Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. I own no rights to Gravitation or any of the characters, and never will, except in alternate universes entirely of my own creation. The plot is original though, and I therefore fully exercise my right to force them to do whatever I want by embellishing it. (glomps Hiro)

Author's Note: Holy crap, two chapters at once! Anyway, I didn't like the idea of leaving all of you hanging so here it is…the verdict! –cue spooky music- Enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE AFTERMATH

Shuichi had failed.

Failed.

Hiro couldn't believe it.

He didn't want to believe it.

How could he? After all that work, all those nights of stressing, all the polite conversation and handshakes and bowing and proper dining and all the rest of it…he'd failed? No way.

No way.

But what other explanation was there? Why else would the two be standing there, eyes locked on each other for so long, each so unmoving? Each so unreadable. Eternity had gone by in all of five minutes, and the two were still standing there, somehow oblivious to the tension and the suspense that had filled the office to bursting.

Hiro fought the overwhelming urge to run up to where Shuichi and Tohma were standing, to rip the paper from the pale hands that held it, to read it aloud and offer everyone some relief from the tension. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to sit here with his suspicions, he didn't want his doubts unconfirmed, he just wanted to know, dammit, to know…

It was K who broke the spell.

"Well?" he asked, slightly impatiently. "What did he get?"

K's voice seemed to jolt Seguchi back to reality, and the man came to himself. He looked from K to Shuichi. His lips moved.

Hiro's heart jumped.

Was that a…?

Was that a smile?

Then common sense kicked in. He smiles all the time, Hiro, it warned him. Every single time. It doesn't mean anything. He smiles when he's angry. He smiles at everything. He always…Hiro was so busy trying to convince himself that he almost missed what Tohma was about to say.

Tohma shook Shuichi's hand. "Congratulations, Shindou-san," he announced. "The tour is officially on."

Afterwards, Hiro reflected that it was lucky that Seguchi-san's secretary had gone home for the night. The sheer volume of the shrieks and laughter that took place after Seguchi-san's statement was so loud that anyone standing outside Seguchi-san's office might have thought some kind of explosion was taking place. There was laughter, and shrieks – though no one knew from who – and hugs galore, and the atmosphere was so unbelievably lively and happy that nobody found it strange when K pulled out several tons worth of drinks and food, adding to the already party-like atmosphere. Soon everyone was wearing silly hats, blowing noisemakers and toasting each other, drunk and happy and high on life. Soon Ryuichi and Noriko joined in the fun, and an impromptu rendition of Bad Luck's 'The Rage Beat' was performed by Shuichi, capping off the festive, celebratory atmosphere of the evening beautifully.

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The next day, Shuichi, his hair restored to the most vivid of pinks, hurried around Hiro's apartment, stuffing his clothes back into his duffel bag and preparing to move out, seemingly unaffected by last night's celebration as he zipped around the apartment.

"Can't wait to see Yuki-san, huh?" Hiro teased, watching his newly pink-haired best friend folding a T-shirt and placing it in his bag.

"I haven't seen him for ages," Shuichi said wistfully. He beamed up at Hiro. "And it's perfect! He has a meeting with his editor today, so afterward he'll be free too!" He slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. "See you at N-G later, Hiro! Thanks for letting me stay with you!" He hurried out of the apartment.

Hiro stared after his best friend, his head tilted to one side, deep in thought. Shuichi was less tired and pale, sure, but there was still something weird about him. Hiro ran their conversation through his head, trying to work out what it was. Then he realised it.

Shuichi was still speaking formally.

Hiro shrugged. Just a lingering effect of the exam, he figured. With time, Shuichi'd go back to his old way of speaking.

Probably.

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"So?" Hiro asked as Shuichi entered the rehearsal room. "How'd the big reunion go?"

Shuichi grinned ruefully. "Yuki fell asleep the second his editor left, so I didn't wake him. We'll have plenty of time to catch up later tonight so I don't…"

"Plenty of time?" Shuichi froze as something that felt suspiciously like a Magnum was jabbed into his back. "Who said anything about plenty of time?"

"I did, K-san," Shuichi said brightly – or as brightly as it's possible to sound when a tall, blond American man carrying a gun is currently jabbing it into your back – "Why?"

K paused, looking slightly nonplussed at Shuchi's nonchalance. "Because starting today –" With his free hand, K dangled a sheaf of stapled papers in Shuichi's face, "– you three will be picking up where you left off in terms of your tour's publicity!"

Shuichi took the sheaf of papers and read through the first one. "We're doing all of this stuff this week?" he asked incredulously.

"Nope!" K said brightly.

"Oh," Shuichi sounded relieved. "Because it looks like a lot of…"

"You'll be doing all that stuff today!" K corrected him brightly, tossing copies of the papers to both Hiro and Suguru.

"Three photo shoots, two magazine interviews, one TV interview and an appearance on a music show?" Suguru read out in disbelief. "All in one day?"

K's grin was wider than usual. "If you've got any problems, blame Shuichi here," he said unconcernedly, tapping Shuichi's head with his Magnum. "If it hadn't been for his charm school stint, everything could all have gone on at a more relaxed pace. But –!" he swung Shuichi around and stabbed the gun into his face, "– he went for charm school, so now you have a lot to catch up on! Come on, your publicity awaits!" Seizing hold of Shuichi with one hand, he gestured with his Magnum to the other two, carrying Shuichi bodily from the room.

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"So…exhausted…" Suguru groaned, wiping his hand across his forehead. "Do we have anything…left?"

"No," Shuichi looked remarkably composed. He shot his bandmate a disapproving look. "Don't you remember the schedule?"

"Lost count," Suguru mumbled. "Too tired…"

"Tomorrow's another day!" K trilled brightly as Suguru left the room. "And tomorrow we have more things to do, so don't be late!" He waved his Magnum, more as a warning than as a goodbye.

"I'm gonna go," Hiro smothered a yawn. "I'm beat." He stood up. "Do you want a ride home, Shuichi?"

"No, I'll take a taxi. Thanks anyway, Hiro," Shuichi smiled. "Good night, K-san," he said, and left the room.

"Now do you think he's acting weird?" Hiro asked the blond man, raising an eyebrow.

"He's just polite," K said dismissively. "Another couple of days and he'll be back to normal."

"I think the interviewers noticed it too," Hiro went on, almost to himself. "They seemed to find it strange…"

"Look," K said. "Don't worry about it. Shuichi'll get back to normal in no time. In the meantime, get some sleep – you've got a busy day tomorrow."

"Okay," Hiro said reluctantly. "Good night."