Nagase's family stories (Part 25)
"I don't want to go out there," Satoshi whispered as he clung to Nagase's hand. Nagase hugged him softly as he caressed his hair.
"But you were looking forward to it," he reminded Satoshi.
"I know, but I was stupid, dad. Can't we go home?" he asked with a wobbling lower lip. Nagase sighed softly before bending over to look into his eyes.
"Satoshi, you are not stupid so please don't start calling yourself that. I know that you will be great out there. You will surprise everybody, and they will be surprised by watching you at that stage. But if you really don't want to go out there, I can take you and Kazu home."
"Why are you so calm?" Satoshi pouted as he peeked outside from the backstage he was currently in. He paled slightly as he watched a duo perform a dance before looking back at Nagase with big eyes.
"Because you are the best in my mind, kid. I know what you can do, and if I thought that you would fail, I would have told you not to come."
"Dad, can you stay here?" Satoshi asked as someone came over to tell them that he had to get ready if he wanted to go to the stage.
Nagase smiled as he nodded and hugged him tightly. "Yes, I will wait for you here, and the second you are back here I will hug the hell out of you, sounds good?"
"Uhn… What about Kazu and Sam?"
"They are outside with Sho and the rest of the audience. I'm sure you won't be able to miss them. Kazu said he would cheer extra loudly for you. You know that we all believe in you?"
Satoshi took a deep breath as he nodded. He didn't know why he had decided to do this. He had seen a flyer in the dance studio he went dancing about this competition. There was a jury who would judge different dancers as to how they did and it and intrigued Satoshi.
The thought of performing in front of others had been an exciting one, and when he had asked Nagase about being allowed to answer the man had checked everything online before telling him if he wanted to, he was allowed to enter.
Satoshi had practised hard to come up with a dance on his own and then when the letter had come that he was invited for this competition he had been very excited. Now though, he wasn't sure anymore to be honest.
Nagase ruffled his hair once again before kissing his forehead warmly. "You will do great. Just think you are performing for your little brother and everything will go well."
Satoshi giggled as he imagined the excited face of Kazu and nodded. Nothing he could do would disappoint Kazu, so he was safe; he was sure of it. His name was called, and he went to the side of the stage where an MC was introducing him.
He bowed low in front of the audience as the first beats of the song was heard, and he smiled a little as he could listen to Kazu's voice clearly above all the chatter of the rest. Nagase was right for Kazu e would be able to do his best show and make him smile again.
Satoshi's body moved on his own as he concentrated on the rhythm of the song and the practised movements. He forgot that he was here in front of hundreds of people and a jury judging his moves. Much too soon, the song was over, and he bowed under the applause of the audience to run backstage.
Nagase was right behind the curtain like he promised and Satoshi ran to him and into his arms.
"Dad, I did it!" he cried out happily as Nagase picked him up with ease, which made Satoshi happy with how strong his dad was.
"I saw. You did great, kid," he whispered as he held him safely when Satoshi's body seemed to grow a bit boneless as all the nervousness and excitement left him. He chuckled as he brought him to the chairs in the backstage to listen to the judgement. Ohno hadn't gotten the first place or even the first three places, but it was suitable for his first competition ever, he thought with a giddy feeling.
"Let's go outside to the rest," Nagase murmured.
"Okay dad, can we go celebrate?"
"Of course, whatever you want is my demand for today."
Satoshi giggled as they left the building to rejoin with the rest. Kazu was jumping from one foot to the other until he saw them and then ran to his brother to hug him tightly, telling him how the jury was stupid because he was the bestest of them all. And really, who needed any professionals to judge his talents if he had his brother?
"But you were looking forward to it," he reminded Satoshi.
"I know, but I was stupid, dad. Can't we go home?" he asked with a wobbling lower lip. Nagase sighed softly before bending over to look into his eyes.
"Satoshi, you are not stupid so please don't start calling yourself that. I know that you will be great out there. You will surprise everybody, and they will be surprised by watching you at that stage. But if you really don't want to go out there, I can take you and Kazu home."
"Why are you so calm?" Satoshi pouted as he peeked outside from the backstage he was currently in. He paled slightly as he watched a duo perform a dance before looking back at Nagase with big eyes.
"Because you are the best in my mind, kid. I know what you can do, and if I thought that you would fail, I would have told you not to come."
"Dad, can you stay here?" Satoshi asked as someone came over to tell them that he had to get ready if he wanted to go to the stage.
Nagase smiled as he nodded and hugged him tightly. "Yes, I will wait for you here, and the second you are back here I will hug the hell out of you, sounds good?"
"Uhn… What about Kazu and Sam?"
"They are outside with Sho and the rest of the audience. I'm sure you won't be able to miss them. Kazu said he would cheer extra loudly for you. You know that we all believe in you?"
Satoshi took a deep breath as he nodded. He didn't know why he had decided to do this. He had seen a flyer in the dance studio he went dancing about this competition. There was a jury who would judge different dancers as to how they did and it and intrigued Satoshi.
The thought of performing in front of others had been an exciting one, and when he had asked Nagase about being allowed to answer the man had checked everything online before telling him if he wanted to, he was allowed to enter.
Satoshi had practised hard to come up with a dance on his own and then when the letter had come that he was invited for this competition he had been very excited. Now though, he wasn't sure anymore to be honest.
Nagase ruffled his hair once again before kissing his forehead warmly. "You will do great. Just think you are performing for your little brother and everything will go well."
Satoshi giggled as he imagined the excited face of Kazu and nodded. Nothing he could do would disappoint Kazu, so he was safe; he was sure of it. His name was called, and he went to the side of the stage where an MC was introducing him.
He bowed low in front of the audience as the first beats of the song was heard, and he smiled a little as he could listen to Kazu's voice clearly above all the chatter of the rest. Nagase was right for Kazu e would be able to do his best show and make him smile again.
Satoshi's body moved on his own as he concentrated on the rhythm of the song and the practised movements. He forgot that he was here in front of hundreds of people and a jury judging his moves. Much too soon, the song was over, and he bowed under the applause of the audience to run backstage.
Nagase was right behind the curtain like he promised and Satoshi ran to him and into his arms.
"Dad, I did it!" he cried out happily as Nagase picked him up with ease, which made Satoshi happy with how strong his dad was.
"I saw. You did great, kid," he whispered as he held him safely when Satoshi's body seemed to grow a bit boneless as all the nervousness and excitement left him. He chuckled as he brought him to the chairs in the backstage to listen to the judgement. Ohno hadn't gotten the first place or even the first three places, but it was suitable for his first competition ever, he thought with a giddy feeling.
"Let's go outside to the rest," Nagase murmured.
"Okay dad, can we go celebrate?"
"Of course, whatever you want is my demand for today."
Satoshi giggled as they left the building to rejoin with the rest. Kazu was jumping from one foot to the other until he saw them and then ran to his brother to hug him tightly, telling him how the jury was stupid because he was the bestest of them all. And really, who needed any professionals to judge his talents if he had his brother?