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Sanemi gazed at Genya from the audience, pride swelling up in his chest as he watched his baby perform. The production he was in seemed… eccentric, and Sanemi had to admit he was annoyed that Genya didn’t inform him about it. He never judged him! Too badly that is. Sanemi shook his head as he continued watching, in awe of his spectacular performance despite the incredibly weird musical numbers.
He quietly chuckled as he remembered his rage when he realised that his best friend and coworker, Obanai, had shown him Genya’s name in the casting for the show, an hour before it began. They lived 30 minutes away! So Sanemi did what any older brother would do, he got ready and left, leaving a note for Sumi and Teiko as well as some cash for the inconvenience of not being home to look after the youngest boys, especially on a Thursday evening.
He had no idea his brother was into this. Sanemi wanted to be angry and was for the months Genya would sometimes skirt his responsibilities and come home late, but he was also glad that his baby was coming home happier, his smile genuine and almost carefree. His grades improved as well and was now close to top off most of his classes.
‘Why didn’t he tell me?’
Sanemi quickly pushed that thought away. It was obvious that Genya was embarrassed, especially since Sanemi and their mother would frequently make fun of musicals openly.
‘You’ve also been quite harsh with him lately. More than needed.’
Sanemi mulled over his rocky relationship with his brother lately, as Sanemi’s temper had become slightly more volatile and Genya more secretive. Oh well, he’d just have to be better.
“But in my dreams, I was Monique Gibeau in. Post. War. France!” ‘Noel’ declared loudly as he began his own musical number. Sanemi shuddered and battled the urge to take Genya by the ear as he sung about wanting to be a hooker as he danced. On a pole. His presumably innocent brother was re-enacting a fucking hooker while pole dancing, for all the perverts to enjoy.
‘Since when can he pole dance!?’
Sanemi now saw why this play was never mentioned. If their mother knew about this… Genya would be skinned alive, made fun of at his funeral, before regretting it and bragging to all her friends as she hid Genya’s ashes about his excellent performance.
He prayed to God that no one was videoing his sweet kid on a pole or making out with that Russian exchange student. Oh God help him his brother was making out with the exchange student on stage.
“For I sing songs until the break of dawn~. I embrace a new man every night, my life’s one never ending carnival. A whirl of boozy floozy flashing light. I want to be that fucked-up girl.”
Something sinister emerged in his soul as he watched the way the members of the audience looked at his brother, desire gleaming in their eyes. Genya was his. No one was even allowed to fantasise about his first brother. No one was allowed to sully his image with their disgusting thoughts or suggestive comments.
Soon it ended as dramatically as it began, and everyone erupted in applause, including Sanemi who was incredibly entertained. He watched as the play continued, amused by ‘Ocean’ who was hellbent on being a stuck up.
“There is a difference between affection and smut.” She remarked harshly, glaring at Mischa as she stepped closer, slightly annoyed at the bold show of affection.
“Not in my bible baby. Bonswa!” Genya responded sassily, before strutting away with his pole, leaving the audience to want for more. Sanemi snickered, fully emersed in the production.
It continued well, and soon it was time for Jane’s ballad.
“My turn.” She said melodically, her voice laced with a ghostly feeling as Karnack gave her a disappointing introduction, driving the mystery towards Jane’s backstory as she began to sing gracefully. Everyone had chills up their spine as the girl performed, silencing the viewers with her powerful yet sorrowful story.
“And I’m asking why lord! If this is how I die lord! Why be left with no family and no friends?” Jane sung loudly; her voice desperate as she continued her number. Everyone stayed silent; their eyes glued to her as she performed.
“Like John I’ll be eternally, a forgotten name, some lost refrain, just Jane. Jane~ Doe~.”
As soon as the song finished, everyone clapped, devastated by her plight but glad the other characters felt the same way, celebrating her even if it wasn’t known to be her birthday.
‘Sex cats in one song and a heartbreaking lament in the other? This show is bipolar!’ But wasn’t that what made it so enjoyable? Unique?
Sanemi kept watching, almost disappointed that his family couldn’t come see, or at the very least his mother, who loved all things fun and wacky. Sanemi could imagine his mother sneaking a recording in to listen in the car.
‘Will there be other productions?’
He’d just have to ask Genya later.
Soon, it was decided that Jane, otherwise known as Penny, would go back. The audience cheered, as everyone shared the sentiment that she deserved to live happily, especially since she didn’t have any memories of her life at all. The cast erupted in one final song, and there, Genya finally made eye contact with him, widening with shock before he quickly averted his attention and continued singing, which he was surprisingly good at.
Soon the audience was on their feet, cheering as everyone involved in the production came out to take a final bow, Genya’s face now rubescent as he watched Sanemi from the corner of his eyes. The cast went behind the curtain as the band members and writers came to the stage to receive their round of applause.
Soon people went out to meet with the cast, high school students and surprisingly some elderly people came for autographs.
All the cast held bouquets of flowers, some roses, some tulips. Genya however, carried a single pink rose as he conversed with Muichiro, both of them slightly nervous but seemed to be enjoying themselves. Soon Muichiro laughed loudly as Genya blushed, his face mimicking a tomato.
Sanemi was going to let Genya bask in his fame with his friends, but as he saw a slightly older man walk towards him with a hungry look in his eyes, the older brother knew he’d end up causing some sort of scene.
The stranger easily walked up to the two teens as Genya gave out a few more autographs, handing his brother an assortment of purple hyacinths and black lilies. He leaned in, whispering something in his brother’s ears as his hands gripped him by the side. His brother stiffened as Muichiro began to growl at man.
Before anything could progress, Sanemi made haste to the soon to be crime scene, his blood boiling as he heard the man whisper devilishly, “Why don’t you come with me? I’ll make you’re little dream come true and treat like the whore you are~.” As the other teen pulled something out of his arm, Sanemi had grabbed the man by the collar, dragging him out to someplace private before shoving him into a wall.
“If I ever see you again, especially around my baby brother, I’ll skin you alive and burn your organs. Now get out of my sight!” He snarled, wrathful as he saw the man run away like a coward.
Sanemi rushed to make it back to Genya, who was trembling as Muichiro held onto him tightly, glaring daggers at all potential creeps. Genya was now holding one more, an assortment of violets, white roses, and a few pink chrysanthemums. Uzui and his three girlfriends were happily chatting with Genya, congratulating him on his epic performance.
“That was an explosion of flamboyance! You made me laugh so hard, and I had no idea you’re that talented. We were truly impressed. Now is Sanemi coming back or will we have to bail him out of jail?” Uzui asked boisterously, his partners messily going on about different parts of the play.
“I had no idea he was even coming. The plan was to take some photos with the cast before sneaking back home through the window.” Genya said, his face still uneasy as he tried to settle his shaky tone.
Uzui laughed, earning the attention of the remaining people for a few moments before they went to their own things.
“That creep is gone now. Take your photo’s and we’ll go home. Muichiro, do you have a ride home or shall I take you?” Genya slowly turned around to face him, his body now stilled but his hands trembling.
Genya nodded his head before rushing away, the younger teen loyally following him like a guard dog. He was satisfied as Genya put on a relaxed face to take a couple of photos and selfies before coming back.
“Uzui sensei. You live closer to me, so you can drop me off.” Muichiro said blandly, and then bashfully bidding Genya adieu. The art teacher agreed although reluctantly so, mumbling about his demanding nature as the five of them disappeared into a distance. Sanemi grabbed Genya by the waist as the pair walked off.
“You did amazing Gen. I really enjoyed the show.” Sanemi whispered gently as he rubbed his fingers in a circular motion, satisfied as he felt Genya relax into his hold.
“Thanks. Aren’t you mad though? Did you see everything? The entire performance?” He whispered as he kept his head down.
Sanemi opened the door to the car, before making his way to the driver’s seat.
“I saw everything. All of it. Was I horrified at one point when I saw you pole dance while singing about wanting to be a hooker? Incredibly so. But did I also really enjoy the play? Also yes. I’m really proud of you.” Genya blushed, a small smile creeping up on his face before he stilled; concern churning in Sanemi’s stomach.
“Are you going to tell Okaasan?” He asked, anxiety laced in his voice. Sanemi let out a hearty laugh as he imagined doing so. He would, of course he would. But as his laughs died down and saw that Genya had not relaxed, looking even more anxious he the child stewed over their mother figuring out, Sanemi knew he needed to be a good brother and calm him down.
Sanemi rubbed his hand on Genya’s thigh, before grabbing his still shaky hand and clutching them tightly until they finally subdued and were calm and steady.
“Of course. But you know she’ll be super proud of you, a bit annoyed you kept it secret though. We love you and want to see you do things like this if it makes you happy. Are there any other productions you’re in? Because Okaasan and I would love to see you. We’re your family, and we really want you to succeed in whatever you choose to do.” Sanemi remarked, before kissing Genya’s knuckles and softly let his hands go.
Genya bit his lip as he forced his tears away, opting to put on his seatbelt as Sanemi started the car.
“So she’ll be proud that I pole danced while singing about hooking up with different men every night and doing drugs?”
“Not everything needs to be said. There’s a chance she won’t find out about that part.”
During that car ride, Sanemi learnt that there was another show on Saturday, the same production but at a different theatre, one a bit closer to home, only fifteen minutes away. A burst of excitement exploded in his stomach as he forced all the details out of Genya, who was still holding onto the bouquets he received, looking at the colourful one with pride.
Genya hesitated, but cautiously asked,
“Are you going to tell Okaasan about the guy?” Sanemi quickly responded in affirmative, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel as he recalled the interaction and disgusting words Genya was forced to hear.
They soon parked at their driveway, staying in the car for a moment.
“If anyone ever does, or did something inappropriate with you, I need you tell me. So if there’s something I don’t know about, you have your chance to tell me now.” Genya looked conflicted as he thought about what to say, before sighing.
The mood in the car suddenly became sombre as Genya began to retell the events from before the show.
“The same guy, actually. We… he was a friend of the director. He watched my final rehearsal and he… he really enjoyed it. The guy… he started getting handsy with me and I froze. He got his hands inside my pants. Thankfully Zenitsu came and he didn’t do anything else.” Genya seemed to be in pain as he retold those events.
If Sanemi was fuming before, then he was feeling murderous now as he regretted letting that disgusting mother fucker leave without a good beating. He slammed the door shut before opening Genya’s door, holding his bouquet tightly as he knew that he needed to show his mother.
Sanemi seethed as he held Genya tightly, his mind screaming at him for his failure to keep Genya safe. Soon, the brothers were inside, and were greeted by their siblings and mother, who ran to them, drowning the affection.
“How was the production?” Shizu asked as the siblings all went back to the living room to sit down.
“How’d you know about that? It was pretty good.” Shizu cackled at Genya, before explaining that mothers had a way. She then spotted the bouquet of bad omens, and quickly questioned Genya about it. Before Genya could reply, Sanemi responded.
“Some fucking predator Kaasan. If I see him again, I swear to God I’m going to torture that sorry excuse of a man.” The lady looked shocked as she sat down. The younger ones were distracted as they asked about the production, and Genya happily indulged them as they all snuggled close.
“We’ll talk about this when the kids are asleep.”
///////////
Soon the younger kids were off to bed, leaving only Genya, Sanemi, and their mother in the living room. Genya stayed quiet as he read on his phone. He was snuggled in between the other two, who were discussing everything that he had told them, their tones serious. Sanemi could feel Genya slowly drifting in between sleep and consciousness as the adults talked.
“He’ll be okay. We’ll make sure that never happens again, okay? If you ever see him, I’ll help you hide the body love. We’ll make it nice and slow.” Their mother reassured; her hand secured around Genya’s shoulders. By now he had embraced sleep, exhausted from the day’s activities.
Sanemi noticed and promised his mother to make the promise a reality as he carefully picked Genya up, taking him to his futon. Genya stirred and beckoned for his nii chan to join him.
“I feel safe with you.” He slurred. Sanemi, a protective older brother, easily agreed, snuggling with him.
‘I’ll keep you safe, brat. No one can even think about you when I’m around.’