Behind the screen

Clubbing

Yuki's POV:

A week had passed since the tournament, and life had returned to its usual routine. Yuki sat in the dimly lit computer lab, surrounded by textbooks and notes as she worked on a project for her computer science class. The clock on the wall ticked closer to nightfall, but she was determined to finish her work.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. It was Starlet calling. Yuki hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hey, Starlet. What's up?"

"Yuki! You need to take a break. Come to the club with us tonight! It'll be fun," Starlet's voice was filled with excitement.

Yuki glanced at her project, feeling the weight of her responsibilities. "I don't know, Starlet. I have so much to do."

"Come on, Yuki. You've been working nonstop. You deserve to have some fun. Just for a little while, please?" Starlet pleaded.

Yuki sighed, feeling the pull of her friend's enthusiasm. "Alright, fine. I'll come for a bit."

"Great! See you there!" Starlet hung up before Yuki could change her mind.

Reluctantly, Yuki packed up her things and left the lab. She headed back to her dorm to change into something more suitable for a night out. Soon, she was on her way to the club, the city lights guiding her.

When she arrived, the thumping bass of the music greeted her. She spotted Starlet, Pluto, and Jazz near the bar, already immersed in the party atmosphere. Yuki joined them, trying to shake off the lingering stress from her project.

They danced and laughed, letting loose as the night progressed. Yuki found herself actually enjoying the break from her usual routine. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him—the guy she had bumped into at the tournament, the one who had been so rude to her.

Her mood soured instantly. Determined to confront him, she waved off her friends and made her way through the crowd towards him. He stood near the edge of the dance floor, looking as aloof as ever.

"Hey!" she called out, catching his attention. "We need to talk."

Kenma turned, his expression shifting from surprise to annoyance. "You again?"

"Yes, me again," Yuki snapped. "I don't understand you. Why are you always so rude? And how can you fake your personality for your fans like that?"

Kenma's eyes narrowed. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough," Yuki shot back. "I've seen how different you are with your fans. It's all an act, isn't it?"

Kenma clenched his jaw, clearly frustrated. "You think it's that simple? Do you have any idea what it's like to be constantly under the spotlight? To have to maintain a persona just to keep people happy?"

Yuki crossed her arms, anger flaring. "That doesn't give you the right to treat people like crap. Your fans deserve to know the real you."

Kenma stepped closer, his voice low and intense. "And what do you know about the real me? You've only seen bits and pieces. You don't know what it's like."

Yuki held her ground, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "Maybe I don't. But I do know that being honest is better than living a lie."

They stood there, locked in a tense standoff, the noise of the club fading into the background. For a moment, neither of them spoke, each trying to process the other's words.

Finally, Kenma let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. "It's not as easy as you think."

Yuki softened, seeing a glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes. "Then maybe you should try being yourself for once. You might be surprised by how people respond."

Kenma looked at her, a mixture of frustration and contemplation in his expression. "Maybe."

Before either of them could say more, Starlet appeared, pulling Yuki back into the crowd. "Come on, Yuki! Let's dance!"

Yuki glanced back at Kenma one last time before letting Starlet drag her away. The conversation had left her with more questions than answers, but she felt a strange sense of connection with him. Perhaps there was more to Kodzuken than she had realized.