Chapter 20: The Honest Star That Was Always There.

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The city was alive with the energy of the evening crowd. Neon lights flickered against the wet pavement, and the streets were packed with people heading home, couples on dates, and groups of friends laughing together. The smell of grilled street food mixed with the crisp night air, creating a strangely comforting atmosphere.

Kaoru and Takeshi were in the middle of their usual antics, weaving through the crowd, joking about Takeshi's latest struggles with Emi's deadpan reactions.

"I swear man.. I showed her One ***** Man. and she barely blinked.." Takeshi groaned, rubbing his forehead.

Kaoru smirked. "You have to ease her in. She's like a final boss. you need to break down her defenses first."

Takeshi sighed. "Yea yeah… But man she's tough."

Kaoru was about to reply when he noticed something.

A group of high school students three boys and two girls were standing near a food stall. But they weren't there to buy anything.

Instead they were surrounding someone.

And from the way they were laughing, it was obvious this wasn't friendly.

The person in the middle was a large guy, wearing an oversized hoodie and small glasses that barely sat on his nose. His face was red, his head lowered. He wasn't fighting back.

He was just… standing there enduring it.

Kaoru's smile vanished.

Takeshi noticed his change in expression and followed his gaze.

And then they both heard it.

"Move out of the way. fat pig! You're blocking the food stand."

"Geez.. don't get too close. You reek."

"Wait. isn't this the pervert? Yeah! I heard he stares at girls all the time. Disgusting.."

"Ewww.."

The boy who had been trying to ignore them, flinched.

Kaoru saw it.

Takeshi saw it.

And both of them immediately started walking toward the scene.

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Scene 1 Action..: Naoki Hoshizaki never wanted to cause trouble.

He never talked back.

Never raised his voice.

Never fought back.

He was a nobody.

Because the last time he did. it only made things worse.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and before he knew it. he had become "the disgusting fat pervert."

It didn't matter that he had never done anything wrong.

It didn't matter that he was always careful to avoid making others uncomfortable.

It didn't matter that all he wanted was to be kind.

People had already decided who he was.

So now he just took it.

Even when it hurt.

Even when he wanted to cry.

Because at the end of the day. what was the point?

He was always alone.

No one had ever stood up for him.

No one ever would.

…Or so he thought.

Until he heard a voice.

A calm confident voice.

"Hey."

The bullies turned.

Takeshi stood there. arms crossed, expression firm but not angry. "Aren't you all a little too young to be picking on someone like this?"

One of the boys scoffed. "Who the fu*k are you?"

Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Someone with common sense."

The group exchanged glances. rolling their eyes.

One of the girls sneered. "We're just telling him the truth. You're not seriously defending this guy. are you?"

Takeshi's gaze hardened. "The truth? Yeah.. I don't think so."

He stepped forward.

"You call him disgusting? Why? Because of his weight? Because of rumors? Or is it just because you think it's fun to break someone down?"

The group fell silent.

Takeshi continued.

"You guys are acting like you're better than him. but honestly? This is pathetic. What are you getting out of this?"

The group leader scowled. "Tch.. fu*king bastard.. Whatever. Not worth our time."

The bullies turned to leave. but not before one of them grabbed a half-empty soda can and chucked it at Naoki.

The liquid arced through the air.

But before it could hit. something else intercepted it.

A book.

A thick hardcover manga slammed into the can. sending it flying to the side.

The soda splattered onto the pavement.

Kaoru lowered his arm.

"Damn.. Takeshi. You actually calculated the perfect angle and distance for that throw?"

Takeshi smirked. "Of course. I'm built different."

Kaoru clapped his hands together. "Peak performance."

The bullies seeing they were clearly outmatched. finally walked away.

Naoki who had been frozen the entire time, finally moved.

He lowered his head.

And without a word, he turned and walked away.

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Scene 2 Action..: Kaoru and Takeshi caught up to him.

"Hey kid.." Kaoru called.

Naoki didn't respond.

He kept walking.

Takeshi put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait up."

Naoki stopped.

But he still didn't turn around.

"…Why?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Why did you do that?"

Kaoru tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Naoki clenched his fists. "You don't even know me."

Takeshi shrugged. "Yeah.. but that doesn't mean we'd just stand there and let that happen."

Naoki shuddered.

His hands gripped the edges of his hoodie.

"…People always call me disgusting."

Kaoru and Takeshi listened.

"…They say I'm a pervert. That I'm worthless. That no one would ever want to be friends with me, I'm just a nobody."

His voice wavered.

"I… I used to dream… dream that I would have friends or maybe saviors…"

Kaoru's eyes widened as Naoki suddenly tore off his glasses.

Tears streamed down his face.

"But I never did."

His breath hitched.

"..Maybe until I met you guys."

His sobs grew silent.

"S-so… can… you guys be my first friends..?"

Kaoru felt something tighten in his chest.

Takeshi patted his shoulder offering a reassuring smile.

"Of course."

Naoki covered his face. trying to stop himself from crying harder.

"Thank you… despite me being fat and girls calling me a pervert… thank you… for being my first friends."

Kaoru grinned. "No need to thank us kid!"

Naoki sniffled.

Kaoru crossed his arms. "Now.. how about we go on a boys' manga shopping spree?"

Takeshi gave a thumbs-up. "Sounds great! I just gotta text Emi real quick."

Naoki hesitated.

Then for the first time in Millions of years.. The Honest Star smiled.

"Yeah… That would be amazing."

And so.. the three of them walked together laughing talking about their favorite series, and completely ignoring everything that had happened before.

Because for the first time Naoki Hoshizaki wasn't alone.

For the first time. he had real friends.

And as the night stretched on. he realized something.

Even in the darkest nights…

Even when he thought he was invisible…

He was always a star.

And now he had finally found a sky where he belonged.

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Scene 3 Action!: Meanwhile Narrator finishing Chapter 20

"…This… is absolute cinema."

The narrator sniffled.

Not that anyone could see.

"Oh by the way Naoki Hoshizaki means Honest star."

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End of Chapter Twenty.