Warning: I am so lazy to reread this chapter thoroughly so I apologize for mistakes in terms of grammar, dialogue et cetera. 

CHAPTER 33

It was indisputable that Tokiya had gained moral supports from the public to recover from his health and obstacles in order to fight for his justice. He gained a lot of heartening messages from his fans through his social media and those victims who Ren brought to help with the trial expressed their admiration for his strength which lately, led them to hit on him.

Yet, it was also foreseeable that there were still toxic people around him. Those who still had a weird audacity to coax him to maintain his Stripper image.

Those who believed that he could act according to the image lightly since people finally knew what kind of person he was in real life. Those who dared to say to him that 'acting is just an art. It doesn't involve the actor's morals at all.'

Their ideology had angered Himura as well. He did not see the reason why he should hold back from his outburst but he was blessed with a very calm artist who ignored those offers and suggestions in a calm way. Tokiya had always hated fuss and enjoyed peace so he would reply with;

"I am sorry. I would like to refuse this offer since it has a bed scene."

"I apologize. The plot is against my principle."

Yet, years passed and Himura could read every single inch of Tokiya's doing almost perfectly. When Tokiya paraphrased his words in such a polite way even when someone provoked him, it was a gentle reminder for the people not to push his buttons. Unlike Masato, the probability of Tokiya to teach somebody a lesson using his fists was way less (Himura decided not to use 'zero' for the probability after Hyuga recently told him that Tokiya had slapped Nakamura Yuna once for insulting Haruka) but it did not mean he was not dangerous. His aura alone was already intimidating and whoever had been told off by him would be petrified of him for the rest of their lives.

For example, like today, before telling a producer that he rejected his movie offer, Tokiya decided to snap at a new scriptwriter, Sakurano Tsubasa for writing a 'funny' plot and characterization. It was about a seemingly gentle guy, Kenichi who ended up betraying his own best friend, Arata, just because they loved the same girl, Mika. Kenichi had stabbed Arata to death for 10 times before kidnapping and abusing Mika, the heroine. Even she luckily found her way out, Kenichi eluded the prison and would possibly traumatize the poor girl again. Not to mention, the script seemed to promote a seductive murderer instead of the theme of betrayal itself.

"You know what? I don't want to be mean but..." Contrasting with his words, Tokiya slammed the script against the table, much to Tsubasa's fright. Himura, who stood nearby even jumped out of shock. "I don't understand. Why Kenichi had to stab his friend just because Mika did not reciprocate his feeling? Why did you change the happy ending? Not to mention you made him a handsome psychopath in the end since in your script..." He flipped the pages of the script impatiently as he said, "handsome... hot... gorgeous... good-looking... handsome... hot again... gorgeous again... In short, there are more than 60 "handsome" words and its synonyms in the script. You even made all the side characters drooled over Kenichi for being so handsome. Care to explain why?"

"Hey, Tokiya..." Himura was not sure how to fix the situation but he tried anyway. He supported the heart-throb but Tokiya should cut the girl some slack since she looked too innocent to understand what sort of situation did she get herself into. "Calm down. At least try to ask her one by one, though."

"That... That's because..." The writer hugged her bag in protection mode after nodding thankfully at Himura. "He loved Mika for such a long time but she chose Arata who she only knew less than a year so Kenichi felt that it hurt his pride..."

"But the point is did he really have to stab his best friend to death? Can they just talk it out and get it over? Arata already married Mika. Why it's so hard for Kenichi to understand that she would never be his to the point of he would kill Arata? Not to mention you made him escaped from prison and possibly would harm Mika again. Can he just pull himself together and atone for his sin?" His usually flat voice turned louder and it scared both Tsubasa and Himura.

"I think you are the one who should pull yourself together, Tokiya. This is just a movie," Himura tapped his shoulder as he saw that Tsubasa was this close to bawling her eyes out. The manager bet that Tsubasa never imagined one day her script would cause an actor to lash out at her.

"But I am still not satisfied if this is what they want to show public, Himura-san. Is love that important compared to friendship? As an educated person, he should know more than everyone that murder can ruin his life forever. Hey, you. Make him smiling when Arata and Mika got married. Maybe in the wedding ceremony, he would find his true love and they lived happily ever after."

"I know you disagree but you don't have to suggest your own script, Tokiya," Himura murmured before signaling Tsubasa to relax.

"But, Ichinose-san... The current genre is a film noir and both the director and our producer wanted it that way now. If we make a happy ending..."

"But it will be not fair for Arata!" He banged his fist on the table and that was when the lass started crying. Himura instantly learned that the probability for Tokiya to attack physically was more than he thought. "He was the victim here but your script doesn't show any sympathy and justice to him. All you wrote was Kenichi was a sexy doctor with a tragic past who the audience should sympathize and drool over. What kind of doctor was him, stripped in 80 percents of the scenes when he was supposed to wear the white coat?"

"Hey, Tokiya... Take it easy," Himura nervously stroked his back, shifting his look between the two people. "No need to be so fierce to a young lady, though."

That was when his mind decided to return all his coolness.

Okay, Tokiya. Calm down. Don't torment the writer. Yes, she is still young. She still has a long way to go... Just like you when you were HAYATO...

Still, it's fresh though. No need to be a hypocrite by saying that acting is just my job yada yada yada.

"Okay, I think I am fine now. I am sorry for the outburst," Tokiya cleared his throat as he met eyes with the still anxious Tsubasa. "To be honest, you really did a great job here. I accepted this offer because your writing is incredible and the original theme is about friendship, right? But it kind of frustrated me when you guys suddenly decided to glorify Kenichi and disregard Arata... Personally, I don't think the fact that Kenichi needs to be handsome is necessary..."

"I swear that's not my idea, Ichinose-san!" Tsubasa exclaimed. "Kenji-san said to me that since you are the one who played Kenichi, a lot of fan service from you will be a great promotion for the film and I don't think I am in the position to oppose Kenji-san..."

That bastard never changes, huh?

"Yeah, I know...That frigging producer always loves fan service," Tokiya agreed. "Nevertheless, good luck with your future career, Sakurano-san. Don't let yourself get exploited like somebody I know..."

Which is you obviously, Himura thought.

After they departed which caused them to see Tsubasa left as fast as her legs could carry her, Himura could not contain his urge to tease the idol.

"Here I thought that Ichinose-san is a cool person but it turned out that he is just a hot-headed chicken," he remarked while imitating Tsubasa's cute voice. "I think that's what she thought of you now, Tokiya."

At least, he believed that whatever he had lectured to the girl was true so he told himself not to feel guilty.

Seeing that Tokiya needed something to change his current routine, Himura decided to arrange his variety show appearance with Syo and Ren. He knew the artist still felt uncomfortable and awkward around them but that kind of tension was way better than encountering those people who only knew how to annoy him. At this point, Himura could not care less when the more he spent time with Tokiya, the more he developed like a father who freaked out about his son's lack of social skills.

The theme of the show was a reunion with classmates so it was supposed to be perfect for three of them.

But it was not, all thanks to Tokiya who seemed to be like a newbie in a variety show.

It was normal and expectable that Syo would be teased a lot among them but Tokiya was being extremely nice to Syo, listing out his good points although their previous encounters consisted of their fracases. Even when they were participating in games which required them to be in different teams, he let Syo won easily.

Even it did cause the fans to squeal in joy for their so-called sweetness, Himura and Ren shared the urge to scratch their heads for Tokiya's tendency not to play along with their clear plans.

Outwardly, Tokiya was way far ahead of all of them with his solo plan. While his friends and Himura tried to keep him away from anything or anyone which could trigger his trauma, he confounded them with;

"I got a few calls from Hyuga-san and he begged to meet me so that he can apologize to me properly," he said with a poker face.

Tokiya was always the 'calm and collected face' of STARISH but they never understood it when he was also an abuse victim who had suffered for years. That was why in the end, Himura suggested him to visit his ex-teacher with his fellow ex-classmates.

"No, you will go with them. I suddenly remember that I have to go to Kakeru's school. Have fun," Himura remarked when the blue head expectedly showed familiar signs to object to his suggestion. He ignored Tokiya's dissatisfied face as he left the three friends together in their waiting room right after the variety show shooting.

The strain was insane among four of them; a teacher with his students. 17 years ago, their relationship was obvious for other students. Syo called himself as Hyuga's No.1 fan, had always been the first person to update everybody on his idol's project and trying his hardest to pass auditions so that he could co-star with Hyuga. At last, he could work with the man as the stunt coordinator.

Ren was a troublemaker. He skipped classes and abandoned assignments to the point of he was almost expelled had he prolonged his acts which according to him was the protest against his brother. Yet, thanks to Hyuga, he got more mature and serious about his works.

While with Tokiya, it was 'unique'. Tokiya was regarded as S Class's best vocalist but Hyuga never acknowledged it. He was particularly harsh with Tokiya and never pulled his punches when he said Tokiya's singing was like a robot; way too perfect but never intended to entertain people. When the teacher even emphasized how he preferred Otoya's songs which are still lacking technically but had 'heart', it changed Tokiya since he developed the same opinion with Hyuga on his roommate's singing.

Until now, it was impossible for them to forget that Hyuga Ryuya had played a big role in their life as an aspiring idol. They respected him and they wanted to be like him.

So, when they learned that Hyuga was one of Saotome's supposed-to-be loyal accomplices before he betrayed the legendary singer, they were numb to react. Their eyes refused to accept what they saw and they did not believe what their ears had served. Hyuga was also well-known for his work ethic so to think that he shared the same opinion with Saotome regarding Tokiya's slavery was unforgivable.

"I am sorry," that was what the muscular man repeated since the three S class alumni visited him. In just a short time, he no longer could offer a good-looking face which could sway the girls' hearts. No more charismatic words and charming posture. He had a few bruises over his face but what was the most unpleasantly attractive to them was the used-to-be fashionable Hyuga was wearing a pair of scruffy prison uniform.

"That's not enough," at last, Syo was the one who spoke first. It hurt his eyes and heart to see Tokiya's doll-mode. The staring from the idol and the sound of Hyuga sobbed his heart out almost sent his hot-tempered side to scream at them to knock it out. "Seriously, why does it take you a prison to make you realize that you're sinful to your own student?"

"It's because I was greedy and... stupid," a loud sigh emitted, everyone could tell that the teacher was repenting. He stared back at Tokiya, desperately searching any sign of forgiveness from the idol. "I ignored you when you begged us to stop involving your friends in the dirty contract. I even beat you when..."

"Where is Ringo-san?" Tokiya interrupted. He did not need more guilt and empathy from his friends when more facts about his sacrifices were revealed yet again. This was not the right time to be melodramatic. "I thought I might meet him as well."

"They sent him to the hospital. He had severe bleeding in his head," Hyuga replied. His voice quivered for each syllabus that escaped from his mouth. It was expected that he could see his ex-students' curiosity and shock right away. "Did you ever hear that men do sexually attack other men to show who is more powerful and not because they're not straight? They're here, guys. Those prisoners love someone fragile and beautiful like Ringo but I can't do anything to save him. We sleep in different cell and we rarely bump into each other. The next thing I know is they tormented him like a dog because they're also your fan. At least, that's what they used as an excuse when they hit me and Ringo. I can't even go and visit my long-time friend, Tokiya. I can't."

Ren almost blurted out that they would visit Ringo in place of the muscular man but he was more interested in how Tokiya did not have any sort of reaction. He neither curving in a smile nor putting on an expression that he forgave Hyuga. His eyes were empty, staring at the intimidated Hyuga. Either his inside was laughing at Hyuga's pathetic state or he was too dry to say anything due to his trauma, it was always tricky to know what he had in his head.

The visit was surprisingly prolonged by Tokiya's requests to see his other assaulters including Nakamura Yuna and Kuoda Shun. It would make their days if all of them apologized but...

It seemed like Kuoda was determined to ruin his victim's life and feeling by saying a bunch of crap.

"You two are married, right?" The man pointed at Ren and Syo who looked like they were ready to break the glass wall between them and strangle him. "I am married too but my desire is also for him. You see, I am bisexual so I can switch myself just like that. When I wanted a man to serve me, I would go straight to him. I bet as his friend, You could see it by yourself. His service was the best! It's a shame that you have a hot friend but you don't even..."

"Shut up!"

"Please don't just assume that everyone is like you. What you did was downright abnormal," Ren said calmly, holding back Syo's shoulder.

"Huhhh? Why not? Of course when you're as hot as Tokiya, it's your job to use your beauty to the fullest. Everyone likes something beautiful. Don't fool me."

"I guess you did become a fool after what happened to your family," Tokiya said, smirking as Kuoda's panicky face appeared. "Your wife now has suffered from depression after she knew about your true color, just like me. Your son is... what? He's just dead, right? He committed suicide after being ostracized by his schoolmates. I almost ended up like him and now you see how God turned the table on you, right? Sorry, not sorry."

It was obvious for his friends that Tokiya knew Kuoda too much. More than enough to make the perverted eyes of Kuoda burned with anger.

"You don't have any right to say a word about my family! My son is fine, the news is fake! Don't you dare to say that he's dead, you bastard!" As he screamed while banging on the wall, two guards quickly brought him out of the room.

Syo and Ren could only stare at the collected Tokiya in horror.

But the biggest apprehension was when they met eyes with the evilest monster in Tokiya's life, Shining Saotome. His eyes pierced each of them as if they had done him wrong and should apologize for him.

"I don't want to see you guys," he said, sternly.

"Too bad. I want to see you, Saotome-san," Tokiya said before Syo could explode or Ren could warn him. "Since Hyuga-san insisted me to come here and Himura-san suggested me to demand apologies from all of you, it finally did spark my curiosity about your condition right now. I guess you didn't disappoint me."

"If you come here for an apology, you are asking from a wrong person, Mr. Ichinose," the old man said. "I'll never apologize for something that I believe is true."

"Your common sense is useless now so I don't think I need your apology," Tokiya said.

"What?"

"Instead, one day, I will seek your apology under two conditions, Mr. President," he said, leaning closer to the old man. "I will meet you again when you regain your common sense and also... when I have a reason to demand your apology. So far, these people are safe and sound including Otoya's children so I will spare you this time."

As someone who had known Tokiya for a long time, his warning managed to send the scariest chill down to his friends' spines.

This war still did not end. It needed a fair and suitable ending.

When they were on their way back to Syo's car, Syo and Ren could not hold back their loud and annoyed sigh as they encountered Otori.

"I am so happy to see you, Tokiya," ignoring Tokiya's lack of response, Otori loosely hugged the man. "Oh, your friends are also here. Kurusu Syo and Jinguuji Ren."

No, it's Aijima Cecil and Hijirikawa Masato, Ren thought. He did not like how the man looked like a lunatic fan of his friend. It was obvious about how he never gave up scouting Tokiya after Saotome's downfall.

"Well, are you here to..."

"Just to visit Hyuga-san," Tokiya said.

"And why would you visit someone who had ruined your life?"

"It's because he's still our teacher."

"For someone who had been exploited brutally, you sure have a kind heart, Tokiya. I am so impressed," Otori said. Everyone could tell how he was exaggerating his praises. "It's a shame that your ex-president wasted a great talent like you. I heard that you rejected so many offers due to your principles. Why don't you work with me, then? Let's have a dinner tonight and we'll discuss your future with Raging Entertainment, perhaps? I promise it'll be a win-win situation. You can reject offers that don't suit you."

"Sure, I look forward to it," Tokiya said, sending Syo and Ren to look at each other.

Did the guy seriously consider the offer?

No, they would not allow that. Not after what Masato told them about Eiichi.

No, they could not allow Eiichi to touch their friend.

So, since what they had planned was supposed to be a surprise for Tokiya, they ended up arguing using eye contacts when at the same time, Syo was driving and Tokiya sat next to him.

'Should we finish the contract by tonight?' was what Syo wanted Ren to understand from his eyes.

'I think we should but the company isn't fully established yet. Do you think this guy will want to be with us when the company isn't properly set up?'

'We can put it aside. We should prioritize Tokiya's safety first. What if Masato is right about Eiichi?'

"Syo."

"Yes, Tokiya?"

"Do you love your twins?"

"Huh? Of... of course I love them," Syo's eyes sized up with the sudden question.

"Then, drive when you are supposed to drive. Our lives are in your hand."

It was enough to make them stopped arguing. The silence in the car lasted long but it was comfortable for Tokiya.

"Tomo, please... Can you tell me what's Tokiya's ideal date? I really, really like him! Pleaseee..."

"Tomo, you have been friends with Ichinose-san since your training, right? Do you know what color does he prefer for a jacket? I saw this particular jacket in a magazine and I thought I want to buy it for him. I guarantee he'll be handsome in it!"

"Ichinose-san never dated due to the rule, right? So, now, he is free so I am free to be his girlfriend, right? I fall in love with him at first sight so I thought I wanted to buy him a dinner or something. Can you give his number to me? Please, Tomo."

No matter where she went, Tomochika was surrounded and 'interrogated' by Tokiya's fans.

It was not supposed to be a problem is she was still engaged to Eiichi and did not have any romantic feeling towards the blue head. It would be nice and acceptable if they asked her help when she was still someone else's lover but now...

There was no way she could easily help them without remembering that she also loved him so much. She missed him when she was alone (even the drunken episode where she almost kissed him was so embarrassing that facing him again was impossible), she missed him when she was working but she did not want him to feel disgusted with her. She was trying to respect his privacy but sometimes, when she could not help it, she would call Himura and ask what Tokiya was doing. She was too comfortable with the manager to care that he might smell something fishy with the way she kept asking about the artist.

Now, she was in Haruka's house, as she had promised the composer to drop a visit sometimes. Yet, instead of cutting onions for their lunch, she was spaced out again. The knife in her hand remained static.

No, Tomo. Please... be mature, rational, innovative and... ahh, I don't even know how to use words anymore! But... think, Tomo. Think. He's single and he's already 34 years old. Of course, he loves his works but he's still a man. And he loves children. Yes, you always see that he loves to spend time with children so of course he wants to have a family on his own. So in order for him to have a family, he needs a wife so you should give those girls a chance to win his heart.

But, but... why can't I give them the chances? Why should I feel so jealous? It's not like he's already mine or something. No, Tomo. Don't be desperate. As his friend, you should be supportive. Plus, if you love someone, it doesn't mean you have to make him yours, right? He obviously doesn't feel the same way as you so...

"Tomo, what are you doing?" Haruka who returned to the kitchen asked instantly. "What's with the hands' movements? Do you practice dancing or..."

"No, I don't!" Tomochika exclaimed. Too bad, it was too loud to be true. "I am just thinking."

"And what are you thinking about?"

"About..." her cheeks dusted more with brighter pink color.

This is not good. Just the thought of him makes me... I am sorry, Haruka. After seventeen years, now only I understand how it feels to fall in love with Tokiya. I feel like I was charmed. I want to be there for him, I want to make him smile and...

"I love him, Haruka," she whispered.

"What did you say?"

"Haruka," she clutched the woman's smaller shoulders, indirectly demonstrating her anxiety and dilemma. "I thought I want to ignore this feeling until it disappears on its own but... I really want someone to know it and that person will be you, Haruka. I need your opinion."

"Okay, okay. First of all, calm down. Take a breath. You might die if you continue to be like this."

"Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't die if I want to tell you something," with a sudden and random determination, Tomochika took a deep breath, following Haruka's slow hand movements.

"Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Now, tell me what happened. You're supposed to be happy at my house but you're spaced out instead. Do you have a problem, Tomo?"

Yeah, I am like a lovesick teenager, Haruka.

"No, this is not a problem but... if I tell you, don't be shocked, okay?"

"Okay."

"What!?"

Every time she told Haruka something juicy, she always forgot that her best friend was also Hijirikawa Masato's wife.

Which was in other words, she followed one of her husband's personality traits; his overreaction.

"That's loud, Haruka. Anyone can hear you if you react like that," the whispered anxiously. As if they might die ridiculously had they spoke louder again.

"But what you told me almost gave me a heart attack, Tomo!"

"Is it that surprising?"

"Well, I think, first of all, you really need to stop drinking recklessly, Tomo."

Auch!

"Yeah, Haruka. That's so right," Tomochika said, faking her cry while holding Haruka's hands tightly. "That's what I am trying to do now after being so embarrassed about that night. I should give myself to sharks and die in their stomachs."

"That's why I told you to refrain from drinking too much, Tomo," Haruka replied, also faking her cry to match Tomochika's. "Now, after what's happening, you're going to offer yourself to sharks? Who's going to be my best friend then, Tomo? You should confess your feeling to him or I'll lose my friend."

"But it's one-sided, Haruka!"

"But he didn't say anything about rejecting you outright, right?" Haruka added which stopped them from being noisy together in the kitchen. "He just said something like he doesn't agree with the kiss because you guys aren't in the right situation, right? To me, you do have a chance, Tomo."

Don't be like me, Tomo. I kissed him years ago only when he slept because I was too afraid to say what I truly felt about him.

"You think so, Haruka?" Tomochika said. Genuine support from Haruka was so precious for her right now.

"Yes. I think it's not wrong for you to try to confess. It doesn't matter if he still rejects you, right? As long as you no longer have to keep it to yourself."

Don't be like me, Tomo. I was a coward. I couldn't say that I regretted not confessing what I felt about him before but I do regret being a coward. So now, I don't want you to repeat the same mistake.

"Yeah. I just want him to be happy," Tomochika said with a smile; something that her best friend had yearned to see since her toxic relationship with Eiichi seemed to steal her smile.

"So, since he's also here today, you can see him happy and..."

"What?"

Tomochika wished Haruka was pulling an insane joke. She would forgive her instantly as long as Haruka took back her words.

"Wh...what? Did you say that he... he's here? That... that Tokiya?"

"Yes, that 'he'. We're talking about that 'he' this entire time, right?"

"No!! Why didn't you tell me earlier, Haruka?"

"It's because he just came here 15 minutes ago and 15 minutes ago, I didn't know that you like him."

"This is crazy! He's heading straight to Masato or the girls, right? Had Tokiya hear everything... "

"Had I hear what?" The most unwanted voice for their 'juicy' conversation had made the women screamed in horror.

"Whoa, easy, tiger. No need to scream like you just saw a ghost," Tokiya said, raising his palm against them. He learned that every time he was in Hijirikawa's house, something shocking would happen.

"I... I need to go to the toilet," contradicted to Tokiya's words, Tomo left them right away, scurrying without looking anywhere else.

"Does my face remind her of a toilet or something?" Tokiya said as Haruka stood on his side, all amused and amazed. "Just what happened..."

"Nothing. She has the answer but I bet soon enough, she'll tell you."

"What?"

As their friend, she could not hope more than their happiness. The fact they were still single did not bother her but if they could be happy by staying with each other, it was more than enough for her.

After all...

I regretted to leave you alone when you suffered before. I regretted to bottle up what I felt about you, Tokiya. So the least I can do is to ensure you to be happy with someone else and take care of Harumi well.   

That's all for Chapter 33. Feel free to tell me what do you think about this chapter, okay? See you guys again :D