fic for kiah_1
For: kiah_1
From: tempesteru
Title: the humming cicadas over the midsummer afternoon
Pairing/Focus: Ohno Satoshi x Ninomiya Kazunari, Aiba Masaki x Ninomiya Kazunari
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: angsty Nino?
Summary: In the midsummer afternoon, Kazunari learns to let go.
Notes: thank you Inez for the kindness shown through the process and for holding the exchange. Also, I hope I do justice to your prompt, kiah_1. Please, enjoy!
"I forgive you."
"But I can't forgive myself."
"You should."
"You should not."
He watches the older man rub his face in defeat, watches how the lips, those that kissed him ferociously just a moment before- Kazunari resists the urge to touch his own swollen lips- form sentences that he needs to process twice before he gets it.
"I don't love you anymore. No, not like before."
Kazunari tightens his lips. He watches the man fondly for a while before he sighs out. "I understand, Oh-chan. So, this is the end?"
He stares at the man, at the love of his life for more than five years, who fumbles for words, like the man usually does. Kazunari sighs as he naturally slips into the role he has been stuck in for the almost six years he has known Ohno Satoshi: he becomes his voice. "I wish you the best and you wish me even better, right, Oh-chan?"
"Yeah."
It is actually the relief displayed on Satoshi's face that does it for Kazunari, that he knows that right now there is nothing he, no, nothing they can do to salvage this relationship. It is the end for both of them, and they acknowledge it.
"Yeah," Kazunari says as he turns his back to Satoshi, knowing the man is doing the same. This is the goodbye. They are parting ways after an inseparable six years of friendship and five years of being in love with each other.
Yeah, Kazunari thinks with a bitter smile as the memory of those six years- happy- angry- intimate- bitter- jealous- Yeah, he thinks again, swallowing the lump forming in his throat.
The night when they share their dreams- in a room and thinking together for their project- the kisses shared between them-
Yeah.
Yeah.
./././
miiin
step-step-step
miiinn
sweat forms and makes its way down blushing skin
miin
a hand is lifted to shun the glaring sun
miiin
miiinn
miiin
Kazunari smiles to himself as he continues his walk into the crowded Hibiya Park. It is funny that the cicadas are so loud in asserting their existence, as if people would never notice that summer had come if they weren't making their existence known to mankind. People certainly have noticed summer in other forms. Longer sun-life for one, then, sweaty skin getting red as it reacts to hot, humid days. The most obvious marks would be the ice cream and cold dessert sellers. They pop up everywhere, especially in the sunniest places, as they know people in the area will crave and succumb to the short-time happiness.
One Sunday late afternoon in the summer is uncomfortably warm, Kazunari thinks, shirt weighed down with perspiration and glued to his skin like a second layer. He finds shelter from the sun under the shadow of a big tree not far from the small amphitheater, and he fans himself with the brim of his hat. He stands there in silence, eyes looking at the kids playing cheerfully in the field.
Another smile quirks his lips. It certainly brings back memories of childhood. It was a long time ago. Twenty years have passed since his childhood and after that-
Kazunari stops himself, his smile turning wary as his memory walks down the lane of his life as he graduated high school. It is not as if he wasn't happy at that time. He frowns. No, it's not that. On the other hand, his university life was actually the best time in his life, the turning point, one might say.
Kazunari wipes the sweat forming on his forehead. It’s that even after that day, now, in the nine years they haven't been 'us' anymore, Kazunari still wants him, wants Ohno Satoshi.
Ohno Satoshi was his first love, first everything, really- they had done everything together ever since they were introduced to each other by one of the upperclassman- the moment they shook hands, something clicked, like a completed puzzle.
Kazunari can relay the moment perfectly like it happened only a minute before. He remembers that the upperclassman, Sakurai Sho, took a liking to him after his witty reply to another upperclassman. He was just a freshman at that time, and barely a week had passed from the epic musical show he watched as part of the freshman welcoming ceremony in the Grand Hall of Showa University of Music. However, freshman or not, Kazunari always thought that seniority stunk, especially when it was forced, so he gave his two cents on it testily when a senior demanded that one of his friends bow to them when they passed a group of seniors in the hallway.
//"This is a fucking university and not high school anymore. Who would goddamn care about seniority?" Kazunari tersely said.
Sho was there at the time Kazunari rebutted the senior, and the older man had laughed at his own bewildered friend, Aiba Masaki. Sho explained that Masaki was actually joking about the bowing-to-your-senior. "It's a fun project for this airhead, so don't mind him," said Sho as he ruffled Masaki's hair.
Kazunari was then introduced to Sho's friend as a cocky freshman, along with Matsumoto Jun. Another 'cocky freshman', Masaki said, and then he proceeded to explain how it was Jun's cockiness that inspired him to try his fun project of telling them to bow to their seniors. Sho turned to the side, and Kazunari's eyes were met with a pair of brown eyes. Kazunari's look turned distasteful when he found the man was picking his nose industriously.
"He is Ohno Satoshi. You said you were taking musical theater courses?" Kazunari nodded his head, not looking away from the eyes looking back at him. "Then you will meet him in some classes," Sho said.
"Nice to meet you." Satoshi wiped his fingers on his jeans- Kazunari cringed at that- and held out his hand.
"Woah, that is dirty, Oh-chan," slipped out of his mouth as they shook hands. "Please tell me you are going to do your laundry today?" He grimaced as Satoshi's eyes twinkled.
"Only if you help me, Nino."
That earned Satoshi a quirked brow from Kazunari, before the younger man grinned. "If dinner is included then it’s a deal, Oh-chan."//
The memory makes him smile, although only for a beat, before he is reminded again of the fact that, regrettably, Ohno Satoshi is also the man who had decided they were not meant to be. Kazunari was achingly broken-hearted when they separated. He was still very much in love, and that's why he said he forgave the man for cheating-
Kazunari sighs heavily, as if there is a burden weighing down on him. Even after all this time, whenever he thinks of the older man, there is a squeezing inside his chest, like a longing, like a prayer, for them to have another chance, but for what? It's not like they can return to the way they were.
Kazunari is aware of his wistful thinking. He understands that it is necessary to move on from the past. He is moving on- life is moving on, it’s kept moving forward for him since that day, and now, at thirty two years old, he is quite a well-known J-Pop music composer, he makes more money than average people, he has flings here and there, he- Kazunari smiles, a tinge of sadness in the quirk of his lips- maybe, he is just still pining for Ohno Satoshi- maybe he needs closure.
Movement in the periphery catches his eye, and his mind snaps back into the present. Right. It's not the time to be reminiscing about the past, and by the way, where is Masaki? He looks around the area near the amphitheater and finds that it is getting more crowded. It looks like there will be an event starting- theatrical performance, maybe? He stares at the prop set on the stage.
"Nino!"
Kazunari startles from the loud voice near him. "Can you stop sneaking up on me?" He turns and gives Masaki a glare.
The lanky man rolls his eyes goodheartedly. "Pssh, I am not. You are not paying attention to your surroundings, it is!"
Kazunari pushes away his looming best friend. Yeah, that airheaded upperclassman he snapped at back then is his best friend. Funny, right, how life turns out in the end? It is the same too with Satoshi. He thought he and Satoshi would last forever, but it turned out forever for them only lasted for five years. He grimaces. He needs to stop relating everything to Satoshi already. It’s been nine years for fuck's sake!
"Anyway, why are we here?" he says to distract himself.
Masaki's eyes gleam with mischief and Kazunari immediately feels something awful is going to happen.
"You will have fun and thank me later," the man replies cryptically.
"I swear if this is something awful, I am going to poison your next meal." Kazunari narrows his eyes.
"Eh, Nino-chan, why so mean!" Masaki whines. "Oh, right. We should get closer. Look, I bought tickets for us two." Masaki leads the way to the theater.
Kazunari tunes out Masaki's rambling as they move closer to the theater. People are queuing into five setup lanes as the staff checks their tickets. Some snack sellers are walking around inside the theater area, jovially offering their snacks for the seated audience.
"You will see. Their performances are awesome!" Masaki exclaims excitedly. "I have been following their news and schedule ever since I watched them when I was in Hakodate last year."
Hakodate. It reminds him of Satoshi and his dream to open a bakery- Kazunari stops himself, getting more irritated with himself by the second. He needs to stop. It has been nine good years without Satoshi, he has been doing fine without the man, and now suddenly the dam of memories is bursting open? Shit.
He stops them from walking and takes a deep breath.
"You okay, Nino?"
"I feel a little sick. I want to go home," he says, already turning to the exit lane, but the fingers circling his wrist stop him from taking a step.
"Nino, Nino. Look at me," Masaki says softly.
The sense of urgency in Masaki's voice makes him look up and into his friend's eyes. He quickly averts his eyes. He can see the fond expression, and- Kazunari sighs. No. Masaki is his best friend.
"What is it?" Kazunari says tiredly as he looks at their shadows overlapping with their surroundings.
"Kazu, look at me." The older man's fingers loosen around his wrist and dip down to twine with Kazunari's fingers.
Kazunari watches their fingers, long ones fit snugly within his short fingers, snug against each other. This is enough, right? It wouldn't be fair to the older man if he-
"Kazu?"
He looks up. "What?"
"I promise you, this is what you needed. After this..." Masaki looks sheepish. "After this, maybe-"
((( "Hi, all! Are you ready for the show?" )))
There are cheers coming from the crowd surrounding them as some man with a mask takes his position in the middle of the stage. Masaki tugs Kazunari’s hand and leads them to the vacant seats in the third row.
Quite a good seat, Kazunari has to say. They get to see the overall stage from a balanced viewpoint, and at this distance, they can easily see the actors' expressions and listen to the whole performance. The live band is checking the sound by playing happy tunes that are getting the children excited. Kazunari notices there are many families with young children watching the performance, as well as teenagers and young adults. It is pretty much a full house.
"They are good, I promise," Masaki whispers as if he knows what Kazunari is thinking. Kazunari doesn't get why the man feels the need to whisper when they are not in some goddamn classical music performance.
"What troupe?" Kazunari asks as more people take to the stage and get ready. "Story?"
"You will find out soon. The story is original, but I won't tell you the plot. You have to watch it yourself."
Kazunari clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. You are annoying."
"Sssh! You don't want to miss the opening!"
A man hidden behind a mask and a black cloak runs to the middle of the stage. The music starts with an eerie tune.
((( Once upon a time... )))
./././
Kazunari and Masaki are clapping when Kaibutsu-kun decides to stay in the human world, marking the end of the two-hour play.
The Kaibutsu-kun play is about a young prince from the land of monsters who comes to the human world to train before he succeeds the throne. The story is packed with humour, action, and even drama as the young prince makes friends with Hamutatsu, a teenager from the human world. Kazunari definitely enjoys the plot. It's light and immensely good. The music is even better.
((( And now, please welcome and give him your warmest applause, our genius mister director, Ohno Satoshi! )))
Kazunari freezes in his seat as he watches the man- Satoshi- He quickly stands up, his abrupt movements hidden from view by the audience giving the director a standing ovation- Masaki grabs his arm and stops him from- Kazunari doesn't know whether he wants to run to the stage, to Satoshi, or run away from the man of his past- the man who dominates his mind and heart-
"You knew," he whispers accusingly as Masaki steers him back to his seat.
"I want you to be happy," Masaki says solemnly, "and this is selfish, I know. But I want you to be happy with me, Kazu."
He lets go of Kazunari's hand, and immediately the younger man understands. Masaki will let him go if that’s what he wants, so this is Kazunari's chance to take the offer or to leave it.
"You are my best friend," Kazunari says shakily. He vaguely notices the applause has died down and the audience is back in their seats.
"You are, too. But I want more." He looks at Kazunari directly and then his eyes dip to look at his lips.
Kazunari instantly remembers one night several years ago when they were both drunk and crossed the line- Shit. This is awkward, he thinks. Kazunari averts his gaze to the stage, where Satoshi stands in the middle, looking exactly the same as he did nine years ago, like nothing has happened- but it has been nine years, right? Kazunari, too, if one took a look at him and compared it with him-nine-years-ago, wouldn’t be much different physically. The only difference would be his broken heart.
((( Now, now, mister director, please let us know what is on your mind right now! )))
((( Thank you for watching the stage play! )))
((( Any thank you messages, mister director? )))
((( Well, of course! First, I want to thank my partner in life and crime, Kuraishi-- )))
Kazunari swallows hard when he hears the name. Kuraishi is the man who Satoshi cheated with. Of course, he would remember that name anywhere.
((( and, this might sound strange, but I have two partners in life and crime. One of them I haven't seen much for nine years, )))
Shit. He feels light, like hysterical laughter bubbling in his throat. Shit. Shit.
((( but it's because I have been doing something bad to him. See, I am not a good person. )))
The audience laughs.
((( One of my old friends then looked for me to say that I need to apologize for the bad things. I know they are here, and taking this opportunity, I want to say, )))
Kazunari watches Satoshi kneel down and then take dogeza form.
((( from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry, Kazu! I hope you will be happy, even happier than me! )))
Kazunari closes his eyes, flashes of memories rewinding in the back of his mind, of Satoshi and him when they pulled their first prank in their music class- their first tentative kiss that felt mostly awkward- their first musical project- dancing together in the club- fingers fumbling for each other's clothes as their lips locked in a passionate kiss- Kazunari playing the piano and Satoshi belting out silly lyrics to accompany it- Kazunari watching Ohno kiss Kuraishi fiercely- "I wish you the best and you wish me even better, right, Oh-chan?"- "Nino-chan!" "Stop with the -chan already." "Eh, Nino so mean!"-
and then suddenly everything is about how Masaki has always been there for him. Nino this, Nino that- Nino-Nino!-Nino-
He opens his eyes and turns to his side. "I am angry with you."
Masaki's eyes crinkle with his smile. "I know." He reaches for Kazunari’s fingers and intertwines them in his own. "I know."
((( Once again, thank you for coming to the show! I hope you enjoyed it, and we will see you again soon with another play! Please look forward to it! Bye-bi, all~ )))
Shortly after that the show ends for real, and people start leaving the amphitheater.
"You sure you don't want to meet him?" Masaki tugs his hand.
"No. I’m good," Kazunari says as he tugs back and pulls Masaki with him to the exit lane.
"Are you really sure, Nino?" Masaki asks again, a little bit anxious.
"Shut up. I said so already," Kazunari replies grumpily, although inside he feels like a burden has been lifted off his chest. Satoshi is happy, and so he will be even happier.
"Like really sure? I mean, I have asked for a backstage pass, you know, and it's a big deal because, well, maybe you don't know this, but SK Troupe is like the most famous troupe in Japan right now and getting a ticket to their show is not easy, even more so the backst-"
Kazunari turns around and kisses Masaki to stop his rambling, and then swiftly turns back again to lead him out of the amphitheater. His cheeks feel hot, but Kazunari blames the summer sun for it. (Although to be honest, Kazunari notices the sun is hiding somewhere and the temperature has gone down a fair bit.)
They follow the main path that will lead them to the-
"Nino?"
"Masaki, I told you already-"
Masaki grabs his waist and kisses him full on the lips. Kazunari welcomes the kiss, and thinks it is because the older man wants to one-up him. It is so Masaki-like, and Kazunari remembers when the both of them played Super Mario Bros for hours nonstop-
They part for air.
"I like you, Kazu." Masaki steals a peck. "Like really, really like you. Like, you know, like like."
Kazunari hits his friend on the head. His lips feel swollen, warm and tingly, and smiley. "Stupid."
miiin
miiinn
"But you like me, right Nino-chan?"
miin
miiin
miiinn
Yeah, Kazunari thinks as they continue their walk, fingers entwining snugly. Yeah, of course, I like you.
miiin
miiinn
"Maybe," he says, instead, playfully shoving Masaki with his shoulder. "Anyway, you owe me ice cream."
"Eeh? No, I don’t!"
miinn
minn
miiinnnn
Kazunari tightens his hold on Masaki. "Yes, you do."
.
From: tempesteru
Title: the humming cicadas over the midsummer afternoon
Pairing/Focus: Ohno Satoshi x Ninomiya Kazunari, Aiba Masaki x Ninomiya Kazunari
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: angsty Nino?
Summary: In the midsummer afternoon, Kazunari learns to let go.
Notes: thank you Inez for the kindness shown through the process and for holding the exchange. Also, I hope I do justice to your prompt, kiah_1. Please, enjoy!
"I forgive you."
"But I can't forgive myself."
"You should."
"You should not."
He watches the older man rub his face in defeat, watches how the lips, those that kissed him ferociously just a moment before- Kazunari resists the urge to touch his own swollen lips- form sentences that he needs to process twice before he gets it.
"I don't love you anymore. No, not like before."
Kazunari tightens his lips. He watches the man fondly for a while before he sighs out. "I understand, Oh-chan. So, this is the end?"
He stares at the man, at the love of his life for more than five years, who fumbles for words, like the man usually does. Kazunari sighs as he naturally slips into the role he has been stuck in for the almost six years he has known Ohno Satoshi: he becomes his voice. "I wish you the best and you wish me even better, right, Oh-chan?"
"Yeah."
It is actually the relief displayed on Satoshi's face that does it for Kazunari, that he knows that right now there is nothing he, no, nothing they can do to salvage this relationship. It is the end for both of them, and they acknowledge it.
"Yeah," Kazunari says as he turns his back to Satoshi, knowing the man is doing the same. This is the goodbye. They are parting ways after an inseparable six years of friendship and five years of being in love with each other.
Yeah, Kazunari thinks with a bitter smile as the memory of those six years- happy- angry- intimate- bitter- jealous- Yeah, he thinks again, swallowing the lump forming in his throat.
The night when they share their dreams- in a room and thinking together for their project- the kisses shared between them-
Yeah.
Yeah.
./././
miiin
step-step-step
miiinn
sweat forms and makes its way down blushing skin
miin
a hand is lifted to shun the glaring sun
miiin
miiinn
miiin
Kazunari smiles to himself as he continues his walk into the crowded Hibiya Park. It is funny that the cicadas are so loud in asserting their existence, as if people would never notice that summer had come if they weren't making their existence known to mankind. People certainly have noticed summer in other forms. Longer sun-life for one, then, sweaty skin getting red as it reacts to hot, humid days. The most obvious marks would be the ice cream and cold dessert sellers. They pop up everywhere, especially in the sunniest places, as they know people in the area will crave and succumb to the short-time happiness.
One Sunday late afternoon in the summer is uncomfortably warm, Kazunari thinks, shirt weighed down with perspiration and glued to his skin like a second layer. He finds shelter from the sun under the shadow of a big tree not far from the small amphitheater, and he fans himself with the brim of his hat. He stands there in silence, eyes looking at the kids playing cheerfully in the field.
Another smile quirks his lips. It certainly brings back memories of childhood. It was a long time ago. Twenty years have passed since his childhood and after that-
Kazunari stops himself, his smile turning wary as his memory walks down the lane of his life as he graduated high school. It is not as if he wasn't happy at that time. He frowns. No, it's not that. On the other hand, his university life was actually the best time in his life, the turning point, one might say.
Kazunari wipes the sweat forming on his forehead. It’s that even after that day, now, in the nine years they haven't been 'us' anymore, Kazunari still wants him, wants Ohno Satoshi.
Ohno Satoshi was his first love, first everything, really- they had done everything together ever since they were introduced to each other by one of the upperclassman- the moment they shook hands, something clicked, like a completed puzzle.
Kazunari can relay the moment perfectly like it happened only a minute before. He remembers that the upperclassman, Sakurai Sho, took a liking to him after his witty reply to another upperclassman. He was just a freshman at that time, and barely a week had passed from the epic musical show he watched as part of the freshman welcoming ceremony in the Grand Hall of Showa University of Music. However, freshman or not, Kazunari always thought that seniority stunk, especially when it was forced, so he gave his two cents on it testily when a senior demanded that one of his friends bow to them when they passed a group of seniors in the hallway.
//"This is a fucking university and not high school anymore. Who would goddamn care about seniority?" Kazunari tersely said.
Sho was there at the time Kazunari rebutted the senior, and the older man had laughed at his own bewildered friend, Aiba Masaki. Sho explained that Masaki was actually joking about the bowing-to-your-senior. "It's a fun project for this airhead, so don't mind him," said Sho as he ruffled Masaki's hair.
Kazunari was then introduced to Sho's friend as a cocky freshman, along with Matsumoto Jun. Another 'cocky freshman', Masaki said, and then he proceeded to explain how it was Jun's cockiness that inspired him to try his fun project of telling them to bow to their seniors. Sho turned to the side, and Kazunari's eyes were met with a pair of brown eyes. Kazunari's look turned distasteful when he found the man was picking his nose industriously.
"He is Ohno Satoshi. You said you were taking musical theater courses?" Kazunari nodded his head, not looking away from the eyes looking back at him. "Then you will meet him in some classes," Sho said.
"Nice to meet you." Satoshi wiped his fingers on his jeans- Kazunari cringed at that- and held out his hand.
"Woah, that is dirty, Oh-chan," slipped out of his mouth as they shook hands. "Please tell me you are going to do your laundry today?" He grimaced as Satoshi's eyes twinkled.
"Only if you help me, Nino."
That earned Satoshi a quirked brow from Kazunari, before the younger man grinned. "If dinner is included then it’s a deal, Oh-chan."//
The memory makes him smile, although only for a beat, before he is reminded again of the fact that, regrettably, Ohno Satoshi is also the man who had decided they were not meant to be. Kazunari was achingly broken-hearted when they separated. He was still very much in love, and that's why he said he forgave the man for cheating-
Kazunari sighs heavily, as if there is a burden weighing down on him. Even after all this time, whenever he thinks of the older man, there is a squeezing inside his chest, like a longing, like a prayer, for them to have another chance, but for what? It's not like they can return to the way they were.
Kazunari is aware of his wistful thinking. He understands that it is necessary to move on from the past. He is moving on- life is moving on, it’s kept moving forward for him since that day, and now, at thirty two years old, he is quite a well-known J-Pop music composer, he makes more money than average people, he has flings here and there, he- Kazunari smiles, a tinge of sadness in the quirk of his lips- maybe, he is just still pining for Ohno Satoshi- maybe he needs closure.
Movement in the periphery catches his eye, and his mind snaps back into the present. Right. It's not the time to be reminiscing about the past, and by the way, where is Masaki? He looks around the area near the amphitheater and finds that it is getting more crowded. It looks like there will be an event starting- theatrical performance, maybe? He stares at the prop set on the stage.
"Nino!"
Kazunari startles from the loud voice near him. "Can you stop sneaking up on me?" He turns and gives Masaki a glare.
The lanky man rolls his eyes goodheartedly. "Pssh, I am not. You are not paying attention to your surroundings, it is!"
Kazunari pushes away his looming best friend. Yeah, that airheaded upperclassman he snapped at back then is his best friend. Funny, right, how life turns out in the end? It is the same too with Satoshi. He thought he and Satoshi would last forever, but it turned out forever for them only lasted for five years. He grimaces. He needs to stop relating everything to Satoshi already. It’s been nine years for fuck's sake!
"Anyway, why are we here?" he says to distract himself.
Masaki's eyes gleam with mischief and Kazunari immediately feels something awful is going to happen.
"You will have fun and thank me later," the man replies cryptically.
"I swear if this is something awful, I am going to poison your next meal." Kazunari narrows his eyes.
"Eh, Nino-chan, why so mean!" Masaki whines. "Oh, right. We should get closer. Look, I bought tickets for us two." Masaki leads the way to the theater.
Kazunari tunes out Masaki's rambling as they move closer to the theater. People are queuing into five setup lanes as the staff checks their tickets. Some snack sellers are walking around inside the theater area, jovially offering their snacks for the seated audience.
"You will see. Their performances are awesome!" Masaki exclaims excitedly. "I have been following their news and schedule ever since I watched them when I was in Hakodate last year."
Hakodate. It reminds him of Satoshi and his dream to open a bakery- Kazunari stops himself, getting more irritated with himself by the second. He needs to stop. It has been nine good years without Satoshi, he has been doing fine without the man, and now suddenly the dam of memories is bursting open? Shit.
He stops them from walking and takes a deep breath.
"You okay, Nino?"
"I feel a little sick. I want to go home," he says, already turning to the exit lane, but the fingers circling his wrist stop him from taking a step.
"Nino, Nino. Look at me," Masaki says softly.
The sense of urgency in Masaki's voice makes him look up and into his friend's eyes. He quickly averts his eyes. He can see the fond expression, and- Kazunari sighs. No. Masaki is his best friend.
"What is it?" Kazunari says tiredly as he looks at their shadows overlapping with their surroundings.
"Kazu, look at me." The older man's fingers loosen around his wrist and dip down to twine with Kazunari's fingers.
Kazunari watches their fingers, long ones fit snugly within his short fingers, snug against each other. This is enough, right? It wouldn't be fair to the older man if he-
"Kazu?"
He looks up. "What?"
"I promise you, this is what you needed. After this..." Masaki looks sheepish. "After this, maybe-"
((( "Hi, all! Are you ready for the show?" )))
There are cheers coming from the crowd surrounding them as some man with a mask takes his position in the middle of the stage. Masaki tugs Kazunari’s hand and leads them to the vacant seats in the third row.
Quite a good seat, Kazunari has to say. They get to see the overall stage from a balanced viewpoint, and at this distance, they can easily see the actors' expressions and listen to the whole performance. The live band is checking the sound by playing happy tunes that are getting the children excited. Kazunari notices there are many families with young children watching the performance, as well as teenagers and young adults. It is pretty much a full house.
"They are good, I promise," Masaki whispers as if he knows what Kazunari is thinking. Kazunari doesn't get why the man feels the need to whisper when they are not in some goddamn classical music performance.
"What troupe?" Kazunari asks as more people take to the stage and get ready. "Story?"
"You will find out soon. The story is original, but I won't tell you the plot. You have to watch it yourself."
Kazunari clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. You are annoying."
"Sssh! You don't want to miss the opening!"
A man hidden behind a mask and a black cloak runs to the middle of the stage. The music starts with an eerie tune.
((( Once upon a time... )))
./././
Kazunari and Masaki are clapping when Kaibutsu-kun decides to stay in the human world, marking the end of the two-hour play.
The Kaibutsu-kun play is about a young prince from the land of monsters who comes to the human world to train before he succeeds the throne. The story is packed with humour, action, and even drama as the young prince makes friends with Hamutatsu, a teenager from the human world. Kazunari definitely enjoys the plot. It's light and immensely good. The music is even better.
((( And now, please welcome and give him your warmest applause, our genius mister director, Ohno Satoshi! )))
Kazunari freezes in his seat as he watches the man- Satoshi- He quickly stands up, his abrupt movements hidden from view by the audience giving the director a standing ovation- Masaki grabs his arm and stops him from- Kazunari doesn't know whether he wants to run to the stage, to Satoshi, or run away from the man of his past- the man who dominates his mind and heart-
"You knew," he whispers accusingly as Masaki steers him back to his seat.
"I want you to be happy," Masaki says solemnly, "and this is selfish, I know. But I want you to be happy with me, Kazu."
He lets go of Kazunari's hand, and immediately the younger man understands. Masaki will let him go if that’s what he wants, so this is Kazunari's chance to take the offer or to leave it.
"You are my best friend," Kazunari says shakily. He vaguely notices the applause has died down and the audience is back in their seats.
"You are, too. But I want more." He looks at Kazunari directly and then his eyes dip to look at his lips.
Kazunari instantly remembers one night several years ago when they were both drunk and crossed the line- Shit. This is awkward, he thinks. Kazunari averts his gaze to the stage, where Satoshi stands in the middle, looking exactly the same as he did nine years ago, like nothing has happened- but it has been nine years, right? Kazunari, too, if one took a look at him and compared it with him-nine-years-ago, wouldn’t be much different physically. The only difference would be his broken heart.
((( Now, now, mister director, please let us know what is on your mind right now! )))
((( Thank you for watching the stage play! )))
((( Any thank you messages, mister director? )))
((( Well, of course! First, I want to thank my partner in life and crime, Kuraishi-- )))
Kazunari swallows hard when he hears the name. Kuraishi is the man who Satoshi cheated with. Of course, he would remember that name anywhere.
((( and, this might sound strange, but I have two partners in life and crime. One of them I haven't seen much for nine years, )))
Shit. He feels light, like hysterical laughter bubbling in his throat. Shit. Shit.
((( but it's because I have been doing something bad to him. See, I am not a good person. )))
The audience laughs.
((( One of my old friends then looked for me to say that I need to apologize for the bad things. I know they are here, and taking this opportunity, I want to say, )))
Kazunari watches Satoshi kneel down and then take dogeza form.
((( from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry, Kazu! I hope you will be happy, even happier than me! )))
Kazunari closes his eyes, flashes of memories rewinding in the back of his mind, of Satoshi and him when they pulled their first prank in their music class- their first tentative kiss that felt mostly awkward- their first musical project- dancing together in the club- fingers fumbling for each other's clothes as their lips locked in a passionate kiss- Kazunari playing the piano and Satoshi belting out silly lyrics to accompany it- Kazunari watching Ohno kiss Kuraishi fiercely- "I wish you the best and you wish me even better, right, Oh-chan?"- "Nino-chan!" "Stop with the -chan already." "Eh, Nino so mean!"-
and then suddenly everything is about how Masaki has always been there for him. Nino this, Nino that- Nino-Nino!-Nino-
He opens his eyes and turns to his side. "I am angry with you."
Masaki's eyes crinkle with his smile. "I know." He reaches for Kazunari’s fingers and intertwines them in his own. "I know."
((( Once again, thank you for coming to the show! I hope you enjoyed it, and we will see you again soon with another play! Please look forward to it! Bye-bi, all~ )))
Shortly after that the show ends for real, and people start leaving the amphitheater.
"You sure you don't want to meet him?" Masaki tugs his hand.
"No. I’m good," Kazunari says as he tugs back and pulls Masaki with him to the exit lane.
"Are you really sure, Nino?" Masaki asks again, a little bit anxious.
"Shut up. I said so already," Kazunari replies grumpily, although inside he feels like a burden has been lifted off his chest. Satoshi is happy, and so he will be even happier.
"Like really sure? I mean, I have asked for a backstage pass, you know, and it's a big deal because, well, maybe you don't know this, but SK Troupe is like the most famous troupe in Japan right now and getting a ticket to their show is not easy, even more so the backst-"
Kazunari turns around and kisses Masaki to stop his rambling, and then swiftly turns back again to lead him out of the amphitheater. His cheeks feel hot, but Kazunari blames the summer sun for it. (Although to be honest, Kazunari notices the sun is hiding somewhere and the temperature has gone down a fair bit.)
They follow the main path that will lead them to the-
"Nino?"
"Masaki, I told you already-"
Masaki grabs his waist and kisses him full on the lips. Kazunari welcomes the kiss, and thinks it is because the older man wants to one-up him. It is so Masaki-like, and Kazunari remembers when the both of them played Super Mario Bros for hours nonstop-
They part for air.
"I like you, Kazu." Masaki steals a peck. "Like really, really like you. Like, you know, like like."
Kazunari hits his friend on the head. His lips feel swollen, warm and tingly, and smiley. "Stupid."
miiin
miiinn
"But you like me, right Nino-chan?"
miin
miiin
miiinn
Yeah, Kazunari thinks as they continue their walk, fingers entwining snugly. Yeah, of course, I like you.
miiin
miiinn
"Maybe," he says, instead, playfully shoving Masaki with his shoulder. "Anyway, you owe me ice cream."
"Eeh? No, I don’t!"
miinn
minn
miiinnnn
Kazunari tightens his hold on Masaki. "Yes, you do."
.