- Why did you call me, nii-chan? – Kumon looked at his older brother merrily as they walked alongside in a park on a sunny afternoon.
- I want you to meet someone, - Juza responded calmly.
- Who, nii-chan? – Kumon suddenly felt slightly anxious.
- You'll see, - Juza said before he saw Banri entering the park.
- Hey! - Banri greeted as he approached. - So, this is your little brother?
Next to Juza stood a teenager dressed in a tracksuit and a baseball cap. He was slighter and shorter than his older brother, but remotely resembled him.
- Yeah, this is Kumon, my younger brother. Kumon, this is Settsu... - Juza felt a little awkward.
- Oh, I know you! You're Luciano from "Picaresque"! You played together with nii-chan! - Kumon cheered up after a moment's hesitation.
- You got me, Hyodo little brother, - Banri gave him a friendly wink. - I'm Banri Settsu, but you can just call me Banri.
- So you're friends in life too? – Kumon looked over at his brother.
- Kumon, - Juza paused for a second. – Me and Settsu are more than just friends.
- Uh?.. – Kumon gawked as he processed the meaning of Juza's words. - Are you dating him?! It can't be!
- Yep. I'm this daikon's boyfriend, - Banri blurted blithely.
- B-boyfriend?.. – Kumon felt a little dumbfounded.
- Sorry I didn't tell you earlier, Kumon. Are you not happy with this? – Juza expected a difficult moment to come, but he was ready to talk things through.
- N-no... I'm glad for you, nii-chan... I just... - Kumon didn't know what to say.
His big bro was really amazing - studying at uni, doing theatre, and working part-time... He even got himself a boyfriend... Though the latter fact was kind of upsetting... He didn't really want to share his big bro with anyone...
- Kumon, how about we go somewhere together? – Juza noticed his brother's brooding.
- For once you have a good idea, Hyodo, - Banri smirked.
- Shut up, Settsu. You're coming, Kumon? – Juza encouraged.
- Of course! I haven't seen nii-chan very often lately, - Kumon smiled at him. He was happy to hang out with his big brother even in the company of this Banri guy.
- Right, where're we going? – Banri said enthusiastically.
- Tea room, - Juza remembered about the sweets he had tasted there.
- Batting centre! – Kumon was a big fan of baseball.
- Nah, I don't want to sweat, - Banri waved dismissively. He had put on a new T-shirt and perfumed himself specially for this outing with Hyodo and his little brother.
- Then, tea room, - Juza prompted.
- Oi, we went there the day before yesterday! – Banri protested.
- You're too picky, Banri! – Kumon chided.
- Yeah, he's such a pain in the neck, - Juza said resignedly.
- Shut up and think where to go! – Banri sniped at him.
- Hmm… We can go to a movie or zoo… Or karaoke, maybe? – Juza drawled out thoughtfully.
- Oh, karaoke! Let's go to karaoke! – Kumon became all excited. He liked to sing very much.
- Well, I don't mind, - Banri agreed. He was curious about Juza's singing and anticipated to beat him in karaoke.
The three of them walked out of the park and headed towards Veludo amusement centre.
- By the way, Hyodo, how's my new hat? – looking at Juza coquettishly over his shoulder, Banri adjusted the white bucket hat he had bought the other day.
- I dunno, - Juza shrugged his shoulders in puzzlement. – At first I thought you were wearing a chamber pot.
- Gah!.. Hyodo, you dimwit!.. – bummed out, Banri pulled the hat off his head and pouted.
- Put it back on, you'll get sunstroke, - Juza took the hat out of Banri's hand and carefully put it back on his head.
- Don't bully nii-chan, Banri! See, he's taking care of you, – Kumon reproached, not without some jealousy.
- Fine, whatever, - Banri huffed out defensively.
A quarter an hour later they arrived at Veludo karaoke club. The karaoke room was small but cozy and had a large screen on the wall opposite a U-shaped couch with a small round table in the middle. Banri took a seat on Juza's right, and Kumon sat down on his left. The boys ordered their favourite soft drinks and then chose the songs they liked. Kumon wanted to sing first. Juza and Banri didn't mind, so Kumon took the microphone and began to sing an indie pop song with soulful, angsty lyrics. Juza looked at him with an approving smile, clapping his hands to the music beat, while next to him Banri noted to himself that Kumon's singing was actually very good. When the song was over, Kumon's score popped up on the screen.
- 85 points, yay! – Kumon cheered, rising his fists with excitement.
- You sang it great, Kumon, - Juza praised him kindly.
- Alright, now I'll show you both who's gonna win, - Banri took the microphone and flipped his hair back behind his ear, looking at Juza sideways with a provocative, tempting grin.
- Bring it on, - Juza followed this movement with his eyes, his gaze intent and lingering on Banri's face.
Kumon watched this with a mixture of jealousy and keen interest. He had never seen this expression on his big bro's face, and Banri's intention to look attractive in his big bro's eyes was all too obvious. They didn't do something like kissing or touching, but the way his big bro looked at Banri, and the way Banri flaunted himself in front of his big bro left no room for doubt what Banri was silently asking for and what his big bro wanted to do with Banri.
Kumon bit his lip in vexation. He hated to admit it, but Banri was quite a catch – his pretty face with mischievous foxy eyes, his bobbed sandy blond hair brushing against his cheeks, the snazzy piercings in his left ear, and his tall but slender build made him look so annoyingly sassy and attractive.
His voice was very attractive, too. Banri's low and velvety chest voice had a nice huskiness to it but easily reached high notes, sounding passionate and expressive. The song was an up-tempo pop rock, and Banri's singing brimmed with emotion and fire, which had an entrancing effect on his big brother. And indeed, Juza couldn't take his eyes off of Banri... It felt like Banri's passion was getting under his skin... He wanted to feel him closer, to feel him up and taste him... Juza woke up to reality when the song was over. The karaoke screen was showing 90 points.
- Well, how was that, huh? – Banri said with a cocky grin.
- You scored quite high even though you were howling like a fox, - Juza smirked at him.
- What'd ya say?! - Banri bristled immediately.
- Don't scream at nii-chan, Banri! - Kumon chided.
- Now it's my turn, right, - Juza selected his song.
- I bet you have a tin ear, – Banri scoffed. He was a bit miffed at Juza.
- Dream on. Gimme the mic, - Juza held out his hand.
- Tch, - Banri shoved the microphone into Juza's hand and then crossed his arms over his chest.
The music started with electric guitar riffs accompanied by a powerful drum beat. Juza began to sing, and Banri unfolded his arms involuntarily, gawking at him in amazement – Hyodo was freaking growling! Banri's heart went fast while a ripple of excitement run down his spine. Hyodo's singing was a breathtaking fusion of his rich, easily flowing voice with a low, feral growl of a lone wolf... It gave Banri chills and fired him up all at once...
When the strong, gritty rhythm of the song changed to a heart-stirring tune of the chorus, Juza's voice shifted to clear, sonorous, and almost gentle vocals. Banri stared at him, his eyes open wide and his lips apart. Hyodo was really a beast, wild and untamed, but at the same time so tender and affectionate... Banri felt his heart tingle with a poignant bittersweet emotion - he wanted to fall into the clutches of this beast named Hyodo and get ravished by him oh so bad!..
It wasn't until after the last chord of the song that he snapped out of his oblivion and glanced over at Juza's score. The screen was showing 92 points.
- Not bad, I guess, - Juza said with a modest smile.
- Nothing less from nii-chan! Congrats, you won! – Kumon cheered.
- Hah? Like hell I agree with that! There's something wrong with this karaoke machine! – Banri was getting steamed up. He had sung his favourite song in the best way possible and ended up losing to Hyodo again?.. No, it was just bullshit!
- Nothing's wrong with the machine! Nii-chan sings real good, he constantly beats me at karaoke, – Kumon couldn't but stick up for his brother.
- Don't mind him, Kumon. Settsu always gets hysterical when he loses, - Juza huffed.
- What'd ya say, aah?! – completely pissed off, Banri stood up and yanked the collar of Juza's T-shirt, forcing him up as well. – I'll show you who's hysterical, you dimwit!
Juza rolled his eyes, his arms hanging loose as Banri shook him violently.
- Aaah!.. Hold on, nii-chan! I'm coming to your rescue! – Kumon shouted as he ran around the table before grabbing Banri around the waist and trying to drag him away from Juza.
That turned out to be not so easy. Kumon lost his balance and yelped in surprise as he fell backwards to the floor, unintentionally toppling Banri and Juza along with him. Helplessly squirming on the floor and flailing their arms and legs, Kumon and Banri screamed and groaned with exertion - Kumon was pinned under the weight of the two tall guys on top of him while Banri was squeezed between the two Hyodo brothers. Juza tried to get up before he realised that his legs got tangled up with somebody else's legs.
- Get off of me, Hyodo! – Banri shouted, making futile attempts to push Juza off.
- Nii-chan, help me! – Kumon was heaving underneath them. On top of that, Banri's hair was tickling his nose.
Juza knew he had to do something immediately. No one would come to their aid - the noise they were making could be taken for karaoke. Ignoring Banri's flailing beneath him, Juza slid his arms around Banri's waist and rolled onto his back together with him. Kumon gave a big sigh of relief.
As soon as on top of Juza, Banri quickly got up off him, feeling a rush of heat spread across his face to his ears. The warm press of Hyodo's body against him, his strong embrace, and that bulge between Hyodo's legs protruding against his own made him feel so weirdly nice... Banri sneaked a glance at Juza and felt even more embarrassed – Hyodo glanced at him too, his cheeks and the tips of his ears being a soft tinge of red. Rising to his feet, Juza bent over his brother, who was blissfully lying on the floor with his arms outstretched.
- Are you alright, Kumon? – Juza held out his hand to help him up.
- Phew! I thought I was gonna be crushed. It's all your fault, One-Length! – Kumon pointed at Banri accusingly after he stood up.
- Ha? It's you who dropped us on the floor, – Banri put his hands on his hips. – Wait. Why'd you call me One-Length?
- Because your hair's one-length, - Kumon shrugged his shoulders.
- Ugh! You're like your brother, - Banri chided.
- I'm like nii-chan, yay! – Kumon beamed with a radiant smile.
- It's nothing to be so excited about, - Banri said wryly.
- No, I'm proud of nii-chan! He's so strong and cool! I want to be like him, and I... - Kumon trailed off briefly as he looked over at Juza with a determined expression. – I want to do theatre with you, nii-chan!
- Haa? – Banri stared at him in bewilderment.
- Is that what you really want yourself? – Juza put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
- I've been thinking about it a lot since you moved out... I didn't know what I wanted to do... And then I saw that you changed. You became happy... I thought that if theatre makes nii-chan happy, I should do it too. I'm just happy when I do the same thing that makes you happy. And I just know I'll be happy if I'm near you, nii-chan.
- Kumon, - Juza was looking at him affectionately.
- Duh! Seems like some brocon stuff's going on, - Banri quipped.
- Shut up, - Juza nudged him lightly with an elbow.
- I want to play in your troupe, nii-chan, – Kumon looked at Juza with hopeful eyes.
- Both Hyodo brothers in one troupe is too much. I won't handle that! – protested Banri.
- I wasn't asking you, Banri! – Kumon sniped back, but then his eyes clouded up with frustration.
- Kumon, look. The Summer Troupe's now looking for one more actor. Wanna come to audition? – Juza looked at his brother kindly.
- Oh! I already can't wait to come! – Kumon brightened up at once.
- Then let's go to our dorm. I'll introduce you, - Juza gave him a pat on the shoulder.
- Really? – Kumon was shining with joy. - Yay!
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Author Notes:
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Hey there! Hope you this fic! I feel like Tsuzuru after finishing a script :)))
I listened to various A3! character songs many times before I could accurately describe their voices (I hope you appreciate my effort!:) I couldn't decide on Juza's song but when I heard EZ DO DANCE Thunderstorm where Juza's voice actor growls "Go to hell!" at the beginning, I thought "Yeah, found it!"
Hopefully I've written Kumon's character right although I didn't play the game. The character description page says he doesn't like Banri, but whatever else is there indicates that he actually likes him but is jealous of him over Juza. It's a typical kind of jealousy commonly found among relatives, right ;)
I figure Juza and Banri are more discreet around Kumon, i.e. they swear much less and don't display affection for each other (at least not intentionally :), but in this fic Kumon unintentionally pushes them together ;) I suppose Juza is the type of person to set a good example to his little brother while Banri is generally well-meaning towards Kumon, neh? ;)