"Hurry up Naoto!" Tadano shouted across the apartment. It irked the artist. He didn't need to be reminded.
"Yeah, yeah."
Naoto grabbed his luggage, haphazardly tossing it next to his door. With ever growing concern he glanced at his phone. Still no message. Where was she?
A loud knock on his door caused him to groan in frustration.
"I swear to god Tadano," Naoto barked as he swung the door open. "I am good. I know. I am ready."
Tadano stared at him through narrowed eyes, clearly dissatisfied with the lead singer's progress. As if to drive the point home, he was furiously tapping his foot on the floor.
The emotions in the apartment had gone critical over the last week. With the ever swiftly approaching departure to America, the crew had found themselves a little high strung. This was undoubtedly a once in a life time chance. If anything went wrong, they would most likely not get another shot at this for many years. Or that was at least what they feared. Naoto had to admit he concerned himself very little with the business side of things. It just wasn't his strength. Tadano usually took care of things by himself, which they were all grateful for, until it caused him to erupt like this.
Today was the day. They all had gotten essentially no sleep to then get up at three in the morning and ready themselves for a grueling day. It was now about an hour later. Naoto had grabbed himself a small bowl of rice, just to get something in his stomach, before he began grabbing all the luggage and miscellaneousitems he was going to bring onto the plane itself. They had luckily already dropped all the large items off ahead of time, which gave them a small head start on the process. Evidently, this wasn't enough for Tadano.
"We're all ready," Tadano said. "What are you waiting on?"
"I haven't heard from Maki yet," Naoto admitted, glancing at his phone once again. "She knows how to get to the airport, but I am worried she might come here instead? I don't know."
Tadano sighed, seemingly deflated by Naoto's genuine concern. "Text her to meet us there then."
"I did," Naoto assured.
"Well, do it again."
Naoto sighed and did just that. The man felt so lost. It had been a solid twenty-four hours since had last heard from his girlfriend. It wasn't like her at all to leave him in suspense like this, especially knowing how anxious he had been about this situation in the first place. For the last two weeks, they had been texting and calling each other nonstop. That wasn't too different from the norm, as the two of them were always ensuring that the distance between them meant nothing. Still, the constant assurance and encouragement he had received from her over the last two weeks had helped so much. The sudden silence left him feeling lost in limbo.
"Have you tried calling her?" Tadano asked, now completely shifted into his supportive state.
"Yeah, she's not picking up," Naoto said. "I don't know what's going on. My mind is coming up with the worst possible scenarios."
"Well, stop that."
"Trying."
Naoto picked up his luggage and followed Tadano into the living room. The rest of the band was already assembled. Tony was slouching on the couch, yawning loudly, earning him a gentle clap on the head from Hisao who was standing behind the couch. Rin was leaning against her boyfriend's back, looking like she was asleep upright. Komi stood closer to Naoto and Tadano, worriedly watching the two walk into the room.
"There he is. Kept us waiting," Hisao chuckled. "You trying to get a few more minutes of shuteye?"
"That's a grand idea," Tony said, followed by another smack from Hisao. "Stop that!"
"Stop being a brat."
Naoto sighed, starting to feel somewhat guilty for leaving them all waiting. Even though they had more than enough time to go. It was about an hours drive to the airport. Their flight wasn't bound to leave until four hours from now. They were all just far too tense. They didn't want to screw anything up.
"What's wrong?" Komi asked, her gentle voice heavy with concern.
"I can't reach Maki," Naoto said. "It's like she's just fell off the face of the earth."
"That sucks," Tony said bluntly, followed by third slap. "I'll kick your ass Hisao!"
"We still have time," Komi said, her eyes resting firmly on Tadano. Her boyfriend took the hint and sighed.
"She's right," Tadano agreed. "Sit down. Call her again. Let's see if we can find out what's going on."
Naoto fell backwards into the couch, sinking as deep as the fabric would let him. There were no messages on his phone. No missed calls. Nothing. It made him feel cold. Where had Maki vanished to?
He reached out again, sending another text, asking if she was okay. The idea that something might have happened to her weighed heavily on his mind. He could feel the sweat forming on his palm. He just wanted her to be safe.
An hour later, the band was on their way, split into two cars. They had waited an extra half hour in the hopes to hear anything at word from had to wrestle with his desire to cancel the whole thing and rush to see why she wasn't answering. But he felt torn down by the guilt of ruining this chance for everyone else. They tried to rationalize the situation. Maybe she was just very busy. Perhaps her phone died or broke entirely. Everything would be fine.
Naoto had to believe that. If he faltered for even a moment, he would force Tadano to turn this car around. He couldn't think about it. He couldn't let his mind conjure up the horrendous images it was threatening him with.
"It's going to be fine," Tadano said in the driver's seat ahead of him. "You'll see."
"I am mildly concerned about those eyes on the back of your head," Naoto quipped. "How are you doing that?"
"You are radiating so much anxiety," Tadano said. "It's hard not to notice. But I promise you, it'll be fine."
Naoto sighed as he stared out the window, watching the landscape pass them by. "How can you be so certain?"
"Because you deserve nothing but the best, my friend."
The moment they parked their cars, the stressful day ahead of them came back to the forefront. They unpacked their luggage and Tadano quickly led them through the parking lot and into the airport. The bustling, open halls of the building were buzzing with hundreds, perhaps thousands of voices, echoing from the walls and ceiling. The group rushed through the place, as quickly as they could, making their way to their designated terminal. It felt like a cruel joke, with just how open and large this airport was. Naoto could imagine a casual stroll from one end of it to theother taking about two hours, easily.
At their pace, it took them about twenty minutes to make it toward the terminal, where a ton of passengers had already gathered. Through the massive windows beside them, one could see that the plane was still seemingly being inspected. They had time.
They each took a seat and Naoto instantly whipped out his phone to check for any messages, but there were none. With a groan he stashed the device again and began nervously tapping his hand against his knee. Tadano, sitting beside him, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. While Naoto appreciated the gesture, it did nothing to ease his mind. The veil had been lifted. He no longer felt safe in his assumption that everything was going to be alright. He needed to see Maki, to ensure she was fine. He was so close to screaming, shouting to the sky. It was all he could do to keep himself anchored.
What if she was hurt? What if on the way to their apartment, she lost control of her car and she was now in a ditch somewhere, quietly pleading for Naot-
"There you are!"
Naoto whipped his head around in disbelief. A fiery-red mane bounced toward him, before tackling him in his seat. Confused, somewhat dazed now, he stared at the body that was now pressed against his.
"Maki!?"
"The one and only," the woman chuckled as she looked at him, beaming away. "I was wondering where you lot were. I was getting worried!"
"You-YOUwere getting worried!?" Naoto scoffed. "I was out of my mind with worry! I've been trying to reach you all day and night! No response! None! What the hell Maki!?"
"Guys!" Tadano hissed quietly, gesturing around them. It would appear that their display had garnered the attention of the other passengers. "Can we keep it down a little?"
Naoto shot him an apologetic look. Maki sighed and slumped into the seat on the opposite side of Naoto.
"I am sorry I couldn't get in contact withyou," she said. "There were some... 'complications'."
"The hell does that mean?" Naoto asked with a raised brow, feeling a tinge of guilt at letting his frustration show so openly.
"Father dear decided to cut me off from the phone plan without letting me know."
"What?" Naoto asked, furious. "Why would he do that?"
"He was pissed," Gamo said with a shrug. "Said it was unbelievable that I would leave the family struggling without my help for a 'pleasure cruise'. Man's cut me off, even changed all the passwords on Wi-Fi, so I couldn't get access to shit. I told him where he can stick it and walked out. Been just sort of in my car since then."
"That's awful," Naoto said as he wrapped his arms around Maki. All of the fear and frustration he had bottled up over the last twenty-four hours dissipated. The mere fact she was here, alive, well, was enough for him. He wanted to hold onto her and never let go.
"Dude sounds like a dick," Tony remarked quietly.
"He is," Maki assured. "Washed up guy. Never managed to do half the stuff that I have done forhisgym. The moment I decide I want to do something for myself he gets all high and mighty on me. He can kiss my ass."
"Well, we're really glad you're here," Komi spoke softly. "We were all worried about you."
"Aw, shucks," Maki chuckled, taken somewhat off guard. "There was no need. I wasn't going to miss this. But thanks. I appreciate it. I know I am kind of just Naoto's plus one. Still, you guys are always great to me."
"Wait, what?" Tadano asked, leaning forward to establish eye contact with Maki. "Don't think like that. You're one of us now. We may not have met under favorable circumstances, but you make Naoto happy. If he loves you, we love you."
"Yeah, but like a little less than he does," Tony giggled. "Else, that'd be awkward."
"Not like you'd have a shot," Maki smirked. Tony only giggled harder.
"Yeah, you are cool."
Rin twisted her torso back and forth, causing her sleeves to sway in the air. "She's another redhead. That's important. I was all alone before in the world."
"There are way more redheads Rin," Hisao said.
"I don't see any," the woman retorted. "So I doubt that."
Naoto found himself laughing, something he didn't think would have been possible a few minutes ago. The man could feel Maki's hand on his back, lovingly caressing him. He wondered how he had ever managed to exist without this.
Naoto had friends now. Real, true friends, that were willing to stick by his side through the troubles that life threw his way. He had a loving girlfriend who had proven more than once that she was willing to move mountains for him if necessary. He felt so undeserving of it all at the time, but that didn't stop him from enjoying it for the moment.
Half an hour later, the call went out for the passengers to board the plane. In a nice, orderly fashion, group after group of people were ushered into the machine. Side by side, Naoto and Maki made their way through the tight corridor of the sky bridge, leading into the airplane. The crew was unbearably polite and forthcoming and swiftly directed the couple to their seats. Maki took the window seat as Naoto wasn't too find of knowing just how high up they would be. The moment they were settled in, a sense of relief washed over Naoto. Everything had worked out, just as Tadano had said. Maki was here, the plane was boarded and soon to take off. It would all end up going well.
An endless pond.
Still water, frozen in time, reaching to the horizon and beyond.
He could spy nothing else out here.
The frigid winds swept across the surface of the liquid, whipping his face, leaving a dreadful sensation.
As the moment stretched on to infinity, he took note of his body sinking ever deeper.
The pond's embrace left his body shuddering and his skin began cracking in uneven ways.
Yet, despite the view from above the motionless liquid, there was nothing below its surface.
The moment his head fully submerged, the free fall began.
Every deeper into the gaping void below him.
"Naoto!"
The young man woke with a start, the intense calling of his name tearing him from his strange dream. Immediately self conscious, Naoto wiped a tiny bit of drool from the corner of his mouth as he glanced toward the source of the voice.
Beside him, Maki appeared to be rather tense. Naoto was initially thrown off by this, unsure as to what had happened, until his gaze lowered just a little.
There was a small, dark spot on her shirt, right on her chest, where undoubtedly, Naoto had just woken up from. He cringed internally, trying to remain as calm as possible, despite knowing a shade of red was creeping its way up to his face.
"I-I am sorry Maki," he started sheepishly. "I didn't mean to- I'll wipe it off, I am sorry!"
Yet as Naoto reached his hand into the storage net of the seat ahead of him, Maki swiftly, albeit gently, grabbed a hold of it and pulled it toward her.
"That's not- huh?" Maki balked as she looked down at her shirt and noticed the drool stain. "Whatever. I don't care. Are you alright?"
Naoto stared at her, perplexed by the sudden question. "Y-yeah? Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'!? You sounded like you were dying in your sleep!"
Maki's expression betrayed the legitimacy of her concern. Naoto now wished for the drool to be the main focus of the situation. How loud had he been? How many people on the plane had possibly heard him?
He wanted to sink into-
The still, frigid pond.
"Oh."
"'Oh' what?" Maki asked, her left eyebrow raising.
"I had a strange dream," Naoto admitted. "Probably just my brain dealing with all the stress."
"Oh," Maki echoed now, her body relaxing slightly, only for her to take a more defensive position. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" Naoto asked, baffled.
"I made you worry all morning, when you all were already so anxious about the trip. Probably had a hand in whatever just happened."
There was a short moment of silence, in which Naoto did nothing but observe the uncertainty in Maki's eyes. It always slipped his mind that he somehow was the first guy she had been this close with. He could tell that Maki wasn't used to being someone to cause another internal struggles such as these, nor did she have knowledge and experience on how to handle the situation once it arose.
Neither did he honestly.
"It's okay Maki," he assured her. "If anything, it's your dad's fault, isn't it? Despite everything you still came here to be with me on this trip. That means the world to me."
Maki shut her eyes, as if to will herself to remain calm, but the blush spreading on her face indicated that it was futile.
"Stop," she whispered as she squeezed his hand. "I'd never miss this."
Naoto smiled lovingly at his girlfriend. He meant what he had said. Without Maki, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to do this. It felt a little weak to admit it, but he also had to work on being honest with his mental limits.
Those being brought up, what was that strange dream? It felt like he was being drowned, swallowed up by a never ending darkness. Yet there was no such void in his heart or mind. Not that he could think of. Most likely, as he himself theorized, it was simply the stress of everything getting to him.
Right?