Chapter 1.1: The Performance Continues

Lunch ended faster than I realized, and the day dragged on in its usual haze of chatter and noise. I kept up the act, of course. I was good at it. My friends and classmates didn't know anything else. I was the guy who always had a joke, always had a quick comeback, always keeping the mood light.

But the more I tried to maintain that persona, the more it started to feel hollow.

By the time the final bell rang and the day was over, I didn't want to go home. The world felt suffocating, like I was trapped in a role I didn't know how to step out of. I needed a break from the mask I wore for everyone else. So, without thinking too much about it, I grabbed my jacket and headed outside into the rain.

It was a stupid decision, really. The storm had hit quickly, but somehow the cold and the wetness felt right. For the first time in hours, I felt like I could breathe. I was walking, getting lost in the sound of the rain pelting against the pavement, the chill in the air reminding me that I was real—at least, that's how it felt.

I didn't know where I was going. I didn't need to. I just needed to be away from everything, even if it was only for a few minutes. Away from the expectations, the constant need to perform, the pressure of being Kai Tanaka.