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“So? What did you guys think?”
If the car isn’t already claustrophobic it definitely would be, now that all eyes zero in on Jyushi. The light chatter from before cuts off -- typically on-stage Jyushi would take that as a sign to ready his resolve and shift into idol mode, eager to strike the same resonant emotion The Prince of Darkness has into his fans’ hearts.
He gulps, smiling shakily. But Jyushi isn’t on the stage right now; in fact, he’s just finished his concert, so all that spirit, well, it’s fading away pretty quickly with each second the car remains in expectant silence. Edgar Allen Poe, help him. From the driver’s seat Jyuto clears his throat.
“I'll admit I had my preconceived notions. But I suppose I can see the appeal. You clearly work hard to maintain an… aesthetic, and you stick to it with an honest passion. That’s more than what I can say for others.”
“Yeah!” Hifumi bounces in his seat. “It’s totally not my style but I know a quality performance when I see it! So this is the visual kei that the ladies at my club keep telling me about. I’m stoked to trade notes, my kittens will love teaching me!”
“You suck,” Gentaro says.
Everyone glares at Gentaro.
“I was talking to Izanami.” He shoves Hifumi. “Behave like a child all you want, just don’t wrinkle my clothes, there’s hardly enough room as it is in here. Anyway, I liked the concert. It wasn’t as superficial as I originally thought. This experience has made me keen on doing some additional research in my own time.”
“Y-yeah. It was pretty rad...” Jiro’s praise gets drowned out by Hifumi and Gentaro arguing.
From the passenger seat Rosho makes sure to catch Jyushi’s eyes, a kind smile gracing the teacher’s usual stern face. “You did a great job, Jyushi-kun. We worked very hard to make this happen. I have no regrets in mentoring you for this exchange program.”
Jyushi hopes his sincerity is evident, holding back tears of joy as he exclaims and bows, “Thank you very much, Sensei!”
“And thank you, Jiro-kun, for volunteering to represent your school and coming out to his concert. Jyushi-kun may not go to the same school as you, but that show of support is invaluable for a peer like him. I’m proud of you too for showing initiative and leadership.”
Hell, this is kinda embarrassing. Jiro laughs sheepishly, not knowing how to respond to such weighty praise. He wonders how his school life would be if he had an epic teacher like Tsutsujimori-sensei.
“Don’t forget teamwork, Sensei! If it weren’t for Jiro-san and his expertise with electric guitars I would’ve had to delay the concert.”
Jyushi hugs him without hesitation. It’s a good thing he’s too busy basking in the compliments to notice how red Jiro gets. He smushes his cheek into Jiro’s ear, and his heart skips a beat when he realizes the squee and happy wiggles are all because of his doing. Wow, his hugs are so warm.
“Thank you, Jiro-san.”
Jyushi is so talented, and yet he’s thanking Jiro? No way! This dude is a walking masterpiece, he has the stage presence, the idol energy. Not to mention the looks, and god, his hair smells so unbelievably good even after a performance. And behind that persona is the softest heart imaginable, Jiro will protect it with his life, and that smile of sunshine and and and--
“Y-your hair is w… whoa.” You idiot! You’re welcome! Say you’re welcome!!! “L-long colors.”
Out of the corner of his eye he sees Jyuto snicker. That bastard…!
The little noise, however, gets Rosho’s attention. He turns to Jyuto, leaning in close to whisper something to him. Hah, Sensei is so gonna kick his ass for being a heartless prick in the face of Jiro’s dilemma. He’s prolly never felt the touch of love before in his life. Jealous much?
Imagine Jiro’s surprise when Jyuto bursts out laughing, as if he’s legitimately tickled at what he says. And, to top it off, he sees a faint blush dusting Rosho’s cheeks, looking like he equally enjoys it. Why does he look so goddamn flattered at rude cop’s reaction?? Maybe epic Sensei isn’t as epic as Jiro gave him credit for...
“Iruma-san,” Jyushi calls out before he can go any further down that train of thought, “how long did it take for you to become so confident in your driving? If it were me in the driver’s seat I’d be a nervous mess!”
“It’s just practice, young man. All there is to it. Are you thinking of getting a car of your own? That is a good idea, especially if you’re going to be keeping up this band business of yours.”
“Yeah! I already noticed how the rap battles are increasing the popularity of my band so we might need to start putting more resources into the concerts fairly soon.” He turns to Jiro. “I already have my permit, I just haven’t had time to get my license due to everything happening all at once.”
Jiro nods dumbly. “That’s a rad idea.” He’ll google what a permit is later.
“Sensei,” Hifumi whines.
“Yes?” Both Rosho and Gentaro respond. Hifumi smacks Gentaro.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Wahhh, Hifu-meanie!” Gentaro sniffles, putting on the most obnoxious ear-piercing voice. “He hurt me! Hewlp!”
“Ugh, stop acting like a baby.” Hifumi smacks him again, which only serves to make him wail louder. Rolling his eyes, he addresses the front. “So, are we there yet?”
Jyuto’s eyebrow twitches. “More than one baby here…”
“Hwa?”
“Nothing. No, we are not there yet. All of you just climbed into my car without so much a question and now you think to ask? Do any of you even know where I’m taking you?”
“Home, duh.” Sweet, coddled Jiro.
“McDonalds!” Hifumi.
“The sewers next to the park I like, of course, so that I may jump out and scare passerbys. People-watching does get boring at times.” Gentaro what the hell.
“The train station…?”
“Jyushi-kun is correct.” The sigh Jyuto releases sounds as if he’s just gone through a gauntlet of trials. “I am dropping you off to the main station hub so that you may all go to your respective cities. Be thankful I am not stranding you all on the side of the street. Lord knows I should’ve done so long before…”
He mumbles the last part. Rosho puts a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle smile when their eyes meet. Now that he thinks about it, Jiro noticed that Sensei didn’t raise any guesses, seemingly content with where Iruma-san is taking him. Are he and nasty cop going to the same place or what? What business could they possibly have to do...
Jiro gags, the unthinkable idea popping into his brain before he can stop it. He and… them? Those two? Together??? No freaking way! How can they ever--! Urghhh, not even Jyushi’s hand that rubs soothingly up and down his back can pull him from that awful hole.
“Jiro-san, are you okay? Ah, you must be car sick.”
“I’m sick alright…” Jiro gulps. He knows what can fix this. “Jyushi, please, McDonalds… I need it.”
“McDonalds…?”
“Yay!” Hifumi shouts. “We’re going to McDonalds!”
“No, we are not.”
“McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds--”
Hifumi starts chanting. Jiro needs fast food to distract him from that horrible discovery so he joins in as well, albeit a bit weakly. Confused but swept away by the emotion, Jyushi pitches in. Gentaro, too, but he’s likely just doing it to be annoying.
Jyuto gives in not even ten seconds later. “Alright fine! We’ll go to McDonalds! Jesus Christ...”
He lines up at the drive-thru, pulling up at the ordering booth in a huff -- then, something causes his face to twist into an evil grin. Oh no.
“One black coffee, please… Yes, that’s all for today.”
The uproar in the backseat hasn’t stopped since leaving the drive-thru. Sounding like a clown car crying for murder is fine in exchange for Jyuto leisurely sipping at his coffee like an evil emperor. The front cruelly ignores their pleas, idling at the red light.
“Ple-e-ese, I’m starving,” Hifumi sobs. Gentaro throws an even louder fit. The smirk on his face is unnervingly chilling.
Rosho leans in to whisper something to Jyuto. Jiro is hesitant to have hope; perhaps he’s taken pity on them? It seems so, because Jyuto sighs, “You’re right. I should.”
Is he the angel to Jyuto’s devil? Jiro doesn’t care because they’re going back into the drive-thru. Hallelujah.
No, they’re both devils in their own right. Betrayal to the highest degree, as Jyuto says with finality: “Another black coffee, please, for Rosho… yes, that’ll be all.”