Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 15: The Fierce Rivalries

At Youtou High School...
As the school bell rang, signalling the end of another day of classes, the bustling corridors filled with students eager to escape the confines of academia. Amidst the sea of students, Kana stood out, her eyes clouded with a mixture of anxiety and introspection.

Kana had recently embarked on a new chapter in her life, transitioning from her previous career as an actor to pursue her career of becoming an idol. It was a decision she had made without thinking about it too much, but now doubts and insecurities plagued her thoughts.

Lost in her inner turmoil, Kana walked with a slow, deliberate pace, her steps measured and heavy. She passed groups of chattering students, their animated voices blending into a distant murmur. Yet, her mind was far away, preoccupied with thoughts of not being good enough, and the fear of failing to meet the expectations placed upon her.

As she turned a corner, Kana found herself alone in a quieter stretch of the corridor. She leaned against the lockers, her eyes fixed on the tiled floor. A mix of self-doubt and determination warred within her, a battle between her fears and her aspirations.

As Kana stood there, lost in her thoughts, she was startled by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. Looking up, she saw two of her classmates, Sakura and Emi, rushing towards her with worried expressions on their faces.

"Kana, you won't believe what's happening!" Sakura exclaimed breathlessly.

"Yeah, it's crazy!" Emi added, trying to catch her breath.

Kana's curiosity was piqued, momentarily forgetting her own concerns as she asked, "What's going on?"

"There's this guy from our class, Kenta, and he's quarrelling with a freshman in the hallway!" Sakura explained.

Kana's eyebrows furrowed, concerned about the commotion. "Why are they fighting?"

"We're not sure," Emi replied, "but it seems like some misunderstanding. Anyway, we thought you should know."

"Right," Sakura said, nodding. "Maybe you can talk to Kenta and try to calm him down. You're good at dealing with people, after all."

Kana hesitated for a moment, unsure if she could handle someone else's conflict when she was struggling with her own emotions. But she understood that her friends were asking for her help, and she didn't want to turn them down.

"Okay, I'll go see what's happening," Kana said with determination, pushing herself away from the lockers.

As they walked together towards the commotion, Emi leaned in and whispered to Kana, "By the way, the freshman he's arguing with is apparently quite handsome."

As Kana, Sakura, and Emi approached the scene of the quarrel, Kana's heart pounded in her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on the situation at hand, but the mention of the handsome freshman made her feel even more apprehensive. She couldn't help but wonder if it was Aqua.

As they got closer, the crowd of onlookers grew, forming a circle around the two boys engaged in the argument. Kana caught glimpses of Kenta's flushed face, his anger evident, but she couldn't see the other boy clearly due to the gathered crowd.

As they pushed their way through the crowd, Kana finally caught sight of the freshman engaged in the quarrel.

He was standing tall, with a smirk on his face that immediately annoyed Kana. His white hair was styled effortlessly, and his mischievous eyes seemed to take delight in the conflict. Kana couldn't deny that he was handsome, but that only fueled her irritation further.

As they approached, the freshman's eyes met Kana's, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he said with a smug tone. "What are you doing here, Shorty?"