Behind the screen

Guilt

Yuki's POV:

Yuki woke up with a heavy feeling in her chest, her mind replaying the events of the previous night. She couldn't shake the guilt and confusion that came with accidentally stumbling upon the 18+ streaming site and watching that masked guy. Why had she continued watching? She felt disgusted with herself, but a strange curiosity lingered.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away as she got ready for the day. There was no point dwelling on it now. Today was another day at the tournament, and she had promised her friends she would try to have fun.

After a quick shower and a half-hearted breakfast, Yuki left her room and headed to the lobby to meet up with Pluto, Starlet, and Jazz. They were already waiting for her, buzzing with excitement about the day's events.

"Good morning, Yuki!" Starlet greeted her with a wide smile. "Ready for another fun day?"

Yuki forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, let's do this."

They headed to the tournament venue together, chatting about the matches and booths they wanted to check out. Yuki tried to immerse herself in the conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to the masked guy and the unsettling feelings from last night.

As they wandered through the venue, Pluto suddenly perked up. "Hey, I heard Kodzuken is doing a meet and greet today! We should totally go!"

Jazz's eyes lit up. "Yes! I've been dying to meet him in person. What do you think, Yuki?"

Yuki hesitated, her initial reaction one of reluctance. The last thing she wanted was to stand in line for hours to meet a streamer she didn't even understand the hype about. But seeing the excitement on her friends' faces, she couldn't bring herself to say no.

"Sure, why not," she said with a shrug. "Let's go see what all the fuss is about."

They made their way to the meet and greet area, where a long line had already formed. Fans chatted eagerly, holding posters and merch, clearly thrilled at the chance to meet their idol. Yuki felt a pang of annoyance but reminded herself that she was here for her friends.

As they stood in line, she couldn't help but overhear conversations about Kodzuken. People were praising his gaming skills, his charming personality, and his interactions with fans. Yuki tried to keep an open mind, but the memory of the previous night kept nagging at her. The contrast between the kind and loud Kodzuken her friends adored and the masked guy she had seen was stark and unsettling.

Finally, they reached the front of the line. Yuki's friends were practically bouncing with excitement. As they stepped up to meet Kodzuken, Yuki took a deep breath, determined to push her doubts aside and focus on the moment.