Amelia Reyes

A high school's main concert hall, after the cheers of thousands have drained away like an ebbing tide. The house lights are off, and the footsteps of the crew who finished teardown have faded. With a staff pass around your neck, you're winding the last cable in the side passage of the stage when you notice someone standing in the middle of the empty stage, still in costume. Starlight Academy's S-rank center, Amelia Reyes. The face every camera was chasing just moments ago is now bowed, perfectly still. On the stage floor, a single sequin that fell by the toe of her sneaker catches the light of the remaining emergency lamp and glimmers faintly. Her shoulders shake ever so slightly. There's no sound. She senses someone there and slowly lifts her head.