Notes:
Hello everyone! Here Vera with one more update of this fic, of which, I must say that I am lately motivated to continue ❤️
Seriously, I am amazed at the support this story is receiving, which I can assure you will be an up and down story from now on and you will see why, especially since karma sometimes comes in unexpected ways.
Seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS STORY A CHANCE! ️
Your votes, comments and readings have been the fuel to keep writing ️.
And before I continue, I just have to tell you two little things quickly, the first is that this chapter will be divided into two parts and this is the first, especially because what will happen here, will ignite the mood, passion and desire between these two.
And the second thing I want to tell you, is about a character that appears in this story with the name of Manami Suda, if you do not remember her or do not know who this woman is, she is the one who appears in the movie of volume 0, since she works in the sect of Geto, if you do not remember her well, she is the one who takes a picture with him. And if you haven't seen the movie, well, this woman appears in chapter 16 of the second season at minute 10:31, exactly when Sukuna appears and makes her, panda, Kusakabe and another guy not move from their place.
So, in this story, I will name her mostly as Manami. And maybe some of you will start to hate her a little bit, you'll see why.
Without further ado, enjoy the chapter, because really, things between Maki and Yuta will start to get more intense and intense.
06. It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me
A few days later.
Tuesday.
02:55 p.m.
"Where are you going?" asked Manami Suda with a hint of annoyance, as she listened to Yuta walk down the stairs of that luxurious two-story apartment and head straight for the front door.
Yuta was not alone at that time in what should be "his" new apartment as a result of his work as a singer.
That woman was sitting in that luxurious room looking at the big screen on the wall, while on the coffee table she had a lot of papers and documents.
"I'm going out for a while, I want to go for a walk and a run" said Yuta, about to put on his airpods and mask.
The singer was dressed in baggy sportswear, a gray pans and a white sports T-shirt. He also wore a cap and a sweatshirt, both in black. He thought he would go unnoticed.
"But that's why you have the treadmill. It's not for nothing that we bought and installed the best machines for you to exercise here" Manami scolded. She stood up in her place, looking at him with annoyance.
"But I want to get out! I can't stand to be in this place any longer!" said Yuta, waving his hands in annoyance.
"As part of your staff, I consider it imprudent for you to go out just like that without even having a security team!" She looked at her from head to toe, "Where do you want to go!" asked Suda with annoyance.
"I want to take a walk around the neighborhood. I'll be careful, I promise, I really can't stand being cooped up here for one more minute!" Yuta commented in a small plea. –"Besides, I'll wear my mask and cap!" He raise his voice, "I really need to de-stress!"
Manami tensed her eyebrows, she looked like a complete mother as she was about to give a lecture on the dangers of exposing herself on the street as an artist, but a laugh caught both of their attention.
Suguru, who was in the luxurious kitchen opposite the living room. He was preparing a small plate of appetizers on the fine counter while listening to those two argue. However, he could not remain silent any longer and decided to intervene for his artist.
"Manami, let him walk around for a while. I guess you won't go far from this area, right, Yuta?" asked the representative, "If you go farther than this residential area, the most likely thing that will happen is that you will get lost and you will be discovered. Especially because near here is the area of bars and restaurants, which will soon begin to open" Suguru looked for a moment at the iPad he was holding on the bar.
"But what if the paparazzi or the fans manage to find out it's him?!" Suda tried to protest, turning to Geto
"Besides, I must remind you that we have more things to do!" she listed with her fingers, "among them we must plan his next presentations, as well as discuss the shows he has been invited to, the private concert he has been asked to and by the way, we still have to hire his private security. We have a lot of work to do!" Manami waved the pages in her hand furiously.
"I know. But we can't forbid the kids not to go out either. Manami, we're not holding them hostage" Suguru commented, picking up some salmon with his chopsticks and putting it in his mouth.
"But!" she was interrupted.
Geto raised his hand for a moment.
"Besides, if Yuta never takes off that mask and that cap, maybe he will manage to go unnoticed in the streets and stores, you know that's what some artists do when they go out for a walk in the big cities," He commented taking another piece of that fine food with his chopsticks, "Maybe going out for a while will help him concentrate better and even inspire him to write and compose more hits, that's what we really need if we want this band to stay afloat and go abroad to be successful"
Manami just let out the air of annoyance at Geto's words, the poor woman could not go against what her boss said.
She turned angrily to Yuta.
"Just don't come back so late! You have singing practice with Utahime at five o'clock! Got it?" she warned.
Yuta let out a sigh of relief and smiled, quickly putting on his cap-"I promise I'll be careful and I'll be back in time!" he said, leaving with his mask on.
Manami took a few steps towards Geto, who was still very much at ease at the kitchen and who, by the way, seemed to be very entertaining by the iPad.
"Don't you think it's a bad idea for me to go alone? I say that because the fans can be tremendous if they find out!" Manamo crossed her arms over her chest, while still holding the leaves in her hand.
Suguru smiled slightly.
"As I said, we can't keep him locked up here forever either. He is an artist, but at the same time he is a young man in his twenties who is looking for fun and deserves to be distracted from time to time" - he now took a sushi between his chopsticks – "And even more so now that he has left us more money than we expected. His success suits us more than ever. And having him "happy" also suits and benefits us"
"I know, but you know that the media and the fans can be dangerous"
Geto swallowed that sushi and then continued talking, "Maybe if Yuta gets a scare, it will serve as a lesson to him that he won't be able to go around alone now that he's famous. But don't worry, I'm already taking care of finding him a good security team, especially I was thinking of hiring him a good bodyguard, someone who will be with him 24/7", he slid the screen of the ipad, "and I'm also securing our next collaboration, which will give a lot to talk about and will be our first step to be heard outside of Japan", he said, putting more food in his mouth.
Manami let out the air angrily, "I just hope Yuta's careful, they already exposed themselves too much the other night on that stupid date. You know perfectly well that I never agreed to Yuji and Yuta going out for that night out" She claim –"And if he draws too much attention or commits a recklessness? The least they should do is to tarnish his image!"
"If something were to happen to tarnish their reputation, you know that our team would work to clean up their image. It's not as if they were going to commit a crime" answered Geto, fixing his eyes on the program they were showing on that TV screen, which was so big that it could be seen from the kitchen.
"Not a crime, but you know that rumors about artists' personal lives can be compared to one and more in this country!" - Manami was still with a grimace on her face.
"I know, but if it happens, as I said, we'll work it out. Relax my dear" he smiled at her, "Relax a little, you're not his mother" he took a sip of his drink.
Manami crossed her arms again at such words as she paid attention to what the media was saying.
The television, which was still on, caught both of their attention as the entertainment section began.
"On other topics. We received exclusive images of what seems to have been a "date" with the artist of the moment" said the tv host.
"Tell us who it is?" said the other host.
"It is said that the handsome singer Yuta Okkotsu and his drummer were caught with two mysterious girls the other night..."
Manami only turned to look at Suguru with a grimace that said "I told you so" while they kept looking at that screen, where they began to show the pictures of those four in that luxurious restaurant. As well as what was a video taken from the cell phone of a waiter, who had come to serve that table.
"It is even said that they went to a fancy restaurant for dinner! Which was closed exclusively for those four to dine"
Manami put her hands on her hips and again turned to her boss-"You know?, this idea of Yuta getting involved with these two girls only pleased me at the beginning when it was the concert outing, but now I feel like this is a bad idea. Especially with that green-haired girl. She looks like a real "TROUBLE."
Suguru arched an eyebrow.
"Why is she a problem?"
"Can't you see Suguru? She seems to know Yuta quite well. Besides, I confess that I don't like her at all. The other girl anyway, we could use her for one or two music videos since she seems motivated to participate in this and play along, but her friend, that girl with the glasses, I really don't like her..." - Manami twisted her mouth a bit –"What will we do if those two get too close or start a romance? Don't you think that would tarnish Yuta's reputation? We don't know that green-haired girl at all either" -she looked at the photograph that appeared on the screen.
Manami had recognized Maki immediately in those pixelated photos.
Geto laughed as he looked at the note and listened to what the reporters were saying
"Manami, one thing I've learned in this environment is that sometimes you have to take advantage of gossip to get more fame. And about those girls, don't worry. We'll figure it out later. And especially with the romance issue for Yuta, I've already got it figured out"
At that moment, Manami noticed what Geto was doing on that ipad. –"Wow! This girl is very beautiful. Who is she?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"She will be an important part of our plans for the future!" smiled Geto, taking a sip of his drink, "We must thank my daughters for this discovery. And right now I'm getting in touch with her representative to meet soon and introduce her to Yuta"
That news of the show was not only being watched by those two representatives in that luxurious apartment, but it was also being seen in a gym several blocks away.
"Maki san, reviewing all this, I can assure you that you are in financial trouble," commented Megumi, who was looking at those documents about the income and expenses of that business.
But Maki was too distracted watching one of the televisions she had in her gym.
"Who are these mysterious girls?" said another presenter as they passed those tests.
"Not only were they caught in that restaurant, but they were also seen in an arcade close together"
"Look how close those two are! Are Yuji and that girl going to be something?"
The first video showed how they had captured those two talking and playing on that arcade drum set.
Then the shot changed to images and videos, where you could see the moment when Itadori covered Nobara's face with his hat and grabbed her hand to get out of there.
The second video was of the escape. Several people running after them.
They also repeated the low quality photos showing the four of them at dinner.
"You have to be very lucky to date the artists of the band of the momento!" responded another presenter.
"Here's the question everyone is asking! But who are these girls?"
"Are they the ones who won the VIP backstage pass?"
"Could it be that she is dating both boys? Because they say that brunette could be the mysterious girl who went out to dinner with Okkotsu after his show two weeks ago"
"That's why everyone wonders if she's the same one who won the backstage pass"
"Who knows"
"But the girl who has unleashed the most mystery is the long-haired one who was very close to Yuta"
They started to show more low quality pictures where Maki and Yuta could be seen among those games and those neon-colored lights
"You have to admit, the singer looks pretty gooey with that other girl!"
"I swear, I'm dying of envy to be her!"
"But are you sure it's Yuta? Because from the drummer it's more than obvious that it's him. But you can't see this guy's face"
That video that was played on the TV, lasted almost thirty seconds and had a very low quality, and you could barely see, although a little blurry, Maki with Yuta in that machine. Where Yuta seemed to be hugging her and they almost kissed.
"I'M SO ENVIOUS, GIRLS, I CAN'T STAND IT!"
"Is Okkotsu in a relationship? Does he have a girlfriend by now?"
"There was a rumor going around that several songs were written for a very special girl in the singer's life. Could it be her? Who is this mysterious green-haired girl?"
"Do you remember that on the YouTube show he was asked a similar question and he avoided the subject! I DO NOT REMEMBER THAT HE ALREADY HAS A BRIDE!"
"Seriously, it's the topic on everyone's lips, even on social networks they keep asking who are they?"
Said those four presenters, while they kept showing that low-resolution clip where Yuta seemed to be hugging Maki from behind. The production team even zoomed in on that video where those two seemed to be kissing.
"Luckily it's a video in very poor qualit" said Maki quietly to herself. Relieved that her face could not be seen.
Seeing that almost-kiss, though, stirred too many emotions inside her.
Megumi watched the program that Maki was watching on TV. They were both sitting on one of the benches next to the ring while they finished eating and checking the accounts.
"I didn't know you liked this kind of programs"- commented Megumi looking at how Maki was very entertained in those pictures and videos.
"I really don't like them" she gave a quick glance at her guest, "But I was watching out of curiosity" she commented, listening carefully to what those four presenters were saying and criticizing.
Megumi looked carefully at those pictures.
"Out of curiosity? Or why does it have something to do with you and Nobara? Because clearly those girls look a lot like the two of you"
Maki, upon hearing what her relative said, decided to turn off the TV.
"As I said, I was just curious to see that program"
Megumi raised an eyebrow- "Looks like you both had fun that night"
"You could say that. But it's a long story that's none of your business, just as it's none of those four's business to meddle in other people's lives" she said, annoyed.
"But that's their job really, to bring the gossip to others, just as mine is to help you keep your accounts" Megumi blurted out, looking down at the papers beside them on the bench.
The young man took another bite of his food.
"We'd better get back to the subject the gym" said Maki looking at her cousin with annoyance, who was also the one who helped her with the finances, "And what news do you have for me?"
Megumi sighed. His face was very serious as he put his empty obento aside and took back the leaves that Maki had handed him since he arrived.
"Maki san, I will be direct. If you don't get more clients and your income doesn't go up in a minimum of three months, you will surely go bankrupt in less than a year" said Megumi seriously looking at those papers, where all the expenses were listed.
At those words Maki let the air out in disappointment and leaned her head back for a moment.
"Is my financial situation that bad?"
"It is. You're on the ropes right now. And I'm serious, you need more people coming in to train here to generate more revenue"
"But I've tried everything, but the customers don't come! Besides, the rent is not being cheap at all, let alone that stupid Hakari is not cooperating!" She sigh "let alone having the exercise machines repaired. That expense came out of the blue in the last month"
Maki looked at her small gym, at that time of the afternoon it was empty, besides that at that time it was closed because it was lunchtime and it was unusual to see customers at that time.
"I talked to Hakari and he said he won't raise your rent for the time being," Megumi also looked toward the gym.
"Tsk, that idiot just says so, but I know he'll do it at any momento!" She commented annoyed, leaving her food half-finished, "Just as he'll ask me for this place at any momento"
"In any case, with the savings you currently have, the rent will be covered for the next two months. By the third month it won't be enough. So if or if you need to increase your income"
Maki sighed, "I know, you don't have to tell me again!" she said frustrated.
"No one says it, but maintaining a gym is heavy and expensive" commented Megumi, looking at all the other expenses that had to be covered in the following months, such as water, electricity and maintenance of the machines. He review other sheets –"Although realistically, you will need to change your strategy. This is the only way your investment will Benefit"
Maki sighed.
"Do you have any ideas for that? Megumi, Options?"
"I have thought of several options that could help you" he began to explain.
"The first would be to move this establishment to an area with more foot traffic, in a better location and not close to the bars and other dive bars like the ones you have around. If you were to establish yourself in a better area and with easy access for your public you could even close a few hours later"
Maki sighed, "That all sounds "easy" but it's not easy at all. Especially, because of the area, it was difficult to start building this place here, on the one hand it's a few blocks from the subway and on the other hand we are very close to that stupid residential area. Moving to another place would be very expensive and burdensome. Especially in an area where the few regular clients I have can keep coming back. Also, moving closer to the residential area would be twice as expensive"
What Maki was referring to was that her gym was at a midpoint between the two areas where, despite being hidden between the streets where there were more night stores and food stores, it was also very close to a residential area. Which could be reached on foot in just thirty minutes.
Just as it happens in the Roppongi area. Where after passing through the shopping and nightlife area, once you cross certain avenues, the area begins to change and fill with residences and luxury homes, where it is known that even the richest people in the country live.
"I know, you're in the middle ground, but you still have to get out of here someday," commented Megumi as he continued to look at the papers.
He continued speaking.
"The other solution that comes to my mind for you to have more clients and have more income, would be for you to change or rather accept the other group of clients that you have left aside"
Maki rolled her eyes at what Megumi wanted to give her to understand.
"And that is to make your gym a mixed one. Then you could start getting more clients, especially in the afternoon"
"Never! I tried too hard to set this place up to be exclusively for women. Do you know how uncomfortable it would be to have men here? I just want girls to feel comfortable exercising without perverted guys or guys with inflated egos!" Maki said with annoyance.
"Okay, then you could advertise this place more" commented Megumi taking other papers, "I'm serious Maki, you really need to have more customers," she looked at how the place was still empty at that time of the afternoon, unless you raise the registration fee and the monthly fee a little bit"
Maki sighed.
"I'll figure out how to solve this problem. Because it wouldn't be fair to increase the enrollment for the few girls who come here"
"The only solution I see at this point would be advertising"
"I could ask Mai or Nobara to help me with that. They have a lot of visitors on their social networks" She sighed as she drank some water.
Megumi looked at her cousin with a serious expression-" I think Nobara would be the best choice for this, wouldn't she? If more girls knew that the girl rumored to be dating singer Yuta Okkotsu or his drummer worked here, we would attract more customers to the place. Otherwise, you're going to need a big miracle to keep this business afloat"-there was a touch of irony in his voice.
"Ha ha, that's funny!" Maki faked a laugh as her face reflected fury, "Like I said, I'll figure out how to fix this"
Megumi took a bottle of water.
"So, when did you and Okkotsu senpai meet again?" he asked sharply before drinking.
Maki sighed. Since Megumi also knew Yuta since high school since he is only one year younger than his cousin.
"It all started about a week ago..." Maki finished chewing, swallowed and continued, "Well, to be more precise, since the night Nobara dragged me to the concert he invited me to. Since then, I've seen him again and my life has gone downhill. And unfortunately Yuta and Nobara are still in contact after we won the backstage tickets, and I'm being dragged into all this because I told Nobara that "I knew him."
"I understand. Well, who would have thought that Okkotsu senpai, the one you made life miserable in high school, would now be a famous Singer"
"You don't have to remind me that he's now famous and I'm now on a tightrope!" sighed Maki with annoyance and getting up to go straight to her punching bag.
"Seriously, I'm tired of hearing about him! Every time I see him, he drives me out of my mind! Every stupid place we've gone with him makes me feel out of my mind, even though he says we've made up, it drives me crazy!" she shouted and kicked the bag.
Megumi understood what Maki was referring to, he took a sip of his drink before replying to that.
"That's because you've seen him and talked to him outside of your comfort zone"
Maki stopped dead in her tracks at those words "What are you trying to say?" the bag hit her, causing her to fall on her side "AUCH!"
"The same thing has happened to you now that you have seen Okkotsu senpai, things fall under their own weight" said Megumi referring to the bag that had just hit her, "Seeing him again was your reality check, just as that bag has hit you. And if you don't feel like yourself, it's because all the places you have visited, have been his "comfort zones". Also, it is common for artists to have an alter ego that they use as masks to be able to address the public, but in their personal lives, they still have their real personality"
Maki started to stand up while adjusting her glasses.
"Now you're a psychologist or what?" she shook out her leggings in annoyance.
"I'm simply trying to tell you that the next time you go to talk to him, make it a place where you feel in your comfort zone."
"Aha, and what should I say to him?" she gave one more punch to the punching bag.
"You could apologize to him for all the bullying you did to him in high school" Megumi replied.
"I already did that and he said it was all without rancour" Maki did some boxing moves and then hit the bag.
"Then you could confess to him what you still feel for him so you can be at peace with yourself" commented Megumi.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?"
"You and I know perfectly well why you started bothering him. And the fact that you feel this way in his presence is because you still have feelings for him"
Maki hit that bag hard one last time because of Megumi's words.
"That won't be necessary to tell him anymore because I won't see him anymore"
"Are you sure he's already forgiven you? Because it doesn't sound like total forgiveness at all" Megumi commented seriously, "Besides, you keep calling him by his first name and when YOU hate someone, you call him by demeaning nicknames or by his last name"
"Whether it's a lie or not, I don't care anymore, because the truth is, I doubt that a "problem" like me will ever see him again..." she said with a touch of pride on her tongue as she stopped the bag.
Megumi sighed, then looked at her watch. It was already 3:45 pm.
"Well, it's time for you to reopen the store" he stood up and grabbed his things, "It's time for me to leave too, I have to go make some other inquiries"
"Thank you Megumi for helping me with this" commented Maki walking with him towards the door.
"There's nothing to be thankful for, it's my job after all, I'm just keeping another family member from going bankrupt" he commented with his backpack on his shoulder.
A few minutes ago. Near Maki's gym.
03:20 p.m.
Yuta had already walked around the neighborhood several times. He had run, jogged and walked.
He was so focused on listening to music and admiring the buildings and stalls in the shopping area that he hadn't realized he had wandered too far from the residential area.
Yuta thought that maybe nothing would happen to him and more that as Geto said, if he never took off his mask, he would go completely unnoticed.
But as bad luck would have it, he was so distracted that he hadn't noticed that a small group of five girls had been chasing him for two blocks.
At first, one of them looked at him like one of the crowd. However, a fleeting moment was enough to change her perception. Yuta slightly slipping his mask and taking off his cap to wipe off his sweat, exposed his face for a few seconds, making that girl suspect that he was the singer of the moment.
"Hey, I think that guy is Yuta Okkotsu" commented the girl who had been staring at him.
"Who?, the scruffy one over there?" commented her friend.
"Yes, that one"
"I don't think that guy" said another of her friends with a tone of disgust at the sight of him drenched in sweat, "is the sexy Singer"
"I can swear it's him!" she turned her gaze to Yuta, as he was resting lightly on the other side of the street, "It's just that now that he's taken off his cap and mask and looked at his face, I can tell it looks a lot like him"
"You've got to be kidding! I don't think he is that singer. Besides, he's always surrounded by security" commented another of the girls.
"Hey, what if we follow him to confirm if it's him or not" suggested the girl who seemed to be the leader and the most daring of the five, "If it turns out to be Yuta we could take pictures with him and by the way, we could ask him to go come out with us"
"I like the idea, so we could be their girls" commented the girl who started the conversation.
"What if it's not him?" asked the second girl who had spoken.
"Well, we apologize and that's it, but if he's cute, we could ask for his number" suggested the leader of the group again.
And so they did, those five went after him, chasing him at a distance for about ten minutes.
Yuta decided to take another short break, and while he was at it, he went in to buy a drink and a small snack at a convenience store.
The singer decided to "hide" to comfortably drink and eat what he had bought, so he went to the side of a street that looked empty.
He slipped off his mask and took off his cap again and wiped off the sweat once more. – "I guess I've walked enough" he looked at his smart watch. It was already showing 3:35 p.m. and the number of steps he had already taken.
He took out his cell phone and noticed that he had a message from Manami telling him not to take too long to come back as they had to go to his singing class. And to take all the care in the world as she didn't want any more gossip notes about him.
Yuta sighed, put away his cell phone and took a sip of his drink.
"Well, I suppose I could go for…" he was interrupted by a shout.
"It's him!" that was a shout full of joy.
"Girls, it's Okkotsu!"
"Yuta!"
Those five began to shout in chorus as they quickly approached him.
The singer took a few steps backward.
"I..."-his legs trembled in panic at the violent way they began to approach him.
"Yuta, can we take a picture with you?"
"Oh My Gosh!"
"I can't believe we just ran into you!"
"Yuta, can I kiss you?!"
Those five surrounded him and began to make a big fuss. At the same time they started touching him on his arms, face, hands, back and hair, so crazy to feel his skin that they even managed to lift his shirt a little.
One of them even dared to take off one of his airpods.
"Stop it please... leave me alone..." he begged, but the girls were mad about him.
"Please let me go!" He begged. He didn't want to be rough with them, he knew that if he hit them or did something like touching them, they could go against him or could damage his reputation.
Yuta at that moment began to feel too panicked by how close those five were and even more by how they were touching him, he began to feel that fear that paralyzed him as in his high school years where some bullies surrounded him like that, ready to beat him. He felt out of breath, he felt the fear invading his whole being, so the only thing he could do was to run away.
He managed to pull himself away from them, who had grabbed him tightly by his clothes.
"Yuta!"
"We just want a picture with you!"
"And your number!"
"Yuta Okkotsu!"
In his escape, one of them managed to tear off his sweatshirt and another one took his cap. But not satisfied with those garments. The five girls went after him.
So, Yuta began to run through those streets that, at that time, were still quite lonely because all the movement was in the late afternoon.
"Where am I hiding?" he said desperately, looking everywhere, looking for somewhere to hide.
At that moment, far down the street where he had turned the corner, he noticed that a boy with spiky black hair had come out of a store that seemed to be the only one open at the time.
The boy in question, got on his bike and started to ride away.
At that moment, Yuta, hearing the footsteps of her harassers, decided to enter the premises in a hurry, without noticing that next to the sign "open" in large letters there was another sign that read "NO MEN, GYM EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN ONLY".
The tinkling of the bell warned that someone had entered the place, and that attracted the attention of Maki, who immediately went to the door to see who had arrived.
"Welcome...YOU!" shouted Maki when she saw Yuta there, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE? HOW DID YOU FIND ME?"
"Maki? Is it really you?" asked Yuta with confusion, sweat pouring down his body and trembling.
"It's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me" commented Maki with a smile and then stuck out her tongue.
"Maki, please help me!" pleaded Yuta, clasping his hands together and gave a quick glance towards the door, "I'm being chased by fans! Please help me with this! I need to hide!" he looked quite frightened.
"Tell me, why I should help you? Besides, can't you read or what? This place is exclusively for women" she explained, crossing her arms. Her pride didn't want to cooperate, he thought it might be a joke.
"I beg you, please help me!" his voice broke, the poor man looked quite desperate, he was really shaking with fear, "I promise I'll pay you back with whatever you want, but please help me, don't let them find me!"
Maki let out a grunt at that, as she heard movement outside her establishment. Part of her didn't want to help him, but seeing him scared like that reminded her of her high school years. Maybe with that action she could prove that she was no longer that girl who once hurt him.
"OK!, quick, hide over here, and don't make any noise!" said Maki, helping Yuta hide under the boxing ring, in a hollow part under the tarpaulin.
The establishment's bell rang once again, warning that someone had entered.
"Welcome girls! Are you coming to take the class for free?" commented Maki with a big smile, as she approached them carrying in her hands a bamboo stick that she used for her training.
"We wanted to ask you if you haven't seen a boy come in here?" asked one of the girls.
Those five scrutinized with their eyes every nook and cranny inside that establishment.
Two of those girls decided to approach the bicycles, while one more walked around the ring, looking around to where Maki's office seemed to be.
"A boy?" asked Maki with a smile and without taking her eyes off all of them, cautiously watching their every move.
"Yes, actually that boy is a singer we are looking for" commented another of the girls, who was looking very attentively at the punching bag and some lockers.
"Which singer?" asked Maki curiously, looking at those five.
"Have you heard of Yuta Okkotsu?"
"He is the singer of the moment!"
"And by the way he is very handsome and athletic!"
"Of course we saw him pass this way."
"And we think it's in here."
Said the other girls as they continued to look at the establishment.
Maki tried to hold back the laughter that wanted to come out of her mouth at the things those girls were saying. So she decided to control herself. She bit her tongue and made a slight grimace.
"Well, don't they know how to read? There is a sign outside that says that men are not allowed to enter this establishment" commented Maki seriously, pointing her cane at the sign, "Besides, I have never heard of that singer before" she lied.
"But a moment ago we saw someone come in here, more specifically a man" commented one of the girls with annoyance.
"Well, the only person who came in and out of here was my cousin Megumi, she is very tall and broad in the back, you can mistake her for a man when you see her from behind" she lied, "but that was about five minutes ago. From then on, only you have entered here" commented Maki seriously.
"So ladies, if you are not coming to take the training" she snapped her fingers, "I kindly ask you to leave, because I have more things to do" she tensed the muscles of her arms, which stood out at that moment since she was not wearing sleeves.
Maki looked seriously at the girl who seemed to be the leader of those five. She made a gesture of annoyance when she saw that the green-haired girl was serious.
On the other hand, the other four girls were afraid of Maki because they could tell that she was not just any girl, she alone could stand up to those five.
"Let's go girls, let's move on, maybe Yuta ran off in the direction of the residential area" said the leader turning around.
"Yes, let's go, it stinks of sweat in here" commented another girl, wrinkling her nose.
"No one wants to train in a place like this."
And so it was, they opened the door and began to walk out of there one by one.
"Come back soon!" commented Maki sarcastically, as she escorted them out of her establishment.
Once she saw those five turn the corner, she immediately returned to her gym, pulled down the curtains on the windows and quickly locked the door, changing the open sign to closed.
Maki sighed, she didn't understand what was going on. It was all quite strange until she remembered that she had someone hiding under the boxeo ring.
"Hey Okkotsu!" she lightly tapped her hand on the floor of the ring to warn her infiltrator.
But hearing nothing, she decided to lift the tarp, noticing how Yuta was down there, in a fetal position with his hands over his ears, it was the typical pose of when you protect yourself when someone hit you.
Maki sighed-"Yuta..."- she stretched out her hand and stroked his hair-" come out, they are gone"
The singer upon hearing her voice relaxed his body and began to crawl out from underneath.
"Thank you very much Maki san, I owe you one or rather, I owe you two. You have already saved me twice from the fans" he said with a slight smile.
Maki sighed.
"No big deal, I guess I owed you" she shrugged her shoulders at the disinterest that response provoked in her.
The singer started to stand up and dusted himself off, admiring that small gym "So this is your business" he said curiously.
"That's right, this is where this PROBLEM Works"" she commented sarcastically.
"That nickname seems to fit you like a glove, doesn't it?" Yuta questioned with a smile.
"Well, you called me that in the first place, remember?" -Maki folded her hands over her chest, "So I'm the problem" she said once again.
"So from now on I guess you'll be "Miss troublemaker" Yuta commented with a light laugh.
"I guess that nickname sounds better" commented Maki with a touch of mockery
Their gazes met for a brief moment, but in that fleeting encounter, a spark of attraction seemed to ignite once again between the two. Maki's golden eyes sparkled behind her glasses with unusual joy, and a smile tugged at her lips. Yuta, for his part, couldn't help but feel a tingling in his stomach and a warmth spreading throughout his body. Especially through his chest, which was still rising and falling from the adrenaline experienced from that chase.
Noticing that Yuta was drenched in sweat and that he looked thirsty because of the dryness of his lips, Maki took a bottle of water that she sometimes left on the benches for her clients and passed it to him.
"Well" she took her eyes off Yuta's eyes, "Let's go to the grain" she gave him that bottle, "How the hell did you find me? And by the way, what are you doing here?" she asked getting serious.
Yuta sighed and sat down on the nearest bench-"Thank you" - he took the bottle, opened it and drank from it before speaking.
"I…" he let out the air with resignation "If I found you, it was purely by chance"
Maki seemed not to believe that, as she grimaced in disbelief.
The singer began to explain.
"You see, I left my apartment to run a little and I went out of the residential area, that's how I ended up approaching this commercial area" he sighed, "They recognized me when I stopped to eat and drink something. So it was my fault for taking off my mask and cap, since that's what gave me away. And if I came in here it was because I saw a man come out" -He touched his pockets, noticing that he was only carrying his cell phone, but not his airpods. "I guess they not only took my sweatshirt, but also my cap and my headphones"
"Well, the one you saw leaving here was Megumi. He came to help me with some things. Only he is allowed to come in here"
"Oh!, was that him? Wow, I would have liked to say hello to him" Yuta smiled when he heard that name.
"That will be another time, but back to the point"-Maki started to scold him –"I told you that a stupid mask and a cap is not a good camouflage!"-she sat down next to him –"And by the way, I told you that if you wanted to stay alive, you should hire private security!"
"I know. My representatives are already taking care of that, although I suppose it must be soon if I don't want something like this to happen again" Yuta sigh, "I just wanted to go out for a quiet walk..."
"And getting out of here won't be easy either, I don't think those girls will give up so easily" commented Maki getting up to take a look outside through the curtain, noticing that those girls were taking one more walk down the street.
"Good thing they didn't take my cell phone" Yuta hurriedly took out his phone and noticed the time, "Shit, I promised to come back soon, I think Manami is going to kill me!" he slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand.
"If your fans don't kill you first. If you try to get out of here, it is more than obvious that they will come back to run you off" answered Maki sitting back down next to him on the bench, "So dial for them to come and get you. Maybe your representatives will bring the army to escort you" she said sarcastically.
"Yes, you're right..." commented Yuta starting to make that call. Which was quickly answered.
On the other end of the phone, Manami's very annoyed voice could be heard.
"Where the hell are you?"
"Em, it's a long story... I'm going to need you to come and get me..."
"Where are you? What happened?" was heard with too much annoyance on the other side of the horn.
"Well, some fans recognized me and ran me to an area I don't know, luckily I found Maki's business" he said with a nervous smile as he looked at Maki.
"The green-haired girl?"
"Yes, that same girl. Manami Do you think you could send someone after me? If I go out, it's absolutely certain that those girls will run me around again and get me. I don't want any more of that"
On the other side, it was heard how that woman was scolding Yuta, since he only had a distressed face.
"Yes, there goes my address" Yuta commented, turning his ear away from the phone. He typed in his password and sent his address in real time to his representative's chat room.
"This is where I am..." said the singer shyly.
Maki did not manage to hear what the woman answered, as she spoke very quickly and angrily.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'LL BE HERE IN 45 MINUTES? WHY AREN'T THEY AT THE APARTMENT? WHY AREN'T THEY COMING FOR ME SOON?" asked Yuta in desperation.
"WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT YOUR NEGOTIATION TO PRESENT YOU IN A SHOW! SO YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT! WE'RE FAR FROM YOUR LOCATION!" shouted Manami.
Maki could hear it all. Even her eyes widened in surprise.
Yuta sighed.
"Okay, I'll wait for you here" one more scolding came out of that phone. "Thank you" he hung up.
Maki pursed her lips a little at all that she heard.
"I guess they won't be coming for you soon, will they?"
Yuta shook his head.
"No..."
Maki growled.
"I guess I'll have to keep the place closed until they come for you" she got up from the bench in annoyance, "What a nuisance to have to take care of you!"
"I'm sorry!" he apologized very sadly, "even so, for helping me and for hiding me, I will repay you with whatever you ask of me" said Yuta, clasping his hands together.
"It's all right. You'll pay for it later. Although I still don't know how I'm going to put up with you for more than half an hour" commented Maki reluctantly and with a grimace on her lips.
"I guess you can make yourself comfortable. You're lucky I don't have any more customers in the afternoon" she commented, looking up at him from where she was standing.
"Thank you very much Maki san! I'm really dead.."
Yuta sighed and decided to lean his back for a moment on the bench where he was sitting, he was really exhausted, but at that moment, the skin on his back began to burn raw.
"OUCH!" he complained, sitting up quickly.
"What's wrong?" asked Maki, raising her eyebrows as she watched him moan and writhe in pain.
"I feel something on my back!" he said, trying to reach with his hand to the part that hurt him, trying to put his arms behind his back but without success, "I feel very hot and it hurts…"
Maki approached him, "Let me check you. I don't want you to sue me because something happened to you inside my gym either" she ordered, standing in front of him.
"Okay" - Yuta stood up, turned around and lifted up his shirt on the back side.
Maki opened her eyes wide as she noticed that Yuta had nail marks all over his back and shoulders. Those marks were burning bright red against the artist's skin.
"Maki, what's wrong with me?" asked Yuta in that awkward position of being half-humped from holding his shirt.
Maki carefully placed her hand on Yuta's back, gently running her fingers along the side of those marks and in passing noticed that he had a very broad and pronounced back.
Since when had he become so fucking strong and lathe-turned?
She mentally wondered as her fingers traced down the center of his back and up toward his shoulders.
"AUCH! Maki!" Yuta took off his shirt, "What's on my back?" he asked again.
"Those are scratches" she said quickly, "Are your fans cats or wolves? Because this looks more like an animal attacked you!" she ran her fingers over those red marks and noticed that he also had red lines on his arms, which were also marked. Those were no longer the thin arms she had once mocked.
Yuta turned around quickly, revealing his naked torso, which was also defined. That singer had beads of sweat all over his body.
"SCRATCHES?" He was startled "I must have gotten them when they took off the sweatshirt I was wearing!" he checked his arms. He even tried to check his back against that mirror they had in the gym, but he couldn't see himself well.
Maki swallowed some saliva, which had formed in her mouth at the sight of Yuta's marked physical change, even her cheeks tinged a little at the sight of him up close.
"Maybe they started to burn because of the sweat and the fabric against your skin" she explained, approaching him and taking a picture of him with her cell phone.
She put her hand on his back, very close to those scratches, causing him, again, to let out a groan.
Maki took that photograph and showed it to Yuta "Look, they are even bigger than my hands"
Yuta looked at that image with horror.
"I guess Manami and Geto will kill me when I tell them this!" He sighed, "I didn't think the fans would be this dangerous!"
When Yuta was about to cover himself with his shirt again. Maki stopped him.
"Wait! Are you really going to cover yourself again without disinfecting those wounds? What if those bitches have rabies or worse!" said Maki, crossing her arms.
"Huh?" Yuta asked with confusion.
"I'll get the first aid kit, at least disinfect those scratches, we don't know what those girls could hit you and I don't want your representatives to think that you got those wounds here" said Maki turning around.
"O-okay," Yuta commented, sitting back on the bench. He looked over his shoulder, those wounds were really burning.
Maki looked away from Yuta's body and went to one of the walls where they had that first aid kit. She pressed her lips together to get the image out of her head. It wasn't only her cheeks that had warmed up.
She took the first aid kit, also went for some wet wipes she had in her office and returned to that bench, sat down behind Yuta, looked once again at that scratched back, the one that for some reason looked quite desirable.
Maki first put some anti-material gel on her hands, immediately cleaned those wounds very carefully with the wet wipes, as one or the other scratch even released slight droplets of blood, and then began to look for the antiseptic.
"Okay, this is going to hurt even more" commented Maki starting to apply that antiseptic against Yuta's skin.
Yuta complained too much once that liquid touched his injured skin and even looked at it over his shoulder, "IT HURTS! REALLY, IT HURTS!" he grunted a little.
"Of course it's going to hurt, idiot! Or do you want them to get infected!" replied Maki with annoyance as she applied some more of the liquid on his shoulders. – "Besides, I don't want to get in trouble with your representatives and have them think that I gave you these scratches. So stay still and cooperate"
"Seriously..". he complained once again –"I should never have left the apartment"- he said with regret for the burning.
"You see? That's why I tell you to have a bodyguard or, in your case, learn to defend yourself. They left you scratches, I bet that if they had been other people, they would have left worse marks on your skin" she scolded and let the antiseptic work, "Luckily you won't need me to put a bandage on them, the very slight bleeding started with the first pass"
"OK…" He sighed, resting his elbows on his knees, the burning was wearing off.
But Maki could not take her eyes off that back, to which she took some pictures holding that antiseptic in case she had to have proof that she did not cause those wounds. In addition, she caressed a little the skin of the areas of that back that were not scratched. She could not resist the temptation. Who would have thought that she would have that view and by the way, she could be touching the back of a singer like him.
"What are you doing?" questioned Yuta when he heard Maki's cell phone ringing as she took a picture and felt her fingers against his back.
"I take proof to make sure that I didn't give you these marks, on the contrary, so that it will be known that I cured them and you don't want to send me to your lawyers" she commented, showing those photos.
Yuta saw those pictures, but he shuddered as he still felt her fingers running up and down his middle as if it was amusing her "I see... relax, even if you had made these marks on me, I wouldn't send you to my lawyers for this."
"Maybe" Maki's Hand continued to caress the skin in the center of Yuta's back, gently stroking him and making him flinch at her touch.
"Although rather than taking evidence, you seem to be having fun in another way" he replied with a faint smile over his shoulder.
"A little, though I would never leave marks like these on you, perhaps mine could be much worse" she suggested teasingly, but there was also a bit of flirtation in those words as her fingers paused.
"But anyway, consider it a consolation and a token of kindness on my part to have saved and healed you" she said, patting him gently on the shoulder so that he would stop looking at her, making him smile a little, closing his eyes from the slight sting of that touch. Which for some reason he enjoyed a little since it was pleasant coming exclusively from her.
"Okay, tell me, how did this happen? From where did those crazy women start chasing you?" asked Maki to have something to talk about, "so I can be your witness in case you have to answer to your representatives and the pólice"
Yuta smiled slightly, he felt he could trust her –"All right and thank you very much Maki san"
And so he began to tell her everything that had happened.
About seven minutes passed, they both talked a bit about those injuries and how that chase happened while that pain was already passing. Maki had also given him a pill for the pain. Although her hands continued to caress his back and shoulders.
"If those five girls saw this, they would be dying of envy". Maki thought to herself. She didn't know why, but the thought of those situations where she could consider herself "lucky to be with that singer" began to please her.
After a few more minutes, where Maki just kept caressing Yuta's skin, which hurt less from her caresses.
Yuta turned around and they both looked at each other head on for a moment, that blue gaze of her made Maki's heart race a little.
"Seriously, I owe you one more. Maybe even now I could consider you as a guardian angel" said Yuta with a big smile.
Maki swallowed and blushed slightly, "As I said, consider it a sign that I have already changed. As you can see" she lifted her face proudly, "I'm no longer the same girl you knew in high school"
"Hehe very good. That's giving you extra points with me to consider you as a new person"- he let the air out in a smile- "I'm liking this new Maki too much"
Maki upon hearing this, seemed to have come up with a plan to distract herself a little more while they arrived for this singer.
Maki stood up. She seemed to be in a very good mood now.
"Good! Now that you've told me everything you experienced with your crazy fans and that you've seen that I'm a better person, I've come up with an idea"- she gave a clap as she stood up- "put on your shirt and stand up, it's time to teach you some self-defense tricks"
"Okay, although now you seem quite cheerful" he replied with a small smile.
"Let's say we should kill time while they come for you" she said with a big smile.
They were about to move to the next level on top of that boxing ring.
The tempers between the two were heating up in that training session and the flirting escalated one more degree. Both were about to succumb to their kisses, caresses and desires, which were still overflowing with passion as in the old days.
Coming soon...
The kiss was gentle and tentative at first, but soon intensified, as did the fire still within her.
Maki's hands tightened further on Yuta's shirt, she really didn't want to let go. While Yuta's fingers tangled in Maki's hair, pulling her closer to him.
"So?" Maki let out a slight gasp as Yuta continued to leave wet kisses on the skin between her neck and shoulder, "Is this also part of the no hard feelings you propose?" she entangled her hands in his thick black hair.
Yuta let out a slight smile on her lips. "It could be..." he whispered before continuing to kiss her neck.
To be continued...