[fic] All Around (con't)
continued from here
DECEMBER 16
Yamapi slipped outside to lie in wait as soon as they broke for mid-morning snack. When Kamenashi reappeared from the meeting room to the hallway, smiling back the way he'd come, Yamapi cornered him.
"A minute of your time," he said, making it clear it was not a request.
Kamenashi knew better than to protest.
Yamapi watched him silently for a minute. Kamenashi met his gaze steadily. From the set of his mouth, he didn't seem inclined to yield to anyone soon.
"Jin told me what happened after the summit," Yamapi said after a minute.
Kamenashi's eyes widened. "Oh," he said. "Oh. I apologize for my presumption - "
"No," Yamapi interrupted. "No. That's not it. You're - why are you serving us snacks, Kamenashi?"
Kamenashi said, with a certain amount of wariness, "I needed a job."
"Well," Yamapi said bluntly, "you're wasted on this one. Starting today you're on Yokoyama's advisory committee on public relations."
Kamenashi's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious."
"It's true that I have my moments," Yamapi agreed. "But right now I am."
"But - " Kamenashi said, and glanced involuntarily at the meeting room's closed door.
Yamapi raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Kamenashi's expression stiffened. "Nothing," he said. "This is - more of an honor than I have any right to expect."
"Look," Yamapi said, holding his gaze. "I'm not just doing this for - political reasons. You're smart, you're a good mediator, it's clear you've got an excellent grasp of the issues. You're wasted as a glorified waiter. I'm not kidding."
Kamenashi dropped his eyes. "Thank you," he said, with effort. "I'm sorry. I'm not very good with praise."
Yamapi clapped him on the shoulder. "You know we need all the help we can get. First meeting's in prep room A in half an hour. Do your best."
"I will," Kamenashi answered, and turned on his heel. Yamapi watched him until he'd reached the end of the hall. Not once did he look back.
*
The taxi was waiting.
"Well," Jun said, and stopped. His voice was going to crack. "I guess this is it."
Jun wasn't sure if he'd ever seen Aiba (Masaki, came the whisper) without a smile on his face. "Have a safe flight," he said. His voice was subdued.
"Tell Shibata-san and the rest of the crew I said goodbye," Jun said, even though he'd told them all in person the day before. "And that I appreciate all they did for me."
"Okay." Aiba mustered a smile, artificially bright, that was even worse. "Maybe we'll see each other again some time."
"Yeah," said Jun. "Maybe so."
They stood silent under the blazing sun, looking at each other.
Jun had to get out of there. He swallowed. "I better go." He made a show of reaching down to sling his bag over his shoulder, so he wouldn't have to meet Aiba's eyes, and added, "Thanks. For everything."
"'Bye," Aiba - Masaki - said softly.
Jun risked one last glance. It was a mistake. "Goodbye," Jun scraped out, and turned away.
The car's metal door was searing hot from the sun; that was why Jun fumbled with the handle. Safely inside, he said, "Guam International Airport, please," and was amazed at the steadiness of his voice. The car lurched forward and rumbled down the gravel driveway. Jun looked steadfastly out the window, watching palm trees blur past until they reached the main road, and then he leaned back against the seat and covered his face with his hands.
DECEMBER 19
"I really believe in the power of music, you know?"
"Uh-huh."
"And everyone likes different types of music, and we should respect their different tastes, because each is equally valid."
"Uh-huh."
"You can't tell anyone I said this. "
"Uh-huh."
"Come on. Lean in." Rustles, followed by a whisper. "If I hear Takki & Tsubasa's Christmas single one more time I'm going to lose it - snap - right here in the middle of Toontown."
Silence. Then -
"...Subaru, are you laughing?"
"No."
"Yes, you are!"
"Maybe."
"You are, you are, you are!"
"It's just - I used to know Takizawa. Imai, too."
"What? Really? How?"
"...Promise never to repeat this?"
"I promise."
"I used to be a Johnny's Junior."
"Subaru. You were not."
"Cross my heart."
"But - but you're so - "
"Weird-looking?"
"Shibutani Subaru, don't say that! I was going to say artistic."
"It's kind of a long story."
More rustling. "We've got ten minutes of break left..."
"...well. If you really want to know. Okay, uh, back when I was in junior high Johnny's was trying something new, putting together some units from Kansai, there was a company branch down in Osaka and everything. But after I got in they lost interest, I guess, and there weren't many offers coming, so I moved to Tokyo for a while. That's when I got to know Takizawa and Imai. For a while we were pretty good friends, even... But, um, it didn't work out very well. I never got to do my own music either. So I quit and moved back to Osaka. It wasn't really... the happiest period of my life."
Patient silence.
"Uh, sorry, what was I saying? Right. Well, I got over it, and focused on music full-time, and here I am, dressed up as Mickey Mouse. I guess it's not that far off from Johnny's after all."
Delighted laughter. "Only the best undiscovered musicians work as Mickey Mouse. I know it."
"...You know, I've never really - told anyone. About that."
"Subaru." A pause, and a soft smile. "Thank you."
DECEMBER 21
For the third night in a row, the light in the meeting room was still on when Yamapi got ready to go home.
He knocked, and when there was no answer, poked his head around the door. "Hey," he said. "You're up late. You feeling okay?"
Jin was slumped in his oversize chair, apparently lost in thought. Several folders lay unopened on the table. "Hm?" he said, glancing up at Yamapi. "Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. Haven't been sleeping enough or something. Dunno."
Yamapi frowned. He could see the circles under Jin's eyes from all the way across the room. "You'd better fix that soon, then. Go ahead and crash, the folders will wait."
"Nah, I've got - " Jin waved vaguely at the otherwise empty table. "Stuff to think about."
Jin never had stuff to think about. Or at least, he never admitted it. Yamapi's brow furrowed. "Do you need a vacation?"
"What, already?" Jin dredged up a smile. "It's only December. You told me I'd get a vacation in May, if I was lucky."
"Yes, but you've been - " Yamapi paused, inexplicably hesitant to phrase his thoughts in the usual manner.
"Actually working?" Jin said, with a grin that at last had real feeling behind it. "It must be a Christmas miracle."
Yamapi snorted. "You've been talking to the Americans again, haven't you." He ran a hand through his hair. "Seriously. Go sleep." Jin nodded. "And don't even think of coming in here on Christmas," Yamapi added for good measure.
Another grin crept across Jin's face, genuine and sly. "You never thought you'd be telling me that, did you?" he said mischievously. Yamapi snorted again, and made a rude gesture. Jin's laugh was all too pleased with itself. Yamapi tossed off a salute and let the door fall closed with a gentle snick.
He stood in the hallway for a minute, thinking. Then he turned and strode down the hall, in the opposite direction of the exit.
DECEMBER 22
"Can it hurry? I'm at work," Jun lied into the phone. "I've only got a few minutes."
"Make a few more," Ninomiya said brusquely on the other end of the line. "We haven't seen your stupid face since you got home."
Jun paced moodily around the kitchen. "It's the busy season. I've had lots of work. I'm lucky I could relax before the rush started." The words tasted bitter.
"You don't sound relaxed, Matsumoto."
"Then you're listening wrong," Jun snapped, and shoved an open drawer closed with unnecessary force.
Nino paused. "Anything happen that you want to talk about?"
"No," Jun said shortly. "There were beaches. It was warm. I got a sunburn. I came home."
"Sure?" Nino pressed.
"Yes," Jun bit out. "I have to get to work now. Tell Satoshi I said hi." He disconnected before he could hear Nino's reply.
In the ensuing silence, he looked around his sleek white apartment.
It was awfully quiet.
CHRISTMAS EVE
"...and now, here to perform December's number one hit single, Takki and Tsubasa! Let's have a round..."
The tinny ringtone cut through the blare of Nakamaru's rickety old television set. He wiped one hand clean of fried chicken grease and fished his phone from his pocket, uncrossing his legs under the kotatsu as he did so.
"Hello?"
"Yuichi? That you?"
Nakamaru's jaw dropped. "Koki? What are you doing? What time is it?"
"Yuichi, man, you'll never guess where I am!"
A wave of dread washed over him. "In jail."
A burst of staticky laughter. "Backstage! Backstage with Cube!"
"...What?"
"We fucking freestyled together, Yuichi! Can you believe it? He wants my demo tape! Oh man, there's like champagne coming out of the faucets, it's unbelievable - what? Shit, Yuichi, I gotta go, call you later - " The line went dead.
Nakamaru stared at the phone in his hand.
*
It had been dark for several hours by the time Kame tapped out the last line of the report and sat back in front of his laptop with a sigh. Nine o'clock on Christmas Eve and he was alone in the office writing glorified summaries. Glamorous, Kamenashi.
But there was no way he could have turned it down; Yokoyama had asked him specially, when he'd only been on the team for a week. Besides - Kame heaved a sigh and got up to collect the printout - it wasn't like he had any special plans.
He checked his watch. When he'd mentioned his Christmas overtime to Tegoshi, the only one of his university kouhai with whom he kept in touch, Tegoshi had immediately invited him to a party, something about "fun" and "introductions" and "good for you". Kame hadn't been in the mood - he still wasn't in the mood - but there was something about the way Tegoshi asked for things that made it nearly impossibly to say no. In the end, he'd agreed.
Kame rounded the corner, deep in self-pity, and smacked directly into something warm and solid.
Papers went flying. Kame, mortified, immediately dropped to his knees and scrabbled for the fluttering pages. "Sorry, I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking - "
"Kame," said Jin.
Kame's head shot up.
Jin's mouth was half open. His dark eyes were wide.
"Oh," Kame said faintly. "Hi."
"You're still here," said Jin. He sounded confused.
Kame got to his feet slowly and brushed invisible specks from his trousers. "Overtime," he said. "What - what are you doing here?" He winced the moment the words came out of his mouth. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. I mean, you can go wherever you like. Um." He floundered, and shut up.
Jin shrugged. He looked - uneasy. Kame had never seen him look uneasy. "Pi told me if I was going to mope all evening I should at least go get Yoko's latest report and pretend to do something useful so he could go have fun," he said.
"Oh," Kame said, as the sense of surreality heightened. "That's mine. I mean. I've got it. Here." He held out the report.
Jin looked from the papers to Kame and back. "You're working for Yoko?"
Kame blinked. "Yes. Yamashita-san reassigned me right after the summit. You didn't know?"
Jin shook his head.
"Oh," said Kame. "I thought maybe - " He paused. Jin's expression was nothing but curious. He said in a rush, "I thought maybe, after the thing at the summit, you wanted me out of the way."
Jin was still shaking his head again, and something that looked like a smile was creeping across his face. "I thought you must have gotten fed up and tried to quit."
Kame cleared his throat. "No," he said. "Not at all. I, um, I would have stayed. If I could."
"But you'll be good at this, I can tell," said Jin. "You're smart. You can do a lot more than bring people snacks. Though you were very good at that, too," he added.
"I liked talking with you," Kame said to his feet.
There was a long silence.
"Really?" Jin said, and either Kame's wishful thinking was affecting his hearing, or there was a hopeful note in Jin's voice.
He glanced up. Jin was looking at him with steady brown eyes. The small smile on his face wasn't like any of the ones Kame had seen before.
"Really," Kame said, and offered a shy smile in return.
*
"Be there," Ninomiya had said, "or I'll tell Satoshi you're depressed." He really needed some new threats. Of course, Jun thought as he opened the door to their apartment, it was possible he didn't bother with new ones because the old ones worked so well.
A burst of chatter assaulted him. In the background, that godawful single with the off-key girls' choir played over the stereo; someone was laughing, high-pitched. Jun winced.
The sooner he got inside and presented himself to his (unscrupulous, manipulative) host, the sooner he could go home and get really, really drunk. Jun sighed, and went into the apartment.
Jun hadn't realized a Tokyo apartment could physically hold that many people. People overflowed from the living room to the kitchen to the hall; there was no more than a few square inches of space in any given area. Glasses chinked. Voices buzzed. Jun could make out Sho, in danger of braining the girl behind him with the next sweep of his arm, and Nishikido Ryo gulping down wine like it was water. Nino was nowhere to be seen.
Jun closed his eyes briefly. Then he squared his shoulders and entered the fray.
*
The halls of the small office building were dark and empty. The Music Station special had just wrapped down the street; they had agreed to wait for their manager in his office while he fetched the car to take them to the next radio station.
"So," Takki said, breaking the silence. "Got a hot Christmas date?"
Tsubasa did not have a hot Christmas date. Tsubasa did not have any kind of Christmas date. He pretended to ignore the question.
Takki read the silence perfectly and started to laugh. "Oh man, seriously? Not even on Christmas? What kind of a pop star are you?"
"One without venereal diseases," Tsubasa shot back, vindictively pleased to see Takki's nostrils flare. Takki hated his own tell-tale habit; when they were kids their fellow juniors had teased him mercilessly for it, before he hit puberty and became Japan's number one man overnight.
"Well," Takki rallied, "don't worry about it. I understand. There are lots of expectations on Christmas, you know, and you want your first time to be special - " Here he dissolved into snickers at his own wit. Tsubasa let out an irritated huff and stalked over to the window. Some Christmas, alone in an empty office building with the one and only Takizawa Hideaki. He glared at the deserted white street as if it was to blame for his miserable life.
Then he blinked.
"Hey," he said. "It's snowing."
*
"Um, si - I mean Jin, I don't know if this is such a good idea," Kame said.
"Come on," Jin coaxed. "You told your friends you'd be there, right?"
"Yes, but - I only know one of them well and I'm sure no one would mind - and I'd rather - " He stopped and flushed.
Jin put on his best innocent expression and said, "Keep going."
"Anyway," Kame said firmly, "I don't think this is very safe."
Jin scoffed. "Come on, do you really think I'd be in serious danger? I don't have any political rivals, practically all of the Diet wants me to stay in office so they can seize the real power for themselves. They think. " He showed teeth. "And that's where Pi and Ryo and Shige and Yoko are waiting."
"But - " Kame stopped. He said, "Waiting?"
"Yamapi and Ryo wouldn't let them undercut us, obviously," said Jin. "What would be the point of being in office?"
"Do you mean to say," Kame said slowly, "this is all... on purpose?"
"Of course," Jin said, puzzled. "That's always been the plan. Didn't I mention this once? I'm the good looks and charm, they're the brains and muscle. It's like that saying, you know, two is better than one? Times two." He paused to calculate. "And a half."
Kame looked poleaxed.
"Soft power and hard power," Jin added, just to see Kame's eyes cross adorably. "Come on, we're going to be late for your party."
*
Inoue had collared Jun and interrogated him within an inch of his life about the new Yohji Yamamoto line. Eventually he had to claim ignorance - a blow his pride wouldn't have countenanced any other day - and slither away under pretext of fetching more wine.
Jun made a face. It wasn't even very good wine. But there was a reward waiting: as he edged his way away from the table, mulling darkly on the dangers of imminent suffocation, the crowd parted in front of him and there, at long last, was Ninomiya.
"Matsumoto," Nino said. "What kept you?"
Jun made an inarticulate sound of frustration. "I was looking for you. In all these people. For the last hour."
"How flattering," said Nino. "Here I am."
Words failed Jun. He took a deep breath and moved on. "So. I'm here. I'm talking. Are you happy."
Nino peered at him. "Have you been eating? Because it doesn't look like you have, and if there was a repeat of the White Day Incident - "
"There is not going to be a repeat of the White Day Incident," Jun said, glaring. "I keep telling you, I've been busy." Nino kept looking at him, like he knew exactly what was going on inside Jun's head, and suddenly, Jun didn't think he could handle being around someone who knew him so well. "Can I just - go home now?" he said quietly.
Nino's mouth twisted at the corners, like it did when he didn't want to get all emotional. "Yeah," he said. "Okay. Come say hi to Satoshi and act cheerful, and we'll call it even."
As he turned to shoulder his way through the crowd, a lull fell on the room, so that the sound of the door opening and closing was clearly audible.
Nino stopped still. Jun could practically see his nose quiver. "Just a minute," he said to Jun, and then, "Come with me." Before Jun know what was happening, Nino had grabbed his arm and was pulling him through the crowd.
Conversation sprang up anew. Jun stumbled and bumped into someone; only quick reflexes saved him from a splash of red wine on his sleeve. "Sorry - " he said, or tried to say, before Nino tugged him toward the entrance. Nino twisted like an eel; the crowd parted and Jun could see -
"There you are!" said a voice Jun would have known blindfolded. "Sorry I'm late, guess what? It's snowing! Ni - "
He stopped short. Snowflakes dusted his hair. His eyes were very wide.
"Masaki," Jun said, heart in his throat.
Aiba's smile was blinding. "Jun!"
*
The park was closed. Their costumes had been turned in for the last time. He'd never, luck willing, have to wear a giant stuffed mouse head again.
"Well," Subaru said, shoving his heads in his pockets.
"Well," Yasu repeated, a teasing glint in his eye. Subaru flushed.
Yasu relented, laughing quietly, and said, "I'm glad I got to work with you. It was fun."
"Yeah," Subaru said. "Me, too."
Neither of them made a move to leave.
Was Subaru the only one who felt awkward? Maybe he should say something. Would Yasu take it the wrong way if he asked for his email -
"So," Yasu said, interrupting Subaru's thoughts. "Where are you headed now?"
"Oh. Just home." Inwardly, he flinched. "There's this song I'm working on...
Yasu was grinning. "What," he teased gently, "not off on a Christmas date?"
Despite the snow, Subaru's cheeks just wouldn't cool. "No," he managed. "I don't have one."
Yasu's smile turned mischievous. Subaru's heart turned over.
"Would you like one?"
*
They were half-hidden in a corner behind the sofa, miraculously uncrowded.
"How did you get here?" Jun murmured in a low voice. One of his hands was resting on Masaki's hip. He felt no need to remove it.
"I flew?" Masaki said questioningly.
Jun had a niggling feeling his expression was embarrassingly fond. He didn't even want to change it. God, he had it bad. Instead, he said, "I mean here, right now - how did you...?"
"Oh," Masaki said in tones of enlightment. "Oh-chan and Nino are my friends, of course! Sho-chan introduced me - we're on the same channel, you know? - actually he was on the show once - " He was still talking but Jun had stopped listening at the word "Nino". A cold hand clutched his gut. It couldn't be. He scanned the room with narrowed eyes.
As if sensing Jun's gaze, Nino turned his head. Their eyes met.
Nino gave him the evilest grin Jun had ever seen on the face of a human being.
"Jun?" Masaki said curiously.
With a look promising dire retribution, Jun tore his gaze away. "Sorry," he said. "What was that?" He moved forward so his arm was curved around Masaki's waist. Maybe retribution wouldn't be so dire after all. It was awfully hard to feel angry about the means when the results were so enviable. "The show?"
"Right," Masaki said, beaming. "Do you like tigers? I bet you would! See, for the next episode - "
*
"It's not too late to turn around," Kame fretted as they got out of the cab. "Look, the snow's starting to come down hard."
"It's just a little snow," Jin said airily. "The worst that happens is the cabs stop running and we have to spend the night with your friends. I'm sure they wouldn't mind, would they?"
"I said I barely know them," Kame said, worry lines standing out on his face. He was too young for worry lines. Jin would have to fix that. "One of my kouhai from university invited me, he knew I was feeling kind of, um, down about Christmas - " Jin watched curiously as Kame's face flushed again " - and he said it would be a good way to - Jin?"
Jin had lost track of the content of Kame's words some time ago. He reached over to brush the snow off Kame's hair. Kame reddened even further. "See," Jin said. "It'll be fine. Come on, let's go inside."
They heard the noise from the apartment halfway down the hall. "3104?" Jin said, eyeing the door. "You're sure?"
"I don't understand," Kame said, frowning, as he glanced from the paper in his hand to the door and back. "I thought he said it was going to be a small gathering. Maybe we should wait - Jin?"
Jin was already opening the door.
The entryway was overflowing with coats and umbrellas. Jin slid off his shoes and gingerly picked his way toward the main entrance, careful not to step in any of the puddles of half-melted snow. A hand clutched at his sleeve. "Jin," Kame's voice said in his ear as Jin made his way inside, "wait - "
The wall-to-wall crowd brought them to a halt.
No one seemed to notice their arrival, absorbed in their own conversations; as they stood there the noise of conversation swelled and drowned out the faint sounds of the stereo playing in the background. Jin took a minute to absorb the assembly, letting his eyes wander slowly over each guest. Half the faces were familiar throughout Japan: musicians, actors, a model or two. As for the other half -
A familiar profile caught Jin's eye and he thought his heart was going to stop.
Yamapi had just begun to turn toward the door when a disbelieving voice near Jin said, "Prime Minister?"
He knew that face, too. It was one of the broadcasters, he was sure, only he couldn't quite remember - the man was gaping like a fish and suddenly Jin remembered. Sakurai. From NTV. Right.
It was at that moment Jin realized utter silence had fallen.
"Oh my god," said Sakurai.
There was a quiet panicky noise from Kame's general vicinity.
The silence stretched. Every eye was on them.
Faced with an attentive crowd, Jin did what he always did. He smiled.
"Nice to meet you," he said. "Merry Christmas!"
*
"Still snowing," Takki reported from the window.
Tsubasa slumped on the green room couch. "He's not coming back any time soon, huh."
"Nope." Takki paced restlessly across the room and flopped in one of the folding chairs.
"Think he got in an accident?"
"Dunno."
They stared at each other.
"I know where he keeps the whiskey," said Takki.
*
They loved him. Of course they did; everyone loved Jin when he wanted them to. That was why he and Yamapi were a team. Yamapi watched Jin say something, grinning so that his eyes creased, that made the little group he was talking to burst into laughter, and was hard pressed to repress an smile.
"It must be difficult balancing such a demanding public office with private life," said a voice at Yamapi's elbow.
Yamapi watched Kamenashi station himself at an angle just off to Jin's side, chatting politely with an older actress and ever so subtly guiding the flow of approaching guests. "Jin's pretty good at that," he said. "He's been my best friend as long as I can remember. Besides, it's in our party name - if our own party leader wasn't happy, we'd have a pretty worthless message."
"I meant you, Yamashita-san."
Yamapi turned.
A boy with the smile of an angel stood next to him.
"My name's Tegoshi," the boy said. "Can I get you a drink?"
*
It was some time before they could make their escape. The streets were empty, and the only sign of life two pairs of footprints in the fresh snow.
"All right," Jin said. "You might have been right. But," he hastened to add, "it turned out fine! I thought it was fun."
"Next time," Kame said, "next time you try to talk me out of my better instincts - " He stopped.
There was a little grin on Jin's face. A snowflake landed on one high cheekbone. "Next time?" Jin said inquiringly.
The words died in Kame's mouth. "Only you," Kame said, shaking his head. "You know that, right?"
"Thank you," Jin said, beaming.
"I'm still not letting you talk your way into everything," Kame warned.
Jin hummed to himself.
They walked another block in silence until, approaching a circle of lamplight, Jin slowed to a stop. "Kame," he said.
Fluffy white flakes dotted his dark hair, and his bangs were falling in his eyes. Kame's pulse sped up.
"Thanks," said Jin softly. "For bringing me along."
Kame's heartbeat was pounding in his ears. "Only because it's Christmas," he said, mouth dry.
Jin took another step forward. He wasn't smiling now. The moment seemed to stretch to eternity.
Before Kame was fully aware of what he was doing, his hand shot up, fisted itself in Jin's coat, and tugged Jin down until his mouth met Kame's.
"Merry Christmas," he murmured when they parted, as Jin's delighted laughter rang in his ears.
*
"Hey," said Takki, as they lay side-by-side on the floor passing the bottle back and forth, "remember that time when we were juniors and we got in trouble for skipping rehearsal? And they were going to make us stay late and practice, so instead we decided we were going to run away and start our own company?"
Tsubasa clapped a hand over his mouth, not quickly enough to muffle a snort of laughter. "And they didn't find us for three hours because we were hiding in the janitor's closet with all the discarded Valentine's chocolate from the mail room."
"I was sick for two days," Takki said reminiscently. He took a drink.
Some inexplicable urge - possibly the alcohol - made Tsubasa say, "Sorry you're missing your date."
"Actually," said Takki. He coughed. "I don't really. Have plans."
It was definitely the alcohol. Tsubasa made an encouraging noise.
"Girls don't really like it if you tell them you can't meet until midnight on Christmas. And we had a heavy schedule today and..." Takki paused. "Honestly? I just wanted to get some rest."
Tsubasa nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. That's, like." He looked at the ceiling. "The price of success."
"Yeah," Takki agreed, and took another drink.
They lay in companionable silence for several more minutes.
"Hey," Tsubasa heard Takki say. Takki's fist knocked against his shoulder with a soft thump. "We've done pretty good."
"Yeah," Tsubasa said.
Takki cleared his throat. "I'm, you know. Glad it was you."
Tsubasa felt a tendril of warmth uncurl in the vicinity of his stomach.
"Yeah," he said. "Me, too."
*
Outside, the snow continued to fall.
DECEMBER 16
Yamapi slipped outside to lie in wait as soon as they broke for mid-morning snack. When Kamenashi reappeared from the meeting room to the hallway, smiling back the way he'd come, Yamapi cornered him.
"A minute of your time," he said, making it clear it was not a request.
Kamenashi knew better than to protest.
Yamapi watched him silently for a minute. Kamenashi met his gaze steadily. From the set of his mouth, he didn't seem inclined to yield to anyone soon.
"Jin told me what happened after the summit," Yamapi said after a minute.
Kamenashi's eyes widened. "Oh," he said. "Oh. I apologize for my presumption - "
"No," Yamapi interrupted. "No. That's not it. You're - why are you serving us snacks, Kamenashi?"
Kamenashi said, with a certain amount of wariness, "I needed a job."
"Well," Yamapi said bluntly, "you're wasted on this one. Starting today you're on Yokoyama's advisory committee on public relations."
Kamenashi's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious."
"It's true that I have my moments," Yamapi agreed. "But right now I am."
"But - " Kamenashi said, and glanced involuntarily at the meeting room's closed door.
Yamapi raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Kamenashi's expression stiffened. "Nothing," he said. "This is - more of an honor than I have any right to expect."
"Look," Yamapi said, holding his gaze. "I'm not just doing this for - political reasons. You're smart, you're a good mediator, it's clear you've got an excellent grasp of the issues. You're wasted as a glorified waiter. I'm not kidding."
Kamenashi dropped his eyes. "Thank you," he said, with effort. "I'm sorry. I'm not very good with praise."
Yamapi clapped him on the shoulder. "You know we need all the help we can get. First meeting's in prep room A in half an hour. Do your best."
"I will," Kamenashi answered, and turned on his heel. Yamapi watched him until he'd reached the end of the hall. Not once did he look back.
*
The taxi was waiting.
"Well," Jun said, and stopped. His voice was going to crack. "I guess this is it."
Jun wasn't sure if he'd ever seen Aiba (Masaki, came the whisper) without a smile on his face. "Have a safe flight," he said. His voice was subdued.
"Tell Shibata-san and the rest of the crew I said goodbye," Jun said, even though he'd told them all in person the day before. "And that I appreciate all they did for me."
"Okay." Aiba mustered a smile, artificially bright, that was even worse. "Maybe we'll see each other again some time."
"Yeah," said Jun. "Maybe so."
They stood silent under the blazing sun, looking at each other.
Jun had to get out of there. He swallowed. "I better go." He made a show of reaching down to sling his bag over his shoulder, so he wouldn't have to meet Aiba's eyes, and added, "Thanks. For everything."
"'Bye," Aiba - Masaki - said softly.
Jun risked one last glance. It was a mistake. "Goodbye," Jun scraped out, and turned away.
The car's metal door was searing hot from the sun; that was why Jun fumbled with the handle. Safely inside, he said, "Guam International Airport, please," and was amazed at the steadiness of his voice. The car lurched forward and rumbled down the gravel driveway. Jun looked steadfastly out the window, watching palm trees blur past until they reached the main road, and then he leaned back against the seat and covered his face with his hands.
DECEMBER 19
"I really believe in the power of music, you know?"
"Uh-huh."
"And everyone likes different types of music, and we should respect their different tastes, because each is equally valid."
"Uh-huh."
"You can't tell anyone I said this. "
"Uh-huh."
"Come on. Lean in." Rustles, followed by a whisper. "If I hear Takki & Tsubasa's Christmas single one more time I'm going to lose it - snap - right here in the middle of Toontown."
Silence. Then -
"...Subaru, are you laughing?"
"No."
"Yes, you are!"
"Maybe."
"You are, you are, you are!"
"It's just - I used to know Takizawa. Imai, too."
"What? Really? How?"
"...Promise never to repeat this?"
"I promise."
"I used to be a Johnny's Junior."
"Subaru. You were not."
"Cross my heart."
"But - but you're so - "
"Weird-looking?"
"Shibutani Subaru, don't say that! I was going to say artistic."
"It's kind of a long story."
More rustling. "We've got ten minutes of break left..."
"...well. If you really want to know. Okay, uh, back when I was in junior high Johnny's was trying something new, putting together some units from Kansai, there was a company branch down in Osaka and everything. But after I got in they lost interest, I guess, and there weren't many offers coming, so I moved to Tokyo for a while. That's when I got to know Takizawa and Imai. For a while we were pretty good friends, even... But, um, it didn't work out very well. I never got to do my own music either. So I quit and moved back to Osaka. It wasn't really... the happiest period of my life."
Patient silence.
"Uh, sorry, what was I saying? Right. Well, I got over it, and focused on music full-time, and here I am, dressed up as Mickey Mouse. I guess it's not that far off from Johnny's after all."
Delighted laughter. "Only the best undiscovered musicians work as Mickey Mouse. I know it."
"...You know, I've never really - told anyone. About that."
"Subaru." A pause, and a soft smile. "Thank you."
DECEMBER 21
For the third night in a row, the light in the meeting room was still on when Yamapi got ready to go home.
He knocked, and when there was no answer, poked his head around the door. "Hey," he said. "You're up late. You feeling okay?"
Jin was slumped in his oversize chair, apparently lost in thought. Several folders lay unopened on the table. "Hm?" he said, glancing up at Yamapi. "Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. Haven't been sleeping enough or something. Dunno."
Yamapi frowned. He could see the circles under Jin's eyes from all the way across the room. "You'd better fix that soon, then. Go ahead and crash, the folders will wait."
"Nah, I've got - " Jin waved vaguely at the otherwise empty table. "Stuff to think about."
Jin never had stuff to think about. Or at least, he never admitted it. Yamapi's brow furrowed. "Do you need a vacation?"
"What, already?" Jin dredged up a smile. "It's only December. You told me I'd get a vacation in May, if I was lucky."
"Yes, but you've been - " Yamapi paused, inexplicably hesitant to phrase his thoughts in the usual manner.
"Actually working?" Jin said, with a grin that at last had real feeling behind it. "It must be a Christmas miracle."
Yamapi snorted. "You've been talking to the Americans again, haven't you." He ran a hand through his hair. "Seriously. Go sleep." Jin nodded. "And don't even think of coming in here on Christmas," Yamapi added for good measure.
Another grin crept across Jin's face, genuine and sly. "You never thought you'd be telling me that, did you?" he said mischievously. Yamapi snorted again, and made a rude gesture. Jin's laugh was all too pleased with itself. Yamapi tossed off a salute and let the door fall closed with a gentle snick.
He stood in the hallway for a minute, thinking. Then he turned and strode down the hall, in the opposite direction of the exit.
DECEMBER 22
"Can it hurry? I'm at work," Jun lied into the phone. "I've only got a few minutes."
"Make a few more," Ninomiya said brusquely on the other end of the line. "We haven't seen your stupid face since you got home."
Jun paced moodily around the kitchen. "It's the busy season. I've had lots of work. I'm lucky I could relax before the rush started." The words tasted bitter.
"You don't sound relaxed, Matsumoto."
"Then you're listening wrong," Jun snapped, and shoved an open drawer closed with unnecessary force.
Nino paused. "Anything happen that you want to talk about?"
"No," Jun said shortly. "There were beaches. It was warm. I got a sunburn. I came home."
"Sure?" Nino pressed.
"Yes," Jun bit out. "I have to get to work now. Tell Satoshi I said hi." He disconnected before he could hear Nino's reply.
In the ensuing silence, he looked around his sleek white apartment.
It was awfully quiet.
CHRISTMAS EVE
"...and now, here to perform December's number one hit single, Takki and Tsubasa! Let's have a round..."
The tinny ringtone cut through the blare of Nakamaru's rickety old television set. He wiped one hand clean of fried chicken grease and fished his phone from his pocket, uncrossing his legs under the kotatsu as he did so.
"Hello?"
"Yuichi? That you?"
Nakamaru's jaw dropped. "Koki? What are you doing? What time is it?"
"Yuichi, man, you'll never guess where I am!"
A wave of dread washed over him. "In jail."
A burst of staticky laughter. "Backstage! Backstage with Cube!"
"...What?"
"We fucking freestyled together, Yuichi! Can you believe it? He wants my demo tape! Oh man, there's like champagne coming out of the faucets, it's unbelievable - what? Shit, Yuichi, I gotta go, call you later - " The line went dead.
Nakamaru stared at the phone in his hand.
*
It had been dark for several hours by the time Kame tapped out the last line of the report and sat back in front of his laptop with a sigh. Nine o'clock on Christmas Eve and he was alone in the office writing glorified summaries. Glamorous, Kamenashi.
But there was no way he could have turned it down; Yokoyama had asked him specially, when he'd only been on the team for a week. Besides - Kame heaved a sigh and got up to collect the printout - it wasn't like he had any special plans.
He checked his watch. When he'd mentioned his Christmas overtime to Tegoshi, the only one of his university kouhai with whom he kept in touch, Tegoshi had immediately invited him to a party, something about "fun" and "introductions" and "good for you". Kame hadn't been in the mood - he still wasn't in the mood - but there was something about the way Tegoshi asked for things that made it nearly impossibly to say no. In the end, he'd agreed.
Kame rounded the corner, deep in self-pity, and smacked directly into something warm and solid.
Papers went flying. Kame, mortified, immediately dropped to his knees and scrabbled for the fluttering pages. "Sorry, I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking - "
"Kame," said Jin.
Kame's head shot up.
Jin's mouth was half open. His dark eyes were wide.
"Oh," Kame said faintly. "Hi."
"You're still here," said Jin. He sounded confused.
Kame got to his feet slowly and brushed invisible specks from his trousers. "Overtime," he said. "What - what are you doing here?" He winced the moment the words came out of his mouth. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. I mean, you can go wherever you like. Um." He floundered, and shut up.
Jin shrugged. He looked - uneasy. Kame had never seen him look uneasy. "Pi told me if I was going to mope all evening I should at least go get Yoko's latest report and pretend to do something useful so he could go have fun," he said.
"Oh," Kame said, as the sense of surreality heightened. "That's mine. I mean. I've got it. Here." He held out the report.
Jin looked from the papers to Kame and back. "You're working for Yoko?"
Kame blinked. "Yes. Yamashita-san reassigned me right after the summit. You didn't know?"
Jin shook his head.
"Oh," said Kame. "I thought maybe - " He paused. Jin's expression was nothing but curious. He said in a rush, "I thought maybe, after the thing at the summit, you wanted me out of the way."
Jin was still shaking his head again, and something that looked like a smile was creeping across his face. "I thought you must have gotten fed up and tried to quit."
Kame cleared his throat. "No," he said. "Not at all. I, um, I would have stayed. If I could."
"But you'll be good at this, I can tell," said Jin. "You're smart. You can do a lot more than bring people snacks. Though you were very good at that, too," he added.
"I liked talking with you," Kame said to his feet.
There was a long silence.
"Really?" Jin said, and either Kame's wishful thinking was affecting his hearing, or there was a hopeful note in Jin's voice.
He glanced up. Jin was looking at him with steady brown eyes. The small smile on his face wasn't like any of the ones Kame had seen before.
"Really," Kame said, and offered a shy smile in return.
*
"Be there," Ninomiya had said, "or I'll tell Satoshi you're depressed." He really needed some new threats. Of course, Jun thought as he opened the door to their apartment, it was possible he didn't bother with new ones because the old ones worked so well.
A burst of chatter assaulted him. In the background, that godawful single with the off-key girls' choir played over the stereo; someone was laughing, high-pitched. Jun winced.
The sooner he got inside and presented himself to his (unscrupulous, manipulative) host, the sooner he could go home and get really, really drunk. Jun sighed, and went into the apartment.
Jun hadn't realized a Tokyo apartment could physically hold that many people. People overflowed from the living room to the kitchen to the hall; there was no more than a few square inches of space in any given area. Glasses chinked. Voices buzzed. Jun could make out Sho, in danger of braining the girl behind him with the next sweep of his arm, and Nishikido Ryo gulping down wine like it was water. Nino was nowhere to be seen.
Jun closed his eyes briefly. Then he squared his shoulders and entered the fray.
*
The halls of the small office building were dark and empty. The Music Station special had just wrapped down the street; they had agreed to wait for their manager in his office while he fetched the car to take them to the next radio station.
"So," Takki said, breaking the silence. "Got a hot Christmas date?"
Tsubasa did not have a hot Christmas date. Tsubasa did not have any kind of Christmas date. He pretended to ignore the question.
Takki read the silence perfectly and started to laugh. "Oh man, seriously? Not even on Christmas? What kind of a pop star are you?"
"One without venereal diseases," Tsubasa shot back, vindictively pleased to see Takki's nostrils flare. Takki hated his own tell-tale habit; when they were kids their fellow juniors had teased him mercilessly for it, before he hit puberty and became Japan's number one man overnight.
"Well," Takki rallied, "don't worry about it. I understand. There are lots of expectations on Christmas, you know, and you want your first time to be special - " Here he dissolved into snickers at his own wit. Tsubasa let out an irritated huff and stalked over to the window. Some Christmas, alone in an empty office building with the one and only Takizawa Hideaki. He glared at the deserted white street as if it was to blame for his miserable life.
Then he blinked.
"Hey," he said. "It's snowing."
*
"Um, si - I mean Jin, I don't know if this is such a good idea," Kame said.
"Come on," Jin coaxed. "You told your friends you'd be there, right?"
"Yes, but - I only know one of them well and I'm sure no one would mind - and I'd rather - " He stopped and flushed.
Jin put on his best innocent expression and said, "Keep going."
"Anyway," Kame said firmly, "I don't think this is very safe."
Jin scoffed. "Come on, do you really think I'd be in serious danger? I don't have any political rivals, practically all of the Diet wants me to stay in office so they can seize the real power for themselves. They think. " He showed teeth. "And that's where Pi and Ryo and Shige and Yoko are waiting."
"But - " Kame stopped. He said, "Waiting?"
"Yamapi and Ryo wouldn't let them undercut us, obviously," said Jin. "What would be the point of being in office?"
"Do you mean to say," Kame said slowly, "this is all... on purpose?"
"Of course," Jin said, puzzled. "That's always been the plan. Didn't I mention this once? I'm the good looks and charm, they're the brains and muscle. It's like that saying, you know, two is better than one? Times two." He paused to calculate. "And a half."
Kame looked poleaxed.
"Soft power and hard power," Jin added, just to see Kame's eyes cross adorably. "Come on, we're going to be late for your party."
*
Inoue had collared Jun and interrogated him within an inch of his life about the new Yohji Yamamoto line. Eventually he had to claim ignorance - a blow his pride wouldn't have countenanced any other day - and slither away under pretext of fetching more wine.
Jun made a face. It wasn't even very good wine. But there was a reward waiting: as he edged his way away from the table, mulling darkly on the dangers of imminent suffocation, the crowd parted in front of him and there, at long last, was Ninomiya.
"Matsumoto," Nino said. "What kept you?"
Jun made an inarticulate sound of frustration. "I was looking for you. In all these people. For the last hour."
"How flattering," said Nino. "Here I am."
Words failed Jun. He took a deep breath and moved on. "So. I'm here. I'm talking. Are you happy."
Nino peered at him. "Have you been eating? Because it doesn't look like you have, and if there was a repeat of the White Day Incident - "
"There is not going to be a repeat of the White Day Incident," Jun said, glaring. "I keep telling you, I've been busy." Nino kept looking at him, like he knew exactly what was going on inside Jun's head, and suddenly, Jun didn't think he could handle being around someone who knew him so well. "Can I just - go home now?" he said quietly.
Nino's mouth twisted at the corners, like it did when he didn't want to get all emotional. "Yeah," he said. "Okay. Come say hi to Satoshi and act cheerful, and we'll call it even."
As he turned to shoulder his way through the crowd, a lull fell on the room, so that the sound of the door opening and closing was clearly audible.
Nino stopped still. Jun could practically see his nose quiver. "Just a minute," he said to Jun, and then, "Come with me." Before Jun know what was happening, Nino had grabbed his arm and was pulling him through the crowd.
Conversation sprang up anew. Jun stumbled and bumped into someone; only quick reflexes saved him from a splash of red wine on his sleeve. "Sorry - " he said, or tried to say, before Nino tugged him toward the entrance. Nino twisted like an eel; the crowd parted and Jun could see -
"There you are!" said a voice Jun would have known blindfolded. "Sorry I'm late, guess what? It's snowing! Ni - "
He stopped short. Snowflakes dusted his hair. His eyes were very wide.
"Masaki," Jun said, heart in his throat.
Aiba's smile was blinding. "Jun!"
*
The park was closed. Their costumes had been turned in for the last time. He'd never, luck willing, have to wear a giant stuffed mouse head again.
"Well," Subaru said, shoving his heads in his pockets.
"Well," Yasu repeated, a teasing glint in his eye. Subaru flushed.
Yasu relented, laughing quietly, and said, "I'm glad I got to work with you. It was fun."
"Yeah," Subaru said. "Me, too."
Neither of them made a move to leave.
Was Subaru the only one who felt awkward? Maybe he should say something. Would Yasu take it the wrong way if he asked for his email -
"So," Yasu said, interrupting Subaru's thoughts. "Where are you headed now?"
"Oh. Just home." Inwardly, he flinched. "There's this song I'm working on...
Yasu was grinning. "What," he teased gently, "not off on a Christmas date?"
Despite the snow, Subaru's cheeks just wouldn't cool. "No," he managed. "I don't have one."
Yasu's smile turned mischievous. Subaru's heart turned over.
"Would you like one?"
*
They were half-hidden in a corner behind the sofa, miraculously uncrowded.
"How did you get here?" Jun murmured in a low voice. One of his hands was resting on Masaki's hip. He felt no need to remove it.
"I flew?" Masaki said questioningly.
Jun had a niggling feeling his expression was embarrassingly fond. He didn't even want to change it. God, he had it bad. Instead, he said, "I mean here, right now - how did you...?"
"Oh," Masaki said in tones of enlightment. "Oh-chan and Nino are my friends, of course! Sho-chan introduced me - we're on the same channel, you know? - actually he was on the show once - " He was still talking but Jun had stopped listening at the word "Nino". A cold hand clutched his gut. It couldn't be. He scanned the room with narrowed eyes.
As if sensing Jun's gaze, Nino turned his head. Their eyes met.
Nino gave him the evilest grin Jun had ever seen on the face of a human being.
"Jun?" Masaki said curiously.
With a look promising dire retribution, Jun tore his gaze away. "Sorry," he said. "What was that?" He moved forward so his arm was curved around Masaki's waist. Maybe retribution wouldn't be so dire after all. It was awfully hard to feel angry about the means when the results were so enviable. "The show?"
"Right," Masaki said, beaming. "Do you like tigers? I bet you would! See, for the next episode - "
*
"It's not too late to turn around," Kame fretted as they got out of the cab. "Look, the snow's starting to come down hard."
"It's just a little snow," Jin said airily. "The worst that happens is the cabs stop running and we have to spend the night with your friends. I'm sure they wouldn't mind, would they?"
"I said I barely know them," Kame said, worry lines standing out on his face. He was too young for worry lines. Jin would have to fix that. "One of my kouhai from university invited me, he knew I was feeling kind of, um, down about Christmas - " Jin watched curiously as Kame's face flushed again " - and he said it would be a good way to - Jin?"
Jin had lost track of the content of Kame's words some time ago. He reached over to brush the snow off Kame's hair. Kame reddened even further. "See," Jin said. "It'll be fine. Come on, let's go inside."
They heard the noise from the apartment halfway down the hall. "3104?" Jin said, eyeing the door. "You're sure?"
"I don't understand," Kame said, frowning, as he glanced from the paper in his hand to the door and back. "I thought he said it was going to be a small gathering. Maybe we should wait - Jin?"
Jin was already opening the door.
The entryway was overflowing with coats and umbrellas. Jin slid off his shoes and gingerly picked his way toward the main entrance, careful not to step in any of the puddles of half-melted snow. A hand clutched at his sleeve. "Jin," Kame's voice said in his ear as Jin made his way inside, "wait - "
The wall-to-wall crowd brought them to a halt.
No one seemed to notice their arrival, absorbed in their own conversations; as they stood there the noise of conversation swelled and drowned out the faint sounds of the stereo playing in the background. Jin took a minute to absorb the assembly, letting his eyes wander slowly over each guest. Half the faces were familiar throughout Japan: musicians, actors, a model or two. As for the other half -
A familiar profile caught Jin's eye and he thought his heart was going to stop.
Yamapi had just begun to turn toward the door when a disbelieving voice near Jin said, "Prime Minister?"
He knew that face, too. It was one of the broadcasters, he was sure, only he couldn't quite remember - the man was gaping like a fish and suddenly Jin remembered. Sakurai. From NTV. Right.
It was at that moment Jin realized utter silence had fallen.
"Oh my god," said Sakurai.
There was a quiet panicky noise from Kame's general vicinity.
The silence stretched. Every eye was on them.
Faced with an attentive crowd, Jin did what he always did. He smiled.
"Nice to meet you," he said. "Merry Christmas!"
*
"Still snowing," Takki reported from the window.
Tsubasa slumped on the green room couch. "He's not coming back any time soon, huh."
"Nope." Takki paced restlessly across the room and flopped in one of the folding chairs.
"Think he got in an accident?"
"Dunno."
They stared at each other.
"I know where he keeps the whiskey," said Takki.
*
They loved him. Of course they did; everyone loved Jin when he wanted them to. That was why he and Yamapi were a team. Yamapi watched Jin say something, grinning so that his eyes creased, that made the little group he was talking to burst into laughter, and was hard pressed to repress an smile.
"It must be difficult balancing such a demanding public office with private life," said a voice at Yamapi's elbow.
Yamapi watched Kamenashi station himself at an angle just off to Jin's side, chatting politely with an older actress and ever so subtly guiding the flow of approaching guests. "Jin's pretty good at that," he said. "He's been my best friend as long as I can remember. Besides, it's in our party name - if our own party leader wasn't happy, we'd have a pretty worthless message."
"I meant you, Yamashita-san."
Yamapi turned.
A boy with the smile of an angel stood next to him.
"My name's Tegoshi," the boy said. "Can I get you a drink?"
*
It was some time before they could make their escape. The streets were empty, and the only sign of life two pairs of footprints in the fresh snow.
"All right," Jin said. "You might have been right. But," he hastened to add, "it turned out fine! I thought it was fun."
"Next time," Kame said, "next time you try to talk me out of my better instincts - " He stopped.
There was a little grin on Jin's face. A snowflake landed on one high cheekbone. "Next time?" Jin said inquiringly.
The words died in Kame's mouth. "Only you," Kame said, shaking his head. "You know that, right?"
"Thank you," Jin said, beaming.
"I'm still not letting you talk your way into everything," Kame warned.
Jin hummed to himself.
They walked another block in silence until, approaching a circle of lamplight, Jin slowed to a stop. "Kame," he said.
Fluffy white flakes dotted his dark hair, and his bangs were falling in his eyes. Kame's pulse sped up.
"Thanks," said Jin softly. "For bringing me along."
Kame's heartbeat was pounding in his ears. "Only because it's Christmas," he said, mouth dry.
Jin took another step forward. He wasn't smiling now. The moment seemed to stretch to eternity.
Before Kame was fully aware of what he was doing, his hand shot up, fisted itself in Jin's coat, and tugged Jin down until his mouth met Kame's.
"Merry Christmas," he murmured when they parted, as Jin's delighted laughter rang in his ears.
*
"Hey," said Takki, as they lay side-by-side on the floor passing the bottle back and forth, "remember that time when we were juniors and we got in trouble for skipping rehearsal? And they were going to make us stay late and practice, so instead we decided we were going to run away and start our own company?"
Tsubasa clapped a hand over his mouth, not quickly enough to muffle a snort of laughter. "And they didn't find us for three hours because we were hiding in the janitor's closet with all the discarded Valentine's chocolate from the mail room."
"I was sick for two days," Takki said reminiscently. He took a drink.
Some inexplicable urge - possibly the alcohol - made Tsubasa say, "Sorry you're missing your date."
"Actually," said Takki. He coughed. "I don't really. Have plans."
It was definitely the alcohol. Tsubasa made an encouraging noise.
"Girls don't really like it if you tell them you can't meet until midnight on Christmas. And we had a heavy schedule today and..." Takki paused. "Honestly? I just wanted to get some rest."
Tsubasa nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. That's, like." He looked at the ceiling. "The price of success."
"Yeah," Takki agreed, and took another drink.
They lay in companionable silence for several more minutes.
"Hey," Tsubasa heard Takki say. Takki's fist knocked against his shoulder with a soft thump. "We've done pretty good."
"Yeah," Tsubasa said.
Takki cleared his throat. "I'm, you know. Glad it was you."
Tsubasa felt a tendril of warmth uncurl in the vicinity of his stomach.
"Yeah," he said. "Me, too."
*
Outside, the snow continued to fall.