Discovering the Island

The sensation of being watched was bothering him, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Yoshida was watching him discreetly.

He also noticed that Sasaki was looking this way, from the opposite end. Haruki just didn't know if he was eyeing at Yoshida or him. He finished his shower earlier than he would have liked and wrapped himself in the towel. Deducing that they didn't have a laundry room yet, he washed his underwear in the shower, knowing he only had one.

"Hey, Hinata-kun! Come learn how to take care of your clothes," called Sasaki Jun, bursting out laughing from Haruki. In fact, Okane was wearing smelly clothes, as he had been the first to arrive at the mansion.

"Takeda-senpai, next time ask for employees," suggested the student while taking his bath. Okane did not follow Sasaki's suggestion, however.

Yoshida laughed at the student's bad manners, but Sasaki Jun apparently took offense and left the locker room as soon as he dried off.

Feeling refreshed after the shower, Haruki decided to go check on the pantry in the kitchen and get his tracksuit.

A smile of satisfaction sprouted on his face when he found full cabinets and refrigerators, 'Kenta worked well.'

He heard someone coming and turned. Noguchi arrived shortly after he was in the kitchen,

"Takeda-san, I came to thank you for yesterday's meal and for today too,"

"Thank you very much for the locker room. Thank you so much for the bedroom," bowing each time Noguchi thanked him.

He saw that he had misjudged Noguchi, when evaluating based on the ridiculous profile he read back in the real world. He wasn't very pedantic, nor did he wear glasses. So far, only he and Yoshida-san had thought of thanking the singer for getting basic things for them.

Haruki smiled in response saying,

"Soon we'll go home, Noguchi-san."

The guy gave him a shy smile in response and invited him,

"Takeda-san, in the meantime, do you want to see the island?"

It was a great idea, and perhaps Haruki could find out a little about who the introvert Noguchi was.

"I went around the island in two hours," Noguchi started telling as they walked to the highest point, at the top of the rock formation between the waves and the fine white sand.

From up there, the view was beautiful, they could see the neoclassical style big manor. Through the kitchen door, they came out of, it faced the beach, about 200 meters away. On the other end was the entrance with a beautiful marble staircase, surrounded by a beautiful garden with hundreds of flowers.

The mansion had a grandiose facade with its huge arched windows. There were so many, that natural light kept the interior well illuminated all day, and gave the solid building a romantic air.

"So much superficial beauty with nothing truly essential," Haruki vented his indignation.

"Hm, isn't beauty essential?" Noguchi raised an eyebrow at him and continued, "It wasn't like that," Noguchi revealed in his gentle tone of speech,

"I arrived on the third day and found 'gnawed evidence' left here and there. On the sofa, near the piano and everywhere, an anxious little dirty mouse spoilt it all ... I found partially gnawed fruit and candy wrappers," with a calm look, Noguchi-san checked if his listener had understood the lines. Haruki supposed that fruits and chocolates could be part of the decoration, and commented,

"Okane-san must have been very scared alone, but at least he has Sasaki-san to lean on."

"Yes, Okane-san has a good perception of those who seek support. I just hope they don't start a gang," Noguchi was straightforward about what he thought of the student, as it seemed their temperaments were conflicting.

Realizing that the boy in front of him was open to sharing, Haruki sat on the rock and asked,

"How is your life, and how did you sign the contract?"

"I live in T city with my fiancee half the year. That's when I can paint! My background is in Fine Arts. It's what I truly love."

The singer then realized he had insulted Noguchi for devaluing beauty as essential to life.

"I did an exhibition with other people and got a little prestige for a member of the Heavenly Family to like and buy some of my canvases, leveraging the sales of all the others I had. This made good money, "Noguchi was thoughtful for a while, and went on, "But, in the other half of the year, I live in Europe because I work for an auction company. Well, then I received this tempting proposal to have a character for the game designed after me. I was happy because I could quit my job and stop traveling, "Noguchi made a funny face, "I have fallen for that like a dummy!"

"I thought you were a model," revealed Haruki.

Noguchi laughed and covered his face and lay down on the rock. He opened his eyes to see the sky and exclaimed,

"Look at these white clouds, and the sun beaming through them! Do you really think we don't need beauty?"

Looking up Haruki realized the free Mother Nature's spetacle. He lay down to enjoy it too.

"Five years ago you wouldn't have thought that."

Confused, Haruki realized that Noguchi was answering his comment about looking like a model. The artist explained,

"My fiancee is a photographer and fitness addict. She is responsible for this," with a fluid movement the artist raised his arm and let his hand go around his torso.

"Does she post many pictures of you?" Haruki had his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, she likes to shoot photos when I'm working on my screens, to publicize my works. And also her work, I think. She's very talented."

The comment clicked in the young singer's mind. Haruki stood with a body swing, without using his hands, which startled Noguchi.

"Come, we need to find the others!" Haruki jumped down from the rocks as if a thousand demons were chasing him.