Chapter Text
Tick... Tick... Tick... Bzzzzzttt!
"Thank you all for coming today, you are dismissed! Make sure to get home and rest well!"
"Yes, Teach!
Well... That's another day of evening classes done for today... I better make my way back home today. Hmm... It's still a bit early, maybe I'll go shopping today with Airi...
"Ms. Shinonome?"
"Ugh, what is it? Am I in trouble? Is it about my brother?"
"No need to be so harsh! I just wanted to say you should sleep more tonight, your eye bags are really showing."
"Huh? No, they aren't!"
"Well, I guess you do you, then."
I grabbed my stuff and walked out the classroom door. Who was he to pick fun of my appearance? I'll open up my phone and check social media to see how my pictures are doing! Maybe even text Airi to suggest shopping together!
Huh?
My teacher was right! My eye bags are really prevalent... Why did I get so defensive with them back there?
Eh, I should ignore it for now. Hehe, so many likes on my most recent selfie! So many praising comments!
"awww your so adorable ^w^" - makeupfanatic 19:21
"you should become a model" - cosplayer223 19:54
"whats your routine i NEED to know" - phoneaddictmeow3 20:24
Hmm, I should go text Airi now about shopping...
I opened up the Messages app and opened Airi's contact.
"hey airi wanna go shopping later?"
...
"sorry 2 busy with idol activities tn :( maybe another day?"
"lol its fine dw"
...
How stupid of me to forget that Airi was still a popular idol in a group with her friends... Obviously, being an idol has to take up time within her schedule, how could I forget that?
I opened the rest of my contacts back up. I don't really have any friends besides Airi, huh?
*tap* *tap* *tap*
I walked towards the mall I had wanted to shop at today.
The sound of loud chatter and walking filled the area, with smells such as the perfumes from the fashion stores or the food being cooked at the restaurants.
Was there always so many people outside the shopping area? I guess I never noticed...
Maybe I'll skip shopping for today and directly head back home... How annoying.
"Huh? Is that you, Ena?"
"Huh?"
"Ena! Over here!"
"Futaba? What are you doing here?"
"I'm just here buying art supplies, never thought I'd expect to bump into you here!"
"Oh, I'm not shopping here, I'm on my way home from evening classes."
"I see."
...
"Uh, do you still draw these days?"
"Huh? Uh... That's none of your business!"
"Eh?"
"Oh, sorry! Uh, yeah, I still draw... I want to improve my art more and more to prove that I have talent to others."
"... I guess what Mr. Yukihira said back then still really rubs you off. Don't think like that about art, okay? It's not healthy."
"Pft! I'll show him one day! Him and the person you may call my father! You may not realize it because you actually have talent!"
"Oh, uh, sorry for bringing the topic up then, uh... I wanted to say... I actually quite like your art and your artstyle! It's unique. Art is something subjective, you shouldn't make it to "prove" something..."
"Huh? Well... uh... Thanks..."
"Sorry for taking up your time though, uh, I should probably get to shopping right now, you go have fun!"
"Uh, alright!"
I slowly watched as Futaba walked off... I haven't seen her in so long... Why was I so cold and defensive? Why did I blow up on her? Why do I keep doing this?
...
Why?
I suppose I should just walk home now...
*tap* *tap* *tap*
I walked towards my house and opened the door.
"I'm home!"
Mom was busy washing the dishes while Akito was eating a slice of cheesecake at the dining table. My mom looked up at me as I took my outdoor shoes off and put on my indoor shoes.
"You're quite early tonight compared to usual."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I didn't go shopping like I usually do after classes today. Hey, Akito, did you at least save a slice for me?"
"Of course I did, I knew your annoying ass would bother me if I hadn't. I placed it on the kitchen countertop right over there."
"Okay, thanks. I'll be heading up to my room now!"
As I turned around, I heard my mother chuckle a bit.
"She's just like her father, isn't she?"
...
Did she just compare me to him, out of all people?
"Hey, I'm not anything like that person! Don't mention him around me, okay?"
"Oh, uh, sorry. Uh, you're just like your brother..."
I stormed off into my room. I could faintly hear the two talking at the back of my ear.
"I forgot how touchy you two get about your father. I'm really sorry."
"It's fine."
I slowly walked into my room, the room had the familiar scent of acrylic paints that I would use. I threw myself onto my bed. No motivation to draw right now. I don't feel like posting any selfies right now, I'm a mess right now.
...
When am I never not a mess?
I'm always so cold to others even when they're so nice. Like my teacher, Futaba, and even my mother. I never think before my thoughts and my words leak out of my mouth.
Why can't I just talk normally? My only friend is Airi, and she's too busy nowadays.
Who would want to be friends with me? I'm just a talentless, cold, and rude person.
Why am I still friends with Airi anyways? I just stood up for her when we were young. Anyone could have done that. Why does she still stay close to be and be my friend?
Do I even matter to people? To people online, I'm just a girl who takes and posts selfies of herself. They don't know anything about me.
They don't care about my art. They don't care about me as a person. Do they care at all? My selfies always do much better than my art posts.
Does anyone care at all? I'm probably just a nuisance to everyone. I'm always so rude and standoffish.
What if I disappeared? Would anyone care? It would probably be better for everyone else in my life. They wouldn't have to worry about someone like me.
I should just disappear. No one would even notice.
I should just disappear.
Should just disappear.
Just disappear.
Disappear.
Disappear.
Disappear.
...