The Whole Thing About Listening

She kept lagging behind, looking over her shoulder towards the treeline. Sho huffed. The way she was acting, that foreigner had to be some amazing sempai. Or amazingly horrific, scarring her for life. Either way he didn't like the fact she kept attracting guys that had this impact on her. The way his glare sent creeps shooting down Sho's back had only been duplicated by Tsuruga Ren. Sho shook his head rapidly. He was obsessing about Tsuruga-san, injecting him into this scenario. Too many people in his life involved with that man.

They reached the set to find Shoko deep in conversation with the director, pointing at the replay on the small travel screen.

"We're already over hours," the director said. "Let's go with your suggestion and make it a wrap. Team- Tuesday, Tokyo, B-roll in studio of Fuwa's performances to flesh out the takes from today." He looked up at their entrance and gestured them over, a frown on his face.

Shoko interjected first. "Fuwa, Kyoko, the director has decided he has enough material from today for a music video. The sparring scene was excellent and makes up the bulk of the script anyways."

The director nodded, his arms crossed over his chest. Kyoko stepped forward in front of Sho and dipped into a deep dogeza center-stage. The set fell silent with her act of self-abasement.

"Director-sama, please forgive me. I have caused chaos on set with my impulsiveness." Her voice shook slightly as she spoke. "I am ready to accept the consequences of my actions."

The director stood hastily, bending to help Kyoko up. "Kyoko, no need, no need. I admit it was unexpected. Please have any guests follow proper protocol next time."

"Next time…?" Kyoko muttered, looking up from her bow.

"Your work was impeccable until the end. The way you managed to motivate and draw along your costar saved the production." Sho reddened with embarrassment, but held himself back. The director was right, and if he stayed silent both of them could maybe dig out of this hole thanks to her talent. "I am hopeful to work together again." He looked up at the treeline thoughtfully. "Any chance your ah, friend has an interest in modeling? I am always looking for interesting physiques to serve as extras in my videos."

Kyoko's face reddened, then paled. "My friend?" she squeaked. "He's- he's not available right now."

The director nodded. "Here's my card for him, if he changes his mind." He patted Kyoko on the shoulder, then turned to look at Sho. Sho bowed his head slightly, and the director nodded, turning to go organize the set breakdown. Shoko shepherded Kyoko over to costuming to change. She called over her shoulder for Sho to follow, but he wasn't listening.

The assistant director was running through the raw footage, doing a last check for any errors like boom mics in the frame. He kept slowing and rewinding the moment where Kyoko landed on top of Sho, scanning the beach behind them for anything out of place. Sho swallowed hard. Over and over again his face leaned up toward Kyoko's, his lips parted and eyes hooded as he strove to kiss her.

"Eager and desperate," the director's voice rang clearly over his shoulder. "You didn't give it easy, but still got just what we wanted. Didn't know you had the hots for Kyoko, Fuwa," he joked, elbowing him. "Though I can't blame you. She was fiery on set today. Outstanding."

"I wasn't thinking about her," Sho said, his voice soft. He was transfixed by his own expression. Did he actually look like that? Thinking about… him?

"Ah-hah! What's this?" the director turned to face Sho, smiling. Several other staffers in the area perked up, their ears cued to juicy gossip. Sho ignored them all, trying to force himself to breathe deeply. He excused himself and left to change without another word.

He found Kyoko standing outside her trailer, watching the trees. She looked ready to bolt - either into the forest or backwards and away; it was hard to tell. He touched her elbow and she jumped, clutching her bag's strap. "Ey," he said, trying to be soothing. "Don't be such a freak. Let's go get food."

Kyoko shook her head and pulled away. "I'm not going back up to the hotel today."

Sho scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically at her. "Food. Now. Then you can come skulk around waiting for your Russian sempai."

Her face flushed but she glared at him, mimicking a punch to the gut.

"That's better," he laughed, tugging at her arm. "Now come eat." He pulled her forward again and this time she trailed after him, still glancing back frequently but moving. He considered it a win.

"So…" Sho said casually over their bentos,trying to lead her to speak. The pair were ensconced in Shoko's room; after his display on set he didn't want any rumors spreading by being seen in public together. Or entering one or the other's rooms. "Today was…" he trailed off. Where to even start? Kyoko was poking at her rice with her chopstick, her face a mask.

Sho sat his own bento down with a huff, chewing on his tongue as he tried to figure out where to go with her. "Hey, listen," he started, poking her shoulder. "I don't care. Got it? But if you want to talk about it, you know, what you said."

Kyoko looked up at him curiously. "What I said?"

"Yeah," Sho said, turning his face away in embarrassment. "The whole I'm here, I'm there, I'm not here thing about listening."

Kyoko blurted out a small laugh. She sat her chopsticks down and cradled her head in her hands, staring out the window. "Thanks, Shotaro," she said, her face twisted in a smirk. "But I don't need to talk to you. I need to talk to… him." She moved to stand and he pushed himself up to stand beside her.

"Ah," he paused. Words just didn't come easily when he was trying not to bicker with her. "Ok. Um, thanks for today."

"Don't thank me, thank Mimori-san. She's the one you mentally abused, poor girl." Kyoko grimaced, pretending to act ill as she gathered up her things.

Sho bit his lip. He could tell her. He could ask her what to do. He shook his head rapidly. That was a very, very, bad idea. Kyoko was still just some country bumpkin, no way she'd know anything about- he shook his head again. She'd just use it to tease him. Maybe she'd stop kicking his shin and just start mocking him. There was that. He glanced at her; she was completely ignoring him as she made her way to the door, lost in thought.

"Ah, Kyoko- take your bento," he said, shoving the lid on and holding it out at her. She waved back at him in refusal.

"Go ahead; I'm not hungry."

"You don't ever miss meals," Sho accused just as her stomach growled loudly. He saw her stop and huff, obviously annoyed with herself. Kyoko held her hand out backwards and he walked over to put the bento in it. "I'll, ah, just be in my room. If you need anything."

Kyoko finally turned to look at him with a small smile. "You don't have to try this hard, Sho. We are what we are. Maybe someday it'll be different, but right now," she sighed. "I just need space." She looked out the window toward the ocean again. "Thanks," she said, hefting the bento. She slid through the door, letting it close softly behind her.

We are what we are. Sho ruffled his hair, finally able to do so after hours in costume. We are what we are.

His choices had led them there. His ignorance and apathy and total disregard for someone else's feelings. Sho walked over and dumped his bento in the trash. At least now he knew what was wrong with him. Could he fix it in time to not ruin another friendship? Sho mussed with his hair again, wanting it to look as crazy as he felt right now. Seriously, what was going on with him? How had a fake apology to try and appease Koga turned into actually trying to help her? He scowled at himself. What was with all this self-doubt! He was Fuwa Sho! Number one in all Japan, genius singer with the perfect body! He flexed his muscles, looking in the balcony double doors for his reflection. Instead, his eyes lit on Kyoko walking down to the beach alone. He felt his chest deflate.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yelled at the empty room. "Why can't I just have what I want?!" Kyoko wasn't helping, and he certainly wasn't going to give her more leverage over him. And by now Koga- Sho grimaced. He'd been doing so well at keeping at bay all weekend what Koga was doing. Who Koga was with. None of his business. Sho growled and turned to the minibar, ripping open the shot of whisky.