Behind the screen

A new day

Kenma's POV:

Kenma woke up after a restless night, his mind still buzzing from the events of the first day of the tournament. The excitement, the crowds, and the pressure of maintaining his dual identity all swirled in his thoughts. He stretched and got out of bed, feeling the weight of the day ahead.

He prepared for the second day of the tournament, going over his schedule and mentally steeling himself for the events to come. There were more matches, meet-and-greets, and panels he had to attend. As much as he loved gaming, the constant demand to be "on" for his fans was exhausting.

Kenma glanced at his phone, seeing a flood of messages from fans and friends. Kuroo had already sent a few excited texts about the day's events. Kenma sighed, knowing his friend would be buzzing with energy. He replied with a quick message, promising to meet up with Kuroo soon.

As he packed his bag with the essentials—gaming gear, snacks, and a change of clothes—Kenma couldn't shake the memory of his late-night streaming session. The 18+ stream had been intense, as always. Wearing a mask and using a different persona allowed him a sense of freedom, but it also added to his growing sense of exhaustion. The thrill of interacting with his fans in such an intimate way was a stark contrast to the more reserved and quiet image he maintained as Kodzuken.

He had felt a pang of guilt as he ended the stream, the chat filled with adoring comments. The mask allowed him to be someone else, someone bold and uninhibited, but it also made him feel like a fraud. He loved gaming and his fans, but the constant facade was wearing him down.

Kenma's thoughts were interrupted by a message from Kuroo, reminding him to eat breakfast. He grabbed a quick bite and headed to the tournament venue. The atmosphere was electric, with fans and participants buzzing with anticipation. He blended in with the crowd, his hoodie pulled up and sunglasses on, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

As he navigated through the throngs of people, his mind drifted back to the previous night. The stark contrast between his public persona and his secret identity weighed heavily on him. He wondered how much longer he could keep up the charade without it affecting his performance or his sanity.

Once at the venue, he met up with Kuroo, who was already excitedly chatting about the day's events. Kenma forced a smile, pushing his worries to the back of his mind. Today was about the tournament, and he needed to focus. The internal conflict would have to wait.