[MeisterBabylon]

Another lightning fast post!

Spoiler for Scene 2:

The news continued to be read over the airwaves. This however was not routine for the figure kneeling on tatami mats, deep in meditation. She much preferred the early quiet just before dawn, with nothing more for company than the wooden shinken by her right, a light novel on her left. This was her in her natural state, swabbing herself in calm and cleansing her soul, readying for the coming chaos that was each day of her life. With her long black hair tied back, white keikogi and crimson hakama ironed meticulously flat, there was no way one would have guessed her public persona.

Which was why the radio droning in the background was out of place. Someone, most probably her mother, decided that everyone in the dojo should be updated to the latest in current affairs this particular morning. She knew full well the news this morning would only serve to rile her up, and knowing her, that was the entire point. Riselle decided that this was not disturbing her inner peace.

"In other news, Riz has called it quits! The rising idol of [Empatsu no Eiyuu] made the shock announcement yesterday during a meet-and-greet session organized in conjunction with her latest album. The [Goddess of Tsundere], as she is known to her fans, personally said that she would be going on hiatus to focus on her education.”

Riz’s eyebrow twitched at hearing her own voice as the sound bite played and took her over last evening’s events.

"This is an important announcement, so I felt it was only right that I say it in person...”

The lights were bright as ever, and her audience were only shadows thronged against the heavy barriers set up around the stage.

“I'm taking a break."

The uproar from the gathered mass was so loud even the microphone recording distorted at that point. It hit her with the force of a charging elephant, and with practiced courage Riz the Idol let it flow right through her. She bided her time, waiting for the fans to pick on the cue. For now, she let them grieve.

“I know this comes as a shock. Hontoni, gomen ne.”

It was a lie. Every single word was a lie. It was a script that her manager forced upon her after the older veteran tried and failed to make Riselle change her mind. She had enough of it all, of the cameras shoved in her face, of the slimy throng of adolescent men vying for her attention even when she knew nothing about them, of the constant fear of stalkers...

And most of all, that every single one of them loved [Goddess of Tsundere], not Riselle Koh, the shy girl in glasses who just wanted to make real friends. How laughable...

She waited for the next wave of ‘sorrow’ die down, trying to ignore the odd cries of encouragement without showing it.

“But I’m not completely out of it.”

Her smile came on at the flick of a mental switch.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be competing with other candidates for the position of Singapore Representative, and I’ll be enrolling in the Infinite Stratos Academy for further training.”

She gave a wink.

“I’ll have a surprise for you when I return!”

As expected, the crowd cheered their approval loudly. Riselle could only find disgust in herself, to so easily have them eating out of her hand. That sentiment she suppressed as well.

The script decided that Riz would give thanks, bow then take her leave. But as she stood there, she could see grown men crying like little girls, and little girls waving their hand-made placards with frantic force. She could smell their disappointment. And then, from the furthest back row, a slow ripple gathered up and grew as it flooded forward. The crowd's cheers morphed from shapeless noise to synchronized chants: "Ri-zu! Ri-zu! Ri-zu!"

Riselle sucked a breath in and steeled herself as Riz fought to get out.

Like always, the fans won against years of bushido practice.

“S-So, be a good boy and w-wait for me, okay?!”

Riz stammered at the top of her voice, like the celluloid characters she has come to play over, and over, and over.

“I-If you go off w-worshipping another goddess, I’ll never forgive you, you got that?!”

The crowd erupted in rapturous applause as Riselle ended the memory there. Even though Riz left the stage with a lasting impression, Riselle shook her head, defeated by her own kindness.

"Even at the last moment, I was still acting..."

It took a while, but I'm still not quite happy with this segment. I can't seem to be catching the naunces correctly. Riselle, the real person of the persona Riz, an idol struggling to break free from the role she has been boxed in to. I don't think I managed to present this elegantly at all...

...but oh, looks like I found another box.