Chapter 16: Competition

"Are you ready for this?" Sasakura asked Yusuke, an excited smile on his face. "It's our first game of the season, and there's a pretty good turnout. Look, even Hinata came. I hope she comes to more of our games"

Yusuke twitched. There Sasakura went again, specifically calling Ema out. "What do you care whether she's here or not?" Yusuke asked. "Like you said, there's a big turnout today."

Sasakura blushed and looked away. "Well, I-I think I like her, you know? She's really cute and super nice. I've never heard her say anything mean to or about anyone. And she's smart. What's not to like?"

Yusuke froze. He'd been pretty suspicious that Sasakura liked Ema, but that wasn't the same thing as hearing it from Sasakura himself. Yusuke was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn't hear the whistle for the game to start. His only warning was Sasakura hitting his shoulder and calling, "Heads up!"

~.~

Ema gasped as the soccer ball almost hit Yusuke's face, but he ducked in time and bounced it off his head instead.

"That was close," Ema said, putting a hand to her racing heart.

"Close?" Imai scoffed. "More like stupid. It looked like Asahina wasn't even paying attention! It was a nice save, though."

The stands were full of too much noise to talk after that. Even Ema and Imai were part of the noise, cheering on Yusuke and Sasakura. The Hinode High team was good, but those two stood out. Ema could see why Sasakura had been so set on Yusuke joining the soccer team, and the two of them made a good pair out there. Ema wondered if they were good friends after all.

"Yes!" Imai cried as Sasakura made the winning goal. "Yay!" She jumped out of her seat, waving her hands above her head.

Ema laughed at Imai's excitement as she clapped. It had been a good game. She was glad she'd come to watch. It was too bad Subaru wasn't there to see how well Yusuke had played.

"You should come get ice cream with us," Imai suddenly said.

"What?" Ema asked, surprised at the sudden suggestion.

"Ice cream," Imai repeated. "You should come get some with us. Kazuma and a couple of us were planning on getting some. You and Yusuke should come to."

"Okay," Ema agreed. It was a simple thing, but being invited to go out for ice cream with friends made her happy. "Thanks, Imai!"

"Enough with this Imai stuff," Imai said, flapping her hand at Ema. "Just call me Mahoko."

"Okay," Ema agreed with a smile. "Call me Ema, then."

~.~

"It was such a great game," Sasakura said, pumping one fist in the air as they sat at a table eating ice cream. Part of the soccer team and a few other students had gone out for ice cream, though it was just Sasakura, Mahoko, Yusuke, and Ema at their table.

"What did you think, Ema?" Sasakura asked her. "Would you go to another game?"

"Definitely," Ema promised. "Today was amazing! It's no wonder, though. You guys have been practicing really hard. Yusuke, I was thinking I wished Subaru could have been there to watch you play."

"Yeah?" Yusuke asked, perking up a little. "You think I was good enough to impress him?"

"Yes. And you two made such a good team! The whole team played well, but you two were really impressive. I'm already excited to see the next game."

"Then we'll have to make sure the next game is just as exciting so you keep coming," Sasakura said. "It's nice to have you at practices too, though I'm sure that's not as exciting." He hesitated. "Is there a reason you wait for Yusuke every day?"

"We walk home together most days," Ema said.

"We live close by each other!" Yusuke hurried to add. "We live close, so that's why we walk to and from school together. That's all."

Ema blinked at Yusuke in surprise and he gave her a significant look before changing the topic to a move Sasakura had done during the game.

~.~

"Sorry about interrupting you while we were having ice cream," Yusuke said once they were back at Sunrise Mansion.

"That's okay," Ema said slowly, thinking through how she wanted to phrase her question. "Is there a reason you don't want Sasakura and Mahoko to know we live together?"

Yusuke shoved his hands in his pockets and scuffed his toes on the floor. "I just don't want any dumb rumors to start that's all."

"Like what?" Ema asked. "Like that we're dating?" Despite her having no intention of dating, the thought that Yusuke would be upset at rumors of them dating hurt a little. It seemed like they were such good friends now, but would he be upset about rumors like that if they were as good of friends as she thought?

"It's not that," Yusuke said, shaking his head. His cheeks flushed a light pink. "I don't think us dating would be a dumb rumor, that would be-I mean I just-" His flush deepened. "I mean-It's-It's difficult to explain…"

"Could you stop your dumb rambling?" An annoyed voice asked.

Ema jumped. It was late at night and she hadn't realized anyone was still up. She and Yusuke looked over the railing to see Fuuto standing in front of the TV, looking pissed off. The lights in the living room were off, but the TV was on, casting a glow onto Fuuto's face. "You're annoying under the best of times, but when you ramble like that I just want to shove a sock in your mouth."

"You shut up!" Yusuke said, gripping the railing and leaning over. "This conversation has nothing to do with you. We weren't bothering you. You're just not happy unless you're the center of attention, so you have to find some way to insert yourself into every conversation."

"Oh, really?" Fuuto asked, his lips curling in a sarcastic smile. "I think the fact that you wish a rumor about you and Ema dating was true might be the business of everyone in the house. It would affect us all, you know."

"Shut up!" Yusuke yelled, pounding the railing.

"Yusuke, calm down," Ema said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Nothing got him riled up like Fuuto. She wished Fuuto would be a little nicer to his siblings. At least she wasn't the only one he was mean to, though.

"It's not like that," Yusuke said, whipping around to face her. "Guys just say stupid things all the time. Like, locker room talk and stuff. If they knew we lived together, they would say things. Stupid things. I don't want anyone to talk about you like that."

Ema's eyes widened. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind. She'd been so excited and happy to move in with the Asahinas that she hadn't thought anything of it. Juli's words ran through her mind suddenly. He was being ridiculous, of course, but how many people would see the situation the same way he did? One girl living with a bunch of unmarried guys.

And from the beginning, Yusuke hadn't wanted anyone to know they lived together because of what people might say about her. She realized that now. On the first day of school, Yusuke had been quick to say that he walked with Ema to school because they were childhood friends, and not because they lived together. Maybe the reason behind him being helpful to her from the beginning wasn't because his brothers made him after all.

"Thank you, Yusuke," Ema said, throwing her arms around him in a hug. "I'll make sure no one finds out either. Thank you for caring."

Yusuke was blushing and stuttering when she pulled away. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he said it was nothing and stared at the floor. Ema had to work to keep in her giggle. Yusuke looked adorable. He may not have been terrified of girls like Subaru was, but he probably didn't have much more experience with them than Subaru did.

"Well, thanks for coming to the game today," Yusuke said. "I'm glad you had a good time." He paused, then shrugged. "It'd be nice if you could come to the next one too." He spoke quietly, either because he was embarrassed or because he didn't want Fuuto to hear.

Ema smiled. "I'd be happy to. I'm going to get a drink before bed. Good night, Yusuke."

"Night, Ema," he said, giving her a smile and a wave before heading for his room.

Ema debated not getting a drink even as she went down the stairs to the kitchen, despite how thirsty the ice cream had made her. It had been such a good night. She got to spend time with friends and had learned Yusuke had been trying to look out for her all along. She was afraid that being near Fuuto might ruin it. He obviously liked her cooking, but so far he hadn't been any nicer to her because of it, other than offering a few less insults than before.

Deciding to pretend like Fuuto wasn't there, Ema got a glass of water. Singing coming from the TV caught her attention and despite herself, she peered over the kitchen island at what Fuuto was watching.

A handsome teen probably around Fuuto's age was singing on stage. The screen panned out to show a newscaster talking about how this new idol had exploded onto the scene, winning near instant national popularity.

"Tch," Fuuto ground out, his arms folding as he sneered at the television.

Ema suddenly realized why Fuuto was in a bad mood that night. "You're jealous," she said without thinking.

Fuuto's head whipped around, his eyes livid. Ema immediately regretted her words and had to fight the urge to take a step away from that look.

"That idiot is a one hit wonder," Fuuto hissed. "He's a talentless hack who people are excited about because he's new. Most people are stupid and they're confusing new with fresh. They'll see the truth soon enough."

He hit the power button on the remote, making the TV black, before throwing the remote onto the couch and stalking away.

Ema breathed a sigh of relief. She'd expected much worse than that. Fuuto had to be pretty upset and distracted by this new idol if he couldn't even find it in him to ream Ema out for her spying on what he was watching TV, as he would undoubtedly call it, and daring to claim he could possibly be jealous of anyone.

Despite her feelings toward Fuuto, she did feel a little bad for him. He worked harder than plenty of adults she'd met. He was incredibly dedicated to his work and worked long hours on top of keeping up his grades at school. She wondered if he really did have a reason to be nervous over this newcomer idol, or if he was just jealous and paranoid.

~.~

Since moving back to Japan, Ema seemed to have discovered a new side of herself. She was, apparently, a busybody. At least, when it came to the Asahina brothers she was. She was pretty sure it was the result of years of wanting to care for people and wanting people to care for her all bottled up inside her, and now she finally had targets to unleash those feelings on. The Asahina brothers were practically family and she wanted to help care for them in a way she hadn't been able to the years she was away.

At least, she was pretty sure that was the real reason and not because she actually was a busybody. She didn't get involved in anyone's business at school, after all. It was only with her childhood friends that she seemed unable to help herself.

Konuro Isato was the name of Fuuto's rival, and he did look like real competition. Not only that, but purposeful competition. Isato had concerts schedule during the same time as Fuuto's within the same city more than once. It was like he was specifically trying to pull Fuuto's fans away from him.

Watching videos of Isato's music and reading what fans and critics were saying, Ema didn't think he was a one hit wonder as Fuuto had claimed. Isato's voice, in her opinion, was a little better than Fuuto's. He was not, however, as good a performer and not near as good a dancer. Ema wasn't sure she'd ever seen an idol dance as well as Fuuto.

However, the striking difference between the two wasn't how their voices or their dancing. It was their attitude and how they treated those around them. Fuuto was terrible at home, but to his fans he was always kind and generous. Ema suspected it was all fake, but that didn't change the fact that that was always the face he showed them. And in interviews he was humble and respectful.

Isato was none of those things. He treated his fans as though they were his subjects and he their king, as though he was born deserving their love. And during interviews he was arrogant and rude, treating the interviewers like they should feel privileged just to be in the same room as him. Ema wasn't sure where Isato got such attitude from since he'd only been an idol for a few months. It appeared the fame had gone to his head quickly.

Part of Ema wished she'd hadn't been drawn into this and looked it all up, because now she felt obligated to tell Fuuto what she'd realized. It might not make a difference to him or change anything, or maybe it was information he already knew, but she felt like it was important to tell him. So, here she was. Outside his door. Again.

She knocked and Fuuto had a scowl on his face when he opened his door. He'd been in a terrible mood ever since that night she'd caught him watching Isato on TV.

"What do you want?" He asked, leaning against the doorjamb and giving a disgusted sigh. "I know I'm pretty to look at, but we've got to stop meeting like this."

Even if she was there to try to help Fuuto, she wouldn't let him push her around. Straightening to her full height she said, "You're too short to be cute. I like guys who are taller than me, not little boys."

Fuuto's annoyed scowl deepened into something darker and Ema hurried on before he could say anything. "I wanted to tell you something I noticed about Isato."

Fuuto stepped into his room, his hand on his door like he was going to close it. "I already told you that he's a one hit wonder. I'm not worried about him and I'm not having this conversation."

Ema pushed her arm against the door, stopping Fuuto from closing it. She was stronger than she looked thanks to rock climbing and hiking, both of which she and Natsume were now doing.

"In case you've forgotten, my dad is a celebrity too. I've learned a lot about what it takes to keep being popular and make it in a business where someone else is always trying to be better than you and push you out of the spotlight. Isato is a jerk. To the public, you're a kind-hearted, generous idol. You should capitalize on that without being obvious. Make the fans see the differences between you. In theory, girls think they like bad boys, but in reality, good boys are the ones who take care of them when they're sad or struggling. Make them see that, Fuuto."

Fuuto stopped trying to shut the door. His scowl was gone as he stared and Ema and seemed to seriously consider her words.

"Anyway," Ema said, removing her arm from the door. "I wanted to point that out to you. Whether you do anything or not about it is up to you."

~.~

The next morning, Fuuto called his manager and talked to him about doing a free concert for his fans to show his appreciation. His manager got together a team to track down girls who had sent Fuuto a fan letter, email, or gift and give them a free concert ticket. The whole concert would be made up of fans like that.

When his manager asked why Fuuto wanted to do that and Fuuto explained his reasoning, his manager was ecstatic. He thought it was a great idea and decided there should also be a raffle. One of the lucky girls there that night would get the jacket Fuuto wore on stage as a gift after the concert. He then prattled on about how they should really promote this concert with interviews where Fuuto could talk about how much his fans meant to him and how much he appreciated them. Fuuto tuned him out after a while, making his own plans for what else he could do.

~.~

Fuuto Asakara, crowned the most popular teen idol in Japan!

Fuuto stared at the headline of the magazine his manger had just sent him, shocked. A few weeks ago, he'd been worried about the impact on his career because of Konuro Isato, afraid that he'd lose his fans and became a has been before he was twenty, losing his opportunity to transition into becoming an actor. His last two concerts held at the same time as Isato's had held less the number of fans than Isato's, and he knew plenty of those girls who'd chosen Isato's concert over his had been his fans.

Somehow, the advice of a mousy brown interloper in his house had switched that around. After his free concert, he received an outpouring of love from fans telling him they would never switch to Isato, never choose anyone over him.

At his concert last week where the bastard Isato again scheduled his concert on the same night in the same city, Fuuto's concert had over fifteen percent more tickets sold than Isato's. And here was the result of this year's poll of Japanese teens for who was the best teen idol in Japan.

Fuuto had won. Because of Ema. Well, because he was incredibly talented and infinitely better than Isato, but also because of Ema. She was turning out to be far more interesting than he ever would have guessed. And, somehow, he believed her when she said she wasn't trying to get anything from the Asahina family and that she didn't want to get close to him. She'd also said he was too short to be cute. It was galling every last bit of it.

Fuuto didn't know what he planned to do about this, but he did know one thing. Ema was far too interesting a girl for Fuuto to leave for an idiot like his brother Yusuke to hang around with.