[Fanfiction] "Weird"
Title: Weird
Author:
xxotakuchiceexx SouChou
Fandom: G=AGE
Pairing: TajiVasa (Vasayegh Hikaru x Tajima Shogo)
Genre: Romance, angst
Rating: PG-13
A/N: This the first fanfic I've posted here in ages. Recently I've been posting my fics on AO3. But anyway, I have no idea what this even is, haha. The G=AGE fandom is pretty small at the minute so I doubt that there's anyone really interested in reading this but I just really wanted to write a fic about Shogo and Hikaru because they're adorable. For the sake of clarity, they're referred to as Taji and Vasa (the names they use in G=AGE) in this fic.
Update 2016/08/08: Instead of putting all of the chapters in seperate posts, from now on I'm just going to add new chapters
onto this post.
Chapter 1: Toy Story
16/07/24
Taji is kind of...cute.
Vasa realizes this as he gives up pretending to watch Toy Story. He made the mistake of looking over at Taji during the movie and he discovers with a start that he’d much rather be watching him anyway. The two of them are sat around the kotatsu in Taji’s living room and they’re watching his DVD of Toy Story for the upteenth time.
Taji is glued to the screen. His eyes are wide and full of wonder as if this is the first time he’s seen the movie. Despite himself, Vasa can’t help but think the older boy is kind of cute. Only kind of. His reactions and facial expressions are more entertaining to Vasa than any movie. Taji has changed so much since the two of them left Johnny’s but deep down, he’s still the same adorable airhead. Unwillingly, Vasa lets out a chuckle.
Taji tears his eyes away from the screen to look at Vasa.
“What?” he says.
Vasa tries to play it cool. He smirks teasingly.
“Nothing,” he replies. “I was just thinking about how much of an airhead you are.”
Unfazed, Taji returns his gaze to his precious Toy Story. He takes a handful of chips from the bowl that’s currently sitting on the kotatsu and plops them into his mouth. His mouth still full, he asks,
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Vasa looks down at his arms that are outstretched on the kotatsu as another giggle escapes his lips.
“See, even right now,” he says. “Swallow your food before you talk, idiot.”
Taji swallows and then looks at Vasa again. “You’re acting weird.”
“I’m not,” Vasa says simply, turning to the TV again.
“Yes, you are,” Taji argues, watching Vasa intently for any sign of him faltering. “You keep staring at me and smiling. It’s weird.”
“You’re imagining things,” Vasa murmurs, still avoiding the other boy’s gaze.
Taji goes quiet then and returns his attention to the screen so Vasa thinks he’s dropped it but after a while he speaks again.
“You’ve been acting weird for a while now,” he says matter-of-a-factly. “Like the other day with Fumito. You got all jealous because we bought matching bracelets. You don’t see me getting jealous when you and Roi go out on your dinner dates.”
“I wasn’t jealous,” Vasa mumbles, shuffling uncomfortably on the zabuton. “I just wondered why we never bought anything matching before. And Roi and I going to different restaurants just to see how much food we can shove down our faces in a short amount of time is not what I’d call a dinner date.”
Taji shrugs. “We can buy matching things if you want. It’s not that big a deal.”
“Right,” Vasa nods. “Of course not.”
Taji gives Vasa a look then continues to watch the film, his elbows resting on the kotatsu and his head propped up on his hands.
Vasa knows Taji is right; he is acting weird but he isn’t entirely sure why himself. Nothing has changed between the two of them recently yet Vasa often finds himself wanting to do things he can’t explain when they’re alone together like take Taji’s hand in his own or rest his head on Taji’s chest. Acting lovey-dovey in front of their fans is one thing but Vasa knows that if he tried any of those things while they were alone, Taji would never let him live it down.
For a moment, Vasa is too lost in thought to notice that Taji has moved closer to him. When he realizes it though, it hits him all too suddenly and his breath gets caught in his throat.
“Is everything okay?” Taji questions, his brow creased in worry. “If something’s wrong you can tell me. We are friends afterall.”
“I know,” Vasa says and he means it. Vasa doesn’t doubt that if he did have a problem, Taji would do everything he could to try and help. That was the kind of leader and friend Taji was. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Vasa nods and smiles meekly. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Good. Now shh, this is the best part,” Taji says, pointing to the TV with a huge grin spread across his face.
Yes, I think Taji is cute, Vasa decides with a smile as he watches the older boy flail excitedly. And that is definitely bad.
A/N 2: Shogo is actually obsessed with Toy Story, I didn't make that up haha. Also, that part about Roi and Vasa going out together and eating loads of food is true as well. As far as I know, Taji and Fumito don't actually have matching bracelets but Fumito does have a watch that Taji gave him as a present back when they were still in Johnny's.
For those of you who don't know, a kotatsu is one of those tables that they have in Japanese family rooms and a zabuton is the name for the cushions you sit on at the kotatsu.
I do currently plan to continue this but meh, it depends on how I feel. Hopefully the other G=AGE members will appear in later chapters.
Chapter 2: Stupid Little Crush
2016/08/08
“You eat like a pig,” Vasa notes dryly, watching Roi with a mix of amazement and disgust. The two of them are currently sat in a booth at some cheap restaurant that Vasa can’t even remember the name of. They’d come here after a dance rehearsal. Vasa had suggested it because he’d been feeling somewhat on edge and he needed some time to think. He knew that if anyone in the group would let him relax without teasing him too much, it would be Roi. Roi looks up from the bowl of rice he’s currently devouring.
“So do you,” he replies nonchalantly. “Or rather, you usually do. Today you’ve hardly eaten anything at all. What’s up?”
Vasa shrugs and takes a bite out of whatever’s on his plate in a feeble attempt to show Roi that nothing’s wrong. Roi seems to sense Vasa’s unwillingness to talk and drops his gaze, continuing to stuff his face.
Vasa gives up on eating then, and instead begins to absent-mindedly build a tower out of objects on the table. Thoughts of Taji fill his mind despite his best efforts to stifle them and Vasa wonders not for the first time if he’s going insane.
Yes, that must be it, he decides. Why else would he be finding his weird, space case of a best friend cute? Maybe he could just move away and change his name and forget about Taji. No wait, that wouldn’t work because he’d have to see him everyday at work. Maybe he could join the circus. What would a circus want with an idol?
“What are you mumbling about it?” Roi questions, sounding amused. Vasa, somewhat startled, almost knocks over the pile of chopsticks and other random things he’d been building. He goes red, not having released he’d been talking aloud this whole time. He doesn’t answer.
“What’s with you today?” Roi asks pointedly. “Normally you’re all competitive when we go out to eat. You’re acting weird.”
“That’s what Taji said to me yesterday,” Vasa admits before he can stop himself.
“Is this about Taji?” Roi asks as if he knows the answer already.
“How did you know?” Vasa grumbles after a pause.
“You were muttering something about him just now,” Roi points out. “and I could tell something was up with you two at rehearsals today.”
Vasa finds himself looking out of the window thoughtfully. Roi turns away then and returns his focus to his meal. Vasa is almost sure that with anyone else, he wouldn’t want to talk about it but somehow Roi’s unassuming and non-intrusive nature makes his desire to get his feelings off his chest unbarable.
“I think I like Taji,” he almost squeaks.
“I like Taji too,” Roi says cheerfully without looking up. “He’s nice and a good leader.”
“No, I think I like Taji,” Vasa repeats and this time Roi looks up and sees the look on older boy’s face.
“Oh,” Roi looks surprised for a moment but quickly bounces back. “Are you going to tell him?”
“No!” Vasa cries out, earning them a few annoyed glances from the restaurant's other customers. Vasa smiles at them apologetically and then leans in closer to Roi, lowering his voice. “Of course I can’t tell him. Are you crazy? All he’d do is make fun of me. It’s better if I just avoid him for a while until I get over it.”
“Okay, if that’s what you think’s best,” Roi says, his tone of voice letting Vasa know that he’s less than favourable about the idea.
“It probably only is just a silly little crush anyway,” Vasa says more to himself than to Roi. “I’ll be over it in no time.”
Roi raises his eyebrows disapprovingly but says nothing. There’s a lull in the conversation then until Vasa suddenly stretches his long arms in the air with a groan.
“You’ve had a head start but I bet I can finish faster than you and still have room for seconds,” he says with a grin, suddenly feeling more optimistic.
Roi returns his smile, happy to see the older boy back to his usual self. “Don’t count on it.”
Chapter 3: Catastrophe
2016/08/08
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Fumito asks all of a sudden.
Taji looks up from his cell phone that he’d been pretending to concentrate on with a start. He tries his best to look neutral.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he says.
Fumito pokes a finger in Taji’s left cheek. “Liar.”
Taji swats the hand away then lies back on Fumito’s bed, holding his phone above his face.
“Have you seen this video of the cat playing the piano? I bet Mahiro would like it, that guy and his cats.” he comments with a forced laugh.
“Don’t change the subject,” Fumito says, shuffling across the bed to lie down next to Taji. “This has something to do with Vasa, doesn’t it?”
The brief look of panic that washes over Taji’s face tells Fumito that he’s correct.
“You like him.”
It wasn’t a question. Taji squirms uncomfortably.
“Don’t say anything to him,” is all he can bring himself to say.
“You know I won’t,” Fumito assures him. “But you probably should.”
“Can you imagine the teasing I’d get from him? No way.” Taji says immediately, his eyes still fixated on his phone screen. “I’ll just deal with it...somehow.”
“Idiot,” Fumito mutters playfully, pinching Taji’s cheek. Taji smacks his hand away again. “Now show me that cat video, I want to see it.”
Chapter 4: Evade and Escape
2016/08/09
Vasa hurriedly throws his things into his bag and zips it up. He pulls the bag over his shoulder, raises his mask over his face, then speed-walks towards the front door where Roi is already waiting for him. He almost makes it outside scot-free. Almost. He pretends he doesn’t hear the familiar voice calling after him but then Taji catches up to him and grabs him by the sleeve of his shirt.
“Hey, I was calling you,” Taji frowns.
“Were you? Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” Vasa lies. “What’s up?”
“If you’re not busy I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight,” Taji says.
“Sorry, Roi and I are going out again,” Vasa says. He glances back at Roi, thankful for the excuse.
“Oh,” Taji says. He glances at Roi too and Vasa thinks he sees something in his gaze that he can’t quite work out but then it’s gone as soon as it came. Taji smiles then. “I’ll see you two tomorrow then. Good work today.”
“You too,” Vasa says, forcing himself to mirror Taji’s smile. “Bye.”
“Later,” Roi chirps.
Taji turns around to leave and Vasa pauses for a while to watch his retreating form. He expels air then looks over at Roi.
“Well, let’s go.”
They walk in silence for a while until Roi looks up at Vasa curiously.
“Still avoiding Taji then?”
Vasa doesn’t meet his gaze. He chuckles awkwardly and shrugs a shoulder.
“Don’t you think that if you were going to get over your feelings for him it would’ve happened by now?” Roi says gently. “It’s been months and Taji is obviously upset that you haven’t been spending any time with him outside of work recently.”
Vasa still doesn’t say a word.
“I know you’re afraid but maybe you should just tell him,” Roi suggests. “Even if he doesn’t feel the same way then maybe once he knows then you can move on.”
Vasa can’t help but laugh. “Which one of us is older here?”
Roi laughs too. “I’m serious though. It’s awkward for all of us with you two acting like this. At least promise me you’ll try.”
“Okay,” Vasa nods with a sigh of defeat, unable to argue with Roi’s logic. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow after rehearsals.”
Chapter 5: Cold Shoulder
2016/08/10
“I can’t do it,” Vasa insists, hopping around from foot to foot anxiously.
“Yes, you can,” Roi says for what felt like the millionth time as he drops his things into his bag. He looks over at Vasa. “You’re normally so confident. It’s weird to see you like this,”
Roi fastens his bag then swings it over his shoulder. “Well, I’ll head home to give you two some privacy. You can text me later to let me know how it went if you need to. See you.”
“Bye bye,” Vasa replies. He watches Roi leave and the changing room door swings shut behind him. Vasa then spies Taji on the other side of the room and begins to make a move toward him.
“Hey,”
Taji looks up in surprise when he realizes that Vasa is talking to him but then the surprise turns to something else. Taji’s eyes narrow ever so slightly.
“Hey yourself,” he says back, his voice dripping with ice and suspicion.
Vasa is somewhat taken aback by Taji’s defensiveness but he tries his best not to look hurt. “Are you busy tonight?”
“Yes, actually,”
Before Taji can say anything else, the changing room door bursts open and as if on cue, Fumito strides in.
“Are you coming or not?” the younger boy miffs impatiently. Fumito notices Vasa then and gives him a strange look.
“I’m coming,” Taji grumbles, shoveling the last of his belongs into his bag. “Keep your panties on.”
“I’ll have you know that I don’t wear panties,” Fumito smirks. “I do wear bras though.”
“You’re an idiot,” Taji says to Fumito, trying not to laugh. When he turns to Vasa though, any humour in his expression is long gone. He now looks angry and upset and almost...pleading. “Was there something you wanted to say to me?”
Against better judgement, Vasa shakes his head. “No, not really. See you both tomorrow then. Good work today.”
“You too,” they both say politely as they exit the changing room. Vasa can’t help but notice the look Taji gives him as he hurries out of the room behind Fumito. He still looks angry, but most of all he looks disappointed.
Vasa releases a heavy sigh. Okay, he’s definitely going to have to text Roi tonight afterall.
Chapter 6: He Hates Me
2016/08/11
“I was really awful to him,” Taji says to Fumito that night.
They’re in Fumito’s bedroom again; sitting cross-legged on the floor and eating bags of junk food. Fumito had suggested they buy it when he’d seen how miserable Taji had looked after his encounter with Vasa. The light is turned off and Fumito’s laptop is running some action movie that neither of them are really watching.
“Well, he did stop talking to you for months with no explanation,” Fumito says logically.
“I know but he looked like he wanted to make up and I just shot him down,” Taji sighs, throwing himself down on the floor. “I don’t even know what I did to make him mad in the first place.”
Fumito pokes Taji in the side in an attempt to cheer him up. Taji squirms and swats at his hand with a laugh.
“You’re so annoying,” the leader says playfully but then all too suddenly, his smile disappears. “What if the reason Vasa is avoiding me is because he knows? You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“Of course not, I promised I wouldn’t,” Fumito says, looking almost hurt at the suggestion.
“What if he’s figured it out by himself?” Taji covers his face, still lying on the floor. “He probably hates me now.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you,” Fumito laughs. “Maybe you should try actually talking to him? I don’t know what’s going on his head anymore than you do, you know.”
After a pause, Taji sits up and nods. “You’re probably right,”
“Of course I am. I’m not as dumb as I look, you know.” Fumito says with a grin.
“What does that even mean?” Taji snorts, punching the other boy on the shoulder. “Anyway, I guess I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
* * *
VASA: Taji hates me.
ROI: It didn’t go well, I take it? I’m sorry.
VASA: I couldn’t tell him. Fumito interrupted us. It was probably for the best anyway because Taji seemed really mad at me.
ROI: That doesn’t mean he hates you. He’s probably just upset because you’ve been ignoring him for the past few months.
VASA: What should I do?
ROI: I don’t know. You could try to explain it to him.
VASA: No, I don’t want to make things any worse. Maybe I should just give up.
ROI: Well, it’s your choice but I don’t think you should leave things the way they are.
VASA: I’ll think about it. Sorry to text you so late. See you tomorrow. Goodnight.
ROI: It’s okay. Try not to worry about Taji too much. Night.
Chapter 7: Headache
2016/08/12
Taji makes his mind up to confront Vasa the moment the younger boy walks into the changing room that morning. Taji knows that if he delays it, he’ll chicken out so he makes sure to get there early to give himself time to prepare. He’s pacing the room restlessly when after what seems like hours, Vasa finally shows up. Taji starts toward him but after only a few paces, he stops dead in his tracks. He feels a weird pang in his stomach when he notices who Vasa is with.
It shouldn’t have been much of a surprise - Vasa is always with Roi lately - yet the sight hits Taji like a tonne of bricks. They’re laughing so much that neither boy has even noticed Taji’s presence in the room. It reminds Taji of how he and Vasa used to be.
Taji shakes his head. Oh, come on. You can’t seriously be getting jealous of Roi? Taji says to himself. Why would Vasa be interested in him? Roi is so much younger than he is for one thing.
Yet Taji can’t deny how happy Vasa looks when he and Roi are together or how the two of them always seem to be sharing some kind of secret that no-one else is in on. They’ve been spending so much time with one another recently and Taji is all too aware that it had started around the same time that he himself had begun to develop feelings for Vasa.
Taji sighs in defeat. He turns away from the laughing pair and busies himself with aimlessly rummaging through his bag, hoping that Fumito will arrive soon.
***
FUMITO: Sorry I can’t make into rehearsals today! I’m really sick. Super bad timing, I know! Hope it goes well with Vasa though. Good luck!!!!
Taji releases what he thinks might be the biggest sigh he’s ever done in his life. He shoots Fumito a quick “get well soon” text then shoves his phone back into his bag. He’s got a little while until rehearsals actually start and he’s alone in the changing room - Vasa and Roi wandered off together to do who knows what a while ago - so he sits down on the floor with his back against the wall. He closes his eyes and begins to gently bang his head against the wall.
“That can’t be good for you, you know,”
The soft yet somewhat icy voice makes Taji jump and his eyes snap open.
“Oh, Mahiro,” Taji relaxes a little. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Just be careful,” Mahiro says dismissively. “It would be bad for everyone if our leader got a concussion or something right before our concert.”
“Right, thanks for the tip,” Taji replies, smirking slightly. “Hey, Mahiro? Can you I talk to you about something?”
“I suppose,” Mahiro answers passively. “Does it have something to do with why you were so insensibly banging your head against the wall just now?”
Taji chuckles. “Yeah, a little.”