Chapter Text
"Small vanilla chai for...Sato?" Takemichi yelled over the small crowd, placing the cup on the counter and giving the customer a kind smile which of course was received with a look of annoyance. well, fuck you too I guess
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of giggles behind him. turning around he saw his friend, Akkun, mocking the same sentence he said.
"What?" Takemichi asked, it was common for the two to make fun of the other.
Akkun snickered, "Nothing, just remember that time you were in the weird-ass tea commercial."
Takemichi groaned with embarrassment, remembering the said commercial. It was one of his first gigs and the memory of it still haunts the guy.
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Takemichi said with a mocking matter-a-fact tone.
Akkun scoffs playfully, shoving Takemichi softly.
"I'm the owner, I could do what I want-- Hi sir, how can I help you?" Akkun cut off to take the customer's order. Once he did, he continued what he was saying.
"Also, I'm the one who should be saying that to you."
Takemichi flashed a cheeky smile at the redhead, "But I'm your favorite employee." He batted his long lashes in a joking/annoying kind of way that made Akkun throw a dishrag at him.
Takemichi gasped, dramatically.
"Seven shots of espresso AND five pumps of vanilla syrup with whip cream?" Akkun read off the order brows raised. "Just do cocaine, what the fuck is wrong with people?"
Takemichi laughed at his friend's whining, going back to doing dishes when a memory of something important he needed to tell Akkun came to mind.
“So, I got back from my manager…” Takemichi started, waiting for the redhead’s response.
“Haruka-san? What did he say?” Akkun asked as he started on the legal drug concoction that was the drink order.
“Well it was good news! He said he got me an audition for the new show,”
“ Yeah, what's it about?”
Takemichi dried his hand on his jeans before reaching into his pocket for his phone.
"From what I remember, it's a drama about some guy using time travel to save his ex-girlfriend--or something." He saids as Takemichi hands Akkun the phone with a synopsis that his manager emailed him.
Akkun took the phone from Takemichi, reading over the synopsis with a raised brow.
"Time-travel? Isn't that overdone--Large seven shot espresso with five pump vanilla!" Akkun shouted, when the guy picked up his drink, he whispered "Enjoy your legal crack, sir."
Takemichi snickered, "Anyways, the show could be about dragons fighting ninjas. Whatever to get my name out there."
The messy burnette sighed, slapping up a pair of rubber gloves. Takemichi was desperate for any (well not ANY, but you understand) role he could get. Having been trying since college, the guy was getting discorege on his skills.
Sure there were the occasional commercials or indie movies, but it didn't get him anywhere. If it wasn't for his college roommate offering him a job, Takemichi would have been struggling to make a living and pay off student debt.
"Well," Akkun started, "I'm rooting for you, buddy. Don't forget me when you are famous because if you do, I'll leak out all--and I mean ALL-- the embarrassing things you did back in school. Now go clean the bathroom. Old-man Natsuko just left it and it is better to do it now before the customers start to complain."
Takemichi groaned, but it was short-lived with his friend's comment. It was nice knowing Akkun believed in him.
__________
“ Alright Manjiro-san all I need is for you to sign here to confirm and we’ll be seeing you on the first day of filming.”
Manjirou winces in pain at the sharp jab to his rib cage. His manager, Kiyoko, threw him a threatening smile. “ Be polite you damn kid” , he could practically hear behind that false smile.
Putting on his best face, Manjiro leans over the table and shakes the director’s hand.
“I look forward to working with you Wakui-San, thank you for the opportunity.”
That seemed to please his manager and the director enough. His manager’s tense expression relaxed a bit.
He grabs his hoodie and turns to the room letting them know he was going to find a restroom before he signed his contract. Dumb when you think how badly he wants to leave, but Manjiro could use some minutes of fresh air before his manager tried to shove another project down his throat.
Being a child actor isn't as glamorous as one might think. Daily prjects, constently being followed by paparazzi since a young age, dumb celeberty drama "journalists" bringing up his time at rehab and telling everyone Manjiro is just "some washed-up kid star that let fame get to his head and was now a druggy". Like, they weren't completely wrong, but damn could it be such a big deal to have some privacy.
He sighed, lifting his hood over his head to shead himself from any annoying paparazzi that snuck in. Now he's here doing this stupid new film project to repare his relationship with the public--or whatever his manager said.
Suddenly a body collides into him. Warm and somewhat petite compared to Manjiro’s lean and muscular physique.
Manjiro looks up and locks eyes with the most beautiful blue eyes he’s ever seen. Dark and vibrant, you can just get lost in it. The boy in question turns a cute bright red and Manjiro guessed was embarrassed. Scrambling on the ground, the cute stranger tried to pick up the fallen sheets of paper. Manjiro leans down to grab the ones near his shoe and hands it to him with a smile,
“Sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
The boy paused in his actions and turned to manjiro with a shy smile. A smile that made his heart skip a beat with curiosity. Manjiro’s gay ass did have a tendicy to fall for people he just meat, but the feelings would usually die down after realizing he never had a shot with them, so he’ll test the water first before diving in with this one. That is, if he will ever see the guy again.
“ No, please don’t apologize! It’s my fault for rushing in here…I’m sorry I’m just so nervous right now! First I came in late and now I can’t even find where they're holding auditions for this damn show that could LITERALLY make or break my career and now I’m rambling to a stranger. Oh god.” The guy rambled on, making Manjiro laugh at his cute antics.
No Manjiro, remember Edwardo? Stop thinking weird.
He shakes his head, getting rid of the thought and helps the boy off the floor. “Look it’s fine, everyone gets a little nervous. I’ll walk you to the auditions office myself. That is, if you don’t mind” He gives the stranger his signicher drowsy smiley.
“ Really!? Thank you so much!”
The two walk around the hallway in silence, only the sound of Michi’s humming could be heard. Manjiro looks at the black-haired man, questions swarming through his head.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Do you recognize me?’
‘ Do you like sweets?’
‘Can you cook? If so, would you make me something yummy?’
‘…are you seeing anyone?’
Stop! Manjiro scolded himself. You’re not going to make the same mistake again, c’mon what would shinichiro- nevermind he’s a lost cause as well.
They stopped in front of the studio door and he felt a pair of arms grab hold onto Manjiro’s hoodie sleeve.
“I changed my mind; I can’t do this…Please don’t let me go in there.” The guy said anxiously.
Manjiro gave him a reassuring smile, “Hey, you’re gonna do fine. I remember my first audition and I was even worse than you, like falling on my face in front of the director, bad.” He was trying to cheer the nervous boy up and it seemed to work as Manjiro heard (cute) giggles coming from him.
Damn, he just realized he didn’t catch his name, nor did the fellow seem to recognize him. For some reason the thought comforted him.
“Listen,” Manjiro started, “go in there and do your best. The only person who can believe in your talent is yourself.”
With a newfound determination, the black-hair man goes to walk inside, but not before turning around and holding out his hand.
“ I’m Hanagaki Takemichi, by the way.”
Manjiro takes his hand with a smile “you can call me Mikey. S’nice to meet you ta-ke-mi-chi~’ he says in a teasing tone. He didn't want to give his actual name, not because he didn’t trust the guy (he did just meet him, anyways), but just to separate this encounter from his “fame life”.
Michi quickly lets go of his hand. The guy-Takemichi’s ear burned red as he walked inside without another word.
When Monjiro heads back to the office he’s faced by his manager's menacing glare due to the fact that he took so long. Apologizing, he excuses the fact of not being able to find the restroom, and signs the papers. Maybe , just maybe, he could meet Takemichi again.
_____
“ If any third-year tries to mess with us, we just need to name drop Masaru-Kun.”
“ We've already talked with your boss, Masaru-Kun.”
Takemichi goes to read the next like when a hand stops him. His stomach dropped with dread that started to seep into him slowly as thoughts of his failure began to flood through his head.
“Hanagaki-Kun? Thank you for that performance...”
Ah, of course. He bombed it. Here he thought he had what it took and instead here he is proving his parents right.
“Oh well, thank you for your time,” Takemichi bowed slowly in disappointment.
“Oh--ah, please wait for a moment. Can you read for a different character if you can. We think this one would fit you better. Since it’s so sudden, we’ll give you ten minutes to prepare.”
Takemichi reads over the new script being handed to him. A different character? He only prepared for some side character, but he wasn’t gonna let that stop him.
“Living in a crappy apartment with paper-thin walls. Treated like an absolute moron by my manager who’s younger than me.”
“Damn it. This sucks. My life’s ending, and I’m reliving the worst part of it.”
“I ain’t giving up! To not give up, I have a reason.”
The room fell silent as Takemichi performed his line. His heart began to beat rapidly as he hoped for someone, anyone to say something.
“That was great, Hanagaki-kun ! We’ll contact you once we all discuss and make a decision .”
He lets out the breath of relief he wasn’t aware he was holding. Thanking everyone for their time, he walked out of the audition room.
Once the door closed and he was left alone in the hallway, he felt tears of relief stream down his cheeks.
He wasn’t sure if he did well or not but god dammit he tried his best. Whether they choose him or not he can be glad that he did it and he’ll always have other chances.
He takes out his phone and dials akkun to come to pick him up.
“Hello my beautiful Michi, how was the audition?”
Takemichi gave a wet chuckle, sniffling, “Well, I didn’t shit my pants so we’re good in that department. But I don’t know if they seemed to like it but they didn’t say anything else but they’ll get back to me.”
“Are you crying? You’re such a crybaby, ya know that… Well, anyways-- hey why don’t we go pick up some of your favorite fried chicken and gorge ourselves fat with the others?”
Takemichi smiles, rolling his eyes at the thought of his friends having their fill and fried chicken grease staining their fingers “Yeah because Yamagishi and Makoto won’t eat it all before we do.”
There was a struggling sound on the other end, “HEY! That was one time and you guys were too full of takoyaki to eat anymore!”
“Yama, it was a joke alright,” Takemichi laughed at his friend’s antics, “but seriously, you guys ate a whole bucket by yourself and didn’t save any for us later.”
“Only murderers eat leftover fried chicken! You eat that shit hot and ready or not at all, those are the rules!”
There’s a struggle over the phone again, clearly Atsuhi trying to take control back of his phone. Takemichi sees a black Bentley pull up beside him and through the window he can see the man who had helped him find his way around the studio.
“ Need a ride?” Mikey said, tilting his black sunglasses to only have the top of his eyes looking showing.
Takemichi cleared his throat, leaning back into the phone, “Akkun I’ll meet you at my place alright.” He hangs up the call before he could get an answer from the redhead (Takemichi just knows Akkun is gonna rip him a new one for that) and nods to the man inside.
Mikey unlocks the passenger door letting michi get in before pulling out of the parking lot. “Thank you, Mikey. I was worried I wouldn’t have a ride home.”
Lies. He thinks as he had literally told his previous ride to not bother picking him up.
“It's not a problem. Also don’t speak so formally with me, I don’t mind. Anyways, how’d the audition go?”
“Well can’t say much, they made me read for a different character mid way into my audition then said they’ll contact me.” He signed, leaning into the soft plush of the seat.
“Hey man, don’t stress. That could probably be a good sign. They usually won’t do that unless they see real potential in someone.”
“ Do you think so?” Takemichi asked, hopefully.
Mikey turned to him, the hope in his eyes relighting itself at his attempt to make him feel better.
“I know so, remember I’ve been in your shoes before. Now tell me where I should drop you off.”
Takemichi put his location into his phone and the two rode off in a comfortable silence as the radio played Queen's “Killer Queen”.
_______
He groans at the sound of his phone going and turns towards his alarm clock to check the time. It’s only seven in the morning. His shift doesn’t start till eleven so who could be calling at this time of day.
His phone rings one last time before he picks up.
“ Yes?” He groans.
“Hanagaki-kun, sorry to wake you at this time, but it’s important! Life changing even!” He lets out a soft yawn and gets out of bed to start on breakfast. “It’s alright, Haruka-san. Please tell me what’s going on.”
“Okay, you might want to prepare yourself-- oh Imma just say it.”Takemichi could almost laugh at his Manager’s excitement if he wasn’t so tired. “You got the role!”
It takes two minutes for him to process what he had just heard come out of his manager's mouth. Now he was wide wake.
“ Excuse me?”
“You got the part! Well a different part then what you audition for-- but anyways, you’re going to be the main character in the new show Tokyo Revengers!”
Excited adrenaline shot through Takemichi, he could control himself from swearing.
“Are you fucking serious?! I thought I did awful?!” He exclaimed, still trying to fully understand what he was being told.
“Well you did something right ! They said they liked how you portrayed the character, even for just having ten minutes to read over the script and they said that you fit their vision of the character. Look, filming will begin in a month. We have to discuss with the director about the travel and living expenses, but I’ll take care of most of it.”
“I’d have to quit working at the cafe then, I’ll have a talk with my boss and see you soon. Thank you so much for the news!”
“I knew you had it in you, kid. I’ll email you, any extra details and the contract to look over before meeting the director.”
They both bided, a good-bye before Takemichi hung up the phone.
Once off the phone, Takemichi ran laps around the room smiling ear to ear. Finally, he was going to be on every screen in Japan and everyone will know the name Hanagaki Takemichi…Well maybe he can come up with a stage name.