Hopelessly Attracted {Hawks X Fem!Reader - Entertainment Industry AU}

Chapter 10: The Final Stitch

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Your alarm starts to ring, the shrill sound slicing through the early morning silence like a knife. You groan, fumbling in the dim light to silence it, the echo of its annoying persistence lingering in the air for one heartbeat longer than necessary. As you lie back against your pillows, your mind drifts to the previous night, and a familiar warmth floods through you. You close your eyes, recalling the way Keigo had looked at you before you said goodnight—those golden eyes glimmering with an intensity that caught you off guard. It made your heart swell, but with that sweetness came a gnawing uncertainty.

You shake your head, trying to dispel the fluttering sensation in your chest. Not now. You roll out of bed, the chill of the hardwood floor jolting you back to reality. There’s no time to dwell on fleeting moments or unspoken words; you’ve got a meeting with Toshinori and Tsunagu this morning. Today is crucial; it’s the final stretch before your debut.

As you shuffle to the bathroom, the weight of your impending performance presses down on your shoulders. You've dreamed of this moment for years, and now it's only a week away. You splash cold water on your face, watching your reflection shiver before steadying itself in the mirror. This is it, the culmination of your blood, sweat, and tears. There is no room for doubt or distraction.

"You can do this." You murmur to yourself, the cold water on your face doing little to wash away the nerves. You've worked too hard to let them take over now. The outfit you're about to try on is the pièce de résistance of your debut look.

You slip into a pair of skinny jeans and a simple white blouse, trying to keep your outfit casual yet professional. The caffeine from your morning coffee buzzes in your veins as you grab your phone to double-check the time—still early, but you don't want to be late. With a deep breath, you head out the door and may way to the studio.

The bustle of the fashion department greets you as you enter,  Toshinori waves you over, a warm smile spreading across his face. His usual impeccable suit is paired with a vibrant tie that somehow manages to match the color of your coffee. He asks about the photoshoot from yesterday, expecting to see the images that would make or break your debut look. Panic flits across your features as you realize you never got the tablet from Keigo the night prior.

"I'm sorry," you stumble over your words, "I don't have them with me." You feel the heat rise to your cheeks. The weight of their stares a stark reminder of the professionalism you're supposed to exude.

Toshinori's smile falters, a crease forming between his brows. "What happened to the tablet?" he asks, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. You hesitate, trying to find the right words.

"I got it here for ya." Keigo's voice cuts through the tension, and you whirl around to find him sauntering in, the tablet in question tucked under his arm. You breathe a sigh of relief, the tension in your shoulders easing. "She wanted me to pick out the better pictures so you didn't have to go through them all." He hands the tablet over to Toshinori with a cheeky grin.

Toshinori's eyes narrow at first, but then they widen as he scrolls through the images. "Ah, excellent work, as always." He calls Tsunagu over, who has been watching the exchange with a critical eye. Tsunagu strides over, his tall frame casting a shadow over the tablet. You bite your lip, watching the two of them scrutinize your photos.

Tsunagu takes the tablet from Toshinori's hand, his expression unreadable as he flips through the pictures. His eyes are sharp, noticing every detail—the way the fabric falls, the angle of your pose, the lighting. "These are good," he finally says, his voice deep and measured.

You can't help but feel a rush of pride despite the butterflies doing acrobatics in your stomach. "Thank you," you reply, hoping it's genuine enough to cover your nerves.