Chapter 123 The Illusory Shadow of Niou Masaharu, only Niou Masaharu
If you were to ask Masaharu Niou whether he believes in the idea of love growing over time, you would ask him.
The answer is: He believes.
But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on him—the person he unknowingly fell in love with turned out to be his best friend's girlfriend.
Initially, he was just an observer, watching her interactions with Yukimura with a touch of amusement, and occasionally, when the mood struck him, he would deliberately tease her.
But each time, she seemed to see right through his tricks. Her dark, bright eyes seemed to pierce through all pretense, gazing straight into the depths of his soul.
After starting university, Asuka often dragged him to LUMIERA to help out. As a result, he had more and more opportunities to meet her.
She is always full of energy and her mind is full of whimsical ideas, making it impossible to guess what she will think or do next.
Her dedication and hard work are pure and unadulterated. Facing rumors and cyberbullying, she possesses astonishing resilience and a powerful core; the raw strength she exudes is awe-inspiring. She loves steadfastly, never losing her way in a superficial world, always remaining clear-headed and loyal.
She is the only one who dares to stand up to the world with her true self and still win.
The closer I get, the more I understand, the more irresistible I become. Being attracted to her is as simple as a moth drawn to a blazing light.
But he had also seen another side of her. She would lean against the railing alone, silently gazing into the distance; or in her moments of despair, she would sit quietly by the French windows, like a silent island.
At those moments, Niou would feel an urge to become her strength, to be the one who could protect her and be someone she could rely on at any time.
If I cannot embrace you as Niou Masaharu, then... can I borrow his appearance for now and steal a moment of tenderness?
So when Kirihara told him, "Risa is sick and in a bad mood. I wish Yukimura-senpai were here," he finally found a "legitimate" reason for himself.
He convinced himself with the excuse that he "just wanted to make her happy." Under the guise of "Yukimura Seiichi," he openly approached her, cared for her, and watched her smile at "himself."
This is a dangerous game, an extreme deception of one's own conscience.
He knew this behavior was despicable. He also knew it would damage his friendship with Yukimura.
He stood outside her villa, taking a deep breath. His muscle control, facial expression management, and even the uniquely Yukimura-esque, gentle yet powerful aura in his eyes were all perfectly imitated.
"Ashi?" She opened the door, so surprised she forgot to breathe.
The sudden brilliance in her eyes both stung and delighted his heart.
See, I can also make her happy.
"Shouldn't you be in Melbourne preparing for the Australian Open?"
"I wanted to give you a surprise." He spoke in Yukimura's voice, gentle and natural.
"Akaya said you caught a cold. Are you feeling any better?"
He watched her nod, staring blankly at "himself." The dependence and joy in her eyes were for Yukimura Seiichi. A bittersweet feeling welled up in his heart.
He forcefully took her phone and turned it off, declaring, "You'll be looking at me all day."
For a moment, she seemed to be stunned.
Just when Niou thought she had seen through him, she softly hummed in agreement.
This whole day felt like stolen time.
As the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, he gazed at her profile, slightly illuminated as she looked into the distance, and wished time could stand still. During the roller coaster's plunge, he held her hand tightly; the sound of the wind and her screams mingled together. In that moment, he had the illusion that he could truly possess her.
At the shooting range, when he won the giant doll for her with perfect accuracy, she hugged the doll and laughed happily. That smile made him feel that it would be worth it even if he had to fake it a thousand or ten thousand times.
But this stolen dream will eventually come to an end.
As the sun set, he escorted her back to the villa. It was time for "Yukimura Seiichi" to leave.
“That’s enough,” he said gently. “I have to catch my flight back to Melbourne tonight.”
She nodded and did not try to stop her.
This is so Risa, never unreasonable, always so sensible that it breaks your heart.
Then, she took out the small box.
"For me?"
"Um."
He took it and opened it. Inside the box lay a pink rubber band, lying quietly.
For a moment, my mind went completely blank.
What does this mean? Is it some special code between Yukimura and her?
He looked up at her. Risa, holding the giant doll, looked up at him with a pure smile.
"I'm really happy today. Thank you, Niou."
"Consider this a thank you gift."
The air seemed to freeze.
Nioh.
She called him "King Ren".
A tremendous sense of absurdity and frustration swept over me, followed by a deeper, more profound shock of being seen through.
It turns out she knew from the very beginning.
She cooperated with him and acted out the whole day's performance.
This is indeed very Risa-like.
Her gentleness has always been like this.
It had always been like this. Faced with his various pranks, others were either annoyed by his mischievousness or easily scared away. Only she, even though she had long seen through his tricks, still found them amusing and was even willing to play along with him in this charade.
All pretense was meaningless. He habitually rubbed the back of his head—a gesture typical of Masaharu Niou.
He was finally able to see her as he truly was.
"Pfft~" He made his voice sound as lazy and cunning as ever, "You've been exposed. When did you find out?"
“From the very first word you spoke to me.” Her eyes were crystal clear, reflecting his truest self. “Your acting is flawless, almost identical. But the feeling is different.”
A feeling. It's just a feeling again.
Niou smiled bitterly to himself. Data could be analyzed, actions could be imitated, but this feeling was the only, and forever, Waterloo in his career as a con artist.
"It seems that no matter who I become, I've never been able to successfully deceive you." The helplessness in his tone was genuine. The hidden smugness from being the center of attention was also real.
In this world, there will eventually be someone who recognizes the real him.
Then she laughed and said something that could shake his very soul.
"Because Niō Masaharu is Niō Masaharu."
In an instant, Niou's breath caught in his throat. The smile that maintained his relaxed facade froze. His azure pupils trembled slightly.
That's a really unfair statement.
Throughout his life, people have either praised or feared his illusionary skills, and he has become accustomed to identifying himself as "the shadow" or "the imposter."
But she said that Niou Masaharu is Niou Masaharu.
Perhaps the only person in this world who truly understands him and appreciates his true self is her. But precisely because she understands him, she will not love him.
Niou Masaharu is Niou Masaharu.
This is the highest recognition he could receive, but also the cruelest judgment.
His uniqueness meant that he could never cross the line called "friends".
How unwilling I am! Unwilling to let her see through me and then let me go so easily. At least, I want her to know that his existence is more than just "friend". At least, I want to leave a mark called "Niou Masaharu" in her memory.
"Be careful on your way back." She said goodbye with a smile and turned to go inside.
Niou stared at her retreating figure. If he didn't do something soon, she would leave, returning to that world he couldn't reach, a world that belonged only to Yukimura Seiichi.
It was so bittersweet it was almost unbearable, yet one had to admit: "When two luminous bodies get close to each other, their light only becomes more dazzling. And their shadows will eventually dim."
even so……
Something that had been suppressed in my heart for a long time suddenly became uncontrollable and broke through the fence of reason.
"Risa." A deep voice escaped from his throat, sounding nothing like his own.
His body acted before his brain could even speak.
He reached out and grabbed her arm. With a slight pull, he turned her around and, without a word, pulled her into a tight embrace.
This was the first time he had ever hugged her, and it would be the last.
A thick and tight hug.
He smelled the faint fragrance in her hair and sensed her momentary stiffness and surprise.
"Pick me, Risa."
The voice rang softly in her ear, devoid of all its usual languor and playfulness, leaving only a strange, melancholic seriousness that Prince Nioh Masaharu had never shown in his life.
He sensed her stunned expression, but he couldn't stop. He loosened his arms slightly, but still held her close, his gaze fixed on her wide, shocked eyes, and laid bare his most humble yet most ardent heart before her.
"Choose me, okay? Let me be your strength, so you don't have to carry everything alone anymore, and you don't have to endure the endless separation anymore."
He even played the con artist's last and biggest card—
"I will always be by your side, anytime, anywhere. I can even... become anything you want me to be, if you wish. Just like you once said, having me is like having the whole world, isn't it?"
The conman laid bare his true feelings, offering himself to her as a fallback plan.
The air was deathly silent.
He saw her pupils tremble violently as she stared at him. At that moment, he felt like a prisoner awaiting final judgment.
Then he heard her answer, clear, firm, word by word, just as he had expected.
"But Niou Masaharu is just Niou Masaharu."
The words that made his heart race were used by her, both gently and cruelly, to push him away.
"You are Rikkai's unparalleled con artist, a powerful and trustworthy partner, and a very interesting and very gentle friend."
“Precisely because you are such a good and unique Niou Masaharu, you cannot be, and should not be, anyone’s shadow.”
Her last words were the final verdict.
"Besides, I don't want the whole world. All I've ever wanted is Seiichi."
Niou Masaharu listened quietly. His heart sank little by little, but strangely, there was no tearing pain as he had imagined. Instead, there was a kind of... expected, settled relief. Like accepting the final score after a thrilling game.
We lost. Utterly.
But it's also easier now.
"Pfft~ I understand." He finally smiled and put his cynical mask back on. "That guy's luck is as infuriating as ever."
“The lucky one is actually me,” she corrected softly.
Renou looked at her, a complex emotion flickering within him. A storm was brewing; how long could her current calm last? He couldn't protect her as her lover, but at least...
"Risa-chan is so strong, no matter what happens, she'll definitely get through it, right?" His words were loaded with meaning, offering the most subtle reminder and support he could provide.
Before she could think it through, he had already turned around, his back to the gradually spreading night, hiding all his loneliness in the shadows. He raised his hand and waved, resuming his lazy tone.
"I'll always support you from now on. I'm looking forward to the day your 'R. Studio' is officially launched."
As the sun sank completely below the horizon, he walked slowly into the rising night, his hands in his pockets, his silver hair gleaming coldly in the dim light.
Plop.
The con artist's true feelings game
Final round,
It ended in a crushing defeat.
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