I do not own any of the songs. They belong to their respective artist(s).
Boys sing in BOLD
Girls sing in ITALICS
Both genders sing in BOTH
Knock Knock Knock
Halfway till morning, squinting as she rolled onto her, back, Hikari sat up, shoving her eye mask up, and stared at her hall door. She blinked a few times. "It's open."
The door opened slowly, like the person was nervous.
"Otoya?"
"Uh…" The redhead shifted, head ducking as he stepped in and closed the door.
They stared at each other. "Are you mad that I didn't tell you?" She finally asked, easily knowing what this was about.
Otoya shook his head slowly, frowning in the dim light. "Uh, not mad…. more… uh…" He flailed a hand.
"Bewildered? Frazzled? Half happy, half sad?" She offered.
"All of it. I think. I mean, the only family I had was my aunt then Kiyumi-baa-chan and the kids at the orphanage…" Otoya faltered again, staring blankly at nothing.
"It just means you're family's gotten bigger." Hikari rubbed her face. "I know mine has gotten bigger with you guys in it… us Nanamis still have to kidnap Ren's brothers, too…"
A startled laugh left her friend before they both fell silent.
"Okay, come on." Otoya blinked at her in confusion. "There's another blanket and pillow in my cabinet. We can top and tail."
"E-Eh? Are you sure?"
"Otoya, it's late. Hurry up."
"Hai!" A squawk and a thud. "Why do you have a table in the middle of your room?!"
"Because I'm too lazy to move it to the side."
-AA-
Hikari startled as Ren dropped across her lap, making her blink. "Ren?"
He let out an agonized groan.
She eyed him, placed her notebook down and tugged the folded packet from his back pocket, flipping through it. Tomochika leaned down over her shoulder, reading it, too. "Oh, our poor strawberry boy," the darker redhead cooed, reaching to stroke his hair.
"I still haven't told my brothers," he muttered.
"About the family connection?" Hikari hazarded a guess.
He nodded, pressing his cheek to a pillow as he looked at her and Tomochika. "We haven't talked in a while and I wouldn't know where to start."
"Start with 'hello' and 'how have you been'," Tomochika offered in deadpan. A snicker left Hikari as Ren rolled his eyes.
"We could also just kidnap them," Hikari suggested. "Kidnap them before Ryuu can come around and vanish them to the Nanami house."
"What, after the fashion show?" Blue eyes blinked in thought.
"Un. Everyone except the Ripplers will be there since they went on tour. We can even get the rest of STARISH and Cecil."
"It'd be like throwing them into the deep end," Tomochika coaxed, moving to lay along the back of the couch, toying with Hikari's hair now.
"I just might do that. Help me?" Ren asked.
"That is my free day along with Tomo-chan's." Hikari began only to stop.
"Oh ho? Are our kohai planning something?" Reiji asked, walking up with the rest of his bandmates behind him, Ranmaru to his left as Ai walked behind the leader, Camus behind the bassist.
Hikari beamed brightly, hand moving to hold Tomochika steady beforehand. "We're planning an orgy! Want to join in?"
Camus spat his tea out, hitting Ranmaru who could only stare blankly along with Ai. Reiji tripped and faceplanted. Tomochika nearly fell backwards with laughter and Ren was shaking, hiding his face in the pillow. Hikari was pleased, even when Ringo scolded her after overcoming his shock (he and Ryuya had walked up from behind (she could see Ryuya trying not to laugh, hiding his face whenever he shook too much and Ringo turned to him (HIKARI WON))).
"So Chokichi is the middle son… Wonder what he's like," Hikari mumbled, clipping her VIP pass to her bag as she made her way to where she'd meet Tomochika and Cecil in the stadium (the latter wanted to see what went on with a fashion show). She glanced up, hearing Tomochika. "Yo! You guys are late!"
Her redheaded friend hugged her, Cecil smiling from behind. "Traffic was horrible," Tomochika moaned, slouching before releasing Hikari. Her eyes darted down and she squeaked, beginning to flail and nearly smacked Cecil who merely caught her arm. "You've got VIP access?!"
"Shh!" Hikari hissed, eyeing the girls nearby and tugged them closer. "The Namis have been using the Aria Hall forever, ever since Great-Aunt Utaka was alive and terrorized them into letting the Namis have a first come first serve thing."
"I don't understand," Cecil said quietly, letting her hold his wrist and lead the way. "Is this place really popular?"
"Un!" Tomochika swooned slightly. "It's been used for a lot of fashion shows when it isn't in use for minor concerts and plays, not to mention variety shows. Oh, speaking of…" Hikari leaned away, into Cecil as fuschia eyes turned to her verdant ones pleadingly.
"Why am I feeling worried?" She asked wryly.
Clasping her hands together, Tomochika said, "'On the Flipside,' the urban action variety show, is asking the Shining Agency for upcoming singers, actors, and composers."
Hikari stumbled. "What?! Since when?"
"Since after STARISH debuted," Tomochika said and expanded for a bewildered Cecil. "It's a world-wide famous variety show, even visiting other countries for games."
"Not even the Ripplers and Shiori-nee have gotten on it," Hikari added. "It's uber famous. Are you getting on there?!"
"Me, you, and Daiki!" Tomochika squealed as they entered the VIP area. "Shining-san was going to call us to his office, but when he heard our plans for the day, he had Sayumi-shishou pass it along."
"I haven't even done my concert yet," Hikari squeaked. "When?!"
"Two weeks from now," Tomochika answered.
"Oh my stars…" Hikari fought to focus, blinking at Cecil's portable CD player. "You brought the songs?"
"Un," he said, blinking as he pulled out the six discs. "I'll wait patiently for mine."
"It's starting!" Tomochika cut in. "Where do we sit?"
The trio got settled quickly, Hikari between Cecil and Tomochika. Their eyes were focused on the catwalk.
"JBC!" The announcer rumbled. "It's starting now!"
Tomochika pointed suddenly. "Isn't that Seiichiro-san and Chokichi-san?"
Following her finger, Hikari nodded. "Yeah. And the older man beside them is Ikeda Ryuu."
"Eesh, he looks like a grumpy old man," Tomochika grumbled.
The two girls fell silent, watching in quiet before Ren appeared. They burst into cheers at the sight of him and Hikari winked when he caught sight of the three. He winked back and the big screen caught it, earning louder screams from the fans. Ren began making his way down the catwalk, only to stop as the lights and music went out.
Hikari frowned in the gloom, looking around with concern.
"Did the power go out?" Tomochika wondered.
"The backup generators will take a while," Hikari said, standing to peer over the railing, into the crowds. Her eyes caught Ren and he mouthed something, making her blink as she barely managed to make out an apology. "Ren?"
Cecil and Tomochika stepped up behind her.
"Listen up, ladies, gents! It's alright!" His voice echoed through the hall. "Don't you think there are feelings better conveyed in the dark? I feel like we can hear each other's breaths and hearts."
"What is he doing?" Tomochika asked.
"Listen, my lady," Ren continued. "With my song, I want to… light up your hearts!"
The crowd burst into shrieks of delight and realization hit Hikari like lightning. "Cecil!" He jumped, turning to her. "Let me have Ren's CD!"
"Ah, hai." He passed it over to her and she kicked her heels off, bolting after grabbing her VIP card. Not for the first time, she was grateful for the gymnastic lessons she took as she flipped through the stairway, CD safe in her hands as she landed on the first landing. Hikari held up her card up to a security guard before moving through the doorway. Her feet smacked loudly against the tiles and she slammed into the hall's operating room.
"Where do I put - nevermind, move!" She slid past a man, seeing Ren on a security screen and shoved the CD into a tray before closing it and making it play.
"Hey Lady… Can you hear?
Transmitted in every sigh
Is an invitation… to an amazing dream
To keep the moon afloat in the night sky,
It's encircled by the stars, dreaming & dancing
With shining beauty and splendor,
Give me, give me a young lady's "love call"
Hold up your heart's light
Yes, get up, get up, get up! Once more, get up, get up, get up!
Thank you! This great mood engulfed in love
Was created by everyone here
In this sea of starlight,
I kiss you for eternity
Together, let's light the world with orange-colored flames
Let's release these passionate emotions
Believe that this rhapsody resonating with those feelings,
No matter the darkness,
This song shall sparkle
On this journey in search of true love,
Take me along, dreaming & dancing
Only centimeters away from your lips,
Seeming to trip, I'll give you, give you a "sweet kiss"
I want to feel your voices!
Yes, get up, get up, get up! Once more, get up, get up, get up!
Thank you! Our fingers intertwined, see,
Even this tantalizing time
Doesn't seem so bad, right? …Now,
I kiss you, come this way
Together, let's see this orange-colored dream to its end
Until this love burns down to zero
With this miraculous, once-in-a-lifetime rhapsody,
There's no need for words
As our hearts become this song
Together, let's light the world with orange-colored flames
Let's release these passionate emotions
Believe that this rhapsody resonating with those feelings,
No matter the darkness,
This song shall sparkle
Hey Lady… Can you hear?
Try closing your eyes
…I'm by your side!"
A happy sigh left her as they pulled it off and she pulled her phone out of her inner jacket pocket, sending out a message to both Ren and Tomochika, spotting a man on another security screen.
-AA-
"Seiichiro-nii," a voice called out from behind, making the elder Jinguji brothers pause. "Chokichi-nii."
Seiichiro turned and blinked in surprise at his littlest brother. "Ren?"
"Are you two busy? Any meeting?" Ren asked, frowning at the long haired girl beside him when she grinned wickedly. Another teen was with them, green eyes blinking with innocence as he looked between the four, heels in his hands.
Sharing confused looks, Seiichiro shook his head. "We have nothing else today, why?"
"Sweet!" The girl chirped and Ren became resigned. "The Nanamis - you know the Nanamis, right? With the entertainment industry? - They want to meet with you two."
"Like a business meeting?" Chokichi asked curiously, blinking rapidly as she grabbed their hands and began tugging them to the parking lot.
"Kinda, by the way, I'm Tomochika Shibuya! This is Cecil Aijima!" She said, nodding to the quiet teen.
"It's nice to meet you." Aijima said, nodding.
"It's nice to meet you as well, do you work with Ren?" Seiichiro asked, pulling his phone out to alert his driver. He stopped near the van she was leading them to. "Oh, wait Uncle Ryuu-"
"Nope!" Ren said, snatching his phone before ducking into the silver van, Aijima and Shibuya right behind him. "Our sachon is dealing with him. Come on."
Seiichiro and Chokichi shared looks before following the teens into the vehicle.
"Yo," the bald man in the driver's seat said, nodding to them. "I'm Ichiro, I'll be acting as your driver. Ren, where's the bratling?"
Glancing back, he blinked at the oddly satisfied smile on Ren's face, buckling in. "She's dealing with Ryuu."
Ichiro grimaced and shook his head wordlessly as he reached over to open the passenger door.
"I don't understand," Seiichiro said slowly, staring between the two males, Chokichi also puzzled. "What is she doing?"
"Who is 'she'?" Chokichi added, only to jump as a blur slammed into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut.
"Ichi, drive!" The newest girl gasped, slapping a hand against the panel and locking the doors. Glitter covered her lightly.
"Why is it always glitter with you?!" Ichiro snapped even as he started the van and jerked her seatbelt in place. "Why are you such a pain?!"
"It's not my fault the staff are okay with glitter!" She shot back, clicking her seatbelt and waving at someone through her window as Ichiro drove off. She spun in her seat, beaming at him and Chokichi. "Sachon! It's nice to see you two in person!"
"Little flower, I haven't told them yet," Ren called in amusement.
"Told us what?" Chokichi blurted out in confusion.
"My name is Hikari Nanami," the girl answered, smile softening. "Your mother's my uncle's stepsister. Sachon means cousin in Korean."
They froze. "Cousin?" He repeated.
"Un. We've been trying to get a hold of you, but Ryuu, Uncle Haruto's brother, kept preventing it." Hikari held a hand up. "He's been coursing through legal hoops, with calls, and whatever else. Hence the minor kidnapping."
"Minor, she says," Shibuya muttered and earned a startled laugh from Aijima.
-AA-
Entering the house, Hikari disappeared to shower and change and Ren, his brothers, and Cecil followed Tomochika into an enclosed room where the rest of STARISH were along with Hideaki, Noriko, Haruto, Byeong-su, and Dong-hae.
"Sachon!" Dong-hae called, beaming as he twisted away from the painting he was doing with Natsuki and Otoya.
Haruto was already swooping upon his older brothers, so Ren went to accept the hug from Dong-hae. "Hey, little one," he greeted. "Minna."
"Aunt Rin, Aunt Han-na, and dad are cooking. Shiori-unnie is changing." Dong-hae's words were muffled before he pulled away from Ren. He dropped behind the preteen.
"Dad… that's Uncle Chanyeol, right?" Ren reiterated, making sure and Dong-hae nodded as he reached for his paintbrush.
Dong-hae began squabbling childishly with Natsuki over the colors, Otoya offering minor jabs as he painted the background. Ren looked around the room, taking in the sight of his bandmates and family. Haruto was speaking with Seiichiro and Chokichi, both wearing startled looks as they listened. Noriko and Hideaki were talking with Byeong-su about something. Syo perked up when Shiori came over to him, Chu dashing to barrel into the small blond. The older girl offered a wink when Ren smirked at the faint blush on Syo's cheeks and she leaned closer to Syo. Cecil was asking Tokiya more about the entertainment industry. Masato was with them, sometimes chiming in but ultimately focused on a calligraphy book. A small smile tugged Ren's lips up as the bluenet traced the pages.
A crash from the hall followed by Han-na scolding her daughter for running sounded and earned mild laughter. Ren shifted so he was sprawled out on the bench, eyes closing as he rested his head on a stray pillow. He was comfortable, surrounded by people he didn't need his guard up against. Ren drifted to sleep.
Only song this chapter is "Orange Rhapsody" from S2E6. Um… Chokichi is an OC, mainly, since despite getting a mere "Middle Jinguji" line on Seiichiro's and Ren's profiles, he has nothing more than that. (ALSO, THERE IS MINOR HINTING AT CRUSHES AND RELATIONSHIPS, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY AS FAR AS IT'LL GO FOR A WHILE!)
See you next time!