Chapter Text
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7.1: Surfacing Differences
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Riku was probably wrong. Things might not go swimmingly after all.
Rounded rubies observe the ongoing events around him, a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his face.
“Eh? You want me to do what?” Rich citrines blink, so incredulous their owner is practically leaning back. Anesagi is not helping with the way he steps forward jauntily, jabbing a finger in the direction of the innocent man’s face.
“Look more like a predator, Ryuu! More like you’re going to devour all the women of this world whole, rather than just stand there like a meek little rabbit! You’re not a statue, so make full use of your body!” Riku arrives just in time to catch the tail end of that conversation, and Anesagi’s not wrong, but… the metaphor seems to be completely lost on the Okinawan. Anesagi gives a heavy sigh. “In other words, move around more!”
“Oh! I got it!” Rich citrines light up.
“You do?!” Anesagi claps both hands together in relief. “Good! Then, let’s continue the shoot—”
Ryuu dances around on his feet like they did that day, a nervous smile plastered over his face throughout.
Anesagi’s palm meets his face with a resounding smack. The professional cameramen they’ve hired looks up at the manager hesitantly.
“Erm. Should I go ahead with this…?” He asks.
“Hah. We’ve got no choice.” Anesagi sighs. “Let’s just go with this for now. Make sure to take careful advantage of the angle to make his expression come out well!” It’s as much of a threat as it is a request.
“Hah…” The cameraman sighs, looking at the piece of work he has ahead of him. “I got it. I’ll do that.”
And off to the other side… Riku blinks warily at the sight of Gaku squinting down at a computer screen.
“This angle… this expression… it’s still not enough, huh.” The grey-haired man is muttering contemplatively to himself, stroking his chin all the while.
“Uh… Is there a problem with the photos?” Asks the cameraman’s assistant.
“…No. The problem doesn’t lie with you guys.” Gaku throws the man a reassuring smile. It fades into a look of self-reflection as he turns back to the screen, blue alice searching out all the flaws again. “…If it’s no trouble, could we take another shot again after this? I want us to be able to capture the viewers’ attention at a glance no matter what. I should be able to do better than this.”
“That’s perfectly fine.” The assistant nods understandingly. He turns and catches sight of Riku. “Ah! Is that, perhaps, the third member of your group? What was his name again? …eh… Kujou Kiku-san?”
“It’s Kujou Riku.” Gaku corrects the man.
Blue alice turn to him. Despite the stress that had been written out clearly on the lines of his face, Gaku manages a small curve of his lips for him.
“You’re finally here. How was it – your private lessons?”
“I saw my entire life flash before my eyes in an instant.” Riku tells him, lips pinched tight with a shudder. He exhales, long and heavy, shoulders drooping. “It was such a nightmarish time. I thought I’d escaped Japanese history when I first stepped out of Japan, but… to think I would be forced to undergo that again…” Scarlet brows knot together in pained reminder of the test. School doesn’t get any easier with age. “…But well! At least I’ve escaped my lessons till next Friday!” He beams.
“Till next Friday, huh.” Gaku echoes with a sympathetic smile. “Well, it’s all good so long as you’re happy.”
“Are you having trouble?” Riku blinks wide eyes.
He winces at another yell coming from Anesagi.
“That’s right! Just like that, Ryuu! Put more effort into rolling those hips!”
“…Uwah… This is just a debut photo, right?” Riku gapes.
“In name, I suppose you could call it that.” Gaku pursues his lips. “But a debut photo goes beyond that. Afterall, visuals are our first chance at gaining the crowd’s attention. And people’s attention spans only last for so long.”
“…You can’t just do it anyhow.” Riku interprets.
“That’s how it is.”
He’s only just realizing it again, but… Yaotome Production is… really amazing. To think this much effort is already pouring into things right from the get-go. Ah! Not to say that Takanashi Production was incompetent compared to them, but… when he compares his manager who went around taking their photos with a digital camera to this… he can’t help but think it’s two different worlds.
“Ryuu seems to be having trouble.” Riku notes. It’s somewhat uncomfortable just to see the younger (at least in mind) man be scolded by their manager for things he doesn’t have control over.
“That guy’s image is a lot different from what we’re looking for after all.” Gaku explains. “It’d be nice if we had just a bit more time for him to acclimatize to Tokyo and his image, but my old man just had to rush things.” The grey-haired man tuts irritably, averting his gaze away from the shoot. “Frankly, things are unfavourable for him. It looks like this shoot might get dragged out.”
“…………” Ruby shards linger on the light crinkle in grey brows. Ryuu doesn’t seem to be the only one stressed out by all this.
In times like these, where the group is stressed out by the circumstances, the manager usually steps in to help, but… Riku’s eyes trail over to the screaming Anesagi. He sweat drops. It doesn’t seem like this manager will be any help. …And with a group of just three, one can’t just excuse themselves by being busy when it comes to crisis.
Riku takes a breath, allowing air to puff up his chest.
“Alright!”
“Eh?” Gaku looks up.
“We should dance!” Riku snags the other’s wrist.
“Eh?” Gaku’s eyes bulge even further. Riku successfully manages to abduct one blunt greying alien by the wrist with some effort. “Eh?!”
“…ah…!” Ryuu gasps.
“Ahh…! Not like that!” Anesagi tousles his hair. “More intensely—Hey, are you listening to me?” Auburn eyes narrow in displeasure and follow his gaze. “What are you looking at—” All words die in Anesagi’s throat at the sight.
“Kh…! What is this…!” Gaku grunts out as he moves along with the momentum.
“Ah, you’re supposed to take a left step back there!” Riku tells him informatively. The redhead stifles a smile, one hand wrapped taut around the other’s fingers, the other holding his waist firmly. Blue alice eyes peer down at him, totally lost, but a kind if somewhat painful nudge with his knee has the older man grunting as he pulls his leg back.
“…! What are you—”
“Right step back!”
“…gh……” Gaku is a good boy. He does it to avoid getting kneed again.
“And from there, I’m going to do a twirl. Then a dip!” Riku cheerily informs him.
Disgruntled features take a level up into shock.
“Wait! A dip?! Is our trust level even high enough for that yet—”
“Just do it prettily!” Riku grins, wide and toothy, as he spins Yaotome Gaku, grey curls all flipping in the air like a gorgeous ballerina, then he subsequently latches on to the other man’s waist and lowers him into a dip that has him screaming out and flailing. He admits, he may or may not have an ulterior motive in doing this. Nothing gets manlier than being able to dip The Yaotome Gaku the way he’s doing – after all?! “Gh… You’re heavy…! U-wah-?!”
“Don’t fall, don’t fall, don’t fall—?!” Gaku’s in the midst of praying when his arm gives way.
In that instance, three things happen: Gaku’s face transforms into the very caricature of shock, Riku yelps as he goes down, Gaku navigates the teen so he’d inevitably be cushioning most of the shock. They end up on the ground, peering at each other with an exasperated frown and sheepish smile respectively.
“Uh… Hey, what are you doing down there, Gaku?” Riku scratches his face with an awkward chuckle.
“You were the one who put me down here, weren’t you?” Gaku grouches.
“—Pfthaha! What were you doing, Riku, Gaku?” The sound of shutters snapping infiltrate the stunned air of the studio.
Ryuu smiles wryly at them, mirth-filled rich citrines completely exasperated.
Riku notices the position they’re in, bodies pressed up against one another in the midst of Gaku’s careless navigation. He giggles at his own realization, rubies flickering up to the brunette briefly. A grin breaks across his face.
“Ways to be sexy journal – the first entry!” He declares. And snickers. “Kabe-don, floor version!”
“What’s up with that?” Ryuu dissolves into helpless chuckles.
“Volunteer yourself to be the maiden next time!” Gaku scowls at the realization.
“You’re right!” Riku chortles. “Gaku is too heavy for the role of the maiden after all! If anything, he’s more suited to the role of an ox-?! Pfthaha… ahahahaha!” His breath won’t come under the fingers jabbing into his sides, dragging up and down. He totally wasn’t prepared for this kind of attack.
“Who are you calling an ox?” Gaku smirks. “Hey, Ryuu. Come here and help me restrain him. We should teach him a lesson.”
“Eh?! But… that’s…” The brunette looks between them.
“R-Ryuu! S-Save me – ahahaha – please!” Riku begs with large eyes.
“…kh! I got it! Hang on, Riku! I’ll get Gaku off in a moment!” A face full of resolution comes over the man. Another snap of the shutter goes off in that instant. Just when his attention had seemed ready to wane at the sound, Gaku barks out.
“What’s with that obvious bias, Ryuu?!”
“Now, now… older members are supposed to take care of younger ones, right?” Ryuu says chidingly.
“I’m younger than you too!” Gaku points out.
“Good… this is good.” On the other side of the lenses, the cameraman mutters with much zeal as he takes more photos. “Finally, after so long, he’s acting natural for the camera. Tsunashi-san’s can be an effortlessly sexy person even in his normal day-to-day life. If only he could be like this for the camera too!”
“…Tsk… That’s one area of improvement we will have to make.” Anesagi bites his nails as he mentally notes that down.
“That centre of theirs… Kujou Riku, his name is? …He’s quite good at uniting his members too. But… pardon me for saying this, but… how should I put it?” The cameraman hums in thought, snapping a few more shots.
“Just spit it out already.” Anesagi says, irked.
“…Doesn’t his character go against the group image as a whole?” The man questions.
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“Riku, show us what you’re made of!” Anesagi pumps his fist into the air like a cheerleader. That image in itself is already disturbing enough without the additional oomph he puts into his cheering. Gaku throws the cameraman a curious look as he makes his way off the set with Ryuu hanging by his tail.
“Hah… I’ve gone and made him mad with that, huh.” The old geezer sighs, stroking his short stubble. “Figures that he’s still green despite been affiliated with Yaotome Pro.” He sighs again.
“What are you talking about?” Gaku questions but is interrupted by their absolute menace of a manager.
“Listen up, Gaku, Ryuu!” Long arms are folded. Auburn eyes shoved unnecessarily close to theirs. Gaku hears the other member of his team gulping off to the side. “Riku is a top talent who’d undergone years of training under Kujou’s team of educators. He’s capable of any – and I mean ANY – image we assign him. So peel your eyes open and make sure you learn the most from him!”
“I too was trained to be an idol since young though.” Gaku points out.
Anesagi’s face turns red, floundering as if too exasperated even for words.
“…That’s that and this is this! The teachers who taught you and him are as different as heaven and hell!” Anesagi shushes himself then, attention caught by something on the set. “Just make sure you pay attention to this.”
Gaku frowns but turns his gaze on the garnet haired teen standing in neat-pressed clothes on set.
“Alright! I’m ready for whatever you’ve got! Now, come at me with anything you feel comfortable with!” The cameraman readies his tool of trade.
Riku takes a breath, as light as he’d unexpectedly been flopping on Gaku. Then in the next instance, when fine rubies part and turn in the direction of the camera, something…changed.
A coy smile that toes the line between embarrassment and collected calm, with the delicate incline of his head allowing garnet locks to tumble and grace his collarbones, lovingly cradling his jawline.
A seated posture, with hands brought up together to press the pads of his fingers together. Head tilted up by the gentle press of fingertips against his chin, lidded rubies mesmerizing in the pure softness they convey as lips part and breathe in the coolness of the winter air.
Next, taken from a low angle, the garnet haired teen is in the midst of spinning around. Multi-faceted rubies simmer wordlessly as they bore down at the lenses, lips pinched. A hand is brought up to push back garnet bangs in raw frustration conveyed mutely. The shimmering pain in his eyes hurts to see.
“…….!” Blue alice eyes widen.
“Good… this is really good… perfect! Spectacular! Wonderful!” The cameraman’s murmuring an endless storm of praises as he snaps a million shots per hour.
“Amazing… That’s what Anesagi-san meant by moving my body…” Ryuu murmurs in reverence beside him. Gaku honestly hadn’t even remembered he’s there until he heard him.
“That’s right!” Anesagi huffs, folding his arms. “Unlike you guys, Riku knows how to make full use of his body to fill the frame and have the proper expression. Until your debut, I’ll have you learn as much as possible from him!”
“Understood!” Ryuu is quick to agree.
“…Yeah. That’s not a bad idea.” Gaku smiles tentatively.
“Gaku?” Ryuu blinks, startled. He doesn’t meet his eyes.
Looking at the boy who’s far younger than him undergo the motions with full control of his body, Gaku just can’t help it. He knows he’d went through his training this whole time with a half-assed attitude. He knows too, that if he’s frustrated by the sheer difference between them, the only thing he can do is to train his ass off starting right now to catch up to Kujou Riku.
…But, you know. Sometimes, there’s just no helping these things they call ‘emotions’. Just a little, he wonders what he’s been doing this whole time if a kid younger than him can enter the ballfield and surpass him this easily.
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7.2: Leader’s Restraint
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“Uwah~ This is amazing! Yaotome Productions sure is good at setting up websites!” Rubies are practically sparkling as he takes in the images of them that glides out with every motion of the mouse. “This is worlds apart from—” He shuts up. Wide rubies turn to the ones beside him. “A-Ah…”
Ryuu looks unsuspecting. Gaku blinks, before smiling with a light hint of exasperation.
“You’ve tried setting up your very own website before, huh.”
“Ah…aha… That’s right! It was a horrid experience, that!” Riku chuckles sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. This is no good. If Chiba Shizuo is around, he would be smacking Riku upside down the head with his script again! Ruby eyes swim in their sockets as he averts his gaze from them. “I didn’t even know where to begin and all I got in the end is a blank screen…”
“…The processing data was so huge your computer crashed, huh.” Gaku interprets for him again, a shocked look taking over his face.
“I wonder about that…” Riku’s grin aches at his lie. He doesn’t even know what the other is saying.
“This is amazing. Like the colour and design and everything! Even though I don’t know how to express it in standardized Japanese – this is amazing!” Ryuu repeats over and over as he fiddles with the arrowhead on the screen.
“You…” Gaku smiles in spite of his exasperated sigh. “You’ve been saying that since just now.”
Gaku shifts over, pressing up against them to get a hold of the touchpad too.
“Tell me more on the specific details you like. Like, the background colour. Is the gradient fine enough? What about our image colours? And the size of the pictures, the symbolism, and the primer—” He moves the arrowhead over the respective things he’s referring to.
He’s teaching Ryuu on the various terminology associated with their website. For some reason, that can’t help but crack Riku up.
“Gaku’s acting all leader-like!” He laughs.
“Wha—” Gaku twitches.
“Thank you, Gaku. Can you just go a bit slower? I’d like to be able to take it down.” Ryuu pulls out a memo pad.
“Complaining now at this point, are you?” Gaku snaps, bewildered.
Riku can’t withhold the smile that blooms on his face as he turns his gaze from them back to the screen. There are multiple details written out in respective coloured boxes with their names, short primers of their positions, background, image.
“It would have been perfect if they put ‘leader’ under your name too!” Riku muses.
“Hah?!” Gaku is flabbergasted.
“I agree with that!” Ryuu grins, lifting a hand to rub his thick neck. “Gaku is way better at talking than me… and even though he can be blunt at times, he gets his point properly across! Things would probably get too difficult if the centre, Riku, has to juggle between two roles. Not to mention, I might end up speaking in Okinawan and picking fights if I end up as the leader…” Now, he just seems sheepish, ducking his head like that.
Gaku squints at the man suspiciously. Riku peers at him, wide-eyed.
“Are you speaking from past experience?” Gaku deadpans. He sighs. “But… well, if everyone here is fine with it, I guess I’ll go put my name in with that old man? It’s true that I’m the best candidate of us three anyways. We’d probably end up being walked all over by that suffocating old geezer and Anesagi if it’s not me.”
Riku leans in closer to the oldest occupant of the room, cupping his mouth conspiratorially.
“Hey, hey, did you hear?” He whispers with a teasing grin, making sure that it’s audible. “That guy over there just said he’s the best one out of all of us!”
Gaku’s ears twitch.
“Sssh!” Ryuu reproaches him seriously. “Gaku can be an embarrassing guy sometimes, but he can also get easily embarrassed. It’s best to let things like this slide!”
“You two are the embarrassing ones!” Gaku snaps. “What are you? Housewives gossiping behind others’ backs? Come here and tell it straight to my face!”
Riku eyes him blankly. He leaps straight back into whispering into Ryuu’s ears. Ryuu nods indulgently.
Gaku writhes in badly hidden exasperation.
“Hah… That settles it. I’m going to tell Anesagi about our new arrangement. Is there anything else you want them to change besides that?” Gaku rises to his feet.
“Uh… You mean besides my whole image?” Ryuu sweat drops.
“That’s the one thing I can’t do.” Gaku sighs, placing a hand on his hips. “How many times do you think I’ve tried bartering for you before this was put up? ‘Sexy and wild’ is the image the company wants for you. We somehow managed to get ‘fishing’ on there because of Riku’s personality, but anything beyond that is pushing the limits.” Blue alice linger on Ryuu’s downtrodden face. He inhales and sighs. “…But well. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try one more time.”
Ryuu lights up.
“Thank you, Gaku!” He smiles.
“Yeah!” Gaku closes the door behind him.
“Ah… He sure is cool, isn’t he? Gaku, that is?” Ryuu sighs in admiration. “Almost to a dangerous extent?”
“Gaku really is fun to tease!” Riku beams, practically bouncing in his seat. “And here I thought for sure that he’d be a totally strict person!” He leans forward, already all bumbling anticipation for when the other returns. “He’s surprisingly cute when he’s retorting to my jokes! Like all – ‘You’re the embarrassing ones! What the heck are you doing?!’ – or something like that?”
“Ahahaha! That’s totally Gaku!” Ryuu chortles.
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His ear itches. He wonders if they’re talking about him, those gossiping housewives.
“Did you hear? The President’s beloved son has finally made it onto a group!”
Gaku backs around a corner before the members of the staff could notice him.
“That group’s name… if I’m correct, it was supposed to be Trigger, right?”
“That’s right… It’s that major project which the President’s been laying out ever since last year!” The first man heaves a large sigh, drawling. “First, he suddenly started talking out of nowhere that he got a huge talent promised to him. Then, he begun negotiations with Tsukumo Pro for joint-funding for our other talents so he could pour more of his money into this project. Who’s really surprised when he put his son in that expensive group?”
“………!” Honestly, he’d somewhat expected this when his old man told him he is debuting, but to think they’d start talking this soon.
“Come now. Even if you say that, Gaku-kun’s not that bad a kid. He did actually go through years of training since his middle school years.” Argues the other man.
“That’s true, but in that case, why hasn’t he debuted his kid with our last few project teams?” The first man is snide in his words. “He just wants his own son to have the best chance to succeed, so he forcibly shoved his own son onto that team! Based on the rumours, it seems like the President recruited that huge-name talent from overseas and even the other one all the way from Okinawa. Compared to them, what does his son have to make it on that team? In the end, they’re just going to turn out a bunch of no-names—”
The man falls silent when the pair turns the corner to see him leaning against the wall.
“G-Gaku-kun!” The second man stutters out.
“G-Gh-… You were listening?” The first takes on an ugly defensive look.
Even though he was the one who first started to badmouth others too. How ironic.
“I’ll give you just one piece of advice.” Gaku says curtly. “It’s one thing to badmouth others behind their back, but another to do so where the President could end up overhearing you at anytime.”
“A-Are you going to tattle on us?!” The first man’s expression contorts into a grimace.
“…No. Unlike you guys, I don’t wish misfortune on others within the same company just because they’re doing better than myself.” Lips thinning, Gaku lifts a hand conversationally. “However… There’s just one thing I’d like you to know.”
Polished shoes click against the black-grey tiles of the agency. Gaku steps closer to the man.
“Unlike me, who got into this with my blood, Riku and Ryuu are talents that come once in a decade. Before judging the group based on my name, I’d like it if you could keep your eyes peeled open a little more and judge us based on our abilities.” The frightened man peers up at him, realization of the meaning of his words gradually dawning upon his face. Gaku lowers dilated blue alice away from him with a courteous dip of his head. “Thanks for your hard work.”
He walks pass the men.
“That boy…” The second man pursues his lips, peering after Gaku’s distancing back in wonder. “Was he always so mature?”
“…gh…” The first member of the staff trembles slightly. His companion chuckles lightly.
“Did you hear him?”
“Kh…! …Shut up!” The man scowls as he shoves his hands in his pockets.
Polished shoes storm through the hallways. Illuminated by the warm hues of a sunset from beyond the window, blue alice shine menacingly. Gaku clenches his teeth.
Again… These guys… Each and every one of them are judging him for his name rather than his abilities. It’d be a lie to say that he’s not pissed, but even more than that – what he truly loathed was the fact that the team had to be dragged through the mud because of his name. Even though Riku and Ryuu are not the ones at fault too. That said, it would have reflected even more badly on them if their leader had gone off on his usual fit and lashed out for being judged over such a thing.
Gaku pauses at his thoughts, steps faltering.
‘Leader’… Now that he thinks about it, the position’s surprisingly restrictive.
He wonders if he could actually do it well? Ah, but… then again – Gaku tuts to himself despite his growing smile – if he’s not the one standing up at the front and shielding those guys from such dirty attacks, he doesn’t know who else would be a better fit. Those guys… They’re surprisingly oblivious despite their abilities after all!
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7.3: Debut Date
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“Hm hm hm hm~♩ Good morning, Anesagi-Nee!” Riku calls out as he ducks into the car.
“…hih…!” Anesagi startles bodily, his entire frame lurching as auburn eyes leapt to Riku, growing wide. Riku blinks, mouth parted where he had just been in the midst of greeting the other. His hand remains frozen midst motion to heave his bag up into the front seat of the car. That reaction… not to mention, the way his leg totally hit the steering wheel…
“Are you okay?” Riku clambers onto the front seat, brows pulled in worry. “Are you feeling sick anywhere?”
“Ehem! I’m fine.” Anesagi assures him, but even his stern tone doesn’t combat the troubled look on his face. “There’s no need for you to worry about me. Tsk. Don’t forget about the seatbelt, Riku. There’s no promotion today, so we’re driving straight to the agency.”
“Alright~” Riku sings as he pulls the seatbelt in place. With a smile still curving his lips, rubies linger on the disconcerted auburns on his manager’s face, unnerving Anesagi with the weight of his stare.
“…What is it?” Anesagi shifts in his seat.
“Eh? No. I was just thinking: No matter which company it is, the managers are still huge worrywarts, aren’t they?” Riku chuckles fondly to himself.
A neon pink brow twitches on his manager’s face. Anesagi jabs his feet a little more violently than necessary into the gas pedal, starting the car.
“W-Whoa-!” Riku holds onto his bag firmly as the vehicle lurches.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Anesagi questions irritably.
“Look here…! There’s no need for that kind of attitude, is there?” Riku protrudes his lower lip sulkishly. He feels Anesagi’s glare even with auburn eyes fixated on the road. The red haired time traveller sighs and leans back in his seat. “I was just going to say that if the manager has any trouble and needs help from us, you could reach out and we’d extend a hand at any time.”
“…ah…” Anesagi’s expression totally changes. Mh. It’s just as Riku thought. He was worried about something.
“We may be going to be idols, and the staff-san may have their own duties, but there’s no reason why we can’t bear them together, right?” Riku quirks his lips up. Garnet locks flop by the side of his face as he stumbles over his words. “Although I may be a bit unreliable… and clumsy… and I may break more things than I fix them…! But even I can help someone if I put my mind to it!”
“Ah… Your words just lost all their ability to convince me.” The lines of Anesagi’s brows go slanted downwards again, stewing in worry.
“C-Come on! Ahaha… I was just kidding! See? There are times where my destructibility can unexpectedly be a good thing? I broke Takamasa-san’s mug this morning and that person finally stepped out into daylight after days of locking himself in!” Riku’s smile is strained.
Did he just convince Anesagi to confide in him again? Or maybe… did he make things worst? Ahh… geez! Would it help if he just tells him he’d destroy all his troubles for him? But then again, what if the sources are them? Wouldn’t that be controversial? (Ahh... All this thinking is making his head hurt!)
Anesagi’s eyes soften, and Riku’s relieved to find the corners of his lips twitching up into a lopsided smile.
“Thank you, Riku. Even though you’re still a hopelessly clumsy child.” He adds curtly.
“Urgh. Is there really a need for that last part?” Riku sulks, irked.
Anesagi huffs lightly, face relaxing from the terse expression he’s been clinging onto as he leans back in his seat.
“Recently, the President has been getting slightly impatient about Trigger’s progress towards debut, and it just had me stressing out a bit.” He divulges with a sigh in his words.
“The President is…?” Riku echoes, astonished.
“That’s right. That person is just such a childish brat, always throwing tantrums whenever he doesn’t get what he wants and making promises that I end up having to carry out—” A vein pops out of Anesagi’s grip over the steering wheel. Riku sweat drops, inching away discretely as he peers at that same hand. He jumps when Anesagi lets out an annoyed huff. “Don’t tell him that though. I just wanted to vent, since he’s pushing for the impossible.”
“Our debut date… Could it be… It’s a lot more rushed than we thought it was?” Riku asks.
“Going by the original plan, your debut date is supposed to be two weeks after the new year, but—” Anesagi twitches again. Riku shrinks back. Anesagi smiles darkly, grip tightening over the wheel. “The President just had to go and mention Trigger on an interview for another one of our talent. Not to mention, he’s suddenly transferring a part of our budget for the promotion events to your first live. Thanks to that, the time we’ve allocated for Ryuu’s lessons on brushing up his image has been totally reduced.”
“Eh… I don’t really know about these things, but… that sounds tough.” Yaotome President does sound unreasonable each time Gaku talked about him. Riku leans in. “If that’s the case, there’s got to be a new debut date, isn’t there? When is it?”
“…………………” Anesagi seems reluctant to tell him. “…In three days.” He mutters.
“EH?!” Riku blinks rapidly, knocked back by the shock. “Eh?! I mean - …eh?!” He flaps his lips uselessly, stunned speechless.
“I know, alright?! It’s a totally unreasonable demand! That man just had to make your debut coincide with the new year!” Anesagi bursts out, before muttering despondently. “And it’s in three days.” The pink haired man looks completely worn out as he waves his hands exasperatedly. “Three days! How am I supposed to arrange a live in three days?! Not to mention, Ryuu’s accent!”
Riku would answer if he’s not banged up when the car suddenly swerved. A loud honk comes from somewhere behind them.
“Ah, watch the road, Anesagi-san!” He clings onto the handle on the roof for dear life. “Keep your eyes on the road, please!”
-
“I know this is rather sudden, but calm down and listen to me carefully.” Anesagi coughs into a fist in preparation to announce the news.
“What is it?” Gaku lifts his head from the worn lyric sheet.
“Don’t tell me… disbandment…?!” Ryuu’s mind leaps to the worst-case scenario at once. Riku still finds it amazing how similar Ryuu can be to Sougo in times like this.
“It’s not that.” Anesagi coolly settles Ryuu’s worries. He clears his throat and folds his arms. “It’s just… how do I put this? After re-evaluating the abilities of each of our individual members—” Uwah… Riku peers up at the manager in wonder. Anesagi’s such a good liar. “—the President has decided to push forward the date of your debut.”
“Eh? Then, it’s no longer in two weeks?” Gaku concludes, startled.
“I wonder if I can do it… To be prepared in such a short time…” Ryuu smiles faintly, brows drawn together in worry. Gh. His words are just… See? It even gives Anesagi a pause!
“So? When is the new date of our debut?” Gaku nudges the conversation forward.
“……………ays...”
“…uwah…” Riku quietly watches their strict manager in surprise. Gaku and Ryuu are making that Anesagi hesitate!
“Hah? I can’t hear you.” Gaku scowls.
“…urgh! It’s in three days, I said!” Anesagi snaps. Realization soon paints his face and regrets has him bristling, tucking metaphorical feathers back in place with arms folded to subconsciously protect himself.
“…eh…”
“…what…”
Riku turns his head between his two teammates and the manager, twiddling his fingers nervously.
“Three days?! You mean it’s in three days?!” Gaku snaps. It’s like a dam that’s exploded at the start of a waterfall. The chaos never ends.
“…Three days?! Are they insane?!” Ryuu leaps back into Okinawan slang. Riku has no idea what he’s saying, but he looks fierce.
“Oi. You’re joking around, right? Not even that crazy old pops is that out of his mind!”
“Ha-a-ah……” Ryuu holds onto his head with one syllable dragged out in wavering notes. “Three days, they say! How am I going to get ready in that time? It takes three days for me to even catch an expensive fish. But to debut in three days…?”
“You guys, hold on one second.” Gaku rises to his feet, pressing thin lips together. “I’ll go complain to that old geezer for a bit. He’s out of his mind. Three days is just—” He bites down on his word. Gaku narrows his eyes into a seething blue alice, already glaring as if it’d somehow bore a hole through the door and laser its way to his dad’s office.
“Do you think it’ll work?” Riku asks, surprised.
“You never know till you try, don’t you?!” The older man snaps.
Five minutes later finds him closing the practice room’s door behind him, an intimidating scowl on his face.
“Shitty old man.” Grimly sums up their collective thoughts in various phrasing. Gaku meets their gazes evenly. “So? What’s the plan now?”
-
7.4: Training Camp
-
The door bell rings. Ryuu quickly wipes his hands down to get the door.
“Yes, I’m coming in a moment!”
The door parts to show Riku decked out in thick layers, with a bag pack slung over his shoulders.
“Good evening, Ryuu! I’ll be imposing on you for the next three days! Here, a small snack for our dessert later!” A neatly wrapped box of pastries is offered. Ryuu takes it with a quick duck of his head.
“Thanks, Riku! I was just thinking about what I should do for desserts!”
“…and then?” Riku smiles up at him with wide, expectant rubies.
“…urk…!” Ryuu freezes in the midst of the hallway with the desserts in his hands. Those lines they’d all came up with that day in the practice room for his alter…a-alter-ego (is that what they call it in standard Japanese?). Suddenly, everything slips right back into his brain – everything leading up to this somewhat miserable moment, that is.
“Immersion!” Anesagi declares, pointing a finger at him.
“E-Eh?!” Ryuu jumps, frightened. Riku navigates himself a bit before Ryuu, and he finds it sweet, but— There’s a more important crisis on hand.
“Tsk! Immersion is the answer to Ryuu’s demeanour! Riku,” Auburn eyes turn on the small garnet haired teen before him. Ryuu feels a sudden urge to push Riku behind him for all the unintentional aggressive their manager inserts into his words. “You’ve taken lessons from world-famous actors all around, haven’t you? What was the most common way they’ve tried to use to teach you?”
“…erm… You mean besides whacking me over the head with a script, having me hold buckets of water when I miss a line, and having me tail a police officer for the study of a character I was supposed to play?” Riku questions, lost.
“What kind of spartan training did you receive?” Gaku inserts in a deadpan, clearly exasperated. Ryuu quietly agrees with the sentiment. How could the teachers all be so harsh on the frail-looking Riku?
“…heh… We had plenty of impromptu character play where we improvised things on the spot!” Riku cracks into a bright smile. “That period of time was the most fun…! Every time me and my teacher met, my teacher would suddenly pull a role out of nowhere. Like all “You’re under arrest!” and that kind of thing? And I’d have to improvise a reply on the spot.” Riku leans in, eyes bright at his memories. “There was even that one time a police officer thought my teacher was really kidnapping me. Thankfully, he believed it when my teacher acted out the role of a teacher!”
“…Why is your character setting full of police officers?” Gaku points out, intrigued.
“Or rather… If that teacher has to act like a teacher, then what is he like normally?” Ryuu sweat drops.
“Well. For starters –”
“Focus!” Anesagi hisses. He smacks a notebook onto the ground. The practice room’s attention is immediately back on him. “Alright, after listening to Riku’s lesson structure, I’ve got a plan! Starting now, we’ll going to brainstorm a list of phrases that Ryuu can use in his ‘wild and sexy’ persona. Following that, each time any of us encounter him over the course of the next three days, we must make sure that he acts out the ‘wild and sexy’ persona fully!”
“In other words…” Gaku begins.
“…Like a training camp?!” Riku bursts out enthusiastically.
“That’s right. Like a training camp.” Anesagi turns to loom over Ryuu. “Pardon us, but I’m going have Gaku and Riku stay over at your house for the next three days, Ryuu.”
“How could you just decide things so simply—” Gaku begins.
“It’s for Ryuu’s sake. Besides, I already have the signature of Riku’s guardian.” Anesagi waves a piece of paper in front of the man’s face.
“That’s fast.” Gaku comments, stunned.
“When did you manage to get such a thing, Anesagi-Nee…?” Riku sweat drops.
“That’s unimportant!” Anesagi declares. His eyes are practically flashing as he peers down at Ryuu, hands propped up on his hip. Behind him, Gaku and Riku were already looking through the notebook, pondering upon what they ought to write. “Be sure to take this very seriously, Ryuunosuke.” Urk! Just don’t use his full name! “In three days’ time, when you appear on the stage, we’re gonna have you be the ‘wild and sexy’ Tsunashi Ryuunosuke everyone is expecting! You’re going to make Trigger a success!”
Auburns sear into the back of his head. Honestly, the pressure of all of this… it’s just so…
“Spare him of all that, Anesagi. It’s all of us who’ll be making Trigger succeed, isn’t it?” Gaku calls out.
“Hmph. I’m just adding on a little push on his back.” Anesagi huffs, leaning back.
“Just merely pushing won’t do anything, Anesagi-Nee!” Riku says with a cheerful bubble of laughter, even though he leans his weight against Ryuu’s side. Guileless rubies meet his when he peers down at him. Riku cracks a smile and lifts a pen to him. “And so! What kind of lines do you want to say, Ryuu?”
“Riku…” Just a little, he feels moved by the other’s silent comfort. Ryuu gains a bit of confidence to step up. “How about lines that are like a good big brother type idol?” He suggests optimistically.
“Absolutely not.” Gaku and Anesagi intone.
“Ahaha… Yeah, I figured.” Ryuu sweat drops.
Now, peering down at expectant rubies, Ryuu feels a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face again as he recalls that whole book of dubious lines he’d flipped through before making dinner. The first one was what Gaku had put in, claiming it to be an “easy one”, because it’s the first thing he’d likely need to use when greeting any of them at the door, and even when they hold their first live.
It’s a bit embarrassing. His hands are even sweating a little. But Ryuu gathers all his courage to utter the words:
“I’ll make tonight worth while for you.”
Deep rubies are blown wide by his words.
Ryuu’s fingers hang precariously loose over the pastries. Ahh… aaah… what did he just say? And furthermore, to Riku – to a minor?! He wants to hurry up and take back his words already!
Riku peers up at him with large round eyes. …And not even a second later, Riku angles his chin out at a charming angle.
“Thank you, Ryuu!” Eh? Is something different? He’s flushed slightly pink from leaving the winter cold, but his voice is also unusually soft, different from his usual energetic smile. “It makes me really, really—” A finger slides over the back of his ear, tucking garnet locks back. A few stray locks glides and tumble to cradle his face gently. He looks like an angel like that. “—happy to hear that!”
Riku gives a smile. It’s one with the glimmer of deep rubies dewy in the light of his house, pursuing lips subtly drawing attention and emphasizing the allure of his delicate features. As if gorging out a hole in the spectators’ hearts for himself, Riku cocks his head lightly.
“…………!” Ah! He sees! Riku’s showing him how he should look like! More – sexy, and charming, and less ashamed of his own lines.
He’s making it easier for Ryuu to act without shame.
“…you guys…” Gaku’s breathy rasp to the side of his apartment catches both their attention. Blue alice peers out at them, speechless at their act. “…Did you two always have that kind of relationship?” Gaku cocks his head, lifting a brow sceptically. He looks nice, even while doing it.
It takes a beat for Ryuu to snap out of Gaku’s mesmerizing visuals. Horror strikes him the next instant when he understands what Gaku’s seeing.
“Gaku! This is-! It’s because of the line you gave me!” Ryuu flounces in his desperate reach for explanations.
“……Gaku is so erotic… Why couldn’t I be born with a sexier appearance? I’m going to need to be reborn once again to become that sexy.” Riku nods to himself in the midst of his sulky mutters, seemingly downbeat by Gaku’s appearance.
Ryuu feels even more horrified by this situation.
“Riku…! Don’t say that! You look fine just the way you are! See? Being cute is not such a bad thing either!” Ryuu rushes to placate him.
“Ryuu, you’re breaking character.” Gaku points out. He closes the remaining distance between them to close the door behind him. “There’s another line you should be saying in such situations.”
Gaku pulls off his scarf gently, shuddering as he removes his high-end branded shoes.
“That’s right!” Riku beams, much to Ryuu’s pounding heart’s relief. An upset Riku should be a crime. “If it was up to Gaku, what should Ryuu say?”
“‘You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid my eyes on. To dismiss that is a sin I won’t forgive – even if you’re the one saying it.’” Gaku bursts out with a regal glare boring into his soul. Ryuu feels his heart leap and flop again, as with Riku’s acting. Gaku smiles offhandedly again thereafter, thankfully normal. “Or something like that, I’d say?”
“Heheh! That’s so cool! Then, maybe I should try it too?” Riku cocks his head with a lively smile. He turns serious in the next moment, intensity just as great. “‘I won’t let you go ever again.’” He bursts into an energetic smile. “Ahaha… Or is that too out of character?”
“For your onstage front, it seems just about right?” Gaku smirks at the redhead. He turns to look at Ryuu strangely. “…What’s wrong? Was our acting so horrible that it gave you heart burns?” Gaku appears aghast by the press of Ryuu’s hands to his heart.
“Erm… how should I put this?” Ryuu musters a shaky smile in face with their oblivious looks. “No matter how much training I have, I don’t think I can ever match up to Gaku or Riku in sexiness.” He sweat drops.
“Why?” The two younger boys ask in unison.
“………” Ryuu searches for the right words to reply them with. “…You’re both the world’s most charming people, that’s why!” He lightly allows exasperation to sink into his tone.
“Oh.” Gaku blinks. “A comment overflowing with confidence…”
“That’s it! You’re finally getting the hang of it!” Riku cheers, fists punching up and down.
“…uh…” Ryuu just hangs his head with another heavy sigh. “Hah… this is going to be a long three days.”
-
7.5: This is the trigger!
-
“Ryuu, you’re really cool! If I was a girl, I think I’m sure to fall in love with you!” Riku cracks an abashed smile full of wide eyes and innocent adoration.
“Is that so?” Ryuu chuckles, inclining his head forward to allow earthy brown locks to fall around the chiselled angles of his face. “I’m honoured to hear that, but… you see, the other two members of Trigger are equally cool too. I would be very grateful if you continue to support Trigger henceforth.”
“Ryuu…!” Riku allows his voice to turn into a mellow swoon.
“We’re all said cool members of Trigger though.” Gaku inserts, tapping the centre’s foot with a wry smirk. “So who are you right now?”
“A fanboy version of Re:Vale’s Momo-san!” Riku answers honestly.
“Ahaha! The members of Trigger sure get along so well! Everyone is good looking so it figures that they’re debuting so soon! Especially Tsunashi-kun!” A passing staff comments, eyes crinkling with delight. “Even though he hasn’t yet debuted, it’s not hard to see how he snatched a place in the top twenty most desirable men ranking! Even his teammates have fallen for his charms, I see!”
“Is that so?” Anesagi narrows his eyes. “He only seems to be on a slippery slope to me.” After all the effort they’ve put in to raise his sexiness, it’s almost a pity he’s using his teammates as a diversion.
“Eh? What do you mean?” The staff asks.
“It’s just my side of the story.” Anesagi heaves a sigh as he closes the door behind him to join them. “You boys, are you already mentally prepared to step onstage?”
“Yes!” Riku beams.
“I’ve grown tired of waiting since a while ago!” Gaku declares boldly.
“Even though my heart has been beating wildly since the moment the make-up staff came around, I think I’ll somehow manage.” Ryuu smiles just a bit breathlessly with a hand placed over his heart. Anesagi would say it’s pathetic, but the man somehow manages to make it look dignified with his shoulders squared in the very visage of confidence. Three days of immersion certainly seems to have worked out well for the brunette. Or as Gaku puts it…
“Sexy but not womanising.” Gaku quips. “So long as you keep that in mind, you’ll be able to stay true to your persona. Simply put, it’s just a matter of body language.”
“Just be shameless like Gaku and you’ll do fine!” Riku rephrases brightly for him.
“Hey!” The offended man snaps.
“Honestly…” Anesagi buries a smile with his whisper. “…It’s nice to see you guys getting along.”
“What was that?” Gaku lifts his head to him.
“It’s nothing.” He brushes it off easily. “The President sends a message to you guys. ‘Go out there and steal the crowd’s eyes’, he said.”
“Tch. That old man… When will he ever learn to speak to us in person like a proper human being?” Gaku scowls.
“In any case, make sure to prepare yourselves thoroughly for your first live.” The fine curve of Anesagi’s lips was smeared with fingerprints of fondness despite his sharp tone. “I’ll be back in a moment to get you guys. Until then, make sure you wait here.”
They watch him leave with badly concealed softness, understanding the things he fails to say. The door clicks shut with a tranquil, loving sound.
“He’s gone.” Ryuu mutters quietly.
“He’s gone.” Gaku agrees.
“Are you scared?” Riku cracks a mischievous smile as he looks over at the other two.
“I’m absolutely scared out of my mind.” Ryuu laughs breathlessly. “But even so… I’m glad it’s with you two that I’m doing this.”
Riku blinks, feeling his heart warm at those words that included him. The edges of his lips lifting in a faint smile that wasn’t quite able to hide its tenderness, Riku yelps in surprise when he’s pulled into one-armed hug by the brunette man. The fingers which ruffle his hair are affectionate, broad in a way none other in Idolish7 had been even in his distant memories. Pressed up against Ryuu’s stage costume, Riku’s grateful that the darkness of the cloth allows him to bury away his face and hide his tears. (He’s debuting again. As Trigger. This really is his final farewell to Idolish7.)
“What’s up with this—” Gaku struggles to get out of Ryuu’s hold in his other arm. He’s interrupted by warm words overfilling with emotions.
“Thanks a lot, Riku, Gaku.” Ryuu murmurs into the top of Riku’s hair, the faintest accent slipping back to his voice in this moment of weakness. Gaku stills. “Really… I can’t thank you guys enough. Ever since coming to Tokyo, things have been one uncertainty after another… even now, I’m still wavering about being an idol, but… If you’ll have me. If Trigger will have me, I’ll go as far as possible with you as you’ll allow me.”
Riku takes a slow shuddering breath. Riku breathes out, gently.
“…What? Are you guys – crying?” Gaku’s voice grows a little strangled at that word. Another hand joins in to muss up Riku’s hair with less care and more roughness than Ryuu’s did. Riku spots shadows shifting as Gaku messes up Ryuu’s hair too. “Honestly, you’re all such babies. This is only just the beginning, you know?”
Gaku’s smirk is a million diamonds in the light of the changing room. Riku blinks away the last of the tears as he lifts his head from Ryuu’s shirt. Gaku meets their gazes with unbridled affection.
“If we’re going to be legends, this moment is going to be our trigger.”
His hands fall from their heads. He squeezes their shoulders reassuringly, like the leader he is.
“Let’s get out there and show them what we’re made of!”
Riku chokes on a laugh that’s mixed with a sob.
“Ryuu, Gaku is embarrassing.” He complains.
“He sure is, isn’t he?” Ryuu smiles back gently.
“Oi.” The leader deadpans.
With the three embellished in a stage of lights, they step out on stage for their first live.
-
(That day, the crowd was mesmerized by the dream which had them stolen.
Standing on a stage filled with emptiness emphasized by the shadows and illuminated by multi-coloured lights, three silhouettes rose up to offer the audience the best performance they’ve ever witnessed.
Kujou Riku’s impeccable voice overflowing with raw emotions… Yaotome Gaku’s straightforward gaze which sucks everyone right in like a whirlpool… Tsunashi Ryuunosuke’s intense dance moves… Each and every one of the trio enamoured the audience with their tantalizing stage. Like devils, they challenged and captured the hearts of their fans. Like angels, they gently whispered kind words which drew in their fans. A metaphorical storm wrecking all in its wake, Trigger made its entry into the world.
From the backstage, Anesagi Kaoru bore witness to the dream he lent a hand in bringing to life.
“That’s it… That’s the way… You boys are doing well…!” The pink haired manager lavished them with praises in a faint whisper even as the smallest of smiles graced his lips.
Not, that he’d ever let any of them know they’ve touched his heart this quickly though. He’s not an easy woman after all!)
-
(“As I thought, it was the right decision to entrust Riku to Yaotome Productions…” Kujou Takamasa comments as he watches over the concert hall.
“Who is Riku-san? Erm… Papa?” Kujou Aya questions hesitantly.
“He is the redheaded boy standing in the centre, Aya.” Takamasa answers. “And he is your adoptive older brother. There’s no need to force yourself. You can address me however you like so long as it makes you comfortable.”
“In that case… Kujou-san,” The young girl dressed in a flowing blue dress says shyly. She presses the tips of her fingers together, demure in every action. “When will I be able to meet him, Kujou-san?” Large azure eyes close in a sweet smile tinted with her shyness and delight. “Onii-chan… He seems to be really talented at what he does. …And I’ve never had an onii-chan since I was adopted…!”
“Soon, Aya. Soon, I’ll introduce you to him.” Takamasa lays a gentle hand on her back. “Now then, shall we go? I’ll be scolded if Riku sees me watching his performance.”
“Onii-chan… is shy towards his family?” Aya tilts her head.
Takamasa pauses at the thought of that. He chuckled.
“You could interpret it that way.” For any action can have any number of interpretations unless it’s from the eye of the person in question. Takamasa makes a note to send Aya for training in acting when she cocks her head in wide-eyed puzzlement. “Let’s go, Aya.”
“Yes.” With a dip of the girl’s head, two members of the audience walk away. Their absence goes unnoticed in the dim lights outside the stage.)
-
7: OVA
-
The pans sizzle and clangs with more noise than Ryuu would like as he works. It’s seven in the morning, and Ryuu has just returned from his morning run, but he thought it’d be nice to make breakfast for his guests.
“…What’s up with the racket?” Gaku yawns as he steps out of his guestroom.
“Uwah!” Ryuu leaps a foot high up. The omelette in his pan warbles and the veggies fly up. “Gaku, you’re already up?! I thought you’d take the opportunity to sleep in for sure!”
“……” The hulk of a man opens and closes his lips, glaring daggers into Ryuu. For a second, the brunette backs up against the sizzling pans on the gas stoves, wondering what he had done wrong. Gaku peers at him intensely for another moment before he cards pale fingers through pale locks and heaves a sigh, spinning on his heels. “Let’s do this one more time, Ryuu.”
“Eh… Ah.” He remembers now. “Right!” Ryuu dips his head.
The door clicks shut before it parts with a barely audible swing.
“Morning. Are you already awake?” Ryuu smiles tenderly, peering over his shoulder. “I’ve got breakfast made for the both of us, so just get seated and wait for it, alright?”
Gaku’s gasp comes strangled with blue alice eyes bulging at him.
“…Somehow, it feels weird to be treated like a chick.” The twenty-year-old steps forward, reaching out a hand. “Come on, give me a pan.”
“Ahaha…” Ryuu dimpled in a wry, exasperated grin. “Even though Gaku was the one who presented this situation, I see you get uncomfortable too.”
“I’m a man after all.” Gaku shrugs.
-
“Oh.”
Ryuu runs into Riku just as he’d left the shower, fully clothed but with hands reaching to the drain in a clear attempt to remove red and grey strands of hair.
Ryuu’s feeling a bit unsettled about this whole thing. Nevertheless, he flashes his normal smile (hoping to gods that this is good enough for them) and brandishes his line like a weapon.
“Are you cleaning up here? Don’t worry about such things. I’ll clean it up for you. Let’s go ahead and do something more…fun.” Granted. That’s a more abridged version of what he would normally say.
However, Riku rises up to his fullest height. His body language turns coy. Riku leans into his towel, lips parting delicately as he offers a guileless smile to Ryuu.
“Where are we going?” An arrogant tone full of himself. Ryuu stiffens in realization. “Are you going to clean up this mess?” He suddenly got the feeling that he’s been transported into the Netherlands, or became a character in a shounen manga. More specifically, the action type. “Or are you—” Ruby eyes glint with hidden maliciousness. Riku smirks. “—here to dispose of me?”
They stand in silence inside the shower for three awkward moments. Ryuu silently bemoans what’s become of his life.
Riku tries his hardest to refrain from frowning. They’re both good at delivering their lines, but…
Ryuu sweat drops as he wonders what would be best to say. …Their lines are just both out of place, somehow.
“Somehow… I’m sorry, Ryuu.” Riku bursts into an awkward chuckle, scratching his cheek sheepishly.
“No, no, you don’t have to—” Ryuu begins, flustered.
“When I heard you say that line, only two scenarios popped up in my mind, and I subconsciously avoided the bedroom scene route!” Ryuu chokes on his spit. Riku is still looking up at him apologetically with pursuing lips as he continues. “…And also. I shouldn’t have read that Magical Kokona chapter last night, I think.” He admits thoughtfully. “It makes my impromptu acts suffer.” …So Riku does do these impromptu acts without thinking…
“It’s fine! It’s fine!... I think.” Ryuu desperately assures him. “So, just leave the cleaning to me, okay?”
-
“Why…” Yaotome President lowers the notebook. “…Has Ryuu’s image gone from ‘wild and sexy’ to just a plain old womaniser?”
“Isn’t this wild and sexy?” Gaku waves a hand for emphasis.
Anesagi nods approvingly beside Gaku.
“Pardon me for my honesty, President, but I for one would be very happy if a man approaches me with these lines.” Anesagi tells him off in a well-phrased manner, but no less blunt.
Ryuu sweat drops at the way in which Yaotome President seems utterly speechless at his management team’s answer. The man drops his greying head into his palm. This time, his shoulders are not shaking in repressed laughter at Ryuu’s plight.
“…I’ll look through these lines and add my own, so just take your leave.” He sighs, heavy with burden.
“Understood.” Anesagi answers smoothly. “Let’s go, you boys.”
Ryuu eyes the man bowed over his notebook and dips his head before taking his leave.
-
In truth, it’d be a lie to say that he’s not guilty.
“-Yeah. The people here at Tokyo are treating me well.”
It’d be a lie to say that he’s in this whole-heartedly. He’d be deceiving everyone who aren’t the agency after all. There’s no way he could feel good about it.
“Yeah. …Yeah. I’ll debut soon and pay up all your debts, so just hold on there just a bit more, alright?”
However, when he sees the efforts everyone is pouring into him to create the version of the ‘Tsunashi Ryuunosuke’ that the media wants, he just can’t help but feel like he’s signing up for something greater than himself. That he has to become that version of Tsunashi Ryuunosuke, even though he doesn’t want to be him. …Even though Ryuu knows he will still do it anyways (and denounce his father as an idol) because it’s for his family’s sake.
“I’m sorry, Dad. For…you know.” His father murmurs a soft forgiveness into his ears. It’s fine so long as the family is safe, he says. Don’t blame yourself. “…Yeah. I got it.”
It frustrates Ryuu that all he can do here is to accept people’s help in shaping him up to become the Tsunashi Ryuunosuke he never wanted to be. It feels like he’s forsaking the Tsunashi Ryuunosuke his Dad taught him to be.
“I know it’s not my fault. And I do have friends here who I properly have faith in, so you don’t have to worry.” Ryuu allows the smile to slip into his voice, even if his thoughts are running a separate path.
Can Riku and Gaku even be counted as friends instead of colleagues? Ryuu sweat drops. They can, right? Listening to his Dad murmur his goodbyes, Ryuu’s puts a hold on his thoughts.
“Mh. I’ll ring you up again next week. Tell the boys I miss them too.”
He hangs up with a sigh.
Someone flops onto his couch then. Ryuu gasps and moves in time to catch him before he falls.
“Riku…?!”
The garnet haired teen is totally asleep, curled up in his arms. Even though he was still walking just a moment ago…
“Sleepwalking…?” Ryuu sweat drops. That’s an awfully dangerous habit to have, especially if he’s falling all over like this. Ryuu’s going to have to babyproof his house if Riku stays over more.
“…mmnh… Tenn-Nii…” The redhead murmurs in his sleep, nuzzling into Ryuu’s sweater.
“………!” Ryuu gasps and pursues his lips. Rich citrines soften.
What… So Riku has an older brother too.
Just a little, with eyes remaining still on flawless skin which seems less pristine when locked in sleep, Ryuu dares to wonder about the circumstances behind both of his teammates.
Gaku’s situation with his Dad is pretty clear from the get-go. But Riku is… mysterious. He wonders if Riku came out to work this young because he has a family member he wants to protect too…
“…I can’t keep being a child.” Ryuu sighs as he nestles a hand into Riku’s hair. He drops his head back on the couch, smile lamenting.
After all, in spite of their reliability, Riku and Gaku are still his juniors. Right now, he may be depending on them for things like language, acting, and even his job, but… Going forward, there will definitely be times where they waver and need an adult’s guidance. He’s got to get a hold of himself so they could count on him when it truly matters.
“…Alright.” Ryuu slides an arm beneath Riku. Picks him up, like he would with his younger brothers.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke, the fisherman’s son, leaves to return his teammate back to his bed with a new resolution.
He should work even harder than what he’s doing now so he could repay his debt to these two.