Work Text:
Rico Niki
Hey, what's the relationship between reporter Chicory Monki (from "Lime Weekly") and that agency? Are they friends already? She brings a lot of news. Do you think she'll stop writing meaningful articles about those two now? Is there a contract prohibiting reporters from spreading such a thing??
Hayami
Are you kidding? Have you even seen the latest issue of Lime Weekly? If there is such a contract, then Chicory Monki clearly wasn’t offered it!
Amamiya closed the tab on her laptop and propped her head on her hand. She had no doubt that the conversations would subside quickly. As far as she had heard (Isshiki had let it slip), the most provocative photos hadn’t been published.
"Kamonohashi-san is really handsome," Amamiya sighed and pulled the latest issue of the Lime Weekly towards her. Flipping through the pages, she looked at Isshiki for a long time. He was very close to Kamonohashi, but Amamiya didn’t notice that the relationship between them had changed after the photo shoot. So they haven't started dating? Amamiya's gaze shifted to Kamonohashi. It was impossible not to admire his beauty.
There was a knock. The door opened, and the designer she'd just been thinking about looked in. She quickly hid the issue.
“I'm sorry, Amamiya-senpai, you told me to fill out these documents..." Isshiki entered the office, showing a small folder of documents. Amamiya did make him work on paperwork from time to time, if Isshiki didn't have to work on Kamonohashi's costumes.
Amamiya watched as he placed the folder on the table in front of her.
“No more documents or orders?”
“No, you're free for now.”
"Then I'll go, Amamiya-senpai.” Isshiki hurried back to the door. Amamiya slammed the table.
“Wait, Isshiki!” The designer froze, turning around. Amamiya made an impenetrable serious face. “Are you and Kamonohashi-san dating?”
The designer shook his head in confusion, a blush appeared on his cheeks. "No, no, Amamiya-senpai, you misunderstood our relationship! We're close, but that doesn't mean we're dating!”
Isshiki left the office, Amamiya reached for the Lime Weekly, but after a few seconds the door opened again, forcing Amamiya to pull her hand away.
“I'm sorry, Amamiya-senpai!” Isshiki said, and the door closed again.
"What did this Isshiki apologize for?” Amamiya thought, frowning. "Did he do something with the documents?!"
She looked through the completed documents, but didn’t find any typos or mistakes in them. Strange.
-
Toto sighed and headed back down the corridor to the lift. He planned to return to the atelier and chat with Spitz if he found him there. Spitz tried to be helpful in everything, but he excelled at the agency most of all in sewing clothes for models, and sometimes he could also help with light makeup or take pictures. Therefore, they turned to each other for advices and help.
His footsteps echoed down the corridor. He tried not to wonder how Amamiya would understand his apology. Maybe she would think he was crazy and forgot.
Although they didn’t really date... At first, after the photo shoot, he thought Ron would want to talk. But then he suddenly realized: it's too early, they can't change everything so abruptly. Ron isn't sure what to do in a relationship, they're both used to the level of intimacy they've already had, so kissing could always be postponed. They continued to be more than friends, but not a couple. And at the same time, there were a little more hints about a possible relationship in the future. Perhaps they will gradually become lovers… Unconsciously, Toto was thinking about how to speed it up.
The lift doors opened. Toto froze for a second when he saw the familiar mysterious smile and blond hair, but he smiled back and entered the lift.
"Good morning, Elmer. It's... an unexpected meeting. What are you doing here?” Toto asked with a friendly smile. Elmer's identity was shrouded in some kind of fog. He appeared unexpectedly and briefly, and often spoke in ambiguous phrases. But the most important thing is… who is he anyway?! Someone said that Elmer was Ron's manager, someone was sure that Elmer was the administrator, but someone corrected that Elmer was only an assistant administrator, someone said that Elmer was just a photographer or an advertising agent. Toto still didn't understand which of these was true. Even Ron, when Toto carefully asked him about it, thought about it and shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows, maybe he doesn't even work here."
"Good morning, Toto. I gave the package to Spitz," Elmer replied softly, still with the same mysterious smile. "I think he ordered a new camera. It's his hobby, isn't it? After that, I just walked around the agency building. It's beautiful here.”
"Oh, you don't have to work?"
Elmer's eyes twinkled slyly, but he didn't answer. Well, if he was so calmly ignoring questions about his job, no wonder no one knew his position.
"I saw the latest issue of the Lime Weekly,” Elmer said. “Have you ever thought about becoming a model? Your appearance is quite pretty. You could become a star among a certain target audience.”
Toto grinned and shook his head, a little embarrassed.
“I tried a lot in show business... and failed in many ways. But I'm glad I became a designer.” He lowered his voice. “I don't mind the rare photo shoots with Ron, he was amazing in a collar…”
Elmer laughed softly. The designer shuddered, realizing that he shouldn't have said that.
The lift doors opened. Toto went out into the corridor, but Elmer didn’t follow him. “Have a nice day, Elmer!” Toto smiled.
"And you, Toto. Your relationship is truly interesting.” Elmer narrowed his eyes slyly, slightly tilting his head to the side. "I hope you're not going to laugh at Ron for being inept."
Toto nodded thoughtlessly and walked towards the corridor. But he suddenly realized that he should have clarified what Elmer meant. Turning around, Toto saw an empty lift car, without Elmer.
"Disappeared again,” Toto muttered, stunned.
-
Ron deftly twirled the pencil, examining the familiar room.
"Ron, don't play with it.” Hearing Toto's voice, Ron immediately put the pencil back in its place.
It so happened that he forgot to have breakfast again due to the fact that he was a participant in some kind of advertisement in the morning. Toto couldn't control him completely all the time, but quickly (and no one knows how!) understood if Ron wasn't eating. Ron felt guilty looking at Toto's upset face. But he understood his feelings — Ron felt the same way when Toto was working hard on something and forgot about normal food.
Toto placed some buns and a cup of tea in front of him. “Here, enjoy your meal.” He stood next to him and watched as Ron opened a bun and took a bite. With a sigh, Toto put his hand on his head and stroked it. “I'm sorry if I'm annoying…”
“I see, Toto,” Ron replied softly. “No one has ever fed me like this before you.”
The sadness on Toto's face disappeared. The designer hummed and hit him lightly on the head. "You again? Have breakfast, Ron, and then we'll talk about the new film.”
“About the new film?”
“Horror detective. Have you already forgotten? Spitz showed us the trailer. Your grade is "not bad."”
Ron chuckled. He really only said something along the lines of "not bad," but Toto seemed interested in the trailer, since he remembered Ron's opinion.
"Do you want to go to the cinema?" Ron asked. Toto shook his head.
“I wanted to suggest that we just watch it together…”
“Oh... together?..” Ron continued to chew on his bun, thinking about Toto's words.
“Yeah, at my place or at yours, if you're interested.” Toto grimaced in displeasure, adding, “But in the past, you didn't seem particularly interested in films.”
Ron decided not to ask how Toto realized that he wasn't interested, Toto understood him amazingly well, even if Ron pretended to be watching the TV intently. But even if the film wasn't interesting, Ron really wanted to spend time with his designer.
“I don't mind watching it together.”
“Great!” Toto smiled happily, and Ron couldn't help but smile back. “I hope you won’t fall asleep while watching.”
“Fall asleep while watching the horror detective film?” Ron chuckled. "Do you think so highly of me?"
“Don't get cocky, I was just joking.”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. A few seconds later, Amamiya entered the room. Toto stared at her in surprise, it wasn't every day that his boss came to see him in person.
"I knew Kamonohashi-san would be here too," Amamiya smiled, closing the door. “So, Isshiki, I know that I didn't mention the planned fashion show, but I want you to be the author of the designs for at least a third of our models.” She looked at Ron. “Kamonohashi-san, let's assume that you don't mind borrowing your designer. It is important.”
“A third?" Toto cried out, mentally calculating how many models there were in the agency. The figure was... quite a lot. "Amamiya-senpai, that's too much!"
Amamiya nodded after a short silence.
“Okay, it will be enough for the most outstanding ones. I will entrust the rest of the models to other designers and modelers. Although it's hard to admit, your designs are... very good. This show will be used to introduce models to potential customers. It will also show your talent. I hope you won't disappoint, Isshiki, I'll send you a list of models and themes later.” She had her hand on the door handle when she turned around again. “Kamonohashi-san is one of them. If possible, make him the best images. But it is desirable that during the show he could show himself several times in different clothes. You've got plenty of time.”
“And if I don't want to borrow my designer?” Ron smiled. Of course, he wasn't serious, but he wondered what Amamiya could say to that.
"I'm not limiting your behavior, Kamonohashi-san, you can even burn other models' clothes later so that you don't get… jealous," Amamiya replied immediately and left. Ron's surprise turned to laughter.
Toto sank into a chair with a groan. Ron stopped laughing and looked at him worriedly. He wanted to approach him, but Toto waved his hand and muttered something like "eat and keep quiet, please," so Ron obediently didn’t address him until Toto himself spoke.
“So we'll watch the film only after this show”
"And you're going to ignore my texts and calls again?"
Toto looked away, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ron, but you already get a lot of my attention, and I have to work…”
“Just don't lock yourself in again," Ron sighed, "I don't want to steal duplicate keys from security a second time."
Toto couldn't help but laugh. He always laughed so cleanly and sincerely that Ron found his laughter the most pleasant melody.
"You're doing a lot for me, aren't you?"
Ron smiled gently.
“Of course, Toto, I would do anything for you. If I were a detective, I'd do anything to have you as my partner.”
-
A few days later, Toto started working on the designs. He decided that he would make Ron's images the last — they inspired him the most. As Ron had asked, he didn't lock himself in, and Ron spent most of his time with him, bringing him food and coffee.
“Hey, Toto," Ron gently touched his shoulder, causing the designer to flinch and drop the pencil. “Let's go down to the first floor together? I have a package to pick up, and you could use some rest. You can also buy something at the vending machine.”
“If there is a cafe and a vending machine in the same building, will you really choose a vending machine?” Toto chuckled, but got up from the table anyway. “Okay, you're right, I need to rest. Thanks, Ron.”
They leisurely descended to the first floor. Ron picked up the box at the reception and put it on the table to open it. Toto watched with interest as Ron searched for something sharp.
"What did you order?"
“I asked Elmer to find some small things,” Ron explained.
The box contained several books in the genre of detective fiction and — no matter how strange Toto found it — a statuette...
“A platypus statuette?..”
Ron smiled, examining the statuette and showing it to Toto from all sides. He looked very pleased, while Toto remembered how much there was already in Ron's apartment, there was real chaos.
"It's a collector's item, Toto! And my apartment is not in chaos at all!” Ron said indignantly.
“You're right, you just have a lot of things,” Toto softened, “I'm just used to minimalism in my apartment.”
While they were talking, Amamiya came down to the first floor. She stood in front of the entrance, almost in the center of the hall, with two men standing next to her, acting as guards. Soon Spitz came running. When he saw his friends, he hurried to them.
"Ron-kun, Tototo, judging by Amamiya's behavior, someone serious is coming here!" He chuckled nervously, glancing at his boss.
"Who?" Kawasemi-senpai? Toto suggested.
“Definitely not, Amamiya never meets Kawasemi," Ron shook his head. “We can wait and see what kind of wonderful animal will appear here. Do you mind, Toto?”
“I don't mind.”
“But you know, Toto, I have a bad feeling..." muttered Ron. "I suddenly have a guess who we're going to see…”
"Who?" Spitz and Toto asked at the same time.
"You'll see.”
It had been almost fifteen minutes when they saw a car pulling up to the entrance.
A masked man appeared and opened the car door. A beautiful girl with wavy hair came out of it neatly. A mysterious smile appeared on her face. The girl, accompanied by a masked man, headed towards Amamiya.
In conversation Amamiya was serious, almost annoyed, while she seemed cheerful and childish. Amamiya's arms were crossed over her chest, and her hands were clasped behind her back. The girl was swaying slightly, as if from boredom. She looked no more than 21, and Toto recalled that she was actually about 17 or 18.
They moved to the elevator, but the girl stopped when she saw the three of them — Toto, Ron, Spitz — near the reception. She approached them with a playful smile, but remained at a decent distance, like a lioness at a cage, and tilted her head to one side.
"It's been so long since we've seen each other, Ron... and Isshiki," she drawled. Ron's fingers tightened on the platypus statuette, Toto frowned, and Spitz chose to take a step back.
“Good afternoon, Alice,” Ron replied, barely hiding the displeasure in his voice.
“Alice... or Alice-chan, don't annoy my subordinates!" Amamiya said coldly. Alice turned to her with a slightly apologetic smile.
"Oh, Amamiya, I can't resist greeting Ron. You're interested in him too, understand my feelings!” She turned back to Ron, but found that Toto had stepped forward slightly, partially blocking Ron. "Oh, how sweet, is Mr. Isshiki defending his model? I'm even amazed! Please, Totomaru Isshiki, if Ron decides to join my agency, I also invite you.”
"Thanks for the offer, but we're fine here," Toto snapped.
“I told you that I would become the director of the Moriarty modeling agency, and I did. If I say I'm going to get Ron for myself, I'm going to get him. Think about it, Isshiki-sensei, your skills will be useful to me too~”
With that, she turned around and followed Amamiya into the lift.
“Did you displease her in some way?” Spitz asked in shock, but got a frown from Toto in response. Ron continued to stare at the lift.
"We didn't do anything to her. She started it by hitting on Ron, and I…”
"Are you jealous?"
Toto's eyes widened. Ron finally looked away from the lift and listened intently to the conversation.
“No! I just don't want my model to be taken to another agency!”
"Yours? You mean Ron is yours?”
“I didn't say that!!”
Toto glanced at Ron, and Ron pretended not to look at him. A blush appeared on Toto's face.
“O-okay, that's enough, let's get back to the normal topic… Spitz, do you know what Alice is doing here?
“If I had known, I would have told you right away. But I didn't hear anything! Maybe she's here because of the upcoming show? Wants to pick up some models?”
“Moriarty aren’t interested in imperfect models,” Ron shook his head. “Rather, Alice has thoughts of some kind of collaboration. Or she wants to buy me out, huh. I think we'll find out sooner or later why she came. Let's go back, Toto.”
The designer nodded, confused. Because of Alice's appearance, he forgot that he needed to work on designs for models.
-
Ron slipped into the dressing room behind the podium. He locked the door, but he couldn't help but be surprised to see Toto sitting on a chair with a cup of tea in his hands. The designer crossed his legs and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Toto?"
“Oh, you finally came, Ron.” Toto put the cup on the table and stood up, nodding towards the hanging clothes. “I'm here to explain how to put on and change your suits quickly and accurately.”
He became more serious, and Ron decided not to bother Toto for nothing and listened diligently to his explanations. He noted that Toto had again paid special attention to his light blue eyes. They often became part of the images created by Toto, and fans enthusiastically discussed how good Toto's taste was in this regard.
When they finished, Spitz knocked on the dressing room door. He needed to give Ron a light makeover. Toto praised him for his efforts and versatility, after which Spitz hurriedly ran away. Toto was in no hurry to leave.
“Don't you need to help the other models?”
Toto looked at him like he was an idiot, even though Ron usually mocked him like that.
"I'm your designer, Ron. Most efforts are spent on you.”
“So you won't mind if I burn their clothes?" Ron chuckled.
"You can try,” Toto replied indifferently. Ron hummed.
-
Toto took his place in the hall. He was trying not to get nervous from the number of important people around who were about to see his work. The event was mainly for showing models, but it was important for Toto to know the opinion about their clothes. He was sure that he would hear at least a few comments, and later read them on the Internet.
The light remained only above the podium. Toto's gaze focused on the models only when he realized that it was Ron's turn, who was secretly opening the queue of models for whom Toto had come up with designs. Kamonohashi walked around properly, and Toto mentally praised him for his normal behavior. Perhaps he was just enjoying the chance to show himself in all his glory. Her blue eyes shone without hiding under her bangs. The cloaks of his suits fluttered, as did his hair, pinned up with different decorations each time.
After his first appearance, Toto listened to the conversations around him. As he expected, the people around him were discussing his work. He heard vague praise and admiring sighs about Kamonohashi's appearance. Ron was supposed to appear on the podium a few more times, and each time he had to bring with him a new taste of beauty.
But Toto praised him too soon. The last time Ron walked on the podium, Toto didn't take his eyes off him. Ron did a great job of changing clothes quickly, not a single item of clothing was lost.
Pausing on the edge of the podium, Ron met Toto's gaze, a smile blossoming on his lips, causing the cameras to snap. He elegantly raised one hand and blew Toto a kiss, after which he innocently turned around, as if he had done nothing wrong. He didn't turn around, but he definitely knew what was going on behind him.
Toto felt that everyone who could see him from their place was looking at him. They all turned to look at him. So many views… Toto had a hard time keeping an impenetrable expression on his face as he continued to stare at the exiting models. One thought was obsessively spinning in his head, which Toto almost said out loud, "Kamonohashi, are you kidding me?!" It seems that Ron understood Amamiya's words very literally that she doesn’t limit his actions.
It's a miracle that Chicory didn't fly up to him! Although it seems Toto noticed a few camera flashes in his direction... it was probably not only Ron in the photos, but him as well. The fans will love this.
He chose to stubbornly ignore the fact of what had happened, the stares and the cameras. However, he would definitely tell that scoundrel Kamonohashi everything after the show! The model should behave calmly and quitly, no emotions! But Ron took it with his beauty. He didn't need to establish himself as the best, he had already done it a long time ago. "Is this really a game for him now? Is he having fun?" Toto thought with a sigh, as soon as he had the chance to leave.
The designer came into the dressing room just behind Ron. Ron didn't turn around when he heard someone else closing the door. He calmly continued to change clothes.
“Kamonohashi.”
"Is something wrong, Toto?" An innocent, calm voice…
"Are you kidding me? Who gave you permission to behave like this?!”
Ron, putting on the hoodie that Toto had given him, turned around. “Amamiya, of course.”
"That's not what she was talking about! You're giving a hundred reasons to—" Toto stopped and sighed, leaning against the door.
"To what?" The same innocent voice.
"You know to what," Toto said, leaving the dressing room and slamming the door. He couldn't bring himself to continue the sentence. He blushed and, covering his face with one hand, walked away. If he didn't like it, he would have told Ron off long ago. But he was silent and, moreover, sometimes behaved no better.… Fortunately, no one stopped him to ask the reason for his embarrassment.
-
Toto could finally rest. He wanted to invite Ron to watch the film in his flat, as Toto was used to treating Ron to something delicious, but Ron insisted that he wanted to take care of Toto, who put his soul into his images. After thinking for a while, Toto gave up and gave his consent.
So now he was sitting on the couch in Ron's flat, looking around the spacious room, waiting. Toto had been here more than once, but it seemed to him that Ron had tried to clean the apartment better than before. Toto couldn't help but smile. Not everyone could get Ron excited about cleaning, and he would like to see how this upstart cleans up the apartment to please Toto. Cute.
Finally, Ron came out of the kitchen with a tray in his hands. He was wearing a pink apron with a platypus pattern. He put a plate of chips, biscuits, cakes and sweets on the table in front of the sofa, went back to the kitchen and brought a bottle of soda, a milkshake and cups.
"This is too much," Toto shook his head, but reached for the biscuits. Ron lay down on the couch, picking up the remote control.
“Not at all, I didn't bring a bottle of wine, for example," Ron chuckled. Toto looked at him in surprise.
“I would understand the idea of bringing wine if we were watching a romantic film, but this is a horror detective…”
Ron looked away from the TV screen at Toto.
“Is it customary to drink wine during romantic films?”
“...you can read on the Internet. Turn on the film.”
A long conversation began. Ron sat closer, but Toto ignored it, thinking that it would be more convenient for Ron to take snacks from the table.
For a third of the film, he was distracted by notifications on his phone. These were messages from Spitz. After unlocking his phone, Toto realized that he had just forwarded messages with a heated discussion of a "very beautiful painting": a model from the podium blows a kiss to his designer. The last message was Spitz's own message.
"What the hell, guys? I already think that even Moriarty doesn't add as much fuel to the fire as you do! Are you going to die if you don't keep up the rumors about your relationship?? Tototo, don't think that I'm against it (I'm sorry that I ran out of the studio last time... but it was necessary to save my life), but you just don't stop surprising!"
Toto felt a warm breath on his cheek and quickly scrolled the chat up so that Ron wouldn't see Spitz’s message.
“Oh, are the fans awake?” Ron smiled.
“Yes, unfortunately. And all because of you! I told you, you need to be more restrained.”
“I don't see anything wrong with blowing an air kiss to my beloved best designer~”
Toto just hummed and reached for the chips, putting down his phone. Ron pushed him back onto the couch, reached for a plate of chips himself, and handed it to Toto.
"Thanks, Ronny.”
"You're wel—“ Ron stammered. "Did you call me Ronny again? Do you like this form of my name?”
Toto didn't say anything, continuing to watch the film. Ron pretended to be offended, but Toto still didn't react, either because of the interesting events on the screen, or he was used to it.
“Who do you think is the murderer?” Ron asked when Toto exhaled in relief after learning that the main character was unharmed after being chased by a stranger.
"I don't know… Everyone looks so innocent and suspicious at the same time. Have you figured out who the murderer is yet? I hope you haven't seen any spoilers?”
"I haven't seen it. So far, I'm not sure if I guessed it right. We'll see when the film tells the story.”
But towards the end of the film, Toto felt Ron's head slowly sink onto his shoulder.
"Ron?" the designer called softly, but there was no answer. Ron's eyes were closed. “And he said that he wouldn’t fall asleep while watching a horror detective…”
Toto shook his head, but didn't wake him up. He couldn't blame Ron for not being interested in the film. He wonder if Ron guessed the murderer.
When the film ended, Toto stood up carefully, laying Ron down neatly on the couch. He only turned a little because of the changed position, but didn’t wake up. He was wearing light household clothes, so Toto brought him a blanket.
“I'm sorry that you have to sleep on the couch in your own apartment…” sighed Toto, putting away snacks and drinks. After a little cleaning, he sat down next to Ron for a while.
Ron was biting his lips slightly in his sleep. He seemed to be dreaming of something interesting. His hair was messy, falling over his face. Wrapped in a blanket, Ron slept peacefully, breathing evenly.
Toto couldn't resist. He took out his phone with a smile and took some photos of Ron sleeping, after which he put one of them on the wallpaper of his phone. Cute.
"You know, Ron, I like all the forms of your name. I like the last name too. It doesn't matter what I call you," Toto whispered, leaning into Ron's ear and gently brushing strands of hair from his face. Toto hesitated, then kissed him on the cheek. "Good night, Ron."
He straightened up and went into the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him with slightly trembling hands.
Ron's eyes widened. For a few seconds he thought it was a dream, but he clearly felt where Toto had kissed him. A blush appeared on Ron's cheeks, and he ruffled his hair again to hide it.