(Miko: Italics)

Dacron sat by the VIP lounge, gazing towards the screen with a blaring melody of music being played in the background, her eyes set on her pet human — Miko.

She was going well, though not well enough for Dacron's standards. What was all that practise for then? If the last opponent had gotten a closer score to her, having not been in any sort of support class during their time in the Anakt Garden, what was all this effort for then?

The stage lit up, each individual lights rising upwards towards the large podium, illuminating the shadows of the competitors from behind, each still as they faced the audience of Aliens who'd come to witness their performance in person.

Inside the VIP lounge, all those whose eyes were glued to the screen started to cheer, overlapping at the music already being played. 

The performances were at a steady pace, not enough to bore a crowd, but enough so that everyone would be at the edge of their seats waiting until a new round was announced. 

Even during the little intermission that had only gone for a week to give a break to the competitors, protests were going on in the city to end the pause and get on with the 49th Season. Many Aliens had grown overly obsessed with some of the competitors, they'd even try to sneak into the serveral compounds that kept them, attempting to kidnap them. 

This is how ALIEN STAGE took the world by storm.

If a new round is what they want, they shall get.

〔Ｒｏｕｎｄ ９〕

〔Ｍｉｋｏ ＶＳ Ｎｅｏｌａ〕

Miko, the ever guarded figure known for her potential talent, walked up towards her microphone on it's stand, her hands traveling over it's glossy white surface, holding it by the base as she breathed in and out. 

Right beside her, Neola did the same. Instead, she grasped the microphone tightly, her hands trembling slightly. 

Right before the intermission had started, Neola had been against her friend, a figure whom stuck with her during their time in the Anakt Garden, but only died on stage due to blood loss, since Neola had held her during her friend's final breaths, until she was no more.

She glanced upwards at Miko, trembling as below the stage, the aliens cheered as loudly as they could, making it up the stage to hide the definite silence between the two girls. 

〔Ｍｉｋｏ：０〕 〔Ｎｅｏｌａ：０〕

Miko started off the song, noticing the quiet shivers of Neola as she stared down at the floor, unable to start off her very own part in their song.

"I've been staring at the stars,

Wondering where we are..."

"Is it love, or just a lie?"

"Caught between the light and the s-sky...."

Neola had finally started singing, her voice wavering with the weight of the competition. She was unsure how Miko didn't feel the pressure at all, considering she was one of the  favoured competitors amongst the remaining group of competitors. 

Even with that information, she already knew it was likely she'd lose against Miko, the ever present light that convinced Neola to keep going, her will to persist because of Miko, her quiet but resistance nature inspiring her to fight.

If she did lose againts someone like her, she'd be happy it was Miko she was up against. She'd never been through any hardships until now, but she'd understand — Miko had already been suffering right when they were still back at the Anakt Garden, and she took notice.

She saw the way Miko would stare unknowingly into the distance, as if trying to remember something, the dullness in her eyes as she looked around, searched for something, but never finding it in the end. 

She found herself in Miko, the current shell of herself being reflected on the younger Miko. But now, competing with her onstage, was like fate. Why would fate pair her up with that one person that intrigued her so much?

"Unforseen, where do we go?

Lost in time, but I won't let you go..!"

"Unforseen, it's in the air!

A love unknown, we're caught in the stare."

It was like a quiet admiration from far away, as Miko hanged out with her own friends, while Neola hanged out with hers. A sense of kinship that didn't need a proper interaction, but more of observing, watching.

Even if they haven't spoke before, she felt as if she could tell her anything, express the words she'd never tell anyone to Miko, like she did before her friend had died. 

Neola's words carefully but surely became less shaky, a growing confidence brewing inside her as she stepped forward, removing the microphone off the stand and outstretching her arms out.

She was reaching for her friend, she was reaching for Miko's guiding light.

"어디서부터 시작됐을까?

우린 여기서 끝을 볼 수 있을까? (!!)"

Thank you Miko, for sharing your light to me, even if you didn't know. Even if you never noticed, even if you never cared — but thank you. 

Miko noticed Neola's eyes glow brighter and brighter, as if reflecting a star from the visible sky, a light unwavering and proud. She looked eager— no, desperate to win, stronger than Miko's will to win, which was really high.

And for the first time, watching Neola glance back at her with a wide smile, Miko's hands travelled upwards to feel her face, noticing the lift of her cheeks. She smiled.

She could see Neola mouth something to her.

Oh? Your welcome, Neola.

She'd recognise Neola back from the Anakt Garden, she was just to shy to accept her presence until now.

"끝없이 펼쳐진 이 공간 속, 

너와 내가 여기서...

빛과 어둠 그 경계선에서!"

Miko walked up beside Neola, microphone at hands as the words left their mouths in a soothing, almost like hymn, echoing throughout the whole of the stage, reaching the audience of aliens who only cheered louder.

"Unforseen, where do we go?

Lost in time, but I won't let you go!"

"Unforseen, it's in the air!

A love unknown, we're caught in the stare!"

Vanta watched from his pod, the cheers of the aliens only getting louder and louder as the song progressed, his hand pressed against the glass, reaching towards the stage as he spoke words only meant for Miko.

"What made you smile, Miko? What and who made you give in to show that beautiful smile of yours? Who made you smile? Tell me, Miko. Let me be the one to make you smile like that to, like a real prince charming would."

He pressed his forhead against the glass, his breath fogging up.

"Please, Miko. I want to make you smile like that."

〔Ｔｏ ｂｅ ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅｄ．〕

A/N:

Heh~ were you guys mad? or sad? or disappointed???? Not to worry!!! I'll be releasing it really soon! It was just because it exceeded the limit on how much I want to write for each chapter, since I want it to be kinda short like the actual MV for Alien Stage^^

Otherwise, this was a bit different from the normal rounds, instead of being in the main character's POV, we're in the eyes of Neola! Interesting, right?

But don't worry, I'll be starting part two as soon as I publish this :p