Otanjoubi no Monogatari 2/3: Lucky (Part 3/6)
Title: Lucky
Pairing: YamaJima (with other pairings at the side)
Notes: Another belated birthday present for Yatsuiko-chan… and to keep up the Yamajima spirit during the holiday seasons… :3
→Part 2 of 3 of your very belated birthday present :3
Disclaimer: I own nobody. Johnny janai yo~
•••
Yamada sighed, collapsing onto the last available sofa in the dressing room. He wanted to talk to Yuto, but he and Chinen were called for a meeting for NYC boys before he even had the chance to do so. Now, he was exhausted beyond belief. Putting an arm under his head, he closed his eyes and tried to get some shut-eye… a feat not easily accomplished in JUMP’s dressing room.
Today was no exception. For some weird reason, Shintaro, Taiga, and a multitude of Juniors were crowded around Ryutaro who was playing away in his DS (which Shintaro had unwillingly surrendered). Daiki was plugged into his iPod and was singing in a loud voice while doing his math homework. Takaki entered the dressing room with Chinen on his back, the latter holding a multitude of sweets in both hands and looking very happy.
Yamada sat up for a moment and looked around him. Noisy and unruly his friends could be, he was grateful that he was there and experiencing these things with them. He sank back into his sofa cushions, letting the lull of his friends’ voices surround him. He closed his eyes, hearing one laughing voice above the rest.
“So Yuto has decided that Keito is a human piggyback machine once again,” Chinen said with a laugh. Yamada’s head snapped up in an instant, wildly looking around.
Yuto was laughing merrily as Keito spun him around, his arms tight around Keito’s neck to be sure that he wouldn’t fall off from the boy’s back. Yamada watched with slightly narrowed eyes the scene before him, feeling unusually irritated.
“Yuto sure looks like he’s having fun…” Chinen observed. Takaki nodded, casting a look at Yamada’s direction.
“You’re the one to talk,” Yamada retorted, lying back down and turning his back to them.
“Eh? What did I say?” Chinen asked. Takaki simply set him down and let him sit on his lap, and Chinen soon forgot what he was asking.
Yamada glared at the sofa cushions, his mood darkening. Though it was irrational taking out his feelings on Chinen, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed… and sad. Even if he tried to ignore it, he can’t deny the truth. It was only natural for Yuto to find companions when he was away, but it hurts him more when he sees him with Keito… Keito is kind, but there’s still something different…
Something cold pressed his cheek. He opened his eyes…
“Yama-chan, otsukare,” Yuto said, smiling his trademark bright grin. He was holding two cans of juice, one still pressed against Yamada’s cheek. Yamada stared at Yuto with wide eyes, making Yuto smile wider.
“What happened to you, Yama-chan? You look like you saw a ghost,” the tall boy said with a laugh, sitting beside Yamada on the couch. Yamada sat up and stared at Yuto once more, his mouth hanging open.
“You must be really tired, ne… when I came to your house this morning, your mom said that you’re still asleep and I should go first. I said I’ll wait but she insisted I go… gomen ne? I left you alone…” Yuto said sheepishly
“What are you saying? I should be the one saying sorry; I made you wait for a long time,” Yamada replied. Yuto shook his head and smiled at the older boy.
“Daijobu, Yama-chan…” he said.
“But… but aren’t you mad at me? Even just a bit?” Yamada asked in an incredulous voice. Yuto shook his head. “Hontou ni?” Yamada pressed. Yuto nodded his head and laughed.
“Un, hontou ni…”
“…Doushite?”
“It’s because you’re late that I could talk to you like this right now… so I’m thankful in a way…” Yuto softly replied, making Yamada blush.
“Hontou ni arigato gozaimasu, Yuto…” Yamada whispered to himself.
“Eh? What did you say, Ryo-chan?” Yuto cutely asked. Yamada smiled at the nickname and said nothing more.
“Is something bothering you? You seem a bit out of it today…” Yuto asked, a concerned look on his face. He offered a drink to Yamada and the other accepted gratefully, leaning back on the sofa.
“I’m just tired, I guess… Things are going too fast…” Yamada mused, playing with the can of juice in his hands.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, there are too many things going on… the sports festival at school is also coming up… I don’t get to talk to you like usual, we were always so busy… and things aren’t just going my way today… I need an endless amount of four-leaf clovers…” Yamada said slowly, making Yuto smile.
“Don’t worry, things will get better. I’m always just a phone call away if you need someone to talk to, ne? Our friendship doesn’t need to change, right?” Yuto answered. Yamada looked at his friend with eyes filled with gratitude.
“Un… arigato…” Yamada said with a smile.
“Minna-san, your practice is about to resume in ten minutes; please proceed to your practice room,” a staff member reminded the ten boys.
“Hai~!” JUMP answered, some hiding groans of disappointment at their interrupted rest. Yamada in particular did not look ready to leave his place, a stubborn look on his face. Yuto laughed at his expression.
“Ikuzo, Ryo-chan; if we’re late, we’ll get scolded again,” Yuto reminded, pulling at Yamada’s hand and running out of their dressing room. Yamada just looked at their interlaced hands as they ran, the once-familiar feelings of warmth and happiness returning to him… slowly… but surely…
Back at the practice, they were paired and were made to do a difficult dance sequence, even harder than all the steps they memorized earlier. Surprisingly, Yamada was now the first one to remember all the steps, and seemed to dance with more energy. He had a smile on his face, dancing with all his might as the others struggled to keep up with his sudden adrenaline rush.
Maybe the fact that he was Yuto’s partner helped matters.
JUMP just finished their practice when a female staff member poked her head into the practice room, looking for Chinen and Yamada for NYC boys.
“Chinen-san, Yamada-san, your practice is about to start. Please go to the practice room on the third floor,” the staff member announced.
“Hai, wakarimashita,” Chinen answered. Yamada looked at Yuto in desperation. Yuto smiled at his best friend and flashed a thumbs-up sign.
“Gambare yo,” he mouthed. A cute grin spread across Yamada’s face as he nodded, picking up his stuff and following Chinen out of the door.