Shoot for the Stars

Warning: OOC, general nonsense, extreme crack, awkwardness, gross inaccuracies regarding occupation(s) depicted, CHEESE

 

It's a bright sunny day with birds out and about and flowers blooming in the garden. And the first thing in the morning is being summoned to their CEO's office room. If there is one good thing about it is, so far, they have never been called for anything negative; it's usually either discussions of new projects, or simple congratulations. Doesn't make it any easier, though.

"Here you are. Good morning, both of you." And they both had blinked in confusion.

There sat their company president at his table - Saejima Kouga, the person that they thought they were supposed to meet today. And right in front of him, is one Suzumura Rei, president of a massively popular modelling company and also his old friend - perched on the edge of his table.

"Good morning to you too, but what are you doing here today?" Ryuga, though still confused, managed to recover a tad quicker than him.

"Oh, nothing. Just felt like dropping by once in a while. By the way, great job on the last comeback."

Sure enough, first win right at the start of the second week of promotion is certainly a great job. The counter is picking up much faster than before too. After almost two years, their footing is solidifying well.

"Thank you. But it's really the combined effort of everyone involved. We couldn't have made it this far without all of them." Ryuga replied in his stead while looking rather sheepish with a tinge of red on his ear tips. He wholly agrees with it, though.

"I'm sorry to rush but, what did you need us for?" Feeling a tad dragged out, he tried to steer it back to their main concern. Now back to matter at hand, their employer straightens before addressing them properly.

"There isn't much to discuss but, seeing the success of the last project, I'd like to go on with current settings. So future projects would be built up according to this base set up. Would that be fine with the two of you?"

He had to take a few seconds to process. What?

"Well, I don't really mind, but..- what about you, Jinga?" He reflexively snapped to his right hearing his name, seeing Ryuga looking right at him in mild concern.

"..Excuse me, but can't I tweak my character a bit?"

"Why?"

"He feels a bit too..-horny."

The silence that follows just adds to the sheer awkwardness he's feeling right now.

"Ah, but the fans liked it very much. The responses were overwhelmingly positive." Chimed Rei from the side.

Yes, he is strongly aware of the fans' response. It was something highly experimental for him, and equally difficult to carry. Not to mention that he also feels like digging a hole out of sheer embarrassment afterward. 

(Because unlike the more extroverted Ryuga, he's not really cut for things like this.)

"Also, it balances out Ryuga's role quite well." And that, too. Their whole opposites attract concept. Who came up with this in the first place?

 

Right, him, that's who.

 

"If you feel it's too difficult, we could tone it down a little on the next project." Kouga's calm voice cuts over his mounting internal conflict. Glancing to his right, Ryuga is still eyeing him in silence throughout their discussion.

Then, his partner's words from back when they first started came to mind.

 

"Things will be tougher from now on, and there'll be times when we won't be able to rest much. But whatever it is, I'm here with you. So just say it if you need my help, because I'd do the same with you."

 

Through thick and thin, they had survived it together ever since. And he's grateful for his presence. Though he's still noticeably awful at asking for help.

 

"Is it tough?" An honest question.

"I--yes, it is. Since it's wildly different from how I always am." Everyone who knows him in real life know that he's introverted (and socially awkward, as commented by his one childhood friend Fusa). It is difficult for him.

"Do you need help with it?"

Yes, but why is it so hard to say. Nevertheless, Ryuga waited patiently, silently encouraging him with that little smile of his. Go on, you can do it.

"..-I..do. So, if you would--"

"-Okay!" Ryuga’s reply came faster than the rest of his sentence.

 

The other two adults simply watched their antics from the side-line with soft expression.

"He's like how a certain someone used to be." Rei's light-hearted jab hit Kouga directly.

"..Shut up."

 

A clap and the previous atmosphere dissipate, replaced by a lighter mood. "Then, it's decided. And by the way, would you be interested in modelling, Ryuga?"

Heads were turned towards the one in question. "I've never thought of it. But why me, specifically?"

"Your partner might have a nervous breakdown in the middle of one so..-" Rei shrugged while wearing an apologetic expression.

Well, he does have a point.

"Would it be solo or..?"

"Having a pair is a common practice so it'll be included too." Pair? That means he'll likely be pairing with one of the in-house models. And what is this feeling?

"Unless if you outright refuse it in the contract. So, what do you think?"

"Mm, I'll..-think about it."

 

*

 

For the rest of the day, there isn't much going on beyond the regular activities (practice, monitoring, more practice, randomly doing a live stream, even more practice). And since they're currently in their resting period post-comeback promotion, there's even less things going on. Though tonight is arguably a little different from usual since they went on their separate way after work.

Which sort of implies that they almost never do; in a way, yes, that is the case. Though that is mostly because social gatherings aren't his thing (beyond his close circle of friends, and they're similarly busy most of the time), and Ryuga would rather stay home with him than leaving him going around aimlessly.

(Which also sounds like he can't really take care of himself. He can. No, it's not a lie.)

"..-So, care to explain why are you with us tonight and not back home as you usually would be?" Came Fusa's calm tone after taking a long sip of her drink.

"It sure does makes one curious; you look like you just ran away from something." Amily chimed in with a not so hidden hints of amusement.

"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Ryuga?" And that question came from the man's own close friend, Rian.

For some reason he ends up joining them instead.

"..-I did not ran from anything."

"Then, what? Do tell."

He's trying to. He'd been mulling over this since morning, but it just doesn't make any sense. Maybe he should just talk it out here. It might help.

"This morning, we got called into the office. It wasn't much, just some minor adjustments for future projects. There really wasn't any problem at all with that." The three ladies simply hum in response, listening.

"But there was something then, right? Or else you won't be looking like the world might end soon."

He looked a bit to the sides before leaning in towards the centre of their table followed by the other three doing the same.

"..Actually your president dropped by today."

"Rei-san did? Why?"

"Nothing specific. Just that he did asked Ryuga whether he might be interested in modelling."

"I can see the reason. And then? Did he say yes?"

"No, he only said that he'd consider it."

"So what does that have anything to do with..--" Before Amily could finish her sentence, the realisation dawned upon her. "-Ah, is that so."

"What-what? What is it?" She leaned in towards Fusa to whisper her discovery before doing the same with Rian on her other side. And now both of them are also wearing the same expression of epiphany.

"What? What did all of you found out?"

All three of them straighten up, looking right his way.

"So, was he asked to pair with someone?" The first question came from Amily. He vaguely feels like he's being cornered.

"Not specifically, but Suzumura-san did mention that it's a common practice."

"And he'd likely have to pair up with someone from our company, right?"

"Well, yeah, I guess."

"But you didn't like that, did you?"

Eh-?! "--Why wouldn't I-" His voice come out somewhat higher than intended at the end, only to be cut off by Fusa dropping her hands on his shoulder while levelling him with a look.

"You are jealous."

He's--

-He's what?

"And he didn't even realise it. Poor soul." Said Amily, shaking her head with an exaggerated look of sadness.

"-I am not!"

"Yes, yes you are. You don't like the idea of him working with anyone else, more so in close proximity."

He was going to say that 'no, it's not' only for the words to die out on his tongue as it goes through his head. Maybe, maybe he is. Frowning at his own train of thoughts, it slowly starts to make sense.

"..-Is that why?"

"Most likely. Well you do sort of looked like a male cat guarding his territory around Ryuga, so it's not much of a stretch." Rian casually replied in between sips.

At lost over how to reply to that, he opted to take a long sip of his own drink.

 

 

But why is he a cat?

 

*

 

"So, where did you go off to?" Ryuga's curious question distracts him from his thoughts.

"The cafe by the train station, with the girls."

"Aah. Eaten yet?" Usually it'll come off strange to be asking someone who just returned from a cafe that question, but he does anyway. They've been living together long enough to learn each other's habits.

"No, not really."

"Then let's eat first."

 

Dinner was calm as always; with just the two of them around, there's never that much noise to begin with. Even back then during the first half a year with their manager living together with them they were still relatively calm. And he's grateful for that.

 

"So, what did you discuss with them?" Pausing on his tea, he faced Ryuga who's looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

Ah, that. No, there's no way he can tell him about that. At least not now. Exactly how is he supposed to tell Ryuga that he doesn't want him to accept the offer because he's jealous over the prospect of him working with someone else.

"-Uh, nothing important. Just...stuffs."

"..Stuffs?" And now he's wearing that confused look with his brows knitted and just..-cute.

Well, damn.

"..Yeah. Stuffs."

"O-kay.." He's definitely not convinced. He continues to loudly sip his tea to keep his rampant thoughts at bay.

Silence falls between the two of them with the sound of the wall clock ticking filling in the space. For some reason he can feel the nervousness building with each tick.

"..Hey--"

"-Yes?" His respond came out faster than he meant it to, startling Ryuga quite a bit, though he recovers just as fast.

"..-You're free this weekend?"

"So far I still have nothing in the weekend. Why?"

"Oh, nothing, just thinking that maybe we could go somewhere together..-" Oh, going out together sounds nice.

It sounds like a date.

Is he-? Ah, but they do go out together every now and then. It's nothing strange.

So, he tried to justify things but the tip of Ryuga's ears are noticeably red and now he can't focus anymore.

"..-That sounds great. Let's go." The responding smile effectively overrode his thought process altogether. He likes it. Very much.

Ah, so bright.

 

*

 

The first thing that crossed his mind once he opens his eyes is 'date with Ryuga on weekends' and that basically occupied his mind for the rest of the day. Sorry to whoever that might want to start a conversation with him in this state, he literally cannot hear you over that.

He more or less drifted around the place purely relying on his muscle memory to get things done. Things doesn't feel quite real today.

"Looks like you're off to a really faraway place today." Blinking; he is brought back to present location by the sudden remark, now facing Raiga who apparently has materialised out of thin air right opposite to him.

"Huh, where did you come from?" To which the other man replied with a snicker.

"I've been sitting here for at least 15 minutes already. What's occupying you so much?"

"-I have a date with Ryuga this weekend."

Raiga almost snorted his drink after he blurted that out. "Eh? Seriously?"

"Probably."

"What do you mean 'probably'?

"I mean, he didn't exactly said that it's a date, but it kind of sounds like a date.."

"You want it to be one?"

Well, yes, he does.

Okay, yeah, it's official. He's already on the floor.

"..Yes." In a tiny voice. He'd like to shout it out but he can't help having a teeny tiny doubt at the back of his head - why would Ryuga date him of all people? Hence.

"Why won't Ryuga date you?" Lost in thoughts, it completely missed him that he just spoken said thoughts out loud.

"For various reasons…" He can list out at least ten, maybe there's more. The only reason he didn't outright mention it is because he can hear Ryuga at the corner of his mind telling him to stop discrediting himself.

(One of people's biggest misconception of him is about his self-confidence. Never known her.)

"Hmm. Well, if you don't know the reason then why not ask him yourself?"

Ask him? Easier said than done. Knowing him he'd probably end up stumbling on his own words.

"I'll try."

And so, for the rest of the day, his mind cycled through that one matter ad infinitum.

 

*

 

The clock is slowly ticking on the wall. It is now three in the afternoon and he's currently holed up in the company's studio for lack of better things to do. Ryuga is still out practicing (he sure is diligent). He very much wants to go out and join but he has a feeling he won't be able to concentrate well.

Idly playing around with a pen he looked back down to the open notebook page on the desk. Broken phrases; potential song lyrics perhaps? Though it's really just how he felt deep inside, about the other man.

Two years passed in a flash. It's a long time, but at the same time it's also not. And he's still not quite sure how he managed to get here. The audition was literally on a whim (and Fusa urging him to just try).

Being the centre of attention is hard.

Then Ryuga happened. It wasn't as hard after that.

 

"-..Hey, are you..okay?" He blinked towards the other man over the sudden greeting.

"I'm..fine." This is awfully awkward, but he can tell the other meant good. He couldn't really bring himself to tell the other to leave him alone so he just sat there staring at the man who is now starting to fidget.

"Then, can I join you here?" The man's words are hesitant with a hopeful hint. He slowly nods.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you but the others are a bit..-" Half a shrug and a grimace followed. He gets that. Didn't think there's someone else who feels the same too.

"..I feel that too. They can get rather overwhelming." Maybe he should just call it quit. No good stressing himself out. But then what? What else can he do? "Ever thought of quitting?" The other looked back in deep contemplation before turning away.

"I did, a bit. But if I stop here, I don't have anything else I can do. And I've promised mom to make it work."

"You did?"

"Mm. It's just the two of us back home so I promised her to start working so she doesn’t have to anymore."

"What about your dad?" The man shakes his head in return.

"Don't have one. He died before I was born so I've never known him." A momentary pause falls before the other turns his way. "What about you?"

Ah, what to say? Hearing that, his problems now barely feels like one.

"..I don't really know why. I don't really have much things else I can do too, and I honestly doesn't feel like taking after dad's company."

"Did you fight with your dad?" He's slightly surprised at the genuine concern he's getting from the other. It was new.

"I didn't but..-kind off couldn't really face him, somewhere around that."

"So, what do you want to do?"

What, eh? He wonders. Stop and run back home? Or stay and makes it work somehow?

"I..want to at least make something out of this. I don't know how I'm going to do it but I don't want to just run away."

"Then, how about we work together? It won't feel as difficult if we do it that way." The smile that he got was the softest he'd ever seen in a stranger, and he somehow feels like he can trust the other's words. He feels like he can do it.

 

And they have been together ever since. Things only gradually becomes harder afterward, but it sure doesn't feel as bad with Ryuga's support. Didn't expect they would end up debuting together as a unit a year later.

Unknowingly, the phrases written on the paper had increased; absentmindedly written out while he was lost reminiscing the past. It's still very rough and scattered, but he could try working on it more. It might just turn out well.

"You can do it. Just belief in yourself a bit more."

Smiling to himself, how many times has he heard that? Sometimes he feels sorry for Ryuga for having to put up with him, but he's even more thankful that the other stayed.

Now how should he compose the melody?

Then a little tune came to mind - a nameless, random tune Ryuga often hums whenever he's working around the house.

Yes. That'll fit perfectly. It'll be a little different than their usual songs. It's okay, because it'll be something that they made together.

 

*

 

The passage of time doesn't feel quite real; it both feels too quick and too slow at the same time. And suddenly it's already the end of week.

He still doesn’t know what to say.

Autumn is creeping in and it's gradually getting colder nowadays.

Glancing to his right, he eyes his partner in silence. As it turns out, Ryuga doesn't have much of a plan either, he simply suggested it because he felt like it then. But that's how the other has always been, and he doesn't mind. Ryuga is the least selfish person he ever come across, so it's fine for him to be so from time to time.

Probably having felt his gaze, the other turned towards him.

"What's wrong?"

What's wrong? Nothing at all. But he needs - want to know. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

"What do you like about me?" The question caught Ryuga off guard, now staring at him wide eyed. Then he broke the eye contact.

"I...wonder. I've never really thought if it.." The other man is clearly flustered by that. He was going to pull it back when the other speak up again.

"I like how nice you are, even when it's obvious you're uncomfortable. Like that time when we were still trainees; you were uncomfortable then, but you still let me stay with you." Oh, so he did notice that. Of course, he would. But he didn't regret his decision.

"You're gentle and warm, and it's comfortable to be with you. I don't have that many friends myself, and they're mostly away, so I'm always thankful that you're with me." The feeling is mutual.

A slight pause follows and he didn't miss the equally slight change in demeanour.

"-I like how good you look on stage. It's like seeing a part you usually kept hidden comes out to the front, and I couldn't take my eyes off you. It's like I'm being drawn in."

Oh, and he thought he was the only one. Now Ryuga is full on blushing while staring hard at his hands, like he just admitted to a secret he had been holding for so long.

And he had been feeling a little guilty whenever he got distracted in practice. You look so beautiful when you dance.

Slowly Ryuga turns back to him, looking at him with that soft smile that he had come to love so much.

"I like you because you're you."

He's sure he is blushing hard himself or else his face won't feel this warm. This is simply overwhelming. It's blinding but he doesn't want to cover his eyes. Let it be burned into his memories.

A hand reached out to take his own, squeezing lightly.

"So, I hope you'd be more confident with yourself. It's okay if it's tough, I'll be here with you." Always. It wasn't said, but he could hear it, feel it in his heart. He couldn't find the words to say so he opted to turn his hand in the other's grip, lacing their fingers together instead. He doesn’t know what else to say that could really describe what he's feeling at the moment.

Thank you.

They sat like that in comfortable silence; leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. He finally understood what he feels now, and somehow, he can tell that the other also feels the same.

"Hey, Ryuga -"

"What is it?"

"..-I'm writing a new song." The other responds with mild surprise. "I'm not sure how well it'll turn out but I'm hoping to include it in the next album."

"Really? That's great!"

He gave the grip a little squeeze, alerting the other man.

"When I'm done, I want you to be the first one to listen." He catches the other's gaze at the end. He wanted to convey his feelings, but he's not good enough with his words to do so directly. So instead, he will put all of them into the song because that is the only way he knows.

He thought it was impossible for the smile to be any softer than it already is. So, this is how it feels.

 

"I'll be waiting for it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

* Bonus *

 

Hearing that made him feels happy, but something still hasn’t settled down yet. And now he’s fidgeting quite a bit as he tried to put it into words.

“..About my stage persona..thing..-“

“Hm? What about it?”

“Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable? Like, you know..-“ it’s so embarrassing he couldn’t bring himself to make an eye contact with the other man, more so now that he had gone completely silent. Ah, I shouldn’t have asked that-!

“..-Uh, about that. Mm, actually..--“

 

“—I like it, very much.”

Eh?! He snapped right back towards the other out of sheer shock, catching said man with eyes averted and partially trying to cover his red face with his hand.

“-Ah how to say it..- I like it when you’re all dangerous and domineering like that..-So, yeah..”

He vaguely felt like his brain crashed following that rather TMI moment. He probably doesn’t need to know that much about that particular thing. But, yeah.

He also doesn’t know what happened afterward but he felt like he heard Ryuga frantically calling his name.