly affected.

I stood in front of the carousel thoughtfully, opened Weibo while I was waiting, and searched for his name.

— “I don’t know how many days it’s been since Lolo’s been active. I miss him.”

--

— “Inside news. It is said that this comeback will have a great impact!”

— “Really? Let’s hope so!” *Changed some wording*

…

I raised my eyebrows and took my luggage off the carousel.

The entertainment industry has always been fond of the new and disliked the old, it's a miracle that Kiro can maintain such a high degree of discussion during the blank period. It’s no wonder that his agent, Savin, has made several overseas phone calls and asked me to be his stage director for his concert. With his popularity, he deserves the attention.

--

“Hello, Director Wang, we will pick you up at the exit. Please contact us when you land.”

A line of small words pops up in the bay window. I pulled up the box and walked towards the exit, but saw an unexpected face in the crowd.

“... Agent Savin?”

“Director Wang! Is this trip going smoothly?”

Savin took the luggage enthusiastically. I was a little surprised but still answered politely.

--

“I didn’t expect for you to come to pick me up in person like an experienced star.”

“You are too polite.” Savin smiled and led me into the car while motioning for the driver to set off. “Thank you for your willingness to accept the invitation and return to China. While we wait to get to the venue, you can take a look at the company arrangement.”

I responded, took the information, and turned a few pages.

“Why would rehearsal take this long?”

“... well, because this concert is a bit special.” Savin’s voice paused: “I’ll explain to you later.”

--

[Chapter 2]

The car stopped slowly in front of the gym, and a girl came out to greet us with a smile.

“This is Director Wang. This is our boss, the person in charge of the company. She prepared the company arrangement.” Savin introduced us. I shook hands with the young person in charge, discussed the plan, and walked into the venue. After passing through several major gates, the scene in front of me suddenly became clear.

Against the clear sky, the vast venue and the dazzling sunlight come into view. I narrowed my eyes and vaguely saw a figure jumping off the stage, bright blond hair sparkling like a light. When he opened his eyes again, he had walked to the side of the person in charge and stood still. Those azure blue eyes that were indistinguishable from the advertisement looked at me, slightly curved.

--

“Hello~ I’m Kiro, I’m glad to have the opportunity to cooperate with you!”

“I am also looking forward to the results of the cooperation. But the schedule is still a little bit ahead. You are here now…”

“I’ll come to see the venue with the boss.” Kiro glanced at the girl who answered the phone and said softly, “My design is only based on the drawings, and the details are not comprehensive enough.”

“Before, I planned to arrange about 1,000 electronic lights in the audience, but now it seems that the number is still a little small…”

--

The kid’s attitude towards the stage is more serious than I thought.

I nodded silently.

Soon, the person in charge hung up the phone and said apologetically that something had happened in some other departments and she needed to deal with it. After saying goodbye to her, I turned on the computer and motioned Kiro to look at the screen: “Well… my initial plan is: all the lights at the opening are turned off, and the team will gradually join the accompaniment. As you sing the opening song, the lights on stage and in the audience will light up when entering the chorus.”

--

“You can also let the little sodas participate with their hand-controlled lights!” *Changed some wording*

Kiro, who had been listening this whole time, excitedly added, his eyes passed by lines and lines of the detailed plan. But, Savin frowned.

Is there any difficulty in cooperating? I was puzzled, and I asked bluntly: “What does Mr. Savin think is inappropriate?”

Savin coughed and seemed to be thinking about his words: “Director Wang, actually…”

--

“Savin, let me speak.”

Kiro suddenly spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up gently, as if he was talking about a trivial matter: “Director Wang, this idea is good, but it’s not very suitable for me right now.”

“I have a problem with my ears, and I can’t carry earphones on set. So, including the opening, the sound system has to be online all the time.”

“...”

--

I stared at those frank and sincere eyes, and my eyes fell on the delicate instrument partially exposed in his hair, and an unbelievable ache passed through my heart. It turns out that the so-called “special” thing is not the details of the scheduling, but…

Are you kidding?

For singers, ear problems are definitely major blows to one’s career. Not to mention the singing skills, such as improvisation, to match the atmosphere of the scene. I am afraid that for him now, even controlling the volume and intonation are tricky issues…

--

“The stage is not child’s play. Have you considered the seriousness of this matter?” I paced a few times and stopped suddenly in front of Kiro: “This matter is not so simple, you may not know —”

I would have liked to illustrate the hardships involved, but the moment I met those calm eyes, I suddenly realized something.

He is very clear.

--

“I know the stakes are high… but, it’s not impossible. And…”

Kiro turned his head to look at me, lowered his tone, but still did not give in at all: “Director Wang, before sending you an invitation, we have negotiated with the industry’s authoritative stage and sound teams, who have participated in several Bird’s Nest concerts. I have rich experience in the design and construction of these concerts, and I am also in the process of negotiating with the best lighting instructor nominated for this year’s Golden Globe Awards. I know that this stage will be different from the past, and each link needs better cooperation, even if it takes many adjustments to render it perfect. So, I have been working on it.”

--

He paused for a moment, there was a light in his eyes, and he spoke again with a firmer tone: “I hope you believe that I, like you, want to create a perfect stage, and I need your help. I know this is a challenge, it is not easy, and the process of adaptation will be long and even torturous. But, no matter how painful the process of it is, I will never give up.”

“Please believe me.”

I didn’t say anything, I was full of this young man’s earnest look. For some time, I seemed to hear a shaky voice in my heart.

--

After receiving the invitation, I spent a few days mulling over hundreds of videos of Kiro’s performances. His infectious and explosive power on stage is truly unparalleled. What really made me agree to cooperate was the persistence I saw in those eyes and the love that never changed.

I can see such an expression for real now, but with even more intensity. *Changed some wording*

I couldn’t help laughing and let out a long sigh.

--

“I need to know the limits of your hearing ability before I can make a new plan to negotiate with lighting and sound. In addition, you must hurry up and practise…”

My voice is a little dry, but Kiro didn’t seem to notice, nodding: “No problem!”

“I will devote all the time, except for the necessary sleep, to training and actively cooperate with your arrangement. You can rest assured that the final presentation will be the perfect stage for everyone!”

[Chapter 3]

“All the tweaks and changes are due to some problems with my ears, so there is no way to carry the earpiece back on the spot. Thank you for understanding.” *GT was wonky here, but I think he’s saying earpiece*

At the meeting, Kiro confessed to the people present. Although I already knew this, seeing the silhouette of him bowing deeply, I still couldn’t help but sigh. This is an extremely difficult challenge. Fortunately, the team was very experienced and willing to cooperate, the immediate difficulties are not insurmountable.

But, on the fifteenth day of the countdown, the originally orderly atmosphere of the team suddenly changed.

--

The backstage, which was supposed to be busy, was a bit empty this day, and no one was seen in each post. I went all the way into the conference room, only to find that everyone was talking to each other here. Seeing my gloomy face, several people pushed their way through and greeted me.

“Director Wang, we don’t want to cooperate with Kiro, please replace us.”

“... the reason being?”

“Don’t you know? It’s been rumoured long ago!”

The staff handed the mobile phone to me, and the bright title of the video caught my eye: “Kiro- The Artificial Evolver Demon”.

--

I hesitated and clicked on the video. I froze in place.

“Remodeling Evol”, “Super Attraction”, “False Love”...

The words repeated in my ears and the sights in the video made my thoughts go chaotic. It wasn’t until the screen went black that I realized that I was in a cold sweat.

Kiro is an Evolver…? Doesn’t everyone love him? Is it the influence of his Evol?

--

No, from his business ability, dealing with people, and his serious attitude when it comes to performing, his strength is the real deal…

Wait, is my judgment on him now also influenced by Evol?

I leaned back against the corner of the table, my thoughts a little messy. *Changed some wording*

In the depressing atmosphere, someone else handed over the props tremblingly. I took it in a frenzy, checked two lines before I realized it, and dropped the pen.

--

“Didn’t I ask you to find the person in charge?”

“Well, she’s in the practise room now… Kiro is also inside…”

The rest of the sentence no longer needed to be said. I walked to the practice room distractedly, the door behind me slowly closing out the icy atmosphere. After a muffled sound, the discussion in the room was finally cut off.  

The corridor that used to be crowded was surprisingly quiet at this moment, and occasionally a staff member approached him with panic between his brows and eyes. After passing by a few people, my angered brain gradually calmed down, but I didn’t consciously slow down.

--

… No wonder everyone avoids it, who isn’t afraid of being controlled by Evol?

Ask yourself, at this moment, can I face Kiro without any grudges?

The wind in the corridor picked up again, and there was a muffled sound of doors closing at the other end of the corridor. I looked up and saw two figures standing side by side at the door of the practice room— the young girl stood stiffly in place, and Kiro turned towards her, leaning over and saying something with a gentle expression. The two of them then immediately walked into the distance together.

--

Now I was trotting a few steps to stop them, but it was too late.

… Hurry up.

Reason is urging me in a low voice, but the breathing is involuntarily tight as I go to take a step. Watching their figures gradually fade away, I was inexplicably relieved. *Wording was weird here*

--

I haven't figured out what kind of mood I want to face Kiro with. In such a situation, he himself should be the most indecisive, and it may not be the right choice to cooperate with him now. I also need time to deal with the fluctuating situation in the team. Now is not a good time to go through with the cooperation… I think calmly, even if the list in my hand has been wiped out.

Perhaps seeing my hesitant gaze, Kiro’s figure in the distance froze and looked at me unexpectedly. I turned around subconsciously and left in a hurry, pretending to be passing by.

[Chapter 4]

The storm was more severe than expected.

Everyone’s depressed mood spreads in the team, and there are many rehearsal scenes to be done in the rain. Kiro is dancing in the centre of the storm and the microphone is being debugged on the stage. 

A text message sounded unexpectedly, and my eyes shot wide open. As expected, of course, is the news of the resignation.

— Director Wang, I have decided to quit the team. I’m really sorry. I hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with you in the future.

--

— Well, not reluctantly. When are you leaving? Make the handover.

— Within the week. The artists I followed are also preparing for the stage. If you don’t want to go into this muddy water, please feel free to contact me.

My fingertips hovered over the screen for a moment.

Maybe leaving is a better choice, but from the day I stepped into this industry, I never gave up on any stage. Exiting now is tantamount to letting everyone’s efforts go to waste, including me, and Kiro.

--

I subconsciously glanced toward the stage.

The spotlight on Kiro was hot and bright, reminiscent of the same long-lasting lights and almost uninterrupted melody in the practice room. It was just as he had promised me.

If he still persists as the target of public criticism, maybe I can accompany him if it goes a little further.

I weighed the options until I heard Kiro’s singing.

--

Clear and melodious, it reminds people of the blue sky in summer and the quiet stars of midnight. In his soft humming, my restless heart gradually calmed down. At the end of the song, I suddenly came back to my senses. The singing is short, but I seemed to have encountered a pure and unyielding soul. This is the power of music, not the result of Evol’s confusion. My palms were slightly sweaty as I stared at the figure under the spotlight.

“Turn down the frequency of the transponder a little more, and tune it by a halftone.”

Kiro opened his mouth, he picked up the microphone stand and walked around the stage a few times before standing a little further away. “Move to here, the view of the metronome is clearer.”

--

“What do you think, Director Wang?” Kiro turned to look at me: “What else do you think needs to be improved?”

All the disturbing emotions were left behind. I strode forward to get the ideas in my head and put them all together.

— Together with Kiro, we will definitely be able to create the best concert.

This thought popped into my mind, inexplicably and with certainty.

--

Practising over and over again, the days passed quickly, and finally, the day of the concert came. The pitch of the VCR was intense, but the atmosphere in the venue was somewhat deserted.

“Notify Kiro, prepare to play.”

I sighed heavily. Although it was expected long ago, the current scene is still a bit disappointing. I don’t know if Kiro’s state will be affected…

--

I thoughtfully walked backstage to inspect but saw Kiro’s familiar figure in the corridor. I followed his line of sight, and my eyes fell on the sparse flower basket. The pomp of the celebrations at the moment may not be comparable to the previous ones. I couldn’t help but feel a little worried, but I saw Kiro move.

He leaned over to the flower basket, smoothed out the folds on the ribbon, and flipped through the childish or dashing messages on it one by one.

— “The little sodas will always support you!”

— “I wish the concert a success!”

--

— “Looking forward to Lolo’s performance, let’s go!”

…

“Okay, I will do my best.”

Kiro responded softly, his blue eyes did not blink, as if taking those words to heart.

I gave an order to the staff member who slowly leaned in towards him: “There are only five minutes left till stage time.”

“I’m here.”

--

Kiro picked up the sunflowers that were teetering on the edge of the flower basket. After putting them back in place, he glanced at it, turned and walked towards the stage.

The young girl in charge was waiting behind the lifting platform. She raised her hand to adjust Kiro’s collar, like putting in the last piece of armour for a soldier. Her eyes were as warm and firm as ever. In hindsight, I thought that no matter what kind of sparring they went through these days, the expressions that she and Kiro gave each other never changed. Even if the road ahead is uncertain, they can probably go on together without fear.

--

Savin hurriedly ran in front of me, and the pattern of the flyer flashed in the gap of the briefcase. I didn’t know where he ran to distribute the flyer. Until now…

I looked away from the three people standing side by side and took out the walkie-talkie. I don’t know why, but the voice was a little dull.

“... Standing, three, two, one, start.”

[Chapter 5]

Amid the tidal wave of cheers, the concert briefly came to a successful conclusion. At the late-night celebration feast, dozens of wine glasses were raised high in a circle, making a series of crisp sounds amid the cheers.

The noisy conversation of asking for advice is endless, but it is like a crackling charcoal fire in winter, which makes people feel a little warmer in their hearts. I leaned back comfortably on the chair and squinted, my eyes glanced over one of the staff members. Seeing Savin’s smiling face, I suddenly felt a little melancholy.

--

If I hadn’t wavered, maybe I could proudly recall the days when I fought side by side with Kiro. But, the act of turning away that day was like a tiny thorn stabbing my heart, preventing me from basking in pure joy.

… I should apologize for my doubts.

I paced my way through the staggered crowd, looking around for Kiro. After a long while, I finally saw the familiar figure on the terrace. He was leaning on the railing and quietly staring at the stars in the night sky. I stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

--

Kiro turned his head sharply, and when he saw it was me, he relaxed.

“Director Wang.” Kiro raised his glass with a smile: “Thank you. Thanks to your overall control and design, tonight’s performance was very successful.”

“The stage is truly completed when the performance is completed because you performed well.” I sighed lightly while holding the wine glass: “Actually, I came to say…”

--

All kinds of apologetic words came to mind, ranging from the doubts I once had against him, and for the intentional or unintentional harm. But when I met Kiro’s clear eyes, my throat tightened, and I swallowed the words back.

On the way forward, this young man has already determined his direction, just like the clouds and smoke that will only disappear in front of the dazzling sun. Misunderstandings from the outside world cannot easily shake his mind. At this point, everyone who witnessed this concert should have no more suspicious feelings.

--

The unspoken apology seemed frivolous at this moment. I paused, looked into his eyes, and touched his glass calmly: “This is the most brilliant stage I have ever witnessed, and I hope that there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future.”

May you always be dazzling and always go forward.

[End]  

[cuddletime-blog]

Valentine’s Day Poem (2022)

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, our beloved Kiro!

You’re Loveland’s #1 idol,

the Superstar famous around the globe.

You’re multi-talented,

an amazing computer genius.

You’re also kind of mysterious,

but you wear your heart on your sleeve.

You’re multi-faceted

and so very impressive.

Falling for you

is like falling for Taylor Swift.

     You’re the one and only Kiro.

You’re just that special, such an original.

You’ve got the looks, the talents,

the smarts, and the endless,

ever-ravishing Charm.

You make our hearts pound,

setting off our inner love alarm.

We love your unique humor and wit.

We can’t help but love you even more Mr. Chips!

You make us so proud.

We can’t help but reach our arms out

to you from anywhere we stand in the crowd

because you really sparkle and stand out.

     You’re our Potato Hero,

Mr. Love, and Forever Prince.

Thank you for filling our hearts

with love and your sweet songs.

Happy Valentine’s Day

and may you always continue

to shine for us on and on

for many more years to come!

[hikoorie]

[cjinjinx]

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