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Chapter 18

First Solo Song composition

...

Kise: "Perfect Copy" (Character song Solo Series Vol.3)

Kagami: "Nakama no tame ni" (Character song Solo Series Vol.2)

Takao: "F.O.V" (Character song Solo Series Vol.5)

Kuroko Tetsuya: "Kimi ga hikari de tame ni" (Character song Solo Series Vol.1)

Kasamatsu: One Ok Rock ― "Wherever You Are" (Acoustic) h,t,t,p,s, : / / www . youtube watch ?v=4T5iKRwxcpA remove spaces and commas.

…

The drive back to the Complex was boisterous, and all Kenji could do was laugh. They were still complaining about what Kasamatsu did, jealous that they didn't even think of such a simple way. Kise and Kagami were arguing about nonsense again with Kuroko occasionally putting his bits to set them off even more, Takao was singing.

When Kenji pulled into the parking lot, the boys hopped out with a bounce. Once again, they had song composition with Akamine, and after that, they had foreign language with Ichinose. At first, Kagami was at a loss as to why they needed to learn different languages but Ichinose had replied by saying:

"You're going to be a global star. Obviously, you'll need to communicate with your fans outside of Japan."

It made sense, and Kagami didn't mind learning a new language. The only problem he has was that it was so difficult.

Reaching into the music room, Catal Rhythm greeted Akamine who was sitting by the piano and scrolling through his phone. He smiled his greeting at the boys, and gestured for them to come over.

And as such, their song composition lesson began.

xx

"Alright, that'll be all for today." Akamine said with smile. "What I want you to do is write a song." Catal Rhythm flinched and blanched when he said so. "Calm down, one verse and a chorus would be enough."

"But, but, ―!"

"You can write about anything. Intense basketball matches, the feeling you get after making an epic slam dunk, your own basketball teams… there are so many things you can write about." the instructor said to ease their nerves.

"Oh." they all chorused.

"And lastly, keep it a secret from each other." Akamine grinned. "I want to see the looks of absolute shock on your faces." At this, the man had burst out laughing. Catal Rhythm sighed. Akamine was no different from Kenji sometimes, or even Ren. They thought to themselves, what they did to deserve this, but didn't dwell on it.

When they returned home, before they could even change their clothes, they heard their doorbell ringing. Takao went to answer, only to stumble upon Starburst.

"How may I help you?" he asked. It was only twice they saw Starburst ―when they were performing at Ai-Fest and when they were in the meeting with the President. So he was completely at a loss as to why all five were standing outside their house.

"Uh, can we come in and talk?" Jupiter asked.

"Sure, I guess." Takao opened the door wider to invite the boys. When the rest of Catal Rhythm saw them entering, all eyebrows rose. Neither had any idea of what would prompt them to visit, but they prayed that it wasn't something serious.

"Hello, I'm Jupiter and he's Mars." the silver-haired teen with beautiful green eyes introduced. Mars, who was standing beside him was his twin. Jupiter then turned to the rest of Starburst, "They're Solar, Nova and Atom."

Solar was a tall dark-haired boy with light brown eyes. He seemed to be on the same height as Kasamatsu. Beside Solar was Nova, who was as tall as Takao with curly red hair and grey eyes. Finally, was Atom, who had black hair and blue eyes and was as tall as Jupiter.

"Nice to meet you." Starburst said, after their introductions.

"Likewise." Catal Rhythm said, sounding a bit lazy.

"Well, we're here simply because we want to know which sport will you guys choose." Jupiter started.

"Since the President said we could write joint reports, we thought that all the groups could team up and make it easier." Nova said. His voice was deep. "Although D:FI is split equally between basketball and volleyball, and these two here chose badminton." He said with an eye roll at Jupiter and Mars. "We'd like to know which sport you'll be choosing."

Catal Rhythm paused. They didn't want to say anything that'll probably piss these guys off, after all, they had D:FI already dealing with.

"We play basketball." Kagami replied. "We're all regulars on our teams." The others nodded.

Starburst's jaws dropped in shock. They looked at each other before Atom spluttered,

"You're all regulars?"

"Yup!" Takao perked. "Yu-chan is the captain of his team, Tai-chan, Tetsu-chan and Ryou-chan are their teams' aces."

"No..." they gasped in surprise.

"But, who's "Tetsu-chan"? I only see four of you here." Atom asked.

"Me." Kuroko said in his usual tone.

Starburst screamed in fright. All along, they never noticed him, and given how long they've been sitting there… the boys were now wondering if he was a ghost or they were getting blind.

"Ah, sorry, we didn't..." Nova began, Mars was busy fanning Jupiter back to reality.

"It's fine." he said with a smile. In fact, Kuroko wanted to erupt at their facial expressions.

But after they've calmed down, they realized that everything made sense. Since Nakajima complained that Catal Rhythm had things easy, the President suggested they joined a sport club. At first, they had wondered what did joining a sport club have to do with them, but hearing this revelation from Catal Rhythm completed the puzzle.

"So, while you were trainees, you were focusing on basketball as well?" Atom asked. "Wasn't that a bit…?"

"Yes we were." Kise replied. "But the basketball wasn't the problem. We never knew how to sing, dance, nor anything about music..."

"In a nutshell, we couldn't do a thing and had to learn from scratch." Kasamatsu sighed.

Once again, Starburst's jaws dropped. "Which meant, what we learnt in two years, you had to do it in a couple months?!"

"What are you guys?! Monsters?! Huh, are you monsters?!" Mars screeched, grabbing Kagami in his shirt. "Tell me! Which is it?!"

Frightened, Kagami froze up on the spot, as he'd never expected this reaction. If he wasn't thinking straight, he would have punched the boy squarely in his face. Mars looked harmless, and seemed like the quiet-type like Kuroko. Luckily, Jupiter calmed him down but the younger twin was still looking at Catal Rhythm with incredulity. Whilst they had to spend roughly two years learning singing, dancing, all the things that came with being idol, these guys, who were completely ignorant of everything, learnt in some months? Mars refused to believe it.

When he had completely calmed down, he placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder, "Tell me, how did you do it? Do you have hidden superpowers?"

Catal Rhythm bust with laughter.

"Now that's a first." Kasamatsu chuckled. "We have no superpower that we know of!" He covered his mouth to not burst out laughing. Meanwhile, the others were not holding back. Kise and Takao put Starburst to shame, Kagami was being his usual self, Kuroko turned his back to them and was stifling down his laughter.

"Alright, alright," Nova said to get back on track. "You guys don't have superpowers so can you stop laughing at us now?" In reality, he wanted to laugh at Mars' comment, but he couldn't do that to a fellow bandmate.

"So...what we were talking about again?" Kise asked with a chuckle.

Starburst looked at them with a deadpan expression. "Sports."

"Oh, what do you want to know again?" Takao asked. But before he could have gotten an answer, their doorbell rang, again. Kagami got up to answer it and saw that it was Amari and Hirose. When the two saw Starburst sitting in the living room with Catal Rhythm laughing at them, they didn't know what to think. It was for a fact that out of all the début groups, Catal Rhythm were close to only them. So it was a shocker to see the entire of Starburst here. Amari and Hirose followed behind Kagami to the living room, when they caught everyone's attention.

"Well, look at what the cat dragged in." Atom said with a teasing slur. Catal Rhythm laughed once again. Kagami's name meant "Tiger" and tigers are cats. So, it seemed as though Atom was referring to Kagami.

"Uhmm," Hirose began. "I really don't like it when I see people laughing in my direction and I don't see what the joke is."

"Mars thinks that we have superpowers." Kagami deadpanned. "And that we're monsters."

"Oh." the two boys said in realization.

"So what are you two doing here?" Jupiter asked with a raised eyebrow.

Amari looked to Catal Rhythm. "We'd like to ask them to teach us how to play basketball."

Hirose added, "Since the new school year begins in April, we thought that we'd start learning all that we can from now."

Kise perked up, "Sure! I don't mind!" he then grinned in a rather sinister way. "And hopefully, we can face each other in a tournament."

Amari and Hirose flinched. "Oh hell no!"

"Amari-kun, Hirose-kun, calm down." Kuroko joined in. "It'll be fun."

"Fun?! Fun?!" Amari shrieked. "Are you insane?!"

"No, we're perfectly of sound minds." Takao grinned. "Don't be like that guys, playing intense basketball matches with your teammates is extremely fun."

"Unless it's against a scissor wielding psycho who'll gouge his eyes out if he loses." Kagami mumbled. Kise and Kuroko laughed at this, while Kasamatsu and Takao didn't. Since they didn't know what happened between Kagami and Akashi, they were just as lost as Starburst were. But leaving off that topic, they ended up talking about other things until the visitors left.

"Well, I guess that means after dinner we'll have to get working on our songs, right?" Takao said with a perk, "I wonder what Ryou-chan will write about!"

"Probably Kuroko." Kagami mumbled.

"No!" Kise denied. But when he saw everyone's eyes on him, he caved and said, "Maybe."

"Remember what Akamine-sensei said, we should keep it a secret." Kasamatsu sang. But then he grinned at them. "I already know what I'm writing about."

"No fair!" They screeched with pouts.

xxxx

The rest of the week ran off before the boys knew it, their school lives returned to some form of normalcy. Their basketball practices remained intense, and occasionally in Kaijou, Moriyama and Kobori would drop by. They had retired after the Winter Cup but that didn't mean they didn't check up on their kouhai every now and then.

By the time Friday came around, right after basketball practice, Kenji came and picked them up and then brought them to hairdresser. It was a fun experience, but the boys were relieved to have back their normal hair colour at the end of it all. Kise flipped his golden hair constantly and took many selfies the others.

Kenji shook his head and laughed.

They reached back home and the boys freshened up to head back to their song composition class with Akamine. Kasamatsu had brought his guitar along, much to the envy of everyone else.

As they got settled, Akamine began. "So, who's first?"

"Guys, you know what to do." Kasamatsu said. And so they did. They huddled around each other and did a round of janken and after they were done, the order was as follows: Kise, Kagami, Takao, Kuroko then lastly, Kasamatsu.

With a bounce, Kise pulled out his music sheet and cleared his throat. "I call this song "Perfect Copy" and please don't laugh. I couldn't think of anything else to write about." He whined.

"Alright, alright." Akamine said with a soothing voice. "I won't laugh but you should know what your friends are like."

"Fine." Kise sighed. Takao already had a grin on his face, Kagami looked a bit teasing, Kuroko was as blank as usual, Kasamatsu actually gave him a thumbs up. With a pout, he began,

It seems that you are talkative by those gestures, with one look I've taken it all in

Trying to joke with me at this level? I've almost exposed you just by looking at you

At the front and back of an image, I don't care where it comes from.

Make it stimulating

At the last line, Takao spluttered, Kasamatsu rose and eyebrow while saying "Hmm?!", Kuroko's brows furrowed and Kagami looked confused. Kise used all his willpower to ignore them and continue singing,

Perfect Copy? No no, it's already overcome that

In one moment, it'll be mine

It's your style no no, it's already all mine

The original is overshadowed by the one that's sent back

"I'm done. I can't take this anymore." he whined with tears rolling out of his eyes. "I need comfort Kurokocchi!" he said as he lunged for the light-blue haired teen. However, Kuroko quickly pushed back his chair and the blond crashed face-first into the floor.

"So what did you guys think?" Akamine asked.

"It suits him." Kasamatsu said. The others nodded in agreement.

"Although, the "make it stimulating" part is misleading." Takao mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Ha! I'll show you how it's done Kise!" Kagami smirked as he stood up. Holding up his sheet of paper, he said, "My song is called "For My Friends" and I was thinking of my teammates and all our battles that we've been through. And I...umm..."

"You're getting sentimental." Kise deadpanned.

"Shut up!" he snapped. Kise stuck out his tongue in a teasing way.

What exactly is victory, I've had change of heart

After it was pointed out to me, I couldn't help but grin

At the very moment a game ends

The genuine smiles we're able to show each other are the answer

The others were dumbstruck. There was something about the redhead's voice that really pulled them into the song. They knew he could sing, but hearing this side of him was refreshing. He had a beautiful voice, and add to that, they could feel his emotions in the song.

To become number one as a part of this team

How far have I come since the day I made this promise?

"I feel you Tai-chan!" Takao said with sniffs.

Kagami ignored him and continued,

What turned countless frustrations into springboards

Was how I drove my weak self forward

Together with friends who trusted me as their ace

Carrying the wish of jumping even higher

Kagami stopped at grinned at his bandmates. He especially looked at Kise in a triumphant gaze, sending the blond almost into a rage.

"Nice, Kagami-kun." Akamine said with a clap. "So, what did the rest of you think? Kise-kun?"

Kise pouted. "It was good, I guess." he mumbled, not wanting to admit the truth. "And his voice was nice."

"It was very touching. And like Ryou-chan said, his voice was nice."

Kuroko looked at Kagami with expressive eyes. He was extremely moved by that song, since the redhead was singing about the entire Seirin team. It was extremely touching.

"So, who's next?" Akamine asked.

"Me!" Takao jumped up. "My song is called "F.O.V" meaning "Field of View". Of course, it's about my hawk eyes."

Come on now~ / I'm a little disappointed / you've gotta be on your guard

I'm pretty capable myself / You'll see soon enough

Lame feints like yours are so simple to read

Wo-o-o-oh / I told you it was pointless / Ah ―

Listening to Takao, Kasamatsu could already imagine a beat for this and was slowly tapping his feet. Kise was tapping his fingers on the table top as though beating a drum. Surprisingly, it worked well with Takao's song and the two shared an amused grin.

I'm more than just the partner of a prodigy

Besides, filling that role is tougher than you think

There's no escape, not even for that "shadow" / Everything is within my field of view

But if you still want to try your luck, then make sure you bring your A game

Come at me and put your pride on the line / Half-hearted plays are never gonna cut it

Whether it's a tricky play or a head-on attack / I can see perfectly in my field of view

In the beginning of the last line, Takao used his falsetto twice for a perfect effect. Kasamatsu gave him a smug look, Kise gave him a thumb's up, Kuroko looked indifferent as always, Kagami nodded his head in approval.

Before anyone could say anything more, Kuroko stood up with his usual deadpan expression. "I wrote this song for Kagami-kun." he started, causing eyebrows to rise and Kise to burn with jealousy.

"But Kurokocchi, what about me?" the blond pouted.

Kuroko looked at him but didn't answer. "It's called "Because you were the Light"."

What is the meaning of existence? When you consider it carefully, it becomes a reason

If you and I meet, that reason will ultimately turn into hope

Count what you are lacking, knowing what is weak-minded is also freedom

But when you look bored, you're more honest than I thought you would be

We can, even when we are alone, do our best if we want

Possibilities than are born unknowingly

The stronger that your light becomes, the more freedom I can have

We'll confirm the strength that is being drawn out at this place

The more freedom that you are granted, the more my shadow stands out

We will not lose to a miracle, so call out the next hint

While Kuroko sang, no one could speak. His voice was so soft and mellow. For Kagami, to hear that this song was written for him, he was moved. The lyrics described him and his relationship with Kuroko and if he wasn't strong maybe he would have been crying tears of joy.

So, when Kuroko sat all eyes looked to Kasamatsu. He had brought along his guitar for backing, but the boy was too nervous to start, as a matter of fact, he didn't want to.

"Can I go at another time?" He asked nervously.

"Why, Kasamatsu-kun?" Akamine asked.

"Because, I'm going to get teased." he admitted. "Everyone else sang about something basketball related, my song isn't."

"Aww come on, Senpai~" Kise began. "It's not as awful as my song, so you shouldn't fret."

"That's not the point." Kasamatsu sighed. But seeing that he couldn't escape from this and everyone looked at him with expectant gazes, he pulled out his guitar from its case and started to play. For about twenty seconds he played his guitar without singing, as if setting the mood.

I'm telling you

I softly whisper

Tonight, tonight

You are my angel

Hearing these lines, Kise twisted in his seat, upon realizing the theme of this song. Takao looked at Kasamatsu with a playful expression as though he was insinuating something. Kagami was just shocked at the note used in this song, Kuroko wore a knowing smile.

I love you

Two become one

Tonight, tonight

I just say…

Kise doubled his lips so as to not burst out, Takao leaned forward, this time he wore a mischievous smile. Kuroko's smile got wider, and Kagami sat cross legged and folded his arms with a smirk. Kasamatsu didn't look at them, as he had an inkling of their expressions.

Wherever you are, I always make you smile

Wherever you are, I'm always by your side

Whatever you say, the feelings you're thinking

I promise you "forever" right now

Kasamatsu played his guitar for a little bit more, before using decrescendo for the sound to fade away into a stop.

"The song is called "Wherever You are" in case you're wondering." he mumbled. Akamine looked at the boy and seemed to have become a bobble head. However, the other four boys were hot on his case.

"Senpai! That song was beautiful! Did you write it with anyone in mind?" Kise chirped. "It was a such a love song!"

"No, I ―" he was cut off by Kuroko.

"Maybe he wrote it for your sister, Kise-kun." he smirked. "After all, he did agree to be her date."

Kise gasped, "No..." but he wore a joyous grin on his face. "You wrote this song for my sister?! How nice!"

"No I didn't!" The captain denied strongly. It wasn't a lie, the song had just come to him one day when he was at school. He looked through the window in their clubroom and saw various couples out and about. Reiko had never crossed his mind. But sadly, the fools won't believe him.

"Wow, good job, Senpai." Kagami nodded, he was the only one oblivious. "You'll definitely win her heart with this one."

"Wait, how beautiful is this girl?" Akamine asked. He wanted to throw them in disarray further. He, like the rest of their instructors loved to see their interactions. "Hmm Kasamatsu-kun?"

Kasamatsu's face was red with embarrassment. "I didn't write it for Reiko-san, but she is beautiful. And mesmerizing and..." he trailed off when he realized that the room was completely silent and he was the only one talking.

"O.M.G!" Takao shrieked, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes. "I hear the wedding bells already! I call dibs on being Best Man!"

Kise inhaled as though he was sucking in all of the air in the room, "I just love the fresh smell of getting a new big brother in the evening." he cooed. "So relaxing."

Kasamatsu was twitching with rage. For a some seconds, he tried earnestly to calm himself down. But all that was broken the moment he heard Kise shriek. Whipping his head into the blond's direction, he saw that he was on the phone.

"Papacchi! Have Onee-chan design Reiko-nee's wedding dress! I found the perfect candidate ―"

Kise was unable to continue as Kasamatsu drop kicked him into the other side of the room. "What are you talking about!?" He roared and continued to kick some senses into the blond boy.

"Senpai!" Kise wailed out.

In the midst of all this, Kuroko took Kise's phone and said in a robotic manner, "Please check ensure that you have enough credit to continue making this call." He hung up the phone after that. Thank God it was Kise's father who called, Kuroko didn't know what he would have told the man if it was Kise who called him. Takao and Kagami were erupting with laughter at the shadow's antics and were pretty sad that they hadn't been videoing from the very beginning.

As for Akamine, while he loved all their songs since it embodied who they were and what they liked, he was enjoying Kasamatsu and Kise's interaction even more. But, who would have thought that Kasamatsu would have written a love song? Akamine surely didn't.

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