"SYO-CHAN IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP"
The loud, happy voice of his roommate made Syo open his eyes slightly and glare at him before pulling the quilt over him some more.
He wasn't feeling that well this morning, his chest was slightly aching and he felt tired.
"Why now..."
"Syo-Chan?"
Hearing his name brought his attention back to Natsuki and he saw worry in the older boy's eyes.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine. No need to worry, Natsuki"
"Are you sure? If it's your heart then maybe you should..."
"I said I'm fine"
Syo then got up from his bed to get ready for the day. Natsuki watched him walk around the room and he couldn't let go of the feeling that something was wrong.
Once they were ready, they joined the others for breakfast before everyone left for the different jobs they had that day.
Syo had a commercial to film, then an interview with a fashion magazine and then a tv recording with Natsuki and Masato.
The commercial and interview went well but halfway through the tv recording, Syo noticed that the pain in his chest had gotten worse.
"It's not that much left. I can make it through this"
He was really determined to get through the recording and he did. But once the three of them got backstage, the pain grew even more and he fell to his knees.
"Syo-chan!"
Natsuki quickly knelt next to his best friend and put his arms around him.
"Is it...?"
Syo nodded as his right hand grabbed his shirt and the other grabbed Natsuki's arm as the older looked up at Masato.
"Masa there's a small emergency kit in my bag. Please give me one of the syringes in it"
Masato walked over to were Natsuki had his things, picked up what he asked for and gave it to him.
"Shinomiya what's going on?"
"I'll explain later"
It was unusual to hear Natsuki so serious but Masato knew better than to push for answers so he knelt down next to his friends.
"Can I help in some way?"
"Role up his sleeve a bit"
Masato nodded before he took Syo's right arm and rolled the sleeve up to his elbow. Natsuki then put the needle into the smaller blond's arm and they two could soon see him relax a bit.
"He needs to see a doctor, things can get bad if he don't"
"I'll ask if anyone can take us to the hospital"
"Thanks Masa"
As Masato walked away, Natsuki lifted Syo so he was leaning against him instead of laying on the floor.
"Easy Syo-chan. Just relax"
The smaller blond did as told and his breathing started to get back to normal.
When Masato came back, he told them that he had managed to get someone from the staff to drive them.
So they got Syo onto Natsuki's back before Masato grabbed all their things and they walked out with the staff member who had offered to drive them.
It didn't take long to get there and once they had left Syo in the care of the doctor, the two idols sat down to wait.
"Should I tell the others what happened, Masato asked"
"That would be good. I need to call Syo-chan's family"
So Masato picked up his phone to text the others in the group while Natsuki walked over to the window, phone by his ear.
"Hello"
"Hi Mr Kurusu. It's me"
"Ah Natsuki. Is everything okay?"
"Not really"
"Did something happen to Syo?"
"He had an attack right after we finished a tv recording. I gave him the medicine from the kit you gave me and then our friend Masato and I took him to the hospital"
"Is he okay?"
"We don't know yet. The rest of our group should be here soon and we will stay with Syo as long as we can"
"I'm glad he has friends like you.
-I'll tell Kaoru what happened and we'll be there later"
"Okay. I'll see you when you get here"
"We do, Natsuki"
They ended the call and Natsuki sat down again.
About an hour later, the rest of the group came.
"Have you heard anything about his condition, Tokiya asked"
The two shook their heads and the others sighed before they sat down on the couch and chairs in the room.
"Shinomiya, I think it's time you explain things for us, said Masato"
Natsuki looked at his friends and sighed.
"Syo-chan was born with a weak heart and he was only supposed to live until he was 12 years old"
The news seemed to take the group by surprise.
"But he recently turned 21 didn't he, said Cecil"
"Yes...
-You all know how much he looks up to Hyuga-sensei, right?"
The group nodded, remembering their school days when Syo tried to get over his fear of heights just so he could audition for a movie with their teacher.
"It was because of Hyuga-sensei's movies that Syo-chan has survived this long. He saw the movies and wanted to be like Hyuga-sensei. So he decided to become an idol despite his weak heart"
"But this is the first time I've seen him like this, said Masato"
"He has medicine he takes every morning for his condition but I guess that we've been so busy lately that he has forgotten"
"He should put his health before everything else, said Tokiya"
The rest of the group looked at their lead singer.
"I should know since the same thing happened to me back when I was Hayato. I had been working hard both there and with school so I ended up collapsing since I didn't take care of myself properly"
Silence then fell between them as they all sat down to wait for news of Syo's condition.
The door opened a while later and an older man in a suit along with a young man who looked exactly like Syo entered.
"Mr Kurusu, you two got here faster than I thought, said Natsuki"
"I was not that far away from here when I got your call but I had to pick up Kaoru from his school"
Natsuki nodded understanding before looking at the Syo look-alike.
"It's nice to see you again Kaoru-kun"
"It's been a while hasn't it"
Natsuki nodded before turning to the group.
"Everyone, this is Syo's younger twin Kaoru and their father"
"It's nice to finally meet you STARISH, Syo talks highly of you every time I speak with him, said Mr Kurusu"
"Nice to meet you too sir, said all five and bowed"
Mr Kurusu bowed as well before looking at Natsuki.
"Have you heard anything?"
"Not yet"
Then, the door opened and a doctor came in.
"Ah, you must be Mr Kurusu"
"That's me. How's my son?"
"He has to stay here for a few days so we can make sure nothing else happens.
-I also want to talk alone with you"
"Okay"
Syo's father then turned to looked at his youngest son and STARISH.
"Kaoru, why don't you, Natsuki and the others go and see Syo while I talk to the doctor"
"Okay"
The group of teens were led to the right room by a nurse and walked in as quietly as they could.
After a while, Syo opened his eyes and the first person he saw was his younger twin.
"Hi Kaoru"
"How are you Syo-nii?"
"Same as everytime this happens"
The idol then noticed that all six of his band mates were in the room too.
"Good to see you're okay Ochibi-chan"
"Stop calling me that!"
Ren just gave the smallest member of the group his signature smirk.
"Syo-chan why didn't you tell me the truth this morning, Natsuki asked"
"Yeah, if you weren't feeling well, you should have stayed at the dorm to rest, said Cecil"
"He's right, you should put your health before anything else, said Tokiya"
"Yeah, do you know how worried we were when Masa texted us about what happened, said Otoya"
Syo looked at his friends before turning his face away from them to avoid their eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you guys or make you think that I'm weak"
"Why would we think you're weak, said Cecil"
The shorter blond looked up at the prince as he said that.
"Shinomiya told us about your condition and that you were only supposed to live until you were 12, said Masato
-You're 21 now"
"I don't call it weak to live longer than what the doctors have been telling you, said Ren"
"It just shows how strong you really are, said Tokiya"
Syo looked at his friends a bit surprised before smiling. The group smiled back at him.
They all then decided to get back to the master course so they could inform Saotome about what happened.
Otoya, Natsuki and Cecil gave Syo gentle hugs. Masato and Tokiya placed a hand on his shoulder, telling him to rest and get well soon. Ren just ruffled the younger idol's hair.
They all then left the room and walked out to the car waiting for them.
Once back, they made their way to their manager's office.
"President, we need to talk to you, said Tokiya"
"HAI! What can I do for you STARISH?"
"We came to tell you that Kurusu is in the hospital, said Masato"
Hyuga and Ringo who both were in the room looked at the group.
"What happened, Hyuga asked"
Natsuki and Masato explained everything that had happened after their recording.
"I see, said Saotome.
-Do they know how long he'll have to stay there?"
"I believe the doctor said a few days to make sure nothing else happens, said Tokiya"
"My guess is that he also needs to take it easy for some days once he can come back here, said Ren"
"I understand, said Saotome"
The group looked at their manager as he stood up and turned towards the window.
"Did anyone see it happen?"
"Just the people working on the program with us, said Natsuki"
"Good. I'll call them to make sure it doesn't slip out. The last thing we want is the media all over this"
"I don't think Syo wants that either, said Otoya"
Saotome turned around to look at his most successful group.
"I'll make sure no one gets to know about this and take care about Mr Kurusu's scheduel.
-If anyone asks you about him, say that he's away for family reasons"
"Yes sir"
Next morning.
The guys did everything like normal before leaving for work and since they were done first, Ren and Cecil went to see Syo.
"Let's see how Ochibi-chan is feeling today"
"I hope he's feeling better"
They walked down the hall to Syo's room, knocked and when they heard a voice from the room, they walked in.
"Ren, Cecil you're already done with work"
"We just had a few interviews so it didn't take long, said Ren"
"So how are you feeling, Cecil asked"
"Not as bad as yesterday but there's something I have to tell all of you once the others come"
His two band mates looked at him a bit confused before they sat down and talked to him about their day.
A few hours later, the others arrived.
"So what was it that you wanted to tell us, Cecil asked"
Syo sighed and looked at his six friends.
"My father told me yesterday that... I need to have surgery"
"WHAT?!"
"Why do you need surgery, Otoya asked"
"Apparently, my heart got a bit damaged yesterday and they want to either do a transplant or some other surgery depending on the results on some tests they did this morning.
-But no matter which one they do, I won't be able to be a part of the group for at least two months"
The others could all see the frustration in Syo's eyes as he said that.
"Then we'll just have to wait until you're back before scheduling group work, said Tokiya"
"Yeah, if anyone wants to interview us all or anything else, they'll have to wait, said Otoya"
"It's either all of us or no one, said Ren"
"That's right, said Cecil"
Syo looked surprised at his friends who all smiled at him and he knew they meant every word they had said.
"Thanks guys"
"No problem Syo-chan, said Natsuki"
"Now get some rest and we'll be back tomorrow, said Masato
-We have the day off so we'll be here early"
Syo nodded and the group left his room.
As they walked down the halls on their way to were they were let in, they saw Syo's father talking on his phone.
"Wonder who he's talking to, said Cecil"
"Probably Syo-chan's mother, said Natsuki.
-She's working in Europe right now so she can't get here that easily"
The group walked past the hall he was standing in but stayed around the corner to listen at what Mr Kurusu was saying.
"Honey, I know that medical bills aren't cheap but we need to do it for Syo. He still has his whole life in front of him and he has a career now that he loves"
After hearing that, the group quietly walked away and out to the car that waited.
As soon as they stepped inside the Master Course, a ringtone was heard.
It was Ren's phone so he picked it out of his pocket and checked the number.
"It's Sei.
-I'll join you in a while"
"Okay, said Cecil"
After what happened a few months back, the two Jinguji brothers had gotten a better relation to each other and they talked more often.
So Ren walked to his room were he sat down and answered his phone.
"Hello"
"Hi Ren. Am I interrupting something?"
"Not at all. The others and I just got back from visiting the hospital"
"Did you visit a fan or something?"
"No, we visited ochi... Syo"
"What happened to him?"
"Yesterday, he, Masa and Shinomi had just finished a tv recording when he had a heart attack. When the rest of us came, we got to know that he was born with a weak heart"
"It didn't look that way during the time I spent with all of you"
"We all said the same thing when we got to know it. But the reason he had the attack was because he has forgotten to take his medicine for a few days"
"So how is he now?"
"He needs surgery. We also overheard his father when we were leaving. He was talking to his wife about how much the medical bills are going to cost them to pay despite the their jobs"
"I see"
"Is there by any chance something we can do?"
"I know how important those six are to you Ren and seeing something happen to one of them must be hard.
(There was a short silence)
"So if his father allows it, I'll make sure we pay for those medical bills"
"Thank you Sei"
"No problem. But it's all up to his family if they want us to do it or not"
"I'll ask them when we go over there tomorrow"
"Or maybe I should come over there myself. I am after all the president of our family company"
"Okay then. It's the same hospital you were in after that accident"
"Okay. I'll send a message when I'm on my way over there. It should be around 13.00 sometime since I have a meeting in the morning"
"Right. I'll see you tomorrow then"
"We do"
They ended the call and Ren went to join the others who were sitting in one of the living rooms.
"What did your brother want, Tokiya asked"
"Nothing special. He just wanted to make sure we don't overwork ourselves"
The others nodded understanding as the strawberry blond idol sat down
