Living in the shadows

Naomi's foot began tapping on the ground, and her breath became more agitated than before.

"Kyoshiro-kun, are you gonna answer me or what!"

I was lost in a daze; Naomi's harsh tone had brought me back down to Earth.

"Oh, I'm sorry, just got lost in thought."

Naomi bit her lip, practically on the verge of ripping me a new one.

"Ugh, you always act so aloof, you klutz."

Naomi stretched her leg out, as if she were winding up a kick.

"Wait, no - stop being such a tsundere, for 5 minutes!"

Naomi jottled back, seemingly taken aback by what I said.

She puffed out her cheeks.

"Jeez, Kyoshiro-kun, would you loosen up a little? I was only joking. Why do you have to take everything at face value all the time? Oh, and for your information, I'm not a tsundere!

My lip curled.

"Yep. Definitely something a tsundere would say."

In that moment, Naomi crossed her arms

"Oh, would you give it a rest?"

Anyway, the reason I was 'acting aloof ' is that I didn't want to tell her about Akio; in fact, I was just ignoring what she was reaching for. It was better that way, for both of us.

There was no point in bringing up burnt bridges; it would've just soured my mood.

I cocked my head toward Naomi, awaiting a reaction.

"I could say the same for you, y'know—the way you put on this act just to get others to like you. Although I ain't known you that long, that's the vibe I'm getting. Where'd you even learn that anyway?"

Naomi's eyes met her shoes; her voice softened.

Her fist clenched as her breath got heavier

"From you...and Akio."

Her body...it was shaking?

"Naomi?-"

Her voice hitched. She was clearly having an internal battle, one that was larger than herself.

"Tatsumi...I just want to be - oh, never mind."

She always did that, cutting herself off from what she truly wanted, which seemed to be a habit of hers. I could relate to that in a way - hiding from what you truly want.

"Naomi, are you-"

Before I even had a chance to finish the sentence that was leaving my lips, Naomi took them from me.

"Of course I'm ok! When am I ever not ok?"

That time was right now... but I feared what she would've done if I let those words slip.

"..."

Her lip curled as the tears flowed.

"Tatsumi...what is it like to be seen?"

I got down on the floor beside her and lightly grabbed onto her shoulders.

My voice steadied, feigning hope for the one who needed it most in that moment.

"First, you need to raise your shoulders... A girl like you needs to be able to stand proud in front of her peers."

My hands raised her shoulders for her, as the Naomi in that moment had no hope of doing so.

"Next, you need to wipe those tears away - it's a bad state to see you in."

Naomi's fists clenched.

"Even when a girls in such a vulnerable state, you're still blunt like that... How shameful, Stupidsu."

My lip curled, seemingly entertained at her lashing.

"I guess the tsundarays are back to normal then."

Naomi's head cocked, seemingly thrown off course as to what I meant.

"Tsundarays - ugh, your stupidity knows no bounds, I swear. And what even does that mean?"

"Maybe ask Karane-y'know what, nevermind"

The room filled with an unanimous silence; she either got my joke or was feigning innocence.

Either way, my attempt to break the ice was short-lived. Very short.

My voice softened.

"Oh, as for the last step?... Be yourself."

"Everyone's gonna like the fake you more than the real you if you keep acting like this. Is that really what you want?"

"Anyway, when did I ever let you call me Tatsumi?"

In that moment, a smirk was smeared all over Naomi's face.

"I just happened to like it thats all."

Just then, Naomi's head dropped.

"After all, I wanted to stand out."

Thing is, she already stood out, more than I'd like to admit. I mean, after everything she's done, she should have clocked on already.

Maybe she was the klutz after all.

"I envy you and her y'know? You guys could show your true selves on that screen all the time. While I'm here, just playing a character."

My shoulders dropped, and my head turned to Naomi.

"Isn't that what being an actor is all about, though?"

Naomi's eyes dodged my gaze.

"I guess... you're right."

"And anyway, y'know we quit acting right?"

As soon as the words left my lips, the air in the room shifted, and the rain outside began to show a whole other storm of emotions.

Naomi's voice began to hitch. In that moment, her world turned gray.
"Tch, Nevermind."

"What did I do now?"

"I said nevermind!"

In that moment, Naomi's tone was sharper than a knife, but why?

That must've hit a nerve with her.

My voice softened.

I wanted to hash things out with Naomi - best believe I wasn't going to let this chance slip through my fingers.

It was now or never.

My voice softened.

"Naomi...will you tell me your story?"

Her eyes averted my gaze, as they did before. She clearly was reluctant to tell me...or so I thought.

Just then, I felt a cold hand grip the ends of my shirt.

The grip was filled with a flurry of emotions. Anger, sadness, you name it. It was most definitely there.

What was it this girl was hiding?

I felt her warm breath about to pierce through my ear, I must have hit a BIG nerve, huh?

"Wait...Naomi, your way to close."

Even though her voice had softened, every word she spoke still made my hair stand upright.

"Do you want to know how long I've been chasing after you? How long I've lived trying to live up to you...you know what nevermind."

She had gotten to the door frame, her perfume still lingering behind.

Naomi turned to face me.

Her lip curled; it was clearly forced.

"I'll stop the facade tomorrow. I wonder how you'll cope with the real me."