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✎ Tsukasa is a troupe mate of mine, and I don't intend for our relationship to go any further than that. the only times I would really want to talk to him are when we're discussing a new show, and that's just because I need to. nothing other than that.
Nene stopped writing and glanced up from her diary, closely eyeing Tsukasa, who was being chased around by Emu, from backstage.
fine, maybe we're friends... but he's barely tolerable with that arrogant personality of his.
when Nene finished writing, she snapped her diary closed, sitting with her knees in front of her chest in silence.
"Nene! help me out, will you!?" Tsukasa called out to Nene, who, meanwhile, just wanted to relax after their last show.
usually, Nene'd be annoyed that idiot had to ask her for help, and it would be a lie if she said she wasn't. but, for some reason, with hearing Tsukasa call her name like that.... she felt a weird feeling in her chest, but she decided to just shake it off.
Nene internally groaned to herself, slowly getting up and going to help him out anyway, which she convinced herself was mainly to make him shut up.
"Emu, stop chasing after Tsukasa, please? you're making him even louder and even more unbearable than usual," Nene sighed as she faced Emu, another one of her troupe mates.
Emu stopped right in her tracks, pouting slightly. "but.... Nene-chan, it's so much fun to play with Tsukasa-kun!" she whined, twirling around with her usual boundless energy.
Tsukasa took the opportunity to catch his breath, while standing behind Nene as if she were his shield. "hey, that's not how you speak about your beloved leader!" Tsukasa announced, readjusting his posture and clamping his hands on his hips.
"just be grateful that I helped you out," Nene replied, turning to Tsukasa with unamusement plastered on her face.
"yes, thanks, Nene. I don't think I could've survived for much longer..." Tsukasa murmured in a mix of gratitude and expiration, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
Nene rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "you're so dramatic, Tsukasa," Nene began. "maybe if you weren't so full of yourself, Emu wouldn't find it so entertaining to chase you."
"hehe!" Emu giggled again, bouncing on her toes. "alright, I'll stop! sorry, Tsukasa-kun!" Emu apologized before skipping away, probably in search of her next bit of fun.
Tsukasa watched Emu go before turning back to Nene. "seriously though, thanks a bunch. I owe you one!" Tsukasa said, flashing his widest, most adorable smile.
Nene tried to avert her view from him, but it just wasn't possible. her heart started pounding, her face flushing bright red. "wh-wha-!? hell... why is my heart beating so fast!?" Nene mentally panicked, trying to calm herself down.
Tsukasa's smile was like a sudden beam of sunlight illuminating the darkest corners of the Wonder Stage, like a... star, which he had always insisted he was, lighting up the darkest and gloomiest of night skies.
his smile, it was those types of smiles where the person is grinning so hard that their eyes are squinted to the point they're almost completely closed.
though, it was so damn cute... it made Nene realize, even if just for a second, why Emu chose him, why he had made it as a star at Phoenix Wonderland, and why he was their leader.
"y-you don't owe me anything," Nene stammered, attempting to sound nonchalant while avoiding eye contact. "just... try not to get into anymore trouble."
"it's not my fault Emu always has to try to tackle me!" he exclaimed. "I'm not talking about just that, idiot..." Nene retorted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in an attempt to disguise her discomfort.
"I mean in general. You have a knack for finding trouble even when it's not looking for you," Nene grumbled.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Nene. it means I'm always keeping things interesting! that's what leaders do!" Tsukasa laughed confidently, though the sound was surprisingly warm and genuine.
"interesting isn't the word I'd use," Nene muttered under her breath, but Tsukasa either didn't hear her or chose to ignore the comment.
"yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll be more careful," Tsukasa responded, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "but, seriously, if you ever need anything, just let me know," he offered, his smile softening.
Nene nodded, feeling the heat in her cheeks subside a bit. "sure, whatever," she gulped, trying to play it cool. "just don't expect me to save you every time."
"deal," Tsukasa agreed with a chuckle, giving Nene a quick thumbs up before sauntering off, presumably to find Emu and make sure she didn't get into anymore mischief herself.
meanwhile, Nene found herself watching him longer than she intended. Nene hates that, out of all people, Tsukasa was suddenly the one flooding her brain.
she hated how easily he stuck in people's minds, because that couldn't be just her, right!? I mean, she had to have been going insane if it was anything more than that!
she couldn't be falling in love with the one and only Tsukasa Tenma, right? yeah, no way...! like, c'mon, his bad traits outweigh his good ones... or, at least, that's what Nene told herself.
sure, that weird feeling in her chest was still there, but she pushed it down, chalking it up to post-performance adrenaline, even though she knew dang well she didn't get such a thing.
still, she couldn't help but wonder why her feelings were so mixed. "get a grip, Nene..." she whispered to herself, clutching her diary comfortingly close.
"he's just a troupe mate. nothing more," Nene repeated to herself.
even as she tried to convince herself, she knew deep down that things were beginning to change, and she wasn't sure how she felt about that. especially if it was with Tsukasa Tenma...
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✦ - 05/18/2024
