it's been a few months since hayasaka first came to work on the set of together with mamman.  despite the fact that omota didn't necessarily liked changed, hayasaka was someone he could actually tolerate.  they didn't share any extra interaction (since both of them tend to skip out on work gatherings) so everything remained casual between them.

    until today that is.

    it was just another day for everyone.  they finished filming and managed to convince both omota and hayasaka out to an izakaya.  in the middle of drinking beer, hayasaka motioned towards omota to step outside.  curious as to why the most anti-social person he's ever met was asking for him, he obliged and followed her out.

upon stepping out, omota was startled when hayasaka bowed in front of him.  her next words almost made his soul fly up to heaven.

"please marry me!"  to be honest, omota didn't know what to say.  so many scenarios popped into his head as to why she would say that.  though none of them made sense, except for the fact that maybe she liked him.  though that didn't mean he believed that either.

"excuse me?"  he finally managed to utter out.  hayasaka straightened herself before speaking.  "please marry me."  this time, she was more desperate, a hopeful look in her eyes as she gazed up at him.  of all things she could ask of him, there was no way he could take that seriously!

"sorry, i don't see you in that way."  he closed his eyes, preparing himself to be slapped or punched, or anything really.

"huh?  wait, it's not like that!  ugh, but then again it's my fault for not clarifying."  a huge blushed was on hayasaka's face, nervous gibberish left her lips as she refused to look at him.  it was already embarrassing enough to be asking of him that, even more when he thought she had feelings for him (not that she hated him or anything).

"come on, let's go talk somewhere private."  hayasaka nodded and silently followed him.  a thousand conversation scenarios went through her head, trying out each one as a way to get her message across later.  and yes, she's a nervous wreck.

the two entered a konbini, buying some snacks before taking a seat in one of the tables.  hayasaka sucked in a deep breath, attempting to calm herself as uramichi's gaze pierced through her.  no wonder usahara's so scared of him.

"i wanted to ask you for a favor."  good, first part is finally done.  "you see, my family has been pestering me for awhile now to marry someone.  if i can't find anyone, they'll force me to marry whoever they like."

"what's wrong with that?"  at first, omota didn't mind the idea. however, the moment he realized the marriage plan would be like a blind marriage, he immediately took back what he said. "nevermind, don't answer that."

    a small giggle came from hayasaka, though omota didn't hear it as he was busy reprimanding himself in his mind. "so, i'm asking you to fake being my fiancé in hopes of avoiding having to be forced to marry someone." it was a simple task really, and they didn't necessarily needed to tell anyone at work. it was just going to be a facade in front of her parents. and yet, why was he so hesitant to help her?

    "uhm, if you agree with this, just know that my parents aren't exactly the nicest people out there." ah, right, that's the reason. "is there a way for me not to meet your parents?" he asked, just in case it would be possible. "unfortunately, no. otherwise i would've never asked for your help in the first place." the two adults sighed, both quite helpless.

    "i'll help." hayasaka shot up from her seat, a face filled with hope gazed at him. "will you really?!" omota nodded, wanting to get this over with. as much as he didn't really want to help, she wasn't usahara who annoyed him on the daily. no, this was his partner in the show that he could tolerate. he wouldn't mind helping her from time to time.

ahh, this fanfic has finally become a reality. originally, tomoe and uramichi would've taken a different route from their current one. maybe i'll show in the future what the first chapter would've been like had this not been created. who knows.

this story has been inspired by the manga takane to hana.