Everyone’s worried. They all come rushing to help me.

  “KAITO?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!”

  “STAY WITH US, STAY WITH US!”

  What was this all about? Oh…I remember now.

  Hours pass on. I’m asleep.

  I find myself in my bed, surrounded by everyone. Mai and Akane were crying, Kaguya was worried, Hikaru gathered some supplies and helped me change out of my clothes, and Mizuki was cooking up some food for me to eat when I wake up. Apparently I slept for about 12 hours.

  I slowly open up my eyelids. Akane hugs me as hard as she can.

  “You fool! Why didn’t you tell us you feel sick! Don’t pass out on us like that! We were really worried!”

  Mai continued, lunging in for another hug.

  “Don’t make me cry! I thought you died!”

  Hikaru and Kaguya look relieved and let out a sigh.

  I try to talk, slowly.

  “Sorry guys…I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I just…passed out.”

  Mai caught on quickly, her worried gaze piercing my soul.

  “Tell us what’s going on! Lately, every now and then you suddenly zone out. You can talk to us!”

  I look at her, unsure whether to tell them the truth.

  “He couldn’t have passed out from our soccer practice. The ones at school are much longer.”

  Nobody looks like they believed me.

  They were all waiting on me to tell them what was actually going on. I couldn’t leave them like this when they were so worried about my condition.

  “Alright…I will tell you all what happened.”

  (Flashback) – I was about 8 years old. I already made the breakthrough in the industry….but there was one wish I couldn’t have fulfilled. There was a very cute voice actress, about the same age as me. I don’t perfectly remember her name. I used to call her Marise-chan. We were both casting in a movie called “Sporting Idols, REMIX!”. We got along well until the movie ended, but I wanted to stay in touch with her.

  And so, I asked her out to continue being friends with me. She immediately agreed, but…

  2 months later, after we had some fun times together at the local park playground…we were running on the street, and in a moment of carelessness, she was hit by a car passing nearby. I was in a state of shock. I rushed with her parents to the hospital, bawling my eyes out.

  I went to her hospital bed, and she was in a coma. I couldn’t watch the scene, and I kept blaming myself for it. I fell down to my knees, and I started crying as hard as I could. Her parents tried to console me and tell me that it was not my fault, but deep down, I couldn’t ever forgive myself.

  I couldn’t go through that again.

  I swore to never let another girl get close to me. I didn’t want anyone to suffer again because of me.

  I had Akane and Mai by my side then, and while they were feeling bad for me…I avoided both of them for about a year.

  Eventually, I forgot about it, but I vowed to keep my promise. I quit voice acting, and I started playing with them again, and hung out like we always used to, but I couldn’t let them get too close to me. I didn’t want to lose both my precious childhood friends.

  I never got to know if she recovered from it or not. I just hoped she will be okay, and somehow, destiny would bring us together.

  Years passed, and to cope with the event, I forced myself to forget about it, like a sealed memory. (Flashback ends.)

  “And that’s the story.”

  I start crying, wiping my tears with my arm.

  “I’m sorry for not telling you this earlier…I didn’t want to worry any of you. That’s why I can’t get you girls close to myself, I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Akane and Mai were crying hard, looking at me with widened eyes.

  “Why would we ever get hurt because of you?! It was just an event that happened! It was not your fault!”

  Mai agrees, pulling away a bit.

  “You’re not alone! You couldn’t have done anything then. You couldn’t have prevented it!”

  I start crying even harder.

  “But…she...”

  Akane comes back almost screaming.

  “If there’s something that’s hurting us, it’s you keeping your distance from us! We’re childhood friends! You’re hurting Kaguya and Mizuki too! Act like yourself! Like how you were when we were young! Happy, helping, considerate!”

  Kaguya intervenes, with a careful reply and a calming stare.

  “See, Kaito? You’re not hurting anybody. We all care about you. We’re just happy to have you along us. Don’t think about things that you can’t influence. The shackles that held you down for so long are gone. You can freely live your life with us now. Be yourself, once again. Please. Do it for us, at least.”

  I take a look at them, almost on the point of breaking.

  “Everyone…”

  They all hug me.

  I finally feel like a stone has been picked up from my heart. I feel…free. The past doesn’t hold me down anymore. Maybe I lost Marise-chan, but I have 5 friends with me now. I need to move on and live in the present.

  “Thank you.”

  Mizuki rushed downstairs to bring the food. She comes with it quickly.

  Kaguya takes the bowl, grabs a small amount of the food in the spoon and heads it to my head.

  “You helped me that night, and I will help you too. Say ahh!”

  I wasn’t afraid to get close to her now. I should accept her kindness and worry.

  “Ahh!”

  With her usual happy face, she lets out a mom-like reply.

  “There, there. I’m glad to see you smile like you used to.”

  We all laugh it off, and I smile like I used to before that incident.

  I can finally live with them like normal.

  I am free of all the problems.

  The next day came fast.

  Mizuki, at about 8 AM came over to awake me.

  “Come on, Kaito. We need to get going. The voice acting starts in 2 hours.”

  “Good morning…sure. Let me prepare.”

  I decided to call the director last night and tell him that I will start voice acting again. Let's see how this goes.

  Mizuki came to my room, happy over the board, ready to finally get her long-awaited desire with me.

  “I’m glad you are returning, Kaito.”

  “So am I, Mizuki.”

  She started hopping like a bunny downstairs, humming one of her group's songs.

  We both take the train. It was packed inside, full of people going to work or tourists.

  There's not much room to move...and Mizuki looks very uncomfortable.

  I should have just taken a taxi!

  The train pulls a sudden brake.

  My eyes look for Mizuki to prevent her falling.

  Mizuki’s now clinging on to me, her breast pressed up against my chest.

  Keep calm. Calm. Calm.

  I notice she’s flustered, blushing while looking directly in my eyes.

  “Thank…you.”

  “No problem. Are you alright?”

  I decide to keep her close for the time being, until we get off the train. Her face was red.

  Did she really think that much about it? All I did was to prevent her from falling.

  “Y-yes…I’m alright.”

  We reach our train station after what felt like an eternity and head to the director’s studio.

  Mizuki’s head was a mess: “How did that happen?! He saved me from falling…he was so cool. Am I really starting to like him? I love his voice, and he’s so considerate, awesome, cheerful, friendly…am I falling for him? I know Mai and Akane love him but…should I too?”

  They reach the office and are greeted warmly by the director.

  “I’m happy that you’re back with us once again, Kaito. It’s been too long.”

  “I’m happy to be here. Let’s do good work together.”

  The voicing went great. Everyone in the studio was shocked at how passionately I could act. Mizuki was looking at me like she saw a star.

  "Kiyano, I can't take this anymore! I'm too tired" said Mizuki as passionately as she could, her gaze making an image of a Top Star.

  I decide to pour all my heart into acting it out.

  "Don't worry, Freia, i'm here for you!"

  The assistant director cuts the cameras off, as it was the last scene. "Cut!"

  The director was impressed.

  “Nice work, Kaito. When I will have some other offers on the table, you and Mizuki will be my first options. I’m going to make a big name out of you guys.”

  “Thank you. We’re going to head home now!”

  And just like that, we leave the studio.

  “How was it, Mizuki? You liked my voice acting?”

  “It was perfect! I loved yo-…it so much! You have incredible acting skills!”

  "Thanks! You were great too." said I, being proud of the praise recieved from a national idol.

  Mizuki on the other hand, laughed and brushed it off.

  I ALMOST SAID IT. It’s not the time now…come on me! Don’t be stupid! We need to get him closer to us, then we can make a move! I’m new in his life, after all! I stand no chance against Mai and Akane.

  And so, after a long day at work, we get home.

  Mai greeted us warmly, while she was cooking.

  ”Welcome home! How did it go?”

  “Great! What are you cooking there?”

  “Katsu with Miso soup!”

  Mizuki looked overjoyed.

  “My favourite! I can’t wait to eat it!”

  “Where’s Akane? I haven’t seen her all day.”

  “She left early to go to the mall. Apparently, she’s having a sleepover with her friends tonight, at her place.”

  “Oh…I see. Well then, it’s just the three of us. I’m going upstairs.”

  I enter the bathroom and chill in the bathtub, thinking about my day.

  "Man...today was great. I'm happy I got back in front of the cameras. And Mizuki was happy too."

  Akane enters the house.

  “Akane! Weren’t you having a sleepover with your friends?”

  “I did, but they went to the supermarket. They want to cook up something at my house and have a girls night. I’m going to use the shower.”

  “I’d also want to take one. Dinner’s ready by the way!”

  Mizuki came up with an idea, a lightbulb popping up above her head.

  “Then why don’t we all have one together?”

  Akane was a bit shy, backing down.

  “What are you saying?!”

  Mai looking teasingly grabs her hands.

  “What’s the big deal, Akane? We used to take showers all the time together as kids.”

  “I suppose you’re right…let’s go then.”

  The girls head upstairs, but...

  I forgot to put up the bath in use sign.