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“Hey Aira! What did you wanna talk to me about?” Hiiro shouted out as he entered the cafe and noticed Aira at their favorite table, patiently waiting for the redhead to make his appearance at the set meeting place. “We don’t have any new Alkaloid work this week do we?”
Aira fidgeted in his seat as the other boy sat down across in his. “N-No this isn’t about anything like that.” The blonde stuttered, looking down at his hands as he anxiously picked at them.
Hiiro cocked his head to the side, puzzled by Aira’s uncharacteristic behaviors. It seemed as if the other was troubled by something. So Hiiro opened his mouth to probably make things worse. “You look nervous Aira? What is it you needed to tell me? If it’s about running out of money and me having to spot you 30 bucks for all that ReiEichi merch for your collection, I told you not to worry about it. Though I’m not really sure what all those heart pins are for.” The boy practically shouted, much louder than he needed to.
“H-Hiro-kun! Not so loud!” Aira practically catapulted across the small dining table to clamp his hands over the loud boy’s mouth.
The redhead removed them with ease, not really understanding Aira’s cues and continued to interrogate him. “Or is this about needing help ordering again, we’ve told you before Aira, it’s not a big deal if you wanna eat 2 parfaits but you really should eat healthier food. Or at least that’s what Tatsumi-senpai always says.”
At this point Aira’s face was burning, after being publicly embarrassed and shamed, he hung his head low, unable to make any more eye contact with the boy spewing all his secrets. Then his shoulders began to shake as anger bubbled inside of him.
“Hiro-kun-!” He cried with agitation, almost growling out his name. “This isn’t about any of that! Would you stop obnoxiously shouting everything into the open air! I swear you have the social knowledge of a 5 year old! Not everyone needs to know about my secret ReiEichi bag, okay? I’m trying to keep it on the down-low until it's complete.” Aira whispered out that last part.
“Just like your fic?”
“Yes, just like my fic.” Aira rubbed his head, wondering why he was even bothering to talk to Hiiro at all. Then he suddenly remembered and straightened up to return his composure. “Well thank you for getting us wildly off topic Hiro-kun. I actually had a favor I needed to ask, but now I'm not so sure if it’s a good idea.” The already exhausted boy sighed.
Hiiro leapt from his seat at hearing Aira’s words, sending the chair flying backwards screeching across the floor, as Hiiro’s fist clenched over his heart. “You can always rely on me Aira! Don’t be afraid to ask me for anything, as your reliable friend and leader I will do whatever I can to help!” The boy loudly exclaimed for the whole cafe to hear, yet again.
Aria should have been used to this by now. Hiiro was an overexcited toddler at most times, and it took 120% of his strength to wrangle the boy into behaving. This was about to be a really bad idea, but at this point Aira had no other options.
“Okay Okay, I get it Hiro-kun sit down please? I just wanted to ask if you'd go to a concert with me…” Aira nervously asked, looking away and quietly speaking.
“A concert? Aira we go to those all the time! Are we going to see another Undead and Fine join live? I’ll make sure to bring tissues this time, you cried a lot at the last one.”
“ENOUGH ABOUT THE REIEICHI PLEASE HIRO-KUN!” Aira begged, his private shipping business was not for the whole cafe to hear. He collected himself once again, clearing his throat and continuing. “No, it's not one of those kinds of concerts.”
Hiiro listened intently, but looked puzzled by Aira’s elaboration. “There are other kinds of idol concerts!?” Hiiro’s eyes practically lit up given the new and exciting information about idols he didn’t previously know existed.
“Eh- well…” Aira searched for an answer to give the sparkling boy, “I mean they’re definitely idols, but-“
“I want to go.” Suddenly Hiiro looked very serious, his overexcited smile melting into an intense stare.
“Y-You mean you’ll go and see BTS with me!” Aira stole all the sparkles as his eyes shined in awe. “Oh thank you thank you Hiro-kun, you’re my hero!” He suddenly grabbed the redhead’s hands and shook them violently in thanks, “Usually it's Kohakucchi who comes with me to all of them but he just texted me this morning that he has some crazy unit business that just popped up for late tonight- which is so weird because we never have stuff that late at night so it was kinda suspicious but-“ Aria rambled on in excitement, his words mumbling together as he spoke rapidly, too fast for Hiiro too keep up.
“BTS?” Hiiro questioned, still being shaken by the younger boy.
Aira didn’t hear him as he blathered on, “-I’m always too scared to go alone because I don’t wanna look like a loser loner seeing BTS on my own… So I’m so so so grateful you’ll come with me! Maybe I can even turn you into ARMY!!” Aira gasped, letting go of Hiiro’s hands, still in his own little world, “Oh my god, I’ll need to catch you up about everything BTS and all the members and all their songs! I think I still have a bunch of photo cards and albums sitting at home… Would you be a Jimin stan or maybe V?”
“Aira!” Hiiro shouted, pulling the blonde out of his concentration. Aira immediately whipped his head in the direction and scowled a ‘what?’ look. Hiiro was awfully lost and had so many questions. But he decided to start with the biggest one on his mind. “What’s BTS?”
Aira gasped.
—
“Don’t forget the concert is tonight! Meet me outside the Starmory dorms at 8! If you’re even a minute late I’ll hunt you down myself~” Aira called out with a cheery voice as Hiiro staggered out into the hallway.
After about 5 hours in Aira’s dorm, Hiiro was finally allowed to leave. He was given the full run-down on everything he needed to know about this ‘BTS’ idol group, and his head buzzed with too much new information swirling around. Apparently they weren’t any ES idol units, like Hiiro had assumed (who knew there were other idols?) and were instead the equivalent of the idols he knew and loved but instead were from Korea.
In addition to that, there were 7 of them, which was more than Knights so that was cool. And they each were prolific in some aspect of being an idol. Which he was very much familiar with. Like some were the chosen ‘best dancer’ like Mayo-san, or one was a rapper, which was confusing to him because he had never seen an ES idol rap before. But he made a mental note to bring it up at the next Alkaloid meeting, perhaps it was a hidden talent one of them had that could be used for their next performance. He suddenly wanted to see Tattsun-senpai rap.
Aira was very adamant about Hiiro finding his ‘bias’, which of course that term had to be explained too, and wouldn’t let him leave til he made a choice. Aira pulled out a huge binder full of cards full of all the members' faces, and insisted for him to pick his favorite. Shakily, he picked one at random and hoped he chose correctly.
“NO- NOT THAT ONE-“ Aira screamed, making Hiiro jump. “I- I mean, that one's Jungkook, and he's my favorite, so you have to pick another one.” He cleared his throat and crossed his arms with a pout. So Hiiro picked someone named J-hope instead.
—
The whole ‘going to a new place downtown to see idols’ was new and confusing to Hiiro. Everything idol related he understood was harbored right in ES, so he wasn’t even sure if he was allowed to go all that way with Aira. His brilliant plan for that was to just ask permission.
“Nii-san Nii-san!” Hiiro called out to the blur of red speeding past him down the Cospro offices hallway. He had been searching all afternoon for any sign of his brother. Like it was a miracle bestowed upon god (a saying Hiiro had learned from Tatsumi) Rinne Amagi just happened to be in the building that day. The parlors weren’t open yet and Rinne wasn’t hung over from the past nights partying, so it made sense he was prowling the halls for something to do or someone to annoy. And it looked like Hiiro had found that someone to annoy instead of him.
Once Rinne spotted the little gremlin of a child, he dragged his hand through his hair and let out the most exasperated sigh. He let his brother run up to him before putting on a smile and pretending to look like a responsible older sibling.
“Hey lil’ bro, what happenin’?”
“Do you have a second? I need to ask permission to go out tonight.” He innocently asked.
“Ah ya thinkin’ of headin’ down the path of yer big bro huh? Well, yer a little young to go to bars but I think I can sneak ya into some of my Gamblin’ dens… the pachinko places are real lenient, that lesson number one ‘kay?” Rinne chuckled, finally ready to unload all his street smarts onto his brother. Going out on the town? Now you were speaking Rinne’s language.
Hiiro shook his head at that, “Oh no Nii-san. Tattsun-senpai said I should never go into those satanic establishments, he says they’re the pathway to hell.”
“Yowch.” Rinne was hurt, “Who are ya gonna listen to, that pretty boy priest or your dear loving older brother?”
“So Aira said he wants me to come with him to this ‘BTS’ concert and I want to make sure I’m allowed to go.” Hiiro said, completely ignoring Rinne’s previous statements entirely.
“Who is that?” Rinne asked, as he crudely picked at something in his ear.
“BTS? They’re apparently a huge idol group, I had no Idea who they were either but I got a rather lengthy presentation on them so-“
“No no no, I know what BTS is. Who the fuck is Aira?”
That's when Hiiro decided he probably didn’t need permission from anyone and was free to make the choice to accompany Aira to the concert on his own.
—
So 8pm rolled around, and Hiiro stood nervously outside of Aira’s shared dorm. The obsessive boy gave Hiiro no direction or rules for what to wear or what to bring for their night out, so he just came as he was dressed. casually. Eventually, after 30 minutes of waiting, and muffled crying BTS sing along through the locked door, Aira emerged from his room.
The boy was wearing an oversized black T-shirt with a huge 97 and Jung kook plastered in the front in white text, it was cropped and tied to the side with a hairband. He had little black shorts with the BTS logo on it, as well as a headband that read ‘I <3 BTS’ tied around his head. Hung around one shoulder was a cloth tote bag with various BTS pins and charms, and in each hand Aira held a multicolored light stick. They weren’t the usual sticks Hiiro saw in the crowds of ES affiliated concerts, so he ascertained they were BTS specific. Another note he dotted down in his brain was Alkaloid specific light stick, and if their fans would enjoy something like that.
Apparently, he stood taking in Aira’s get up for too long, and the blonde took notice. “W-What are you looking at Hiro-kun? It’s unkind to stare you know!”
“Your outfit- it's very you. Something I would have imagined you’d have.” Hiiro happily laughed at the fanboy.
“Enough about my perfectly elaborate concert fit! Just what do you think you’re wearing?” He cried, looking at Hiiro’s casual, but apparently drab, attire. “You can’t step foot into a BTS concert looking so- so- plain! Plus I wouldn’t be caught dead next to you looking like that! What if other fans think I'm a local because I brought a local looking guy!” Unnecessary tears threatened the dramatic boy’s eyes.
“Don’t get upset Aira! You can dress me up however you want if it makes you feel better! I don’t want to look like a ‘local’ either, I listened to your powerpoint I’m Military now too!”
“It’s Army, Hiro-kun. And I only scratched the surface with that 5 hour presentation. I’m just glad you learned all their names, I don’t think I could stand listening to you call Suga ’sugar’ anymore…”
“Well I’m glad you’re not actually in the Army, I was scared Aira! I don’t think you would have made it on the battlefield.” Hiiro shuttered.
Aira rolled his eyes, and instead yanked Hiiro into his dorm. Then he knelt down and began digging messily through one of his drawers. Shirts flew through the air as the boy frantically searched for something. Once he found the bundle of clothes he was looking for, he tossed them to the redhead and ushered him to get dressed. They were going to be late if they dilly dallied any longer.
So Hiiro did as he was told, and dressed himself in Aira’s desired outfit, which being honest was a little tight. The oversized generic BTS labeled merchandise fit him just fine and hung around his arms loosely but it was the sweatpants that were more like sweat-capris on him. They were obviously not made for a Hiiro sized person to wear, and he concluded they were probably the pair Aira forced Kohaku to wear instead.
“Can I wear the shirt like you are Aira? All short and cropped?” Hiiro asked, kinda not digging the look of the baggy top.
“Ew no, you can’t copy me. How is Jungkook gonna notice me if you’re trying to stand out too?” Aira scoffed, like it was the dumbest question he’d ever heard. “Now come on we have to leave, now we're gonna be late!”
Hiiro let himself be dragged out around again, as Aira sped them both down the hall and into the night’s air. They were a little late so they had to book it.
And book it they did, as they made it to the concert hall downtown in record time. Aira was usually very unmotivated, sluggish and slow during their practices. He would take extra breaks and whine about how tired he was. But faced with the possibility of not seeing these BTS boys, he sure knew how to run. It was impressive.
They raced into the ticket lines, not even taking a moment to peruse the vendors and merch, and entered the performance area. After much resistance the pair finally pushed their way onto the floor and through the guests crowding the stage.
“Wow Aira! Were so close to the stage! We don’t get special ES treatment here, so how did you get such good tickets?” Hiiro asked, bewildered. What was more bewildering was that he understood how ticket pricing was sold.
Aira looked very proud of himself, grinning like a madman, “Very astute of you Hiro-kun, If you must know I stayed awake for 48 straight hours, refreshing the sales page every 2.139 seconds waiting for these tickets to go on sale. It was quite literally a fortune and I spent all my Alkaloid Allowance, and part of my college fund. But It was worth it.” Aira’s eyes looked wide and crazy, BTS really did make people insane.
“Tattsun-senpai puts all my allowance in a college fund! He says I'm going to need it and it's the smart thing to do.”
“I’m concerned that Tatsumi-senpai thinks you’ll be able to use a college fund, maybe focus on passing high school first Hiro-kun.”
That comment struck a chord in Hiiro, because last time he checked Aira was not the brightest A+ student either. But he wasn’t about to challenge that, he would continue playing the dumb role if it made Aira feel better.
But before their back and forth bit could continue, the lights of the venue dimmed and the crowd hushed. A thick silence washed over the flock of ARMYS. It was at this moment that Hiiro noticed the people around him. All were people of his age, clad in the same obnoxious outfits as Aira. Most of them also held the same designed light sticks firmly in their hands, some even looked close to crying and the show hadn’t even started yet!
Then the lights flashed and started going crazy, colorful spurts of rainbow lights shined everywhere like spotlights and the crowd erupted into screams. Hiiro turned to his partner, who’s eyes had blown wide with wonder, trained to the stage as if he looked away the illusion would disappear. Hiiro was confused, nothing was happening yet?
But then, as if spoken into existence, the hiss of some mechanical mechanism sounded and seven scandalously dressed boys began to rise from the depths of the stage. He didn’t think the maniacal screaming the fans around him could get any louder. The boys all had their mics and with no introduction needed, started their first song. The crowds went wild, people were jumping and dancing and Aira had actually begun to cry. It seemed BTS were some kind of magician group like Switch that could conjure their fans into crying, because Hiiro had never seen anything like this.
“THIS IS THE SONG HIRO-KUN!! THEIR NEW SONG!!” Aira cried, fat tears streaming down his cheeks as he wildly shook Hiiro from his shoulders.
Hiiro watched as the 7 boys began to dance and sing their newest song. It was kinda insane. Every time they finished a song and started their next one, the screaming girls would scream more. There must be something Hiiro was missing. Why wasn’t he screaming like Aira and all the other fans?
The fourth song ended and then the familiar opening notes of a song Hiiro recognized began to play. It was a song Aira had played many times for Alkaloid warm ups, as well as a jingle he’d heard on TV and on the subway trains.
Holy shit that was Butter by BTS!
Hiiro walked closer to the stage, entranced by the butter song playing. The boys began their methodical dancing of jumps and gyrates, Hiiro couldn’t look away.
“H-Hiro-kun?? Where are you going?” Aira noticed the boy’s departure and tried to grab and tug him back to their spots among the crowded fans. But he couldn’t stop the boy on his mission.
“I get it now Aira!” Is all Hiiro said as he escaped Aira’s grasp and made a B-line for the stage.
“Hiro-kun stop!” Aira shouted, but it was futile, his now hoarse voice from all the screaming, crying, and singing, just couldn’t reach Hiiro.
Hiiro pushed his way through the crowds and made it to the stage's walls. The security team overlooking the attendees only eyed the boy as a warning. But of course Hiiro didn’t even notice and started to monkey climb up the stage wall. He was damn quick and scurried up and onto the stage in no time. This is when the fans began to take notice, pulling their attention away from their oppais and instead onto the strange redhead crawling onto the base of the stage.
BTS didn’t even notice as the boy rolled onto the stage and joined them in dancing. He made his space right between Jimin and Jungkook and just danced seamlessly beside them. The crowd cheered harder, Aira’s eyes almost burst from his sockets while his mouth hung open slack. Many girls pulled out their phones to record the insanity. BTS just kept on dancing.
Hiiro and BTS just continued to dance.
After the song ended and the cheers dwindled. The 7 boys surrounded Hiiro, shaking his hands and patting him on the back, they had a muted conversation that Aira couldn’t hear. One member grabbed Hiiro’s phone and snapped a selfie with him. Then another member whistled and waved his hand in the air and 2 large men in black came out and dragged Hiiro off stage. BTS happily waved to their brief 8th member and Hiiro returned their send off with a smiley wave himself.
“What the fuck???” Aira screamed. Then two equally large men grabbed Aira and dragged him out of the concert too. But poor Aira was still too stunned to even notice, until he was sitting on his ass on the cold concrete of the sidewalk outside the concert hall. What actually just happened???
“Oh hey Aira!” Hiiro casually said, also sitting on his ass right next to the bewildered boy. “BTS concerts are so fun! But you lied, they are just like ES performances!”
Aira blinked, then exploded. “THAT'S WHY YOU WENT UP THERE AND DANCED???”
“Well yeah? What's a concert without crashing it and dancing and singing along? Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”
There were no words in the whole Japanese language that could come together and possibly try to explain to Hiiro why he was so absolutely wrong.
“NO! One hundred thousand percent no! Hiro-kun do you know what you just did? You got us kicked out and probably banned from every BTS concert forever!!”
“Why would that have happened? Those guys were so cool they even humored my request!”
Before Aira could even begin to regret asking what Hiiro’s request was, his phone buzzed with the sound of a twitter notification. He slid open his phone and looked and it was a post from Jungkook’s personal twitter account.
It was a selfie of Hiiro and Jungkook with the caption ’Shout out to my new fan Hiiro and even bigger shoutout to my number one fan Aira <3’
Aira's brain short circuited and steam rose from his ears. He had a full body malfunction as his heart tried to jumpstart itself again.
“O-O-OH MY GOD!” He finally shrieked and fangirled. “I WAS NOTICED ON TWITTER BY JUNGKOOK OPPAI!!” But then his face fell and became serious, “Holy shit I’m gonna get flamed on twitter by all the other Jungkook stans…” then he promptly privated his twitter.
“Well that was so much fun! Thanks for inviting me Aira! It was a nice new idol experience!” He cheerfully said, getting up from the concrete and dusting off his pants. “Should we head home now? Or do you wanna get ice cream on the way back?”
“Yeah I could go for a chocolate swirl! You’re treating me though, because you did get me thrown out of a BTS concert.”
Just as they began to walk off there was a panicked shriek behind them followed by the thud of someone landing on the sidewalk. The pair whipped around and were shocked to be met with a similar sight.
“Mayo-san?” Hiiro said, looking right at the disheveled purple man crumbled on the street.
“EEEK-! I'm sorry I'm here, I promise I wasn’t following you!!” He profusely apologized, trying to make himself not look creepier than he usually did.
“OMG Mayoi-senpai are you ARMY too!!” Aria squealed.
“Y-yes, but I was too nervous to buy a ticket so I was watching from the vents but then I was found I’m sorry for being so pitiful! I don’t deserve to be ARMY!” He cried.
“You got to tell me all about your bias and your favorite albums! Don’t skimp on the details either!!” Aira began to fangirl again, grabbing Mayoi’s hands and dragging him along with Hiiro.
“Were going to get ice cream, you look like you could use some Mayo-senpai, come with us maybe you can teach me about BTS too, I'm a new Military trainee after all!” He boasted, grabbing Mayoi’s other hand so the terrified boy couldn’t escape.
“It's ARMY Hiro-kun, ARMY!” Aira sighed, rolling his eyes and laughing. Hiiro laughed along, still not really getting it. Mayoi looked like his soul had left him as he was dragged along.
Just another day for the members of Alkaloid.