After the Spotlight

Kaito and Ayaka exchanged polite bows with the two hosts as the show finally wrapped. The lights, so sharp and invasive moments ago, seemed to dim into something almost bearable.

Masato put his hand on Kaito’s shoulder. “Thanks for this. I know interviews are not your favorite.”

Kaito shook his head. “Part of the job, I should get used to them.”

Ryohei gave Ayaka a nod of approval. “I think I have a newfound respect for you after today.”

Ayaka let out a nervous laugh and held out her hand. They shared a brief shake to show they had no hard feelings.

The two hosts turned to each other and immediately slipped into their own private conversation without another word.

“I guess we can just go,” Ayaka said as she watched them drift into their own little world.

“It looks that way,” Kaito responded.

Together they stepped off the stage and down the narrow hallway, the noise of the studio fading behind them. At the next junction, they split toward their respective waiting rooms, where their coaches were already gathered, ready with praise, criticism, and everything in between.

Reiko Sakamoto stood in front of the door with a stern look fixed firmly in place. Ayaka lunged forward and wrapped her in a half‑hearted hug; a transparent attempt to soften the scolding she knew was coming for losing her composure on air. It worked instantly. Reiko’s stern expression cracked in less than a second.

She patted her athlete’s head. “You worked hard today.”

Ayaka looked up at the woman who had been her greatest support outside of her own family. She offered a small smile and stepped back, relieved to see Reiko’s face fully softened now.

“Can we not do any more shows until I actually win an Olympic medal?”

Reiko shook her head. “We need to keep you in the spotlight. It helps you are still a brand in your own right.”

Ayaka dropped into the stylish but uncomfortable couch that the meeting room provided, letting her shoulders slump. She could not help wondering why anyone would choose something this stiff for a celebrity waiting room. A revelation hit her; maybe it was reserved for the guests they did not particularly like.

“I figured as much,” she muttered, resigning herself to that fate.

Reiko leaned against the table in front of her, a comforting smile tugging at her lips. “So what’s this about a TV career?” she teased. “Planning to leave me after all my hard work trying to get you that Olympic medal?”

Ayaka, still riding the adrenaline from the interview, shot back, “Well, I figured I had to take all those beatings because you were so slow getting me ready.”

Reiko stood and crossed the room in two quick steps, launching into a tickle attack like they were schoolgirls at a sleepover. Ayaka yelped, caught completely off guard and unable to defend herself.

“What was that?” Reiko laughed. “Want to repeat that?”

Ayaka’s laughter spilled out into the hallway, bright and unrestrained. All the stress she had been carrying melted away, leaving only the warmth of someone who knew exactly how to bring her back to herself.

Kaito had been listening to his coach’s lecture on opening up and expressing himself more for quite some time. Or rather, he had been pretending to listen. His mind drifted until a burst of warm laughter from the next room, unmistakably Ayaka’s, snapped him back to reality.

Daichi Kuroda watched his athlete’s eyes flicker with sudden awareness and took it as a sign he was finally getting through. He pressed on.

“You are talented, good-looking, and you have a great personality. What is there to be afraid of?” he insisted. “Let the world see that package.”

Kaito nodded politely, but Daichi did not notice he had already tuned out again.

“I’m not saying you need to be a media darling,” the coach continued, “just… less closed off.”

When Daichi finally glanced back at him, he caught the distant look in Kaito’s eyes and sighed inwardly. Maybe he had pushed too hard.

“We’re free after this,” he said, softening his tone. “Do you want to go get a bite to eat?”

It was an olive branch; a small, friendly gesture meant to pull Kaito back from wherever his thoughts had wandered.

Kaito looked up to find his coach watching him with an expectant, almost inquisitive expression. Not entirely sure what he was agreeing to, he simply nodded.

Kaito knew he needed to perform his duties, and he always did. He did not care for how awkward he could be at times, just as much as those around him. He wondered for just a moment if he could ever be as lively as Ayaka was.

Shaking his head, he gestured to Daichi that they should prepare to leave. Daichi, glad Kaito had seemed to recover, nodded in agreement.

The two gathered their belongings and began to exit the waiting room. They crossed paths with Ayaka and Reiko at the doorway, both pairs emerging at the same moment. The coaches exchanged a brief, polite bow before heading off in opposite directions.

Ayaka offered Kaito and Daichi a warm smile and a bow of her own before hurrying after Reiko. Kaito let his eyes linger on the two figures for a moment longer. He noted Ayaka’s light steps, Reiko’s steady presence; then turned to catch up to his coach.