Ultimate Amiss VIII

He clicks on another news article from the website. Bold letters at the top with some sort of sparkle animation announced that it was called, One Stop Gyaru.

Hajime settles back in his chair though after just briefly scanning the article. It's the sixth one he's found just today that makes no mention of him. Even though it had barely been two weeks since the photo of kissing him had begun circulating around the web it had been forgotten rather quickly.

Okay, that wasn't quite right. The photo itself hadn't been forgotten, just him. It's like he wasn't even in it, which ordinarily he would be happy about, but... there had been no follow up to it. He thought - maybe - if Junko had kissed him and with the image having gone viral in a sense she would have to comment on it sooner or later, but she hadn't. There was no answer to the question of 'who the lucky guy was.' Junko never said a word after it had gotten out and no one asked her in any of her recent interviews either.

It didn't seem normal to him. Didn't the media usually jump on something like this? Hosts from talk shows would tease an ordinary person if they just went up and essentially 'kissed some random guy.' Right? Or was he thinking about it too much? He had to be. He hoped he was.

Shouldn't Junko have mentioned him by now if...

Hajime let out a deep sigh, clicking away from the article to bring up another. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. He wanted to believe that when someone kissed you they liked you, but it's not like he had any experience with this sort of thing. But that was how it usually went, right? Or was he just talking to himself in circles at this point?

The latest article that now took up most of his computer screen announced - rather loudly - not to lose hope if you're not the most handsome person on earth. That even models - Junko - and other celebrities did date people that were average - lies. And one of the pictures to 'illustrate this oh so mesmerizing fact' was of him and Junko.

He stared at it for a second, wondering why he couldn't just reach into the computer and tear up the evidence of their kiss to shreds.

It's not like it had meant anything. If it had she would have said something, either to him or the media, but he hadn't heard from her since going to that party. Hell, he had hardly even heard anything about the party on the news.

The fact that he had been there certainly wasn't mentioned. It would have given the media plenty of more fuel to go at Junko for kissing 'some random guy on the street.' But it was even more silent than that photo of him and her. There wasn't a single peep about his outburst at the party when that man had made that comment - insinuating that he was only with Junko to move up in the world, to use her and then throw her away like a used tissue or some other filthy thing. The fact that he had hit him - which surely left a bruise if nothing else - wasn't in a single article that attempted to cover the events of the party.

Attempted because it didn't even get an article, just a paragraph about the new rising star, Junko. Always just saying that it was to celebrate her big sudden break into the industry; then nothing. That was it.

The only evidence he could find that he hadn't just dreamed that night was the news concerning that man, which was downplayed so much hardly anyone had noted it.

Hajime closed out of two of the tabs, bringing up the third one instead. His eyes scanned over this article for a couple minutes before he gave up trying to find any news about him in it as well. It appeared he had become the ghost of the ether webs. Forgotten from one picture of a new model sensation and never even spoken of in another article.

Not that he cared. Not exactly, anyway. It just seemed so strange to him. Perhaps Junko was just trying to keep him out of the mess of the media? Could that be it? Or was he stretching reality a bit too far? There's no way she could keep them from asking whatever questions they wanted. Well, maybe her manager had seen the photo and wanted to shove it as quickly into the past as possible as Junko rose to the top. It was the only thing that made sense to him anyway, and it would fit with the bitch of a manager as well. She was only concerned about money and if she thought the exposure of that photo with Junko and Hajime would hurt Junko's popularity or anything of course she would want to forget about it as quickly as possible. Which meant making it be forgotten as quickly as possible.

Managers were the ones that told tv producers and such what questions they weren't allowed to ask, right? Yes, maybe Junko had just- No. He had to stop this; getting his hopes up for something he couldn't be sure of what just stupid.

He knew it was, but he couldn't stop himself from reaching toward that sparkly light of hope. Maybe he should just cut off his metaphorical dream hand while he was at it.

Hajime resisted the urge to rest his head on the keyboard and scrolled down the article, reading it from top to bottom once again.

The man from that party had not only been banned from the studio Junko worked at, but has his VIP card taken away as well, and then there was the restraining order. Not for the whole studio, but Junko herself. The man had to stay approximately five hundred feet away from Junko at all times. Though, it probably allowed for some adjustments considering it wasn't always possible to be exact about those sort of things.

So it didn't really leave anything to the imagination. There was no need for him to keep grasping at straws here. He had clearly been used to get this man away from Junko, so all of this could go into motion.

The fact that the reasons for all of this were glossed over with rumors was just more evidence of that fact. It's not like security had jumped to the defense of the man, he wasn't even sure security had even been in the room, or if there were even any surveillance cameras in there in the first place. It seemed highly unlikely with everything he had found about that night so far, all the things he was remembering about it.

Junko's manager certainly hadn't been concerned at the time, just drinking her fruity alcoholic drink with a colorful little umbrella sitting on the edge of the glass. She hadn't seemed to give a care in the world about it actually. Even after witnessing that he had been the first one to throw a punch - though, he guessed one could say he had been goaded into it.

That lady could have called security on him, but she hadn't. Instead letting him and Junko go and walk out of the room. It had only been after he was in some back hall with Junko - the door closed behind him - that he had heard even a hint of security from within the room. Though, he hadn't heard much more than the man cursing at them, telling them to go after 'the kid that did this to my face.'

None of it was normal. The typical thing one expected to happen after such events.

Had the manager requested that Junko bring Hajime to the party for that sole purpose? Create a scene with that specific man so they could have an excuse to do all of that too him? Call it sexual harassment directed at Junko? It would certainly stop him from developing another headache if that was the correct answer.

The more he thought about it the more likely it seemed. He had known that manager for years - Junko had never switched the studio she worked for in her quest - so it stood to reason that she would know he would take any harassment to Junko personally and possibly even dish out some punishment for it.

Just like he had that night.

The possibility only grew with the man being one of Junko's older fans, that would make weird requests of her when it came to photo shoots. Essentially trying to turn the shoot into some perverted fantasy with Junko being the star; as if she was involved in the porn industry instead of the modeling industry.

"Fucking hell."

He wanted to hit that man again for any of her fans that had ever made those kind of requests with a wad of cash in their hands to tip the table in their favor. Not that Junko had ever accepted it, she always flipped the table back in their face. In fact, it's part of why her and the manager use to get into fights. It was only majorily resolved when Junko agreed to take a lower pay check so that the studio got more of the money from her shoots, in other words her manager.

Had there even been a reporter in that room? Probably not if she had really orchestrated the whole thing; and it certainly explained why everyone attending had been asked to hand over their phones and other photography equipment to security before entering the room.

But then what about that kiss? It had nothing to do with the party and what had happened there, right? It couldn't have been part of the plan. Junko could have easily asked him to go to the party with her in the manager had planned it all out. There was no reason for her to kiss him just so he would go. Surely Junko knew that? All she would have had to do was tell him what they had planned for the disgusting creep and he would have gone with it. Not a single complaint would have come from his mouth.

He found himself sighing aloud again. Maybe-

Three quick rasps sounded on the glass to his left and he nearly crashed to the floor from the sudden noise. Hajime steadied the chair beneath him, thankful that it hadn't tipped over when he jerked in his seat like that, it definitely would have sent him to the floor then, likely with the chair landing on top of him to.

Hajime stood up from the chair, sliding it into place and clicking the power to the monitor off before turning to the sliding glass door. He pulled the curtain aside, coming almost face-to-face with Junko who stood on the other side of the door in his backyard.

She gave him a little smile, raising a hand to wave at him behind the glass before jumping back from the door, clearly indicating that he should come outside.

It only took him a moment to unlock the door and slide it open, stepping outside to slide the door closed behind him. Junko had situated herself on top of the outdoor table, one leg raised with just the heel of her foot on the stone.

Well, this was rather convenient. He could just ask her about everything now.

Hajime was almost too aware of that little glimmer of hope again, back in the recesses of his mind. He took a few steps away from the door, closer to her before letting the questions spill from his lips, "Was I just at that party to get rid of your creepy fan? I know he's been banned from the studio, stripped of his VIP status, and you put a restraining order against him. Your manager planned it, didn't she?"

The smile on her face slips for a second. "You're being very serious today. I just came to see how you were doing." He's about to demand that she answers him when Junko continues, "But yes, that was the plan." She rests her cheek against her knee. "I managed to get rid of the other troublemakers originally in the VIP program, but no matter what I did that one wouldn't budge on the issue. He kept harassing me and acting as if it was still the old days when I wasn't well known. It's like the old geezer wanted to strike me down after all my hard work. You know what the media does to people when they have suggestive photos like that. That's why I never did any. I knew I would make it eventually and didn't want anyone black mailing me."

Hajime only gave a small nod after her explanation. It made a lot more sense now that he was able to confirm his theory. Heck, he was glad he had been able to help her in that regard even, but... "You could have told me. You didn't-" he stopped himself just in time from saying the words, need to string me along, almost like it was a date.

Junko didn't seem to notice the exact train of thought he had jumped off right then, though. "My manager suggested that I didn't say anything about it. For authenticity sake, so none of it looked practiced. Even without knowing though, you did a good job." Junko grinned at him, but he was still caught on the phrasing of her words.

Wait. "You... you came up with that plan?"

"Yeah." Junko raised her head from her knee as she held his gaze. "Sorry about not telling you, but it was to get rid of that man. I made sure there was no way you could get in trouble for it. Though, I hadn't actually expected you to punch the guy either." She gave a little laugh, clearly pleased with that particular outcome.

Hajime didn't say anything, not entirely sure what he should say. He supposed it was fine. It didn't matter who had planned it and he could understand not telling him. So he wasn't actively looking for their target and glaring at the man for the duration of the party or anything like that.

Honestly, the only thing that was bothering him now is that she still wasn't bringing it up. They were alone in his backyard - presumably safe from any flashing photography - and she hadn't even mentioned the kiss. It hadn't come up in her plan, but that didn't make him feel any better.

"I found this cafe that the media aren't allowed in. There's a backdoor and everything, we could go to actually catch up this time. No extermination of VIPs planned, promise." He could hear Junko talking, getting down from the table, but... none of it seemed real to him. "What do you say-"

The moment he felt an arm begin to loop from his he pulled away, fast and hard, not even looking at her.

So it really hadn't meant anything to her. He kept thinking it was a possibility, but now he was beginning to wonder if it was part of another plan of hers. To make it to the top even faster, it's certainly the effect that picture had had over the last week when he was no longer mentioned. She was just getting even more popular. He didn't want to believe she would do something like that - to him of all people - but, now it kept buzzing around his mind, bugging him.

How could she talk about going anywhere with him? In the sort of venue you expected to find a couple, but be completely flippant about it? Why did he bother even entertaining the idea that she had kissed him because she liked him?

"Hajime?"

He pushes the apology down his throat at hearing her tone of voice. It's not like he had pulled away hard enough to hurt her, it was far more likely he had just surprised her then. Usually he didn't mind it when she grabbed his arm, elbow, hand... but if none of it meant a damn thing to her; what was the point? "Could you... just leave me alone for a bit?"

"Hm? What's wrong, Hajime?" He can hear her feet tapping against the stone and he turns his head away when she tries to walk into his line of vision. It's just impossible for him right now, he simply can't look at her knowing he has been waiting all this time for her to notice his feelings for her and she brushes it off so easily.

That she would do something like that and not even give an explanation for it. What else is he suppose to think if she won't tell him why she did it? Why did he go along with her every whim?

"You're acting like a spoiled child." He wants to point out that he is a spoiled child. If just to throw some of his own frustration back at her, but he holds his tongue. Even if she doesn't like him, he still doesn't want to hurt her. "You could tell me what's bothering you instead of giving me the silent treatment."

He remained silent. How was he suppose to bring it up? Preferably without revealing his feelings for her, though he felt like they had been obvious for awhile now. Even if he rarely acted on them. He hadn't gone out with anyone in all the years he had known Junko - which was most of his life and completely irrelevant in those earlier years.

"Is it about what happened in front of that shop?"

He blinked. Was she actually talking about what he thought? Hajime raised his gaze to see Junko had sat back on the table and was looking back at him now.

"I saw those girls talking about you, acting all high and mighty with their layers of makeup. It was a bit hard to miss with how loud they were yabbering on."

He glanced away for a moment, not particularly wanting to remember what they had said; that it had all started just because he had spaced out while looking at them. Was she insinuating that she wouldn't have kissed him that day if that wasn't happening when she showed up?

Junko let out a huff, drawing his gaze back to her. "Those sort of people are so annoying. I just thought I would shut them up and that it was the fastest way to get you out of there. I was already running late to the studio to get ready for the party. It was luck that I even found you there."

Of course it was. He really needed to stop getting his hope up when it came to her. She didn't see him in the same light he saw her. She never would. Everything she had just said was proof of that.

Junko looked like she was about to say something else - likely about the cafe, or something else he didn't want to hear from her. He had gotten the message loud and clear, even if she wasn't aware how it was effecting him. Hajime turned away from her with a muttered, "Just leave." Before he reached for the door, sliding it open to close behind him once again, not even waiting to hear or see her response to his words. If she even had one.

He locked the door behind him, pulling the curtain back over the glass as he walked into his house. Junko could just get out of the backyard the same way she had gotten in - likely hopping over the wall. He kept walking until he was in his room, not bothering to close the door before he flopped onto his stomach, staring at the fabric of his sheets for a moment before raising his gaze to the wall.

A photo from some years back hung there. It was of Junko, when she wasn't recognized by the majority of the public yet, when she was still struggling to make it. He had bought it at auction the studio had been holding as a way to support her, seeing as half the money spent would go directly to Junko, the other half to the studio.

He cursed softly under his breath, grabbing a nearby pillow to throw over his head, keeping it in place with his hands so he didn't have to look at her. She only saw him as a friend after all. It's not like she worried about him the same way he worried about her. He wanted to keep being with her, but he had also wanted to be by her side. Not just some person she could run to when she was in trouble, but actually be there for her; and for her to want him to be there.

"Ah." A strangled cry fell from his lips. How stupid could he possibly be? She was never going to love him. Hajime didn't bother to keep the next scream in his throat, continuing to scream into the sheets until his throat felt raw, his jaw aching; until he couldn't scream anymore. Until all he could feel was the burning in his eyes, the moisture staining his cheeks as he cried.