(Caption) Fairy Tale Idol

He had always loved fairy tales—the dreamy costumes, the flowers, the stage lights. He dreamed of becoming a star, telling stories, singing, and performing in a way that embodied the charm of fairy tales. Unfortunately, his home country didn't appreciate such styles. People there believed that things too cute or fantastical were unfit for adults. He had tried participating in talent shows and performances, but they were met with indifference. Eventually, he turned his eyes toward Japan, a country with a greater acceptance of idol culture.

He arrived in Japan alone, struggling with the language, lacking any connections, and failing auditions repeatedly. He began to doubt whether his dream was ever attainable. One day, he sat in a park, staring off into space with a sketchbook of fairy tale costume designs by his side. A girl noticed the intricate detail in his drawings and sat down next to him to start a conversation. He shared his dreams and the difficulties he had faced. When she learned he was male, she was shocked—especially after seeing his delicate face and slender figure, she found it almost impossible to believe. She asked his age, and after hearing it, fell silent for a moment, her face taking on a thoughtful expression.

She told him she was a member of an idol group that was currently missing a "cute and youthful" type. She said that if he was willing to audition in female attire, it might just work. He hesitated, but realizing this was a rare chance, he agreed.

The next day, he was taken to a dressing room. The staff pulled his hair back and secured it under a hairnet, then carefully placed a long, silver-white wig over his head. The silky strands cascaded over his shoulders, the tips brushing his waist. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he felt like a different person. The makeup artist began her work, using concealer and foundation to cover any stubble, then contouring, blush, and highlighter to soften his facial structure. False lashes were glued on with precision, and eyeliner was drawn longer to accentuate his already delicate eyes, making them appear even gentler.

Then came the outfit change. He put on a pale blue long-sleeved blouse, its neckline trimmed with upright lace and the sleeves puffed into round bubbles. Over it went a pink apron-style dress, its skirt fading into a deep purple, adorned with layers of white and wine-red ruffles and tied with a large bow at the back. He looked down at the voluminous skirt, then lifted his foot to slide on a pair of snug, light lavender thigh-high stockings. The stockings clung to the contours of his legs, smooth and elastic, trimmed with frilly lace and tiny bows at the top. He carefully adjusted the edges, aligning them symmetrically, before slipping on a pair of black, round-toed Mary Jane shoes. The shoes had a glossy finish and were topped with bows; the toes were smooth and rounded. He stared at the shoes on his feet—the heels were low, but when he stood up, he felt a kind of lightness he'd never experienced before.

His hair was styled into twin ponytails, secured with large red bows. Standing before the mirror, he could hardly believe the reflection was himself. His voice was still on the lower side, so one of the girls from the group taught him how to speak in a slightly higher tone and even gave him a stage name: "Yuri." They laughed and said, "If you always dress like this, no one would ever guess you're a guy."

On the day of the performance, he was cast in a fairy tale stage play as a flower seller. Holding a basket of flowers in one hand and a microphone in the other, he stepped onto the stage. His skirt swayed gently with every step, the stockings stretched taut, and the Mary Jane shoes made soft tapping sounds against the wooden floor. He began with his sweetened voice, delivering his lines, then sang a soft melody, and finally joined the other girls in a dance. They circled around him, holding his hands and twirling in unison. With each spin, he carefully pointed his toes to the floor, maintaining the adorable poise and steady rhythm. The stockings rubbed lightly against his skin, their elasticity giving a gentle pull, but he focused on avoiding any missteps. The black, round-toed shoes fit him perfectly, allowing him to dance without slipping.

The performance was a huge success. Audience comments poured in: "That little sister is so adorable!" "Who is she? She looks like a living doll!" "The flower-selling scene was like a dream!" Even the staff backstage were amazed, having no idea he was actually male. His performance quickly attracted a surge of fans to the group.

Even though he was actually the oldest member of the team, the other girls still treated him like their cute little sister. They helped him fix his wig backstage, touched up his makeup, and patted his shoulder to encourage him before shows. In daily life, they doted on him constantly, occasionally teasing, "Yuri-chan, do your best today too!" or "You're our little baby." He had felt awkward at first, but gradually grew used to it. Each time he finished dressing, slipping into his stockings and black Mary Jane shoes, he would gaze at himself in the mirror, gently lift his skirt, and nod with a smile.

He knew that the journey had only just begun and that achieving his dream would still take effort. But in that moment, he was finally standing on a stage that truly belonged to him. And so, Yuri's story began.