A wild challenge entry appears!
LJ, I choose you! Title: The One Where They Come Out (...so it's a sucky title, sue me.)
When they finally decided to do it, it was February.
It was cold (of course, it was February), it was rainy (the cute little weather-girl on Fuji TV had said there was a 70% chance), and it was a far cry from the sweltering, muggy weather likely to greet them some four months later when they were actually going to do the deed, but then maybe that's what pushed them to do it in June. Plus, you know. Anniversary. The start of summer in true form, and smack in the middle of the rainy season. Tuti had laughed, "At least this way, you can't be blamed for the weather."
But right now it was February, and four months later was far shorter than it seemed. Which was why Takashi was slumped in a chair, back starting to ache from the awkward position, in an austere meeting room at the Geiei Entertainment offices in Setagaya fielding the accusing, disappointed glares of Tamaoki-san and Zono-san. The silence, as the saying went, was deafening, and if one of his managers didn't start talking soon instead of rubbing their temples and sighing loudly, flipping back and forth through the thick copy of his contract they both had in front of them when they'd already been "discussing" his situation for an hour, he was going to scream.
Zono-san broke first. "Takashi-kun, I'm sorry, I just don't see how you can justify it--I know this contract by heart now, I've been reading it over so much the past few days--and it's just not going to be allowed."
"They'll come down on you, Takashi. Hard," Tamaoki-san rejoined with a nod, gesturing to the contract and tapping a finger on the sheaf of papers. "Sano-san flubbed that one time a few years back in--what, 2005? And you saw what happened--no professional interaction with *pnish* as a group for one year, and with Tsuchiya-san specifically for two." He ran a hand through his hair with a wince, as if mentally retreating back to the days of yesteryear. "Thank god you'd already signed on for the Bleach musical and they couldn't pull you out, or who knows where you'd be now."
Takashi rolled a pen across the table between his hands, doing his best to ignore them; it felt like he was getting a scolding from his parents, and he'd been quite glad to have left that behind 10 years ago. He refrained from reminding Tamaoki-san that the only reason Geiei found out about that one-time slip of the tongue that the group's leader was so famous for was because Tamaoki-san himself had mentioned it in a report.
"Breach of contract, they'll say. It happened with Kamano-san back in, what was it, 2006?"
"Kamano-san slept with a fan and got her pregnant, though!" Takashi returned defensively, internally bristling at the implication his situation was anything to be ashamed of. "Of course they'd do something about it. That's nothing like what I want to do."
"No--but you want to do something that's going to come as not only a shock to many of your thus-far loyal fans, but likely to drive many of them away. You signed a contract when you started at this agency--"
"I didn't sign my life away though. I like it here, I like you as my managers--" The two shared a glance; sometimes they wondered if Takashi really did appreciate them. "--but, this is--" Takashi sighed, rubbing his eyes. It was 10:30 in the morning; why did he already feel this exhausted? "Isn't there anything I can do to let this happen?"
"Even if there were--" Zono-san started, pursing her lips, "--it would only address half of the problem. I'm highly skeptical of Tsuchiya-san's newly minted agency contract including any stipulations regarding--regarding--" She struggled for words, gesturing wildly with her hands, and Takashi saved her the effort with a biting retort.
"Regarding admitting to the world that you've been sleeping with your best friend for the past five or so years, right under their noses?"
"In so many words, yes." She waved a hand at the contract before her. "It specifically states in here that all clients contracted with Geiei Entertainment are to refrain from engaging in any public relationships of a romantic nature. In the past, it's proven nothing but trouble for all parties involved, and if you really go through with this, I think being dropped by the firm will be the least of your worries--forget potentially being sued for breach of contract. And I'm pretty sure Tsuchiya-san's contract says about the same thing."
"He's the one who brought it up in the first place--his own manager--"
Tamaoki-san snorted. "He's got a manager?"
Takashi frowned, but didn't reply. "His own manager was the one who suggested it; wouldn't you think she'd have done some research into whether or not it was even allowed before bringing it up?"
Tamaoki-san muttered something possibly questioning Tuti's manager's mental faculties if they had taken on the man as a client, but Zono-san spoke over him, "Tsuchiya-san's manager doesn't have your best interests--personal and professional--at heart, though. His manager's responsibility is, first and foremost, to her client, Tsuchiya-san. Not *pnish*, not you--Tsuchiya-san." She pursed her lips, pausing a moment before adding, "Besides, it'd hardly be as big a blow to his fans as it would to yours--"
Takashi shot her a glance, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tamaoki-san stepped in. "Takashi, the girls expect things from you. Fun events, entertaining concerts, and you giving your all on stage; all things you've never come up short on, I will grant you that. But they won't like this, it's plain and simple. And if they're not happy with you, then they're not going to pay to come to your events or concerts or shows. You've got to draw a line--would you rather have a career, or a boyfriend?" He waved a hand and backed up his words when Takashi opened his mouth to respond, "--and I'm not saying you can't have both; forgetting how I feel about Tsuchiya-san himself, you've been more than discreet enough that this relationship hasn't hurt your image all these years. By all means, continue it. But just that way: discreetly."
"Besides, Takashi," Zono-san rejoined, "Do you really want to jeopardize ten years of hard work, for what might amount to little more than a long fling? What happens when you break up? Are you going to be obligated then to tell your fans--"
"Who said anything about breaking up?" He certainly didn't appreciate the possibility being codified with a "when" rather than an "if". "Five years and going--half of those ten years are thanks to him. I'd say this is more a step towards solidifying that than marking the downward spiral."
Zono-san folded her hands and cleared her throat, focusing on the papers before her and trying to hide her flustered blush. "I didn't mean it that way," she rushed out, then looked over to Tamaoki-san for support, "But still, think about it, tossing yourselves out there, it'll just be more trouble than it's worth. If by some miracle most of the girls don't just take their money and leave, you--and by you, I mean the both of you--are going to be under just that much more stress and scrutiny--"
"The more we talk about this, the less I'm convinced Tsuchiya-san even knows what he's getting into," Tamaoki-san laughed roughly. Takashi had to admit, he kind of agreed on that point; Tuti was hardly one to seek the spotlight.
"--and then what will you do, Takashi?"
"I don't recall there being any rule about being a couple publicly that said I had to let the fans in my bedroom--"
"Might keep some of them interested if you did..." Tamaoki-san suggested idly. Zono-san shot him a look, and he quieted down.
"Just because I'm not secretive about dating someone doesn't mean I have to let them know every detail, or blog about every date or movie night or--"
"We get the picture," Zono-san stopped him, face taut.
"Zono-san, Tamaoki-san, please. Help me do this. You've always helped me make all the other goofy, shot-in-the-dark ideas I've had in the past come true. I mean seriously--a school? An onsen tour? Bungee jumping? I couldn't have done any of that stuff without you, and now...now this is something even more important to me. There has to be something you can do, some loophole..."
"Some way you won't get the pants sued off of your momojiri ass, you mean." Tamaoki-san looked up, smiling with his eyes, but pursing his lips as he flipped through the pages of the contract.
Zono-san sighed and tossed her copy of the manuscript into the center of the table, rubbing her temples as she settled her elbows on the table. "Fine--how about...I don't know. Let's just...meet with Tsuchiya-san and his manager, all of us. Maybe she's got some ideas on how to keep you out of trouble if you're so bent on doing this."
With her eyes closed, she couldn't see Takashi's humble smile, only hear his whispered, "Thanks, Zono-san. Tamaoki-san."
"Tamacchi wants a meeting."
Tuti nearly choked on his beer, coughing loudly and drawing a chiding stare from a mother sitting two tables away trying to keep her own boys quiet as they clamored for more juice. Tuti cleared his throat, admonished and feeling as if it were his own mother coming down on him, and carefully pushed the bottle back towards the center of the table where it could surely do him no more harm.
"Careful," Takashi smiled at the display, "Or else there'll be no reason to meet at all."
Tuti wiped his lips with his sleeve. "A meeting? With who?"
"Us, your manager, and my managers."
"...What for?"
Takashi rolled his eyes. "Did you really think it was going to be that easy? I've got a contract; I can't just go spouting my mouth off whenever I feel like it--"
"Hey," Tuti snapped back, hurt, "I can't do whatever I want either, you know. Even without an agency to worry about, there was always *pnish* to consider."
"That reminds me--just how the hell did you get Daiki-chan to approve your doing this?" It was a fair question; at least Takashi only had himself to worry about if this all fell through. For Tuti, it was his and *pnish*'s asses on the line. "...You did tell him what we're doing...right?"
Tuti shook a finger at him. "Give me some credit; I've got it under control."
Takashi raised an eyebrow. Now he was genuinely curious. "So how'd you do it?"
Tuti dared another draw from his beer, leaning back when their waitress stopped by the table to refill Takashi's water and offer him another cup of coffee, which he declined. "I'm a smooth talker; he's fine with it."
"Liar," Takashi snorted incredulously, "You're always complaining how your moves don't work on Daiki-chan."
"Fine, fine," he waved the man's doubt off, "There may have been some alcohol involved..."
"You got your Leader drunk to try and pry permission from him? Tsuchiya-san, I'm shocked you'd stoop to such levels."
"Yeah, laugh it up--he sobered up pretty quickly when I casually mentioned, 'Oh by the way, Takashi and I wanna tell everyone we're dating; you okay with that?'"
"Mmmhmm."
"It took me five minutes to clean the beer off my TV screen where he spit all over it! And...yeah he was kinda vehemently against it at first, but...well, we talked. For a while. Probably longer than we've talked in a long time, actually. And in the end...he was...okay. Not happy, but...at least he didn't strap a gag order on me. Mentioned something about, 'Well most of them already think you're gay anyways'." He shrugged. "I guess if he was able to give in, he was convinced it wouldn't be that big a deal and that *pnish* could handle it. Or he was already thinking of ways to cut me out of the group, I dunno."
"Hm," Takashi muttered a sound of agreement, and Tuti paused with the beer bottle halfway to his lips.
"...You don't think it won't be that big a deal?"
He gave Tuti a look. "If I did, we would've done this years ago." Tuti ducked his head, and Takashi felt remorse; this whole affair was leaving him in a sour mood. He could hardly be pissy for the next four months (longer, if things didn't go well). "Sorry, just..." He looked over at the mother and her sons, who were now digging messily into child-sized hamburg steak dinners. "I really want this to work..."
"Hey." Tuti tapped the table in front of him to get his attention. "It'll work out." Takashi gave him a small smile, grateful the man was at least trying to make him feel better. "I'm serious--one way or another, if we want this to happen--and I know I do--then...it'll happen. And you won't get sued, and we won't lose our jobs, and we'll--I dunno, move to some nice quiet little neighborhood in Shinagawa or something and buy...a poodle."
Takashi's smile widened, and he let himself believe Tuti, just for now. "A poodle?"
Tuti nodded. "The only respectable breed of dog, you know."
"I recall some little horoscope book someone keeps at the head of his bed that said he was a shetland sheepdog..."
"Never said I was respectable."
"Uh huh. And...this apartment we're going to have..."
"Shinagawa. 2K. We'll definitely need a 2K. Maybe a 2LDK, even."
"Right. So, why Shinagawa?"
"Well it's quiet, cheap, still close to rehearsals..."
"I'm liking the sound of this..."
"...And the Prince Hotel has amazing courts on its roof; we could go there on the weekends and stuff, or you know--whenever we have time off. And there's always doubles pairs up there. We weren't too bad before, remember? We could get some pretty good workouts in that way."
Takashi laughed, and the mother shot him a look now. He quickly covered his mouth and muttered in a lower voice. "Should've known there'd be a catch." The waitress came by one more time to offer him a refill on his coffee, and he declined again. They needed to be going. "So...when are you free?"
"For what?"
A beleaguered sigh. "The meeting? With us, our managers? You know, the one about our future?"
"Right right right. Damn. I dunno--I've got an audition Wednesday, but that's it I think...Horie-san wants to meet for coffee tomorrow afternoon. I can mention it to her then, and text you the details. Any days to steer clear of?"
Takashi shook his head no; pretty much all other plans had been put on hold by Tamacchi until this ordeal was sorted out, which didn't look to be happening soon at this rate.
"Right; sooner's better than later though, I guess?" A nod. "I'll shoot for Thursday, then. And call you tomorrow after I've cleared it with Horie-san." Takashi gave him another mute nod, and Tuti reached across the table to stroke the finger tapping idly against his coffee cup. "Takashi."
He looked up, realizing he'd gotten lost in his own thoughts again, "Sorry."
"For what?"
"For this being so hard." He smiled wryly. "I'm pretty sure if you'd known it'd be this much trouble you wouldn't have brought it up in the first place."
"I would have," Tuti returned flatly, his monotone voice sounding somehow ten times stronger and more confident than Takashi felt at the moment. "I would have, still."
Takashi gave a rough laugh, and let his gaze fall on the mother and her sons again. The children were still eating contently, but the woman was staring at them now, lips pursed, and Takashi quickly pulled his hand into his lap, adjusting his hat a bit lower with the other. He cleared his throat. "Let's get out of here."
Tuti frowned at him, hand still reached forward where they'd had contact, but said nothing contrary. "Sure you don't want a cup for the road?"
Shuffling out of the booth and into a standing position, Takashi scoffed as he rifled through his bag looking for his wallet. "Are you actually encouraging my addiction?"
"We all have our vices," Tuti reasoned, slinging his own bag over his shoulder and waiting patiently while Takashi adjusted himself. Somewhere between the man pulling out a few crisp thousand-yen notes from his wallet and finally finding his glasses case, Tuti stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Let's go to your place tonight."
Takashi smiled slowly, anticipation doing more for his energy levels than a cup of coffee any day, but gave no other outward appearance he'd heard the suggestion, instead carefully repositing his empty glasses case into his bag after settling them on his face. "I don't recall inviting you over."
"Mmm, I didn't ask," Tuti responded primly as they made their way to the register. A waitress bustled past them to reach the counter first, taking the proffered receipt. Takashi was about to protest when Tuti thrust a 5000-yen note in the tray, but at Tuti's sharp glance, he simply rolled his eyes and pushed past the other man outside, taking in deep breaths of the clean night air.
When Tuti joined him a moment later, fingers already fumbling for a cigarette, Takashi grumbled his discontent on the way to the station. "You know I don't like it when you treat me."
"What, worried about looking like a couple?" Tuti needled, and while he may have been smiling that teasing smile of his, Takashi sensed something underneath it. "Gonna stop whining about it after...you know...?"
Takashi glanced at him sideways, wary of how serious to take the suggestion. "Well, I may have to meet...certain expectations then."
"Ah, so that's what this is about."
"And anyways, you only treat me 'cause you think it'll get you sex later on."
"That's because it usually does. Pavlovian response."
"Mmm, that's no good then..." Takashi crossed his arms in thought. "I'll have to wean you off of that."
"Oi oi, I just spent 2000yen on you; I should get some kind of compensation." Takashi stopped walking, arms still crossed, and gave the other man an appraising look. Tuti stopped a few steps ahead when he realized Takashi was no longer beside him. "What?"
"...Just trying to figure out if I'd rather do you, or just repay the 2000yen."
Thursday as it turned out, much to Tuti's dismay, was perfect for Horie-san's schedule, and after a flurry of text messages, Takashi finally sent word back that Tamaoki had reserved a room at the Geiei Entertainment offices for them from 1 to 3 PM, with an option to extend if absolutely necessary.
Tuti hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but hardly ever got his way when it came to vain hope regarding long meetings. Nevertheless, he put on a pressed shirt to look nicer than usual, debated wearing one of their collaboration bags to try and pull the sympathy vote, and instead wore their shirt underneath his button-up. He wouldn't lie to himself; it was less about impressing them and more about having something to hold on to, something tangible, as he knew the table separating him from Takashi was going to feel like forever.
"Nervous?" Horie-san asked him on the ride over; she'd picked him up in what he assumed had to be a rental, all pristine and smelling of new-car, wearing a sharp, black powersuit to complement her black horn-rimmed glasses and tight bun. He'd never asked her how old she was (that much his mother had taught him), but was comfortable saying she was at least older than he, and truth be told she'd kind of scared him when he'd opened the door that morning, only half ready, and had to endure her getting on his case like Daiki the morning of a show.
"...A little yeah."
"Liar."
"Fine. A lot, then."
"Good, that means you're not a total idiot." The attitude, Tuti could do without. "Just so long as you don't lose your drive, you'll be fine."
"I know what I want, Horie-san. We both do. And we're not walking out of that room without it."
"And I said that's fine, I understand. As long as he's on the same page." Tuti ground his teeth, stomach churning. "He is, right?"
"Of course he is." He jerked forward as the car came to a jerky stop when Horie-san swung sharply into the lot near Geiei Entertainment.
"Well, let's get in there and prove it then."
"Horie Manami, pleased to meet you." Horie-san bowed low, holding out a business card, and received Tamaoki-san's and Zono-san's with a warm smile. All parties delivered the customary greetings, after which Zono-san ordered everyone drinks (Takashi declined anything with caffeine; his nerves were on-edge enough already) and urged their guests to make themselves comfortable, as this was bound to be a long meeting.
Their drinks arrived in short order, at which point Horie-san passed around a sheaf of papers: a generic contract with Office Jr. "I apologize, privacy issues prohibit me from distributing Tsuchiya-san's personalized contract. However, I'm more than at ease discussing an modifications made to his contract."
"We understand," Tamaoki-san responded congenially, pushing a stapled sheaf of papers of his own towards her. "This will be Nagayama-san's. Like Tsuchiya-san's, it's a generic contract, but his current one on file is much the same, with no major differences. I've higlighted the relevant passages, if you'll refer to them on page...oh--8."
Horie-san frowned, quickly leafing through the stack of papers, and Tuti bit his lip, leaning back in his seat and wishing he and Takashi could just leave the room and wait for the decision to be made. Did they really have to sit here and listen to their managers bicker back and forth before coming to a conclusion he was sure Tamaoki-san and Zono-san had already reached on their own? A glance over at Takashi showed he was feeling much the same way, and Tuti managed a small smile, before snapping to attention at the slap of papers being thrown onto the table.
"So--Section 5, Article 2, yes?" Across the table, Zono-san and Tamaoki-san nodded. "Let's see..." She pursed her lips, brows furrowed, and silently perused the highlighted areas. All eyes in the room studied her face--for some look of triumph, or defeat perhaps, or some sign that she knew what she was doing. After a moment, she straightened up in her chair and clicked her pen against the table. "Right then, so shall we go over the situation again, just to make sure we're all on the same page?"
Zono-san and Tamaoki-san glanced nervously at each other, unsure of how to proceed. Eventually it was Zono-san who took the initiative. "That...sounds agreeable. How shall we do this?"
"Well as I understand it--and do correct me if I'm wrong--my client, Tsuchiya Yuuichi--" She gestured to her left, "--is apparently seeking to...well I suppose they're using the term 'come out,' regarding his five-year-long romantic relationship with your client, Nagayama Takashi." She gauged their reactions, and when no negations came, she continued. "At present, there is no stipulation in Tsuchiya-san's contract regarding romantic relationships, public or otherwise, thus I as his manager feel adequately equipped to defend him should his agency voice any opposition to the statement."
To her left, Tuti nodded. And while he hadn't said as much to his manager, even if she was unsuccessful with keeping him from getting kicked out of Office Jr., he really could care less; he'd survived on his own, agency-less, before, and was fully prepared to do as much again.
"It appears then that the only problem we face now is with regard to Nagayama-san. Now, looking at this contract here--" She flipped forward in the papers again before stopping on a highlighted section, "I see the following: 'To avoid any negative impact on his or her image, the client, once employed with Geiei Entertainment, shall cease to acknowledge all relationships beyond those platonic or familial in nature, under penalty of removal from Geiei Entertainment's employ and subsequent legal due process, where applicable.' Seems quite straightforward, and I can understand our dilemma. Have I got everything so far--this is what's holding us up? No subsection 59 clause 77 barring the client from sodomy or anything of that nature?"
Zono-san's eyes got wide and her nostrils flared, and Tamaoki-san actually snorted and covered his mouth--which impressed Tuti, really. Struggling to recover her composure, Zono-san blinked a few times and returned in a strained voice, "No, I--I don't believe so."
"Oh, good," Horie-san breathed. "That would've been tough to work around." She clapped her hands together and leaned forward, sinking into "business mode." "Now, while I will admit this does present quite the dilemma, I've a few suggestions that I'll present here which I believe may provide the loophole you're looking for." She held up her hands to stop any protests, "And yes, I understand that loopholes are far from a sure-fire guarantee of avoiding any unsavory backlash from our clients' going through with their decision, but loopholes are what we've been provided. I intend to do my best to support Tsuchiya-san on his side, and I hope I can count on your support for Nagayama-san...?"
Tuti smiled, slowly but surely, and had to admit, Horie-san wasn't the worst manager. He wondered idly if, when Takashi's contract came up--or he got kicked out--would she consider taking him on as well.
Zono-san cleared her throat, but this time it was Tamaoki-san who spoke. "Of course. It's why we're here, to discuss how these young men can be the actors they want to be and still retain representation with their respective agencies."
"Thank you, Tamaoki-san." She gave him a courteous nod, which he returned magnanimously, and out of the corner of his eye, Tuti noticed Takashi roll his eyes. "My first suggestion, and perhaps the easier to carry out of the two, is this: the wording clearly states that your client is not allowed to acknowledge a romantic relationship. This makes the solution quite simple, then, as Nagayama-san does not need to confirm a relationship with Tsuchiya-san in order to publicly have one. Tsuchiya-san's word alone should be more than enough to satisfy the brief, and by not refuting it, Nagayama-san will be grandfathered in, as it were. In the real world, silence is consent, and there's nothing that contract can say at this point to prohibit that."
"No--no. We decided this--" Takashi interrupted, speaking for the first time when he'd been quietly observing thus far. "--We decided this. It won't have any meaning if we don't both say it, if we don't do it together. It's--cowardly, that way."
"Nagayama-san," Horie-san spoke, turning her piercing gaze his way, and his breathing quickened as he turned on the defensive. "Your contract is doing its level best to prevent any bravery in this respect. I think you'll have to take what you're given on some points."
"Fine--but just...not on this one. I don't want him doing it alone."
Tuti licked his lips, watching the exchange, and spoke up. "Takashi, you don't have to worry, you know. If this is about me, then...really, it's fine." He gestured to his manager. "Like Horie-san said, I'm hardly going to be called out on it, and--"
"No, Takashi has a point," Zono-san joined in now, arms crossed. "It's not only a coward's way out, it'd do little more than simply make a statement. You couldn't actually do anything as a public couple, because that would be acknowledging by action, which is prohibited in the contract." She turned to Takashi to remind him. "Kamano-san and that fan? They never admitted to a relationship, but having it go public that they'd been sleeping together? That's about as hard proof as you can get that there was a relationship."
Horie-san frowned. "An excellent point, Zono-san. I wasn't aware of that incident." Zono-san said nothing in response, simply nodded her agreement. "Well then...I suppose that leaves really only one other option. And it's quite risky, takes more than a few liberties with the contract's wording, and...well, really just comes down to Tsuchiya-san and Nagayama-san to pull off."
Tuti sat up straighter in his chair, and Takashi took another sip of his juice, fixing his gaze on Horie-san.
She looked over the paper before her again. "It occurs to me that...Nagayama-san has many loyal fans. In all the years his fan club has been hosting events, how many unique fans would you say have participated?"
Zono-san slouched back, waxing thoughtful. "I...thousands, I suppose."
"And his performances, as I gather, are routinely sold-out or packed to high capacity--am I correct Tamaoki-san?"
He shrugged, giving it a moment's thought. "On weekdays--maybe 50-60% capacity. Then 70-80% on weekends, and 90-100% for senshuuraku, if it's got a good cast."
"Indeed. And, if those racy little doujinshi Tsuchiya-san has shared with me are anything to go by, quite a large number of those fans already see something that our clients have apparently failed to tamp down enough."
There was a small peep from the corner, and when Tuti glanced over, he was met with Takashi's furious glare and red cheeks. "...What?" Tuti returned defensively. "I had to convince her somehow everyone wouldn't freak out!"
Horie-san ignored them, however. "Zono-san, Tamaoki-san, the language clearly states, 'To avoid any negative impact on his or her image...' the client shall refrain from being in a public realtionship. The prohibition is already qualified with the assumption that it will be a negative impact on the client and thus the company as a whole. So, the way to circumvent this is..."
"...Make sure it doesn't negatively impact their work," Zono-san finished, her tone almost awestruck. It...could work. She turned to Tamaoki-san, who looked like he'd just been punched in the stomach. Oh this definitely wasn't going to be good for his blood pressure.
"That's it?" Tuti interrupted the silence with his usual frankness. "That's all we have to do? Make sure people still come see our stuff?"
"Your plays, events, Lives in Nagayama-san's case. As long as you are still pulling in money, what right does the agency have to dismiss you? Where's the logic?" She flipped the papers over, shuffling them back into order. "With an announcement of this magnitude, you're either going to flop or fly. If you want to save your careers and your asses, I'd suggest shooting for the latter."
Zono-san bit her lip, turning again to Tamaoki-san--it was times like this she really appreciated having a second-opinion in the man. "I...actually think it would hold up. To excuse the violation, I mean. Takashi's one of their biggest cash cows...they wouldn't just drop him if he continued to do as well as he has..."
Tamaoki-san sighed, the weight of the events to come settling on his shoulders. They'd tried their best to convince their client this was a bad idea, and it obviously wasn't working. What did they have left to do but support him as best they could? "I'm hardly the final word on this matter--I can't read his mind." He jerked his head towards Takashi on the other side of Zono-san. "Well?"
Takashi licked his lips, the knowledge that only his charisma would be left to hold him up after he and Tuti jumped off this precipice. He looked at the man across from him, searching his face for some assurance that yes, they could more than handle this, it would be all right.
And there it was.
Tuti was smiling that stupid excited grin, the one that popped on his face when talk came up of playing a prank on someone in rehearsals, or when he'd just executed some particularly difficult dance move without breaking a bone, or when he knew without a shadow of a doubt he'd just said something incredibly witty and made Takashi fall in love with him all over again.
Takashi plastered on a smile of his own, radiating confidence. "Piece of cake."
When they finally decided to do it, it was February.
It was cold (of course, it was February), it was rainy (the cute little weather-girl on Fuji TV had said there was a 70% chance), and it was a far cry from the sweltering, muggy weather likely to greet them some four months later when they were actually going to do the deed, but then maybe that's what pushed them to do it in June. Plus, you know. Anniversary. The start of summer in true form, and smack in the middle of the rainy season. Tuti had laughed, "At least this way, you can't be blamed for the weather."
But right now it was February, and four months later was far shorter than it seemed. Which was why Takashi was slumped in a chair, back starting to ache from the awkward position, in an austere meeting room at the Geiei Entertainment offices in Setagaya fielding the accusing, disappointed glares of Tamaoki-san and Zono-san. The silence, as the saying went, was deafening, and if one of his managers didn't start talking soon instead of rubbing their temples and sighing loudly, flipping back and forth through the thick copy of his contract they both had in front of them when they'd already been "discussing" his situation for an hour, he was going to scream.
Zono-san broke first. "Takashi-kun, I'm sorry, I just don't see how you can justify it--I know this contract by heart now, I've been reading it over so much the past few days--and it's just not going to be allowed."
"They'll come down on you, Takashi. Hard," Tamaoki-san rejoined with a nod, gesturing to the contract and tapping a finger on the sheaf of papers. "Sano-san flubbed that one time a few years back in--what, 2005? And you saw what happened--no professional interaction with *pnish* as a group for one year, and with Tsuchiya-san specifically for two." He ran a hand through his hair with a wince, as if mentally retreating back to the days of yesteryear. "Thank god you'd already signed on for the Bleach musical and they couldn't pull you out, or who knows where you'd be now."
Takashi rolled a pen across the table between his hands, doing his best to ignore them; it felt like he was getting a scolding from his parents, and he'd been quite glad to have left that behind 10 years ago. He refrained from reminding Tamaoki-san that the only reason Geiei found out about that one-time slip of the tongue that the group's leader was so famous for was because Tamaoki-san himself had mentioned it in a report.
"Breach of contract, they'll say. It happened with Kamano-san back in, what was it, 2006?"
"Kamano-san slept with a fan and got her pregnant, though!" Takashi returned defensively, internally bristling at the implication his situation was anything to be ashamed of. "Of course they'd do something about it. That's nothing like what I want to do."
"No--but you want to do something that's going to come as not only a shock to many of your thus-far loyal fans, but likely to drive many of them away. You signed a contract when you started at this agency--"
"I didn't sign my life away though. I like it here, I like you as my managers--" The two shared a glance; sometimes they wondered if Takashi really did appreciate them. "--but, this is--" Takashi sighed, rubbing his eyes. It was 10:30 in the morning; why did he already feel this exhausted? "Isn't there anything I can do to let this happen?"
"Even if there were--" Zono-san started, pursing her lips, "--it would only address half of the problem. I'm highly skeptical of Tsuchiya-san's newly minted agency contract including any stipulations regarding--regarding--" She struggled for words, gesturing wildly with her hands, and Takashi saved her the effort with a biting retort.
"Regarding admitting to the world that you've been sleeping with your best friend for the past five or so years, right under their noses?"
"In so many words, yes." She waved a hand at the contract before her. "It specifically states in here that all clients contracted with Geiei Entertainment are to refrain from engaging in any public relationships of a romantic nature. In the past, it's proven nothing but trouble for all parties involved, and if you really go through with this, I think being dropped by the firm will be the least of your worries--forget potentially being sued for breach of contract. And I'm pretty sure Tsuchiya-san's contract says about the same thing."
"He's the one who brought it up in the first place--his own manager--"
Tamaoki-san snorted. "He's got a manager?"
Takashi frowned, but didn't reply. "His own manager was the one who suggested it; wouldn't you think she'd have done some research into whether or not it was even allowed before bringing it up?"
Tamaoki-san muttered something possibly questioning Tuti's manager's mental faculties if they had taken on the man as a client, but Zono-san spoke over him, "Tsuchiya-san's manager doesn't have your best interests--personal and professional--at heart, though. His manager's responsibility is, first and foremost, to her client, Tsuchiya-san. Not *pnish*, not you--Tsuchiya-san." She pursed her lips, pausing a moment before adding, "Besides, it'd hardly be as big a blow to his fans as it would to yours--"
Takashi shot her a glance, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tamaoki-san stepped in. "Takashi, the girls expect things from you. Fun events, entertaining concerts, and you giving your all on stage; all things you've never come up short on, I will grant you that. But they won't like this, it's plain and simple. And if they're not happy with you, then they're not going to pay to come to your events or concerts or shows. You've got to draw a line--would you rather have a career, or a boyfriend?" He waved a hand and backed up his words when Takashi opened his mouth to respond, "--and I'm not saying you can't have both; forgetting how I feel about Tsuchiya-san himself, you've been more than discreet enough that this relationship hasn't hurt your image all these years. By all means, continue it. But just that way: discreetly."
"Besides, Takashi," Zono-san rejoined, "Do you really want to jeopardize ten years of hard work, for what might amount to little more than a long fling? What happens when you break up? Are you going to be obligated then to tell your fans--"
"Who said anything about breaking up?" He certainly didn't appreciate the possibility being codified with a "when" rather than an "if". "Five years and going--half of those ten years are thanks to him. I'd say this is more a step towards solidifying that than marking the downward spiral."
Zono-san folded her hands and cleared her throat, focusing on the papers before her and trying to hide her flustered blush. "I didn't mean it that way," she rushed out, then looked over to Tamaoki-san for support, "But still, think about it, tossing yourselves out there, it'll just be more trouble than it's worth. If by some miracle most of the girls don't just take their money and leave, you--and by you, I mean the both of you--are going to be under just that much more stress and scrutiny--"
"The more we talk about this, the less I'm convinced Tsuchiya-san even knows what he's getting into," Tamaoki-san laughed roughly. Takashi had to admit, he kind of agreed on that point; Tuti was hardly one to seek the spotlight.
"--and then what will you do, Takashi?"
"I don't recall there being any rule about being a couple publicly that said I had to let the fans in my bedroom--"
"Might keep some of them interested if you did..." Tamaoki-san suggested idly. Zono-san shot him a look, and he quieted down.
"Just because I'm not secretive about dating someone doesn't mean I have to let them know every detail, or blog about every date or movie night or--"
"We get the picture," Zono-san stopped him, face taut.
"Zono-san, Tamaoki-san, please. Help me do this. You've always helped me make all the other goofy, shot-in-the-dark ideas I've had in the past come true. I mean seriously--a school? An onsen tour? Bungee jumping? I couldn't have done any of that stuff without you, and now...now this is something even more important to me. There has to be something you can do, some loophole..."
"Some way you won't get the pants sued off of your momojiri ass, you mean." Tamaoki-san looked up, smiling with his eyes, but pursing his lips as he flipped through the pages of the contract.
Zono-san sighed and tossed her copy of the manuscript into the center of the table, rubbing her temples as she settled her elbows on the table. "Fine--how about...I don't know. Let's just...meet with Tsuchiya-san and his manager, all of us. Maybe she's got some ideas on how to keep you out of trouble if you're so bent on doing this."
With her eyes closed, she couldn't see Takashi's humble smile, only hear his whispered, "Thanks, Zono-san. Tamaoki-san."
"Tamacchi wants a meeting."
Tuti nearly choked on his beer, coughing loudly and drawing a chiding stare from a mother sitting two tables away trying to keep her own boys quiet as they clamored for more juice. Tuti cleared his throat, admonished and feeling as if it were his own mother coming down on him, and carefully pushed the bottle back towards the center of the table where it could surely do him no more harm.
"Careful," Takashi smiled at the display, "Or else there'll be no reason to meet at all."
Tuti wiped his lips with his sleeve. "A meeting? With who?"
"Us, your manager, and my managers."
"...What for?"
Takashi rolled his eyes. "Did you really think it was going to be that easy? I've got a contract; I can't just go spouting my mouth off whenever I feel like it--"
"Hey," Tuti snapped back, hurt, "I can't do whatever I want either, you know. Even without an agency to worry about, there was always *pnish* to consider."
"That reminds me--just how the hell did you get Daiki-chan to approve your doing this?" It was a fair question; at least Takashi only had himself to worry about if this all fell through. For Tuti, it was his and *pnish*'s asses on the line. "...You did tell him what we're doing...right?"
Tuti shook a finger at him. "Give me some credit; I've got it under control."
Takashi raised an eyebrow. Now he was genuinely curious. "So how'd you do it?"
Tuti dared another draw from his beer, leaning back when their waitress stopped by the table to refill Takashi's water and offer him another cup of coffee, which he declined. "I'm a smooth talker; he's fine with it."
"Liar," Takashi snorted incredulously, "You're always complaining how your moves don't work on Daiki-chan."
"Fine, fine," he waved the man's doubt off, "There may have been some alcohol involved..."
"You got your Leader drunk to try and pry permission from him? Tsuchiya-san, I'm shocked you'd stoop to such levels."
"Yeah, laugh it up--he sobered up pretty quickly when I casually mentioned, 'Oh by the way, Takashi and I wanna tell everyone we're dating; you okay with that?'"
"Mmmhmm."
"It took me five minutes to clean the beer off my TV screen where he spit all over it! And...yeah he was kinda vehemently against it at first, but...well, we talked. For a while. Probably longer than we've talked in a long time, actually. And in the end...he was...okay. Not happy, but...at least he didn't strap a gag order on me. Mentioned something about, 'Well most of them already think you're gay anyways'." He shrugged. "I guess if he was able to give in, he was convinced it wouldn't be that big a deal and that *pnish* could handle it. Or he was already thinking of ways to cut me out of the group, I dunno."
"Hm," Takashi muttered a sound of agreement, and Tuti paused with the beer bottle halfway to his lips.
"...You don't think it won't be that big a deal?"
He gave Tuti a look. "If I did, we would've done this years ago." Tuti ducked his head, and Takashi felt remorse; this whole affair was leaving him in a sour mood. He could hardly be pissy for the next four months (longer, if things didn't go well). "Sorry, just..." He looked over at the mother and her sons, who were now digging messily into child-sized hamburg steak dinners. "I really want this to work..."
"Hey." Tuti tapped the table in front of him to get his attention. "It'll work out." Takashi gave him a small smile, grateful the man was at least trying to make him feel better. "I'm serious--one way or another, if we want this to happen--and I know I do--then...it'll happen. And you won't get sued, and we won't lose our jobs, and we'll--I dunno, move to some nice quiet little neighborhood in Shinagawa or something and buy...a poodle."
Takashi's smile widened, and he let himself believe Tuti, just for now. "A poodle?"
Tuti nodded. "The only respectable breed of dog, you know."
"I recall some little horoscope book someone keeps at the head of his bed that said he was a shetland sheepdog..."
"Never said I was respectable."
"Uh huh. And...this apartment we're going to have..."
"Shinagawa. 2K. We'll definitely need a 2K. Maybe a 2LDK, even."
"Right. So, why Shinagawa?"
"Well it's quiet, cheap, still close to rehearsals..."
"I'm liking the sound of this..."
"...And the Prince Hotel has amazing courts on its roof; we could go there on the weekends and stuff, or you know--whenever we have time off. And there's always doubles pairs up there. We weren't too bad before, remember? We could get some pretty good workouts in that way."
Takashi laughed, and the mother shot him a look now. He quickly covered his mouth and muttered in a lower voice. "Should've known there'd be a catch." The waitress came by one more time to offer him a refill on his coffee, and he declined again. They needed to be going. "So...when are you free?"
"For what?"
A beleaguered sigh. "The meeting? With us, our managers? You know, the one about our future?"
"Right right right. Damn. I dunno--I've got an audition Wednesday, but that's it I think...Horie-san wants to meet for coffee tomorrow afternoon. I can mention it to her then, and text you the details. Any days to steer clear of?"
Takashi shook his head no; pretty much all other plans had been put on hold by Tamacchi until this ordeal was sorted out, which didn't look to be happening soon at this rate.
"Right; sooner's better than later though, I guess?" A nod. "I'll shoot for Thursday, then. And call you tomorrow after I've cleared it with Horie-san." Takashi gave him another mute nod, and Tuti reached across the table to stroke the finger tapping idly against his coffee cup. "Takashi."
He looked up, realizing he'd gotten lost in his own thoughts again, "Sorry."
"For what?"
"For this being so hard." He smiled wryly. "I'm pretty sure if you'd known it'd be this much trouble you wouldn't have brought it up in the first place."
"I would have," Tuti returned flatly, his monotone voice sounding somehow ten times stronger and more confident than Takashi felt at the moment. "I would have, still."
Takashi gave a rough laugh, and let his gaze fall on the mother and her sons again. The children were still eating contently, but the woman was staring at them now, lips pursed, and Takashi quickly pulled his hand into his lap, adjusting his hat a bit lower with the other. He cleared his throat. "Let's get out of here."
Tuti frowned at him, hand still reached forward where they'd had contact, but said nothing contrary. "Sure you don't want a cup for the road?"
Shuffling out of the booth and into a standing position, Takashi scoffed as he rifled through his bag looking for his wallet. "Are you actually encouraging my addiction?"
"We all have our vices," Tuti reasoned, slinging his own bag over his shoulder and waiting patiently while Takashi adjusted himself. Somewhere between the man pulling out a few crisp thousand-yen notes from his wallet and finally finding his glasses case, Tuti stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Let's go to your place tonight."
Takashi smiled slowly, anticipation doing more for his energy levels than a cup of coffee any day, but gave no other outward appearance he'd heard the suggestion, instead carefully repositing his empty glasses case into his bag after settling them on his face. "I don't recall inviting you over."
"Mmm, I didn't ask," Tuti responded primly as they made their way to the register. A waitress bustled past them to reach the counter first, taking the proffered receipt. Takashi was about to protest when Tuti thrust a 5000-yen note in the tray, but at Tuti's sharp glance, he simply rolled his eyes and pushed past the other man outside, taking in deep breaths of the clean night air.
When Tuti joined him a moment later, fingers already fumbling for a cigarette, Takashi grumbled his discontent on the way to the station. "You know I don't like it when you treat me."
"What, worried about looking like a couple?" Tuti needled, and while he may have been smiling that teasing smile of his, Takashi sensed something underneath it. "Gonna stop whining about it after...you know...?"
Takashi glanced at him sideways, wary of how serious to take the suggestion. "Well, I may have to meet...certain expectations then."
"Ah, so that's what this is about."
"And anyways, you only treat me 'cause you think it'll get you sex later on."
"That's because it usually does. Pavlovian response."
"Mmm, that's no good then..." Takashi crossed his arms in thought. "I'll have to wean you off of that."
"Oi oi, I just spent 2000yen on you; I should get some kind of compensation." Takashi stopped walking, arms still crossed, and gave the other man an appraising look. Tuti stopped a few steps ahead when he realized Takashi was no longer beside him. "What?"
"...Just trying to figure out if I'd rather do you, or just repay the 2000yen."
Thursday as it turned out, much to Tuti's dismay, was perfect for Horie-san's schedule, and after a flurry of text messages, Takashi finally sent word back that Tamaoki had reserved a room at the Geiei Entertainment offices for them from 1 to 3 PM, with an option to extend if absolutely necessary.
Tuti hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but hardly ever got his way when it came to vain hope regarding long meetings. Nevertheless, he put on a pressed shirt to look nicer than usual, debated wearing one of their collaboration bags to try and pull the sympathy vote, and instead wore their shirt underneath his button-up. He wouldn't lie to himself; it was less about impressing them and more about having something to hold on to, something tangible, as he knew the table separating him from Takashi was going to feel like forever.
"Nervous?" Horie-san asked him on the ride over; she'd picked him up in what he assumed had to be a rental, all pristine and smelling of new-car, wearing a sharp, black powersuit to complement her black horn-rimmed glasses and tight bun. He'd never asked her how old she was (that much his mother had taught him), but was comfortable saying she was at least older than he, and truth be told she'd kind of scared him when he'd opened the door that morning, only half ready, and had to endure her getting on his case like Daiki the morning of a show.
"...A little yeah."
"Liar."
"Fine. A lot, then."
"Good, that means you're not a total idiot." The attitude, Tuti could do without. "Just so long as you don't lose your drive, you'll be fine."
"I know what I want, Horie-san. We both do. And we're not walking out of that room without it."
"And I said that's fine, I understand. As long as he's on the same page." Tuti ground his teeth, stomach churning. "He is, right?"
"Of course he is." He jerked forward as the car came to a jerky stop when Horie-san swung sharply into the lot near Geiei Entertainment.
"Well, let's get in there and prove it then."
"Horie Manami, pleased to meet you." Horie-san bowed low, holding out a business card, and received Tamaoki-san's and Zono-san's with a warm smile. All parties delivered the customary greetings, after which Zono-san ordered everyone drinks (Takashi declined anything with caffeine; his nerves were on-edge enough already) and urged their guests to make themselves comfortable, as this was bound to be a long meeting.
Their drinks arrived in short order, at which point Horie-san passed around a sheaf of papers: a generic contract with Office Jr. "I apologize, privacy issues prohibit me from distributing Tsuchiya-san's personalized contract. However, I'm more than at ease discussing an modifications made to his contract."
"We understand," Tamaoki-san responded congenially, pushing a stapled sheaf of papers of his own towards her. "This will be Nagayama-san's. Like Tsuchiya-san's, it's a generic contract, but his current one on file is much the same, with no major differences. I've higlighted the relevant passages, if you'll refer to them on page...oh--8."
Horie-san frowned, quickly leafing through the stack of papers, and Tuti bit his lip, leaning back in his seat and wishing he and Takashi could just leave the room and wait for the decision to be made. Did they really have to sit here and listen to their managers bicker back and forth before coming to a conclusion he was sure Tamaoki-san and Zono-san had already reached on their own? A glance over at Takashi showed he was feeling much the same way, and Tuti managed a small smile, before snapping to attention at the slap of papers being thrown onto the table.
"So--Section 5, Article 2, yes?" Across the table, Zono-san and Tamaoki-san nodded. "Let's see..." She pursed her lips, brows furrowed, and silently perused the highlighted areas. All eyes in the room studied her face--for some look of triumph, or defeat perhaps, or some sign that she knew what she was doing. After a moment, she straightened up in her chair and clicked her pen against the table. "Right then, so shall we go over the situation again, just to make sure we're all on the same page?"
Zono-san and Tamaoki-san glanced nervously at each other, unsure of how to proceed. Eventually it was Zono-san who took the initiative. "That...sounds agreeable. How shall we do this?"
"Well as I understand it--and do correct me if I'm wrong--my client, Tsuchiya Yuuichi--" She gestured to her left, "--is apparently seeking to...well I suppose they're using the term 'come out,' regarding his five-year-long romantic relationship with your client, Nagayama Takashi." She gauged their reactions, and when no negations came, she continued. "At present, there is no stipulation in Tsuchiya-san's contract regarding romantic relationships, public or otherwise, thus I as his manager feel adequately equipped to defend him should his agency voice any opposition to the statement."
To her left, Tuti nodded. And while he hadn't said as much to his manager, even if she was unsuccessful with keeping him from getting kicked out of Office Jr., he really could care less; he'd survived on his own, agency-less, before, and was fully prepared to do as much again.
"It appears then that the only problem we face now is with regard to Nagayama-san. Now, looking at this contract here--" She flipped forward in the papers again before stopping on a highlighted section, "I see the following: 'To avoid any negative impact on his or her image, the client, once employed with Geiei Entertainment, shall cease to acknowledge all relationships beyond those platonic or familial in nature, under penalty of removal from Geiei Entertainment's employ and subsequent legal due process, where applicable.' Seems quite straightforward, and I can understand our dilemma. Have I got everything so far--this is what's holding us up? No subsection 59 clause 77 barring the client from sodomy or anything of that nature?"
Zono-san's eyes got wide and her nostrils flared, and Tamaoki-san actually snorted and covered his mouth--which impressed Tuti, really. Struggling to recover her composure, Zono-san blinked a few times and returned in a strained voice, "No, I--I don't believe so."
"Oh, good," Horie-san breathed. "That would've been tough to work around." She clapped her hands together and leaned forward, sinking into "business mode." "Now, while I will admit this does present quite the dilemma, I've a few suggestions that I'll present here which I believe may provide the loophole you're looking for." She held up her hands to stop any protests, "And yes, I understand that loopholes are far from a sure-fire guarantee of avoiding any unsavory backlash from our clients' going through with their decision, but loopholes are what we've been provided. I intend to do my best to support Tsuchiya-san on his side, and I hope I can count on your support for Nagayama-san...?"
Tuti smiled, slowly but surely, and had to admit, Horie-san wasn't the worst manager. He wondered idly if, when Takashi's contract came up--or he got kicked out--would she consider taking him on as well.
Zono-san cleared her throat, but this time it was Tamaoki-san who spoke. "Of course. It's why we're here, to discuss how these young men can be the actors they want to be and still retain representation with their respective agencies."
"Thank you, Tamaoki-san." She gave him a courteous nod, which he returned magnanimously, and out of the corner of his eye, Tuti noticed Takashi roll his eyes. "My first suggestion, and perhaps the easier to carry out of the two, is this: the wording clearly states that your client is not allowed to acknowledge a romantic relationship. This makes the solution quite simple, then, as Nagayama-san does not need to confirm a relationship with Tsuchiya-san in order to publicly have one. Tsuchiya-san's word alone should be more than enough to satisfy the brief, and by not refuting it, Nagayama-san will be grandfathered in, as it were. In the real world, silence is consent, and there's nothing that contract can say at this point to prohibit that."
"No--no. We decided this--" Takashi interrupted, speaking for the first time when he'd been quietly observing thus far. "--We decided this. It won't have any meaning if we don't both say it, if we don't do it together. It's--cowardly, that way."
"Nagayama-san," Horie-san spoke, turning her piercing gaze his way, and his breathing quickened as he turned on the defensive. "Your contract is doing its level best to prevent any bravery in this respect. I think you'll have to take what you're given on some points."
"Fine--but just...not on this one. I don't want him doing it alone."
Tuti licked his lips, watching the exchange, and spoke up. "Takashi, you don't have to worry, you know. If this is about me, then...really, it's fine." He gestured to his manager. "Like Horie-san said, I'm hardly going to be called out on it, and--"
"No, Takashi has a point," Zono-san joined in now, arms crossed. "It's not only a coward's way out, it'd do little more than simply make a statement. You couldn't actually do anything as a public couple, because that would be acknowledging by action, which is prohibited in the contract." She turned to Takashi to remind him. "Kamano-san and that fan? They never admitted to a relationship, but having it go public that they'd been sleeping together? That's about as hard proof as you can get that there was a relationship."
Horie-san frowned. "An excellent point, Zono-san. I wasn't aware of that incident." Zono-san said nothing in response, simply nodded her agreement. "Well then...I suppose that leaves really only one other option. And it's quite risky, takes more than a few liberties with the contract's wording, and...well, really just comes down to Tsuchiya-san and Nagayama-san to pull off."
Tuti sat up straighter in his chair, and Takashi took another sip of his juice, fixing his gaze on Horie-san.
She looked over the paper before her again. "It occurs to me that...Nagayama-san has many loyal fans. In all the years his fan club has been hosting events, how many unique fans would you say have participated?"
Zono-san slouched back, waxing thoughtful. "I...thousands, I suppose."
"And his performances, as I gather, are routinely sold-out or packed to high capacity--am I correct Tamaoki-san?"
He shrugged, giving it a moment's thought. "On weekdays--maybe 50-60% capacity. Then 70-80% on weekends, and 90-100% for senshuuraku, if it's got a good cast."
"Indeed. And, if those racy little doujinshi Tsuchiya-san has shared with me are anything to go by, quite a large number of those fans already see something that our clients have apparently failed to tamp down enough."
There was a small peep from the corner, and when Tuti glanced over, he was met with Takashi's furious glare and red cheeks. "...What?" Tuti returned defensively. "I had to convince her somehow everyone wouldn't freak out!"
Horie-san ignored them, however. "Zono-san, Tamaoki-san, the language clearly states, 'To avoid any negative impact on his or her image...' the client shall refrain from being in a public realtionship. The prohibition is already qualified with the assumption that it will be a negative impact on the client and thus the company as a whole. So, the way to circumvent this is..."
"...Make sure it doesn't negatively impact their work," Zono-san finished, her tone almost awestruck. It...could work. She turned to Tamaoki-san, who looked like he'd just been punched in the stomach. Oh this definitely wasn't going to be good for his blood pressure.
"That's it?" Tuti interrupted the silence with his usual frankness. "That's all we have to do? Make sure people still come see our stuff?"
"Your plays, events, Lives in Nagayama-san's case. As long as you are still pulling in money, what right does the agency have to dismiss you? Where's the logic?" She flipped the papers over, shuffling them back into order. "With an announcement of this magnitude, you're either going to flop or fly. If you want to save your careers and your asses, I'd suggest shooting for the latter."
Zono-san bit her lip, turning again to Tamaoki-san--it was times like this she really appreciated having a second-opinion in the man. "I...actually think it would hold up. To excuse the violation, I mean. Takashi's one of their biggest cash cows...they wouldn't just drop him if he continued to do as well as he has..."
Tamaoki-san sighed, the weight of the events to come settling on his shoulders. They'd tried their best to convince their client this was a bad idea, and it obviously wasn't working. What did they have left to do but support him as best they could? "I'm hardly the final word on this matter--I can't read his mind." He jerked his head towards Takashi on the other side of Zono-san. "Well?"
Takashi licked his lips, the knowledge that only his charisma would be left to hold him up after he and Tuti jumped off this precipice. He looked at the man across from him, searching his face for some assurance that yes, they could more than handle this, it would be all right.
And there it was.
Tuti was smiling that stupid excited grin, the one that popped on his face when talk came up of playing a prank on someone in rehearsals, or when he'd just executed some particularly difficult dance move without breaking a bone, or when he knew without a shadow of a doubt he'd just said something incredibly witty and made Takashi fall in love with him all over again.
Takashi plastered on a smile of his own, radiating confidence. "Piece of cake."