The Pretend

Chapter-1 Don't leave me

Izumi had completed her routine at the studio when she got a message from Uriel, asking her to meet him at once at the reception. She frowned at the text but reached the grand reception area within a few minutes.

"Izumi! Your song is a hit again! Besides, this time it only took you two days to make it to the top!" He exclaimed; Izumi smiled at him. Yup, that's him. The jumpy friend gets hyper-excited every time her song became a hit.

He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

"You know what that means, right? Party!" He jumped, remembering the promise of her taking him out for a treat if Izumi's song got hit. He never forgot a word Izumi said.

"Alright, my treat, I remember. Where do you wanna go?" She asked him.

"Hmm... let's go to the restaurant that opened up recently! I think it's named 'Trenitiva'" Uriel said while scratching his head acting all innocent.

"Um, have you looked at that place? It shouts, 'Expensive!' And that's not on my budget, so pick another one." She said. Though the thought of going there was pleasing and fun, Izumi just did not want to waste money on costly restaurants.

After she speaks those words, she finds Uriel gone. Huh? she glances at the corner to find him crouched on the corner while poking his finger on the wall. Making the entire corner gloomy instantly.

He sniffles and replies, "Oh, it's ok... It's just that I always wanted to eat over there. All my friends talk about how delicious food is, but that's fine... I guess," and before Izumi knew it, he turned around with puppy eyes. And she had successfully been hypnotized.

"Fine! Stop it! We'll go there!" She put her hands on forehead dramatically. Suddenly the black gloomy atmosphere around him disappear, He jumps up with a wide grin on his face. 

"Yay! I knew you were a lovely, super kind person," He said and smiled happily.

Izumi goes back into the dance studio to take her bag and comes back after a few minutes. They were just about to step out of the building when Uriel suddenly paused.

"Aren't you forgetting anything?" he questioned with an eyebrow raised. Izumi thought for a second before realizing. Oh, yes! My mask. Her agency had specifically instructed her to wear a mask whenever she goes out in public places to prevent getting recognized and create a scene. It is uncomfortable, but it was fine. Well, nothing comes for free, so if she wanted to become a successful idol, she's got to put in the effort. She quickly reached into her bag to pull out her mask and put it on and smoothed down her Purple hair.

"Ok, I am all set. Let's go," she said and exited the building with Uriel. They took some quick turns, and before she knew it, they had already reached the restaurant. She gasped when she saw the interior of the restaurant. The whole place was royal themed and had soft velvet cushions and seats. Just when they were about to settle down, her phone rang, and she saw it was Izuku!

Izumi: Hey, why did-

Unknown: Hello! Are you related to the owner of this number? I saw him fall from the roof a few minutes ago. I called the ambulance. If you know him, please meet him at the 'Pace' hospital.

With that the call was cut, leaving Izumi shocked. She then hurried to the hospital with a confused Uriel. Once they reached the hospital. She rushed to the desk to ask about her brother. Once they got the information, they rushed their way towards Izuku's room. When they reached, they saw a middle-aged man outside the room. The guy seemed to notice them too and asked.

"Are you the one I talked to on the phone?"

Izumi: Yes, he is my brother.

The stranger nods: He is inside and his condition is stable.