Chapter Text
Gorou's day had been quite decent so far. On average he would wake up at the crack of dawn, check on Twitter, breakfast and head off to class.
Thankfully the walk to bus station is always peaceful, if it's the right time of the season he'd walk slower just to step on patches of crunchy dried leaves. Today happens to be one of those days where he had went out of his house earlier than usual, that being 8 in the morning. His class isn't starting in at least one hour and a half so it's really a nice day out to be less of a rush than usual.
By the time he's near his University, it seems Gorou still has one more hour on him, since he took the first bus there. So he decides to lounge around the cafeteria while he waits for Kokomi at their usual table. It's not far anyways.
Springs in his step, Gorou finally reach his favourite table, exactly near the window but not too far from the stalls aside from the nice devider the place has. Just as he's about to round the corner to the table someone had already been there, and Gorou can see his pre-lecture plan slowly vanish.
" Gorou! Oh my, you came just as soon as I arrived it's as if I picked a nice fated day to accompany you" gentle smile flashes that can be not-so-gentle to certain people.
"Ms.Yae.... Really? Did you track my phone knowing I'm up here early?" He takes a seat across of the fox lady nonetheless. Even only being a couple years older she always gives off a very mature and superior vibe wherever she goes which Gorou is both intimidated and greatful for.
"Can't I pay my little old friend a little friendly visit? Be nice for a moment I'm not here for the whole day,now" manicured nails drumming familiar beat onto the table as she fakes a smile.
Gorou could only repress a sigh. "Well I didn't say that but your visits are rarely ever friendly, Ms.Yae. Is there anything you need to talk about? Your classes are not th same days as mine usually, are they not?"
"Ah yes, that's some nice forwardness! Though I would like it more if you let go of the 'miss', pup"
The eyeroll is enough of a 'i don't give a damn' for her to continue.
"Anyways, remember the Advice QnA section for my weekly blog,?"
"The one that you tricked me into answering 99.9% of the questions for your stupid magazine ? Vividly"
"Fabulous! I've decided to reveal you as the author-"
"Yea that's absolutely-"
"-- for the QnA segment as an appreciation for your hard work! I think it's a fant-"
"Horrible"
"-astic idea!"
"It's horrendous. I'm leaving."
"Hey, why would you think so?!" If Yae is faking her confused expression, she's a good actor, cause' she should have seen this coming.
"Why would you reveal my identity? The sole purpose of the anonymous questions was for me to be anonymous as well! We agreed on this..!" Gorou suddenly feels heat burning on the back of his head, that is no good.
"Gorou, readers are sending less and less questions nowadays, if there's a flashy person behind those answers, there will be fans, more than you think, double or triple the current amount even!"
"Flashy? Aren't you falshy enough with the pink and the ears? Why should I take the spotlight? I'm just a dude with dog features that you picked up in this nonsense"
"But it's your work, you know more than anything on how to go for this role, I'd apologize for anything that made you doubt but taking the credit is way off my rule of work"
Gorou's palms are starting to sweat, he needs time to think this over. When is his class starting, maybe he can go and overwork himself, go home, sleep, and maybe all this would be a dream if be convince himself enough.
"I can't take the credit, at least let it be known that it's your work. I've never once hint that I'd be the writer, it's for both our sakes"
Her usual sugar-coated words are washed down to genuine desperation. Gorou can't let her down, not like this. She's a pain in the ass but she's a 'those few folks he actually trusts his life on with'-pain in the ass
Maybe there's another way?
"... I'll think of something"
"I'd appreciate that, do you want anything for breakfast? It's on me"
"Definitely"
~~~~
"So now you're getting famous?"
"Would you please listen, I've already explain like, three times, Aether"
"Yea I heard, that's why I ask" how is he so casual about this? If Kokomi were here she'd be panicking.
Gorou groaned in frustration, he fixes his gaze back to his laptop screen with the words 'Yae Publishing House! Weekly magazine: get your copy online while stocks last!' written in bold pink. Yae really should hire a better designer for these, maybe a nude pink should work? Nonetheless he's sick of the pink. Not because it associates with certain employee in particular, more so on the pressure he's getting from said employee.
"So your initial plan was to hide your identity for your part-time? And Miko threw that plan out the window , so now you're doing your favourite job without the 'favourite' because the sole thing keeping it fun is threw out the window? Gosh that was a mouthful" the blonde asks, while swirling his drink.
"Yes! Thank you! For understanding... For once!" Gorou sighs as he is finally sipping his own drink and finally realized he ordered the wrong tea. Eh it's still a good one.
"I do understand, I just don't care" Aether said playfully. It's ironic how people see Aether as this cute innocent and understanding person. He is, Gorou knows that but there's more to him than meets the eye. Especially the innocent part. Blondie is probably sassier than his twin sister and that says a lot.
"Do you have any suggestions? I'm genuinely lost right now" hie ears lays flat onto his head, trying to save his and Yae's job.
"Hm..." Aether shifts his gaze around the cafeteria, working his brain juice. He has tons of those, honestly.
"The weekly QnA is held on Twitter, right?" Aether snaps his finger
"...yea and on the next issue, some good one gets featured. What's up?"
"Catfish"
"What"
"Cat. Fish. You pretend to be-"
"I heard you the first time what are you talking about"
"Let me finish!!"
"...."
"Catfish Gorou! Like a Cosplay or something? No one would care since it's online, and no way you would meet them in real life" Aether explains his brainstorm animatedly
"That's ...... What if I get caught? Like people can see through filters, not everyone is dumb on the internet, or knowing Miko, she probably would drag me to public, physically."
"That's why I said Cosplay! Use normal filters like those beauty ones but nothing more. The key is the organic! Even if it's real life, if it's done right you can always cover up by acting cute and nonchalant" Aether gestures both hands towards Gorou.
"Yea like how you're seducing Xiao"
"The point, Gorou"
"...wait so I'm cosplaying as a fake person? No no no absolutely not people will recognise me!" He whimpers and rests his head onto the table, there's no way he can find a way to solve this
"Oh come on, Xiao is good at makeup, you wouldn't even recognize yourself! Plus you're not the only Shibanese out there, many has the same fur and pattern as you!"
"I mean .... That's nor exactly how it wor-"
"Give it a shot!"
Gorou sighs "okay. I trust you. And your boyfriend's makeup skills"
"Good!" Aether claps his hands together. "Prepare to be amazed"