Promotional Tactics

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.

"Stop staring."

Hikaru choked on his suppressed laughter. "Why not, you look very good."

That should normally get him blushing, coming from Hikaru, but there was nothing remotely flattering in this whole ordeal that Hikaru termed as 'fun'. "You're the one who told me to act normal so it won't rouse attention!"

Snicker. "Oh yeah."

Touya glared. "You're not going to make this easy for me, are you."

"Hey, we're in the same predicament. And I don't even get to wear something as nice."

"You volunteered for this, you can't complain anyway." Pause. "Let's play another game. You let me off if I win."

"Oh no, you can't play your way out of this, Touya. I won that game."

"By half a moku!" He stopped, embarrassed at his own outburst. A win was a win. "All right, how about if I win by more than six moku this time..."

"No way. Besides, we're only supposed to play shidougo here. But Akari said we can play one exhibition game if we want. Just remember this is a high school festival, not a Go convention."

"So it warrants wearing weird costumes while playing Go?"

"Geez, don't blame it all on me! Akari said this is just to attract attention. I mean, normal high schoolers don't just come flocking to a Go stand, you know."

Touya's eyes glinted. "Attract attention? And you said earlier..."

"Eh? Oh, haha," Hikaru laughed awkwardly. "Relax, no one will recognize you in that... ehm, attire."

Touya counted to ten and let out a deep breath. "Fine. Let's just go where we're supposed to be and get this over with."

"Ah, wait. We're supposed to meet up with Waya here." Hikaru leaned at the school gate, making way for the students passing by.

Touya ignored the curious glances, which he would have to get used to anyway. "If you can get him to come, why do you still ask me to?"

"There is space for three," Hikaru said innocently.

Touya opened his mouth, then closed it again. "...We'll play a game after this is over."

Hikaru could almost see the thunderstorm looming darkly behind Touya's head.

"Sure," he sweated. "Ah, Waya's here."

"Hey," Waya greeted, and he snickered as he checked out Hikaru's attire.

"Here, the clothes," Hikaru handed him the paper bag he'd been holding. "Go and change. Restroom's over there."

Touya looked up, just as the newcomer's eyes fell on him. Recognition dawned there, but to Touya's pleasant surprise, Waya didn't laugh nor snicker.

"Touya," he said in slight bewilderment, "It's not called in drag if you look totally like a girl."

Hikaru knew he'd better make it a very, very good game later.

.

..

Author's Note:

I know the premise is rather cliched, but hopefully the storytelling isn't. (sweatdrops) And before I get stoned by Touya's fans... no, I don't think Touya was feminine at all. I imagine his drag version would be along the line of, say, Tsukasa from Tokyo Crazy Paradise... the firm, deadly type. What can I say, he is beautiful. :P