Underneath the Silhouette-Chapter 153: Naya’s

Eirin rushed into the contestants’ tent, her heart thumping against her ribs, a frantic, terrified drum. The sound was almost as loud as the low, embarrassing growl from her empty stomach. She was alone. Of course. Everyone else had taken the lunch break she’d fled from. She sighed, a weary sound, and sank onto the chair in front of the mirror.

"Oh? Eirin, you’re back so quickly."

The student council’s secretary, a small, bustling figure, entered the tent, her arms full of props for the talent showcase. "Have you finished eating? Or did you barely touch your food?"

Eirin offered a weak smile, shaking her head gently. "I ate a little. Just enough."

"Wouldn’t that be bad for you, though? You’ll be dancing soon." The secretary’s concern was a low, worried murmur.

The teenage girl shook her head again. "I don’t eat much when I perform. It helps me feel lighter." The worried look on the secretary’s face made Eirin sigh. "I’m fine, really."

"Okay. Well, you can tell me if you need anything. Anything at all."

The secretary’s eyes, a kind, gentle light, lingered for a moment before she left.

Eirin was once again left alone. Her stomach grumbled once again. None of what she said earlier was a lie; she really doesn’t eat much before performing, but things have changed now. Her stomach’s used to eating well, so it keeps grumbling like this. Her eyes landed on the mirror as she stared at her reflection. The girl staring back at a stranger in a high ponytail and delicate makeup.

"Why am I going through something like this?" she whispered, resting her forehead on the cool wood of the vanity desk. The pressure was a welcome distraction from the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.

A short time later, the tent began to fill with the sound of chatter and the rustle of fabric. "Eirin, you’re here already." The other contestants were starting to return, changing into their elaborate costumes for the talent showcase. Eirin, however, remained in her school uniform, unable to change because Coleen held the key to her outfit’s whereabouts.

"Naya’s back too! I’m so curious, what will you show this year, Naya?"

Everyone, a small, eager crowd, flocked around Naya the moment she entered the tent. But Naya’s eyes, a cold, elegant light, followed Eirin as the teenage girl began her warm-up, stretching her graceful limbs while waiting for her friends.

"I think I’ll sing this year," Naya said, her voice a low, beautiful melody, as she walked to her mirror, which was right beside Eirin’s. "What about you guys? What will all of you show?"

It was unusual. Naya showed interest in the other contestants, her attention a rare gift that made them all happy. They talked endlessly, unaware that they were only being used.

"What about you, Eirin?" Naya’s voice, a soft, casual sound, cut through the noise.

Everyone looked at Eirin, who was already deep into her stretching routine. The sudden, intense focus made her uncomfortable. She stood straight, clearing her throat.

"Me? Uh, I’m going to do a ballet performance."

Hearing her, the other girls admired her, their eyes wide with respect for her choice. It would be the first time someone would do what she chose to do.

"Ei! I’m so sorry! It took us so long." Coleen arrived just in time, sweating. "Let’s go. I’ll help you change into your costume," Coleen said, her voice a loud, triumphant shout.

Trixtan stood beside Coleen and held the protective plastic covering Eirin’s outfit.

With that, Eirin had a perfect reason to escape. She followed Coleen into the dressing room, a separate, small tent, strictly for contestants and their female assistants.

"I swear, I didn’t know Sapphire would willingly spend money for your costume, Ei." Coleen’s surprised look was etched into Eirin’s brain. "Kind of weird, actually."

Eirin turned to Coleen after changing. Her appearance left her friend utterly speechless, her mouth hanging open. "Oh my god, Ei." Coleen blinked thousands of times after saying that.

Eirin was wearing a beautiful two-part costume. The pale, silvery-blue bodice was a work of art, decorated with embroidered roses and delicate green foliage. It featured thin shoulder straps and a sweetheart neckline that framed her collarbones perfectly.

The tutu was full and voluminous, made of many layers of sheer, ruffled fabric. The inner layers were light pink, while the top layers were a soft blue, creating a shimmering effect where the colors blended like a fantastical watercolor painting. Its base, where it met the bodice, had a decorative pattern of diamond shapes that matched the bodice’s cool color.

"Wah—amazing—wah! I’m getting speechless. It’s stunning. Beautiful! I can’t take my eyes off you, even if I wanted to, Ei. You look like a celestial being. What is this?" Coleen sniffed, her eyes brimming with tears and affection. "Okay, let’s go back to the others so that I can fix your hair and makeup."

Coleen, practically vibrating with excitement, held Eirin’s hand and pulled her back to the other tent. As soon as they entered, silence filled the air, a quiet, heavy thing that was impossible to ignore.

"What? Why is it so quiet here?" Coleen asked, her voice a low, confused whisper, as she walked back to Eirin’s vanity desk. She stopped short, her forehead immediately creasing. "What the hell are you doing here?

All eyes snapped to Coleen. She had shouted at the one and only Shade Cromwell, who was comfortably sitting on Eirin’s chair. Coleen showed no hesitation as she kicked Shade’s leg, a sharp, angry motion.

"Get out. I need to help Eirin get ready," Coleen demanded, pulling Eirin forward, completely revealing her ethereal appearance to everyone, including the young man.

Before anyone could utter another word, Shade sprang from the chair and ran out of the tent as fast as she could. He was running from the sight, hiding how red his face had become with just a glimpse of Eirin in her costume. Coleen, completely unfazed by the dramatic exit, ignored everything and helped Eirin prepare her hair and makeup.

"I think our class should all watch the talent showcase together. Want to meet up with Link and the others for a bit?" Trixtan suggested as he watched Coleen tie Eirin’s hair into a smooth, elegant bun. "Our cheers would be louder that way."

Coleen nodded, a small, determined gesture. "Yeah, absolutely. Let’s do that, that’s a great idea. We need to Ei to win after all—no, she will win. I just know it."

Eirin smiled, a genuine, beautiful thing, as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her makeup was natural, yet her face seemed to be glowing, radiating an inner light that made her prettier than usual.

When Coleen and Trixtan left the room, Eirin noticed how Naya, already in costume, sat beside her. Naya wore a striking black high-low dress, featuring a halter neckline with thin straps that fastened around her neck, leaving her shoulders and arms bare. The bodice was fitted and decorated with lace and small fabric embellishments, giving it a rich, ornate look. Naya’s pale white skin reflected the light, a cold gleam that was almost blinding to Eirin’s eyes. Her skirt was voluminous and layered, made up of multiple tiers of ruffled fabric that created a full, puffed, powerful silhouette.

"I know what you were trying to do earlier."

Naya’s voice, a low, cold murmur, snapped Eirin from her daze. She stopped staring at Naya, as if something cold was poured all over her body, she grew stiff. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"What?"

Naya turned to Eirin, her emerald green eyes glowed, a fierce, cold light, and her piercing gaze went right through Eirin, causing shivers down her spine.

"I know you heard what we were talking about—and I know you were trying to avoid Shade because of me."

Eirin gulped. Despite the people surrounding them, Naya’s murmurs could only be heard by her. She tried to move away from Naya, but she grabbed Eirin’s swivel chair and pulled her closer until their faces were only inches away.

Naya traced her fingers on Eirin’s flawless, pearl-white neckline, as her gaze went back to meet Eirin’s.

"Stop playing innocent, Eirin Luxfield." Her words were a direct hit. It was cold and indifferent. "It’s a waste of both our time." The accusation, sharp and cold, hung between them.

Eirin swallowed, the action visible in the sudden tension of her pale neck. Her eyes wide and trembling, met Naya’s stare, a visible struggle in their depth. She took a deep breath, trying to steady the frantic rhythm of her heart.

"I—"

Naya’s gaze, cold and direct, cut her off. "Stop pitying me. Stop doing unnecessary things because I look pitiful to you. It’s making me—" she halted as she bit her lower lip— "it’s making me mad that I am turning into someone like this."

Naya moved back to her chair as she ran a comb through her silky black hair. "We both know who he likes right now, but feelings are fragile and inconsistent. It might be you for now, but who knows what the future holds?" Her voice held a brittle hope, a small, painful promise.