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“Ne, Manager, Gakkun, why did you two stop calling each other by your names? Did you two fight?” Tamaki faces both mentioned parties who went silent at the question.
‘.... This is kinda awkward.’ The same thought crossed the minds of the ‘other's’ who had already guessed what happened.
‘Uwaahhhh... This IS awkward......’ Riku, who actually witnessed what happened, thought.
Tamaki, who is oblivious to the awkward tension, gave a questioning and sad look. “So you did?”
“No, we didn't!” Both Tsumugi and Gaku answered in sync. The two looked at each other a bit surprised and then laughed.
Tsumugi pointed at herself. “Should I explain?” Her eyes wandered from Gaku to the others and then back to Gaku. ‘… I should probably use this chance to...’
Gaku was slightly hesitant for some reason, but still nodded. “Sure thing, Takanashi-san.” Tsumugi smiled which put more uneasiness in Gaku’s mind.
“You shouldn’t worry about it Tamaki-san.” Tsumugi smiled at him. “You see, a few months back, there were rumors that Yaotome-san had feelings for me and unfortunately, a few people who were probably trying to get a scoop were trying to set us up.”
Gaku faced Tsumugi and slightly bowed. “I’m sorry again for troubling you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Ohh... That's one weird rumor.”
‘It’s the truth, though.’ some others thought.
“The two of us came to an agreement to distance ourselves just a bit until things calm down. I apologize if it caused you some worries.”
“Don't mind.” Tamaki raised his hand showing a thumbs up.
“Although, I do admit it was a bit awkward since we're just friends after all.” Tsumugi’s emphasis on those two words had an obvious meaning. She does hope that it came out clear.
After a moment, everyone had their attention switched from Tsumugi’s words to Gaku’s silenced smile.
‘I was just rejected, wasn’t I? I guess that’s her answer…’
“Yeah, I guess it was a bit awkward for us as friends.” Gaku chuckled “Also, Yotsuba, Takanashi-san and I have nothing to fight about. I’m surprised that you even considered it.'”
“You're right. Sorry, Gakkun, Manager.”
“It wasn't that much of a problem, Tamaki-san. You were just worried after all.”
This topic slowly faded along to the conversations made by the others up until it was about time for the groups to part their ways. Tsumugi dropped six of her boys back to the dorms while a single one stayed as he had a recording late at night.
“Manager.”
“What is it, Riku-san?”
“Wasn’t that, well… It wasn't harsh or anything, and it was Yaotome-san who suddenly told you he liked you, and well...”
Tsumugi forced out a laugh. She knew what Riku wanted to say.“It was a bit rude to him, wasn’t it?” Riku’s body tensed up at her reply. “ Even though he said he liked me straight to my face, so suddenly too, I couldn’t even look at him when I said that.”
“...”
“Shall we head out now? The show’s recording will start in half an hour.” She says looking at her wrist watch. As she was about to turn the van on, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked back at the idol.
“Manager. I know it isn’t my right to pry, but aside from an idol, a rival and a friend. How do you see Yaotome-san?”
Tsumugi couldn’t hide the shock on her face. “Riku-san?????? Why are you asking that???”
“Don't you think that you’ve held even the very smallest bit of ‘special’ feelings for him.”
“Riku-san????” Tsumugi’s face started going red at Riku’s words.
As if Riku wasn’t as red though. Riku slowly backed up from her. “I’m sorry for the sudden questions. I just thought about how it was unnecessary for you two to stop calling each other by your names if you two were only just friends. So I...”
“It does seem weird, doesn’t it?” Tsumugi stared off into the distance as she thought about it. She didn't even realize she'd gone silent the whole ride to the studio.
“Riku-san, I hope you don’t mind that I head somewhere else for now.” Tsumugi looked away a bit embarrassed, “It’s a bit late, but I do kind of regret what I did earlier. I should try and think about what to say to Yaotome-san next time we meet.”
Riku smiled. “Regrets come last after all. Also, I’m used to going to sites alone these days anyway. You should go ahead and do what you need to do.”
“Thank you, Riku-san!”
---
“Gaku, you’ve been looking down since a while ago. Is there something bothering you? Do you need help?”
“Ryu, don’t play dumb. I know you know.”
“Well, I was only half certain that you like her… ‘that’ way.”
“I’m genuinely surprised that it wasn’t a fact in your head yet. Also, Gaku...” Tenn’s eyes strolled over to Gaku with his brows pulled down. “I didn’t think that you actually told her.”
“Technically, I said I ‘think’ I like her.” After a second, Gaku scoffed at his own words. “As if that makes a difference though.”
“So this is the third rejection, right? Or was there more I don’t know of?”
“Are you making fun of me?! I’m heartbroken here!”
“Now, now, Gaku. Tenn’s probably just trying to lighten the mood.”
“How’s that lightening up the mood?!”
“Ryu’s right. I was just trying for a good laugh.” Tenn sarcastically said, then followed a sigh. “Takanashi-san’s just being professional though. I don’t think she really meant what she implied.”
“Tenn...”
“But that depends if she actually likes you or not. She treats you the same as everyone else actually.”
“Ugh...” Gaku’s expression looked even more depressed. “You think I didn’t know that!?”
“Calm down, Gaku. Calm down.” Ryu patted Gaku’s back showing his support. “Tsumugi-chan’s a good kid. It’s true that she was being professional. It’s also true that she treats you the same as other- Gaku!?”
“You two are really killing me right now...”
“Tenn~ How do you comfort a heartbroken person~? I honestly really don’t know what to say.”
Tenn sighed. “Gaku. Can I ask something?”
“What is it this time, brat?”
“Why do you like Takanashi-san?”
Gaku’s face went blank for a second before shades of red were seen. “Why are you asking that!?”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” Tenn chuckled a bit. “You know, I’d rather talk from a professional perspective and tell you to stop at this, but your feelings still matter really. So does hers. Both of you are professionals and both of you did what was needed in that situation. But both of you also need room from yourselves, so I’ll let this one time slide.”
“Tenn...”
“I’m not one for romantic love, but if she doesn’t have anyone in mind right now, you should try and make her like you as a man, Mr. No.1 Desired Embrace. Ah wait, with Takanashi-san, it should be Mr. No.1 Corniest Man Alive”
“You didn’t need to add that last bit, you know...”
“So Gaku, you’re going to try?” Ryu asked with a concerned smile. “Not now of course. After all that...”
“I’ll contact her in the morning.” Gaku stood up and took his coat with him.
“You’re going somewhere?”
“I’m going to the place where these feelings started…” Gaku stopped at the door and looked back at the other two. “This isn’t something to be embarrassed about so I should just say it with a straight face. The reason why I like her is because she’s Tsumugi.”
---
“How do I feel about Yaotome-san, anyway? I said I was happy that we became close friends, that we were acknowledged as rivals… What else should I feel about him?”
Tsumugi stood there in that same place where she had declared her dream for IDOLiSH7 to surpass TRIGGER. She declared it to their leader, Yaotome Gaku. She unconsciously smiled while looking at the sky.
She raised her hand to the distant starry sky. “To surpass that rainbow…”
“I’m glad to be a fan of TRIGGER. Tsunashi-san, Kujo-san and Yaotome-san...” Tsumugi then let out a laugh. “As embarrassing as it is, I guess I miss saying his name now…”
---
“I went here with those two just a while back, but why does it feel so nostalgic? Is it because my reason for coming is different?” Gaku took a stroll around the area looking side to side, inspecting the place that has never changed. “Ah...” At the sight of a familiar back, Gaku chuckled a bit. “Of all times too...”
“Takanashi-san!” Gaku called out to her, only being a few steps away. “So you’re here too, huh.”
“Gaku-san!” Tsumugi’s head darted to the direction of the voice, then upon realizing her mistake, she immediately looked away with a slight blush. “I meant Yaotome-san!”
“Pft.” Gaku walked closer to the girl. He stood beside her. “I haven’t heard you call me that for a while now. No one’s watching so I guess this isn’t a problem.”
“...”
Gaku, seeing a bit of discomfort in her expression, looked away. “If you don’t want to, then that’s fine too.”
“No it’s not that! I just thought that you should probably call me by my name too, but I don't know how to say it to you!”
“You did just now.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
“Just act normally.” Gaku paused, staring at her still flushed face. It’s been a while, he thinks. “Tsumugi.”
Tsumugi once again looked away, going silent causing worry for Gaku. “Tsumugi, what’s wrong-” his words were cut short seeing the expression Tsumugi was holding now. Flustered and confused.
“H-how come… I was asked if I had any ‘special’ feeling for you other than an idol, a rival and a friend… I came here to think about it.” Tsumugi looked down, but her expression didn’t change. “I was normal, thinking about our past conversation here and thinking how I’m happy to’ve met TRIGGER and yet…. When I saw you just now, my mind went back to Riku-san’s words.”
“Nanase?”
“Riku-san pointed out that it was unnecessary for us to have referred to each other by our surnames if we were just friends even in a professional setting. Many others do the same.” Tsumugi’s eyes wandered to the man beside him. “It’s like we were acknowledging that we were trying to hide something… I mean, we actually had nothing to hide, but we still distanced ourselves.”
“Well, I guess we were trying to stop all the rumors for that, but thinking about it, there were so many other ways.” Tsumugi sighed, then followed with a smile. A familiar expression to Gaku. “But you did say you liked me, so it was a bit embarrassing to see you properly as Gaku-san, who’s my friend.”
“It’s not ‘liked’... I still ‘like’ you...”
“I know...” Tsumugi once again looks off into the distance. “Also, I apologize for what I did earlier. It was a bit rude to you, wasn’t it. I should’ve done that more directly.”
“... Then do it now.” Gaku said with no hesitation in his voice that it surprised Tsumugi a bit. “I don’t mind. I understand your reasons so I don’t mind taking a full on rejection straight on.”
“Gaku-san...”
“I should apologize now as well..”
“Why should you apologize?”
Gaku smiled with a huge grin. “Because even if you reject me, I won’t give up on you.”
Tsumugi’s face went even more red than it was a moment ago. “Why is that..? Even though I...”
“By the way, right now, reject me as Takanashi Production’s Takanashi Tsumugi. Not as Tsumugi Tsumugi.” Tsumugi had a questioning look on her face at this point because of Gaku’s words. “You were just being professional in a way when you rejected me earlier. I know that now.”
“Because you came back to this place, because you gave some of your time to think about how you feel about me...” Gaku paused. Knowing what he was going to say next, he grew flustered and looked away.
Tsumugi held onto the man’s coat, which surprised Gaku that he looked back at the other flustered person. “...Gaku-san, p-please continue what you were about to say.”
Gaku held her warm cheeks and smiled. “All of those things… probably mean… you may actually have special feelings for me…”
(a/n: Gaku: Oh god, please don't let me be wrong!)
“I-Is that so.” Tsumugi was tense at his touch. “I… honestly needed someone to confirm that for me so thank you...” Tsumugi became less tense with Gaku’s hand and gently caressed it. “I guess I do have ‘special’ feelings for Gaku-san after all!”
“I guess that’s that then…” Gaku caressed her cheek. “I may have a chance after all… It doesn’t have to be now. We can both fulfill our dreams first, then come back...”
“You’re right. We can always come back here in this place and this setting. There’s still a future ahead for all of us after all.”
Gaku slowly moved his hand away from her and looked at her. “Tsumugi, I like you.”
“I know… And I have special feelings towards you, Gaku-san.”
“Glad to hear that.” Gaku smiled. At the blink of an eye, his gaze then changed. “I look forward to working with you, Takanashi-san. Please continue to support TRIGGER.”
“Likewise, Yaotome-san. Please continue to take care of IDOLiSH7 and myself. Oh, but I still intend for us to surpass that rainbow.” Tsumugi slightly chuckled. “I hope that all of us will be able to fulfill our dreams. And then in the future...”