Chapter Text
The celebrity industry is an animal kingdom.
-Lee Joon.
Maybe it was too much to ask for. A simple weekend off from fans, the paparazzi, and the press. But alas, as the Nation’s Sweetheart, Fairy, or First love depending on who you ask, it was too much to ask for.
Kurapika groaned, he gazed at his apartment floor. His high-rise apartment was in York Shin, Saherta’s upscale modern district. Home to gleaming skyscrapers, designer brands and was the end-goal to most celebrities' financial dreams. Kurapika gripped the stylish flower off the ornament and twirled it around his slim fingers, was all of this worth it?
This time, it wasn’t a celebrity rumor mill or pointless fan wars, it was a simple Ideal World Cup fiasco. Which Kurapika was used to by now, celebrities, actors, rookies, anyone really, choosing him as their ideal type wasn't anything new by any means. He was even referred to as the Nation’s Ideal Type at times.
But somehow this man- or upcoming actor as the tabloid announced- had to stir up Kurpikas perfectly fine Saturday night.
He sighed, “Just one day to myself is too much to ask for.” Although, he appreciates the limelight and all that comes from it: money, fame, and fortune. Kurapika cherishes his fans the most. The ones who always stood by his side and cheered for him when no one did.
It felt so long ago when there was no one to cheer for him. Back when only Pairo stood on the stands, cheering to the top of his lungs, waving his inverted banner around. But now, Kurapika had something else on his mind. He shook his phantom memories away.
He woke up rather rudely, by the shrill of his work phone. He grasped the phone and stumbled off the bed. His eyebrow rose at the caller, Bisky, his capable yet at times inescapably cruel manager. It was unusual for her to call him, Kurapina squinted at the clock, at 4 am.
Whatever it must be, it must be important. He pressed the answer button and Kurapika knew that it was a mistake. A loud shriek pierced his ears and Kurapika tossed his phone away.
“What’s the matter, Bisky? Why are you yelling?”
Despite the distance, Bisky's feminine voice rang clear. Frighteningly clear. How much air does this woman breathe?
“Kuroro Lucilfer said that you’re his ideal type!”
Kurapika paused. Kuroro Lucifer? His name sounded familiar. Kurapika guessed that it had to be a fellow celebrity if Bisky knew of them. And had to be attractive if Bisky called him at 4 am for it.
Oh right, 4 Am. Kurapika rubbed his face and murmured out “I’ll check it! Stop yelling, please.” for the piercing shrills of his annoying, beloved manager.
He typed out Kuroro Lucilfer, and already articles were recommended for him. Kurapika’s eyes widened in surprise. This had to be big. It was trending at the top, alongside other articles published with similar titles.
Kuroro Lucilfer’s Ideal type revealed!
Kurapika rubbed his eyebrows. It has been trending for 48 hours already. Bisky called him in the dead morning for this? Someone’s ideal type?
Kurapika calmy ignored Biskys rants (Lucky Bastard!), in part due to retaliation for calling him at this god-forsaken hour and to protect his ear-drums. He clicked on the trending article, curious to see who the actor was and his ideal type.
Upcoming actor Kuroro Lucifer recently guested on the top show: Entertainment weekly where he played the Ideal World Cup.
Kurapika widened his eyes. Kuroro was attractive- to say the least- but it was the entertainment industry, everyone had to be attractive.
Yet, his face seemed clear of any procedure done no matter how subtle. Kurapika leaned in closer to the screen. He has clear rice-like skin, silky black hair, and most peculiar of all was his tattoo on his forehead. Bisky was certainly never wrong with her tastes, Kurapika had to admit. That is, strikingly attractive men.
Kurapika scrutinized the actor’s forehead. Tattoos were technically allowed, but they were discouraged. Whoever Kuroro is, he had the guts to get a tattoo on a very obvious spot on him. And he had the guts to do it considering that he worked under Netero’s agency.
Although Kurapika hasn’t personally met the man, he heard stories, rumors of the man. None of them are too pleasant. That he had a mean streak, he did not appear to be the soft kind grandfatherly figure that he presented himself as. But then again, Kurapika wasn’t like his image too-then again no one is.
He did puff however at his revolting earrings, he should change his coordinators.
Kurapika scrolled down and found a video showcasing the interview. He hesitated at the play button, it was normal, hell it was expected that people would choose him as their ideal type. The public never caused much of a fuss except for some angry comments or a couple of thumbs down.
Kurapika glanced down at the comments.
1. [+123, -21] How dare you to mention Fairy Pika!!!
2. [+122, -26] I'm a guy and think that Kurapika could do better...
3. [+147, -75] Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a foreign worker... If you want to get to know him, search him up on the internet! How dare you!
4. [+36, -3] Kuroro-ah, stay quiet.
5. [+36, -10] Just stay quiet and make money!!! Who do you think you are to think you have a chance with Pika?
7. [+28, -5] How dare he ㅡㅡ
8. [+28, -4] Never you... never!!!
9. [+21, -5] Out!!!!!!!
10. [+20, -5] This ba$tard, just because we're going easy on him, he thinks he has a chance with another country's national treasure? Screw off!!!
11. [+18, -8] Wow, all he did was mention his ideal man and look at all this hate he's getting ㅋㅋ
12. [+16, -4] Too ridiculous to even respond to…
Kurapika sighed at the ridiculous responses. He didn’t bother raising an eyebrow at the underlying possessiveness. He was unfortunately used to this, the way the public acted it was as if they owned him! Kurapika redirected his eyes at his phone’s reflection, but in some way they did.
But somehow, this Kuroro managed to stir a frenzy. Kurapika slightly grinned, curious to see what outrageous thing this man had said.
He pressed play.
“So Kuroro, you do know that at Entertainment Weekly, we have a special feature where we play the nation’s favorite game: the Ideal World Cup.”
The interviewer, Hanzo was a good-natured host and adored for his entrapping questions and resilient temperament. He had a good-natured vibe and an expert in convincing celebrities to admit embarrassing secrets which turned into a few scandals.
Although Kurapika respected the man, he was sure to keep his mouth sealed when it came to dating rumors from him. However, glancing back at the title, Kuroro didn’t get the memo.
“Okay! Let’s start: Illumi or Pitou?”
Kuroro thought about it for a few seconds and chose Pitou. Hanzo nodded, “Good choice, you wouldn’t want to be on Hisoka’s bad side, do you ?” teased Hanzo.
Kuroro brushed off the question, “Yeah, I wouldn’t.” Kuroro said it nonchalantly, but Kurapika could detect a whiff of arrogance in there. Kurapika rolled his eyes but pressed on.
Hanzo grinned at the next question. “Pitou or Nation’s Love, Kurapika?”
A gasp of sighs was heard from the backstage crew, possibly from the cameramen sighing at the mention of Kurapika.
“The PD-nim just smiled,” Hanzo chuckled, and looked pointedly at the actor,” so what would it be, Kuroro?”
Kuroro smirked. “Of course, Kurapika.”
Kurapika let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He wasn’t sure why this actor had him acting this way. Kurapika smiled, a bit flattered that he was this strange man's ideal type. And yet, why was this on trending? What was so controversial that it was trending for 48 hours?
Kurapika pressed on the video, propping himself on the bed and arranging pillows to his side for maximum comfort.
Hanzo eyebrows comically rose, “Kurapika vs Neon Nostrade?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “Kurapika, no doubt.”
Hanzo grinned, he had the feeling that he will get a great feature story out of this and pressed on.
“Kurapika or Zazan?”
Kuroro smiled and rubbed his chin in mock-thought and easily answered: “Kurapika, without a doubt.”
Hanzo grinned like a Cheshire cat, Kurapika did not trust that smile. Hanzo asked, his face contorted to a smirk, “Kurapika or...Hisoka?”
Kuroro's lips warped in a scowl but were promptly erased if it never happened. But Kurapika was quick enough to see a strained eyebrow at the implication. He couldn’t blame the man. Hisoka was...difficult, to be honest.
“Kurapika,” Kuroro said with finality. Hanzo clapped his hands in aspiration and the stage crew snickered in the background.
“Is he your Ideal type?” Hanzo asked. Kuroro confidently nodded, Kurapika at this point couldn’t deny as a light blush and relief flooded over him. For some reason he couldn't comprehend, he was glad that he was chosen. He chose to, however, think it was from sleep deprivation.
“Would you like to give a message to Kurapika if he is watching this?”
Kuroro’s calm composure slipped-he rubbed his hands and shyly nodded. Hanzo gestured for the Producer to add in a cherry and pink filter on the screen. Kurapika cringed at the display but continued watching, his heart was quaking as the camera zoomed in Kuroro’s handsome features.
“Kurapika sunbae-nim, my name is Kuroro Lucilfer and I’m a very big fan of yours-”
Kurapika cradled his phone closer to him and strained his ears to hear him better.
“You're watching him, aren’t you?”
Kurapika jumped up from Bisky’s voice. He completely forgot that he was still on call with her. He paused the video. He didn’t dwell to think about why he felt deflated, stopping the video and returning to Bisky’s call.
“Yes, I watched the video, but what is the fuss all about?” Kurapika smoothly interrupted Bisky’s lewd cheers.
“Well, as an upcoming actor and all,” Bisky chorded, Kurapika imagined her to pick at her pastel nails, “it’s a bit cocky of him to choose you as his ideal type. People think he isn’t on your ‘level’ and that he should stay at his level.”
Kurapika sighed, the celebrity hierarchy was some twisted make-believe. Made up from the public for them to categorize like objects. Nevermind the fact he was at the proverbial top, it was still unfair of them to criticize the celebrity for admitting his ideal type. Especially since it was them that wanted to know his ideal type.
“That’s-”
“Bullshit? Yeah, I know. I mean he is attractive enough to be on your level, I mean have you seen his latest Phantom Photoshoot?” Bisky continued and Kurapika had half of a mind to hang up on before she cries over his abs.
“Bisky, please tell me later, I want to go back to sleep.” Kurapika pleaded with his manager. Thankfully, she relented and uttered a quick goodnight with the promise of sending him a limited Kuroro poster and ended the call.
Kurapika slumped down on the bed. He placed his phone on his chest and trailed against his porcelain skin. When was the last time he had a day to himself? All of this from a single statement. That someone admitted that he, Kurapika, was their ideal partner.
Kurapika rolled over to his side, Bisky would most likely settle into bed...and watch fanmade compilations of Kuroro until Palm knocked her to sleep. He smiled at the antics of his friends and laid down, watching the stars disappear from the night sky.
Kurapika’s hand twitched as a notification popped up. Kurapika slowly hesitated, while he wanted to sleep, he also wanted to...
He glanced back at the open tab. He did want to see what Kuroro said. And he still hasn’t understood the adverse reaction from the public yet. And the video had only a few minutes left. Plus, he was already awake...
Kurapika sighed and pressed the continue button. He could sleep after watching this video. It is good of him to support his fans. Even if his fans aren’t usually as attractive as this one.
Kurapika didn’t even notice that the sun rose when his phone battery died from overuse. He rolled over to his back. Well, there goes his rest day.