December 20th
3 Hours ago
It was 10 a.m when Sumika Shuhei clocked into work, taking his time to get to his office but when he entered the Obsidian Animation department, he was faced with chaos as his colleagues rushed around and he stood there half awake and confused. He remembered hearing yelling, sobs and groans of frustration. The air filled with a heavy gloom, even though it was the holiday season.
It wasn't long until his co-worker and friend, Takeuchi Soma, throws a flash drive at him, demanding that he takes it to Glassvale Entertainment immediately.
"This is stored with the last frames for Brotherhood Consequence's holiday episode and Takeo will kill us if we don't get it to him soon!" He yells and Shuhei sighs, unfazed and tired. "Do NOT lose this! There's over fifteen-hundred frames on this and we've already incorporated the in-betweening animations."
"Yeah yeah, I got you, I'll head out...even though I just got here." Shuhei takes the flash drive and heads out slowly, hearing the department cheer and sigh with relief.
It's been almost two months since Shuhei joined the Iridescent Clan, or better known as Iris, or Iris Corporation, and a year being employed at Rush Studios. He was convinced to join by Soma and another guy name Fujita Toshiro, the only two guys who bothered to talk and tease him at work, and occasionally, a girl name Shirakura Kanae, who was interning at the studio and often brings the crew donuts for breakfast.
Shuhei headed back to the hallway, but he nearly runs into the Iridescent King, Takahiro Shizuka, and three other girls he recognized as Tsukina, Ayana, and Nanako. The four were discussing about a secret Santa game and Shizuka was asking if the trio were participating after explaining that she was looking for clansmen who haven;t replied about the game yet.
He remembered about a party happening in a few days as he slowly backed away without them noticing him, but he wasn't too interested in it. He was also reminded that he didn't tell anyone of his decision and wondered if Shizuka would end up asking him about it too...but he thought it didn't matter since she probably wouldn't remember an anti-social person like him, after all, he hasn't spoken to the King since the day he received the Iridescent Aura; however, from that time until now, he discovered he had this ability to manipulate his Aura, hardening it and making a shield or twisting it into a weapon. It was remarkable...and terrifying.
He glances around the corner to see if the women were still around, which they were, and he eyes Shizuka. Recalling that she was a year younger than him and he thought she was very strange with her happy-go-lucky personality, and he kind of hated it, not entirely sure why though, but at least she was nice.
He decides to take another route to the elevators, heading to the ground floor and requesting to borrow one of the company cars since it was cold outside. He had taken a bullet train from Iris Headquarters to the studio and he didn't feel like taking it again in this kind of weather, plus it would save him a bit of money.
After receiving the keys and signing a sheet of the time he left the building, he heads to the parking lot, clicking the unlock button on the key fob to find the vehicle matched to it. An apricot colored car blinking nearby and he climbs inside, turning on the engine and cranking the heater up high, shivering against the cold and rubbing his hands together.
Once the car warms up he pulls out and heads to Glassvale Entertainment. On the road, he hits all green lights and makes it to the company in almost ten minutes and he felt pretty lucky at the moment, normally it would have taken him longer. He parks as close as he could get to the building and steps out, rushing in to be greeted by Midorikawa Kotaro, the front desk attendant for the day.
"Good morning, Sumika-kun." He says.
"G-Good morning, Midorikawa-san." Shuhei says as he leans against the counter. "I'm here on delivery service and I have the last thousand frames for the Bloomingtide department."
"Ah, I'm gonna warn you that Takeo-san will be at your throat when you see him today. He's a bit grumpy. Probably missed his shot of coffee." Kotaro jokes but Shuhei was unfazed as he hands him a clipboard to sign in, suddenly noticing that ground floor was more crowded than usual today.
"Something going on right now?" Shuhei asks, handing the clipboard back to Kotaro.
"Ah, models contracted with Glassvale are coming in for a holiday photoshoot as a memento. Preeetty exciting." Kotaro chuckles but Shuhei didn't seem interested and scratches the back of his head, feeling uneasy.
"Alright, go on ahead now. I'll see you when you get back."
"Thanks."
Shuhei heads towards the elevator, pressing the button to call for it and shoves his hands into the pocket of his jeans. He yawns and hears the elevator opening, stepping aside as a few people step out and he slips in afterwards. He hits the button to the fourth floor where the Bloomingtide department resides. The doors begin closing until he hears someone shouting to hold it open and he was quick to catch it as they open back up.
A guy runs in, catching his breath as Shuhei steps back to let him press the button to his floor.
"Thanks a lot." He speaks and Shuhei looks at him, his eyes widening as he recognizes the guy. He soon turns to him as well, slightly stunned but gives a devilish grin. "Ho~ if it isn't Shu."
Shuhei feels his eyebrow twitch and a feeling of disgust grows inside his stomach with the mockery.
"Heeh, it's Hazuki Ryu." He finally croaks out, acting normal and swallowing his pride while Ryu sneers.
He was the same height as Shuhei, with wild light brown hair and aqua colored eyes. He was 18 and attended Ashinaka High school, which is currently closed down, but that didn't explain why the kid was at Glassvale.
He was wearing a dark brown suit jacket with a faded light gray plaid texture on it. Underneath he wore a creamy colored knit vest with maroon and dark brown horizontal zigzags over a light blue suit jacket and a burgundy suit tie with snowflakes on it. He wore black jeans and light brown ankle high boots.
It was taking Shuhei all his strength to hold himself from grabbing the kid and beating him down at this moment. After all, the two had a very long history.
Ryu used to date Shuhei's little sister, Inaba, and he turned her life into a nightmare by physically and emotionally abusing her, causing Shuhei to develop this intense hatred towards him, hoping for the day he would crush him to end her never ending pain. He was always responsible for her, since their parents were working overseas all the time, and the two were close.
At first, Shuhei was alright with the kid and hoped his sister would be happy, but things escalated quickly when he found Inaba coming home with bruises and at night he would hear her sobbing after a long day of hiding her suffering with smiles.
Eventually, he was able to convince her to call of their relationship and it took a long, long time. It was just last week when it all ended...or so he thought.
The guy was obsessed with his sister, and not in a good way. He hasn't left her alone, threatening her, stalking her, texting and calling every hour...and Shuhei was nearly at his limit, prepared to file a lawsuit..or kick his ass.
The latter seemed more satisfying to Shuhei.
Although Ryu appeared to be a cool and charming guy, underneath his mask, he was actually conceited, sadistic, and in Shuhei's opinion, psychotic.
Even though he loathed Ryu, he put up this front towards the kid so he doesn't have any idea that he was despised, knowing that the time and day would come when Shuhei could destroy him, since he had the Iridescent Aura on his side.
"You're not gonna ask how I've been or why I'm here?" Ryu asks and he wanted to groan in pain, but he faces him head on.
"Ah, my bad. I'm still trying to wake up." Shuhei lies, keeping it cool.
"You're too slow so I'll just tell you." Ryu sounded irritated and Shuhei had to bite his tongue from saying something rude. "You probably didn't hear. I've been contracted with Glassvale Entertainment as a model for a while now, so we might work together at some point. Sounds fun doesn't it?" He grins and Shuhei was a bit surprised. He didn't know the kid was scouted as a model...and it made him a bit uncomfortable too.
"Hmph, but do you think you can keep up with how things roll here?" Shuhei provokes and Ryu snickers, the elevator stopping at his floor.
"Of course, I'll prove it to you...so I look forward to working with you sometime." He steps out of the elevator, giving Shuhei a child-like grin and it took all of his strength from punching in his face. "Oh, and one more thing," He stops and holds the elevator doors open and Shuhei lifts an eyebrow. "There's something I need to talk to you about, so don't head out of the building until after my photoshoot."
"You'll have to tell me later since I'm working right now. Sorry kid." Shuhei answers, although he was curious to what Ryu was hiding and he watches him release his hands from the elevator doors, a grin on his face still.
"I see." He says as the doors shut.
Shuhei lets out a sigh of relief, surprised that he was able to contain his composure, and leans against the elevator wall, frowning.
He was finally on his floor and rushes down the hall to the Bloomingtide department and prepares for a storm.
He spent nearly an hour reviewing the flash drive with Wakaba Takeo, head of the Brotherhood Consequence project. He was a youthful middle aged man, but strict with projects and deadlines. He was normally dressed in a suit and tie, but today, he really did miss his shot of coffee like Kotaro said, since he was just wearing a royal blue dress shirt and black pants and his hair was a bit wild.
After a confirmation with the frames, Shuhei was able to leave, feeling mentally exhausted and thinking about grabbing some coffee when he got back to the studio. He meets up with Kotaro again at he front, signing the sheet as he departs.
Once he stepped outside, a chilly breeze sent shivers throughout his body, but his mind felt cooler and he felt a little more awake. Unlocking the car, he steps inside, reaching for his seat belt and starting the engine. He sits and waits for the car to warm up, rubbing his hands together and reaching to the radio to switch it on until he hears something click near his head and he whips around to come face to face with a gun; and the person holding it...was Ryu.
"Let's go for a ride, Shu-chan. And don't ask any questions if you don't want to get hurt."
Shuhei was speechless. He wasn't expecting this turn of events as he pulls out of the parking lot, unsure how to feel, even with a gun pointed at his head.
Ryu orders Shuhei to drive a few miles away from Glassvale and they end up parking at an alley.
"Get out with your hands over your head." Ryu demands and he steps out of the car.
"Alright, Ryu...what are you playing right now?" Shuhei asks, raising his hands up and turning to face him, but that was the last thing he remembers before feeling a sharp pain on his neck as he hits the floor, his world turning dark and he hears muffled voices and footsteps.