Mr. Dress Up

Under normal circumstances Touya Akira didn't have the power to halt all conversation and action by simply walking into the Go Institute. But today wasn't normal circumstance. Today was a special day. And it was just too damn bad that Waya just had to be here on this special day, because Waya couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Are you...wearing pantyhose?"

Touya replied blandly, "Yes."

"Why?"

"It goes well with the skirt."

"Ah."

"Is Shindou here?"

"Um, no. He's always late for study group. Are you meeting up with him?"

Waya's voice had lost some of its initial shock and had taken on a distinctly speculative tone.

"No," said Touya, "I'm here for a match."

"Oh, the Kisei match? The reporter over there wants to interview you about it afterwards." Waya was grinning a bit maniacally now. He jerked his thumb at a young man with a camera around his neck who was gaping openly at Touya's sleek, nylon-clad legs.

The reporter snapped a photo before squeaking apologetically, "My boss ordered me to get lots of pictures."

"That's fine," replied Touya as politely as he could.

"So does this have to do with Shindou three-dan?"

"No. It doesn't."

He began wobbling across the room; he wasn't used to walking in heels yet. The reporter trotted after him, camera flashing all the way, while every other unlucky soul who happened to be milling around the Go Institute that day watched with sick fascination. Someone (who would pay dearly for this later on, he swore it) whispered loudly that at least the skirt was more fashionable than what Touya normally wore.

Touya's only comfort was that his father was in China and wouldn't witness the humiliation of his son firsthand. He would hear about it, of course, and the pictures (oh god, the pictures) would be plastered across the pages of Weekly Go, but at least Touya could explain—

"Akira."

He turned to see Touya Kouyo's bewildered face.

"I flew in to see your match," his father said slowly. "I wanted it to be a surprise. I must have been away longer than I thought. But...Akira, I want you to remember, no matter how you choose to live your life you will always be my son. No matter what. Oh, and congratulations on challenging for the title."

"What a great man Touya Kouyo is!" the reporter exclaimed as he scribbled something on his notepad.

Touya gritted his teeth, thanked his father for his support, reminded himself to never make bets with Shindou again, at least not while drunk, and made his way into the Room of Profound Darkness to play the most important Go of his life. In a skirt.

- End -

Author's note:

Yes, the whole fic is a walking cliche. Yes, it has no plot. Since when have my fics been otherwise?