Shadowbroker's Daily Life with Her
Author Note : Hello guys, after reading and watching "The Eminence in Shadow" latest light novel, manga, and anime, I decide to make some fan fiction about Kagenō Minoru and Nishino Akane's relationship, mainly in their daily life and school life, some little incidents that may happen between those two, going some hangout (*cough* date(?) *cough*) in weekends in the midst of her busy life as an actress, their deep talks, and much more.
This story also includes Nishino Akane's story after Kageno Minoru's death, her daily life as the "Savior" in Messiah, some moments before her reunion with her "presumed death" (reincarnated) crush, and lastly (IF POSSIBLE, THOUGH) her new story in another world as "Otherworlder" in Shadow Garden, including her interaction with Shadow Garden members, some of the "Numbers" and her new school life with her crush's new friend. I'm not sure yet to either include the aforementioned part or not, because this part is going too far from original plot and I don't want to make this fanfiction quite the messy one from what is plotted in three main sources of "The Eminence in Shadow".
And I am so sorry and I want to apologize if Kagenō Minoru and Nishino Akane's character are bit off from what character they're supposed to be. Still, I will do my best to match those two's characteristic so you will get more impression about them, like, you will find them quite similar in characteristic as the original (though, I want them same 100% as the original). In other words, Kagenō Minoru and Nishino Akane's character are still based on what they should be in the main sources in this fanfiction, but do remember that this story is FULLY FICTIVE, so those two's character might not match with what they are supposed to be. So, don't get high on your hopes.
The update period is uncertain, but I'll try update this fanfiction regularly, like, two or three chapters in one week, so stay tuned. Sorry for my poor english vocabulary and grammar skills.
DISCLAIMER : I do not own any thing in "The Eminence in Shadow", especially its plot, character, or anything else!
Chapter 1 : Last Night's Aftermath
This is the story after Cid Kageno (a.k.a. Kagenō Minoru) saves Nishino Akane from her kidnapping as Stylish Hoodlum Slayer and this story takes time the day after aforementioned kidnapping, and after greeting each other at the school locker
before first period started like usual.
Akane feels something's different on Minoru today, start from he spells her name right, not Nishmura or Nishitani anymore. Moreover, his eyes are "properly" looking at her which is very unusual of him because all this time, exactly 3 months long, he always looking somewhere far away and those eyes are empty. And in anything else, his voice is quite similar with the masked vigilante who rescued her yesterday, especially in the part which he told her to be more careful on her way home.
'His voice… could he be…'
Not giving her time to think, Minoru turns behind and starts walking to his class through 2nd floor in normal pace, his face still the same flat and sleepy look.
"Kageno-kun, wait up"
She wants to give chatting with him another go after some time ignoring him like air, she is curious about something.
"Hmm? What's up, Nishino-san?" Minoru turns his head towards Akane.
"Umm… How to say it, you do look different today, I think?"
"Eh? I always been myself, though?" Minoru confused.
"Is that so? Why do I feel like you look at me today?" asks Akane to confirm something.
"I always look at you, I guess." Minoru answers with some doubt inside his heart.
"I mean, you look at me properly today."
"Properly?" one of Minoru's eyebrows goes up.
"Yes, properly." Akane parrots his words.
"How do I say it, All I did was I compress my eyes with warm wet towel yesterday so I don't look like I'm stayed up last night." Minoru explains it with his eyes lifted up to slightly right side.
Akane responses in slighly playful tone. "Huh… how unusual of you."
Actually, Minoru didn't compress his eyes with any towel yesterday. All he did just using his facewash to make his face cleaner after his fight with Ex-Military guy. In addition, he takes a 3-minute shower and treats his wound at his left upper arm near bicep which got cut by switchblade. But it looks like Akane doesn't quite believe, no, she doesn't care about that part.
And then, Minoru asks her. "By the way, why you so curious about how I look at you today?"
"How I'm not curious about that? After all, you look like you'll fall asleep in any minute during class." Akane slightly joking to him.
"This is just how I look everyday." Minoru refutes
"I see… though, I still want to talk to you about quite many things, I guess." Said Akane out from nowhere.
Surprised. "Wait, there's more?"
"Obviosly, like, how you keep calm and just ignoring me and we say "hi" and "see you later" to me everyday." That statement does not give Minoru any worry, but he can't help to feel something is happenend to her.
Therefore, Minoru suggests. "Uh… Let's talk about it later, shall we?"
"Hmm… after school, how about that?" Akane smiles, knows that she will get another chance to talk to him at that time.
"Fine by me." Minoru agrees.
And then, they arrive at their classroom before first peroid bell rings. After they sits in their seats, things start goes as usual, like Akane surrounded by many of her classmates. And Minoru starts take out his handgrip for some grip strength training and for killing time.
"Hey, hey, Akane. How's your progress on your upcoming Monday-night drama?"
"Yeah, yeah, that must be tiring for you, right?"
"Aw… come on guys, you're overreacting about that. The progress is quite fun, so don't worry." Akane responded with professional bright smile.
"I bet that drama must be very exciting, right?" says another male student.
Another male classmate supports. "That's right, the lead is awesome, after all."
After that, laugh breaks in the classroom along with Akane refutes that statement just now with same laugh with them. Minoru just keep focusing his grip strength training. Sometime, he will chat with his front desk classmate about some thing, like homework or anything else.
"That Akane sure is popular, huh?" says the front desk classmate while yawning.
"Hm. She's really an actress, after all."
"How's your opinion about her? I don't see you two communicate in this class very often." Asks him.
"Nope, we do talk to each other outside classroom" Minoru refutes.
The look on the front desk classmate looks a little disappointed, not like Minoru care about it. "Huuh… good for you."
"What do you mean about that?" Minoru doesn't get the meaning of his words just now.
"You see, she is so popular so it is natural that she is surrounded by some people who wanted to get close with her." That's right, but again, that doesn't answer his doubt. "Besides, she is pretty and beautiful if I tell you."
"Uh… so what makes good for me with the fact that she is popular?"
"I mean, you're lucky because she is got to communicate with you outside our classroom." So that's how is it "So, hey. Do you two have, like, some sort of relationship?"
Minoru denies. "What do you mean? She's just as friend, man."
"Really? You're not really in some fishy relationship with her?" he starts teasing him with some sort of sensitive topic.
"Don't talk nonsense about me and her, man. You know how tight and restrained her life as actress, yeah? So, I don't think she will have any time to think about that kind of relationship." Says Minoru assertively. "I'm sure she doesn't like any misunderstanding, though." Normally, Minoru doesn't care about that, but this one is quite touchy topic, so he has to reprimand him.
"Ye, yeah. You're right about that." Finally, he turns his back again towards Minoru.
Minoru is not the talkative person and he always blank out whenever he will be like he is thinking about something, so some, or every classmate of his class is just his acquaintances at best, except Akane, especially after her kidnapping. At first, he considers Akane just as one of his acquaintances, considering her activity and occupation as actress so he keeps some distance between them. But, unbeknownst to him, his action makes Akane hate him more (not likely Minoru care about that).
But, after saving her from the delinquent and the Ex-Military guy, he thinks he have to start paying more attention to her. Knowing that Akane is afraid of her kidnapping and her negative scandal about her around middle school period that makes her develop some sort of trauma. Minoru, in his heart, feels some pity for her and he decides to protect her whenever he can be and starts to befriend her because he does not hate her for anything. She is just the main character that shines wherever she goes, that makes Minoru keeps some distance between her so he would not stand out.
After get to know more about Akane, Minoru thinks and feels she is just some normal girl who wishes for her normal daily life despite she is actress, so she has to wear the "mask" as the model student so her friend will not worry and hate her for her scandal. Minoru can feel like that because he is wearing his "mask" too, because shadowbroker doesn't stand out in the public and only show off its power in the shadow, although there is another reason, for hiding his embarrasing dream from others, and in order to not scaring his friend about his power and another identity, and not eliciting some sort of admiration towards him because of his strength.
Therefore, Minoru can relate his way of life with Akane's, because they wear "mask" to conceal their identity and real characteristic, so he befriends her as his good friend. Will his relationship with her goes forward to next level or not, that is different story.
And then, the bell rings, signing the first period is beginning. The homeroom teacher starts absenting each one of the students in the classroom, and then giving some anouncement before starts teaching. The first period is classic japanese.
During lesson until 30 minutes before lunch break, Akane sometimes sneak a peek to Minoru. Same blank look as always, but this time Akane sees him in another way. A bit of seriousness in his black eye, his steady breath, and calm look somehow looks charming to her, but Akane shakes her though off from her mind. Her face is slightly blushing. Sometimes she gets scolded lightly by the female teacher in the second period for not paying attention during class. Right now, her mind is in mess.
'Wait, why am I suddenly though that Kageno-kun is so charming and so hand…handsome… AGH! What am I thinking? Me? Have some feelings for someone like him? No… No way. He is C student, his appearance, athletic, and grades are all mediocre! There's nothing special about him! Super mediocre person! So why am I suddenly find him charming!? Just because he is starting calling my name right and he is finally sees me properly, also starting paying attention to me… even though he's been ignoring me all this time. Just why now…Hm?'
Throughout she is still trapped in her wild thoughts, she suddenly something that Minoru is holding with his left hand. After taking a closer look, it is handgrip, and it looks like he's practicing his grip strength. Why is he practicing his grip strength at the time like this? Is he even paying attention in the class… No, he is. His right hand holding pencil while writing what the teacher is lecturing and taking notes. How? Normal person can't do that simultaneously, is he some sort of someone with peculiar ability?
'Wait, that's cool, though.'
And then, Akane noticing something under his wrist. What's that? Is that like some sort of wrist weigh?
'?'
Okay, wait. Why? Just why? Is he wanted to working out his arm? At the school time? Just as she having some wild thoughts about what is he doing…
"Nishino Akane-san? What's wrong with you?" The teacher calls her, feeling quite worried
Surprised "Eh? No, nothing, Sensei."
She's scolded once more, currently she is attending mathematic course, one of her favourite courses. To think she can be careless not to paying attention during class. It's Kageno-kun's fault… wait, no. Why must I accuse him for paying attention while working out his grip strength? That's totally wrong. Oh nevermind.
"Geez, pay more attention to this lesson, okay?" The teacher sighs. "If you feel sick or something, just tell me."
Akane shakes her head quickly. "No, no, Sensei. I'm alright, thank you very much."
And then, the teacher continues. "Okay, then. About this question, Kageno Minoru-san, can you solve this question for me?" she looks at Minoru.
"Yes, ma'am." Leaving his seat towards blackboard to solve the mathematic problem.
Surprisingly, he can get the answer right. But well. that equation is quite occasionally used for that question, nothing to exaggerate about that. Even him can solve this question.
'Am I overthinking what he is doing?'
And then, the lunch break bell rings, some student streching their body after sitting so long on their seat. After the teacher goes outside the classroom, some of them goes to canteen and another else goes to school park to enjoy some lunchbox from home.
Minoru leaves while grabbing his lunchbox and a book, meanwhile Akane still preparing for next lesson. Unfortunately, Akane lost him. One moment later, another classmate invites Akane to join them for lunch together at school park.
Roughly after 30 minutes, Akane finishes her lunch with her classmates and then all of them leaving to do another necessity. Akane, in particular, has nothing to do at the moment. So, she streches her body upwards and take a long breath while looking at the school roof. According to her friends, school roof which is located in 5th floor and it's quite crowded at lunchtime and afternoon break. She looks around above school roof and she found him, standing while lays his back on school roof's net wall and reading a book.
The weather is pretty clear so her eyes' viewing distance is visibly far, so it's easy to spot him at the school roof.
Without giving another thought, Akane goes up to 5th floor and found him in the corner while reading a book.
Time remaining until next course is 20 minutes left, and it is more than enough to talk to him more.
"Hello, Kageno-kun" she greets with smile, the only difference compared to her usual one is the smile she's giving is more genuine.
He greets her back. "Oh, hello Nishino-san, are you done with your lunch?" asks him.
"Yes, I did. How about you?"
"Same here, so what are you doing here?" Minoru asks her with a little puzzled look.
"Oh, no biggie. I just want to continue what we left before first period"
A blank look forms on Minoru's face. "Did we agree to continue that after school? Moreover, that was you who decided it."
"I don't think that's will be a problem for me, though." Says Akane with more playful smile
"Huh… okay, let's go with it. So, what's the thing you want to know about?" Minoru gives up on continuing reading his book, and now looking with Akane with the same blank look.
Akane, with curious look, asks. "Yesterday evening, do you hear someone shouting for help?"
"Huh? I think I heard some noises yesterday, like, car screeching, a woman's shouting voice, and two or three pair of footsteps" Minoru answers with more puzzled look. Did he got exposed this quick, even in that yesterday night? No, that's should not be possible. I even just look at her without do anything before I chase them after they bring Akane inside their caravan.
"Is that so? Are you also there last night?" Akane, starts to connecting some of missing point, but she isn't sure, yet.
"Nope, I'm quite far away from the scene." Minoru's spouting lie.
"Hmm… is that so?" humming while Akane places her right hand on her chin, acting like she's thinking something.
"What, do you know something about last knight too?" asks Minoru suspiciously. His expression darkens, one of his expression she never see before, and it is sure intimidating.
"Eh, no, not much." stammers, as she quickly explains to Minoru, which is she already knows that Minoru's suspicious to her. "From what I heard yesterday, the vigilante known as "Balaclava Mask Berserker" who beat up biker gangs come up rescues this victim, even he makes the kidnappers have to get some serious treatment."
"Hmm…" Minoru, despite looks moved in surface, actually he is cautious to Akane that she perhaps knows his another identity. And he goes on "Wait, who told you such case to you? Moreover, why do you tell me this?"
Minoru found her blind spot, she can't possibly knows his another identity except he decides to expose it himself. So, if he asks her first how could she acquired such case, she have to lie with another false information.
"One of my friends told me that." Akane answers firmly but quite faltering. Minoru knows she's lying but he still praises her in his heart, very fitting to her as an actress.
"I see. So you don't suspects me or something, yeah?" Minoru asks her back as he frowns quite harsh.
"N-no! I don't suspect you on anything or something else! Obviously! Hahahahaha!" Sweating profusely while laughing but forced one.
While on that, Akane slaps his left shoulder in friendly way to make sure he's convinced to her words earlier. But accidentally, her palms hit his left upper arm near bicep. Minoru leaks out his slightly painful grunt "Ugh… it hurts".
Suddenly Akane gets worried about it "I-I'm sorry, Kageno-kun. Is that hurt?"
"Just a little, and it was treated yesterday after I got scratched by glass shard accidentaly." He spouts another lie.
"Is that so? I'm sorry for accidentally hitting your arm earlier." She apologizes, while quickly thinking inside her mind. 'Wait. Isn't there the only scratch wound "he" got last night. But why Kageno-kun has the exact wound like his?'
After a moment, she realized something 'Wait, what!? No way!? Could he be the one…'
Lunch break ends with the bell ringing.
"We have to hurry up or we get another scolding from Teacher! Come on!" Minoru rushes her to go back to their classroom immediately.
"O-okay!" Akane follows him from behind. Starts to running through stairs to stairs.
'Is Kageno-kun the one who saved me last night?' her shocking thought about what just revealed to her with very few hints about Minoru and Stylish Hoodlum Slayer, but she's yet ceratin about that.
Okay guys, that's the first chapter of this fanfiction. As I said before, the update period will be remain uncertain, but I will do my best to upload new chapter (about 2 or 3 chapters) in one week. So stay tuned!
Will her thoughts and feelings about "Him" could bring those two closer to each other?