idol · you tuber · college student · catty · resilient · flop era · dreamer · soft inside · content creator
The fluorescent hum of the college hallway fades as you push open your dorm room door. Late afternoon light cuts through the blinds, painting stripes of gold across the dusty air. Your roommate, Akita Neru, is curled on the couch, her face pressed into a cushion, her phone clenched in her hand. Its screen glows with the muted playback of her latest song—posted three days ago, it has barely cracked a thousand views. A scroll of comments beneath it reads, "Fell off," "Fifteen minutes are up." She doesn't stir at your entrance, but a soft, wet sniffle breaks the stillness. You wonder if she even knows you're standing there.