O N E: The idols facade

A/N: This chapter introduces a new character

Never judge a book by it's cover cause the innards may just be worse.

–

Seven years have passed since the prodigious child idol, Nexis, first captivated the world at the New Year's Kohaku Festival. No one could have predicted that the boy who stepped onto that stage would become the world's leading idol, a title once held by the legendary Min-seo. When Min-seo made his debut, we believed we had seen the pinnacle of talent. But then, that little boy proved us all wrong.

The shock of Min-seo's tragic death was still fresh when Nexis took the world by storm, and in the years that followed, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Calling the world obsessed with him is an understatement—he's more than an idol; he's a phenomenon. And now, his influence has only grown with his recent relationship with the equally beloved female idol, Stella. It's been three months since the world learned of their relationship, and in that time, they've topped every popularity chart and dominated social media.

Today, hundreds of thousands are gathered outside Kira Academy, eagerly awaiting their arrival. Last month, after returning from their European tour, Nexis and Stella decided they wanted to connect more with their fans and attend a high school. The decision was left to a global vote, and Tokyo emerged as the winner. Kira Academy, an elite institution recently established for the brightest and best, was chosen as their destination. But as of now, there's still no sign of them on the horizon.

Oh, wait—that's their privately owned helicopter coming in now. The question is, where will they land?"

Inside Kira academy

The murmur of excited whispers filled the air as Mr. Tanaka stood at the front of the class, his lesson on Shakespeare barely holding the attention of his students. It was clear that their minds were elsewhere, their eyes frequently darting towards the clock on the wall. With a sigh, he adjusted his glasses and tried to steer the discussion back to *Macbeth,* when a hand shot up in the middle of the room.

"Yes, Miyu?" he asked, already sensing where this was going.

"Sensei, is it true? Are Stella and Nexis really coming to our school today?" Miyu's voice was filled with anticipation, and the room immediately fell silent, all eyes now on Mr. Tanaka.

He chuckled softly, understanding their excitement. "Yes, it's true. They're supposed to arrive today. I can see why you're all so eager—after all, it's not every day the world's most famous idols come to our school."

The class buzzed with excitement, and Mr. Tanaka let them have their moment before raising a hand to regain their attention. "But let's put that aside for now. We're here to learn, and there's something I want to talk about that's actually related to your question."

He paused, considering his words carefully. "Over the past few years, the idol industry has grown immensely. What started as a niche interest has become a global phenomenon. Nowadays, everyone seems to love K-pop and J-pop, and it's idols like Nexis and Stella who have driven this cultural wave."

He began to pace slightly, his hands clasped behind his back. "But idols are more than just entertainers. They've become symbols of our time—voices that people listen to, role models that people aspire to be. In some ways, they've become more influential than politicians or traditional celebrities. Do you remember when the government had to issue a curfew last year due to that outbreak? They didn't just rely on officials to spread the word—they turned to idols. Nexis and Stella were among those who delivered the message, urging people to stay safe."

Mr. Tanaka stopped and faced the class again, his expression serious. "That's the power of an idol today. They're not just performers; they're leaders, influencers, and even spokespeople for the government. And this school, Kira Academy, was established for that very reason—to train the next generation of idols, influencers, and leaders. It's a place where talent is cultivated, where you are prepared to step into the world and make your mark."

He glanced around the room, noting the wide eyes and rapt attention. "Now, I know you're all excited about their arrival, but whether they're really coming today… well, I'm not entirely sure. So, let's get back to the lesson, shall we?"

Just as he turned back to the board, a low rumble began to reverberate through the room. The sound grew louder, vibrating through the walls and causing the windows to tremble. The students exchanged looks of confusion and then, as one, they rushed to the windows.

Outside, the unmistakable shape of a helicopter was descending from the sky, its blades cutting through the air with a rhythmic thrum. Excitement boiled over, and the students began to spill out of the classroom, eager to witness the arrival of the idols they had only seen on screens.

Mr. Tanaka smiled to himself as he watched them go. "Well," he muttered under his breath, "so much for Shakespeare."

Meanwhile in the said helicopter the couple of the moment Nexis and Stella were both caught up in their own world. Stella was busy scrolling through her phone while Tega was busy thinking about how amazing he is.

Tegas POV

Life is a game. A brutal, unforgiving game where the only rule is to win. And in every game, there are winners and there are losers. But it's not enough to just play—you have to compete. You have to push, shove, and snuff out anyone who gets in your way. Survival of the fittest, they call it. But here, it's more than survival. It's about power. It's about being the one on top, the one everyone looks up to, the one everyone wants to be. And right now, I am that one.

The world clamors for me. They hunger for my every word, my every move, as if I'm the sun and they're desperate for warmth. Down there, the stampede rages—fans pushing, shoving, trampling each other just for a glimpse. For a moment to say they were close to greatness, even if only for a second. They'll bruise, they'll bleed, and they'll smile through the pain, all for the chance to see me. Because I am what they want. I am what they need.

But what they don't see, what they'll never understand, is that the game never ends. There's always someone waiting to take your place, to push you off the throne you fought so hard to get. And that's why I can't stop. That's why I won't stop. Because in this game, there's only one rule that matters: win. And win I shall cause that's what I always do.

"How many minutes until impact?" I ask the person driving the helicopter

He replies "30–35 minutes, if we're fast."

"And if we're not?"

"Then, we're looking at an hour, or more."

"Perfect, we can't give the fans what they want too fast, plus I need time for my beauty nap."

I see Stella looking at me with a facial expression that question's  whether beauty nap is a thing and I look at her saying "yes, beauty nap."

"An hour it is then, wake me when we're about to land."

Stella groans in frustration and continues doing what she was doing on her phone and me, I decide to take my beauty nap.

Stella's POV

Several minutes pass as I do nothing but stare at my phone. I sigh as I think about how we'd already have landed by now if not for this guy sitting next to me. The apparent genius.

What even truly is a genius anyways? Is it someone others believe to be extraordinary? Someone born with gifts that outshine everyone else? Or maybe it's someone who sees the world in ways others can't, excelling at an almost terrifying pace, I sigh out in frustration. Whatever the definition, one thing is clear—people have been calling the guy next to me a genius for as long as I can remember.

Ever since he was a kid, everyone's been captivated by him. You have to wonder why. Was it because of his flawless looks? Because he could do things others couldn't even dream of? Or was it something less tangible—an aura perhaps, a presence that pulled people in and wouldn't let go? Whatever it was, it worked. He became everything people wanted—a shining beacon of perfection in their eyes.

But genius is a tricky thing, isn't it? It's a label that's easy to slap on someone, but what does it really mean? Does it mean being better than everyone else? Or is it simply being seen as better? If that's the case, then maybe we're all just playing along, believing in the image we're presented with, rather than the reality underneath.

And the reality underneath? Well, This so-called genius, this golden boy everyone loves, is supposed to be my boyfriend. We're supposed to be in love, or at least that's what the world thinks. But here's the truth: we're not some fairy tale. There's no "boy meets girl, falls in love at first sight" nonsense. There's no magical connection or overcoming obstacles to live happily ever after.

Honestly, I'd say I wish it were that simple, but no—God, no. I receive a notification but quickly dismiss it. He's an absolute know-it-all, convinced he's the pinnacle of perfection. And as for our relationship, well, let's just say it's nothing like the stories people love to tell themselves. When you think about it actually it's nothing but a—

"What are you doing?" he asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

What am I doing? Who is he to ask me that? "That doesn't concern you, and weren't you sleeping?"

"Correction, it was a nap. And I was, until that damn notification sound woke me up. Would it kill you to mute your phone?"

"It won't, but I refuse to." Even if that ding truly is annoying.

"So, what were you doing?"

"That's for me to know and for you to shut up."

Tega had been lying down when the conversation started, but now he adjusted himself into a sitting position. Before I could react, his hand darted out, snatching my phone. My heart sank as I braced for what was coming next.

"You were egosurfing, weren't you?"

"So?"

"That's dumb. I look perfect."

"Don't you mean *we* look perfect?"

"Yeah, that's what I said."

No, it isn't.

"Why on earth would you be egosurfing? You know it's stupid. You might end up seeing things you don't want to."

"That only happens to the faint of heart who aren't smart enough to handle the media."

"Okay, Miss Know-it-All. Ah, what's this?" His eyes narrowed as he scrolled through my search history. "'Stella: the world's prettiest'?"

God, no. He's checking my search history. I asked the pilot, "If I jumped out of this helicopter right now, would I die or just break my legs?"

"I'm pretty sure you'd die, miss."

"Then I guess I'm stuck here."

Tega handed me back my phone, smirking. "Here, take it. I don't want to make you kill yourself; the media will do that for me. Plus, I'd rather save my energy for better things, now that you've ruined my plan to nap."

"You know what—" I was about to give him the insult of the century when his phone vibrated. He glanced at it, and I noticed his expression darken slightly. It was rare to see him fazed by anything, so whatever it was must have been significant. Without a word, he turned off his phone.

We sat in silence for a few moments before I decided to break it. "By the way, why aren't we using your private jet?"

"Oh, I can't anymore. My manager texted me, saying it's bad for the environment."

"And you listened?"

"You know me. Normally, I wouldn't, but he threatened to leak something I'd rather keep private."

"Seriously? What was it?"

"If I told you, it'd defeat the purpose of all this."

"Fair enough. But is there really a difference between a jet and a helicopter in terms of environmental impact?"

"There better be, or I've done something really dumb. Another reason is that there's no place to land a jet at the school."

"But where are we landing?"

"There's a helipad on the school roof."

"Oh, you mean that giant H? What does it stand for, anyway?"

"Nobody knows. We just know it's a giant H."

"Facts."

I scrolled through my contacts and found exactly what I was looking for. Smirking, I showed it to him.

"What's this?"

"My therapist's contact info. You complained about being stressed last time we talked, so I figured you could use it."

"I don't need therapy; it's a waste of time. If I wanted to waste money, I'd join a cult or become obsessed with saving the planet."

"So you're saying my advice is a waste of time?"

"I said it, and I'd say it again."

"You're a real piece of work. I bet even the devil hesitated to create someone like you."

"What the hell is your problem?"

"Hold on, wait—I know this one. *You*."

"Me? Why would you hate me? I'm perfect."

"That's the problem. You think you're perfect, but you're just overrated."

"Overrated? That's rich coming from you of all people."

"Say that to my face one more time, I dare you. You know I work just as hard as anyone."

He leaned in closer, a smirk playing on his lips. "Overrated."

"That's it, you—"

We threw curses at each other, curses no one should ever hear. Thankfully, the pilot interrupted us by announcing that we had landed before either of us could say something we'd regret.

Fine then.

Writer's POV

Tega and Stella stepped out of the helicopter.

"We're over two hours late say's Stella to Tega."

"My apologies I meant to make it three."

They both groan at the same time.

Their thoughts aligned as they each silently wondered, *Let's see how long this will last.*

As soon as they landed, they were swarmed by fans, spending over an hour signing autographs as they had promised. But their day was far from over. The moment they finished, they were whisked away to film an advertisement for a soda brand owned by Stella's father. After taking a sip during the shoot, they both spat it out in unison.

Tega spoke first, "Why'd you spit it out? It's your father's product, isn't it?"

"You're one to talk. Why even do the commercial? You said in the ad it helps with weight loss, but you're naturally lean."

"True, but the audience doesn't need to know that. Plus, your dad is one of our biggest sponsors, so for him, we sell every lie we can."

"If you say so. And I heard you're traveling back to your home country for your grandfather's funeral."

"Yeah, he died of lung cancer."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"I'm not. He had it coming. I warned him to quit smoking years ago. That, and he was an ass."

*Stella laughed a little, murmuring,* "Guess it runs in the family."

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. How long will you be gone?"

"A week or two."

"So, that's a week or two without you? Perfect. Oh, and are you even going to set foot in this school?"

"No, I have to leave immediately. So, see you when I see you." *Tega said as he climbed back into the helicopter and left the scene.*

Stella's POV

It's been a month since Tega left for his grandfather's funeral in Nigeria, and he hasn't returned yet. Not that I'm complaining. Kira Academy has been more impressive than I expected. The school is a haven for rising stars, with state-of-the-art facilities designed to mold us into the next big names in the entertainment industry. Here, we're not just students; we're future idols, actors, and performers—trained to shine under the brightest lights.

Despite the elite company, I've managed to hold my own. Almost everyone here has already made a name for themselves, yet I don't feel intimidated. Over the past month, I've made a few friends, though not everyone seems to like me. It's fine; I can't expect to be everyone's favorite. But still, I can't help but worry about the ones who keep their distance.

I wonder what Tega would think of this place. He'd probably find it as fascinating as I do, though he'd never admit it. Maybe I'll text him and ask when he's coming back.

---

At the Airport

Tega steps off the plane, the cool night air of Tokyo hitting him as he descends the steps. The runway lights cast long shadows, making the already dark night feel even more surreal. He's been gone longer than he intended, and the exhaustion is starting to weigh on him. His phone buzzes in his pocket, pulling him out of his thoughts.

It's a message from Stella: "When are you coming back from your trip?"

As he reads it, a wave of dizziness suddenly washes over him. The letters on the screen blur, and he stumbles slightly, reaching out to steady himself against the plane's hull. His heart pounds in his chest, louder than the engines that had roared just moments ago.

His hand trembles as he considers replying, but the thought slips away as the drowsiness intensifies, dragging him into a foggy haze. He blinks hard, trying to shake it off, but the sensation is overwhelming, like an unseen force pressing down on him.

Before he can react, his vision narrows, the world around him fading to black. The phone slips from his fingers, landing with a soft thud on the tarmac.