When you try to hide in a crowd, but get's the damned unwanted attention.
College corridor.
He'd gone back inside the auditorium.
As I walked back inside, all the freshmens gathered around, to discuss about the college festival, and all. "But my mind was somewhere else, just what now... I thought,"
"What does she mean by the unsolved things, not to pretend nothing happened, huh, first time she said that since we have met." And here I thought she was just keep gonna pretend like nothing had happened again.
"Use and throw," Huh. He Sighed.
The Group chat was made, and the numbers were exchanged. Plans had made to have a discussion on the monday at a local yakitori restaurant.
And me, i've was still disturbed by the fact, of the words she had gave me. He put's his phone back at the pocket of his Jean's. So, Yui says, "why did Senpai asked you for?"
"Nothing much. he said."
Yui she didn't asked much either, instead she said. "Let's us both participate in the college festival play as the actors, Huh." I won't have much time for it, he said.
"Come on... At this rate you won't be able too make any good college memories again either, just like in the highschool days."
He kept looking at his watch like waiting for the meeting to end. Her words lingered, but he had barely heard them. Than just as meeting had finally wrapped up. Chairs scraped, voices rose, people began moving in groups again.
He stood up a little too fast, like he'd had been waiting for that exact moment. "I've gotta go," he said suddenly. "Yui blinked. "Huh? Now?"
"Yeah. Something came up he said." Before she could ask anything else, he was already walking—no, almost kinda rushing towards the exit. His phone was back in his hand again now, screen lighting up, messages poping, his face bit tense.
One unread message, from Reze.
•••
Cafe near the station. If you're free.
"Free", "That word felt ironic he thought", She really love's to not take me seriously, huh. Even after that night.
The Evening breeze hit him cold as he stepped outside, cool and sharp, clearing his head just enough to let the thoughts flood back in again.
Unsolved things, "Not pretending nothing happened huh." He exhaled, his grip on the phone tightened.
And than He quickened his pace...
———
At the cafe near the college...
The café was quiet in that way only weekday evenings managed—the low music, the hiss of a espresso machine, muted conversations that was blending into the background noise. Warm lights reflected off the glass windows, turning the world outside into a blur.
He arrived first.
Than took a seat near the corner, back against the wall—habit. Ordered a black coffee he didn't really want. His fingers rested around the cup, but he didn't drink it. Instead kept replaying her voice in his head.
"Let's have a proper talk, Like adults this time".
A bell chimed softly.
He didn't look up at first. He already knew who was there. "Reze stepped inside", No blazer this time, nor stage presence. She wore Just a simple black top, her hair tied loosely, glasses perched low on her nose. She looked… normal, and a bit tired. Humane.
Her eyes found him immediately.
She walked over and sat across from him without asking. Than for a few seconds, neither spoke. She exhaled. "You look worse than I do."
He snorted quietly. "That's impressive."
She signaled the waiter with two fingers. "Coffee, with no sugar." Then softer, and maybe a water, that small detail again. "And It annoyed him more than it should've.
"Waiter took the order than left...
She folded her hands together on the table. She didn't crossed her arms. Their was no defense. That alone told him this wasn't a performance.
"See... "I'm not here to trap you," she said. "Or control you. Or pretend that this is some.. power play."
"Good, He watched her closely. Because that's exactly what it felt like." She didn't flinch. "I know she said."
Than the waiter returned quietly, setting the cups down like he was afraid to interrupt something fragile. Steam curled upward between them, blurring the space where their eyes kept meeting.
she wrapped her both hands around her mug, grounding herself. "What happened that night," she said carefully, "shouldn't have happened the way it did." I'll was— with a pause than she said. "we were too drunk."
He let out a slow breath, "But it did. She nodded once. "Yes" And pretending it didn't would be dishonest."
Than he leaned back slightly, studying her—not the senpai, not the president, not the woman who could command a room with a glance. But just her Reze. Tired, Thoughtful, and a little cracked around the edges.
"You kept pulling me in," He said, "Then pushing me away. I didn't know which part of you I was supposed to listen to." Her fingers tightened around the cup. "That's because I didn't know either."
Silence settled—not awkward, but just heavy with the things finally being said. See, "I'm used to being in control," she continued. "People rely on me, Look up to me. Follow my lead. And when I lose that—" she stopped, searching for the right word, "—it scares me more than I like to admit."
Senkai's voice was quiet. "You didn't lose control with me did you?" She looked up for a second. "But you gave it to me, he finished." Just for a moment." That landed deeper than anything else he'd said.
She, Reze laughed softly, without humor. "That's worse. "Maybe, He shrugged, "But it was real."
Her gaze didn't waver this time. Instead she leaned in "Real things have consequences." She whispered."
"I know." consequences and responsibility.
Another pause. This one stretched longer.
Outside, a bike passed. Somewhere nearby, someone laughed. Life, world kept going, uncaring.
She leaned back, "I can't cross that line again," Reze said finally. "Not like before, not while I'm your senior. "Not while I'm responsible for you in that club."
He nodded. "I wasn't asking you to."
She blinked. "You weren't? "No," He met her eyes steadily. "I just wanted to know if you meant it when you told me to stay that's all."
Her breath hitched—just barely."…I did," she admitted. "In that moment."
"That's enough than," he said. "I'm not chasing a promise, Just the truth."
Reze leaned back in her chair, eyes closing for a second as if weighing something she couldn't put down. When she opened them again, her voice was steadier."Then here's the truth," she said. "I'm not someone you should get attached to. I don't do half-measures, and if I fall, I fall completely—or not at all."
He smiled faintly. "You really think I didn't notice that yet?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't hover unless you actually care," he said. "You don't protect people you're indifferent to. And you don't apologize unless it matters." for the first time since she'd walked in, she looked genuinely caught off guard.
"…You're dangerous you know," she murmured.
"Only if you keep pretending you don't see," He said.
Café lights flickered slightly as the evening deepened. She stood up, slipping her coat back on. "This conversation doesn't change the rules," she said. "nor in public. or in the club. You're still my junior. "And what about in private?" he asked, not pushing, but just asking, confirming something.
She paused at the table, fingers brushing the back of his chair as she passed. Close enough for him to catch the faint scent of coffee and something softer beneath it. "In private," she said quietly, you can call me Reze. "we're two adults who know exactly what we're risking."
Then she straightened, composure fully back in a place. "Walk me to the station," she added, already turning toward the door. "It's getting late."
It wasn't a request, and I knew that. He stood up and followed her out...
———
Tokyo streets.
Outside, the night had swallowed them whole—no witnesses, no labels, just two people walking side by side, not touching, but not distant either.
Not crossing the line. But not stepping away from it either. Least till Yet.
They walked side by side. Not close but not far enough to be called strangers either.
Senkai kept his hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed but mind alert. Reze walked half a step ahead at first—habit, maybe. Leading instinct, Then, gradually, she matched his pace. "You're unusually quiet," she said. "You told me we're two adults in private, and adults don't ramble around" He replied." A faint smirk tugged at her lips. "But Adults do overthink."
"That too." he replied.
They reached a cross walk, traffic lights gone Red. They stopped. Across the street, a group of freshmen from another department were laughing loudly, taking selfies under a festival banner already being hung for next month's event.
He watched them than as mumbled, "Yui wants me to audition," he said suddenly. For the play," Reze asked? "Yeah." he said. The light turned green. As they crossed. "And? She asked."I don't have time for it, to be honest," He said.
"That's not what I asked she said. He glanced at her. She wasn't looking at him, just she walking, looking ahead, calm. But she was listening carefully.
"I don't like being looked at," he admitted, being in the attention "Crowd and the people's looking at me, with the expectations, and especially not in the spotlights, I might froze up".
Reze hummed softly. "You say that. But you handle the pressure pretty well even that day. "That's different. Pressure isn't a attention." He said.
She stopped walking. He took two steps ahead before realizing and than he turned back. Reze looked at him—really looked at him for a second moments longer. Than "You think I enjoy it?" she asked quietly. "The attention, the stage, the spotlight, and the responsibility."
"No one does, He say's, But "You're good at it."
She shake her head in a rejection, "That's not the same thing, She said." A breeze lifted a few strands of her hair loose from the tie. "I learned how to stand in the spotlight because no one else would, "cuz If I didn't step forward, I knew the things will fell apart. So I did."
His expression softened slightly. "And now?" he asked. "Now I'm just tired," she said almost too honest. But if I step back, someone else might has to carry it."
He let out a breath, "Maybe someone really should." Their eyes met for a moment.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Than they resumed walking. "So, are you planning something?" he asked lightly. Hm... Always, she replied. "That's not comforting," He short back.
She smiled faintly, "Relax. It has nothing to do with us,"Us. Maybe the word lingered longer than it should have...
———
Underground: Metro Station...
They reached the station entrance, Trains coming and going, People's weaving through ticket gates, announcements echoing overhead.
This was where lines usually drew themselves.
Reze turned to face him, "This is far enough she said. He nodded, but than neither of them moved for a moment. "You should give the audition," she said finally.
He blinked. "You just told me the attention isn't enjoyable. "It isn't," she agreed. "But sometimes the attention, the spotlight finds you whether you like it or not." He laughed quietly. "That kinda sounds like a threat."
"It's advice." than she stepped closer—Just enough that her voice didn't have to compete with the station noise. "You try so hard to blend in the wallpaper, but the people notices you anyway, you don't chase the attention, maybe that's exactly why it follows you." His jaw tightened slightly, "I just don't want to become someone everyone wants something from, expects things from." Her gaze softened," You are too late for it I guess".
A beat of silence.
Then—Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. Her expression shifted—not dramatic, just subtle. His eyes linger at her phone for second, who is it? "Mother, she said, see... responsibility never sleeps." She is waiting at my apartment, it's really annoying sometimes".
"You should go and meet her than, He said. it's a family, not a responsibility you know. It can sometimes be annoying, but making time for your love ones. I guess it be worth it".
She looks at him a minute long, What? He said. than she said finally, "you are a good son aren't you?" So? He asked. "Nothing, she says I just now know how gonna act in front your girlfriend and wife too, she'll be quite lucky seems like.
What does that means? He said. She leaned close to him her voice low and sweet, "cuz you will make time for them, even despite being busy.
Than a train announcement echoed.
She learned back, I should take my leave than,
turned toward the gates, she paused than turn back for a moment and said. "Senkai."
He'd looked up. "If you get chosen as one of the actors…" she said, voice steady, "…don't run away from it." His brows furrowed. Than she continued "You sound confident. I've seen how the others and the freshmens look at you.
"That's paranoia."
"That's a observation."
She stepped through the ticket gate. The barrier closed between them with a soft mechanical click. Just for a moment, they were separated by nothing more than glass and the rule's they both have set.
She faced him from the other side of a glass. "Goodnight," she said.
"Goodnight… Reze He said." The faintest shift in her expression at hearing her name like that.
Than she turned and disappeared into the crowd descending toward the platforms while walking she whispered to herself. Reze when I'm sweet and kind, and senpai whenever I try to draw the line. She hummed... Hm...
He stood there for a few seconds longer than necessary. Then his phone buzzed.
•••
Yui: Emergency meeting Monday. The festival committee moved up auditions. roles will be decided within this week.
•••
He stared at the message. Than another one popped up.
•••
Unknown Number.
You're coming to audition, right?—Nana?
•••
He looked toward the platform stairs where she'd vanished few moments ago. A slow exhale went through his mouth. "Unwanted spotlight, huh…"
He slipped his phone back into his pocket. And for someone who hated attention—
He had a feeling that it was already waiting for him, and this time, He just wasn't sure if it was going to be the stage… Or her.
———
Back at the college / Tokyo university...
Monday, came quicker than expected.
The campus buzzed with a different kind of a tension—posters half-hung, scripts being printed, voices arguing over the casting lists.
Auditions were now only days away. The spotlight wasn't just metaphorical anymore, But inside the clubroom on the third floor, the door was shut, "only two people were inside".
Reze stood near the window, arms folded loosely, watching the courtyard below where freshmen were already practicing lines dramatically under a tree.. Behind her, sprawled lazily across two chairs, was Rya.
Rya tilted her head. "So."
Reze didn't turn back at her. "So?"
Rya's her eyes narrowed playfully. "What's the deal with you and Senkai?"
Silence than after a moment. "You're imagining things," She replied back. Rya snorted, "Oh... Please. I watched you during the meeting. You don't stare at the juniors like that." She finally looked over her shoulder, "Like what exactly?"
"Like you're calculating something you shouldn't want?" Reze turn back at her fully, "we made the mistake together. I know i'm pretending like nothing has ever happened, but making that as an excuse. "I don't want to remain awkward with a junior of mine..."She thought,"But i can't fool myself. My body wants something else... Damn, what am I thinking you, perverted girl.
Than "I'm interested in him," she said plainly okay. Rya blinked once. "…Interested how? "Not love, she said. "Don't misunderstand it." Rya narrowed her eyes okay than? "I want him, Reze continued calmly. But I'm not trying to build a future with him. I don't do that anymore."
Rya say's "You said that last time too." I'm not trying build a future with him but", She, Reze her expression didn't change—but something tightened in her. "That was different."
"Because that was Lemon?" Rya said. The room went quiet, Silent.
Her jaw clenched slightly at the name. Lemon, it was not a name everyone knew. Not a story everyone was allowed to ask about.
Rya's voice softened. "You loved him." Reze she didn't answer immediately, But she didn't deny it either. "I fell for him,"Completely." she said finally. Her voice was steady. Maybe too steady.
Rya watched her carefully, "You were different back then, You weren't calculating enough, You weren't detached, You were—. "...Stupid," She cut in. "No," Rya said firmly. "You were honest."
She looked away. "He left," she said flatly. "Just like that. Giving no warning, "No explanation that I could accept. I gave him mine everything. Emotionally. Physically. All of it." Her fingers curled slightly against her arms. "And when he walked away left me all alone, I've realized something."
Rya stayed silent.
"Love makes you negotiable," Reze said quietly. "It makes you weak in a ways you can't control."
—"But, He didn't leave because you were weak, Rya her was expression softened, when she cut in.
"He left and that's what matters." She said. A pause, than Rya asked gently. "And what about Senkai?"
Reze's eyes sharpened again, "He's not Lemon. "That's not what I asked."Rya said.
She exhaled slowly, "I'm drawn to him, Reze admitted, But I won't romanticize it, and I won't repeat history. If I keep it physical, it's simple. I keep it with no expectations and no promises."
Rya studied her, "You already crossed the line once," she said quietly, are you sure of it". Reze her silence confirmed it.
She sight.. I need a smoke, than after lighting one she said. "And?" Rya pressed.
Reze her gaze flickered for a split second. "I lost control," she admitted, just for a moment. "You? Rya almost laughed in disbelief, you built your entire identity around power and control after Lemon has left you?"
"I know." but I did and that's what's scary, She admitted. "Rya stepped closer, So what was different?"
She hesitated. "…He didn't look at me like Lemon did, nor how everyone else does."
"Explain, Rya frowned slightly and asked, Lemon once looked at me like I was his world, Reze said. "Like I was something precious." Her voice lowered, but senkai looks at me like I'm human.
Word that sounded almost foreign coming from her. "And that's scary to you? That even hit differently to Rya. She continued, With flaws, With the cracks. Without ever putting me on a pedestal. With care." Rya's expression shifted, "And that scares you more than the love?"
"Yes." she said, the Silence filled the room again.
"Rya sighed. "You're playing with the fire you know. "I know she said, But i'm somehow managing it."
"That's what you said before, Just don't get burn in it". Rya short back.
Reze her eyes hardened slightly. "I am not Lemon you know. "I know that you're not," Rya replied softly. But you loved him, and when he left, it changed you a lot."
She didn't deny it, "I won't fall like that again," Reze said firmly. "Rya searched her face, and what if you already are?"
"And That question lingered longer than either of them liked.
Reze straightened, mask sliding back into place.
"I'm not in love with Yoshimura Senkai," she said calmly. "I'm interested, There's a difference."
Rya she didn't look convinced, "Just don't break him because you're scared to feel something," she said quietly... And that did hit something in her just as,
A knock interrupted them.
"President the forms are ready!" Reze's posture shifted instantly, the president authority back, expression neutral.
She walked to the door, just as her hand on the handle, Rya spoke one last time. "If you're only chasing lust, it's fine. But just don't lie to yourself about it."
She paused—but didn't turn, Than. "I don't lie to myself". She opened the door and left.
———
Somewhere else at the Cafe L'Amour.
The café was louder than usual.
Not chaotic—just alive. Scripts scattered across tables. Highlighters uncapped. Half-finished drinks sweating onto wooden surfaces. The festival committee had taken over the back section like it was a battlefield headquarters.
Nana stood near the counter, clapping her hands,"Okay! Quiet down! We're finalizing the casting tonight!" Groans. Nervous laughter, than someone dropped a pen.
Senkai He sat near the far end of the long table, posture straight, expression unreadable. He hadn't planned to care. And definitely hadn't planned to audition seriously. But somehow he did, and now—He waited.
Across from him, Yui bounced her leg anxiously. "If I get tree number three again, I'm quitting," she whispered dramatically. "You were being a convincing tree," He replied dryly making fun of her acting, as she kicked him under the table. Ouch!
Nana cleared her throat and held up the printed sheet. "For the historical drama The 'Crimson Oath'…" The room quieted instantly. "For the Second female lead—Senna—"
A pause for suspense.
Than "Yuigahama Yui, female lead." She froze for a moment, Then—"WHAT?!" The café erupted into applause and teasing whistles. Yui covered her mouth, eyes wide. Senkai He allowed himself a small smile. Than Nana continued, "For the male lead—Ron Takahashi…" A longer pause this time. For the second lead. "…Yoshimura Senkai ."
Silence, Half a second. Then the noise exploded.
"NO WAY—" THE QUIET GUY?! "Newbie, the Freshman, huh?"
Yui grabbed his arm so hard that it almost hurt. "YOU'RE THE OTHER THE LEAD?!" We'll be acting together..
He'd blinked once."…You're joking." right? Nana shook her head, grinning. "Highest audition score, and the best chemistry read, don't look so betrayed."
The Murmurs spread across the room. And he already felt it, The shift in the air, eyes turning, whispers forming, and the Unwanted Spotlight. His fingers tightened slightly around the script in his lap.
Across the café, near the doorway—Later, as the meeting wrapped up— Reze approached the table. "Make sure the rehearsals don't overlap with the club activities," she said calmly. "I don't want complaints later."
"Of course, "Reze, Nana replied politely.
Too politely. He closed the script and stood, than said, "We'll manage somehow don't worry."
Reze's gaze flicked briefly between him and Senna. "Good," she said. Then she walked away.
Senna she watched her go, then quietly asked, "Does she always… feel like that or something happened?" she whispered to herself. "Like what?" He asked. She said, "Like she's ten steps ahead of everyone."
He didn't answer. Cuz he knew because she always was somewhere.
———
Outside the café, after everyone had left—
Nana remained seated alone, lights dimmed. Staff wiped down counters. Soft music played in the background, She opened her tablet again, Not the script, A different folder, photos, Old festival records. Archived performance footages, than a one specific document.
Amano Reze — Former Lead Actress.
The Multiple awards, standing ovations, and the Multiple headlines.
Nana her fingers tightened slightly around the device."Perfect director, perfect President and the perfect senior," she murmured quietly, then she opened another tab.
Festival Committee Override Authority, as the head coordinator, Nana held the final say over a stage direction, promotional focus, and a press coverage. She didn't need to remove Reze. "No, that would be obvious, but She just needed to redirect the spotlight. "Away from her.
And the best way... For what it was?
Than she looked at another pic of the current group photo of the Club, especially toward the Senkai and Senna.
Build the new stars, than dim the old one. And when the applause shifts— So does the power.
She smiled faintly to herself. "Let's see how long you will shine, "Nana whispered under her breath.
And Inside the café door, unnoticed—
Reze stood still quietly, She hadn't left, But she had returned for her forgotten file, and she had heard enough. Not everything. But enough. Her expression didn't change, But her eyes darkened slightly, "So that's how it is Nana, She said.
Quiet wars were her specialty.
And Nana had just declared one, Without even realizing it— But little did she knew, She wasn't the only one who knew how to plot behind someone's back.
———
To be continue...