Chapter 20: Takarazuka Maya, Totoi Son
Totoi Son had multiple secrets. One of them, perhaps the one he wanted to hide the most, was that he really loves lewd things. Second most was that his love was the culmination of a lifelong effort and not, unlike his best female friend, natural talent. He worked hard for it. He read and heard of illicit things. He drew, wrote, made, and thought up crude images. As a result, the trillions of synapses in his brain had became a masterpiece in crafting obscene ideas out of everything he met. And everyone.
Except when it came to Takarazuka Maya. A wonderful artist, a graceful beauty with such a well-sculpted face if it was a lollipop it would never be licked. And yet. When she came near Totoi, his brain just stopped. Totoi looked at her lips moving and usually he could instantly image any girl speaking as kissing an invisible air person, but not Takarazuka. She was a Blank.
She snapped her fingers. "Totoi?"
"Yes!" Totoi answered.
"That is scary," Takarazuka said.
What was scary? The constant observation of her movements? The deep regret of being unable to perv on her? His weirdly shaped head? There are so many options, which one will she choose?
"You stayed so still, I forgot you weren't a prop. That's dangerous."
Ah, a compliment. That's rare. Totoi was reminded that he played the role of a golden statue which would be the reward of the Beyblade tournament. His role was simple: wait until the Beyblade scene ended and when the winner came to pick him up, walk off the stage as a quick gag. But as it turned out the winner forgot his lines and Totoi was left onstage as the rehearsal ended.
"Sorry, Takarazuka." Totoi got off the stage.
"Are you worrying about something?" Takarazuka asked.
Totoi looked back on Takarazuka who was still on the elevated stage. Looking up to her, Totoi felt even more off. Looking up to her, Totoi could even appreciate the curves on her slender body, and yet there was nothing on his brain. Blank.
"You're shaking," Takarazuka said. "Are you okay?"
"My brain don't work," Totoi said.
"Life as usual, then. Kidding." Takarazuka grinned. Her grin had such an effect on everyone, it had to be perfected through practice. "Can I help you with it?"
"It's you," Totoi said.
"Moi? Why, whatever could I have done?" Takarazuka said.
"I couldn't appreciate your erotic charms," Totoi said. Oh! There was such a thrill, such a strong pounding within his chest. This is why he chose to be an honest pervert. That sensation of revealing his true self, unburdened by shame. "All I can perceive from your body is merely the aesthetic charm, your magnificent physique. You're beautiful, but you're not hot. It's baffling to me."
Takarazuka kept her grin as she jumped down from the stage in an elegant descent. She touched Totoi's left cheek. "Listen, Totoi. Sometimes you gotta keep your thoughts to yourself." She let go of his cheek. "And one more thing." She walked away from the stage, opened the classroom door, but she stopped just before she walked out. Then she did a simple motion where she moved her left leg towards him, as if wanting to show Totoi her thigh.
Totoi's brain lit up with images of her thigh and the anatomy that connected to it. Images he should keep in his head. As quickly as that brain activity started, it stopped. For two seconds, nothing more, Takarazuka ceased to be a Blank.
"A true performer decides how the world should react to her," Takarazuka said, grinning.
[break]
"I'm scared that I looked at people too much sometimes," Tadano said.
Komi held tighter to Tadano's hand. "I can't say it for everyone, but when you looked at me I know it's because you're looking out for me. I feel safe."
Tadano smiled, a blush appearing on his face. "Thank you, Komi."
"If we're talking about people maybe looking at people too much, Onigashima told me this story about Yadano…"
Author's note: Hope that wasn't too creepy.