Chapter 4
Disclaimer:
I own nothing but the story line.
All charters from Uta No Prince Sama and Skip Beat are all owned by their various creators. BTS is owned by themselves and Big Hit.
I only use them for entertainment purposes
———4———-
Back in Haruka's room
Haruka had finally reached her dorm room after her mad dash from the awkwardness downstairs.
'Sigh' 'What has gotten into me lately? I usually don't get distracted by things like this'
Haruka was preparing to open the door and go in, but paused at the conversation she over heard.
"...so all 20 of them are in love with her?! Oh my, Haruka has it rough."
'That was Kyoko's voice! Wait are they talking about me? 20?' Haruka questioned in her mind.
"Yes, unfortunately with our company's 'No-Love' rule, none of the poor men have been able to really pursue her. I don't even know if she realizes it, but I'm sure she's falling in love with at least one, if not a few more..." said Tomo from inside the room.
Haruka was frozen in place and didn't hear the rest of Tomo's words as the glasses slipped from her fingers.
CRASH!
Running was heard from the other side of the door as it was slung open by Tomo, with Kanae and Kyoko not far behind.
'Well damn' thought Kanae when they spotted Haruka.
"Haruka...? Are you ok?" Asked Kyoko in a gentle voice. She may have not know Haruka very long, but her heart went out to her new ginger haired friend. She wished they had heard Haruka's arrival so that she didn't have to hear the situation this way.
"Haruka, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything. I was hoping to explai..." Tomo tried to finish, but Haruka just shook her head.
"Is it true? Is what you said really true?" Haruka said almost nervously.
Tomo looked to Kanae and Kyoko for help.
"Haruka, we haven't know you and the guys as long as Tomo has, but we were able to see that they do hold feelings for you. We're sorry we discussed this without you here, but Kyoko was worried about Fuwa trying something sneaky, and Tomo decided it'd be best if she knew that you were well protected already." Kanae said.
Haruka just nodded.
"I always thought that the guys were just being nice, or friendly all this time. I figured with the 'No-Love' rule, no matter how much my heart may have pulled to any of them, they'd always just see me as their composer.." Haruka said with a frown. "Wait you said 20? I need to know who all is this 20... I can figure out 11 or 12, but the rest is a mystery."
"Come on inside the room, we'll clean up the glass in a minute. It looks like it's time to talk." Tomo said with a sad expression.
With that Haruka nodded and walked in, closing the door behind her.
Downstairs
"So what are we going to do about this situation we all seem to be in?" Ranmaru spoke up after the TV had been shut off.
All the men in the room seemed to think for a moment.
"The first issue at hand isn't pursuing Nanami, it's the president's 'No-Love'..."
Masato was cut off with a CRASH from upstairs.
All the singers, the actor, and manager looked alarmed at the noise.
They all quickly gathered together and headed to the sound.
Before they made it all the way they overheard female voices.
"...time. I figured with the 'No-Love' rule, no matter how much my heart may have pulled to any of them, they'd always just see me as their composer.." Haruka paused. "Wait you said 20? I need to know who are the 20... I can figure out 11 or 12, but the rest is a mystery."
"Come on inside the room, we'll clean up the glass in a minute. It looks like it's time to talk." Tomo said.
The singers all looked uneasy at the parts they heard.
'So the cat's out of the bag.' The actor thought while glancing at the group's expressions.
"She only thought we'd ever see her as our composer?" Otoya questioned with a downward glance.
Masato looked pensive. "It's true that most of us have done our best to conceal our feelings, especially considering the president's rule. Perhaps that is why Nanami sounded so confused." He finished.
"But Nanami did say something about her heart pulling her toward some of us..." Syo added with trepidation.
"Kouhai-Chan is starting to mature, and perhaps she is starting to feel for someone." Reji said.
"Yes our little fox isn't the teenager she was when we first met, it's expected when you have her working with a bunch of men, that eventually as she grows more, she would start having the same feelings as any woman would." Jinguji said without the normal glee he would usually have.
"The woman seems to have picked up on our feelings, but perhaps she's been toeing the line with her's because of the situation at hand. She is quite intelligent." Camus added to the conversation.
Ichinose, who has been quietly observing the others, finally spoke his mind. "I do believe it is time for a conversation with our president. Something has to be done, or eventually Nanami-San may walk away all together, or we may all break the rule just to be with her. At this point, I'd say it's time to start..."
"WHAT?!"
The men all cut off at the exclamation from inside the room.
The all leaned toward the door.
"So you're telling me, Starish, Quartet Night, HEAVENS, Ringo-sensei, and Hyuuga-sensei are all supposedly in love with me? I... don't know how that's possible." They heard Haruka squeak.
All the men could just sigh deeply in frustration.
"Haruka, I know it's hard to think about, but look at it this way. Weren't you the one who told me earlier that loving someone is a good thing? I've seriously been considering those words and I believe that if I can accept being in love with a man, who may never love me, then I can stand by you through your own love problems. We all will be by your side. We're friend now!" Said Kyoko from in the room.
All the singers and the manager swung their gazes to Ren.
'She's in love with someone?' He questioned in his mind with a pain in his chest.
'Have I already lost her?'
"Kyoko, now listen here. I've told you before, I'm sure he loves you too. That man asks you to help him practice for upcoming roles, you've taken care of him and he's let you, you practically have your own room in his apartment, he's asked you to call him by his first name, he acts like an angry child anytime that beagle or that blonde moron even look at you..."
All the men stopped listening to Kanae's rant, and looked once again at the actor.
"So Ren-San, Mogami-san has stayed the night. Oh my how bold." The blonde Ren said with a lifted eyebrow.
"Lucky you, at least now you know she does love you!" Natsuki said with a happy face.
Ren just nodded his head, his mind was still trying to comprehend the conversation he'd overheard.
"Well damn man, you're luck is changing it seems. I'm honestly kind of jealous." Ranmaru said with his arms folded behind his head.
"True. The only problem is... I don't believe the ladies would be too happy with us eavesdropping. So that brings us all back to the issue of how we all solve our various love issues?" Cecil questioned the group.
"Well Ren is already in a good situation now, he knows his love is returned. Now he just has to make sure to get his feelings across. You, gentlemen, on the other hand are in a more difficult situation. Perhaps I can help with that." Said Yashiro before he could fangirl over his OTP starting to come together before his eyes.
Ren had finally regained his senses, and with a sharp look questioned his manager.
"Oh come now Ren, if we get that man involved, with his love for love, this is sure to be very interesting." Said Yashiro with glee.
"Yukito... that may not be a..."
Before Ren could finish, Yashiro's phone started going off.
All the men froze in panic, hoping the phone wasn't overheard by the women they had been eavesdropping on.
Pausing to await the doom they were sure was coming, they were relieved to notice the quiet female voices still carrying on inside the room.
"Ah, yes president, I was just about to call you!" Yashiro said from down the hall.
'Why does he have gloves on?' All the idols thought. None knew about the manager's...unique... ability to destroy any technology he touched bare skinned.
"I have something interesting for you. You know Shining Saotome, correct?... Wait, you said you're with him right now. Ah yes his composer is working on that musical Kyoko-Chan got the offer for. Ah, that's perfect. We'll be right there. I'll explain in person!"
Yashiro hung up his phone with a happy expression. Turning toward the other 12 men he said "Come along gentlemen, we have a fated meeting to attend."
As Yashiro walked away, taking his gloves off in the process, all the others could do is follow along, some in curiosity, some in nervousness, and one in annoyance as he knew anything involving Lory of LME was bound to give him a headache.
In Shining's office
"Mister Lory, how wonderful to meet again." Said Shining in his normally over dramatic way.
"Now Sa-kun, we've been friends for years, no formality. I actually came to discuss a little bit about the musical, but also a few other things with you." Lory said while sitting down across from his old friend.
Before he could start the conversation at hand, a shuffle of feet, and a knock was heard at the office door.
'Ah right on time.' Thought Lory.
"Enter." Said Satome. He already figured with Lory around to be expecting other guests.
Yashiro and Tsuruga were the first to walk in, with Starish and Quartet Night coming in behind him.
"Mister Tsuruga, this is an unexpected surprise." Satome chimed.
"Yes Ren-kun, how did you arrive so quickly?" Asked Lory, although he showed no surprise.
"That, President, would be related to a certain pair of tickets you gave to two of the Love-Me members." Ren said a bit tersely.
Lory tried to fight a grin and did a good job of staying neutral.
"Ah yes, the BTS concert I sent Kyoko and Kanae to? I felt that they deserved to have a fun night. They have been working so hard lately. Plus, with how talented those boys are, I'm sure that they'd cause our two loveless maidens to desire love again. The first step is to get them to understand love of idols, many have fallen prey to love for BTS, which we can redirect into love for others!" Lory said in his usual love otaku manner.
'Is this guy serious?' All the men thought.
"Ah, Lory, up to your usual games? Muah ha ha. How well we know each other, I also gave two tickets to two master course members. Miss Tomochika and Miss Nanami! I wanted Miss Nanami to be exposed to different styles of music! Hoping that her music would take on a new style and spread more happiness." Satome said loudly.
'So you're the man that exposed Haruka to that?' All the men felt a twitch of irritation as they remembered the enraptured face of Haruka earlier.
"But Sa-Kun, how could the young woman's music grow without a chance to love my friend? Your 'No-Love' rule still cuts her off from that greatest feeling! I was actually coming to suggest sending her on a blind date with a talent from my..."
"NO!" All the singers said.
"No? Ah, so I see the young men here don't like that idea. I take it there's already competition for the young lady?" Asked Lory, while glancing at Yashiro and Ren who gave him a silent nods.
"Gentlemen, have you fallen in love with our Miss Nanami? No, no, no! Idols cannot be in love, they must love all!" Said Satome with an unusually subdued voice.
Lory was starting to get an idea of what Yukito was going to speak to him about. His friend had always been stubborn. Perhaps he could use this chance to challenge his old friend.
"Now, now Sa-kun. Isn't it time to let your idols follow their hearts? I promise if you did that, no one could ever stop the wonderful music that they'd produce! Your happy pulse would exceed anything ever! It'd become the strongest thing ever, a love pulse! At this rate you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you never gave the music a chance to grow!" Lory pushed.
'Now he's said it.'
'Telling the president he'd regret something is like a challenge'.
All the idols knew what was coming at that point. They didn't realize LME's President could poke that one button so well. Ren and Yashiro didn't know about the phrase that could challenge Shining Satome.
"My old friend Lory, you have made an excellent point! The happy pulse needs a new dimension! Love! Love! Love! Love Pulse! Gentlemen, stay here!" Satome said in a manic way.
"Miss Nanami, Ringo, Hyuuga report to my office now!!" Satome said over the intercom that ran through the whole master course building.
'What are you planning old friend?' Lory thought.
"Ah yes while we wait, we must finish the explanation of how you two came to be here. Something about the concert correct?" The LME president looked at the actor and his manager.
"Ah yes, Mogami-San and Kotonami-San seemed to have become friends with Nanami-San and Shibuya-San while at the concert. Apparently they all decided to come here after the concert to..."
Yashiro paused his explanation as the other males in the room, except for himself and the two presidents, twitched at the memory of what greeted them upon their arrival earlier.
Both presidents raised eyebrows and shared a look. Lory knew Satome probably had a recording that could explain later. He'd be interested in seeing what could make Ren twitch like that.
"Say no more Mister Yashiro. That explains it all." Satome tried not to smile. He was secretly happy that his star composer had made new friends, the girl was always too busy to meet new people outside of work, the fact that they were from his oldest friend's company was a plus.
'KNOCK KNOCK'
"Enter." Satome said.
"You wanted to see us president?" Hyuuga asked.
"Yaaasss. Where is Miss Nanami?"
"I'm right here president." Haruka said quietly, trying to avoid looking at any of the males in the room. With her previous 'girl talk' still in her mind, she didn't want to make things awkward.
"Mo, Haruka. Let us in, you're blocking the door!" Kanae said trying to get the frozen girl to move through the doorway.
"AHH, President! You're here too?" Kyoko shouted once the other three females made it into the office. All the females had decided to come as a group. Haruka seemed to need the support when Ringo and Hyuuga were called to the office too, and they were glad they did considering who else was in the office.
"Yes Kyoko-chan. The situation was already explained to me, so I expected I'd see you. I'm happy you met new friends this evening." Lory said happily as he noticed the way that Ren looked at Kyoko. He also noted the way Kyoko would sneak shy glances back at Ren. 'Hmm Perhaps this new friendship may be the push she needs.' He also couldn't help to notice the ginger haired composer trying to avoid looking at the males, who were looking at her with open adoration. 'Ma, ma, ma. I'm sensing love signals, but between which male and her?' He thought gleefully.
"Now that everyone is here, plus our guests. I have made a decision concerning Miss Nanami!" Satome said
"Me?!" Haruka gasped.
"Miss Nanami, I have realized that your music is blessed, but now that you are an adult it is time for it to grow with you. For that I am abolishing the 'No-Love' rule for you and whomever you may pick. I want your music to start showing the feelings of falling in love, being in love, and other adult emotions..."
"But President I couldn't pick just one person! That wouldn't be fair! I love them all in an equal way!" Haruka said in anguish with tears staining her cheeks from shock.
All the idols in the room felt their hearts skip a beat at her outburst.
"Haruka?" Ringo and Hyuuga said quietly with a glance at each other.
"Then my dear don't pick just one, love doesn't have to be between just two people! Experience all kinds of love!" Lory added.
'What?! Is this guy really suggesting something like that?' Was the thought going through everyone's mind at the same time.
Satome raised an eyebrow at his friend but added "Yes Miss Nanami, you need not pick just one! Experience love with all of your suitors! I approve of that as well! If that is what you wish."
Everyone in the room froze at the words of both men.
All the girls gathered around Haruka, noting her shocked expression, before anything else could be said.
"Excuse us gentlemen. We have some business to attend to." Kyoko said calmly with a glance at Ren. He just nodded in reply.
At that all three females gently pulled the ginger haired composer from the room.
All the men in the room turned to glare at the presidents, even the two not directly involved.
"What the fuck is this shit?" Ranmaru lost his cool.
"You want Nanami to be with all of us?" Otoya said wide eyed.
"But Haruka said she couldn't choose! Why do we do?" Yelled Cecil in anger.
Tokiya and Masato being the two cool headed males, were still in shock.
"Nanami-San was crying." Tokiya finally said with a subdued voice.
Masato nodded sadly in agreement. He felt a pain deep in his heart remembering Haruka's face in anguish.
"The 'No-Love' rule is gone. Miss Nanami has already stated she wanted fairness! If you all intend to pursue her, then there will have to be an agreement made." Satome said.
Ai who had been quiet for the last few hours said. "If it is for Haruka, I know we all could come to a mutual agreement. According to my data, there are quite a few cultures that encourage women to take multiple husbands or sexual partners."
All the men blushed at the thought of being a husband or sexual partner to their beautiful ginger haired woman. The fact that Ai brought up sex in the same thought as Haruka had all the men temporarily shocked.
Cecil decided to add a thought. "In my country, the royals are allowed to marry multiple people, with the muse's blessing. That kind of situation isn't so strange where I come from."
"It is not odd among the nobility of my country to take multiple lovers, as long as all are in agreement about the terms." Camus said out loud in thought.
All the men in question froze at the thoughts being brought forth.
"If you all love her, perhaps you can all learn to be with her. That way she has no sadness or pain in having to choose." Yashiro said.
Just as another shouting match could start, the door to the office burst open.
'Raging Otori?'
"Oto-kun. You're late to the meeting! You've missed wonderful revelations old friend!" Said Lory who was ignoring the tension in the room.
"Muah Ha Ha. Lory!! What have you done now? Shining seems to be in a fit!" Otori said with mirth.
"He's repealed his 'No-Love' rule for his beautiful composer. In fact all the men in the room who want to pursue her were about to discuss a polygamy situation!" Lory said without the slightest bit of embarrassment, as if he was chatting about the weather.
All the idols in the room twitched yet again.
'Polygamy?!' They all thought.
Ren could only shake his head, he knew his President was a love fanatic, but polygamy? Really?
"Oh, is this true Sa-San?" Raging asked.
"O-San, of course! Miss Nanami's music will now reach even greater heights!" Satome exclaimed while ignoring the 'polygamy' partners.
"Then I will be able to tell HEAVENS that they are allowed to pursue Miss Nanami as well!" Raging said with a nod.
'Shit we forgot about those guys!' All the people in the room thought.
Lory and Satome both nodded with their chins in hand in thought.
"Yasss. This will be a wonderful partnership! Lory will of course oversee the details." Satome said.
"Of Course! He does have the most experience in this area." Raging added.
"Ah yes Sa-San, O-san! Is there enough room for that?" Lory asked the other two presidents.
"Hold on a minute presidents! What details, and enough room for what?" Tokiya asked. He tried very hard not to let his temper snap. He didn't like where this was going.
All three presidents looked at the males in the room, as if remembering they were still present.
"Why, of course all Miss Nanami's suitors will live in the same place as her." Said Satome, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Excuse me?" Reji said in disbelief.
The noise in the office all a sudden raised to a crescendo.
"ENOUGH!" Lory shouted.
Satome and Otori figured this was going to take some discussion.
"If you can't live with an agreement, then I will be forced to bar you from trying to be with Miss Nanami." Satome said dangerously.
That threat quickly subdued the idols.
The dark headed actor tried to break the tension.
"President Satome, this is all a bit sudden. Don't you believe? Perhaps we should give the young lady time to accept the situation?"
All the men nodded in agreement.
"Be that as it may Ren, the young lady in question will eventually either choose someone or be able to accept all of her suitors. We all just feel it best to have all men in question on hand so she can make her decision fairly." Lory said.
Hyuuga finally added to the discussion, "While I don't like the idea, I'd never try to cause Haruka pain in keeping her options restricted. I honestly love her too much to give her up, but if she were to choose someone specific, I would bow out to her choice..." he paused briefly to let his words sink in and then continued, "However if being with all of us is what she truly wished, I could accept that too, only for the fact that I'd be one of her chosen. It would be better to be one of her choices, than not a choice at all, with no chance at all."
These words hit the heart of the matter for both Starish and Quartet Night. None could deny that they could never truly give her up, and they could accept an arrangement when they all could be a choice.
"Well said Hyuuga. I believe Haruka is very capable to love us all, and we all love her. If that would make her happiest, then I also agree that an arrangement can be made." Ringo said
'Interesting' Lory and the dark headed Ren thought.
Haruka and the girls
All four girls were quiet as they made their way out of the office.
"What am I going to do? What can I do? Oh no! What can I do?" Haruka cried softly. She was almost at the point of hysteria now.
Kyoko stopped suddenly and gently grabbed the other girl's shoulders.
"Haruka, listen to me. The best thing for you to do at the moment is breathe. The biggest thing standing between your heart and those men is gone. You are now free to love. So what if you can't decide? Then you should spend time with each one, perhaps see who your heart responds to the most. The only thing you can do now is give those men a chance. That being said..." Kyoko started expelling her demon aura " we as your friends will not make it easy for them. We'll curse them to hell if they hurt you."
Tomo and Kanae could only nod, both a bit scared of Kyoko at the moment.
"Yes Haruka, we'll be with you every step of the way ('although I don't know about cursing them to hell')" Tomo said, with the thought added in her own head at the end.
Kanae didn't know what to say at the moment, but she was sure eventually everything would work out.
"Everyone thank you.. I still don't know my own heart in this situation. I will take your advice and with your help figure this out." Haruka said quietly.
"Haruka, how about we have a girls night tonight. We can have a sleep over, eat junk food, do make overs..." Kyoko was becoming excited and almost continued before being interrupted by the other three.
"AND WATCH BTS VIDEOS!" All the girls paused and looked at each other.
"I agree. It sounds like fun." Said Kanae.
"Yeah Haruka! Let's forget about things at the moment and just be us for the night!" Tomo said.
"Ok. I believe I have enough clothes that we can all wear." Haruka said.
Tomo grinned. "Actually I had already planned on staying, and brought clothes."
"Mou, I never go anywhere without at least two extra outfits considering Kyoko gets into messes and drags me along." Kanae added.
Kyoko blushes.
"Umm Tsuruga-San has a bag of my clothes in his car..." she trailed off at the look from the other three.
"NOT LIKE THAT! I just forgot to get them last time he took me home." Kyoko finished with an even deeper blush.
The others only nodded.
With that Kyoko took her phone out to text the actor about her bag.
Back in the office
While everyone had quieted down in thought, Ren's phone could be heard going off.
Everyone turned around at the disturbance.
He opened his phone to see Kyoko had text him. He couldn't help but smile.
"Oh ho ho, Ren-kun, that must be from Kyoko-Chan." Lory said teasingly.
Usually Ren would be hard pressed to not growl, but he just nodded. "She just text me, she asked for her bag of clothes that's in my car. Apparently all the girls are sleeping over to be with Haruka."
He didn't notice the look shared between his manager and president. 'I'll explain later' Yashiro mouthed. Lory just nodded.
"Wait the four women are having a sleepover?" Camus said with a lifted brow.
"What's wrong with that?" Otoya asked.
"Well, well. Our little fox is having a get together with the other ladies? This could get interesting if the situation earlier was any indication." The blonde Ren said.
All the other men blushed.
"Mister Tsuruga, Mister Yashiro. You are welcome to stay as well." Satome said.
Ren and Yashiro both looked at the time and then remembered Ren had taken tomorrow off.
"Thank you President Satome. I will take your offer then." Ren said. Yashiro just nodded. He wasn't going to miss the drama that was sure to unfold tonight.
"Very well. Everyone is dismissed." Satome said.
Everyone said good evening to the three presidents.
"Mister Hyuuga and Mister Ringo, stay in the office for a moment." Lory said.
Both of the older males just nodded and closed the door behind the people who left.
"What did you need to see us for Shining?" Ringo asked.
"Research" said the three presidents together with grins on their faces.
'Ok' they both thought.
"Bring up the recordings from today, from
the time the ladies got home." Said Lory. He was finally going to see what he was sure was a great moment in his best otome of life.
Raging just sat down and waited, thinking about the days to come. Maybe he'd be able to make up for years of neglect to his sons, and get some grandchildren to spoil along the way.
"Yassss. Let's see what revelation we shall find in the videos." Satome could only say with a grin.
Time skip
"Oh my. Those girls sure did give the boys a shock." Said Lory.
Hyuuga and Ringo were now regretting not coming in with the others to see the incident themselves.
"Hmm. Very interesting. It seems Miss Nanami is not just talented in composing." Raging added.
"YAAAAS! This is the way to increase the future love pulse!" Satome said with glee.
None of the people outside of the office knew that tomorrow would change a lot of things, for everyone.