(A/N: Chapter prompt: "yes I did, what about it?")
It was the middle of January before Ryuji saw Hifumi again. Word of their relationship spread quickly after a paparazzi managed to take a picture of them on Christmas Eve. Her mother, while she knew about their relationship, had freaked out and demanded they not meet up until damage control could be preformed. It put a damper on the Christmas party they intended to have, and Ryuji had ended up leaving the party fairly early on.
By the new year, things had calmed down some. While Hifumi was considered an idol, news that she was dating someone who looked more like a punk than anything else was considered second-rate news when the next bombshell hit on New Year's Day. Every magazine and newspaper in the country ran the headlines about Risette being pregnant by her previously unknown husband. Speculation on who Ryuji was became buried behind pages upon pages of picture analysis being done on her relationship with Narukami. When a few magazines started to speculate on Narukami's relationship with a weatherwoman in Inaba, it seemed like all talk about Hifumi and Ryuji vanished.
That lasted until he walked back into his classroom, and all talking stopped.
Still, it wasn't that bad. He had enough going on with worrying about entrance exams. Luckily for him, so did everyone else. The idea that the guy who looked like a punk was dating an idol didn't hold the same level of draw as the fact that entrance exams were quickly coming up.
Ryuji shook his head slightly, trying to bring himself back to the present and to the test currently sitting in front of him. He scratched his head with the pencil for a moment before continuing on with the test. He managed to finish the problem he was on before the proctor spoke up.
"Pencils down." she said, her voice indifferent. Ryuji laid his pencil down and sat up as everyone else in the room did as well. He noticed a few giving him side glances, and couldn't help the feeling that the ones sitting behind him were doing the same. He did his best to suppress the sigh that wanted to escape. "You are dismissed." she said. With that, everyone stood up and started to make their way out. Ryuji waited a moment for the mass to leave before following them.
"Think I'm going to go get some ramen." he muttered, pulling out his phone to turn it back on.
"May I join you?" he heard Hifumi say behind him.
"Of course." he said, looking back at her for a second before turning back to his phone. He took another couple of steps before he spun around to look at her. "Hifumi? What are you doing here?"
"Taking my entrance exam." she said slowly, as if it was most obvious thing in the world. "Why else would I be here?"
"You took the entrance exam for the same school?" he asked, raising any eyebrow.
"Yes I did, what about it?" she asked, causing him to shake his head quickly.
"Nothing." he said quickly, shaking his head. "I just...figured you'd try going to a better school."
"Is there a problem with my wanting to spend as much time with you as possible?" she asked, causing him to again shake his head. "Now that word about our dating is out, I have no intention of being careful with who can see us. If that means going to the same university as you, then I will."
"I...I would like that." he said, causing her to smile. She grabbed his hand and started to pull him along. He took a few large steps before falling into step along side her.
"So, you said ramen for lunch?" she asked, squeezing his hand.
"You cool with that?" he asked, looking at her.
"I am." she said. "Also, I have a request."
"What is it?" he asked, trying to hide the slight feeling of nervousness he felt at the word.
"It's been decided that I will come clean about being in a relationship during a television interview." she said. "My mother doesn't know how bad the fallout will be since I'm not really a 'traditional' idol, but personally I'm hoping that it means people will stop caring about me and I can move on from having to do magazine spreads and interviews."
"...okay..." Ryuji said, nodding his head slowly.
"I was hoping you would come with me." she said, causing him to stop walking.
"Like...be interviewed as well?" he asked slowly.
"No." she said, shaking her head. "At least...I don't think they'll try and interview you."
"So when it is?" he asked, starting to walk again. She quickly pulled up next to him and kept pace.
"Um...well, it's um...to...tonight." she said, looking away.
"For real!?" he yelled, turning toward her.
"Yes." she said, looking back at him. "We'd probably have to head over after lunch." she continued, looking away again. "I know this is being sprung on you at the last minute. You don't have to come. I was just wondering if you would-"
"I'll go." he said firmly, causing her to look back at him. "I'll go, and either stand backstage to support you, or sit in the audience and support you, or even be interviewed if it helps you. If that happens, I'll do my best to not embarrass you."
"You would that for me?" she asked.
"Yeah, I would." he answered firmly, nodding his head. "Anything for you, Empress."
"Then let's go get lunch." she said, starting to walk again.
"Cool." he said, walking next to her. They were silent on the rest of their way out of the school, before Ryuji turned to look at her. "So...they really won't have me do an interview, right?" he asked, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. "I mean, I'll do it if I have to, but...I won't, right?"
"I'm pretty sure you won't have to." she said, smiling at him.
"Good." he said, nodding his head. "I mean, I will, but...I'm probably the last person who should be in front of a TV camera." he said with a laugh.
"Damn television crews." Ryuji muttered to himself.
It was several hours later when they were at the television studio. Ryuji was trying his hardest to remain calm, despite knowing he would soon be on the wrong end of a camera. Despite his wishes, the film crew seemed ecstatic to have him be interviewed alongside Hifumi as well. He had promised Hifumi he would if required, and he'd be damned before he broke a promise to her, so he ended up agreeing.
"And we're live in five! Four! Three! Two!" the production manager yelled, pointing at the host when they finished counting.
"Welcome back." the host said, smiling. "For today's special guest segment, we have Togo Hifumi, the renowned 'Venus of Shogi' and idol of the shogi world. Thank you for being with us today, Togo-san."
"Thank you for having me." Hifumi said, bowing slightly.
"Now, I'm sure everyone watching wants to know the same thing." the host said, pulling out a large card with a picture of them. Ryuji saw it was the picture printed in the tabloids, of Hifumi and him kissing on Christmas Eve. "Togo-san, is this a picture of you? Are you in a relationship with someone?"
"Yes." Hifumi said, nodding slightly. "That picture was taken on Christmas Eve. That person is my boyfriend of almost one year now." she continued, getting the audience to start whispering.
"You two have been together for almost a year?" the host asked, sounding shocked.
"Yes." Hifumi confirmed. "We met via a mutual friend a few days after Valentine's Day last year. We started dating not long after. We try and be careful to not show too much affection in public, but that night was an exception. We never saw a paparazzi and did not know of it until the following morning."
"Now, I'm sure our viewers would like to know more about this mystery-man who has stolen the heart of the Togo-san." the host said, looking at the camera as Ryuji winced slightly at the woman's wording. "Luckily for us, he has agreed to say a few words." she said, looking toward him. He felt one of the production people pat him on the back and he started walking forward. He walked into the sight of the camera and tried not to wince as he made his way toward Hifumi. He nodded to the host and sat down next to Hifumi, taking her hand discreetly in his.
"Thank you for joining us today." the host said.
"Thank you for having me." he replied, bowing slightly as well.
"Now, we have heard from Togo-san that you two met via a mutual friend." the host said. "What drew you toward her?"
"When we met, we were simply joking around." he said, trying to be careful about what he said. "It ended up with her teaching me to play shogi. One night after a lesson, I asked if she wanted to get dinner. The next time we had a lesson, I asked her out. I love her dedication, how she strives to be the best in the field of shogi. I love the way she'll look down at a board while planning out her move ten moves from now. She doesn't look at me and see some no-good punk, but instead someone who was 'rough around the edges' as our friends put it."
"I'm actually surprised you said nothing about her beauty."
"I mean...that kinda goes without saying." Ryuji said, getting a chuckle from the audience.
"What was it you said to Ann?" Hifumi asked playfully. "That your eyes were drawn to my beautiful radiance that shone like a light in the darkness?"
"Hifumi!" he yelled, flushing as the audience laughed.
"Is it true?" the host asked, smiling at him.
"I mean...well...yeah." he said, squeezing Hifumi's hand.
"Well, with that, we're out of time for the day." the host said, looking toward the camera dedicated for her. "Please tune in next time."
"And we're out!" the production manager yelled. The three stood up and Hifumi and Ryuji shook hands with the host. They made their way toward the backstage when their phones both buzzed. Ryuji hung his head, knowing exactly what it would be. Still, it did little to stop him from pulling his phone out with Hifumi and reading what they had to say.
ORACLE: OMG Ryuji that was so funny!
ORACLE: TOPKEK
NOIR: I for one thought it was sweet.
QUEEN: I also have to admit, it was pretty touching, Ryuji.
JOKER: Mona: Skull really has matured.
JOKER: Also, thank you for not revealing my location.
JOKER: Please wait until the place is mine before you do that.
SPIRIT: I thought it was pretty nice that you did that also, Ryuji.
SPIRIT: I wonder what the reaction will be when I have to do that for Ann?
ORACLE: I'll just dox anyone who complains about it.
NOIR: That sounds like fun! Can I join?
ORACLE: Of course you can!
JOKER: Sae: Please stop talking about breaking the law when I can see it.
QUEEN: Same.
ORACLE: Hence why we told you not to add her to the group-chat.
ORACLE: Maybe we should make sure you also don't show her your phone when she's with you.
JOKER: I suppose I could do that.
Ryuji simply sighed and put his phone back into his pocket. He looked over at Hifumi, enjoying the amused look on her face. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, causing her to flush.
"I really love you, Hifumi." he said, causing her blush to grow and her smile to widen.
"I love you as well, my lover knight." she replied back, causing him to smile as well.