Shining Stars

Chatper Forty: The Storm's Wake

Akane's eyes were locked on the boy behind her, she felt hit tears begin to fall from her eyes, Aqua kept his arms wrapped around her, not letting her go, afraid that she'd try to go over again, he barely made it in time, he didn't have a moment to spare.

"Aqua… Why… why did you…"

"Mem-Cho said you went out in the Typhoon, and that you still hadn't come back yet, she's been looking for you… I traced the route you take to the convenience store…"

Aqua paused for a moment, still trying to catch his breath, bringing his hand onto her head and rubbing it gently.

"You fool…"

Akane felt the tears finally pour down from her face, she was so overwhelmed with the emotions she was feeling, it was too much.

"I-I just w-wanted i-it to stop…"

Aqua's expression softened as his grip around her loosened and it turned into more of a comforting embrace more than anything.

"I know you did, but this wasn't how you-"

Suddenly a flashlight shined in Aqua's face, blinding him for a second as he shielded his eyes from the sudden bright light. Footsteps splashed from the puddles on the ground, once his eyes adjusted to the bright light, he saw a police officer, who looked concerningly at the pair.

"Hey, you two, it's dangerous out! What are you two doing?!"

- - - - - -

Ruby and Kana were sitting around in Myoako's office, Kana was scrolling on her phone, frowning slightly at what she saw.

"Akane Kurokawa is getting roasted big time. Well, it's no wonder considering what she did…"

"Isn't this the type of thing you get used to when you're a public figure?"

"To some degree, but everyone handles it differently, some even don't get used to it. It even gets to me sometimes, depending on how I'm doing mentally, there were even days I felt like ending it all…"

Kana paused as she let out a sigh, even if Akane was a rival actress, Kana didn't wish for her to receive this much harassment and cancellation.

"Then throw in a teenage girl, who has no tolerance for this sort of thing and suddenly gets exposed and faces a barrage of abuse for the first time, is that something you can even fathom? It's enough to make you think your whole life is just… over…"

Kana finished as Ruby looked empathetic, as she looked down at her own phone. Miyako stood up from the couch, walking as she began to give her input.

"Even though reality dating shows are popular all around the world,around fifty people from those kinds of shows have ended up taking their own lives over the past couple of years. It's become such a big issue some countries are requiring cast members to undergo counseling."

"If fifty people have died, you are able to assume at least ten times that have narrowly avoided the same fate, dispute feeling helpless. Reality TV shows are programs in which you lay your soul. It's not the show that gets lambashed, but you yourself. It cuts deep, some too deep to treat.

Ruby nodded at this new information she was just given, it was a lot to take in, and none of it was stuff she wanted in her mind. It was all too depressing for the upbeat and cheerful girl to bare.

"Aqua once said that lies are the best weapon to protect yourself with."

"That's good advice, it doesn't hurt nearly as much if you're playing a character to some degree…"

Kana agreed, smiling slightly at Ruby, before her expression shifted to a more somber one, and explaining further.

"But the more of the real you, you put out there, the more toll it takes. Social Media puts the badmouthing of celebrities on public display in the name of 'justice' and freedom of expression. Someone is getting excessively dog piled on and bullied every single day."