Chapter 1
The Miyagi hanamachi was as busy as it always has been.
People of different type of profession flock towards Miyagi's finest teahouses, in hopes of winding away a day's worth of stress with a nice companion such as Miyagi's finest thing to offer.
Male Geishas.
Almost all of Miyagi's teahouses host male geishas. The top ones include Aoba Johsai, Karasuno, Shiratorizawa to name a few.
Aoba Johsai houses probably the prettiest Geiko in Miyagi, Oikawa Tooru (or better known as Hinazura). Shiratorizawa houses another beauty of Miyagi, Semi Eita (or Eriha to patrons).
Karasuno doesn't fall behind with beautiful geishas, though. That's the thing with them. They're abundant with it. Best example would probably be the senior Geiko, Sugawara Koushi (best known as Chiyoko).
Despite the rivalry, all of the members of teahouses in Miyagi were all friends.
They even hang out sometimes, give tips on which store offers the best accessories or kimonos, or even recruit people for each other.
Which was the case for one aspiring Geisha who got taken into Karasuno.
"Everyone, listen up!" Ukai Keishin, proprietor of Karasuno, shouted. His voice echoed through the living room of Karasuno's Okiya. "We have a new member in our humble Okiya."
There were soft "oooh"s from the audience.
"Is he cute, otō-san?" One of the members asked. The boy behind Ukai flinched.
Ukai snorted at the question. "Of course. You all know I have an eye for any person who has potential in being like you guys."
The man spun around to look at the boy who was behind him. "Go on. Introduce yourself."
After a few passing minutes, a black haired boy emerged from behind Ukai. He was looking down on the floor and it made him look so small.
There was a unison of "awww" from the audience and the boy blushed from ear to ear. But the boy didn't look up.
Ukai gave the boy's shoulder a soft squeeze. "It's okay. They don't bite."
The black haired boy gave a small nod and directed his eyes from the floor to the people in front of him but his head wasn't quite up yet.
"H-Hello…" the boy said softly, as if he was only telling it to himself. Ukai just looked at the small figure the boy was presenting to his soon-to-be pseudo family and sighed.
"This is, Yamaguchi Tadashi. He's the Shikomi that Aoba Johsai sent to us."
There was cooing again coming from the audience but it was immediately silenced by Ukai clearing his throat. "From now on, he will be under our care and will be supervised under Tsukishima. Is that clear?"
Heads nodded and Ukai responded with a nod before taking his leave.
The boy—Tadashi—stood still in front.
"Hey, uhmmm," Another boy, around Tadashi's age, started as he approached Tadashi.
Tadashi finally looked up and met the boy in front of him. He had long and messy orange hair and his irises matched it.
"You don't have to be so shy. We're nice, don't worry." The orange haired boy said. "I'm Hinata, by the way. Hinata Shouyo." Hinata extended a hand and Tadashi just looked at it.
There was a snort from behind Tadashi and the source loomed over him.
"'We're nice'? Don't you think it's up to him to decide whether we are or not?" The tall blonde boy said. Tadashi concurred he might not be around Shouyo or his age, considering the condescending tone he had. He definitely sounded like a Geiko. Or maybe a senior Maiko? Because he didn't look as mature as the white haired boy approaching them.
"Oh come on, Tsukishima. Stop being like that. You're gonna scare lil' Tadashi right here." The white haired man poked Tadashi's cheek and turned to look at him.
"I'm Sugawara Koushi. Pleasure to meet you. Love the freckles, by the way." Koushi initiated, matching his sweet calming voice with a smile akin to what an angel's smile looks like.
A blush creeps into Tadashi's freckled cheeks so he just nodded at the introduction to hide his blush but Koushi didn't seem to care if he says anything back or not.
"This..uhmm..tall salty blonde cutie right here," Koushi said as he reached up to pinch the blonde one's left cheek. Tsukishima scowled but he didn't move to swat away the hand that was abusing his pale cheek. "This is Tsukishima Kei. Just call him Tsukishima or Kei. Or whatever you want. Personally, I call him cutie but he doesn't seem to like it."
"That's because I have a name, Suga-san." Kei protested.
"Mhmmm. Don't we all."
"So, Tadashi!" Hinata exclaimed, catching Tadashi's elusive attention. "How old are you?"
"U-Uhmmmm…" Tadashi started. As much as he didn't want to talk, Hinata's bright eyes bore into him, causing his stomach to churn and give in. "I-I'm…16…"
"Ooooohhhh!" Hinata said. "We're the same age!"
"I-Is that so?"
"Yeah! Tsukishima's also the same age."
Tadashi mouthed a surprised "oh" and looked at Kei who was too busy scowling at a laughing Koushi who looks to be having fun poking at Tsukishima's cheeks.
"Mhmm. Surprising, I know. Suga-san's probs the oldest among us. He's 19, if I'm not mistaken."
Tadashi nodded.
"Oh! I forgot! We have two more members who are both older than us by a year. They're both not here because they have a date with their dannas."
"I..see." The two fall into a comfortable silence as they watched Kei squirm at Koushi's teasing touch.
Looking at how things right now, Tadashi thinks to himself, maybe this whole "letting my father sell me to an Okiya because he thinks I have a better future here" thing might not be so bad.
A few days have passed since Tadashi came into Karasuno's Okiya. The first few days were though but it was to be expected. Tadashi barely knows anything about being a Geisha. He can't even hold up a lengthy purposeful conversation without wanting to strangle himself for being so boring.
Today was the first time he'll watch Kei prepare for today's performance.
It was a duty of the newly welcomed Shikomi without watching his 'onii-san" do the look of a Geisha, he won't be able to do it for himself and get promoted to maiko then a Geiko.
"Did you get how it's done, Tadashi?" Kei looked at him through the mirror. Kei's face was already painted white and his lower lip painted with red, a sign of his rank in the Okiya.
"M-mmm." Tadashi nodded. Kei looked at him for a few more seconds longer before going back to his routine. Next was his hair.
Tadashi watched as Kei carefully and skillfully puts up his hair into a Yakko-Shimada.
Tadashi was deep in thought as Kei explained how each step is done and what were the names of the hair accessories and which goes where. The thought of being a part of an Okiya never crossed Tadashi's mind ever. It was one of those professions that Tadashi doesn't see for himself. Something like being charming and cute and elegant and beautiful were things that he thinks are not something you'd describe him as.
Everything feels so surreal, in all honesty.
Tadashi's always been bullied for being lanky, having freckles and for being so weak-willed. Everyone tells him to stop thinking about it but he really can't stop himself.
He'll always feel insecure, always feel like he's being watched or that he doesn't belong anywhere he goes.
Right now, he's feeling like that.
"Tadashi? Are you listening?" Kei calls out and Tadashi snaps out of his reverie. "Y-Yeah…U-Uhmmm" Tadashi mutters out. Kei looked at him for a long second, his face and his hair already done, Tadashi noticed just now.
"Did you get all that I said? Or was what you're thinking of way more important than what I'm showing and telling you?"
Tadashi flusters and looks down where his knees were folded into.
"S-Sorry, Onii-san. I'll pay more attention next time."
Kei just rolls his eyes at him and goes back to explaining about something Tadashi thinks he'll forget soon enough. Because he was that simple.
"Last is the clothes." Kei continues.
Tadashi say patiently next to Chikara, who he didn't get to meet the first time Tadashi got to the Okiya.
Chikara was softly explaining to Tadashi what Kei was dancing and what the music piece was and who made it.
Tadashi listens patiently for once, watching Kei take every step and sway his fan elegantly to the music produced by Shouyou and Yuu (who he didn't get to meet too) who were playing the shamisen.
Soon, there was a roar of clap from the three customers and Kei bows. Even his bows were elegant, Tadashi thinks.
"Thank you," Kei mutters. "That was such a fine performance as always, Harumi," one of the customer said.
Tadashi briefly who Harumi was but then remembered that as geishas, they need names. He wondered what his would be but that was something he'll have to worry about for some other time.
Drinks and snacks were brought in by Koushi and one of the staff that Tadashi never really spoke to. When Koushi and the girl staff (Tadashi hopes he'll remember to get to know her) stood in front and the others followed along. Tadashi followed suit.
"Okay. That was great. You may all take your leave."
All of them exit the room quietly after giving the customers a bow.
When they were finally out, Chikara looked at Tadashi to say, "Was that helpful?" Tadashi nodded and said "Yes. I'll make sure to study with Onii-san Harumi about all these."
Chikara smiled and left his side.
Tadashi was then joined by Shouyou and Yuu.
"Hey, Tadashi!" Shouyou called out. "Ya know, I just noticed something."
Tadashi tilted his head a bit to the side, a quizzical look on his face.
"That spikey haired guy kept looking at you!" The giddy boy added.
"Huh?" Tadashi said. "You sure? I was pretty sure he was too engulfed in Kei's performance."
"We had a better angle, Tadashi." Yuu added. "He was really looking at you. He would stare and then look back at Kei for a bit then back at you."
Tadashi had his eyebrows meet. "You sure?"
But Kei suddenly butts in and gives them a cold look. "What are you idiots mumbling about?"
Shouyou looks like he's about ready to give Kei an ass whooping. "Nothing. Just how stingy you are, Stingyshima!"
Kei responds with a look as intense as Shouyou's. "Well, how nice. You thought of me. Fuck off."
Shouyou lurches forward but was stopped by Yuu and Tadashi guarded Kei before a fight really breaks out.
"Okay, okay. We get it. You both hate each other. You guys should stop before Koushi catches you giving each other the stink eye or all hell will break lose." Yuu threatened.
That seems to stop the two and Tadashi sighs in relief.
"Okay! Let's go back to serving those last customers!"
There was a loud "Yes!" and everyone scrambled into their designated places.
When it was time to sleep, Tadashi lays in his futon, looking up at the ceiling.
He sighs and says, "Was he really looking? Who was he anyway?"