Hello guys! Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my OC.
It was springtime of the year 1968. It has been a little over eight years of economic prosperity. It was the country's record period of economic growth. Japan was considered to be the second largest economy after the United States. The Cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Yoshio Ootori was about to enter his second year in high school. He went to a newly established school for the privileged. Ouran just opened in the year 1960 at the start of the Japanese economic miracle. As the chauffer brought him to school, Koi no Kisetsu or 'Season of Love' by Pinky and Killers was playing on the radio.
Yoshio was glad that they wore uniforms almost every day. He cannot imagine thinking about what to wear every single day like the Americans he watches on television. It was too bothersome to come up with a descent ensemble each day. He had little patience for such things and he would much rather sleep. He was considered a horribly grumpy riser. The only thing good that morning was the radio playing Hey Jude by the Beatles. His driver drove slightly slower. He knew that Yoshio liked the band immensely. Yoshio tapped his fingers on his leather school bag according to the beat. The car stopped at the entrance of the high school foyer where Yoshio sighed at the sight of all his classmates. Women wore the most colorful scarves on their heads with their full bangs. It was the only thing they could accessorize with. He took a deep breath and went straight inside the hall.
Ouran was definitely a playground of the rich. A few classmates from the previous year congratulated him for being at the top of the class again. They even commented that he was bound to become class representative for the nth time.
"It's nothing. I enjoy helping out everybody." He said with a pleasant smile. He did not mind the extra responsibilities that came with being the class representative, but it gave him the chance to go over everyone's contact details and use the connections he makes with other classes to his advantage.
A boy ran towards Yoshio before he went inside his classroom. "Ootori-kun! How was your vacation?"
"It was pleasant, but I'm sure it did not compare to your trip to Europe. I heard from my father that you went to the alps then the French Riviera, Minamoto-kun." He said politely.
The boy slapped Yoshio's arm. "Lighten up this year, okay? No one can beat your grades already. How about joining us for lunch? We're eating with a few others. Akira-chan is going to be there."
"I'd be honored to accept your invitation then." Yoshio replied. He would not miss the chance to befriend these people. Their families were even more prominent than the Ootori family. It would not hurt to associate himself.
The classes went by slowly. It was the usual introductions and opening remarks. Yoshio was bored beyond his wits. Lunch time was next so he looked forward to conversing with his other classmates then. As he was buying his food, he could hear gossip from the girls.
"Did you see the chairman's son?" giggled a classmate of Yoshio
"Oh yes. He's in his fifth year of elementary, but he sure was able to charm women of our age. Imagine that. Not even in middle school and he has softened the hearts of ladies."
"I heard he was quite a sweet talker."
"A sweet talker he is indeed, but he has this glow to him. Like flowers bloom when he passes by. He treats all women like princesses."
"I would love to meet that boy."
Yoshio rolled his eyes. He knew the child they spoke of. Yuzuru Suoh was a fine looking young man, but his charm annoyed Yoshio. He spoke like a feudal lord and had the oddest whims in the world. His father asked him to accompany the child during the break. The thought of the break boiled his blood. Yuzuru could not differentiate Namahage from Shisa. When they went to Kyoto even if it was spring, he wanted to see the Daimonji Fire Event. When they were eating Okinawan Soba, he wanted to compare it with Shinsu Soba. He wanted to see Shisa and Namahage fighting on the same stage. It was clear as day that this child would be an idiot. He would be the largest idiot of all time.
The memory burned clearly in his mind. Yuzuru Suoh was seated on the ground as he hugged his knees. He looked at the distance and said "Sorry for asking all these selfish requests…You're right. It's no use asking you, Ootori-kun. Sorry…I overestimated your abilities."
He accidentally broke his chopsticks as he recalled the incident. He was so overwhelmed with rage. That child said that he overestimated his abilities. All he wanted to do the entire vacation was sleep, read, and eat. He never felt like punching or strangling anyone that much. He regained his composure at the thought of his father. He knew that he had expectations to fulfill. Emotions were a hindrance to this.
When the first day of school ended, his father picked him up personally. When they got home, Sadanobu Mizushima had a request for him. Yoshio would accept anything his mentor asked of him. He became another father figure Yoshio looked up to. The two men sat down and drank some tea in the drawing room. Sadanobu asked Yoshio to befriend his son, Ryusei.
"I do not mean to speak out of turn Sadanobu-ojisama, but I was not aware you had a son." Yoshio said.
"Not a lot know of Ryusei, but now he will be officially part of the Mizushima family."
Sadanobu told the servants to bring him his son. Yoshio was expecting an ill-mannered sweaty child to enter, but to his surprise a young boy gracefully walked into the room and bowed to everyone to show his respect. He was wearing the usual clothes privileged children wore: well-polished black leather shoes, knee socks, with matching shorts and blazer. No one would not think he was born from a compromising circumstance.
"Yoshio, this is Ryusei. I leave him in your hands." Sadanobu said.
Yoshio observed the boy. He had black hair and fair skin. The typical good looking Japanese boy. He slightly resembled his father. He had the same general face shape but the most prominent proof of their relationship was the eyes. All the rest were traits that most likely came from his mother. Ryusei had blueish-grey eyes which were uncommon in Japan. It was a common color for westerners, but it was odd to have Full-Japanese with such traits. Yoshio thought that Sadanobu got these by chance, since his daughter, Haruka, did not have the same kind of eyes. But seeing the child in front of him proved that it was some kind of genetic trait. He often wondered how this became a trait for some members of the Mizushima Family.
"Good afternoon, Ryusei-kun." Yoshio said to the boy.
He bowed again at Yoshio. "Good afternoon, Yoshio-niisama."
"I'll leave him in your hands first, Masayoshi-san." Said Sadanobu.
Yoshio's father waved his hands. "Take your time to make preparations. The boy is safe here. We'll take good care of him."
Sadanobu left the Ootori household. It did not take a genius to know that Ryusei was born from a mistress. He thought that Haruka-san might feel threatened with the succession plans now. She was the sole heiress but now she had a younger brother who carries the name of the family. He decided not to pay too much thought to their family affairs. Gossip was a hobby of old women, not well-educated men.
"Ryusei-kun, would you like to have some snacks?" Yoshio asked pleasantly.
The boy nodded and they asked the servants to bring in some rice cakes, tea, and cakes. It was important for Ryusei to feel comfortable in this household. Yoshio bowed to his father before he left the house. He knew that there probably another meeting he had to attend to. Masayoshi Ootori was a very busy man. He was rarely home and when he was home, he was usually working. His mother smiled at his father before he left.
"Stay safe, dear." She said as she walked him to the main door.
Yoshio's mother has always been very kind. Every day she told him how much of a blessing he was to the family. He was born when his mother was already 44 years old. No one expected the Ootori Family to live on a few years after the war. The chances of her conceiving at that age were slim. She told him stories of his brothers and sisters he will never know. Yoshio knew that he looked exactly like his eldest brother, Yusuke, and was just as smart as his sister, Fumiko. His mother claims that he has the exact same demeanor as his brother, Akio, but the temper of his sister, Kyou, who was the youngest. If they were alive today, they would be much older than he was. They would be married by now and starting their own families.
His mother, Chiyumi, walked towards the two boys eating snacks. She smiled at Yoshio and Ryusei. "I hope you'll feel right at home, Ryusei. Don't hesitate to ask me or Yoshio for anything, okay? You're family. Think of Yoshio as your brother. I'm sure he'd like that, right Yoshio?"
"Of course. I don't mind being your brother, Ryusei-kun." He added.
"Thank you so much Chiyumi-Obasama." He said as he looked at her sincerely.
"You are such a good looking boy, Ryusei. I'm sure girls would be chasing you around in a few years." She said jokingly to lighten his mood. The boy was going through a lot. There were issues far greater than what he could comprehend.
"I'm sure Yoshio-niisama gets a lot of girls." He said.
Ryusei was very charming for his age. He seemed to know how to converse very well with women. His mother and all the servants fell for his charm easily.
"Aren't you absolutely delightful?" Chiyumi said fondly.
"I grew up in Gion, Kyoto surrounded by the most amiable and delightful women, I'm glad I learned a few things from them." He said with a boyish grin.
"My goodness! You are absolutely adorable." Yoshio's mother exclaimed.
The women of the household found the boy to be sublime company. He felt more comfortable with conversing with women more than men. Ryusei did grow up surrounded by Geishas, Maikos, and Okaasans. There were not a lot of father figures to look at. Yoshio saw how easy it was for the boy to converse with those around him. He thought he would be the same as the annoying Suoh child, but Ryusei was not a flirt. Ryusei was a kind and cheerful person. He was more of clever and charming than sweet and princely. It was difficult not to enjoy his company.
Months passed and Sadanobu Mizushima visited the Ootori residence in Tokyo frequently to check on his son. He was glad to see Ryusei warming up to the entire household. According to his private tutors, he was bright and he learned very fast. He was the perfect gentleman if people overlooked his clumsiness. Yoshio saw how the boy tripped on air, slipped on the most solid ground, and dropped things frequently. The two of them grew very close to each other.
Seasons changed and it was almost fall. Yoshio learned how to better converse with women through the child's advice. He was skeptical at first to try it, Ryusei knew his trade. That summer break he got his first kiss with the help of Ryusei's lessons. There was one day he went with the chauffer to fetch Yoshio from Ouran and in less than an hour he already charmed the girls.
"You want to get some ice cream before going home?" Yoshio asked.
"Yoshio-niisama, for such a cool person you enjoy sweets too much. It ruins the cool guy image." Ryusei said bluntly.
"What?" he asked. He wanted to confirm that a mere 7-year-old was talking about social image and how his sweet tooth ruined the cool guy image.
"You heard me. But I think that makes it easier for girls to like you. If you were too perfect they would be intimidated." He said.
"I don't understand."
"You're too stiff! Your good looks are being wasted because you keep on looking at books. When you're working you won't be talking to books but people." The child lectured.
Yoshio found it difficult to take him seriously. Ryusei lost one of his two front teeth a few days ago because he slammed his face into a glass door. The other tooth just fell off naturally yesterday. The boy was rambling about him not doing anything else but studying. He said that he should go out more and have fun not sleep the entire day. Ryusei was the only living being that pulled Yoshio out of bed on weekends. He begged the teenager to bring him around Tokyo so they could visit the different temples and malls. The child had an insatiable drive to go around and learn things around him. Yoshio saw how Ryusei looked at the world with a different perspective. He understood if Haruka felt threatened by the child. He was brilliant and talented.
Ryusei Mizushima moved to Kyoto after a year and a half of staying with the Ootori Family. He made Yoshio promise to visit him at least once a month. The two grew to like each other even if they were complete opposites. They were proof that some things were thicker and more meaningful than blood ties. The two were brothers and partners in crime.
Julia woke up slightly earlier than usual that day. It was just 5:45 am, but the sun was beginning to rise. She hummed songs as she cooked and cleaned. She had a certain skip and bounce to her walk. Julia did not understand why she was so excited. There was an unusual glow with the woman today. She was more vibrant than normal. She could be likened to a flower blossoming. Julia was like the Chrysanthemums blooming that season. She could not pinpoint the reason behind her behavior. Her phone alarm went off and it notified Julia saying that it was payday. When she saw the reminder on her calendar it was clear.
"Of course. How could I forget it was payday today?" she said cheerfully. It made perfect sense. There was no explanation more logical than that.
She switched on the television to watch the morning news. It featured one of the Ootori Group resorts. The newscaster was showing the various facilities they had to offer. It was one of the largest indoor pool with a highly realistic tropical theme. A man named Yuuichi Ootori was being interviewed. Julia assumed that was Kyoya's brother. The two resembled each other slightly. They had the same formal disposition. She noted a few mannerisms the two shared. They had a certain way of speaking. It was very regal and calm. At the same time, he looked detached and absolutely dull.
"He must be the life of the party." Julia commented sarcastically as she watched him explain the various services they offered. Yuuichi made Kyoya look like the most spontaneous man in the world. This was a horrible thing to think of since Kyoya was anything but spontaneous.
"The Ootori Group aims to bring happiness to people from all walks of life." Said the man formally.
The interviewer was obviously awed by the aura and poise the man exuded. Yuuichi Ootori looked like the perfect son. She understood why Kyoya was viewed as the black sheep of the family. Julia assumed that the next man interviewed was also Kyoya's brother. Akito Ootori was definitely much more good looking than the previous man. He and Kyoya have more similar features, but the build of his body was notable. He must have engaged in a few sports or physical activity to get a lean, but well-built muscle mass. She also noticed that Akito had the same hair color as their mother. He was different from Yuuichi and Kyoya. This one was slightly more expressive with his emotions. She thought of the three brothers to be interesting. They were all similar at a glance, but if keenly observed, they were quite different from each other.
She was expecting Kyoya or Fuyumi to show up in the interview next, but instead their father, Yoshio Ootori was there. The man looked very stern. He would not be the type that would appreciate his children managing Host Clubs or showing any kind of defiance. He looked like a man who exerted control over everything. Julia realized that he was the man that she crossed paths with at the hospital.
"No wonder even the doctors and hospital administrators looked like they were chasing a god." She said. Their encounter was so brief; she would have not recognized the man if it were not for the commanding presence he had the entire time.
"So that's where Kyoya-san got it." She said. It was the first time she saw the Ootori Family on television. Their family did not engage in such public or interactive stunts.
The man on television was explaining the purpose of the company and all their projects in depth. Julia was listening to Kyoya's father and brothers advertise the Ootori Group. She sipped some tea as the host went around the different entertainment centers the Ootori Group owned. A gentle knock was heard at the door. Julia smiled to herself and hoped it was the person she was expecting to come. She walked towards the door and fixed her skirt before opening it. Julia took a deep breath in as she opened the door.
"Good morning Kyoya-san." Julia greeted merrily.
Mornings were never great for Kyoya. He felt especially lightheaded today. His anemia was working its wonders. His mood was offset by Julia's energy. He was not sure if his lack of energy made Julia look more energetic or if he was just feeling sleepier than usual.
The groggy man replied "Good morning."
Kyoya stood there with a blank expression. He was wearing light brown vintage chino pants with a tapered cut and clean cuffs. He wore an oxford blue sweater made of extra fine merino wool over his finely pressed white long sleeved polo. His black-grey khaki double-breasted was coat had a very classic touch to it. He was the perfect example of a man who used neutral colors to his advantage. Julia had to commend Kyoya's ability to dress himself a little bit too well.
"It looks very chilly outside. I think you should go inside already." Julia said as she rubbed her hands together. Winter was just around the corner.
"You really aren't a morning person, are you?" Julia asked rhetorically. The man in front of her looked like he was ready to fall asleep again.
Kyoya still stared blankly at her and just shook his head. He gave her a pink paper bag with frills, glitters, and ribbons. He went inside Julia's apartment to escape the cold air outside. Tokyo was colder that day. The biting winds did not make the weather more merciful. He took a good look at Julia as she inspected the package he handed her. She had a wine red high waisted skirt, navy blue long sleeved blouse with a white collar, and sheer black stockings.
"What's in this?" Julia asked. She was curious what Kyoya got.
"Just open it." Kyoya answered as he took off his shoes.
"I have a gift for you too." She said.
Kyoya looked at with a bemused face. "Really?"
"Yeah. Let's open it together?" Julia said.
He nodded and they went towards the dining area. He was starving already. It felt like saving grace and the loot of a thousand worlds when Julia brought out the food. He placed Kyokyo-san, the penguin, on the other chair and Kikyo-san, the bunny, right beside him. Julia set a plate for all 'four' of them. Kyoya watched the morning news as Julia placed the food on the table. The interview of his father and brothers was almost done.
"What's your family like, Kyoya-san?"
Kyoya looked at Julia with a straight face. "Why the question? I think you just saw them on television. That should suffice already."
"Well, I'm guessing your eldest brother was the one with the glasses." Julia said as she had some natto.
"Yes, Yuuichi-niisama is talented. He has already established his claim on the healthcare management aspect of the Ootori Group." Kyoya said after he sipped his tea.
"How much older is he?" Julia asked as she leaned forward. It was intriguing to see the Ootori family on television so she was curious.
"He's 11 years older than me. He's 39 years old already." Kyoya said unremarkably. "His grip on the other companies of my father made me realize that going toe to toe on him directly would not be beneficial. He had the advantage of time. That was a luxury I never had."
"He looks like a boring person." Julia said. Her lack of interest on Yuuichi was evident.
Kyoya had an amused expression on his face. "He's not that boring. Yuuichi-niisama is just the most reserved one out of the three of us."
"Then who's the noisiest? Don't include Fuyumi-san in the picture." Julia exclaimed.
"You've met Fuyumi-neesan?" Kyoya asked. He was surprised at how his sister got around sometimes. If anyone kept tabs on what Fuyumi did during her spare time, there would just be too many things to note.
"Yeah. When I had my blood test, she was there as well."
Kyoya had the spicy onigiri already. "Fuyumi-neesan did have an appointment with her obstetrician. She's expecting another child."
"Wow! How nice. She has a very nice body for someone who has a child. I would think she's much closer to our age. Is she younger than your other brother?"
"Fuyumi-neesan is the second born. She's four years older than Akito-niisama."
"What? I thought she was closer to our age." Julia exclaimed. "She looks so young!"
"Fuyumi-neesan already has a nine-year-old daughter. She is already thirty-seven." Kyoya said. He found Julia's awed expression entertaining. Most people did think that Fuyumi was much younger than her actual age. She was like their mother in that sense.
"So that makes your brother thirty-three years old. Does he have children as well?" Julia asked.
"Akito-niisama is expecting his firstborn to arrive soon. His wife is due to give birth anytime this month or next month. He spent too much time studying so he's quite the late bloomer." He said.
"Why is that?" Julia probed. Akito seemed relatively young.
"Out of all of us, he is the most accomplished one academically. Akito-niisama has an MBA and a medical degree. He even specializes in Orthopedic Surgery. So he spends most of his time in the hospital seeing patients or helping Yuuichi-niisama with administrative work." Kyoya remarked.
Kyoya answered all of Julia's questions patiently. He did not clearly understand her interest in his family, it must be because of the stark contrast to her situation. When he read her profile a few weeks ago, it stated that her entire family died almost a decade ago. It did not have much information, but it did not seem overly relevant that it was missing. Plenty of people lost their records in a large fire that happened in the suburbs years ago. Julia's family did live there so it was only expected that even the backup data was lost. He wanted asked more about her family, but it should have been a traumatic experience so he decided it was best not to ask. Julia would tell him when she wanted to.
"Then Fuyumi-san? What does she do?" Julia asked.
"Most people think she's a housewife, but Fuyumi-neesan is actually a medical practitioner as well. She's a pediatrician, but her practice is well controlled by our father since there was an incident when a man tried to kidnap her from the hospital. Only a few people could go to her for checkups. Fuyumi asks for patients that are financially unable to pay for anything." Kyoya said.
"She seems like an amazing person." Julia said.
"Yes, I think she is. She went through medical school like a breeze. I'm sure my brothers wondered how she got through it effortlessly." Kyoya commented. He did wonder how Fuyumi did it. They were all subjected to the same pressure and it was not easy.
Kyoya never answered Julia's question. She thought she'll never know who was the most talkative Ootori after Fuyumi, but maybe Kyoya redirected the conversation for a reason. She felt that she was talking to the answer to her question already. They ate the rest of the meal almost in complete silence. The both of them felt excited when they saw that the morning news featured a common band the two enjoyed. Sakanaction was something the two had in common. Julia was humming the song and Kyoya tapped to the beat lightly with his fingers.
"You like them too?" Julia asked.
The boy nodded as he had his fourth onigiri. He told himself that he will ask for the recipe so Nanami-san can replicate the same thing at home.
"What's your favorite song?"
"Me ga Aku Aiiro."
"Ah! I like that too. It comes close to my favorite Native Dancer." Julia said with eagerness.
"They are having a concert at one of the stadiums we own. Would you be interested in a few passes?" Kyoya said.
"The concert that's only going to play their top songs since the formation of the band?" Julia asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, I believe that's the one."
"Had anyone called you a god before, Kyoya-san?" Julia said.
"Tamaki does from time to time." He replied.
"Add me to that list then."
"Duly Noted."
"Are any of the members of the Host Club going?" she asked. She was not sure what their taste in music was, but it would be nice to have more people going.
"No. Tamaki and Honey-senpai are avid followers of jpop boybands and girl groups. The very ones you publicize to the masses. Mori-senpai listens to more traditional music. Hikaru and Kaoru were supposed to watch as well, but they said that it conflicted with their fashion show. Haruhi does not bother much with music. I think her life outside work and family revolves solely around food." Kyoya remarked.
They ate the rest of the asking about the music they liked. Julia looked ecstatic. None of her friends enjoyed the same bands as she did, except Kyoya. They both enjoyed listening to Noanowa, Passepied, Lite, Gesu no Kiwami Otome, and Kana-Boon. Naming the songs they both enjoyed would take plenty of time so they shared their playlists with each other. Even if they had their similarities, Kyoya's taste in music leaned more towards the indie and rock while Julia went towards to the mainstream pop and classical music. Though her taste in music was so varied, she cannot by placed in a single category. Kyoya saw her passion for music since she did not discriminate any kind of genre.
"I think you should open the gift already." Kyoya said. He wanted to see Julia's reaction. His curiosity was reaching its peak.
"Yes. I will, but I'll get my gift for you as well." She said.
She went to the kitchen and brought out a large box and handed it to Kyoya. They could both sense the anticipation they had. Kyoya examined the box Julia gave him. He shook it a bit before opening it. It sounded like there were plenty of things inside. The two of them started opening the gifts they got for each other. Both had an anticipating look on their faces. They were sure that the other would enjoy the gift they gave. So when the both of them opened the boxes, they stared at each other with disbelief. Such an event was unexpected. The two of them started laughing. What were the odds that the both of them thought of purchasing similar products?
Julia took out one pack of strawberries and cream pudding. "Wow, this is really expensive and you bought quite a lot. You didn't have to get me this." She said. Her happiness was oozing out.
"It's nothing. It was also on sale so it was cheap." Kyoya replied. "At least I have enough pudding to last me the month."
His eyes were wide open. This was a lot of pudding. Out of all the gifts he has received from different women, this was by far the best one. Kyoya knew that Julia saw through parts of him with ease. It was the same for him as well. Julia opened up like a blooming rose. He knew how her eyes were not an accurate gauge of her true feelings. It was ironic because her eyes had the color of a clear stream. One would think that she was as transparent as water, but the true emotions were hidden. Kyoya saw how her eyes could transform in a split second. He saw Julia put up and take down barriers with at a single glance. He thought it was impossible for water to burn, but Julia's eyes would be burning with passion when she is faced with a challenging experience.
Though, as he noticed now, simply using Julia's eyes as the basis would not bring justice to the rest of her expressions. Her voice, tone, and posture said as much. He saw how Julia could say something, but the rest of her body told a different story. When he first met her at the art auction, he thought he saw through her completely. It was through successive exposure that Kyoya unveiled the complexity that Julia hid. She makes her personality seem easy to understand when in fact, it was filled with layers and layers of walls. She was like a Noh actor.
Noh was often based on traditional literature. It integrated masks, costumes, and various props in a dance-based performance. Highly technical and well-trained actors and musicians were the only ones employed in this branch of performing arts. They conveyed their emotions through their stylized, conventional gestures, and iconic masks. Even their masks had a story to it. It would take a master artisan to carefully craft these. It typically took months to make a single mask. Much like Noh actors, Julia utilized different kinds of masks. Each mask was carved skillfully from cypress painted with only the most vibrant colors and hues. These masks are made by highly skilled artisans make sure that each mask has a neutral expression. Julia carved herself different kinds of masks that could instill a variety of emotions. The real Julia hid behind a perfect meshwork that Kyoya was untangling little by little. He was taking off one mask at a time to reveal the actress behind it.
"Thank you for bringing my boyfriend back, by the way. I'll make sure to scold him for being an ass." Julia said as she placed the penguin stuffed animal on the couch.
Kyoya started to eat some pudding Julia gave and said "It's nothing. Just tell him to keep his hands to himself."
"So…Did you have any other reasons to go here besides eating and giving back my boyfriend?" Julia asked frankly. She felt that something was bothering Kyoya. Her senses told her that this was more than just a regular friendly visit.
"Julia-san is really perceptive. I thought I concealed it well." Kyoya said.
"You might as well get to the point, Kyoya-san."
"I won't beat around the bush then." He said.
Julia looked at the man drinking tea. His expression was unreadable. His eyes showed determination, but somehow there was some kind of hesitation. It looked like Kyoya was composing the thought he had into a more coherent sentence.
"I need you to help me make a certain woman fall in love with me." Kyoya said.
"I thought you were a host? I think you should have mastered that by now."
"There are a few differences with being a host and a man who looks sincere and loyal. I have learned how to charm women, but I'm unfortunately not well-versed with how to make them loyal to me. I did have my steady number of designations, but it was different altogether." Kyoya explained.
"So you think I can help make a woman fall madly in love with you?" Julia asked.
"Not just madly in love. I want to portray a person that she would find impossible to forget. I need this woman to see me as the only person that can give her the thing she is looking for." Kyoya continued.
"Ah, you want a really good and strong fan base. People who would worship the ground you walk on and follow you without question? Though you do not want a large number of fans. Just a specific one, right?" Julia confirmed.
"Yes, I am in need of your expertise. You have mastered the art of packaging people in a manner that the public would want to see. I need you to do the same thing on a much smaller scale."
"Who's the girl?"
"Do you remember Megumi-san?"
"The girl from the elevator? She seems smitten with you already. Why do you need my help?"
"Megumi seems to be infatuated with me, but I want to gain her unwavering loyalty. I'm sure I can do it by myself, but it will take time. I feel that my skills alone would be enough with the limited time I have which is why I'm asking you. I saw how you were able to create a lasting relationship with the fans of the Zuka Club. That was something I was not able to do as much. Our loyal customers are not as numerous or as dedicated as the followers of the Zuka Club." Kyoya stated.
"So…basically…you want me to turn your character into something that Megumi-san cannot refuse or deny. You want her to become a pawn to your game? That is quite cruel even for you Kyoya-san…I wonder what part I play then." Julia said.
"If I had to rank it by functionality, then you'd be my queen in this game."
Julia could not deny her interest with the matter. She knew what to do and how to do it, but it was risky. She toyed with people's emotions frequently, but never did it this deep. There were consequences for such actions. "Is Megumi-san really going to get you to the summit?"
"Yes."
"Are you positive that there is no other way for you to achieve your goal?"
"Yes."
"I can help Megumi-san completely fall in love with you, but after that it's all up to you. I have very little control with how you'll keep her. Keeping fans and lovers are two contrary things. Also, you should be prepared with the responsibility that comes with manipulating her in such a manner. I can make her fall deeply in love with you, so expect that she will want more commitment." Julia explained.
"I need to marry her by the before the end of next year. That gives me a year and a two months left to make sure that she is mine. I am not interested in marriage, but it is the only way to get to where I want to go. I was corned by my own father. Not realizing his actions from the very beginning was completely my error and I am facing the penalties of my ignorance." Kyoya said.
"My, my Kyoya-san. You fell right into your father's trap. I can get you out, but what do I get in return? I'm not some kind of cupid, you know? I will not do this for free." Julia asked.
"I'll give you the opportunity to shoot in any Ootori Group establishment for a free. Also, whatever commercials we'll have I'll see to it that we only use your clients and crew." Kyoya said with a smile. He knew it was a tempting offer. Julia took out a piece of paper and started computing potential savings while Kyoya saw the potential growth he would get with her help.
Julia looked at her computations with awe. "Wow…We have a deal then. But let me warn you, I expect full cooperation from you." She said with a menacing smile.
"I'm sure I can manage. Please use whatever method of instruction you are most comfortable with." Kyoya said as he smiled back.
"Always remember that it was you who asked for lessons, I never offered to teach you at any point, okay?" Julia said pleasantly.
"I've had my fair share of difficult instructors. I'm sure I can manage." He replied.
"Do you have your calendar in your phone?" Julia asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Sync it with mine. We'll need to get you ready as soon as possible. You do not have the luxury of time, right? The faster we move the more time we have to build the relationship."
Kyoya too out his phone and emailed his calendar to Julia. She did the same thing as well. Dates with minimal activities were already reserved for lessons.
"Every session we have, I need you to remember the reason why you wanted her to fall in love with you. That will be your only motivation as we progress." Julia said.
"Of course. I will keep that in mind."
There were rumors surrounding the son Sadanobu had. It was the talk of the decade. No one from the public has seen the boy, but they knew the man was breeding the next heir of the Mizushima Family. At a young age, the boy has showed his father nothing but fruitful results. He had the right aptitude and talent worthy of being the next in line. Sadanobu did not care much about blood at this point. He knew that Ryusei would bring the family to greater heights.
His daughter, Haruka, protested with making him the heir. Her son, Kazuyoshi, was much more worthy heir than the son of a tramp. Sadanobu understood his daughter's concern, but even if his grandson was talented, he paled in comparison to Ryusei. The geisha he fell in love with was clever, sharp, witty, and adaptable. The woman was one of the most beautiful geisha in Gion. Ryusei took a few traits from his mother. His disposition was much like hers. Sadanobu is reminded of the only woman he fell in love.
Even if he fell in love with another woman, he thought of his late wife from time to time. He respected her, but it was an arranged marriage for the both of them. They were both young when they were told to be wed to each other when they were only 18 years old. There was no love between the two, but they were civil towards each other. His wife gave birth to their daughter, Haruka, a year after they were married. During the war, she begged Sadanobu to let her travel to Tokyo. She feared her mother was suffering from depression since her brother was killed in the Philippines. Only a lifeless body of a young man went back to Tokyo a few weeks ago. Sadanobu let her go so she could visit her mother. He hoped to see her back on time for Haruka's birthday only to receive a body in a casket two weeks later. The bombs the Americans dropped spread fire throughout the residential area. No one from their family survived the fire. Haruka was only eleven years old when she lost her mother. She left Sadanobu to care for their child alone and he has not even reached the age of thirty.
The man became a solitary one for years. He became detached with most people. He did not express emotions even towards his own daughter. Haruka grew up to look more like her mother each day. Sadanobu could not bear to look at her. She was an exact replica of her mother. He felt responsible for allowing his wife to leave their daughter too soon. It took years before he fell in love again. The geisha he fell in love with was different from most women. Sadanobu had an intimidating scar on his face due to an accident. It cut through his left cheek up to his lip. It kept most women away from him. He looked like he was a suspicious character.
Only geishas remained civil with him because he paid for their services. Sadanobu always introduced himself as Sadanobu Nitta, a simple man that was involved with producing traditional Japanese tea sets. One day, he met a beautiful geisha and the two fell in love with each other. One event lead to another and for a year, the geisha disappeared and he did not know where to find her. Little did he know that she hid his son in her hometown. She only told Sadanobu she gave him a son three years before her death. It was because she had no choice but to bring their son, Ryusei, back to Kyoto since her parents have died. No one would take care of Ryusei in the countryside. When Sadanobu Mizushima knew of this, he told the geisha his true identity and intentions. He was already planning on becoming her patron to support her and his son. He said that he will adopt Ryusei to become his son and heir to the Mizushima family.
Sadanobu hid Ryusei from the world. Only the servants of the main house and the Ootori family knew who the boy actually is. Ryusei was the only reminder he had of the woman he loved dearly. He kept him hidden from society. The boy was not allowed to leave the mansion unsupervised. As much as he wanted to give his son a life fitting for his position, prematurely exposing his son's identity would only bring in more harm than good. There were plenty of jealous men and women who wanted their company. He even suspected his own son-in-law to have his own intentions. He had a feeling the man only married Haruka so he would be the one to inherit the Mizushima business. At that time, women were not given the chance to manage businesses as large as the Mizushima so ownership would instantly go to the husband. He felt responsible with Haruka's situation since failed to see the snake when he started to charm her when she was 20 years old. The moment his wife died, he married Haruka instantly.
He could not bring himself to deny Haruka his blessing. The man has given him no choice. Haruka's honor has been tainted since she was already with child prior to marriage. If he did not allow Haruka to be wed, she would be considered a social disgrace and she would be out casted from society. This was why the moment he brought in Ryusei into his care, there was tension between him and Haruka's husband. Sadanobu knew that the Miyura family had their intentions, but now it was all ruined. All their efforts were for nothing. This was why Sadanobu hid Ryusei so no one could strike preemptively. The world was not any less cruel to children. Only a few people he trusted were allowed to see Ryusei. He only hoped that he could tell Haruka of his suspicions, but they have not been in good terms for some time. It was only made worse when he named Ryusei heir to the Mizushima family.
It has been four years since Ryusei became officially adopted by Sadanobu Mizushima. His father had the boy homeschooled. Not everyone was allowed to see him. Yoshio last saw the boy a few months ago. Now, it was summer break again so a change of scenery was nice. Medical school was not a relaxing environment. Ryusei called him a few weeks ago begging for a visit. He was bored out of his wits. Yoshio had a hunch that this was related to the tension between Haruka and Sadanobu. It must have felt odd for her to have a brother who was younger than her own son. Suddenly, her rights as the sole heir changed overnight. He could only imagine what Haruka felt. It was like as if she was robbed of everything she thought was hers. After all, she was almost 40 years old and her father unexpectedly named someone else heir.
Yoshio sighed at the predicament that unfolded. He knew he was in no place to feel affected, but he cannot help it. Ryusei will be exposed to a world much crueler than he knows. Sadanobu Mizushima had his own reasons for keeping the boy hidden, but there was no way a mere 11-year-old could comprehend the situation he was in.
He went towards the gardens where Ryusei spent much of his time reading. Yoshio knew the boy wanted nothing more than to go outside. The young boy climbed trees higher than houses just to get a glimpse of a world he wished to see.
"Ryusei!" Yoshio called.
Branches above his head moved and he just took a few steps to the side. The boy was about to make his entrance in a few seconds. Yoshio correctly predicted Ryusei's entrance. He fell down the branch after five seconds.
"Yoshio-niisama!" the boy said excitedly. His hair was disheveled, his hands, and feet were dirty.
"You look liked you slept on the ground." Yoshio said.
"Correction: I fell asleep on the branch." Ryusei replied as he removed some leaves from his hair.
"Shall we go inside?" he asked the boy.
"Ah, I'm guessing you want tea and sweets again. I asked one of the servants to buy the famous rice cake sold downtown." Ryusei teased.
"What are we waiting for then?" Yoshio asked.
They were the majority owners of the train systems being built around the country. Even if the Mizushima Family has upgraded the train system that went through the different cities of Japan, it was still physically draining to sit in one position for hours. Yoshio just wanted to have a decent meal since the journey to Kyoto was exhausting. They wanted to create the fastest train in the world. Even without lifting a finger, Sadanobu Mizushima, earned a lot due to the sheer number of people that used the train system.
As they had some tea and snack, Yoshio handed a small bottle to Ryusei. He knew that Sadanobu restricted the boy from leaving the house since he was most likely to be identified as a Mizushima due to his eyes, but thanks to medical research things could change for him already.
Ryusei looked at two thin circular objects floating in a liquid suspension. "What in the world is this, Yoshio-niisama?"
"Colored contact lenses. It is being developed by the Ciba Vision Company. My father was able to get a few shares so we will be the first ones to distribute it in Japan."
"Wow…this is amazing. How does it work?" the child asked.
Yoshio explained how contact lenses worked and how they corrected vision. These colored ones have not been released in the market yet. They were still being tested by other individuals, but it was at its final stages already.
"I asked your father for permission. He said that as long as you wore those the entire time we're out, we can go around the city." Yoshio said. It took him a few days to convince Sadanobu to allow Ryusei to go with him, but he was glad he earned the man's trust.
"So if I wear these my eyes will change color?" Ryusei asked. He was still examining the thing closely.
"Only temporarily. The moment you remove the contact lenses, your eyes go back to its regular shade." Yoshio explained.
"What are we waiting for then?! Let's go! Please put these things on my eyes already, Yoshio-niisama!" Ryusei begged. Finally, he was allowed to leave the premises. There was a way for him to be free
There was a struggle for Ryusei to put on the contact lenses, but he was determined to leave the house that day. It was still early and there was so much to do. When he was able to put on the contact lenses properly, he noticed how different he looked. Dark brown eyes made him look like the children playing outside. The same ones he watched every afternoon. Yoshio's gift opened a new world to Ryusei.
Later that evening when Sadanobu arrived at his home, Yoshio was reading a few books for school. Ryusei was already asleep. He spent so much of his energy that afternoon so he was drained by 9:00 pm. Yoshio spent the day babysitting an overly excited child that was kept from the world for the longest time. He drank some tea to keep him up that night. He wanted to lighten up his reading load so he could have more time to sleep when break was over.
"Yoshio, how have you been?"
Yoshio bowed deeply. "Good evening Sadanobu-ojisama. I have been well."
"How did Ryusei enjoy downtown?" the man asked as he lit a cigarette. He offered one to Yoshio and he had one as well. It was a habit he picked up from his peers in medical school.
"He was energetic. I will not be surprised if he begs me to go with him again tomorrow." Yoshio said.
"That boy is growing up to be a fine man. Ever since Haruka found out about Ryusei, she has never visited me since, but she would have to meet her brother soon. He will be the one to take care of her and her family once I am gone." Sadanobu said.
The man asked for two bottles of sake and some food. "I hope I am not disturbing your studies, Yoshio. It has been quite some time since I have had good company."
"It is a privilege to converse with someone like you, Sadanobu-ojisama." Yoshio replied.
"I see Ryusei has inflicted you with some of his charm as well." The man commented.
There was a question that was bothering Yoshio for the quite some time. He did not know if it was appropriate to ask something like it, but it a part of him wanted answers. He cared deeply for Ryusei and only wished he could be fully accepted as a Mizushima by the rest of the world.
"Is there something on your mind, Yoshio?" Sadanobu asked as he took a sip of sake.
The question startled him a bit. "I do not mean to be rude, Sadanobu-ojisama, but is Ryusei aware of his position as heir?" he asked hesitantly.
"As of now, he is not. I plan to tell him when he is ready. I want him to spend his time being a child first. He was gone through a difficult childhood. I do not want to rob him of that experience. He is a talented boy who will bring this family much honor." The man replied.
"Then why keep him hidden from everyone?" Yoshio suddenly asked. He cursed himself for asking such a question directly. It could have offended his mentor. It was improper to ask such things.
The man smiled at him and said "Yoshio, a father will do everything in his power to keep his children safe even if it means being resented by them. Right now, I do not expect you to understand, but when you have children of your own I am sure you will."
Yoshio nodded at the man to express his false understanding. At present he cannot see why parents would do such a thing. It was true that sometimes he felt that his father controlled most of his activities, but he was not sure if his parents would go to such extreme measures just like Sadanobu.
Shortly after this conversation, Sadanobu left Yoshio to study in peace. He said that he still had much to do tomorrow morning. He gave Yoshio the authority and responsibility of bringing Ryusei around town. When the boy woke up, he woke up Yoshio and begged to have breakfast down the street. He has always wanted to eat the curry the servants bought from the store itself. Yoshio felt some regret when he gave the child contact lenses. He wore it at every opportunity he could. Sadanobu noticed that Ryusei's potential grew even more the moment he started leaving the house often. It hid his identity as a Mizushima and it allowed the boy to explore the world freely without any worries. Sadanobu knew that the most people were looking for a greyish-blue eyed child so Ryusei was safe from their prying eyes.
The boy met his sister that summer as well. Yoshio did not know why Ryusei chose to wear the colored contact lenses on that specific day. He sat beside the boy as Haruka berated and insulted the child. She questioned his legitimacy and insulted him to the very last fiber of his being. He bore almost no resemblance to his father the moment he placed his contact lenses on. She made it clear that his mother was not more than a mistress and a glorified whore. Haruka called her father a fool and made it clear that she did not want to have anything to do with the stray he took in.
It was then and there that Sadanobu told Ryusei that he was to be heir to the Mizushima family and that he will be taking care of Haruka the moment he is of age. The boy protested saying that his sister deserves a part of the company even more than he did. Sadanobu dismissed his son's opinion saying that he was in no position to give Haruka any power. She walked out of the discussion shortly after hearing that statement. Ryusei went after his sister. He wanted to make amends for something he did not do. The woman threatened to kill him if he went too close to her. At that point, Ryusei knew that his only sibling loathed him. He wanted to compromise and find a peaceful solution for their family.
Shortly after that encounter, Ryusei went to a point where he wore the contact lenses every day. People sometimes forgot the true color of his eyes. When he was 13, he asked his father to enroll him in a public school like most people his age. During Ryusei's middle school years, Yoshio became a permanent visitor since his father instructed him to oversee the management of their hospitals in Kyoto. He was taking his internship at one of the hospitals there. Sadanobu appreciated the added company they had at their home.
After class, Yoshio would take a short break before heading to his round in the hospital so he and Ryusei could have some shaved ice by the park near the Minami Ward Office. He did not understand why Ryusei was very specific with the park they spent their afternoons. Yoshio always assumed that it was because it was close to the hospital where he did his rounds until he realized that it was near an exclusive and private all girls' school. It was where prominent families from Kyoto sent their children.
Yoshio was silently reading a book under the sakura tree. Flowers fell down slowly as the wind blew. Springtime in Kyoto almost felt enchanted. From the corner of his eye, Yoshio could see that Ryusei was flirting with a few women much older than he was. Yoshio knew that it was nothing to be alarmed with. Ryusei was still a child so Yoshio knew that those high school girls will not do anything with him.
Shortly after the girls left him, Ryusei walked back to Yoshio and said "You know you'll never find a wife by sitting under a tree."
"Who says I'm looking for a wife?" Yoshio asked without even lifting his gaze off the book.
"You're almost 23 years old and you have never found anyone to date. Your father might be worried that the Ootori name will end with you." Ryusei joked.
"Think what you want. I'm too busy to involve myself with pointless activities. I'll just wait for some girl my father will tell me to marry. Why look if he'll find someone for me?" Yoshio stated.
"You haven't noticed all the stares and glances the girls have been giving you?" Ryusei asked with incredulity. "We've been going here for weeks! The white coat and stethoscope around your neck is enough to make women drool over ugly men, but since you're not bad looking it makes it even better!" Ryusei exclaimed comically.
Yoshio rolled his eyes and put down his book. He pushed his glasses up to say something clever, but before he could open his mouth, a high school girl with long brown hair ran past him and Ryusei.
"Wait for me, Kana-chan!" the girl said.
"Noriko-chan! Hurry up!" screamed the girl who was buying some shaved ice.
The girl barely glanced their way as she ran towards her friends. Ryusei looked at Yoshio as he stared at the woman that passed by them. It looked like his heart stopped beating for a few seconds. It was the first time Ryusei saw his niisama with such an expression. He had a feeling they were going to this park more frequently.
Kyoya did not understand why he was doing this. He was already questioning his judgement with each step he took. He could feel his heart beat faster and his mouth was already dry. He felt like he was reaching his limit. Feelings of regret just poured in the longer he was here. His muscles were already aching from strain.
"KYOYA! Put some muscle to it. You'll never reach the top if you don't move your ass." Julia yelled sternly.
It was Sunday and he could be sleeping the entire day. He could be working on new projects or meeting with potential partners instead he was taking the Hanareyama hiking course at Karuizawa at an ungodly hour of 7:00 am. It was a "simple" 6.3-kilometer hike that took a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes according to the guide books. It would have been a simple hike if Julia was not seated comfortable on his shoulders the same way Honey does with Mori.
"How is this related to the training?" he asked. Kyoya was falling apart inside. He felt like he was being killed slowly.
"You dare question the methods of the master? You told me to use whatever method I'm comfortable with and I gave you what you asked for. If this little hike is going to scare you, then you're just a regular piece of shit that's just richer than the rest in the dump." she said haughtily.
As they climbed the mountain, he was thinking of more than a hundred ways to kill Julia by the end of it. Karuizawa was a resort town in the mountains near Nagano. Its mild summers are pleasant and conducive for outdoor recreational activities. The lush forests, host springs, and other lakes and falls were a must see in the area. Karuizawa was a refreshing place to be in, but now it meant nothing more than an area of pure torture for Kyoya. It was anything but refreshing. His memories of this place will forever be tainted. He miscalculated the fact that Julia became a different person the moment she starts working. There was a reason why the people she trains to become famous popstars shiver at the sight of her. Julia will do everything in her power to break a person then reconstruct them from ashes.
"Why are you slowing down? I don't recall saying you can go on a break. Faster!" she demanded.
Tachibana, Ajima, and Hotta were shaking out of fear. Their mouths were already dry and they could see the strain on their master already. He was not used to doing a lot of outdoor activities with someone seated on his shoulders. How can such a woman be so ferocious and ruthless? The woman dragged Kyoya out of bed by 4:00 am in the morning and pushed him to the restroom. She woke up the man completely by giving him one of the coldest showers. Afterwards, she instructed him to change into any sports attire he had. Not once did she flinch at the death glares of Kyoya. There was no hint of weakness or fear the entire morning. That was what scared them the most. She even had the bravery to insult him the entire time they were climbing the mountain. They could see that Kyoya was almost at his limit, but Julia did not care.
The beautiful scenery the trail offered was overpowered by the two people in front of them. Even the animals hid and cowered in fear. Kyoya was getting more than annoyed. He was furious. He was frustrated. He was hungry. He looked at the signs and it said that they were not even halfway through the trail.
"I'm starting to feel bad for you a bit." Julia said mockingly. "I'll play some music to lighten up the mood."
She had small portable Bluetooth speakers that blasted PONPONPON by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu on repeat as they went up a "gentle" incline.
"I hope the upbeat tune will help make the climb easier." Julia said cheerfully.
When Kyoya thought that it the hike could not get any harder, Julia proved him wrong. The stupid song has been playing on repeat and she made him sing parts of the song. If he did not cooperate, they moved back a few steps. She made him learn the entire song while hiking. The song has played more than twenty times and they were more than halfway.
"Recite the chorus!" she demanded.
Kyoya took a deep breath and said bitterly "Clap your hands! Let it out, if you did so it would be good. If you didn't do so at all, it would seem so dull. Put on your headphones, and ride on the rhythms. I'll open up was on my path."
"Why did you stop? Did I say stop reciting the chorus? Continue!"
Kyoya clenched his fists. He was overwhelmed with hatred at the moment. "Clap your hands! So many different things are going forward. "Badum,badum"-I can hear your feelings beat steadily! Throw things away left and right-who's a bild child then? Yes, yes, you're a good child-aah, you make me happy."
"Now lunge the rest of the trail. You're almost at the top. The faster you move, the faster you can rest." Julia said.
Kyoya was not speaking anymore. At first he was complaining until Julia smacked his face with a hardbound book. He did not know where the book came from, but it was there. He briefly looked at the book she was reading. She was reading Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Kyoya did not know if Julia meant to read that book as they climbed or rather as he carried her up the mountain. It felt like it was some kind of sarcastic joke that he would have appreciated had the circumstances been slightly different. He was just glad that she did not demand him to recite the chorus of the bloody song anymore. He might murder anyone that plays the song again.
"Okay, we're here." She said as she patted his head. "Put me down, Kyoya-bocchama."
Kyoya bent down so Julia could get off his shoulders. Despite his current state, it was undeniable that Hanareyama had a beautiful view of Karuizawa. It had a central location and it gave a panoramic view of the forest and town. Kyoya was too tired to even stand. He was seated on the ground and breathing heavily. The cool breeze cooled him down slightly. It was difficult to appreciate the scenery with all the strain he felt. Karuizawa was definitely a refreshing place and it lived up to its reputation. The rustling of the winds started to calm all the negative emotions he felt at the moment. He needed to sublimate the loathing he felt at the moment. Julia was walking on thin ice. He knew that if she pushed his buttons just a little more, he might not be able to stop.
Julia sat beside him and looked at his view of the forest. She looked at Kyoya and asked "What did you learn just now?"
"I learned how to restrain myself from killing you." He replied.
"I'm glad you learned how to do that. What else did you learn?" she asked as she smacked him again with a book.
"How to hike without eating breakfast." He replied snidely.
"Really? I'm sure you learned something better than that." Julia said as she raised a brow.
Kyoya glared at her and said "Probably it was how to not toss someone seated on your shoulders."
Julia rolled her eyes and smiled at him. She mimicked the tone old wise men used in movies. It was the slow and deep voice they usually used when they were about to say something wise. "Ah, you're really stupid. I'll just tell you the answer." She said as she pat Kyoya's back.
The three bodyguards were awed by Julia's bravery. This was one of the worst glares they have seen in a long time. Kyoya's glare was unwavering. The whole idea of him being up that early on a Sunday was infuriating. He was not amused by Julia's antics at the moment. He was not amused by anything at the moment. Yet, this did not bother Julia. In fact, she knew she was successful with the first session. Kyoya's emotional state was according to plan.
"Though I did not expect for you to break so easily. I expected more from someone like you, but I guess even you could prove me wrong." She said.
Kyoya's glare was so intense it could have solidified the air they were breathing. "Excuse me?" he replied with a pleasant smile and tone to hide his irritation.
"I did not think you would turn this way so fast. You were not the fastest one to break, but you were probably much easier compared to the others." She said with a sigh. This was a bluff on her part. Kyoya did well on the first test. Most of the people she trained either gave way a little after halfway. Only a few were able to complete it. She wanted to push Kyoya's limit. The only way for him to convince Megumi that he is truly, madly, sincerely, and wholeheartedly in love with her is if he moves to the next level.
The man beside her had a strained smile on his face. His knuckles were white as his fists were clenched tightly. He was using whatever strength he had left to control his composure. The thought that his performance was thought of as mediocre hurt his pride. It was unacceptable to be seen as such. Kyoya spoke his next words carefully in such a way that Julia felt every single bit of anger in his system.
"Was I supposed to learn something meaningful from that?"
"I'm not going to spoon feed the information, Kyoya-bocchama. Think about everything that happened so far and describe it."
"It was shit." He said darkly.
"Go on…"
Kyoya smiled at Julia and took a deep breath. A part of him snapped. "It was the most infuriating and troublesome experience. This made Tamaki's commoner outings look like it was actually something I should look forward to. It made me think that I would rather be stuck in a small room with both my parents in it as they fought each other to the death. I do not think that this hike was worth the effort and I did not understand why you had to play that damn song. I swear that if I hear that one more I might just kill someone. Then the moment you sit on my shoulders again, I will strangle you out of spite."
His tone was anything but pleasant. Kyoya was immensely irritated. He spent the next few minutes voicing out his thoughts and pulling back his composure together. Julia knew she got through the core of it. It was the perfect formula for most people. Hunger, fatigue, and irritation brought out the inner demons most people hide. The smile Kyoya had on his face betrayed the very emotion he was conveying. It was the perfect example of ambivalence. It was a contradiction of two things. It was Kyoya being himself.
Julia smiled at the man and said "And that is how you'll feel about Megumi-san at her worst. And trust me, that trail pales in comparison to other women. With the plans you have, you'll have no choice but to expose your worst at some point."
When Julia finally gave away the objective of the hike, Kyoya understood her intentions, but was just too exhausted to reply. He wanted to mentally punch himself for not seeing it earlier. Experiential learning was the most effective manner of instruction, but it was not the easiest to implement and it was definitely one of the hardest ones to learn from. She took him out at his most vulnerable state and exposed him to something he was not used to doing. It made sense that she would have started with such an exercise. It was like a baptism of fire. Julia was a risky person. She would have been a very good businesswoman with her ability to elicit weakness.
The woman saw realization hit her pupil. "Took you some time to understand though, but I was expecting that." She said. "I think we should use the rest of the day to take a break. I hope you understand that I don't want half-baked or half-assed performance. I will not let your incompetence tarnish my clean record."
Kyoya smiled at her and said "Don't worry. I won't."
The hairs on Julia's arms raised. Although she understood Kyoya, it did not make certain aspects of his personality any less intimidating. "Has anyone told you that your scheming and evil ways are so potent it's actually refreshing?"
"Perhaps someone could have told me that." Kyoya replied with an amiable smile. It betrayed the glint his eyes had which only showed that he was up to no good.
"You look terrible." Julia said with disgust. "Half the women would not recognize you at the state you're in. There's a temple at the other side of the mountain. I heard the view there is much better. We'll continue the remaining part of today's lesson there."
Kyoya was about to get ready for Julia to climb on his shoulders, but she made fun of him and said "I do not have the patience anymore for us to move so slowly. I'll let you off the hook this time."
The stairs that lead to the temple had exactly 500 steps. It looked like a daunting task for anyone. Kyoya could already feel his legs shaking, but his pride did not allow him to falter. Julia effortlessly climbed the steps. He knew that her job required more physical strength, but he did not think that she was very fit.
"Are you part horse or something?" he asked. It annoyed him that it looked like he was the only one finding the path difficult.
"I've always wanted to get to this temple. I knew I would not be able to climb all the steps if I walked the trail with you which was why I asked you to carry me." Julia said with a cheeky smile.
Kyoya could barely feel his feet and legs. He was cursing mentally since it was the only thing he could do besides climb the stairs. "Is it possible to roll down the mountain on our way down?" he asked sarcastically.
"I'm sure it is. I'm just not sure how disfigured you will be after." Julia replied.
When they got to the end of the steps, there was no one there. It looks like the temple had been abandoned long ago, but it did have a fantastic view. Suddenly, Hotta handed him his camera. It was a Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens. He was lucky that Nanami insisted the three guards to carry his camera up the mountain. Its weight was considerable especially for long hiking trips like these. So Kyoya took this opportunity to take a few photos. Photography became a hobby of his when he started managing the Host Club. He was not good at first, but it was a skill he developed over time.
"I did not think you were into photography, Kyoya-san." Julia remarked.
She walked closely to examine the camera Kyoya was using. "Wow, that's quite the setup you have there. Full-frame camera and one of the best portrait lenses in the world."
"You seem to know a lot about these." Kyoya said.
"I'm not that much into photography, but it's part of the budget expenses so I had to familiarize myself with the equipment people used to make sure they were not cheating me." Julia replied.
"You're always concerned with budgeting things." Kyoya said.
"And you are not the one to talk." Julia replied.
The both of them looked at the view then decided to go around the temple. Julia thought that maybe there was something behind or at the sides, but there was no one there except an old man. He had a large bowl filled with different colors of string.
Julia walked towards the man and asked "Ojisan, what are you doing in a place like this?"
"I offer good luck to visitors and I show them their destiny." He replied slowly.
There was a sense of peace with him. Julia sat beside him and asked "So what do you do with the bowl of string?" she looked at the bowl that had string tangled inside it. It was impossible to see where both ends were at a glance.
The man smiled and said "Most people go here later in the morning or during the afternoon. I'm here to show them their destiny."
Kyoya observed Julia from a far as she asked the old man more questions. They were there much earlier than most tourists. No one wanted to wake up early to climb such a mountain.
"Kyoya-san!" Julia called.
He looked at the woman and wondered why she was calling him. He walked towards her and the old man.
"He says he can show us our destiny." Julia said.
"That's amusing, but I think I can figure that out myself." Kyoya replied.
"Come on. Let's try it out. There's no harm in finding out a probable future." Julia said.
Kyoya closed his eyes and sighed. "What do we have to do Ojisan?"
The old man stood up and placed the large clay bowl on the ground. He asked Julia and Kyoya to stand opposite each other. He instructed them to pick three colors and then just get whatever end they see. Kyoya and Julia held onto three different colors of string.
"What do we do next?" Julia asked.
"Hold all the ends and pull it as hard as you can." He said.
Julia and Kyoya felt like something was tugging one of their strings.
"I'm not sure how this works. I can feel one of the strings being pulled so I cannot get it." Julia said.
"Same here." Kyoya said.
The old man had an all knowing smile. "Pull the colors one at a time. If you do not feel a tug, put it back in the bowl then try to untangle the string that pulls back."
Julia let go of the green and white string she had on her hand while Kyoya let go of the purple and black string. The both of them did a final pull and realized that they were holding the opposite ends of the same red string.
"Ah, we held on to the same red one." Julia said.
"I can see that." Kyoya replied.
"Hey! Don't pull too hard. It might get tangled with the rest of the pile." Julia said.
"Why are we even doing this?" Kyoya asked irritably. He just wanted to go home and sleep.
Despite their arguing, the two were able to untangle the red string from the pile and they asked the old man what came next.
He only closed his eyes and smiled at them. "I hope you can clearly see your destiny from this day on. There must be a reason why the both of you have crossed paths."
Kyoya and Julia had a puzzled expression on their face as they walked away. The old man ignored the comments the man made stating that he was most probably senile. He said that he was already hungry so it would be best for them to go back to town. The lady threw him a banana and said to make do for now. The old man smiled at the two. Their impatience made them miss the story he was about to share.
He was about to tell them the tale of the Red String of Fate. It was about a young boy who was walking home one night. He saw an old man standing beneath the light of the stars and moon. This old man told the young boy that his destined wife was attached to him by a red thread. He said that the young girl playing nearby was to be his wife. Since the boy was young and had no interest in marriage or having a wife, he threw the rock at the girl and ran away. Years later, he grew up to be a young man who was arranged to be married to a woman he has never met. On the night of his wedding, his wife waited for him in their bedroom with a traditional veil covering her face. When the man raised the veil, he was delighted to see one of the most beautiful women from their village. However, she wore an adornment on her eyebrow. She said that when she was a young girl, a boy threw the rock at her and it left a scar on her eyebrow. She covers it with the adornment because she felt very self-conscious with the scar she had. The young man remembered the old man from his childhood saying that he was connected with his future wife by an invisible red string. He did not believe the tale to be true up until now.
Hello guys! Thank you for all the reviews. I really appreciate your thoughts. Now I'm curious, what is your most favorite chapter? What do you like best/worst about the whole story in general. Please tell me more. It helps me know how to phrase and write the story in a way that it would be intriguing for you guys. How are the characterizations of both the main characters and OCs? I fear that I may have gotten some of them way out of character already. By the way, most of the places, bands, restaurants and parks are real. I take time to do some research. I love Japanese culture so much.
I cannot lie to myself and say that your reviews did push me to add more twists than I originally planned. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I will have to apologize soon though. I am sure that I will not be able to update next week. I have exams already. I need to study so I hope this chapter will suffice for now.