Music of Life - Eighth Movement
~人生の音楽 ♪~
~Jinsei no Ongaku~
Eighth Movement: Running
Ryutaro smiled as he walked out of the band room after class that day. It had been another entertaining, fun-filled class, as always, thanks to Daiki. Yuya had been strangely absent, considering how Daiki had remembered passing by him in the hall earlier in the morning. It wasn't until later did Ryutaro notice Ryosuke, across the room, was also missing.
Without meaning to, Ryutaro lost himself within ripples of uncontained thoughts. But of course, he couldn’t help himself from thinking about his breathtaking section leader. I wonder if Daiki feels the same way I do towards him... Does his heart flutter whenever he thinks back to our warm embrace? Does he get an overwhelming urge to smile whenever I so much as laugh? He doubted. But I do, he murmured.
His thoughts were circulating about the senior, and as his mind was consumed in thoughts of the older boy, Ryutaro immediately caught onto Daiki's voice whispering nearby, around a corner of the music suite he was merely passing by. Out of the blue, Ryutaro suddenly heard his name being mentioned in the older boy's conversation. Holding back, Ryutaro kept himself from revealing his presence. He hid behind the corner, trying to listen in to what Kei Inoo was about to say.
“Daiki, I'm just saying, don't make another one of the juniors fall in love with you again,” Kei was insisting.
Again? What does he mean by “again”? Ryutaro wondered.
“Ryutaro's not in love with me,” Daiki answered exasperatedly.
M-Me? Why me? K-Kei knows I like Daiki?! Ryutaro's eyes widened in horror.
Kei sighed melodramatically. “Daiki, I'm tired of telling you this, but you're too nice to them all! You always act so open and friendly toward them; do you even notice the way they gaze back at you in gratitude, in appreciation, admiration? And now, I see it in your new section member. His eyes reflect even more.. a tender care, compassion... much like that of that other junior from two years ago...”
Someone else my age also fell for Daiki? I wonder what... happened... I wonder who it was...
“Please,” Daiki begged in what Ryutaro thought sounded like a strained voice. “Don't bring up Ryosuke. My heart still aches with pity whenever I think about him.”
Ryosuke!? Ryutaro shouted in his mind in astonishment What?! Since when did..?! Is that what Ryosuke and Chinen were trying to hide from me... What happened between Ryosuke and D-Daiki?! Ryutaro was so taken aback, so confused, conflicted, stunned; he literally stepped back, knocking over an inconveniently placed music stand, causing it to crash deafeningly to the floor.
Immediately, Kei and Daiki's eyes latched onto Ryutaro's. Kei grimaced. “What are you doing here? Eavesdropping?”
“N-No,” Ryutaro stammered, backing away slowly as he watched Daiki take a step forward, towards him, bringing their bodies undesirably closer.
“Ryu…” Daiki breathed soundlessly.
Ryutaro’s eye widened in fear and without thinking, he turned and ran, his feet slamming down to the cemented ground, taking him, leading him away. Run! His mind shouted.
“Ryu, wait!” Daiki’s voice shouted after his fleeting form, shattering the screams in Ryutaro’s mind. “Stop, Ryu! Let me talk to you!”
Ryutaro shook his head firmly as he concentrated all his effort into running, lifting his feet one after the other. I don’t want you to catch me… just pretend like you didn’t see me… please… Ryutaro begged powerlessly. Tearing his eyes away from the path ahead, he stole a hurried glance back at Daiki. The younger boy struggled to keep running without being able to see where he was going, but he couldn’t find the courage within himself to either stop, or even look away. His eyes were lost in Daiki’s worried gaze.
But without warning, the older boy’s expression froze and he shouted “Ryu, watch out!” Snapping his attention back forward a split second too late, the earth caved beneath Ryutaro’s feet and his helpless body tumbled downstairs. Before he even had a chance to even try comprehending Daiki’s cries of “Ryu!”, Ryutaro’s world collapsed into darkness.
~~~~~
“Ryu?” a soft voice resounded in Ryutaro’s ears as a warm wave of consciousness gradually overcame his body.
As his eyelids began to flutter open, he opened his lips. “Dai…Keito?” Ryutaro breathed, bewildered to see his classmate sitting by his bedside. “Where… am I? What are you doing here?” he questioned, struggling in vain to sit up properly.
“Don’t try,” Keito urged, putting his hand down on Ryutaro’s shoulders. “You’re in the hospital, Ryu. You’ve been unconscious for hours. You fell and broke your left leg, so don’t try to get up, you’ll just hurt yourself,” Keito smiled gently, encouragingly.
“Did you… bring me here?” Ryutaro asked quietly, unsure why Daiki was not the one by his side.
“I… I found you fallen down the stairs, unconscious.” But immediately, Daiki ran over, already dialing for an ambulance. “…I didn’t get to see how you fell,” Keito continued. But when I asked Daiki, he just lowered his head and murmured that it was his fault… Beyond that, he refused to answer. Keito admitted to himself sadly.
“Was Daiki there at all?” Ryutaro asked carefully, trying not to reveal eagerness in his words.
Keito didn’t want to admit the truth to the younger boy. “No…” He lied slowly. He was disappointed that Ryutaro only seemed to care about Daiki’s presence. “I… came by myself, with you, to the hospital.”
Pain throbbed in Ryutaro’s chest, realizing that Daiki had not even cared enough about him to follow his unconscious body to the hospital. Daiki… he sobbed inwardly, not wanting Keito to see his tears. You abandoned me…?
Ryutaro murmured, “Th-thanks anyway, Keito,” as he turned away, his voice muffled by the incoming cries of pain. Physical, emotional.
Keito bit his lip guiltily. Daiki said he was just running home to grab some special cookies to share with you for when you woke up… Tears were brimming in Keito’s eyes, overwhelmed by sadness in remembering back to Ryutaro and Daiki’s close embrace. Keito’s heart crumbled to see the pitiful sadness spreading on the younger boy’s countenance at the denial of his senior’s presence. Ryutaro… There’s never any room for me in your heart…Why do you never appreciate my love?
~~~
A/N: Technology is officially against me... I can't type very much because the computer's being really weird and trippy and keeps stopping/ freezing, but before I get cut off, please let me say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITO!!! ^^ Although you had a little awakwardness at the start, you've slowly gained a soft spot in my heart.. I cant help but be proud of you for everything you've accomplished. As a part of JUMP, and as an individual. You've grown so much, matured a lot, and learned a ton in the process, I would bet :) Watching you onstage today is like seeing an actual manifestation of JUMP's wonderous self-confidence messages.. if that makes sense? XD It just really feels like you've managed to achieve so many dreams, reaching for your goals, beliving in yourself, and had so much fun in the process ^^ Seeing your smile always brings a smile to my own face, and seeing you try so, so hard just inspires me to do so myself. I cannot help but think that although your efforts are often overlooked, and you are often unappreciated as a precious member of JUMP, you will always keep going, keep trying, keep doing your best, even if the spotlight seems to most often be focused elsewhere. Your perseverence serves not only as encouragement for us, but as a great reminder for us all what importance of the little things people do hold for the rest of us...
Happy Birthday, our amazing Guitar-Playing English Boy~ ^^
