The Little Shinkansen That Could
Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Shinkalion franchise.
Pairing: Developing Ginga x Nagara.
Summary:
The Miracle Train needs a push.
Chapter 1: By Your Side
Like most of Team Shinkalion, Nagara couldn't say he'd been a fan of Arashiyama Ginga, either his singing or his personality. He and Hanabi had been the loudest about their disapproval towards the idol, who they decried a threat to Shin's position at the center of the team.
"YOUR SUPER EXPRESS!" Ginga was flashy and flamboyant. Had to be the center of attention. However, it wasn't all empty space under that fedora and peroxide blond head of his. Not as his eye and passion for twinkling entrances would imply.
There were daydreams of space itself in there. Bubbly scenes Ginga described to Nagara and the dudes in glowing segues into flowery, region-accented flights of fancy.
Generally, the spotlight was on Ginga, of course. But Ginga encouraged others in his orbit to bring out their "gorgeous," their "shine," their "image," and their "melody." It may have arisen from the sparkly guy's hang-up – his compulsive desire to take his sparkle up a full notch – but his squad got to dazzle, even if they didn't come out brighter than the star.
Nagara wasn't one to withhold what was on his mind. He'd been supremely upfront demanding he and Ginga make a departure that'd drive the idol's followers wild.
"I'm not your backup, backup dancer, or backup vocals! We're going for yakiniku!"
And there weren't any ambiguities regarding Ginga's orientation. The performer travelled around with his own cloud of glitter and overhead lighting, favoured neon-heeled boots while piloting 500 Kodama, rhapsodized on and on about a Rainbow Train departing the Milky Way for the infinite corners of the galaxy, and signalled greetings by sliding into kissing distance of his male friends' faces!
Ginga's campy conduct weirded Nagara out. It weirded everybody out. He wasn't a full-blown narcissist though, though he certainly gravitated in the vain direction of things. Somewhere between the two stations.
Best put, he prided himself on his abilities, but understood maintaining and polishing his abilities required constant work. Compared to the idols Abiko-san obsessed over, he was mere fresh talent, after all!
Just as Shin, Hanabi, and Taiju had adjusted to combining forces with Yamakasa and the Anjo siblings (and were doing their darndest to adjust to Abuto leaving to side with the Teoti), adopting Ginga onto Team Shinkalion happened across multiple trips.
During that time, Nagara learned there was a place for Ginga's girly next to his macho.
They clicked like model train tracks.
"Ginga!"
"Ah~, Nagara! Welcome! Good to see you again!" Ginga removed his headset mic.
"Yakiniku! OK?"
"Sorry, Nagara. I'm rehearsing now. Why don't you ask Shin-kun and I'll meet youse guys after my run-through is over?"
Nagara might've run through him with the Hida Hybrid Naginata. "Yaki…niku!"
"All right!" Ginga didn't want to fight a fight against the karate kid he knew he'd lose. "I can see you're determined."
"Heck yeah! Anjo Nagara wins!" Nagara cheered.
"EXCITING TRAIN! Right to your heart…and right on schedule!"