The floodlights did little to make the decrepit building Hajime Hinata found himself wandering in any more inviting. The lights were scattered around what was an automobile factory at one point. Curiosity was getting the better of Hajime as he wondered how long the factory had been shut down. A quick look around the dialect walls and broken windows lightly powdered with snow told a story that may long predate his.
Hajime volunteered himself to keep an eye on the exits while Junko took her pictures. Sketchy as this place may be, Hajime was the one who got permission to be here at all. The marked security car outside would likely be enough to deter any creep that could stumble upon them. Not that the pessimist in Hajime would allow him to lower his guard.
Hollow ruins of an old factory manages to not even top the list of weirdest spots Junko Enoshima's had a photoshoot in the models illustrious and chaotic career. That honor still goes to the slaughterhouse on the outskirts of the city. Hajime chuckled to himself as he vividly recalled how pissed his client was when that posh fashion magazine didn't even run anything off that shoot.
"I did NOT wear a fucking pig carcass for nothing!" The echo of Junko's whining to the editor rang in Hajime's ears. Junko had the last laugh, "accidentally" leaking the disturbed vanity photos online. Of course it was Hajime who had to bribe that photographer so Junko could get her manicured hands on the pictures in the first place.
Sensing no other forms of life around him, Hajime could confirm that the coast was, in fact, clear. Hajime quickly turned around and hurried his way back to the others. Walking down the decrepit corridor, a loose winter chill crept down Hajime's back. The man's teeth clattered as he held his jacket tighter to his body. Nagito did warn him about grabbing his winter jacket.
Hajime could deal with an unusual photoshoot, they make for good future stories. One could make the argument that Enoshima alone can turn any shoot into an unusual and viral oddity. Hajime could even deal with the less than friendly atmosphere and dipping temperatures that haunt this shoot. What Hajime can't deal with is skipping an important meeting for this shit. He knew that Junko knew tonight was the night of Parent-Teacher conferences at their kids school and she still pushed this photo op to the same time.
Reaching the depleted atrium, Hajime looked over towards the green screen set up in the middle of the room. Lord knows what the background will actually look like once post production does it job. He wasn't even sure why a screen was necessary in the first place. Junko and the other models were clad in outfits more appropriate for a fancy gala than urban exploration. Junko's red dress and light blue jacket clashed with the black work boots she found herself wearing. Hajime didn't envy the other models in their high heels stepping over broken glass.
Annoyed as he was, Hajime soon composed himself with a heavy inhale of cold, dusty air. He thought back to his conversation with his partners in bed last night.
"I think maintaining consistent one-on-one time with Shuichi is important." Chiaki smiled as she kept her focus on her PSP. "It's been too long since I've been able to spend real time with him."
"You mean two weeks ago?" Nagito chuckled.
"Well you and Hajime have had him for the last few weekends, it's only fair if I have a turn." Chiaki half heartedly pouted.
Despite Hajime's lingering anxieties, he trusted Nagito when he insisted he could handle the meeting with Yukizome himself.
"You and Chiaki went to the first meeting anyway." Nagito assured his partners. "Besides, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't itching to talk to Ms. Yukizome myself."
Hajime was appreciative of his partners. He did expect Nagito to throw more of a fit for the last second change of plans. Hajime just hopes his boyfriend isn't blaming his luck on that inconvenience. Enoshima sure as hell isn't a four leaf clover or severed rabbit foot, Hajime will give Nagito that much. She's more like a sponge of happiness. Hinata grinned as he pictured a leech with two large blonde pigtails.
"What's so funny?" Enoshima pouted as she approached her manager. Hajime quickly wiped his smile off his face, deciding to play nice.
"Just remembering a joke Chiaki told me earlier." Hajime lied.
Junko rolled her eyes. "Was it really a joke or a lame ass reference you only pretend to understand?"
"Like you understand any of Chiaki's references." Hajime scoffed.
"Tct you got me there. I was too busy having friends in high school to play any games." Junko shrugged.
"Would you actually call any of those people friends?" Hajime raised an eyebrow.
"Hmph." Junko cried, folding her arms.
Hajime sighed. At least he dropped the first subject. "Did we really need to do this shoot tonight?"
"Duhhhh." Junko spat. " The photographer goes back to Sweden tomorrow and he's already pissy that I canceled yesterday. We're lucky he's around for another day as it is."
"I can't imagine why." Hajime huffed. "And just why did I have to be here tonight? This isn't even the most dangerous area you've shot at."
Enoshima smiled as she pulled a box of slim cigarettes from her purse. "I like having a friend around for my shoots, it keeps me sane. Besides, Mukuro couldn't make it tonight."
"Because she's attending her daughter's teacher conference." Hinata whined.
"Correct! And you know what you have that she doesn't?" Junko pressed her finger lightly onto Hajime's chest.
"What would that be?" Hajime played along.
"You have not one other person who can go to that snooze fest but two, Hajime." Junko frowned. "I think I can be forgiven for assuming it wouldn't be a big deal, Mister Polyamorous."
"Well, just because you don't care about teacher meetings doesn't mean I don't." Hajime scolded.
"And who's to say I don't care?" Junko gasped in offense.
"The fact that we're here at this living Scooby Doo background and not at Sunny Hills with our families." Hajime shrugged.
Junko stared at Hajime blankly. Hajime stared back with a smug smile forming on his lips. The two stood like statues for 20 tense seconds before the model conceded, grabbing her cell phone from her purse.
"I'm going to call Ryota and see how my baby girl's doing at her new school." Junko announced as she walked away.
"You go do that." Hajime sighed. As much as he denies it, Hajime can never resist the sweet temptation of a good "I told you so." Even if it's landed him in the doghouse plenty of times before.
"For the record…" Junko paused, turning to face Hajime with a snarl on her lips. "I offered to go to Tsumugi's meeting tonight but Ryota was pretty fucking insistent that he handle it." Junko growled. "I'm going to the next one in the spring."
"See, we like to call that a "good decision" where I'm from." Hajime half joked.
Junko plastered a sick, if slightly wounded grin. "Maybe so, but I give more a shit about my daughter than you give me credit for. So please Hajime, do me a favor and shut the fuck up."
Hajime sighed. He had no energy to fight right now. "I'm sorry, I should give you more credit." He admitted.
"It's whatever. Lemme make this call so we can finish up and get the hell out of here." Junko ordered. "I'm sure we're interrupting plenty of drug deals the longer we stay here."
Before Hajime could figure out the sincerity of Junko's words, the model walked off into the hallway. Perhaps he was too rough on the woman. Junko may have the approachability of a rattlesnake but she too has a heart. A cracked, shriveled up heart but a heart nevertheless.
Hajime can't help but feel he's just furthering his clients point.
Bzzzz bzzzz bzzzz
Hinata's cell phone buzzed in his coat pocket, the brunette fishing the phone out and answering. It looks like Nagito finally got out of the meeting.
"Nagito? Did everything go okay?" Hajime asked. His partner's nervous chuckle did little to soothe Hajime's concern.
"The meeting with Yukizome went well. Shuichi has been doing great in his classes." Nagito carefully revealed. "I actually finished an hour ago. I ran into Fuyuhiko and Peko and they invited me over to their bakery."
"Oh, I see." Hajime exhaled. "Then what's wrong?"
From his end of the call, Hajime could hear Nagito close a door behind him. Nagito took a deep breath before speaking.
"It has to do with Shuichi's father." Nagito revealed.
The metaphorical cogs in Hajime's brain began accelerating as he tried to come up with a reason for Nagito's anxiety. What would Fuyuhiko and Peko have to do with Shuichi's father?
A grim realization soon dawned on Hajime Hinata, who nearly dropped his phone onto the cold floor below him. His fears were only confirmed by Nagito.