Separate Worlds, Pt. 4

For a while, we just stood there, eyes aimed at each other. Not a single word was said in between, and even then, the silence was louder than any words I could've mustered.

Then, out of nowhere, Megumi began laughing.

"Hah... Haha~ That was a good one, Shohei. Giving me a taste of my own medicine, are you? I almost fell for it, too. Can't fool me, though. After all, I made a career out of modeling, but I blew up because of acting. You're not quite on my level yet."

She rested the plate of pork katsu in the microwave and set it for thirty seconds. When she turned back to look at me, the shift in her face... the way her smile slowly flatlined... was so painfully apparent.

"You... You're being... serious?"

I didn't answer. The words just wouldn't come out.

"Wha... H-how come?" she asked, losing breath with every word. "Is it... because of yesterday? I knew it. I did overstep my boundaries. I shouldn't have interfered and clung to you like that."

"Megumi—"

"B-but I won't do it again! I promise! I... I'll behave from now on. I won't even ask you to go out anymore. I'll just... stay at home! Y-yeah! That's what I'll do. I'll stay here and watch videos, or doom scroll, or—"

"Megumi!"

At that, she flinched, taking a step back and raising her arms to her chest.

I frightened her. Me... But this is necessary. I can't humor her any longer. To get my message across, and for her sake, I have to do this.

"Looks, it's... It has nothing to do with yesterday."

"...Then why...?"

I slipped my phone from my pocket and approached her. As soon as she saw the screen, her eyes widened.

"What... is this?" she mumbled.

"A news article. Came out last night, but I guess it didn't blow up till today. You see that, right? It's just a nice photo that someone posted on social media. Yet, in the background..."—I dragged my fingers away to zoom in—"Megumi no Hana... holding hands with a mysterious young man."

This time, it was she who didn't say anything. Probably still taking this all in. As for me, I couldn't help but let out a frustrated chuckle.

"I mean, I called it, didn't I? The worst thing an influencer can do is go public with their relationship. The second worst thing is giving the internet even a hint. They'll go through everything with a fine-tooth comb, and unfortunately for us... they did."

"But that... That wasn't even my fault."

"No, it wasn't, and I... I'm not saying that it was your fault. The point is that it happened. And now that it has... We can't just keep doing what we're doing."

"Well, why not?"

"...What?"

For the first time since I'd met her, Megumi raised her voice.

"Let them talk," she muttered. "I already announced that I'd be taking a break. Whatever I do during that break is none of their business."

"You know as well as I that it won't be that easy. Even now, they're drawing their own conclusions and slandering your name."

"And I'm supposed to care about that?"

"What? Of course, you should! This is your career. Your livelihood. You can't just toss that away on a whim."

"Who says I'm tossing anything away? I'm just hanging out, aren't I? Relaxing during my break, and if it happens to involve some mysterious young man or whatever, then that's that."

"Megumi—

"Stop. I already get enough nagging from my manager. I don't need you doing it, too."

She turned away to check on the pork katsu.

I wanted to leave it at that. I really did. Maybe we could go back to how we were — chaotic roommates waking up to each other's spontaneous antics, talking about random things that had no real meaning, and just... enjoying this new life we found together.

Despite that, I can't. Today, I made a decision. No matter what, I have to send her away. I have to give up on this sweet dream. And if I want to protect her... I can never see her again.

So, I lurched forward, snatching her wrist. Not hard. Just enough so that she can understand.

For a while, she didn't move. Her head was down, and her hands were trembling. When she finally looked up, my heart sank as a line of tears rolled down her face.

"Shohei..." she mumbled. "Do you... really want me gone that badly?"

"What...? No. No, no— it's not like that!"

"Then why are you trying so hard to make me leave?! I like it here! I like being with you... and around you... a-and hanging out with you."

"I... I know. Trust me, I do. But if these rumors keep spreading—"

"So what if they do? People can spout whatever the hell they want, and I'll still walk the other way with my chin up! As long as I know what's real and what's not, there's no reason for me to care! So why should you?!"

"Because I care about you!"

The words came out louder than I wanted, the echo fading into a chilling, hollow silence.

"I care about you, Megumi," I said, my voice softer. "A lot. That's why... even if you like it here... even if you like being with me, or around me, or hanging out with me... I can't just sit here and watch it happen. Not while the thought of you slowly destroying your future lingers in the back of my mind."

She kept her gaze on me, searching for something — anything — to latch onto. But she couldn't, because this time, I left no room for misinterpretation.

I knew it would hurt, just not this much. Especially when she turned away. Her eyes... were as hollow as they were on the night I first met her.

"So this... is how it ends, huh?" she mumbled. "All because of an accident. Wasn't my fault. Wasn't yours either. Just some random photo that happened to catch us in the background. It's funny, really. If it weren't for that... if we weren't in the wrong place at the wrong time... we'd probably be doing something completely normal right now. Talk for hours, lounge around, maybe go for a jog, or take some photos for your class. Life would go on, and we'd be having fun along the way. It just..."

She sniffled, biting her lips as her voice cracked.

"I-it just sucks, you know?"

"...I know. I know."

Suddenly, a ringtone. It wasn't coming from my phone. It was hers. Megumi took one look at the screen, hesitated, then answered it.

"Hello...?"
"Yeah, I've seen them."
"No. No, they're... They're not true. It was just someone I used to know..."—she glanced at me—"From back then."
"I'm... actually out for a walk right now. In a park. I'll send you the location, so have someone pick me up."

With that, she hung up.

"Well, I... I should probably go. They'll be here soon. It'll look bad if I'm coming out of your apartment when they do."

"...Yeah. I'll get the door for you."

Slowly, we made our way to the front, where I twisted the knob and pulled the door open. She stepped outside, and immediately, the cold hit her.

"Oh. L-let me get you a jacket," I said.

"No. I'm okay."

"Huh? But..."

"I'll be alright. And besides... If I end up keeping your jacket... It'll make it harder for me to forget about you."

"Ah... R-right."

Megumi took a deep breath, sharply inhaling the cold air. Then, she turned around, giving me one last smile — one that will probably be ingrained in me for the rest of my life.

"Thank you, Shohei. For everything. It was fun while it lasted."

Before I could reply, she was already on her way. I watched as she disappeared down the hallway before shutting the door behind her.

Couldn't even make it a few steps before my legs gave in. I collapsed to the floor, leaning my back against the wall.

Maybe one day, she can forget about me. That's the best-case scenario. The worst... I didn't even wanna think about it.

It's hard.

It's painful.

But it's the only way to save her from choosing me, because now I know... This whole time, she was never acting.

Sluggishly, I picked up my phone and called Yue. It rang once, then twice, then—"

"Hello?"

My mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"Hello? Taka?"

"...I'm here, Yue."

"Hey. Um... Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Yeah... Everything is fine now. It's just... I-it's..."

I couldn't control it. Couldn't keep it in. I tried, though. I really did. And maybe that was why it hurt so much when the tears finally came.

"I think I just... lost something very important to me..."