The shrill buzz of Luna's phone vibrating on her nightstand broke the early morning silence. She put her phone on silence for a reason but damn, she forgot to turn off vibration too. She groaned softly, cracking one eye open to read the caller ID: Kana.
Milo let out a soft mrrp and rolled over by her feet as Luna sluggishly swiped to answer.
"Hello?" Luna's voice was thick with sleep, barely awake.
"You absolute menace."
Luna winced and pulled the phone slightly away from her ear. "Good morning to you too, Kana."
"What happened to being low-key?!" Kana scolded, somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "What part of 'keep your mysterious viral identity under wraps' translated to 'post a heartfelt request for yourself and go viral again within a night?!'"
Luna yawned loudly, muffling it with the pillow. "It was a whim. Whims happen. I didn't think it would blow up again. It'll cool down in a month or so."
"A month?! Luna, you're trending globally. Again. And don't think I didn't notice how you used Madam Mu's sentimental request as your excuse!"
Luna stretched one arm above her head, eyes still closed. "Well, I mean… technically it was her idea."
"Don't play semantics with me." Kana sounded like she was pacing. "You're just lucky your tech-savvy stalker fans haven't traced your IP or leaked your face."
At that, Luna cracked an amused grin, eyes finally blinking open. "That's because I have an amazing dad who would handle every consequence of my tiny, little, harmless antics."
Kana groaned. "Ugh. Rich girl privilege."
"Exactly," Luna chirped, now sitting up with a smirk. "The kind of privilege that lets me post a video, sing like a ghost, and still get a forehead kiss from my dad at bedtime."
Kana laughed despite herself. "You're lucky I love you. If it were anyone else, I'd sell their identity to a gossip blog."
"Too bad I'm adorable," Luna said sweetly.
A pause. Then Kana asked, more seriously, "So… are you actually going to sing back those requests? As Velvet Echo?"
Luna was quiet for a moment, staring at the light filtering through her curtains. "…I'll think about it. Maybe. Some of them are a bit too personal. But… maybe."
"I get it," Kana said softly. "You don't owe anyone a performance."
Luna smiled faintly. "Thanks."
Kana then clapped her hands once. "Right. Enough drama. We still on for visiting Mary this weekend?"
"Yup," Luna replied, already mentally planning their snack haul. "I'm thinking we go all out. Deep-fried turkey legs, the food truck's signature grilled mochi skewers, and those loaded pulled pork sandwiches."
"And ice cream," Kana added firmly.
"Of course," Luna said with mock offense. "What do you think I am, uncultured?"
Kana chuckled. "Okay, princess. I'll prep the car and tell Mary. She'll be thrilled."
"Perfect," Luna replied, glancing at her calendar. "Let's make it a proper sibling day."
"You got it. Oh—and Luna?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't post another song request video unless you're prepared for world domination."
Luna smirked, flopping back onto her bed. "No promises."
The call ended, and Luna lay there, grinning at the ceiling.
Maybe Velvet Echo can stick around for a little more. Just a little more.
Luna sat cross-legged on her bed, half-wrapped in her comforter, a sleek tablet resting against her knees. Her notifications were a relentless storm—mentions, reposts, shares, tagged clips, reaction videos.
Her eyes scanned through the surge of trending requests addressed to Velvet Echoe.
"Please sing this one, Velvet Echo!! It reminds me of my late sister."
"If anyone could carry this lullaby with soul, it's Velvet Echo."
"My grandma cried when she heard your voice. Please, sing this next."
Then there it was. A video clip from Emilio, looking too crisp in his aviators and black turtleneck as he leaned against the hood of a classic electric car.
His caption read:
"A request for Velvet Echo: 'Ashes on Spring Rain.' A piece that helped me get through tough times. It deserves to be sung again."
She scrolled down.
Another clip—Edward, somber and polished in an interview chair, casually answering fan questions.
"What song do I want Velvet Echo to sing? 'The Lily of the Valley Swaying.' That piece was my mother's favorite. I think it's time someone carried it forward again."
And even a quick snap from a well-known actress Luna didn't personally know, mouthing her song in her kitchen while dancing with her toddler.
Her thumb froze.
Her breath hitched.
It was real. Not a fluke. Velvet Echo wasn't just a quiet side project anymore—it was being carried in people's grief, their joy, their nostalgia.
"…This is too much," Luna murmured, placing the tablet down. Her hands trembled slightly from the overwhelming pressure. "This is getting too big."
Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and fired off a quick text:
Luna:
Dad. Emergency. Please make sure no one can trace me back to Velvet Echoe. I'm freaking out.
😵😰🫣🧸🫶
Three dots pulsed back almost immediately.
Dad 🦊 (Emmerich):
Already done. Layered in every decoy protocol available. You're safe.
The world can try, but they won't find you, baby girl. 💻🔐
Luna:
Thank you, you're the actual hero 😭🧁🎤💖
Gonna bake you something insane later. Maybe those blueberry mochi muffins?
Dad 🦊:
I accept your muffins as tribute.
Meanwhile…
In a gleaming glass boardroom nestled at the peak of a lush vertical eco-complex, Emmerich Arklight sat at the head of a long, sleek table surrounded by delegates, engineers, investors, and researchers from all over the globe. The holographic projections showed dazzling schematics of solar-powered motorcycles and foldable electric minivans, all under the banner of Arklight Renewables.
"…and here," a lead engineer continued, "is the modular cell engine that allows full recharge in under eight minutes under standard daylight. This makes it feasible for both suburban families and inter-city couriers."
Emmerich watched the screen for a heartbeat.
Then, smiled.
It was a small thing—subtle but unmistakably warm.
The murmuring around the table shifted.
One investor chuckled. "Mr. Arklight, forgive me, but I've attended five of these meetings and I've never seen you smile during a tech briefing."
Another attendee leaned in. "Did we finally impress you?"
Emmerich let out a faint breath of amusement, eyes briefly darting to the silent alert from his secure line: Luna's Velvet Echoe profile is trending in 56 countries. Containment holding. Edward reported.
He adjusted the cuff of his sleeves and leaned back slightly. "You're doing fine," he said, composed. "Carry on with the presentation."
But his eyes lingered on the glowing screen for a moment longer, mind nowhere near battery cells and transit solutions.
In the quiet chambers of his heart, he was a proud father watching his daughter soar with wings she didn't even know she'd grown.
And yes—he'd guard her sky with everything he had.