#- also

     It was inevitable. Whenever she released a new love song, every single interviewer would come ready with a barrage of questions regarding her boyfriend despite the fact that they were both very private people. She understood the interest, of course. After all, he was the inspiration behind most of her love songs, even the ones who’d been commissioned by or for someone else. So she did her best to answer as honestly as her own sense of privacy allowed her, going along the usual beats of how did you meet, when did you start dating, who confessed first, and so on and so forth.

When the talk show host so earnestly asked her what she thought was cutest thing about Tobio, Alice was not only caught off guard - considering most people only ever talked about how serious he looked - but she also lit up in a way the interviewer herself didn’t seem to be expecting. “Oh! He is just the sweetest. Like I said, we definitely had feelings for each other way back when we were in school together, but we were both too awkward to do anything about it. Kageyama-kun has always been the type to face his weaknesses head on, and he’s worked hard on trying to be more romantic.” Color gently rose across her cheeks, and the prettiest loving smile took over her lips, a side of the polite and pleasant singer that no one had really been able to bring out so far.

“Nowadays it comes quite naturally to him and it never fails to send my heart racing.” Alice mused with a chuckle as the audience cooed in both amazement and agreement. Considering how the interviewer had earned her trust by asking that question in such a nice way, she figured she could reward her by exclusively addressing something in her show. “If I may be candid about something...” The tone of her voice dropped to something more serious, the singer’s expression shifting into one of concern, which had the host and the audience leaning in.

“I am often told, whether by interviewers, fans, or even people I have no connection to whatsoever, that he looks scary. And I don’t think they understand how hurtful that can be. Kageyama-kun is too nice to say something about it and he’s probably resigned to it at this point too, but it bothers me a lot.” Her brows furrowed in irritation just at the memory of it, another first for her usually pristine image of a perfect guest to have at one’s show. “He is serious by nature, and incredibly committed to whatever he sets his heart to. But he’s also quite silly and funny at times, even when he doesn’t necessarily mean to.” The undeniable love and fondness she felt for him gradually replaced her frustration at how judgmental some people could be when they didn’t know a thing about him. 

“He is the most wonderful and considerate man I know, and he shouldn’t have to put on a smile for people to realize that. I’m the one in an industry where that is expected of me, not him. Take one look at the way he tries so hard to be careful around his young fans and dare tell me he’s scary again.” With a slightly deeper breath, Alice looked up at the interviewer and brought back her usual smile. “Besides, a quick glance at both our twitter feeds and anyone can see that I am much scarier than he could ever hope to be.” She was quite renowned for talking back to people who were rude enough to tag her boyfriend or any of her friends in unnecessary comments they certainly wouldn’t want thrown at themselves.