I don't own Gravitation.

Reawakening friendship.

I was sitting at the coffee shop, waiting for Shuichi and Fujisaki to come. It was already a quarter past three, and none of them showed up. I didn't alter though... I really didn't...

My head rested on my right palm, and I was holding a toothpick in my mouth.

"Kaori... Kaori-chan..."

That was all I had in mind. I know it's not much... but it was enough for me! My mind was going through what happened half an hour earlier, over and over. And over again.

I was so lost in my thoughts, that the cigarette I was holding was now nothing but ashes. I didn't care a bit.

After a couple of minutes, Suguru-san entered the place and waved at me. I responded with the same gesture.

He sat down across the table, and began talking.

"You know, I had no idea how close the concerts were between them"

I snapped out of my dream "Huh?"

Fujisaki continued, ignoring my lack of attention "If the concerts are so soon after each other, we won't be able to rest properly, and our performance will be affected by out lack of rest! If we can't give them our best, then the public will be disappointed, and the tour will end up being a total disaster! We can't allow people to see us tired and not giving a 100 from us! We should offer the best series of concerts ever! Or the tour will be a complete failure!... Hiroshi?".

He stopped and stared at me. I was looking out the window.

The kid frowned, and said in a very loud voice "Nakano-san"

I jumped off my sit because of the sudden noise, and hitted my nose rudely against the table. "OUCH" I rubbed it, annoyed... "Kuso!.."

After a waitress brought me some ice for my now reddish nose, Shuichi came in, looking gloomy. His arms hung loosely on his sides, and he was crestfallen. We stared at him as he sat on a table across a redheaded woman.

"La... li... ho..." he sadly said.

The woman was confused. She looked at both her sides and then at Shuichi.

"Go-Gomen nasai... but who are you?"

At the sound of a female voice, Shuichi rose his gaze. He was stunned "Hi...Hiro? Kami-sama! Why did you dress up like that!"

The lady was now blushing intensively, she was confused and embarrassed... that's when I got up, grabbed Shuichi's ear, and dragged him to our table (after apologizing to the woman of course).

Fujisaki was ordering a black coffee, a capuccino and a cup of hot chocolate (for Shu-chan) while I started inquiring for the reason of my friend's depression.

"What is it now? Fought with Yuki? He told you you're annoying again"

Shuichi was sobbing, he was hardly understandable. "Yu-yuki..."

I kept going "Yes, what happened with Yuki?"

"He-he"

"What did he say to you?"

"He... he..."

"Yeah?"

"H-he kicked me out..."

"You don't say!...For good?"

"N...no...N-no..."

"For how long then?"

"J-Just f-for... Just for today" he snorted.

I tapped him on the back "Come on man! It's not so bad then! One day of good behaviour should change things back to normal"

He rose his gaze and looked at me in the eyes. He looked like he had been crying for a long time. "Yu... Yuki says I'm stupid and annoying and childish and sticky and and and... and stupid"

I tried to smile before hitting him. Fortunately, I didn't hit him. I tried to calm him down instead. "Yoshi, yoshi. He only said that because he's tired and wants to go to sleep and you keep jumping around talking loudly and singing"

He whispered "But it hurts..."

I was frozen... I didn't know what to say... my friend was hurting... my best friend was feeling hurt...

I had had it. I was going to see Yuki that night. I warned him... "If that idiot has something to whine about, other than his own idiocies, I won't forgive you"

But first, the coffee. We were there to talk about work, and to celebrate our unquestionable success.

I tried to make Shuichi smile. I made some jokes here and there, to see if the guy could sketch a tiny gesture of happiness.

He didn't laugh, but he smiled on some occassions.

When we finished our infusions, and agreed on the thought that the concert schedule was too tight, each one went it's own way.

Naturally, Shuichi and I were together. We sat on a low wall, and looked how people walked by.

The tiny singer began talking.

"You know, Hiro... when we started the band, I felt... I felt we were going to succeed... but I never thought we would go this high"

I nodded, and looked away "Hai... it's quite a rush, ain't it"

"Hai... But you know what" he looked at me "I'm truly happy that you're up there with me"

I smiled at him. "I'm truly happy to be up there with you as well, Shu-chan"

He smiled widely. Then he looked away.

"Does it bother you?"

I was clueless "Huh? What bothers me?"

"My relationship, with Yuki"

"Why would it bother me?"

"I don't know... maybe... maybe you fell left aside"

I tired to smile... "Nah... It's ok... I mean, being with someone always tears you away from your friends a little bit. But it's ok."

Shuichi was staring at the sky. The Sun reflected on his wide eyes with tenderness. His childish expression was slowly changing.

I thought to myself... maybe the relationship with Eiri... the ups and downs... the heart breakings... altogether made him grow up a little. But was it right? That he suffered so much?...

I felt sad... Sad for not being able to help him as much as I'd like to.

I lifted my hand and posed it on his head. His pink hair filtering between my fingers.

"Oi... Shuichi... could I ask you a favor?"

He was desoriented "Sure Hiro. Anything."

I smiled fraternally... "Don't grow up too much."

He looked back at me, and returned the expression "Alright" and he hugged me.

-

Gomen nasai: I'm sorry (formally used)

Kuso: Shit

Hai: Yeah

Yoshi: It's ok

Oi: Hey