Saving Me: Ruinene

What a Coincidence... (17)

Nene

It's been months since that musical. Months since I messed up everything. I still can't forget the way they talked about me afterward, like I was nothing. Like I didn't deserve to be on that stage.

I used to love performing. Now, just thinking about it makes my chest tighten. I can barely talk to anyone. Even just saying 'hi' feels like a mountain. I don't know how to get back to the way things were.

Rui hasn't talked to me since that night. He said I shouldn't force myself to do these shows anymore. Maybe he's right. Maybe I should just give up. But then what would I be? Deep down, I still... want that feeling to be on stage again.

I walk down the hallway at school, keeping my head down. My heart beats faster every-time I pass by someone. I want to say something, but I can't. The words are stuck in my throat.

As I leave school for the day, I see Rui across the street. My heart skips a beat. I want to run up to him, but my feet stay rooted in place. It's like we're stuck, both too scared to say anything.

I sigh and start walking home, trying to shake off that feeling that maybe things will never get better.

Rui

After everything's that's happened, I thought about giving Nene some space would be best but... I still feel guilty. I wonder if I should've done something different.

I can't bring myself to reach out to her. I see her sometimes, from a distance, struggling to speak to anyone. The way she looks at the ground, avoiding eye contact, makes me still wonder if she's thinking about that incident.

But I don't. I keep walking, convincing myself that maybe it's for the best. As I turn the corner, lost in thought, I bump into someone.

"Ah— sorry..."

I say, stepping back quickly and giving them a polite smile.

The guy I bumped into stares at me, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"No problem at all,"

he says, brushing it off casually.

"I should've been watching where I was going!"

I blink, trying to place him. His bright, almost infectious energy feels familiar, like I've seen him before.

"I'm Tsukasa Tenma,"

he says, offering his hand.

"You look like you've got a lot on your mind, huh?"

I hesitate before shaking his hand.

"Rui Kamishiro. And yeah, I guess you could say that,"
giving him that polite smile again.

Tsukasa laughs, a little too loud for the quiet street, but it seems oddly... comforting...

"Well, if you ever need to talk or, you know, get some advice from the great Tsukasa, let me know!"
He winks dramatically.

I just nod, unsure of how to respond. But as I watch him walk off, something tells me that meeting him might change things.