DISCLAIMER : I DO NOT OWN UTA NO PRINCE SAMA IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
Yuina sighed softly as she came into her apartment, dropping her bag and coat on some random place. She sat at her empty table and simply drew on it with her fingers. She was upset that Tokiya seemed to be noticing that she wasn't feeling all that great, mostly due to how she and his friends and family were doing something he didn't approve of behind his back. It was sweet that he cared but it was still sad he assumed it was for something. Then there was the whole Syo situation.
Yuina wasn't that naive. She more or less knew that he had been hitting on her. It wasn't like she didn't think he was a decent guy or anything. She didn't seem to like him in that way. In fact, she didn't think she liked any of the guys from STARISH like that, at least not in the here and now.
'I'll be glad when this is all over,' Yuina thought as she found herself laying down on her floor. 'How did Haruka Nanami-Ichinose ever manage to deal with this and even figure out she liked Tokiya to the point she wanted to marry him and have kids with him?
The next day when Yuina came back to the Tokiya household and headed to the kitchen, she was surprised to see no dirty dishes in the sink.
"What the?" she asked out loud.
"Good morning Miss Kyouou," she suddenly heard Tokiya say behind her.
"Oh good morning sir," Yuina said turning her head and saw him coming in. "What happened to your dishes?"
"Oh, I had the kids help me do them last night after you left," said Tokiya like it was nothing.
"You did, why?" Yuina asked, "I told you I would do them this morning sir."
"I know, but I figured that between the three of us, we could do it," said Tokiya, "the kids could stand to learn some responsibility anyway."
"Oh um, okay," said Yuina, "Well I'll just get start on breakfast. Would you also like some coffee?"
"I can make it myself, thank you though," said Tokiya as he started up the coffee maker.
"Okay, suit yourself," said Yuina. She watched the man as he prepared his coffee beans. The fact that he was being so nice to her because he was worried about her was making her feel worse.
'I guess I can one of the few things his wife saw in him,' she thought.
"How was that professor?" Masato's student asked as she played him one her composition pieces.
"Hmm, it's not bad, but there's still room for improvement," he said, "I'd recommend looking for the kind of piece you want it to be; a mellow feel-good type of song or a more happy upbeat type of song."
"Okay," said the student, "um, may I please be excuse to focus on what kind of song I want it to be?"
"Of course, sometimes it's good to reflect by yourself," Masato said.
'Not to mention, that it'll give me a chance to get away early to work with Miss Kyouou,' he thought. For some reason, the idea that Syo had tried hitting on her yesterday bugged him, in almost the same way when he'd see or hear about any of the other guys flirting or hitting on Haruka. He knew he shouldn't be feeling or thinking things like that considering he was still married. Even if he and his wife barely even seem to be talking to each other, it was still wrong that he'd be having thoughts about another woman like he was.
"Watch out Shinako, here it comes!" Yuina said as she flipped a blanket she had just washed over the toddler's head. Shinako giggled as it came down over her.
"Peek-a-boo!" Yuina said as she pulled up a corner. Shinkao giggled even louder. Yuina also giggled.
'This is fine, I'm fine with doing things like this! I wish I could hide my worries over the other work we're doing,' she thought. Just then the doorbell rang.
"Well, let's get this started," Yuina said as she pulled the blanket off of Shinako and the two walked to the door.
"Hello Miss Kyouou," Masato said as she opened the door.
"Oh hello Mr. Hijirikawa," said Yuina, "please come in."
"Thank you," said Masato as he came in, making a point of patting Shinako's head as he past her. "I'm anxious to see what you and Kurusu managed to add to the song.
"Oh yes," said Yuina, "I think we're making good progress. I can't help but think that the song will be done soon."
"We still have to add lyrics to it, don't forget," said Masato.
'Oh crap, he's right!' Yuina thought in a panic.
"Something troubling you Miss Kyouou?" Masato asked when he noticed her looking slightly disturbed.
For some reason, Yuina felt she could tell the man next to her what was bothering her.
"Well, the thing is, you know this whole thing of composing this song behind Mr. Ichinose's back is bothering me. Well, Mr. Tokiya is starting to notice that I'm upset about something and he thinks it's because he and his children are overworking me. So now he's trying to help lighten my work load. And that's just making me feel worse! I don't want him to feel like he's overworking me! This job is just the kind of job I've been hoping for. It's perfect for me."
Masato nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry you're in such a position. I hope we can get this situated before too long."
"Thank you sir," Yuina said as they came to the music room.
"Is there anything else bothering you?" Masato asked as he took his place at the piano and even pulled Shinako onto his lap.
"Uh no," Yuina said as she opened the closest and pulled out the newest version of the score. She didn't think it was a good idea to bring up what happened between her and Syo yesterday, especially since she had a slight hunch Masato may feel the same way. That was worse in its own way Masato was still married.
Masato watched Yuina from the piano, trying to see her reaction to her reaction to his question. She looked even more upset about him asking such a thing. So he decided to try and avoid the subject some more.
"Well, here's yesterday's transaction," Yuina said as she brought it back over to the piano.
"Hmm," Masato said as he looked to over, handing Shinako over to Yuina. He tried playing some of the parts himself. "Very good, very good, " he said.
"Do you think we could manage to finish it today?" Yuina asked slightly anxious.
"We could try," said Masato, "but there's no guarantee. Composing takes a lot of time and effort."
"Right, of course it does," said Yuina. She slumped her head on her hand as she and Shinako waited for Masato to finish. Masato noticed her displeasure look.
"We are trying to get this done as quickly as we can Miss Kyouou, I promise," he assured her.
Yuina nodded. "Sorry, I'm not trying to make things difficult," she said.
"You're hardly doing that," said Masato.
"Do your kids know doing this sir? Just out of curiosity?" Yuina asked trying to change the subject.
"Oh yes, and they are very excited about the idea. They loved Haruka very much. She was even their godmother, though my wife wasn't too fond of the idea."
"I take it your wife wasn't too fond of Haruka?" Yuina asked.
"Among other people in my life," said Masato softly.
"Oh, sorry," said Yuina.
"Oh don't be, she has several other good qualities," said Masato, "plus she has plenty friends and associates that I'm not fond of."
"Okay," said Yuina, "No offense but that doesn't sound like a happy marriage."
"Well, I supposed you could say that," said Masato, "but we both still wanting to try."
"Have you always had to "try" as you put it?" Yuina asked. Masato had to think about it for a moment.
" I supposed you could say that," he finally admitted.
"And you've been together for how long?" Yuina asked.
"About 10 years now. We got married around the same time Haruka and Tokiya," said Masato.
"Seriously?" Yuina said.
"Something wrong with that?" Masato asked.
"Well no, I guess. I mean, I even know the woman. It just seems to me that, if all you do is try with no progress, even after all this time is it really worth it?" Yuina asked. "It almost sounds like you got along better with Ms. Nanami-Ichinose than your wife."
Yuina's words seem to hit Masato so hard, he hit a wrong piano key. Yuina gasped at the wrong note.
"I'm sorry sir! I didn't mean anything by it!" she quickly apologized.
"No it's fine," Masato said. "In a way you're right."
"Ah man, I am sucking at this!" Yuina said under her breath. "Mr. Hijirikawa, I'm sorry for all of this. If you want, I'll just leave you alone and go do some cleaning if you want." She tried to get up to leave, but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Please don't go," Masato said, pulling her back down next to him. "I've actually don't mind your company or your questions. They don't bother me too much."
" Are you sure?" Yuina asked. Both she and Masato looked into each other's eyes.
"Yes, please stay. Your company is very comforting," he assured her.
"Well, okay," said Yuina. She and Masato kept looking at each other.
"Play! Play!" Shinako suddenly shouted. She hit the piano herself a couple of times.
"Yes, let's continue what we're supposed to be doing," said Masato turning his attention back to the piano.
"Yes, of course," said Yuina. The two adults kept working for a while, before Masato stood up.
"You're not going to stick around sir?" Yuina asked, "Kazu and Rui should be home soon."
"No, I should get home soon. There's some things I need to reflect on," said Masato.
"Sir!" Yuina said jumping up, "sir please, I didn't mean to cause you any problems!"
Masato walked right up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't. If anything you may helped me in the most simplest of ways, just like Haruka was known to do," he said. He looked very serious but at the same time happy about something. He actually almost appeared to be moving his own farm email closer to hers.
'He's not going...,' Yuina thought, slightly scared.
Suddenly the two heard the door opening.
"We're home Miss Kyouou," Rui called out.
"Welcome home kids," Yuina called back. Both kids came running into the music room as Masato quickly moved away from Yuina.
"Hi Masato!" Rui said happily when she saw him standing there.
"Hello children, I'm sorry, but I have to be going," Masato said as he walked to the door.
" Already?" Kazu asked.
"I'm sorry yes," said Masato, "I have to get home to my own children. Feel free to look over what I've done today though. Good-bye for now."
"Bye Masato," said Rui.
"Hey Miss Kyouou , why are you so red?" Kazu asked once Masato was gone.
"Oh it's nothing," said Yuina.
'Nothing a small kid like you needs to know about!' she thought.
Masato barely looked towards the different servants that greeted him once he arrived home. He hastily headed to his children's play room where the two were each working on some sort of project.
"Father welcome home," said his son Takato. Both twins ran towards their father who welcomed them into his embrace.
"We're you over at the Ichinose household helping with Haruka's last song?" Takara asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes I have," said Masato, "and I can't wait for you two to hear it. But for now, there's something I have to discuss with your mother. I just wanted to see you two real fast and know that I love you."
"What's wrong Dad?" Takato asked.
Masato took a deep breath. "I'll let you know about it once I've spoken to your mother," he said before hugging his children one last time. He then walked out of the room and headed off to find his wife.
He walked onward until he found her in her own private room, beautifying herself. She happened to look in the mirror to see Masato standing behind her.
"What do you want?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"You and I need to have a serious talk," said Masato.