True Friends
It was not as if Sho hadn’t given it a lot of thought. He had gone through the possibilities one by one, pondering the pro’s and con’s minutely before deciding. Ohno hadn’t got an apartment, Jun wouldn’t allow him to disturb his peace and Aiba would be happy to help but couldn’t keep a secret. Nino would, depending on his mood, make fun of him or display annoyance, but in the end probably agree. Still, Nino was basically the result of a process of elimination, and now that Sho actually had to ask him he wondered if maybe Aiba wouldn’t have been the better choice after all.
“Say, Nino,” Sho started. “Are you in a good mood?”
Nino eyed him sharply. “Why?”
“Because I have a favour to ask of you.”
“If it’s about Ohno, forget it. I already told you I won’t stop grabbing his ass on TV. Besides, the fans love it, not to speak of the two of…”
“No, no,” Sho quickly interfered. “That’s not it.”
“Now that’s a surprise,” Nino mumbled under his breath. He didn’t put his book down, nor did he move (not that he could - the sofa was cramped with sweaters, back packs and other stuff, leaving very little space at the edge of the seat, and Sho thought it sort of applaudable that Nino managed to keep his balance, laying there in a seemingly relaxed pose), but Sho knew from the careful look he gave him that he was curious. Good.
“I wanted to know whether I could come over to your apartment from time to time.”
“What for?” Nino was obviously clear about the fact that Sho wasn’t talking about drinks and video games.
“Well, you know, my brother complained I’d disturb him in his studies if I practised at home, and so I thought maybe I could practise at your’s…”
“Practise what?”
“Cello.”
It was out. Sho internally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Cello,” echoed Nino.
“Yes.”
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Cello.” The corners of Nino’s mouth threatened to reach his ears.
Sho felt the need to guide this conversation back to track.
“I’d try to come over when you’re not there, of course, so I wouldn’t disturb you. Your schedule is momentarily more packed than mine anyway, and it’s not forever, just a few weeks until my brother is done with his exams. Would that be okay?”
“Are you kidding me?” Nino had stopped suppressing the laughter. What started as an unbelieving giggle in the middle of Sho’s speech mutated to a laughing fit that, as he tried to clutch his stomach with both hands, made Nino fall from the couch and out of sight behind the table.
The first thing that resurfaced after a few minutes of roaring laughter on Nino’s and resigned silence on Sho’s part were Nino’s hands, then his eyes as he pulled himself up just high enough to peek over the desktop. “Cello,” he said again. “How come?”
Sho hated Nino’s ability to always ask the wrong question. He had some sixth sense that told him precisely how he could use Sho’s every weakness for a never ending entertainment show for himself.
“No reason. I thought I’d try it.”
“Nah, Sho, come on. If you want to use my apartment to practise I deserve to know, don’t you think?”
“You’ll let me use it? Really?”
Nino shrugged. “If you tell me, why not. I’m not often there anyway.”
“But you mustn’t tell anyone. Promise.”
“I promise.” His glance, still amused but honest, lay on Sho.
Sho eyed him. Nino was a brat, yes, but he wouldn’t tell the others, Sho was sure about that. Or at least he wouldn’t tell them until everything was over and done with, one way or the other. Nino could be trusted that way. Sho sighed.
“Well… there’s this girl.”
Eight minutes later, when Nino had (mostly) finished laughing and caught enough breath to speak, he told Sho he’d bring a spare key the next day.