THE MISSION WAS SIMPLE ENOUGH : he was to accompany Haru to a company meeting and steal everyone’s hearts ( metaphorically, and only while wielding his disarming charm rather than his preferred gun and knife ) .
Let it be known there is no role a Joker can’t play. He rented a dapper suit for the occasion – pink wasn’t his color of choice, but the salmon tie and blazer matched Haru’s dress too well for him to reject it. Inspired, he even fashioned them matching peony corsages at work. Upon their arrival, he performed his obligations as a gentleman with ease – doors held open at all the right times, hand held at the ready around every perilous corner.
Frankly enough, he didn’t even know why they were here, but it didn’t matter to him. What mattered was that everything was going swimmingly. The only obstacle? When Akira sees a chance for mischief, he takes it.
No more than ten minutes after their arrival, someone mosies up to them and hits him with the perfect set-up, a guaranteed way to make his evening more interesting: “Oh, Miss Okumura! Wonderful to see you here. Is this…” A quizzical look was tossed his way. “… your partner?”
And Joker responds straight away, without so much as a breath, “Yes. Absolutely. Her betrothed.” He goes in for that practiced handshake and introduction, “Akira Kurusu.” After which, he smiles impishly at Haru and holds out his hand, a baton pass of sorts, “Let me get your jacket for you, honey.”
She counts herself fortunate—despite everything—for her friends, for the phantom thieves, and for Joker, their fearless leader. He’s smart; kind; and most importantly, versatile. And as the new head to Okumura foods, he is what she needs in an escort.
He’s appropriately dressed; appropriately matching her, and appropriately interacting with politicians and corporate executives alike. Joker outshines even the most poised and practiced at etiquette—a natural. And Haru beams with each door held open and each glance shared.
Akira is as elegant as an angel, as charming as a devil. Fortunately, he’s on her side. The real test comes when her TARGET arrives; president to Gekko Gardens; a sustainably-sourced farming association Haru with whom Okumura foods is in the middle of a heated contract negotiation.
“Kozumi-san, it truly is a pleasure—” But the (frankly inelegant) question comes before Haru can make the proper introductions. Akira picks up where Kozumi started. The lie is as seamless as Akira’s handshake. Her betrothed. Not even Haru Okumura can maintain a flawless mask. She coughs, covers he mouth with the back of her hand, and meets Kurusu-kun’s glance with a glare as sharp as it is brief.
“Y-yes—we are yet to make a FORMAL ANNOUCEMENT. Mr. Kurusu is at the core of Okumura foods’ shift as a company. His genius has stolen my heart quite completely.”
She picks up the lie like an offered baton; sets her coat over his arm and PERFORMS in the way she smiles.
‘ a second engagement so soon ? ‘
‘ so briefly after her father—‘
‘ one can’t help but wonder—’
Drama draws the upper-class like moths to a flame—like a cat to treasure. It’s only a matter of seconds until they are surrounded; enclosed. Haru draws a sharp breath. She knows what’s coming. She latches her hand to the inside of her ‘beloved’s’ elbow and holds her chest high.
‘I haven’t heard of a Kurusu family—’ There. She parts her lips to speak—but then curls them at the corner.
“ Perhaps if you’d allow Mr. Kurusu to introduce himself-- “
