It Had to be You-Chapter 1
Kazuya walks into the studio; hands stuffed into his jeans pockets before he takes one out to flick the light switch. Bright lights flicker to life, illuminating the entire studio. He blinks, adjusting his eyes to the brightness before he steps forward, lowering himself onto the sofa.
The eerie silence of early morning surrounds him, making him shiver a bit before pulling a nearby cushion close. Surprisingly, a distinct, oddly familiar smell comes from the fabric, and he hugs it closer, trying to distinguish the scent.
It reminds him of warmth, of hugs and light kisses and sweet candy. It reminds him of his nostalgic childhood, of frustration and hard work and sweat. It reminds him of laughter, of brilliant smiles and fairytale endings.
It reminds him of none other than Jin.
Still holding the cushion close, Kazuya reaches forward and presses the power button on their TV, lowering the volume to a soft mumble.
Figures appear on the screen; laughing. One is holding a basket.
It takes Kazuya a painfully long moment to realize he and Jin are on the screen, laughing as they clap their hands in time with Jin’s singing. He remembers that day well; when they were still filming Gokusen 2 and Jin surprised him with a birthday present and song.
A feeling of loss works its way into his heart, squeezing it painfully and twisting it into impossible knots. He can’t seem to tear his eyes away from the screen, from the distantly happy sight of what they once were.
Loud laughing and talking from the hallway makes Kazuya snap out of his daze. Before he has time to register it, the door slams open. Jin and his other best friend, Yamashita Tomohisa, breeze in, wearing sunglasses and Jin with his usual cap. He dumps his bags onto the floor, freezing when he sees Kazuya’s belongings beside them.
Kazuya stares at Jin unblinkingly, and Jin raises his head, their gazes locking. An awkward silence fills the gap between them, and Yamapi chuckles nervously before muttering an excuse and backing out.
“…Good morning, Akanishi.” There’s a slight choke in Kazuya’s voice as he greets Jin formally.
“’Morning.” Jin’s tone is just as cold, as if they were mere acquaintances. “…You’re early today.”
“So are you.” Turning away, Kazuya gives a small start when he realizes they’re both still on the screen, talking with smiles adorning their faces. Seeing him start, Jin shifts his gaze to the screen as well.
“…Oh.” He barely forms the syllable, and another silence descends on them as they watch their former selves converse. It isn’t long before the screen goes blank, and then comes back to life with an interview from Tackey and Tsubasa.
Jin looks away as Kazuya carefully turns it off.
“I…”
“I’m going to get some food. Didn’t have breakfast.” Kazuya interrupts Jin’s hesitance and abruptly stands up. He stuffs his hands into his pockets once more before briskly walking forward, sparing Jin a glance and pushing his way out the door.
Something in the older man’s eyes flickers as he turns, watching Kazuya’s receding back.
What have we become?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Yama-chaaaaaaan!” Both Ryosuke and Yuto look up at the outburst, the only warning before an overly hyper Chinen Yuuri literally jumps onto Ryosuke, ending up on his lap with a sweet smile.
Ryosuke gives a little laugh, pushing Chinen off and ruffling his hair affectionately. “What’s up?”
“Well…” Yuto manages to tune out as Chinen continues to chatter animatedly, sounding awfully like a girl. He shrugs, making to get up before a hand pulls him back down.
Confused, he looks towards its source. “Ryo-chan?”
“Where are you going?”
“I…” Out of the corner of his eye, he notes Chinen pouting at him for taking away his audience. “Just going to get some breakfast,” he mutters, pulling out of Ryosuke’s grasp and walking away before the other can reply.
“So as I was saying…!” As he speed walks out of the studio, Yuto hears Chinen’s cheerful voice echoing off the walls. A certain kind of bitterness sneaks into his heart, and he hates himself for it. He also hates, the obvious fact, that Ryosuke has been spending a lot more time around Chinen lately than himself.
Desperately pushing away the jealousy building inside of him, Yuto absently arrives at the cafeteria, randomly picking foods that he knows he won’t eat.
“Yuto-chan.”
Hearing the wonderfully familiar voice, Yuto glances up to see Kazuya, the person he often likes to portray as his older brother. A small smile spreads across his features. “Kamenashi-senpai!”
Kazuya returns his smile affectionately, patting his head and slinging an arm around his shoulder. “How’re you?”
“I’m…okay.”
At the hesitation, Kazuya tilts his head. “Hm…where’s Yama-chan?”
Something in Yuto’s face falls at the name, though he tries not to show. “He’s…back in the studio.” With Chinen, his mind adds obnoxiously.
Nodding, Kazuya notices the expression in Yuto’s eyes. “I get it.”
“…Where’s…Akanishi-senpai?” Yuto is almost afraid to ask, but he and Ryosuke made a deal with each other some while ago to ask either half of AkaKame where the other is. It’s been obvious that they’re not as close as before, and practically the entire agency has been trying to secretly join them as friends again.
Still, Yuto regrets asking when he sees Kazuya’s gaze flicker into something strongly resembling sadness. “He’s back in the studio.”
The irony of both their answers hits Yuto, but he decides not to comment. Instead, he forces a smile and asks Kazuya to sit down with him, even when they both know they’re just trying to avoid going back to the pain.
“So…”
A loud crash causes both of them to snap their heads up, only to be greeted with the sight of Jin and Yamapi doubling over in laughter. “You idiot!” Jin teases Yamapi loudly, and the latter grins.
“Not like you’re any better.”
Yuto wants to do something, but his heart reaches out to his senpai when he sees Kazuya lower his head, turning his back towards the pair and slowly chewing his food.
“AKANISHI-SENPAI!” The voice he loves, loud and clear, rings across the room as Ryosuke and Chinen burst forth, tackling both Jin and Yamapi.
The four collapse into seats around the same table, Chinen still clinging onto Ryosuke’s arm almost like a little child as Yamapi hugs Jin briefly, both of them cracking up into laughter.
Yuto turns to the side, placing a hand on Kazuya’s shoulder and trying his best to ignore the sight.
Surprised, Kazuya turns to look at him, and then gives a sad smile.
“Hey Yuto!”
“Yuuuto! Kazu! Come over here!”
Yamapi, Ryosuke, and Chinen beckon to them, waving crazily and grinning. Jin is silent for once, his gaze never leaving Kazuya’s forlorn figure.
It tears at Yuto to see Kazuya like this, but he can’t seem to resist Ryosuke’s happy face. Hesitantly, he shifts. “Kame-”
“Go.” Kazuya regards him with a soft gaze. “Just go.”
“Why don’t you come too…?”
It takes a moment before Kazuya shakes his head slightly, his bangs hanging in stray fringes in front of his eyes. “It’s okay. I…I’m going back.” He inhales sharply and stands up, dumping his garbage and walking off in the opposite direction.
Yuto watches him go regretfully, before taking a deep breath himself and walking towards the other table.
The eerie silence of early morning surrounds him, making him shiver a bit before pulling a nearby cushion close. Surprisingly, a distinct, oddly familiar smell comes from the fabric, and he hugs it closer, trying to distinguish the scent.
It reminds him of warmth, of hugs and light kisses and sweet candy. It reminds him of his nostalgic childhood, of frustration and hard work and sweat. It reminds him of laughter, of brilliant smiles and fairytale endings.
It reminds him of none other than Jin.
Still holding the cushion close, Kazuya reaches forward and presses the power button on their TV, lowering the volume to a soft mumble.
Figures appear on the screen; laughing. One is holding a basket.
It takes Kazuya a painfully long moment to realize he and Jin are on the screen, laughing as they clap their hands in time with Jin’s singing. He remembers that day well; when they were still filming Gokusen 2 and Jin surprised him with a birthday present and song.
A feeling of loss works its way into his heart, squeezing it painfully and twisting it into impossible knots. He can’t seem to tear his eyes away from the screen, from the distantly happy sight of what they once were.
Loud laughing and talking from the hallway makes Kazuya snap out of his daze. Before he has time to register it, the door slams open. Jin and his other best friend, Yamashita Tomohisa, breeze in, wearing sunglasses and Jin with his usual cap. He dumps his bags onto the floor, freezing when he sees Kazuya’s belongings beside them.
Kazuya stares at Jin unblinkingly, and Jin raises his head, their gazes locking. An awkward silence fills the gap between them, and Yamapi chuckles nervously before muttering an excuse and backing out.
“…Good morning, Akanishi.” There’s a slight choke in Kazuya’s voice as he greets Jin formally.
“’Morning.” Jin’s tone is just as cold, as if they were mere acquaintances. “…You’re early today.”
“So are you.” Turning away, Kazuya gives a small start when he realizes they’re both still on the screen, talking with smiles adorning their faces. Seeing him start, Jin shifts his gaze to the screen as well.
“…Oh.” He barely forms the syllable, and another silence descends on them as they watch their former selves converse. It isn’t long before the screen goes blank, and then comes back to life with an interview from Tackey and Tsubasa.
Jin looks away as Kazuya carefully turns it off.
“I…”
“I’m going to get some food. Didn’t have breakfast.” Kazuya interrupts Jin’s hesitance and abruptly stands up. He stuffs his hands into his pockets once more before briskly walking forward, sparing Jin a glance and pushing his way out the door.
Something in the older man’s eyes flickers as he turns, watching Kazuya’s receding back.
What have we become?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Yama-chaaaaaaan!” Both Ryosuke and Yuto look up at the outburst, the only warning before an overly hyper Chinen Yuuri literally jumps onto Ryosuke, ending up on his lap with a sweet smile.
Ryosuke gives a little laugh, pushing Chinen off and ruffling his hair affectionately. “What’s up?”
“Well…” Yuto manages to tune out as Chinen continues to chatter animatedly, sounding awfully like a girl. He shrugs, making to get up before a hand pulls him back down.
Confused, he looks towards its source. “Ryo-chan?”
“Where are you going?”
“I…” Out of the corner of his eye, he notes Chinen pouting at him for taking away his audience. “Just going to get some breakfast,” he mutters, pulling out of Ryosuke’s grasp and walking away before the other can reply.
“So as I was saying…!” As he speed walks out of the studio, Yuto hears Chinen’s cheerful voice echoing off the walls. A certain kind of bitterness sneaks into his heart, and he hates himself for it. He also hates, the obvious fact, that Ryosuke has been spending a lot more time around Chinen lately than himself.
Desperately pushing away the jealousy building inside of him, Yuto absently arrives at the cafeteria, randomly picking foods that he knows he won’t eat.
“Yuto-chan.”
Hearing the wonderfully familiar voice, Yuto glances up to see Kazuya, the person he often likes to portray as his older brother. A small smile spreads across his features. “Kamenashi-senpai!”
Kazuya returns his smile affectionately, patting his head and slinging an arm around his shoulder. “How’re you?”
“I’m…okay.”
At the hesitation, Kazuya tilts his head. “Hm…where’s Yama-chan?”
Something in Yuto’s face falls at the name, though he tries not to show. “He’s…back in the studio.” With Chinen, his mind adds obnoxiously.
Nodding, Kazuya notices the expression in Yuto’s eyes. “I get it.”
“…Where’s…Akanishi-senpai?” Yuto is almost afraid to ask, but he and Ryosuke made a deal with each other some while ago to ask either half of AkaKame where the other is. It’s been obvious that they’re not as close as before, and practically the entire agency has been trying to secretly join them as friends again.
Still, Yuto regrets asking when he sees Kazuya’s gaze flicker into something strongly resembling sadness. “He’s back in the studio.”
The irony of both their answers hits Yuto, but he decides not to comment. Instead, he forces a smile and asks Kazuya to sit down with him, even when they both know they’re just trying to avoid going back to the pain.
“So…”
A loud crash causes both of them to snap their heads up, only to be greeted with the sight of Jin and Yamapi doubling over in laughter. “You idiot!” Jin teases Yamapi loudly, and the latter grins.
“Not like you’re any better.”
Yuto wants to do something, but his heart reaches out to his senpai when he sees Kazuya lower his head, turning his back towards the pair and slowly chewing his food.
“AKANISHI-SENPAI!” The voice he loves, loud and clear, rings across the room as Ryosuke and Chinen burst forth, tackling both Jin and Yamapi.
The four collapse into seats around the same table, Chinen still clinging onto Ryosuke’s arm almost like a little child as Yamapi hugs Jin briefly, both of them cracking up into laughter.
Yuto turns to the side, placing a hand on Kazuya’s shoulder and trying his best to ignore the sight.
Surprised, Kazuya turns to look at him, and then gives a sad smile.
“Hey Yuto!”
“Yuuuto! Kazu! Come over here!”
Yamapi, Ryosuke, and Chinen beckon to them, waving crazily and grinning. Jin is silent for once, his gaze never leaving Kazuya’s forlorn figure.
It tears at Yuto to see Kazuya like this, but he can’t seem to resist Ryosuke’s happy face. Hesitantly, he shifts. “Kame-”
“Go.” Kazuya regards him with a soft gaze. “Just go.”
“Why don’t you come too…?”
It takes a moment before Kazuya shakes his head slightly, his bangs hanging in stray fringes in front of his eyes. “It’s okay. I…I’m going back.” He inhales sharply and stands up, dumping his garbage and walking off in the opposite direction.
Yuto watches him go regretfully, before taking a deep breath himself and walking towards the other table.