Cortis x illit
The Starlight Spectacle and the Maknae’s Shield
The atmosphere backstage at the Seoul Olympic Stadium was a chaotic symphony of hairspray, frantic staff members, and the distant, rhythmic roar of thirty thousand fans chanting a single name: *Eclipse*. The transition from two separate groups to a unified powerhouse had been a whirlwind of six months, and tonight was the culmination of every late-night practice and every shared meal.
In the center of the dressing room, Iroha sat perfectly still as Moka and Minju hovered over her like protective stylists. Moka was carefully applying a touch of glitter to the corner of Iroha’s eyes, while Minju was fussing with the ribbons on her stage outfit—a custom-made ensemble that looked like a mixture of a street-dance warrior and a literal princess.
"You look so pretty, Roha-ya," Moka whispered, stepping back to admire her work. "Our little diamond is going to outshine everyone tonight."
Iroha looked at herself in the mirror, her 5’0” frame looking slightly more imposing in her platform boots. "I’m nervous, Unnie. What if I trip during the dance break? The stage is so much bigger than the practice room."
Yunah, who was having her boots zipped up, walked over and draped an arm around Iroha’s shoulders. "If you trip, I’ll turn it into a floor move. And if I don’t catch you, you can bet five very tall boys will be diving across the stage to break your fall before you even hit the ground."
"She’s right," Wonhee added, popping a grape into her mouth. "Have you seen them? They’ve been pacing the hallway for twenty minutes. I think James-oppa has checked the stage grip three times himself."
As if on cue, the heavy door to the girls' dressing room swung open. Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho filed in, already dressed in their high-contrast black and silver stage gear. They looked intimidating—until they saw Iroha.
"There she is!" Keonho cheered, darting forward to give her a high-five. "Look at those pigtails! They’re like lethal weapons. You’re going to hit someone with those during the spins."
"Don't tease her, Keonho," James scolded, though he was already busy adjusting the mic pack on Iroha’s waist with fatherly precision. "Is it too tight? Can you breathe? Remember, the stage lift moves fast. Keep your knees bent."
Juhoon walked up silently and handed Iroha a small, chilled bottle of water. "One sip. Keep your throat hydrated. The fans are loud tonight, don't strain your voice trying to talk over them."
"Thank you, Juhoon-oppa," Iroha beamed, taking the water.
Martin, the leader, stood at the back of the room, his 6’3” height making the ceiling feel low. He watched the interaction with a proud, steady gaze. He walked over last, placing a heavy, warm hand on top of Iroha’s head.
"Tonight isn't about being perfect," Martin said, his voice deep and grounding. "It’s about showing them who we are. We are Eclipse. And you, Iroha, are the heart of it. Just stay close to us. We won't let anything happen."
The "Five Minutes to Stage" announcement crackled over the intercom. The energy in the room shifted from nervous chatter to professional focus. They gathered in a tight circle, eleven pairs of hands stacking on top of each other in the center.
"Eclipse!" they shouted in unison, the sound echoing off the walls.
The opening of the concert was a sensory overload. Pyrotechnics flared, the screens flashed with the new group’s logo, and the rising platform brought them into the light. The roar of the crowd was a physical weight.
For the first three songs, they were a well-oiled machine. During "Magnetic Night," the mashup that started it all, the chemistry was undeniable. Iroha moved with a grace that belied her age, her tiny frame cutting through the air with sharp, practiced movements. Whenever she was at the center, the boys flanked her like a phalanx of giants, their movements synchronized to highlight her every turn.
During the first "ment" or talking segment, the group stood in a line. Martin stood at the far end as the leader, with Iroha right in the middle, flanked by James and Seonghyeon.
"Hello, we are ECLIPSE!" they greeted the fans, the scream from the audience nearly drowning them out.
"It’s so good to see you all," Martin said into his mic, his charisma radiating through the stadium. "We’ve worked hard to bring these two families together. And I think I speak for all the boys when I say, we gained more than just group mates. We gained five sisters and one very precious maknae."
The fans screamed, many holding up signs that read *PROTECT IROHA* and *ECLIPSE FAMILY*.
"Since it's our first concert, we wanted to play a little game," Seonghyeon announced, his inner jokester coming to the surface. "It’s called 'Who Knows the Maknae Best?'"
The girls groaned playfully. "Oh no," Yunah laughed. "The boys are going to be so competitive."
"The rules are simple," Keonho explained, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "We ask a question about Iroha, and whoever answers first wins. The prize is... bragging rights for the rest of the tour."
"Question one!" Moka called out. "What is Iroha’s absolute favorite post-practice snack?"
"Strawberry milk and honey butter chips!" the five boys shouted in perfect, terrifying unison.
The audience erupted in laughter.
"Okay, okay," Wonhee said, giggling. "That was too easy. Question two: What is the one thing that makes Iroha the most scared?"
"The dark," Juhoon said instantly, beating the others by a millisecond. "That’s why we leave the hallway light on in the dorm."
Iroha hid her face in her hands, her ears turning bright red. "Oppa! You weren't supposed to tell everyone that!"
"It’s okay, Roha-ya," Seonghyeon teased, side-hugging her. "That’s why you have five human nightlights living with you."
The game continued with more lighthearted revelations, showing the fans just how deeply the boys had integrated Iroha into their lives. They knew her favorite dance move, her coffee order (which was mostly milk and sugar), and even the specific way she pouted when she was tired.
"Final question," Martin said, his voice turning a bit more serious but still warm. "What is Iroha’s role in Eclipse?"
James didn't wait for a buzzer. "She’s the ace. She’s the one who keeps us smiling when we’re exhausted. She’s the reason we want to be better versions of ourselves."
The sentiment was so sweet that even the fans went quiet for a moment before letting out a collective "Aww." Iroha looked up at James, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight.
"I have the best brothers and sisters in the world," Iroha said into her mic, her voice small but clear. "Thank you for welcoming me."
The concert moved into the acoustic segment. They sat on high stools arranged in a semi-circle. Iroha was perched on a stool that was slightly too high for her, her feet dangling a few inches off the floor.
Without a word, Juhoon noticed. He stood up from his own stool, walked over, and adjusted the footrest for her so she could sit comfortably. He didn't say anything, just gave her a quick pat on the shoulder before sitting back down. The fans caught the moment on the big screen, and a wave of "Oh my god" ripples went through the standing floor.
As they sang a ballad dedicated to their fans, the "Eclipse" lightsticks turned a soft lavender, Iroha’s favorite color. Halfway through the song, Iroha’s voice faltered slightly—the emotion of the night finally catching up to her.
Martin, who was sitting to her left, didn't miss a beat. He reached out and covered her hand with his, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles. He took over her line seamlessly, his deep baritone blending with her soft soprano until she found her voice again.
When the song ended, the lights dimmed for a costume change, but as they walked off stage, the cameras caught a glimpse of the "Three Musketeers" in action. Keonho and Seonghyeon had picked Iroha up between them, her arms draped over their shoulders as they practically carried her down the ramp to save her legs for the final dance set.
The encore was the highlight of the night. They performed a high-energy remix of their debut track, and the stage was covered in confetti. As they ran around the stage to wave to fans in different sections, the boys' protective instincts were on full display.
A fan threw a plushie toward the stage. It was aimed at Iroha, but it was moving a bit too fast. James, who was five feet away, moved with the reflexes of a pro athlete, catching the plushie mid-air before it could startle her. He checked it for any sharp pins, then handed it to her with a wink.
"For you, Princess," he mouthed.
Near the end of the encore, the group gathered at the center stage for a final bow. The confetti was so thick it was like a paper blizzard. Iroha was laughing, spinning around with her arms out, catching the shiny bits of paper.
She didn't notice she was drifting a bit too close to the edge of the stage where the pyrotechnic vents were located.
Martin saw it. In three long strides, he was behind her, his large hands catching her by the waist and hoisting her up into the air. He swung her around and set her down safely in the middle of the group, far from the edge.
"Stay in the circle, tiny," Martin teased, though his eyes were sharp with relief.
"I forgot where I was!" Iroha giggled, clinging to his arm.
As the final notes of the music faded, the eleven members stood in a line, bowing deeply to the four corners of the stadium. The boys made sure Iroha was tucked safely between them, their hands linked tightly.
Back in the dressing room after the show, the adrenaline was slowly being replaced by a happy, heavy exhaustion. The girls were already shedding their stage jewelry, while the boys were raiding the catering table.
"We did it," Yunah said, sitting down on a sofa and kicking off her heels. "First concert. No major disasters."
"And Iroha didn't get launched into the third row," Keonho joked, though he was currently busy opening a fresh carton of strawberry milk for her. "Here you go, Roha. You earned it."
Iroha took the milk, her pigtails now messy and her glitter smudged, but she had the biggest smile on her face. "That was the best night of my life."
"It’s the first of many," Juhoon said, sitting on the floor at her feet, leaning his back against her chair. "We have a long tour ahead of us."
"Which means more opportunities for us to make sure you don't get lost in the airports," Seonghyeon added, poking her cheek. "I’ve already bought a GPS tracker for your backpack."
"Oppa! I’m not a puppy!"
"You’re our maknae," Martin said, walking over with a towel to wipe the sweat from his neck. He looked down at the small girl who had become the center of their universe. "That’s basically the same thing. You’re small, you’re cute, and if anyone touches you, we bite."
James laughed, leaning against the vanity. "He’s not joking. I saw the way he looked at that security guard who accidentally bumped into her earlier. I thought Martin was going to challenge him to a duel."
"He looked like he was in the way," Martin shrugged, unbothered.
As the staff began to pack up the equipment, the members of Eclipse sat together in the quiet of the dressing room. They were a strange, beautiful blend of people—five girls who had found a second family, and five boys who had found a purpose beyond the charts.
Iroha leaned her head back, her eyes fluttering shut as the exhaustion finally won. Within minutes, she was fast asleep in her chair.
The room immediately went silent.
Without needing to be told, the boys moved into their "Post-Stage Protocol." James grabbed a warm hoodie from her bag. Martin carefully lifted her out of the chair, cradling her against his chest. Juhoon gathered her shoes and plushies. Keonho and Seonghyeon cleared a path through the scattered boxes and equipment.
"Let’s get her home," Martin whispered.
The girls followed behind, smiling to themselves. They had spent years taking care of Iroha, but there was something incredibly sweet about watching these five giants treat her like a fragile treasure.
As they walked out to the waiting vans, the cool night air of Seoul hitting their faces, the world outside was still buzzing with the news of their successful concert. The internet was already flooded with clips of "The Maknae’s Bodyguards" and "The Eclipse Family."
But inside the van, as the city lights blurred past the windows, it was just a family. Iroha was tucked between Martin and James, her head resting on James’s shoulder while Martin held her hand to make sure she felt secure even in her sleep.
They were Eclipse. They were a powerhouse. They were a phenomenon. But most importantly, they were the five brothers who would never let their little sister walk alone. And as Iroha dreamed of lavender lights and cheering crowds, she knew that no matter how big the stages got, she would always have a place to land.