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Iori felt that he should have seen that one coming. After all, the evidence was right in front of his eyes from the beginning.
The black-haired boy glanced over at his brother and Rokuya-san once again, they were laughing. For some people it probably meant nothing, but Iori saw it. He saw the way his big brother’s eyes softened as Rokuya-san talked enthusiastically about the last Kokona episode or something. Iori couldn’t hear them, and honestly it wasn’t the main point. Then Rokuya-san started to lean toward his Nii-san and told him something in his ear before he started to laugh out loud.
Iori refrained himself to sigh in annoyance. How did he not realize what was going on sooner. It was so obvious now. All the time, they said “I love you” to each other. All the time they were mistaken as a couple when they hung out together. Rokuya-san and Nii-san fell in love with each other.
Iori still remembered the way his brother acted when Rokuya-san almost quit IDOLiSH7. He could never forget the look on his brother’s face when he read that letter. Even the days after, he would stay at Rokuya-san’s room for as long as he could. He also recorded every single Kokona episode that was aired to show him when he returned. Mitsuki was so sure that he would have him back, that he would do anything to bring him back.
At first, Iori didn’t think anything about it, they were all thinking the same. Everyone wanted to have Rokuya-san back, they wouldn’t be IDOLiSH7 without him and these two were always close to one another, so it was normal that Nii-san was a little more protective than most.
But after Northmeir, after the speech Mitsuki gave, he saw that their relationship changed a little. They started to spend even more time together. Or as much as their schedule would allow them too. The way they looked at each other changed too, to become even softer. Nii-san’s smiles became wider, whatever Rokuya-san’s was around. Rokuya-san researched his Nii-san's attention more and more.
The younger boy didn’t know if they realized their feelings for each other themselves. He assumed Mitsuki didn’t, he would have told him if it was the case, they always told each other things like that. Rokuya-san, however, was harder to decipher.
For all he knew, he could have meant it, when he said that he loved his brother “more than there are stars in the sky” just like he couldn’t have realized it. And honestly, it really didn’t matter. Whether they realize it or not, it would still not be good for the group. If people knew that two members of their group were in love with each other, two boys moreover… Iori didn’t want to think about the aftermath of it all.
But Iori couldn't stop thinking about how happy his brother was. For as long as he could remember, he didn’t recall Mitsuki being that comfortable with someone. Not even his ex-partners. Iori himself couldn’t make his brother that comfortable with him. It was actually something he was jealous of. The way that Rokuya-san had to appease his brother in fewer words than he ever had. For so long, he thought that Mitsuki would prefer Rokuya-san as his little brother rather than himself.
Now, Iori felt a bit stupid to think that way. He realized that it was never the case. His brother loves him and always will, but the love he held for the blond was different, in another wavelength, and only now Iori saw the difference.
And he couldn’t nor did he really want to go against it. His brother’s happiness was something that the black-haired boy always held precious. Since he was a kid, seeing his big brother’s smile filled him with energy. And that smile disappeared as he failed auditions, but it came back after they entered IDOLiSH7, after he met Rokuya-san.
And the same went for Rokuya-san, Iori could see the way he lit up whatever Nii-san entered the room. How his eyes shone when Nii-san talked about his new MC skill. Everything in Rokuya-san's attitude screamed “love” to the point Iori couldn’t help but wonder how he didn’t catch it before now.
And even if Rokuya-san could be annoying sometimes, Iori had to admit, he was always perceptive. He knew when someone was down. He knew how to deal with people, in his flashy way. Iori did experience it himself.
He smiled sadly at himself as he remembered MusFes. With time, he learned to let it go, even if the feeling never completely went away and probably never will. But he still clearly remembered the way Rokuya-san helped him to feel better, how he brightened everyone's mood. To this day, Iori is still grateful to him.
So, if he really had to give his precious big brother to someone, well Rokuya-san might not be the worst person to.