[Fic] The price to pay
Gender: Papadoru!AU. Romance. Angst. Hurt/Comfort
Pairing: YasuBa // Ryo/Haru-chan
Rating: PG-13
Beta: none
Summary: Subaru's sudden leave of their office hid the feelings he's been bearing for years now
Disclaimer: The guys don't belong to me yet. So, so far, just the plot is mine
Warning: English is not my first language. This was a fic I promised my dear yoshiko93 loooooong time ago because she did so well in her exams. Sorry it took me so long to post it, I was waiting for somebody to beta it. Based on episode 5 of the Papadoru drama. I used suketeru's translation when writing. Unbeta-ed
A.N: Like I said, the story takes place on episode 5 of Papadoru, right after Subaru dashes out of the office.This is dedicated to my lovely yoshiko93 who I promised I would write it such a looooong time ago she probably forgot already xDD /bricked Hope you like it, even though it was more bitter than I thought it would. You are such a sweet girl, I love you and miss you!!!! ♥
The price to pay
“So what do we do?!”
“Ask him!”
Bang!
Eight pairs of eyes followed with shock and concern the small figure of Subaru dashing furiously out of the meeting room and, as the calls from Yokoyama vanished altogether with the loud thud of the door slamming shot, Wakki ran out of the room in hopes to stop him from doing anything stupid. After all, they all knew how impulsive Subaru was.
Not even a second after Asahina chief manager left, the room became completely quiet; five pairs of eyes fell on Yasu now.
He fidgeted on his seat, the sudden attention drew over him making him feel more uncomfortable that he was already and forcing him to stare at the ceiling for a while, but later on his eyes fell on the table surface.
Despite of the long years Hina and Yoko had known Subaru and all the things the three elders had shared, it was Yasu who knew better the explosive side of Subaru. It was Yasu who had dealt with his darker side over the years, who had watched over him on his worst times and who had, eventually, brought some light back to his life.
Yasu knew what the others were silently asking him and the reason why they didn’t voice out their pleas in front of the other manager. But he was just as confused as the other four members. For once in a long, long time, he simply couldn’t read Subaru out.
“I’ll talk to him,” it was the only thing he could mutter before following the same path his boyfriend had a few moments before, a huge weight on his shoulders.
Subaru didn’t have any other job scheduled for that day, so there were pretty much just two places he could be at. Yasu could tell Subaru needed urgently to vent whatever it was eating him inside and yet, he deliberately took his time to get to the apartment Subaru rented and they occasionally shared.
He stood in front of the door, fidgeting with his own pair of keys in his hands, too nervous to even insert the key straight in the doorknob. Subaru had always cherished his freedom and his own space, and Yasu had to think twice before stepping on it, knowing what was at risk.
He sighed deeply just one more time before overcoming his doubts and with the courage of knowing this was one of those times Subaru needed someone to talk to -someone to touch, to feel close to- even though he stated otherwise, and opened the door to the dark, but cozy apartment.
The sound of water running greeted him as soon as he stepped inside and Yasu had to smile in relief at the fact that he wasn’t wrong and Subaru wasn’t lashing on a punching bag at the gym like he had lately.
It took only one second for the blonde guy to decide what to do next, as he walked further and further into the apartment, his jacket and hat falling on the floor before he reached his destination.
It was such a heartbreaking image what Yasu finally found inside the bathroom. Subaru was just standing motionless under the shower, his head hanging low just like his shoulders, the running water pushing his short hair down to cover his face.
Heartbreaking, and yet so beautiful.
Yasu didn’t need to see the expression Subaru wore to know just how broken he felt.
Not caring about his clothes, Yasu jumped inside the shower and wrapped his arms around the small frame of his boyfriend, only then did he realize how badly Subaru was shivering with cold and something akin to despair and rage. He allowed no words to spell his own concern and puzzlement about the whole situation, about Subaru’s reaction to the mess Ryo-chan’s impulsivity had put them all into.
“This is it,” his voice finally joined the water from the shower into breaking the silence inside the small bathroom.
“What do you mean?”
“Eito… as we know it,” he simply said with broken voice; his head resting on Yasu's shoulder, almost hidden on his neck. “It's the end.”
“Don't say that. Yokoccho will find out a way… I bet he will.”
“We can’t just always rely on Yoko to fix every mess…”
“I know, but-”
“And this one… He'll think of what's best for the group, for the Eighters… But… But what about Ryo? Can’t we just let it be? Can’t we just hope our fans will accept it? Can’t we just-?” his voice finally broke, despair overtaking it all of a sudden.
What was it that was hurting him so much inside…? That was choking his powerful voice and just breaking him from within? And why couldn’t he just tell Yasu so he could ease his pain, share the weight and make everything alright like he always did?
Yasu didn’t have to voice out such things anymore, the warmth of his embrace leading Subaru into finally breaking off the silent he had kept about his own feelings.
“Were they thinking the same about us… all this time?” he just had to ask, to himself, to Yasu, to anyone willing to give him an honest answer. To those millions of voices keeping him from sleeping at night when things became too harsh.
“Subaru…”
“No, really. Were they?? Have they been silently blaming us for putting a risk on the group all this time? Were they hoping we stopped?”
“It’s not the same, Shibuyan,” Yasu softly whispered into his ear as if talking to a little kid, a reassuring smile on his face Subaru couldn't see, but feel. “We’re not the same as them.”
“So, because it's us, it's ok; but Ryo-chan can't be with his utmost dearest person? He's forced to choose between his soul mate and Eito, but we're ok as long as fans don't find out? Or even if they do? Why can't he be happy, but we can? How is that fair?”
Yasu couldn't answer any of those questions; didn't know how to even begin trying to. And he was yet to hear the hardest of them all.
“What if it was us? What if it was you, Yasu?” Subaru pressed on his lover, pressed on Yasu the same weight he had been carrying by himself all this while. “Would you choose me over Eito? Or would you ditch me for the group and our fans? Is in even right to force such a choice on anyone?”
Yasu fell into the heaviest silence.
The shower had allowed Subaru to let out everything he had inside -all his sorrow, guilt, frustration and pain- and now he was lying on his bed, all drained and looking somewhat content.
Yasu, on the other hand, couldn't even close his eyes. He was the one who had brought all this pain on Ryo-chan, after all. Had he not searched so desperately for the truth and forced Ryo to share it with the rest…
“I'm as guilty as he is,” Yasu caressed Subaru's hair as he was lying next to him, softly whispering his confession. “Guiltier than you, Subaru.”
And yet it was as if Subaru was carrying with both of their sins.
As always…
A sudden ring of Subaru's cellphone tore Yasu from his thoughts and in a hurry he answered the phone call as to not wake up his boyfriend.
“Subaru?”
“He's sound sleep, Yokoccho,” Yasu replied in a soft voice, quickly getting out of the room. He only spoke again when the bedroom's door was safely closed behind him. “Is there anything you wanted to tell him? I can give him your message as soon as he wakes up.”
Yoko sighed on the other side of the line.
“I'm actually down on the lobby of his building. I thought of going for some drinks with Subaru to tell him something, but I guess this will have to do,” he laughed bitterly.
“What's going on, Yoko?” Yasu was starting to get worried about the older's weird behavior and tone of voice.
“I just talked to Dokkun.”
“Really, you did? I'm so glad!! I was starting to worry because Shibuyan just said-,” he fell silent after a whisper on the other side of the line. “What!?”
“Dokkun is quitting Eito… after I asked him to.”
Yasu was now sure he wouldn't be able to sleep at all. Not when Subaru's words on how Yoko would deal with the subject had proven to be right. If Yoko had to ask for such a sacrifice, it had been because of Yasu's prying ways and his stubborn demands on Ryo-chan, always asking for honesty without knowing the whole story, without knowing Ryo's reasons to keep quiet about such an important matter.
And here it was… the consequence of his actions.
Not because it had worked for him and Subaru to come out and clean meant it would work for anyone else.
What he and Subaru had had for so long was special, meaningful and dearest to their hearts. It was fragile, and yet so worth to protect at any risk. It wasn't fair that the rest of the members couldn't enjoy such bliss. It wasn't fair that Ryo was compelled to sacrifice his happiness in Eito to enjoy the feeling of loving and being loved. Among them all, Ryo has always been the one making more sacrifices for the group.
“And don't you think I know that?”
Yasu had run all the way down five floors to the lobby after Yoko told him all about the conversation he had held with Ryo earlier that night and Ryo's subsequence decision to leave the group for good, even with all the things they had planned for their Eight Anniversary. Thus Yasu had just felt the urge, the need of catching Yoko before he would jump inside the taxi that would take him to the closest bar where to drown his anger and frustration.
“Then why, Yokoccho?” Yasu kept on pressing with faltering voice, the air barely filling his lungs. “Why did you go and ask him to just leave Eito?”
Yoko closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Over the years, he was always the one playing the bad guy when it came to protecting the group, to taking the harsh decisions; and it had never become the slightest easier for him.
To be questioned by Yasu when Yasu knew all this too well turned out to be too much for him.
“This is not some sort of punishment for a betrayal…” he started slowly.
“I'm not saying…” Yasu's voice died before he could finish his statement.
“He's already married!” Yoko exploded.
“I know, but-”
“As hard as it was to ask him to leave the group, it was still easier than asking him to divorce,” Yokoyama solemnly explained in a constricted voice. “He has a family now, Yasu. I didn't have the heart to ask him to leave them. Nobody has the right to ask such a thing from him.”
Yasu stared at the floor with sadness. Things like weddings or divorces shouldn't be taken so lightly or being decided upon the group's popularity or establishment within the fans. It was all so twisted, so unfair and just sad.
“What if-?”
“I already spoke to Hina, and he agreed. He was the one telling Maru and Ohkura and they also agreed to go on just with the six of us,” Yoko cut Yasu's last futile attempt to change the unchangeable. “And tomorrow… tomorrow we'll talk to Asahina chief and the others on the venue for the live and deal with the consequences.”
Yoko sighed one last time before resuming his walk to the taxi waiting for him outside the building, a soft pat over Yasu's shoulder lingering hours after they parted as if the simple gesture had meant for Yoko to share the burden of the years with the guitarist.
Yasu went to bed that night feeling like he had aged all of a sudden.
They had longed to do this sort of live since before their debut, when they were still struggling to fill a small venue for their concerts. They dreamed with this memorial live when they had promised the fans their 8th Anniversary would be unforgettable. And now that it had finally arrived, none of them could smile or feel contented.
After all, one of them was missing. For good.
Asahina chief had taken the news of Ryo-chan's sudden removal a lot better than they had expected. But yet they were the ones to give a proper explanation about this decision that would satisfy the fans. The secret live gave them an intimate atmosphere to deliver such news and yet they couldn't help but to feel the pressure of it. After all, the future of the group depended on how this decision was received.
They all turned to look at Yoko as the venue was slowly getting filled.
“What are we going to tell them, Yokoyama-kun?” Ohkura dared to ask what was on everybody's mind.
A crushing silence spread on the room and Yoko had to swallow the lump on his throat.
“That he's our dear friend and we'll be supporting him even if we take different paths. That we feel sorry for causing troubles and pain to our fans, but we also have to think in our friend's feelings. That we'll give our best as six as we did as seven and as eight,” it was Subaru who replied with a dead serious expression, daring the others to state otherwise. “And most importantly, and hopefully this reaches Ryo as well, that we just want that guy to be happy and that he deserves so.”
The silence lingered; only this time it felt peaceful. They only needed to see each other’s eyes to understand it didn't matter what they tell the fans because they were taking the best decision. If it was for Ryo's happiness, they were gladly willing to make a sacrifice.
And so they walked to the stage with that thought in their heads. Putting their hands together as they had since the beginning, they expressed their gratitude towards the past, their fans, the city of Osaka -and silently towards Ryo and his new family- and they quietly took their respective place with a higher spirit.
All the signals were given for the show to begin, when a figure dashing to the stage halted them all to stop.
“WAIT!!!” Ryo screamed as he ran quickly to the other six, his eyes fixed with tears.
“Ryo-chan.”
“Ryo.”
“Dokkun, why?” Yoko asked in shock, not believing his eyes.
“I can't. I know that I should let go. Even if you ask me to quit, but I just can't. I'm nothing without you guys. It's my breathing air, that obvious “Always Together”. I'll suffocate without it. I'm hopeless without you guys. What can I do? I decided to get myself a family, but I can't throw away anything. What can I do?”
They stood there in silence after the touching speech, and then one, two, three… six smiles blossomed in their lips as chuckles of relief could be heard.
“How should I know? Just hurry and make a decision.”
“After the effort I put in telling you that…,” Yoko complained, though everyone could hear the relief in his voice meaning it was all a pretense. They were all too happy to be the least upset about Ryo's last minute change of mind. “What are those squirrel eyes!?”
They all started laughing, the atmosphere completely different from minutes ago. Now it finally looked like they were about to hold a special secret live to reminisce eight years of tears, constant efforts and a friendship for a lifetime.
“Reorganize yourselves and let's go!” Yasu shout.
Giving Ryo the clothes for the first song and clear instructions to get ready, the seven men held their hands together once again to shout out with joy their feelings of gratitude.
“Gratitude to everyone!” Ryo couldn't help to add above the rest of their voices, no traits of the previous tears filling his eyes.
Now they were truly ready to give their best.
As the first notes of Naniwa Iroha Bushi started playing and Subaru's powerful voice blended perfectly with the music, seconds before the curtain started going up, Yasu stole a glance at the other members and felt the happiest to be part of Eito. His eyes lingered for a bit longer on Ryo-chan and later on Subaru as he thanked all the Gods he knew the members supported them and their full happiness.
Without knowing what hardships they had yet to face, Yasu just felt blessed in all senses.
Pairing: YasuBa // Ryo/Haru-chan
Rating: PG-13
Beta: none
Summary: Subaru's sudden leave of their office hid the feelings he's been bearing for years now
Disclaimer: The guys don't belong to me yet. So, so far, just the plot is mine
Warning: English is not my first language. This was a fic I promised my dear yoshiko93 loooooong time ago because she did so well in her exams. Sorry it took me so long to post it, I was waiting for somebody to beta it. Based on episode 5 of the Papadoru drama. I used suketeru's translation when writing. Unbeta-ed
A.N: Like I said, the story takes place on episode 5 of Papadoru, right after Subaru dashes out of the office.This is dedicated to my lovely yoshiko93 who I promised I would write it such a looooong time ago she probably forgot already xDD /bricked Hope you like it, even though it was more bitter than I thought it would. You are such a sweet girl, I love you and miss you!!!! ♥
The price to pay
“So what do we do?!”
“Ask him!”
Bang!
Eight pairs of eyes followed with shock and concern the small figure of Subaru dashing furiously out of the meeting room and, as the calls from Yokoyama vanished altogether with the loud thud of the door slamming shot, Wakki ran out of the room in hopes to stop him from doing anything stupid. After all, they all knew how impulsive Subaru was.
Not even a second after Asahina chief manager left, the room became completely quiet; five pairs of eyes fell on Yasu now.
He fidgeted on his seat, the sudden attention drew over him making him feel more uncomfortable that he was already and forcing him to stare at the ceiling for a while, but later on his eyes fell on the table surface.
Despite of the long years Hina and Yoko had known Subaru and all the things the three elders had shared, it was Yasu who knew better the explosive side of Subaru. It was Yasu who had dealt with his darker side over the years, who had watched over him on his worst times and who had, eventually, brought some light back to his life.
Yasu knew what the others were silently asking him and the reason why they didn’t voice out their pleas in front of the other manager. But he was just as confused as the other four members. For once in a long, long time, he simply couldn’t read Subaru out.
“I’ll talk to him,” it was the only thing he could mutter before following the same path his boyfriend had a few moments before, a huge weight on his shoulders.
Subaru didn’t have any other job scheduled for that day, so there were pretty much just two places he could be at. Yasu could tell Subaru needed urgently to vent whatever it was eating him inside and yet, he deliberately took his time to get to the apartment Subaru rented and they occasionally shared.
He stood in front of the door, fidgeting with his own pair of keys in his hands, too nervous to even insert the key straight in the doorknob. Subaru had always cherished his freedom and his own space, and Yasu had to think twice before stepping on it, knowing what was at risk.
He sighed deeply just one more time before overcoming his doubts and with the courage of knowing this was one of those times Subaru needed someone to talk to -someone to touch, to feel close to- even though he stated otherwise, and opened the door to the dark, but cozy apartment.
The sound of water running greeted him as soon as he stepped inside and Yasu had to smile in relief at the fact that he wasn’t wrong and Subaru wasn’t lashing on a punching bag at the gym like he had lately.
It took only one second for the blonde guy to decide what to do next, as he walked further and further into the apartment, his jacket and hat falling on the floor before he reached his destination.
It was such a heartbreaking image what Yasu finally found inside the bathroom. Subaru was just standing motionless under the shower, his head hanging low just like his shoulders, the running water pushing his short hair down to cover his face.
Heartbreaking, and yet so beautiful.
Yasu didn’t need to see the expression Subaru wore to know just how broken he felt.
Not caring about his clothes, Yasu jumped inside the shower and wrapped his arms around the small frame of his boyfriend, only then did he realize how badly Subaru was shivering with cold and something akin to despair and rage. He allowed no words to spell his own concern and puzzlement about the whole situation, about Subaru’s reaction to the mess Ryo-chan’s impulsivity had put them all into.
“This is it,” his voice finally joined the water from the shower into breaking the silence inside the small bathroom.
“What do you mean?”
“Eito… as we know it,” he simply said with broken voice; his head resting on Yasu's shoulder, almost hidden on his neck. “It's the end.”
“Don't say that. Yokoccho will find out a way… I bet he will.”
“We can’t just always rely on Yoko to fix every mess…”
“I know, but-”
“And this one… He'll think of what's best for the group, for the Eighters… But… But what about Ryo? Can’t we just let it be? Can’t we just hope our fans will accept it? Can’t we just-?” his voice finally broke, despair overtaking it all of a sudden.
What was it that was hurting him so much inside…? That was choking his powerful voice and just breaking him from within? And why couldn’t he just tell Yasu so he could ease his pain, share the weight and make everything alright like he always did?
Yasu didn’t have to voice out such things anymore, the warmth of his embrace leading Subaru into finally breaking off the silent he had kept about his own feelings.
“Were they thinking the same about us… all this time?” he just had to ask, to himself, to Yasu, to anyone willing to give him an honest answer. To those millions of voices keeping him from sleeping at night when things became too harsh.
“Subaru…”
“No, really. Were they?? Have they been silently blaming us for putting a risk on the group all this time? Were they hoping we stopped?”
“It’s not the same, Shibuyan,” Yasu softly whispered into his ear as if talking to a little kid, a reassuring smile on his face Subaru couldn't see, but feel. “We’re not the same as them.”
“So, because it's us, it's ok; but Ryo-chan can't be with his utmost dearest person? He's forced to choose between his soul mate and Eito, but we're ok as long as fans don't find out? Or even if they do? Why can't he be happy, but we can? How is that fair?”
Yasu couldn't answer any of those questions; didn't know how to even begin trying to. And he was yet to hear the hardest of them all.
“What if it was us? What if it was you, Yasu?” Subaru pressed on his lover, pressed on Yasu the same weight he had been carrying by himself all this while. “Would you choose me over Eito? Or would you ditch me for the group and our fans? Is in even right to force such a choice on anyone?”
Yasu fell into the heaviest silence.
The shower had allowed Subaru to let out everything he had inside -all his sorrow, guilt, frustration and pain- and now he was lying on his bed, all drained and looking somewhat content.
Yasu, on the other hand, couldn't even close his eyes. He was the one who had brought all this pain on Ryo-chan, after all. Had he not searched so desperately for the truth and forced Ryo to share it with the rest…
“I'm as guilty as he is,” Yasu caressed Subaru's hair as he was lying next to him, softly whispering his confession. “Guiltier than you, Subaru.”
And yet it was as if Subaru was carrying with both of their sins.
As always…
A sudden ring of Subaru's cellphone tore Yasu from his thoughts and in a hurry he answered the phone call as to not wake up his boyfriend.
“Subaru?”
“He's sound sleep, Yokoccho,” Yasu replied in a soft voice, quickly getting out of the room. He only spoke again when the bedroom's door was safely closed behind him. “Is there anything you wanted to tell him? I can give him your message as soon as he wakes up.”
Yoko sighed on the other side of the line.
“I'm actually down on the lobby of his building. I thought of going for some drinks with Subaru to tell him something, but I guess this will have to do,” he laughed bitterly.
“What's going on, Yoko?” Yasu was starting to get worried about the older's weird behavior and tone of voice.
“I just talked to Dokkun.”
“Really, you did? I'm so glad!! I was starting to worry because Shibuyan just said-,” he fell silent after a whisper on the other side of the line. “What!?”
“Dokkun is quitting Eito… after I asked him to.”
Yasu was now sure he wouldn't be able to sleep at all. Not when Subaru's words on how Yoko would deal with the subject had proven to be right. If Yoko had to ask for such a sacrifice, it had been because of Yasu's prying ways and his stubborn demands on Ryo-chan, always asking for honesty without knowing the whole story, without knowing Ryo's reasons to keep quiet about such an important matter.
And here it was… the consequence of his actions.
Not because it had worked for him and Subaru to come out and clean meant it would work for anyone else.
What he and Subaru had had for so long was special, meaningful and dearest to their hearts. It was fragile, and yet so worth to protect at any risk. It wasn't fair that the rest of the members couldn't enjoy such bliss. It wasn't fair that Ryo was compelled to sacrifice his happiness in Eito to enjoy the feeling of loving and being loved. Among them all, Ryo has always been the one making more sacrifices for the group.
“And don't you think I know that?”
Yasu had run all the way down five floors to the lobby after Yoko told him all about the conversation he had held with Ryo earlier that night and Ryo's subsequence decision to leave the group for good, even with all the things they had planned for their Eight Anniversary. Thus Yasu had just felt the urge, the need of catching Yoko before he would jump inside the taxi that would take him to the closest bar where to drown his anger and frustration.
“Then why, Yokoccho?” Yasu kept on pressing with faltering voice, the air barely filling his lungs. “Why did you go and ask him to just leave Eito?”
Yoko closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Over the years, he was always the one playing the bad guy when it came to protecting the group, to taking the harsh decisions; and it had never become the slightest easier for him.
To be questioned by Yasu when Yasu knew all this too well turned out to be too much for him.
“This is not some sort of punishment for a betrayal…” he started slowly.
“I'm not saying…” Yasu's voice died before he could finish his statement.
“He's already married!” Yoko exploded.
“I know, but-”
“As hard as it was to ask him to leave the group, it was still easier than asking him to divorce,” Yokoyama solemnly explained in a constricted voice. “He has a family now, Yasu. I didn't have the heart to ask him to leave them. Nobody has the right to ask such a thing from him.”
Yasu stared at the floor with sadness. Things like weddings or divorces shouldn't be taken so lightly or being decided upon the group's popularity or establishment within the fans. It was all so twisted, so unfair and just sad.
“What if-?”
“I already spoke to Hina, and he agreed. He was the one telling Maru and Ohkura and they also agreed to go on just with the six of us,” Yoko cut Yasu's last futile attempt to change the unchangeable. “And tomorrow… tomorrow we'll talk to Asahina chief and the others on the venue for the live and deal with the consequences.”
Yoko sighed one last time before resuming his walk to the taxi waiting for him outside the building, a soft pat over Yasu's shoulder lingering hours after they parted as if the simple gesture had meant for Yoko to share the burden of the years with the guitarist.
Yasu went to bed that night feeling like he had aged all of a sudden.
They had longed to do this sort of live since before their debut, when they were still struggling to fill a small venue for their concerts. They dreamed with this memorial live when they had promised the fans their 8th Anniversary would be unforgettable. And now that it had finally arrived, none of them could smile or feel contented.
After all, one of them was missing. For good.
Asahina chief had taken the news of Ryo-chan's sudden removal a lot better than they had expected. But yet they were the ones to give a proper explanation about this decision that would satisfy the fans. The secret live gave them an intimate atmosphere to deliver such news and yet they couldn't help but to feel the pressure of it. After all, the future of the group depended on how this decision was received.
They all turned to look at Yoko as the venue was slowly getting filled.
“What are we going to tell them, Yokoyama-kun?” Ohkura dared to ask what was on everybody's mind.
A crushing silence spread on the room and Yoko had to swallow the lump on his throat.
“That he's our dear friend and we'll be supporting him even if we take different paths. That we feel sorry for causing troubles and pain to our fans, but we also have to think in our friend's feelings. That we'll give our best as six as we did as seven and as eight,” it was Subaru who replied with a dead serious expression, daring the others to state otherwise. “And most importantly, and hopefully this reaches Ryo as well, that we just want that guy to be happy and that he deserves so.”
The silence lingered; only this time it felt peaceful. They only needed to see each other’s eyes to understand it didn't matter what they tell the fans because they were taking the best decision. If it was for Ryo's happiness, they were gladly willing to make a sacrifice.
And so they walked to the stage with that thought in their heads. Putting their hands together as they had since the beginning, they expressed their gratitude towards the past, their fans, the city of Osaka -and silently towards Ryo and his new family- and they quietly took their respective place with a higher spirit.
All the signals were given for the show to begin, when a figure dashing to the stage halted them all to stop.
“WAIT!!!” Ryo screamed as he ran quickly to the other six, his eyes fixed with tears.
“Ryo-chan.”
“Ryo.”
“Dokkun, why?” Yoko asked in shock, not believing his eyes.
“I can't. I know that I should let go. Even if you ask me to quit, but I just can't. I'm nothing without you guys. It's my breathing air, that obvious “Always Together”. I'll suffocate without it. I'm hopeless without you guys. What can I do? I decided to get myself a family, but I can't throw away anything. What can I do?”
They stood there in silence after the touching speech, and then one, two, three… six smiles blossomed in their lips as chuckles of relief could be heard.
“How should I know? Just hurry and make a decision.”
“After the effort I put in telling you that…,” Yoko complained, though everyone could hear the relief in his voice meaning it was all a pretense. They were all too happy to be the least upset about Ryo's last minute change of mind. “What are those squirrel eyes!?”
They all started laughing, the atmosphere completely different from minutes ago. Now it finally looked like they were about to hold a special secret live to reminisce eight years of tears, constant efforts and a friendship for a lifetime.
“Reorganize yourselves and let's go!” Yasu shout.
Giving Ryo the clothes for the first song and clear instructions to get ready, the seven men held their hands together once again to shout out with joy their feelings of gratitude.
“Gratitude to everyone!” Ryo couldn't help to add above the rest of their voices, no traits of the previous tears filling his eyes.
Now they were truly ready to give their best.
As the first notes of Naniwa Iroha Bushi started playing and Subaru's powerful voice blended perfectly with the music, seconds before the curtain started going up, Yasu stole a glance at the other members and felt the happiest to be part of Eito. His eyes lingered for a bit longer on Ryo-chan and later on Subaru as he thanked all the Gods he knew the members supported them and their full happiness.
Without knowing what hardships they had yet to face, Yasu just felt blessed in all senses.