Chapter Text
Today is your average day—a stroll through Paulownia mall, per usual, on a lively night like this. You hear the meaningless chatter of passersby, so with the persistent hypnotic pulse that comes from Club Escapade. From time to time, you hear a low grumble here and there of slouchy students who wear the uniform of Gekkoukan High. Hey, that's the school you used to go to! You’re a college junior, so it's sort of nice to look back on, but it's not nice to look at the students looking so… doozy. It must be the Apathy Syndrome that the students talk about in school.
You hear everyone's conversations fading in and out of your ears. You plug in your headphones and let the wind and meaningless drivel drown out in your world of music.
You sit by the worn bench near the glistening fountain and gaze at the stores. The ever-flashing lights of the arcade, that weird medicinal smell from Aohige Pharmacy, and the fleeting smell of tea from Chagall Cafe. It's a welcoming yet tempting smell, the false past of a memory's warmth you have yet to feel. You are flat broke, you gotta do something. Maybe some yen bill is tucked secretly in your wallet, but you have long forgotten where you've hidden it.
Wait… Today is Monday. Maybe you could volunteer? You have no money and nothing better to do. The tea works better than the slop they give out at school in the nurses' office under the guise of 'medicine.'
You decide to work in Chagall Cafe! Yippee!
You walk in…
Authors note I have no idea what you ask to volunteer so I will skip this part… sorreyz :(
BOOM!! You are now working for a shitload of ungrateful swines for customers, oh dear golly gosh! D: Well, it’s not that many customers, you’re just overdramatic because I, the author, said so!
Unfortunately, you cannot keep up. Beads of sweat start to form on your forehead. Since when did this little cafe get so hot?! No one can walk into a room and make it that way… until a certain someone walks in…
Wait a damn tootin' minute…
President TANAKA!????
T-the TV star!? Oh my god! Him? HIM? In YOUR presence!? Maybe your life just got a little less miserable. Only a guy like Tanaka can make the temperature in a place like this soar… Zooweemama. He was wearing his signature fitting suit, clinging to his frame ever so perfectly. The familiar droop of his eyelids and well-styled hair, his presence oozed with definite class. Known for that irritatingly catchy song that plays from the very same TV in your room, here, in the flesh.
Immediately, you drop whatever the hell you were doing, which was god knows what. Might have been the loud clank of now broken dishes, but who cares? But highkey you gotta cut out that maladaptive daydreaming man…
But President Tanaka?! In your miserable, sad life, his presence with a no-lifer like you must be increasing your social value! ^o^
Slowly, he pulls out a blue cushioned chair gracefully from under the tables. Oh my god… He looks so beautiful doing anything. The author is projecting heavily.
He sits down, straightening the non-existent wrinkles on his gray, pristine suit. His eyes scan over the menu, probably already knows what he is ordering, but you know, Tanaka is quite performative. They make anyone a TV star nowadays...
Anyway, you serve a cup of coffee (don't laugh at the name of the coffee later) to a burly man who was impatiently tapping his foot. All you get is an impassive grunt. All that work for what? Not even a thank you? People these days... whatever, back to what's important.
You float over to Tanaka dearest, head in the clouds. You must up the courage to form anything coherent.
“Good evening, sir. What can I get you?” You say, your voice is an octave higher than usual. I wonder why…
You freeze up as Tanaka raises his head, his skin basically… well, not glowing, but hot diggity dog, that is some smooth skin... For an old man. That round face and dark gray hair under these yellow lights just make him all the more handsome. Wowza.
“Good evening, may I please get- oh me oh my…” Tanaka cut himself off, his studious gaze locked onto yours. His eyes narrowed, looking you up and down twice with the menu in hand. Gently, he closed it and set it in front of him, giving you his full attention.
“Aren't you quite stunning? You could be a model for me…” He purred.
You stand there, your mouth gaping. Your eyebrows shot up in surprise; you feel a warm flush creeping up to your face, colouring your already rosy cheeks. You let out a dumb squeak… EEP! Oh my god did he just hear that from you? Embarrassing…
“M-me?” You say, your eyes wide in utter disbelief.
“Who else would I be talking to? Well… I'm sure you know me. I'm quite hard to miss.”
WELL DUH?? YOU’RE A TV STAR?? What is he on about? You think, the voice in your head sputtering nonsense.
“Tanaka’s Amazing Commodities, right?” You say, trying to regain composure. “Yeah, I’ve seen you on TV.”
There is noticeable tension in your shoulders and an even more noticeable blush from face to neck; you might as well be a tomato now. Tanaka gave a curt smile. He seems to be enjoying watching you squirm.
“Good job! You know your stuff, don't you?" He said, his voice like a siren song. His elbows are now resting on the table with his hands clasped. “You are quite lucky to be in my presence.”
“Y-yes, I am... quite lucky.” You say, twiddling your thumbs.
Gulp.
Of course, you are lucky! You always buy his stuff every Sunday without a second thought! The brokenness is justified. Now you have random weapons in your room. It's a nice keepsake… I guess. No one needs these weapons unless you're in a gang fighting demons (subtle foreshadowing)
“Well, you’re in luck! Would you like an autograph? If you couldn’t tell, I'm practically a celebrity. It's always a pleasure to meet a fan.”
...no way.
“...sure?”
How could ANYONE say no to that?
He pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket, signing it with a flawless flick. He hands it to you.
Obtained Tanaka’s signature.
You slip the signature in your pocket. No, you won’t lose it ^_^ You give a small smile, about to ask what he wanted to order again, but then…
“Sir would you li-”
“Have you ever considered modeling?" He interrupts. “I have an idea for an ad campaign.”
You tilt your head, a thoughtful expression on your face. You have the looks for it, but you never gave it much thought.
Where is this going? What does he mean by idea?
“Go on…” You say, your voice a skeptical murmur.
“For the low price of ¥10,000, you can be one of my models and become famous! I can make your life so much better...” Tanaka said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
You look side to side, somehow, no one is really paying much attention to your interaction, let alone Tanaka. This is so completely unprofessional; you can’t just do this on the job! Wait, you don’t work here, so why would it matter? It is not exactly a job…
You reach for your wallet.
Nothing but a button and cobwebs.
“Sorry, I have nothing.” You say with a tired sigh.
“Hm, that's quite unfortunate. You’re working here, maybe come see me after the shift? I usually stand by the fountain when everyone isn't practically… swooning over me.”
Oh my god.
“Uh, yeah! Sounds… great!”
You’re not fooling anybody, but somehow, Tanaka buys it. TV Celebrities are dumb.
“Amazing to hear! Now fetch me a cup of Pheromone coffee.” Tanaka said, his tone final as he waved a dismissive hand. Ouch.
“Coming right up!” You perked up, rushing to the already bustling kitchen.
YAY!!!! hope u enjoyed <3