Author: merrow - G - English - Drama/Humor - Reviews: 37
Tooru blinked at the card. She'd been surprised when she returned home from her part time job to find Hatori, Hatsuharu and Momiji visiting. But when they'd shown her the reason for their visit she'd been shocked.
"Scout?" Kyou repeated, he leaned against the wall and held forgotten towel over his head, hair still wet from a recent bath.
Momiji nodded and spoke around a mouthful of cake, "Ja! And he really wanted to meet with To-ru! He was asking all sorts of questions about her."
Hatsuharu nodded speaking to Yuki, his sleeve held between his fingers. "He was from that magazine." He looked blandly at Yuki who sighed. So far they'd managed to keep this from-
"Magazine?" Shigure asked.
"Didn't Shi-chan see it?" Momiji pulled out the copy of the magazine he'd stolen from Sawatari. It opened automatically to the picture of Tooru and her friends. "To-ru looks so cute!"
"Yuki and Kyou are keeping secrets from me!" Shigure sobbed hugging the magazine to his chest, "They wanted to keep this cute Tooru-kun all to themselves!" He looked again at the photo. He'd seen Yuki hide a magazine under his books the other day while he was supposed to be studying; now he knew why. And he'd thought that Kyou had had something rolled up under his arm the last time he'd gone up to the roof. He'd assumed it was some martial arts magazine now he knew better. So many missed opportunities! And he'd definitely have to get a copy of this magazine; it was a very cute picture of Tooru.
As if reading his look, Momiji took his magazine back from Shigure. Speaking to Tooru he said, "We didn't want him to catch you by surprise."
Hatori's teacup clinked against his saucer. "You should be careful about this. We don't know if this man can be trusted." He paused to light a cigarette. "If you meet with this man, make sure you have someone with you."
Shigure laughed, "Ha-san, are you offering to be Tooru's guard? Just like in 'The Bodyguard!'"
"Didn't the bodyguard love the singer in that movie?" Momiji asked innocently.
"Don't be idiotic." Hatori closed his eyes, took a deep drag on his cigarette and refused to look at anyone at the table. "This is serious. If this man should find out about the Souma's secret, there could be severe repercussions. And there are plenty of men who prey on young girls with promises of fame."
"Hmn..." Shigure agreed, suddenly serious. "I'll have Mit-chan make some inquires about "Rising Stars, inc". We'll see what reputation that company has. It may not be wise to ignore this matter completely. If put off...this man sounds the type to be persistent. Yuki. Kyou." The boys looked up in surprise, "Keep watch over Tooru make sure that our flower isn't stolen away from us!"
"Idiot!" Kyou spat, blushing. But both boys gave their word to look over her.
* * *
A few weeks later the incident had been practically forgotten. Tooru had showed the card to Arisa and Saki. But, while they found the idea of being scouted interesting, it was too far fetched to think that fame could be just dropped in their laps that way. And that "Sawatari" guy sounded strange. After being tortured by Shigure to find out about "Rising Stars, inc" (He claimed he couldn't write anything till the weight of its concern was off his mind) Mit-chan had come back with a detailed report. In short, the company did exist and was fairly reputable. It was small but had several breakout stars, a couple famous models and few popular singers. It was far from being an "idol factory", but it wasn't a fly-by-night porn operation either. But Tooru laughed off any possibility that she could be come famous for any reason and though Shigure teased, the matter eventually dropped out of sight.
It was therefore with great surprise that Tooru left her job one night to a bright burst of light.
"Got it!" Mika smiled lowering her camera. Turning to the man next to her she asked, "That's her right?"
"Honda-san? Tooru Honda-san?" Sawatari stepped towards the startled girl.
"Y-yes," Tooru tried to blink away the spots from her eyes. What was going on?
"Yakumo Sawatari, Rising Stars, Inc." Sawatari gave her a reassuring smile and handed her his card. Thank goodness, she was cute in person too. "I've been trying to get in touch with you for a while now, Honda-san. Perhaps we can go somewhere and chat? I know a small café not far from here."
Tooru blinked at him again. Hatori-san had said she shouldn't meet with this man alone. And he did make her uncomfortable. Mother had said she shouldn't distrust people without a reason, but still this was something outside the norm. "Um, I'm expected at home. They'll worry if I'm not back soon. I'm sorry." She turned to walk away.
Sawatari jumped into her path and gave a brilliant smile, "Hold on, hold on! Please, I know this is a little much, laying in wait for you outside of your part time job and all. But it took me forever to find you." Tooru stopped; it would be rude to just push past him. "You see we've just gotten a ton of letters at the magazine about that photograph." He let his features drop into a serious look, and kept talking. "It took quite a bit of detective work to find you. We sent some people out to where you were spotted first, but no one knew you. One person recognized your school bag so I went there next. I think Momiji or Hatsuharu might have mentioned we met?" he paused just long enough for her to draw breath to answer but not long enough for her to actually respond. "They gave you my card? I wasn't sure, since you didn't call." Sawatari let his features droop into deep disappointment. He smiled inwardly when he saw her answering look of distress. She was softhearted. Great! "I was able to find out your name then. I tried to look you up in the phone book, but the only "Honda" I found was a couple and their daughter. I went over there and spoke to an older man. Your grandfather, I think?"
"Grandfather?" This man had spoken to her grandfather? Tooru felt a confused swirl in her middle. She didn't want Grandfather to be bothered, but it was kind of flattering to be pursued so diligently.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I had a little trouble understanding him. I showed him the photo of you, but he kept talking about someone named 'Kyoko'." Sawatari shook his head, his mind still reeling a bit with the circular conversation he'd had with the old man. "But then your cousin came home, the girl?" That girl had been a piece of work. Two seconds of flattery and he'd had Tooru's whole life story. Her mother's youthful wild ways, her father's early death, her mother's tragic death the year earlier, where she was living now. Thank goodness for that conceited, spiteful girl. "Well she told me where I could find you. I didn't want to startle you at home..." and he'd heard she was living with some rather protective guys. No reason to ask for trouble. "So I thought this was the best way to meet with you. Can't you give me just a minute?" he saw her hesitate, and pressed his advantage. "Please? The café is a public place." She was wavering he could feel it.
"Honda-san?" Tooru looked up to see Yuki at the end of the street. He hurried towards them. He gave a worried glance to Mika and Sawatari. "Are you alright? Who is this?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Tooru gratefully walked past Sawatari to Yuki. "This is Yakumo Sawatari-san. From the magazine. And ah..." Tooru looked awkwardly to Mika.
"Mika Tamaguchi" Mika raised her camera and snapped a quick picture of Tooru and Yuki. "A pleasure to meet you." This girl was so lucky.
"Ah," Yuki replied, blinking the spots out of his eyes. "Yes. Nice to meet you." He turned to Tooru, "We should be going."
"Wait!" Sawatari cursed his luck. If only this boy hadn't shown up. Well he was almost sure it was a boy, he was very pretty. That face could sell a lot of things either way. "I didn't catch your name..."
"Yuki, Yuki Souma." Yuki leveled his best, most impassive ice prince look at Sawatari. He was upset with himself for being late to pick Honda-san up. He didn't like giving this man a chance to approach her. He agreed with Momiji and Hatsuharu. This man was strange.
Souma...it was always a Souma that was showing up around her. Sawatari agreed with the girl from school. What a family! Sawatari felt just a momentary chill from the boy's glare. "Souma-kun, I was just asking Honda-san if we could perhaps talk over a cup of tea. She was worried that people would be waiting for her...but if you're there it would be ok, wouldn't it?" He'd have preferred to talk to the girl alone, but if he returned to the office without speaking to her again...he didn't know what kind of job he'd had to go back to.
"I'm sorry, it's late." Yuki said shortly and steered Tooru away. Sawatari saw no choice but to use his trump card.
"They don't know, do they? At your school?" Sawatari watched the pair halt, "That you're living together? They don't know."
Yuki glared at him again. "Tomorrow. After school. We'll meet with you then."
