nothing to see, move along, move along~
The mission perametres Gakuto is given are, by necessity, rather sketchy. Be around this location and observe what happens, report all the rumours this week re: some strange topic that he can't understand the significance of, always keep aware of the pulse of gossip throughout the offices. Know who's saying what about who, even when the what is as insignificant as whose dye-job looks natural1.
This job doesn't seem any different than the others. Find out who's spreading vicious rumours about who, why they're doing it and... not make them stop. Gakuto can get behind that and he's not entirely certain that even he can make a rumour halt. Counter it, perhaps, with a contrary one or put the focus elsewhere. The main rumours always change though their effects linger, sunk deep into the office myths.
In a way, this is what tips him off. Three weeks and the main player in the biggest rumours has remained the same - but the rumours grow wilder and brighter and there comes a point where not even he can laugh2.
Smear campaigns are dirty, dirty things and Gakuto has participated in enough of them3 to recognise the signs.
Tezuka Kunimitsu, fabled Boss figure4 of the Japanese Central Intelligence Agency. Currently rumoured to be involved with everything from Japanese bordellos, working part time at a host club, a disruptive youth as a male stripper, and working alternate weeks as a cross-dressing cabaret singer and Magenta in a live action stage show of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Gakuto had laughed for sixteen minutes straight upon hearing the last one, which had effectively taken up most of his break but was worth it. So worth it. Even when an overly helpful PA had tried to throw a glass of water in him. (Sometimes, being in the tearoom was remotely hazardous.)
It's hard to think that anyone can believe something like this, when they snigger about it over tea and biscuits and some of the most expensive cakes in Japan5 but... it's the afterwards, when somebody will venture in a quiet, contemplative voice that... didn't they hear about Tezuka-san being seen with a man? Coming out of a hotel, looking all serious and stick-up-the-ass-like (which always gets a few laughs and murmurs of knowing fondness) but... well. He's been smiling a bit more, hasn't he? And then someone with a cruder mind will say something about him needing a good lay, which makes them all laugh again and move on to who are the more repressed people in parliament (and who secretly has a giant man crush on who) but.
Well.
Thoughts like that linger.
Gakuto sees a few of his workmates pay closer attention when Tezuka-san is around (rarely, rarely) and the rumours make everything stay at the top of the mind6.
Sometimes, he sees it in their assessing looks, the way that they respond just a little slower to Tezuka-san's requests. Something slight and subtle and very much insidious.
A week later of intensive information gathering, Gakuto's apartment walls are covered in sheets and sheets of paper. On it are scribbled names, a few pictures, arrows pointing everywhere in links and links of who heard what from who, when, and sometimes even why. On the outside, it looks almost like a flowchart for a particularly complicated K-drama, because there's a several score minor characters but it all centres around a small cast.
And all arrows point to one direction.
1 So it's more the rumours of the motivations behind the 'new looks' people are sprouting because there's only so far that 'mid-life crisis' can go when a respectable politician in Japan. And there's only so much that one can hide from a PA, who won't bother to hide it from anyone else.
2 A lie. Gakuto, despite the fact that this could very well impact the country, has a finely tuned sense of humour that triggers when hit with a giant mallet of ridiculousness.
In retrospect, it was probably the red sequined stilettos and the cocktail dress. With that hair? Ha.
3 On either, and at times, both sides. Showbiz isn't only vaguely cannibalistic, it skins its victims and wears the pelts while doing a victory dance over their bones.
4 Not, exactly, of the Yakuza but Gakuto has heard rumours. Definitely rumours. unconfirmed.
Also not a dungeon type boss, though there was that interesting coversation one break about politicians and superheroes and- nevermind. Though Gakuto put a footnote in the report anyway.
5 The politicians and higher ups know where the real power in the office lies, and exactly how it can be bought: with offerings of food.
6 The rumours change*, but the underlying thread does not and that, perhaps, is what Gakuto finds the most frightening. It’s not right for the network to be this focused, when Tezuka is by no means the brightest shining star in the drama.
* September 25th
“Did you hear Tezuka-san went with a girl to the mixer funtion?”
“Haaa. Poor girl, I hope she knows she’s just being used as a beard.”
“Shh. We should be respectful for Tezuka-san’s last gasp at heterosexuality.”
“A moment of silence for the mourning of a dear, but not very well known friend?”
“... yeah, whatever. Pass the biscuits, Hiromi-san.”
October 2nd
“... Hey, Fujiwara-san. Spread the word, avoid Tezuka-san if you can help it. He’s got an aura like a thundercloud.”
“... An aura?”
“It’s not like you can tell with a face like his. *mumble*”
“Aino-san!”
“It’s true! Geez, I’m not surprised that his boyfriend broke up with him. I heard it was because Tezuka-san wanted to keep control in bed and like, tie him up all kinkylike and-“
“AINO-SAN!”
October 27th
“Tezuka-san. He was. Did you just see that? It looked like a smile.”
“The end is nigh.”
“Maybe he just got laid.”
“What, found some poor innocent boy to tie up an-“
“Aino-san! He’s coming this way!”
This job doesn't seem any different than the others. Find out who's spreading vicious rumours about who, why they're doing it and... not make them stop. Gakuto can get behind that and he's not entirely certain that even he can make a rumour halt. Counter it, perhaps, with a contrary one or put the focus elsewhere. The main rumours always change though their effects linger, sunk deep into the office myths.
In a way, this is what tips him off. Three weeks and the main player in the biggest rumours has remained the same - but the rumours grow wilder and brighter and there comes a point where not even he can laugh2.
Smear campaigns are dirty, dirty things and Gakuto has participated in enough of them3 to recognise the signs.
Tezuka Kunimitsu, fabled Boss figure4 of the Japanese Central Intelligence Agency. Currently rumoured to be involved with everything from Japanese bordellos, working part time at a host club, a disruptive youth as a male stripper, and working alternate weeks as a cross-dressing cabaret singer and Magenta in a live action stage show of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Gakuto had laughed for sixteen minutes straight upon hearing the last one, which had effectively taken up most of his break but was worth it. So worth it. Even when an overly helpful PA had tried to throw a glass of water in him. (Sometimes, being in the tearoom was remotely hazardous.)
It's hard to think that anyone can believe something like this, when they snigger about it over tea and biscuits and some of the most expensive cakes in Japan5 but... it's the afterwards, when somebody will venture in a quiet, contemplative voice that... didn't they hear about Tezuka-san being seen with a man? Coming out of a hotel, looking all serious and stick-up-the-ass-like (which always gets a few laughs and murmurs of knowing fondness) but... well. He's been smiling a bit more, hasn't he? And then someone with a cruder mind will say something about him needing a good lay, which makes them all laugh again and move on to who are the more repressed people in parliament (and who secretly has a giant man crush on who) but.
Well.
Thoughts like that linger.
Gakuto sees a few of his workmates pay closer attention when Tezuka-san is around (rarely, rarely) and the rumours make everything stay at the top of the mind6.
Sometimes, he sees it in their assessing looks, the way that they respond just a little slower to Tezuka-san's requests. Something slight and subtle and very much insidious.
A week later of intensive information gathering, Gakuto's apartment walls are covered in sheets and sheets of paper. On it are scribbled names, a few pictures, arrows pointing everywhere in links and links of who heard what from who, when, and sometimes even why. On the outside, it looks almost like a flowchart for a particularly complicated K-drama, because there's a several score minor characters but it all centres around a small cast.
And all arrows point to one direction.
1 So it's more the rumours of the motivations behind the 'new looks' people are sprouting because there's only so far that 'mid-life crisis' can go when a respectable politician in Japan. And there's only so much that one can hide from a PA, who won't bother to hide it from anyone else.
2 A lie. Gakuto, despite the fact that this could very well impact the country, has a finely tuned sense of humour that triggers when hit with a giant mallet of ridiculousness.
In retrospect, it was probably the red sequined stilettos and the cocktail dress. With that hair? Ha.
3 On either, and at times, both sides. Showbiz isn't only vaguely cannibalistic, it skins its victims and wears the pelts while doing a victory dance over their bones.
4 Not, exactly, of the Yakuza but Gakuto has heard rumours. Definitely rumours. unconfirmed.
Also not a dungeon type boss, though there was that interesting coversation one break about politicians and superheroes and- nevermind. Though Gakuto put a footnote in the report anyway.
5 The politicians and higher ups know where the real power in the office lies, and exactly how it can be bought: with offerings of food.
6 The rumours change*, but the underlying thread does not and that, perhaps, is what Gakuto finds the most frightening. It’s not right for the network to be this focused, when Tezuka is by no means the brightest shining star in the drama.
* September 25th
“Did you hear Tezuka-san went with a girl to the mixer funtion?”
“Haaa. Poor girl, I hope she knows she’s just being used as a beard.”
“Shh. We should be respectful for Tezuka-san’s last gasp at heterosexuality.”
“A moment of silence for the mourning of a dear, but not very well known friend?”
“... yeah, whatever. Pass the biscuits, Hiromi-san.”
October 2nd
“... Hey, Fujiwara-san. Spread the word, avoid Tezuka-san if you can help it. He’s got an aura like a thundercloud.”
“... An aura?”
“It’s not like you can tell with a face like his. *mumble*”
“Aino-san!”
“It’s true! Geez, I’m not surprised that his boyfriend broke up with him. I heard it was because Tezuka-san wanted to keep control in bed and like, tie him up all kinkylike and-“
“AINO-SAN!”
October 27th
“Tezuka-san. He was. Did you just see that? It looked like a smile.”
“The end is nigh.”
“Maybe he just got laid.”
“What, found some poor innocent boy to tie up an-“
“Aino-san! He’s coming this way!”