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Gen didn’t know what he expected when Nikki told him about a meeting possibly running late a week ago.
It was with the publicist company Nikki had hired for Gen’s image. Normally Nikki would be able to deal with stuff like this herself but this time they insisted Gen come to the meeting.
Gen was pretty sure he knew the reason as well.
Gen and Nikki sat in a boardroom with a bunch of people in suits and notes off to the side. Gen sat at the back end of the rectangle table as the presters flipped through a slide show. The wall of glass did not help the atmosphere as storm clouds rolled in.
“Mr. Asagiri, as I’m sure you know, there has been less talk about your show and more about this “secret family”,” The presenter continued. “We ran a poll and found 72% of your fans have heard about the rumors and 47% are interested in who they are,”
“Hold on, this is all rumors,” Nikki protested. “What does this have to do with Mr. Asagiri?”
“Well Mrs. Hanada,” The presenter's tone mocked her a bit. “Whether it’s true or not is not really important. What’s important is the fans are curious about them,”
Gen recalled what Senkuu had said about how he hated hearing the way people talked about his family. “So what? You want me to hold a press convenience?” Gen started to understand what Senkuu meant.
“No no, we think it’s great,” The presenter stated it like he wasn’t just talking about Gen’s family. “There has been an uptick in coverage since that incident,” The next slide showed a bar graph about how many times the media had mentioned him and ya there was a clear uptick. Gen didn’t even bother to hide his face of disgust. “I get the hesitation but, if I can borrow a phrase, we play out cards right this could be good,”
“What about the others involved in this? There were two kids who had a bunch of cameras pushed in their face,” Nikki crossed her arms.
“That’s the thing,” The slimeball kept talking. “We don’t have to say anything. We just have to let people talk,”
“That’s not what I mean,” Nikki pointed out. “What about the actual family in this situation?”
“The coverage will soon burn itself out but the important part is getting our name out there,” Everyone else in the room was taking notes like they were trying to learn from this. “Any publicity is good publicity after all-,”
“Enough,” Nikki cut him off. “Mr. Watanabe, I appreciate your help but I think it’s better if we look for a different publicist company,”
“I’m sorry you feel like that Mrs. Hanada but we have a contract that ensures us for 2 more years,” Watanabe raised his brow.
“Well you don’t have one that keeps us here,” Nikki stood up from her seat. “And I will be contacting a lawyer about that contract,”
“Mrs. Hanada please-,” One of the guys taking notes stood up and finally spoke. “Be reasonable,”
“Do not even try it, Mr. Abe,” Nikki glared. “Or I will tie this whale department up in so much litigation you won’t even say my client's name without a lawsuit. Now if you excuse us,” Nikki looked over at Gen.
Gen stood up from his chair. “Thank you for your time,”
And if that whole ordeal wasn’t enough, it started to pour on the train ride back and Gen had only brought an umbrella.
Gen held the hand railing as the metro ran along the tracks. The forecast said it might be mad but this was the kind of rain Gen couldn’t even see outside the windows of the train.
“You ok Asagiri?” Nikki would normally just call him Gen but since they were out in public.
“Yeah, just didn’t expect the rain to be this bad,” Gen sighed.
“Asagiri,” Nikki deadpanned.
“Right right,” Gen slightly shook his head. “Not really,” Gen confessed. “Those jerk faces were talking about my family like they were some media prop,”
“Jerk faces?” Nikki raised a brow.
“Ughhh sorry, got used to talking around the kids,” Gen explained.
“Hmm I guessed,” Nikki hummed. “But you know those types of people. Will do anything for a quick buck,” Nikki scoffed.
“I knew that but bring kids into it?” Gen already didn’t expect much but he at least thought they had some humanity.
“Don’t worry, I’ll conduct a few interviews with new publicists,” Nikki replied.
“Thanks, Nikki chan,” Gen smiled under his mask.
Gen looked at the slight reflection the window of the train offered. He had a mask covering his face and a basketball cap hiding the white part of his hair. He was used to that but Suika and Chelsea shouldn’t have to. Maybe the problem reaches further than just the publicist company.
And Senkuu chan said not to worry.
“Hey dude,” Nikki nudged Gen out of his space out. “Our stop is almost here,”
“Ahh right,” Gen tried to zone back into what was going on around him. “Thanks, Nikki chan~” He sang but honestly he was only half there.
“Do you have any idea how you’re going to get home?” Nikki asked.
“Ehh I’ll just try to hail a taxi,” Gen replied.
“In this weather, heh good luck,” Nikki snorted a bit. “I’ll take you,”
“You sure? I thought your house was in the opposite direction,” Gen pointed out.
“It is but Minami would kill me if I made you wait in that rain,” Nikki grinned.
“Ahh I see,” Gen fought to keep his eyes open. “Well tell Minami chan I say thanks,”
“Next stop: Tokyo station,” The voice spoke over the speakers. “Please make room for anyone getting off,” The automated message read but there was barely anyone in the car.
Gen sat in the passenger side of Nikki’s car completely dazed. Like he would zone in and the music would be different each time space out. The only thing really keeping him awake was a dispersed sound of thunder. Though even that was barely keeping him up. The windshield wipers wiping away the rain every second or so wasn't helping either. Almost memorizing in a way.
“I think this is your street,” Nikki shouted over the rain.
“Ya should be!” It was hard to make out but he recognized a few key things.
“Good, I was basically going off muscle memory!” Nikki pulled up next to Gen’s house
“Thanks,”
“What?!”
“Thanks Nikki chan!”
“No problem! Good luck getting inside!”
I’m definitely going to get a cold.
Sure, Senkuu had already told him that’s not how it works but Gen was starting to question if this was the exception. Gen opened the door to instant regret. The car door practically swung on its own and the rain started pelting him before he even got the chance to step out of the car. Gen closed Nikki’s car door and ran to the door of his house, trying somehow to outrun the rain… Though he still ended up soaked.
Perfect… I had an umbrella too?!
Not that it would have helped much.
Gen unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was nice to be home but with how late it was, he was probably the one up. Gen changed his shoes to his house slippers. (Not that it would do much for how he was literally dripping wet)
Gen tried to tip-toe past the kids’ room on the way to his bedroom but the floor was strangely more noisy than usual.
“Hmhhh papa?”
Damn it!
“What are you doing up?” Chelsea yawned, still half asleep. “You look tired,” She was close to shouting.
“Chelsea, keep it down,” Gen reminded her.
“Oh right,” Chelsea nodded. “Sorryyyyyyyyyy,”
“It’s ok. Just need some water sweetie,” Gen got down to Chelsea’s level.
“Is that why you’re all wet? Papa is so clumsy” Half asleep and she was still as blunt.
“Yup, now come on, let’s get you back to bed,” Gen got up.
“Oh ok,” Chelsea yawned. “But we got to be quiet. Suika is still sleeping,” Chelsea put her finger up to her lips like she was shhh him.
Gen walked with Chelsea back to her room and watched her get settled back into her bottom bunk.
“Goodnight Chelsea,” Gen turned to go back to his room. He was so ready just cuddle up with his husband and call it a night-
“Papa, wait,” Chelsea called in a hushed tone.
-Unless “Yes?” Gen peaked his head back in.
“I love you,”
Well that did make the day a little better. “Love you too Chelsea,” Gen smiled.
“Ok that’s all,” Chelsea yawned before shutting her eyes.
Gen quietly shut the door behind him and went to his bedroom and to his surprise his bedroom light was still on.
Rightttttt. I married a scientist.
Gen opened the door to his room and sure enough there was Senkuu on his computer.
“Wow you look tired,” Senkuu looked up from his computer.
Definitely Chelsea’s dad.
“Thanks, Senkuu chan,” Gen deadpanned.
“Meeting was that bad?” Senkuu questioned shortly.
“It basically ended with Nikki firing all of them,” Gen replied.
“Wanna talk about it?” Senkuu moved his laptop.
“Maybe tomorrow,” Gen yawned. “Right now. I’d rather just go to bed,” Gen pulled out a T-shirt from the drawer to change into. Better than a layered suit that was freezing his skin. “Speaking of which, why are you still up?”
“Trying to help Xeno with some calculations. Another team is claiming they’re wrong,” Senkuu shortly explained.
“Hmh? Not going to tell me all about the science and stuff?” Gen tried to act like he wasn’t moments away from just sleeping on the floor.
“You look tired, I’ll spare you,” Senkuu snickered.
“Whattttt~? No No, I’m awake,” Gen slipped into bed with Senkuu.
“You sure mentalist?” Senkuu raised an eyebrow.
“Yeahhhhh, I’m interested about how your day has been,” Gen hummed, resting his head on Senkuu’s shoulder watching as flipped through tabs.
“Well we basically have all the calculations for the new rover but another team at NASA is claiming we messed up the trajectory and re-entry,”
“And Xeno didn’t let that slide” Gen knew his dad.
“Ku ku basically called them morons to their faces,” Senkuu recalled.
“But in his normal Xeno way?”
“I don’t even think they got it,”
“Sounds right,” Gen looked at the bright screen with only the bedside lamp giving extra light.
Senkuu must-have run the calculations 10 times and still he kept getting the same thing as Xeno. He couldn’t even find where the other team went wrong.
“I knew it, we did get the calculations right,” Senkuuu groaned. “You think professionals would double check their work…,” Senkuu turned to Gen to show him what he had found but noticed the mentalist well past out on his shoulder.
Ping!
Senkuu pulled out his phone and Xeno texted him.
Xeno H.
Xeno: Any luck?
You: yeah I got nothing.
Xeno: I knew it.
Xeno: Thank you for your help Dr. Senkuu.
You: I couldn’t even find where they messed up.
Xeno: I find it best to try not to understand people like that.
Xeno: Also, I appreciate the help but isn’t getting late over there?
Xeno: This could’ve waited.
You: Yeah, I was just waiting for Gen to get home.
Xeno: Gen?
Xeno: Why is he back so late?
You: Meeting with his publicist
Xeno: Ahh I see.
Xeno: I don’t think I’ll never get the entertainment industry.
You: Tell me about it.
Xeno: Is he ok?
You: Getting sappy on me Doc?
Xeno: Well he is my son.
Xeno: I will worry about him.
You: He’s fine. Just resting.
You: I’m going to call it a night as well.
You: promised Chelsea I’d take her and Suika to the National Museum of Nature and Science
Xeno: A great use of a Saturday.
Senkuu chuckled a bit at the “Xeno-ish” reply.
Senkuu put his computer to the side and plugged in his phone. (All while trying not to move too much so as to not wake up Gen). Senkuu clicked off the lamp and lay Gen down on the pillow next to him.
He must have been exhausted.
Senkuu pulled the covers over both of them. Making sure the blanket got over Gen’s shoulders to keep him warm. The lighting outside gave moments of light before the thunder crashed.
Senkuu brushed his thumb over Gen’s check. “Good night Gen,” Senkuu took Gen’s hand and held it as he relaxed into his pillow.
Creeeek.
“Hmghh?” Senkuu groaned as he sat up to see what that sound was.
Senkuu’s eyes landed on his bedroom door. There was Suika just standing in the dark with her stuffed dog in her arms.
“Suika?” Senkuu rubbed his eyes. “What are you doing up?”
“Can I sleep with you guys tonight? I don’t like thunder,” She mumbled.
“Sure,” Senkuu moved to leave room for Suika between him and Gen.
Suika hurriedly rushed to the bed and climbed over Gen.
“Huhhh? What’s going on?” Gen stirred awake. “Suika? Is everything ok?”
“Lighting,” Senkuu pointed out.
“Ahh right,” Gen remembered Suika’s fear. “It’s ok Suika. We’re safe here,” He yawned.
“Are you sure?” Suika asked.
“Ten billion percent,” Senkuu answered.
“Oh ok,” Suika hugged her plushie harder. “Good night Papa. Good night dad,”
“Good night Suika,” Senkuu ruffled Suika’s hair.