A/N: Hello again! Y'know, I'm not supposed to post yet another fic since my first one isn't finished yet and I wrote another one prior to this. But it keeps bugging me and I can't focus on one single thing so as a slave of my whims, I heeded to it. You see, I've read a bunch of well written *in a hissing voice* ONE-freaking-SHOT grown!Karma and Gakushuu fic. My most favorite is Extemporaneous by LostLoveLetters and Karushuu Week 2016 by Midori_Hime (the last two chapters). After reading them, I was like, 'Wait. What if these two meet up in the future?' sooo I suddenly found myself recycling some of my old printed word docs novel at home and made an instant manuscript and started staying up late at night, writing.
Please note that this is just a whimsical work. I didn't look much on the grammar as well as the character analyses of our boys. I just want to get this out of my head and proceeded to the events of the story rather than to exert effort to try explaining my depiction of their personalities because our opinions all differ anyway. So, I hope you enjoy and reviews are much loved!
CHAPTER ONE
Karma Akabane was bored.
The night was young and crisp, and he was in no mood to go to his empty home yet. This had been the second glass of whiskey for tonight, and as much as he wanted to drink to senselessness, he couldn't afford to go all out, not after the break-up he had with his girlfriend of the month.
He just received a message on his phone, bearing the unfeeling words 'We are not working out. Let's just end this,' which he replied with equally unaffected and bland response.
'Ok.'
And that's it; they were all over.
This had been his romantic routine for months. It would all start with a small chat on the bar, go on a date or two, then the girls would find Karma obnoxious and nasty and violent, and they'd be disappointed. Otherwise, they would think Karma's traits were cute and unique and they would fall, but for some reason it would be Karma's turn to feel bored and disappointed with their company.
Girls were pretty hard to please and difficult to spell. Now she wanted this, later she wanted not. They were demanding: they needed your time, attention, understanding, money, tolerance for their mood swings, explanation for every single thing, mandatory texts and calls even if there wasn't really anything to talk about, surprises and something new on your dates: the list goes forever. As lethargic as Karma was, he couldn't keep up with it. And once he realized it, he'd figure he wasn't really in love. So might as well end it all and get it over with.
Oh, right. Love. How would one know if love struck him or her, anyway? He could care less as of now. All he knew was he was dead bored and he wanted something or someone to relieve that boredom, be it another girl for the night or a knucklehead to mess with.
And it seemed somebody up there heard his heed when an entertainment in a form of a familiar man stepped inside the bar, suit and tie and all, looking as an impeccably gentleman and CEO as ever.
'Great—if it isn't Gakushuu Asano!'
Karma's eyes followed as the figure knowingly went straight into the counter and waived at the bartender for a drink. Strawberry hair cleanly cut, more pronounced jaw and taut poise, broader shoulder and amethyst eyes piercing more than ever. He could tell some muscles lay beneath that black blazer and blue tie, too.
Really, once an ace, always an ace. Asano was just an image of almost perfection of a successful man every woman must be dreaming of.
Karma excitedly jumped from his stool, grabbing his whiskey as he went. With all the air and casualness of a delinquent, he sat next to the source of his amusement for the night.
Asano's drink just came when Karma decided to break the ice.
"Yo, Asano-kun."
Glass nearly touching Gakushuu's lips, he turned to the side only to meet the eyes of a person he wanted to run into on his free time last.
"Akabane."
"Nice. You still remember me."
"I don't happen to have a haywire mindset of a delinquent unlike you: I do remember."
"So do that three points on our final exams on junior high, I guess?"
"Still reliving that glorious points after all these years, I see."
"Pretty an achievement for a mere delinquent to just forget, you know. It's not everyone can beat the number one just like that. So, when have you returned to Japan?"
Gakushuu raised a brow. "When does it become your business?"
"I'm just trying to get into a talk with you, Asano-kun. It's been years since the last time we see each other. You're quite hostile for such a timely reunion, don't you think?"
"I sadly don't happen to be interested joining the reunion, so if you don't mind would you spare me the privacy and leave me alone? There's a lot more people to rile up out there. Go waste your time with them."
"None is as interesting as you are, though. Come on, just 'til your date arrives or something. I don't mind keeping you company."
"But I do."
"Oh, wait. Don't tell me you don't have a date tonight?" Asano narrowed his eyes, glowering at Karma.
"Get lost, Akabane."
"What the hell. Is this serious? How come the great, great Asano Gakushuu has no fucking date? Man, that's tragic. Nee, Asano-kun. How about a girlfriend?"
Gakushuu faked a smirk, flicked his eyes to Akabane's with pride, but upon the clash of the violet into the gold, he found himself hesitating to lie. Akabane had seen through that: he was looking expectantly at him, and those seconds of stillness and lack of response had his expression changed from innocently waiting to shit-eating grin then into a dark chuckle.
Goddamn it, why did Gakushuu had to pause and refuse to lie like that? Ah, must be because Akabane could detect a lie as he was a liar himself, and getting caught lying under his nose, he figured, was lamer than to reveal that he was in no relationship. He rolled his eyes away, turned deaf ears to Akabane's snicker, and took a swig of his drink.
"You done?" He asked when the chuckle faded.
"Yeah."
"For someone who doesn't have a date himself, you're excessively amused."
"Yeah, right? Two top students and successful bachelors at that, drinking all alone in a bar."
That wasn't the response Gakushuu expected. "How come Kunugigaoka High's number one delinquent Karma Akabane has no fucking date?"
"Just got dumped," Akabane face planted on the counter, waving his phone in hand.
It was Gakushuu's turn to chortle.
"You done?" Karma returned, noting the shift of Asano's mood. Good, he was ready for a chat or two.
"Yes. So, why did she break up with you?"
"Complaining 'bout the lack of time we spend together. She doesn't seem to understand the demands of my job."
Silence fell. Asano emptied his glass.
"Pretty much the same complaint my last girlfriend had. Mine's more conflicted, I guess."
"Figures. When have you returned from MIT?"
"More than a year ago. Been busy afterwards in taking over Father's company and checking things in Kunugigaoka."
"Oh, right. How's the ex-principal doing?"
"Lording over business, kicking alive as ever."
"As expected."
"How's being a bureaucrat? I heard you went for civil exams right after graduation. METI?"
"Yep. So far, so good. Hasn't been suspended for kicking someone's ass. Yet. From whom did you hear that?"
"Ren."
"Ah, the narcissist. How's he doing?"
To both men's utter disbelief, the not-so-friendly conversation deliberately developed into a snappy and frisky chat which jumped from the lives of their classmates and acquaintance from high school, the difference of educational system of an international school (which didn't differ much from Tokyo University's, only with wider range of courses and master degrees), to the standing of Asano Group of Companies in stocks, and Asano's plan to branch out Kunugigaoka.
Karma kept stifling a laugh whenever Asano glared at him with the mention of his father and how far he still needed to go in order to surpass his achievements. Gakushuu couldn't help but shake his head with a disbelieving chuckle as Akabane whined about his boss working his ass out with accounts filled with discrepancies (and questionable use of government funds) and how much he wanted to squirt wasabi on his face and swore he would do just that once he got promoted and be ranked higher than him.
Time flew right out of the bar's glass window. Drinks were coming, but their glasses weren't much touched for they were both consumed with what the other was saying (Akabane was slightly slurring already, must be why he stopped ordering). It had taken almost a minute or so for Gakushuu to realize that Akabane was almost dozing off, head resting on one palm, eyes drooping and a little red, either from the whiskey or sleepiness.
"It's pretty late," he pushed his cuff up, revealing a signature, expensive watch. "You better go home, Akabane. You're drunk."
"Naaah, I'm okaaaay," Karma, admittedly tired (talking to Asano was pleasantly exhausting) and yes, drunk. But he didn't want to end the night just yet.
"But I have to go, I have work tomorrow."
"So do I."
"Then go home," Asano got to his feet, looking set to leave Karma on his own. The jaded look on his eyes sent a silly thought to his haywire (according to Asano) mind.
"Hmm…" Karma groggily rubbed his face with a hand. "Since you're not seeing someone right now, do you mind going out for drinks or something?"
"… Pardon?"
"Um… do you wanna go out with me?"
Karma was just kidding, but the eerie pause that followed, with Asano looking devastated beyond words, gave it a serious turn.
"You're drunk, Akabane. Just go home already." Gakushuu could feel his face heating up, not believing his ears.
"I'm serious."
"Yeah. Tell me to believe a prankster with a brain of an elementary schooler."
"Why don't you try? I've changed over the past years. Don't say no without giving a shot. Have some shounen spirit there, fella."
"I can't believe you swing that way."
"I really don't but I'll make Asano-kun an exception. You're a special case, after all. Lucky, nee?" Come on, or are you scared to date someone three points smarter than you?"
"You mocking me into doing your biddings is an old trick, Akabane. I won't fall for it."
"Geez. Just another drink or dinner. If I don't get to please you then we're done. Fair deal?"
Gakushuu's brows creased. A headache was beginning to creep up his temples. He just wanted to go home. Without thinking (thanks to alcohol, his reasons seemed to be messed up), he groaned. He bet it wouldn't work out anyway. "Okay fine. Fair enough."
Karma cackled in his mind. 'This is gonna be fun!' Asano fell for it. He whipped his phone out and shoved it into Asano's face. "Your number and email address, then."
Gakushuu eyed the offered device, thinking twice. Was he really going to do this? Akabane was just messing with him and playing around, right? But if his number and email were involved, it would likely go farther than that: Akabane would certainly pester him with calls and texts whenever he found it fun to do so. Yet he could easily just delete and ignore them. If he wanted to see each other then they could just set a time and date to meet up right now. But Gakushuu's schedule always changed, unexpected meeting popped out now and then. It might be complicated.
He sighed, taking the phone. "… Punch in your password first, drunk."
"It's 'fat head boss.' No spaces."
"Why on earth did you tell it to me?"
"First step of getting to know each other…? All my exes demanded for it. I change it every break-up. Go on."
Gakushuu clicked his tongue and entered the code. It was accepted. He typed his number then returned it to Akabane's hand.
Karma dialed and hit the call button. Seconds later, a ringtone sounded, and it was coming from Asano's pocket."
"Alright, I got the right number."
"Let's set some rules about my number, Akabane. No calls and texts during working hours, Mondays to Saturdays. You're not allowed to give that number to anybody else. Are we clear?"
"Aye aye, sir!"
"I'll keep your word. Until next time, then."
"Copy. Take care on your way."
Asano left with a flick of his suit, without looking back. Karma let a smile curve on his lips, getting excited already. He took the last swig of his whiskey, paid the bill then headed back home, wondering if he should text Asano about getting home safe or something, just like what he usually did with his previous girlfriends. In the end, he decided against it, thinking that Asano was no ordinary person and required more complex approach that the cliché and normal ones.
Oh, this was just going to be so fucking fun.