C/W : slight bxb, slight Ryou x Riku

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Peridot eyes watched as the door in front of him closed. With a sigh, he leaned back on the chair. It was near midnight, the day was almost over, but Yuuto felt that he won't get enough sleep with all the work he needed to do.

A knock could be heard, and he already knew who it was.

"Come in!"

The door opened, and right to his guess, a certain red-haired teen entered the room with a tired face. Well, it seemed like he won't be the only one that won't have enough sleep today. Yuuto gestured toward the sofa inside the room. Riku saw it, and quickly seated on the sofa.

With a chuckle Yuuto followed him and sat on the sofa as well. Both of them then sigh at the same time.

"How is it, Riku-kun?"

"I made contact with Kujou Aya and talked with her. She knows who I am, as both Yaotome and Nanase."

Yuuto let out a hum, "I take it that TRIGGER knows as well?"

"Yes, I kind of said that I KNOW."

"And their reaction?"

"...I think I made Tenn-san's brain short-circuited."

That made Yuuto let out a loud laugh. Riku stared at the man with a small smile. Since, well, it was kind of funny seeing the usual calm Kujou Tenn feeling a little bit lost. Then he suddenly remembered Tenn's longing expression, it made him silent. A hand then patted his head gently.

"Maa maa, it will be alright. I'm sure both Gaku-kun and Tsunashi-kun will help Kujou-kun."

Slowly, Riku smiled brightly, "Yeah, you're right. They won't allow Tenn-san to be alone.", he then perked up, "Ah! Putting my problem aside for now. How about you, Yuuto-san? The meeting with that man won't be easy, especially if it's about the talent under his guidance."

Yuuto let out a snort, "He is. I did manage to make him comply with one of the requests. That he won't able to withdraw Kujou Tenn from TRIGGER without any prior notice."

The younger man hummed, "It's kind of logical, if he just suddenly withdraws Tenn-san, the media will hound both us and TRIGGER, especially Tenn-san. There will be a conflict even within the fans, from both who will support Tenn-san going solo or him staying with TRIGGER."

"Either way, it will destroy Tenn's own reputation. Making him branded as a traitor." Peridot eyes glanced at the younger, "That's what you are trying to protect, right? TRIGGER's solidarity. Since previously Kujou Takamasa could withdraw Kujou-kun anytime he wished. But now he is bound by the contract."

Riku nodded as his hands folded in front of him, "Whether we like it or not, TRIGGER is the main face of Yaotome pro. There's other talent under us, but what currently Yaotome Pro needs to keep moving to the top and stay there is TRIGGER. So, no matter what, we need to keep TRIGGER under our grasp. At the same time, keep nurturing other talents."

"Indeed, but Riku-kun, the price for that solidarity is heavy for your conscience, isn't it? Especially after what all Kujou Takamasa did to other idols and trainees."

The red-head was silent for a while, reddish amber eyes rested on the document that stacked quite a few on the table. It was the result of their investigation. Some were just speculation, but some of the evidence backed the speculations. Yet...

"If something happened to Kujou Takamasa, it will affect Tenn-san, TRIGGER will be included, and it will extend to Yaotome Pro too. To protect those, I need Kujou Takamasa to not be touched..." Riku leaned back on the sofa while looking wistfully on the ceiling, "I hate this. But I don't have enough power to remove Kujou Takamasa without hurting other people under him now. If to protect TRIGGER I need to make this sinful decision, then I will be the sinner."

Yuuto circled his arm around Riku's shoulder, bringing the younger to his chest. Hugging him in a gentle manner.

"You're not alone. Whatever happened, I will bear the weight with you."

After months of painstakingly finding a way to protect Yaotome Production. This was the conclusion that they, alongside Sousuke, got for now. They needed to keep and protect TRIGGER, that means they needed to make Tenn, whose contract was under his adopted father say, to stay.

And today, they managed to renew the contract. That didn't mean they could dispose of Takamasa easily. if something happened to that man, it will affect the talent under the man's tutelage. Including Tenn himself.

So, they couldn't touch the man, for now. Didn't mean they couldn't offer to help the man's mental problem though.

"Did he accept the offer of our help?"

Yuuto rolled his eyes, "He thinks that I AM the one that is crazy. I think he doesn't even notice he has a mental problem."

"We need evidence huh..." Muttered Riku, not long after, he shook his head, "Ah well, I got a feeling we will get the evidence that we needed soon."

"If you feel like that, let's just wait then. Now our other problem... Tsukumo production huh..."

Tsukumo Production was another delicate matter. Yaotome Pro exists because of Tsukumo Pro help. But with the matter of the succession of who would lead the Tsukumo Pro, it might be another problem for them.

Their main concern was Tsukumo Ryou. With his behavior, there was a high chance the man would target TRIGGER. Well, 'would' being the key. Since the man somehow... changed ever since being exposed to Riku.

The blonde-haired man glanced at his assistant with a wry expression, the red-head gleeful smile didn't lessen his worry at all. Instead, it made it worse.

"Are you really going to accept that man's proposal? I fear that it will shorten your father's lifespan."

The smile immediately changed into a wheeze, "No, I'm not! I only make an acquaintance—well, more like becoming friends with him? We did become closer, but you know I only keep eyes in case he planned something." The younger then huffed, "I think he likes my directness and honesty. I did say to his face that I will watch his action. I will make sure he won't touch Yaotome Pro."

"...Is that why he fell for you? Why did you allow him to get closer, Riku-kun?"

"Maybe? I don't know what's inside his mind. For your other question... I just felt both of us kind of similar. A lonely child that is betrayed by what we trust. In my case, I was kind of lucky to kind of forget and be adopted by a good family. In his case... He could never run from 'Tsukumo' family expectations. Maybe that's why he grew to be that twisted. Originally, he was meant to be, 'a spare', since he's the youngest son."

"...Maybe I really should prepare a bodyguard for you."

"No!" Whined out the red-head, "I will be fine, really." He stood up, walked toward the window to look out toward the deserted street of Tokyo. Riku then rested his forehead toward the window with a wry smile on his face.

"I already have his trust, I don't want to betray him... and maybe, I can help in the way I know." He turned around and stared at Yuuto with a mysterious smile, "Leave the matter of Tsukumo Ryou to me. I will play the bait that entices him, Yuuto-san should focus on other matters."

The older man let out a sigh, "Don't let yourself be bitten."

The red-head chuckled weakly at that, before glancing at the window guiltily, 'Well, too late for that.'

~Flashback, a few weeks ago~

Hands carefully cut the steak in front of it. The piece of steak that had already been cut was pierced by a fork before being brought to the mouth. It was slowly being chewed, before being swallowed.

Reddish amber eyes opened after he savored the taste of the steak, before making contact with a yellow cat-eyes one. One eyebrow raised in question, since the other man was just silently watching him.

"Are you here only to stare at me, Ryou-san?"

Ryou let out a chuckle, "Watching you is a delight of its own, dear Riku~"

Riku sighed, "Please eat, don't waste the chef's effort. And next time, don't waste money to book an entire restaurant for ourselves. You do know there's a private dining room if you want privacy."

"Ah, but I wanted to flaunt my richness to you! So, you can think about my betrothal proposal more seriously~"

The younger was silent for a while as he cut another piece before chewing and swallowing it. He slowly put down the utensil and patted his mouth with the provided napkins.

"Ryou-san, don't lie," Hands folded in front of his chest as he stared seriously at the other, "What do you actually want?"

Ryou raised both of his hands in surrender motion, "My, Riku, I didn't lie. The way you said that, was like you are not good enough to be desired." A dark look entered the older face, "Now, who dares to make you feel like that."

Riku sighed while massaging his forehead, "Please don't plan for someone's downfall. And excuse me for my suspicion. After all, with you, I don't know whether you're genuine or not."

"Always so straight forward and earnest even to me." The man rested his chin on his palm, a clear fond smile on his face, "This is why I fell for you."

The red-head stared with a deadpan expression before he sighed tiredly at the man. Knowing he won't get a certain answer, he decided to continue eating. The food was good, and Riku refused to waste it. Ryou let out a chuckle when he noticed Riku ignored him and finally began to eat as well.

Opposite from how their conversation ended earlier, the silence wasn't awkward. Somehow the air around them was calm and they continued their eating in blissful silence until they finished. They drank their own drink, Riku put down his drink first.

"...Ryou-san. Besides this so-called 'dinner date', what did you actually want to talk about? If you want TRIGGER, our other talents, or even do anything for Yaotome Pro, my answer is still the same as before." Reddish amber eyes narrowed, "I won't allow you to touch any of them and I will fight back with everything I am."

Ryou was still smiling while swirling the wine in the glass, he took a sip before putting it on the table. He slowly stood up, walked toward the other before leaning down. Gently, he put his hand on Riku's chin. Angled it upward, reddish amber with yellow-cat one.

"What will you do, if I say... you?"

"...Pardon?"

The older man leaned closer to the other, both could feel the others' breath with how close they were.

"If I say I want you, what will you do, Riku-kun? Putting aside my feelings. I did tell you a long time ago. And none of it is a lie."

"Why..." Riku whispered out

Ryou hummed before softly cradling the other's face, his smile shifted into a gentle one. For the first time ever since they met each other, Ryou let himself smile like that in front of Riku.

"Having TRIGGER might be a good deal. But, it's boring." One of his hands caressed Riku's cheek like it was a precious thing. "I'm more interested in this one shadow of the star, the one silently doing a lot of work to make sure the stars shine brightly."

"You said like I'm kind of special." A small smile graced Riku's face, "I'm sure with how huge the Tsukumo Production is, there's so many capable people there."

"Hah..." The purple-head let out a tired sigh, "Really, Riku. Sometimes you don't know how valuable you are."

Ryou released his gentle grip, before leaning on the table behind him with hands folded in front of his chest.

"Do you know how much information about you circulated in the upper circle?"

Riku's face scrunched in confusion, trying to remember any significant information that he knew. But as far as he could remember, beside the usual snide about him, nothing important info about him.

Suddenly, Ryou waved his pointed finger in front of the other's face with a disappointed face.

"Tch, tch, tch, you really look down on yourself too much." A playful smile then entered his face, "You are called the child of fortune, a miracle that fell into Yaotome Sousuke's hand."

Ryou moved his hand upward, one hand rested on his chest, "You helped bring up your father's company name in a good grace, helped with the information gathering and making a new connection, bringing the best out of everyone. You didn't even realize that parts of the upper echelon under your thumb. The snide comments that are circulating are from those who envy you, jealous."

The red-head was silent with a bowing head, this made Ryou blinked in confusion. Slowly he leaned down, trying to see Riku's face. When he saw it, his eyes widened, before patting the other's head with a chuckle.

"My, that's a rare expression you have there, Riku-kun. It's cute~"

Riku was blushing furiously. He never thought a lot of people knew about all the work he did behind the scenes. Never thought all the work he did impacted a lot of things, events, even people. So, no one could blame him for blushing from embarrassment.

"I'm not cute!" he then slapped his own cheeks to calm himself, before glaring at the older man, "And my statement still stands, I'm sure there's many people in Tsukumo Pro that are as good or more than me."

He then stood up from his chair, "If there's nothing more, I will excuse myself, I have things to prepare." His hands reached toward his coat that hung on the chair.

A hand then wrapped around his left wrist, stopping his movement. Riku then turned around, meeting with Ryou's apologetic face. The man's hand moved around the other wrist, and ended up holding the younger's hand. He brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of the hand.

"I'm sorry, dear Riku. Didn't mean to fluster you. What do you want for the compensation?" Questioned Ryou

Riku stared at the man blankly, he sighed before mumbling, "No, I'm at fault as well. Sorry."

"Fufu, the compensation?"

With a raised eyebrow Riku asked back, "We're both at fault though, so there's no need for it."

"Aw, then why not ask something from each other." The man then winked, "I want to ask for another date."

Reddish amber eyes blinked before he chuckled slightly, "What a way to ask for a date. Fine, but no formal date. And I don't want to talk about work."

"Ho? Why is—?!"

Riku daringly put his finger on Ryou's lips, sealing the other's mouth, "I want to know more about 'Ryou-san', not 'Tsukumo Ryou'." He gave the man a wink with a smile before turning around and leaving the place.

Unknown to the red-head, Ryou's face was red. Feeling flustered not only because of what Riku did. For him, that was the first time someone wanted to know him. The man then groaned before he crouched and covered his blushing face.

"How can I not fall for you..." Whispered the man softly with a face of someone that was falling in love all over again.

~End of Flashback~

Riku rested his forehead on the cold surface of the window. That was a bold move even from him. He was wary of the man. But it wasn't a lie that he wanted to know more about the man.

Hopefully he won't fall for this farce. All of them were already at the point of no return. Wrong steps, everything would go down. He needed to be careful of his words, his actions.... And his feelings.

.

.

.

"My, Riku-kun, are you blushing?"

"...It's none of your business, Yuuto-san."

~To Be Continue~