Chapter 10 ~ Scarlet Night (Yuiren)

The room was silent, the light starting to fade into the shadows of twilight, just the way Yuiren liked it. The floor was smooth, the walls long and high, and lined from top to bottom with mirrors, with a bar running along the one wall without any reflective surfaces at all. This was one of the dance halls, where students came to practice, where the members of Starish had their private dance tutoring as well.

It also happened to be a quiet place without any distractions, where she could practice and be herself, without worrying about an audience, or that she was being watched and judged by people before she had the chance to work out exactly what part of herself she wanted to display to everyone on the day of the mid-semester audition exams.

Right now, no one expected all that much of her; she knew that, not even her teacher. She was quiet, she kept to herself, she studied by herself and practiced by herself. Only her roommate had the opportunity to get close to her so far, and the pushy purple-haired crossdresser insisted on accompanying her for lunch every day, along with two or three of his adoring girlfriends – she and he called them his 'harem' in secret, and none of them knew that Jun wasn't exactly as female as they thought him to be. They seemed pretty brainless to Yuiren, but Jun liked having 'followers', as he called them, and so she tolerated their presence for him. After all, as roommates went, Jun wasn't bad.

Jun was one of the few people in the school who didn't think Yuiren was over-excessively average. It was good to have support, and Yuiren was surprised to find that she treasured his loyalty and unwavering friendship. When a group of other girls from her class had ganged up on her the other day, making snippy comments about how there was nothing special about her and she was never going to be able to get out of the B class like she wanted and they couldn't imagine how she'd snuck into the B class anyway, since she had no talent whatsoever – Jun had somehow heard them, sneaking out of his own class to silence them all with a single glare and making a comment along the lines of how it took someone with no talent to recognize others in the same boat, didn't it? Oh, and Yuiren probably had more talent in her big toe than the three of them put together.

She'd never heard from any of them again, and the bullies now even went out of their way to bow to her and apologize in class, and she suspected that Jun had done something more than what he'd already done, but of course, the Osakan admitted to nothing.

Stretching herself before she started her routine, Yuiren once again began to go over the list of songs she knew in her head. She had to do well, or she'd never get into the A class. There wouldn't be many other chances for class promotion – if she failed, or did badly, no one was going to give her a second chance. And she wanted out of B class, and not just because of her brother, but for herself. She knew she could do better, she knew she could be one of the best – and the best were in A and S class. People might look down on ambition, but in this case Yuiren's will to do better than she was currently doing, to surprise everyone who thought she couldn't do it, burned as strongly as a torch. There was no pride involved, no ego – she simply knew she could be in A class, and so she was going to try to get in.

The problem here was … she had yet to choose a song, and her exam was the next morning bright and early.

Hence why she was trying to work out her stress by practicing her dance moves. Because losing herself in her violin wasn't what she was after this time, she needed to think, and she did that best while dancing.

Pressing the 'Play' button, Yuiren listened to the music, counting out the beat, before sweeping out into a whirling, twirling, slightly irrational dance that followed the song well. She could do graceful, she could do smooth, but today her thoughts were all over the place, and that called for some spinning and leaping through the air.

As she spun, she laughed, feeling the wind rush past her face, and she wondered if he would join her today.

Ittoki Otoya.

The upperclassman had been joining her lately, sneaking into the dance hall or the music rooms when she was there, and they had been enjoying each other's company. He wasn't always able to join, but when he did, Yuiren was surprised to find out that she could have fun with him. He was always bright and cheerful, and most times he brought snacks. He'd figured out her weakness was chocolate and there was usually some kind of cocoa product in whatever he bought. It didn't seem to faze him that he did most of the talking, usually about his day and his friends and Starish, or his roommate, whom Yuiren had been startled to find out was Tokiya. And sometimes, when he sensed that her thoughts were deep within the music or the dance, he knew how to stop talking and leave her space to think, and express herself in one of the ways she did best.

Because since her brother had died, Yuiren had forgotten how to talk, how to communicate with others. With her twin, there had rarely been a need for words between them, they understood each other, and they had spoken with each other with their actions rather than actual speech. After he'd gone, Yuiren had slowly retreated into her shell, and now she rarely spoke to others unless there was need.

Ittoki-senpai seemed to understand this, and she gathered that he'd spoken of her to Tokiya, who had in return told him a little about her history. Yuiren didn't mind – unlike Tokiya, he didn't remind her of her twin, and he didn't bring up her brother.

After that disastrous incident by the fountain, she and Tokiya had made their peace. Yuiren was practical and honest to a fault, and it wasn't his fault, so she had found him and tried to apologize. He'd apologized, too, and she'd tried her best to make him understand that she didn't like to remember her twin – she couldn't, at least not right now when the ache was still there, burning in her chest. And he'd understood, as least as much as he could.

Her foot slipped, and Yuiren slid to the floor, wincing as she pulled a muscle in her leg. At least it wasn't sprained, she knew what that felt like, but she had to be careful. If she hurt herself, there went the audition, and with it her chance to climb higher.

As if on cue – and it figured he'd arrive at this moment, when she must look a sight, sprawled awkwardly on the floor – a voice called out in alarm from the door: "Oi, you all right over there, Yui-chan?"

Yui-chan?

Startled by the nickname, she turned and looked at the red-haired senior, and only belatedly remembered to answer his question.

"I'm fine, senpai," she answered simply. "Just pulled a muscle."

He reached her side and offered her his hand so she could pull herself up. "You should be more careful," he fussed gently. "Isn't your audition tomorrow?"

She nodded, and allowed him to help her stand. He looked her over, as she checked her leg, and once satisfied that it really wasn't anything serious, he reached into his backpack and pulled out an energy bar.

"For luck," he said cheerfully. "You decided what you're going to perform yet?"

Yuiren shook her head, thanking him as she accepted the snack. Ittoki plonked himself down on the floor, fishing out a melon bun for himself, and grinned up at her. "Need help?"

Yuiren recognized the invitation for what it was and smiled, maneuvering herself into a cross-legged position beside him, rubbing at the sore part of her leg.

"Just trying to decide between a J-pop song, or a K-pop song," she said thoughtfully, and started opening her energy bar to munch on it, looking appreciatively at the colorful wrapping. "My roommate insisted on picking out what I'll be wearing tomorrow, and I have a routine thought up for whichever one I choose, but I just can't decide. I'm good at either."

Ittoki looked surprised, but as usual, that was pure Yuiren. There was no pride in her words, just a simple statement of fact. Where others might have seen fit to cover up such arrogant-sounding words, Yuiren just said it the way one might state that the sun rose in the east, or that the sky was blue. She knew what she could and couldn't do, and she could do both these songs.

After a moment of thoughtful munching on both their parts, Ittoki looked up. "Well, K-pop's popular in Japan right now, there's no denying that," he said, agreeably. "But you think it's a good idea for an exam audition? I mean… the safe route would normally be to go with a J-pop song, because the judges are Japanese."

Yuiren nodded, looking seriously at her upperclassman, as he rubbed his nose and continued, "On the other hand, if you take this risk… it'll show your personality, and the judges might like that, right?"

Yuiren swallowed her mouthful and nodded again. "I guess."

"But that could backfire, too. Like I said, it's risky." Ittoki finished his bun, crumpled the wrapping into a ball, and took aim at a wastebasket near the door. Yuiren grinned as he carefully lined up his shot, leaned back, and threw – only to miss and send the wrapper bouncing off the wall instead. The red-head made a face and grinned ruefully, getting up to go dispose of his trash properly.

"Tsk," Yuiren teased, then grinned as she sat up, took aim, and tossed her own crumpled wrapper towards the bin. It bounced once off the wall, and went right into the bin. Yuiren grinned as her senpai turned to raise an eyebrow at her.

"I'm impressed," he said, with a grin.

"I have brothers," she answered, by way of explanation, and he seemed to understand. She smiled up at him, and for a moment that she didn't understand, she felt completely, utterly, at peace.

That moment shattered like breaking glass as someone knocked on the door to the room, and both of them looked over with a start.

Ichinose Tokiya stood there, glancing from Ittoki to Yuiren with some measure of surprise and confusion.

"Tokiya!" chirped Ittoki, bounding over to his friend with two bouncing strides and tugging the older, more serious teen into a hug.

"We were wondering where you were," said older teen said gruffly, and he turned to Yuiren and bowed, managing to disentangle himself with dignity from the hug and Ittoki. "Good evening, Sukunami-san."

Ever since that day, he'd gone from 'no-need-for-formalities' to calling her by her last name, and Yuiren wasn't sure how she felt about it. For now, she got to her feet and bowed in return.

"I was just helping Yui-chan think of a song for her exam tomorrow," Ittoki was explaining. "I was going to head right back." He turned to Yuiren and mouthed, "Vocal practice."

"Yui-chan?" Tokiya squinted at his roommate, then seemed to shrug it off and ask, "Well, have you decided?"

It took a moment for her to realize he was asking her. Yuiren frowned thoughtfully, then said, "I think so, yes. Thank you, senpai."

Ittoki beamed. "Awesome! So what did you decide on? Which one? And wait - when did you decide?"

"Ittoki," Tokiya gritted out, but Yuiren giggled.

"If you want to find out, you'll have to come watch me tomorrow," she said simply, and later she would wonder exactly what it was that had possessed her to do so. But for now, her heart was light, and when she gathered her things and returned to her own room, it didn't take her long to borrow a coin from her roommate and flip it, catching it in her hand. It showed 'heads'.

It seemed like a good sign. She'd pretty much decided on that choice, too.

The next day, Yuiren was the calmest amongst her classmates, most of whom were also being tested today. She fiddled with the frills of her concert attire with a scowl. Jun had gone all out today, insisting on doing her hair and make-up, and practically forcing her into a white concert gown, with black edging. She felt like a frilly penguin, and the matching hat and white heeled shoes he'd fished up for her did nothing to improve her mood - which was why she'd dug out her silver hair dye and changed her highlights again, a little early this week. It was the closest thing she had to gray.

Deciding to ignore her attire for now - it wasn't like she didn't have better things to worry about - she watched the performances of the other class students with interest, occasionally scanning the audience with a restless gaze, noting the presence of Tokiya, Nanami, and their groupmate Kurusu Syo - who even had a videocam with him, though exactly why, she wasn't sure.

But she had to focus, and back her gaze went to the stage. Once again, she reminded herself that she wasn't doing this for herself – at least, not just for herself.

"Watch me nii-san," she thought, as the previous examinee left the stage to a cloud of applause and cheering, to be replaced by another idol-course student as she ran off. "I might need a little help, but for today… I'm going to be you."

Her turn came towards the end of the day, and she was surprised to see that Ittoki was now in the audience, sitting with Tokiya and his Starish groupmates. Her classmates, even the ones who had been temporarily cowed by Jun, had been giving her little smirks and stink-eyes all day, but when Ittoki waved at her as her name was called, there were definitely more than a few glares directed towards her. Ignoring them and walking towards the stage, she paused to take a breath and get into character. When she looked up again, she wasn't just Sukunami Yuiren anymore.

This aspect of her, the ability completely get into the character and personality of others, to emulate their styles and selves, had often scared her family. Yuiren was good at singing, at dancing, but today she wanted to be better than that. She wanted her brother's charisma and confidence, his natural star power and attraction, and so for now, she became him. Yuiren herself was still inside, somewhere, but pushed a little lower down. She was Yasuo now, or at least, a mixture of Yasuo-Yuiren that would hopefully help her give that extra push she needed for her performance.

Confidently taking the microphone, Yuiren greeted the judges and the crowd, with a grin that had Tokiya frowning. She didn't notice his intent stare, however, as she heard the music start, and slowly prepared herself for the powerful start she knew she was capable of.

Because both she and her brother liked to start off strong.

"Guide me, O Endless Light!"

Spinning and half-bowing to the crowd, who gave a surprised roar at the sight and sound of the formerly average girl's surprisingly un-average beginning. Yuiren grinned and waved as she continued,

""Do you have anyone to protect?"
These tears are more honest than words,
I'm unable to hide them and overflow.

"Do you have anyone to believe in?"
I constantly keep a future that seems to break in my heart…
which froze my heart.

This is a dream which can't be held in these small hands.
One day, this imagination will overcome reality,
it was always swimming in the sea of illusions.

I want to reach you,
piercing through the cloudy skies
the night shows me the mirror of stars which illuminate reality.
A deep scarlet key echoes,
my heart beat won't ever stop.

"Do you have anyone precious to you?"
That warmth and that tenderness which runs down your hair,
only I know of them.

It's okay if it isn't anything special,
staying right beside me with that usual smile,
that for me is special.

I finally found my true emotions.

"Because you're here."
With just that, I can become stronger…strange isn't?
These emotions impossible to analyze covers my whole world.

Let me hear your voice…
Before our eyes is an eternal promise.

I sync with you…Endless World
I want to reach you,
piercing through the cloudy skies
the night shows me the mirror of stars
which also embraces transient memories.

I'm here, so always stay by my side.
Both our wishes are in harmony and become one.
We make the future move,
our heart beats won't ever stop.

SCARLET KNIGHT!"

She ended with a flourish, whipping her hand up and back before pointing at the crowd with side-profile stance. The crowd erupted with cheering, and for one, light-headed moment she froze, uncertain, losing her brother's persona as she realized they'd actually liked her performance. Ittoki and his groupmate Kurusu-san were both jumping up and down, cheering and yelling, and she hesitated.

But then, thankfully, as the A class teacher Tsukimiya-san came to her and took her microphone, gently patting her on the back and congratulating her for a job well done, her brother was back, helping her to bow gracefully to the crowd before running a hand through her hair and heading backstage. She was breathless, slightly dizzy.

And for one long moment, it was like both herself and her brother had accomplished something together, and she realized anew why she was doing all this. Not just for her dreams, or his, but for what they could have, should have and might have been, together.

A bright smile stole over her face, and she slowly released her white-knuckled grip on her brother's persona. As Yuiren slowly returned, and Yasuo left, she whispered to herself in the lonely backstage room:

"Well, nii-san. I think we surprised them."

Author's Note: Kyaaah! Yuiren kakkoi! But yes, song featured here is 'Scarlet Knight' by Nana Mizuki, OST. the anime 'Dog Days'. Credits for lyrical translation go to Suisei from the 'Deciphered Melody: Deciphering Mysterious Japanese Runes' website.

Please R&R if you like and do stay tuned!