Yohei: One Day Ends and Another Begins

His real name. He gave her his real name. Yohei can’t believe it. He never makes slips like that; he has several well-established aliases that should have come naturally, but no. Instead, he told the truth. Stupid. Unfocused. Tanaka-san, his manager, won’t be pleased if he finds out.

“You picked a nice place tonight,” Sato-san, the younger of his two security guys, says, turning from the front seat of the car. “Wouldn’t have guessed you were a cat person, but you fit right in.”

“Doesn’t everybody like cats? But, yeah, it was nice,” Yohei agrees, thinking of the small note now hidden in his pocket and the girl who drew it for him. “Quiet, good food, cute cats.”

“And nobody who recognized you…”

“Yeah, that’s why we went all the way out here, hoping that’d be the case. It was relaxing, and I actually got a lot of work done. Mostly answering fanmails and chatting, but I got some ideas for the lyrics of a new song too.”

“Tanaka-san will be glad to hear that, and I promise I won’t mention the cute maids. Just the quiet atmosphere and the good food,” Sato teases. “But it’s getting late, so we’ll take you home now.”

“Yeah. You’re right.” Yohei glances at his watch and winces. “I still have some things to take care of before I can go to bed.”

“Don’t overdo it,” Kobayashi-san says as he gently stops the car in front of Yohei’s building. “You have a busy day tomorrow.”

“As always. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

“See you tomorrow then, Ryo-san.”

The air is cold, and Yohei quickly types the keypad code for the door. The lock clicks open, and as he steps through it, the car drives off. Inside, the warm lobby greets him along with the building’s concierge, who rises slightly from his desk.

“Welcome home, Takamura-san.”

“Any mail for me?”

The concierge pushes a small envelope across the counter. “Just this one today.”

“Thank you.” Yohei slips the envelope into his pocket and steps toward the elevator. The soft hum of the doors closing behind him marking the end of another long but successful day.

*

Too few hours later, Yohei blinks against the dark, mind and body still heavy with sleep. A glance to the side shows the time in bright blue numbers on his alarm clock. 5:42. Three minutes before it’s set to go off. He relaxes and closes his eyes again, taking deep breaths through his nose, out through his mouth. When the alarm starts playing its wake-up tune, he’s ready and turns it off at the first beep.

He rubs his face, stretches, and forces his stiff muscles to move. Yesterday’s dance rehearsal was intense, but sore muscles or not, there’s a long day ahead of him. Like every day.

In the bathroom mirror, the reflection that blinks back at him is not the one from last week’s magazine cover. Puffy eyes, the faint shadow of exhaustion under them. He splashes cold water in his face, pats it dry before he launches into his morning skin care routine: Cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen. His hands know exactly what to do.

“All right, you. Time to wake up,” he mutters quietly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a well-rehearsed smile. His hair, on the other hand, is a pale, defiant mess, and he sighs as he runs his fingers through it. Darker shadows at the roots are already starting to show, and he makes a mental note to have it bleached before the next TV interview. For now, he just combs it backward; the stylist will deal with it later. He finishes off with a lightly scented body spray and goes to get dressed.

There’s choreography training scheduled for the afternoon, so he chooses loose pants and a shirt that will allow him to move easily, then packs a fresh set of clothes into his trusty bag. He’s just done when his phone beeps announcing the usual morning message from Tanaka-san.

A confirmation on today’s schedule, followed by a cheerful, ‘Good morning. Let’s do our best again today, RYO-san.’

Yohei types back a simple ‘Always. Ready in five, Tanaka-san.’ before grabbing a protein drink from the fridge as a quick breakfast. 

By 6:30, he’s outside his building, hood pulled up, looking at the sky as it’s starting to grow lighter. The day is beginning. The familiar black company car turns around the corner and stops just in front of him. Tanaka-san looks as impeccably crisp as always when Yohei gets into the backseat.

The city is still quiet, shadows blending with the bright neon lights from the billboards and shop fronts. People heading to work early, walking briskly, hunched up against the beginning autumn chill. Yohei closes his eyes, the low rumble of the engine fading beneath the track playing through his headphones: a demo he recorded last week that requires some more work.

By the time the car pulls up outside today’s studio, he’s already got some ideas and scribbled them down in his notebook for later. First up is the photoshoot. Then the choreography session. Then the interview. All in different parts of town. Hopefully, there’ll be time for some quick lunch in between. The cute comfort food from last night springs to mind, together with the memory of the maid. Warm eyes and a cute smile. And ears. Not to mention a talented hand.

He reaches into his pocket to make sure his ticket is there. He knows it’s just a silly token, yet it feels… important. Like something he’d regret losing.

“Smile’s on in five,” Takeda says as he opens the door, phone already in hand, checking messages as he waves to the frosted glass front hiding the bustle Yohei knows is waiting for them inside,

Yohei nods, steps out into the cool air, and straightens his shoulders. Lowers the hood.

The day has started, and somewhere inside him, the performer clicks into place. Yohei becomes RYO.

Inside, warmth greets them along with the faint scent of hairspray and coffee. Lights are being tested against a pale backdrop while the stylist’s rack is filled with today’s outfits, most in muted winter colors. 

“Good morning, Ryo-san,” the makeup artist calls, already gesturing him toward the chair. He bows lightly in response before settling in. The mirror in front of him is framed with bulbs that cast a soft halo over his reflection. Brushes glide across his skin, light touches that magic away the traces of a short night’s sleep. The hairstylist tousles his hair into deliberate disarray, careful to leave that one stray strand the fans always notice. And love.

Tanaka-san checks the time, murmurs something to the photographer, and gives Yohei a subtle thumbs-up to assure him everything’s on schedule.

The first outfit, a comfortable sweater and beige jeans, makes him look human, approachable, the idol next door. The photographer asks for laughter, warmth, something like a quiet afternoon in a park with friends, or on a date. Yohei smiles easily, the kind that reaches his eyes even when it’s on demand in front of the camera. Each shutter click feels steady, rhythmic, and he changes his pose according to the subtle beat of it. Between takes, the makeup artist dashes in to dab at his face, doing quick touch-ups.

Then comes the second, more formal look. A dark coat, high collar, revealing the fancy silk shirt he’s wearing under it as Yohei moves through the desired poses. No warm smiles this time. He tilts his head, gaze distant, dreamy, almost melancholic, and the photographer praises him.

“Your fans will love this, Ryo-san,” he assures him. “Now something special for them. Some winks, and that flirty smile we all love and admire.”

Two more outfits are on the schedule, including the one he’s going to wear for the release of his new single, Echo Lights. As always, Yohei does what they want, but adding a little extra pose and cheeky smile once in a while, the motions routine by now. Even if this room and the clothes are new, he has four years of experience to draw on.

By the time the final flash fades, he’s blinking dark spots from his vision, but he’s satisfied with having done a good job. He runs his fingers through his hair, messing up the hairstyle just a little, apologizing with his best smile as the stylist objects.

“Thank you everybody, for today. It was a pleasure working with you,” Yohei says as farewell after he’s back in his own clothes and is being whisked outside by Tanaka-san.

“Always a pleasure to work with you too, Ryo-san. See you next time.”

Then he’s back in the car, where a bento box and a bottle of flavored sparkling water are waiting. Lunch on the go. As usual.

“Choreography next, right?” he asks, as he unscrews the bottle and takes a long drink. Staying hydrated is important. 

He puts the headphones back on, letting his mind drift as he eats.