Usagi sat on the couch in shock and utter disbelief as he stared at the review he had received on his most recent book. How could the critic call his book disturbing and say that it made him sick to his stomach? His face burned bright red with humiliation and anger. Akihiko Usami had never received a bad review on any of his works and this one was beyond harsh. He figured with all of the publicity and popularity his books were getting that he was bound to gain a few haters; not everyone was going to like his works or him after all but something about this bad review left a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He always felt tired from the lack of sleep he acquired from putting so much time into making every detail of his novels perfect but this time was different; instead of wanting to get some coffee to keep himself awake, he just wanted to lie down in defeat and give in to the tiredness pulling down at his eyelids. He couldn't do that though; he had an interview on a talk show to attend and Eri would go berserk if he missed it. He hung his head in shame, slumping down into the couch as his bangs covered his eyes. Sure it was only one bad review but it was still his first bad review. The first bad reviews always sting the worst.
"Usagi-San; I'm home!" Misaki called out as he entered through the front door, carrying a stack of study books. He had just returned home from college as he removed his shoes before entering the living room where his boyfriend Usagi was moping. He was too busy putting his books away and tidying up what little he could to notice his boyfriend's saddened state as he headed into the kitchen to prepare lunch for the two.
"I know we don't have a lot of time for lunch before your interview so I'll make something quick in easy. Is Ramen okay?" He asked as he pulled the small packet of beef flavored Ramen Noodles from the cabinet.
"I'm not hungry..." Usagi spat coldly as his bangs remained over his eyes, hiding any hurt and disappointment in them from Misaki.
"NOT HUNGRY?! How can you not be hungry?! YOU NEED YOUR ENERGY!" Misaki explained as he went off on yet another one of his over-exaggerated rampages. He then calmed down with a look of confusion once he finally noticed how quiet his boyfriend was being.
"Hey; what's wrong?" He asked as he approached him in concern, taking a seat next to him on the couch. Usagi was already usually a very quiet person who always kept to himself but something seemed off about him today and Misaki could feel it. Usagi seemed slightly saddened though his demeanor usually lacked emotion and he was usually starving by the time Misaki was beginning to cook lunch and would often complain about how long it was taking him to prepare the meal but this time he wasn't hungry. He felt sick to his stomach and like he didn't deserve the nourishment the food would provide for his body. Something at the very back of his mind was telling him that he didn't want the nourishment anymore but he shrugged this feeling off as mere self pity.
"Nothing is wrong...Don't worry about it..." He replied darkly but Misaki wasn't ready to give up yet. He was determined to figure out what was wrong with his partner if it killed him.
"Come on; don't lie to me. I can tell something's bothering you; now what is it?!" He demanded, furrowing his eyebrows in both frustration and determination.
"I said nothing is wrong; now drop it!" Usagi snapped for the first time in his life. This shocked Misaki. Never once did Akihiko Usami ever openly express his anger aside from a dark-minded, chilling glare. He had never yelled at Misaki before or anyone for that matter but he was already feeling bad enough without Misaki drilling him for answers. Besides, It's not like he would even care; Usagi remembered what his Father had said to him whenever he would come to him with a problem. He would always shrug it off as a problem of little importance since it wasn't his problem to deal with aside from his Son's crying. His older brother was the same way and over time, Akihiko had learned not to trust anyone with his personal problems, assuming they wouldn't understand or care at all.
Misaki looked down sadly, shivering a bit from fear at Usagi's sudden outburst as he was now on the verge of tears. Usagi now felt bad as his glare softened a bit. It wasn't the poor kid's fault; he was only trying to help. He let out a defeated sigh as his violet eyes returned to the floor from where they were once staring.
"Miskaki; I'm sorry...I didn't mean to snap at you like that; I just have a lot on my mind at the moment that's all..." he admitted as his bangs once again covered his eyes.
"Like what?" Misaki asked softly in concern as his olive-green eyes glanced back over at his beloved partner. Usagi glanced back over at Misaki a bit forlornly, ready to reveal the truth about his feelings toward the bad review when they were both interrupted by Eri's loud, shrill voice.
"Usagi-San! It's time for your big interview on National Television!" Eri cheered with excitement as stars appeared in her eyes. It wasn't so much excitement for Usagi as it was excitement about the publicity for herself as Usagi had managed to get her, Misaki and Ryuichiro screen time on the show as well.
"Let's hurry up and go! Go! Go! Before we're late! Late! Late!" She cheered as she physically pulled Usagi and Misaki up from the couch by their arms and forcefully dragged them over to the door. She stopped briefly in concern when she noticed Usagi lacked any signs of movement let alone struggle. He just hung limp and lifeless like a rag doll as the only thing holding him up was his and Eri's conjoined arms.
"Usagi-San?" Misaki asked softly in concern as Eri gently shook him in confusion to see if he was even still alive. It was then he suddenly sprung back to life and began heading out the door.
"Yes; we had better get going before we are late..." He finally agreed. He figured that maybe seeing all of his screaming fans that actually enjoyed his book would cheer him up a bit but little did he know that his recent book had struck up a National outrage amongst a minority of the public and most of the minority would be attending the show's audience.
"Hiya viewing world! I'm Raikou Takanawa, host of the ever so popular Takanawa Show!" The T.V show's host announced excitedly as the crowd cheered before he took a seat on the circular couch. Raikou was your typical grey-haired T.V show host, wearing a tuxito in an attempt to look 'good' on Television despite his old age. He grinned sinisterly before continuing his speech in an obnoxiously loud voice.
"Our first guest today will be a well known writer who's books have sent all of Japan into a riot. Give it up for Akihiko Usami, more commonly known as Usagi!" Raikou cheered as Usagi, Misaki, Eri and Ryuichiro walked out onto the stage. Eri and Ryuichiro smirked proudly and waved to the crowd but then frowned once they were all booed by the audience. They were all mildly surprised by the audience's hostility but Usagi was shocked beyond belief. Never in all his life had he ever been booed by anyone. That sick feeling returned to his stomach along with an empty hollow feeling but he shrugged it off, his face returning to it's emotionless demeanor as he took a seat on the couch along with Misaki, Eri and Ryuichiro who were still in complete and utter shock.
"So Usagi-San; Tell us all about your new book." Raikou grinned as he leaned the microphone toward Usagi's mouth.
"It is a continuation of my series of romantic novels..." Usagi replied in a matter of factly tone before the microphone was removed from his lips once again.
"I'm surprised you even showed your face in public today after the bad review you received in this morning's Paper." Raikou pointed out as a picture of the News Paper article containing the bad review on Usagi's recent book appeared on the large T.V screen above him. This struck a nerve in both Usagi and Misaki but Usagi kept it well hidden as Misaki seethed quietly. He didn't even know that Usagi had received a bad review and the review itself was pretty harsh now that Misaki was able to read it for himself.
The review read: Akihiko Usami's most recent novel made me sick to my stomach: It was disgusting, disturbing and he should just give up on writing all together and rid the world of this garbage he calls literature.
A majority of the crowd booed him once more as the rest laughed at his pain, furthering his humiliation as his face began to redden again but he remained emotionless.
"I refuse to have a discussion about that close-minded neanderthal's opinion..." Usagi replied coldly, hatred burning in his violet eyes.
"So now you're calling one of Japan's most intelligent critics a neanderthal?" Raikou smirked as the audience once again booed him. Usagi remained silent and emotionless as Raikou continued.
"You know Usagi, that critic was right; you should just give up on writing all together because you really outraged a lot of bloggers. They even started an entire hate page about you on Fumblr." Raikou added with a teasing smirk. At first, Usagi's eye just twitched in annoyance but then his countenance returned to complete and utter shock upon hearing that he was being talked about negatively on a popular website. His novel couldn't have possibly been that bad but he was proven wrong when the flatscreen above them showed the popular website known as Fumblr's home page blowing up with posts and they were all about Usagi and how bad his recent novel was. They even went as far as to criticize some of his older novels, say he was a bad person for even writing to begin with, saying that they wished he was dead and even a couple of bloggers discussing a plot to harass Eri and Ryuichiro until they dropped him as their client so he wouldn't be able to publish anymore books.
This couldn't be happening. Usagi's world was coming apart at the seams. His writing was his only creative outlet and only way to express himself openly in a way that was healthy and that he thought was safe. His career meant the world to him and if it would have been ripped from him in an instant just because of Eri and Ryuichiro's greed, then he would be forced to go back to being the lonely person with no voice that he had been when he was a kid. His writing would mean nothing if nobody saw it. He would go back to doing all of that work for nothing which is why he published his work in the first place. He was tired of his talent not being seen so when he had gained enough courage to get his first book published, it was a special day for him. He had worked harder and harder to become better and better and to please the public. he had put most of his energy into his works, clawing his way to the top only for it to be snatched out from under him and for him to hit rock bottom in seconds. Though Eri and Ryuichiro had not dropped him yet nor were they planning to despite the blogger's plans, this still filled Usagi with a great amount of fear and anxiety as he felt his heart shatter and his thoughts begin to race.
For the first time in his life since he was a small child, Akihiko Usami was on the verge of tears. He gritted his teeth as he fought them back with all his strength, his bangs covering his eyes again. He refused to be seen crying in public let alone on National Television. He had to leave and fast.
"Usagi-San?!" Misaki gasped, appearing both shocked and concerned at his beloved boyfriend's state. Eri and Ryuichiro had turned their attention to their client, unaware of what was going to happen next but they were both equally worried and would stand by Usagi no matter what the public said. He was a star and they thought his literature deserved to be heard whether the public liked it or not and they were willing to put up with a few protesters to keep their most talented client's works seen.
"I am leaving...This interview is over..." Usagi tried to keep his voice emotionless but he was so distraught at the moment that it sounded shaky and began cracking a bit. He quickly turned and stormed off of the stage, the cameras following him until he had completely left the building. This angered Misaki greatly. He didn't understand how people could be so cruel and put his partner through this much pain and anguish. He stood up from his seat and punched Raikou in the face with as much power and force as his arm would allow him, knocking him from his seat and causing him to drop his microphone as he fell to the floor.
"You idiots! You monsters!" Misaki yelled as he picked up the microphone so the audience could hear him more clearly.
"Disgusting, filthy animals all of you! You all make me sick! Do you know how much hard work and effort Usagi or any writer for that matter puts into their novels?! Can't you all just for once in your worthless, pathetic lives appreciate what all of these writers and artists do to entertain us?! YOU INGRATES!" Misaki yelled into the microphone as Raikou, Eri, Ryuichiro and even the audience stared at him in both shock and awe before becoming awkwardly silent.
Misaki breathed heavily as he was now seething but then he calmed down a bit when he remembered how emotionally destroyed Usagi looked before he left. He couldn't help but worry about his partner as his glare softened slightly.
Usagi unknown to others, was walking back toward his home, hanging his head in shame and defeat as his bangs kept his eyes hidden. Upon closer examination, tears could be seen streaming the broken man's face as he breathed heavily to keep from sobbing out loud.
Chapter: 1 of 4