Successful Crow
Summary: In an alternate timeline, Shuuichi is a senior at a respected college. If looming midterms and college costs weren't stressful enough, he discovers his picture and bio in the homosexual section of Japan's most popular dating service. Confronting the peers who submitted the info, a man who's interested in him appears…
Chapter I
- The Beginning: Mistake & Confusion -
Two college students sat huddled around an outdoor table, conversing in a quick, hushed tone.
"Kyo what are we going to do? What are we going to say? "
"Don't panic Yoshi, don't panic. Maybe… he won't find out, maybe he doesn't know. "
"Oh, yes he does! H-he's coming towards us with a copy of the magazine in hand! Oh, god how could he not know? Ai-Ai Magazine is the most popular dating service, second only to its website in the nation, and Shuuichi isn't the type of guy to be left in the dark for long. "
"Relax. We'll just explain everything and fix the problem. "
"Fix the problem? Fix the problem! The damage can't be mended! " Burying his fingers into his hair, shaking his head. "I never should have let you talk me into this; we never should have done this… Shuuichi is going to end us. "
An enraged yet, composed redhead stopped short of the table the two were sitting, sliding a glossy magazine between them. The page containing the likeness of the livid person before them looked back at them.
Yoshi, the smallest in structure couldn't stop trembling from behind his glasses. Kyo took a deep breath, suppressing feelings of fear and concern that his actions would change his relationship with the glaring individual. Brushing long black locks aside, he looked up.
"Explain. "
"It's a magazine. " Kyo replied.
"With a very nice picture of you in it. " Yoshi added. "
"Yes, a picture Kyo took and the both of you submitted. "
"Let's be honest here, your social and romantic life could use a bit of excitement Shuuichi. " Kyo argued.
"It's printed in the homosexual section. "
"Well, that will definitely add excitement…" Yoshi jested trying to ease the tension, but the attempt was abandoned.
"Shuuichi, listen, all of this is mainly my doing. If you want to be mad, be mad at me, but we're really sorry. We didn't mean to burden you. I just didn't want you to end up like Yoshi over here. Alone, melancholy, dateless…"
"Gee, you sure know how to cheer up a guy…" Yoshi mumbled.
"That photo was meant for the hetro section. However, there was a mistake made somewhere in the submission process and it ended up where it is. "
"Do to the number of calls, my cellphone number had to be changed. "
"What did you expect? " Kyo declared standing up. "Anyone could have foreseen that prospect! If I saw this picture posted in any form of media, I would want a date with you too! "
"What? "
"Err- I mean, my ability to capture and bring out my subject's external and internal beauty without fail in my photography is amazing. Sometimes I overwhelm even
myself. "
"Please, please don't hold a grudge against us Shuuichi. " Yoshi squeaked, "We'll make it up to you, promise. For starters, we'll pay your cellphone bill, overages and all! This month's and the next, with Kyo's playboy lifestyle and my paying internship it'll be easy. What do you say? "
The fox in human guise exhaled heavily, "Very well, but here on promise you won't try to influence my social habits. "
"We promise. "
RING! RING! RING! An unknown number flashed across his screen.
"More admirers? " Kyo wondered.
"No, I've already changed my number. So, this could be important. Excuse me. "
Walking out of earshot Shuuichi answered the unexpected call, but there was no response. Again he called out to the other side, only to collide firmly into somebody, dropping his phone.
"Sorry I wasn't watching where I–" Looking up he met eye to eye with an older man in business attire; in one hand he held a bouquet and the other he extended to aid the fox to his feet.
"Shuuichi Minamino? " He asked.
"…Have we met? "
"No, but let me just say your picture didn't do justice, you're far more enchanting in real life, Shuuichi. "
"Um, wait a moment, there's been a mistake––"
"These are for you. " Bestowing the large bouquet in public made the fox in human form blush deeply. "You can call me Karasu. " He bowed, allowing ebony hair to slip past his shoulders.
"Ah, thank you but I can not accept these. There was an error made by the publisher. "
"Error? "
"Yes, truth be told my picture wasn't supposed to be there at all. I recently discovered it was Ai-Ai Magazine, my friends they– well, it doesn't matter now. Sorry for the misunderstanding, but I'm not interested. Allow me to compensate you for the roses. " The college senior reached for his wallet: EMPTY.
"Is something wrong? "
Embarrassment swept over Shuuichi's face pulling his hand away. "…At a later time. " (All available funds went toward the bloated cellphone bill.)
"I see. " He sighed, combing back a handful of hair. "…Shuuichi do you know where the Mibu Coffee Shop is? "
"Yes, do work there? Ah, that's a stupid question you're wearing a suit…"
"No that's okay. " Karasu chuckled, "How about this? If you tell me how your picture was submitted over a cup of coffee, I'll consider the roses paid in full. Is tomorrow at 5:00PM work for you? Here. "
"Wait–? What? "
"Later. "
He left, forcing the college student to accept the generous bouquet. Yoshi and Kyo watching the encounter from afar approached gingerly.
"He moves fast for a guy wearing an expensive looking suit. " Kyo commented.
"Bold too…and looks kind of familiar…" Yoshi murmured, pushing up his glasses. "I wonder where I've seen him before? He appeared on television…An actor? No…"
"That guy Kyo is one of the countless people who read Ai-Ai magazine. "
Shrugging he replied, "I guess even the corporate types get lonely. He must be disappointed. "
"Not really, I'm having coffee with him tomorrow. "
"What! You're going on a date with a gay guy, Shuuichi? Seriously?!"
"Be more discreet Kyo, and it's not a date. I want to clear up some misunderstandings, reimburse him for these flowers, since I couldn't do that with money due to my financial standing after paying phone overages. "
"Heh. Heh. Heh. We'll pay you back soon Shuuichi. " Yoshi cried trying to ease the guilt. "By the looks of it, he gave you three-dozen roses."
"So? " Kyo spat. "He gave some dinky plants. What about it? "
"Flowers, hold meaning Kyo. A three dozen bouquet means 'a romantic attachment unlike any other' and their color, red means 'I love you'."
"It looks like, he's serious about you. They are beautiful after all. "
"Tsk. You sound like such a yes-man. No wonder you can't get a girlfriend. "
"O-oi! Don't stab me with personal matters just because you're upset. At least when I like someone I let them know directly and don't beat around the bush like a certain person I know…"
For a moment Kyo and Yoshi had a stare off until Kyo turned away.
"Anyways, we're really sorry Shuuichi. Yoshi and I will work hard to make it up to you, because money alone won't be enough. "
"Agreed. Excuse me. "
Even when the distressed party had disappeared from sight, Yoshi was still trembling over the confrontation. "That guy's temperament is …otherworldly."
"Yeah, frightening really. "
Chapter End
(To Be Continued.)
