Theme
"Why do you keep following me?"
"Ahh! Hiro! We're friends! We're supposed to hang around eachother!"
"Not this much!"
"You hate me!"
"No! I didn't say that… Don't cry Shuichi… you can always be around me."
"I'm late! I'm late! Hiro's going to kill me!"
"Shuichi what are you doing?"
"I'm going to the park!"
Sigh. "You went to the park yesterday."
"I know but the sun looks so pretty when you sit on the benches. I love sunsets."
"You think everything's pretty…"
"Because they are! Well, I'm off! Bye Hiro! Too bad you can't come!"
"…you never invited me…"
Shuichi ran into the bar, neatly jumping over a fallen stool as he skid to a stop in front of the place that him and Hiro had always met at. Panting for breath, his eyes roamed the room, searching for the familiar red head. His forehead creased in confusion as he realized that his friend wasn't there.
"…"
"That is so cool! You play the guitar!"
"Shuichi…you've known that I play guitar for a long time…"
"I know! But it's just so cool!"
"…What are you getting at…?"
"Ever heard of Nittle Grasper?"
"Of course!"
"Good."
"…"
I can't believe he's not here… Shuichi thought, his eyes filling up with tears. I know I'm a little late, but I'm always late… After all, it wasn't his fault that he had had another fight with Yuki just a few hours before he was supposed to meet up with Hiro and had spent the rest of the time crying to himself until Yuki had come and taken him into the backroom for a little make up se… Well, okay, maybe it was his fault, but he couldn't help it if he wanted to spend a little more time with the irritable writer! Hiro should have known that Shuichi would be a few minutes past schedule…but that was the norm.
"Now Shuichi, all you have to do is sing the songs that we practiced…"
"But Hiro! I can't sing these!"
"And why not?!"
"Because I didn't write these! I can't sing songs that I didn't write!"
"Now I'll have you know that those are beautiful songs."
"I know! But I won't sing songs that some girl in your fourth period class wrote. She doesn't even know me! How is she supposed to know what kind of songs I sing! I refuse! I won't put up with this!"
"Alright…just sing these songs and I promise next time you can sing some that you wrote yourself."
" YAY! You're the best person in the world Hiro!"
It was supposed to be their day together! Just Shuichi and Hiro like old times! Why did Hiro have to go and screw that up by not showing! And people said he was insensitive! Probably off on some date… wouldn't surprise me if he didn't even remember… Somehow, the thought didn't settle right with the pink haired pop star. Hiro didn't forget things like this… Not when it meant something important… or at least he thought it had…
"How are your songs coming along Shuichi?"
"Well uh… you see…"
"Like I thought… Okay, let's take up where we left off last time…"
"Hey! Its not like I'm not working on them! I just have other things on my mind!"
"I understand. Calm down. Now… "
"Hiro! You never listen to me!! You're just a big bully!"
"Do you honestly believe that?"
"Yes!"
"Okay then."
"Wait! Hiro! Where are you going? Come back here!"
It was days before Hiro would talk to him again, even after Shuichi had pleaded and whined for him to come back. He cried to himself every night after Hiro had ignored him and slept fitfully when he did sleep. He realized how childish he had sounded and all he wanted was for Hiro to be his friend again…
"Shuichi."
"Hi…Hiro? Is that really you?"
"…of course it is! Who else would did you think it was?!"
"HIRO!"
"Hey…"
"Oh Hiro I'm so sorry! I didn't mean what I said! I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too… come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"Happy anniversary."
It was this very place, this bar, that Hiro had brought him to. Shuichi sighed as he remembered the looks and sneers that they had gotten when they hugged. A friend of Hiro's father owned the place, so they got whatever they wanted. Except alcohol… but even then, they had their ways…
"Here, Shuichi…give me your glass."
"Oh Hiro…I think I drank too much…"
"I think so too, give it to me… you don't need anymore…"
"…You have really pretty eyes… you know that don't you?"
"Shuichi…you're drunk."
"Hiro…"
That night was the first time that they had kissed… and Hiro was determined to make it the last… Shuichi didn't understand. He liked Hiro, he liked him a lot… and he thought that Hiro liked him back… But maybe he was just hoping too much… Hoping that his heart wouldn't get broken…
"Oooh, my head hurts…"
"Hi..Hiro?"
"SHUICHI!? What are you doing here?"
"Uhh…I think we…"
"Oh god no… I'm so sorry Shuichi…I shouldn't have…"
"What? Shouldn't have what? Hiro I think I lo-"
"Shouldn't have taken advantage of you…"
"…oh…"
"And now, the newest hit from the rapidly rising band, Bad Luck! Here it is, Anti Nostalgic." A radio played softly in the background and the dj's loud voice could be heard over the murmurs of patrons. Shuichi's bottom lip began to tremble as he recognized the song. It was the one song Hiro had written… written for him.
"Kimi wa mou… yume no tsuzuki…"
"What?"
"Nothing…just singing a song I wrote…"
"You wrote a song?"
"Yeah…It's not very good…"
"Let me see!"
"I'm not as good as you will be."
"…"
"What?"
"Hiro…this song…it's so sad…"
"Aa… I was thinking maybe we could play it when we're famous…"
"What are you going to call it?"
"Anti Nostalgic."
Shuichi's eyes widened as he saw a small velvet box on the counter, in front of the spot Hiro usually sat at. With shaking hands, he reached over and picked it up, cradling it as he would glass. His eyes blurred with tears as he realized that Hiro had been here earlier. Blinking, he gently pulled open the top, his heart sinking as he saw the colored pebble that lay in the soft velvet. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a matching stone.
"I can't believe it! We finally got a record deal!"
"We're gonna be famous Hiro!"
"Yeah!"
"Hey Hiro…promise me that you won't change…"
"What?"
"You won't change…"
"I promise if you promise."
"Done."
He'd lied that day… when he promised that he wouldn't change. He had. Before, his best friend and music were top priority on his list…now; everything fell second to Yuki. And he had a feeling that Hiro had been hurt most by that change. Looking up at the clock, Shuichi winced. The proof was there for everyone to see. Hiro was tired of playing second fiddle…
"Something's bothering you Shuichi…"
"Oooh…he was such a jerk!"
"Who?"
"That one guy!"
"Oh…You mean Yuki Eiri?"
"Yes, that bastard."
A few minutes late had turned into a few hours late, and Hiro was tired of waiting… He was always waiting for Shuichi… A few minutes late had cost Shuichi his best friend… His hand clenched over the box as a tear slid down his cheek.
"You're in a good mood…"
"Hiro! Ask me what happened last night."
"Okay…what happened last night?"
"It's a secret!"
*plip* A dark stain spread on the velvet box as another tear splashed on his shaking hand.
"You're living together now?"
"Oh yes Hiro! Isn't it wonderful!?"
"….of course…"
"Lalala! I'm so happy!"
"Namida ga koboreteru egao ga chotto hoshikunaru kimi no soba ni ireru dake de boku wa... "
"You're late again Shuichi."
"I know! I know! I couldn't help it! I had to make breakfast for Yuki…"
"Ahh… Just don't be late for this Saturday…"
"Why? What's that?"
"…nevermind."
Sighing, Shuichi turned and walked out of the bar, his hand still clutching the box Hiro had left for him. He hadn't forgotten. He would never forget. Sure he was late, but he could never forget Hiro. …Never…
"Hi!"
"Uh…hello."
"My name's Shuichi!"
"Hiro."
"Hi Hiro! I don't know anyone else in this class…do you mind if I sit by you?"
"…go ahead…"
"Thank you!"
"Yeah."
"Hiro's a pretty name…"
"Hn."
"Anou…Hiro…you're cool! Do you wanna be friends?"