The Heroes Daily office was only a short walk from Hiyoko’s agency building and they made it there in good time- one of the many perks of living in a very cramped city. Everything is close.
“Condor, Seismic Kana.” The manager for that day greeted the two pro-heroes as they entered the building. “Please come in, we’re very excited for this interview today.”
“Thank you,” Hiyoko said with a smile, “we’re happy to share our story too.” He looked at his boyfriend beside him, relaying the conversation through the white feather pressed to Kana’s shoulder.
“Thank you for having us,” Kana signed to the manager and bowed.
“Kana says thank you,” Hiyoko translated to the well dressed manager who beamed in return.
“One of our talented make up staff, here, is hearing impaired and she has been positively dying to meet Seismic Kana. She has been a fan of his for a very long time,” the manager said, turning and beckoning for the pair to follow him.
“I’m excited to see her reaction then,” Hiyoko said, “it’s always heartwarming to see Kana interacting with people who can sign.”
They walked out the back to where the make up and hair would be done before their interview, and the minute the two handsome heroes walked into the room there was a muffled meltdown among women and men alike.
Some screamed into their mouths or just flapped their arms as they walked off to hide so they could compose themselves before coming to speak to the well known duo.
“Condor,” a younger make up artist greeted the winged hero, “hi. Oh my god, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Hiyoko greeted politely.
“Umm, ok, so, I’m your make up artist for today. Would you mind having a seat here so I can touch you up a little for the cameras?” she said- then realizing how her sentence sounded, tried to fix it, “Umm, sorry that sounded weird I mean touch your face up. I mean. Fix… no, sorry, not fix because you’re already perfect, ARGH, I know you’re with Seismic Kana I’m not trying to—,”
“It’s ok, it’s ok,” Hiyoko chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder to ground her, “I know what it’s like being on camera so I know some of the terms.”
“Ok. God, that made me look so stupid. I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“Don’t apologize. It’s fine. Now, which chair?” he asked with a smile.
Meanwhile the Kana fan had silently crept forwards and tapped Kana on the back of his hand.
He looked from Hiyoko to her and smiled.
“Hello,” she signed shyly.
“Hello! You can sign!” Kana signed back with a happy grin on his face.
“Yes. I am deaf,” she replied, “you are my inspiration.”
“It is my pleasure,” Kana signed in return, “it is nice to be able to sign to someone.”
“I am very happy that you are a pro-hero. You give a lot of hope to us who people pity and say we cannot do the same things as hearing people but you are a hero and they cannot say that anymore.”
“It is true,” Kana returned her sign, “we are just as able as any other person. But look at you. You are working at a well known and respected hero newspaper. Nothing is holding you back.”
The girl grinned from ear to ear and tearfully returned his sign.
“Thank you. Because I saw you become a hero I thought to myself- why can I not do what I want to do? So I studied hard and now I am working here.”
“I am proud,” he signed back, smiling again.
She nodded and pointed to her make up chair. “Please sit. I need to do your make up now.”
Kana nodded and sat down.
“What’s happening over there?” Hiyoko asked Kana though his feather that was still on Kana’s shoulder, “I can’t see you. I miss you.”
“Stop it,” Kana signed back cheekily at Hiyoko in the mirror as they were sitting on opposite sides of the set with their backs to each other, “I am trying to have my make up done.”
Kana’s make up artist looked at Kana, confused as to who he was signing too, and he then quickly explained to her who he was conversing with.
“My boyfriend can talk to me through his feather here-” he pointed to the feather on his shoulder- “it is like a telephone call that is always happening.”
The girl smiled and covered her mouth then returned the sign.
“That is very adorable. I like that you can hear his voice,” she signed.
“He has a very nice voice.” Kana glanced at Hiyoko in the mirror- who was still watching the conversation between the two.
“What does his voice should like?” the girl signed as she started to apply makeup to Kana’s face.
“It sounds medium deep but warm, like melted chocolate,” Kana signed and the make up artist nearly passed out, blushing and fanning her face as she turned away.
Hiyoko had seen what Kana had signed and his cheeks dusted pink as he scratched his jaw and looked away- slightly flustered now.
Kana smirked devious at Hiyoko’s side profile and once Hiyoko had collected himself he replied.
“Keep talking like that and I’m going to have to do something about that sweet mouth of yours.”
Now it was Kana’s turn to get flustered, looking away and rubbing his eyebrow to cover his eyes from Hiyoko as the winged hero chuckled internally.
“Oh wow. That… I don’t have any words.” The make up artist signed, oblivious to any further conversation between the two as she had only been a part of the conversation up until the ‘voice like warm chocolate’ part.
Kana smirked and looked at Hiyoko before letting the girl get to his eyes with the eyeliner.
Once made up for the camera, the pair were ushered onto the set and were met by the interviewer who would be talking to them about how they met, growing up together, and how they started dating.
“Hello, you two. I am a huge fan,” the man, who would be conducting the interview, said brightly as he strolled over- his diamanté earring glistening in his right earlobe as he reached a hand out and shook both Kana then Hiyoko’s hands, “now. First of all. I just want to make sure I have your preferred partner names correct? Do you prefer to be called boyfriends? Or partners? Or anything else in particular?”
“Boyfriends is fine,” Hiyoko said, quickly explaining to Kana what had been said.
“I like ‘boyfriend’,” Kana signed.
“We agree on ‘boyfriend’,” Hiyoko said to the interviewer with a smile.
“Fabulous,” he replied, “please take a seat. We’re going on air in 5 minutes so get comfortable and then we will start.”
Hiyoko nodded and took Kana’s hand in his, leading him up to the chairs on set and sitting down beside him on the lounge one.