Hey guys! So one of my long-time readers, Azure Blue (3 you) mentioned the idea of writing a chapter from Len's POV for this story, and at first I was a little hesitant because I don't usually switch POV's during my stories. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked it, because I've personally had some trouble connecting with him as a character and I thought writing a chapter from his POV would actually be the PERFECT way to get over that.

So, here's a Len chapter! Totally unexpected lol but I am actually pretty happy with it. I don't know if there will be any more, I'm kinda just winging it at this point and it's working out alright so far! :)

Also, I actually released a chapter before midnight? What is this productivity I am feeling?

Once again, I have online classes on Wednesday and may or may not get to uploading a chapter that day. If you don't hear from me then, you will hear from me Thursday!

Enjoy! :)

"Oh my god, look at that place!" Teto exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the candy-store perched right around the corner from Radio City. Hershey's Chocolate World was much more than a normal candy store, however. Even from a distance, it stood out tremendously with dozens of neon signs depicting the brands of the most popular chocolate bars sticking out from the building at every possible spot.

"I'm about to spend a grand on candy," Kai promised.

"Me too," Teto agreed. The two of them walked together, leading Gakupo, Fukase, and I towards the store.

"No, no," Gaku argued. "We'll cover you."

Teto pouted. "I can take care of myself-"

"Our treat!" Kai insisted. He threw his hands up in the air for emphasis. "We have to celebrate our showdown somehow."

Teto rolled her eyes, a small smile peeking out. "Fine," she finally said. "But just this one time."

We had just left Radio City after Teto's success in the first round. It was only two days until the next show, where we would compete against the red-haired girl herself.

"Hey, T," Fukase asked, jumping up to her other side. "Are you and the band doing anything outfit-wise? People are all over the whole uniform thing-"

Kai rolled his eyes, even though Fukase had completely managed to avoid mentioning Merge by name. "Not this again," he muttered.

"Don't you think we should listen to what the fans have to say?" Fukase argued. "We don't have to go crazy, either. Just matching. Or something."

"Yeah," Teto answered. We crossed the street, pausing at the grand entrance to the candy emporium. Her enthusiasm was dampened a bit at the thought of Merge. "We're doing something different next round. And I want to go crazy with it," she added with a smile.

In my pocket, my fingers wrapped around my phone, expecting a text any second. Rin had said she would be busy rehearsing for the next round, but I couldn't help feeling hopeful that she'd send me a short message during breaks. So far, she hadn't.

Kai snorted. "You going to wear a dumbass kimono, too?"

Teto turned on him, glaring daggers. I was a bit taken aback by the sudden anger she showed. He was, too.

Fukase sighed. "Just let it go-"

He held up his hands in defense. "Okay! Jeez. Sorry."

Teto shook her head. "You're ridiculous. You and Merge both." She crossed her arms, turning her back on the candy store and back to us. "I'm still trying to figure out why you guys even hate each other in the first place."

"Why wouldn't we-" Kai began, but Teto immediately cut him off.

"What'd they do to you, Kaito? What's the big secret? Did they kill your whole family or something? Burn your house down? What is it?"

Kai opened his mouth to respond but quickly closed it. He looked to Gakupo and I for backup.

Next to me, Gaku shrugged. "They've always been pretty hostile to us." His voice was calm. "Honestly, we're just trying to defend ourselves."

She let out a laugh. "That's pretty much what Miku told me," she retorted. "You guys both act like kids. 'They started it!'" She held her hands up, mockingly, then rolled her eyes. "Even if it's for the publicity, I can't stand it." To my horror, she turned her direction to me, saying nothing, but clearly expecting a response.

I kept my mouth shut, feeling my face flush and looking between my bandmates for help.

"Hey, now!" Fukase jumped in, a forced smile on his face. "Let's just not talk about it, okay? We're supposed to be having a fun night. Are you guys gonna go buy candy or what?"

Teto took a deep breath, letting her anger go with her exhale, and turning back towards the store. "Race you to the white-chocolate section!" She yelled, her outburst a thing of the past. She skipped towards the entrance and we had no choice but to follow.

I jumped when Kaito smacked a hand on my back. "Nice," was all he said, sarcasm in his voice.

"Well, what do you want me to say?" I asked him, uneasy.

"Leave him alone, Kai," Gaku defended. Fukase walked ahead with Teto, the rest of us speaking in lowered voices.

With possibly the worst timing in existence, my phone vibrated in my pocket loud enough for Kai to hear. A mischievous glint appeared in his eye. "Is that the girl that you snuck out to see the other night?"

"What the fuck?" I went stiff, shooting a glare in his direction. "I-I have no idea what you're-"

"We woke up," Gaku admitted with a sigh. "While you were gone."

"And in the morning, you reeked of club sweat," Kai continued. "And we all know you didn't go to a club by yourself."

I hesitated. "I… I didn't sneak out. You're both full of shit." I pushed out of Kai's grip, trying to catch up with Teto and Fukase, where I knew I'd be safe from this. My hands trembled in my pockets, knocking against my phone. Only then did I remember the text. I pulled it out, making sure Gaku and Kai were out of sight of the screen, and glanced at the text. It was not from Rin.

It was from Mom.

Are you coming down for dinner? We're having roasted lamb. Your favorite.

I closed my eyes, breaking down all the things wrong with this text and trying to decide which was appropriate to point out to her. Roasted lamb was definitely not my favorite. I decided to leave that part out.

I'm in New York, still.

We walked inside, the sweet smell of all different kinds of candy mingling at once hitting us. It wasn't long before I received another text. Once I opened it, I instantly felt my heart drop at the wall of text before me.

New York? You didn't tell me you were going to New York. What are you doing there? I heard about that Radio City season. Are you there with the boys for that silly band? Are you still on that? This is why you should have stayed in school, Len. Call me. I want you to come home right away. I can get you tickets on the next flight home right now. I'll even do it for the boys if I have to. You're getting too old for fantasy and I'm beginning to worry-

"Damn," Kai said, reading over my shoulder.

I flinched away from him, my frustration and embarrassment coming to the surface all at once. They knew how bad Mom was, but it was still mortifying when they caught me, a grown adult, in situations where she treated me like an irresponsible teenager.

"Sorry," he said, offering an apologetic smile. "I'm nosy. You know this."

I turned my phone off completely, refusing to read the rest of the message. If Rin did text me, I'd have to get it later.

"Mom again?" Gaku asked. Fukase and Teto had long since disappeared into the maze of a store.

I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut to calm myself down.

"What'd she say?" He asked, looking through the shelves nonchalantly.

I swallowed. "She wants me to come home. Right now."

Kai froze. "But you're not going to."

"No," I shook my head. "I'm not."

He relaxed. "She'll be pissed."

"What else is new?" I turned away from them, itching for a quick smoke. Nicotine never failed to slow my racing heartbeat.

"Hey, dude," Kai said, grabbing my shoulder. "Don't do that. You don't have to run away from us whenever something shitty happens." He'd known me long enough, he could basically read my mind. "Let's just binge a ton of candy and play COD when we get back," he suggested. "Don't even have to think about her."

As much as I wanted some fresh air, I appreciated his effort to keep me around and felt a bit better. "Sure," I said, still facing away from them.

"Cool. Now," he paused, holding a bag of chocolate kisses in front of my face. He wore a sly, joking smile. "Need a kiss?"

"I'm not gonna lie, I kind of like it," Kai said, admiring himself in the dressing-room mirror. All three of us wore the same outfits, black and white blazers with dark slacks. The three of us also wore matching fedoras, which I thought was a bit of an overkill. They didn't seem to think so.

"I told you," Fukase said from the door. "Dressing up from time-to-time isn't that bad."

"When are we on, boss?" Gaku asked, smoothing out his long hair.

"We've got a few hours." Fukase crossed his arms. "You guys are first. Then Teto, then the other two."

He meant Merge and their opponent. I couldn't remember who they were off the top of my head.

Kai sat down in the nearest chair, leaning back. "Thank god. I'm starving."

Fukase sighed. "Yeah, about that. Someone fucked up the catering today. So if we're hungry, we gotta go out."

"Fine with me. Pizza?"

"I might chill here," I told them. "Do some more… practicing."

Kai rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Len! You're fine. You do this every time, I swear. You need to just calm down and come get some food."

I shook my head, saying nothing.

"Your loss," Fukase shrugged. "We'll bring you a slice. For you two-" he turned his attention to Kai and Gaku as they stood. "If I see so much as a crumb on those outfits-"

"Okay, mom," Kai taunted. He turned his attention to me as they exited. "Don't get in any trouble!" He called, instantly resuming his arguing with Fukase. Gaku waved as well.

And then I was alone.

I sat on one of the chairs, scrolling my phone for a while as people continued to file through the halls. Eventually, the building that was booming with voices only a few minutes ago fell to silence. Everyone was forced to leave the building for lunch, but it wouldn't be long before they came back.

Poking my head out into the hall, I couldn't see or hear another soul. I slipped out of the room, skirting the halls until I emerged onto the main stage.

Outside, on the street, there was a line almost a mile long of people waiting to get inside for the show tonight. I was in a city swarming with people everywhere. But in the massive music hall, I was completely alone. At first glance, it seemed a bit eerie. And then, pacing the stage just like I would in a few hours, the walls felt less like a cage and more like a shield.

Looking out into the empty seats, I clapped my hands together as loud as I could, listening as the sound echoed towards the back wall. A short laugh escaped me, and I did it again.

I checked both sides of the stage, still unsure if there were still people present in the building, somewhere.

This is ridiculous, I thought to myself, my eyes looking forward again. You can sing with thousands of people in the room, but not a few?

But it wasn't the number of people in the audience that bothered me. It was the number of people on the stage.

I was alone.

I closed my eyes, reassuring myself that that was not true, Kai and Gakupo and Fukase would all be back in an hour, probably, and if I wanted to practice, then I'd have to start now.

I rose my head.

This time, it was my voice that echoed off the back wall. I imagined Kai and Gaku playing along beside me, singing the opening lines of 'Pyrokinesis' as loudly as I could. Without the microphone tucked over my ear, I didn't feel my voice reaching as far as the other night, but it was satisfying hearing it bounce back to me. The speakers made it much too loud during performances for any echoes.

In the middle of the stage, I opened my mouth for the long note to signal the beginning of the chorus. Throwing my arms in the air, I looked over the empty room, lowering my head and shrinking back into myself.

"Dammit," I said under my breath, lowering my arms. Choking up right before the chorus? That couldn't happen. Now, it was fine. But tonight-

"Umareru… netsu wa!" I shot a glance over my shoulder at the sudden appearance of a voice. Rin clutched onto the curtain, tucked into the side of the stage, with a grin. "You forget the words or something?"