Author: merrow - G - English - Drama/Humor - Reviews: 37
The party that waited for Sawatari outside the school gate was quite a bit larger than he expected. Besides Tooru and Yuki, the other two girls from the photo, a disgruntled-looking red haired youth, an older man and a woman with short hair were waiting. Seeing Sawatari's raised eyebrows Tooru was quick to make introductions.
"Yakumo Sawatari-san, Mika Tamaguchi-san," She bowed a little and spread her hands to show that she was telling the others who they were, "These are my friends, Saki Hanajima and Arisa Uotani."
"Hello." Hanajima had an extremely vacant look on her face as she bowed to Sawatari. It gave him the chills.
"Yo!" The gang-girl did not have a very welcoming look to her. She scowled as she made her greeting. She was going to be a hard one to work around, he could tell already.
"You've met Yuki Souma, these are his cousins Shigure Souma and Kyou Souma."
"Hi!" The older man said cheerily. He looked unnatural in a suit and tie, as if he was unused to it. The red haired youth just spared Mika and Sawatari a quick glare before staring once again down the street.
Sawatari looked at the woman in the party expectantly. Compared to the others in the party she was plain and ordinary. She wore an unobtrusive blue suit and seemed destined to fade into the background. She was also the only one that he had no clue about. During his research on Tooru he'd been able to find out plenty about her two close friends and the two younger Souma boys. It had taken little digging to find out about their older cousin and guardian, Shigure Souma. His books were popular, both the ones he wrote under is own name and the romances he wrote under his pen-name. Sawatari was careful to file that bit of information away. It could be useful against the novelist if he proved to be troublesome later on.
As if thinking about him caught his attention Shigure stepped forward and gestured carelessly to the woman, "And this is my managing editor Mit-chan." He stepped forward and held his hand up to the side of his face as if he was letting Sawatari in on a confidence. "I hope you don't mind me bringing her along, but we had a meeting scheduled for today too and she wouldn't let me out of it." He hadn't bothered to lower his voice Sawatari noticed and it carried easily to the woman.
"Sensei!" She cried with a scandalized look on her face. "I'm not going to let you run away again!"
Shigure laughed and patted her on the head, "Ma! Ma! I'm not going anywhere."
"You should put a leash on him," advised Uotani, "if you don't want him to get away."
Shigure laughed again but seemed a little strained this time, "Ha-ha-ha! Don't joke! Besides we're here for Tooru-kun's important meeting. Perhaps we should go to a café and discuss the matter?"
Sawatari smiled, trying to make it look as genuine as possible. "I know just the place." He'd really been hoping to have just Tooru and perhaps one of the boys. Children were much easier to manage than adults, and one or two could be persuaded much easier than six. This was going to take some work.
The entered into the café managed to find a round table big enough for them all to fit comfortably around. "Order whatever you like, the company is picking up the tab." He smiled. It had better be, he thought to himself. He made a nice salary, but he didn't get paid *that* much. Mika saw his glance and wisely just ordered a glass of water. Tooru ordered a cup of tea, but others took the opportunity to order some of the fancy desserts on the menu. Once they were all settled with their orders and comfortable, Sawatari leaned forward.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I've been trying to meet with Tooru-kun." He turned to the girl suddenly, "Is it alright that I call you Tooru-kun?"
"Yes!" she said with a little surprise.
Sawatari smiled his most dazzling smile. "I hope you don't mind me being informal, but I am hoping that we get to be good friends." He waited a moment looking at her hopefully.
"Of course." She smiled back. Sawatari smiled again this time with a bit more sincerity behind it, the girl was eager to please and suggestible. So perfect!
"Perhaps you could tell us the reason for your interest in Honda-san?" Yuki ever so slightly emphasized the formal way he referred to Tooru. He took an elegant sip of his tea and looked coldly over the rim at Sawatari.
The man felt suddenly huge, ungainly and rude. "Damn, but that kid has some air about him," he thought. Like some prince or lordling lowering himself to speak to the peasants. Sawatari was disgusted at himself when he realized he was responding to the boy's unspoken challenge by straightening in his chair and nervously smoothing hair that suddenly felt out of place. He spread his hands, "Of course! That's what we're here for right?" He smiled again at Tooru, who responded with another innocent smile. He winked at her and smiled inwardly at her blush, "I represent Rising Stars, inc. Usually I work as a trainer or a manager for them. But my real ability lies as a scout for new talent. I have found many of our more popular stars and models." He ducked his head modestly. "I don't know how to describe it exactly, but sometimes I see a person or a photo or hear a song, and I get this feeling: 'that person could be famous'. Usually I'm right. What can I say," He smiled again self-depreciatingly and turned his head as if he was embarrassed to be saying this himself. "It's a gift." He peeked at the party at the table. He had all of their attention.
"When I saw Tooru-kun's photo in Spotted! I had that feeling." He turned his smile to Hanajima and Uotani who were looking a bit murderously at him, "I get that feeling for you two as well, but with Tooru-kun it's really strong." He tried not to let his smile falter in the face of Hanajima's blank-faced stare and Uotani's speculative glare. He turned to Tooru who was looking at him in absolute shock. "Our readers agree. Everyone wants to know more about the pretty girl with the ice cream." In a supreme moment of calculation, he turned back to the others at the table, "There is something special about Tooru-kun, don't you agree? I can tell that you've all seen it too."
"There is no doubt." Hanajima turned to Tooru and her face gentled. For a moment Sawatari saw the pretty girl that had stood next to Tooru photograph. "Tooru-kun is very special."
"Anyone can see that!" Uotani rocked back in her chair, "even these two idiots have seen it." She jerked a thumb at Yuki and Kyou sitting next to her.
"Who's an idiot!" Kyou spat faced flushed, but he didn't deny Uotani's assertion either.
"Yes," Tooru turned to see Yuki looking at her tenderly. "We know that Tooru is unique." Tooru went scarlet and was all set to start protesting that there was nothing special or unusual about her when he continued. "But what does that mean in relation to you? What do you intend for Honda-san? You still haven't said."
Sawatari smiled again but felt as if the boy could see right through him. This boy was perceptive. "We'd like to have Tooru-kun come work for us. I know I could find her modeling work to begin with, and we'd like to see what other talents she might possess. People are very interested in her right now, we should take advantage of that."
"T-talents?" Tooru spoke up for the first time, "Talents...I'm sorry, of those I have none." She looked sincerely remorseful. "I'm no good at that sort of thing. I'm sorry!" She apologized again.
"Have you ever tried?" Mika set down her long empty glass. "You may have talents you aren't aware of. You shouldn't belittle yourself before you even try. And modeling...all you need is a pretty face for that. And even that can be got around." She smiled and gestured to her ever-present photo bag. "I've worked a long time as a photographer, and I can tell you the only really important thing is to have the person's personality shine through." She spread her hands in explanation, "A person can have a beautiful face, a perfect body, but if you can't see their soul shining in their eyes it still won't make a good picture."
Sawatari pulled out another copy of the magazine and laid it open to Tooru's picture. "This picture has a lot of soul behind it. That's what people are responding to; Tooru-kun's soul." He smiled again and as he looked at the girl's surprised expression found himself for a minute really meaning his smile and encouraging words. "If Tooru-kun puts her soul into it, I'm sure everyone will respond."
"So what do you want her to do?" Sawatari looked up to a surprisingly serious look from Shigure.
"Well, first we'd like to do an interview and photo shoot with Tooru-kun for Spotted! and see how that goes. We'd also like her to meet with our trainers and see what talents might be hidden inside her. If all goes well, we'd like her to sign on with us and we'll begin to find her work." He turned again to Tooru, "This kind of work, it can pay very well and take up less time then the part time job you have now. I've heard that you are very serious about your schooling, wouldn't it be better to have a job that takes up less of your time?"
"That would be good..." She said hesitantly. "I promised Mother that I would finish High School." Her hand flew up to her mouth in sudden realization, "Ahh! School! I can't be in a magazine, it isn't allowed in school!"
"Don't worry about that." Sawatari smiled waving a careless hand. She was thinking about doing it! "I already spoke to the officials at school when I was trying to find you. As long as your studies don't suffer they'll consider it just another part-time job."
"Do you have a contract?" Mit-chan interrupted suddenly.
"Contract?" Sawatari looked at the woman in surprise. He'd completely forgotten that she was there.
"Yes, I'd assume that the interview and photo shoot would come with a standard 'work for hire' contract. We'd want to look it over before we agreed to anything." The others all looked at Mit-chan in shock. She was so professional, so different from her usual hysterical self. Shigure smiled inwardly.
"Well, yes..." Sawatari said slowly. This wasn't going as he expected. "I do have one here, we were hoping to get some of the details settled today." Mit-chan held out her hand expectantly. Sawatari stifled a sigh and pulled out a sheaf of papers and handed them to the little editor.
Mit-chan pulled out a red pen and glanced through them, "You'll have to cut out this automatic renewal option here." She made a check next to something. She flipped to the next page, "And this one, if Honda-san decides to do this we want an option to refuse any assignment she feels uncomfortable with."
"Well...we'll see..." Sawatari said weakly.
"And here, since Honda-san is in school we'll want to keep any limits on how much she has to work to a minimum. Ah, and this won't do, she'll want to control what publications she allows her photos to be sold to..." Mit-chan went through each page marking and checking. Finally she flipped the contact closed. "That's all I see for now, we'll have to take this home and go over it before we give you a definite answer."
"We were really hoping to get a firm answer today." Sawatari locked eyes with the woman, his mind running through the options. Flattery? No, she didn't seem the type to respond to that. Threats? Sawatari glanced at the older man watching with an amused but steely expression, the two boys at his side then the girls. No probably not a good idea in this company.
"If you need an answer today, it would have to be no." Mit-chan's stare didn't falter. Sawatari couldn't know the tortures this woman had endured in the years of working with Shigure. She wasn't going to lose to a hustler like him.
Sawatari could see the steel core in her and knew he was beaten. He glanced at Tooru out of the corner of his eye. He knew that if he could just get her to agree to this interview he'd be able to get her to agree to anything. But there was no way he'd be able to do it in this crowd. He gave an audible sigh and spread his hands in defeat. "Very well then. We'll wait for an answer." He rose and turned to Tooru and held out another business card. "Please, think about it Tooru-kun. It really could be a good opportunity. But even if you decide no, please call to let me know."
"Alright." Tooru said accepting the card, numbly. She still couldn't believe that there was anything in particular about her that set her apart. She was just a girl. She didn't have denpa ability like Hana-chan. She didn't have a fiery spirit like Uo-chan. She was just Tooru. She wasn't anything special.
"Feel free to finish your deserts but Mika and I must be going." Sawatari pushed his chair under the table. Mika took the hint and rose from the table and shouldered her bag. "I hope to hear from you soon, Tooru-kun." He turned to smile at her girlfriends, "And you two as well. We wouldn't mind extending the contract to include you as well." Personally he doubted the other two girls would go far, the gang girl was too abrasive and the other too creepy. But there was always a market for unusual girls, if they found the right niche... And both of them had pretty faces. Well, it was always good to leave options open. He paid at the front counter and waved goodbye to party as he walked out of the door.
* * *
Tooru was still staring numbly at the business card in her hand when Mit-chan spoke to her. "Honda-san, I'm going to have the lawyers at the firm go over this. If you decide you want to do this we'll make sure you are protected. Don't rush into anything, its that man's job to make the most favorable contract for his company."
"Mit-chan," Shigure smiled, "Good job! I knew I could count on you!"
"Sensei!" Mit-chan turned to him with a sudden wail. She stood quickly, knocking over her chair in the process. "I did what you asked...now please...the last 20 pages! The deadline with the printer is in an hour! It takes 45 minutes to get there from here!"
"Yes, yes..." Shigure said with a placating wave of his hands. "I've got them right here." He reached into his jacket and his face went suddenly blank. He fumbled around in his jacket. "Oh, did I forget them?"
"SENSEIIII!" Mit-chan collapsed at his feet and grasped the bottom of his jacket, "YOU DIDN'T!"
"Ha, ha!" Shigure laughed and set the pages down on the top of her head. "Just kidding."
"Sensei!" Mit-chan repeated hugging the pages to her with a river of tears running down her face. She jumped up and ran out of the café with the papers under one arm and her bawling face hidden in the other.
"Jeeze," Uotani brushed back her hair and looked at Shigure, "You're cruel."
Shigure laughed off her comments with a shrug, "Just having a little fun. So, Saki-san, Arisa-san, what do you think of Sawatari-san's offer? Are you going to take him up on it?"
Hanajima took a sip of her cooling tea. She had long since finished the rich dessert she'd ordered. "No." she looked suddenly grim. "School report cards came home last week."
Shigure didn't take the hint from the others who went instantly silent. "Did Saki-san do well?"
"Well?" A dark aura enveloped Hanajima. "Mother was in tears, Father has lost hope. A part time job....would not be allowed." Gloom shrouded her completely and silence descended.
Sweating a bit Shigure turned to Arisa. "And you?"
"I did fine in school." Arisa's eyes widened, "Oh, you mean about the job. No I don't think so. I'd have to dress up and be nice."
"Tooru-kun?" Tooru looked up, "what about you?"
"I-I don't know." She stammered.
"Sawatari-san," Hanajima commented, "his denpa feels a little sneaky."
"It would be good if you could work less though." Arisa pointed out. "Kyoko-san wouldn't want you to have to spend all your time working."
"I'm sure Tooru would be popular." Hanajima spoke to Uotani.
"Well of course!" She agreed. "And if that editor lady makes sure that the contract is ok, I suppose it wouldn't be such a bad idea to give it a try." She glanced at her watch, "Is it that late already? I better get going if I don't want to miss my train home."
"I'll walk with you." Hanajima stood with Arisa. She looked at Tooru, "Whatever you decide, we'll support you." And with that the two left.
"We should be going as well." Shigure stood and escorted the three out the door. They walked in silence for a short while.
Kyou felt uneasy at the whole prospect. He'd insisted on coming along to the meeting today even though he'd known he'd have nothing to contribute. He wasn't a smooth like Shigure or clever like Yuki. But where Tooru was concerned he felt the need to be involved. If nothing else if Sawatari had tried something physical he could have helped out. But now he didn't know what to think. Sawatari made him uncomfortable, he spoke so casually of how special Tooru was. What did he know about it anyway? How could he claim to know anything about her? They were the ones who knew...how special she was. How dare he speak so carelessly about it? He was getting more and more irritated just thinking about it.
Yuki tried not to let his emotions show. He was disgusted at himself for the possessive way he was thinking about Honda-san. He didn't want to share her with the rest of the world. He felt like his home had been invaded and taken over. But that was unfair to her. She deserved all the praise and adulation she could get. And if it meant that she had to work less, that was a good thing right? He knew she claimed to enjoy cleaning and housework, but besides school that's all she had time for it seemed. It would be good if she had more free time. He tried to convince himself of all the good things that this could lead to for Honda-san but his heart just wasn't in it.
"Tooru-kun." The others started a little as Shigure broke the silence. "We don't have any right to tell you what to do, but you should think seriously about this. When dealing with the media we all must be careful. We can't let the Souma's secret be discovered. Of course, if Tooru-kun wants to pursue this we'll manage. But make sure its what you really want first."
The girl nodded slowly. She wasn't sure what she should do. She entered the house with the others and retired to the kitchen to begin a late dinner. Sawatari-san had gone to a lot of trouble to find her and ask her to work for him. She should consider his offer seriously. And having more time to study would also be good. She had her promise to her mother to remember. She also had to think about the time when she would be independent and on her own. She was making okay wages at her current part-time job, but as it was she hardly managed to save anything month to month. Her expenses from school ate everything up and it made it difficult around times like Valentines to do something special. It would be nice to have some extra money. But, at the same time... She valued her time with the Souma's taking this job could mean putting them in danger. She didn't want to do anything to risk them. And she just couldn't believe that it would come to anything really. Famous people were different, *special*. She didn't watch much TV or go see movies often, but those people, they sparkled. They had something about them that just made people want to watch them. She could never be a person like that.
Kyou stood in the doorway watching Tooru rattle about in the kitchen. He leaned against the doorframe and tried to imagine her on the cover of a magazine, or on stage in an amphitheater. But his imagination failed him. He couldn't imagine what she could do. What was she going to do on a stage, clean it? She was just a stupid, clumsy girl. Who'd want to pay any attention to her? Nobody else could possibly understand what made her special like they could. No one else would see because wasn't that part of her just for them? Why would they want to watch her? Kyou stared at her as she puttered about, trying to figure it out. Its true that she was pretty enough. And her smile was nice enough he supposed. And she had a nice figure, she curved in at all the right places, and curved out, and was soft where she was supposed to be...
Tooru turned around and started, "Oh, Kyou-kun!" She smiled a dazzling smile at him, "You startled me." Her face grew suddenly concerned. "Are you feeling well, your face is all red!" She stepped forward as if to touch his forehead.
"I'm fine!" Kyou turned and ran, his heart beating as if he was caught doing something dirty.
Yuki knew Kyou didn't even notice him as he blew past him. He watched Tooru peer after the cat with wide brown eyes. She turned and spotted him in the hallway and turned her smile to him. "Honda-san, do you need any help?"
She shook her head, "No, it's almost done. You can help set the table though." She held out the place mats to him and picked up a stack of bowls. As they set the table together Yuki began to understand what Sawatari had seen in her. There was something that caused a fascination. Something that made you want to see what she was going to do next, to hear what she was going to say next.
"Did Yuki-kun finish his math homework?" Tooru looked at him expectantly, looking up from arranging the table setting to its most pleasing aspect.
Yuki blinked and realized that he'd been staring at her. "Ah. Un." He looked away and smoothed back his hair, hoping to hide his blush.
"Oh." Tooru seemed to hesitate. "If it's not too bothersome, could you check over mine? I'm not sure if I understood the equations correctly."
Yuki smiled and berated himself for being foolish. Tooru was just a normal girl. That's what she would always be.
