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The crowd exploded into cheers. The sound of applause was resonating, booming, almost enough to sweep the four performers off their feet. As they all bowed, the cheering only seemed to expand and grow. Their shows were loved. As they had been for years.
The troupe’s take on the classic tale of the Little Mermaid, first done many years ago as simply a one-off ambassador show when they were all still in high school, had been an instantly-loved success. Even now, as a known group almost worldwide, traveling together, putting on the greatest, most wonderful shows at the most acclaimed and prestigious stages, several shows from their early days remained circulating in their routines and performances, still coaxing in just as much appreciation and praise as their newer ones did. The applause was still able to be heard, rippling before slowly fading out, even as the four made their way backstage.
Rui felt the warm adrenaline that was coursing through his veins begin to wind down. His heart was pounding in his ears and his hands were slightly trembling, though gently; this habit usually went unnoticed by most due to his usual graceful, cool and elegant demeanor (on the stage, at least), but at this point, it was usually easily noticed by his troupemates. Sometimes it was a positive thing, sometimes it was a negative thing. Sometimes it was out of stress, out of worries, out of shock, and sometimes it was out of adrenaline, out of exhilaration, out of staggering excitement that surprised him whenever he felt it. Thankfully, tonight, it was the latter.
He sighed and let himself fall back onto a comfy, fancy couch backstage, wiping his brow—even if their show wasn’t on their old familiar Wonder Stage (which wasn’t able to accommodate the amount of people that came to watch them perform), just being back home for a time, even a brief time, brought a sense of familiar comfort that wrapped him in a cozy blanket.
(And it wasn’t like there was really anything to complain about in regards to the Phoenix Stage, anyways.)
Rui sighed again, leaning his head back on the couch and closing his eyes for a second, waiting for his heart to stop racing. Another successful performance, he thought to himself. The same thought that came in his head after every single show. Even if something went a bit wrong, if someone fumbled, if an effect didn't work, the troupe always, without fail, would improvise something to keep the show moving forward. No matter how wacky or zany it was; that just added to their unique charm, of course. The show must always go on, after all. Every show was a success, even if it didn't go exactly as planned. And Rui wasn’t sick of it in the slightest. He smiled to himself as his heartbeat began to finally slow down. Despite his exhaustion, he almost felt like he could do this forever. The feeling that came with watching an audience be transfixed, be moved, be happy from a show he—no, everyone helped pull off was unmatched.
With his eyes still closed, Rui felt a smaller weight shift into place next to him on the couch. He recognized who it was almost immediately—his partners and him have found themselves cuddled together, nestled almost naturally as they slept way too much for that to not be familiar at this point—but he opened his eyes and turned his head curiously in the direction of the weight regardless, moving one hand to scratch the back of his head in amusement.
As he completely expected, Nene had made herself comfortable right next to him, looking like she was perfectly slotted into place at his side. She was wiping her brow as well, breathing a bit heavily and likely calming down from the same burning adrenaline that Rui had just felt himself. She probably felt it even more so than he had—after all, she’s our songstress, the star of the show, Rui thought to himself fondly as a warm, loving, familiar fuzziness made itself known in his chest and wrapped itself cozily around his heart.
“Hehe. How was it? Everything went well, yes?” Rui chuckled, sitting up slightly to meet his partner’s exhausted gaze with his own teasing look. Almost as if on instinct, he moved his hand over to her lap, and as if it was also instinctive on her part, she gently took his hand and began to gently rub her thumb in small circles on his palm. Her touch was loving, gentle, but with a familiar roughness in her hands that made Rui want to melt and lean into her touch and never move again.
Nene rolled her eyes, playfully scoffing as she lightly shoved Rui’s shoulder, sending the director toppling into a cushion despite the fact that her shove barely had any weight to it.
“You were right up there with me. Idiot…” She mumbled, feigning annoyance, though no actual aggression or frustration were present in her voice—only a faux-annoyed fondness that made Rui's heart flutter every time he heard it. The small smile she tried to hide as she said it also made Rui's heart flutter. He sometimes thought to himself that he must have an entire butterfly garden living within his chest at this point.
“Oh, whatever do you mean? I only had my single, small, humble scene as the Meroctopus. I barely caught anything else…” Rui lamented dramatically with a fake sniffle, gazing at Nene with pleading, puppy-dog—or, more accurately in Rui's case, sad wet cat—eyes. He already knew that she knew his woe was entirely a farce, but nonetheless, he spotted the tiniest bit of pink dust her cheeks as she sighed, rolling her eyes, still in that same fondly "annoyed" tone that sent Rui's heart into a spin.
“Rui...I know you were watching us from behind the curtains. I saw you watching the other two when I came backstage myself, y’know…” She chuckled teasingly, lightly flicking Rui on the forehead to dispel his pleading gaze that was, Rui noticed with satisfaction, continuing to make her blush grow the tiniest bit. “It's just that hard to look away, huh?”
“Ah...I’ve been caught, then, haven’t I…?” Rui laughed sheepishly, instinctively scratching the back of his head once again. He felt a warmth, familiar and welcome, creeping into his face. He knew without a doubt that he was unconsciously mirroring the fond, loving gaze that Nene was currently staring at him with.
Nene chuckled quietly, shifting yet closer to him and leaning on his shoulder, her fluffy, neck-length hair falling a bit messily around her face as she blew away some loose strands. Absentmindedly, Rui moved a hand and began to play with said messy hair, gently and delicately running his fingers through it in a comforting motion that he knew she was quite familiar with.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a few seconds, simply enjoying the moment. Warmth. Ease. Things were good. This was good.
“...you remember when we did this show for the first time, right?” Nene broke the silence, though whispering quietly, as to not let the other two—who were standing up and chattering to each other cheerfully some distance away—hear her. She seemed to lean into Rui’s touch a bit more, a tired smile on her face.
“How could I forget?” Rui smiled fondly to himself as he recalled the fond memories. Nene’s excitement to be putting on the show, the humorous-in-retrospect situation of having to fix Robo-Nene and having the others improvise on the spot (yet pulling off the show so well—still familiar, wasn't it?), the celebration together on the beach after it was all said and done…
The way that, during that little silly fireworks celebration, he remembered feeling that now-familiar, now-constant warm flutter in his heart for one of the first times as he had looked at all of his troupemates, smiling, laughing, together… but—
Nene seemed to echo his exact thoughts before he could even formulate them into a solid idea in his mind. “...you remember what I said to you on our last day at the resort, right?” Her question was quiet, wistful, laced with fond nostalgia. She looked up at Rui again, the look in her gaze unreadable.
Rui smiled softly and nodded. She took the thoughts right out of where they had been ruminating and bubbling in his head, it seemed. That day when…he first realized he had to face the fear of the future. When Nene told him that she was unsure on what she wanted to do as she moved forward. When he realized the possibility that he might lose the companionship he had desired for so, so long.
It left a fear that boiled inside of him for longer than he would like to admit. A fear that ate away at him, that he was often overwhelmed by, that left him feeling dread, that left him picturing a future where they weren't with each other anymore, a future that felt incomplete. That felt wrong. Those thoughts and fears plagued him for such a long time that it embarrassed him looking back on it, even now, after he's moved long past those feelings. But…
Nene only smiled fondly in silence for a moment before her gaze seemed to soften and a quiet chuckle escaped her lips. She gently wrapped one arm around Rui, pulling him a bit closer, shifting to half-bury her head in his shoulder.
“...I think this is the best future I could’ve asked for.” She mumbled quietly, her voice muffled and laced with a bit of sheepishness. Despite the fact that her head was half-hidden, Rui could still see the growing blush on her face.
Rui felt that warmth again, that same, comforting fuzzy warmth, spread through his chest once again as he wrapped his own arm around Nene, pulling her closer. He couldn’t think of the proper words for a moment, but he felt the exact same way.
It almost seemed cliche, unrealistic, idealistic—somehow, he was in a future that was near-perfect. Being recognized across the world, going to heights he had never imagined, yet staying together with everyone he loves. Everyone who loves him . And who love each other. Sometimes, he felt like one day, he would wake up and be greeted with the truth that it was all a dream, a fantasy that they could never attain. But it was real. Somehow.
He looked back at Nene, sighing fondly. He knew that she could tell the love in his gaze spoke more agreement with her statement than any words could. He leaned down, gently pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head—and letting out a small flustered hum as she surprised him back with a peck to the cheek.
They both chuckled quietly, happily, closing their eyes while still holding each other closely and protectively. Almost as if they were shielding each other from an imaginary danger.
“Hey, you two okay?”
The both of them opened their eyes to be greeted by the sight of their other two partners, in front of them and staring at them with quizzical yet amused expressions.
“Ah. Apologies—just resting for a time. You do know how it is after a big show.” Rui shrugged innocently, smiling up at the two like a content, smug, yet unmistakably loving cat.
Tsukasa rolled his eyes affectionately, as Emu giggled. “Shouldn’t we be prepping for our next performa—waugh!!”
The star yelped loudly, suddenly being pulled by the hand onto the couch by Emu. The two toppled onto the cushions right next to Rui and Nene, almost seeming to naturally click in place and melt into the other two, forming a big cuddle.
It was almost second nature to all of them at this point. Too many a time had Rui fallen asleep working at his desk only to wake up with three theater geeks clinging to him like he was a soft, cozy beacon of comfort. And the same would apply to Nene, dozing off while playing a video game, or Emu, napping with her head down on the table, or Tsukasa, snoring on the couch after claiming he’d “rest his eyes” following extensive practice of his lines and poses for whatever show the four would perform next.
Rui nestled his head close to the three of them, hugging them all close like they were the most important things in his life—which they were. He felt like an embarrassing, lovestruck idiot every time he thought about it, but it was true. They were his treasures. They were his dream.
With scattered kisses, mumbled “I love you”s and a shared blanket of loving warmth, the four performers began to slowly drift off to sleep together in each other’s arms. Something right out of a story with a happy ending, Rui thought to himself.
Rui felt like if on that day at the beach, he found out about what the future would be like, he’d be flabbergasted. In pure disbelief that things could possibly turn out so perfect.
But it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t an idealized fantasy. This was all real. The ending he had feared for so long ended up being a happy one.
Maybe this was the true ending to the story of the Alchemist.
Maybe not. There’s still more to come.
But at least Rui can rest knowing that they’ll be together through whatever is to come.