#shouhei

Fukunaga bent down to jump off the small stage and walk over to you, but his eyes were locked on the empty seat beside you, and he held out his hand as if for a handshake. “I’ve never seen such realistic ghosting, man. Good job!” he joked, suddenly coming to a stop and looking at you when no one grabbed his hand. “He’s not very polite.”

You chuckled under your breath, somewhat bitterly. “He didn’t come.”

“Leave him! Dump him!!” came from the crowd, several women stepping up to have your back. Fukunaga’s reaction resembled a scared cat for a second before he laughed and waved his free hand as he walked back on stage.

“Hey, I’m the one giving advice!” he scolded jokingly before looking at you. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “My instinct is saying you should dump him and leave him.“ Some people laughed as he seemed to have taken their advice for his own.

You looked down, twiddling your thumbs. “He’s not that bad.”

“Exactly what every woman wants, I’ve heard.” Fukunaga pretended to twirl some hair around his finger and turned to the rest of the audience. “He should be tall, aaand not that bad!” Everyone laughed and you couldn’t help but join them. “Forget bad boys or nice guys, not that bad is all the rage.”

From there, another comment from the audience made the show keep flowing, and you could finally breathe a little. You looked at Fukunaga just a bit more starry-eyed now, actually managing to enjoy his jokes because a group of strangers had very clearly supported you in your case.

And it might have been your imagination, just an illusion when you felt like he glanced at you more often when saying his punch lines. It made you smile a little brighter, and laugh a little louder.

Then, all too soon, the show was over. The stage lights dimmed and the harsh reality of the ceiling lights woke you up from your delusions. You had let him use you for a good joke, and then you actually imagined anything he said was anything more than jokes. Illusions presented to the audience to enchant them.

When you walked outside, you took a deep breath and closed your eyes. Not only had your stomach fluttered with butterflies because of a man you didn’t know, but you had also not realised that if your boyfriend wasn’t answering his phone, he also wouldn’t come to pick you up.

Glancing at the clock, you also concluded that there wouldn’t be another bus until at least an hour from now, and started your long walk home. “Wait up!”

You automatically did, looking to the side where the comedian from the show slowed to match your pace. “Hi,” you greeted, a bit cautious as you glanced around to make sure you could see some other people.

“Hey,” he replied, tucking his hands in his pocket, a slight reassurance of his innocent intentions.

“You’re hilarious, I enjoyed your show,” you said, smiling at him in a way that made his neck flush.

“Thank you, I’m happy to hear.” He seemed to hesitate for a moment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to seem creepy approaching you like this, but I really meant it. About your boyfriend.”

You turned a bit to look over your shoulder, wondering if the audience were all walking behind you, suspenseful as they waited for the joke. “I assumed that was just for the show.”

“The jokes were, sure,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. “But that doesn’t make the advice any less real. You’re way too pretty to go on dates without a date.”

That did make you laugh a little again. You almost couldn’t believe you had done that. “My relationship is the biggest joke I have,” you said, happy when he seemed to enjoy your humour. “I suppose you can’t be my date for your next show?” You pursed your lips the second you said it, wondering how that could slip from your lips so easily.

To your relief, he laughed. “The date would have to be before or after, hypothetically. But I promise I’ll show up,” he said and your laughs mixed into the excitement of something better.

Now the red flush spread to his ears and temples, while sneaking something out of his pocket. He handed you a little card, four of hearts, with his name and number scribbled on it.

“Let me know that you get home safe, will you?”

You read his name off the card and smiled softly. “Okay, Shohei.”

dearest @cottonlemonade and her brilliant mind helped me with this idea<3