The Perfect Mask

Chapter 29: Second Visit

The next day, I found myself driving back to the hospital. It was strange I didn’t want to go, yet at the same time, I couldn’t stop myself. Something about Sai’s vulnerability, his friendliness, kept pulling me back. I couldn’t explain it.

When I walked into his room, Sai’s face lit up again. “Kazuki, you’re back! I didn’t think you’d come again.”

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “Just checking in. Don’t read too much into it.”

He chuckled, shifting slightly in his bed. “Still, it’s nice. I’ve had a lot of time to think while I’ve been lying here. It’s been boring, honestly.”

I sat down in the same chair as before, unsure of what to say. Small talk wasn’t something I was good at, and being around someone like Sai, who was so open and friendly, felt foreign to me. But despite myself, I found his presence oddly comforting.

“Have you ever thought about what you’d do if this modeling thing didn’t work out?” Sai asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

I glanced at him, surprised by the question. “Why? You thinking of quitting?”

He smiled faintly. “No, not quitting. Just… thinking. I realized after the accident that life can change so fast. One moment you’re fine, and the next, everything’s different. Makes you wonder if you’re doing what you really want to do.”

I stared at him for a moment, his words echoing in my mind. Life could change in an instant. I knew that better than anyone. But unlike Sai, I didn’t spend time wondering about what-ifs. My life was carefully controlled, every move calculated. I didn’t leave room for uncertainty.

“I don’t think about things like that,” I finally said. “I make sure things go the way I want them to.”

Sai looked at me thoughtfully, as if he was trying to understand something deeper about me. “You’re always so in control, Kazuki. It must be exhausting.”

I didn’t respond. His words struck a chord in me, and I didn’t like it. Control was everything to me. Without it, I was nothing.