DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN AIKATSU NOR ANY SONGS USED
*Wild Side by Ali
Shouta's POV
"Me and Karasuma-san?! Impossible impossible!"
"Please Yu-kun is not that bad." Momo said not looking at me. She, herself, already knew that this was an extreme favour to be asking for. I barely knew him but I knew enough to know that we weren't very compatible.
Right now Momo was trying to convince me to go out with her and Karasuma Yuki. I don't know how this was brought up. Apparently he told her that this was the condition if he was going to talk to her again. I was completely against the idea. I was fine with hanging out with Momo but the idea that Karasuma was there scared me to the core.
Karasuma was too... I didn't want to say mean but he did not seem very approachable. He was tough on the outside, he liked to do things his own way, he was too much for me.
"You don't even believe in that yourself. You already know that Karasuma-san and I don't fit nicely together. He's going to eat me alive!" If I was considered a cute animal by most people, then Karasuma would be the big bad wolf that hunts me down.
That felt dark. I didn't want to give a bad image to him knowing his back story but I couldn't help it. All I knew about him was based around the fact that he was Headmistress Kiriya's son and that being an idol was his number one goal. He also failed the Starlight audition because of his attitude.
"Yu-kun is a lover not- he wouldn't-" She took a few seconds to carefully form her words to not scare me off. "Okay fine he's a fighter. But only if you provoke him. With me by you, he wouldn't dare do anything that would actually harm you. I can ensure you of that."
She held her hands together, pleading me with her eyes. I bit my lip trying not to give on. "Why do you even want this so badly? When you were explaining his story to us you couldn't stand the idea of him being an idol. Why do you want to spend time with him now?"
Momo's shoulders slowly lowered themselves. "Because what you said about him was true. I hurt Yu-kun more than I thought. Or even wanted to actually"
Her volume and energy dropped. She didn't quite show it on her facial expressions but through her actions. She still held her gaze to me. Her gold eyes were still clear. She didn't want to show that she was wrong in hurting him. Knowing her, she could admit it verbally. Physically and mentally there was a part of her that held back what she truly wanted to do. Especially since she wanted to avoid hurting someone else.
"What do you mean?"
"I never really gave him the chance to show his determination. He grew up. He's still a stubborn, brutally honest, poorly tactical, presumptuous, nervy, clamors ceaselessly for fixation on him, recalcitrant-"
"M-Momo-san?" I had to cut her off when she was starting to get riled up.
"I divagate. What I meant to express was that, yes he is all those things and more. Yet with all those, he is not a bad person." She took a shaky breath. "I... I don't want to push him away anymore. I hate to do this to you but this is the sole thing that he asked for and I understand why you're so reluctant to agree. I just can't let my chance. Please Shouta-kun, I promise that if you truly feel uncomfortable then we will leave him immediately."
Now that I thought about it, this was probably one of the first times that Momo had so directly ask me for a favour. It just so happens to be something that was really important to her. I couldn't handle the way that she looked at me. For once, she dropped her guard around me.
"We can leave if I ask?"
"Absolutely! At any point, please inform me of your standing and I'll follow."
I took a deep breath, dropping my head. "Alright. I'll come along."
Momo jumped in spot with a big smile. "Thank you Shouta-kun! I'm sure that with this we'll both see a new side to Yu-kun."
She was beyond happy at me agreeing that she couldn't even stay still. It was completely different than when she was telling us about Karasuma that first time. If she was willing to give him a chance to redeem himself then I should do the same. If Momo says she trusts him, I can trust that.
"You're a lot shorter than I thought you would be." Was the first thing that Karasuma said to me. Yep, today was going to be a long day. Who makes a first impression by insulting them?
Momo and I had gone to Karasuma's house to pick him up since we were already together. He was still in his school uniform so he must have just gotten back home. Momo was insistent in us changing out our Starlight uniform beforehand. For both, to not attract attention and to not show off to Karasuma. Somehow I got the feeling that regardless of what I was dressed in, he would still have made the comment on my height. I wasn't that short I think.
"Ha ha... U-ummm I um-"
"Yu-kun." She gave him a stern warning which he shrugged off.
"Give me a second to change. It won't take long." The two of us nodded as he went inside. She turned to me, giving a fast bowing in apology. I waved my hands to show that it was fine.
"Ah Yuki must have said something wrong again." We looked over to the grown man coming out of the house. He was carrying a young boy in his arms that looked like a younger version of Headmistress Kiriya.
"Been a long time since I've seen you, Momo-chan. How are you?" She bowed to him first which I copied.
"Afternoon Uncle Karasuma. I'm doing fine. It has been a while, hasn't it?"
"It really has. When you're free it would be nice to have a chat with you." Sometimes I would forget that Momo was my age with how well she talked to adults.
"I would enjoy that very much. And will young Touya be joining us when that happens?" She gave a small wave to the child.
"Momo! Momo!" The young boy started reaching forward to Momo. Karasuma's dad walked closer so that she could greet him.
"Hi Touya, you remember me?" She poked his baby cheeks making him giggle loudly.
"Momo! Momo!" He was happily chirping her name without another thought.
"Yes that is correct. Touya, do you want to meet my friend? This is Shouta-kun. Shouta-kun, if you haven't guessed yet, this is Yu-kun's younger brother. Touya is only 2 years old by the way."
"I'm 2 yearsh old!"
I took a few steps closer to greet him. He looked at me with his big childish eyes. Seeing him head on I could definitely see the resemblance between the two parents. The same goes for Karasuma himself too now that I know what his dad looks like. If I pictured him with the same hair colour that Touya had, then he would be a clear giveaway for Headmistress Kiriya's son. That is, if he didn't dye his hair so much.
"Nice to meet you Touya-san. My name is Shouta."
"Nisce to meet you Shouta. Are you friends with Nii-chan?"
"Um... maybe?" This would be the first time that I met him that I couldn't say that we were friends. Yet it didn't feel right to tell this kid that I wasn't friends with his brother.
"Shouta-kun and your brother are going out with me to play today."
"Like a play date?"
"Yes. Aren't you a little smarty pants?" Touya turned to his dad with a proud smile.
"Momo called me smart! Momo is really smart too!" The two of them laughed at him being so happy at her little compliment.
"Dad, I'll be back home late." We looked behind, seeing Karasuma all ready to go.
If his presence wasn't enough to scare me, now that he was in his casual clothing I was ready to back out. He wore a dark purple zipper jacket with black cuffs and collar, matched with a pair of black jeans, and a bright red shirt. Not to mention the guitar bag strapped onto his back.
"Alright. Momo-chan, take care of Yuki for me?" He joked with her.
"You can count on me. I'll watch over him well Uncle Karasuma." Karasuma walked over to us while giving Touya a small tickle passing him.
"Thanks for that Dad." He sarcastically said. "Let's go already."
"Bye bye Nii-chan!" Momo and I bowed to the two as Karasuma was already leaving. He waved back at his brother without even telling us to follow him.
Momo ran ahead of me to catch up to him. Now seeing next to each other there was a way that they complemented each other. Both dressed in darker tones that were on the cooler side of things.
She didn't have the exact rocker look that he did but she wasn't on the cutesy frilly side either. If I didn't know the two of them I would have assumed that they were both rock musicians purely on how they held themselves. If not musicians, then at least people that didn't take things sitting down. A presence that had demanded eyes on to them.
It was weird. I was usually the one that was beside Momo. The one that people would say that created an air that was hard to break through. This was different? Momo and Karasuma were like two peas in a pod seeing how alike they are.
"Shouta-kun? What are you doing? Hurry up." Momo held onto Karasuma's sleeve so that he wouldn't walk any further without me catching up.
"Let go of me, Shiro. Higawari is the one that needs to walk faster."
She pulled him closer to him. At a lower volume she spoke to him. "You said you would play nice today."
"This is my nice face, if you haven't noticed."
"I-it's fine Momo-san. I was the distracted one. I'll be able to keep up so don't worry about me." She still glared at him but let him go.
"You're lucky that Shouta-kun is nicer than you."
"Nicer than you too apparently." They both stuck their tongues out at each other at the same time.
Most of the time I viewed Momo to be this mature, intelligent student. And she was for the most part. There were a few times that she dropped that cover when things became a bit crazier. Yet during those times, her emotions were all over the place as she couldn't keep them down.
This time Momo was easily bothered by Karasuma, but still had control over herself. I have seen her mad and scared before. She rarely let her emotions take over her that when it does it was hard to settle her. Karasuma didn't even mind pushing her buttons.
With all that they knew about each other, I would think that he would know what not to say in front of her. It didn't make sense that he enjoys to annoy her in this way.
"Yu-kun why do you have your guitar?"
"Thought I would show few things to you and Higawari." Momo went to his back side inspecting his guitar bag. From watching her it was like she was trying to see what toy was wrapped in a Christmas box.
"Momo-san, what are you doing?"
"I want to see if I can get a sneak peek at how it looks. Aren't you curious too Shouta-kun? I really doubt that it's his acoustic so it has to be an electric like mine. I want to see it already."
"Shiro come here." Karasuma stopped walking so that she can go in front of him. I could see him slightly lower himself to be around her height. She was still bright eyed from the idea of his instrument that she didn't expect him to blow into her eyes.
Momo shook her head and shouted at him. "Yu-kun!"
"You'll see it soon enough. Don't be so restless." I thought that she would have been angrier but she was still relatively calm.
I've seen her excited before but with the change of emotions so quickly it was a refreshing side to her. It wasn't like I didn't like Momo's usual attitude. This was a nice way to see all sides of her that only Karasuma could bring out.
"You can't blame me for being curious. We're all guitarists here. Shouta-kun may not be as knowledgeable as we are about models but he can appreciate a pretty instrument. Knowing you though you could never change your strings properly. Or tune for that matter. You were always slightly out of tune on the E string."
"I've gotten better Shiro. And either way, I'll still be way better than Higawari. You're still new at music right?"
"Y-yes! I've been practicing a lot though. I've seen your videos too. I c-can't really do rock though."
"You did a good show for your scandal song. Uncle Suzukawa did well composing that and leading you in the right direction." I almost forgot about that performance.
That day was so stressful with the scandal going on and meeting More Than True for the first time that I didn't even process much since Mr. Suzukawa was such a good teacher. I almost felt that he was lighting up to me. And then he started talking more. "Though I have to give him more of the credit than you considering that your vocals are still too soft."
I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from saying anything. This wasn't being brutally honest. He didn't hold back on anything. He had no manners with anyone that I wasn't even fazed at him. 'Why is he so mean to me? I didn't do anything to him and he was already so rude! How can Momo-san say he isn't a bad person when he couldn't even say one nice thing?!'
"Taking a picture would last longer than staring at me. Though I do know that I am visually appealing for the general mass. Even to other boys I assume." He shrugged his shoulders as he praised himself. I didn't even want to say anything against him at this point.
"That may be true but Shouta-kun and I are good friends with Snapshot. Compared to him, you are still relatively on a lower standard."
"Ceasire 'Snapshot' Hayate? I knew he enrolled in Starlight that it was only a matter of time for you to get to him. You already have the Queen under your wing too."
She shook her head. "Shouta-kun is closer to him than I am. You know who else is smitten with him? The Ace of Spades."
His mouth almost dropped open. He scanned me over. "You're friends with Inoue Kikyo?"
"Well friends is a strong word. We work together with Pon Pon Crepes that it was natural that Kikyo-san puts up with me."
"But you're on first name basis I see. At least you have those names with you."
I took deep breathes. I didn't like how Karasuma talked to people. He could at least be nice to his family or Momo. No. I didn't like him. I don't know why Momo was able to get along with him so well. Maybe he was nicer as a kid but now he was too much for me to handle.
We were walking through the park without talking much. Most of our conversations was Momo talking to me or Karasuma talking to her. Not really us talking to each other. Momo and him got along so well that their little snarky comments about each other didn't even register into their minds.
Then she would switch sides to talk to me. She was happier and upbeat than with him. Maybe upbeat wasn't the right word. She wasn't mad when talking with me like she was with him. There were two sides of her that we could see easily. One second she was on fire, the next she was smiling with flowers.
"Oh! A taiyaki stand. Let's get one." Momo pointed to a small vendor shop with a large banner for taiyaki.
"Still have a sweet tooth. In that case it should be your treat to pay for all three of us."
"Me? You're older. You should pay!"
"So the only time I'm treated as older is when I have to treat you. Not a very balanced out deal." I wanted to offer to pay but I didn't think that was the right answer right now. If I offered to pay Momo wouldn't allow it and Karasuma would take advantage of it.
That's when I remembered how my parents who solve fights between Kenta and I. "How about rock, paper, scissors? Loser pays?"
They both were quick to agree. I could tell that they were both pretty serious about this even without showing it on their face. "Rock, paper, scissors shoot!"
Momo put out scissors and Karasuma did rock. She glared at her hand that still held the scissors while he laughed loudly at her. He grabbed her by the shoulders, pushing her towards the shop. He made her stand in front of the blown up menu. I stood slightly behind them to read the options.
I noticed that he didn't let her go. He even put his chin on top of her head as they were reading with no big deal. They were just mad at each a few seconds ago, now without a care they were close again. Between the two I couldn't even tell who was older. Granted, there wasn't much of an age difference between the three of us.
"I think I'll get the chocolate. What about you boys?"
"I'll get matcha." So they didn't share the sweet tooth.
"I'll take a red bean. Oh but I can pay for myself Momo-san." She shook her head.
"It's fine Shouta-kun. If I'm already paying for Yu-kun's and mine, then adding you won't be too much. I did have to bring you out here anyways so please let me pay for yours." She held up one finger, stopping Karasuma from talking. "Don't you start. You know exactly why I'm offering to pay for his rather than yours."
Mentally they were both mature and childish. It was a constant flipping of roles of who took care of the other. Karasuma was someone who complained a lot. Almost like he was whining to her. Momo was dealing with that as much as she could but she didn't put on a face that she was okay with everything. She could be mad at him without fear of repercussions.
After getting our individual taiyakis we went over to a park bench to eat. Momo sat in the middle of us, obviously. She was so focused on eating her sweet that she didn't bother trying to make small conversation. She was happily munching away that anyone can tell that she loved anything sweet.
This was the most relaxed I felt all day. Throughout all the classes I had today I could only think about meeting Karasuma. Why would he request to meet me? Was I an outsider to the two childhood friends? Was he going to hate me? He didn't talk to me much so even after meeting him my questions were still in my head.
He didn't even give me a genuine compliment about my performance with More Than True. I worked hard for that! He only focused on Mr. Suzukawa. I do have to give it to Mr. Suzukawa and the rest of the band for leading me, but would a little praise really be that bad? He acknowledges my relationship with Hayate and Kikyo and nothing more. I don't know how big they were in Aikatsu but they are big enough for him to recognize. That's something, right? Pretty much everyone that I've talked to knows about those two. Well that is kind of bias considering that I'm a Starlight student. All that pushed aside, I had no idea how to get on his good side. And quite frankly, I have to ask myself do I want to?
We didn't have to meet like this. We could have easily gone through our lives with just knowledge of each other. Instead he asked to meet me. Put his chance to re-connect with Momo on the line to talk to me. Do I want to associate myself with Karasuma when all I feel with him is that I was judged? I know that I'm considered to be a rookie compared to him who wanted to be an idol for all of his life. I was trying to reach out that he didn't reciprocate. Was there something that I was missing?
We turned to Momo as her phone started to ring. She checked the caller id then looked to us. "Sorry, I have to take this."
She bowed to us as she stood up to answer the call a bit away from us. Now that she was gone Karasuma and I were all alone. I looked all around us except at him. "You twiddle your fingers a lot. A nervous habit?"
I jumped when he pointed out that I was tapping one my fingers on my leg. I tired to hold onto my hand but then the taiyaki was still not finished. I probably looked so weird trying to fumble with my food and stopping myself from fiddling. "Y-yes s-sorry."
This was nothing like with Kikyo. With Kikyo she would say things rudely but she did hold back a little. Karasuma didn't care about what others thought of him in the slightest. It was like what Momo said, as an idol he didn't have the restraint to be professional.
"Shiro. Is she having fun as an idol?" I looked up from my lap. He didn't take his eyes off of Momo on the phone. He spoke with a hushed voice that was almost hesitant in asking.
"Momo-san? Y-yeah I think so. Why do you ask?"
"It's been a long time since I saw her having fun." That one quietly spoken sentence made me freeze.
I didn't know Momo as long as Karasuma did but I knew about how she was before becoming an idol. When Momo saw him fall deeper into Aikatsu, she became mad at him. I wonder how it looked to him see his childhood friend slowly lose her love for music. "Do you miss being with Momo-san?"
He leaned back into the bench. "I'm sure that you already know about this but she is not the same as everyone else. She doesn't judge based on your background, appearance or anything or the sort. She only looks at your personality and actions. I may dye my hair and dress in a rough style but she is the only one that gets me."
I remembered what Momo said about Karasuma before. He was not as bad as he wanted to projected himself to be. He dyed his hair to be different than his parents, but when he was talking with his brother and dad, it wasn't like he hated them.
"Shiro also has her faults. She is devoted to her studies, she examines things way too closely, she is either one thousand percent or at the minimum, finds the need to understand everything and she needs someone to look after her. I'm older so I should have been the one to be looking after her."
In a way I was starting to see Momo in him. She always took care of everyone else that she didn't care about the consequences for herself for the sake of her's. I knew better than both of them what other students can say about Momo and her stoic attitude. Actually Karasuma may know more than I do.
They grew up with such similar situations that it wasn't surprising that they were able to sympathize with each other. 'Have you guys ever wondered how I would be if I wasn't known as the Star Couple's daughter? In some ways, that would be Yu-kun.' Momo's words back then carried a lot more than I thought.
"Sorry about that." Momo came back taking her seat.
"No it's fine. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, just a bit of things I had to take care of. I hope that I didn't leave you guys to be awkward with each other for too long. Did you talk about anything?" I turned to Karasuma who was staring down at his half eaten treat.
"We didn't talk mu-"
"Do you remember why I call you Shiro?" He was looking directly at Momo. She stopped in her movements at how straightforward he was.
"Why?" She tilted her head a little. "It was because I really liked the colour white, no? But then again, I never did own much white things because I didn't like the idea of getting it dirty. It was a way you joked with me"
This was news to me since most of her things had a gray, black and blue aesthetic. "Then why do you call me Yu-kun?"
"I... I don't remember."
"Your first snow fall. You loved white because of the snow. You found it to be interesting and you kept running around while calling me to come play with you. You were saying Yuki both in my name and for snow that it was too confusing to everyone. So you changed to say Yu-kun. Do you remember why you liked snow so much?"
"I see. Now that you mention it I do remember calling for you a lot while playing. As to why? Hmm. Not sure there was a reason." He chuckled sitting up.
"Higawari, do you like the snow?"
"Huh? Oh well um- yeah. It looks nice, sometimes I would build a tiny snowman on the side of the road and have snowball fights with my brother. I wasn't too good with the cold though."
"When Shiro was younger we would do the same. Then we would go back to her house and Auntie Ichigo would have prepared a nice cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Even though it was boiling hot, her sweet tooth always got the best of her that she would burn her tongue every time."
"H-hey!" She blushed at her past childish side. "Why are you even bringing it up?"
"Felt like reminiscing that's all. You were still young so it makes sense why you don't remember what you said to me."
"Did I say something to you before?"
"Nothing important." He slightly turned his head away from us to look out at the street. But for a quick second I thought I saw the corner of his lip twitch upwards.
"I'm not convinced but you're so stubborn I won't even try for a better answer." She must have not seen the way he smiled at her just now.
He turned to me suddenly. "Why are you staring at me again?"
"Um I w-wasn't- I d-didn't- W-why can't I?" I blurted out. I wasn't staring at him because I wanted. He was practically in front of me and was always making harsh comments that I did not stand for this bullying!
"You heard the boy Yu-kun. Why can't he?" Momo was provoking him I think?
"Fair enough." He popped the rest of his taiyaki into his mouth and stood up. "Since you finally spoke up against me, how about I give you a surprise?"
Was he proud that I talked back to him? "Surprise?"
We followed Karasuma to a local locker station. It was getting late that all the street lights were starting to come on. I've never really been out so late and definitely not in this part of the neighborhood.
This was where most high schoolers and adults came to get a night out. I stood out like a sore thumb. Meanwhile Momo and Karasuma didn't even look bothered by the bustling life that had people loudly going on with their lives. They fitted in perfectly while I flinched every time someone walked past us.
"Why do you have a rental locker?"
"To put my things in, duh." He turned his back to us to get his stuff out. Momo slowly raised a hand above his head with an angry face. I reached out to grab her hand before she could do anything to him.
I gestured for her to calm down. She sighed loudly and lowered her hand. By that time Karasuma had finished grabbing a few stuff out of his locker. "You were planning on hitting me?"
"Maybe." She looked down and saw the small stereo bag in hand. "Don't tell me you're doing what I think you're doing."
He raised the stereo up so that we could clearly see that he, also, had a microphone. "We're going busking."
Karasuma threw his arm around my shoulders, dragging me out of the station. "Y-Yu-kun!"
She ran after us as he was dragging me. Momo walked backwards in front of us. "Listen to me. We are not allowed to busk in an public area with local businesses still in practice. Busking has been listed by Japan law as nuisance under public morals and disorderly conduct, subsection five clearly stating-"
"Shiro if you keep walking backwards you'll hit someone." She turned around to walk beside us.
"Help me out here Shouta-kun. We can't do busking; it is not permitted."
"A-actually I would like to see it."
"See?" He basically threw the bag into my hands to put both of his hands on her cheeks. He pushed her face around. "Such a harsh looking face. Now let's go before someone takes my spot."
He patted her on the head before taking the stereo back and walking off. She came to my side as we started following him. "Why did you agree to this? There's other ways to hear music in a licensed way."
She was right that we could potentially get into trouble for busking. If any store owners found us to be bothering their business, we would be scolded big time. On the other hand, Karasuma knew what he was doing. I have never done anything remotely wrong for as long back as I can remember. Karasuma was the opposite, trying every way possible to be something different.
"You met me while I was performing in public. I want to see what Karasuma-san can do too."
Maybe this was too fast of a change but if he was so confident in himself I wanted to see what he could do. Why did he look at Momo with such sad eyes when she was taking her phone call? Why did he look so proud when I talked back? Questions kept piling up. He doesn't show all of his true colours unless he wanted to himself.
When I tried talking to him, his answers were all short and to the point. This time he was taking initiative to show me/ us a side to him that he seems to have taken pride with. Even if it does go against us, I had a feeling that his performance would be a real show of who is is beyond his displayed persona.
Momo puffed out once. "He's a bad influence on you."
I chuckled that he did have a certain influence over others. We looked over to Karasuma who already had gathered a relatively large crowd. It was like they were all familiar with him seeing as they waved and greeted him as he went towards the center of the crowd.
"I didn't realize Yu-kun had manage to garner much attention with this." When I looked up Karasuma online, there wasn't much. He was only a nameless busker until he got the drama role with Momo. But this was actually a lot of people that knew him based solely on his talent.
We stood in the crowd, watching as he stood on a higher platform. "Hello everyone! Did you wait long?"
There was a loud cheer for him that was a lot closer than the one I felt on a Aikatsu stage. As a performer I could feel excited from that alone. I could see that Momo felt the same way.
"Well today I have a special surprise. As some of you may know I have been casted in a short drama. So today I have brought my co-star Suzukawa Momo to play the guitar for me!" He pointed us out that made the crowd immediately part.
We were both caught in headlights as everyone gave us applause. Momo gave a meek smile rushing her way to Karasuma. "Give us a few minutes to set up and we'll get started soon!"
"I did not agree to this Yu-kun." She said close enough so that the crowd couldn't hear it.
"Well I already told the people. We don't want to disappoint them do we?" He took out his guitar from its bag revealing it to be a dark red style. I don't know the model but it was different from the one Kenta had given Momo.
"You shouldn't have said that then!"
"Come on Shiro, let loose every once in a while. You've performed on a real stage before. Now try mine." He handed her his guitar. She stopped rolling her eyes at his guitar. Momo slightly leaned forward, her eyebrows scrunched up.
"How long have you had this?"
"Roughly a month now. Still new for you to try out." From behind I could see her shoulders loosen up. If there was one thing about Momo that was interesting, it was that she could see into music better than anyone. And that included people's instruments.
"What song do you even have in mind?"
He smirked at her. "Wild Side by Ali."
She cracked a slight smile. She held her out her hand which he put the guitar in. "You're lucky I know this song."
Momo threw the guitar strap over herself, getting ready as Karasuma was setting up the other small equipment. She held up the guitar with one leg to adjust the strap comfortably. Maybe it was my imagination but I thought I saw her pause for second while looking at the guitar. "Hey Shouta-kun, have you heard of Wild Side before?"
"No? Why do you ask?"
"Typically I play rock songs for you. This song is actually categorized as jazz. With jazz there is really no wrong way."
"No wrong way?"
"Right." Karasuma finished and stood by the microphone stand. I turned to him so that he could complete the explanation. "Jazz was made with the intention of partying. Not only that but the main thing was that it was so new at the time that most of was improvised. Following a score sheet was weird for this genre. Done Shiro?"
Momo tested out a few notes with a serious face. "Yeah. This isn't a jazz- electric so I had to up the amplification. Should I do the same for your mic?"
"Nah, I got it covered. Higawari, we're going to get started soon."
"Sorry I can't help in any way." I apologized to them.
"Don't be sorry Shouta-kun. Just have fun with our song. That's the point of jazz." The slight smile on her face said everything that I need to know. It was like Karasuma had said. When I first met her she didn't know how to have fun. Since we were so close I didn't even realize how much Momo had grown from when started Aikatsu.
The girl that I met a few months ago couldn't understand the concept of smiling so easily. Now she was having fun with herself and not just with singing. Even before her performance she was already in the best mood.
All throughout today Momo was the most comfortable that I've ever seen. With both her previous lifestyle mixing in with her current own, she was finally having fun with everything without a care.
I jumped with the trumpets sounded powerfully through the stereo. It was a long time since I heard music like this. Everyone around me was already super happy with the beginning parts.
Mass ni awaseta lifestyle muri demo rakusurya furi
Freedom ouka I got chills hearing him start. It was in a completely different style than what I heard in his other videos.
Rifujin fukitobasu skill kore chigau last minute He had such a rough voice while leaning on the microphone stand.
Merci, au revoir
Pride wa jama suru mousho, Donc vas-y jete ca Not to mention that I hadn't really heard an idol rap before
Subete try shi konpai, fue ni sukuware halftime
Kept walking on the wild side
I don't wanna fall asleep throughout my life
Sometimes in a buffalo style Wait, this isn't in Japanese? With the way he changed his voice it was hard to tell.
Sometimes like a rockn' roll mind
Be wild side. Was this in English?
Try it.
Climax yumemi all in Now that I thought about it, Momo's guitar was underlying under the other instruments. I could only hear the way she was plucking when I paid close attention
It was a such a sweet time
Ozzu mienai blurred
(try it)
Kimochi tobitatsu boeing
Issun saki wa saa?
It is a wonderful my life I felt myself smile when I the mood suddenly changed. He got rid of his rough voice that it was almost like a different person.
Please could you kiss my name? It was so light. I could even see Karasuma starting to get into music too as his body started swinging more.
When the music's over Karasuma took the microphone, going over to Momo.
Turn off light She was smiling as she rolled her eyes at him dancing around her
It was such a sweet time
Could you pray for me, my friend? Without a plan beforehand the two of them danced in circles in perfect tune. It was a familiar feeling watching them so freely. It was like watching children messing around on a playground
It's starting over time
Taking over night I was so amazed at them that I didn't even realize that Karasuma had come up to me
Taking over blue time I stumbled when he suddenly pulled me out of the crowd
If you heard that screaming shout in your mind
Taking over shine Under Karasuma's music I could hear Momo laughing at him spinning away.
Taking over shooting star With my rotating vision I could clearly see Momo's idol aura coming from her.
All I was talking about was music
I looked at Yuki seeing that he, himself had an idol aura that he wasn't aware of. A multitude of coloured snowflakes that reminded me of him dying his hair. And only faintly I could see an unidentifiable shape that went along with it meaning that he was still developing his aura.
And that's called jazz!
It was a familiar feeling as we were playing around. It wasn't idols doing a stage. It was more like a group of friends enjoying the time of their lives with one another. Even the crowd was swinging along with us. Now that the song was nearing its end, all of us were dancing silly to final notes.
The day was coming to an end that we had to return to campus. We would have walked Karasuma home but we were half way between the academy and his house that we decided to part ways here.
"Before you go back, you haven't said a word about my performance. Was it that perfect?"
Momo held back a smile. "It was okay. I still don't condone your actions, however you had a good grasp on the situation and those listening seem to have enjoyed it so shall I then. That being said I do want you to advise against large crowds as they can promote safety issues in a small ar-"
"There you go again. Yes yes I understand I'll be careful onee-sama." She shook her head at him calling her an older sister with the formal honourifics with such a mocking tone.
"I would very much prefer to have Touya as my younger sibling. I'll try to cut back on the nagging though."
"Good. I rather not go through all of our rehearsals and filming hearing you go off in my ear all the time."
"Well maybe if you actually listened- you know what? Never mind. Let's end today on a good note." She tackled him into a hug which he returned with gently patting her back.
"You'll see me in a few days no need to get emotional."
She pulled back. "I know."
Momo released him, standing next to me. Since that was practically their goodbye I guess it was my turn to say something.
"Give me your phone." Before I could say anything he held his hand out. I quickly handed him my phone. He typed in something that we couldn't see before handing it back to me. "I probably won't hang out with you again just so you know."
I gave out a confused chuckle. "O-okay?"
He rubbed Momo once on the head then turned to leave. Once he was out of sight she gave me a pat on the back. "Isn't that great? He really likes you."
"Likes me? He just told me that he wouldn't hang out with me again."
"He never said it was impossible though. Yu-kun's good at expressing hatred and bad with approval so the fact that he didn't out right say he hated you is a good sign."
"I-is that so?" It was a strange way to express himself. It still made sense how it fitted his image.
"So how was today? Was it as bad as you predicted?"
I had to think about everything that happen in our short time together. I do think that what he said about not hanging out with me again was truthful given how the only thing we really have in common was Momo. Besides music obviously but he was ways ahead of me in that category.
I couldn't say that he knew more about Momo though. Yes, he knew a lot about her past but we are all still young. We're still growing up and learning about ourselves. As I'm learning about Momo, she is herself too. Same with Karasuma.
"It was surprisingly okay. It was hard at the beginning but in the end I don't regret hanging out with him today. What about you? Did you learn something about him today? That was your goal after all."
She smiled fondly. "I did. You know when I first learned that he was busking I watched one of his videos. I felt so bad for his other guitar. Today I saw up close that it was a a fairly new one. With my very quick examination, I didn't feel bad for it putting up with Yu-kun's antics."
"Was there something special about it?"
"Remember that I didn't have my guitar until Kenta-san gave me one. I out grew my old one. So did Yu-kun. I wonder how much he used this Gibson that he had already gone through a set of strings. He still does it so messy with those loose ends."
I didn't know much about instruments but I knew how to take care of my guitar at least. Most of the time changing the strings was more on maintenance than on them breaking. If he only had that one for a month, it must have been him practicing non-stop to the point of breaking or wearing out the strings. Momo must have seen that when she played it herself.
"I learned something about you too Shouta-kun."
"Me?" She faced me putting a finger in between her eyebrows.
"Your face scrunches up right here when you're mad. And you pucker up your lips. It reminds me of Ami and Haruki. I've never seen you mad before." She was almost skipping in her step.
"Your baby twin cousins? I remind of a baby?"
"Yep! Cute and soft even when you're trying to be angry."
"You don't have to sound so happy about it!"
"Just like that! Shouta-kun really is cute over scary." I put on my best attempt to glare at her that only made her chuckle. "But you did get angry on my behalf so I thank you. And once more for dealing with Yu-kun today."
"Your welcome. I'm glad I got to know more about you too. Who would have thought that you would have been the clingy type to Karasuma-san?"
"I am not clingy." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"You are to him. I'm sure he would agree with me."
"Maybe it was a bad idea to put you two together. You're picking up his bad habits. Soon you'll be closer to him than I am. You already have his phone number and everything."
"Was he putting in his phone number?" I opened up my phone. The first thing I saw was that my notes were open rather than my contacts.
"Was is it?" Momo shuffled next to me so that we could read it.
'Snow in Shiro's eyes was a white wonderland. It was new, magical and pure. She said the name suited me well. She is something different. Take care of her for me.'
Momo smiles at his note. "See, even Yu-kun can be shy sometimes."
She stepped back continuing to walk with a light skip in her steps. I was going to put my phone away when I saw some cut off characters at the bottom of the note. I scrolled down revealing another sentence. 'Nice matching phone straps.'
I started laughing causing Momo to jump. I couldn't stop as she kept asking questions. I had tears in my eyes, with no breath. "Y-you- ha ha ha you were ha ha ha!"
"What? What did you say?"
I took a few seconds to catch my breath. She looked concerned for me as I was breathing heavily. "I was trying to say... You were right. Karasuma-san is a good person."
Momo blinked a few times then smiled. "Of course he is! I don't know why it seems hilarious to you but I'll take it."
Karasuma's first and only compliment to me was about the matching treble clef phone straps that we had. I may or may not have won him over. I couldn't tell. What I do know is that he had a soft spot for Momo. I could only see her childish side with him, only she could see his kind side.
That feeling and warmth that he had for Momo makes him not a bad person. He had the ability to show different sides of me as well. Today was the first time hearing jazz and watching a real live busking performance. Today was the first time that I really got mad at someone. Momo had earned his respect and I hadn't. Yet.
I didn't know why being mad was so different to me. Dancing on the streets with live music playing and laughing with good friends was all different to me. Letting loose every once in a while didn't hurt.
"I had fun today Momo-san. I hope we can see him again soon."
Aipom4: *sobbing noise* I'm glad. I was worried that it was a bit too rushed with only the beginning scene then immediately to the little fight so I'm glad you liked it!
Trivia: So Yuki means snow and in the most advanced version of Aoi's idol aura she has little snow flakes. Next up the name Karasuma was the last name from a character in Assassination Classroom. He was like the tough exterior who is like a boss but still very nice to people who deserve it. Very much the image I was looking for so Karasuma Yuki's name was set!
Some news/ heads up! I know that some people have been asking for this for a while and I recently found the inspiration (at literally 4 am). The next chapter will be a Ichigo and Naoto chapter! I don't know how it'll go but look forward to it :)