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Haruka adjusted his costume sleeve as he waited for today’s filming to begin. The worry he was going to ruin such a nice costume was still strong even after days of shooting. It was so ornate in detail, not to mention heavy with its many layers and long train, and Haruka was afraid to make any extra movement in it. He could already imagine the teasing he’d get from the others if he got caught on it or tripped.
He’d been so happy to tell his grandma was cast as the lead in a drama series, and it was still sinking in. He was the lead out of all the other idols including Kujou Tenn! How great was that?!
That’s what he told himself. And repeated to himself as he continued to fidget with his costume. But he wasn’t like Arme. Could he pull this off?
“It’s okay to be a little nervous,” Gaku said, appearing beside him.
Haruka jumped at the suddenness of Gaku’s words, not noticing his approach. He pursed his lips together in annoyance and dropped his sleeve. He didn’t need the older idol pointing out his nervousness to him. “I’m not nervous,” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
Gaku looked at him unfazed. “I was, too, for my first leading role. The demands and expectations are high for the leading man.”
“Speak for yourself,” he said with false bravado.
Gaku gazed at him for a moment and Haruka resisted the urge to shrink away from him. “Sometimes it can help to find something to relate with the character from your own life experience and use that to draw on.”
Haruka scoffed at the suggestion. The irony of him playing a character that was so determined to end conflict when he himself was the cause of so much was not lost on him. Arme was much different than him. But he couldn’t shake Gaku’s words from his mind, try as he might. Maybe if he dug down deep inside him, he could bring out his old self, the one he started hiding years ago before the betrayal and bitterness sank in.
“You’re doing very well, Isumi-kun.”
Haruka met his gaze. He didn’t need the praise from a rival but the recognition of all his hard work felt good. “Thanks.”
Gaku clapped him on the shoulder, knocking him slightly unbalanced. “Hey, about we take some behind-the-scenes photos? The fans would love to see that. We can pull Nikaido in as well.”
“They would like that? The fans?”
“As much as fans love to see us on stage as these larger-than-life idols, they like to have a peek into our lives behind the camera. It’s another way for them to feel closer to us.”
If he was asked the same question a year ago, Haruka would have laughed in his face. “Alright, sure,” Haruka replied in a false, bored tone before following Gaku to wherever Yamato could be hiding.
***
Torao sat down in a chair just offset. It looked like he was the first one to return from their lunch break. To pass the time, he pulled out his phone and saw there was a RabbiChat notification. He opened it to see the photo Tamaki shared of them in the group chat. (The fact he was in a group chat with members of Idolish7 and Re:vale was beyond him.) How would his fans react to seeing him in a photo with them?
“You’re a pretty nice guy, Toracchi.”
“I actually like you the way you are now.”
When did this become his life? Getting along with the other groups, especially with Osaka Sougo of all people (all things considered), sure wasn’t something he expected. Certainly not after being recruited by Tsukumo and going along with his nefarious plans. Torao couldn’t remember the last time someone called him a “nice guy.” He wasn’t sure if he deserved that.
Not with the things he’s done.
His thoughts were interrupted by Tamaki flopping down in the chair next to him. “Looking forward to the rest of the day shooting, Toracchi?” he asked.
Torao locked his phone, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, yeah, I’m looking forward to eating a rat later,” he deadpanned.
“I’m glad it’s you and not me,” Tamaki said with a laugh.
Despite himself, he chuckled. The teen’s laughter was infectious.
As their laughter died down, Tamaki continued. “I meant it yesterday when I said you would have made a great Libel if you’d gotten the role.”
The comment threw Torao off as he turned his head to properly look at him and was met with a genuine expression. “You really think so?”
Tamaki nodded. “I wouldn’t have thought it when we first met, but now I can see it.”
“Well, thank you, Tamaki.”
“New doesn’t always equal good.” Yuki was only talking about the drama role, but Torao couldn’t help but think about himself. Everything he was doing now was still new and changing his perspective on things. Of how others saw him.
Torao was well accustomed to his life of privilege. It’s not something he gave much thought to until he started interacting more with the other idols. He wasn’t one to think “woe is me” and that his life was so terrible. (Not that he wished some things were different but that’s not something he’s ready to unpack just yet.)
“And so then Ryuu-aniki said -”
“Wait, hold up,” Torao said, focusing back on what Tamaki was saying. He didn’t mean to get caught up in his thoughts and ignore what Tamaki was saying. “Did you just say ‘Ryuu- aniki ’?”
“Yeah?”
The competitive fire sparked inside him. Torao was used to being the youngest brother of his family; always looking up to his older brothers but had no one looking up to him. But something about Tamaki referring to Ryuunosuke in that way pushed him to be something more. To be better.
Working with his rivals might not be bad as he initially thought. Or maybe Touma was rubbing off on him.
***
Minami stood by the exit; debating whether to stick around to go to dinner or just leave. He didn’t know why he was hanging around after filming wrapped for the day. Surely they weren’t serious about inviting him along to dinner. Right?
Then again, those guys are all too earnest and straightforward to invite him as a joke.
“Minami-kun! You’re still coming with us, right?” Ryuunosuke called out.
With a look down the hallway, Minami saw Ryuunosuke, Gaku, and Mitsuki walking his way. He could say “no” and leave. He wasn’t obligated to join them. However, he couldn’t say he wasn’t curious to see how this night would go. Not to mention he was hungry after the shoot.
“Well, you did invite me,” he replied. “And I’m waiting, am I not?”
Mitsuki pumped his fist into the air and said, “Alright, let’s eat!”
After a short trip down the street, Minami found himself in a bustling restaurant he never would have thought twice about entering on his own. A little too loud for his liking after a long day on set.
He scanned the menu, surprised to actually see all of the food everyone wanted and then some.“If a restaurant offers this wide variety, can it all be good?” he asked offhandedly.
“Don’t worry so much, Natsume,” Mitsuki teased, elbowing his side. “It’s more about the company than the quality of food.”
Minami glanced at him, not really expecting an answer. “I’ll be the judge of that,” he teased with a smirk.
“If you want any recommendations, I can share those, too,” Ryuunosuke added, missing the point of his remark.
Minami decided not to correct him as it would be a little too cruel and they were being friendly towards him. “I would like that,” he said leaning across the table to share the menu with him.
As the evening continued, so did the amount of alcohol consumed by others. The atmosphere was different from anything Minami experienced on nights out with Zool. Much looser and free. It was just what they all needed after the intense scenes they filmed.
Despite his earlier reservations, the food was quite good. Or perhaps it just tasted better with good company.
“We have to do this again sometime,” said Gaku. “That includes you too, Natsume!”
That drew a loud, agreeable cheer from the very inebriated Ryuunosuke and Mitsuki.
“I suppose so,” Minami said. He couldn’t deny that the idea of seeing more of this behavior unfold wasn’t entertaining. But he genuinely enjoyed the time spent with them.
“Admit it, you had fun with us tonight,” Mitsuki said between hiccups.
A smile pulled at Minami’s lips. “You are a rowdy bunch, that’s for sure. I’m glad you invited me.”
His tone was free of sarcasm.
***
With his hair and makeup done, Touma plopped down in a chair just off set as he waited for filming to begin. He was glad Konoe’s hairstyle closely resembled his own style and wasn’t anything too elaborate. The same went for his costume; not minding the simpler attire. He didn’t envy Haruka one bit with his costume, and headpiece, but he was a little jealous of the weapons Torao and Minami got to use.
The number of other cast members he filmed with was smaller compared to some of the others, but that was okay. Filming with Riku was great though however, Iori was still hard to pin down. The teen was very hardworking, always a professional, and was good at keeping Riku in check.
“Touma-san!” Riku dropped down beside him.
Iori was with him as well and slowly sat down beside Riku, more cautious of his costume than Riku was.
“Hey, Riku! Iori,” he greeted. “What’s up?”
“I heard from the others that they took group photos together to share as the drama aired and I thought we should do the same! I think our fans would really like it,” explained Riku. “Tamaki showed me the photo of him, Sougo-san, Yuki-san, and Torao-san took together. It turned out so good!”
“Oh, really? Tora was actually in it?” Touma never would have expected that and he had to see that.
“Nii-san showed me the photo he took as well with Yaotome-san, Tsunashi-san, and Natsume-san,” Iori added.
A grin spread across Touma’s face. “Well, we can’t let the others show us up! We should take one now before we start.”
Riku pulled out his phone. “Let’s move in a little closer,” he instructed as he held out his phone.
“Here, let me,” Touma said, offering his hand to take the phone. Once he had it, he stretched out his arm and angled it so they all fit in the frame.
He handed the phone back to Riku, who smiled at the photo. “Thank you! I’ll send it to you both as well.”
“Nanase-san, can we see you for a moment?” one of the production assistants called out.
As Riku made his way to them, Iori looked at Touma. He could tell Iori was still cautious around him with a watchful eye whenever Riku was near him. But the teen was ever the professional when it was time to rehearse and shoot their scenes. (He’d never admit it out loud but Iori still intimidated him.)
“If there’s something you want to say, just say it,” Touma said.
“I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’re part of our group for this project. It’s helping Nanase-san manage this… difficult role of his. The melancholy mindset of his character is a lot to work with, but having you around keeps his spirits up.”
Touma waved him off. “I’m not doing anything special.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Inumaru-san. Your kindness is appreciated.”
Emotions swirled in his chest. He wouldn’t call it pride but he was happy nonetheless at how far he’d come from the untrusting and cynical person he once was. And by the sound of it, the same was true for the rest of Zool.