Disclaimers: I do not own KnB
Kise auditioned for his roles in films, contrary to his fans belief that his handsomeness instantly casted him roles.
Roles in international film were exponentially more difficult to auditioned for, partly due to accents and partly due to the greater amount of competition. It therefore required more work and practice.
It was the reason why he was now assessing various films with Miki-san.
It was Kise's hobby of observing people that obtained him the title of 'prodigy' in the modeling and acting industry. Kurokocchi observed people to determine his own actions, Kise observed people to see if he could perfectly mimic them. Mix and matching various people habits or techniques to create a matching result was fun like that.
Miki-san was in turn pleased with his acting skills.
His accents on the other hand wasn't so perfect. His manager wasn't please at the perfect "Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Lala, Po~" sound he made. It really wasn't Kise's fault that films like 'Elizabeth the Golden Age' made him fall asleep via their slow and small talks.
Miki-san was a tyrant and his first month of summer break were spent learning the Queen's English. And since Miki-san knew that Kise often fell asleep when faced with the Queen's English, he was always there to regulate those practice sessions.
His manager also forced him to expand his acting repertoire by watching various genres instead of the only ones he liked. They then went to random places and analyzed random people's movement before Miki-san demanded a demonstration of those actions.
The deeper aspects of acting became interesting. How a single drop of tear could enhance the emotions expressed within a single a scene was something that intrigued Kise.
It became fun to film himself, watch it, have Miki-san criticize it then re-act the scene again with other techniques combinations to achieve a better result.
He felt his interest tingle, it was the tingle that came every time he started a new sport, tingles that disappeared once there were no competitions for him.
This time it didn't disappear, didn't disappear because there were no timeframe to achieve victory in and didn't disappear because he was his own adversary.
It was like a game of sorts. And although it wasn't as fun as the sports he initially tried, it was a never-ending game where he continuously compete with his own achievements and wouldn't be bored to death by the end.
"You're ready for the audition. We're flying to Paris next week." Miki-san said the moment he decided that Kise had a good enough accent and a big enough move pool of techniques.
Of course he made time for Kurokocchi even with all the practices Miki-san made him do.
Hence the reason he was being dragged towards the ganguro's house on the day before his flight.
"It's Aomine-kun's birthday so Kise-kun should give your present to him yourself." Said Kurokocchi. Yes, he prepared a present, though it was only because the ganguro gave him one and all. He didn't want to give it directly so he asked Kurokocchi to do it.
Kurokocchi, bad friend that he was, refused, then forced Kise to go with him.
The ganguro wasn't home. Kise found the ganguro and Momocchi playing street basketball against an unknown group of boys. Kise was rather shocked that Momocchi was actually playing.
Kurokocchi decided to play along with them while Kise refused the invitation and chose to just watch.
They played and played and played and by the time the other group of boys left it was late in the afternoon. The three turned towards him and their gaze told him that they were all expecting something.
"Oi Kise, I'm hungry." The ganguro said and Kise nearly growl 'so what' back, but Kurokocchi made a soundless 'birthday, birthday' mouth movement and caused him to relent.
As they were walking back Kise was filled with requests from "Oi Kise! I want teriyaki burgers," to "Kise-kun, please make some vanilla shakes," to "Ki-chan, can you make some cherry pies?" He didn't bother complaining that their request were so diverse since he knew that they weren't going to listen either way.
He also couldn't believe that the ganguro hadn't noticed the bag he was holding.
The ganguro's parents weren't home when they all got back. Kise quickly checked the fridge to find his needed ingredients and started cooking and baking. Kurokocchi and ganguro played more basketball-related stuffs whilst Momocchi helped Kise in the kitchen, and by helped I meant that Kise had to supervised her every action. He still couldn't believe that a clever girl like Momocchi nearly added salt into the milkshake.
By the time he was finished, there was a bowl of milkshake, tens of teriyaki burgers and a cherry cake.
They ate his cooking in Euphoria and when all the teriyaki burgers were eaten the ganguro asked. "What's in that bag?"
He didn't say anything and mere walked back to the kitchen, ignoring the blunette shouting "Oi! Where are you going?"
He walked back with the cake that was lighted with candles then walked to the Ganguro.
"Happy Birthday Aomine." He said alongside Kurokocchi and Momocchi. The ganguro grinned, probably because Kise used his actual name and blew the candles.
He then placed the cake on the table and gave the ganguro his present. Ganguro, being the childish ganguro that he was immediately unwrapped the present and shouted "Whoaaa! It's a LeBron!"
Then ganguro, being the child that he was, hugged Kise then immediately put on the shoes and ran outside. No, Kise would never confess that the hug felt warm and that it secretly pleased him to see his present so admired.
Momocchi and Kurokocchi shook their head in resignation, apparently the Ganguro was too excited and forgot that he still had more presents to unwrap.
Ganguro's parents returned as they were having the cake. They ate some and became engulfed in the euphoric taste. The moment Mrs. Aomine knew Kise made the cake she said "What I wouldn't give to have Kise-kun as my in law."
"Daiki needs to marry someone who can cook like this." Mr. Aomine added and Kise did not know whether those were compliments or not. Could bullying in the form of name calling be hereditary?
Their conversation ended when Miki-san called, telling Kise to go over the script they had practiced and that he would be coming over to pick Kise up.
Of course a basketball hit him before he left. Turning around he growled at ganguro.
"Can I ask for one for thing?" Kise should've expected this. Gluttons like the ganguro would be greedy for gift as well.
"What?" He asked back, only because his kindness was overwhelming.
"Can you stop the ganguro thing?" Somehow the ganguro looked abashed, blushed a little then continued. "I want you to call me by my name. Is it too much?"
Kise wanted to say 'yes, it is' but it was a special occasion. And ... The ganguro wasn't as much of a bully as Kise initially thought, sometimes Kise even had fun with him.
"Fine. Aomine."
"Thanks for everything." replied a grinning bluenette said.
Kise was sticking close to Miki-san. Not knowing French could be scary when he was in France. His manager spoke fluent French and therefore was Kise's weapons against language barriers.
Miki-san however saw his pathetic state and "I'll have you study French once we get back," and Kise wanted to cry. After Miki-san discovered his swift process in English he decided that Kise should use his copying skills productively and learn more languages.
On the good side, Miki-san wasn't forcing him to do Math or Science and its like. His copying skills could copy how people talk and move and all but it could not copy their mental calculation. Obviously because he couldn't see how the brain moves or work or whatever.
A large dome-like building was the place for his audition.
"You can do it." Miki-san said as Kise was given a number card and was told to enter the waiting room.
There were many people inside, most of them were older than him, nearly all of them looked terribly stressed and Kise couldn't help but feel the pressure.
"Kise Ryouta, number 144." Called the audition assistant. He stood up, breathed out the pressure and walked into the audition room. It was his time.
Inside were 2 men and 3 women across a desk. The other than them, the desk and the chairs, the room was incredible hollowed.
He was auditioning for the role of Hans Axel von Fersen in the Rose of Versailles, a Hollywood film that was to be filmed in France. It was a story about decadence and inequality in imperial France, focusing on Oscar, a girl who was raised as a boy and became the Dauphine's captain of the imperial guard.
Hans Axel von Fersen was a Swedish Aristocrat who visited Versailles and became involved in an affair with the Dauphine and Oscar. A man who struggled between nobility and love.
He channeled the walk, the posture, the looks, the speech and the accent that he memorized from the various film he watched to create what he thought would be the perfect portrayal of the Swedish aristocrat.
The room was silent as he finished his audition. The pleased look on the judges told him he probably did well. He said his thank you but before he left the room, a woman, labeled as 'Claudia Himuro' said "wait."
He was surprised when they asked if he knew Oscar's line. He nodded, most of Fersen's lines were with Oscar after all. They told him to act that out and he did, mimicking the voice and posture of many others, he created his Oscar. They all made eye smiles as he finished and asked him to stay in the waiting room.
Soon Miki-san entered the waiting room with the five judges.
"Would you be opposed to wearing a dress?" Asked one the judges and Kise feared that basketball bullying also exist in the world of acting. Why were they asking him that anyway. Sure, they asked him to auditioned for Oscar but it must be because they wanted to see his skills. After all, Oscar was a female role right?
He turned towards Miki-san who said "Your choice," and shook his head. He'd tolerate the director's hazing if he had to. He'd already survived the ganguro's hazing so this shouldn't be that much of a problem.
"And would you be opposed to kissing another guy?" Their next inquiry shocked Kise.
"Er-Er. I'll be a little opposed." He said as the glared at the ground, angry that his mind recalled the time his lips touched the ganguro's.
The five of them had some discussion turned back then turned back to Kise.
"Kise Ryouta, you're casted as Oscar. We'll film the Summer parts now but we'll need you back again during the Winter and Spring for the rest of the shoot."
Apparently the girls and women auditioning for Oscar were too 'girly' for the judges/director's taste and apparently Kise was beautiful enough to play Oscar who crossdressed in all but one scene.
It was how Kise starred in his first international film wearing bras supported by breast pads.
The first shoot took longer than expected and Kise missed a month of school.
Before he focused on acting and extra modeling, his grades were average. Now he had passable and stellar control over English –courtesy of using the Queen's English for two months, but his other subjects remained abysmal.
He wasn't worried though. Miki-san ensured that he would pass. Being the 'rising prodigious star actor' did that.
However, the basketball team were worried for his sake.
It all started when Momocchi somehow obtained his exams papers. With the exception of English, the rest were riddled with angry red marks which made Kise sad. He was considerably more happy when Momocchi brought out the Aomine's paper and revealed that it was worse than Kise's.
No one listened no matter how much Kise reassured them that even if he fail, he would still pass via the courtesy of this corrupted world.
He ended up in one of Akashi's study session.
"Kise, I shall teach you how to study so listen carefully." The captain said as Midorimacchi protested that Akashi's method of studying was too unique.
"It is a very efficient technique that everyone can use.." Akashi said ignoring Midorimacchi's protest of "Kise, don't count on Akashi methods, it's too unique."
Akashi ignored the vice-captain, brought out a textbook and plowed on. "You simply have to read this once."
Akashi looked at Kise's confused face and continued. "If you study it many times then it's going to take time. If you remember it all in the first time then it would be more efficient. Things that are not listed will not appear in the exam."
Kise was awed but was shocked as well. He didn't fully believe it and decided to ask Akashi things like "what's the second word on page 421."
Akashi immediately became Akashicchi when he correctly answered all those questions.
Sadly Kise could not copy Akashicchi's techniques as he could not see the workings of the captain's brains.
In hindsight, when his mum asked whether she should call back his home tutor, Kise should've said yes. Somehow, somewhere along the way, his house became a studying hub with Midorimacchi as the teacher, Kurokocchi as the helper and Kise and Aomine as students. Momocchi's reasoned that "Even if Ki-chan's not playing and might have shady connections like Akashi-kun, it's better to pass right?"
The study sessions failed spectacularly when maths pie meant blueberry pies, the circumference of a circle became related to the circumference of a milkshake cup whilst photosynthesis with beans meant oshiruko. All in all, it became a gourmet session of sorts.
Midorimacchi felt indebted to the food and gave them all a special pencil known as 'The Pencil of the Lazy God: Rolly Pencil."
Aomine said "What the hell?" But Kise knew that amazing capabilities of lucky item after the porcelain frog event and kept the pencil in a special pen pouch.
He rolled the pencil in every single multiple choice exam and got above average results. He incorporate words he learnt in France like 'Noblesse Oblige,' and 'Raison d'être' into his English essay segment and got the second highest score below Akashicchi and caused Midorimacchi much dismay.
Midorimacchi was visibly pleased when Kise told him that he'll be only making oshiruko and vanilla milkshakes for next week's practice as a thank you gift for Midorimacchi's pencil.
Everyone was shocked when Head Coach Shirogane collapsed before the Winter break.
Coach Sanada would become Head Coach instead but Kise knew it wouldn't be the same. Coach Kurogane had a deep understanding and relationship with everyone, even Kise. When Kise was sitting alone as Momoi went scouting about in other school he would engage in small talks with Kise. He would ask how's Kise modeling and acting going and other things, it was things which Coach Sanada wouldn't ask.
When they visited Coach Shirogane, he and Momoi was asked to stay once the others left.
Momoi nodded when the coach said "take care of the team in my stead will you?" but Kise didn't know what to do or say. Aomine's sudden growth in the Nationals gave him a sneaking suspicion that something was about to go terribly wrong. How was he supposed to even help when he didn't enjoy the sport, when he only cooked for the team or brought in his own fangirls to support the team.
"I'll try." Was all he could manage. He felt terrible when the Head Coach made a glad smile.
Winter break began and Kise flew to Paris.
The shooting was interesting though he wouldn't say it was all fun. It took hours for the makeup to be done and that was a daily process.
Kise appreciation of women increased drastically when he was made to wear pads, bras, a tight dress and high heels. Why must French men 200 years ago wear high heels anyway. They caused him unnecessary pain.
After the Winter-shoot, it was decided that a promotional posters and trailers were to be released.
Keeping it as an element of surprise, the director decided to keep Kise's name anonymous until the film's release.
Surpise became shock and rage in their first group outing after the school re-opened.
"That chick really is some hot stuff!" Aomine whistled, taking his eyes off Horikita Mai's photo book to stare at the large billboard depicting Kise in a long blonde wig and supporting a white and blue dress. The caption below read 'Le Rose de la Versailles.'
"Hot enough that I'm willing to overlook her small breast." The bluenette added. They were on their popsicle near school and Kise wanted to smack him with the popsicle but that would expose him as Oscar.
"Aomine-kun, if you haven't realize. That's actually Kise-kun." Kurokocchi spilled his secrets. Kise thought that the makeup and dress would conceal his identity but Kurokocchi's observatory skills were on another level indeed.
"Wahh. Kise-chin's wearing a dress." Murasakibaracchi observed the obvious whilst Midorimacchi seemed to have a headache.
Aomine was now staring at him in shock, his mouth opened a wide O.
Miki-san promptly arrived, parking his car near them.
"Sorry that my fake breasts were too small for your liking!" Kise shouted. He copied Midorimacchi's accurate shoot and threw the popsicle right into the Aomine's cavernous mouth before he quickly got on his manager's car and left.
It was to be their last group outing.
I supposed the scenes were a bit rushed but I kinda want to reach the main timeline and all OTL - It was rather difficult to write in retrospect to the Japanese term dates and all. It's highly confusing when 1st term begins in March-April.
Mickey
