93. Tears
Rin has never seen Len cry.
Not once. It doesn't matter what it is- a sad movie, or one of the PVs they do together, anger, happiness, nothing. Not a single tear.
Recently they acted out 'Prisoner' and 'Paper Plane', but even then there was nothing. Rin cried for almost an entire day afterwards, wishing for a better ending, but Len was stoic-faced and just smiled at her, patting her head comfortingly and letting her cover his shirt with tears. It was both the story and thought of losing him that made her sad.
"Locked forever in a world where I cannot even say a simple "I love you"," Len sings, his voice sorrowful. They're performing their first take of 'Soundless Voice', and Rin is lying motionless in his arms, having passed from a sickness. Tears burn under her eyelids, but she dutifully pushes them back. She can weep about the tragic song later. She has to be strong for Len right now.
"Even if I shout it, it won't reach you. Your voice is... no longer... here…" Len's voice suddenly breaks strangely, and Rin peeks open her eyes at the same time something clear and wet falls on her face. Astonishment colors her features when she realizes Len is actually crying. Little silver streams are coursing down his face.
"L-Len?" She says in horror, her eyes widening.
The blonde boy suddenly looks mortified. "O-oh no!" He says, flustered, quickly wiping away the droplets. "I- I thought I could do it. I've been able to hide them so great all this time, and now-!"
"Wait… what?" Rin blinks. "You've been… hiding the fact you've been crying?"
Len blushes. "I, um… Well, I try not to cry around you, b-because you always get really sad after these PVs, so I try to be strong enough to hold them til when I'm alone. But, I couldn't stop thinking about losing you forever, and it was just too much to handle, and… sorry, Rin." He says, frowning.
Rin's face turns hot. "You been being strong for me all this time? You… cried over me?"
Rin then hugs him, throwing him a bit off balance. Laughing, she pecks the confused boy on the cheek.
"Silly. You can cry whenever you need to. We'll be strong for each other." She tells him. "So don't try and hide it anymore, okay?"
Len smiles in relief. "Okay."