hello! sorry for the late update.^^ my oneshot manga is taking my time and rewatching yami no matsuei too! heheeh^^
【【【 Symbol 】】】
It took a couple of minutes before the announcement sunk in. And when everyone thought they finally understood what they heard, they realized that they don't get a thing.
"Vacant? What's that supposed to mean?"
"There's no winner for this year's Sonate?"
"What is going on?"
The silence that took over was replaced by an uproar. Questions and more questions murked their understandings. There were so many competitors and yet the grand place would be vacant?
Everyone was just talking and voicing out their comments that they formed a one unbreakable indistinct sound. Outside the building, inside the hall and households and people on the streets stopped from whatever they were doing. Sure Sonate in reality didn't have anything to do with them. They couldn't care less who was the winner.
However, Sonate was a part of the culture they have been brought up to. And to actually see something they were so used to turn out in an unexpected way was a little hard to fathom and accept. Same with beliefs and everything else.
Misaki was there at the last line of equally confused competitors on the stage. He merely blinked a couple of times when he heard the announcement. Perhaps he was again being delayed in processing things.
I lost? Misaki thought to himself while clearly focusing his eyes at the bright lights. It was hurting his eyes but he couldn't help staring at them. I see...I really did lose.
He knew it coming. He knew that what he did the last few weeks, he threw them away on his own. But hearing it, the result being shoved to his face mercilessly, no matter how much one prepared himself for the impact, it would always be a huge, painful blow.
Misaki had a blank expression. And yet the tears were unmistakingly making their way out of his wide eyes like a stream. Slowly and silently, he cried.
The blinding lights above his head was fierce. So fierce that he could only see white.
I don't regret it...Misaki mumbled. But remembering the sleepless nights, the strict studying and the happy faces of everyone close to his heart cheering him on, it was a huge lump in his throat. But it sure hurts...losing hurts...
It was indeed Misaki's first loss. The first competition he poured his everything into. For a teen like him, a feeling of losing like that was something new. It was just a feeling all over the place he didn't know what to do of.
I'm so lame...crying like this...
He kept on looking at the lights. He did just so he could find something else to turn his attention to. When a whole louder wave of murmurs inside the hall errupted, Misaki couldn't see a thing from the after effects of staring at something fiercely bright.
Misaki felt a cool breeze crawl on his skin. And heard some surprised gasping from the person beside him.
The teen thought he was going to fall after feeling a hand grab him from behind, and yet his fall was interrupted by a warm, soft presence he couldn't make out.
This scent...Misaki thought his heart had stopped. This warmth and scent...?
The whisperings just grew more intense, more pronounced.
"U-Usagi-san?" it came as just a breath as he realized he was locked to the prison he wanted too bad.
Misaki thought he would break from the strong arms wrapped around him. He felt like he was sinking into the man's chest. As he did so, he could feel and hear the wild beating of the heart against his ear.
The young man squinted to adjust his eyes but it was only still faint white and a dark silhouette he could see. Hearing only a hoarse breathing, feeling the warm breath on his skin, Misaki was sure, it was Usami Akihiko, his Usagi-san.
"You did great. I'm really proud of you," came the familiar, low and deep voice that for a long time Misaki hadn't heard of. It reached every inch on his soul.
Hearing it overwhelmed Misaki's insides. . He gave in into the painful feeling in his chest that he was trying to surpress and his once blank face, moved into a picture of mixed relief and loss. Misaki could only bury his face on the combination of sweat, mixed with an alluring cologne wafting around him.
"Hugging me in public...Baka..." Misaki sobbed liked a child. He missed this. And to be honest, he didn't care anymore. What was there to hide? He had already opened up his deepest secrets to the whole world the only thing important was that he was finally meeting flesh to flesh with this reassuring presence.
"Misaki..."
"Mmm?"
"Thank you...although this wasn't the original plan...thank you."
Misaki smiled feeling strongly the cold wetness falling down on his shoulders. "Thank you for what?"
"For choosing me."
"We request everyone to please give a moment of silence. Again, on behalf of everyone in the Sonate Committee, we are asking for your patience and understanding. The Chief Judge of this competition has something to say."
The voice of emcee woman was cold and strict. Truthfully, never in Sonate history has this happened. To have the highest place be vacant only meant two things.
Usami though he didn't want to release Misaki from his hold. Eyes precariously wet, the man wiped Misaki's tear streaked face with his thumb before giving a serious look.
"Stand firm on this till the end," his hands holding Misaki's shoulders, Usami stared directly into the green eyes firmly. "I'm never going to let go...my support is always yours. Raise your head, whatever you might hear."
Frowning, Misaki cockily grinned. "You don't have to tell me, baka Usagi..."
Was it that really magical that it felt so much lighter, everything felt so much lighter when Usagi-san was there so near to Misaki? This ruckus shouldn't have happened in the first place if both of them, Usagi not letting his instinc to protect get ahead of him and Misaki, not letting his fright of stepping out and be seen by too many knowing eyes scare him. At a closer look, their own love and mistakes for each other brought them to this situation.
Their impulsiveness was both stupid and heroic.
Though it wasn't communicated that time, the two inside their hearts and mind learned one thing they'd carry forever. Transparency.
And if they have come to realize another thing. It was that what they feel wasn't fleeting. It was strong enough to drive them to this extent.
Eyes still a little cloudy, Misaki watched the back of his man go down the stage.
"I guess...being now able to go out with you in public...is one of the million trophies I got from this competition..."
"What a touching scene you have there...Usami..."
Usami stopped from his tracks and threw a glance at Ijuuin Kyo who was standing near the stage. They looked eye to eye for a short moment but to the two, it felt so long. It was a stare of two men sizing up each other.
"For teaching Misaki, you did fine."
Ijuuin snorted. "That goes without saying."
Usami just smirked before continuing to walk.
"You can have a seat next to us. It's free anyway."
Lavender eyes to black, it was never a good combination when it came to these to men. But for just that situation, they sat on a row of people whose support to Misaki was unquestionable.
"Io?"
"Akihiko-san...hi?"
Io was still the brat that he was and when he saw Usami Akihiko approaching, he took over Ijuuin Kyo's seat so he could sit beside the silverhaired man. Ijuuin just shook his head when he realized his seat has been taken and he was left to sit beside the old, classy woman.
"Why are you crying?" Usami asked concerned after taking his seat. Ijuuin couldn't help but to look.
"N-nothing. I'm not crying!" the teen barked, fixing the dark glasses on his eyes.
Usami looked at the brown head beside him and reached out. Ruffling the hair, Usami sighed, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry...? Stop it..."
Though the conversation of the two was vague, Ijuuin wasn't simple minded not to be able to read between the lines. He just threw a glance at the sniffing mess beside him before focusing his attention towards Misaki.
Ijuuin watched Misaki appreciatively. From his seat he could still clearly see the puffy, teary eyes of the teen and the serious expression on Misaki's face. He sure had another strong glow of determination and pride as he stood there after admitting he was into the same sex.
Funny, blockhead at times, hardworking. He really did liked and loved Misaki for that short span of time they were together.
"Cheeky brat..." Ijuuin muttered to himself pertaining to Io. "...aren't we on the same boat?"
"Did you see that? Oh my gooood..."
To even just a mere looker who didn't know what was going on, the way that hug in front of everyone was just something. It wasn't lewd. It wasn't very intimate, and yet it just has this different feel to it. Many things just happened that many couldn't process where to put all the weird emotions they felt watching two males confess their love for each other.
It wasn't usual. It wasn't normal. But an act out of pure feelings was inevitably a strong push even to the rigid minded people. Maybe because love is a universal thing.
""We request everyone to please give a moment of silence. Again, on behalf of everyone in the Sonate Committee, we are asking for your patience and understanding. The Chief Judge of this competition has something to say."
The waves of low chatterings died away. Cameras focused at the face of the calm-looking old man, everyone waited for what he had to say.
"This has been a long day, isn't it?" he started. He just stood from his seat with his other hand again on his chest. "We had a lot of very talented competitors this year...I'm so glad."
His gray eyes surrounded by lines from age ad experience ran from the very first to the last person on the neat line of young promising music artists. He sighed and then looked at the audience.
"The result might have been a shock to each and everyone, but it's just as you heard it. Vacant," he paused as if already tired. "The seat is empty."
"It was a decision that we arrived from computing all the criterias and requirements. Sad to say, though one met the criterias, this specific person failed one of the most important requirements..."
The more the man talked, the more the people watching got to have the picture of who should have really won.
"It's not just because it was an awesome performance we look into, respect for others as well. Being gravely not on time is an utmost disrespect not just to the other competitors but to the entire body that makes the competition..."
Eyes on the stage almost drilled a hole on Misaki's face. While the teen himself could only stare at the old man.
"Also, this part of the Sonate rule that says 'no indecent relationship or scandal to maintain the sacredness of Sonate...' was clearly violated, though I for myself would not call such a relationship as 'indecent'. Just unusual," he added. "However, it is what the Sonate rules state and rules are not made to be broken. We already bended it for this certain person...but breaking it is a whole different matter."
What is he talking about? Misaki thought while feeling goosebumps running on his skin. It's really...me?
The old man cleared his throat. "May I humbly ask, Takahashi Misaki to please take a step forward?"
When Misaki heard his name, he thought something pierced his chest down to his stomach. He looked confused for a moment, but remembering what his Usagi-san told him, Misaki stepped forward, facing the shocked faces of the people in the boxes. And if he could only see the people watching outside, he would have surely laughed at their confused looks.
"Takahashi-san...do you regret anything?"
Misaki started weeping on the spot. He searched his entire being for an ounce of this emotion called 'regret'. He really felt a loss, but regret was nowhere to be found.
The teen looked at the small familiar figure from afar first. He was more than a winner having that man for himself. Though reality wise his decision was stupid, what he did and sacrificed led him to be happier than how he would be if he actually got the title with him yet not being able to stay with Usami Akihiko.
He could only smile while shaking his head in a firm 'no'.
"Very well..." the old man nodded and smiled at Misaki before nodding at the emcee.
The woman in black, sparkling with diamonds on her ears and neck walked towards Misaki.
It was a feeling of shock and disbelief for Misaki and for the entire audience in all parts of Japan as they watched the beautiful woman hand the clueless teen the golden music note, Sonate Music Competition's Grand Trophy.
Misaki looked at it as if it was an alien object being presented to him. "Why?"
After hearing everything what the old man said, why were they handing Misaki a symbol of Sonate as if he was one of those who won? Not just someone who won, he was suddenly being handed the grand trophy.
"I as the Chief Judge and President of Sonate, and on behalf of entire Sonate Committee, presents Takahashi Misaki...as your Sonate Music Competition Year XXXX Grand Winner."
It was an utter silence all around like everyone was just dreaming. Or hearing something utterly unbelievable.
Misaki couldn't even bring himself to touch the gleaming object.
Why? What happened to the 'rules are not made to be broken'?
chapter end notes:
thank you as always for your time and kind words. can't thank you guys enough! ^^
grahahaha...i dont know but i am excited for something...anyway...please also look forward to my manga (oneshot) it's quiet dramatic...hehehe
DOMO...i have to go to sleep now...will respond after waking in my dream land.^^
-shuusetsu...
oyasuminasai!