Chapter 12: Beat that
"You think I'm scared of you, old man?"
"Ah, here you are." The LME president's eyes thinned. "Showing you true colors."
"What are you going to do?" he scoffed "You've got nothing on me, that letter doesn't prove anything."
"So what is your plan, Fuwa san, what do you intend to do?"
"What I..." he didn't have much choice, did he? "Hey, it's not like I wanted this to happen. It's not like I pushed him under that car!"
"That's true." Takarada became thoughtful. "We need to find the cause..." he got up and started walking back and forth. "The link you and Ren have is obvious." he thought out loud.
"Huh?"
"I mean Mogami kun. You both care about her."
"Tst. Don't put me in the same category as that lovesick Tsuruga..."
"Oh, you don't love Kyouko chan?" the president teased "Why do you care if she knows the truth then? I imagine you're not jealous."
"Jealous? Of that pretty boy?"
"You do realize she is in love with him, right?"
Sho stayed silent. What kind of power did that man have? He seemed to be able to read him like a book.
"Now" president Takarada continued "Have you pissed off someone, recently? Someone that seems of no consequence… That would know the three of you?"
What did that have to do with anything? Where was he going with it? And why would it be his fault if someone got pissed?
"I don't have time for this." He got up and turned around. "If that was all, I'll just be going."
"Wait. I'm not done with you." Lory's natural authority stopped him. "You don't want to fix this, I can't force you. But I expect you to at least lay low until Kuon wakes up."
Why was everyone telling him what to do? This was so annoying.
"If you're willing to be there for Mogami san, I'll give you one day to come clean. After that, I will let her have Kuon's letter."
"Fine! You do that." Sho yelled, turning to him "But I am not taking more orders from anybody. I'll show you what I'm made of."
I am Hizuri Kuon. He thought, as he walked out. You try and beat that.
...oooOOOooo...
"Whoa… Ren..." Yashiro looked at the passport as if it was the map to a legendary treasure. "I mean, Kuon san." He felt dizzy. So that was Ren's secret? "I didn't expect that."
"I figured."
Ren seemed pretty pleased with himself. Now that's a change of heart. After rejecting all of his calls for two whole days, he came to him with that kind of revelation?
"You sure you want to do that?" how did someone so secretive decided all of the sudden to go public with something so big? "There will be no going back."
"I know. I don't intend to go back, there's nothing to go back to." he said with determination. "Do it."
Yashiro reluctantly put on his gloves and flipped his phone open. He had a bad feeling about this. He typed the message and pressed send.
"It's done." The phone started buzzing right away and Yashiro closed it. He was already regretting it. "Ren?" he waited for his charge to look at him "What happened with Kyouko chan?"
"What is it with all of you and Kyouko?" Ren answered in annoyance.
"Did you tell her about this?"
"Why would I?" Ren scoffed "She will find out with the rest of them. It'll have more impact."
Now. That's not right. Yashiro couldn't shake the growing feeling of uneasiness that the unstopping buzzing of his phone gave him.
"She was really worried about you, you know." As Ren was giving him an annoyed glance, Yashiro's phone buzzed again and he opened it. "My. They are really excited about your announcement."
"Of course they are!" Ren said excitedly "This is going to be so big! It's going to stay in History."
"Every one will be there at 3. You have until then to think about it." Yashiro insisted "It's not too late if you change your mind."
"I have given it enough thought, believe me. That old man... He thinks he gets to decide what happens..." he hit the table with his fist, making Yashiro jump.
What old man? Yashiro despaired. Was he talking about his father? Was he talking about the president? Did Takarada san know about this?
I am a failure as a manager...
Author's note: ok, between us, I know Yashiro and Lory would never allow that. So let's just say Yashiro was overwhelmed with the situation and Lory didn't anticipate Sho's plan (oh, ok, Yashiro wouldn't get overwhelmed like that, and Lory wouldn't be outsmarted, so let's just say I needed them to let it happen. *cough* lazy writing * cough*)...
Thank you for reading and commenting, despite all the madness... Sorry I wrote it like that!