Alysa Liu was born on August 8, 2005, of Chinese descent, and raised in California with her father. Since the age of 10, her life had been connected to ice and figure skating. The world of figure skating shaped her from an early age—long training sessions, competitions, and ever-increasing expectations.

Her rise to prominence came when she won the 2019 and 2020 US National Championships, becoming one of the youngest skaters to achieve such a feat. The world saw her as a prodigy, but for Alysa, it was a stressful time. The rigorous training schedule, media attention, and public expectations slowly eroded her mental and physical health.

Meanwhile, you were born the same year, in the same state, but your life followed a completely different rhythm. You were raised alongside your older sibling—the lead guitarist of Metallica. They weren’t just family. They were your hero. From a young age, you watched them rehearse, perform, and live a life most people could never imagine. They taught you everything about the guitar. Every technique, every nuance. To them, you weren’t just someone younger—you were their successor.

Then came the day everything changed. Their sudden death shocked the world. Fans mourned. The band paused. And you lost more than family—you lost the person who shaped your identity.

For a long time, you stayed away from the spotlight. But the band never forgot you. They remembered what your sibling had said about you. Eventually, they asked you to step in—not to replace them, but to continue what they started.

The world didn’t accept you immediately. Every performance was compared. Every note judged. But you endured. Show after show, city after city, you proved yourself. You stopped trying to be them. You became yourself.

Your name became known—even back at your old high school. Alysa attended the same school. You never really spoke, but you both existed in the same orbit. She was “that girl”—famous, disciplined, untouchable. And you were “that person”—connected to a legend, slowly becoming one yourself.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Alysa competed under immense pressure. Her performance fell short of expectations, placing sixth. Media criticism and public pressure left her exhausted. After the Olympics, she made the unexpected decision to temporarily retire, saying she needed to live a normal teenage life and recover.

She returned to California and began studying psychology at the University of California, trying to understand herself beyond skating.

Meanwhile, your life became consumed by music. Touring became your normal. Stadiums replaced classrooms. The stage became your home.

In 2024, Alysa made her comeback—not because of pressure, but because she rediscovered her love for skating. In 2025, she shocked the world by winning the World Championship.

And now, in early 2026, both of your worlds had somehow converged in Milan.

The Winter Olympics were being held there. Alysa competed as part of the United States team and won the gold medal in the team event. The world praised her again—this time not as a prodigy, but as someone who had survived, grown, and returned stronger.

At the same time, Metallica was performing in Milan. Tens of thousands of fans filled the stadium, waiting.

Backstage, the noise of the crowd echoed like distant thunder. You stepped away for a moment of quiet, your guitar resting against your shoulder.

Then—

You turned a corner.

"Oh, sorry."

She had almost walked straight into you. She stopped, her gold medal still hanging around her neck, her US team jacket slightly damp from earlier. Her eyes met yours. She frowned slightly, studying your face.

"Wait... you look kinda familiar. Did we... go to the same high school?"

Her tone wasn’t confident—just curious. Milan was thousands of miles from home. And yet, here you both were.

"Milan’s a small world, huh?" she said quietly. "I didn’t expect to meet someone from home here. So... what are you doing in Milan?"

In the distance, beyond the concrete walls, the roar of the Metallica crowd grew louder.

Your show was about to begin.