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Two guys, in a newly opened cafe that had been very popular among the youngsters recently. It shouldn't be that strange, he came to eat sweets with Touya in this kind of cafe frequently already. The combination of the two people who were now sitting face-to-face while eating their own ordered treat was what would seem strange.
At one side, Shinonome Akito was silently eating his strawberry pancake with a visible frown on his face. While at the other side, Touno Arata was enjoying his chocolate mousse in a relatively good mood, completely unbothered by the foul mood that radiated from his companion.
How did this unusual combination even happen?
Akito remembered he was craving for some sweets after school and deciding to come here by himself because Touya had a committee work, until that part he was having a good time. Then all of a sudden Arata approached him all friendly, asking for his permission to sit with him but not even waiting to hear his response. Obviously, he wouldn't care even if Akito didn't give him permission.
He didn't like him at all. This Touno Arata. His singing skill was something else, he was forced to admit that. Yet, his eyes always looked like he was having fun provoking him and the ever-present smile on his face annoyed him a lot.
His annoyance grew even more when he remembered what An excitedly said about him after talking with him once back at the event.
"He's good at singing and he seems nice!"
Seems nice, my ass. The only reason she could say so was because she didn't hear the harsh comments he said about them, and even after all those things he said he still could talk all friendly with An and Kohane without any guilt at all. What a two face... was what Akito wanted to say, though that would sound like a pot calling the kettle black.
He also understood deep down, Arata wasn't that different than him in the past, underestimating them and pushing his own judgment against them. At least, he already watched them with his own eyes now.
Anyway, let's just hurry finish eating and get the hell outta here.
Arata seemed to notice his intention to leave as soon as possible, he started talking to him. "So, Shinonome-kun... How are you guys doing? Vivid BAD SQUAD, I mean."
"...We're doing fine," Akito answered between his bite. "We're improving at steady pace, especially the one you called 'a newbie you wouldn't want to team up with', she's growing at insane speed. Of course, I am too. I won't let myself get left behind by those guys."
"Ahaha... You're the type to hold grudges, aren't you? But, yeah... knowing it's Vivid BAD SQUAD I'm sure you guys still have a lot of potential to improve. I don't have any intention to let myself lose either."
"That's obvious."
RAD WEEKEND wasn't something you could surpass by dilly-dallying. While Vivid BAD SQUAD kept improving, and so did Touno Arata. How big was the gap? Arata couldn't say for sure anymore ever since he saw their performance as a team last time. He secretly hoped their tie would change into a more satisfying result sometime soon.
"By the way, Shinonome-kun," Arata loosened his shoulders as he put his fork and knife down. "You don't try to hide your bad mood at all, huh? That's not good. You should loosen up sometimes. Even though I'm your rival, it's still nice to have friendly chit-chat sometimes."
Akito suddenly stopped eating. He looked at Arata with a deeper frown as if he just said something strange, making Arata raised his brows in confusion too.
"I know last time I said I lose to you by personal skill... but you're still a rival for Vivid BAD SQUAD. My annoyance about you is a whole different matter."
"Yeah...? And your point is?"
He scratched the back of his head, looking like he was trying to find the right words to explain. "As I said... you're Vivid BAD SQUAD's rival, but my rival isn't you."
Arata blinked.
"Hah..."
Then he let out a chuckle. What? Was he bothered by such a small difference? Rival to one's group would mean rival for each member of the group, at least Arata would think so.
But, Shinonome Akito seemed to think about it differently.
"What are you laughing at, Touno?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's nothing. I just found your words interesting... Like, if I'm not your rival, that implies you have someone else as your rival. I'm quite curious now, tell me more about it."
"Geh, no way. Why should I talk about this with you?"
"It's fine, right? My pride got hurt, I should at least know about the person."
Akito didn't answer for a while as he absentmindedly stirred his milkshake. "You know the person too... One of the best in Vivid Street. Didn't you also compliment her while you criticized the others back then?"
"Ah, so it's An-chan?" Arata quickly guessed. "Isn't she your teammate, though?Are you competing against your own friend?"
"So, what...? An is a teammate and a rival, that's how it's always been."
"That sounds a bit contradictory, don't you think?"
The guy in front of him frowned again, the both of them seemed to think of each other's words as strange.
"There's no rule that said you can't compete with your own ally, is there?" he said. "It's not that hard to understand... I mean, it's not like trust and rivalry can't coexist with each other. I can trust my back to her because she's a teammate, but she's also the person I don't wanna lose to as a rival."
A teammate and a rival. He kinda hoped he didn't burden her too much by giving her two different roles, but knowing it was that Shiraishi An, he was sure she wouldn't mind that at all. That happy-go-lucky tendency of her would be fired up about it even. Rivalry could be the best motivation and her unwavering passion was best to fuel him.
"Haha, I see, I see... An-chan means that much to you, Shinonome-kun?"
"Don't make it sounds weird..." Akito grimaced while Arata laughed. "When I was still new to this street music world, seeing someone of the same age to be that talented... of course you'd look up to her."
Someone of the same age, someone who also saw the legendary night, and someone who also dreamed to surpass it. With that much similarities, she was always the topic people brought to him when he first started. The famous Shiraishi Ken's daughter.
It was different from Touya. He didn't want to lose to Touya because he was his partner and he wanted to always be able to sing alongside him as an equal. While with An she was more like, a safe mark as well as a motivation. He knew he'd do good if he chased after her level. Even better if he got to win against her.
"It's not only limited to singing... but, like, she would always answer someone questioning our dream to surpass RAD WEEKEND with utmost determination, and that would make me think 'I shouldn't lose to her'. That way my determination becomes even stronger. She's someone with no brakes after all, I won't be able to catch up to her if I waver even a bit."
A teammate who would give him the support from behind, and a rival who would pull his motivation from the front. It was also a wonder for him how she became such an existence in his life.
"Hmm... so, that's how it is," Arata ate the last bite of his sweet, silently amused how the guy in front of him was reluctant to talk about it at first but now he explained it to him in great details. To always chase after her no matter what, doesn't that sound like quite the clingy act? Just kidding.
Still, since he mentioned about when he just started pursuing street music, that meant he had been seeing her as a rival for years.
His persistence to think of her as his rival for this long even after they joined as a team was admirable, Arata thought.
He suddenly had this urge to provoke him a bit.
"As someone who also saw the night and got the same dream, aren't I fit to be her rival too?"
Arata's shoulders shook slightly when Akito's expression changed.
"You are our rival, but An is my rival."
Akito said again sternly, looking straight at him. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the look on his face felt like he was telling him not to get ahead of himself and steal something that he clearly stated as his. Whoa, scary. Is this really a conversation about rivals?
"...You are saying such a possessive thing for a rivalry, Shinonome-kun."
"What nonsense are you spouting now...?" Akito looked at him weirdly, completely annoyed by the grin. "If you're done eating then just go."
Akito had shared something really interesting to him, so even though he'd still like to hear about it more he should probably let him eat his pancake in peace now at least. Arata decided to retreat for today.
"Alright, I'll be going then... Thanks for sharing your love story with me, Shinonome-kun. I'm looking forward to our next talk~"
Arata waved his hand, and Akito coughed loudly.
"Wha—!? What the hell are you even saying... which part of our conversation that sounds like a love story!? Oi, Touno! Damn it!"
Hearing Akito's cursing from behind, Arata stifled his laugh with his hand. The talk was interesting. He might be just reading too much into it, but he had more development to expect aside of their singing growth now.
"A teammate as well as a rival, huh..." Arata repeated to himself as he walked.
You need to acknowledge someone's determination to think of them as a teammate, and you need to acknowledge someone's skill to think of them as a rival.
"I wonder if An-chan knows she received that great of an acknowledgment from a certain someone."
Leaving the thought unanswered like that, Touno Arata continued his day.