Chapter Text
One day
Kpop group VINCENT’s leader Oikawa Tooru is known for being a little too pushy. He’s always pushed the members to their limits but not as often as he pushed himself. Nowadays, he’s unusually restless and strict on himself and one particular member- Kageyama Tobio, the maknae of the group. Neither his own long hours of solo practice nor the maknae’s generally praised moves seem to satisfy him. It’s always “not enough.”
“Then why don’t you show me how to do this part?” finally losing his cool and going out of his way, tobio bickers at his leader.
“Maybe if you paid more attention during the first time we practiced you wouldn’t have gotten this move wrong now! And no, I’m NOT going to teach you how to do this, it was YOUR responsibility, my lovely “dance machine.”
The mockery behind his sassy tone give away the truth. Tooru doesn’t like Tobio. He may even have developed a sense of hatred towards the younger boy and as much as the other members fear the potential of this, they’re tired of hearing this two bicker at each other every single day like some 4 years old kindergarten kids. Tobio’s informal addressing to the older boy and Tooru’s redundant comments don’t surprise them anymore. This toxic relationship between the leader and the maknae has been arising since day one but if it continues to incline, they won’t be able to debut anytime soon and everyone’s aware of this brutal reality.
One day
Keiji was sitting on the couch, legs crossed and eyes glued to the screen of his phone, watching the choreography for their new music video when Kozume appeared out of nowhere, “Are you going to get up anytime soon?” without looking up from his phone, Keiji shakes his head.
“Good.” Kozume flops onto the spot next to him, causing the former to startle slightly; the couch was bigger than needed for two people, he didn’t have to sit so close but Keiji doesn’t object the former's decision.
Minutes later, with the rapper’s head resting on his shoulder and his knees on Keiji’s thigh, he becomes extremely aware of the older boy’s presence next to him. Is today’s weather just supposedly hot or is it the warmth radiating from Kozume’s body? Whatever it was, it sent Keiji's heart racing. Kozume was wearing an oversized tee with a short sleeve and every time he shifted a tad bit, the brush of his skin against Keiji’s sent electricity down his spine.
By now his concentration was no longer on the choreo. He wished to use some more room but Kozume looked so comfortable leaning against his body and playing on his PS4, he’d be damned if he dared to move and ruined this bliss.
Keiji isn’t the biggest fan of their manager-nim but at random moments like this, he feels extremely grateful towards him for sorting them both into the same room.
One day
Miya is like this towards everyone, but with his roommate Kageyama Tobio, he’s especially affectionate and clingy. From calling the younger mate Tobio-kun to eating his saved food to even inviting himself under Tobio’s blanket- Miya doesn’t know a limit when it’s inside their dorm room. Though, the short-tempered maknae has always opposed Miya’s actions often threw temper tantrums over his rice cakes that Miya sneakily devours, today he’s doesn’t react with fury as Miya slips his body next to him.
“Tobio-kun~ you’re so quiet today! Do you not see me here?”
Don’t lose it. Don’t lose it. Hold it in for today just today. You’ve gotta do this Kageyama. You can do this much.
Tobio wears a blank expression (much better than his attempt to look happy) and tightens his grip on the blanket as he turns to the older boy.
“Hyung, umm...what do you think about... umm getting a cat?”
“A cat??” Miya nearly exclaims at the sudden question, looking strictly Tobio’s eyes as if trying to decipher whatever the younger boy’s motive was.
“Why would I want a cat? I mean it’s a nice concept but who would take-“
“I would!” Tobio says abruptly without waiting for him to finish. “I’d take care of it. I’ve talked to manage-mom and others and I only need your agreement to bring her in.”
“Her? Wait, Tobio-kin, you already have a cat arranged?”
“Yes, her name is Nora and she’s the sweetest and friendliest cat ever!”
Miya wants to question more but seeing the maknae’s puppy face looking at him expectantly, he felt a sense of pressure to agree.
“Uhh...yeah I guess then...yeah.”
“THANK YOU, HYUNG! I will not disappoint you!” Tobio sprints to the balcony and in seconds Miya could hear him talk to someone over the phone about the cat.
Nora wasn’t the prettiest nor the friendliest cat as Tobio promised but Miya dared not to utter a word against her. She refused to be fed or bathed by anyone else other than Tobio. Miya didn’t enjoy all the times Tobio wanted him to play with her to become friends and he ended up with multiple scratches on his hand but it’d be unfair to say he hated the new company entirely. Because of Nora, Tobio is now literally tied to his finger and he wouldn’t trade this advantage for anything.
One day
The news spread like wildfire. At first, Oikawa wanted to prepare for it secretly without the public knowing and surprise them with his first solo project but when one of the staff members accidentally posted a picture of him practicing his song, it became a hot topic among the netizens.
Because of his undeniably good looks and charming personality, he’s been the media’s favorite face since training days, but with all the adornment and obsession, comes great pressure. The heavy pressure of their expectations weighs on him.
Time passes in hardship and anxiety and suddenly it is the day before his solo debut. All seven members of VINCENT, some of their mutual friends from other groups, and some staff members are gathered in Oikawa’s living room. His family is also there. Everyone wishes him good luck and Oikawa responds with smiles and ‘thank you’s as everyone’s cheerful, smiling and drinking with music blasting in the background. It is Keiji who catches the faint trace of despair on their leader’s face.
“Hey” Keiji stands next to Oikawa, finding him alone in the balcony.
“Keiji-ah! This breeze’s so refreshing, isn’t it? The heat was almost getting to my head! Feels so nice to be out here.”
Keiji hums in response. “Hyung, everything alright?”
“Y-yeah? Of course! Why wouldn’t be?” Oikawa laughs with a surprised look on his face.
“Are you distressed about the debut?” Keiji continues, not convinced by the older boy’s playful expression.
“Uhh- no and yes?” Keiji remains silent, waiting for him to finish.
“I’m just...worried that fans might not like the song, you know? The face of the group, most popular idol of the company- they say all these but now the fans might be holding expectations that I can’t meet? What if my song isn’t what they wanted and I disappoint everyone?”
Keiji shifts closer, placing a hand on Oikawa’s back. “Hyung, I understand how hard it must be. I think you should have faith in yourself. You’ve put your best effort into this album and what comes of it is what you are. Those who truly love you will have faith in you and appreciate your work and those who don’t- maybe you’d be better off without them.” Oikawa wipes his eyes with the back of his sleeves, heart not assured by the younger boy’s advice.
“Think of it this way then: people have different taste. Not everyone’s gonna like the same thing. There’re even people who don’t like our song, does that mean we’re a complete failure? If there are five people who like your song, I think you can brush off that one negative comment.”
Oikawa finally looks up to face Keiji, the glint of a smile on his face quickly turns into a soft smile as he ruffles the other boy’s hair, “Keiji-ah, you sure know how to make people feel better.”
Not again. Keiji sucks at anything skin care or hair care related so he stays really careful to not ruin the look their make-up artists set up for him but he seems to be in bad luck today. If he was a tad annoyed and upset, the tight smile plastered on his face couldn’t give it away.
One day
Keiji isn’t sure if he loves or hates these movie days. His company wants them to have these watching-movie-from-home-having-fun-chilling days occasionally and he hates them because they also broadcast it on V-live and it makes him feel extremely aware of himself and everything he does or says.
But he also adores them because…
Keiji turned his head to look at the head lying on his shoulder. It’s Kozume Kenma. Of course. No one has to say it out loud but almost everyone in the staff room and the group kind of believes that Keiji and Kozume have a special something going on.
Very Strong Friendship- the ASC host commented the one time they were invited there as guests. Keiji doesn’t know if he agrees or not. Do friends get turned on looking at each other’s bare thighs? Keiji isn’t gay, he knows that for a fact. He’s never had girlfriends (well, he didn’t even have time to have girlfriends??) but he’s liked girls before and he thought dating them would be nice.
He doesn’t have the courage to imagine how dating Kozume would be, but he sure does like that boy. He likes it when Kozume sits next to him and their bodies so closely attached that it’s almost awkward when one of them moves. He likes the way Kozume’s chest rests half on his and he can almost count his heartbeats. He likes the feeling of Kozume’s soft, velvety blond hair against his palm as he gently strokes his hair. He loves how Kozume literally purrs under his touch.
But he doesn’t like the world to see it.
Kozume takes Keiji’s hand and slides his fingers into the younger’s, looking up at Keiji and flashing one of the genuine smiles of the rapper that only Keiji has the privilege of seeing.
Maybe one day, he’d learn to let the world see how much Kozume Kenma means to him.