Chapter Text
"Thank you all for coming out to support me! It means a lot!" He bowed, blowing a kiss to the audience before walking off the stage. Once he was sure no one could see him from the audience, he sighed, grabbing both the water bottle and towel that was handed to him.
"Amazing, Kō-chan! Far cry from being a one-hit wonder. "IF YOU WANNA" is still topping the charts and cocoro is still pretty high up there. You’re gonna make it big time soon, I can feel it."
Suga smiled at his manager. "And you've been with me every step of the way, Oikawa. Thank you." The two began the walk back to his dressing room.
"You don't have to thank me, Kō-chan. When I see talent, I want to release it to the world." Oikawa laughed to himself. "Who would've thought that I found that talent in a video of a nineteen year old you."
The silverette groaned. "Please don't remind me…"
"You were good, even back then. Don't sell yourself short just because it was an embarrassing video." He opened the door for the idol. “And if you want my opinion, it was actually really cute.”
The silverette was greeted by many flowers and gifts. Suga smiled. "It still doesn't feel real sometimes. I know it's been two years but…it still feels like I'm a rookie just trying to make it into this industry."
Oikawa placed a hand on his shoulder. "I still remember your first album." He looked at the two's reflections in the mirror. "You've come a long way since starting cocoro ."
"It'll always be one of my favorites."
"Because you started out your career by bearing your soul to your audience. You got personal from day one and it got people hooked. That's part of the reason you're so popular, you know. That and your beautiful voice and face." He let go of Suga to fix his hair. "And your lovely manager."
Suga rolled his eyes. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." He fixed his own hair before grabbing a pen. "Now, I think it's time for a meet and greet."
"Alright, team. We need some new ideas. All three of your last movies were a hit but we just need something…more. You and Kuroo are gaining a lot of attention because of your show. People like your chemistry," Ennoshita said, looking at Daichi then around the table. "And Akaashi is an up and rising star that fans have fallen in love with. That's why I've called the three of you here."
"You want the three of us to do a movie together?" Kuroo asked, raising a brow. "Not that I mind. It's just that Daichi and I still have our show together. And I'm Akaashi’s manager. We've been in some stuff together too. Not to mention the fact that he has his own show. And the directors have been talking about adding him into the show as a side character too. I guess I’m trying to say that we’re gonna be doing a lot of stuff together starting soon."
"I know, which is why the higher ups were so mixed about the three of you doing a movie together. But you three are also the “it people” for teen and young adult movies and shows. If we make it happen, they request that we add someone else. A fresh new face."
"A fresh new face?" Daichi asked. "Like a new lead or…?"
"They've thrown out an idea that I think we could run with. It'll be another big action movie as always, but it’s something you guys would be comfortable with. Problem is, I have multiple castings but none of them are sitting right."
"What's up?" Iwaizumi, Daichi's manager, asked.
"I want a solid lead and a solid villain. That's why I want Daichi and Kuroo respectively. It's Akaashi I'm having a hard time placing. I'm thinking about having you as Daichi's right hand so you won't be too stressed with that and your own show. You're young and still pretty new and I don't wanna stress you out."
"I appreciate it."
"But that leaves the love interest. But we can't go with Michimiya again. The fans are getting sick of that, saying it's starting to feel stale. Nothing against either one of you. She's not especially good at playing a damsel type of role either."
"What kind of movie is this, if you don't mind me asking?" Akaashi asked.
"Your typical mafia boss story."
None of them said anything. It definitely was something that Kuroo and Daichi had plenty of experience with.
"Do you want the love interest to be a guy or a girl?" Iwaizumi asked.
"Daichi seems to have better chemistry with male actors so if we want this to go off without a hitch, I'd say a guy. If you're okay with that, of course."
Daichi shrugged with a smile. "I'm bisexual for a reason. Why not? Just as long as it’s well received and won’t hurt you in any way. I play a gay character in a relationship in our show, so it's nothing new to me."
"So the problem is finding a male actor who can play a damsel-type role?" Kuroo asked, raising a brow.
Ennoshita sighed. "Who also happens to be a “fresh face”. I have the image in my head but I don't know who fits it. At first, I thought about Akaashi and it sounds perfect but it doesn't work out right in my head. He’s really good at playing that type of role, just not with Daichi." He turned to him with a smirk. "Why are you so short, Sawamura?"
"I'm taller than you, asshole."
"Are you though?"
"Nobody asked you, Kuroo. Not everyone can be as tall as you and Akaashi. And for the record, I am taller than Ennoshita."
"By like half a centimeter."
"It still counts."
"Back to the issue here," Akaashi sighed, looking over at Daichi. "So he has to be a new actor who's shorter than 176 cm and has that…“damsel look” or at least can convincingly play that type of role?" The ravenette made no move to hide the disbelief in his voice. "I mean, I'm willing to play the role but if it won't look right…"
Everyone in the room grew silent at the youngest man's comment. Ennoshita buried his face in his hands. "I know it sounds impossible but…bear with me, okay?"
"None of us doubt your skills, Chikara. Just don't get too bent out of shape over it," Daichi said before his phone started ringing. He sighed, knowing whose ringtone that was before he answered the phone. He didn't even bother trying to leave the room as he answered the phone. "Hiromi honey, I'm in a meeting. What do you need?"
He missed the realization dawn on Ennoshita's face as Daichi continued to talk to his oldest sister.
"Yes, tell Kaasan that I'll stop by for dinner tonight. I really have to go, Hiromi. I love you and I'll be home in about an hour." With that, he hung up the phone. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I don't think they quite understand my work schedule yet."
"Which one was that?" Kuroo asked.
"Hiromi is my oldest sister. The thirteen year old."
"I still can't believe you have four younger siblings and that the oldest is thirteen. You're twenty-one, Daichi."
"It's not my fault my parents decided they wanted more kids. And they weren't expecting to have twins the last time."
"That ringtone, Daichi," Ennoshita interrupted, pointing at Daichi's phone. "Who was that? He sounds familiar."
He blushed. "Oh…my sister changed it because she's obsessed with that new song by that idol everyone's talking about. I think his name is Suga or something like that."
"It is if that's the song I thought it was," Akaashi answered. ““IF YOU WANNA” is what I think it's called."
"Yeah, that sounds right."
"Suga, Suga…" They all turned to Ennoshita, who was typing away on his computer. He stared at his screen for a few seconds before he spoke. "...I think I could do this."
"Chikara?"
He turned his screen to show a blown up headshot of Suga. "Think about it before you say anything. He's got the looks and he's a fresh, new face. He's an idol for god's sake. He's perfect!"
"Can he act?" Daichi asked, looking through the pictures. "He’s pretty…"
"I don't know, but he's acted in a few of his music videos," Kuroo answered. "He's no professional but you could do much worse than him. He is quite the looker, I have to admit."
"Iwaizumi, can I trust you to try and contact his agent?"
"I'll see if I can tomorrow. It's getting kind of late."
"Do whatever you can to get him on my set."
"I make no promises, but I'll see what I can do."
"That's all I ask." Ennoshita looked around the table. "Boys, let's make a hit."
"Kō-chan! We need to go or we're going to be late."
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" He opened the door to the dressing room, fixing his jacket. “You can’t wake me up early and then rush me not even two hours later.”
"Stylish as ever," Oikawa said, rolling his eyes as he flicked Suga's hat. "Won't you get hot?"
"This is a really thin jacket on top of a short-sleeved shirt and besides, this is very stylish.” He was wearing one of his own shirts—a black one with his logo (which was really just his name in a cool font) as well as the name art for cocoro slapped across the front in its blue and white design same, matching the album cover. On top of it, he wore a black blazer-like type jacket with black jeans and light blue and white low-top shoes to match. He tossed his signature black fedora in his hand. “Black with a pop of color. You can admit I dress well.”
That was the one thing Oikawa refused to tell him just so he wouldn’t boost the kid’s ego. It was almost to the point that he didn’t need to hire a stylist, but he still did every now and again just to be careful.
“You went quiet. That means I’m right.”
“Your sense of style still has nothing on mine.”
“That’s because you dress like a rich man half the time. I swear I hardly see you in anything but a suit.”
“My suits are very nice!” He looked down at his own ensemble—a white collared shirt, white jeans, and his favorite teal blazer. “Besides, I’m older than you, and I’m your manager. I have to look mature.”
“Whatever, Tōru.”
“We’re doing a mic check in three minutes,” someone from the camera crew said to the two of them as she walked by.
Oikawa nodded. “Alright, time for this segment. Don’t screw it up, kid.”
“First off, you call me “kid” but I’m only like three years younger than you. And secondly…” He flipped his hat one more time before putting it on. “When have I ever screwed up?”
“We’re back this week on Japan Entertainment Weekly with a very special guest.” The studio audience (mostly teenage girls today) burst into cheers. The host laughed. "So why don't we give him a warm welcome?"
More cheers erupted as Suga ran out, the beginnings of "Wonderful Days" blaring through the room.
The cheering was so loud that Suga could hardly hear the music even with his earpiece. When he opened his mouth to begin singing, the cheering only grew louder.
Even though he’d only been doing this for about two years, every time he sang, it felt like the first time. His choice of song had helped with that feeling too.
When Oikawa had told him that he’d be performing live on Entertainment Weekly (which that in and of itself was impressive for someone so young), it honestly hadn’t taken him long to find a song. He knew he had to do something from cocoro, and it just gave him an excuse to pick his favorite song from the album.
The best part of it though was seeing his fans' reactions when he ran off the set and into the audience, dancing and singing with as many people as he could. The smiles were his favorite.
And it only made him that much sadder whenever a song ended. He made his way back onto the set as the song was ending, giving a bow as it came to its end. Applause was ringing in his ears as he straightened back up.
He was handed a water bottle by a crew member before being told they had a two minute commercial break. Oikawa joined him on the set. “Incredible as always.” His smile then dropped as he whispered into Suga’s ear. “Are you ready to talk about cocoro ? They’re going to ask, you know.”
“The song or the album?”
“Both, but I’m more concerned about the song.”
Suga sighed, brushing his bangs from his eyes. “...I can handle it. An almost two year relationship that ended in the middle of writing the album.”
“Kō-chan…”
“It’s fine. Like I said, we started dating right after my third year of high school and we broke it off. It was a year ago, anyway, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“But you don’t need to force yourself. It was rough.”
“I know…and thank you, but I’ll be fine.” He got the one minute warning and Oikawa walked away. He put on a smile, taking the final sips of his water and grabbing his mic before joining the host in the center of the set.
“And we’re live in five, four, three, two…”
“A wonderful performance from you.”
Suga smiled, crossing his legs. “Thank you. Only the best for my fans!”
There were more cheers before the host spoke again. “Well, why don’t you go ahead and properly introduce yourself?”
Suga turned to the camera with a smile. The audience erupted into cheers once again. “Hello to everyone at home and in the audience! Most of you guys know who I am already, but for those of you who are just channel flipping or got dragged here by your friends, I’m Suga.” He then turned back to the host. “Thank you for having me.”
“Of course. After the recent success of "IF YOU WANNA", people were just dying to meet the man behind the greatness.”
“You’re too nice. There's no need for flattery.” He put his elbow on his knee. “But please, keep going.”
The host laughed. “Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?”
“There honestly isn’t much to say but um…I grew up in the Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region. I’ve lived and gone to school there my whole life. Graduated high school three years ago then I moved to the big city, even though any city is honestly bigger than Miyagi.”
“And singing? When did that start?”
“Oh, well…I played sports in high school, but I was actually in my school’s music club in middle school. That’s where I learned that I actually really liked playing the guitar. After that, it was mainly just me goofing around when I discovered that I really liked singing. Then there’s the famous video from two years ago and the rest is history.”
“Now, what was that video from?”
“I used to work for this small business that did a lot of birthdays. So one day, it was this little girl—she was really sweet too—but she was having a Disney-themed party and she asked me to sing for her. I originally wasn’t going to but then my boss told me to just go for it, so I kinda had no choice. The video is from a coworker of mine who decided to record it as leverage but she said it ended up being really good and she posted it. Then Oikawa, my manager, found it, and then he signed me to Blue Crown.”
“How old were you in that video?”
“It was the summer break during my first year in college so I think I had just turned nineteen.”
“How old are you now?!”
“Twenty-one.”
“Really?! I thought you were older. You don’t look old but…you’re doing really good for someone so young. You really have a gift.”
“Thank you! That means a lot.”
“Now, as interesting as your backstory and childhood are, I’m sure fans are dying to know about your album that’s currently been topping the charts.” Suga gulped, trying to keep his expression pleasant. “cocoro is a very interesting album in terms of the tone. It starts out really happy, then it gets sad, and then it ends almost triumphantly with the title song. Would you be willing to share some insight?”
“Sure um…so obvious, the album starts really happy because I was becoming an idol and I had all this energy and excitement that I couldn’t explain. That’s what “Baby Rockin’ now!!”, “Wonderful Days”, and “Go way!” symbolize. I was young—well, younger than I am now—and I was looking at everything through a rose-colored lens. It took us—Oikawa and me—almost a year to write and record cocoro though, so in that time, life happened." He took a deep breath. "I was in an almost two year relationship prior to the release of cocoro, and it was during a period where the two of us couldn’t come up with any more ideas that…I had my heart broken.” He chuckled. “Well, that sounds a little harsh. We decided that it’d be best to go our separate ways. That feeling of sadness and loneliness is reflected in “Still” and “Dilemma of the Night”.” He took another deep breath. This was harder to talk about than he thought it would be.
The host looked at him with a frown. “...I’m sorry that that happened to you. Breakups are very hard for anyone, and two years is a long time. I can’t offer much in the way of condolences, but to write songs about those experiences and talk about them makes you a very strong person.”
He blinked back a few tears that were threatening to spill. “...Thank you. And that honestly was a really nice segway to “cocoro”. Oikawa and I decided that we didn’t want the album to just end on such a sad note, and he said something pretty similar to what you did. He said that being able to tell that story with people meant that I was ready to move on. And I was. So I wrote “cocoro” as a way of saying that although that was a really rough part of my life last year, I was ready to move on. And I have. I’m happier than ever now and honestly, it’s thanks to you guys.” He looked towards the camera. “I say it countless times on social media, but I really do love my Sugar Bears and I want to thank every last one of you from the bottom of my heart for all your love and support.”
The host let out a laugh. “Sugar Bears?”
“Oh, right! I guess some people might not know. Sugar Bears are what I call my fans. It started because Suga sounds so close to sugar and I thought it was really cute. I also let Oikawa come up with the animal so if it’s weird, you can blame him.”
The host let out another short laugh. “I suppose that since we’re talking about your fans, we might as well move on to fan questions before we do one final performance.”
Daichi yawned, walking down the stairs to see Iwaizumi and his oldest sister sitting on the couch. It should’ve been much weirder than it was to see his manager so casually at his parents' house, but he honestly wasn’t awake enough to think about it. “What are you doing here?”
“Good morning to you too.” Iwaizumi said with a smirk, gesturing him over. “Your sister let me in. I tried your apartment but then I forgot you were spending the night.”
“So you came to my parents’ house? That’s weird.”
“Can the two of you stop talking? I’m missing the song!”
It was then that Daichi turned to the screen. It took him a while to register the face and he honestly didn’t know who it was until he had sat down. “Isn’t that that idol that everyone’s talking about?”
“ That idol ?! Dai, how could you! That is Suga, the Suga, not that idol! ”
“Sorry…I forgot you were his biggest fan.” One of his younger brothers came running in with an airplane soon after, dropping it into Daichi’s lap. “Hey, Sōma. What’s up, champ?” He lifted the ten year old into his lap. The boy then proceeded to position himself comfortably on Daichi’s lap before he continued to play with his plane. It was then that Daichi tuned into the TV. Suga was currently singing a song (he couldn’t even pretend he knew which one it was), singing directly towards the camera.
“He’s really pretty…” he whispered under his breath. Iwaizumi heard him and chuckled. “Did you ever get through to his manager?”
“I tried this morning but I guess they were both getting ready for Entertainment Weekly so he didn’t pick up. I left him a voicemail and I’ll try again when the show’s over.” He then fully turned to Daichi. “Can’t fall in love with a co-star. Too much drama.”
“Oh, shut it! Why do you and Kuroo like to bully me about that? It was only Michimiya and we’re still really good friends.”
“I don’t know about Kuroo, but I do it because you’re younger than I am and it’s funny.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He tuned back in. “He sounds really good too. He has a nice voice.”
“Well, I’d hope so. He is an idol after all.”
“You say it like I listen to him all the time-”
“Daichi, shut up!”
“What?! I’m not the only one talking! Besides, isn’t this the ringtone that you set for yourself on my phone? You listen to this song all the time!”
“But not live,” Hiromi countered, sticking her tongue out at her older brother.
Daichi sighed, leaning his head back. “Why did I agree to come by for dinner last night?”
“Because we’re your family and you love us.”
Daichi turned towards where his parents’ bedroom was. “Morning, Dad. Did Mom leave already?”
“She had to work the night shift so her eating dinner with us was really her eating breakfast. She said she was glad you could stop by, though.” He put each of their twins in their respective high chairs before he fully looked to see who was on the couch. “Oh, Iwaizumi-san! I didn’t realize you were here. Would you like breakfast?”
“We’re leaving soon, actually. Do you need me to do anything before I leave?”
“...I think I’m good. Just be sure to call if you stop by again.”
“I will.” He then went around and kissed all his siblings’ foreheads, ending with Tamiko and Taichi. “I might drop by a bit later after you’ve gone to work if I’m not busy.”
“That’s fine. Bye, Daichi, Iwaizumi-san.”
Daichi kept up his smile until he and Iwaizumi were out the door and in his car. It was only then that he glared at his manager. “I hate you.”
“Why the sudden aggression?”
“Don’t act all innocent. My sister will literally agree with anything a hot looking guy says or does. Don’t turn her to the dark side.”
“It’s not my fault you weren’t up yet. She just let me in like any courteous person would. Where are you taking me anyway?”
“Breakfast…I’m feeling nice. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I would never.” He pulled out his phone, dialing the number again. It rang about five times before someone finally picked up.
“You’ve reached the number of Oikawa Tōru. Who am I speaking to?”
“Iwaizumi Hajime. I’m the agent of Sawamura Daichi. I called you today because Ennoshita Chikara, the director who works for Crows Productions, he’s expressed interest in working with Suga.”
“I know that name. He wants Suga in a movie?”
“He does. I called on his behalf as Sawamura will be the leading man. If you or him are interested, Sawamura and I are on our way to the cafe in the shopping district.”
“I know the one…I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.”
“I look forward to meeting with you.” He then hung up the phone, looking at Daichi. “What?”
“So we’re just spending my money now?”
“I mean…you did offer-”
“I will leave you on the street.”
“This is my car, dumbass. Look, I’ll pay you back. Can you just act pleasant for one meeting so you don’t scare away a possible co-star?”
“Only because I’m a professional.”
“Thank you.”
“There you are. You darted off so quickly after the show ended. Is everything alright?”
Oikawa turned, dropping the phone from his ear. “What? Yeah, everything’s alright.” He frowned. “How are you? I know that was hard.”
“I’ll be better once you tell me what the phone call was.”
“Pushy, pushy.” He tsked, waving his phone in front of the younger man’s face. “ I have a very important meeting to go to.”
“For what?”
“Because you, my dear Kō-chan, might be the next hottest movie star.”