ABCZ Bar Au, Part One
Pairing: HasshixTottsu, KitayamaxFujigaya
Summary: In Which Hasshi Has Many Feelings For Tottsu, And Tottsu Doesn't Notice.
All that matters right now was the man on the stage. Truth be told that was really what mattered all of the time, but there were exceptions. It was hard to keep his job as bartender if he didn't actually serve drinks to the customers, and it was hard to serve drinks to customers when he was 29084395769% distracted by the man on the stage. Which was an impossible number, but it was the only one sufficient to describe his feelings. And he had many many feelings.
When he had been hired, he had not even been legal to serve drinks, but that really didn't manner to the owners of Ni no Ichi. They saw his face, his enthusiasm, and his smile and knew that he would be great for their business. Plus, he had come highly recommended by some of their mutual friends. Who had promised that the owners would never regret their choice.
And he was great for business. And they certainly did not regret hiring him.
Even if he was distracted 29035349586997865% by the man on the stage
Goseki-sama, as he was fondly called by all the staff had found a way to legally employ him, and Tsuka-chan had given him the most intense bartender training of his life. They way that they had fought at first everyone assumed that he was going to be fired before his first day of work.
He has almost wanted to quit. It was hard, he didn't even drink, and, as it turned out, Tsuka-chan and Goseki-sama were the most evil bosses existence. Even the other bartender, fondly called Fumi-kyun by everyone, and his infectious laughter, random hip thrusting, shirt tearing open idol impersonations, and occasional support was not enough to make him want to stay. It was hard. They didn't really want him. He was new. And young. And he threw off their rhythm. Leaving would be easier for everyone.
And then he had come into work. And there was no way that Hashimoto was ever going to leave this job, not as long as he could work and listen to Tottsu, as everyone called Totsuka, sing at the bar.
When they realized just how useless he was at bartending when Tottsu was singing, they had tried to discipline him, until they realized that the customers found his admiration and adoration of Tottsu charming, and that as soon as Tottsu took a break, all of the patron’s would flock to Hashimoto for a drink. Hashimoto’s love was very profitable.
One day, he might even to find the courage to confess. But tonight, like every other night, he would just watch from behind the bar, and his love would grow with each note that the other sang. Hashimoto had an endless amount of love for Tottsu. Watching the other settle into a chair, his guitar in hand. Hashimoto felt what he did every night. He felt he would explode with love.
“His own dick? How the hell did he manage that?” Kawai nearly choked on his lunch as Hashimoto was happily narrating his friends, most unfortunate night. Hashimoto was laughing at their misfortune but all Kawai could do was squirm in place.
“Well, he is laughing about it now, but at the time he was in a lot of pain.” Hashimoto managed to choke out between chuckles, which died quickly as the door opened, and both Tsukada and Totsuka walked into the bar. They were supposed to open soon for the night, and Hashimoto had been keeping Kawai entertained while the other ate dinner, though they mostly talked. This time, it was with the horror stories of his friends dating lives.
Hashimoto could not use any of his own stories, as they all involved staring at Totsuka from across the bar as the other played guitar on stage all night for his sets. As everyone who ever came into the bar when both were there knew, that was all there was to their love story, because Hashimoto was surprisingly shy about confessing directly, and Totsuka, while very smart, was a little dumb about feelings. As he never seemed to notice the adoration that Hashimoto watched him with.
“Tsuka-chan, you will not believe what Hasshi just told me!” Kawai rushed over to the co-owner of the bar to scar him with the horrors of an accidentally self inflicted bruised dick during kinky outdoor onsen sex, but Hashimoto only had eyes for Totsuka.
The older man had waved back quickly to Hashimoto’s enthusiastic waving, and was currently setting up the stage to his liking. The stool always went to the slight left of center stage, the microphone stand in from of the chair. There was a second microphone stand off to the right, for when Totsuka could no longer sit still, strumming his guitar and singing quietly, for when he needed to move to the music.
Those were the times that Hashimoto loved the most, watching Totsuka as he was swept away by the music, by his music, lost somewhere in the mind of Totsuka Shota. Hashimoto wanted to understand it, to explore it, to see if he could feel and understand the mystery that was the other man’s mind. It would only make him love the other more.
But that would never happen, for one important reason.
Every time Totsuka finished his sets, Hashimoto would ask him the same question.
“Did you want to get coffee, or a drink or something?”
The answer was always the same.
“Sorry, I can’t today, I have plans with KitsMitsu.”
Kitayama Hiromitsu, or KitaMitsu, was Hashimoto’s arch nemesis, at least if this were a video game and people were cast in such roles. Kitayama was, however, Totsuka’s very good friend, maybe best friend.
And he was very much aware of Hashimoto’s feelings for Totsuka, even if Totsuka was not.
Hashimoto could not help but hear Tsukada’s shout of surprise at the bruised dick thing, and he could not help but smile at the fond smile that Totsuka threw in Tsukaka and Kawai’s direction as they chatted.
Totsuka looked amazing when he smiled.
Though it faded into his serious artist face as Goseki strode into the bar, throwing a look around before calling out in a gentle warning,
“It is time, gentleman.”
But by that point Hashimoto was already behind the bar, tying his apron around his waist and tucking the bar towel into the ties. He was ready for another evening of serving drinks, and watching Totsuka. Mostly watching Totsuka, but that was why Kawai was there that night so early as well. Goseki had learned very quickly that it was best to have someone else on staff on the nights Totsuka worked, because somehow, Hashimoto and his adoration of Totsuka actually generated them more business.
It was a strange world. But he wouldn't argue.
At the end of the night Hashimoto casually, very casually, strode over to the stage, where Totsuka was packing up his guitar, even as he heard the front door open.
“Hey, Tottsu?”
“Yeah, Hasshi?” Tottsu asked as he snapped his guitar case closed.
“Did you wanna get a coffee or something sometime?”
“He can’t, he is with me tonight.” A short man, Kitayama, slipped up beside them and slid an arm around Totsuka’s waist, guiding him gently towards the door.
“Sorry, Hasshi, maybe later.” Totsuka called, then called out his goodbyes, and his thank you, and thanks for the hard works to the bar staff.
Hashimoto watched the door close with a glare, as Kitayama tossed a wink and a smirk back over his shoulder as the door to the bar closed.
It was certain. He had an arch nemesis.
“You cannot really think that I would actually tell you that?” Goseki laughed, slipping his phone back into his pocket and Kawai sighed.
“I hoped you would.” The bartended slipped his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels.
Goseki just shook his head, and his attention moved to Tsukada, as the co-owner of the bar loudly proclaimed that he had thought of the next, best, marketing scheme for the bar. This would not end well. It usually didn't. Hashimoto’s hire had been one of Tsukada’s few good choices for the bar.
Kawai sighed again, his face widening to his best, most practiced hosting smile as a young woman came up to the bar, ordering a round of drinks for herself and her friends.
Kawai had asked Goseki who his favorite idol was for a reason. He was honing his skills at doing impressions of idols. He performed on days that Totsuka was unscheduled, and during breaks to entertain the customers.
Kawai was pretty good at impersonating idols, their practiced hip thrusts and rolls, the casual way their shirts hung open, the looks of wanton sexiness. He was amazing at the looks of wanton sexiness, if he had to say so himself.
But he needed to know whom Goseki liked, since it was really his attention that he was trying to get.
Kawai sighed. Well, there was more than one way to impress a man. If he couldn't nail an impression of Goseki’s favorite celebrity he would just have to make his hips rolls that much more sexy and alluring. No one could resist a good pelvic gyration, not when they were as stunning and sexy as his. He was the king of gyrating.
Soon was a word that Hasshi was beginning to hate.
It was the word that Tottsu would use every time Kitayama lead him away after work, with a smirk and an arm slung casually around Tottsu.
We will hang out soon.
Maybe next time.
Soon. I promise.
Every single time it was said Hasshi believed. Or at least he used to. Hasshi, though he was an eternal optimist by many standards, was beginning to think that soon would never come. Tottsu had never given him a reason to believe to be honest.
And only so many things could be accomplished by sheer force of will.
Tottsu had never seemed to indicate that Kitayama was his boyfriend, his expression the same pleasant mild every single time dating, or lovers, or anything came up in casual conversation. And Hasshi was certain, cause he had been watching, nothing about Tottsu changed when Kitayama, that evil horrible arch nemesis Kitayama, came by to pick him up after work.
It was just so frustrating.
Hashimoto had stopped asking half of the time, cause he knew the answer anyway.
Soon.
He was beginning to think that he did not know that that word meant. Or maybe it was Tottsu who didn't know the meaning of soon. But Tottsu was smart, and read a lot of books, and wrote really pretty songs, so there was no way that he didn't know what the word meant.
So it must be Hasshi. Except that, this time, maybe it wasn't Hasshi.
But, on the nights that Tottsu closed the bar down with his music, Hasshi spent a lot more time polishing the glasses and tables than he needed, trying to force himself not to ask.
It was not as if Tottsu did not know that Hasshi was interested, and he wanted to give the other man a chance to say ‘yes, tonight is the night we can go out’, or maybe ‘Hey, Hasshi, are you busy tomorrow?’
But that would never happen. Because it was Tottsu, and he just did not work like that. Hasshi knew that much. He watched the man every day for months, after all.
Tonight though, tonight was different.
The bar was a bit more lively, Kawai’s best friend Fujigaya had stopped by. He had a rare night off work, and had come by to chat. Hasshi had met him once before in passing, one day before opening when Kawai was practicing his impressions, but hadn’t really seen a lot of the other man.
Hasshi was halfway listening to Kawai and Fujigaya chat, the other half was spend watching Tottsu play, cause even if he could resist the urge to set himself up for rejection again, Tottsu and the guitar was something that was worth watching all the time.
“Taipi, when do I get to meet your boyfriend? You talk about him all the time.” Kawai was leaning against the bar, chatting with Fujigaya, who was sitting watching Tottsu play.
“You have met him.” Fujigaya answered, before shaking his head. “I didn't realize Tottsu could sing like that, I had met him before, you know, just never seem him sing. It is kinda hard not so since he is best friends with Mistu and all but-“
“Waitwaitwaitwaitwait!” Kawai stuttered, almost shouted, and Hasshi found his attention turning ever so slightly away from Tottsu.
“You mean you tell me that your Mitsu is the Kitayama that picks Tottsu up from his gigs and claims its time for their date?”
Now Hasshi’s attention was 100% not on Tottsu. Maybe the first time ever.
But it was excusable, since this was a VERY VERY IMPORTANT HASSHI NEEDED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW face about Tottsu and that demon of an arch nemesis.
Fujigaya nodded, smiling softly. “That idiot, yes. There is no way he and Tottsu could date. And since I usually work nights, Mitsu and Tottsu have BFF man date nights all the time.” Fujigaya shrugged. “I trust Mitsu, and he and Tottsu have been friends for longer than Mitsu and I have been dating. If they were going to hook up, it would have happened before now, I figure.”
Maybe, just maybe, Hasshi could change soon into happily every after. Maybe tonight was his chance. Just maybe.
And so this time, when Kitayama strode into the bar like he owned the place, Hashimoto was watching him. He could see the way the other man paused for a moment, his eyes flicking to Fujigaya leaning against the bar with a brief smile before he sauntered over to Tottsu.
Hashimoto made sure that he was cleaning the table closest to the stage at that point.
It wasn't eavesdropping when it was a public conversation, and Kitayama was the type whose voice carried.
“Hey, it looks like our date is off for the night.” Kitayama called out as a greeting and Tottsu nodded chuckling.
“I figured as much when I saw Taipi. You should go out with him, this is a rare chance.” Tottsu looked to Kitayama, and then to Taipi. “You spend half the night missing him anyway, so I know you would rather be with him.”
“I will still see you off to the station.” Kitayama slung his arm around Tottsu and lead him towards the door, pausing for a brief moment. “Gaya, I will be back in a sec, I need to talk to Tottsu about something.”
“Got it.” Fujugaya answered, not turning from where he was chatting with Kawai.
Kitayama’s eyes met Hasshi’s as he turned back to Tottsu and he paused for a moment. “Was there something you needed, Hasshi?”
“Nope.” Hasshi answered with a smile, the biggest he could manage, though yes there was something that he wanted. Or someone, to be more specific. The someone that Kitayama currently had his arm around. But he could wait, there was time. Now that he knew that Tottsu was at least not Kitayama’s.
Maybe there was someone else, but if they couldn't even come out to watch Tottsu play every week, Hasshi was sure that they weren’t competition.
As the door closed Hashimoto and he turned back to cleaning the tables, he couldn't help but let out a small gasp. Tottsu had left his music binder. The one that was very precious to him, Hasshi knew for a fact, as he had talked to Tottsu about it. It had all his current songs, as well as several works in progress. Hasshi grabbed the binder, and called out to the others that he would be back in a second, he needed to give something to Tottsu.
No one really paid attention to him.
Hasshi burst out of the door to the bar, but stopped short when he saw Tottsu and Kitayama standing at the bottom of the stairwell that lead up to the bar. It was less what they were doing, which was nothing, and more the fact that he heard his name.
“-Hasshi, anyway? It seems that you are trying to keep me from talking to him.” Tottsu was looking at Kitayama, who sighed, as he leaned back against the railing, arms crossed over his chest.
“I am just trying to protect you. You were the one who said you had an overly persistent stalker.”
“Mitsu-“ Hasshi didn't wait to hear the rest, stepping back inside the bar. The doors were silent enough that no one would have heard him. He knew that from experience, cause he often freaked Kawai out coming into the bar when the other was practicing his impressions.
All Hasshi could hear was the sound of his own blood rushing in his ears.
And the words that Mitsu spoke loud and clear.
Overly. Persistent. stalker.
What that was Tottsu thought he was?
Hasshi didn't really remember the rest of closing the bar that night, though he did recall Kawai and Fujigaya, as well as Tsuka-chan asking him if he was alright.
He wasn't sure what he answered.
But at the end of the night, Tottsu’s music binder was left on the bar, waiting for Tottsu to come claim it the next day. He worked the next day anyway, at least he was on schedule. Assuming he wanted to work with an overly persistent stalker.
Kawai had tried to ask what had happened, especially when he saw Hasshi flinch when Kitayama walked back into the bar.
Hasshi just went back to cleaning the same table.
Had Hasshi been more aware he would have noticed that when he entered, Kitayama had stared at Hasshi for a moment. He also would have noticed that Fujigaya had stormed over to Kitayama, demanding to know what the other had done to make Hasshi so sad, and he would have overheard the furious whispered conversation between Fujigaya, Kitayama and Kawai.
But he noticed none of that, instead staring at the notebook of songs on the table in front of him with a sad expression.
In the mean time, Gocchi and Tsuka-chan shared a look, before Gocchi pulled out his phone, opening it and sending a mass text to one of the talents that sometimes performed at their bar.
More importantly, he knew that they were Hasshi’s friends, and just the distraction needed.
To: The Snowmen
From: Goseki
Subject: Hasshi
It is time.
He locked his phone shut and slipped it back into his pocket, Tsuka-chan watching over his shoulder. He could feel the slight 'mmm' of Tsuka's agreement thought his body, the other man warm against his back, and while he couldn’t see his face he knew his business partnet well enough to know that Tsuka’s gaze kept moving from Hasshi to the tag team attack on Kitayama.
They had let things progress naturally for as long as they could. But obviously, left to their own devices Hasshi and Tottsu were hopeless. Clearly. Well mostly Tottsu was hopeless. Hasshi had made his interested and intentions very clear, they thought. But more importantly, no one was allowed to make Hasshi that sad and get away with it. He was their to protect, after all.
So they were going to fix it, one way or another.
“This afternoon Hasshi won’t be in, he has the night off.” Were the words that Gocchi softly commented to Kawai, as he leaned against the bar, watching Tottsu set up for the night. Tottsu had come in early that day, and he had looked around the bar. Gocchi had gotten a little better at reading the musician over his time performing at the bar, but he was still mostly a mystery many times. The musician tended to play his cards close to his chest.
Gocchi did notice, however, that something had changed in Tottsu’s face when it was mentioned that Hasshi had found the notebook while he was cleaning, and had wanted to make sure that Tottsu got it.
Gocchi had waited for a moment, wondering if Tottsu would ask about the younger man, but he just smiled, and mildly thanking Gocchi was taking care of the notebook. But Gocchi was a patient man, and he watched, and would watch.
He and Tsuka-chan knew what they were doing after all.
“But, Tottsu is performing tonight, and Hasshi never misses a night.” Kawai commented back just as softly, certain his words would not be heard over the light strumming of Tottsu’s guitar as he tuned and warmed up.
“I know.”
“And business?”
Tsuka-chan leaned against the bar, joining in on the conversation. “They will think Tottsu is distraught over Hasshi not being here, and will buy more than usual.”
“But-“ Kawai stopped as the door opened, and everyone chimed out a loud welcome.
What no one missed, was the way that just for a moment, Tottsu watched the door as well, quickly turning back to his guitar.
“How long?” Kawai asked Gocchi, as Tsuka-chan bound over to their first customers of the night.
Gocchi didn't answer, but Kawai could imagine. After he and Taipi had ganged up on Kitayama, they had managed to figure out most of what happened that night. Needless to say no one had been happy with the older man that night, and Taipi had been furious that Kitayama, while he was trying to be a good friend, had possibly ruined or at least made incredibly difficult, the happiness of one of friends.
Kawai was not sure how their date night went after that, but the pair had still been bickering when they left. But then again Kawai knew Taipi well enough to know that the would enjoy the make up sex, though his lover would have to work for it.
And while he was not sure what Gocchi and Tsuka-chan were planning, the fact that they got involved spoke volumes.
They would get Hasshi his happiness, he was certain. Well, at least if Tottsu would just cooperate. And the glances that he sent at the door for the rest of the night, each time it opened, was enough to indicate that maybe, just maybe, it was possible.
When Kitayama had come to pick Tottsu up that night, he had looked around the bar for a moment, searching for someone, and after a moment his gaze settled on Kawai.
Kawai had said nothing, just crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow in challenge.
A few days later, when Tottsu was again performing at their bar, Hasshi was once again off. This time, however, Tottsu slid up to the bar and ordered a drink.
He never drank before his performances.
“So, I admit that it is odd to see you back there by yourself.” Tottsu tried to sound nonchalant, and it was all that Kawai could do to keep a straight face. The day after Hasshi’s first absence, Hasshi had come bounding into the bar and filed Kawai in on all the details of his apparently new, part time job.
Kawai had to admit that he was a little jealous.
“Hasshi got dragged by some of his friends to a new part time job.” Kawai commented, trying to keep his tone light as he polished the glassware for tonight’s shift. “Apparently it is going well, but it keeps him out of the bar a few nights a week.”
“A new job?” Tottsu asked in question and Kawai nodded. “When you see him, you should ask him about it. But he will be happy to know you asked about him. He made me tell him all the details for your performance.”
Totsuka chuckled softly, placing his mostly empty glass back on the counter.
“It just isn’t the same without him here.”
“You used to perform without him all the time though.” Kawai didn't look directly at Totsuka as he placed the glasses back, and the other nodded, looking off into the bar at nothing in particular.
“I did, but Hasshi….He just adds something to the place.” The other man shrugged as the door opened and the first customer came in. “But, I better get to work, it is about time to start.”
Kawai nodded with a bright smile. “Do your best, as always.”
Later that night, Kitayama came early to the bar. Kawai was not surprised, as Taipi had messaged him earlier. What was surprising, however, was that Kitayama had two tickets to the performance club, Shokura.
“Just what am I supposed to do with these? Taipi gave them to you, for Tottsu.” Kawai asked, talking to Kitayama between customers, which was very hard to do at the moment.
Sadly enough Tsuka-chan had been right. Since Hasshi was not there, everyone was convinced that Tottsu was heartbroken, and sales were up. Both in drinks for Tottsu, and in general overall sales.
Gocchi, Tsuka-chan and Kawai, though, were not completely convinced that Tottsu was heartbroken. Something was certainly off about the man but….
“I was told that Hasshi is worth seeing on stage.” Kitayama sighed, running a hand through his hair, and Kawai did not respond. “Taisuke gave me an earful, about messing with other peoples happiness, and meddling in things I don't know, and then he gave me these tickets.
Kawai didn't say anything, but Gocchi slid over to the bar, leaning against the bar near Kitayama.
“Is Hasshi really performing there?”
“Your boyfriend performs at Shokura and you are asking me this why?” Kawai snapped back, just a little bit envious. It would be the best place to improve his impression skills, and maybe then he could really impress Gocchi, but working at Shokura would mean that he could not work here, since almost everyone at Shokura was serious about their career in performing.
Gocchi glanced down at the ticket, and then back to Kitayama. “I would suggest you trust your boyfriend and manage to take Tottsu on a BFF date. These tickets are hard to get, and I promise it is worth the effort.”
“But, Shokura is hard to get into. Taipi almost killed himself making it. I know that Tottsu would love to be on stage their. They take the best of the best. The unique and original. But they have to invite you, you don't just apply. And, well, Hasshi it just a bartender, right?”
Gocchi didn't respond to the comment, just pushed off the bar. “We are closed that night, so Tottsu will be free.”
Unsurprisingly, when Kitayama presented the idea to Tottsu, he was very excited about the idea, and just a little bit shocked.
“I heard that Shokura just got a new act, and there is a lot of excitement about it. I guess the Snowmen are collaborating with someone. It is really like nothing that they have done before. I will really have to thank Taipi for the tickets when I see him.”
“Just wait until you see the show,” Tsuka-chan added, leaning against the doorway at the last customer left for the night. “I hear that it is magical.”
The horizon had never seemed to far away.
Rather, the star on the horizon.
The horizon was not something that he had ever paid much attention to. It was just a place in the distance, it never changed. Well it always changed, but the distance to the horizon was always the same. It was unattainable distance, with an ever changing view. He had never wanted to reach the horizon, it had always been something that he was OK with being out of reach. The stars in the distance, they were there to guide him. He was OK following it, OK with it being a constant.
Things had been changing.
The constant things in his universe weren't as constant as he would have hoped.
Tottsu wasn't certain, but he might miss the brightness of Hasshi's smile at the end of a song set, miss his cheers, loudest of them all even though he was farthest from the stage.
In some ways Hasshi had been a constant, a star that was in the distance on the horizon.
He just had not realized it.
But that was before.... now, he had something that he wanted, a purpose to chance that dream in the distance, to run for the horizon with all of his might, but as he watched Hasshi leave the venue, two of his friends, Snowmen or something like that, pressed tight against his sides, their arms around him, Tottsu wasn't sure if the star on the horizon was attainable. And from the way Kitayama was avoiding him, the man knew much more than he was letting on.
He would need to get to the bottom of this, and from the look that he caught Fujigaya sending Kawai, there was quite a lot to get going on that he was not aware of.
But he was a patient man. He would figure out this mystery.
"Grief ridden isn't a good look on you, Kitayama." Tsuka-chan softly commented from perch against the wall.
"I think you mean guilt ridden." Kawai commented back, noticing Kitayama flinch. "Enough stalling, are you ready?"
While he himself was not performing that evening, and there were there to support Hashimoto, and watch Totsuka as he watched Hashimoto, Kawai could not help but give Kitayama a hard time. This was after all clearly his fault, and the was doing his best to shrink away from taking responsibility. But Kitayama was clearly uncomfortable with the entire situation, which is why he was shuffling by the door, finishing a smoke (A habit that Kawai knew that Fujigaya hated, but that didn't seem to stop him from doing it). He had been surprised to see the Ni no Ichi bar staff arrive about the time as he did, but a look from Goseki, stopped him from asking questions.
Did he really expect them to miss this?
But then again Kawai was still unclear how they had gotten tickets, good tickets, and backstage passes.
From the way that Totsuka was looking around the outside of the venue, eyes wide and face expressive, Kawai was certain that he had no idea what was in store for him. But then again neither did Kawai. Goseki always played things close to his chest, closer that Totsuka and Tsuka-chan was slightly more smug than usual, but not so much so to give anything away. But then again Tsuka-chan was often commenting on his own awesomeness and going on about secrets and things that only Goseki seemed to understand.
It was quite clear that Kitayama had not yet mentioned to Tottsu that maybe the reason for Hashimoto's extended absence from work was that he seemed to think that he was viewed by Tottsu as an overly persistent stalker.
But then again Kawai was convinced that even if Totsuka has been told, he wouldn't do anything about it. That just wasn't his style. His ability to deal with feeling and emotions was a little bit.... limited at times. Which was surprising, given his ability to write songs. But tonight was watching Hashimoto, and watching Tottsu.
"Does he know?" Kawai leaned against the wall near Goseki, inclining his head slightly towards the venue, and Goseki nodded.
"He is more nervous than usual, but he should be fine."
"Is he any good?"
Goseki didn't say anything, just smiled, before looking around at everyone.
"Shall we?"
***
As they walked inside, a man with a smile wider than his face, and a large nose greeted them!
"Welcome to Shokura!"
"MIYACCHI?!" Kawai called out before he could stop himself. He was one of their regulars, a friend of Tsuka-chan, and his bouldering buddy. He sometimes came in with his boyfriend or friend or buddy (their dynamics were still unclear) Tamamori, who was also friend with Fujigaya's, but this was just strange. Why was he even here tonight?
"What--"
Kawai stopped as Miyata smiled even wider somehow. "Tsuka-chan didn't tell you that I am the manger here?" Miyacchi's voice was kind and pleasant as always, and both Kawai and Totsuka looked to Tsukada in shock.
"Oops?" The other man laughed, shrugging his shoulders halfheartedly, and Kawai couldn't help but shake his head.
"Goseki-sama, are you at the table or the sound booth tonight?" A voice came from somewhere behind them, and Kawai and Totsuka both looked at one another in confusion. Kawai raised an eyebrow in question but Totsuka just shook his head. Even Kitayama looked a little surprised, but he has already disappeared. Probably to find his boyfriend.
What was going on here?
"Tonight the table. Its the last show tonight, so I want to make sure that I can really see it."
"Of course! Your table is ready as always. Please take a seat when you ready. Mercury is about to start his show."
"Mercury?" Kawai asked, and Goseki didn't answer, moving over to a table in front of the center stage. As he moved all the staff called out greetings to him, as to Tsuka-chan as well. Kawai could see Fujigaya leaning against a wall off to the side of the room, Kitayama walking away from him, and Kawai caught his gaze, slipping over to the other man.
"Whats going on? Miyacchi is manager and everyone is treating Goseki-kun and Tsuka-chan like royalty.
"Not my place to comment. But you never asked about Miyacchi's job. To be fair." Fujigya chuckled, before glaring at his boyfriend. "Mitsu still didn't say anything, did he? He avoided it when I asked."
"Not that I can tell. Tottsu plays is cards close to his chest, so I'm not sure that he would say anything."
Fujigaya nodded.
"You had better hurry.... Hasshi is about to start. And you will want to be sitting down for this."
"That good?"
Fujigaya pushed off the wall, not commenting, but walked over to where Miyacchi was standing next to the sound and lighting control booth. The lights went down just as Kawai got to his seat, and one glance at Totsuka and Kitayama's table told him that Totsuka still had no idea, not with the wide eyed gazes that he was casting around the room.
There were certainly many unknown things, as the music started, Kawai found that he was not watching Totsuka at all, instead his attention was completely on Hashimoto. He could hear a sharp intake of breath from next to him, and Kitayama might have made a low comment, but as Hashimoto walked onto the stage Kawai was struck by how much he looked that he belonged.
A pair of low slung jeans, an open Hawaiian shirt, abdomen and chest visible.
Kawai could see "Dance" flash on the screen behind Hashimoto, but as the music picked up in intensity Hashimoto danced, he sang, and he moved.
Kawai has been unaware that he even had a sexy side, the sweet caring overgrown puppy side usually the most obvious.
But he sang, he danced, he and his back dancers (BACK DANCERS!!) Snowman did some acrobatics.
This was nothing like the young man that everyone was worried about, the man who was pining for someone who couldn't see the obvious things that was in front of him.
So this, this was new. This was different, and at the end, when dressed in a white tuxedo, Hashimoto extended a bouquet of roses as he sang "Stay with me", Kawai could understand why the entire venue surged to its feel, screaming and cheering as the lights faded, and the show ended. Kawai himself was standing and cheering before he knew what was happening.
Tottsu, though, seemed to be in shock, sitting and staring at the stage with wide eyes before he too stood, and as Hashimoto left the stage Kawai could not help but flash him a thumbs up, which the other returned with a huge grin.
Maybe there was hope after all.
Summary: In Which Hasshi Has Many Feelings For Tottsu, And Tottsu Doesn't Notice.
All that matters right now was the man on the stage. Truth be told that was really what mattered all of the time, but there were exceptions. It was hard to keep his job as bartender if he didn't actually serve drinks to the customers, and it was hard to serve drinks to customers when he was 29084395769% distracted by the man on the stage. Which was an impossible number, but it was the only one sufficient to describe his feelings. And he had many many feelings.
When he had been hired, he had not even been legal to serve drinks, but that really didn't manner to the owners of Ni no Ichi. They saw his face, his enthusiasm, and his smile and knew that he would be great for their business. Plus, he had come highly recommended by some of their mutual friends. Who had promised that the owners would never regret their choice.
And he was great for business. And they certainly did not regret hiring him.
Even if he was distracted 29035349586997865% by the man on the stage
Goseki-sama, as he was fondly called by all the staff had found a way to legally employ him, and Tsuka-chan had given him the most intense bartender training of his life. They way that they had fought at first everyone assumed that he was going to be fired before his first day of work.
He has almost wanted to quit. It was hard, he didn't even drink, and, as it turned out, Tsuka-chan and Goseki-sama were the most evil bosses existence. Even the other bartender, fondly called Fumi-kyun by everyone, and his infectious laughter, random hip thrusting, shirt tearing open idol impersonations, and occasional support was not enough to make him want to stay. It was hard. They didn't really want him. He was new. And young. And he threw off their rhythm. Leaving would be easier for everyone.
And then he had come into work. And there was no way that Hashimoto was ever going to leave this job, not as long as he could work and listen to Tottsu, as everyone called Totsuka, sing at the bar.
When they realized just how useless he was at bartending when Tottsu was singing, they had tried to discipline him, until they realized that the customers found his admiration and adoration of Tottsu charming, and that as soon as Tottsu took a break, all of the patron’s would flock to Hashimoto for a drink. Hashimoto’s love was very profitable.
One day, he might even to find the courage to confess. But tonight, like every other night, he would just watch from behind the bar, and his love would grow with each note that the other sang. Hashimoto had an endless amount of love for Tottsu. Watching the other settle into a chair, his guitar in hand. Hashimoto felt what he did every night. He felt he would explode with love.
“His own dick? How the hell did he manage that?” Kawai nearly choked on his lunch as Hashimoto was happily narrating his friends, most unfortunate night. Hashimoto was laughing at their misfortune but all Kawai could do was squirm in place.
“Well, he is laughing about it now, but at the time he was in a lot of pain.” Hashimoto managed to choke out between chuckles, which died quickly as the door opened, and both Tsukada and Totsuka walked into the bar. They were supposed to open soon for the night, and Hashimoto had been keeping Kawai entertained while the other ate dinner, though they mostly talked. This time, it was with the horror stories of his friends dating lives.
Hashimoto could not use any of his own stories, as they all involved staring at Totsuka from across the bar as the other played guitar on stage all night for his sets. As everyone who ever came into the bar when both were there knew, that was all there was to their love story, because Hashimoto was surprisingly shy about confessing directly, and Totsuka, while very smart, was a little dumb about feelings. As he never seemed to notice the adoration that Hashimoto watched him with.
“Tsuka-chan, you will not believe what Hasshi just told me!” Kawai rushed over to the co-owner of the bar to scar him with the horrors of an accidentally self inflicted bruised dick during kinky outdoor onsen sex, but Hashimoto only had eyes for Totsuka.
The older man had waved back quickly to Hashimoto’s enthusiastic waving, and was currently setting up the stage to his liking. The stool always went to the slight left of center stage, the microphone stand in from of the chair. There was a second microphone stand off to the right, for when Totsuka could no longer sit still, strumming his guitar and singing quietly, for when he needed to move to the music.
Those were the times that Hashimoto loved the most, watching Totsuka as he was swept away by the music, by his music, lost somewhere in the mind of Totsuka Shota. Hashimoto wanted to understand it, to explore it, to see if he could feel and understand the mystery that was the other man’s mind. It would only make him love the other more.
But that would never happen, for one important reason.
Every time Totsuka finished his sets, Hashimoto would ask him the same question.
“Did you want to get coffee, or a drink or something?”
The answer was always the same.
“Sorry, I can’t today, I have plans with KitsMitsu.”
Kitayama Hiromitsu, or KitaMitsu, was Hashimoto’s arch nemesis, at least if this were a video game and people were cast in such roles. Kitayama was, however, Totsuka’s very good friend, maybe best friend.
And he was very much aware of Hashimoto’s feelings for Totsuka, even if Totsuka was not.
Hashimoto could not help but hear Tsukada’s shout of surprise at the bruised dick thing, and he could not help but smile at the fond smile that Totsuka threw in Tsukaka and Kawai’s direction as they chatted.
Totsuka looked amazing when he smiled.
Though it faded into his serious artist face as Goseki strode into the bar, throwing a look around before calling out in a gentle warning,
“It is time, gentleman.”
But by that point Hashimoto was already behind the bar, tying his apron around his waist and tucking the bar towel into the ties. He was ready for another evening of serving drinks, and watching Totsuka. Mostly watching Totsuka, but that was why Kawai was there that night so early as well. Goseki had learned very quickly that it was best to have someone else on staff on the nights Totsuka worked, because somehow, Hashimoto and his adoration of Totsuka actually generated them more business.
It was a strange world. But he wouldn't argue.
At the end of the night Hashimoto casually, very casually, strode over to the stage, where Totsuka was packing up his guitar, even as he heard the front door open.
“Hey, Tottsu?”
“Yeah, Hasshi?” Tottsu asked as he snapped his guitar case closed.
“Did you wanna get a coffee or something sometime?”
“He can’t, he is with me tonight.” A short man, Kitayama, slipped up beside them and slid an arm around Totsuka’s waist, guiding him gently towards the door.
“Sorry, Hasshi, maybe later.” Totsuka called, then called out his goodbyes, and his thank you, and thanks for the hard works to the bar staff.
Hashimoto watched the door close with a glare, as Kitayama tossed a wink and a smirk back over his shoulder as the door to the bar closed.
It was certain. He had an arch nemesis.
“You cannot really think that I would actually tell you that?” Goseki laughed, slipping his phone back into his pocket and Kawai sighed.
“I hoped you would.” The bartended slipped his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels.
Goseki just shook his head, and his attention moved to Tsukada, as the co-owner of the bar loudly proclaimed that he had thought of the next, best, marketing scheme for the bar. This would not end well. It usually didn't. Hashimoto’s hire had been one of Tsukada’s few good choices for the bar.
Kawai sighed again, his face widening to his best, most practiced hosting smile as a young woman came up to the bar, ordering a round of drinks for herself and her friends.
Kawai had asked Goseki who his favorite idol was for a reason. He was honing his skills at doing impressions of idols. He performed on days that Totsuka was unscheduled, and during breaks to entertain the customers.
Kawai was pretty good at impersonating idols, their practiced hip thrusts and rolls, the casual way their shirts hung open, the looks of wanton sexiness. He was amazing at the looks of wanton sexiness, if he had to say so himself.
But he needed to know whom Goseki liked, since it was really his attention that he was trying to get.
Kawai sighed. Well, there was more than one way to impress a man. If he couldn't nail an impression of Goseki’s favorite celebrity he would just have to make his hips rolls that much more sexy and alluring. No one could resist a good pelvic gyration, not when they were as stunning and sexy as his. He was the king of gyrating.
Soon was a word that Hasshi was beginning to hate.
It was the word that Tottsu would use every time Kitayama lead him away after work, with a smirk and an arm slung casually around Tottsu.
We will hang out soon.
Maybe next time.
Soon. I promise.
Every single time it was said Hasshi believed. Or at least he used to. Hasshi, though he was an eternal optimist by many standards, was beginning to think that soon would never come. Tottsu had never given him a reason to believe to be honest.
And only so many things could be accomplished by sheer force of will.
Tottsu had never seemed to indicate that Kitayama was his boyfriend, his expression the same pleasant mild every single time dating, or lovers, or anything came up in casual conversation. And Hasshi was certain, cause he had been watching, nothing about Tottsu changed when Kitayama, that evil horrible arch nemesis Kitayama, came by to pick him up after work.
It was just so frustrating.
Hashimoto had stopped asking half of the time, cause he knew the answer anyway.
Soon.
He was beginning to think that he did not know that that word meant. Or maybe it was Tottsu who didn't know the meaning of soon. But Tottsu was smart, and read a lot of books, and wrote really pretty songs, so there was no way that he didn't know what the word meant.
So it must be Hasshi. Except that, this time, maybe it wasn't Hasshi.
But, on the nights that Tottsu closed the bar down with his music, Hasshi spent a lot more time polishing the glasses and tables than he needed, trying to force himself not to ask.
It was not as if Tottsu did not know that Hasshi was interested, and he wanted to give the other man a chance to say ‘yes, tonight is the night we can go out’, or maybe ‘Hey, Hasshi, are you busy tomorrow?’
But that would never happen. Because it was Tottsu, and he just did not work like that. Hasshi knew that much. He watched the man every day for months, after all.
Tonight though, tonight was different.
The bar was a bit more lively, Kawai’s best friend Fujigaya had stopped by. He had a rare night off work, and had come by to chat. Hasshi had met him once before in passing, one day before opening when Kawai was practicing his impressions, but hadn’t really seen a lot of the other man.
Hasshi was halfway listening to Kawai and Fujigaya chat, the other half was spend watching Tottsu play, cause even if he could resist the urge to set himself up for rejection again, Tottsu and the guitar was something that was worth watching all the time.
“Taipi, when do I get to meet your boyfriend? You talk about him all the time.” Kawai was leaning against the bar, chatting with Fujigaya, who was sitting watching Tottsu play.
“You have met him.” Fujigaya answered, before shaking his head. “I didn't realize Tottsu could sing like that, I had met him before, you know, just never seem him sing. It is kinda hard not so since he is best friends with Mistu and all but-“
“Waitwaitwaitwaitwait!” Kawai stuttered, almost shouted, and Hasshi found his attention turning ever so slightly away from Tottsu.
“You mean you tell me that your Mitsu is the Kitayama that picks Tottsu up from his gigs and claims its time for their date?”
Now Hasshi’s attention was 100% not on Tottsu. Maybe the first time ever.
But it was excusable, since this was a VERY VERY IMPORTANT HASSHI NEEDED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW face about Tottsu and that demon of an arch nemesis.
Fujigaya nodded, smiling softly. “That idiot, yes. There is no way he and Tottsu could date. And since I usually work nights, Mitsu and Tottsu have BFF man date nights all the time.” Fujigaya shrugged. “I trust Mitsu, and he and Tottsu have been friends for longer than Mitsu and I have been dating. If they were going to hook up, it would have happened before now, I figure.”
Maybe, just maybe, Hasshi could change soon into happily every after. Maybe tonight was his chance. Just maybe.
And so this time, when Kitayama strode into the bar like he owned the place, Hashimoto was watching him. He could see the way the other man paused for a moment, his eyes flicking to Fujigaya leaning against the bar with a brief smile before he sauntered over to Tottsu.
Hashimoto made sure that he was cleaning the table closest to the stage at that point.
It wasn't eavesdropping when it was a public conversation, and Kitayama was the type whose voice carried.
“Hey, it looks like our date is off for the night.” Kitayama called out as a greeting and Tottsu nodded chuckling.
“I figured as much when I saw Taipi. You should go out with him, this is a rare chance.” Tottsu looked to Kitayama, and then to Taipi. “You spend half the night missing him anyway, so I know you would rather be with him.”
“I will still see you off to the station.” Kitayama slung his arm around Tottsu and lead him towards the door, pausing for a brief moment. “Gaya, I will be back in a sec, I need to talk to Tottsu about something.”
“Got it.” Fujugaya answered, not turning from where he was chatting with Kawai.
Kitayama’s eyes met Hasshi’s as he turned back to Tottsu and he paused for a moment. “Was there something you needed, Hasshi?”
“Nope.” Hasshi answered with a smile, the biggest he could manage, though yes there was something that he wanted. Or someone, to be more specific. The someone that Kitayama currently had his arm around. But he could wait, there was time. Now that he knew that Tottsu was at least not Kitayama’s.
Maybe there was someone else, but if they couldn't even come out to watch Tottsu play every week, Hasshi was sure that they weren’t competition.
As the door closed Hashimoto and he turned back to cleaning the tables, he couldn't help but let out a small gasp. Tottsu had left his music binder. The one that was very precious to him, Hasshi knew for a fact, as he had talked to Tottsu about it. It had all his current songs, as well as several works in progress. Hasshi grabbed the binder, and called out to the others that he would be back in a second, he needed to give something to Tottsu.
No one really paid attention to him.
Hasshi burst out of the door to the bar, but stopped short when he saw Tottsu and Kitayama standing at the bottom of the stairwell that lead up to the bar. It was less what they were doing, which was nothing, and more the fact that he heard his name.
“-Hasshi, anyway? It seems that you are trying to keep me from talking to him.” Tottsu was looking at Kitayama, who sighed, as he leaned back against the railing, arms crossed over his chest.
“I am just trying to protect you. You were the one who said you had an overly persistent stalker.”
“Mitsu-“ Hasshi didn't wait to hear the rest, stepping back inside the bar. The doors were silent enough that no one would have heard him. He knew that from experience, cause he often freaked Kawai out coming into the bar when the other was practicing his impressions.
All Hasshi could hear was the sound of his own blood rushing in his ears.
And the words that Mitsu spoke loud and clear.
Overly. Persistent. stalker.
What that was Tottsu thought he was?
Hasshi didn't really remember the rest of closing the bar that night, though he did recall Kawai and Fujigaya, as well as Tsuka-chan asking him if he was alright.
He wasn't sure what he answered.
But at the end of the night, Tottsu’s music binder was left on the bar, waiting for Tottsu to come claim it the next day. He worked the next day anyway, at least he was on schedule. Assuming he wanted to work with an overly persistent stalker.
Kawai had tried to ask what had happened, especially when he saw Hasshi flinch when Kitayama walked back into the bar.
Hasshi just went back to cleaning the same table.
Had Hasshi been more aware he would have noticed that when he entered, Kitayama had stared at Hasshi for a moment. He also would have noticed that Fujigaya had stormed over to Kitayama, demanding to know what the other had done to make Hasshi so sad, and he would have overheard the furious whispered conversation between Fujigaya, Kitayama and Kawai.
But he noticed none of that, instead staring at the notebook of songs on the table in front of him with a sad expression.
In the mean time, Gocchi and Tsuka-chan shared a look, before Gocchi pulled out his phone, opening it and sending a mass text to one of the talents that sometimes performed at their bar.
More importantly, he knew that they were Hasshi’s friends, and just the distraction needed.
To: The Snowmen
From: Goseki
Subject: Hasshi
It is time.
He locked his phone shut and slipped it back into his pocket, Tsuka-chan watching over his shoulder. He could feel the slight 'mmm' of Tsuka's agreement thought his body, the other man warm against his back, and while he couldn’t see his face he knew his business partnet well enough to know that Tsuka’s gaze kept moving from Hasshi to the tag team attack on Kitayama.
They had let things progress naturally for as long as they could. But obviously, left to their own devices Hasshi and Tottsu were hopeless. Clearly. Well mostly Tottsu was hopeless. Hasshi had made his interested and intentions very clear, they thought. But more importantly, no one was allowed to make Hasshi that sad and get away with it. He was their to protect, after all.
So they were going to fix it, one way or another.
“This afternoon Hasshi won’t be in, he has the night off.” Were the words that Gocchi softly commented to Kawai, as he leaned against the bar, watching Tottsu set up for the night. Tottsu had come in early that day, and he had looked around the bar. Gocchi had gotten a little better at reading the musician over his time performing at the bar, but he was still mostly a mystery many times. The musician tended to play his cards close to his chest.
Gocchi did notice, however, that something had changed in Tottsu’s face when it was mentioned that Hasshi had found the notebook while he was cleaning, and had wanted to make sure that Tottsu got it.
Gocchi had waited for a moment, wondering if Tottsu would ask about the younger man, but he just smiled, and mildly thanking Gocchi was taking care of the notebook. But Gocchi was a patient man, and he watched, and would watch.
He and Tsuka-chan knew what they were doing after all.
“But, Tottsu is performing tonight, and Hasshi never misses a night.” Kawai commented back just as softly, certain his words would not be heard over the light strumming of Tottsu’s guitar as he tuned and warmed up.
“I know.”
“And business?”
Tsuka-chan leaned against the bar, joining in on the conversation. “They will think Tottsu is distraught over Hasshi not being here, and will buy more than usual.”
“But-“ Kawai stopped as the door opened, and everyone chimed out a loud welcome.
What no one missed, was the way that just for a moment, Tottsu watched the door as well, quickly turning back to his guitar.
“How long?” Kawai asked Gocchi, as Tsuka-chan bound over to their first customers of the night.
Gocchi didn't answer, but Kawai could imagine. After he and Taipi had ganged up on Kitayama, they had managed to figure out most of what happened that night. Needless to say no one had been happy with the older man that night, and Taipi had been furious that Kitayama, while he was trying to be a good friend, had possibly ruined or at least made incredibly difficult, the happiness of one of friends.
Kawai was not sure how their date night went after that, but the pair had still been bickering when they left. But then again Kawai knew Taipi well enough to know that the would enjoy the make up sex, though his lover would have to work for it.
And while he was not sure what Gocchi and Tsuka-chan were planning, the fact that they got involved spoke volumes.
They would get Hasshi his happiness, he was certain. Well, at least if Tottsu would just cooperate. And the glances that he sent at the door for the rest of the night, each time it opened, was enough to indicate that maybe, just maybe, it was possible.
When Kitayama had come to pick Tottsu up that night, he had looked around the bar for a moment, searching for someone, and after a moment his gaze settled on Kawai.
Kawai had said nothing, just crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow in challenge.
A few days later, when Tottsu was again performing at their bar, Hasshi was once again off. This time, however, Tottsu slid up to the bar and ordered a drink.
He never drank before his performances.
“So, I admit that it is odd to see you back there by yourself.” Tottsu tried to sound nonchalant, and it was all that Kawai could do to keep a straight face. The day after Hasshi’s first absence, Hasshi had come bounding into the bar and filed Kawai in on all the details of his apparently new, part time job.
Kawai had to admit that he was a little jealous.
“Hasshi got dragged by some of his friends to a new part time job.” Kawai commented, trying to keep his tone light as he polished the glassware for tonight’s shift. “Apparently it is going well, but it keeps him out of the bar a few nights a week.”
“A new job?” Tottsu asked in question and Kawai nodded. “When you see him, you should ask him about it. But he will be happy to know you asked about him. He made me tell him all the details for your performance.”
Totsuka chuckled softly, placing his mostly empty glass back on the counter.
“It just isn’t the same without him here.”
“You used to perform without him all the time though.” Kawai didn't look directly at Totsuka as he placed the glasses back, and the other nodded, looking off into the bar at nothing in particular.
“I did, but Hasshi….He just adds something to the place.” The other man shrugged as the door opened and the first customer came in. “But, I better get to work, it is about time to start.”
Kawai nodded with a bright smile. “Do your best, as always.”
Later that night, Kitayama came early to the bar. Kawai was not surprised, as Taipi had messaged him earlier. What was surprising, however, was that Kitayama had two tickets to the performance club, Shokura.
“Just what am I supposed to do with these? Taipi gave them to you, for Tottsu.” Kawai asked, talking to Kitayama between customers, which was very hard to do at the moment.
Sadly enough Tsuka-chan had been right. Since Hasshi was not there, everyone was convinced that Tottsu was heartbroken, and sales were up. Both in drinks for Tottsu, and in general overall sales.
Gocchi, Tsuka-chan and Kawai, though, were not completely convinced that Tottsu was heartbroken. Something was certainly off about the man but….
“I was told that Hasshi is worth seeing on stage.” Kitayama sighed, running a hand through his hair, and Kawai did not respond. “Taisuke gave me an earful, about messing with other peoples happiness, and meddling in things I don't know, and then he gave me these tickets.
Kawai didn't say anything, but Gocchi slid over to the bar, leaning against the bar near Kitayama.
“Is Hasshi really performing there?”
“Your boyfriend performs at Shokura and you are asking me this why?” Kawai snapped back, just a little bit envious. It would be the best place to improve his impression skills, and maybe then he could really impress Gocchi, but working at Shokura would mean that he could not work here, since almost everyone at Shokura was serious about their career in performing.
Gocchi glanced down at the ticket, and then back to Kitayama. “I would suggest you trust your boyfriend and manage to take Tottsu on a BFF date. These tickets are hard to get, and I promise it is worth the effort.”
“But, Shokura is hard to get into. Taipi almost killed himself making it. I know that Tottsu would love to be on stage their. They take the best of the best. The unique and original. But they have to invite you, you don't just apply. And, well, Hasshi it just a bartender, right?”
Gocchi didn't respond to the comment, just pushed off the bar. “We are closed that night, so Tottsu will be free.”
Unsurprisingly, when Kitayama presented the idea to Tottsu, he was very excited about the idea, and just a little bit shocked.
“I heard that Shokura just got a new act, and there is a lot of excitement about it. I guess the Snowmen are collaborating with someone. It is really like nothing that they have done before. I will really have to thank Taipi for the tickets when I see him.”
“Just wait until you see the show,” Tsuka-chan added, leaning against the doorway at the last customer left for the night. “I hear that it is magical.”
The horizon had never seemed to far away.
Rather, the star on the horizon.
The horizon was not something that he had ever paid much attention to. It was just a place in the distance, it never changed. Well it always changed, but the distance to the horizon was always the same. It was unattainable distance, with an ever changing view. He had never wanted to reach the horizon, it had always been something that he was OK with being out of reach. The stars in the distance, they were there to guide him. He was OK following it, OK with it being a constant.
Things had been changing.
The constant things in his universe weren't as constant as he would have hoped.
Tottsu wasn't certain, but he might miss the brightness of Hasshi's smile at the end of a song set, miss his cheers, loudest of them all even though he was farthest from the stage.
In some ways Hasshi had been a constant, a star that was in the distance on the horizon.
He just had not realized it.
But that was before.... now, he had something that he wanted, a purpose to chance that dream in the distance, to run for the horizon with all of his might, but as he watched Hasshi leave the venue, two of his friends, Snowmen or something like that, pressed tight against his sides, their arms around him, Tottsu wasn't sure if the star on the horizon was attainable. And from the way Kitayama was avoiding him, the man knew much more than he was letting on.
He would need to get to the bottom of this, and from the look that he caught Fujigaya sending Kawai, there was quite a lot to get going on that he was not aware of.
But he was a patient man. He would figure out this mystery.
"Grief ridden isn't a good look on you, Kitayama." Tsuka-chan softly commented from perch against the wall.
"I think you mean guilt ridden." Kawai commented back, noticing Kitayama flinch. "Enough stalling, are you ready?"
While he himself was not performing that evening, and there were there to support Hashimoto, and watch Totsuka as he watched Hashimoto, Kawai could not help but give Kitayama a hard time. This was after all clearly his fault, and the was doing his best to shrink away from taking responsibility. But Kitayama was clearly uncomfortable with the entire situation, which is why he was shuffling by the door, finishing a smoke (A habit that Kawai knew that Fujigaya hated, but that didn't seem to stop him from doing it). He had been surprised to see the Ni no Ichi bar staff arrive about the time as he did, but a look from Goseki, stopped him from asking questions.
Did he really expect them to miss this?
But then again Kawai was still unclear how they had gotten tickets, good tickets, and backstage passes.
From the way that Totsuka was looking around the outside of the venue, eyes wide and face expressive, Kawai was certain that he had no idea what was in store for him. But then again neither did Kawai. Goseki always played things close to his chest, closer that Totsuka and Tsuka-chan was slightly more smug than usual, but not so much so to give anything away. But then again Tsuka-chan was often commenting on his own awesomeness and going on about secrets and things that only Goseki seemed to understand.
It was quite clear that Kitayama had not yet mentioned to Tottsu that maybe the reason for Hashimoto's extended absence from work was that he seemed to think that he was viewed by Tottsu as an overly persistent stalker.
But then again Kawai was convinced that even if Totsuka has been told, he wouldn't do anything about it. That just wasn't his style. His ability to deal with feeling and emotions was a little bit.... limited at times. Which was surprising, given his ability to write songs. But tonight was watching Hashimoto, and watching Tottsu.
"Does he know?" Kawai leaned against the wall near Goseki, inclining his head slightly towards the venue, and Goseki nodded.
"He is more nervous than usual, but he should be fine."
"Is he any good?"
Goseki didn't say anything, just smiled, before looking around at everyone.
"Shall we?"
***
As they walked inside, a man with a smile wider than his face, and a large nose greeted them!
"Welcome to Shokura!"
"MIYACCHI?!" Kawai called out before he could stop himself. He was one of their regulars, a friend of Tsuka-chan, and his bouldering buddy. He sometimes came in with his boyfriend or friend or buddy (their dynamics were still unclear) Tamamori, who was also friend with Fujigaya's, but this was just strange. Why was he even here tonight?
"What--"
Kawai stopped as Miyata smiled even wider somehow. "Tsuka-chan didn't tell you that I am the manger here?" Miyacchi's voice was kind and pleasant as always, and both Kawai and Totsuka looked to Tsukada in shock.
"Oops?" The other man laughed, shrugging his shoulders halfheartedly, and Kawai couldn't help but shake his head.
"Goseki-sama, are you at the table or the sound booth tonight?" A voice came from somewhere behind them, and Kawai and Totsuka both looked at one another in confusion. Kawai raised an eyebrow in question but Totsuka just shook his head. Even Kitayama looked a little surprised, but he has already disappeared. Probably to find his boyfriend.
What was going on here?
"Tonight the table. Its the last show tonight, so I want to make sure that I can really see it."
"Of course! Your table is ready as always. Please take a seat when you ready. Mercury is about to start his show."
"Mercury?" Kawai asked, and Goseki didn't answer, moving over to a table in front of the center stage. As he moved all the staff called out greetings to him, as to Tsuka-chan as well. Kawai could see Fujigaya leaning against a wall off to the side of the room, Kitayama walking away from him, and Kawai caught his gaze, slipping over to the other man.
"Whats going on? Miyacchi is manager and everyone is treating Goseki-kun and Tsuka-chan like royalty.
"Not my place to comment. But you never asked about Miyacchi's job. To be fair." Fujigya chuckled, before glaring at his boyfriend. "Mitsu still didn't say anything, did he? He avoided it when I asked."
"Not that I can tell. Tottsu plays is cards close to his chest, so I'm not sure that he would say anything."
Fujigaya nodded.
"You had better hurry.... Hasshi is about to start. And you will want to be sitting down for this."
"That good?"
Fujigaya pushed off the wall, not commenting, but walked over to where Miyacchi was standing next to the sound and lighting control booth. The lights went down just as Kawai got to his seat, and one glance at Totsuka and Kitayama's table told him that Totsuka still had no idea, not with the wide eyed gazes that he was casting around the room.
There were certainly many unknown things, as the music started, Kawai found that he was not watching Totsuka at all, instead his attention was completely on Hashimoto. He could hear a sharp intake of breath from next to him, and Kitayama might have made a low comment, but as Hashimoto walked onto the stage Kawai was struck by how much he looked that he belonged.
A pair of low slung jeans, an open Hawaiian shirt, abdomen and chest visible.
Kawai could see "Dance" flash on the screen behind Hashimoto, but as the music picked up in intensity Hashimoto danced, he sang, and he moved.
Kawai has been unaware that he even had a sexy side, the sweet caring overgrown puppy side usually the most obvious.
But he sang, he danced, he and his back dancers (BACK DANCERS!!) Snowman did some acrobatics.
This was nothing like the young man that everyone was worried about, the man who was pining for someone who couldn't see the obvious things that was in front of him.
So this, this was new. This was different, and at the end, when dressed in a white tuxedo, Hashimoto extended a bouquet of roses as he sang "Stay with me", Kawai could understand why the entire venue surged to its feel, screaming and cheering as the lights faded, and the show ended. Kawai himself was standing and cheering before he knew what was happening.
Tottsu, though, seemed to be in shock, sitting and staring at the stage with wide eyes before he too stood, and as Hashimoto left the stage Kawai could not help but flash him a thumbs up, which the other returned with a huge grin.
Maybe there was hope after all.