A Viper's Star

Acquaintance Time

DISCLAIMER: Oshi no Ko belongs to Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, and Ansatsu Kyoushitsu belongs to Yusei Matsui. I do not take credit for any of their work.

Summary: In two opposite worlds, where one is showcased in the spotlight, and one is shrouded in the shadows, what if two distinct people were to meet each other as part of a twist of fate? This is a story about an assassin and an idol. Or rather, a viper and a star. [AU]

"Thank you for your cooperation everyone, you are free to leave now. If you have any concerns related to the case, don't hesitate to report here."

The officer finished and gave a slight bow which is then returned by the individuals right in front of him.

"Thanks," Nagisa only gave a short reply but the sincerity conveyed was as clear as the morning sun.

"No worries, thanks for your efforts officer-san! Don't worry, we'll surely report back to you!" The young woman, Ai Hoshino, then gave a thumbs up which the officer mimicked in return.

Be energetic and cheerful as always! That was one of Ai Hoshino's quota everyday!

Despite the horrible experience she had just gone through this day, Ai could only smile through it as if nothing just happened.

"Thanks a lot officer." Another man bowed to the officer before turning to the idol. "Ai, are... are you truly alright? No injuries? Trauma?"

He sported a short blonde hair and a somewhat wild look that would often make others think for a second in approaching him. His black suit was disheveled as well with the white shirt making it look like he came here in a rush without any preparation. And apparently, the worried look in his eyes was piercing through the young woman in front of him.

Ichigo Saitou.

He was none other than the man himself who brought Ai Hoshino to fame. He was the president of Ichigo Production, Inc. which is the idol management group that Ai belongs to.

And he might as well be considered to be Ai's surrogate father.

"I'm okay president! No injuries whatsoever, right? Look at me," She twirled and spread her arms wide. "I'm truly fine!"

"There's no need to put on that mask to me, you know?" Ichigo sighed as he held his temple. "Don't act tough in times like this, you nearly died, Ai!"

A small crack appeared on the ever cheerful Idol's expression. Noticing that lies would further lead her president/surrogate father worrying more to the point that he might choke or have a seizure and die at some point was something that she would never allow to happen.

Joking aside, but that was the main gist of what she was thinking.

However, just before she could say something back at him, the president turned his eye to the other person in the room aside from them.

"You, thank you very much," President Saitou has a lot of pride. So seeing him bow like this was like a one-in-a-million chance occurrence. "For saving Ai. Again, thank you very much."

"I was just doing what anyone else would do," Nagisa waved his hand giving off a small smile. President Saitou then was about to say something, but Nagisa could already predict it, so he then added. "Before saying that only few would do something like that, I mean, taking down and disarming a suspicious person, I think you should trust people more to do good things."

The man snorted back with a small grin on instinct, "As if everybody has the guts or skill to pull off what you just did."

"Perhaps that might be the case," Nagisa replied. "That won't change me on insisting what I just said earlier though."

It wasn't a rebuke or scolding, he definitely doesn't want to look like that! Nagisa was just stating facts. No matter how harsh and ugly reality is, there is still undoubtedly something good and beautiful within it.

Experiencing both sides of the world has to offer, Nagisa was resolute with his words.

"But..." President Saitou scratched his head for a second straightening his posture. "...I see, no promises, but I'll at least try. Hm?"

Surprisingly, he the placed his hands on Nagisa's shoulders then stared at him with intensity.

"Uhm, sir?" Quizically, Nagisa tilted his head with a look of confusion evident on his expression.

"P-President?" Even Ai who was in a distance couldn't help but say something.

"Blue hair, blue eyes, looks like a girl but ain't, and a pipsqueak that can beat up guys twice bigger than he is..." mumbled the man as he narrowed his gaze towards Nagisa.

'Hey! I'm not that small and not a girl!'

Nagisa protested in silence! A twitch on his brow could be seen if somebody were close enough to see it. Now this was just rude!

The man soon raised a brow as he stared more intensely at the bluenette.

It was kind of creepy.

No, it definitely was!

"Eh? Now that I remember it, aren't you the brat Tadaomi was talking about?" He said in surprise and smiled. "His favorite student if I remember correctly! It's uh, Nagisa, right? I knew I heard that name come out from his mouth at the party!"

"Yes, that's me..." waving his hand with an awkward expression, the bluenette continued. "Shiota Nagisa."

The sudden shift of atmosphere coming from this man was a pleasant surprise. Despite the awkward expression Nagisa was showing on the outside, that is not the same for his inside which is calm and observing the case dutifully. Nagisa could see that he was tense the whole time he was here with them.

Surprise.

Confusion.

Gratitude.

Mixes of emotions, ranging from positive to negative could be felt from the man. Nagisa could've calmed hin down with just a touch of his finger on his neck. He was an expert on that regard. However, he simply doesn't have a chance to do so considering the situation won't allow him to in the first place.

"Y-You know him, President?" Ai asked, quite shocked.

What a small world indeed.

"Not really, but apparently, this young man here is my friend's student," President Saitou laughed as he reminisced in his memory. "Tadaomi mentioned you several times, saying that you are his best student in class. Talk about favorites heh."

"Oh!" Ai reacted quite intrigued at that comment. "Nagisa-san is a top achiever in class! Umu umu!" she nodded with a smile with her eyes closed before giving him a thumbs up. "As expected of you, Nagisa-san!"

Truly, this woman has a lot of positive energy in her.

'Is that her way of coping after experiencing through a stressful event?'

Nagisa's thoughts swirled as it processed the details presented before him. Without doubt, his guess has a high probably being on mark. Nevertheless, the possibility of him being wrong still stands, but the facts showed states otherwise.

Still, for Nagisa and for all his his training of maintaining the expressions he shows in his face simply relaxed and let out a slight blush over the praises he received. Really, this humbleness of him is a trait that he doubts that it would ever disappear from him, and he was thankful for it.

'Let's play the long game then.' Nagisa concluded as he then prepared his reply.

"It's nothing, really..." waving his hand slightly, he responded.

"No no, don't belittle yourself!" Nagisa isn't though, but he just let the comment slide seeing that there is no need to correct it. Let them misunderstand for a while. "Must be hard in the military huh? Tadaomi is such an uptight and strict guy. Oh, before you think of anything like me badmouthing him, don't misunderstand."

"Haha..." Nagisa laughed weakly in response. Sure, Karasuma-sensei is an upright and strict teacher through and through. This time though, Nagisa needs to correct one thing however. "Well, Karasuma-sensei is a great teacher, our class really learnes much under him, also, I didn't go to a military school."

"Huh? Ain't he serving as a general now or something?" President Saitou asked in inetrest.

Last time he had heard off from that he got a promotion, on a high damn position as well! This was the thought swimming to the idol manager's mind.

"He taught us in school as a full fledge teacher, a P.E teacher to be exact," Nagisa answered much, which President Saitou nodded in wonder.

"I see. But hey, ever tried applying for being an male idol or something?" the man asked out of the blue as he held up his chin.

A question that certainly came out of nowhere.

"No, why?" Nagisa asked back, pure confusion evident on his face.

Even Ai looked kind of taken by surprise. "What do you mean by that, president?"

"No... I was just thinking that Nagisa here would pass being an idol to be honest. Seriously, a little fix and training would suffice!" Enthusiastically, he offered. "If you just—!"

Nagisa didn't like where this is going.

"I'll refuse."

Swiftly and clearly, a rejection was delivered.

Seriously, his mission doesn't pay enough for this kind of misunderstanding to always happen!

"Eh? Why? Might as well try!"

'No!' Nagisa screamed in his mind. It was happening again!

The president was unusually persistent, at least for Nagisa. Ai, who was watching this ordeal simply hid a smirk with her hand knowing that the word 'persistent' is not enough for her foster father.

After all, if he wasn't much for that, then he wouldn't have been a successful manager that started from scraps and was now a big shot in the idol entertainment industry.

"Right, Nagisa-san! I think you'll do good on being one, I think!" Ai supported her manager. Eyes twinkling in an entrancing manner, Nagisa couldn't help but give a deadpan expression towards them. "You'll surely do!" She gave another set of words of encouragement.

Even now, it seems that he can't escape the expression concept attached to him like a bug called 'Trap Vibe' or something. Mistaking him for a girl back then due to his below average (short) stature, long hair, and feminine name was something that always bothered him on the inside.

But now, at least give him some credit! He is now a certified adult in society! He got a normal job! A cool side job! Hit it off with several women already... as unbelievable as it may sound even for him, but that is the truth. Anyway, surely this should be enough to classify him as a masculine person!

Right?!

But most people he interacts with may think otherwise, and Nagisa knows that painful truth.

It wasn't the case at all.

Growing with just a few centimeters after several years. That goes the same for his body that remained unusually slim despite everything he did, seriously, where's the muscles' going? Also, his looks! They might've looked sharper and more adult-like in a sense, but that doesn't change the fact that it could still be mistaken as that of a pretty young lady's.

It was frustrating.

This misconception and stuff that always haunted him ever since junior high still persisted up to this moment!

It looks like the world itself was going against him! Even Kayano was already catching up to his height. Damn them all, especially Karma!

Maintaining to stop his face to show any sort of grief and annoyance as for how helpless he is against the world, well, exaggeration aside, he then said, "You're not thinking of cross-dressing me as an idol or something, right?"

"Huh?" Saitou scratched his head in confusion and stared at Nagisa weirdly. "What made you think of that? I'm offering you to be a male idol, not a cross-dressing one though?"

Now that was something.

"..."

"..."

'Jumping from one conclusion to another recklessly? What a blunder...'

Maybe age was catching up to him? He's too young though.

Sighing, Nagisa then said. "Let's forget this conversation regarding about our recent topic shall we?"

Right. Better focus on the mission. Yes, only that. Better treat this conversation as null. Correct.

"Uh, but I'm offering a male idol kind of—"

"Let's forget it, shall we?" the bluenette insisted with a smile.

"Nagisa-san—"

This time, it was the idol herself who tried to convey her support once again only to be cut off.

"Eh? What are we talking about again, Hoshino-san? Oh, we need to check up on the twins right?"

Nagisa's eyes were closed still with a smile on his face. He exudes this kind of carefree aura, yet, the underlying coldness behind it was peeking through somehow.

Fortunately, these two individuals seemed to not know that fact in its entirety.

"Uhm..."

"Let's go, shall we?"

The two noticed the shift of demeanor Nagisa was having resulting them to just nod in reply in the end. And so, they prepared to leave with an almost awkard silence taking place on their small group. Other than the assasin, the idol and the manager have different takes from this situation.

President Saitou looked flabbergasted and sighed muttering something about an apology and a missed opportunity. He was still wondering where taht cross-dressing idea came from though.

Ai on the other hand giggled. It seemed that her savior is anything but perfect. This vulnerable side of him was quite cute as well.

'Ah, what is this feeling?' Ai clutched her fists and placed it on top of her chest. Her heart was beating quite fast.

The idol couldn't help but wonder to herself, still not realizing this feelings fascination forming from within towards her savior.

A few minutes later, the group then prepared themselves to go check on the twins.

X-x-X-x-X

Later, Saitou Residency.

Aqua and Ruby Hoshino.

Twins, pure bundles of joy and beauty.

That's what Ai Hoshino would say if she were asked to describe her children in the most simplest way.

Keyword: simplest.

Now, these two just experienced what society would describe as one of the worst things that could happen to children in their early years of life.

Trauma.

Their mother, Ai Hoshino, nearly died, and if not for that stranger, no, guest, then the worst could've happened.

Aqua Hoshino realized this immediately. Ruby Hoshino understood this as well, albeit a little more later. That is why she is feeling bad for acting like a rude toddler towards their mama's savior.

"Hey, Aqua, should I apologize?" Ruby asked with a low voice.

Aqua then replied, "Of course. Don't forget to thank him as well."

"Mm..." Ruby nodded. Still looking pale and deflated compared to her usual bubbly self. "I will..."

"It's alright, Ruby," patted Aqua as he gave a understanding look towards his sister. "You've been holding it for a while now, aren't you?"

"W-What do you mean?" Ruby asked, as she stuttered.

"Cry now, its bad bottling up such emotions." Her twin said. He remembered her crying a lot earlier, but that was mostly suppressed in order to not worry their mother.

As a former doctor, Aqua would've commented the unusual behavior and control that they are having.

"...B-But—!" just like before, tears were once again forming on her eyes.

"It's okay." Aqua's composure remained stoic, but even Ruby could discern that wasn't the case in the inside. The tips of her brother's fingers are slightly trembling. "Just cry and let it out, Mama is okay. Everything is alright."

And so, Ruby began to let out her inner grief and lament that's bottling inside her.

As Aqua thought, words of consolation truly can do so much.

Without noticing it, he grit his teeth in anguish.

In the end, they were helpless.

What could they even do in that situation? They're mere children, reincarnated or not, they wouldn't make a difference. It was by pure chance that Nagisa was there to help them in that dire situation.

"Thank you."

Aqua gave his thanks to the bluenette, even though he wasn't here to begin with.

If anything, Aqua will make sure to keep this big favor done to them in his heart. He'll make sure that he will pay this back in the future, in one way or another.

And moreover...

'The one who is behind the truth and machinated that deranged fan to kill Ai...'

He'll make sure to hunt them down.

Even if it means dragging himself to the path of no return just to accomplish it.

AN: This is... super late... right...? *Bonk*

Happy New Year guys! I can't promise the influx of chapters in a fast manner. Currently focusing on college studies. They won't be dropped and I'll still try to update my stories as fast as I could though during my free time!

Errors might still come out of the chapter. I have no Beta if that is obvious already XD. Point out these mistakes if you guys mind, I'll make sure to fix and patch em up.

If possible, be sure to review, follow, and favorite!

With that said, ciao~

Edit 1: Added missing portions of a certain sentence.

Next Update: Foreign Blacksmith of the Abyssal Seas.