"I've finally started to enjoy my life. I've finally found a family again, surrounded by loved ones and reasons to smile. Why does it have to end so soon?"

The thought lingered gently, fragile yet heavy, in the vast quiet of Miura's mind. Everything she'd ever known—the moments she'd lived, the love she'd felt—flashed before her in vivid, beautiful fragments. All of it leading to this single heartbeat, this bittersweet instant suspended in time.

Soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently touching Miura’s face as she woke. For a quiet moment, she simply stared upward, savoring the warmth, the feeling of peaceful stillness beside her.

"Mama…?" came a sleepy whisper at her side.

Miura smiled softly, turning to see Sona nestled beside her, still wrapped tightly around her stuffed bear.

"I'm here, kiddo," Miura whispered, brushing Sona’s hair from her eyes. "I'm right here."

Sona smiled faintly, eyes still heavy with sleep. "Today’s the big show, right?"

Miura nodded gently. "Yeah. One more concert, then we finally take a nice long break."

"Together?" Sona asked softly, yawning.

"Always," Miura promised, gently squeezing Sona’s hand.

Downstairs, warmth and laughter filled the house as everyone gathered around the table. Gramps cheerfully flipped pancakes, their sweet aroma mingling with freshly brewed coffee. Reyn poured cups, jokingly chastising Kid for laughing too loudly at a meme, while Urara eagerly set plates around the table.

Mark walked in, Louis trailing closely behind. The kids’ excited chatter filled the kitchen, the joyful chaos warming Miura’s heart as she lingered at the doorway, watching it all unfold.

Gramps noticed her pause, giving her a gentle nod of acknowledgment. She returned his smile, soaking in the simple beauty of family around her.

Mark approached quietly, gently placing an arm around her waist. "Doing alright?"

Miura leaned into him, her voice quiet, sincere. "Yeah… I'm perfect. Just trying to hold onto this."

"Hold onto what?"

"This," Miura whispered, eyes glistening softly. "This moment. Us, right here, together."

Mark squeezed her hand gently. "We've got all the time in the world."

She smiled faintly, wishing desperately it were true.

Evening arrived, painted with colors of soft amber and gentle violet. Thousands of fans gathered in a massive outdoor venue, their cheers echoing as anticipation filled the air.

Backstage, Miura checked her reflection in the mirror, heart fluttering nervously. There was something different about tonight—an inexplicable heaviness deep within her chest.

A gentle tug at her sleeve drew her attention. Sona stood there, eyes shining brightly. "You’re gonna do great, Mama!"

Miura chuckled softly, kneeling to her level. "Thanks, sweetheart. Just gotta shake these nerves."

Sona giggled, squeezing her hand. "Imagine everyone as teddy bears!"

Miura laughed, pulling Sona into a gentle embrace. "I’ll try. Love you, Sona."

"I love you too," Sona replied sweetly, giving her one last tight hug.

Miura took a deep breath as the call to stage came. Each step felt significant, as if the world had shifted subtly around her, preparing her for something she didn't yet understand.

Lights flooded the stage, thousands of voices cheering in unison. Miura stepped forward, breathing deep. She glanced back at her band—her family—each giving a confident nod, their bonds stronger than ever.

The music began, powerful yet tender, resonating deeply through the crowd. Miura's voice soared, each lyric infused with raw emotion, her soul laid bare beneath the spotlight.

As she reached the climax of their third song, something snapped within her. A sudden burning pain tore through her chest, sharp and overwhelming. Her voice caught, cutting off mid-note.

Confusion washed over her face. She reached toward the sensation, pulling back to see crimson staining her fingertips. Her mind spun dizzily, panic quickly setting in.

Time slowed, sounds fading into ringing silence. She stumbled forward, vision blurring, desperately trying to grasp reality. Around her, she saw Kid, Reyn, and Urara falling, expressions twisted in disbelief.

"No…" Miura whispered, strength leaving her body rapidly. She fell to her knees, eyes desperately seeking something—someone.

And then she saw her.

Sona stood frozen, red eyes wide with fear and disbelief, tears already streaming down her small face. Her little mouth opened in a silent scream.

"Sona…" Miura choked, her voice faint. The pain faded, replaced only by a profound sadness—a longing. "I’m sorry…"

Miura felt herself collapsing, the stage cold beneath her trembling body. Her eyes fought to stay open, locking desperately onto Sona’s face. Everything around her blurred into oblivion, only the child’s anguished cries piercing through.

"I wanted…to see…the woman you’ll become…" Her last thought echoed softly, filled with gentle sorrow. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay… just a little longer."

As her eyes finally closed, Miura felt peace slowly embrace her, the images of her life—every precious moment, every love-filled memory—fading gently away. Her final breath carried one final thought, echoing softly in eternity:

"I'm glad I got to love you… even if it was only for a little while."

And with that, Miura’s world dissolved into darkness.

Pandemonium erupted across the venue. Gramps surged forward, held back by security as he screamed Miura’s name in raw grief. Mark stood frozen, breathlessly horrified, clutching Louis tightly as tears streamed down the child's face.

Onstage, Sona crawled to Miura’s body, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mama! Wake up! Please don’t leave me—please!"

The world watched in horror. Cameras captured every heartbreaking second, permanently engraving the tragedy into history.

Across the city, the CEO of Iris Corporation stood in stunned silence, staring blankly at the horror unfolding on screen. Beside him, the shadowy figure watched calmly, unaffected.

"What have we done…?" the CEO murmured, voice shaking violently.

"We secured our future," the figure replied coolly, "A tragic loss for greater gain."

The CEO clenched his fists, reality dawning brutally upon him.

The news spread rapidly—Rock On, massacred live on stage. The haunting images of Sona’s devastated cries were replayed across every screen, fueling a global sense of grief and outrage.

Iris Corp swiftly capitalized on the tragedy, condemning rock music as dangerous, using the event to push sweeping regulations into place.

Sona knelt frozen on the stage, the world blurring around her, deafened by a heartbroken silence. Her tiny hands clutched Miura’s locket, trembling violently as tears fell onto the cold metal. In one night, she had lost everything—her family, her voice, her hope. The lights dimmed, but she remained there, alone in her grief, unaware that the world was already reshaping around her tragedy.