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I do not own B-project kodou*ambitious, I wish I did, but sadly… it's, just not the case.
To Be Continued.
Chapter 6 Choices
Yūta Ashū POV
A little earlier …
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With a heavy familiar feeling in my chest, my long fingers slowly dip inside my jeans pocket, attempting to pull some spare change from its narrowing depths. Somewhat tired I rest my hand on the backlit advertisement of a dancing cartoon cow, wearing a purple leotard. One by one, I slide the coins into the slot, before hearing a small gratifying thud echo from the bottom of the vending machine. My free hand reaches down, quickly sliding pass the stainless-steel swinging door, pulling a small pink box from the bottom of it.
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With a tired sigh, my back lightly falls against the row of various colored vending machines. Their constant hum is my sole companion, besides my own relentless thoughts. Seeing as I'm alone I allow my tense shoulders to finally fall…along with my carefully portrayed mask. Like some kind of robot, I unconsciously bring the chilled box to my mouth, quickly feeling the anticipated burst of sweet, creamy liquid. Except after a few thoughtless sips, I pull the bendy straw from my lips, dropping my concerned eyes to carefully examine my favorite drink.
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"Hey, what's with the face? Normally that stuff has you grinning from ear to ear." A familiar voice breaks through my thoughts.
"Oh, hey Ken-Ken," My dazed pink eyes look down at the box of strawberry milk. I turn my head toward my bandmate, forcing a wide smile on my face. "Um nothing, I guess I was just thinking, that's all. "
"It's okay, there's a lot of that going around, lately." Ken-ken coolly smiles, while reaching down to pull a bottled water from the neighboring vending machine. "I'm worried about her too." With his lips pressed firmly together, the bluenette lets out a heavy sigh before lifting his water to his mouth.
A less than satisfying slurping sound comes from my empty pink box, before pulling the straw from my lips. "How's Goushi, did he get the clothes to the others?" I crumple the box with my hands before tossing it into the bin.
Ken-ken lets out a humorless chuckle, "Oh you mean Grumpy? Yeah, Mika and the others we're sorting through them when I left .So I decided to come back and see if you were done speaking with Kazu." He lifts the bottle of water, stopping just before is chest. "Oh, and grab a water, these late nights are horrible for my skin. So for now it's all about hydration, hydration. Hydration. " Kento's sky blue eyes glance down at the bottle, as a knowing smirk grows on his lips. "You know Yuta, it wouldn't kill you, every once in a while …..Less calories."
My fingers slide a bendy straw in a brand new box, "Uh come on Ken-ken with as many calories as we burn on stage, you're going to hassle me over this." I lift my fresh box, before taking a quick sip. "Funny, the late nights don't seem to bother you as much, when you're out with your lady friends."
"Oh well, my lady friends help out in other ways." Kento's devilish lips curl, before gulping the rest of his bottled water.
My pink eyes drop down to the chilled strawberry milk in my fingers, causing my forced smile to melt away. "Yeah well, my strawberry milk and I have been together for a longtime." I quietly speak under my breath, as my fingers slightly squeeze around the chilled box. "Just for some reason, this time, it's not working."
"Uh Yuta, did you say something." Kento's face grew concerned.
"Oh, never mind," I anxiously waved my hands in front of my chest, peeling my back from the front of the vending machine, "it's nothing." I purposely mold an upbeat expression onto my face.
"Yeah, sure," Kento points the bottom of his empty water bottle at my chest, "You're making that face again." He playfully pulls the empty bottle from my chest, and tosses it in the recycle bin. He swiftly turns back around, his lips fall as he lets out a sigh, "You know Yuta, we are bandmates, and we should be able to talk to each other….not just hide behind a mask."
My wide eyes snapped up at the bluenette's honest words, causing my smile to fall, allowing my real feelings to slip through, "Uh, Ken…Ken it's just –"Stunned by the bluenette seeing right though me causes my words to stumble from my gaping mouth.
Suddenly, a loud static comes from an overhead speaker, and cuts me off, "Attention this is a code platinum….I repeat a code Platinum, for this floor. All personal should immediately go to their stations…this is not a drill." A stern woman's voice echoes out.
"Code Platinum? What the heck is a code Platinum?" Ken-ken gives me a confused look while shifting his bangs.
All of sudden a burst of activity swirls around the same nurse's station that Kazu assigned me to watch. Several hospital personal all dressed in various colored scrubs, franticly begin to straighten the station. One nurse with an arm full of files blindly whips her body around, crashing into another nurse with a stack of fliers in her arms, causing a storm of paperwork to haphazardly fly into the air.
"You don't think?" I blindly speak to the bluenette, with my stunned eyes glued on the almost chaotic nurse's station.
"It can't be, their on assignment, half way across the country." Ken-ken blindly responses with a chuckle.
"Yeah, well, you remember what happened last time, with Hikaru." I also let out a chuckle, nudging my head towards the nurses' station. "Is there any other reason for that?"
"Well, it is a hospital." The bluenette leans on my shoulder while watching some of the hospital staff scurrying around, hastily gathering the fumbled paperwork.
"Wait, that would mean-"I trailed off with the sudden thought as my concerned eyes slide over to the patents rooms, quickly noticing an army of hospital staff marching in one particular room . "Tsubasa-chan!" I quickly run over to the busy workstation.
"Wait, what? Tsubasa!" The surprised bluenette chases after me.
My hand reaches out for the edge of the counter, keeping my chest from roughly cashing against it. "Excuse me! Excuse me, has there been any recent developments about Sumisora-chan a Tsubasa Sumisora?"
"Hey wait, weren't you blonde just a little bit ago?" A young brunet, just barely out of nursing school asks, before turning her attention to bandmate , who just arrived behind me, "and you" the young nurse began to blush, "well, I haven't met you, before." The easily enamored women begins to gaze at my bandmate with starry, love-struck eyes.
"Blonde? Oh wait, you must be asking about my friend, Kazu? He went to go change out of his wet clothes, but he asked me to let him know, if there was any change in our friend's condition. " I attempt to gain the young nurse' attention.
"Hmm?" The nurse thoughtlessly hummed back while staring back at the flirty bluenette.
Kento leans on his propped up hands, being sure to lean closer to the blushing nurse, while gazing into the nurse's fluttering eyes. "No, I would remember if I met a lovey, like yourself." Kento smoothly speaks with a deep voice.
With no response from the nurse, I let out a chuckle and shake my head. Being close bandmates to the bluenette, I couldn't say I wasn't use to this. Although, this certainly wasn't the time, as I glanced between the two of them. "Uh, Ken-ken, this really isn't the time, man." I waved my hand between the two starry eyed adults.
"Oh hey, Yuta did you want something?" The bluenette blindly speaks in a distracted tone, still captivated by the flirty nurse.
"I know what I want." The nurse giggles. "You and me-"
I quickly cut off the nurse's flirty words. "Oh, that's fine Ken-ken, you stay here and have your little date," I teasingly lean two arms on his shoulder, "and I'll try and find out about our unconscious A&R , " My lips almost brush against the bluenette's ear while discretely whispering , before I step away and abruptly slap him on the back. "I'm sure Tsubasa-chan, will be fine." My hands slide in my hoodie's front pocket as I begin to causally stroll around the nurses' station.
"Tsubasa? That's right!" Kento throws out a hand grabbing my hood, and jerking me back, "Now, just a minute Pinky." Ken-ken concerned face whips back to the nurse, "Could you please, look up our friend's condition? Her name is Sumisora-san, a Tsubasa, Sumisora-san."
"Oh, her." The irritated nurse's eyes drop to the counter, while blowing out a frustrated huff of air, "I'll ask." She turns her back on us, "Hey Yuri, it looks like "Sleeping Beauty," has two more." The nurse's sweet voice turns sharp.
"Sleeping what?" My pink eyes blinked back in confusion.
…but before I could get an answer from the young brunet nurse, a senior nurse who resembled somewhat like an English bulldog, steps in front of the younger woman, giving her a sharp look. "Suri, this isn't the time for your daydreaming, get your keister back to work!"
"Yes ma'am." The young nurse bowed her head, before giving Kento one last longing look, as she scurries off, down the hall.
The older nurse, with dyed bright red hair, turns to sternly face us, with her hands adamantly on her hips, "And You guys can't be here." She practically barks out her words, "I'm sorry, but we don't have time at the moment. If you go back to the waiting area, I'll have a doctor brief you, soon." The curly headed nurse picks up a file, and roughly taps it against the counter, wordlessly informing us of the apparent end of our conversation.
All of sudden a wave of hospital workers, holding faded curtains and cleaning supplies flood the busy hallway, followed by a nurse shooing them out of a certain room and vanishing down the hall.
"Ding." My pink head whips back, to see the elevator doors slide open, and a familiar duo stepping out, before quickly walking in our direction.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up, after all." Kento gives the shocked nurse a knowing smile.
Dressed in casual attire Ryūji silently walks behind Tomo, with a cherry lollypop stuck in his cheek, "Oh, hey guys." Tomo stops before us, slides his hands from his pockets and gracefully motions to three men in suits, carrying massive bouquets of colorful flowers. "Please go ahead fellas, we'll catch up."
"Sir, shall I take that for you?" An older white haired man, in an expensive pinstriped suit, motions to a small vase of flowers in Tomo's hand.
The platinum glances down at the simple bouquet, as a light smile briefly forms on his lips. However, he clears his throat, "Ah, no, thank you, that won't be nessicary."
The older man, with his hands already full with an oversized floral arrangements, deeply bows, and quickly straightens up. "Very well, sir." The three men split into two different directions. I watch as two men scurry off into the one busy room, I've noticed while the other gentlemen heads in the opposite direction. He cautiously maneuvers down the hall with his arms fumbling with over two dozen banana shaped Mylar balloons, and a massive floral arrangement. If I had to guess I'm thinking, the well-dressed man was about to pay a visit to Hikaru's room.
The bluenette raises an eyebrow to the two singers, "Hey guys, I thought you two were supposed to be out of town, on assignment?"
Ryuji pulled his sucker from his mouth, and acted like he was about to say something. However, he shared a look with Tomo, before popping the sucker back in his mouth.
Tomo lifts his hand to nervously rub the back of his neck, "Uh yeah, well that's a long story" Tomo's hand slides down from his neck, to nudge his bandmate with his elbow. "Right Ryuji?"
Ryuji raises an eyebrow to his friend, before rolling his eyes and taking out the sucker with a popping sound, "Uh, yeah, something like that."
Tomo whips his head around, "Anyway, where is Kazu, I'm sure after everything that happened he'll want to see Tsubasa."
I swing my thumb in the opposite direction. "Oh Massu? He went to go get changed, then he plans on checking on, Hikaru, after that."
"Hmm… I see," Tomo sinks back in thought, after a long pause he looks up at our bandmate. "Well Kento, could you please track him down, for me? Tell him Tsubasa, is ready to have visitors. Oh, Also, tell him, I'd like to speak with him, as well. " I couldn't help notice Tomo's usual polite tone grew tense, when he said he wanted to talk with Massu.
"Ah jeeze, it looks like I'm the group's new earn boy." The bluenette shrugs his shoulders, "Okay fine, but I get Tsubasa all to myself, when I return."
"Ken-ken! " I shouted at the retreating bluenette.
But to my surprise, Tomo sharply yelled back too. "Kento!" Of course, Ken-ken didn't respond, but I did hear him snicker as he strolled down the hallway.
"Alright, if you'll excuse me-"Tomo nervously straightens his blue button –up, with a single hand.
"Wait Tomo, do you have a minute?" I quickly ask causing Tomo to anxiously glance over my shoulder. I'm guessing he's looking at Tsubasa-chan's hospital room door, because I noticed the concern deepen in his blue eyes.
"Ah can this wait, I was just about to- "My platinum bandmate motions to her door.
I nervously chew my bottom lip, while throwing out my hand, to Tomo's chest. "It's important."
Tomo takes one last glace behind me, and lets out a frustrated sigh, "Okay, Fine" He turns to his childhood friend, "Um Ryuji."
The ebony haired singer pops his sucker from his lips. "Well, I'll just go ahead." He raises a teasing eyebrow, "It seems our oblivious A&R, doesn't know the definition of, "being careful."
Both Tomo and I shout back at the singer, "Ryuji be nice, Tsubasa been through a lot." We both whip our heads around, giving each other a surprised look, before awkwardly looking in the opposite direction.
Ryuji pops his cherry sucker out of his mouth, giving each of us a suspicious look, "Hmm, don't worry about me." He pops the lollipop back in his mouth casually walks towards Tsubasa floor.
"So Yuta, what this about?"
My pink eyes nervously glanced around the room, before grabbing his arm, and guiding him to a deserted corner, "Well, it's about Tsubasa-chan, I thought you should know…"
End of Yūta Ashū's POV.
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Hikaru Osari's POV
After several hours of giving my best friend puppy dog eyes, I had finally convinced my overprotective warden to allow me out of bed. Then it was just a matter of time before his resolve had completely crumbled, buckling under my relentless requests to stretch my legs ….at least that'swhat he had me believe, until he slowly wheeled the damn chair into my hospital room.
Sure, my aching body protested leaving my annoying bed, but I needed to get up and get moving. After all, it was just a little polar plunge between friends…..but my self-proclaimed warden stubbornly gestured to the chair. Even though I was finally out of "that room," I can't say the ride was enjoyable in the slightest. My tired muscles throbbed, and it felt like all eyes were on me …well more like the stupid chair. My mood somewhat improved when my "warden" wheeled me into our recovering A&R.
With the surprised and welcomed arrival of myself and my warden, almost all of the Moons are now present, watching over our adorable A&R, as it should be. Except, I couldn't help grow concerned for our missing Leader.
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A little latter ….
"Tsubasa-chan, I wouldn't worry, I'm sure the Moons can help you move in." I nod my head to Mika's offer.
"Well, some of us should take it easy." A deep voice echoes above me causing my golden eyes to roll.
"What's this about Tsubasa moving?" A familiar voice comes from the door.
"Oh, Tsubasa-chan just received a text from Gandara music, ordering her to move into our building." Mika shared a look with the two singers strolling through the door. "And she's a bit nervous about the move….what with her being in the hospital, and all."
"Well Tsubasa- chan, count Thrive in, as well. Ken- ken and I would love to lend a hand!" With a wide smile on the pinket's face, he walks in with his finger laced behind his head.
"Oh really, all of Thrive?" Mika raises a teasing eyebrow.
"Well, most of Thrive, will help out." The pinket's beaming wide smile turns awkward.
"Fella's their no need for this. I'm confident Gandara will provide a moving company." Tomo shares another look with Mika and the pinket.
"Yeah, that's what we thought too, only Tsubasa just got off the phone with them, and they didn't once offer her any kind of help." Mika adds
"Well, I wouldn't worry too much, I 'm sure it's just a miscommunication of sorts. It's just a simple matter of right hand not yet informing the left hand. Most large companies offer employees moving services when their required to relocate on behalf of company."
"Hmm," I suddenly hear from Ryūji's vicinity
My golden eyes lift up, to the two bandmates strolling into the soon to be overcrowded room. "Tomo, welcome back!" My shaky arms weakly push off, attempting to escape my forced captivity. However, the moment I 'm just about to stand the ominous hand presses down, on my shoulder.
Tomo, and Yuta stop in front of my temporary prison. As I'm surrounded by their irritating faces filled with pity, or at least that's how it feels, "Oh, hey Hikaru, how are you feeling?" The platinum asks.
"Oh, I can't complain, I get to spend my entire night with Tsubasa-chan," I force a wide playful smile and attempt to stand up, to wrap my arms around the bedridden brunet. Although, its mere seconds before a firm hand is placed on shoulders, causing my body to flop back down in my confinement.
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" "Tomo acts like he wants to say something, but just presses his lips together, before letting out a humorless chuckle and walks toward Tsubasa's nightstand ,next to her hospital bed . Without another word, he gently pushes an elaborate arrangement of bright pink stargazer lilies off to the side. Making room for an elegantly simple vase of sunburst cosmos. Tsubasa's tired crimson eyes closely followed the platinum's silent actions. Once Tomo stepped away, the new arrangement caused a momentary look of surprise on our A&R's face .However it quickly melted into a soft tender smile….more than any other elaborate arrangements brightening the room.
Yuta leans down, throwing his arms around my aching shoulders, causing me to inwardly flinch. "Hika-chan, don't push yourself, Okay?"
I notice, as the pinket pulls away he shares a worried look with my warden, who's standing sternly behind me. "Oh, don't worry about me, I'm just anxious to get back to making people smile!" I ignore my exhaustion and push myself to stay up beat.
"Uh, well, that's um good news." Yuta responds with a guarded smile. To avoid the awkward moment with my pinket friend I advert my eyes.
I softly chuckle to myself after seeing Momo and Mika siting at a nearby table. A beaming Mika nudges his quiet best friend with his elbow, while pointing towards his favorite TV show with pure excitement. As I causally scan the room, I see Ryuji hovering close by, Tsubasa-chan. He's been like that ever since he strolled through the door. However, the entire time he remains silent with his back leaning against a nearby wall. The ebony haired singer sucks on his lollipop while discreetly studying the brunette.
"So our Sleeping Beauty is finally awake." With a wide smile present on the pinket's face, Yuta purposely steps in front of Tomo, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Tsubasa surprised face begins to blush with the sudden hug. As my golden eyes, catch sight of Mika chuckling to himself, with a knowing smile.
"Oh, Ashū-san, I'm happy to see you too." Tsubasa's shocked face melts into a soft smile, resting her cheek on his shoulder, for just a second.
The sight causes a sharp pain to strike my chest, without even thinking my shaky arms push against the wheelchairs armrests, attempting to bolt from it. …..but of course, Nome's hand firmly pushes me back down. He bends down close to my ear. "Okay buddy, one more stunt like that, and I'm taking you back to bed." My lavender haired friend whispers a warning in my ear. Feeling somewhat defeated, my shoulders slump back in my chair, while lightly strumming my fingers along the blasted the wooden arm.
A deep flirty voice comes from the door. "Yuta, you just couldn't wait for me."
"Sorry Ken- ken, you weren't here, and I had to stake out Thrive's place." Yuta bluntly answered, with a teasing smile.
The bluenette pick up his pace to throw his arms around the brunet, "Oh well, then all is forgiven."
"Whoa, there mister. Let the rest of us have chance to say hello." A smile quickly grows on my lips with the sudden arrival of Leader, holding the bluenette back.
"Okay, okay enough of that." Tomo gracefully grabs the pinket by his hood, and roughly jerks him, back. "Give Tsubasa a chance to breathe….She been through a lot." Instead of Yuta blindly following what the platinum says he roughly shrugs away from his gasp, sharing an irritated look with Tomo.
Yuta stretches, lacing his hand behind his head, giving the brunette a playful wink, before heading for the windowsill. "I'll catch you later, Tsubasa-chan."
Leader drops his hand from the annoyed bluenette, anxiously rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey Sumisora-san, It's good to see your awake. How do feel?"
"I'm a little tired, but I'm good….Uh. Mika tells me," She nervously drops her eyes to her blanket. "You um, saved my life." The brunet raises her face, revealing a nervous smile emerging between two rosy cheeks. She lifts her hand, sliding her hair behind her ear. "I pretty sure a thank you, isn't nearly enough, of repayment for what you've done."
My stunned eyes blink as I watched Leader nervously walk closer to the bed. The two acted like they were the only ones in the room, "Oh, Sumisora-san, y….y you don't need to thank me, anyone of us would have," His blue green eyes gazed into hers. "Um done….. The same." He awkwardly trails off.
"Well, even so" Tsubasa trails off, while caught in the blonde man's gaze, "I need to properly uh…thank you for uh….I'm sorry…. what was I just saying?"
Leader mindlessly steps closer to her "Uh… I'm not really sure…..myself." A goofy grin emerges on my fellow bandmates stunned face.
Even though our A&R was thanking Leader for saving her life That same familiar sharp feeling stabs my chest .I was about to clear my throat, when a sudden irritated "Tsk" sound interrupts the closely shared moment, causing both Leader, and Tsubasa-chan to awkwardly break their captivating gaze. Somewhat grateful for the interruption my tired eyes flash to where I thought the irritated sound came from. To only, exchange a polite smile with the casual looking Platinum.
Did the platinum just- I inwardly trailed off as my golden eyes studied Tomo, somewhat suspiciously.
Ryūji raised a teasing eyebrow. "Well who knew, our clumsy A&R couldn't swim." The dark haired singer leans against the wall, with his arms crossed, at his chest.
A chorus of voices calls out sharply. "Ryuji!"
"I can to swim! I…I… was just knocked out! "The brunet's crimson eyes burn towards the sucker loven singer.
"Well, from what I heard, it doesn't much sound like it, too me." Ryuji smugly waves the top of his grape sucker towards our Irritated A&R.
"Enough Ryuji!" Tomo dramatically steps between his childhood friend, and our A&R. "It wasn't Tsubasa's fault." Tomo's eyes glance over to Leader, before dropping them back to his friend. "She's….uh, been through enough." Ryūji raised a knowing eyebrow towards his childhood friend, but remained quiet and stuck the grape lollipop in his cheek. I could tell both Mika and Momo caught the quick look towards Leader, as they were intently watching the exchange.
"Although, he does have a point." The platinum cautiously begins to speak to the brunette.
"Kitakado-san?" The brunette blinks up at the platinum.
"Tsubasa, hear me out. This is the second time you've needed a hospital, I don't really know why this keeps happening …..But maybe if you…. I don't know, slow-" Tomo awkwardly trailed off.
Kento's back rests casually against the wall, next to the pinket, while shifting his bangs. "The Prince is right. Even if one group gets down time, you're off working with another group." The bluenette give the Tsubasa a concerned look. "You're working yourself to a frazzle ….maybe it's time for a, much needed break."
"Tsubasa-chan, you should at least cut back and give your body time to recover."
"Hikaru, you should follow your own advice." I hear Nome bluntly speak from behind me.
Tomo sits on the corner of the brunette's bed, "Please Tsubasa, give us a chance to figure out what's happening?" He gently places a hand on our A&R's hand, as it rests on top of her blanket. "I don't want you getting hurt, again." After hearing Tomo's words, it causes our brunette A&R to take in a sharp breath.
Ryuji pulls the sucker from his mouth, "Or maybe she should just support one group?"
"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Kento quickly stands from the wall.
Ryuji shrugs his shoulders, "Well, it's simple… Tsubasa supports all three groups, isn't that something new Gandara music dreamed up, for B-pro?"
Leader crosses his arms, carefully considering his words before speaking, "So what you're saying is effectively end the experiment."
"Wait, I'm not sure that's such a good idea to suggest…. out in the open like that. It could cause mixed feelings. " An indifferent Nome cautions.
"So the question is, which groups get a new A&R." Momo bluntly adds, while sharing a look with Leader.
The room grows completely still, with only anxious eyes awkwardly sharing a look, with each other. I half way expected the pinket to break the tension, like he usually does ….but Yuta wasn't his usual self. In fact, I doubt he's actually heard a single word of the taxing conversation tossed about the room. It seems something has caught his attention out the window, as he curls up in the large picture window overshadowed by some outstretched limbs from a blooming cherry tree.
The brunette pulls her hand away, "What, I can't do that! How could you even ask me to-"
Tomo cuts in, "Think about your safety."
"No, B-projects has a pending international release. We all just need to work together." The brunette raises her voice and adamantly shakes her head. "No, I'm B-project's A&R….all of B-project's A&R. It wouldn't be right just supporting one group. "
"Tsubasa, please, be reasonable. I'm…I mean." The normally smooth platinum verbally stumbles, "we're all worried about you." He lets out a heavy sigh," At least, let us talk to Gandara, and get you some help."
"No, Gandara have their reasons," Tsubasa anxiously drops her head to her fidgeting hands.
"….and uh, so do I." She quietly speaks under her breath.
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End Hikaru Osari POV
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Yūta Ashū POV
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My soaked white sneakers unfortunately squeak against the polished hospital floor. I quickly catch sight of two uniformed workers happily walking towards me. In somewhat of a panic I hastily dash around a blind corner to roughly crash my back against an obscured wall. With my body flattened against the wall and my chest heaving, my shaky eyes watch the oblivious cafeteria workers push a tall metal cart, right pass me. The two chatty women wearing stark white uniforms, and hairnets carefully maneuver the food cart, filled with leftover dinner trays, down the quiet corridor.
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I really have no idea why the heck I'm here in the first place. I was just hanging out at home, unable to concentrate enough to even answer a few fan letters, as a single image kept flashing in my head. The next thing I know I'm tipping a cab driver, during a cold and rainy night.
Once I hear the elevator doors slide closed, I nervously peek around the corner. Noticing the nurses' station, only dotted with a few distracted workers, including and the bulldog lookalike head nurse. I let out a relieved breath, and quietly peek my hooded head into a door, just out of view of the station.
My eyes quickly glance into a room, seeing the brunette propped up in her hospital bed, bobbing her head half asleep. "Psst, Tsubasa-chan?" I quietly call out.
The dimly lit room is eliminated by different flashes of color, coming from the TV. Her sleepy eyes gradually flutter open, before squinting them towards the door. "Yuta? " Realizing what slipped from her mouth she holds a hand in front of it, "Oh, I'm… uh sorry, Ashū-san."
Hearing my given name from the brunette, causes a warm funny feeling to emerge in my chest…. A feeling, I'm all too aware of, "Hey, no problem." I quietly chuckle in-between my teases, "Don't you remember, I actually want you to start calling me …." I swiftly trail off when I hear someone walking down the hall. "Uh, anyway were you asleep?"
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She shakes her head while fumbling with her remote, "Uh no, actually I'm just bored. I couldn't sleep because I slept so much during the day." She quickly points the remote to the active flat screen, causing it to go dark, only leaving a small overhead light shining in the room. "I was just drifting off, watching this movie." Both our eyes go wide when we suddenly hear voices coming closer. The brunette holds a finger to her lips, before waving me inside, "Shhh, hurry up, and come in, before the nurse catches you!"
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My heart races with the sudden invitation. Sure, I thoughtlessly found my way to her hospital room and my delusional head wanted nothing more than to be invited in…..but for her to actually do it, well that's another matter, altogether. "Are….are u sure?" My cheeks suddenly felt hot, as my eyes glanced around the dark and isolated room, with the Brunette waving me over, from her hospital bed.
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Almost in a panic, she waves. "Yeah, hurry up, I don't want you to get into any kind of trouble!" Hearing the workers voices coming closer, I don't' waste a second and silently slip into the dark room.
We both momentarily freeze as the night staff strolls by the closed door. Once the voices of the works grow distant, Tsubasa hisses out with a concerned face. "Ashū-san, what are you doing here, so late?"
I couldn't help but blink back at the brunette, unsure of what pulled my feet towards her hospital room. I mean yeah, after we were all basically forced out by an overly pushy nurse ,adamantly pointing at her wristwatch Ken-ken and I made our way back to Thrive's flat. However, my thoughts relentless circled around Tsubasa's forced smile, she had given me, on my way out the door…. but I wasn't nearly ready to tell her that. So, I plastered a happy smile on my face and went about at teasing her. ""Aww, back to Ashū-san, again?" I playfully pout as I walk closer to her bed, "What happened to 'Yuta'? It's just four letters, how can you possibly forget that?"
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"Ashū-san." The brunette quickly cuts me off.
I lift a hand to my pink head, running my fingers through my hair, as I roll my eyes. "Of course you'd be stubborn about this, shouldn't I get a say on what I actually want to be called? Maybe, I don't particularly care for my-"A Sudden pain sharply pricked at my chest, but as usual I force myself to swallow down the feeling and continue with my playful banter with a wide smile plastered. "my uh, family name. Did you ever think about that?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Do you?"
"Ah no, not really." My chest tightens with the dangerous territory we were lightheartedly dancing around. I let out a deep held in sigh, before attempting to change the topic, "Tsubasa-chan I just thought with what happened with the three groups, today… I mean, I know it's after visiting hours, I just thought you might need a little pick me up." My head drops as I hold up a white plastic bag, I brought from home, "And if you don't mind, I thought we could, talk?" My eyes timidly peek through my pink bangs, "You know, maybe with just the two of us?"
Her crimson eyes went wide. "Ashū-san, you brought rainbow pudding."
"Is there something wrong?" my head quickly turns to my bag and then the door, I just slipped pass. "I suppose I could try, and sneak out of the hospital and get something else, if you like?"
She abruptly waves her hands out in front of her chest, as she shake her head, "No, no, it's just,… it's just so you, Ashū-san. " She lifts her hand to cover a small giggle. "It's very sweet."
"Tsuba-"Her adorable reaction, cause my clumsy body to crash in a nearby chair.
My usual clumsy moment stopped her giggles. "Are you okay, Ashū-san?"
"Uh yeah, I guess I just slipped." I blindly reply as I quickly turn my attention to the chair, and hide my blushing cheeks. "Uh sorry." I straighten the chair upright. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"Oh, don't say that." She reaches for her white hospital robe, flinging it around her shoulders, lacing her bare arms through it and tying it closed. With a concerned look, she scoots closer to the edge of the bed, allowing her legs to dangle off the side. "So, Ashū-san, what this all about?" She pats the space, next to her.
"Uh, I am not sure what you're asking." I awkwardly flop down on the rumpled bed, as I nervously drop my eyes to my plastic bag. "I just thought you might want to talk, that's all." I quickly fish out the two cups of colorful pudding, and hand one to the brunette. "Here you go, this is guaranteed to help with whatever might be troubling you." I hand Tsubasa-chan a spoon for her pudding.
She shakes her head "But I don't-"
"Oh really, then what about the other members pressuring you?" I bluntly speak with a wide smile pasted to my face, as I blindly peel back the clear plastic cover, on my pudding. After witnessing Tsubasa's forced smile, on our way home. I managed to ask my bluenette bandmate what happened, while… I was um …distracted. For the longest time, he just sat there laughing at me, shaking his perfectly styled head, until he told me about what the others, had said. "I mean, Tomo is right. You need to slow down, before you really get hurt, but I understand why you wouldn't want to quit being all of B- pros A&R….were all friends…heck in way ,you could even say we're….. Like family."
"Ah, Ashū-san do you really feel like that?" She pulled the spoon from her mouth, giving me a serious look.
"Well yeah, sure, I wouldn't have said it, if I didn't mean it." I slowly dip the white plastic spoon onto the surface of the colorful pudding, smudging the perfect spiral. "Why do you ask?" I nervously ask as I lift the mounding spoon, to my wide lips.
"W...W… Why?" Suddenly her eyes went wide, like she had just thought of something…like she was hiding something. I had to wonder if it was about her being an orphan. "Oh, it's nothing, really." She nervously shoves a spoonful of pudding in her mouth, before awkwardly turning away, from me.
Taking full advantage of swallowing my freshly taken bite, I carefully mull over my thoughts. "You know, this job can really suck up all your time, free, or otherwise. Half the time were so busy, it's hard to scape enough hours for sleep, let alone have any precious spare time. It's been like that since Bambi School. Between that and regular school, we rarely went home to see our families and friends. I guess you could say, it's less of job and more of a chosen lifestyle." My eyes nervously drop to my fidgeting hands, messing with my pudding, and speaking in a distracted tone. "You fall in love with." I felt my heart race, as my freckled face feels like it on fire, right in front of the oblivious brunet. I threw all my attention into my pudding, allowing my heated face to cool. As I gladly shovel in, spoon after spoon of creamy pudding, in my overstuffed mouth. I would much rather have the brunette fault me for poor table manners, then find out about the other recently discovered.
.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that must have been difficult, for you" I slowly lift my eyes, roughly swallowing my last bite. I could tell she's uncomfortable with the topic, as she lifts a hand, awkwardly sliding her hair behind her ear. "Um, not being able to see your families, like that." She lifted her head, revealing emotional crimson eyes.
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The sharp pain once more stabbed my chest, forcing me to swallow it down, "Uh not really , from the beginning, even before we were chosen, we were spending so much time together learning ,and practicing be kind of melded together." My eyes turned away from the brunette, "Besides some of us don't really have much of a home life, to go back too." I turn back to the brunette, forcing a smile, while I awkwardly rub the back of my neck. "I'm guessing from last year's paparazzi mishap, you already, pretty much know about, Ryūji's childhood. However, do you know both Tomo, Ken- ken come from similarly situations? Their parents were simply too busy, to spend any time with them.
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"And Yuta what about your home life." She curiously blinks at me. "I've never heard a single word about them."
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"Uh, mine oh, it's…. fine." I nervously stumble out. "In B-Pro, there's all types." I quickly veer the topic away from myself, "Mika's very close to his family, however, I can tell you a good subject to avoid with Goushi, is his family life. Early on, he grew up in a so called 'normal family. However, from what we managed to squeeze out of him, we found out it wasn't exactly a loving home. Of course, he had to inherent that winning personality from somewhere." I let out a chuckle "Anyway, as a group we've been through so much, and this year …a lot of it…. is because of you…. I don't know if you realize this, yet but Tsubasa-chan, you've become one of us. So I get how you don't want to choose one, over the other."
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"Ashū-san, you really consider me to be close?" She asks sweetly.
"Uh well, yeah sure I would," I nervously rub the back of my neck, as my eyes dart everywhere, but anywhere close to the Brunette's, as I force a wide smile on my lips. "…consider you closer, than most." Although a different thought was spinning in my head…..and my heart.
Ah, Tsubasa-chan, if you only knew how close, I actually want to be…
She reaches over and cautiously places a hand on mine, causing my head to nervously bounce from our touching hands, and her concerned eyes. "Then, Ashū-san, can I …ask you question?" Something in her worried face, causes a nauseous feeling to roll in my stomach.
I ignore my sickly stomach and compel a playful smile on my face, "Of course, Tsubasa-chan, fire away."
"Well, lately, you've been acting differently…so, much so, I've been really worried about you." She takes a deep breath as she squeezes my hand." Just the sight of her worried face make me want to leap from the bed and rocket out of the damn room .I'm inwardly praying for her not to ask….that one question. That single question I didn't even like thinking about…and haven't even talked about since, I was a very young boy. The damn question I knew in my heart, she's about to ask…
"Please Ashū-san, the cherry blossoms…..Why does the sight of cherry blossoms, make you so sad?"
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End of Yūta Ashū's POV
End of Chapter 6
Hey guys, I really struggled with this update.
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:) Alimackatjac,
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