Chapter 4 Denial and Dancing

"Hello, it's nice to meet you too." Kasai said politely, pasting a smile on her face, despite how on-edge she felt. "I'm glad you like my books. I've never heard of yours, but I'll make sure to give them a read."

The words she had just spoken were actually a blatant lie, she had read his books and even found them to be very interesting despite being a different genre than she usually enjoyed. If she were to be honest, the lie helped her nervousness. Something about lying, being in control of the information you relay to others to the point you could craft it in your head, just made her feel steadier.

"I'm glad you're considering reading them, but I don't think my books would fit your preferences." Hikaru taunted. It was a taunt, even if it had seemed innocent enough. The words were spoken with a mocking mask of kind consideration.

Kasai could tell from the look in his eyes. Just like how she knew he could tell from hers that she had lied, though he didn't make any effort to mention it. Their calculating gazes were both observing each other, even as Kasai's annoyance bubbled up in an involuntary response to his statement.

'What would he know about my preferences?'

He obviously knew she had read his books, so why would he assume they weren't her type? Technically what he guessed was true, his books weren't really her preferred genre, but it was still annoying that he assumed her preferences like that! Who did he think he was? He didn't even know her!

Of course, none of this annoyance showed on her face.

Instead, Kasai spoke in an informative tone, "I like all kinds of books."

"Alright, I'm glad to hear, maybe I'll see you at one of my book signings." Hikaru spoke and Kasai felt her muscles tense.

Even so, she kept her smile up, but she was angry. Why? Simple, Hikaru had just set a trap for her and she was so busy with her irritation that she'd walked right into it. She should have been able to read it from his eyes like earlier, even if the rest of his expression was carefully crafted. Yet, she didn't, because she was too blinded by her need to rebuff his prior assumption- even if it was technically accurate.

"Then I guess I'll be seeing you a lot from now on." It was a statement, but Hikaru caught Kasai's underlying question. Had he really meant that the way she thought he did?

"Yes, I look forward to it." He replied. Kasai would have liked to think it was smugly, but though it was close, the emotion just didn't fit Hikaru's temperament. As Hikaru passed her he whispered, "At home and at work." At this point there must have been a visible tick mark on her head, but somehow Kasai kept her smile.

But, in her head... 'That punk! How dare he?! Bastard!'

"Can we please go now, Dillon?" Kasai asked, almost pleaded if only she had a little less self control, her manager.

He had already figured something was off with her, but her usage of his actual name confirmed it. She only seemed to do that when she was either too distracted or in a very bad mood. He stared at her for a moment, considering asking her what was bothering her. He decided that the best course of action was probably to let her work it out herself.

"... Alright." He finally answered, leading Kasai back to the waiting car.

After Tsubaki leaned back, his lips leaving hers in a drawn out motion, Sakura's eyes shot open.

"That's a wrap! Well done, both of you!"

Sakura shot up from her seat as soon as those words were shouted. She pressed the back of her hand to her lips, wiping at it like she could erase the fact that it had even happened. When that didn't work she abruptly stood and made her way over to Arina.

"What's left for today?" Sakura asked immediately, prepared to throw herself into her work after the event that had just occurred- to forget the event that had just occurred.

"Three more photo shoots and two TV interviews." Arina answered her, but she looked giddy about what had just happened. Unlike Sakura, who would do almost anything to just forget it had even happened.

"Good." Sakura said, relieved to have something to distract herself with. She didn't want to think right then. "Can you call a cab for me?" Sakura asked. Arina looked like she badly wanted to discuss- or squeal over- what had just occurred, but left Sakura alone.

Still, despite wanting the thoughts to stop, they just kept whirling around in her mind like a hurricane. Why? Why did he have to kiss her? He ruined everything. Sakura couldn't let him close. Any closer and the wall would collapse. She needed that wall. It set the boundary between her and the things she knew would hurt her. Tsubaki would just end up messing with her emotions before deciding he didn't care for her after all- that she was just a face pretty enough to draw his eyes away from Ema. So, she couldn't let him in. But that kiss...

Sakura paused, but then she shook her head.

'No. I can't let him get close.'

Tsubaki watched helplessly as Sakura's expression became detached. He didn't know what to do as she got up and walked away. Should he call out to her? Should he apologize? He walked up to her while she was facing away and shaking her head.

"Sakura-chan? What's wrong?" Sakura whirled around, face red with embarrassment and anger.

"What's wrong?! You just suddenly kissed me and you ask me 'what's wrong'?!" She yelled at him, but then seemed to realize what she was doing and became detached again. "I've got work to do." She said impassively.

"Ah! Wait, let me drive you!" Tsubaki spoke, panicking slightly. He hadn't seen Sakura so unresponsive before, even when they'd just met. Before her attitude had just been a frost that nipped at him if he overstepped, but now it was like she had permanently stuck him in the ice age.

"I called a cab." Sakura spoke dispassionately, turning around in a way that could have been considered calm if her behavior wasn't so concerning.

"Sakura-chan, I need to know what you're thinking." Tsubaki pleaded.

It hadn't been this way with Ema, who had always been so open with them. Tsubaki didn't know what to do, if he were being honest. How was he supposed to respond? Did he try and comfort her or just leave her alone?

Sakura paused for a moment, but didn't answer him. Then, she walked off and was gone in seconds. Azusa came up behind Tsubaki and hit him on the head.

"Itai! That hurt Azu-nii!"

"Idiot." Azusa scolded.

Tsubaki found that he couldn't even refute that claim as he stared off in the direction Sakura had disappeared.

"So all I have to do is dance on the stage while some stupid idol sings?" Kasai snorted.

Dillon gave her a look, already aware that she couldn't care less for any other singer but her sister. Really, though? Couldn't she at least act like she was glad for the opportunity? Moreover, she always seemed to make a point of dismissing any trial that came with work- as if the dance was already learned and the only thing she had to think about was how bratty her co-worker might be. Dillon would have chalked it up to the arrogance that came with fame if he hadn't been with Kasai before she was anywhere close to famous. But no, it was just how Kasai was.

"Well, alright, where is this idol?" Kasai asked, impatient. Dillon sighed at her attitude and motioned for Kasai to follow him.

"His name is Fuuto Asakura, he's a very popular idol." Her manager explained while they were walking. Very popular, Kasai knew that those words were Dillon's way of telling her to behave herself without outright saying it.

"Fuuto Asakura?" She mumbled instead of pointing out his unsaid warning.

'Why does that name sound so familiar...another brother? No, his name is Asakura, besides that would be way too much of a coincidence.' She mentally laughed at herself for even thinking it was possible...

Kasai stopped dead in her tracks. Her manager took a few more steps before he realized Kasai had was no longer following. He looked back at her so see her frozen stiff, eyes wide, mouth in a tight line, her face drained of color.

"Kasai, Kasai..." Her manager tried before resorting to using the nickname she hated, "hime-chan~"

Kasai snapped out of her daze, but instead of glaring at him and throwing a fit she just turned to him with a face that looked like she was about to faint, surprising him further.

"Can we leave? I'll even go on a talk show if we can leave now." Kasai said, her tone pleading and exhausted. It was a far cry from her usual confident, uncompromising attitude.

Dillon's jaw dropped and his eyes widened, but he quickly regained composure and let out a sigh before answering, "Alright."

Kasai, while she did like to make things difficult for him, always did her job and did it well. If she wanted so badly to skip out on a job, he suspected she had a good reason. Of course, he also knew not to expect her to tell him this good reason. Dillon sighed and shook his head long-sufferingly.

"Go on outside while I sort this out." Dillon ordered, mentally agonizing over how much trouble he was going to get into over this. Kasai gave a relieved grin before dashing off, leaving Dillon to smile with secret fondness.

Fuuto thought he saw golden hair out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked over, all he saw was a man with glasses. The man walked over to them and explained that the dancer he manages couldn't make it.

Oh well...he didn't really care. All that was currently bothering him was where he had seen Kasai before...

I'm not going to let Fuuto figure out Kasai this early in the fic, that would be boring.

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