The Perfect Mask

Chapter 3: Audience

I walk through the crowded streets of Tokyo, surrounded by admirers who don't know the truth. They see me and smile, some even wave or try to snap a picture as I pass. I let them. The world is my audience, and I play my role to perfection.

But deep inside, there's an itch that I can't scratch. A need that grows stronger every day. The longer I go without feeding it, the more restless I become. But I have to be careful. Too much attention could ruin everything.

It's a delicate balance, like walking a tightrope high above the ground. One wrong step, one careless mistake, and it all comes crashing down. But I've never fallen. Not once.

I know what I'm doing. I always have.

Tonight, the need is stronger than usual. The crowd feels suffocating, their smiles too wide, their eyes too bright. I need to escape. I need to find a place where I can be alone where I can think.

I slip away from the crowd, ducking into a narrow alleyway that offers a momentary reprieve from the chaos of the city. My heartbeat slows as the noise fades into the background. This is better. Quieter.

I check my phone. No new messages from my parents. As usual, they're too busy with their meetings and social events to care about what I'm doing. It's better that way. They never ask questions, and I never have to lie.

But the itch remains. The need won't go away. Not until I satisfy it.