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It wasn’t often Ozaki Kouyou took advantage of her little brother’s celebrity status. Indeed, she hadn’t had much opportunity to do so before- up until three years ago, he’d spent his entire career in Europe, usually all but out of touch. And since his reunion with Dazai Osamu, the two had been nearly inseparable when he wasn’t working, so invites to events like this were few. This year, however...She’d loved watching Kōhaku Uta Gassen since they were children, and when Chuuya had told her he’d been asked to be a judge this year, well, could anyone really blame her for asking to come along? Especially since three of her favorite singers were among this year’s competitors.
She really had to hand it to him, though. Kouyou still wasn’t sure where he’d dug up his current manager- although from something he’d said, Oda Sakunosuke was an old friend of Dazai’s- but the man was an absolute genius. Not only had her brother’s career skyrocketed despite the self-imposed limitations since adopting the boys, but Oda had a positive talent for minor miracles. Their current seats were a testament to that. Four seats, front row, and close enough to the judge’s table that Chuuya could come talk to them (or they could go to him) during set changes and breaks. Indeed, the show’s producers were fine with Atsushi or Ryu sitting in their father’s lap during performances, as long as they were quiet. Ryuunosuke was there now, gray eyes wide as he watched the current act. Atsushi was curled on Dazai’s lap, for the moment more interested in watching the crowd than the stage.
She smiled at the boy as he caught her watching him, and his answering grin was bright and happy, although a bit tired. It was getting late for a child, and Kouyou was glad she’d left Kyouka in Hirotsu’s care for the night. The older gentleman had become something of an uncle to her and Chuuya, and he and his wife were more than happy to watch the toddler on the rare nights Kouyou went out.
Kouyou was snapped out of her musings as the current singer ended his set, and the MC announced a half-hour intermission for the news segment. She and Dazai rose, the tall brunette carrying Atsushi, and they made their way over to join Chuuya.
“Hey Ane-san. Hello love. Come here, Sushi,” the petite man said, smiling at his family as they joined him. “How are you liking the show so far?”
“Quite well, actually,” Kouyou answered. Dazai and the boys nodded.
“I think I like your singing best, Daddy,” Atsushi said, joining his brother on Chuuya’s lap, and all three adults grinned at him. So did some of Chuuya’s fellow judges. One of the men sitting farther down the row- a professional football player, if Kouyou remembered correctly- actually came over and knelt next to Atsushi.
“So your daddy’s a good singer, huh?” he asked. “What’s your name, little one?”
“Atsushi,” the silver-haired boy said shyly. “And Daddy’s really good. He sings to us almost every night when he’s home. It’s nice. Ryu and I never had anyone sing to us before we met Daddy and Dad-zai.”
“Dad-zai?” the woman next to them questioned.
“That would be me,” Dazai spoke up for the first time, his voice and manner laced with his trademark charm. “Dazai Osamu at your service. Nakahara’s husband. The boys came up with Dad-zai as an easy way to tell which dad they were calling for.”
“I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dazai-san. If I may ask, how did you and Nakahara-san meet?”
The brunette smiled. “Oh, we grew up together. Classic high-school sweethearts, split for a while when he left to get his career started, met back up a few years ago, and, well, the rest is history.” There was so much more to the story, but their shared past on the streets was between them and Kouyou.
“I see,” the footballer said, rising to his feet. “And who is this lovely lady then?”
Chuuya answered. “This is my sister, Ozaki Kouyou.”
“Sister? I can see the resemblance. Gracefulness and beauty seem to run in your family, Nakahara-san. Are you a model as well, Ozaki-san?”
“No, but I appreciate the compliment. I’m actually an executive at the Mori Corporation,” Kouyou replied.
“Beautiful and intelligent. A rare combination. I envy the person you deem worthy to share your life.” He bowed, then said, “I would stay and converse further, dear lady, but I have my own guest to meet. Perhaps another time?”
A shadow passed through Kouyou’s eyes at his words, but it was fleeting, and she smiled graciously. “Perhaps.” She returned the bow, and the footballer departed.
Chuuya had noticed the shadow. “All you alright, Ane-san?”
“I’m fine, Chuuya. Just old ghosts.” She smiled. “And it’s not every day one has a star football player try to pick them up. It’s quite flattering, actually.”
“You’re in good company,” Dazai said with a grin. “I researched all of Chibi’s fellow judges before he agreed to this. Your would-be beau is a bit of a player, but he almost exclusively sticks to supermodels and actresses. His last girlfriend walks for Givenchy and Marc Jacobs, I believe.”
Chuuya whistled. “I know her. Yeah. Good company, sis.” He shifted, balancing Atsushi as the boy started nodding off. “Osamu. We have about 20 minutes of the break left. If you want, we can go backstage for a few. I have snacks and drinks for the boys in my dressing room.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, love,” Dazai agreed. He came over and picked Atsushi up, then took Ryu’s hand as Chuuya lifted him off his lap.
Chuuya stood and led the way backstage. He greeted a few people, making easy small talk with some of the costumers and makeup artists he recognized, all the while confidently leading the way through the crowded backstage area. A few moments later, they reached the dressing room. He opened it to reveal a surprisingly large room and gestured them all inside.
Kouyou marveled at her little brother. It wasn’t often she got to see into his world- most of his work had been abroad, and even now nights like this were rare. She’d supported him, of course. Chuuya’d been obsessed with fashion since they were children. She’d become his guardian the instant she was old enough, and had started helping him find local modeling jobs, then found him his first manager once he graduated high school. That manager had gotten him his first international gigs, working for a number of retailers doing catalogue shoots. His slender yet muscular physique, coupled with his amazing hair and eye colors, made getting work in Europe surprisingly easy. The fact that he radiated charm and sex appeal on camera didn’t hurt either- designers who hired him for catalogue shoots tended to see at least a 20% increase in sales, at least in part due to his growing popularity. True, he’d rarely done runway work- his short stature made that… interesting, but he’d had more than enough to keep him busy, if not truly satisfied. That hadn’t come until Dazai’d wandered back into his life three years ago..
She could understand that. The first few years he’d spent overseas had been lonely ones for Kouyou, and she’d thrown herself into her work. Hirotsu had gotten her a job at Mori Corporation, and she’d taken every advantage of their training programs and opportunities. The elegant redhead had shown a natural aptitude for management and a certain ruthlessness when it came to business, so she’d risen through the ranks quickly, making executive by the time Chuuya’d returned.
There’d been other things than work, of course. Including meeting, and losing, the love of her life. Ozaki Kazuto had been her first and only love, actually. They’d been together just three years, marrying after a mere year of dating, and she’d lost him to a car accident just two months after she’d found out she was pregnant with Kyouka. His funeral had prompted Chuuya’s trip home. Kouyou found it highly ironic (and if she was honest, vastly unfair) that her grief had led to her brother’s happiness. Still, she had her daughter, and the little girl had helped her heal, as well as giving her a reason to keep living. She could already see so many of Kazuto’s traits in their daughter that it was almost painful at times.
“Ane-san, are you sure you’re okay?” Chuuya’s voice broke through her reverie, and Kouyou shook herself.
“I’m fine, little brother. I just got a bit lost in thought.”
Chuuya looked skeptical, but let it slide. He knew from experience that getting his sister to talk about her feelings when she didn’t want to was a lost cause. “If you’re sure. Can you take Ryu back to the seats? Dazai’s going to stay here and let Atsushi nap a bit, and I have to get back out there before the show starts up again.” The petite redhead stood and planted kisses on his husband’s and sons’ cheeks, then headed out the door, pausing only to give his sister a quick one-armed hug. “Have fun. I’ll see you next break.”
“Alright.” She turned to her nephew as her brother headed back to the judges’ table. “Are you ready, Ryu-kun?”
The dark-haired boy nodded. “Sushi hugs first,” he said, giving his brother a quick hug, then grinning and giving Dazai one as the brunette mock-pouted. “Love you Dad-zai.”
“Love you too, Ryu. Now go see the show with Auntie Kouyou. Sushi and I will be out after he’s had a little nap. If you get tired, you can come back here and nap too, okay?”
“Kay.” The boy took Kouyou’s hand, grinning up at her.
She returned the smile. “Let’s go, Ryu. Sleep well, Atsushi,” she said softly, as the younger boy was already mostly asleep at this point. Kouyou and Ryu left the room, closing the door softly behind them, and made their way back to their seats just the MC reappeared on the stage. She saw Chuuya smiling at them from his seat, and Ryu waved. He waved back, then all three’s attention was drawn back to the festivities as the MC spoke.
An hour later, she found herself alone in their seats. Ryu had insisted on going back to Chuuya. She didn’t mind, really. There was only about a half hour left of the actual competition. The rest was judging and awarding the winner, as well as a few special performances.
Kouyou took the time to think about the past year. It had been a hectic one- between working and raising a toddler, and having the boys joining the family (and it would be exactly a year next week, wouldn’t it?), but it had been good as well. Her thoughts drifted toward tomorrow. It was New Year’s, and she was having the entire bunch, as well as a few of her single coworkers, over for dinner. They’d enjoyed a meal of toshikoshi soba earlier that day, and she’d prepared a rather large osechi already. She grinned to herself as she remembered Kyouka, tongue between her teeth as she helped arrange the food. Even at two, she was a serious child, except when her cousins were over. The two boys never failed to bring smiles to her tiny face, and she was incredibly glad they’d come into their lives.
Kouyou glanced at her brother. His arms were around Ryu as they watched the current act, a small smile on his face as he rested his chin on the boy’s head. He really is happy. I’m glad. He’s worked his ass off to get to this point.
Her thoughts paused, and a smile of her own tugged at her lips as the act ended. The footballer they’d talked to earlier rose and walked over to Chuuya, handing him what looked like a business card, and the two of them glanced her way, a brief smirk on her brother’s face. Maybe this year, she could let herself get past her grief and find a reason to be happy again? She didn’t know. If nothing else, it would be interesting when he learned of Kyouka. Still… suddenly the konbu and tai she’d included in the osechi seemed relevant to her, after all.
Later that night, as she lay in bed, she flipped the business card in slender fingers, contemplating the events of the night. Perhaps it was time to let go of her ghosts and move on. It was New Year’s, after all, a time to let go of the past and face whatever future awaited. With that thought in mind, Kouyou made her decision. Smiling, she slid the card under the cell phone on her nightstand. She’d call after the party tomorrow.
Thank you, Chuuya-kun. I just might owe you one.