The track goes live at 18:00 sharp.
They're all in the studio when it happens.
Sunny refreshes the page every twelve seconds.
"Stop doing that," Theo says.
"It updates faster if I stare at it," she argues.
"It does not."
Zane leans against the wall, arms crossed, pretending he isn't watching the numbers climb.
Axel sits on the couch, steady as always.
Laura stands near the piano, posture relaxed.
The comments start rolling in.
Sunny gasps first.
"Oh my god."
Zane looks over her shoulder.
"Already?"
She reads out loud.
"Another collaboration with Euphony Trio??""Wait Zane commissioned them this time?""This feels different.""The texture?? Who did the arrangement??""Laura's progression shift???"
Laura blinks at that one.
Axel glances at her.
Theo exhales slowly.
"It's trending."
Zane looks at the numbers again.
"Okay," Sunny announces dramatically. "We are celebrating."
Theo opens his mouth to object.
Amelia, who somehow already knew this would happen, steps in from the hallway.
"I heard celebration."
"Of course you did," Axel mutters.
They end up at a low-lit place not too far from the studio.
Not flashy.
Not industry.
Just warm.
Amelia orders something colorful immediately.
Sunny orders something sweet.
Zane orders something stronger than necessary.
Theo orders water first, then reconsiders and adds whiskey.
Axel keeps it simple.
Laura studies the menu carefully.
"What are you choosing?" Sunny asks.
Laura hesitates.
Then:
"Something mild."
Amelia groans.
"Live a little."
Laura looks at her glass when it arrives.
Amber.
Subtle scent.
She brings it to her lips carefully.
Takes a small sip.
Waits.
There's warmth first.
Then—
something sharper.
Not overwhelming.
Not vivid.
But there.
She pauses.
Axel notices immediately.
"What?" he asks quietly.
She takes another sip.
Slower this time.
"…Did I imagine it?"
"Imagine what?" Sunny asks.
Laura looks at her drink again.
"There's… something."
Amelia leans forward dramatically.
"Something like what?"
Laura searches for the word.
"Bitter," she says slowly. "But not unpleasant."
They go still.
Zane watches her carefully.
"You can taste it?"
She frowns slightly.
"I think so."
Not confidently.
Not claiming.
Just observing.
She takes another sip.
The warmth spreads again.
And there—
a clearer edge.
Not bland.
Not empty.
Real.
She doesn't smile immediately.
She just sits with it.
Axel studies her expression.
"Is it strong?"
"No," she says quietly. "It's faint."
"But it's there?" Sunny presses.
Laura nods.
"Yes."
Amelia claps once loudly.
"Oh my god."
Theo blinks.
"That is medically interesting."
Zane doesn't speak.
He just looks relieved.
Laura lowers her glass.
"It might be nothing."
Axel shakes his head gently.
"Even if it's small."
She looks at him.
He doesn't elaborate.
He doesn't need to.
Small is still progress.
Sunny lifts her glass.
"To small victories."
They all raise theirs.
Laura lifts hers last.
Takes another sip.
And this time—
she doesn't question it.
She feels it.
Subtle.
Present.
Real.
Maybe it's returning slowly.
Maybe it's not about taste alone.
Maybe it's about something waking up.
Either way—
it's there.
And for the first time—
she doesn't have to imagine it.