Noise Complaint, Pt. 1

From modeling gigs to PR events to something as simple as a pop-up shop, Megumi dragged me along to each and every one of them.

Not that I was complaining. Admittedly, it was overwhelming at first. Going from doing nothing day by day to this was a very drastic change that I wasn't ready for.

Still, I had gotten used to the chaos. Or rather, it was more like it became a routine.

If an event fell on a class day, I'd rush through it as quickly as I could, sparing no time, not even for Koga and Yue. They noticed quickly but subsequently decided to drop it when I told them it was a personal matter.

And before I knew it, two weeks had gone by. Now, in the evening of the last day, Megumi and I returned home.

"That was the last one, right?" I asked, opening the door. "You promise you won't wake me up tomorrow with another event lined up?"

"Where's your faith in me, Shohei? A promise is a promise. And besides, I told my manager that that would be the last one for a while. After working nonstop for the past two weeks, I think I deserve a little rest. You, too."

"Hah. Glad to finally have a day off despite still technically being unemployed."

"Well, you're technically employed by me."

"Yeah? What's my pay?"

"Seven hours a day to hang out with me."

"Oh, wow. That'll help me pay for my tuition."

"Hey. I offered, didn't I? I even offered to pay for your rent, which is still on the table, by the way."

"Nah. I already told you why I can't accept that."

Megumi smirked, planting a finger on my chest and lightly pushing me away.

"Then don't use it as a point against me."

"Yeah, yeah."

While she went to faceplant on the couch, I stepped into the kitchen area to start on dinner.

"What are you making today?" Megumi asked.

"Chicken katsu with rice or soba. You choose."

"It's too cold for soba."

"I can always warm it up."

"Nah. It's fine. I'm feeling rice anyway."

"Rice it is."

Eventually, the sun began to fall, casting an orange glow through the balcony window. Apart from the sizzling oil, the only other sound was whatever video Megumi was immersed in.

I reached for a small jar of salt, but I stopped for something else. Just over the countertop was a view of the living room. There, Megumi was lying on her stomach, swinging her feet back and forth without a care in the world.

Dammit... Now I know for sure that there is something seriously wrong with me, because why is it that I'm finding her so cute right now? Nothing special, nothing crazy — just a simple action, yet I'm folding like a lawn chair.

Once dinner was ready, I called out to her.

"Alright. Done. Come eat."

She perked up immediately with a lazy, "Hup." Then, she sluggishly made her way over and sat down with a yawn.

"Tired?" I asked.

"Yep. Behold, Shohei. This is the real me. Exhausted, dead, and utterly tired of living."

"Didn't seem like that the first month you've been here."

"Hmm... Let me ask you something, Shohei. What did you think about these last two weeks?"

"It was a lot."

Scooping up a spoonful, she hovered it in front of her face, but her eyes were distant.

"Exactly. Now take that, but instead of two weeks, it's a whole year. Two years. Three. No vacations, no days off, and no breaks. Of course, I'm exaggerating. I do get breaks, just not long ones. I'll get a day — maybe two — but it's always back to work right after."

Distant were her eyes, but the moment she took the bite, they lifted.

"The time spent here, relaxing with you, Shohei... It was fun. For the first time in my life, it felt like I could actually do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Only now am I realizing just what it is I've been missing out on. Like this katsu rice. I could eat something more expensive and tasty... but nothing will ever match this. You wanna know why?"

"...Why?"

She smiled at me.

"Because you made it for me. Not some chef whose face I've never seen. You, someone I like a lot."

I shouldn't have taken a bite then, because I almost choked on it. After a few rough coughs, I wiped my mouth and drank some water.

"D-don't say things like that so casually," I mumbled.

"Pfft~ What's wrong? You getting all worked up about me saying that I like you?"

"Wouldn't anyone? I mean, remember when you got mobbed at the pop-up event? Anyone would go crazy just to have your attention."

"Yeah. You're right. But I don't care about anyone else. You know what I mean, don't you?"

I took another bite, then locked eyes with her, my heart pounding like crazy.

"Maybe I do. Remember when you told me that if I ever have to question whether or not you're acting, just assume you're acting? This is one of those moments."

The smirk on her face grew wider.

"That's funny. Because right now... I don't even know if I'm acting."

Dinner went by quietly. After we finished doing the dishes together, Megumi plopped back onto the couch. Her head tilted to the side and settled into the cushion. One arm dangled off the couch while the other curled near her chest.

Just like that, she was asleep.

All the while, I stood next to the kitchen counter, just watching her.

She really works hard, doesn't she? Day in, day out, she does whatever her agency says — attending events, going on outings, getting her name out there. And in return, she loses time for herself. To work on herself and to be herself.

Not only that, but the eyes of the public are always on her. Regardless of her intentions, people will always have something to say. Both positive... and negative. That kind of attention will break someone eventually, just like it did to her.

"Was it worth it?"

She didn't reply. Out cold, I guess.

Doesn't matter, though. This is her life. This is what she chose, and from what I saw, it is what makes her happy.

That's why... even if she isn't acting... even if there is the slightest possibility that she might really like me... I can't accept it. I don't want to be the one who sends her back to the abyss where I first found her.

I sighed, slowly making my way over and grabbing a folded throw blanket perched on the armrest. As quietly as I could, I leaned over and began laying it across her.

But the second it touched her, Megumi's arms shot up—and before I could even react, she grabbed my hand with both of hers.

I yelped, freezing on the spot.

"What the—?!"

Then immediately covered my mouth.

Megumi stirred slightly. Her eyelids fluttered open just a crack, hazy and unfocused. She blinked once, twice... then stared directly at my hand, still caught in her grip.

With no warning, she pulled it downward and nestled it against her cheek. Her breathing settled back into a slow rhythm, and her eyes drifted shut once again.

I stood there, completely frozen.

What... the hell? What the hell is this?! What am I supposed to do?!

My brain was on fire. I tried tugging my hand back just a little, just to see if I could get free — but nope. She had the grip strength of someone guarding a winning lottery ticket in their sleep.

"Fuck... This is where it ends. I'm gonna die right here, right now."

But then, something changed.

I looked down again and saw her expression.

Calm.

Unbothered.

Like she hadn't just committed the social crime of unconscious hand-holding.

My panicked thoughts slowed, just a bit. That peaceful look on her face, the way her breathing quietly rose and fell — it did something to me.

I sighed in defeat.

"Guess there's no getting out of this."

So I slowly sat down on the floor beside the couch, back against it, arm still captured in her sleep grip. I tilted my head up, staring at the ceiling, while my mind tried to make sense of whatever this moment was.

"...You're ridiculous, you know that?"

But I didn't try to pull my hand away again.