Gossip
02
“So Sip the gossip. Drink ‘Till You Choke.”
“No.”
“I already said yes.”
“I’m not doing it.”
“You have to.”
“ No.”
“Akutagawa…”
They're in Kunikida’s house, looking at the new script that was delivered to Akutagawa this morning, and needless to say, Akutagawa is being…difficult.
Oda picks up the script Akutagawa had pushed away and sighs. “I get that you're not fond of Nakajima-kun for whatever reason, but please understand that this is huge.”
“What's so huge about that asshole making a comeback?” Akutagawa scoffs. “He’s been on hiatus for two years, couldn't he just stay there?”
“That's exactly why it's huge.” Oda explains. “Everyone is anticipating his return after all this time. He's Nakajima Atsushi, Ryu.”
He knows that much. He'd asked a stupid question because the answer was obvious, just as Oda said; he's Nakajima Atsushi.
On his eighteenth birthday two years ago, his agency had issued an announcement saying that Atsushi would go on an indefinite hiatus due to personal issues. During the two years of his absence, no one had seen a single peep of the actor, not even his neighbours. Many rumours circulated around but none could be confirmed true or false. His fans suspected that his condition was serious if he didn't even leave his house, haters claimed he had probably gone to one of his private islands to retire after making millions.
Akutagawa secretly agreed with the latter. Knowing Atsushi’s personality, he wouldn't be surprised if the boy really had decided to drop acting in favour of living a comfortable life by himself. Though, there was a small hint of guilt there because he knew that their line of work could be mentally taxing and for all they knew, Atsushi could really been struggling. None of Akutagawa’s concern, he was just happy he wouldn't need to see him at award shows and events anymore.
Now he's back and the whole world is at the edge of their seats, waiting to see what his comeback will be like. And his very first job will be as a secondary main character of the action series Akutagawa was recently cast for. Fuck.
He does wonder why Atsushi chose to play such a minor role, but regardless still isn't too fond of the idea of having to act as close partners beside Atsushi. Anytime they encounter one another he remembers the embarrassment he felt nine years ago and continued to feel in the years following. He began avoiding all work related to Atsushi, making sure to ask Oda what scripts were sent to Atsushi as well so he could toss them.
Thankfully, the fear of having to meet Atsushi again didn't affect his career negatively, but there was always that foreboding feeling that the bliss wouldn't last very long. He inwardly feared that he'd be shown up by the younger actor once again, replaced without explanation and having no choice but to completely understand their decision because even he knew that Atsushi was miles better than he could ever be and would enhance everything about the role he is given.
What's going to happen to him when Atsushi is right next to him in nearly every scene, distracting the audience from the real main character? Akutagawa can see it already; interviewers focusing on questions about Atsushi’s hiatus, how he feels coming back after so long, what it was like for Akutagawa to be acting beside Atsushi and not the other way around as it should be, promotions emphasising Atsushi’s character, heck, he may even get his own spin-off for fucks sake.
“Enough, Ryu.” Oda warns. “You're getting too far into your head again. Should I call up Fukuzawa-san to have a word with you?”
Akutagawa comes back to his senses at the mention of his teacher. He'd rather die than have to listen to another hour long lecture from the old man.
“Please don't.” He begs.
“Then shut your brain up and listen to me.” Oda puts the script back into his hands. Akutagawa only just notices that the show is written by one of his favourite screenwriters to work with. Dazai had once mentioned that she's completely biased to Akutagawa and almost every character she writes is meant to be fitting for him alone even if he isn't cast for it. After he pointed that out, it began to make sense why he felt most natural when playing the roles she designs. He smiles as he reads.
“You'll play ‘Fujisaki Yui’.” Oda begins to explain. “An assassin tasked with infiltrating the Mikage family residence to kill its head, Mikage Hyoma.”
Fujisaki Yui is cold and cruel, he does most things on impulse but maintains a strict work ethic despite that, never choosing emotions or his personal life over work; a little different from what Akutagawa would usually do but nothing too challenging for him.
The story overall is a total cliché. Dedicated assassin infiltrates a rich family, but loses track of his mission along the way as he falls for the family's daughter, they face conflict and later find a way to eradicate the head without having to kill him, by exposing his crimes and sentencing him to prison. Akutagawa said he enjoyed working with the writer, not that she was anything unique. However, cliché as they were, her scripts were always a hit.
“Lucy Montgomery will be the female lead. You two have met before, right?”
“We sat next to each other at an award show, once.” Akutagawa recalls. “But, isn't she filming in the U.S right now?”
Oda hums. “She is, but filming for this only starts next week. Her agency promised she'd be here in time.”
“Must be tiring.” Akutagawa says in sympathy, he understands the stress of having to work on multiple projects at once or after each other. “What about the rest of the cast?”
“Back of the script.” Oda answers. He's in the kitchen, throwing coffee beans into Kunikida’s new coffee machine. ‘Kunikida hasn't even used it himself yet. He'll throw a fit when he gets home.’ Akutagawa thinks.
Right, Kunikida isn't actually home, neither does he know that he has guests. Oda hadn't cleaned his apartment that morning and Akutagawa’s apartment was occupied with Gin hosting a get together with her friends. So, the solution was naturally to pay a visit to the one home they know will always be spick and span no matter the time of day: the Kunikida residence. Only, Kunikida wasn't home.
And thus, here they sat; in his living room, without a single trace of his presence. Their entry method is a matter of one’s imagination.
“Kunikida is going to throttle you.” Akutagawa watches as Oda waves his hand nonchalantly, as if to say “who cares?”, while searching for a mug. “Top right cupboard, next to the sink.”
“For someone as organised and ideal-obsessed as Doppo, I expected a better taste in crockery than…” Oda holds up two mugs; one is bright yellow with a smiley face and the other is light blue with penguins. “This.”
“That's Dazai and Kyusaku’s.”
He puts them back, still grimacing. “Makes sense.”
Akutagawa snorts and flips to the back of the booklet.
Cast of Characters
- Fujisaki Yui - Akutagawa Ryunosuke
- Charlotte Mikage - Lucy Montgomery
- Mikage Hyoma - Hirotsu Ryūrō
- Hayashi Kaito - Nakahara Chuuya
- Mikage Reiji - Nakajima Atsushi
- Ito Sakura - Izumi Kyouka
- Hayashi Akito - Q (Yumeno Kyusaku)
- Chiba Makoto - Tanizaki Naomi
- Akiyama Keita - Dazai Osamu [I-D]
“Dazai?” Akutagawa reads aloud, shocked.
“Ah.” Oda says, awkward. “The “I-D” stands for ‘in discussion’, they're trying to recruit him but obviously…”
Oda doesn't finish but Akutagawa understands. “Yeah.”
He continues to scan the rest of the list, most of the names that pop up are familiar to Akutagawa, all big actors in the industry. It seems that this project is quite a huge one.
He hears a mug being placed beside him, and reaches out to take it without looking. Just as he's about to take a sip, he notices the colour. Purple with gold, glitter hearts. Naomi’s mug. He gives Oda a dry look.
Oda plays dumb. “What?”
“If Naomi finds out about this, you're completely to blame. I don't ever want to face her wrath again.”
His words spark realisation in Oda. The man’s eyes widen in terror. “...what have I done?”
While Oda regrets his life choices, Akutagawa stares at the mug in his hand. The colour reminds him of Atsushi. He wonders what the boy looks like now after two years of complete absence. Would he be taller? Did he pick up or lose weight? What colour are his eyes now? He hopes they're lighter this time. They'll be working a lot closer together for this show and looking into that terrifying purple void nearly everyday is…not ideal.
“What the- My door!” Kunikida’s baffled shout comes from the entryway, interrupting his thoughts. “Kyu, go check who's inside, I need to pick these up again!”
Akutagawa laughs. “Is he seriously sending in a ten year old to check?”
“If he leaves the groceries on the ground for longer than thirty seconds he'll want to return them.”
Kyusaku’s hurried footsteps approach the living room. He's wary but it switches into excitement when he notices Akutagawa and Oda on the couches. He rushes into Oda’s arms, beaming from ear to ear. “Odasaku! Ryu!”
Oda catches him but nearly falls over. He grunts but chuckles, ruffling the boy’s hair. “You were with Kunikida?”
“He picked me up from school and we went grocery shopping!”
“Kyu, did you get killed? I sent you in two minutes-” Kunikida spots them and drops his bags again. “Odasaku, you fucker, I’m going to throttle you.”
The dropped bags are the least of his concerns now, Kunikida slips off his shoes and darts into the living room, furious. Oda panics, Kyusaku is still in his arms, seemingly enjoying the spectacle. He considers running off with the child, but with how fast Kunikida is known to be, especially when angry, it would only slow him down.
A heavy weight is suddenly dropped onto Akutagawa’s lap. It's Kyusaku.
Oda ultimately made the decision to leave Kyusaku with Akutagawa while he scampers around the house to avoid Kunikida.
Kunikida stops for a second. He turns to Akutagawa. “Hey, call the others and tell them to come over for dinner. Since we're all here I may as well host for the night.” And then he's off again.
Kyusaku shakes his head. “He was planning to make dinner for us anyway.”
•••
At dinner, Akutagawa questions Dazai about the show.
“It sounds great but no.” Dazai answers with a mouthful of food, which Kunikida smacks the back of his head for doing.
“Even if he wanted to, I wouldn't allow it.” Kunikida says. “I read the script and noticed that that bastard, Chuuya, is in it too.”
Dazai frowns at. “Don't call him a bastard.”
“What is he if not that?”
“Just don't, Kunikida.” Akutagawa can sense a slight hint of warning in Dazai's words.
Kunikida grunts but keeps quiet.
However, the “Chuuya” discussion doesn't end there. When Kunikida mentioned the name, he noticed that Kyusaku visibly perked and brightened up, but quickly masked his excitement after looking at Dazai. He looked as if he was just bursting to speak the whole time Dazai and Kunikida argued, and finally, he gave in when they finished
“Chuuya’s gonna be there?” He asks Dazai.
Dazai instantly wipes away his sad expression and smiles, though it's still a little sad looking. “Yeah, he will be. You're gonna be playing his little brother, but if you wanna see him earlier just ask Odasaku or Naomi to take you.”
“Hey, I could take him, too.” .
“If you take him you'll have to see Atsushi.” Dazai smirks. “I’m sparing you.”
Akutagawa shivers. “Nevermind.”
He silently prays they never cross paths unless it's for a shared scene.
Calling the first filming site grand would be an understatement. Rather than using green screens and built sets, the company has rented out an empty Japanese traditional style estate, usually used by international filmmakers. Local companies hardly did the same, with it being insanely expensive to hire and all.
Of course, there were replicated sets built for action scenes.
Akutagawa, Naomi and Kyusaku arrive early, so they tour the site together while waiting for the rest of the staff and cast.
The estate contains several separate homes for each member of the ‘Mikage’ family, and in the centre of it all is a massive pond; surrounded by water lilies, lotuses, cardinal flowers and irises, with wooden bridges intersecting over it, leading to the veranda of each home.
“We're filming here ?” Kyusaku asks, amazed by the scenery. His neck is trained so far backwards to look up at the mon they just walked through, Akutagawa worries it may stay that way.
“Yes, cool isn't it?” Naomi muses. “But your character and mine don't live in this place. We only visit occasionally.”
“There's a couple episodes where he ends up living here for a bit when Kaito is caught.” Akutagawa explains. “Though, I can't say the conditions are great.”
A female voice suddenly calls out. “Ah! Akutagawa-kun, you're here!”
Akutagawa glances toward the field where a number of trailers are parked and tents are pitched up. The woman calling him is his co-star and love interest from today onwards, Lucy Montgomery. And next to her is-
Oh fuck, seriously?
Atsushi. Nakajima-fucking-Atsushi. Akutagawa really has no luck, does he?
He wants to turn around and make a run for it, but alas, he doesn't wish to seem rude to Lucy. They'll need to be thick as thieves if they're gonna make their on-screen relationship work out.
How is it that the one person he wants to avoid at all costs unless completely necessary, ends up being the very first person he encounters?
“I’ll take Kyu to get food.” Naomi says. Akutagawa nods.
With a heavy sigh, he makes his way over to the two. Lucy is happily discussing something with Atsushi, who is a lot more responsive than Akutagawa expected. He smiles, laughs, and replies just as enthusiastically.
“Akutagawa-kun, hi.” Lucy chirps. “Atsushi was telling me how happy he is to finally get to work with you.”
Right. Like he was going to believe that.
“Lucy-!” Atsushi tries to stop her, ears red as if he's embarrassed to have been exposed like that. He looks at Akutagawa, puts his hand out and smiles politely. “Lucy is exaggerating, but it's true that I am anticipating this project. admire your work.”
‘Lucy’ ‘Atsushi’ . He thinks the two must be quite close already to be on a first name basis.
“Likewise, Nakajima-kun.” Akutagawa mimics the other's expression and shakes his hand. “And welcome back.”
“Thank you, but please, call me Atsushi.”
Or maybe it's just because Lucy is American.
“I’ll do that then.” He's not about to offer the same though.
“Do you guys wanna take a walk?” Lucy asks. “Oh, but it looks like you've already done that, Akutagawa-kun.”
“I wouldn't mind another one, but I’d prefer getting something to eat first.”
When Atsushi agrees, they decide to head over to one of the food trucks. As they walk, Akutagawa takes note of the strange stares following the three of them. Or rather, following Atsushi.
But it's strange.
“He's really back, huh.” One of the staff whispers.
“Isn't it a little embarrassing after what happened?” Says another.
“You know about it?”
“Not exactly, just what a friend of mine told me.”
“Ugh so you're just another gossip-monger.”
“No no, I swear this one has some truth to it!”
“Fine. what do you know?”
He usually wouldn't listen to rumours because, until confirmed, that's all they are. So whatever those two were discussing doesn't mean anything to him until he unintentionally takes a peek at Atsushi beside him, clenching his jaw, fists balled up in a tight grip; he appears almost panicked.
That kind of reaction…
He doesn't know why he does it. Akutagawa fully sends a vicious glower at the whispering staff, as if to let them know that he’d heard everything and it would be best to just shut up now. The silent message resounds loud and clear to the pair who immediately seal their lips and scurry off.
Whether Atsushi notices or not, he doesn't show any indication. However, Akutagawa sees the way his hands relax, and hears the slow, shaky breath released.
Rumours are just rumours but, after what he'd witnessed today, Akutagawa steadily begins to wonder how many of them contain a bit of truth.