je_united 2019 - Gift fic for rainbowemperor
Je_united gift fic for rainbowemperor
Title: Once Upon A Song
Pairing: Inoo Kei X Takaki Yuya
Rating: PG - 13
Warnings: AU, unfavourable portrayals of Arashi members
Summary: Inoo, a Cinderella in a modern life, needs to support his lip syncing step brother Jun, in order to impress the boy he really loves.
Notes: I follow the storyline from Cinderella story franchise that I like, I hope you enjoy reading this fic as much as I enjoy writing it for you :) thank you
It was always rough to be Inoo Kei. His life would be much easier if his step-dad, a former musician, Sakurai Sho, and his step brother, Matsumoto Jun, was not pestering him, treating Inoo like a slave.
Inoo have a lifetime duty to serve for Sakurai and Jun, until he graduates from high school. After that, Sakurai will grant him the funds Inoo needs for college tuition. If Inoo makes any mistakes, Sakurai will evilly put a fine on Inoo.
Inoo starts his day at 4 am. While kids his age still get their beauty sleep, Inoo’s already on his way from the little shack behind the main house which he can call his own sanctuary, to clean the house, prepare the clothes, prepare the breakfast and lastly, even as he hopes he can skip it every day, waking Sakurai and Jun.
After making sure everything is according to Sakurai wishes, they let Inoo go to school. Sakurai is partly an owner of the school; therefore Jun has unlimited tickets to arrive late. They say: "Divas needs more time to prepare", but for Inoo it feels more likely that they go back to sleep again.
Inoo can not attend any extra school activities as he needs to get home asap, arranging never ending meet ups of Sakurai and his fellow friends. Sakurai is the most party loving person Inoo’s ever known. All decorations must be arranged perfectly. It's not hard if the party was not arranged once every two days.
Inoo can't afford to get any penalties as he is very afraid of not being able to afford going to college and having to serve Sakurai forever.
But today he found it amusing to realize that Jun and Sakurai were already awake by the time he was going to wake them up.
They forcefully dragged Inoo along while bringing their bag. Now Inoo was sitting awkwardly beside Jun in the comfort sofa in the middle of the meeting room, feeling sleepy until the wooden door opened.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Sakurai-san", said an old man in his 50s while bringing chardonnay in his left hand. He looked slightly drunk.
Sakurai chuckled. "Already drunk in the morning, Aiba-san?"
"Aiba never get drunked." the man called Aiba shook his head and sat in front of Sakurai, putting his big leather bag on the floor.
"So, what help do you need from me, Aiba-san?" Sakurai asked curiously.
"My best talent, Takaki Yuya is back from Korea this month. We would like to make a big competition to pick someone talented to be Yuya's partner in his new single, and whoever that person is will be debuted right away. I would like Jun to keep Yuya company while he's here. Can I get the help I need, Sakurai-san? "
Without waiting for his father’s answer, Jun shamelessly nodded his head hard. "Yes, yes I will!!"
It was a major secret that Jun had big crush on Yuya since the pop star was born in the entertainment industry. Therefore, it would be impossible for Jun to decline Aiba’s offer.
"So it's a yes."
They laughed and talked for another minute about Aiba's trip to Germany before they all finished their own little meeting because Aiba had to go to Chile.
Before they parted Inoo bowed a little and pushed his recorded CDs into Aiba's bag. It was not Inoo’s fault that Aiba left his leather bag open wide. Inoo crossed his fingers, hoping that Aiba will be pleased to hear his song.
Outside the main building where the meeting was attended, Yamada Ryosuke, Inoo's only best friend was waiting secretly behind the bushes.
"Psst.... "
Inoo turned his head and snuck behind Sakurai and Jun to meet his friend.
"Don't you have class this morning?"
"I'm curious. Did you manage to give Aiba-san your records yet? "
Yamada's gleaming eyes spark under the morning sun.
"Not really, I managed to slip it in his bag. Hope he finds my CDs though."
"You still scared of those devils?"
"You mean Sakurai and Jun?"
"Duh. Who else?"
"They're my step family, Yama-chan. Don't call them that."
"But they don't act like one."
Inoo smiled a little. "Also I hope you remember they have hands over my college tuition, no work means bye college. After high school ends I hope I never have to see them again."
"Aiba-san will love your voice and you will get the hell out of there soon. Or… "Yamada pointed at his phone screen.
The title "Talent Search! Duet with Takaki Yuya and Major Debut!"
"I don't do contests. I can't fight like that."
"You have to!"
Knowing his best friend was persistant Inoo nodded his head, "Ok, I will think about it. But for now please lower your voice. Sakurai and Jun might hear you."
"They're not even here." Yamada sighed desperately.
"The walls have ears remember?"
Yamada nodded, "Just do what you have to do. Don't die young with them... Or because of them."
Inoo nodded and left, walking separately because they had different classes this morning.
There was chaos in the dining room. And that time Inoo would prefer to be in his shack until the dinner was over and he would come again to clean their plates. It turned out that Sakurai’s binge partying had wasted all his money and he needed to refill it soon.
Jun had an idea to participate in the contest so that he could debut with his idol, Takaki Yuya, and save his father's money. "But darling... Your voice is kind of... "
'Awful...?' Inoo wanted to finish that sentence so bad.
"Different? Unique? I think I'll manage to get their attention. They will love me, Papa."
Inoo forced himself not to burst out laughing.
"This is not a joke, Jun. We need Aiba's money to keep surviving in this cruel world."
“Cruel? Well try to be me.” Inoo murmured under his breath.
"How we can manage to make your voice beautiful in a few days??"
Right when Inoo took their plates to the kitchen, Sakurai's phone rang. He hushed Jun to stop talking and picked up the phone.
"Yes Aiba-san? Ah yes... No but... "
Inoo didn’t care one bit about what Sakurai and Aiba were talking about. He was sure he put his number on the CDs so he hoped Aiba would contact him directly.
Sakurai put an end to his phone call, marched over to Inoo and dragged him back to the table.
"We have a sneaky little bastard here, haven't we??"
Inoo didn’t have any idea that Aiba would call straight to Sakurai. "Aiba said he found a recording of singing, very beautiful singing. And he signed up whoever that was to join the competition immediately. I'm sure it's not from Jun, now is it?"
"What do you mean? It's my song. I sang it."
"Not anymore, sneaky bastard." Sakurai smirked to Jun, "Now it's your time to shine son. The prize will be yours."
"But how? I'm not the one who sang that."
Sakurai looked at Inoo evilly, “I’m changing the terms and conditions for you to have a college education. You will receive the money for the tuition fee if you manage to win for Jun in the competition."
"Please don't drag me into this." Inoo sighed.
"The choice is yours. College or a lifetime of work for me."
Inoo wished he could disappear right away to pushed down the urge to choke Sakurai on the neck.
Inoo had never been absent from his classes until today. Instead, he was in the record room belonging to his school's choir. They were practising to give Jun a convincing lip sync in order to win the competition.
"You suck. Repeat again!" Jun squeaked and forced Inoo to repeat the song for 10th time. Inoo was sure the problem was with Jun's ears, not his own voice. "Imagine how hard it is to lip sync to your song."
'Imagine me singing it' Inoo wished this would just be over.
His prayers were answered. By the time Jun were lip syncing to his song, Yuya barged into the room, escaping from his fans. He didn't know the room was already occupied until he turned around to see Jun standing behind the recording mic.
"Sorry, did I disturb you? I need a moment to be here."
"No… Not at all." Jun giggled awkwardly.
"Are you the one who sang that song?"
Inoo wanted to talk but his position was sitting under the table after picking up Jun's phone. Jun kicked Inoo as if to threaten him not to let Yuya know he was there.
"Can I hear it again please?" Yuya stepped forward towards Jun.
"Don't come any closer!!"
Takaki looked puzzled at Jun's order. "I... I'm a bit shy Just stand right there."
Inoo saw how charming Yuya looked, realizing it right there. Jun kicked Inoo again to signal for him to prepare to repeat the song again, and the second time it went more smoothly, Yuya didn’t seem to recognise that it was a lip sync.
But he hoped that Yuya would realize the truth that it was in fact his voice.
"Can I come to your house tonight?"
"Of course..." Jun blushed so much that his cheeks looked like red apples.
"Is that your own song? "
"Of course! "
'No... It's mine, Yuya!'
"You wrote those lyrics on your own?"
"Down to every word."
"I want to write a new song, I want you to be included too. My father won’t stop talking about you. I didn't believe when he said that you have a talent for music until I heard it myself."
"Well, you do now."
Takaki peeked through the room's window and saw that his fangirl was gone.
"I must go. See you later tonight." Yuya winked at Jun before he left.
The second Yuya disappeared, Jun bowed to Inoo’s level.
"Tonight. You will help me with the lyrics for Yuya, or else."
"What else do I live for?"
Jun smirked and took his bag to leave the room. Fortunately for Inoo he had few unused lyrics that he could give to Jun.
Later that night Yamada came over to Inoo's home. Inoo didn't think he could handle Yuya and Jun snogging by himself.
Yuya came by at 8 in a black turtle neck and a black jacket. Inoo felt flustered just looking at him from the second floor. Inoo and Jun used hands-free walkie talkies so Inoo could give Jun the lyrics he needed without Yuya knowing that it came from Inoo.
You are my morning star
I adore you just from afar
I know to my heart I can not lie
Yes I’m in love with you and I can not deny
Now I’m knocking at your front door
Looking for someone that I can love for
I am such a fool for your charm
That every night I dream I always be in your arms
All my dreams you richly fulfill
Love me please say that you will
"You are too good for Jun, you know."
"Anything for my future."
Inoo forced himself to smile but he felt chaos inside his heart. He knew Yuya for a while from TV, magazines, billboards. He already had interest in the boy but he just fell in love with Yuya when he heard him sing his lyrics with a guitar. Now Inoo knew what it felt like to be Jun, to fall in love with Takaki Yuya. Without him realizing, a tear rolled down his cheek.
"You're in love with him, aren’t you?" asked Yamada.
"I don't know... "
"Come to the ball. This Saturday. Yuya will be there too. You can sing your song to him. Yuya will know the truth about you."
"But what if he doesn't like me. I'm just a mere maid for the Sakurai family."
"Wear a mask. If he doesn't like you, you can say goodbye without letting him know who you are."
"But I don't have any time for preparation for this ball and... I don't know what to do in front of Yuya." Inoo looked down towards the first floor where Jun and Yuya were have quick date and they were already kissing. It added one more reason to come to the ball.
Yamada opened his bag and showed a white tuxedo to Inoo. "Use this. Don't say I come empty handed to you."
"Thanks Yama chan. You're a real life saver."
"Anything for my Cinderella."
"For the last time, stop fidgeting! You look good."
Inoo wanted to go home once he set his foot at the ball. It was his school’s annual autumn party. All the students were invited but him because of one and another unreasonable reason. This was Inoo's first time joining the party where he was supposed to impress Yuya.
"It's him, it’s Yuya. Drag him to the garden behind this building, I already prepared your guitar there."
Inoo walked secretly towards Yuya while Yamada distracted another student and Sakurai. Yamada brought a mic and confronted Sakurai. "I heard Sakurai-san was a winner at the high school dance battle."
"I am right, midget. "Answered Sakurai.
"But only come to second place." Yamada sneer at Sakurai.
The other student cheering on them, "Well, I'm not!" Yamada doesn't look hesitate facing Yamada.
"Let's see about that." Yamada cued the DJ to blast his dance music and make a dance battle happen between Sakurai and his son, Jun.
"Yuya, follow me please."
"What? Why? Who are you? "
"No time to explain. Follow me for a while."
Either Inoo was convincing or Yuya didn't want to see Sakurai dance, but Yuya followed Inoo to the garden.
Inoo picked up the guitar that Yamada prepared for him.
"Whoa... What else are you hiding there?"
"Wait.... " Inoo started to play the guitar and sing.
If not for you, I wouldn’t know
What true love really meant.
I’d never feel this inner peace;
I couldn’t be content.
If not for you, I’d never have
The pleasures of romance.
I’d miss the bliss, the craziness,
Of love’s sweet, silly dance.
I have to feel your tender touch;
I have to hear your voice;
No other one could take your place;
You’re it; I have no choice.
If not for you, I’d be adrift;
I don’t know what I’d do;
I’d be searching for my other half,
Incomplete, if not for you.
"Your voice seems familiar. Like Jun's voice. Who are you? Please let me see your face."
Inoo hesitated but his finger was about to open his mask.
"Pssr!!!"
Inoo startled. "I'm in the middle of something important here."
"Your step dad is having diarrhea and went home!" Yamada looks very worried.
"Code red!!" Inoo squeaking.
"Wait... I still don't know who you are."
"You will, Yuya."
Inoo ran with Yamada to Yamada's car to go home, hoping they could beat Sakurai to the house. When he opened his shack, Inoo almost peed his pants.
"Going somewhere?" Sakurai was sitting on Inoo's couch.
"Ah... I... I... " Inoo’s mind was blank, and he didn't know what to respond to his step dad.
"Once again you and your midget friend made a scene again. Not only won’t you go to college, but Yamada can say goodbye to Princeton University. Since I have trustworthy friend that I can count on to make sure whether they accept Yamada or not, and it's depends on your behavior, Inoo." bark Sakurai.
"Wait… Stop! I'm the one at fault here. Don't drag him into this too." Inoo pleaded.
"I'm the one to judge here, Inoo, not the other way around." Sakurai smirked.
"Prepare your voice for Jun's next debut. It's next weekend honey. Taa taa... " Sakurai waved his hand as he left Inoo’s shack and left him stunned.
The days that followed felt like a disaster for Inoo. Non-stop rehearsing for Jun's lip sync and the coming morning was the peak of chaos.
"Have you prepared everything for me, Inoo?" asked Jun for the 20th time.
Inoo swamped the floor with Jun’s and Sakurai’s clothes, packing them into a big suitcase.
"Yes Jun. I have."
"Look alive doofus! You don't know how hard it is to be me."
"Well you have your fortune and a father. What else do you ask for?"
"Inoo. Don't be stupid. We only have money that can run out anytime. You have talent. You can leave us behind and be successful. But I have nothing, Inoo."
Inoo thought about what Jun said. He never knew that Jun thought that, Jun was not as shallow as he thought he was.
"I will try my best today, Jun."
Jun kept silent but when he turned his head away from Inoo, he smiled a little. The purest smile he could have.
Inoo was ready at the back of the stage, right where he was supposed to be to sing as Jun would lip sync on the stage.
Jun was already on the stage. It was 10 seconds before he was about to start singing. Inoo was convincing himself that after this ended, after Jun won, he could claim the money to go to college.
"Inoo-chan!"
Inoo was shocked to see his bestie standing there beside him.
"Yuya is there… Just talk to him. Confess everything already. From the moment he heard you sing he fell in love with you. I can see that."
"But I can't. Not today."
"It will be too late if it’s not today."
"But if I screw up today..."
"Sakurai will jeopardize my future, I know. But this is how much I love you, Inoo chan."
"Thank you but no, I will stick to the plan and play it safe. That's my cue... Yama-chan, please leave. Sakurai will be here anytime by now."
Inoo got his cue and started singing.
But when he was about to sing the chorus part, Jun's mic went off.
Yamada took one of the crew’s camera and shot Inoo, directly showing it to the stage screen.
Everyone in the audience gasped.
Jun, Inoo didn’t know how Jun would react to this but Yuya's father looked furious. He screamed towards Sakurai and called his secretary before leaving his seat.
"Please let me explain!"
The police officer was in the middle of capturing Sakurai, charged with fraud. The office was about to take Jun too, but Inoo forbade them.
"Jun has nothing to do with Sakurai san. He just did what Sakurai told him."
Before Inoo got any thanks from Jun, Yuya grabbed his arm and brought him to the bottom of the stage. "I should have fallen in love with you. Not Jun. Please forgive me."
"It's forgiven already."
Suddenly Yuya jumped to the stage and grabbed the mic, "Do you want more of that song? "
The audience cheered as Yuya took Inoo to the stage with him.
"Can I have the honor of singing with you? Mysterious singer?"
Inoo couldn’t believe Yuya realized the one who sang to him mysteriously at the ball was him.
Inoo gave a nod and they start to sing.
After that their journey would be nothing but happy ever after.
END
Title: Once Upon A Song
Pairing: Inoo Kei X Takaki Yuya
Rating: PG - 13
Warnings: AU, unfavourable portrayals of Arashi members
Summary: Inoo, a Cinderella in a modern life, needs to support his lip syncing step brother Jun, in order to impress the boy he really loves.
Notes: I follow the storyline from Cinderella story franchise that I like, I hope you enjoy reading this fic as much as I enjoy writing it for you :) thank you
It was always rough to be Inoo Kei. His life would be much easier if his step-dad, a former musician, Sakurai Sho, and his step brother, Matsumoto Jun, was not pestering him, treating Inoo like a slave.
Inoo have a lifetime duty to serve for Sakurai and Jun, until he graduates from high school. After that, Sakurai will grant him the funds Inoo needs for college tuition. If Inoo makes any mistakes, Sakurai will evilly put a fine on Inoo.
Inoo starts his day at 4 am. While kids his age still get their beauty sleep, Inoo’s already on his way from the little shack behind the main house which he can call his own sanctuary, to clean the house, prepare the clothes, prepare the breakfast and lastly, even as he hopes he can skip it every day, waking Sakurai and Jun.
After making sure everything is according to Sakurai wishes, they let Inoo go to school. Sakurai is partly an owner of the school; therefore Jun has unlimited tickets to arrive late. They say: "Divas needs more time to prepare", but for Inoo it feels more likely that they go back to sleep again.
Inoo can not attend any extra school activities as he needs to get home asap, arranging never ending meet ups of Sakurai and his fellow friends. Sakurai is the most party loving person Inoo’s ever known. All decorations must be arranged perfectly. It's not hard if the party was not arranged once every two days.
Inoo can't afford to get any penalties as he is very afraid of not being able to afford going to college and having to serve Sakurai forever.
But today he found it amusing to realize that Jun and Sakurai were already awake by the time he was going to wake them up.
They forcefully dragged Inoo along while bringing their bag. Now Inoo was sitting awkwardly beside Jun in the comfort sofa in the middle of the meeting room, feeling sleepy until the wooden door opened.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Sakurai-san", said an old man in his 50s while bringing chardonnay in his left hand. He looked slightly drunk.
Sakurai chuckled. "Already drunk in the morning, Aiba-san?"
"Aiba never get drunked." the man called Aiba shook his head and sat in front of Sakurai, putting his big leather bag on the floor.
"So, what help do you need from me, Aiba-san?" Sakurai asked curiously.
"My best talent, Takaki Yuya is back from Korea this month. We would like to make a big competition to pick someone talented to be Yuya's partner in his new single, and whoever that person is will be debuted right away. I would like Jun to keep Yuya company while he's here. Can I get the help I need, Sakurai-san? "
Without waiting for his father’s answer, Jun shamelessly nodded his head hard. "Yes, yes I will!!"
It was a major secret that Jun had big crush on Yuya since the pop star was born in the entertainment industry. Therefore, it would be impossible for Jun to decline Aiba’s offer.
"So it's a yes."
They laughed and talked for another minute about Aiba's trip to Germany before they all finished their own little meeting because Aiba had to go to Chile.
Before they parted Inoo bowed a little and pushed his recorded CDs into Aiba's bag. It was not Inoo’s fault that Aiba left his leather bag open wide. Inoo crossed his fingers, hoping that Aiba will be pleased to hear his song.
Outside the main building where the meeting was attended, Yamada Ryosuke, Inoo's only best friend was waiting secretly behind the bushes.
"Psst.... "
Inoo turned his head and snuck behind Sakurai and Jun to meet his friend.
"Don't you have class this morning?"
"I'm curious. Did you manage to give Aiba-san your records yet? "
Yamada's gleaming eyes spark under the morning sun.
"Not really, I managed to slip it in his bag. Hope he finds my CDs though."
"You still scared of those devils?"
"You mean Sakurai and Jun?"
"Duh. Who else?"
"They're my step family, Yama-chan. Don't call them that."
"But they don't act like one."
Inoo smiled a little. "Also I hope you remember they have hands over my college tuition, no work means bye college. After high school ends I hope I never have to see them again."
"Aiba-san will love your voice and you will get the hell out of there soon. Or… "Yamada pointed at his phone screen.
The title "Talent Search! Duet with Takaki Yuya and Major Debut!"
"I don't do contests. I can't fight like that."
"You have to!"
Knowing his best friend was persistant Inoo nodded his head, "Ok, I will think about it. But for now please lower your voice. Sakurai and Jun might hear you."
"They're not even here." Yamada sighed desperately.
"The walls have ears remember?"
Yamada nodded, "Just do what you have to do. Don't die young with them... Or because of them."
Inoo nodded and left, walking separately because they had different classes this morning.
There was chaos in the dining room. And that time Inoo would prefer to be in his shack until the dinner was over and he would come again to clean their plates. It turned out that Sakurai’s binge partying had wasted all his money and he needed to refill it soon.
Jun had an idea to participate in the contest so that he could debut with his idol, Takaki Yuya, and save his father's money. "But darling... Your voice is kind of... "
'Awful...?' Inoo wanted to finish that sentence so bad.
"Different? Unique? I think I'll manage to get their attention. They will love me, Papa."
Inoo forced himself not to burst out laughing.
"This is not a joke, Jun. We need Aiba's money to keep surviving in this cruel world."
“Cruel? Well try to be me.” Inoo murmured under his breath.
"How we can manage to make your voice beautiful in a few days??"
Right when Inoo took their plates to the kitchen, Sakurai's phone rang. He hushed Jun to stop talking and picked up the phone.
"Yes Aiba-san? Ah yes... No but... "
Inoo didn’t care one bit about what Sakurai and Aiba were talking about. He was sure he put his number on the CDs so he hoped Aiba would contact him directly.
Sakurai put an end to his phone call, marched over to Inoo and dragged him back to the table.
"We have a sneaky little bastard here, haven't we??"
Inoo didn’t have any idea that Aiba would call straight to Sakurai. "Aiba said he found a recording of singing, very beautiful singing. And he signed up whoever that was to join the competition immediately. I'm sure it's not from Jun, now is it?"
"What do you mean? It's my song. I sang it."
"Not anymore, sneaky bastard." Sakurai smirked to Jun, "Now it's your time to shine son. The prize will be yours."
"But how? I'm not the one who sang that."
Sakurai looked at Inoo evilly, “I’m changing the terms and conditions for you to have a college education. You will receive the money for the tuition fee if you manage to win for Jun in the competition."
"Please don't drag me into this." Inoo sighed.
"The choice is yours. College or a lifetime of work for me."
Inoo wished he could disappear right away to pushed down the urge to choke Sakurai on the neck.
Inoo had never been absent from his classes until today. Instead, he was in the record room belonging to his school's choir. They were practising to give Jun a convincing lip sync in order to win the competition.
"You suck. Repeat again!" Jun squeaked and forced Inoo to repeat the song for 10th time. Inoo was sure the problem was with Jun's ears, not his own voice. "Imagine how hard it is to lip sync to your song."
'Imagine me singing it' Inoo wished this would just be over.
His prayers were answered. By the time Jun were lip syncing to his song, Yuya barged into the room, escaping from his fans. He didn't know the room was already occupied until he turned around to see Jun standing behind the recording mic.
"Sorry, did I disturb you? I need a moment to be here."
"No… Not at all." Jun giggled awkwardly.
"Are you the one who sang that song?"
Inoo wanted to talk but his position was sitting under the table after picking up Jun's phone. Jun kicked Inoo as if to threaten him not to let Yuya know he was there.
"Can I hear it again please?" Yuya stepped forward towards Jun.
"Don't come any closer!!"
Takaki looked puzzled at Jun's order. "I... I'm a bit shy Just stand right there."
Inoo saw how charming Yuya looked, realizing it right there. Jun kicked Inoo again to signal for him to prepare to repeat the song again, and the second time it went more smoothly, Yuya didn’t seem to recognise that it was a lip sync.
But he hoped that Yuya would realize the truth that it was in fact his voice.
"Can I come to your house tonight?"
"Of course..." Jun blushed so much that his cheeks looked like red apples.
"Is that your own song? "
"Of course! "
'No... It's mine, Yuya!'
"You wrote those lyrics on your own?"
"Down to every word."
"I want to write a new song, I want you to be included too. My father won’t stop talking about you. I didn't believe when he said that you have a talent for music until I heard it myself."
"Well, you do now."
Takaki peeked through the room's window and saw that his fangirl was gone.
"I must go. See you later tonight." Yuya winked at Jun before he left.
The second Yuya disappeared, Jun bowed to Inoo’s level.
"Tonight. You will help me with the lyrics for Yuya, or else."
"What else do I live for?"
Jun smirked and took his bag to leave the room. Fortunately for Inoo he had few unused lyrics that he could give to Jun.
Later that night Yamada came over to Inoo's home. Inoo didn't think he could handle Yuya and Jun snogging by himself.
Yuya came by at 8 in a black turtle neck and a black jacket. Inoo felt flustered just looking at him from the second floor. Inoo and Jun used hands-free walkie talkies so Inoo could give Jun the lyrics he needed without Yuya knowing that it came from Inoo.
You are my morning star
I adore you just from afar
I know to my heart I can not lie
Yes I’m in love with you and I can not deny
Now I’m knocking at your front door
Looking for someone that I can love for
I am such a fool for your charm
That every night I dream I always be in your arms
All my dreams you richly fulfill
Love me please say that you will
"You are too good for Jun, you know."
"Anything for my future."
Inoo forced himself to smile but he felt chaos inside his heart. He knew Yuya for a while from TV, magazines, billboards. He already had interest in the boy but he just fell in love with Yuya when he heard him sing his lyrics with a guitar. Now Inoo knew what it felt like to be Jun, to fall in love with Takaki Yuya. Without him realizing, a tear rolled down his cheek.
"You're in love with him, aren’t you?" asked Yamada.
"I don't know... "
"Come to the ball. This Saturday. Yuya will be there too. You can sing your song to him. Yuya will know the truth about you."
"But what if he doesn't like me. I'm just a mere maid for the Sakurai family."
"Wear a mask. If he doesn't like you, you can say goodbye without letting him know who you are."
"But I don't have any time for preparation for this ball and... I don't know what to do in front of Yuya." Inoo looked down towards the first floor where Jun and Yuya were have quick date and they were already kissing. It added one more reason to come to the ball.
Yamada opened his bag and showed a white tuxedo to Inoo. "Use this. Don't say I come empty handed to you."
"Thanks Yama chan. You're a real life saver."
"Anything for my Cinderella."
"For the last time, stop fidgeting! You look good."
Inoo wanted to go home once he set his foot at the ball. It was his school’s annual autumn party. All the students were invited but him because of one and another unreasonable reason. This was Inoo's first time joining the party where he was supposed to impress Yuya.
"It's him, it’s Yuya. Drag him to the garden behind this building, I already prepared your guitar there."
Inoo walked secretly towards Yuya while Yamada distracted another student and Sakurai. Yamada brought a mic and confronted Sakurai. "I heard Sakurai-san was a winner at the high school dance battle."
"I am right, midget. "Answered Sakurai.
"But only come to second place." Yamada sneer at Sakurai.
The other student cheering on them, "Well, I'm not!" Yamada doesn't look hesitate facing Yamada.
"Let's see about that." Yamada cued the DJ to blast his dance music and make a dance battle happen between Sakurai and his son, Jun.
"Yuya, follow me please."
"What? Why? Who are you? "
"No time to explain. Follow me for a while."
Either Inoo was convincing or Yuya didn't want to see Sakurai dance, but Yuya followed Inoo to the garden.
Inoo picked up the guitar that Yamada prepared for him.
"Whoa... What else are you hiding there?"
"Wait.... " Inoo started to play the guitar and sing.
If not for you, I wouldn’t know
What true love really meant.
I’d never feel this inner peace;
I couldn’t be content.
If not for you, I’d never have
The pleasures of romance.
I’d miss the bliss, the craziness,
Of love’s sweet, silly dance.
I have to feel your tender touch;
I have to hear your voice;
No other one could take your place;
You’re it; I have no choice.
If not for you, I’d be adrift;
I don’t know what I’d do;
I’d be searching for my other half,
Incomplete, if not for you.
"Your voice seems familiar. Like Jun's voice. Who are you? Please let me see your face."
Inoo hesitated but his finger was about to open his mask.
"Pssr!!!"
Inoo startled. "I'm in the middle of something important here."
"Your step dad is having diarrhea and went home!" Yamada looks very worried.
"Code red!!" Inoo squeaking.
"Wait... I still don't know who you are."
"You will, Yuya."
Inoo ran with Yamada to Yamada's car to go home, hoping they could beat Sakurai to the house. When he opened his shack, Inoo almost peed his pants.
"Going somewhere?" Sakurai was sitting on Inoo's couch.
"Ah... I... I... " Inoo’s mind was blank, and he didn't know what to respond to his step dad.
"Once again you and your midget friend made a scene again. Not only won’t you go to college, but Yamada can say goodbye to Princeton University. Since I have trustworthy friend that I can count on to make sure whether they accept Yamada or not, and it's depends on your behavior, Inoo." bark Sakurai.
"Wait… Stop! I'm the one at fault here. Don't drag him into this too." Inoo pleaded.
"I'm the one to judge here, Inoo, not the other way around." Sakurai smirked.
"Prepare your voice for Jun's next debut. It's next weekend honey. Taa taa... " Sakurai waved his hand as he left Inoo’s shack and left him stunned.
The days that followed felt like a disaster for Inoo. Non-stop rehearsing for Jun's lip sync and the coming morning was the peak of chaos.
"Have you prepared everything for me, Inoo?" asked Jun for the 20th time.
Inoo swamped the floor with Jun’s and Sakurai’s clothes, packing them into a big suitcase.
"Yes Jun. I have."
"Look alive doofus! You don't know how hard it is to be me."
"Well you have your fortune and a father. What else do you ask for?"
"Inoo. Don't be stupid. We only have money that can run out anytime. You have talent. You can leave us behind and be successful. But I have nothing, Inoo."
Inoo thought about what Jun said. He never knew that Jun thought that, Jun was not as shallow as he thought he was.
"I will try my best today, Jun."
Jun kept silent but when he turned his head away from Inoo, he smiled a little. The purest smile he could have.
Inoo was ready at the back of the stage, right where he was supposed to be to sing as Jun would lip sync on the stage.
Jun was already on the stage. It was 10 seconds before he was about to start singing. Inoo was convincing himself that after this ended, after Jun won, he could claim the money to go to college.
"Inoo-chan!"
Inoo was shocked to see his bestie standing there beside him.
"Yuya is there… Just talk to him. Confess everything already. From the moment he heard you sing he fell in love with you. I can see that."
"But I can't. Not today."
"It will be too late if it’s not today."
"But if I screw up today..."
"Sakurai will jeopardize my future, I know. But this is how much I love you, Inoo chan."
"Thank you but no, I will stick to the plan and play it safe. That's my cue... Yama-chan, please leave. Sakurai will be here anytime by now."
Inoo got his cue and started singing.
But when he was about to sing the chorus part, Jun's mic went off.
Yamada took one of the crew’s camera and shot Inoo, directly showing it to the stage screen.
Everyone in the audience gasped.
Jun, Inoo didn’t know how Jun would react to this but Yuya's father looked furious. He screamed towards Sakurai and called his secretary before leaving his seat.
"Please let me explain!"
The police officer was in the middle of capturing Sakurai, charged with fraud. The office was about to take Jun too, but Inoo forbade them.
"Jun has nothing to do with Sakurai san. He just did what Sakurai told him."
Before Inoo got any thanks from Jun, Yuya grabbed his arm and brought him to the bottom of the stage. "I should have fallen in love with you. Not Jun. Please forgive me."
"It's forgiven already."
Suddenly Yuya jumped to the stage and grabbed the mic, "Do you want more of that song? "
The audience cheered as Yuya took Inoo to the stage with him.
"Can I have the honor of singing with you? Mysterious singer?"
Inoo couldn’t believe Yuya realized the one who sang to him mysteriously at the ball was him.
Inoo gave a nod and they start to sing.
After that their journey would be nothing but happy ever after.
END