"You what?"
"I want to finish college," Takumi informed Nishioka as he sat languidly in the stylish office. Adorned with modern art and photos of famous personalities.
"Why?" Nishioka was incredulous.
"It's something different," Takumi said, making sure that nonchalance was evident. He couldn't well divulge the real reason for his sudden interest in pursuing knowledge.
Nishioka sank back into his seat and shook his head. "Well, that's a first. What about your work commitments?"
"You'll just need to get better at scheduling them," Takumi said. "Besides, the new guy you found. He's doing well so just use him."
"Don't you have an ounce of competitiveness in you?" Nishioka shot back. "You're supposed to feel threatened by him. You're supposed to remind me to keep you as priority."
Takumi shrugged. "No one stays popular forever."
The older man looked up at the ceiling to pray for patience. He remarked, "Your apathy is disgusting and astounding."
"I've not changed." Takumi gave him an innocent smile.
"No, you haven't," Nishioka agreed. "Which amazes me how you can stay in demand."
"I've a pretty face," Takumi suggested.
"If you didn't make me so much money, I'd fire you," Nishioka grumbled.
An empty threat and they both knew it. Not because Takumi was naïve enough to believe that he'd stay on top of his game forever in this fickle industry. It was because he didn't particularly care one way or the other.
He had gotten into this industry because of a pushy, washed out actress of a mother trying to reminisce her glory days.
A debut commercial for a soft drink as a child had unexpectedly caused a storm.
Most children never went on to do more.
Takumi experienced the opposite.
More and more offers came.
Increasing attention was lavished. Takumi learned that with his looks and family name, people gave him unbelievable leeway and deference.
But then came unwanted attention. He clamped down the memories harshly.
"On an ongoing assessment. One stupid move and I'll pull you out," NIshioka warned.
"I'm going to be a model student," Takumi promised with a confidence that he could keep it. The only stupid thing he could do by hanging out with Akira was to stare at the man for hours.
"I'll settle for out of trouble."
xxxxxxxx
Someone slumped into a seat opposite him and whispered, "Great corner. How did you manage this?"
Akira looked up to see Takumi removing his cap and mask. Gone were the loud blond streaks and in their place, a plainer brown. He wore a casual shirt and carried a backpack.
He could almost pass for an ordinary student. Almost.
No amount of disguise could take away those luminous eyes, porcelain skin and a bone structure which could make artists weep.
Akira supposed that it was good that the corner was deserted because it was hidden near the administration office. Courtesy of the accommodating librarian who had taken a shine to him after her kid at the cram school sang him praises.
"New look?" he asked.
"Yeah. Not bad right?" Takumi was pleased. "My stylist thinks it's suitable for school. And my new commercial."
"For?" Akira was curious.
"What else? Skincare for our age group. Fresh and innocent youth."
Akira snorted. Then frowned when Takumi started to take out books and notes from his backpack, spreading them across the table.
"What are you doing?"
"Studying? Got an assignment to finish," Takumi flipped open a laptop as well. He gave Akira a glance. "You don't mind, right?"
Akira was used to being alone in this corner. Not even Inaba and Segihara joined him here. He contemplated telling Takumi to leave but didn't have the will to do so.
Why was that?
"There is a power point under the table if you need it," he said.
Takumi flashed him a smile which made him look younger. He commented, "Thanks. Maybe your studiousness could rub off me. God knows I am close to failing this term."
Akira didn't think that Takumi would be devastated if he did. However, Takumi just put on earphones and turned his attention to his written notes.
He went back to his own tome.
If nothing else, Akira had a gift for focus. It was partly inborn but mostly honed by necessity when he was a child.
They worked in an oddly comfortable silence, only broken by a stretch or the turn of pages. Takumi was surprisingly concentrated. Akira made a mental note to reassess any misconception he might have had about him.
"Library's closing soon," he said when he checked the time.
Takumi looked up from his laptop. "Oh. Thanks. I didn't realize."
They began packing up. Akira waited for Takumi to jam the last of his notes into his backpack haphazardly and put on his mask.
As they walked out of the library, there were a few students who noticed Takumi and gawked openly.
Takumi didn't seem bothered.
The square outside the building was fairly empty.
"Will you be here tomorrow?" Takumi asked.
"The day after," Akira replied.
"Same time?"
"Yeah."
Takumi's eyes lit up. "I'll find you. We can go for coffee after?"
"Same place?"
"Where else?"
Akira found that he liked the notion.
"See you then."
xxxxxxxx
The commercial was ubiquitous and a hit. Akira couldn't escape the face either in the subway, on the internet or along the streets.
Takumi holding a bottle of whatever he was hawking and smiling. A close-up shot. Simple but apparently effective as Akira counted numerous instances of admiring and giggling fans standing around the poster on the train platform.
A few sarcastic and bitter remarks too.
"Bet it's photoshopped. Don't be fooled."
"He can't look like that in real life."
"Probably make-up and good lighting."
Akira refrained from smiling in amusement. Takumi did look like that in real life and even at his worst. He could attest personally.
What threw him off was the model's personality. He was curious enough to watch one of the press conferences which Takumi attended for his new campaign.
Akira might as well have watched a different individual altogether.
Not a single trace of the easygoing demeanor. Chatter was nonexistent.
Takumi responded to every question with insouciance and charm. Never rude but also not yielding an inch into what he was really thinking.
When an intelligent query about the work in hand was posed, he had a thoughtful answer.
Any question about his private life was met with a slow and cool smile followed by, "No comment."
Inevitably they asked about his experiences as a student. Takumi replied with one word. "Rewarding."
Untouchable and they clamored for more.
He would have thought that it was all a clever act. Then he saw, for a split second, just as Takumi left the press conference and got into a car.
An almost indiscernible exhale of breath. A mouth set in a thin and determined line.
Akira only caught it because he had seen it before. Long ago.
A shield tested and bent. Defences against something which invoked fear.
What was Takumi afraid of?
His thoughts were interrupted by the oncoming train.