The Competition - Chapter 6
Title: The Competition
Genre: Drama, comedy, fluff
Pairings: ohmiya, sakuraiba
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Fiction! :)
Summary: What if Arashi members had not gone to Johnny's auditions? This is my take on how fate's helping hand (if you believe in such things) would still have brought them together...
Chapter: 6 (out of probably 8)
Chapter 6: Raps and doubts
Although it took some convincing from Ohno and Nino, the other three agreed to start again on new songs. It was very difficult to resist the pleading looks from the round-faced dancer and the pianist’s newly-found illuminating smile. The old songs never really seemed to fit anyway. They did not feel like ‘them’ somehow… Even if ‘them’ was still something they had to figure out…
Nino had been working even harder, sharing his time between piano practices and composing. But playing with feelings was not a problem anymore. It now came so naturally, that he was baffled at how difficult it had been before. It was like a high wall of ice had been preventing him from even conceiving it, and Ohno’s warmth and tenderness had slowly melted that insurmountable barrier.
His teacher immediately noticed it.
“Well, there you go, Ninomiya!” He patted the younger pianist’s shoulder proudly. “See?! When you want to! Well done!” he exclaimed with a happy grin. “And isn’t it also more enjoyable this way?”
Nino smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Sensei!”
“How did you figure out how to do it?” the older man asked curiously.
Nino blushed at this. “I had a bit of help…”
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But there was no time to lose. Nino could feel the trust the others had in him, as they had abandoned the past month’s hard work. Somehow it felt more like a push forward, rather than a burden. He felt proud that they could depend on him and was working very hard not to disappoint them. He needed to finish the two songs as quickly as possible, in order for Ohno to prepare the choreography, and for them to start working on it…
Nino had just left the Academy and was walking back home in time for dinner. He had been at the academy since early that morning to follow his various classes, practice his classical piano and work on the compositions. He had finished the first song and was now working on the second one.
He stifled a yawn and pulled out his ringing phone. He was surprised to see Jun’s name on the screen. The 5 had agreed that it was pointless to meet until Nino had finished composing the new songs.
‘Why was he calling him now?’ Nino thought curiously.
“Jun?”
“Hey, Nino, How’s it going?”
“Not bad. You?”
“Good, good…” There was a pause. “Okay, look, I’ve been hesitating asking you this…”
Nino’s curiosity was definitely held now. “What is it?”
“Could one of the songs have a rap part?”
Nino frowned and then chuckled. “I didn’t know you rapped…” The image of Jun rapping was quite amusing.
Jun laughed.
“No way! It’s not for me, you idiot… It’s for Sho! He probably hasn’t told you, but back in college he was actually famous for his raps!”
Nino heard Jun give a small sigh.
“Look, see it as a favour if you want, but could you please ask him to write a rap for one of the songs? You must have noticed… Sho’s doing much better than when we all started this, but I’m worried about after the competition… Even if we win, he won’t have anything else planned out for afterwards! I’ll go back to the café, you’ve got your program in Germany, Aiba will have his job, Ohno his dancing… But Sho… I worry about how he’ll take going back to just… well, nothing…”
Nino frowned, feeling worry awaken for the older man’s future. Jun did have a point.
Jun continued. “I’m sure it’s thanks to the competition preparation that he’s doing so well! Having something to do really has made him come out of that rough patch… But he needs something he’ll want to do afterwards. So my idea is that, rediscovering his passion for rapping, might be exactly what he needs. You didn’t see him back then! He was as passionate about rapping as Ohno is about dancing!”
Nino smiled as images of Ohno dancing gently echoed in his mind. “Really?”
“Yes!” Jun exclaimed.
Nino thought back to his conversation with Sho only a few days ago; about how far the older man had come; from a lazy unemployed person, to someone so cheerful and organized.
If he could do anything about it, he knew he wanted to help make that change permanent. He nodded to himself. The older man had really helped him out when he had needed it…
“Okay, I’ll make sure it happens.” The pianist answered in a confident voice.
Jun was slightly surprised that Nino accepted so quickly, but didn’t question it.
“Thanks Nino! Really, you don’t know what that means to me!” The youngest member of the group said, trying to convey the full extent of his gratefulness.
Sho had helped him out so much in high school; Jun was not going to let him go back to that sluggish wreck.
-----------------------4 weeks to competition----------------------
Incredibly enough, Nino managed to finish composing the two songs in a week. He could not remember having a more intense and yet fulfilling week. The time he had spent composing was by far his favourite. The feeling he got when he was inspired and writing down the notes and lyrics was both amazing and impossible to describe. If he could have he would have spent more time composing, but he had hurried because he knew they were waiting for him and they all still had a long way to go to prepare the songs and the choreography.
When they met in the basement after the week’s pause, they all seemed excited and ready to start working again.
Nino handed them out pages with his lyrics and showed them both songs using a CD on which he had recorded himself playing the melodies on the piano.
“So that’s what I’ve done, but maybe you could give me your opinion… Like, if you want to change the lyrics or something…” Nino said shyly.
He was completely uncertain about this all. He had worked very hard and had tried to transmit as much as he could through the songs, but he had no experience in composing. As opposed to playing classical where he was fairly confident, composing left him a bit insecure. Apart for Ohno’s touching praises on his improvisations, he’d never received any feedback on his own songs! This area of music was completely uncharted for him.
With a smile, he remembered improvising for Ohno and looked fondly at the older man who was reading his lyrics with the others.
“He doesn’t realize how talented he is, does he…” Jun said quietly to Ohno sitting next to him on the sofa.
The latter smiled sadly and shook his head: “Partly… He knows he’s a good pianist, but he doesn’t realize what a good composer he is…”
As they were going over the second song, Nino coughed slightly to get their attention.
“Here I was thinking… Maybe we could add a rap…” he paused, waiting for a reaction.
Sho groaned loudly. “Junnn!! What did you tell him?”
“What!? Nothing!” Jun grinned. “What? Are you volunteering to write a rap Sho-chan?”
He paused, faking a thoughtful expression. “Yea… You did rap in college, didn’t you…”
Aiba turned abruptly. “Sho-chan can write raps? That’s so cool!” he exclaimed excitedly.
Sho blushed slightly. “Okay, well I used to… I probably can’t anymore though… It’s been ages!”
“Ohh, please try? I want to hear it!!” Aiba pleaded, starting to show ‘his never-failing pout’.
“Well… I could try to write a rap…” Nino started with a snarky voice.
Sho glared at him. “Don’t you use reverse psychology on me…”
“Well, is it working?” Nino grinned darkly.
Sho glanced at Jun who was nodding enthusiastically, Ohno who was back to his own thoughts, Aiba who had a ridiculously endearing pout, and back to Nino who had one eyebrow raised and was obviously defying him to accept.
Finally, he rolled his eyes and sighed. “Okay fine! I’m not promising it will work, but I’ll try!”
Aiba exclaimed in joy, Jun and Nino high-fived in success, and Ohno looked up confusedly, wondering what he had just missed.
Sho could not supress his amused smile; what absolute weirdos had he ended up with…?
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But Sho surprised himself by finishing the rap in two days. It’s not like he had anything else to do, and it felt incredibly good simply to immerse himself in his own project. This was different from practicing the songs with the others. It was his thing; his own objective. The others were depending on him. Although he had been uncertain at first, the skill of writing of raps had quickly returned from his college days.
As he worked on the rhythm and lyrics, he could feel the happiness and satisfaction coming back to him. Though it was faint at first, like a nearly forgotten dream, it became stronger as his inspiration grew more assured.
He wrote about his friends, about simple things, painful things, feeling lost, feeling grateful… Though he was not sure why, Aiba’s cheerful expression was the image that popped in his mind most often…
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Once it was ready, he came early to their scheduled practice and started rehearsing his rap using Nino’s recording of the second song.
He wanted it to sound perfect before his friends got here. At the end of his fourth repetition facing the stereo, he heard a loud clap and felt a strange sense of déjà-vu.
He turned in shock and stuttered: “Huh? W-- wait, what?”
“That was amazing, Sho-chan!” Aiba was applauding and walking to him with his usual bounding step.
Sho could only stand there. He felt his cheeks getting warm. So that’s how Ohno must have felt when he first saw him dance…
Aiba was literally jumping on the spot. “Seriously! You have no idea!! That rap actually made me so happy!! You’re good at this!”
Sho’s eyes widened and he felt like something in his heart had opened up; or rather, like a weight had been lifted. He could not stop the smile that was now spreading across his own face.
“Really? It made you--- happy?” he asked disbelieving.
Aiba’s eyes widened slightly. Sho’s smile was dazzling.
Feeling flustered the taller man remained voiceless for a moment.
“Emm… Yeah!” he finally managed to let out. “Yea!!! Definitely!”
Aiba was nodding so enthusiastically Sho worried he might hurt his neck and he put a hand on the younger man’s shoulder.
He laughed. “Okay, okay!”
“Oops, sorry am I interrupting something?” Nino’s sarcasm-filled voice came from the doorway.
Aiba bounded away from Sho. “Nino-chan! Sho finished his rap! It’s amazing!”
Sho’s hand fell back to his side, and somehow his fingers could still feel the strong shoulder of the taller man. The rapper smiled as he put it to his own chest and felt his heart beating fast. He was not sure what it had been about Aiba’s words, but they had definitely lifted some kind of weight from there.
It was like things were clearer; like the darkness of the past was a bit fader and the future did not seem so uncertain anymore… Sho felt happiness radiate from his whole being as he realized it: he had a purpose again! Whatever it took, he wanted to keep writing raps!
The dimly lit basement room seemed much brighter to Sho now, and he grinned at Ohno and Jun walking in behind Nino.
----------------3 weeks to competition----------------
Though the day of the competition was drawing closer, the five friends were quite confident. They worked harder than ever, meeting anytime they could. The songs were coming along well, and Ohno seemed much happier with Nino’s songs than the previous ones. The choreography he had designed was much smoother and felt more natural to them all.
They had, again today, finished a tiring but satisfying practice, and only Jun, Aiba and Sho were left in the room. Ohno and Nino had left a bit earlier, shoulders glued together, joking and grinning at each other.
Ever since Nino had started composing, it was obvious to the other three something was going on between the two shorter young men; but those two were so oblivious of social constructs that they had probably not realized it themselves that they now closely resembled a mushy couple in a young relationship.
“Told you!” Sho grinned to Jun when the two giggling men had left.
Jun rolled his eyes. “Okay, what do you want me to say? Yes, well done Sho! What a match! It’s wonderful you brought them together like this!’”
Sho laughed loudly. “Yea something like that…”
Jun sighed exasperated, glancing at his mobile phone before putting it back into his pocket.
“Okay, I’ll see you on Tuesday! Bye Aiba-chan!” He called out to the taller man who was packing up.
Sho looked up to Jun as he disappeared up the stairs and frowned when he realized Aiba had not given any answer.
“Aiba-chan, are you okay?” He had noticed the younger man had been quiet all day.
Aiba was taking his time closing his bag; apparently hesitating.
“Okay, well… It’s really silly… But… Well… I’ve just been thinking lately… I’m not sure if I’m really important to the group…” He said quietly, his back to Sho. “That is to say… I don’t know what I bring to the group…”
“Aiba?! What are you talking about! Of course you’re important!” Sho exclaimed outraged, taking a few steps towards the taller man.
“You don’t understand!” Aiba said, turning suddenly. Sho was shocked to see that look of anguish on Aiba’s usually smiling face. “Nino plays and composes beautifully! Ohno sings and dances so well! Your raps are incredible! Jun brings so much charisma and style without even realizing it!”
The tall man sighed and looked down. “I work hard but I don’t know if that’s enough… I just don’t think I’m as talented as you guys… I’ve been thinking I should just leave the group so you guys could have more of the reward money each…”
“Aiba…” Sho breathed out, still surprised by his friend’s absurd worries. “If you had any idea…” he started, but paused.
He looked down, and thought back to his conversation with Nino. He’d briefly explained it to the pianist then, but he felt it was now time to open up properly. He no longer feared those demons and knew it was right to explain them out if it could help his dear friend.
He took a deep breath and gently took Aiba’s hand, pulling him to sit on the sofa.
“Okay… I need to tell you something Aiba-chan. When you saw me one month ago, I don’t know if you noticed, but it wasn’t really a great time for me. I was unemployed and literally had no clue what I wanted to do with my life…”
Sho bit his lip, half-expecting these memories to hit him as they rushed back; for his mouth to go dry; his breath to go ragged… That’s how it always had been with these memories before… But he was reassured when he realized it was not the case now; not anymore. He no longer feared his past because he had accepted it and he knew what he would do to prevent himself from ever going back to that state.
The rapper smiled and took a more relaxed breath. “My aunt sent me money, which at the time I thought was a good thing, but now I realize it actually may not have been. If she hadn’t, at least I would have really been forced to find a job… That’s what my parents wanted, and that’s why they didn’t send me money themselves even though they are quite successful in their jobs. They said I should learn to fend for myself. I think at the time I just decided to ignore them… Anyway, as it was, I was stuck in this position of not doing anything and feeling pretty worthless. But still I didn’t have the willpower to do anything to change it.
The only place where I could find a little bit of happiness was Jun’s café. That’s why I decided to help him out really, you know, along with wanting to thank him for sticking with me. But apart from that, really, I just kinda lived everyday, not really working towards a goal. I’d pretty much lost the hope I’d find passion again. And, I was so lazy wasn’t I?!” Sho chuckled slightly.
Then he looked at Aiba who was staring at him with a surprised expression. “I noticed Sho-chan wasn’t very enthusiastic then, but I didn’t realize you were going through such a hard time!” he said with a small voice.
Sho smiled at him. “I’d forgotten the worth of working for something and the importance of not giving up. And you know what? You reminded me of all that Aiba-chan! Week after week, you helped us all out to keep persevering and you stayed cheerful all the way through!”
Sho looked down feeling slightly embarrassed. “Watching you being so enthusiastic and passionate about whatever you worked on really got to me! You made me want to find that feeling again. I could feel myself feeling happier and happier working with you guys and your cheerfulness just got under my skin… And then that time you said my first rap made you happy… Well I was just over the moon! I’d created something which brought someone actual happiness!” he exclaimed with bright eyes.
“You helped me find my passion Aiba-chan and reminded how important it is to always have hope and be positive… Thank you…” He finished blushing slightly.
Then he looked up, remembering why he started telling the taller man all this.
“And you brought happiness to the whole group! You always cheered us up and reminded us not to give up! You have no idea how much you helped everyone! So don’t you dare say you don’t bring anything to the group!”
Sho blushed again but this time he didn’t look away from Aiba’s deep eyes.
“And if it’s musical talent you’re worried about, well at least for me, I think your rough voice is beautiful…” he said with a shy smile.
Aiba’s watery eyes crinkled as his whole face lit up with a wide smile, and he grabbed the rapper into a tight embrace.
------------2 weeks to the competition-------------------
Nino walked out of the concert room where his exam had just taken place. His legs and fingers were trembling and his heart was beating so fast, one would think he’d just run a marathon! As he walked away from the grand piano, he couldn’t help but give a quick glance at the jury panel, and he could have sworn he saw his young teacher give him a discreet smile and nod.
Nino knew he’d given it his all but still felt incredibly insecure. He had put all the feelings he could into his pieces and prayed it would work… After all, he’d never played like this in an exam. Though his teacher might like it, who knew what the other members of the jury would think…?
It was extremely frustrating because he would not find out his final mark until all the final year participants had performed. All he could do now was go home and wait until the results were published online.
He bit his lip and clenched and unclenched his short fingers until the time of publishing arrived. After what seemed like days, the page finally refreshed to show the ranking of all the exam participants. But Nino didn’t need to scroll down the list. There, at the top of the page, with the maximum mark, Nino read his name with disbelief.
He read it a few more times until it hit him. It was real! They had given him top marks!
He jumped to his feet as a grin spread on his face. He had to tell Ohno!
He ran out of the study and down the stairs.
“Well??” he heard his mother call from the kitchen.
“Sorry mum! I promised Ohno he’d be the first to find out!!!” he shouted back.
His mother grinned, hearing the front door slamming shut and seeing through the kitchen window her beloved, though fairly peculiar, son, running down the road.
When Nino reached Ohno’s house, he was out of breath and holding the searing pain in his side… But he could not stop. He could not wait to see Ohno’s familiar and reassuring face.
He knocked on the front door and Ohno’s mother opened with her usual sweet smile.
“Why hello, Nino-kun! Didn’t you have your exam today? Did you get your results?” She asked enthusiastically. Nino had come so often to visit Ohno in the last few weeks, she’d taken quite a liking to him.
“Emm…” Nino was still catching his breath. “Is Ohno here? Sorry, but I promised he’d be the first one to know!”
The woman laughed. “Oh right, of course! But I’m afraid he’s not. He went to practice at the academy.” She paused. “Actually he looked quite stressed out when he left the house. I think he was worried about you.”
She gave him a bright smile. “You should go find him! Though judging by that smile on your face, it’s good news…” she winked at him.
Nino laughed and shook his head. “Thank you! But I haven’t told you anything!!” he shouted back at her, as he started to run again.
When he finally reached Ohno’s usual studio, he had to lean on the wall to stop himself from fainting right there from exhaustion. He could not remember the last time he’d been this out of breath.
When he could no longer hear his heart echoing in his ears, he looked up and heard the music coming from within the studio.
Ohno could be seen in the practice room, dancing, as usual, astoundingly well. Nino grinned. Ohno dancing was always such a spectacle, it was difficult to interrupt… But today was special! The pianist burst through the door.
“I did it Oh-chan!!! I got the top score!!!!!” he shouted and, colliding into the man as short as him, pulled Ohno into a tight embrace. “I couldn’t have done it without you!!”
Ohno hugged him back tightly. As he hid his face in the narrow shoulders, he could feel his chest constricting painfully. Though he’d been certain Nino would get top marks and though he was very glad to see his friend so happy, the ache in his heart was crueller than he’d expected.
Nino was one step closer to leaving him…
As Ohno pulled Nino even closer, willing time to stop, he did not see that the grin had faded from the younger man’s face, and that he was now blinking rapidly, barely able to hold back the tears in his eyes.
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Hey everyone! So a bit more Sakuraiba in this chapter! And some more about Sho! ^_^
Sorry for fans which have Jun as their ichiban. But there is a focus on him coming soon!!
Only two more chapters to go! I can't believe how quickly time has gone by!
I promise they will be up before monday because I'm going travelling then, and I will not have access to my laptop for a while... BUT I will DEFINITELY be able to answer all your comments!!! What would we do without internet access on our phones... ne?! :D
Anyway, let me know how you found this chapter! :3
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Chapter 7 is up!!