Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The next day found Masakado awake before the sun had fully risen, the sky still a muted shade of blue.

It wasn’t unusual for him to be up at the crack of dawn early on concert days, whether it was for Ae! group’s concert or not. Quite the contrary. The thrill of playing his beloved guitar and performing in front of the crowd would pulse through him hours before the actual performance. And yet...

Well, let’s just say that, today, his inability to sleep for longer than four hours straight had little to do with Westo-nii-san's first concert at Tokyo Dome.

Masakado stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his reflection staring back at him with dull eyes. He brushed his teeth and splashed cold water on his face, hoping to wash away the weariness that clung to him. The water struck like needles against his skin, but it did nothing to wake him from the fog of discontent that clouded his mind.

He took a quick shower, the hot water cascading over him with the same delayed enthusiasm he spreading in his chest. If he were back in Osaka, he might have taken a walk through familiar streets, letting the rhythm of the city clear his thoughts. But here in Tokyo, the sheer size and complexity of the city made him uneasy. The labyrinth of streets and alleys felt like a trap waiting to surprise him.

He shuddered at the thought of getting lost before their YouTube filming. Seiya-kun and the others would freak out for sure, and he might even end up with a black eye, courtesy of the Mad Dog of Kansai.

A cold sweat trickled down his back.

So, what to do with the 3 extra hours he got all to himself before the filming? He knew better than to text any of the other members or — worse — knock at their doors at this unholy hour. That would only guarantee a full day of long faces, tight-lipped frowns, and muffled complaints right before the concert.

“I wanna see Seiya-kun...” he whispered to himself, pulling out his phone. He scrolled through his secret folder of candid pictures of Seiya, his thumb lingering in each image.

He had started his picture collection shortly after the Ae!group was formed, baffled by the realization that he was in the same group as his beloved Seiya-sama. But now, he rarely looked at those photos he took back then.

"That was before..." he grumbled with a tight chest, twisting his mouth into a grimace of poorly concealed pride.

"When Seiya-kun wasn’t aware of my feelings and I had to creep around to get his pictures."

He didn’t have to say it, even though he was alone in the room. But it was a truth that had settled in for months now. Seiya-kun knew about his crush and he was okay with them.

Masakado frowned.

In the loneliness of his room at dawn, he couldn’t pretend things were alright just because Seiya didn't distance himself from Masakado, repulsed by his feelings. With all their up and downs — and especially with Seiya-kun’s changes between hot and cold with him —, Masakado wondered if it was really for the best.

It was true that, now, he could get closer to Seiya-kun, and ask him for help at rehearsals or even ask for a picture together without worrying if the other could see through everything. He had gotten better at dancing and was rewarded with some lovely pictures of Seiya-kun because of that. There were even some precious two-shots with him in the frame.

But sometimes, like this morning in Tokyo, alone in a hotel room, with some hours to kill and nothing to do, Masakado really wondered if Seiya-kun’s cold shoulder wouldn't be for the best.

A sudden knock on the door startled him. And his heart started pumping blood rapidly through his veins, as if getting ready to hear the melodious voice of...

"Masakado-kun!! We're going to the lobby!"

He sighed again. Never had he hated Masaya-chan’s voice more than at that precise moment.

But well, he better get that into that thick skull of his. Just because Seiya-kun seemed okay with Masakado liking him, it didn't mean he would like him back.

"Seiya-kun has no reason to come knocking on my door when there are four other guys willing to..." he bitterly thought.

"Coming!" He shouted almost as he got to open the door to join the rest of the group.

"Ah!" A groggy looking Seiya-kun was standing in front of his door, his right hand up in mid-air as if he was just about to knock on his door, eyes widened like a deer caught in highlights. His slightly disheveled hair, a testament to the hurry with which he had left his room, just complemented the look.

"Masaya-chan had just called me..."

It was a mystery how compelled he felt to excuse himself or his actions whenever he was in front of Suezawa Seiya. It’s not as if Seiya would question him — or even pay much attention, to be honest — but Masakado couldn’t help feeling the target of Seiya-kun’s judging eyes 24/7.

This time was no different.

But then, Masakado could listen to his favorite sound on Earth. On the VIP row. All to himself. Nobody else but him.

Seiya-kun let out that marvellous sound; that mix between a feline moan of pain and a raspy sigh of sleepiness.

He had only heard it a few times in front of the camera, never just the two of them. It was like a miracle, a reward to his sleepless night.

Masakado wanted to kick himself for not having the reflex to take out his phone and record it.

“That brat just wanted to...” Seiya-kun kept on mumbling, complaining with his just-awaken, raspy voice. Masakado could have kissed him right there and then. “I bet Richa told him to.”

To that accusation, Masakado had nothing to say. He hadn’t wondered about it, as he didn’t really care who had caused this miraculous accident. He would only want to know the culprit to send him thank you flowers and chocolate for allowing Masakado to witness the cutest Sei-chan so early in the morning. But why would Seiya-kun accuse Richa of such a conspiracy?

“I think they’re waiting for us, Seiya-kun,” and Masakado wanted to kick himself for real this time, because his words seemed to snap Seiya-kun out of his cute, dreamy state.

With sudden eyes wide open, Seiya nodded curtly and took three large strides ahead of Masakado, turning around when he realized Masakado wasn’t following him.

“Aren’t you coming?” he asked, tilting his head.

It was Masakado’s turn to snap back to reality. “Oh, sure!” He grabbed his hotel room key card in a haste, and followed Seiya-kun suit.

He was gleefully following the other until they got to the dining hall and Seiya-kun parted ways to meet with Richa. Through side eyes, Masakado could see Seiya-kun punching Richa on the shoulder and earning one of those mischievous laughs from Richa.

Masakado couldn’t shake the feeling during breakfast that Seiya-kun’s and Richa-kun’s eyes would land on him from time to time. He would try to meet their gazes, to no avail. While Richa-kun would kindly smile and naturally sweep the rest of the place with his eyes, Seiya-kun would hastily look away.

He sighed.

And to think that the day had just started!

The morning buzz of Tokyo greeted the group as they piled into the van, cameras rolling to capture every moment for the Juniors’ YouTube channel. The city unfolded around them, a sprawling maze of streets, massive neon signs, and towering skyscrapers. Masakado watched through the window, the city blurring past like a kaleidoscope of colors. He usually loved the thrill of being in Tokyo, but today, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him.

He glanced at Seiya, who was oblivious to his hungry eyes.

They filmed throughout the city, mixing the normal location filming with some shorts, visiting popular spots and capturing candid moments for their fans. But no matter where they went to, Masakado couldn’t shake the growing frustration within him. Seiya kept his distance, always finding a reason to drift away, whether it was to chat with Kojima, to do some fanservice with Masaya-chan or to scout out the next filming location with Richa. Each time Masakado tried to close the gap between them, Seiya would slip through his fingers like sand.

By the time they arrived at Tokyo Dome for the general rehearsal of the concert, the tension in Masakado’s chest had tightened into a knot.

The iconic venue loomed large and imposing, its vastness making Masakado feel even smaller. As they stepped out of the van, the seven members of Johnny’s WEST were already waiting, greeting them with wide smiles and open arms. The energy was infectious, and for a moment, Masakado allowed himself to be swept up in the excitement.

“Westo-nii-san!” Masaya-chan called out, beaming as he jogged ahead to meet them, trying to make himself appeal as the youngest of the group — though he never really had that aura to begin with.

Well, he had, for a while… But he had been the one who tossed it away.

The rest of the group followed him and didn’t mention a thing about his sudden change of character, exchanging enthusiastic greetings with their beloved senpais.

“Where have you guys been all day?” Junta-kun, the eldest member of WEST, asked with a grin, ruffling Masaya-chan’s hair with a bit of difficulty because of the height difference.

“Oh, just exploring the city!” Richa-kun answered, his eyes shining with excitement. It was so obvious how Richa-kun and Seiya-kun were the most comfortable around WEST, after all the time they had shared over the years. “We’ve been filming for our YouTube channel.”

“Nice, nice!” Kotaki-kun chimed in, wrapping his larger frame over Seiya-kun for no reason whatsoever. “I hope you got some good footage.”

“Ours will be better, though…” Akito-kun said, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyebrows went up and down in a playfully challenging way.

“You still have a long way to go, though,” Taisei said jokingly. “You are our kouhais when it comes to YouTube…”

Seiya-kun took the chance to smack Taisei in the head, looking amused but apologetic towards their senpai. Masakado was glad the sudden action took Kotaki-kun off of Seiya-kun. “What the hell are you taking about…? There’s no such a thing as being their senpais on YouTube…”

“Yes, Taisei… They are Westo-nii-san, after all!” Masakado chirped in, waiting for Seiya to look at him in agreement.

But, when that was about to happen, Kotaki-kun wrapped himself again around Seiya-kun with a shout of “So, what’s up with you, Sue?” that completely stole his thunder right before his eyes. There’s nothing Masakado could have done to prevent this from happening. Especially not with his hand awkwardly flinching as if trying to stop them, only to bounce back to its place.

As the chatter continued, Masakado’s smile slowly faded. He couldn’t help but notice how much attention Westo-nii-san lavished on Seiya and Richa.

From Ae! group’s point of view, it was funny to see the eldest member of their group being doted on by all the members of WEST, especially since their youngest member was the same age as Masakado, two years younger than Seiya. Masakado wondered if he too could ever dote on Seiya one day, but he quickly brushed off that idea, knowing all too well he would only have that chance if Seiya-kun allowed him to do some fanservice. Never in reality.

“But I cannot correspond to your feelings. Sorry, but that’s my answer.”

Seiya’s words echoed in his mind, the rejection still sharp as ever, lingering longer than he wanted it to.

And it just stung.

From then on, every few minutes, he would hear them calling out, “Sue, this” and “Seiya, that,” and “Sue, this other thing,” their voices filled with nothing but affection and a level of intimacy and comfort Masakado couldn’t even dream of. It was crystal clear how much they adored Seiya-kun, and it was just wearing on Masakado’s already frayed nerves.

It became a little annoying to hear “Sue this” and “Seiya that” a hundred times during practice, as every single member of WEST seemed to want to dote on Seiya-kun. It got to a point where Masakado almost dared calling him “Zawa-paisen,” as if calling out the nickname he had been the only one to come up with would help him claim Seiya-kun as his. But he quickly stopped the urge, realizing how petty it made him, how absurd it was.

He watched as Seiya-kun laughed at something one of the senpais said, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made Masakado’s heart skip a beat. But today, the sight only deepened the ache in his chest. The more they called Seiya-kun “Sue,” the more isolated Masakado felt, like he was on the outside looking in.

Not once had they called Masaya-chan, KojiKen, or even himself in that cute, affectionate way.

Not once had he called Seiya-kun anything remotely close and gotten that sweet reaction from him.

The rehearsal began, and the atmosphere in Tokyo Dome shifted to one of focused determination. The group went through their paces, following the directions of their senpais and the staff with precision. Everything had to be perfect on the rehearsal to ensure a good show for the fans. But no matter how hard Masakado tried to concentrate on the task at hand, he couldn’t stop his eyes from straying toward Seiya-kun.

Seiya-kun, who seemed perfectly at ease with Westo-nii-san.

Seiya-kun, who was always within arm’s reach of Richa, sharing whispered jokes and comfy smiles.

Seiya-kun, who didn’t spare Masakado a single glance.

By the time they reached the final run-through of the rehearsal, Masakado’s frustration had reached its peak. He couldn’t get close to Seiya-kun, couldn’t even exchange a word with him throughout the whole thing, and the more he tried, the more it seemed like the universe conspired to keep them apart.

Or maybe it was just Seiya-kun’s sixth sense to keep himself away from Masakado.

There was so much he could handle, though; having Seiya-kun at hand’s reach while being unable to get close to him was not one of them.

As the last notes of the last song they were to practice echoed through the cavernous arena, the group gathered around their senpais, receiving feedback and words of encouragement. Masakado stood at the edge of the circle, the smile on his face feeling more and more like a mask he was struggling to keep in place.

He took a glance right across.

Seiya-kun was standing next to Akito-kun, one of the oldest Westo-nii-san members, laughing at something that was said, and the sight of it made Masakado’s blood boil. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the anger bubbling up inside him.

He was counting down the seconds until he could run away from the sight.

He had spent the entire day trying to get closer to Seiya-kun, only to be met with cold shoulders and closed doors. And now, to see him so easily fitting in with their senpais while Masakado felt like an outsider — it was almost too much to bear.

Their rehearsal ended, and as they started gathering their things to let Westo-nii-san handle the rest of the details of their concert, Masakado saw Seiya approaching him, his face flushed with excitement. He was walking right to him, his body swaying with intensity and a spark of something Masakado couldn’t pinpoint. The countdown quickly changed to one of their inevitable encounter.

3…

2…

1…

But before Masakado could say a word, Seiya-kun was intercepted by Richa, who threw an arm around his shoulders and steered him away.

Again.

Masakado’s heart sank as he watched the two of them walk off together, laughing and talking as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

“Masakado-kun, you seem a bit down today. Is everything okay?” Masaya-chan asked. Masakado had been so keen on watching Seiya-kun in the distance, he hadn’t noticed Masaya-chan’s eyes following him around and picking up on his somber mood.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Masakado replied, trying to mask his feelings. His mouth naturally flinched to a simple smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Just a little tired, I guess.“

He couldn’t help but wonder if he would always be on the outside of Seiya-kun’s life, just looking in.

Masakado stretched out on the plush sofa in the backstage room, the sounds of rehearsal and bustling staff fading into the background as he surrendered to sleep. The frustration and jealousy that had gnawed at him all day dissipated as he drifted off, replaced by the warmth and comfort of dreams where Seiya-kun was always by his side.

In DreamLand, Seiya-kun was his. There were no barriers, no awkward silences or sidelong glances. He could call him “Sei-chan” without fear, without hesitation, and Seiya would smile in that way that made Masakado’s heart soar. They laughed together, their shoulders brushing, and Masakado could even reach out and hold him close, feeling the warmth of Seiya’s body against his own. It was a world where Seiya-kun never pulled away, never avoided his gaze. In this dream, Masakado could kiss him, and Seiya would kiss him back.

But all too soon, the dream faded as a faint sound reached his ears — the chair’s legs scratching against the floor, a rustling of paper, the clink of a fork against a plate. Masakado opened his eyes blearily, blinking against the harsh lights of the backstage room. It took him a few times for his eyes to get used to the brightness in the room. There, in front of him, was Seiya-kun. He was sitting at a nearby table, eating something that looked delicious. He was staring right at Masakado, his gaze fixed, intense, and unblinking.

Still half-asleep, Masakado’s drowsy mind didn’t register it at first. He closed his eyes again, ready to sink back into his dream. But just as he was on the verge of dozing off, his brain caught up with him. Wait… Seiya was staring? When the fact suddenly hit him like a wave, his eyes snapped open again. But of course, Seiya was no longer looking at him. His eyes got quickly used to the bright lights, only to find that Seiya was now focused on his food, the previous intensity gone as if it had never been there at all.

Deciding it must have been a figment of his sleepy imagination, Masakado let his eyes droop once more, ready to drift back to sleep, when Seiya’s voice, soft yet insistent, cut through his drowsiness. “You should grab something to eat now, Masakado, since you didn’t even have lunch… I know we’ll only perform a few songs, but we don’t want you fainting on stage during the show.”

Masakado mumbled a response, “Mh-hmm,” but his eyelids were already drooping again. He was so close to falling back asleep when Seiya added, “There’s some natto in the buffet, you know?”

That was all it took to jolt Masakado awake. His stomach grumbled in agreement, reminding him just how hungry he actually was. He sat up abruptly, the lure of food too strong to resist. “You really know how to convince me, Sei-chan,” he murmured, still half-asleep, as he made his way to the buffet.

If he’d been more alert — or just slightly awake — he might have noticed the way Seiya nearly choked on his food at the casual use of the nickname. But Masakado, oblivious as he was, just filled his plate and returned to the table, sitting down almost across from Seiya.

As if nothing had happened…

They tried to strike up a polite conversation, though it was strained — Masakado was too focused on his food, and Seiya seemed oddly quiet. It wasn’t until Masakado glanced up and saw Seiya’s ears, flushed a deep red, that he noticed something was off.

“Seiya-kun, your ears are—” he started, but that was all it took.

Seiya abruptly stood up, almost knocking over his chair. “I-I need to get ready. See you in the hall.” He walked out quickly, leaving Masakado with a fork half-raised to his mouth.

“What the hell just happened…?” Masakado muttered to himself.

He just watched Seiya go, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. Again. He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong this time, but seeing that Seiya had left so abruptly told him he’d messed up somehow. All day long, he had been hoping for a chance to be close to Seiya, and now that he finally had it, he’d ruined everything.

He finished his food alone, picking at his plate as he replayed the conversation in his head, trying to figure out where it had gone wrong. He was still lost in thought when Kamiyama-kun appeared in the doorway.

“Masakado, do you have a minute?” Kamiyama-kun asked, his tone serious.

Masakado nodded, standing up and following him. “Yeah, of course… What’s up?”

“It’s about ANS,” Kamiyama said, and that was all Masakado needed to hear to know it was important. ANS was the first song Ae! group would perform together with WEST at their concert; a precious chance to play their instruments alongside their senpais. It was an enormous opportunity, and Masakado knew they couldn’t afford any mistake.

Kami-chan led him into a small practice room nearby. Seiya was already there waiting with his blue guitar in hand as he tuned it. His fingers moved deftly over the strings, but his expression was distant. Masakado’s heart lifted slightly at the sight. The blue guitar. It was a simple instrument, but to Masakado, it held so much meaning. He had bought a red guitar earlier that year, and during rehearsal, they had briefly joked about how they had ended up with guitars in each other’s colors. For Seiya-kun, it might have been nothing but a coincidence, but Masakado had wanted to believe it was something more — a sign, maybe, that their fates were intertwined.

Masakado hesitated before speaking.

“Seiya-kun… About earlier…”

Seiya’s eyes didn’t leave the guitar. “Let’s just focus on the practice,” he said, his voice a little too flat, too detached.

Masakado’s throat tightened. He wanted to press further, but Kami-chan was watching them, ready to begin. “Right. Practice,” Masakado echoed weakly.

They played through the song a couple times, Kami-chan guiding them through the tricky parts and offering tips on how to improve. Masakado’s fingers moved across the strings with a familiarity that came from years of practice, but his mind kept drifting to Seiya. The way his hands looked on the guitar, the slight smile that played on his lips when he nailed a difficult riff.

But the rehearsal was all business. Seiya-kun was focused, professional, and though they played well together, there was a distance between them that hadn’t been there before. Masakado wanted to reach out, to bridge that gap, but he didn’t know how.

The tension between them was noticeable to anyone paying attention. When they finished, Kami-chan offered a few extra pointers, but Masakado barely heard him. He was too focused on Seiya — the way his brow furrowed in concentration, and how his grip on the guitar seemed tighter than usual.

After they wrapped up, Masakado caught Seiya’s arm just as he was about to leave. “Seiya-kun… Can we talk? Please?”

Seiya hesitated, his gaze flicking briefly to Masakado’s hand on his arm before pulling away. He quickly licked his lips and let his tongue rest in the corner of his mouth for a few seconds before speaking. “I’ve got stuff to do. Maybe later.”

Masakado’s heart sank as Seiya walked out of the room without another word.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this performance, as important as it was, wouldn’t be enough to bring them closer.

He wondered what would it be.

Finally, the moment they had all been preparing for arrived. The concert.

Backstage, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The members of WEST and the other Kansai Juniors gathered in a tight circle, arms around each other’s shoulders as they prepared to take the stage. The energy was palpable, a mix of excitement, nerves, and camaraderie that made Masakado’s heart swell with pride.

Westo-nii-san led them in a cheer, their voices rising in unison, a powerful declaration of their shared determination. It wasn’t just WEST’s concert anymore; it felt like it belonged to all of them — Ae! group included. They were a part of something bigger, something that went beyond individual groups or performances. It was a moment of unity, of shared purpose, and as they broke the huddle, Masakado felt a renewed sense of resolve.

Behind was the feeling of distress that had been gnawing at him all day.

The concert itself was a blur of lights, music, and emotion. The roar of the crowd, the blinding stage lights, the adrenaline pumping through his veins — it all merged into one overwhelming experience. But through it all, one thing remained constant: Seiya. Every time Masakado looked over, there he was, playing his blue guitar with a passion that was both inspiring and heart-wrenching, dancing his heart out for everyone to see, singing with that miraculously powerful voice of his and reaching the thousands within the Tokyo Dome.

They performed ANS with everything they had; the music flowing effortlessly as they played alongside their senpais. In that moment, nothing else mattered — just the music, the crowd, and the sense of accomplishment that came with knowing they were giving their all.

As the last notes of the song reverberated through Tokyo Dome, the crowd erupted into applause. Masakado’s heart raced with the thrill of it all, but as the applause died down and the concert moved on, he couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling that lingered in his chest. They had done well — no; they had done amazingly. But as he looked over at Seiya, who was smiling and laughing with Richa and the others, Masakado couldn’t help but feel that he was still just an outsider in Suezawa Seiya’s life.

He got the crushing realization that getting in the same group as the other was just a cruel joke of Destiny, designed to make him think there was something more.

When the concert finally ended, and they all took their final bows, the sense of camaraderie was undeniable. But for Masakado, it was tinged with a lingering sadness, a sense that despite the day’s success, the distance between him and Seiya remained. Or even deepened.

He had been hoping that the concert would bring them closer, that the shared experience would help bridge the gap that had grown between them. But as they left the stage, the cheers of the crowd still ringing in their ears, Masakado knew that the road ahead was still long, and the journey to Seiya’s heart was far from over.

As soon as they arrived at the hotel, the group gathered in the lobby, their energy still up in the sky as the post-concert adrenaline was still buzzing through their veins. Masakado could feel the weight of the day catching up with him, the exhaustion from the hours of rehearsals and the weight of the demanding concert finally setting in. Masaya yawned exaggeratedly, stretching his arms behind his head.

“Man, I’m beat.” He couldn’t contain another yawn. “I’m heading straight to bed. My legs are killing me,” he announced, already turning towards the elevator.

Seiya, rubbing his eyes, nodded in agreement.

“Same here. I’m exhausted. See you guys tomorrow,” he added, his voice flat as he slung his bag over his shoulder and adjusted his guitar case. His hair, recently dyed lighter, almost shimmered under the dim hotel lights. Seiya glanced over at Richa, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t you coming?”

Masakado glanced at Richa, who stood quietly, fidgeting with the key card in his hand. For a brief moment, he thought Richa would join Seiya; instead, Richa shook his head with a grin.

“Nah, I’ll hang out with the others for a bit. We stopped by the conbini on the way here, picked up some beers and sake. It’d be a shame to waste them.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Seiya’s face. His brows furrowed just slightly as he glanced from Richa to Masakado and back again, as if he was about to say something, but ultimately, he stayed silent. Masakado noticed it, though, the subtle narrowing of Seiya’s eyes, the slight furrow in his brow. Was he... irritated?

“Don’t stay up too late, Richa,” Seiya finally muttered, his voice low, before heading toward the elevators with Masaya. His gaze lingered on Richa for a moment longer, but he didn’t add anything else.

Masakado felt a pang of something — disappointment maybe, or anticipation — at the idea of Seiya not joining them. But he quickly pushed it aside, focusing instead on the idea of unwinding with his bandmates.

Once they were in Masakado’s room, the atmosphere quickly relaxed. KojiKen flopped onto the sofa while Taisei made himself comfortable on Masakado’s bed while Masakado grabbed the drinks they’d bought at the conbini on the way. He passed a beer to KojiKen and Taisei while pouring some sake for Richa and himself.

Richa leaned against the doorframe, holding his own cup as the others settled in. Masakado gladly plopped on the floor by the coffee table.

“Ah, this is exactly what I needed,” Taisei said with a contented sigh after his first sip.

“Tell me about it,” KojiKen added, slouching on the sofa, clearly in his element.

They raised their glasses in a celebratory cheer of “Kanpai!” for the milestone they had achieved.

“Man, today was wild,” KojiKen said, cracking open another beer. “The energy out there was insane.”

“Yeah,” Richa chimed in.

“Tell me about it!” Taisei mused as well, “and ANS with WEST? That’s a memory for the books.”

Masakado nodded, taking a sip of his drink. He couldn’t help but replay the concert in his mind — particularly the moments he shared on the stage with Seiya. The thrill of the performance and the rush of adrenaline were still fresh, but the bittersweet feeling that came with every glance at Seiya dully lingered inside, still feeling distant despite their shared stage.

They chatted about the concert, recounting their favorite moments, the fan reactions, and how crazy the crowd had been during their performance of “ANS.” Masakado tried to join in, but his thoughts kept wandering back to Seiya. He wondered if Seiya was already asleep or if he was just lying there in the dark, still upset about... whatever it was that had been bothering him earlier.

The sake warmed Masakado’s stomach as he clinked glasses with KojiKen and Taisei. Despite the exhaustion that clung to him like a second skin, a giddy feeling bubbled in his chest. The Tokyo live had been a roaring success, the energy of the fans feeding their own.

“That blonde hair on Seiya-kun, though,” KojiKen chuckled, wiping a stray bit of foam from his mustache. “He looks like a whole new person!”

Masakado didn’t even try to answer this time, unable to tear his gaze from the remnants of the live stream playing on his phone. Every time Seiya flashed his new look — the platinum blonde hair a stark contrast to his dark brows — Masakado’s heart did a little flip.

“He does,” Taisei agreed, “but honestly, he could pull off anything… It’s almost unfair!”

Masakado’s mute nods seemed to trick the other three, despite his stiff smile.

He allowed himself a couple of cups of sake; the alcohol dulling the sharp edges of his confusing emotions. He wanted to understand Seiya. The playful Seiya around Westo-nii-san or even from the live of the previous day was a stark contrast to the distant Seiya he’d been facing for weeks now. Was this some elaborate game Seiya was playing to drive him insane?

Just as the conversation started to pick up, there was a knock at the door that pulled Masakado from his thoughts. Richa raised an eyebrow as he opened it, revealing Seiya standing on the other side.

Seiya looked slightly awkward as he glanced around the room. “Richa,” he said, his voice calm but firm, “can we talk for a sec?”

Richa hesitated, glancing back at the others. His eyes lingered ever so slightly on Masakado before he smiled and winked at him. “Sure,” he said, stepping outside with Seiya, leaving the door ajar.

For a few moments, the room was filled with silence as Masakado, Taisei, and KojiKen exchanged curious glances. The tension was palpable, at least to Masakado, who couldn’t help but wonder what they were discussing.

“Wonder what that’s about,” Taisei mused, and Masakado realized he wasn’t the only one with questions about the situation.

KojiKen smirked, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oh, come on, it’s obvious.”

Masakado shot him a wary look. “What do you mean?”

“You really can’t tell?” KojiKen said, taking a long sip of his beer before leaning closer to Masakado. “Richa and Seiya have that whole secret code thing going on. So… it must be some married couple stuff,” he simply joked. Masakado clicked his tongue at the other’s silliness and rolled his eyes. He feigned disinterest, attempting to mask his efforts to eavesdrop on the conversation unfolding beyond the door. Yet, he could only make out a few shapeless whispers. “But more importantly…” KojiKen lowered his voice dramatically, catching Masakado’s attention immediately. “It’s Seiya, man... You’ve been staring at him the whole night, and don’t think we haven’t noticed.”

Masakado blinked, caught off guard. “What? I haven’t—”

“Oh, please,” KojiKen interrupted, grinning now. “You’ve got it bad. Every time Seiya walks by, you’re like a puppy waiting for attention.”

Masakado felt his face heat up, trying to brush it off. “That’s not true.”

“Sure, sure,” Taisei said, chuckling as he joined in. “We’re just saying… Don’t be too obvious. You’re already making it awkward enough for everyone else.”

“Even Masaya has caught something must be going on between you two.”

Before Masakado could come up with a retort, the door opened, and Richa slipped back inside. He gave them all a quick, knowing look before announcing, “Well, I’m off to bed. Seiya’s right — probably best if we all get some sleep.”

As Richa turned to leave, Seiya’s voice called out from the hallway. “That means all of you! Go to sleep already! It’s been a long day and it’ll be even longer tomorrow!”

Masakado chuckled under his breath. Typical Seiya, always trying to play the responsible one as the eldest of the group. But the thought of Seiya lingering outside the room tugged at something inside him. Before he could dwell too long on it, KojiKen nudged him in the ribs.

“See?” KojiKen snickered again, his grin widening. “Even Seiya’s telling you to stop being so obvious.”

“That’s not what he sai—” Masakado huffed, shaking his head as he realized KojiKen was just messing around with him.

“You and Seiya… something going on?” KojiKen teased, his voice low but laced with concern.

Masakado stiffened, trying to keep his face neutral. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on,” Taisei chimed in, grinning. “You two have been hot and cold for the past couple of months. It’s getting annoying trying to keep up…”

“Yeah, you’re like playing a twisted game of hide-and-seek, but you never seem to find the other… Especially you, Massan!”

Masakado didn’t seem to have an answer to that.

“And today, you’ve had this kicked puppy face for the whole day, following Seiya-kun around…!”

Masakado could feel his cheeks heating up. “I wasn’t—”

“Uh-huh. Sure you weren’t,” KojiKen interrupted sarcastically, leaning closer with a mischievous smirk. “I mean, it must have gotten into you somehow…!” Masakado didn’t follow. “Sei-chan…” KojiKen did his best Masakado impersonation.

“What do you mean, Leader?” Masakado muttered, though he couldn’t help but smile despite the teasing. He really didn’t understand what KojiKen was going on about, teasing him with the nickname he was dying to use with Seiya-kun. But what could he expect, really? KojiKen and Taisei were always like this — poking fun at him whenever they could. He normally didn’t mind, but with Seiya involved, it hit a little closer to home.

KojiKen’s grin only widened. “It was cute, really. He got all flustered about it. Like a middle school crush.”

Before Masakado could respond, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced down at the screen and felt his heart skip a beat.

A message from Seiya-kun.

« Get rid of the others and go to bed, Masakado. You’re exhausted. »

For a split second, excitement surged through him. Seiya messaging him personally, telling him to go to bed — it was almost too good to be true. Was this Seiya’s way of... showing he cared? Masakado’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, ready to reply when KojiKen’s voice cut in.

“Oh? Who’s that from?” KojiKen asked, feigning innocence as he leaned over to peek at Masakado’s screen.

Masakado pulled his phone closer to his chest. “No one.”

He moved away from KojiKen’s prying eyes and was about to type a reply when KojiKen’s phone buzzed as well. Then Taisei’s.

Both of them checked their screens and burst into laughter.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing! I just got a message from Seiya-kun telling me to stop bugging you and go to bed,” KojiKen said, holding up his phone with a wide grin. “Guess he’s looking out for you.”

“Me too! Seiya-kun’s really determined to make sure we don’t stay up all night, huh?”

Masakado stared at them both, his excitement rapidly deflating. So Seiya had sent them the same message? His heart sank. What he had hoped was a personal gesture meant just for him was nothing more than Seiya trying to shoo them all to bed.

“Well, guess we should listen to him, right?” KojiKen said, standing up with a stretch. “Wouldn’t want to annoy the Mad Dog.”

Taisei chuckled, following suit. “Yeah, yeah. We’ll leave you to your beauty sleep, Massan.”

And before Masakado could say anything, Taisei added, “You need it more than us!”

Masakado forced a smile as they left the room, the door clicking shut behind them. As soon as they were gone, he threw his phone onto the bed, frustration bubbling up inside him. He flopped onto the mattress, staring up at the ceiling.

The message that had filled him with hope now felt like another cruel joke.

Seiya had just been telling them all to sleep, nothing more.

With a heavy sigh, Masakado closed his eyes, willing sleep to come, though he knew it would be a long time before it did.

Hours later, Masakado was still awake, his mind racing, the disappointment still gnawing at him. He tossed and turned, unable to shake the feeling of frustration that had settled in his chest. He thought back to the concert, the shared moments on stage with Seiya, and the way Seiya had looked at him during their performance. Had it been just his imagination? Or had there been something more to those glances? He huffed and turned over on his bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how things could have gone differently.

He wanted to stop thinking about it, to let it go, but he just couldn’t.

So, Masakado sat on the bed, his thoughts spiraling, the room feeling emptier than ever despite being surrounded by his friends just a few hours ago. His mind kept drifting back to Seiya. Every glance, every laugh — they all felt loaded with something, but he wasn’t sure if it was just wishful thinking. The concert had been fine; the rehearsals had gone well, but the growing distance between him and Seiya only fed his frustration.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door that startled him.

Before he could answer, the door creaked open, and Seiya peeked inside. “Hey,” he said, his voice hesitant.

“Hey,” Masakado echoed, throat suddenly dry. “I thought you were already asleep?”

Seiya stepped fully into the room, closing the door softly behind him, and just remained there, guitar slung over his shoulder. He was in a white T-shirt and sweatpants, a stark contrast to his usual polished look.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he admitted, his gaze flickering around the room before landing on Masakado. “You?”

Masakado shrugged, forcing a smile. “Same. Just... thinking.”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, neither of them seeming to know what to say next. Masakado felt a blush creep up his neck. This unexpected visit from Seiya was doing strange things to his heart rate.

Seiya’s face, usually composed, and now wore an expression that Masakado couldn’t quite place — something between nervousness and determination.

“Seiya-kun?” Masakado broke the silence, confused. “What are you doing here?”

Seiya shuffled awkwardly, looking unusually nervous. His eyes darted around the room once again before finally settling back on Masakado, and he cleared his throat.

“I, uh... messed up some parts during the concert earlier,” he blurted out, glancing at the guitar as if to emphasize his point. “Thought I should, you know, fix them before tomorrow.”

Masakado blinked, frowning. He had noticed no mistakes. None. But he nodded anyway. “Really? I didn’t hear anything wrong... but, sure. I’ll help you with anything.”

Seiya’s grip on the guitar tightened, and Masakado could see a faint blush creeping up his neck. “You probably didn’t catch it. It’s easier to notice when it’s just me playing.”

Masakado raised an eyebrow, a bit skeptical. He wasn’t totally convinced, but he nodded in agreement. “Sure, let’s do it. Where did you make the mistakes?” he asked, patting the bed beside him without giving much thought to it.

Seiya hesitated for a moment, but then crossed the room and sat beside him on the bed, guitar resting in his lap. His eyes darted around the room again as if looking for something. “Well, I think it was in the second verse of ‘ANS,’ maybe,” he mumbled, trying to sound confident, but failing spectacularly.

Masakado watched as Seiya began the song. At first, he kept his focus, watching Seiya’s hands, waiting to catch any supposed mistakes. But as the song continued, his attention wavered. His gaze shifted to Seiya’s fingers, nimble and precise, plucking each string with ease, and before Masakado could stop himself, a sudden, almost overwhelming urge rushed through him — to reach out and kiss Seiya’s fingertips. He caught himself just in time, though, mentally scolding himself for even thinking that way.

Thank God I didn’t act on that, he thought, knowing full well that the infamous Mad Dog would’ve probably punched him for something so sudden and intimate.

As the eldest strummed the last chords of the song, Masakado listened intently again, still trying to pinpoint the mistakes. The melody flowed smoothly, and there didn’t seem to be any errors. The song was perfect, and Seiya’s fingers danced across the fretboard with effortless grace.

Masakado was getting a little suspicious.

“Hey, Seiya-kun,” he said, hesitantly, “I can’t hear any mistakes,” Masakado admitted, confused.

Seiya shifted uncomfortably.

“I don’t think there was anything wrong with the second verse, like you said,” Masakado added.

Seiya’s face turned even redder. “Oh, really?” he stammered. “Maybe it was on the bridge, then.”

Masakado shook his head. “No, that was perfect, too.”

Seiya sighed, his eyes dropping. “I don’t know, Masakado. Maybe it’s easier to play alone.” He paused for a second, then added with a chuckle. “You know… when I play with you, I get distracted.”

That last sentence hung in the air between them. Distracted? What did Seiya mean? Masakado’s heart thudded at that, and for a split second, he thought — no; he forced himself not to think about the implications, not to read too much into it, though his thoughts were already running wild.

Don’t, don’t overthink it, just don’t…

Clearing his throat, Masakado went to fetch his own guitar and scooted over on the bed. “Maybe we can play together and check again?”

Seiya nodded shyly.

“Ok, then… I’ll play with you if it helps.”

And so, together, they started to play. Gradually, as the music progressed, Masakado stopped thinking altogether. The two guitars melded in perfect harmony, the music enveloping them both. He became lost in the sound, forgetting the world around him.

It wasn’t just about the music anymore; it was the sensation of the two of them creating something together, their sounds merging into one. The world outside the room seemed to disappear, and for a while, it was just them and the music.

He stared at Seiya’s fingers once again, letting himself being consumed by his early urge. Seiya had such pretty hands, such delicate fingers. It was a wonder he hadn’t noticed before. He saw himself grabbing Seiya’s small hand, guiding it to his own lips and leaving butterfly kisses on his fingertips, then his palm, the back of his hand, and even his wrist before pulling him closer, breaching the gap that the other had created all day.

Or even better, he saw Seiya-kun being the one leaning in, orbiting closer and closer to Masakado, his face just an inch away…

And then, without warning, he felt his lips on Seiya’s — or was it the other way around? — moving in sync with the music, until the music faded into nothing.

Masakado’s mind went completely blank. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that he didn’t even register it as it was happening. The soft press of Seiya’s lips was too sudden, too unreal. Startled, his body reacted instinctively, pushing Seiya away as he jumped up from the bed.

“Sorry!” he blurted out, his heart racing. “I- I don’t know what I- Seiya-kun, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry! I must’ve… I don’t know, I’m s-! Sorry- I didn’t mean to-”

Seiya stared at him, looking almost offended. “Why the hell are you apologizing for?” His voice cut through Masakado’s frantic rambling like a blade.

Masakado froze, confusion mixing with panic. “W-What? I just- I swear I wasn’t trying to-”

Seiya stood up, his frustration now clear in the tense set of his shoulders. “You’re apologizing like you did something wrong.” His arms crossed, his tone harder now. “I’m the one who kissed you, Masakado.”

For a moment, Masakado could only stare, dumbfounded. “But… you… y-you…” He fumbled with the words. “What?”

“I kissed you.”

“B-but… You can’t just kiss me like that!” His voice rose, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You know how I feel about you, Seiya-kun! You shouldn’t mess with me like this!”

“I’m not messing with you!” Seiya snapped, his voice firm.

“Yes, you are!! You can’t go around kissing me like it means nothing…” Masakado was visibly upset. So much so that he wasn’t even trying to keep his voice down. “You know how I feel about you! You shouldn’t kiss me like that if you don’t—”

“That’s exactly why I kissed you in the first place!” Seiya snapped, his eyes narrowing.

Masakado blinked, completely thrown off. “Wait, what?”

They stared at each other, the air between them thick with tension. Seiya’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration evident.

Masakado’s breath hitched, his mind spinning. “I thought-” His voice faltered as his anger started to wane, giving way to confusion. “I thought I was the one who kissed you by mistake.”

“Well, you didn’t!”

“But then, h-”

“Why do you think I kissed you, Masakado?” Seiya finally asked.

Masakado blinked. His heart raced, his confusion intensifying. “What are you talking about?”

Seiya’s gaze softened, though frustration still lingered in his eyes. “You like me, don’t you? I already know that… So, why do you think I kissed you?”

Masakado’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. It didn’t make sense. “You’re playing with me,” he finally said, though his voice lacked its earlier conviction.

Seiya flinched, his expression wounded. “Playing with you?” His voice dropped, wavering slightly. “How can you not see that I—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “I… I like you.”

Masakado felt like the floor had dropped out from under him. “But… you said… You told me you couldn’t return my feelings.”

“That was then.” Seiya’s voice was almost a whisper now. “This is now. Things change. People change.”

For a long moment, Masakado felt like his mind was working too slowly, like it was struggling to process the shift in front of him.

Seiya’s voice broke the silence. “Maybe you just don’t want to accept how I feel about you.”

Masakado’s chest tightened. “How could I not? I’ve told you how I feel, Seiya-kun. You already know-”

“You know what, Masakado? I can go if you want to. Leave things as they are. I’ll accept your rejection like a man.”

Masakado snapped out of his daze. “How could you even think I’d reject you?”

“You’re not exactly welcoming my feelings right now, are you?” Seiya spat, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I like you, Seiya-kun! How can you even think otherwise?”

Seiya sighed, looking away. “Then why the hell did you push me away when I kissed you?”

Masakado stared at him, the weight of the question settling in. He stopped short, trying to piece together his own emotions. Why had he? This was everything he had ever wanted, everything he had fantasized about. And yet, when it had actually happened, he had pushed it away. He looked at Seiya, his heart hammering in his chest. “I don’t know,” he admitted, feeling foolish. “Maybe, because…” He swallowed. “Because… It’s just… too good to be true.”

For a moment, Seiya was speechless. His lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, he just stood there, his gaze flickering with something Masakado couldn’t quite place.

Masakado felt the words tumble out before he could stop them. “For a second, I thought I had kissed you by accident, without realizing it... because I was thinking about it as we played… and so I panicked. I thought you’d hate me for it.”

Seiya let out a bitter chuckle, biting his lower lip. “Hate you?” He shook his head, mumbling, “I wouldn’t hate you, Masakado. Why would I? I was the one who kissed you in the first place, in case you haven’t realized.”

Masakado let out a soft laugh. The absurdity of it all — their miscommunication, the sudden kiss — it all seemed ridiculous in hindsight. “Yeah… I guess I see that now.”

The silence that followed spoke volumes. It was heavy, but it wasn’t awkward. It was a weight shared between them. They were standing there, their feelings laying bare for the other to see. No more misunderstandings or confusions. No more avoidance. No more fear and hesitation.

“I honestly don’t even remember the kiss... it happened so fast that it caught me off guard,” Masakado admitted sheepishly. He saw Seiya was in no better shape than him, probably also wondering how to move on from this point. He figured it was better to make a leap of faith. “Would you mind… doing it again?”

Seiya blushed, his ears turning a deep red, yet he tried to play it cool. “Well, if you don’t remember...” His voice trailed off, his eyes flickering with determination once again. “But I’m warning you,” he said, pointing a finger at Masakado. “Push me away again, and I swear I’ll hate you for real.”

Masakado’s lips curved into a smirk. “Wouldn’t dream of making that same mistake twice.”

Without hesitation, Seiya closed the gap between them, pulling Masakado in for a kiss. This time, Masakado didn’t push him away, but rather leaned in the closeness of the other’s body. The kiss wasn’t rushed, nor filled with the confusion of the first. It was soft at first, tentative even, but soon grew into something deeper, more intense. Masakado’s hands found their way to Seiya’s waist, pulling him closer as they stood in the middle of the room, the height difference between them almost laughable.

Seiya’s lips were warm against his, and everything about the moment felt right. His fingers slipped into Masakado’s hair, tugging gently as the kiss deepened. A mixture of sweetness and passion, like they’d both been holding back for far too long. Every sensation — the warmth of Seiya’s body, the taste of his lips — was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Masakado couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was everything they had wanted but hadn’t dared to admit.

Perfectly imperfect, just like them.

“I’ve been dying to do that for a while now… For a really long while, in fact,” Seiya whispered in a low, husky voice, his breath brushing against Masakado’s lips, eyes still closed.

“Tell me about it…!”

“I can’t believe you’ve been denying this to the two of us for so long...!” Seiya reproached, not moving an inch from his position. “Why did you have to complicate everything?”

Masakado wasn’t sure if he had heard correctly, or if that kiss had stolen all the air from his lungs, leaving his brain oxygen-deprived. Was Seiya — the ‘I’m-going-to-stop-talking-to-you-even-though-I-have-feelings-for-you’ Seiya — actually calling him complicated? Even though Masakado was floating on cloud nine, he couldn’t let that slide.

“Are you calling me complicated, Seiya-kun?” Masakado tried to keep his voice steady, but a teasing edge slipped through.

“Of course I am!” Seiya’s voice was sharper than expected, his frustration peeking through.

A smirk tugged at Masakado’s lips, and he wrapped his arms around Seiya’s waist, pulling him flush against his body. He nuzzled into the crook of Seiya’s neck, his lips grazing the sensitive skin there. Seiya squirmed and tried to break free, but Masakado wouldn’t let him go so easily. “Oh, really?” he purred, his voice dripping with amusement. “By all means, do enlighten me, please. How exactly am I complicated?”

Seiya seemed to have sensed Masakado’s sarcasm and, refusing to get lost in the warmth of Masakado’s embrace, tore himself away to face him properly, eyes narrowing. “Are you serious right now?”

“Mostly amused,” Masakado admitted, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a teasing grin. “But yes, I’m also dead serious, Seiya-kun. How did I make things complicated when I was the one confessing?”

“First!” Seiya didn’t miss a beat to reply to the other. “You were the one confessing first!”

“That doesn’t answer my question, though…”

Seiya scoffed and glared at him, his patience obviously wearing thin. He even ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “We could’ve avoided all these months of this… this awkwardness, and distance, and everything if you-” he didn’t seem to have the right words at the moment, his hands flapping in the air as if trying to conjure them. “Tell me, why didn’t you just wait for me in the hotel room like I asked you? Or you could’ve at least answered my note with something less cryptic than ‘I’m sorry.’ What the hell was that supposed to mean? And afterwards, when you gave me the cinnamon rolls and I directly asked you about it, and you said absolutely nothing. What was that about?”

Masakado blinked, now genuinely confused. “Wait for you? At what hotel? And a note? What are you talking about? When did you ever speak to me directly about your feelings?”

Seiya’s eyebrows furrowed, his confusion matching Masakado’s blank expression. “The note I left you in the hotel room?” Masakado just shook his head. “After I rescued you from whatever evil Jo was up to?” Another shake. “It was with your breakfast, remember?”

Masakado shook his head slowly for the last time. “No... You didn’t leave a note. I never got a thing like that.”

Seiya’s eyes widened, and he slowly sank onto the bed in disbelief.

“I did leave a note! With your breakfast! I was dead worried that night I fetched you from Jo’s crazy hands, and you were so…” He trailed off, biting his lip. “It made me realize certain things. I figured we ought to talk, so I wrote the note the next morning. It said...” He cut himself off, looking shy. “Never mind what it said. That’s not important now… But I asked you to wait for me so we could talk... about... well, you know.”

His feelings.

Masakado nodded. He was too invested in the story to tease Seiya for not being able to say it aloud. He was so cute!

Seiya looked at Masakado, his face flushing a deeper shade of red. “Yeah, anyway... but then you texted me ‘I’m sorry,’ and I thought...”

“You thought I was rejecting you.” Masakado completed the thought, his voice filled with realization.

As the pieces of their months-long misunderstanding finally clicked into place, Masakado sat heavily beside Seiya. They had complicated things unnecessarily, both misreading signs and emotions that could have been so much simpler.

But that was the past. And the present... well, the present was something Masakado wasn’t going to waste. Not now when he—they should be basking in the afterglow of this.

“Have you known ever since that night at the hotel room?” He asked, loving the effect the question had over Seiya.

“Shut up!”

He chuckled and nudged Seiya’s shoulder with his. “Come on! You know I’ve liked you for years now. It’s only fair I know since when you’ve liked me back!”

“I never said I did!” Seiya protested, his tone defensive.

Masakado raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you did.”

“I didn’t!”

“Seiya-kun…”

“Masakado!”

Without warning, Masakado leaned in and kissed Seiya again, silencing any further argument. As much as he loved being able to tease Seiya freely and enjoy his reactions so closely, he wasn’t going to waste his time in silly banters. There were more important issues at hand. “Yoshinori,” he murmured against Seiya’s lips. “Call me Yoshinori.”

Seiya’s face was practically on fire now, his breath catching in his throat. “I-“

“Seiya,” Masakado whispered, pressing soft kisses along Seiya’s jaw. The other’s given name felt as amazing as his lips. “Call me Yoshinori.”

“Yo-”

Another kiss.

“Yosh-”

Yet another kiss.

“Yoshi-”

The kisses came quicker now, leaving Seiya breathless and overwhelmed.

“Mou~!” Seiya whined, losing the battle against the sensations that were flooding his senses. Masakado chuckled softly, his lips lingering just above Seiya’s.

He finally relented, pulling back slightly to give Seiya space to breathe, though his gaze remained locked on the other’s flushed face. He waited patiently, silently encouraging Seiya to say his name.

Seiya, now a complete mess of stammered syllables and shyness, struggled to regain composure. “I... I c-”

“Sei-chan?” Masakado coaxed gently, brushing a stray lock of hair behind Seiya’s ear.

Just then, an obnoxious ringtone blared from Seiya’s pocket, shattering the intimacy in the room. Seiya swore under his breath, fumbling for his phone to silence it.

Masakado stared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused by the interruption. The moment was broken, but he was secretly grateful for the chance to catch his breath and regain some self-control. If not for the interruption, he wasn’t sure he could’ve held himself back.

“Sorry,” Seiya muttered, glancing at the screen. “It’s Richa. Probably just checking in.”

Masakado managed a warm, understanding smile. “Did he know you were here?”

“Well... yeah, kind of,” Seiya casually admitted.

“Did he know you were here at this time?”

Seiya’s blush deepened, and he mumbled something almost inaudible. Masakado just chuckled at his ability to turn scarlet in a second. It was endearing, really, and he knew he’d never get tired of it. But he wouldn’t dare push Seiya any further tonight.

They had more times for that, right?

“Did you also tell him you messed up with the guitar during ‘ANS’ and you were gonna ask for my help to fix it?” Masakado asked, a hint of amusement in his voice, prompting a glare from Seiya.

“He knew…” Seiya finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“He what?” Masakado leaned in closer, clearly intrigued.

Seiya huffed in exasperation. “He’s been nudging me to come clean to you for some time now…”

Masakado’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ah…!”

“I don’t know how he knew, because I sure as hell didn’t tell him,” Seiya continued, looking at Masakado straight in the eye. “But he has some sort of sixth sense for these things… He even knew you liked me way before I told him about your confession! I just didn’t believe him back then…”

Masakado was momentarily speechless. “Did you tell him I-?” He stopped himself, stunned. “Wait, did he know already way back? HOW!?”

Seiya shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “He’s just... perceptive, I guess.”

Masakado shook his head in disbelief, still processing the revelation. “But hey, it’s fine. Don’t sweat about it,” Seiya added, patting Masakado’s shoulder a few times. His wristwatch flashed the time, and they both stared in surprise at the clock—2 a.m. They exchanged guilty glances.

“I should—” Seiya began, but Masakado nodded in agreement.

“Maybe another time?” Masakado suggested, his voice carrying a note of hopeful anticipation.

Seiya didn’t wait to grant him a response. They both knew they would definitely pick things up from where they left them tonight. As he picked up his guitar and moved towards the door, Masakado followed him closely. Just before Seiya could leave, he turned back, a shy, sweet smile on his face.

“Thanks for helping me with the guitar. And for talking things out. And…” Seiya’s voice softened, a sweet sigh escaping his lips. “See you tomorrow, Yoshinori.”

Masakado’s heart fluttered at the sound of his name. As Seiya slipped out of the room, Masakado stood there, just watching the other go. His mind was spinning with everything that had happened, but his heart was full, despite the abrupt end to the night. What started as a frustrating, confusing evening had turned into the most unexpected and amazing revelation.

Still, Masakado couldn’t help but yearn for more—more conversations, more moments, more time with Seiya.

And there would be more. He was sure of it.