Koma, Soma

[attr="class","loner_text"]
Soma is a woman who has fun. There's barely a night she doesn't go out and there's very little thread of excitement that she won't follow. She's always baring a wide smile when she's prowling the town, bar hopping, dancing, or belting it out at karaoke. She's fiercely chasing that next good time, so God help you if you try to ruin her good time. It's one of the 5 things that gets her extremely miffed. Though, for such a fun woman, she wanders rather slowly. Her footsteps seem to be softer, more hesitant than you'd expect from an adult child.[break][break]

For whatever reason, you visit the library. You see this outstandingly beautiful woman in a black turtleneck but the circles on her eyes seem recent. You see her through the huge window into the Librarian's Office. Her eyes are red now, hand desperately gripping an old Polaroid photo until she goes to rip it in two. She never does. You've seen this many times. You see a need in her eyes before she sees you, and she straightens herself out. When she comes to the counter, she doesn't mention it, she doesn't even wipe away the tears. She just tries to smile them away when she says 'Welcome'.[break][break]

You've lost count of how many times this has happened.

[attr="class","loner_text"]
Soma was such a typically ordinary girl in her high school days that there's barely anything to remark on. Living in Beppu is a humidity nightmare, but that didn't stop her from enjoying it. Her grades were starting to slip, but she had an in. She already knew what she was going to do; her father had set up an audition with a production company. Her years training her dancing, her charm, her singing, ever since she was little. It would finally, finally pay off. Rumors of a budding idol in their sleepy high school put her onto the radar almost in an instant. Confessions, born from that want to say "I dated Soma Koma, the famous idol", started popping out of the woodwork. Even before she started negotiating her contract, she was a beautiful girl. Silky black hair and fair skin, she spoke well (enough), and she was always so infectious with her positivity.[break][break]

One confession, though. Kazuma. First trombone in the Concert Band club. Athletic to a degree, but sweet and nervous and just her type. She'd had a crush on him since middle school and once they started dating, she actually grew to love him. He was so caring. He always gave her her space, but still checked on her every day. He even managed to help her grades.[break][break]

3rd year of high school comes around and she finally has an actual concert. She, of course, kills it. It wasn't a full stadium, but it was a sizable theater. Her and 5 other girls, but the online reaction to her was immense. Fan pages were made. She had gone from local amusement to garnering just a sliver of national attention. This continued for another year, as she and Kazuma moved to Tokyo. Kazuma was studying at Tokyo U while she was sweating to death in rehearsal, shaking hands with fans, and autograph signings.[break][break]

She didn't know where he got the ring. How long had he saved up? It didn't matter, she couldn't have been more happy.[break][break]

Though of course, things take a turn in life. Things were going too well.[break][break]

First came the contract renegotiation. Then, the goodbye. Then, the last concert. The day after the concert, a body was found in the bathroom.[break][break]

Soma didn't go back to the stage after that. She didn't go to the funeral. She just quit. She dyed her hair and threw herself at whatever hobby she could. Life knew she was lonely, so they threw her a bone. A friend. A friend with a a certain amount of dangerous baggage.