New Year Same Me, Pt. 4

The room went silent, save for a few unnecessary camera snaps. While Megumi kept her gaze on the lady, everyone else had their eyes fixed on her, eager for an answer. Clearly, it was a point of contention, but no one dared to speak up about it, especially at a commemorative event like this.

Of course, the internet never fails to stick its nose in places it doesn't belong, and who better to thoroughly commit than the media itself?

I had meant to turn the TV off. Really, I did. But something like this... Even I can't deny that I was a little curious after the radio silence these past few months.

A deep breath.

"I'm glad you brought this up," Megumi said calmly. "And yes, you are right that there have been speculations that I was romantically involved with someone. I am aware of this claim, and allow me to dispel those rumors here. Rest assured, that was not a romantic partner or anything like that. He was simply a bodyguard of mine."

"I'm sorry, Miss Megumi, but that statement won't do much to quell the current public outrage," the lady replied, her voice sterner. "Your agency has repeatedly refused to share the identity of this 'bodyguard', and even if that statement were true, it still doesn't explain why holding hands was necessary."

Whispers came to life in the crowd, seemingly agreeing with the lady, but Megumi didn't back down.

"Well, we have also repeatedly stated that the reason why we are not divulging said bodyguard's identity is to protect him. Take this whole case, for example. The internet will grab anything and run with it, just as they did to me — so to keep him from going through the same thing, we firmly believe that this step is much more appropriate. Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to say that it is unfair to insinuate something so outlandish when all you have to go off of is a tiny frame in a photo."

A bodyguard... I do recall seeing a snippet of that claim a while back, but I didn't look into it any more than that. 

"In that case, allow me to ask you directly, Miss Megumi. Why were you holding hands with your so-called bodyguard?"

"It was simply to keep me from straying too far. That excursion was not planned. It was more of a... spontaneous idea. I just felt like going to the mall, and that particular bodyguard happened to be the only one around at the time."

Her voice faltered, if only slightly.

"And besides, I'm... not really the most romantic person, anyway. Never entertained the thought. I'm too busy working on other things — my future, my career, myself — which is why I took a break. I also know how... the public would react and the consequences if anything were to get out, so I... I—"

Suddenly, a man in a suit walked onto the stage from the side. He leaned over, whispered something in her ear, then walked away. That was when Megumi hesitantly lifted the cards she had resting on her lap.

"Anyway, the rumors..."

She stopped there. Didn't say anything, didn't move. Something changed in her eyes, unreadable, as they pointed away at nothing in particular. The silence was steady, as if the whole room itself was holding its breath. Megumi lowered the cards, slowly... till they were back on her lap.

"...They're true."

The second those words left her mouth, all hell broke loose. Everyone in the studio rose to their feet, shouting over one another, expecting an answer to their questions.

Couldn't really blame them, because if I were there... I'd be doing the same thing.

Why... did she say that? What the hell is she thinking? Does she even know the consequences of admitting something like that?

She does. I know she does, but that is what makes it so confusing. Her future is at stake, and yet... she chose to ignore it.

The men who were previously standing on the side came rushing out, but Megumi quickly lifted her hand to stop them — an act of defiance that silenced the audience almost instantly.

"One at a time, please," she mumbled, her voice having lost its flair. "I'll... I'll answer everything... to the best of my ability, starting with you again, miss."

She pointed at the same lady, who seemed like she was still trying to get a grip on reality.

"I... I apologize. I wasn't... ready for that kind of admission."

"That's okay. Take your time."

The lady shuffled through the pages of her notes.

"I suppose, to start off... Now that we know he isn't a bodyguard, who is the young man you were holding hands with?"

"For obvious reasons, I won't divulge his name. Instead... I'll describe him. He's a college student around my age. Works really hard to make it in the world, and for a time, he took care of me when I was at my lowest. As you'll recall, I announced a while back that I'd be taking a break. To be honest, it was due to all the negative reviews I've been getting. People calling me ugly, low ratings on shows I've starred in, and it... It got to me. A lot more than I thought it would. That was when I met him."

A hand rose to the left, and Megumi pointed at him.

"Yes?"

"Earlier, you had said that you've never entertained the idea of a romantic partner, while adding that you were too busy. Was that a lie?"

Megumi shut her eyes for a moment.

"...Yes, it was."

As a wave of gasps and murmurs filled the room, yet another man rushed out from backstage. It was her manager.

"I apologize, everyone!" he said. "Megumi has been filming nonstop for three months straight, so she must be feeling a little fatigued right now."

"Actually, Manager Mori, I'm feeling rather fine," she snapped.

"M-Megumi—"

"I'm sure I made myself clear. I will answer every question today. That's what I said, so that's what I'll do. You can decide what happens to me later, but right now, I'm busy."

Unable to act in the presence of an audience, the manager choked back his nerves and walked away. And then there was Megumi, who turned back to the speaker as if nothing happened.

"I apologize for the intrusion."

"N-no... There's no need to... Ahem. So, you lied. I respect your honesty, Miss Megumi, but if you could indulge me with just one more question."

"Of course."

"That young man... What was it about him you liked so much that you would risk your career?"

"Hah... I think the real question there is what I didn't like about him. For one, he didn't care that I was Megumi no Hana. If anything, he... Pfft~"—she smiled to herself—"He found my status mildly annoying. Didn't want anything to do with it. I think, for me... That's what made him so likable. He wasn't after anything. He just liked... me."

Another hand.

"Go ahead."

"Is he your boyfriend? Officially?"

"Ah... No, he isn't. I think we got really close to it, but... we grew apart. Actually, he was the one who pushed me away."

Once again, the room was filled with chatter and noise, but the second Megumi raised her hand, it died back down.

"I'm sure you're wondering what the reason is, and the answer is simple. It was due to the surfacing of that very photo. He... He wanted to protect me. My career... My future. He didn't want me to choose him, because if I did, that likely would've been the end of Megumi no Hana. And honestly, with all of this being said... it might still end up that way, but I don't care anymore. I'm tired of acting like I'm fine. I'm tired of having my happiness stripped away because I'm not being careful enough. Even if it means that I'll never have a platform again, I just... really needed to say all of this."

Thereafter, no one raised their hands. No one dared to speak. It was almost as if they had collectively agreed to give her a moment to breathe.

Then, the lady from before raised her hand.

"Y-yes. What is it?"

"Miss Megumi..."

She locked eyes with her, then glanced down at her notepad. With a deep breath, she discarded it.

"Let's assume that the young man in question is out there somewhere, and he is watching this broadcast right now... What would you say to him?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her head slowly lifted, panning left to right, before stopping to look at the camera. She forced a smile, but her eyes were sad — and just for a moment... it almost felt like she was looking directly at me.

"I miss you."

Once more, the studio roared to life. Journalists began scribbling as if their lives depended on it, cameramen set the room in a sea of endless flashes, and reporters were once again filling the silence with incoherent nothingness.

And at the center of it all was Megumi no Hana — a model, an actress, a star... a girl — smiling through the screen.

Smiling... at me.