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[link] Terrible, disappointing, and too sporadic. Put Your Hands Up radio station is not worthy of its common praise.
Hizashi’s mouse hesitantly hovered over the link. He sighed, closing the tab before he could be tempted to look at it, rubbing the back of his neck. It’s just someone with different tastes. He thought to himself. Not everyone can like it. But seeing his passion so harshly criticized hurt.
He stood up, moving away from his laptop and walked into his living room. He smiled when he saw his husband sitting on the couch. “Babe!” He announced his entrance, plopping down next to him. “How does a movie sound?”
Shouta glanced at him, nodding. He shifted slightly to be closer to Hizashi, closing his eyes as he spoke. “Sure. You can pick it tonight.”
Hizashi reached for the remote, giving a sheepish smile when he had to move away from Shouta to grab it. Leaning back and holding his husband close, he looked through a selection of movies. “Ghosted Afar? It’s about a girl finding an abandoned amusement park and… her parents turn into pigs. And then she has to work there because it’s owned by ghosts.”
Shouta snorted, glancing at the screen. “Yeah, sounds fine. Looks like it’s rated pretty well anyway, so it must be good.” Hizashi paused for a moment when he noticed the 96% positive review rating, then hit play. “This one it is!”
As the movie went on, they snuggled closer to each other. As he felt his phone vibrate, Hizashi pulled it out to glance at it. Oh, it’s just news from a popular reviewer. He frowned as he opened the review.
Ryo’s Refreshing Reviews: Put Your Hands Up Radio
The mass isn’t always correct on what’s good media. Popular hero Present Mic’s radio station is a horrendous example of a blend of music, style and personality. Before I go into detail of this, let me preface by saying as a fan of Present Mic’s heroic work, I will never listen to this station again. He simply should stick to what he knows.
He exited the app. Ryo is known to be a harsh reviewer… His defense was weak. He couldn’t even complete reading the reviews he’s been seeing. He should be able to take feedback.
The lines he had read kept repeating in his mind. There must be some truth to it. Maybe they’re ri—
“Hizashi.”
Shouta broke him out of his thoughts. Hizashi blinked, then smiled at him, waving his hand around. “Yeah, what is it?”
“We can change movies if it’s boring you.”
“Oh— no, no, it’s not! I just got distracted.”
He set his phone aside, looking back at the movie. Shouta frowned, eyes narrowing slightly before leaning his head on his shoulder. The two gradually relaxed as the movie continued.
Then Hizashi’s phone buzzed.
I shouldn’t. He thought. I’m spending time with my husband. He paused. It could be something important. He hesitated. Or maybe it’s not. His hand twitched, then he reached for his phone, looking at it.
Message: Nemuri
some people are ridiculous :P [link]
Message: Nemuri
they’re sooo bitter that they aren’t you adghkklhfd
Message: Nemuri
it’s funny to see how hard they’re reaching
He clicked the link she sent him, gripping his phone as he saw the posts. Is this really what people think of me? He wondered.
#presenthike lmao he’s so lame, how is screaming at ppl heroic
present mic doesn’t care about his fans! he uses them to get more money and attention! take a hike, mic! #presenthike
#presenthike is the stupidest tag I’ve seen yet
While #presenthike is a thing let’s talk about how he’s going to abandon heroics for his stupid radio. Only one of those made him who he is.
He bit on his lip, hand shaking slightly. He’s disappointed this many people. He must be doing something wrong— many things wrong. He can’t even make his fans happy.
He barely heard a huff before his phone was snatched out of his hands.
“What the fuck is this? Present hike?”
Hizashi looked at Shouta in shock, laughing nervously, giving him a smile. “Nemuri sent it to me, y’know, it’s a pun, like take a hike and mic rhymes with hike and it’s—“
“Is this what you’ve been looking at all night?” Shouta frowned, looking at him seriously. Hizashi’s smile slowly dropped, playing with his hands. “It… just happened to come up.”
Shouta’s gaze softened as he heard his dejected tone, putting a hand on his cheek. “Hizashi this stuff isn’t true.”
He pulled away, hands flailing out. “There’s some basis to it, Shouta! All these people are seeing something wrong and the critics keep saying that my show sucks and they have to be at least somewhat right!”
He watched Shouta’s eyebrows furrow together. “This hashtag doesn’t even have a hundred posts.” Shouta started, typing on Hizashi’s phone before showing him. “But if you just search for Present Mic there's a thousand times more people that think you’re doing well.”
He pulled the phone back, typing again, continuing before Hizashi could interject. “And if you search for reviews of your radio show… all I’m seeing are positive ones.”
“That doesn't mean I should ignore actual feedback. Just because some people think I’m okay doesn’t mean they’re right.”
“That shit wasn’t feedback. That was senseless hate for the sake of it. Feedback would be giving tips to improve. And I highly doubt the reviews you saw gave that. Which makes it a pretty shitty review.”
Shouta’s frown deepened when Hizashi didn’t respond, shifting closer to him. He moved his arm around him and held him close. “You can’t see yourself from the view people who don’t even value you. Everyone that’s met you knows you’re doing your best. You work hard with careers you love— I’ve never seen someone put in as much as you. You’re smart and you’re brave.” Shouta relaxed as he felt Hizashi doing so, continuing. “And I shouldn’t even start on what the students say about you.”
“Well now I’m curious.”
Shouta smiled slightly, kissing his cheek. “They think you’re a fun, supportive teacher. They look forward to you teaching them.”
“I’m not sure everyone looks forward to English class.” He slowly smiled, looking at Shouta.
“Most of them don’t.” Shouta snorted, kissing his lips. “They look forward to you.”
Hizashi hugged him tight, leaning his head in his shoulder as tears filled his eyes. “Thanks, Shouta. I love you.”
Shouta ran his hand through his hair, holding him close. “I love you too. You’re worth a lot, no matter what some assholes would say.”
Hizashi wiped his eyes, kissing him. “I love you.”
Shouta rolled his eyes, smiling, pecking his lips. “Love you. Do you want to order your favorite takeout?”
“You know me so well.”
Hizashi reluctantly pulled away so Shouta could place an order on the laptop. He briefly took his glasses off to wipe his eyes again. He picked up his phone and opened it, blinking when he saw a message from Shouta.
Message: <3 Shouta <3
[image attached]
they were listening to ur show
The picture he was sent showed multiple students in Class 1A’s dorms wearing Present Mic merch, sat around a speaker. They were dancing and laughing.
Message: <3 Shouta <3
they know u and still listen to every show
Message: <3 Shouta <3
i think this review is worth more than one of an angry idiot
Hizashi beamed, saving the photo. There may be some that think he’s no good and rotten. Some may do nothing but search for faults. But with these people around him, and these kids looking up to him, he can block it out.
He pulled Shouta into an embrace when he walked back into the room, gently kissing him. He pulled him into a dance to the end credits song of the movie.
Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart
keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part
Why speak of all your sadness or of life's painful woes
Instead let the same lips sing a gentle song for you