Motivation trip (ShinTaku friendship)
Title: Motivation trip
Pairing: Katori Shingo/ Kimura Takuya Friendship
Beta:
ivenclaire - thanks a lot <3
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own the boys, but the story is mine.
Summary: How Shingo and Kimura became friends.
„You know, I sometimes hate that guy“, Shingo shouted.
„You can’t talk about him like that.“ Tsuyoshi looked around, like he was afraid that the one they were talking about could hear them. He was always a little bit afraid that Kimura might be standing right behind him when he is talking about him.
Shingo walked up and down, up and down. He could really be stubborn, even though he was much younger than some of the others in SMAP. Tsuyoshi somehow admired him for that. He knew Shingo sometimes cry when the others are being mean to him, but he could also see something in him that has changed. Shingo wouldn’t be that shy boy forever. Something changed here, and Tsuyoshi wished he’d change with him.
„That wasn’t okay. That was just….“ Shingo murmured.
„What exactly did he say?“ Now Tsuyoshi was curious. He didn’t dare to ask before because Shingo left the rehearsal room with a high red face and tears in his eyes.
Shingo turned around, facing him directly. „What did he say?“ he sighed. „He told me I annoy him and that I should leave the room.“
Tsuyoshi tilted his head a little bit and pulled one eyebrow up. „And that’s why you are so annoyed? He always says that. You aren’t the only one he talks to like that.“
Shingo clenched his fists. Tsuyoshi stepped back a little, because he feared Shingo would get angry at him now. He’s like a ticking bomb, even though he’s really weak at some points (especially when it’s about Kimura).
Shingo sighed. He sat down on the ground, staring at his own feet for a moment before he looked up at Tsuyoshi again. „You know, somehow, I want his attention and I want to be praised by him.“ Now Shingo laughed. „It sounds stupid and weird, doesn’t it? To be like that because of the opinion of one person.“
Tsuyoshi sat in front of him. „You know, I don’t think it’s weird. I mean, to be praised by Kimura is sometimes like hot ice cream. Just impossible.“
„You are afraid of him, aren’t you?“ Shingo asked.
„Of course I am. Just like you are.“ Tsuyoshi looked at the other closely. „But something in your eyes changed. I guess you’ll show him that you aren’t an annoying kid?“
Shingo smiled brightly. „Guess you are right. Want to join?“
Tsuyoshi shook his head wildly. „No, thanks. I’ll stay as the whiny kid. I am really not interested in getting in Kimura’s way.“
„So my way to pay him back for his mean words is to make him a friend of mine.“ Shingo clenched one fist and raised his hand over his head. „Yes, that’s my plan.“
Tsuyoshi was still not sure if that was a good idea, but he let Shingo do what he pleased. He knew he will not be able to change Shingo’s mind, when he has already decided what he wanted to do. For just one moment, he knew Kimura was right. Shingo was a brat, or maybe he has grown up now. In his eyes shone self-assurance, and he didn’t see that before. He has changed now.
~~~~~~
It was early in the morning when Shingo arrived at the rehearsal rooms. He was the first today. Of course he was. It was 6 o’clock in the morning and no one would arrive before 8am. He really wasn’t an early bird. „Just for getting his attention…“ he grumbled. For just one moment Shingo wanted to drop his plan and get back to his bed, but then his ambition came back.
He sat on the bench right in front of him and sipped on his coffee. He didn‘t know why Kimura’s attention was that important for him. He never cared much about what others thought of him, but this was something different. It didn’t count the same when Nakai was praising him or if it was Kimura.
He was always a little bit whiny, especially after Mori left SMAP. It was a horrible time for him. Of course there was still Nakai, who was also like a brother for him, but Mori was something different. He wasn’t only a friend; he was like someone he looked up to. And that was missing now. Lost in his thoughts, Shingo turned the cup in his hands. “I really got whiny.” He said to himself with a little smile in his face.
“But now it’s time for a change.”
He stood up and walked to turn on the music. Loud music started echoing in the room. Shingo walked in the middle and looked at the big mirror in front of him. For just one moment, he just stood there and listened to the music, staring at himself. Then he started moving. Of course he knew he didn’t look like a pro in doing that, but with every move, he got more confident. He closed his eyes to feel and to just listen to the beat. “Right step, left step”, he thought.
Shingo didn’t even realize when the door opened and a tall guy came in. “What are you doing here?”
Shingo winced. He was still deep in his thoughts and was listening to the music. He didn’t expect someone to come in at that time. “Dancing.” He just said without looking at the door. He knew that voice, and he didn’t want to look at the other. “I am not afraid, I am not….” He told himself again and again.
“Okay, till later then.” Shingo heard the door got closed. “What was that?” he whispered. There was something different in Kimura’s voice. It wasn’t that “You are just a brat” voice. There was a little “Wow, that kid is working” tone in it. “I surprised him.” Shingo smiled brightly.
~~~~~~
Everyone was surprised, when they came in the rehearsal room and Shingo was already there, still dancing to their songs. “What the hell are you doing here already?” Goro wanted to know.
“I am an early bird” Shingo chirped.
“Yes, and I am the Hulk”, Goro replied.
Shingo looked at his friend instantly. “No, you aren’t strong enough, and not….you know….let’s say….hm…cool enough. But maybe you are a cucumber. That’s also green.”
Goro frowned, but said nothing. “When did he get that bratty?” he whispered at Nakai who only shook his head, a smile on his face.
“Cucumber…that’s funny” Kimura grinned and everyone froze for a moment, especially Shingo.
Shingo’s heart beat faster. Did Kimura really smile about his joke? Or did he imagine it.
“What? That was a good joke.” Kimura shook his shoulders.
“Yes, but seeing you laughing about a joke from Shingo is just…strange” Nakai answered. “And it’s strange to see Shingo making fun of someone else. Something’s different here today.” He added.
“Can we just start rehearsing?” Actually, it was Kimura’s part to say that, but this time Shingo said it. He could see that Kimura was staring at him.
Shingo danced like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to rehearse parts again and again. “I am at my limit”, Tsuyoshi whispered to Goro.
“Tell me…” Goro grumbled. “We never trained that much.”
“Oh shit, what’s the time?” Shingo suddenly called out.
“Half past 5 pm, why?” Tsuyoshi wanted to know.
“I have vocal coaching now. Have to leave. See you all later.” He rushed out of the room and left the others behind.
Goro sat down on the ground, panting heavily. “For god’s sake, I am knocked out. I am dead.”
“It’s the first time you’ve trained that hard, Goro. You know that boy will do that for the next few weeks, months or years.” Nakai said while he brushed the towel over his neck.
“You really want to kill me, right?” Goro answered.
“I wonder why he is doing that” Kimura suddenly said. “Out of the blue” he added.
The others looked at him. “What?” Kimura asked.
“You’re kidding, right?” Nakai said.
Kimura looked at him. “You really don’t know, right?” Nakai asked again; again he got no answer. “Maybe it’s just a phase. He has grown up, maybe it’s that.” Nakai really didn’t want to discuss that right now. Kimura was always the one who knew a way out of complicated situations. He always had the overview and he always knows an answer, but this time, his feeling for situations got completely lost. Nakai wondered why it was like that.
~~~~
Kimura passed by the window where the vocal coaches had their rooms. He saw that there was still light on. Shingo was in there, still rehearsing. “Don’t you think it’s enough for today?” Kimura heard a voice.
“But I don’t get this part here” Shingo pointed on a piece of paper.
“We can practice again tomorrow, Shingo-kun. There’s no need to learn everything today.” The voice said.
Kimura saw Shingo standing up and walking up to the window. He hid himself behind the tree so that Shingo couldn’t see him. “I need to learn that and all the other things too.” Shingo sounded stubborn, like how Kimura knew him. He already knew the other would become a brat, but he didn’t think Shingo would work that hard on his career. For him, the boy was more of a lazy brat than someone who’d work on his dreams.
He wondered what changed in just one day.
“Yes, Shingo-kun, but it’s not possible to make it in one day. What the hell happened to you?” the voice asked.
Shingo frowned; Kimura could see that, even though the other was far away. “You know the one who was most important for me left the group, and the others think I am just a pain in the ass. Okay, that maybe is sometimes true, but I am not the kind who doesn’t work for the success we want to have.”
Kimura winced. Suddenly, he knew why Shingo was like that. Everything was clear to him now. He sighed. “Stupid brat” he murmured. Suddenly, Mori’s words resounded in Kimura’s head. “Take care of him.” It’s not that Kimura didn’t like Shingo, but till now, he was just a boy who wants to be famous without doing anything for that success. “Get out of my way, you annoy me with your laziness.” That’s what he said to him. But he couldn’t imagine that Shingo was doing that just because he scolded him like that.
~~~~~
Shingo had his third coffee for that day. After he came home well after midnight, he rehearsed some new lyrics at home. Now he was sleepy and every bone in his body hurt. “Shingo?” he realized the voice, but he wasn’t able to answer. Under his sunglasses, he had his eyes closed and was dozing off a little.
“What?” he grumbled after someone pulled on his arms.
“Are you okay?” Tsuyoshi asked.
Shingo sighed and pulled away his sunglasses. His eyes were smaller than usual. “How long did you sleep?” Tsuyoshi sounded worried.
“One hour maybe.” Shingo answered while he yawned loudly.
When the door opened he jumped up and tried to look like he was full of life and spirit. “Let’s start again.” He smiled. The others looked at him, not really amused about his effort.
“He’s really going to kill me.”, Goro grumbled. Nakai nodded his head.
Three hours later, all of them were at their limit, only Shingo didn’t have enough. “Again the last part.” He said.
“It’s enough for now” it was Kimura who said it. “Let’s take a break and start again later in the evening.”
“Thank god”, Goro sounded relieved.
“But…”, Shingo started but Kimura interrupted him. “It’s enough training for now. Come and eat something with me.” Kimura didn’t know if Shingo was happy or not about that suggestion. But he could see Shingo didn’t dare to say no.
They walked down the street without talking with each other. Both didn’t know how to act in this situation. Both never had much to do with each other, even though they were in the same group. Kimura knew that Shingo was afraid of him, even though the other would never admit it. He knew Shingo, and he knew the other cried from time to time, but he’d never tell him why he did. There was no bond between them. And till now, Kimura didn’t care about that fact. But some weeks ago, when Mori left the band, something changed.
“Listen Takuya”, Mori started. “He is a brat, we all know that. But he isn’t a bad boy. He just had no caring home. You know Masahiro and I tried our best, and I think we didn’t make a bad job. He’ll do his best, so please take care of him.”
Kimura heard Mori’s voice in his head. Of course Shingo wasn’t bad. It was just…he shook his head just a little. “At least he had a home where no one cared about him and what he did.” Kimura stopped just a second. He was afraid of his own thoughts. He knew why Shingo annoyed him so much. It weren’t his stupid jokes and his fear of him. It was just because he had something Kimura never had in his youth: freedom. And now that boy did everything to get his attention.
“How was your childhood?” Kimura asked out of the blue. He could see Shingo being surprised about that question.
Shingo put his hands in his pockets. Kimura could see that he didn’t want to answer that question. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious.”
Shingo needed some time to answer, and Kimura already thought he wouldn’t say a word when he suddenly started talking. “I know everyone thinks it was one big party. It sounds great that your parents don’t care about where you are and what you do, but actually…you know, it hurts. I sometimes wish my father would become angry at me and scold me and I don’t know. But that hardly happened.” Shingo looked at the other. “You know, I know about your family and I really don’t want to change places, but don’t think my place was a better place to stay. It was different, but it was definitely not a perfect place.”
Kimura felt caught. He was the older one, and of course he shouldn’t have thoughts like that. To envy a younger one for something that wasn’t heaven on earth either. He really felt stupid in this moment. “I am sorry”, he just said.
“And now I have a question. Why are we going for meal together?” Shingo looked at him with a stern expression on his face.
Kimura had to smile about that. There was that brat. For just one moment, Shingo exposed the bratty boy that he is. “You know, Goro will die if we rehearse like that. He isn’t the youngest anymore.”
“But he’s younger than you are.” Shingo replied.
“I think his body says something different”, Kimura laughed. “You never rehearsed that much. Why now?”
Shingo blushed a bit. Kimura smiled a little. He could see the younger one was good at hiding his feelings. “I just want us to get better.” He bit his lips, Kimura recognized his nervousness immediately.
“Okay, I really like that attitude of yours. But please, we need to care about Goro.” Kimura said.
Shingo just nodded. They understood each other, without talking about it. Kimura knew the other understand his words were an apology and as an offering for being there for him. He couldn’t say why, but there was something between them that he didn’t see before. Of course there were Mori’s words and Kimura always held his words, so he’d care about the other no matter what, but he had the feeling that there would grow something different: friendship.
“You know, you are a brat, even though you cry a lot.” Kimura said, the bowl of ramen in his hands.
“Sure.” Shingo said with his mouth full.
“You’ll be a pain in the ass” Kimura added.
“Sure.”
“A brat”
“Yes.”
“Can you promise me something?” Kimura got stern.
“What?” Shingo looked up.
“Stay always like that and don’t let anyone change you.”
“Okay.” Shingo just said.
“And be a pain in the neck for Goro, okay? He needs that sometimes.” Kimura laughed.
“Of course, he is our mommy.” Shingo replied and they both had to laugh, like they have always been friends.
~~~~~
Later, back in the rehearsal room, the others stood there, staring at Kimura and Shingo talking with each other. “Did I miss something?” Nakai asked.
“I think he did what he planned.” Tsuyoshi started. “He got a new senpai, someone he can look up to.”
“That will be hard times for us, you both know that, right?” Goro sighed.
“Mhm” Nakai nodded. “But I am glad that the boy has someone after losing Mori.” He added.
~~~~~
10 years later
“Hey, Takuya-kun”, Shingo called out.
“What?” Kimura said, his eyes already a little darker than usual, because Shingo has been a pain in the neck the whole day.
“Your butt looks great in those jeans.” Shingo smiled brightly.
“I can’t believe that you were afraid of me once. And sometimes, I don’t know why we became friends.” Kimura grumbled.
Pairing: Katori Shingo/ Kimura Takuya Friendship
Beta:
ivenclaire - thanks a lot <3
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own the boys, but the story is mine.
Summary: How Shingo and Kimura became friends.
„You know, I sometimes hate that guy“, Shingo shouted.
„You can’t talk about him like that.“ Tsuyoshi looked around, like he was afraid that the one they were talking about could hear them. He was always a little bit afraid that Kimura might be standing right behind him when he is talking about him.
Shingo walked up and down, up and down. He could really be stubborn, even though he was much younger than some of the others in SMAP. Tsuyoshi somehow admired him for that. He knew Shingo sometimes cry when the others are being mean to him, but he could also see something in him that has changed. Shingo wouldn’t be that shy boy forever. Something changed here, and Tsuyoshi wished he’d change with him.
„That wasn’t okay. That was just….“ Shingo murmured.
„What exactly did he say?“ Now Tsuyoshi was curious. He didn’t dare to ask before because Shingo left the rehearsal room with a high red face and tears in his eyes.
Shingo turned around, facing him directly. „What did he say?“ he sighed. „He told me I annoy him and that I should leave the room.“
Tsuyoshi tilted his head a little bit and pulled one eyebrow up. „And that’s why you are so annoyed? He always says that. You aren’t the only one he talks to like that.“
Shingo clenched his fists. Tsuyoshi stepped back a little, because he feared Shingo would get angry at him now. He’s like a ticking bomb, even though he’s really weak at some points (especially when it’s about Kimura).
Shingo sighed. He sat down on the ground, staring at his own feet for a moment before he looked up at Tsuyoshi again. „You know, somehow, I want his attention and I want to be praised by him.“ Now Shingo laughed. „It sounds stupid and weird, doesn’t it? To be like that because of the opinion of one person.“
Tsuyoshi sat in front of him. „You know, I don’t think it’s weird. I mean, to be praised by Kimura is sometimes like hot ice cream. Just impossible.“
„You are afraid of him, aren’t you?“ Shingo asked.
„Of course I am. Just like you are.“ Tsuyoshi looked at the other closely. „But something in your eyes changed. I guess you’ll show him that you aren’t an annoying kid?“
Shingo smiled brightly. „Guess you are right. Want to join?“
Tsuyoshi shook his head wildly. „No, thanks. I’ll stay as the whiny kid. I am really not interested in getting in Kimura’s way.“
„So my way to pay him back for his mean words is to make him a friend of mine.“ Shingo clenched one fist and raised his hand over his head. „Yes, that’s my plan.“
Tsuyoshi was still not sure if that was a good idea, but he let Shingo do what he pleased. He knew he will not be able to change Shingo’s mind, when he has already decided what he wanted to do. For just one moment, he knew Kimura was right. Shingo was a brat, or maybe he has grown up now. In his eyes shone self-assurance, and he didn’t see that before. He has changed now.
~~~~~~
It was early in the morning when Shingo arrived at the rehearsal rooms. He was the first today. Of course he was. It was 6 o’clock in the morning and no one would arrive before 8am. He really wasn’t an early bird. „Just for getting his attention…“ he grumbled. For just one moment Shingo wanted to drop his plan and get back to his bed, but then his ambition came back.
He sat on the bench right in front of him and sipped on his coffee. He didn‘t know why Kimura’s attention was that important for him. He never cared much about what others thought of him, but this was something different. It didn’t count the same when Nakai was praising him or if it was Kimura.
He was always a little bit whiny, especially after Mori left SMAP. It was a horrible time for him. Of course there was still Nakai, who was also like a brother for him, but Mori was something different. He wasn’t only a friend; he was like someone he looked up to. And that was missing now. Lost in his thoughts, Shingo turned the cup in his hands. “I really got whiny.” He said to himself with a little smile in his face.
“But now it’s time for a change.”
He stood up and walked to turn on the music. Loud music started echoing in the room. Shingo walked in the middle and looked at the big mirror in front of him. For just one moment, he just stood there and listened to the music, staring at himself. Then he started moving. Of course he knew he didn’t look like a pro in doing that, but with every move, he got more confident. He closed his eyes to feel and to just listen to the beat. “Right step, left step”, he thought.
Shingo didn’t even realize when the door opened and a tall guy came in. “What are you doing here?”
Shingo winced. He was still deep in his thoughts and was listening to the music. He didn’t expect someone to come in at that time. “Dancing.” He just said without looking at the door. He knew that voice, and he didn’t want to look at the other. “I am not afraid, I am not….” He told himself again and again.
“Okay, till later then.” Shingo heard the door got closed. “What was that?” he whispered. There was something different in Kimura’s voice. It wasn’t that “You are just a brat” voice. There was a little “Wow, that kid is working” tone in it. “I surprised him.” Shingo smiled brightly.
~~~~~~
Everyone was surprised, when they came in the rehearsal room and Shingo was already there, still dancing to their songs. “What the hell are you doing here already?” Goro wanted to know.
“I am an early bird” Shingo chirped.
“Yes, and I am the Hulk”, Goro replied.
Shingo looked at his friend instantly. “No, you aren’t strong enough, and not….you know….let’s say….hm…cool enough. But maybe you are a cucumber. That’s also green.”
Goro frowned, but said nothing. “When did he get that bratty?” he whispered at Nakai who only shook his head, a smile on his face.
“Cucumber…that’s funny” Kimura grinned and everyone froze for a moment, especially Shingo.
Shingo’s heart beat faster. Did Kimura really smile about his joke? Or did he imagine it.
“What? That was a good joke.” Kimura shook his shoulders.
“Yes, but seeing you laughing about a joke from Shingo is just…strange” Nakai answered. “And it’s strange to see Shingo making fun of someone else. Something’s different here today.” He added.
“Can we just start rehearsing?” Actually, it was Kimura’s part to say that, but this time Shingo said it. He could see that Kimura was staring at him.
Shingo danced like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to rehearse parts again and again. “I am at my limit”, Tsuyoshi whispered to Goro.
“Tell me…” Goro grumbled. “We never trained that much.”
“Oh shit, what’s the time?” Shingo suddenly called out.
“Half past 5 pm, why?” Tsuyoshi wanted to know.
“I have vocal coaching now. Have to leave. See you all later.” He rushed out of the room and left the others behind.
Goro sat down on the ground, panting heavily. “For god’s sake, I am knocked out. I am dead.”
“It’s the first time you’ve trained that hard, Goro. You know that boy will do that for the next few weeks, months or years.” Nakai said while he brushed the towel over his neck.
“You really want to kill me, right?” Goro answered.
“I wonder why he is doing that” Kimura suddenly said. “Out of the blue” he added.
The others looked at him. “What?” Kimura asked.
“You’re kidding, right?” Nakai said.
Kimura looked at him. “You really don’t know, right?” Nakai asked again; again he got no answer. “Maybe it’s just a phase. He has grown up, maybe it’s that.” Nakai really didn’t want to discuss that right now. Kimura was always the one who knew a way out of complicated situations. He always had the overview and he always knows an answer, but this time, his feeling for situations got completely lost. Nakai wondered why it was like that.
~~~~
Kimura passed by the window where the vocal coaches had their rooms. He saw that there was still light on. Shingo was in there, still rehearsing. “Don’t you think it’s enough for today?” Kimura heard a voice.
“But I don’t get this part here” Shingo pointed on a piece of paper.
“We can practice again tomorrow, Shingo-kun. There’s no need to learn everything today.” The voice said.
Kimura saw Shingo standing up and walking up to the window. He hid himself behind the tree so that Shingo couldn’t see him. “I need to learn that and all the other things too.” Shingo sounded stubborn, like how Kimura knew him. He already knew the other would become a brat, but he didn’t think Shingo would work that hard on his career. For him, the boy was more of a lazy brat than someone who’d work on his dreams.
He wondered what changed in just one day.
“Yes, Shingo-kun, but it’s not possible to make it in one day. What the hell happened to you?” the voice asked.
Shingo frowned; Kimura could see that, even though the other was far away. “You know the one who was most important for me left the group, and the others think I am just a pain in the ass. Okay, that maybe is sometimes true, but I am not the kind who doesn’t work for the success we want to have.”
Kimura winced. Suddenly, he knew why Shingo was like that. Everything was clear to him now. He sighed. “Stupid brat” he murmured. Suddenly, Mori’s words resounded in Kimura’s head. “Take care of him.” It’s not that Kimura didn’t like Shingo, but till now, he was just a boy who wants to be famous without doing anything for that success. “Get out of my way, you annoy me with your laziness.” That’s what he said to him. But he couldn’t imagine that Shingo was doing that just because he scolded him like that.
~~~~~
Shingo had his third coffee for that day. After he came home well after midnight, he rehearsed some new lyrics at home. Now he was sleepy and every bone in his body hurt. “Shingo?” he realized the voice, but he wasn’t able to answer. Under his sunglasses, he had his eyes closed and was dozing off a little.
“What?” he grumbled after someone pulled on his arms.
“Are you okay?” Tsuyoshi asked.
Shingo sighed and pulled away his sunglasses. His eyes were smaller than usual. “How long did you sleep?” Tsuyoshi sounded worried.
“One hour maybe.” Shingo answered while he yawned loudly.
When the door opened he jumped up and tried to look like he was full of life and spirit. “Let’s start again.” He smiled. The others looked at him, not really amused about his effort.
“He’s really going to kill me.”, Goro grumbled. Nakai nodded his head.
Three hours later, all of them were at their limit, only Shingo didn’t have enough. “Again the last part.” He said.
“It’s enough for now” it was Kimura who said it. “Let’s take a break and start again later in the evening.”
“Thank god”, Goro sounded relieved.
“But…”, Shingo started but Kimura interrupted him. “It’s enough training for now. Come and eat something with me.” Kimura didn’t know if Shingo was happy or not about that suggestion. But he could see Shingo didn’t dare to say no.
They walked down the street without talking with each other. Both didn’t know how to act in this situation. Both never had much to do with each other, even though they were in the same group. Kimura knew that Shingo was afraid of him, even though the other would never admit it. He knew Shingo, and he knew the other cried from time to time, but he’d never tell him why he did. There was no bond between them. And till now, Kimura didn’t care about that fact. But some weeks ago, when Mori left the band, something changed.
“Listen Takuya”, Mori started. “He is a brat, we all know that. But he isn’t a bad boy. He just had no caring home. You know Masahiro and I tried our best, and I think we didn’t make a bad job. He’ll do his best, so please take care of him.”
Kimura heard Mori’s voice in his head. Of course Shingo wasn’t bad. It was just…he shook his head just a little. “At least he had a home where no one cared about him and what he did.” Kimura stopped just a second. He was afraid of his own thoughts. He knew why Shingo annoyed him so much. It weren’t his stupid jokes and his fear of him. It was just because he had something Kimura never had in his youth: freedom. And now that boy did everything to get his attention.
“How was your childhood?” Kimura asked out of the blue. He could see Shingo being surprised about that question.
Shingo put his hands in his pockets. Kimura could see that he didn’t want to answer that question. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious.”
Shingo needed some time to answer, and Kimura already thought he wouldn’t say a word when he suddenly started talking. “I know everyone thinks it was one big party. It sounds great that your parents don’t care about where you are and what you do, but actually…you know, it hurts. I sometimes wish my father would become angry at me and scold me and I don’t know. But that hardly happened.” Shingo looked at the other. “You know, I know about your family and I really don’t want to change places, but don’t think my place was a better place to stay. It was different, but it was definitely not a perfect place.”
Kimura felt caught. He was the older one, and of course he shouldn’t have thoughts like that. To envy a younger one for something that wasn’t heaven on earth either. He really felt stupid in this moment. “I am sorry”, he just said.
“And now I have a question. Why are we going for meal together?” Shingo looked at him with a stern expression on his face.
Kimura had to smile about that. There was that brat. For just one moment, Shingo exposed the bratty boy that he is. “You know, Goro will die if we rehearse like that. He isn’t the youngest anymore.”
“But he’s younger than you are.” Shingo replied.
“I think his body says something different”, Kimura laughed. “You never rehearsed that much. Why now?”
Shingo blushed a bit. Kimura smiled a little. He could see the younger one was good at hiding his feelings. “I just want us to get better.” He bit his lips, Kimura recognized his nervousness immediately.
“Okay, I really like that attitude of yours. But please, we need to care about Goro.” Kimura said.
Shingo just nodded. They understood each other, without talking about it. Kimura knew the other understand his words were an apology and as an offering for being there for him. He couldn’t say why, but there was something between them that he didn’t see before. Of course there were Mori’s words and Kimura always held his words, so he’d care about the other no matter what, but he had the feeling that there would grow something different: friendship.
“You know, you are a brat, even though you cry a lot.” Kimura said, the bowl of ramen in his hands.
“Sure.” Shingo said with his mouth full.
“You’ll be a pain in the ass” Kimura added.
“Sure.”
“A brat”
“Yes.”
“Can you promise me something?” Kimura got stern.
“What?” Shingo looked up.
“Stay always like that and don’t let anyone change you.”
“Okay.” Shingo just said.
“And be a pain in the neck for Goro, okay? He needs that sometimes.” Kimura laughed.
“Of course, he is our mommy.” Shingo replied and they both had to laugh, like they have always been friends.
~~~~~
Later, back in the rehearsal room, the others stood there, staring at Kimura and Shingo talking with each other. “Did I miss something?” Nakai asked.
“I think he did what he planned.” Tsuyoshi started. “He got a new senpai, someone he can look up to.”
“That will be hard times for us, you both know that, right?” Goro sighed.
“Mhm” Nakai nodded. “But I am glad that the boy has someone after losing Mori.” He added.
~~~~~
10 years later
“Hey, Takuya-kun”, Shingo called out.
“What?” Kimura said, his eyes already a little darker than usual, because Shingo has been a pain in the neck the whole day.
“Your butt looks great in those jeans.” Shingo smiled brightly.
“I can’t believe that you were afraid of me once. And sometimes, I don’t know why we became friends.” Kimura grumbled.