Separate Worlds, Pt. 3

As I walked home, carelessly dragging my legs one after the other, the conversation that Yue and I had just a moment ago kept repeating itself in my head.

"Yue... What is this?" I had asked.

"Exactly what it looks like, dude. A random social media post went viral after Megumi no Hana was identified in the background, standing next to a mysterious guy. In case you missed it, that guy is you."

"...Seriously?"

"Yeah... Seems like whoever took that photo was just making a normal post — a pure accident that exposed your little date."

"It wasn't a date..."

"That's irrelevant. Anyway, I looked around as much as I could, but it looks like this is the only photo that's been circulating."

I stopped at an intersection. Even though the sign said to walk, I didn't. Just stood there, hand over my eyes, waiting for her to tell me that this was all a joke.

"So what are you gonna do?" Yue asked.

"Honestly, I don't even know. Like... Are we being serious right now? How the hell does something like this even happen?"

"I mean... Call me a pessimistic little bitch, but I kind of saw this coming from worlds away. In the age of technology, where there are thousands of sources of surveillance, someone was bound to catch the two of you holding hands."

"We weren't holding hands..."

"The picture says otherwise, but again, irrelevant. Doesn't matter if you did or didn't. What matters now is that the news is out. Megumi's image has been on the rise for the past few weeks, but this... This could really screw her up."

I didn't reply, and Yue noticed.

"Taka?"

"...Yeah, I'm... I'm still here. I just... I don't know. Not even sure what I wanna do now."

"And that's fine. You don't have to know immediately. Just... Don't end up doing something you'll regret. Okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Yue."

"Of course. See you later."

Now, I was sitting at a bus stop, pondering to myself. I waited so long that the bus came by, and the driver asked if I was getting in. I didn't answer him, so he drove off.

With nothing else to do, I pulled my phone back out and searched the internet for any news relating to Megumi no Hana. Sure enough, all the major news outlets were covering the same exact story.

"Megumi no Hana, Disguised In A Cap And Mask, Was Caught Holding Hands With A Young Man In The Background Of A Couple's Photo."

I clicked the link and skimmed through the article. It detailed Megumi no Hana's journey as a model: she made her first appearance in a magazine at the age of fifteen, which saw little success afterward. She then took a step into acting, and that was when her popularity skyrocketed.

"Megumi no Hana previously announced that she would take a break," I said, reading the article. "Many speculate that it was due to a series of unsuccessful ventures over the last couple of months. Recently, she made a significant comeback after she revealed her new chic appearance that resonated with her younger fans. However, the positive attention may shift in the wake of this viral photo, which depicts a disguised Megumi no Hana holding hands with a mysterious young man."

My first mistake was searching this up, because now I feel sick.

My second mistake... was scrolling down far enough to reach the comment section.

[Anonymous]: "Oh, yeah. If she wasn't done for before, she definitely is now."

[Anonymous]: "I wouldn't put it like that. She just needs to focus on her career, especially after having such a good comeback. This definitely isn't what she should've done."

[Anonymous]: "Give her a break, guys. Megumi no Hana is an adult. A human being, just like the rest of us. Is it so strange that she might have someone she likes?"

[Anonymous]: "Shut up, simp. She deserves what's coming to her."

With that, I let out a scoff while leaning back on the bench.

It seems... I've become too complacent. I became so used to this new, chaotic life with Megumi that I forgot how the world works. Specifically, the world of stars and celebrities.

There's a reason why they keep themselves. Their popularity is derived from the continued support of their fans and audience, so anything that might be shown in a negative light, they'll naturally avoid.

Megumi is no different. Like every other celebrity, she probably has to adhere to the unspoken rules. No mistakes, no publicity stunts, and — above all else — no romantic scandals. At least, that's how the world treats people like her.

She broke all three of them, and the sole cause... is me.

We're roommates, friends, and maybe even something a little more. That made me happy, but something like this... could ruin her life.

I knew how this would end. The odds were slim but never zero. One way or another, we would've been caught, and whether the response was neutral or negative depended on me.

I should've kept my distance. Even when she insinuated something more, I should've pushed her away. I should've drawn the line long ago, but I didn't.

Instead, I allowed us to continue. I kept up with this fantasy in my head that maybe we were more than just simple roommates.

I... fell for her.

That is my third mistake, and only now am I realizing it.

But it's too late. The damage is done. The rumors have spread, and now it feels like everyone in Tokyo has their eyes on her.

The worst part is that I'm unaffected by all this. Or at least, I will be with time. The scandal will blow up, maybe I'll get a few glances here and there, but I'll ultimately go back to the life I had before.

Megumi, on the other hand... She'll be left to deal with the aftermath on her own. At best, she'll become a cautionary tale of the industry, and at worst... she'll lose her place altogether.

To hell with me. I don't care enough about myself. But it comes to her...

"No..." I muttered. "I can't allow that to happen."

Resolute, I made my way back home. Upon opening the door, I saw Megumi down the hall in the living room. She was lying on the couch, her legs swinging back and forth while she was humming some pop song.

"Shohei?" she called out. "You home?"

She poked her head over the couch's backrest, her eyes expressive as ever. And that smile... was enough to make me freeze.

"Hey! How was your day?"

"It... It was..."

"Hmm... You don't look so good. Oh! Maybe you're hungry. Lucky for you, I'm a master chef now. I used the leftover chicken and panko crumbs from yesterday's curry bread — which was so~ delicious, by the way. Made some chicken katsu with it."

She pushed herself off the couch and skipped to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a sealed container.

"Hey..." I whispered, but it wasn't loud enough.

"Why are you still standing there, Shohei? Come, come. Give it a try and tell me how you like it."

Just as she was about to put it in the microwave, I raised my voice and steeled it.

"Megumi."

That was when she turned, her arm hovering just outside the microwave. She seemed surprised, almost caught off guard. Clearly, she hadn't seen the news yet.

"Shohei? Is... something wrong?"

I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to end this new life she found so much joy in — a life that I just happened to be wrapped up in.

A life... that I came to appreciate because of her.

But this isn't about me. It never was. For her, I was willing to do this much... even if it meant losing what we had now.

"I think... I think it might be time for you to leave."