The Perfect Mask

Chapter 9: Cracks in the Mask

I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. It's a message from my agent another booking for a high-end photoshoot, another opportunity to display my perfect image to the world. I sigh, tossing the phone aside. It's too early to care.

I stare at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my double life pressing down on me. It's getting harder to maintain the balance, harder to keep the two halves of my life from colliding. The itch that drives me, that need for control, for release, is growing stronger. It's becoming more difficult to suppress.

But I have no choice. I've built my life on the foundation of lies and perfection. If even one crack appears in the mask, everything I've worked for could crumble. And I can't let that happen.

I drag myself out of bed, moving through the motions of my morning routine showering, dressing, eating breakfast that I barely taste. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, the perfect reflection of Nakamura Kazuki, the model, the son. But behind those carefully crafted features, I see something else. Something darker.

I shake it off, focusing on the day ahead. There's no time for doubts. No time for weakness. I have to keep the mask intact.

By the time I arrive at the photoshoot, I'm back in control. The makeup artist greets me with a bright smile, guiding me to the chair where she begins to work her magic. I let her do her job, barely paying attention as she talks about the latest gossip in the fashion industry. None of it matters to me.

The photographer, a middle-aged man with an eye for detail, approaches me once I'm ready. "Kazuki-san, we're going for a more serious look today. Something intense, mysterious. Can you give me that?"

I nod, slipping into the role as easily as breathing. Intense and mysterious? That's nothing compared to what I'm hiding beneath the surface.

As the shoot begins, I focus on each pose, each expression, giving the photographer exactly what he wants. The camera clicks repeatedly, capturing the façade that everyone believes in. But behind my eyes, there's always the darkness. Always the urge to let it slip, just for a moment. To show them the real Kazuki.

But I never do. The mask stays in place, as flawless as ever.