A shining, backless halter black dress that exposed much of her thighs. Long black hair that was styled with waves at the tips. Her fake eyeglasses abandoned. Just the right amount of makeup. From her purse, the lipstick, Rouge, that Seiji once gave her and she didn't have the heart to throw away, was applied on her lips. Then, heels to complete the look.
Mika emerged out of the room with her new look-no, it was her real look. She'd been like this during her days in Teiko before the unfortunate events began.
As she walked down the halls, the students' eyes were again on her, obviously now shocked by her transformation.
Today was the day for the fashion show and also the day of the opening of Fuyu's family's sponsored exhibit. Today, too, was the day Mika would revert back to her abandoned style. So today was extra special.
She entered the court. As if on cue, at the same time, the people there snapped their heads in her direction. Including Seiji. He was dressed in a brown suit with a red tie. He stopped giving instructions to a group of Rakuzan members and walked toward her.
Click. Click. Click.
Her heels clicked loudly as she approached the boy. Seiji didn't say a word, just stopped in front of her, took her hand, and kissed it.
They proceeded to prepare for the fashion show.
The crowd poured into the wide court, each taking a seat on the white monoblock chairs lined in front of the wooden stage made by the Rakuzan varsity players.
Music blared from the speakers. It was the start of the show. A group of children appeared on stage and danced to Yuna's song 'Limitless'. Then, the models began their catwalk. One by one the kids walked cutely on the stage, including a number of elderly. The theme of their outfits was 'Burst of Colors.' Madam Blanc made an excellent job with the clothes, jackets, blazers, and the like. The crowd roared and cheered. In between performances, Koganei would announce how to adopt a child and how to give donations to Haven.
Mika smiled and hugged herself as she watched the kids and elderly on stage. Seiji, beside her, placed one arm around her shoulders and pulled her near him. Mika let him, enjoying his warmth and savoring his scent.
When the fashion show ended, Koganei thanked everyone who watched and who helped the show. The students all went on stage and bowed to the audience. Some of those who watched approached them to foster a child and/or to donate. Mika was so happy.
But after that program was the event she feared. She needed to face Seiji's father at the exhibit.
The boy had offered her a ride and they both sat at the back of the black Mercedes-Benz of the Akashi family. Mika's hands were clammy as she fidgeted with her fingers, nervous and uneasy. With all her might, she steadied the fast beating of her heart. She knew that meeting Akashi Masaomi was a different kind of challenge. For a moment, she thought that maybe she should've toned down her dress. She was so sparkly and it revealed too much skin. Maybe Seiji's father was the conservative type. However, she also felt that it was just right that she be herself for their first meeting.
A hand clasped her trembling fingers. "It'll be alright," Seiji said softly.
They got out of the car and were welcomed by the paparazzi. There were flashes everywhere. Holding hands, Seiji and she walked the carpet and went inside where an usherette led them to the hallway where the opening would be held.
Mika searched the crowd and found Juliette, dressed in a white blazer and white pants. Her bright blue eyes looking at an ancient painting of Greek gods and goddesses. "Yet!" She called her, still holding hands with the red-haired boy.
The other girl heard her and faced her.
Mika and Seiji walked toward the teen. Mika told her boyfriend, "You can leave me now, I'll be okay with Juliette."
"Are you sure?" he wanted to know.
The girl smiled and nodded so Seiji kissed her on the cheek and walked toward a group of men to start socializing.
"He doesn't look so scary," Juliette remarked.
"He isn't!" Mika defended. "At least not to me."
The other girl chuckled. "Of course. He likes you. Rumors say he's a tyrant. Much like his father."
"You seen him?"
"The father?" Juliette pointed to her left and Mika saw a middle-aged man in a black suit and tie talking to his colleagues. He had brown hair and the same eyes as Seiji. They looked alike and exuded the same cold aura she noticed the boy had with other people. "He'd lay off workers in a jiffy and eat up smaller companies to enlarge his business. I hate him. Just look at what she did to mom." Mika was almost sure the other girl wanted to give the man the middle finger. "But, well, that business was set to be doomed anyway. Mother should've closed it sooner. Too much bad blood there, if you would ask me. Her current location's the best. By the way, how was the fashion show?"
"Perfect. We have a few inquiries for adoption and many pledged for donations."
"Mi-ka-chan!" The sing-song voice was followed by a tight hug from Fuyu. She wounded her arms around Mika's body. The girl was wearing a black yukata with violet and pink floral patterns. "You look so beautiful tonight!"
"You look beautiful, too, Fuyu," Mika said with all honesty.
"Who is your friend here-" She gasped so loud Mika was sure it was heard by the crowd. Immediately, Fuyu whispered to her. "Oh my gosh, she's so my type! Look at her short platinum blonde hair, so sexy! Her eyes are like the deepest ocean. And, my gosh, the way she carries herself. White blazer with no blouse or shirt inside! Is she available? Is she okay with girls?"
"I'm not su-"
Fuyu pushed her way from the scene. "Go ahead, Mika-chan, and socialize all you want. You can leave your friend with me."
"But you said to bring a friend because Seiji and you will be busy-"
"Now, I'm not. So go ahead, don't be shy. Explore to your heart's content." She was actually shooing her away. Fuyu boldly tugged on Juliette's sleeve and told Juliette they should tour the hall together.
And that was how Mika ended up alone.
The program started with a couple of speeches followed by cultural performances-some songs and dances. Then, finally, the ribbon-cutting ceremony. After that, the people explored the paintings inside the room where food and refreshments were also available.
Mika took a plate and sampled some of them.
Stomach full, she looked at the pieces of art hung on the wall with explanations on their sides. A painting of a single flower caught her attention and she looked closely at it. It was a red flower with a tall green stalk.
"Amaryllis. A flower that symbolizes self-confidence and pride. You've got excellent eyes," said a voice behind her.
"Actually I just thought I saw it somewhere before…" She looked at the source of the voice and almost dropped the glass of iced tea in her hand. Akashi Masaomi was standing a foot away from her and staring her down. "Akashi-san."
"Risa Mikaela. I've heard so much about you. But not from my son, Seijuro, no. He wouldn't talk to me about you or anything he held dear. Maybe he is afraid I might take them away." Didn't he try already? Was he really the one who suddenly transferred Mika's parents to Cove? "Let me be frank with you. Seijuro already has a fiance and the two of them will be married right after high school. I hope you don't get in their way."
Mika wanted so much to shout out loud how he was the one getting in Seiji and her way. That he shouldn't force two people dear to each other apart. That he was being unfair and plain heartless. However, Mika held her ground and searched her heart as to what she could say to the older man. But she couldn't think of anything else rather than, "I love him."
The girl didn't back down as the man stared deep into her eyes, like he was sizing up her soul-her worth.
"Mika-san." Seiji was immediately at her side. He looked at Akashi Masaomi. "Father, I should've told you I'll introduce Mika-san to you."
"No need, Seijuro. I already know much about her."
Mika felt Seiji tense but he was smiling warmly when he told her, "You must accompany Fuyu and Juliette, Mika-san. I'm going to talk with my father."
The girl nodded and went back to the crowd.
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"Do you know why I want you to marry Shimizu's heir?" Masaomi asked the moment Mika-san was earshot away from them.
"For the good of our company," Seijuro answered.
The man lowered his voice so only Seijuro could hear. "Of course, but that's not all. Can't you see? Our company is getting weaker. We need Shimizu Corp and only a marriage of our heirs would guarantee our company's future success. Everything is fine now but the moment it is your turn to lead-"
"I will manage." The boy cut off his father's words. Not even he could come between him and Mika-san.
Masaomi grunted in disapproval. "I'll be honest, Seijuro. I do not like Risa Mikaela. She's far from the Yamato Nadeshiko I've always wanted you to be with. To carry our lineage and bring you an Akashi heir."
"You were there earlier. At Shelter's fashion show." The boy maneuvered their conversation. When his father did not reply, he added, "I saw you there. You now have proof of her potential. She's a good leader and a strong woman." He paused for a moment then continued, "She's a good influence to me."
The man took a sip from the glass of wine in his hand. "You are still young, Seijuro. Don't limit yourself to what you only see now. You might think you love Risa Mikaela now but what about tomorrow? The other day? The other month? After years?"
To which Seijuro replied, "It's fine. I'm willing to risk it." Wasn't he the one wanting Seijuro to limit his choices for marriage?
The boy waved at someone from the crowd and gestured for them to come close. A couple of journalists approached them.
"Akashi-san, I'm Haneda and this is Murata." They handed the older Akashi their business cards. "We are from The Monitor. We were informed that a student organization named Shelter performed a series of outreach programs during the basketball training camp. We attended earlier and saw it was a great success. The camp was sponsored by the Akashi Group, right? And Akashi Seijuro-kun was an active player in the program. Could we make an article in our paper about the outreach? I'm sure many would love it!" The thin woman in a gray suit said.
The other woman added, "We are also planning on interviewing their head, Risa Mikaela. I'm sure there are others who want to have an exclusive with the Akashi Group and Shelter so it would be really nice of you to let us be the first."
Masaomi's eyebrows shot upward. He said, "Of course," but he was looking at his son.
The other journalists almost said the same. They wanted interviews and exclusives with Mika-san and the Akashi Group. When they were all done with what they wanted to say, the journalists left them with a smile.
Seijuro reached from his pocket and handed a couple more business cards to his father. "Here are some of the companies who are interested in sponsoring Shelter. You'll be surprised some of them are rather big. Our company could be future partners with them. We could connect with them through first jointly sponsoring Shelter."
"Everybody's thinking that your participation in Shelter's works means Akashi Group's involvement in its programs."
"And they were all a success."
Seijuro's father exhaled. He closed his eyes. "You seem to be serious about her."
"Yes, father." He looked into his eyes, "I am."
A long pause. "Then it's fine."
Though wanting to hear those words, Seijuro was startled as they reached his ears. What? It was fine? "Father, do you mean…"
"Yes," he looked at him. "But don't marry her yet. At least give it time."
Seijuro couldn't believe that convincing his father would be so easy… "What changed your mind?" He wanted to know. "Was it the journalists? The PR?"
"A part, it is. But mostly, it's in the eyes. They reminded me of the past."
"Did Mika-san's eyes remind you of mother's?"
His father shook his head and answered no. "Your eyes. They reminded me of my eyes when I was fighting for your mother." Seijuro remembered that his father was originally her aunt's fiance, but his father and his mother fell in love with each other. The two faced many obstacles but ended up marrying and having a family together. Suddenly, the background music seemed too loud. It was playing Pachelbel's Canon in D, the piece he played for Mika-san. Akashi Masaomi looked older and wearier than he usually did. Was he missing his wife, Seijuro's dear mother? He waved his son away. "Do what you want," he said. "Just take responsibility for your actions."
"Yes, father." Seijuro bowed and went toward Mika-san.
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"Were you so touched with Seijuro-bocchama's action that you let him do what he wants despite the perceived consequences?" Tanaka asked the moment Seijuro-bocchama was gone. "Or did you think nothing could sway the young master?"
"He's an Akashi. He is smart as well as stubborn." Masaomi-sama got a glass of red wine from the passing waiter and balanced the glass in his hands. "What I said earlier was true but if one of them becomes fickle then I don't even have to come in their way. They'll break their relationship on their own. I'll wait and see where the two young ones are heading. However, if I ever sense that the company could face consequences in response to their actions, I will do everything in my power to force Seijuro away from the Risa girl." But there was no more venom nor hate in his voice.
"I see," the butler replied, seeing Masaomi-sama momentarily touch the pendant containing a picture of Shiori-sama. Tanaka just closed his eyes.
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His heart full, Seijuro wanted to share the good news with Mika-san immediately. He saw her having fun while talking with Juliette and Fuyu. She was so beautiful and tantalizing. Seijuro spotted a bouquet of white roses displayed at the side of the hall. He went to it and picked one flower.
As he strode his way toward his love, his eye seemed to show him a future: an older Mika-san was waving at him to join her with her friends. On her left ring finger was a gold ring the same as that on Seijuro's left ring finger. They were happily married. The image was fleeting but it was etched in his heart. He knew it would come true.
Seijuro handed the white rose to Mika-san, together with his everything.
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Rouge's theme song:
Ruin My Life by Zolita
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Epilogue:
The training camp ended and Mika wanted to say peacefully but there was one thing that bothered her. Kuroko had been ignoring her and Seiji. Though he had angered her with what he had done she still considered him a friend.
Only on the last day of the camp when Seirin was getting into their bus, Seiji helping Mika with her bags, did he finally approach and talk to them. "We can do Shelter's work together again during the Winter Cup," he said suddenly and out of the blue.
Momoi was clutching his arm and smiling widely.
"O-okay," Mika replied.
"Tetsu-kun won't be riding with you back to Tokyo, Mi-chan. He'll be riding with me." One of Momoi's hands touched her blushing cheek. "We're dating now, you see."
The Seirin members were surprised, including Mika. "That's good then."
"It is," Kuroko said. But the pale boy's eyes still lingered too long on Mika as he and Momoi went away.
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A/N: This is the end of Rouge. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this fic! Read more about Akashi and Mika in the next stories of the Glow Up series! And, yes, THE NEXT LONG STORY WILL BE ABOUT KUROKO. But! Spoiler alert! He will NOT be partnered with Momoi. I'm so sorry! It will be a Kuroko x OC fic. Momoi's love story will be a side story, so she'll be partnered with someone else too. Before uploading the Kuroko fic, I'll be uploading a short/one-shot Kise x Kasamatsu fan fiction sometime in March. I hope you can read it too.
"Rouge" is the third story of my Glow Up series set in the world of Kuroko no Basuke which includes different ships and original characters.
**Glow Up Series:
Story 1 - Blush (Akashi Seijuro x OC)
Story 2 - Perfume (Midorima Shintaro x Takao Kazunari)
Story 3 - Rouge (Akashi Seijuro x OC)**
Again, thank you very much! m(_ _)m