I flopped onto the couch, sinking into the soft cushions. Marin curled up next to me, her head resting on my shoulder. The TV droned on in the background, but neither of us paid much attention to it.
"So," Marin said. "As your girlfriend, don't you think I should have some say in which girl you spend time with on the show?"
I chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her. "Oh really? And who would you pick for me, oh wise one?"
Marin tapped her chin, pretending to think hard. "Hmm... I'd say either Mem-cho or Yuki. They seem like they'd be fun to hang out with."
"Interesting choices," I mused. "Why those two? Why not Akane?"
Marin shrugged. "Just a woman's intuition."
I laughed, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"That's why you love me," she quipped, poking me in the ribs.
I caught her hand, intertwining our fingers. "True. But seriously, what's your real reason?"
Marin sighed, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "Honestly? Mem-cho seems like she'd keep you on your toes. She's got that streamer energy, you know? Always ready with a joke. And Yuki... well, she's sweet. Genuine. I think you'd have fun with either of them without me having to worry."
"And Akane?" I pressed, curious about her reasoning.
Marin bit her lip. "Akane's... intense. Dedicated. She takes her craft seriously. Maybe too seriously. I just worry she might not be able to separate the show from reality."
I nodded slowly, considering her words. "You're more perceptive than you let on, you know."
"Don't sound so surprised," she teased, nudging me with her shoulder.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the TV's chatter filling the room. I found myself mulling over Marin's observations. She had a point about Mem-cho and Yuki. They were both engaging in their own ways, easy to be around. But Akane...
"You're right about Akane," I said finally. "She's... different. When we were on set, I caught her reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' between takes. We talked about acting techniques, and she's got this whole method of observing people, researching every little detail about her characters."
Marin tilted her head, looking up at me. "And that bothers you?"
I shook my head. "Not bothers, exactly. It's just... different from how I approach things. I tend to go a little more on instinct, you know? But Akane, she's all about the prep work."
"Sounds exhausting," Marin commented.
"Maybe," I conceded. "But there's something admirable about it too. The dedication, the commitment to her craft. It's intense, yeah, but also kind of fascinating."
Marin studied my face for a moment. "You like her, don't you?"
I blinked. "What? No, it's not like that. I just respect her approach, that's all."
"Mhmm," Marin hummed, not sounding entirely convinced. "Just be careful, okay? I trust you, but... well, you know how these shows can be. They're designed to create drama."
I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know. And you don't have to worry. It's all just for the cameras. You're the one I want, drama or no drama."
Marin smiled, but there was a hint of something in her eyes.
"I know," she said softly. "I just... I see the way people look at you, Akira. The fans, the other actors. You're this rising star, and sometimes I wonder..."
"Wonder what?" I prompted gently.
She shook her head, forcing a laugh. "Nothing. It's stupid. Forget I said anything."
I cupped her face in my hands, making her look at me. "Hey. It's not stupid if it's bothering you. Talk to me."
Marin sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm enough. If one day you'll wake up and realize you could have anyone, and why are you settling for some cosplay-obsessed high school girl?"
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms tightly around her.
"Marin," I said, my voice low and serious. "You are not something I'm settling for. You're... you're everything. You're the reason I can do all this, the reason I can put on these different faces for the cameras and not lose myself. Because I know at the end of the day, I get to come home to you. To the real you, and the real me."
I felt her relax against me, her arms snaking around my waist.
"I love you," she murmured into my chest. "I'm sorry for being insecure. It's just... this is all so new. The fame, the shows, everything."
"I know," I said, stroking her hair. "It's new for me too. But we're in this together, okay? No matter what happens on that show or anywhere else, you're my partner."
She laughed at that, the sound muffled against my shirt. "Damn right I am."
We stayed like that for a while, holding each other, the TV forgotten in the background.
(6 weeks later)
I leaned against the cool glass of the classroom window, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky blazed orange and pink, casting long shadows across the school courtyard. Yuki stood next to me, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her uniform skirt.
"I don't know if I can do this anymore, Akira," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Yuki sighed, her shoulders slumping. "This show. It's... it's too much. Putting my feelings out there for millions of people to see and judge? I thought I could handle it, but..."
"But now you're not so sure," I finished for her.
She nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah. I mean, I knew what I was signing up for, but actually doing it? It's harder than I expected."
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. "I get it. Trust me, I do. It's not easy being vulnerable in front of the cameras."
"How do you do it?" Yuki asked, her eyes searching mine. "You always seem so... composed. Like nothing fazes you."
I chuckled, the sound lacking any real humor. "Practice, I guess. And a lot of compartmentalizing. But honestly? It's not always easy for me either."
"Really?" She sounded surprised.
"Really," I confirmed. "There are days when I want to quit too."
Yuki's eyes widened. "So why don't you?"
I shrugged, turning back to the window. "Because... well, because sometimes playing a part helps you figure out who you really are."
"I don't know if I'm strong enough for that," Yuki murmured.
"Hey," I said, gently touching her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think. But if you really want to quit, no one would blame you. This life isn't for everyone."
She nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Akira. I... I think I need some time to think about it."
Before I could respond, the classroom door slid open with a bang. Nobuyuki burst in, his face flushed and his breathing heavy like he'd been running.
"There you are!" he exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you two."
Yuki jumped at the sudden intrusion, taking a step back from me. "Nobuyuki? What's wrong?"
He strode over to us, his eyes darting between Yuki and me. "I overheard some of the conversation. Is that true? You're quitting?"
Yuki's face fell, and she shot me an apologetic look. "I... I'm considering it, yes. It's just been a lot to handle, and I-"
"If you quit, I'm quitting too," Nobuyuki interrupted, his voice firm.
I blinked, surprised by his sudden declaration. "Whoa, hold on a second. Let's not make any hasty decisions here."
Nobuyuki shook his head, his jaw set stubbornly. "I'm serious. Yuki, if you leave, I'm leaving too. This show... it wouldn't be the same without you."
Yuki stared at him, her mouth hanging open slightly. "Nobuyuki, you can't... I mean, this is a huge opportunity for you. For all of us. You can't throw that away just because of me."
"Watch me," he said, crossing his arms. "I came here to dance and maybe find a connection. And I found that with you. If you're not here, what's the point?"
"Cut!" a voice called from behind us. "That's a wrap on this scene, folks. Great work, everyone!"
I leaned back in my chair, watching the others debate where to celebrate our six successful episodes.
"We should go somewhere fancy!" Yuki exclaimed, her eyes bright.
Nobuyuki shook his head. "Nah, too stuffy. How about karaoke?"
"Ooh, I know!" Mem-cho piped up, waving her phone. "Let's hit up Gyu-Kaku! I just got a huge donation spike, so it's on me!"
A chorus of agreement filled the room. I glanced at Aqua, noticing his slight frown.
"Sorry, can't make it," he said, not sounding particularly sorry. "Family dinner tonight."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's too bad."
Aqua shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Yeah, well... Ruby's been bugging me about spending more time together, so..."
I nodded, biting back a smirk. Poor Ruby, being used as an excuse. But hey, if Aqua wanted to skip out, that was his business.
An hour later, we piled into a private booth at Gyu-Kaku. The smell of grilling meat filled the air, making my stomach growl. Akane took charge of the grill, her movements precise as she laid out strips of beef and pork.
"Thanks for taking care of that, Akane," I said, watching her flip a piece of meat.
She shrugged, not looking up from the grill. "It's no problem."
I frowned, noticing her empty plate. "Hey, aren't you going to eat?"
Akane paused, a slight flush creeping up her neck. "Ah, well... I'm actually vegetarian."
"What?" Yuki exclaimed. "Then why are you manning the grill?"
Akane's lips quirked into a small smile. "It's kind of my policy. Never give up the tongs in a place like this."
"But why?" Nobuyuki asked.
Akane sighed, flipping another piece of meat. "When I first started acting, I got dragged to a lot of these team dinners. I was terrible at grilling, always burning the meat. People would get annoyed, you know? So I practiced. Now, even if I can't eat it, at least I can make sure everyone else enjoys their meal."
Without a word, I slipped on my hat and sunglasses, then pressed the call button.
A server appeared moments later. "Yes, sir?"
"Can we get an order of vegetable spring rolls and a Beyond Bibimbap, please?"
Akane's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "Akira, you didn't have to-"
I held up a hand, cutting her off. "It's a team outing. You deserve to eat too."
The table fell silent for a moment. Akane stared at me, her expression a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Thanks," she said quietly, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
As the conversation picked up again, I caught Mem-cho giving me an approving nod.
The night wore on, filled with laughter and stories from the set. I found myself relaxing, enjoying the easy camaraderie we'd built over the past six weeks.
"Oh man, remember when Nobuyuki almost set his hair on fire during that candle scene?" Yuki chuckled, wiping tears from his eyes.
Nobuyuki groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Don't remind me. I can still smell the burnt hair."
"At least it wasn't as bad as your wardrobe malfunction," Mem-cho teased, nudging Yuki with her elbow.
Yuki's face turned bright red. "We swore never to speak of that again!"
As the others continued swapping embarrassing stories, I noticed Akane quietly excusing herself. Without thinking, I followed her out of the booth.
I found her standing outside, staring up at the night sky. She turned as I approached, her expression guarded.
"You okay?" I asked, leaning against the wall next to her.
Akane nodded, her gaze returning to the stars. "Just needed some air."
We stood in silence for a moment, the muffled sounds of the restaurant drifting through the door.
"Can I ask you something?" Akane said suddenly, her voice soft.
"Shoot."
She turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "Why did you really order that food for me?"
"Like I said, it's a team thing."
Akane shook her head. "No, it's more than that. You notice things, Akira. Things other people miss."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Maybe I just know what it's like to feel left out. Anyways, we should head back in," I said, pushing off the wall. "They'll wonder where we went."
Akane nodded, following me back inside. As we rejoined the group, I caught Yuki watching us with a curious expression. I flashed her a reassuring smile, hoping to quell any suspicions.
The night wound down, stomachs full and spirits high. As we said our goodbyes outside the restaurant, I felt a tug on my sleeve.
"Akira," Akane said, her voice low. "Thanks again."
I nodded. "Anytime."