Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. I own no rights to Gravitation or any of the characters, and never will, except in alternate universes entirely of my own creation. The plot is original though, and I therefore fully exercise my right to force them to do whatever I want by writing fanfiction. glomps Hiro
Author's Note: I am not exactly familiar with the inner workings of charm schools, much less whether charm schools - for boys or otherwise - even exist in Japan. Don't take anything I write about charm school seriously - just put it down to fanfiction fun
CHAPTER ONE: OF COURTROOMS AND CHARM SCHOOL
Shuichi stood outside the door of Tohma's office, shuffling his feet nervously. He'd been fidgety and tense ever since K had informed him that Tohma wished to see him, and found himself wishing that Hiro, or even Suguru, was with him. It wasn't often that the president of N-G Records requested a private meeting with him, but it wasn't entirely unusual, since Tohma had been known to call him up to ask how Yuki was doing.
This time, though, Shuichi was fairly certain that it wasn't about Yuki.
He waited, still shuffling his feet, as Tohma's receptionist spoke into an intercom, announcing Shuichi's arrival. There was an indistinct buzz of static, indicating Tohma's response. Switching off the intercom, the receptionist smiled at Shuichi.
"The president will see you now," she informed him.
Shuichi smiled faintly. He heard a low buzz from Tohma's office door as the lock was disengaged, and stepped hesitantly into the room. Sure enough, Seguchi Tohma was seated behind his imposingly large desk, and he looked up as Shuichi entered.
"Shindou-kun," Tohma said. "Come sit down."
Shuichi sat down hesitantly, perching on the edge of his seat. Tohma didn't appear outwardly angry, but Shuichi was familiar enough with Tohma to know that the seemingly angelic, fluffy-haired Nittle Grasper keyboardist was far, far from what he seemed.
"I received a report from the editor of Broken Note yesterday," Tohma began, opening a drawer and placing a sheaf of papers on the desk between them. "Regarding Bad Luck's interview."
Shuichi flinched slightly as Tohma brought up what was now considered a taboo subject. Sakano and K had set up an interview for Bad Luck with Broken Note, a popular music magazine, in conjunction with Bad Luck's upcoming tour. Unfortunately…
"I understand things didn't go too well?" Tohma said, eyeing the pink-haired singer who, under Tohma's gaze, began to squirm uncomfortably.
"They were only supposed to ask about our tour!" Shuichi protested, already aware that he was fighting for a lost cause. "That's what K-san and Sakano-san said!"
"And they asked you one question about your relationship with Eiri-san. So why –" Tohma glanced at the report and sighed, "didn't you just answer it?"
"I did," Shuichi replied truthfully. "It wasn't my fault the interviewer was a homophobe…"
"Really? The editor informed me that you jumped up and down on the couch for five minutes, yelling variations of 'Yuki, I love you'," Tohma raised an eyebrow.
"She was sceptical about the fact that two men could love each other!" Shuichi protested. "She said that it was probably just a phase, so I showed her how much I love Yuki!"
"And when they tried to get you down," Tohma continued, seemingly oblivious to Shuichi's protests, "you leaped off the couch and landed on the coffee table."
Shuichi didn't bother protesting this time, colouring guiltily at the memory.
"You broke the coffee table, a vase, and several glasses of water," Tohma went on, "And you put one of the photographers in the hospital with a sprained arm." He set down the papers he'd been holding and looked Shuichi in the eye. "What were you thinking?"
"Did the editor…say…what K-san did?" Shuichi ventured timidly.
Tohma closed his eyes. "Also, in an effort to calm you down, K-san fired off a round from his Magnum," he said, not bothering to read off from the report this time. "Destroying two cameras, several lights, and blowing holes in the ceiling. Sakano-san, on the other hand, fainted – before threatening to commit suicide."
Shuichi was staring studiously at his hands.
"Two makeup artists wound up in the hospital, screaming for help," Tohma continued, "and several more photographers with them. All were unharmed, but terrified out of their minds. And all of them," Tohma opened his eyes and raised his voice slightly, "are threatening to take us to court."
Shuichi groaned.
"Fortunately for you, I managed to put in a high enough offer to persuade them to drop the charges." Tohma's words filled Shuichi with relief. "They agreed not to press charges, but –"
"But?" Shuichi echoed cautiously.
"We cannot let something like this happen again," Tohma said sternly.
"Yes, Seguchi-san," Shuichi said meekly.
Tohma sighed. "What you did cast a very, very bad reflection on N-G Records," he said. "If word of this leaks out – and I assure you, it could – N-G's reputation could be shot."
Shuichi paled visibly. "So…what should I do, Seguchi-san?"
"Do? I think you've done enough." Tohma's sharp rebuke caused the pink-haired singer to cringe.
"However, we can't run the risk of this happening again." There was a warning note in Tohma's voice that made Shuichi look up. "So –" Tohma rummaged around in a drawer, extracted a blue leaflet, and handed it to Shuichi. "– I've taken steps to ensure that."
Shuichi accepted the paper, staring down at it apprehensively.
"A charm school?" he demanded. "What's that?"
"It's a place where you learn certain things," Tohma responded calmly.
"I've already been to high school!" Shuichi retorted.
"This isn't the same as high school," Tohma exhaled sharply. He wondered vaguely how Eiri managed to put up with the pink-haired singer's idiocy for so long. Shuichi could be so annoyingly dense sometimes. "It's a place where you're schooled in decorum."
His explanation was met with a blank stare.
"You learn manners," Tohma elaborated with a weary sigh, "and social skills. How to eat properly, how to conduct yourself at parties, how to –"
"I know how to eat properly!" Shuichi interrupted, with the expression of one who has been led up onto the executioner's platform and received an explanation as to what, exactly, the rope is for. "And how to conduct myself at parties!"
"– and how to behave at magazine interviews so you don't publicly humiliate the recording company that represents you." Tohma said pointedly, driving his point home.
Shuichi fell silent, his face turning as pink as his hair.
"So I took the liberty of enrolling you in the very reputable –" Tohma studied a copy of the paper that he'd given Shuichi, "– Tokyo Charm School for Boys."
"But Seguchi-san – !"
"I signed you up for a two-week intensive course," Tohma continued, "so it won't interfere with the preparations for your upcoming tour. It starts next Monday, and goes on every day for the next two weeks, from four to nine."
"Five hours? But Seguchi-sannnn...!" Shuichi was all too aware that he was fighting a losing battle.
"The school is located just down the street from the N-G building, so you won't have any trouble getting there."
"But –"
"At the end of your course, you will undergo a practical examination of everything you've learned," Tohma went on. "If you fail, I will pull Bad Luck out of the tour."
Shuichi's mouth fell open as he gazed at the fluffy-haired blond president in disbelief.
"If you pass, I hope that doing so will have a positive effect on the manner in which you conduct yourself. Especially –" Tohma looked pointedly at Shuichi, " – during future magazine interviews."
Shuichi gulped.
"I've already informed K and Sakano-san about my decision," Tohma went on. "And I suggest that you inform your bandmates. However, I do not want you to inform Eiri-san."
"What? Why?" Shuichi demanded suspiciously.
"I don't think that Eiri-san needs to know just yet."
There was a very pregnant pause.
"Thank you, Shindou-kun, that will be all. You may go." Tohma ended genially.
Shuichi got up and muttered a quick 'thank you' before leaving Tohma's office hurriedly, still clutching the charm school paper in his hand. Nodding at the receptionist, he swiftly approached the elevator, just wanting to get as far away from Seguchi Tohma as possible. The doors slid open the moment he pressed the button, revealing a blissfully empty interior. Shuichi stepped inside and pressed the button for the third floor, just as the door slid closed.
He studied the paper again with growing disgust. The words 'Tokyo Charm School for Boys' were written across the top in elegant calligraphy, and the paper included all kinds of information about the school, promising reputable tutors and a conducive learning environment, peppered with a list of awards. There was information about the types of courses offered, and a list of contact numbers for further enquiries. It really did look like a well-established institution.
But it was still a charm school.
Charm school. He was supposed to go to some stupid charm school. So he could learn how to eat. And how to conduct himself at parties. Just because of some stupid interview!
And he wasn't supposed to tell Yuki. Well, that wouldn't be too hard, Shuichi acknowledged. The blond author had more or less barricaded himself in his study so he could finish up his latest book in time for his deadline. He wouldn't notice if Shuichi wasn't around much, not for another couple of weeks, at least. And even if he did, he'd probably just assume that Shuichi was rehearsing for his tour…
Damn, the tour. It was their biggest yet – they were going to perform at some of the biggest venues in Japan, before moving on to Korea, China, and some other parts of Asia. He'd been excited about it before the arrangements had even been finalised, and thoroughly resented the fact that it was now being used against him. Especially since it was to promote their new album…and now it might not even happen if he blew this stupid charm school thing.
The thought made him clench his fists, crumpling the paper.
He had to go on this tour! He didn't want to be forced into charm school, he didn't want to have to lie to Yuki, and he most definitely didn't want to disappoint Hiro, Suguru, Sakano, K, and all of Bad Luck's fans by getting yanked out of the tour because of some charm school exam.
It must be nice to have choices…
The elevator stopped at the third floor, and the doors slid open. Shuichi stormed out of the lift towards the recording studios, where he knew Hiro and Suguru would still be rehearsing. He glanced down at the paper again, remembering that he was supposed to tell his bandmates about the charm school stint.
Shuichi glared at the paper once more before ripping it apart. Wadding up the remaining pieces, he stuffed them into the nearest trash can before storming into the rehearsal room. Damn Tohma. Damn charm school. Damn everything!