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She feels like she’s almost too old for it now, for the pink and glitters, but seeing herself in the mirror feels like she’s seeing someone new. It’s not a mask, even though her face is covered in make-up, it’s still her, just a Haruka who hasn’t made the worst decisions in her life, who isn’t a jaded yet naive sixteen-year-old anymore. It doesn’t make her love herself any less. She’ll stumble again, but she’ll never learn the steps if she doesn’t keep trying, she’ll never get to the top if she doesn’t learn from her mistakes.
The stylist tightens the little ponytail at the back of her head, the rest of her hair loose in a more modern style than her familiar ponytail. She likes it.
Horie-san opens the door. “It’s almost time, Haruka-chan.”
“I’m ready.”
One last look in the mirror, and she follows him out the door, into the busy hallway, past people only sparing her a second glance.
The crowd cheers and she walks on stage again, but this time it’s her own choice and her own dream. The spotlights turn to her, it finally doesn’t feel like she’s running away or hiding from anything anymore.