Ibara Saegusa x fem!reader
summary: Ibara Saegusa is someone people close to him would describe as ‘emotionally constipated’. His unit mates’ sentiment on the matter, however, is challenged after witnessing his odd behavior around CosPro’s new lady producer.
author’s note: Aha! My latest hyperfixation 🥰 I love Ibara and all of Eden so much!! But truthfully I’ve got only a basic understanding of them since I’m still in the process of reading through all the stories from both eras 🥲 so if there’s any misinterpretations or mischaracterization, I’d like to apologize in advance. Please let me know if you want more Enstars fics! my requests are still open~ Enjoy! ⭐️
It was a pleasant midday in Ensemble Square. For those in Cosmic Production, the day felt rather slow and mundane when compared to their usual hectic work hours.
Many of the major seasonal events had either passed or were in their planning stages, making the past few weeks feel like a downtime to the idols particularly.
Within one of the CosPro headquarters’s many periodically unoccupied meeting rooms sat the agency’s golden child and leader of Eden, Nagisa Ran, who was peacefully passing his free time arranging the precious stones and minerals he’d accumulated from his excavations.
The silent soul reached for a stone across the adorned, bejeweled desk, examining its properties against the light that shone through the room’s expansive windows.
A reflection projected by the glass, however, split Nagisa’s attention. He set his stone back into the organized pile before him and he let his eyes travel across the see-through glass installations to the office area directly outside the room, catching a clearer view the scene unfolding.
“I noticed… Ibara’s been staring at her.” He muttered his mental processes aloud.
The sudden utterance—especially of such an intriguing allegation, caught the pair that made up Eve’s interest instantly.
“At who?“ Jun, who was seated next to Hiyori at the opposite end of the extensive table, sharply turned to his senior. His tone and expression made it seem as if he was unreasonably aggravated, though Nagisa knew better.
“Ibara has?” Hiyori bounced and chimed in, peeking from beside Jun to infer.
Nagisa signaled them to turn the same direction as his gaze. They obliged, and like their leader implied, their group’s producer and fellow member, Ibara indeed occupied the adjacent office area.
Ibara simply stood against a cubicle divider with his usual polished stature alongside two other employees who shared his space.
At first glance, it would appear that the trio were all actively contributing to the discussion they were having, however, if one would take a prolonged moment to observe, it was clear that one of the three was staying out of the conversation. And to their surprise, the silent member was their self-proclaimed “socializer”.
“Ibara hasn’t spoken since I began watching him.” Nagisa relayed.
Ibara’s attention seemed to be fully fixated on the woman across from him. Though he maintained his routine business posture, his performative smile lacked the sharpness it usually carried. Even when his smile never reached his eyes, it was apparent, at least to the other members of Eden, that his demeanor felt irregular, to say at the least.
Jun blinked, having difficulty articulating his thoughts while scrutinizing the interaction, “Is he tryna—is she his type… or something?”
Hiyori shuddered, face contorting to one of displeasure as he faintly tugged at Jun’s sleeves, “You’re too trusting Jun! She’s the new producer, it’s obvious he’s sizing her up—ah! How pitiful~”
Unfazed by Hiyori’s theatrics, Jun continues, “She must be skilled enough to get into CosPro as a producer. Knowing Ibara, he won’t allow to be threatened in his own turf.”
“How heartless, that Viper gives me more reasons to disapprove of him everyday! Warui hiyori…” Hiyori pouts with tears seeping into his waterline, he sobs into his hand.
The pair eventually return to whatever task they’ve bestowed upon themselves before Nagisa’s interruption. But Nagisa’s eyes lingered, his curiosity keen on analyzing his partner’s intentions.
Hiyori and Jun posed a fair assumption, Nagisa acknowledged. Though he had to dispute their claims even despite their credibility. Somehow, he felt this instance was really one of its kind.
The look Ibara was subjecting the lady to was one Nagisa has never particularly seen his unit-mate display in the open, most especially toward someone he’s presumably never met.
What is normally a glare of imposing superiority, arrogance, or judgement was instead replaced by a gaze that unveiled the hidden softness deep within Ibara’s jagged, distorted mindscape.
He appeared murky, a glossed-over version of his usual self, Nagisa could tell. It couldn’t be from the lack of rest he’d often hear Ibara complain about when he’s reaching his limit. All things considered, Eden was more unoccupied than they’ve ever been these past few weeks. Ibara’s even had time to prep and cook all 3 of Nagisa’s daily meals recently, so fatigue can’t possibly be the cause.
He continued to observe Ibara even after this initial encounter, and it gradually became apparent that interactions like these became more commonplace.
Like Hiyori mentioned, the woman was indeed a new staff member employed as an idol producer. He figured that being in the same position as Ibara, it was only natural she should train under him—the top, most influential producer in their company. And he was right to assume that. More and more of Ibara’s hours were dedicated to guiding her, which made this self-imposed operation all the more plausible.
And so Nagisa, roping in Hiyori and Jun, took this arrangement as an opportunity to investigate further. Perhaps this operation would keep him occupied until a new rush of idol work will come their way, he thought. So for now, he declared this mission is of Eden’s highest priority!
Days have passed since they decided to uptake this charge. Within the timeframe, little interaction between them and Ibara took place, well at least for Hiyori.
Among Eden, Hiyori had been receiving more work and so he found himself frequenting their office less. But today, he figured he’d visit to check up on their agenda’s progress for the lack of anything better to accomplish.
Hiyori turned a corner to meet with Nagisa at their usual spot when he caught Ibara and the lady producer entering an elevator. He rushed, as discreetly as his shining being could, to the nearest wall to watch them at a closer distance.
He saw Ibara hold out the door for her before entering himself and navigating the elevator controls before curiously stepping out himself and sheepishly waving her goodbye even after the doors slided shut.
He was like a lovesick adolescent, all with his palm behind his nape, a bashful gummy smile, and hands jittering.
Ibara Saegusa, the tyrannical mastermind that Hiyori grew to despise for all his shameless faults, was.
“What is going on?” Hiyori shrieked at himself, truthfully stumped at what he just witnessed.
It just doesn’t make sense in Hiyori’s head. What would Ibara gain from buttering up to her? If this was one of the snake’s new schemes he’s executing it frighteningly well, he thought. As far as Hiyori’s knowledge goes, she was really a fresh idol producer with truthfully nothing tied to her name, so what was all of this for?
“Ohii-san, please keep it down.” Jun brought a saucer holding a teacup up to Hiyori, setting it before the man who was sprawled on the plush office seat, defeated and winded after he recounted what he had seen to his two companions.
Jun slumped down the seat across Hiyori, running his hand over his mouth, “There’s no way—“
Hiyori leaped out of his seat with a surge of energy, stomping at the ground, “You doubt my judgment, Jun!?”
“Please give me some grace—it’s hard to believe, is all.” Jun sighed.
“Have you noticed anything, Jun?” Nagisa joined, kneeling by the coffee table to level with them.
“Actually…” Jun grumbled, running a hand through his hair.
“Yes, Jun! You must have!” Hiyori cried, bending over in anticipation.
Jun recounted an exchange he had with both Ibara and the new producer. He detailed that the day prior to this, Ibara had pulled him aside to discuss his next activities. While they conversed, the woman in question appeared and smoothly entered their conversation.
Ibara wasn’t necessarily acting differently, Jun explained. However, it was when their conversation ended when he picked up on an irregularity.
“Iba-kun?” Hiyori and Nagisa tilted their heads.
“She called him Iba-kun.” Jun said it plainly, but one could notice the color draining from his face.
Hiyori’s breathing became panic-stricken, he yelped an unholy shout of despair.
Nagisa merely hummed. “They’re already on a first-name basis.”
“A-and he didn’t correct her?” Hiyori whimpered as Jun replied with a shake of his head.
“Ibara went silent after she called him that, then she said sorry afterward, but Ibara didn’t accept it. He just changed the subject.”
Jun continued, describing how Ibara even laughed it off. But his laugh was one that sounded fundamentally different. Usually, he keeps the toughness and grit that his voice would carry as a performative element to his businessman persona’s pleasantries. However, this laugh was hearty, light, unfamiliar to anything Jun had heard in his years of knowing the man.
“There’s no denying. There’s something there.”
Jun bumps his fist into the table, “Ok, no. We have to confront him.”
“We have practice as Eden later today, we should ask him then.” Nagisa suggested, equally determined.
“Please! My heart cannot stand another day in ignorance.” Hiyori clenched his chest.
They all held their breaths until their practice time came. In true faith to his character, Ibara exceeded punctuality, arriving at the training room a half-hour early. The trio decided to enter all at once to interrogate him, and that they did.
After a short struggle, they managed to back Ibara to a literal corner at the edge of the practice room, guarding all the sides he could possibly slither to and escape from.
“Jun, Your Highness, Your Excellency.”
“What is this about?” Ibara gave them a ridiculing, cautious glare, his tone matching the same force.
Intimidated, they nearly shrunk. But they’re holding the power!
Hiyori held his chin up high, insulted at his targeted insistence, “Ibara!”
“Your Highness.” He replied coldly.
“You will answer my every question starting at this moment, understood?”
Ibara huffed and recovered, returning to his default faux upbeat and subservient attitude. He smiled at them, spectacles glimmering, “Certainly! However, you must also accommodate my own, what is this about?”
He doubled down with increased intensity and ferocity. The difference in his tone from his pointed words unsettled them.
“The lady producer,” Nagisa spoke gently but upfront, “How do you feel about her?”
A silence wrung between them, tension from amounting anticipation and stillness, strained the air they breathed before it was broken by abrupt fumbling,
“Ha-ha?” Ibara was unquestionably caught off guard, expecting he crossed them for some work-related reasons or issues, but this? About her? And…
Was that hesitation? Ibara?
“You flinched!” Hiyori wailed, “Now—don’t even attempt to play dumb!” He waved an intrusive, accusing pointer finger at the compromised man.
“Well?” Nagisa pushed further, remaining calm but adamant.
Ibara huffed, his eyes averted and brows knit together, and his last word strained. It was as if he was uncomfortable in his own skin.
“… I knew her from my time in the military camp. She lived nearby—that’s all.”
After a few moments of tense silence,
“… Did you miss her?” Nagisa suggests humbly, with ease.
Ibara’s eyes betrayed his calculated facade, its usual chill wavered. He was guarded, insecure.
Hiyori exhaled, dramatically fanning his bangs away as he relieved himself of an anticipated breath he held since Nagisa imposed the question.
“Nagi-senpai—“ Jun cuts in. But he’s stopped by a loud, imposing thump that quiets the room.
Ibara had slammed his palm against the table beside him that held the disposable water bottles, the harsh movements thrusted the bottles to the ground, sending them rolling away, rattling ominously as they went.
After a moment, Ibara bites back with familiar fortitude, “You are all being ridiculous.”
Ibara straightened his glasses, clearing his throat to reestablish the dignity he upholds as the group’s supposed dictator. He continued, with calm but anchored resistance,
“I am not emotionally invested in Ms. (L/n). Our relations are purely professional. I find her to be competent, efficient, and nothing more.”
He practically spat at them, “I’d prefer you stop insisting otherwise.”
The rest of Eden couldn’t articulate what to say exactly. One felt sorry his curiosity made him insist so far, the other regretted ever confronting him, and another was annoyed at his stubbornness.
“She is a producer and I am her superior—“
Feeling an overwhelming sense of heaviness, dread—regret. He exhaled, shaking off the growing migraine. Looking at the ground, taking a bit to re-evaluate. He realized what he just said, and how he said it—how it sounds.
He knows he doesn’t have it in him to deny her further. He can’t. He won’t.
Not after he’s waited this long to see her again.
As much as it hurts his ego to allow his unit members to subject him to such a compromising, vulnerable position, he’ll have to swallow his pride and profuse feelings of disgust to protect her own.
Just this once, he hoped.
“Aha!” Jun, Nagisa, and Hiyori exclaimed in varying levels of energy. Ibara cursed under his breath, turning his head away from them in his tenaciousness.
Jun sighed, relieved and content. Nagisa hummed softly, gratified and accomplished. Hiyori laughed heartily, holding his hands at his chest as he teased,
“You’re not as emotionally constipated as we expected, ‘Iba-kun’~”