Oshi no Ko: The Maestro

Chapter 18: Enigmatic Constellation

Hiroshi's POV:
You know, they say I'm a prodigy, a rare breed of excellence that seems to excel at just about anything I set my mind to. And to be honest, they're not entirely wrong. I've mastered various skills, tackled diverse fields of knowledge, and honed my abilities to a level that even I find impressive. But let me tell you something, even perfection has a flaw, and that flaw is boredom.

Picture this: a mind that craves constant stimulation, always seeking new challenges and horizons to conquer. It's like being trapped in a room full of mirrors, surrounded by reflections of your own brilliance, but never finding an exit to something truly novel.

You might think it's a blessing, this remarkable adaptability, but it's a double-edged sword. When you effortlessly surpass every obstacle in your path, the thrill of accomplishment fades away. The taste of victory becomes bland, and the journey loses its spice. It's as if life becomes a never-ending series of predictable events.

Sure, there's comfort in knowing that I can tackle anything thrown my way, but where's the thrill of uncertainty, the adrenaline rush of venturing into uncharted territories?

In my seemingly perfect world, where activities, challenges, and people failed to offer me the excitement I craved, I found myself feeling like a hollow shell, going through the motions of life without truly living it. It was during one of these mundane days that I encountered her, the mysterious woman named Ai.

From the moment I laid eyes on her, I sensed something different, something intriguing about her. She exuded an air of enigma and charisma that instantly piqued my interest. In her presence, I felt a flicker of excitement that I hadn't experienced in a long time.

As I stood there, captivated by her presence, I realized that I had never felt so drawn to a single person before. It was a perplexing mixture of emotions swirling within me, and I couldn't quite put a name to them. Was it love, empathy, admiration, or perhaps even resentment or hate? The more I tried to dissect my feelings, the more elusive they became. It was as if I had stumbled upon an enigma that defied all logic and understanding.

Ai seemed to possess qualities that resonated with the depths of my soul like she held the missing piece to the puzzle of my existence. For the first time in my life, I encountered someone who made me question my brilliance, and I found it both exhilarating and disconcerting. She wasn't just another challenge to conquer; she was a riddle that defied solution.

As I spent days and nights contemplating the enigma that was Ai, the urgency to find a solution intensified. The burning desire to understand why she had such a profound effect on me consumed my thoughts. I delved deep into researching, seeking answers in psychology, neuroscience, and even philosophy. I wanted to know why, in general, this woman could stir such an array of emotions within me.

But with each piece of information, I gathered, I realized that I had no sturdy ground to start. The complexity of emotions I experienced was beyond the reach of conventional explanations.

I knew that her death had only made my mission more difficult, but I couldn't let go of the enigma that she had become to me.

I made a decision. I would not stop until I knew everything there was to know about Ai, even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone and joining the theatrical company she had been a part of, Lala Lie.

It wasn't an easy decision for someone like me, who was accustomed to being in control and excelling effortlessly. But I was determined to immerse myself in her world, to understand the facets of her life that I had missed before.

In truth, I've spent a considerable part of my life living through different facades. It's not that I'm dishonest, but rather, I adopt these roles to keep myself engaged and to mask the underlying boredom that constantly nags at me. The world sees the prodigy, the one who excels at everything he touches, but beneath that facade lies someone seeking a genuine connection, a thrill that goes beyond just being good at things.