Beautiful Stranger
A Seiya/Usagi alternate reality fanfiction
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The next few months went by in a blur of interviews, recording sessions, and new faces. I could barely keep track of them all, as Taiki, Yaten, and I were constantly kept busy, moving into our apartment, meeting with an agent and arranging the contract, starting to record our own CD. Days were filled with jam sessions at the studios. One of the producers told us we were just what they were looking for; we had sound that was new and fresh, plus the look to go with it. He said he saw true star material in us. Our agent was planning concerts and promotions, television interviews and photo shoots, and I was meeting all kinds of important people in the music business. Sometimes I wondered if this was all just a dream and one day I was going to wake up, even though it felt like I hadn’t slept in weeks.
In a matter of months we had become Tokyo’s hottest new rising stars. I think all three of us were overwhelmed at the popularity we received. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined this would happen like this. Now people would recognize us on the streets and girls would scream at our concerts. It was a bit strange, being a male idol, because I knew that part of it was all just an act. Those girls – the fans – they didn’t realize they were being deceived. If they knew the real me, the scrawny tomboy foster-home kid, they might not scream so loud. I had left that me far behind, though, and I wasn’t going back. I would be important now, and have money to do what I liked with. I could go out dancing all night and no one could tell me I couldn’t, and I could be cocky and arrogant and people would love me for it. I could make three teenage girls sigh and giggle with just a wink and a toss of my hair. If they only knew I had just as much estrogen as they did. I learned to flirt, and be charming. I could dance on the line, and no one ever suspected my true figure. This was a game, and I was having too much fun.
And now here we were – at school, of all places. It had been Taiki’s idea; she didn’t want to see any of us neglecting our education. Now that we had settled into a halfway-normal schedule, we had decided to begin attending school again, and finish our last two years of high school. Everyone around us thought it was a good idea. I would have liked to have spent more time doing idol work, but now I was glad Taiki had badgered us into it. High school would be an interesting experience, and maybe I would even join one of the sports teams. We were met by an excited mob of female students. Why did I get the feeling we were going to be the most popular “boys” at the school?
We were late our first day, because Yaten had been dawdling. (Alright, alright, it was my fault. I slept in.) The principal wasn’t very happy with the drooling girls and ordered them back to class. She gave us a personal tour of the school building and grounds. We missed the first class period, and joined up with the other students when everyone gathered in the yard for lunch. It was a bright sunny day, and my navy uniform was feeling hot. We’d had school uniforms made custom for us. (“Why do we have special uniforms?” Taiki wanted to know. “Because we can!” I told her. “That’s the perks of being famous. Besides, aren’t these so much more cooler?”) There were some students standing together in groups, though most were sitting on the ground with their lunches having noon picnics, a few reading alone by themselves. I saw a couple of girls talking and watching us, and I winked and smiled, laughing to myself when they turned away in giggles.
“Seiya, where are we going to sit?”
“Eh?” I turned my attention back to Taiki and Yaten. “I don’t really care.”
“Ano… Taiki-san?” A girl with short black hair approached Taiki. She held out a notebook. “Taiki-san, could you sign this please? I am such a big fan of yours, of all of you, and I think you all have such wonderful voices.”
“Uh… sure, thank you,” Taiki said, taking the notebook and the pen she offered.
“Hikari,” she said. “You can call me Hikari, Hikari-chan if you like.” She giggled a little bit. “I was so excited when I heard Three Lights was transferring to this school. I was like, I’ll actually get to meet Three Lights and hang out with them! And Ayami was so excited too – she’s a big fan of you, Seiya-san. Taiki-san, do you have a girlfriend?”
I could see Taiki was caught off-guard by the unexpected question. The expression on her face was priceless. “Girlfriend? No, I’m not really interested-“
“Oh, because my sister would be sooo jealous if I told her I went on a date with one of the Three Lights! And I think you’re just my type, Taiki-san. But would you come sit with me and my friends, please? We could have lunch together, and if you like, you can taste some of mine. I made it myself, and it really is delicious. What’s in your lunch, Taiki-san?”
“We were going to eat our lunches together, just the three of us,” Yaten told her.
“Yeah, but thanks anyway,” Taiki said readily.
She seemed a little disappointed, but smiled quickly. “Okay, maybe another time. Bye-bye!” She bounced away and rejoined her circle of friends, and we found an empty patch of grass away from the other students. I sat down beside Taiki, crossing my legs.
“Aaaah, Taiki, Taiki, you have a crush,” I was quick to tease her. “How adorable! Are you going to take to her on a date?”
“Don’t even start, Seiya. Maybe you should take her!” She gave my arm a playful shove.
“Aw, but she seems like a nice girl,” I mocked.
“Hardly,” Yaten droned. “I hate girls who are pushy like that. They’re annoying.”
I smirked. “So, Yaten, what kind of girls do you like?”
She gave me an annoyed frown that was ruined by the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “That’s not what I meant!”
“Sure, sure.” I reached out and mussed up her hair, because she hated that.
“Hey!” she swatted at my hand. “You’re just jealous that she didn’t ask you. Because Taiki’s a regular stud. Taiki-san, what’s in your lunch?” Yaten squeaked in a high falsetto. She latched onto Taiki’s arm and started snuggling up to the brunette girl.
“You’re too good at that, you know,” Taiki said, taking a handful of grass and tossing it in her face.
“C’mon, you know you like it,” Yaten grinned, throwing her own handful back at Taiki.
“Who’s jealous?” I said. “I could pick up any girl I wanted to.” I closed my fists around two clumps of grass to join in the war.
Yaten only laughed and threw more grass at me.
“What? You don’t believe me?” I retaliated by taking a handful and trying to shove it down the collar of her uniform, but she squirmed away from me, laughing.
“Only because you’re famous,” Taiki said. “After she spends a day with you, she might change her mind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I challenged. Yaten squealed as I finally caught her and pushed the grass into her shirt down the back of her neck.
“Trust me. I’ve lived with you for five years, and don’t think any girl could put up with you for more than two dates. Or guy, for that matter. It’s your personality, Seiya. It stinks. And you’d never be able to fool a girl into going out with you.”
“You’re just making up bull,” I told her. I knew better than to take Taiki seriously when she wore that little smirk. I decided it was her turn to get grass down her back, but she fended me off as I tackled her. “Take it back! Take it back!” I demanded, as Taiki broke out laughing.
“You see what I mean?” she said, shoving me off of her and flinging more grass in my face. Some fell on my mouth, and I spit it out. I reached for another clump of grass with evil mischief in my eyes. This patch of yard was going to be bare dirt when we got done with it. And Taiki was going to eat the grass this time, I planned to make sure of that.
Yaten was picking pieces out of her hair when she said, “50,000 yen says you can’t get three consecutive dates with a girl from this school, Seiya.”
Dropping the grass, I turned to her. “Are you kidding? For 50,000 yen? That’ll be easy.”
Taiki leaned forward with her chin resting on her fist. “This sounds interesting. Count me in too, Yaten.”
“Three dates? Any girl would go out with me on three dates. Look at how they all swoon over me at the concerts. Besides, I’m a charmer.” I was being cocky but I felt pretty sure of myself. I knew there were plenty of girls wouldn’t hesitate to go out with me. I was a famous idol, rich, handsome, and witty – a charming bishounen with sapphire eyes…
…wasn’t
I?
Yaten was shaking with giggles. “Okay, Seiya… but we just want to watch you make… an ass of yourself… in front of this girl. I almost feel sorry for her.”
“That’s funny, Yaten,” I said dryly. “But be ready to hand over 50,000 yen when this is over.” I swept my gaze over the schoolyard, looking for the right girl to ask. I stopped at one in particular, a girl with short blue hair and glasses. She sat at the fringe of another group with a book in hand. She looked shy, and that would make my task all the more easy. “That one.”
Taiki shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Let us pick out a better one for you, Seiya.” And my two best friends began searching the students for the person who would become the victim of this bet.
“Her.”
I looked to where Yaten was pointing. The girl had long, long blonde hair that was tied up in two pigtails, with a bun at the top of each. She sat with a group of two others, eating her lunch. I watched her take a big bite of a sandwich, and a glob of mayonnaise leaked out the other end, spilling down the front of her uniform. She tried to wipe up the mayonnaise with one hand while shoving more of the sandwich in her mouth with the other.
“No,” I said firmly, looking away. I pointed to a cute redhead. “What about her?”
Taiki crossed her arms. “Nope. You have to take Pigtail Girl. That’s the bet.”