S2 Chapter 3
Dancing Hearts
The hallways of this grand mansion resembled the western-style interior, Sae saw in Spain. High windows, thick cement walls that blocked off any sound and cold. Even the decorations throughout the house were imported goods from famous western furniture branches.
Sae followed the staff that was currently leading him towards his room. He didn't make plans with Yuusuke to stay here, but after the whole fiasco with Rin, Sae wasn't in the mood to return home right now. He knew, he would have to contact his manager later, and inform him of his current location. Said guy had sort of grown into his second parents throughout the years. More than his real parents, Sae felt a different kind of closeness with him. It might be the kind of closeness that comes from going through the same hardships and being forced to rely on another.
Although too much of a softie - in Sae's opinion - his manager was a competent and smart man who knew how to rile him up, get him moving and motivated enough, whenever the situation called for it.
Sae also knew him well enough, by now, to know how much his manager liked to nag at him. In a way, Sae had gotten used to his presence around him.
After making his decision, Sae returned back to the scenery. The staff kept a well-maintained, practiced distance from him, which helped him observe things in leisure.
This whole building reminded him of the places he had been to in Spain. While he had adapted to his surroundings well, he couldn't help but feel a sense distance and unfamiliarity with it.
The air was different. Here and in Spain. For a moment Sae stopped and wondered: Where did he belong to? He has seen the best of both worlds. They each had something to offer - good and bad things alike - but it never felt like home. All the places he had been to just felt like temporary places for him to grow and nourish his talent. All of it was for his goal.
Well, except for one place maybe. Sae felt his heart clench, when he remembered the soothing warmth of comfort, Yui gave him. Right now, he didn't know a place more comfortable than being with her.
They turned around a corner and passed by a wooden dresser when Sae suddenly paused. His little pause wasn't longer than a split second hesitation.
On top of that dresser lay a flower vase filled with pompous flowers. They were blooming magnificently with vivid shining colors, but their beauty was not eye-catching to him.
His gaze went further down. There, next to the vase of blooming flowers, was a small barely noticeable photo frame.
His eyes widened with shock when realization slowly hit him. The photo frame contained a picture of an elderly looking couple, however they weren't what Sae focused his eyes on.
In front of them, he saw two children around the age of 10 standing next to each other. The boy looked into the camera with a strong, confident and defiant gaze. The girl however stared into the camera with a cold, empty and forlorn one. It was a detail Sae noticed, but didn't pay attention to back then. He would later come to ponder on it some more, but right now something more urgent weighed on his mind.
«These are...?» Sae side eyed the staff that was accompanying him. The elderly man stopped and turned around politely.
«This is a photo of the Former Head of the Sano Household, Sano Kyoko and Sano Masamune, and their two grandchildren, Young Master Yuusuke and Young Lady Yui.»
Sae opened his mouth to reply something, but only empty air escaped his lips.
'Grandchildren... Lady Yui...' A switch in his brain flipped when he went over the staff's words again.
Although surprised, Sae couldn't help but feel relieved. He would have to question them later, but at least he was glad he didn't have to make another enemy today. Sae continued his walk to his room with lighter steps.
When Yui finished her shower, she slipped into a comfortable indoor attire consisting of a white shirt long-sleeved T-Shirt and a fluffy fleece hoodie over it. The hoodie was made of a white fleece and had some bunny ears attached to it. These ears wagged around adorably whenever she wore the hood. She had also changed into a lofty pair of beige pajama pants that complimented the outfit and kept her body warm and comfortable.
Yui hurried to the music room with a musical notebook in hand. During the four years, Yui had started to compose music. Although it's still in the making, she hadn't had the courage to profess her dream with confidence yet. But Yui had decided: One day she would proudly follow into her mother's footsteps and become an distinguished musician.
'Every memory made is a step forward to the future.' Yui thought as she recalled the four years of absence Sae had left them with. Without a doubt his resolve sparked a light, and further fanned the flames inside of them.
How could they not feel the heat of the sun that was chasing after his dream with unwavering conviction?
Soon after Sae left, the teen graduated Middle School and started Highschool together. It was then that Yuusuke intensively began his life as heir in tutelage. He worked and learned how to do business from his family.
When Yuusuke turned 16, Sano Touma tasked him with creating his own project to work on.
It was a fun project at first meant to support Ageha with her idol career. Their success however was immense and even grew when An joined as a professional athlete.
Now their little group was managing a little talent agency that was known for the diverse and innovational concepts they introduced to the market, and for their new and refreshing talents. Even now, the agency was steadily growing in influence.
Naturally, Yuusuke as the Head was busy working, planning, managing and overseeing everything. Thankfully, he had the support of not only his family (and many other sponsors), but the support of his friends as well. Both Mizono's - Megumi and Takao - were helping out as best as their could.
Megumi was currently the Head Chief Director for the Sales & IT Department. She had proven her intelligence and prodigious skills by earning a Bachelor's of Sciences Degree when she was just 16 years old.
Takao had chosen to pursue Law & Politics and was now working on reframing their agency's work and right conditions to best fit their environment, image, goal and attractiveness.
Ageha was their stop star and idol with most of her works focused on modeling, concerts and acting with Shuu acting as Executive Chief Director responsible for personal management, field work and etc.
An too had made a name in the Global Tennis World by becoming one of the Youngest Tennis Player to play at the Wimbledon among the pros.
She's joined the French Team and is currently working there right now. The papers were a huge issue, since both sides refused to give up their rights for An. Of course, An wanted to sign with her friends and she was close to denying the offer when Takao stepped in and presented an offer that pleased both parties. Now An was legally a part of the their agency, but managed by the French Association. Rules were made up to prevent unnecessarily involvement with the other, and for the past year things went smoothly.
Yui too was now currently working as a producer for said agency. Of course, every start was hard at first, yet with the results naturally the motivation came. Music came in all forms and beings and while she personally preferred to manually arrange the parts on the piano and write them down onto sheets - the mixing and arrangement part that followed never ceased to amaze her.
Just thinking about it now got the girl to smile, and she approached the music room in a good mood.
Moments Prior
When Sae took his shower, his first thought was to smack Yuusuke into the ground. His instincts told him, that his misunderstanding was all due to Yuusuke. After all, Yui would never keep a secret from him. He knew she wouldn't.
'She's far too darn pure.' Sae mused and he remembered how she had appeared in the middle of snowy night. His heart clenched once more.
Sae exited the shower after a satisfying rinse. The water droplets dripped down his ripped body with a silent plop. Hot steam was radiating from him and spread throughout the bathroom.
One of his hands went to grab one of the towel which he casually slung around his lower half, the other one went to a smaller towel which he put around his head to dry his hair with.
Sae went through these motion on auto-pilot not noticing the familiar smell of detergent that enveloped him until a piece of the towel hit his nose.
«?» Sae paused and checked again. It was a familiar smell, one that filled him with memories and warmth.
'...! It smells like Yui.' Sae thought as realization hit him. Suddenly his heart thumped in his chest loudly and he realized that he was spending the night under the same roof as her - his crush Nakahara Yui.
After Sae calmed down from that awareness - (he felt himself calming down, knowing that Yui was probably fully unaware of this romantic situation) - he changed into some comfortable indoor clothes that the staff had provided for him, and stepped out of his room.
Outside, the same staff was waiting for him and Sae figured that this was probably the guy that would be caring for him during his stay here.
«... What's your name?» Usually Sae wouldn't care about someone's name, but today Sae felt a sense of debt towards Yuusuke, Yui and their staff, who had done nothing but providing excellent work so far.
The staff man bowed politely. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. Instead, one could see the humble maturity that came from a wisdom age alone could not achieve.
«It's Irino Tenma, sir.»
Sae nodded and Tenma silently continued to lead the way again.
They soon arrived in front of a large door. «This is the Music Room. Young Master is awaiting you inside.»
Tenma politely opened the door for him and stepped aside with a polite bow.
Sae entered the room. The inside resembled a grand ballroom with stage lights placed throughout the ceiling. In the middle of the room was a black grand piano. Sae looked to the side and he saw Yuusuke on the couch a bit further away.
Yuusuke had changed into some comfy clothes as well and was on his phone when Sae came in. In front of him, on the coffee table, was an opened laptop.
Yuusuke looked up and closed it when he heard Sae enter. He calmly put away his glasses.
«Yo, you're here.» Yuusuke greeted calmly with an offhanded wave.
Sae walked towards him unbothered and took a seat at one of the couches.
«Your place is unnecessarily grand.» Sae pointed out in his usual aloof behavior.
Yuusuke chuckled heartily at it. «You're the only one who's this blunt with me...» He mumbled with a small sigh and a shake of his head.
«So? Do you like your room?» He questioned and looked at Sae expectantly.
Sae didn't know how to reply to that. For him it was just a room.
«Make it less crowded. You have too many things.» Sae's blatant observation evoked another laugh from Yuusuke.
«Sure. It works for me as well.» Yuusuke replied in a mysterious voice.
It was quiet now as the two waited for Yui to appear. Sae however hadn't forgotten about the photo he had seen and the mild curiosity that came with it. 'How many secrets are you hiding?'
Sae pondered as he took a small sip from his drink. He then glanced at Yuusuke with his usual cold stare.
Yuusuke noticed his stare and looked back curiously. There was some mild irritation and sense of annoyance radiating from Sae and Yuusuke couldn't help but wonder if he did something wrong.
«Bro, what are you looking at? I know I'm handsom-» Before Yuusuke could even finish Sae's leg stopped right in front of his face.
'Ah, Sae is mad.' Yuusuke thought as he resisted the urge to flinch and calmly watched Sae retreat back into his seat.
«You hid it from me, you raccoon.» Sae said offhandedly with a hand on the couch arms and his chin on top of it.
Yuusuke took a moment to think what Sae meant. It was then that the door opened and Yui entered.
When Yui appeared she was just in time to see Sae retreating back to his seat.
«You hid it from me, you raccoon.» She had heard Sae say and curiously wondered what they were talking about.
«Sae, Yuusuke. You're already here.» Yui greeted with a bright smile when she entered.
The two guys broke of their staring contest and looked towards Yui. Yuusuke was already used to seeing Yui in her indoor attire and he knew how fond she was of that bunny hoodie. He, himself owned one in the form of a ... fox as well.
Sae on the other hand, wasn't used to it and he couldn't help but marvel at how soft, adorable and most of all huggable she looked in that puffy hoodie.
Unbeknownst to their thoughts Yui walked up to Sae. «What was it that Yuusuke hid from you?» Yui asked and leaned forward slightly to look him in the eye.
A few strands of her ashen hair fell out of the hoodie while doing so, and Sae could smell the soft fragrant of almond and vanilla from her. It was subtle and yet still strong enough to dilate his sense.
Sae put up one of his arms behind her back and lightly pulled onto one of the hood's ears.
«A bunny...? How adorable.» Sae complimented straightforwardly as he stroked the soft material and pulled on it playfully once more.
Yui couldn't help but blush. She knew that he meant the hoodie, but her heart couldn't help skipping a beat from his words and actions.
She looked away shyly and turned to the side so Sae and Yuusuke couldn't see her face. Sae thought that Yui looked really cute right now. He could barely hold back the urge to pull her onto his lap and keep her secure. A single glance at Yuusuke however stopped him from doing so.
Instead, Sae stood up and looked down at Yui who turned around curiously, when she noticed his movement.
Sae closed the distance between them with calm steps and he pinched her cheek with one of his hand.
«Why didn't you tell me, Yui?» Sae asked in a nearly chiding voice.
«... Twell wywou whawt (Tell you what)?» Yui asked back confusedly as she struggled to pull away from his grip on her.
She seemed slightly sulky at the accusation Sae threw her. Sae's expression softened and the corners of his lips lifted slightly, when he saw her like that. Sae let her go, utterly pleased. His Yui would never lie to him after all.
«You and that guy are siblings.» Sae stated. He snatched the ears once again and playfully tugged on them.
Yui thinking that Sae must really like playing with the ears smiled brightly. She was happy he liked them, especially since she was fond of then as well.
«Yes, we are... but I still consider myself more of a Nakahara than a Sano.» She confessed honest. Her gaze lowered to his hand absentmindedly.
Sae gave Yuusuke a sharp glance and Yuusuke quietly closed his eyes. Sae understood, there was more to these siblings than just them being siblings.
«Still... I thought you already knew, Sae. Isn't that why you asked me to take you here?» Yui asked and tilted her head sideways in mild confusion.
Sae looked at her and felt strangely flustered. She just looked too cute right now! His heart melted away like the morning dew under the sun. With every fiber of his body he had to resist the urge to hold her. Masking his uneasiness, Sae calmly lifted her hood and pulled it over her head and eyes. He made sure that she wouldn't see him.
He then sent a warning glare to Yuusuke, who was enjoying the situation thoroughly.
Yui in her confusion tapped around for the hand that was holding the hood down. When their skins touched a myriad of butterflies fluttered through them.
«Sae, what are you doing...» Yui questioned after she pried of Sae's hand on her hood and was about to pull it down.
'What am I doing really?' Sae repeated that question in his mind, but he didn't want to stop. If there was no one here, but them, how much further would he had gone? He wanted to kiss her from the moment he saw her.
'If only you could be mine forever.' Sae thought and he clenched his fist, strengthened his resolve and decided to just go for it.
Before Yui could remove the hood, Sae leaned closer and bridged the distance between them in a swift movement, he wrapped her in his arms gently and placed a small, innocent kiss on top of her head.
Sae then released the flustered girl with a small smirk. Yui was unaware of the kiss. Technically, what Sae had kissed was her hood and it was done with such a lightness and gentleness she couldn't feel it. But something told her that Sae was doing something to her. Something that they both knew he needed to do.
When Yui looked up she didn't question him, Sae's smirk told her of his joy and naturally that made her happy as well.
It didn't matter if Yui didn't know, because Sae knew, and so did Yuusuke.
After this the mood between them all lightened. The teens sat down and spent some times catching up and just chattering. It has been four eyes after all and each of them were preparing their lives for adulthood.
Occasionally, Yui would get up and play a few pieces. The guys would enjoy them and share their thoughts and ideas on them. Well, mostly Yuusuke would, but Sae was there showing his support with his attentive listening. He didn't know enough about music to talk with them, but he enjoyed it more than any of them.
Sae didn't interrupt them, nor did he let his boredom show (too much). Instead, albeit silent, he showed his support by attentively following the conversation, throwing in some thoughts or ideas in his usual aloof behavior or simply just... glance at the girl next to him with interest.
Compared to football, this didn't spark a flame in him as it did for Yui and Yuusuke, but when he saw the bright light glittering in Yui's eyes. Sae unconsciously paid attention to what was going on.
If there was something that could make her smile and passionate like this, then it wasn't too bad to pay attention to it every once in awhile.
With this thought in mind, Sae ventured into the first night in Japan after a long, long time.
He closed his eyes in peaceful content. At first he was listening in and just let himself go.
Gradually the chattering sound around him grew duller. The lights dimmed and he felt a misty haze of drowsiness lure him away and set over him like a smooth heavy blanket.
Moments before he slipped off completely into oblivion, he found himself thinking:
'...This... feels like home.'