I don't own anything.
Elegant Beings
"Who exactly is Usui Takumi?" Misaki asked herself as she organized the photos she took for the past season. As she scrolled through her digital gallery, she saw the series of photos she took for Usui. Though her interaction with Usui was quite limited, but she just simply can't take Usui off her mind. However, not in a romantic way. For Misaki, she doesn't understand why Usui would start his model career in Japan. He had an established career overseas, but he decided to come to Japan and literally start from 0. Turning off her camera, Misaki closed her eyes.
"Too much Usui for today." Covering her eyes with her palm, Misaki massaged the areas around her eye socket to release some eye pressure.
Knock! Knock! Two knocks on the door alarmed Misaki from her short break.
"Come in!" Misaki replied to the knocks.
"It's me." Opening the door, Yukimura entered the door with a folder in his hands.
"New assignment?" Turning her chair so that she was facing Yukimura, Misaki asked. "For the next issue?"
"No, it's a drama promotion photoshoot." Yukimura replied. "They want their promotional posters to look like magazine covers, so they decided to recruit fashion photographers."
"I see I see." Flipping through the document, Misaki commented. "It's quite a smart idea, since the heroine is a model. Does this project clash with any other projects?"
"Not that I know of." Yukimura replied.
"I'll go inform the head editor not to assign me any photoshoots for that day." Standing up, Misaki informed Yukimura. "Thanks, as always."
"It's part of my job." Nodding, Yukimura looked at Misaki with eyes of admiration. He truly respected Misaki from the bottom of his heart.
Exiting her office, Misaki walked towards the editor's office. Speaking about the editor of Hana, she's truly a mysterious woman. This mysterious woman's name is Kinoshita Sonoka, however she goes by the name 'Honoka' instead. Despite her name 'Sonoko' has the beautiful meaning of 'garden child', it also sounds like 'that kid'. She couldn't live with the pun, so she insists people at work to call her 'Honoka' instead. The perfect word that describes her working style is 'controversial'. Often times Honoka's appearance would deceive many people. Despite her harmless appearance, she has quite the sadistic mind. Harsh yet critical comments are nothing but the usual from Honoka. In the past, she received several employee complaints on her unfiltered critiques. Yet, no one can deny that her working style does bring efficiency to the whole department.
"Get ready..." Taking a deep breath, Misaki said to herself. Though Misaki didn't do anything wrong, she still gets nervous when she has to talk to Honoka. With her right hand, Misaki knocked on the door.
Knock! Knock!
There was no reply.
Misaki knocked again.
Knock! Knock!
Still no reply, but the soft sounds of whisper confirmed the existence of a living being in the room.
Frowning, Misaki knocked on the door again.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in." Honoka finally replied.
The little sequence before the reply caused Misaki to be a little nervous. She didn't know what to expect from behind the door. Despite all concerns, Misaki still gathered her courage and opened the door.
"Sorry to disturb." Pushing the door open, Misaki said.
"Hello, Misaki. How can I help you?" Honoka smiled and said.
"I would just like to inform that on Wednesday the 23rd, I will be heading
"Understood." Taking notes down in her planner, Honoka then looked at Misaki with her large brown eyes. She pushed some locks of her orange brown hair at the back of her small ears, then said. "I know there's an elephant in the room, but please do not talk about this elephant to people. I don't want to fire such a talented photographer like you."
"Understood." Nodding, Misaki replied. "Then I shall excuse myself."
"Please do." Honoka said.
Silently, Misaki walked out of the room and gently closed the door. She slowly blinked her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I didn't see the intern in the fashion department." Misaki repeated that phrase in her mind. For Misaki she wasn't very concerned over the fact that Honoka is dating Hyodo Aoi, the intern. However, she does understand Honoka's concern. Thinking about Honoka and the intern's relationship, Misaki couldn't help but ask herself. "Will I die alone?"
Like the rest of the human population, Misaki also has concerns about her life. Especially about dying alone. Ever since her father betrayed her family, Misaki knew that she had trust issues. Her trust issue isn't only limited to the male population, it is to all of man's kind. Betrayal scares Misaki, just the thought of someone betraying her gives her shiver down the spine. That's why Misaki has a really small social circle. Her friends from high school, her assistant, and family. Those are the only people regularly contacts and has a certain degree of trust.
The concern of her future continued to haunt Misaki even after work. Standing in the packed train, Misaki wondered if everyone around her has the same problem as her or not. For Misaki, dying alone isn't the largest concern, but she does wish that someone will call the ambulance for her if she has a heart attack in the late 60's.
"Or should I make the emergency number as my speed dial..." Unconsciously, Misaki spoke her mind.
"What a thought." The man behind her commented.
"Pardon me?" Frowning, Misaki turned around.
"Hi." Standing behind Misaki was none other than the infamous Usui Takumi. He wore a plain t-shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. Due to the height difference, Misaki was able to see Usui's face.
"Ok, that's too much of your face for today." Closing her eyes, Misaki inhaled. "Good evening, Usui-kun."
"Good evening, milady." Smiling, Usui replied.
"I'm still surprised how no one manages to recognize you in public places." Staring at the most popular model, Misaki commented.
"Even if you put the emergency number as your speed dial, it's useless if you don't talk. They won't know who you are, where you are, and why you called. There are a lot of prank callers that harass government facilities these days." Giving a thorough analysis to Misaki, Usui then continued. "So you're still going to die alone if you do that."
"How did you know I was concerned about dying alone?" Raising one of her eyebrows, Misaki asked.
"Because I have the same thoughts too." Nonchalantly, Usui said.
"Why would you die alone?" Misaki asked.
"Well." Lightly grabbing on Misaki's shoulders, Usui pulled Misaki closer to him. "That salary man needs to get off."
"Oh." Looking to her side, Misaki then shifted herself closer to Usui.
"I don't think anyone can spend the rest of their lives with me." Replying to Misaki's question, Usui hugged Misaki lightly so the shoulders of rushing passengers on the train won't bump into Misaki.
"Why?" Misaki then asked.
"Onee-chan, you're going overboard." Teasingly, Usui said.
"Sorry if I did, just curious." Misaki apologized.
"You seem irregularly calm today." Usui commented.
"This is the usual me." Misaki lied. She contained her rage and panic inside her, because she didn't want to cause a scene on the train. "That reminds me, it's such a coincidence to see on this train."
"I had a photoshoot at Yume." Basically, Usui worked at the same building as Misaki.
"I thought your manager would drive you in one of those fancy cars." According to her understanding of popular models, they would always transport around by car.
"I don't have a manager." Usui replied.
"How come?" Confused, Misaki asked.
"Well there is someone who organizes work for me and kind of takes care of me." Nodding, Usui said.
"Isn't that a manager?" Raising both of her eyebrows, Misaki wasn't sure if Usui knew the definition of manager meant.
"But he's not my manager." Once again, Usui said.
"Who is he?" Misaki can never understand Usui's logic.
"Just Igarashi Tora." As if Igarashi Tora was an object or an animal, Usui answered.
"Huh?" Slowly blinking, Misaki felt confusion flowing through her veins.
"By the way, which stop are you getting off at?" Not wanting to make anymore explanations, Usui asked.
"Actually, the next stop." Understanding Usui's intentions, Misaki didn't keep asking.
Soon, the speaker within the train began broadcasting the uncomfortable mechanic sound to inform about the train approaching the next station.
"I guess that's my call." Misaki said.
"Safe walk home." Usui politely said.
"Thank you." Misaki said. Before turning towards the open door, Misaki greeted. "Good bye."
"I..." Before the door separated Usui and Misaki, Usui shouted.
Turning around, Misaki saw Usui's lips moving but the various of noises on the platform covered up Usui's voice. Rapidly the door closed, and the train raced away into the dark train track. As the strong breeze caused by the racing train rushed through Misaki's dark hair, it also brought out a sense of guilt in Misaki's heart. She had a feeling that Usui wanted to tell her something important, but she wasn't able to hear it.
Remaining in the packed train, Usui gripped his hand that held onto the handrail. Looking down at the floor, he chuckled in a rather pathetic matter. Though Misaki didn't hear what he said, but Usui revealed the reason why he wants to die alone to Misaki. Usui didn't know why out of all people, he wanted to reveal it to Misaki. Perhaps it was the packed train that sculpted Misaki as the person he was searching in the crowd, or the opening door that brought in a breeze of impulsiveness.
Concerned about what Usui wanted to tell her, Misaki took out her phone and sent him a text message.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't hear what you said to me when I left the train. I feel very rude on now catching what you said. Is it ok if you repeat what you said before the door closed?"
Misaki didn't receive any reply even when she got home. Though Misaki understands that everyone has a thing or two they would like to hide from people, something in her couldn't leave Usui alone. She had a feeling, a feeling that Usui was seeking for help. Before Misaki went to sleep, she checked her phone again, but there was still no reply.