The delinquent girls tightened their grip on Ren's wrist, dragging him closer into the shadow of the alley. Their laughter rang out, sharp and mocking, the kind that made heads turn in the park but no one dared interfere.

After all, these delinquent girls weren't just ordinary thugs—they were part of a famous biker gang in the area, one with connections to a powerful family in the city.

"C'mon, cutie," one of them teased, pressing her shoulder into his side. "You're coming with us."

Ren let himself stumble along, face pale, lips trembling, but his body didn't resist. Even if he wanted to resist, Ren couldn't because of how strong these women were holding him.

"…Just a little longer," he thought. "Anna, are you going to move… or not?"

The tallest delinquent girl leaned in, tracing her finger down Ren's chest. "Mmm, you're soft. Just like I thought. Not much chest, huh? But cute."

Her friend giggled, sliding her hand across his shirt. "Heh, we've hit the jackpot. He is just my type! We could even get pregnant with his kids..."

Ren didn't even flinch as fingers dug into his chest. "…Seriously? This is what gets them excited? I guess in this world, mt chest is some kind of… treat to them."

He looked past them, scanning for Anna. And there she was.

Anna stood frozen for a moment, her silver hair trembling in the evening wind, eyes wide with shock. Then, book forgotten, she bolted forward.

"Stop! Let him go!" she shouted, her voice cracking but firm.

The girls turned, their lips curling into cruel grins.

"Oh? And who's this?"

"Is she his girlfriend or something?"

"Get lost, nerd, before we beat you up too."

Anna's hands shook, but she pulled out her phone. "I'll call the police!"

Before she could press a button, one of the delinquents darted forward and snatched the phone right out of her hand. "Oops! Too slow."

They laughed, waving the phone in the air like a toy. "Look, look, the little girlfriend thinks she's brave."

Another girl pressed herself against Ren, sliding her hands across his chest again. "Mm… better than I thought. Look at this chest, so smooth, so soft. This is perfect for us. Not you looser! Get lost before we beat you up! After using him we will send him back."

Ren didn't even react. His face was blank, eyes distant. "…I don't even care if you touch my chest," he thought, sighing inwardly. "Honestly, this is boring. If Anna doesn't step up, maybe she really is just a normal girl. Maybe Aria's idol persona was real, and she was just getting a makeover with a good makeup artist to be like Aria…"

He clenched his jaw, his doubt growing. "Come on, Anna. Show me something."

Anna reached out desperately. "Give me back my phone!"

The girl holding it sneered and tossed it to another. "Catch!"

They threw her phone between them, mocking her every time she tried to grab it. Laughter echoed through the alley.

Then, with a sudden crack, one of them slapped Anna across the face.

The sound was sharp.

Anna stumbled back, her glasses flying from her face and clattering to the ground.

Ren's eyes widened, anger flickering in his chest—but he stayed still. "…This is it. Anna. Show me. If you don't...I think I might as well see what these girls are capable of."

Anna froze. Her head bowed, silver hair hiding her face. The delinquents circled her, jeering.

"Pathetic."

"Look at her, can't even stand up. Is this really your girlfriend?"

"What a loser."

Ren clenched his fists. "…Anna…"

Then it happened.

Anna lifted her head slowly. Her sharp pale eyes glowed, a strange and piercing light. Like a storm given form, her gaze cut through the air.

The girls fell silent, their laughter choking in their throats.

Ren inhaled sharply. "…That light…!"

Anna spread her arms dramatically, her voice ringing out with a commanding tone far larger than her body. Her every word echoed, drenched in authority.

"I… Annaliese Morgenstern!" she declared, her voice like a bell of judgment.

The delinquents trembled, eyes widening in horror as if invisible chains wrapped around them.

Anna's glowing gaze sharpened, her words slicing through them like blades. "I command you—run away! Never return to this place!"

Her voice boomed, exaggerated, regal, and undeniable.

The girls' bodies jerked, their mocking expressions twisting into sudden obedience.

"Yes… my lady!" they chorused, voices trembling.

Without another word, they turned and bolted, their laughter replaced by panicked cries. The stolen phone clattered to the ground, forgotten.

The alley fell silent.

Ren stood frozen, watching Anna's back as she panted softly, the glow in her eyes slowly fading.

"…So that's her power," he thought, a grin spreading across his face. "Not just a bookworm… not just a girl with glasses or and pretty little idol. She's something much bigger."

Anna blinked, her glow gone. She stumbled forward, quickly kneeling to pick up her fallen glasses. Her hands shook as she placed them back on her face.

Ren stepped closer, flexing his bandaged hand, his lips curling in amusement.

"Jackpot," he muttered under his breath, too quiet for her to hear.

Anna turned, her expression flustered, almost as if nothing had happened. "Ren… are you okay? Did they… did they hurt you?"

Ren quickly changed his face to a rather terrified one, brushing dust off his shirt. "I'm fine. Thanks to you. You saved me, Anna."

Anna lowered her gaze, embarrassed. "I-I didn't want to show this side… but they were hurting you. I had to do something."

Ren tilted his head, studying her closely. "…Annaliese Morgenstern, huh? That sounded like a royal proclamation. What was that power Anna?"

Anna froze, her cheeks heating. "I-It's just… something that comes out sometimes. I don't know why."

Ren chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Well, whatever it is… it worked. They looked ready to kneel at your feet. I am glad you were here today."

Anna's lips trembled, then curved into a shy smile. "I… I guess."

Ren's eyes glittered, his grin widening.

"…Second girl found. Now the real game begins."

***

Anna's room was filled with books stacked on every shelf, every corner. Sci-fi novels, fantasy figurines, dog-eared volumes of several comics. She was still wearing her glasses because she was short sighted, the glow of the small lamp casting shadows across the room.

Anna sat at the edge of her bed, clutching her knees, still shaken from what had happened in the park. The slap on her cheek still stung faintly, but it wasn't the pain that bothered her.

"…They called me pathetic," she whispered. "Why did it take so long for me to help Ren? As always I am a coward."

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the mirror standing in the corner. She stood before it, staring at her own reflection: silver hair messy, her timid eyes magnified behind the thick lenses.

"Anna…" she murmured, her voice small. "You're too weak. You're too quiet. You're just… not strong."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, Anna's breathing steadied, her eyes beginning to glow faintly again.

She leaned close to the mirror, her lips parting.

"…I command you."

Her reflection rippled, her voice trembling but resolute.

"Become… Aria."

The words hung in the air like a spell.

Anna exhaled deeply, almost as though she was giving up her body to someone else. She reached into the drawer under the mirror, pulling out a long pink wig. The strands shimmered under the lamplight, bright and lively compared to her natural silver.

Slowly, she slipped it over her head, adjusting the hairline with practiced care. The timid silver-haired bookworm vanished, replaced by a girl whose very aura felt different.

Next, she removed her glasses and set them down beside the books. Without them, her eyes seemed larger, softer, more expressive. She blinked at herself in the mirror, almost surprised at her own face.

"…Still not enough."

Her hand reached for the makeup case—foundation, blush, lipstick. She applied them carefully, strokes so smooth it was clear she had done this many times before. A touch of eyeliner sharpened her gaze, blush added warmth to her cheeks, and a glossy pink shade coated her lips.

Bit by bit, Anna dissolved.

And Aria was born.

The timid, shy expression faded, replaced with a smile—gentle, timid still, but alive with personality. Her reflection radiated confidence wrapped in shyness, the contradiction that made her stand out.

She tilted her head, running her fingers through the pink hair. "There," she whispered. "Aria."

Her voice was different now, a little brighter, carrying a melodic lilt that Anna never had. She looked into her own eyes in the mirror, smiling faintly.

"Sleep well, Anna," Aria murmured softly, her voice like a lullaby. "I'll make our dreams come true."

She pressed her hand to the mirror, her pink-haired reflection meeting her gaze.

"Anna, you want to be strong, don't you? You want to stand on stage, to sing, to live with courage. But you can't. You're too scared. Too quiet."

Aria's smile softened, almost sad. "So I'll do it for you."

She stood up, the transformation complete. With the wig, the makeup, and the absence of glasses, there was no trace of Anna left. She looked like another girl entirely—an idol ready to take the stage.

Aria twirled once, the pink hair fanning out gracefully. She giggled faintly, covering her mouth. "As always I am cute. It's time to steal the spotlight again.."

She opened the drawer again and pulled out a microphone-shaped pendant, hanging it around her neck.

Aria's eyes glowed faintly in the mirror, just as Anna's had earlier in the park. The commanding aura was still there, but softer now, like a queen stepping onto her stage instead of a battlefield.

She brushed her wig back and smiled again. "Tomorrow… Aria will shine again."