Work Text:
It’s… brilliant.
The show is amazing, but the twin smiles next to Tsukasa are even better.
Saki and Toya smiling so brightly… it’s not a thing Tsukasa ever thought he'd see.
“Tsukasa-san?” Toya whispers, and Tsukasa turns to him.
“Yes, Toya?”
“I… I’m so happy.”
Tsukasa turns to him, and his smile only gets bigger.
“I like it when you’re happy. And I like it when Saki’s happy. I… want to make everyone happy like that.”
Toya’s eyes start to glow.
“Make everyone happy… that sounds really fun. I want to make everyone happy like you made me happy.”
“Then… let’s do it! Together!” Tsukasa says, and Toya’s eyes widen.
“Huh?”
“Me and you! We’re going to do it! Someday, we’re gonna be the world’s biggest stars and make everyone happy!”
Toya’s eyes light up even more, and Tsukasa’s smiles.
Yeah. Someday, Tsukasa’s going to make everyone in the world smile just as brightly as Saki and Toya are right now.
And with Toya’s help, there’s no way he can fail!
~
“Ha ha ha!”
A familiar laugh rings in Toya’s ears, and he pulls himself up off his notebook and sighs.
…He can’t tell whether the fact that his notes make no sense is because they’re smudged from his cheek or because he started falling asleep.
“What’s Senpai doing here?” He groans, and the door to his room is thrown open.
“There you are, my love!” Tsukasa-senpai says, planting a soft kiss on Toya’s forehead. “Are you ready for after school today?”
Toya can’t help the way his lips quirk up at that.
“Of course, Senpai.”
Tsukasa-senpai looks up at Toya, and he shifts his head to the side slightly before grabbing a tissue and rubbing at it.
“You have ink smudges on your cheek.”
“Oh… that makes sense.” He says. “I couldn’t sleep so I stayed up reviewing until I did.”
Tsukasa-senpai’s smile only grows.
“I couldn’t sleep either. I’m so excited! My love, we’re going to be stars!”
“We haven’t passed the audition yet, Senpai.” Toya responds, and Tsukasa-senpai shakes his head.
“What, do you think anyone in their right mind could say no to you?”
“I’m not all that amazing…”
“Yes, you are!” Tsukasa-senpai starts, and then his voice goes down slightly. To an affectionate tone that’s only used for Toya and Saki. “Trust me, my love. They’ll love us.”
And how could Toya ever doubt Tsukasa-senpai? After everything they’ve been through together, Toya trusts him more than anyone else on the planet.
“You’re right.” Toya whispers.
~
The hours of school ticked by slowly, but eventually it was finally over.
So Tsukasa bolts into 1-B, grabs Toya by the back of his blazer, and bolts out of there.
“S-Senpai! Slow down!”
“No time, we have to go!”
Toya lets out a soft chuckle at that, and then he grabs Tsukasa’s hand and starts running as fast as he can alongside Tsukasa.
They’re among the last few to get inside the audition room, but it hasn’t started yet.
“Remember, my love. It’s a solo audition, so try your best. I’ll be there with you.” Tsukasa says, and Toya nods.
“We’re going to make it. Both of us.”
The introductions start, and Toya’s up right before Tsukasa.
Tsukasa gently puts a hand on Toya’s shoulder, and Toya nods at him and starts the introduction they’d practice.
“I am the blue willow that touches the wintery sky. Ladies and gentlemen, I am Toya Aoyagi!”
The dance captain looks at Toya approvingly, and Tsukasa smiles. Of course they adored Toya.
Well, after that, Tsukasa needs to try twice as hard to shine!
“Tsukasa, meaning to govern! Tenma, representing the majestic Pegasus who soars in the skies above! Ladies and gentlemen, I am Tsukasa Tenma! I promise you the world’s greatest shows!”
The finishing part of that introduction should be “With my little brother Toya,” but unfortunately this is a solo audition.
The dance captain flinches back slightly, and Tsukasa can’t help but smile. His introduction stunned the dance captain.
Toya smiles at Tsukasa and claps his hands lightly, his eyes filled with lovely light.
But that was only the introduction. Now it’s time for the actual test of skill.
A dance, a song, and a scene. Three things necessary for any performer.
Tsukasa finds himself doing quite well. He practiced quite a bit for this, after all.
But Toya… Toya’s an angel.
His movements are so fluid through the dance, his voice is careful and precise through the acting scene, and…
Well, Toya did get his mother’s voice.
“Is this how I die? Ridiculed and laughed at? Wearing clown shoes?”
Tsukasa’s breath catches in his throat.
There are stars, and then there’s Toya.
Everyone is silent.
The Prima Donna is furiously scribbling in her notes. Toya’s in, Tsukasa can tell.
“They say we are asleep until we fall in love… we are children of dust and ashes. But when we fall in love and we wake up, and we are a God, and angels weep… But if I die here, I die in my sleep.”
Finally, Toya builds up to the big part of the song, and it seems almost effortless how he takes the entire crowd up with him.
“But then, why am I screaming? Why am I shaking? Oh God, was there something I missed? Did I squander my divinity? Was happiness within me this whole time?”
The lights in the room seem to dim except for around Toya. Like the lights are his and his alone.
The song ends, and everyone is dead silent.
Toya looks genuinely worried, but then Tsukasa starts clapping his hands.
“Bravo! Bravo! Bravissimo!”
And everyone else starts clapping and cheering along, but no one is as loud as Tsukasa.
Toya gives a soft smile at the sound of the cheers, and he gives a bow before returning to the line.
“Wow. That was… amazing.” Tsukasa whispers. “But I can’t let you hog all the glory, my love.”
There’s familiar warm arms around him, and he hugs Toya back as tightly as he can.
“I’ll be back in a second. I’ll blow them all away.”
He gets on his toes to plant a kiss on Toya’s forehead and then goes up and starts singing Giants in the Sky.
It’s not as good as Toya’s performance, but… really, who is?
Toya’s clapping is definitely the loudest though, and when he looks over there are those same affectionate eyes.
“There’s my dear Toya.” He whispers, walking back over to the line. “Did you enjoy it, my love?”
“You were amazing, Senpai.”
“Ha ha ha! Of course I was, I have the greatest singer in the world for a little brother!”
The other auditions finish up, and they walk out of the room just before sunset.
And then Tsukasa pulls a tin out of his bag.
“Here. I made these for you this morning.”
Toya’s eyes light up even brighter, and Tsukasa feels something stir in his chest.
Huh…? That’s strange.
Of course he loves Toya’s smile, but this is… weird.
It’s like he’s forgetting something.
But if he had forgotten it, it must not be important.
~
Toya’s bolting out of his room and running outside.
Yes, yes, yes!
“Where are you going?” His father asks, and Toya grabs his jacket off the coat rack.
“Senpai’s house. I got the job, I want to tell him in person.”
“Of course you did, I could have told you that.” His father responds, looking back at his sheet music. “But I’m sure it’s nice to have confirmation.”
Toya just zips up his jacket.
“I’ll see you later.”
He bolts out of the house at top speed and his feet traverse the familiar path to Tsukasa-senpai’s house easily.
He’s about to unlock the door, but the door opens and Tsukasa-senpai’s there.
“Did you get it?” He asks, and Toya nods. “So did I!”
Oh, this is perfect. Toya can’t restrain himself any longer. He tackles Tsukasa-senpai in the tightest hug he can and there are the same familiar arms around him as well as they crash back onto the couch.
“We start after school tomorrow.” Tsukasa-senpai says.
“Can we go together?” Toya asks, and Tsukasa-senpai laughs.
“Of course we’re going together, my love! You don’t even need to ask!”
Suddenly, the phone rings and Tsukasa-senpai reaches over to put it on speaker?
“Tenma Residence!”
“Oh, Tsukasa. Is Toya there yet?” Toya’s mother’s voice rings out, and Toya laughs.
“Yes, Mother. I’m here.”
“Good. Just making sure. Have fun.”
“Oh, do you mind if Toya stays over tonight?” Tsukasa-senpai asks, and Toya’s mother laughs.
“Of course, you don’t need to ask.”
She hangs up, and Toya looks at Tsukasa-senpai confusedly.
“Did you want to do something?”
“Yes. This.”
Tsukasa-senpai pulls the remote out of the couch cushions and plays a movie.
“We’re going to be stars, right? So we should study tonight by watching actual stars!”
Toya looks at him knowingly, and Tsukasa-senpai laughs.
“Okay, okay. Saki just sent me the Legally Blonde MTV proshot and I wanted to watch it with you.”
~
When Tsukasa wakes up, there’s a familiar weight on his body and he has a faceful of purple hair.
Their phones are both going off. Alarm. Time for school.
Tsukasa shakes Toya gently.
“My love. Wake up. Time for school.”
Toya groans and curls up even deeper into Tsukasa, and Tsukasa can’t help the affectionate laugh that comes out of his mouth.
“Please, wake up. For me.”
Toya finally cracks an eye open.
“…Fine. For you.”
Toya pulls himself off of Tsukasa and Tsukasa laughs.
“Okay! Let’s get ready!”
~
When they arrive at Phoenix Wonderland, they’re met by a man in a mascot suit.
They’re actually doing this! This is amazing!
“May I assume you are Tsukasa Tenma, the new hire?” The man asks, and Tsukasa gulps.
“Y-Yes! Would you happen to know which stage I’ve been assigned to?”
“It is over that way. You cannot see it from here. Please follow me.”
Tsukasa is pulled along in another direction, while a young woman about Tsukasa’s age walks up to Toya.
“You must be Toya Aoyagi.” She says. “When I heard your singing I knew I wanted you. Sakurako Seiryuin, Prima Donna of the Phoenix Stage!”
She puts her hand on her hip and smirks, and Tsukasa pulls his arm away from the mascot to rush back over to Toya.
“My love! That’s amazing! You’re on the Phoenix Stage!”
Toya looks… confused.
“But you’re… not? We’re a duo, aren’t we?”
Tsukasa smiles, trying to shove down the bitterness in his chest.
“Oh, no worries about that.” He says. “My love, you deserve it. Go on, go with her. It’s alright.”
But… Toya shakes his head.
“I don’t want to do this without you. I’m sorry, I must dec—”
“Don’t listen to him, he’s being silly!” Tsukasa cuts in. “Please, go with her, my love.”
Seiryuin just rolls her eyes.
“Seriously? You want to be with this guy? He’s all flash and no substance.”
Toya’s eyes suddenly sharpen.
“…Don’t talk about Tsukasa-senpai that way. I wouldn’t be half the person I am without him. I’ve known him for as long as I can remember, and he is the reason I’m here. I won’t leave him.”
Seiryuin lets out a haughty sigh and walks off.
“If you want to pass this opportunity up, so be it.”
The girl walks off, and Tsukasa sighs.
“My love, you’re too loyal for your own good. You should have gone with her.”
Toya tilts his head slightly.
“Would you have abandoned me like that?”
“It’s not about abandoning, my love. Starting at the top just means that the other has to catch up. We’d have been back together soon enough.”
Toya’s eyes turn confused.
“That’s… not what I asked.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Tsukasa says, waving it off. “Come along, now. I’m sure if the Phoenix Stage wanted you, whatever stage I was assigned to will want you as well.”
The mascot nods, and Toya grabs onto Tsukasa’s arm as they walk through the park.
It’s a strangely long walk, but eventually they get through a jungle that opens into a clearing.
…And a… dilapidated stage?
“Wonder Stage?” Toya says, reading a sign, and suddenly something drops from the ceiling.
…And Toya leaps behind Tsukasa.
“Whoa! What on earth was that?! Something just dropped from the sky!” Tsukasa yells, and then his vision finally registers that a pink-haired girl is the one who just jumped.
“Welcome to the Wonder Stage, a place filled with lots of smiles☆! All together, now! One, two, Wonderhoy☆!”
“Huh?” He starts.
“Wonderhoy☆!”
“Can you stop now?”
“Wonder…”
“Okay, I’ll do it! Wonderhoy, wonderhoy, ahoy! Are you satisfied now? Who are you anyway? Where did you drop from?”
“From up there!”
The girl points to the roof of the stage, and Toya’s suddenly clinging onto his arm even more tightly.
“That… has to be at least two stories high…” Toya whispers, and the girl seems to notice him finally.
“Eh? Who’s this?” She asks. “I wanted to give Tsukasa-kun a warm welcome, but I didn’t expect a surprise visitor!”
“How do you know my name?” Tsukasa asks, and the girl laughs.
“Of course I know your name! I invited you here, Tsukasa-kun!”
“What?”
“I’m Emu Otori! Welcome to the fantastic Wonder Stage, a place filled with lots of smiles! Now you!”
Emu points to Toya, who still looks like he might collapse at any moment.
“I-I am… I am the…” He starts, but his voice dies in his throat.
So it looks like Tsukasa has to rescue him.
“This is Toya! My little brother!” Tsukasa says. “He was hired for the Phoenix Stage, but he wanted to perform with me, so he decided to decline them and come here!”
Emu’s eyes light up with recognition.
“Oh! The really nice baritone! Everyone wanted you, Toya-kun! I’m so happy you wanted to come here!”
Toya just nods, and Tsukasa gently grabs his arm and moves him to one of the seats.
“Here, my love. Sit down.”
Emu looks concerned, and she sits down next to Toya.
“Are you okay, Toya-kun?”
Toya tries to speak, but again, nothing comes out.
“He’s fine.” Tsukasa says. “He’s terrified of heights, so when you jumped down like that you scared him.”
Emu flinches back.
“AAH! I’m so sorry, Toya-kun! Forgive me!”
Toya clearly wants to say it’s already forgiven, but he still can’t speak.
So Tsukasa crosses his arms and sighs.
“Look, I’m sorry, but…”
“No, wait!” Emu says. “Please, don’t go!”
“I can’t believe I got assigned here!” Tsukasa says.
“Well…” Emu whispers. “Not exactly…”
“What? Then what stage was I assigned to?!” Tsukasa asks, and Emu looks down at her shoes.
“…None of them. You didn’t pass the audition.”
Toya’s eyes snap to attention.
“What? Why?!” He snaps, and Tsukasa’s so glad he can finally talk again.
“I don’t know! You were so amazing, but I called in a special favor to get you here!”
Tsukasa blinks.
“So… I’m going to be working at this dilapidated stage?!”
“It’s not dilapidated! It has a stylish color scheme!”
“You do realize it’s not paint, it’s rust, right?!”
Tsukasa tries to get it through this girl’s thick skull that he can’t be here, that he needs to start on a bigger stage, but she just doesn’t listen!
And then he tries to just walk away, but she grabs his collar and almost chokes him so hard that he can’t talk.
Toya just looks confused, and Emu starts going on about how she made some kind of promise to make this place good somehow, and…
And Hatsune Miku appears on a projector?
Tsukasa tries to phone HR, and then an Untitled song appears on his phone, and…
And Emu grabs his phone and clicks it?!
Suddenly he’s teleported into some weird park, and…
And a Miku mascot appears?!
~
Oh, Toya’s dreaming. That explains everything.
It explains why Tsukasa-senpai’s acting weird and why he’s talking to KAITO.
But if he’s dreaming, why can’t he wake up?
Apparently this is a world made out of Tsukasa-senpai’s feelings, and… well, Toya can kind of see it.
Usa-chan is floating around over there, and this stage is pretty much identical to the one they went to with Saki when they were young.
When Tsukasa-senpai promised they would be stars together and make everyone smile.
A song… a song that will be created when Tsukasa-senpai remembers his true feelings.
But it’s impossible that Tsukasa-senpai forgot, right?
Speak of the devil, guess who enters at just that moment.
And when they explain SEKAI to him, he claims that he hasn’t forgotten.
But what he says tells a different story. He wants to be the world’s top star.
And… making people happy doesn’t seem to strike a chord with him.
Suddenly, something flashes before his eyes. A younger Tsukasa-senpai, with kinder eyes.
“Someday, I’m going to make everyone smile! Especially you and Saki!”
He drops the prop at that, and Tsukasa-senpai shakes his head.
“I’m sorry about him.”
Tsukasa-senpai is… sorry.
No. No, this isn’t happening. He just needs to… concentrate. Tsukasa-senpai will remember. He always remembers.
He tries to reach down and pick the prop back up, but his hand gets cut. It hurts. He’s not dreaming.
And whatever else Tsukasa-senpai was thinking, he drops it all at seeing Toya with a hurt hand.
“Oh, your hands! Uncle and Auntie are going to be so upset…”
Is… that all he cares about? How upset Toya’s parents will be?
No. No, he’s being stupid. Overthinking everything, like he always does. There’s no way Tsukasa-senpai’s forgotten.
…So why won’t that thought leave his mind?
~
Toya’s hand is all bandaged up, and every time he needs a reminder that the SEKAI wasn’t a dream, he looks at it.
Tsukasa-senpai was right. Toya’s mother freaked out, and Auntie had to calm her down.
Oh god. Why is this happening?
He needs a distraction, so he tries to go out for some fresh air in a secluded spot and hears… something.
Someone singing.
A beautiful voice, singing alone.
Toya knows that song. He adores it.
“Memory… all alone in the moonlight…”
He doesn’t want to disturb the singer, so he just… stands there and lets her voice wash over him.
But then she starts… waiting. Oh.
Jemima’s part.
So Toya sings along.
“Sunlight through the trees in summer, endless masquerading. Like a flower, as the dawn is breaking.”
The girl spins on her heel, and Toya walks closer and recognizes that she’s the girl who sits next to him in class.
He motions to her, and she continues.
“The memory is fading…”
And then her voice crescendos, and Toya almost feels like an accompanist.
“Touch me! It’s so easy to leave me! All alone with the memory… of my days in the sun…”
She finishes the song, seems to realize that she’s been interrupted, and tries to run off.
“Wait! Kusanagi, right? You sit next to me in class?” Toya tries, and she freezes.
“I-Uh… yeah…”
“Your voice is beautiful. Have you ever considered performing?”
Kusanagi starts to hyperventilate, and Toya rushes over to her.
“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”
“No…” She chokes out.
“Don’t speak, drink this.” He says, before cracking open a fresh water bottle and handing it to her.
She takes it thankfully, and she seems to be in a better state when she’s done.
“I can’t… perform.” She says. “I tried once. Same thing happened then.”
Toya sighs.
“I have… problems with that sometimes too. You don’t have to. I’m sorry, it’s just that Tsukasa-senpai and I have joined a theater troupe recently and we need another member.”
Kusanagi shakes her head.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could, but…”
“Wait, Nene!” A boy says, slightly taller than Toya. “I have an idea. Would you be willing to hear it? I think Nene would make an excellent addition to your troupe.”
“Rui, I can’t…” Kusanagi tries, but Rui-san(?) shakes his head.
“Just give me a chance.”
~
Tsukasa’s kind of surprised. Toya found them a fourth member?
But when he brings her along, she’s… not what he expected.
She’s a robot?
“The driver is backstage. She has a beautiful singing voice, Senpai.” Toya says, and Tsukasa tries to look backstage, but Toya grabs his arm. “Senpai, please. Give this a chance. We need a fourth member, do we not?”
Toya gives him a look that makes him melt, and Tsukasa sighs.
“Fine. For you. I’ll take a chance on the robot.”
Toya’s eyes light up again, and Tsukasa pats him on the head.
“The tables have finally turned. Now you’ve roped me into something.”
Emu is dancing around the robot, who is named Robo-Nene apparently, and Tsukasa just isn’t sure about this.
But… he can’t say no to Toya. Not after everything they’ve been through.
So they’re performing with a robot. Okay. That’s fine.
A true star can overcome any difficulty!
~
Practice has been… unusual, to say the least.
Toya’s perfect as always, but Robo-Nene and Emu…
Well, things are going decently, he guesses. But they need more. Tsukasa’s performance as the lead isn’t going well…
If anything, the villainous demon lord seems much better than the lead.
Toya’s quiet, expressionless nature tends to make him lean very well towards villain roles, but he’s stealing Tsukasa’s spotlight.
“It’s alright, Senpai. You’ll get it.” Toya says, but…
But it just feels off, for some strange reason.
And then Emu suddenly drags everyone into that crazy SEKAI place again.
Toya wanders off immediately, and Tsukasa just sighs.
Emu asks KAITO for advice, and the advice is actually… very helpful.
But then Toya appears again, draped in blue and holding…
“Senpai, look who it is.” Toya says.
“Agh! It’s that creepy bunny!”
Toya tilts his head to the side.
“Creepy?”
“Dude, don’t be mean.” Robo-Nene says, and the bunny starts crying.
“Toya-kun… why won’t Tsukasa-kun remember me…?”
“Remember you?! I’ve never met you in my life! I would remember a creepy bunny like you!”
Toya pulls the bunny closer, almost protectively.
“You can’t seriously…” He whispers, and Tsukasa looks at him confusedly.
“Toya, just leave the bunny, let’s go home.”
And Toya’s eyes flash with… something, but he lets the bunny go.
“I’ll come see you later, alright, Usa-chan?” He says, and the bunny lights up.
“Promise, Toya-kun?”
“Yeah. I promise. We can do Cinderella again.”
And Toya’s eyes flick to Tsukasa again.
“Will you be our Prince Charming?” He asks, and Tsukasa shrugs.
“Toya, we don’t have time for this.”
But… it’s strange.
Why does all this feel so familiar?
~
It’s performance time. They’ve worked so hard, and now Pegasus Odyssey will become a reality.
Tsukasa Tenma’s first step to becoming a top star!
And the show is going amazingly. He and Toya play off each other as well as they’ve always done, and Emu is a surprisingly good narrator.
But then… something goes wrong.
Robo-Nene falls over, crushing Tsukasa under her.
And Toya… Toya freezes.
Tsukasa knows that look.
That look when Toya’s brain is going so fast, but his mouth won’t listen to him.
No, no. Not right now.
Please, not right now.
He motions to Toya as much as he can, and he starts mouthing to him.
“Say something!” He hisses, and Toya’s mouth starts moving, but nothing comes out.
There’s a panicked look in Toya’s eyes, and Tsukasa can’t do this.
And then the… real Nene speaks up.
“And… and the demon lord…” She starts. “The demon lord saved the prince and they became friends and lived happily ever after!”
There’s the sound of someone collapsing backstage, and Toya’s breath gets even more unsteady.
People start flooding out, and Toya and Emu rush over to try and push Robo-Nene off of Tsukasa.
Together they finally manage to do it, and Toya wraps Tsukasa in a tight hug.
But Tsukasa can’t stop himself. He pushes Toya away.
“Not now.” He snaps, and he gets onto his feet and throws the backstage curtain open.
“Senpai!” Toya yells.
“Oh, you can speak now, huh?” Tsukasa snaps again, and Toya’s eyes widen.
“I can’t… you know I can’t control it…” He whispers.
“Tsukasa-kun, it’s not either of their faults!” Emu tries, but Tsukasa turns back to the real Nene.
“You’re the real Nene behind the robot, huh?”
“Senpai, it was an accident!” Toya tries again, but Tsukasa’s not focused on him.
“I’m… sorry…” Nene says. “It’s all my fault…”
“I don’t need apologies!” Tsukasa snaps. “You don’t care, do you?!”
“I do…” Nene pleads. “But… it’s all my fault… I was too scared to perform in person. I shouldn’t have relied on a robot…”
“So you admit it?! I should have known there was something wrong with you, staying hidden and only talking to us through a robot!” Tsukasa snaps, starting to pace. “So you’re a shy girl? Not good with public performances? You think that’s an excuse?! If you can’t even face your audience, how can you put on a good show?!”
Nene’s eyes widen.
“Senpai, stop it!” Toya snaps.
“…sorry… I’m sorry!!” Nene says.
And then she runs in the other direction.
“Kusanagi!” Toya yells.
“Nene-chan!” Emu yells after her.
Toya spins on his heel, and his eyes flash with a kind of anger that Tsukasa’s never seen.
“You went too far, Senpai.”
“Toya—” He starts, but Toya actually cuts him off.
“No. I’m not done. Miku’s right, you really have forgotten. I didn’t want to believe it.”
Toya’s genuinely shaking, but for some reason it only seems to make Tsukasa angrier.
“Forgotten what?!” He snaps, and Toya’s glare gets even angrier.
“You have told me so many times over the years why you wanted to become a star. And I wanted to chase your dream with you because I love you. Because I believed in your dream. Is this what chasing that dream has turned you into? Because right now, Senpai, you’re someone I don’t even recognize. You’re not the same person I’d spend hours at a time rehearsing with, that would put a blanket over me when I fell asleep. You’re not the person that could make me smile when no one else could.”
And then Toya says something that hits Tsukasa at his weakest point.
“I miss my brother, Senpai. I can’t chase your dream with you anymore. Not if this is what it’s turned you into. I’m resigning my position as your No. 2 fan effective immediately.”
Toya spins on his heel and starts to walk off, and Tsukasa’s mouth moves before he can think.
“After all I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me?! You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me!”
And Toya just… freezes.
And that’s when Tsukasa registers what he just said.
Oh god. Oh god, why would he say that?! Why would he even think that?!
“Oh my god.” He starts. “Oh my god, Toya, I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”
But his apologies ring hollow.
Emu doesn’t know what he just said, but Toya does.
And the worst part is? Tsukasa meant it.
To anyone else it sounds innocuous. To Toya, it means something different.
There’s a familiar sound of Toya sucking in a breath, and Tsukasa doesn’t even need to see his face. He made Toya cry.
Of course Toya’s crying, why wouldn’t he be crying?! Tsukasa just used his suicide attempt against him!
“I’m sorry. My love, I’m sorry.” He tries again, leaping off the stage and getting in front of him. “I love you. Don’t cry.”
He tries to reach out and wipe Toya’s tears away, but…
But Toya slaps his hand away.
“Don’t touch me.” He whispers. “I never want to see you again as long as I live.”
And Toya runs off, and Tsukasa goes after him.
Toya throws the door to his house open and bolts in, locking it behind him, and Tsukasa is forced to waste a precious few seconds looking for his keys.
He finally throws the door open and runs upstairs, throwing himself against Toya’s bedroom door.
“My love, let me in.” He says. “Please. I’m sorry.”
Toya doesn’t respond, and Tsukasa sighs and sinks down the door.
Why…? Why did he say something like that?
His phone flashes.
It’s that song, Untitled.
Why…?
But then he remembers something.
KAITO told him to come if he ever needed help.
Well, if there was ever a time…
That same bunny is there, and she’s crying.
She’s crying almost as hard as Toya, and Tsukasa can’t stand it.
He tries his hardest to cheer her up, and finally she does with a Wonderhoy☆.
And then she drags him on an adventure.
A… nostalgic adventure.
A boat on a rocky sea, a monster and a magic sword…
And then the bunny says something familiar.
“Let’s do Cinderella!” She says. “Let’s bring Toya-kun and do Cinderella again!”
“Cinderella…” Tsukasa whispers.
And it finally all clicks into place.
“Usa-chan.” Tsukasa says. “And… that’s the tent from my first show, and that’s the poster I drew, and…”
And Miku drops a book at his feet.
He picks it up, and it’s one of those picture books where you have to find one man among many.
And now he finally remembers. Now he knows why Toya was so upset.
~
“Saki-san, as your fairy godmother, I’m going to make you not sick for today!” Toya says, waving a toy wand and being held up by Hika-nee.
Saki lets out the cutest laugh, and she pulls herself out of the bed.
“Really? Then what do I get to do?” She says.
“Well, you get this pretty dress.” Kamui-nii says, and Hika-nee snatches it from him.
“Here, let me help you with your transformation.”
Hika-nee helps Saki slip into the dress over her hospital gown, and Toya waves his wand over Usa-chan and Hatsuaki-nii magically puts the carriage next to her.
“Sorry it’s a little small, the hospital said we couldn’t bring a full-sized carriage in here.” Toya says.
Saki laughs again, and Hika-nee spins her around.
“Now, all we need is a Prince Charming. Where could he be…?” Kamui-nii asks, and that’s Tsukasa’s cue.
He bursts out of the closet and Saki lights up even more, while Kamui-nii sets up a keyboard.
“Well, it’s a ball, right?” He says. “So, let’s dance!”
And there’s a simple waltz playing, and Saki is laughing and smiling so much as Tsukasa twirls her around.
Everyone is laughing. Everyone is smiling.
Hatsuaki-nii spins Hika-nee around, and her dress flows with the motion.
Saki sees it, and she turns to Tsukasa.
“Onii-chan, will you spin me around like that?”
Tsukasa tries, but her dress doesn’t flow like that and she doesn’t spin as fluidly as Hika-nee does.
“Psst.” Toya whispers. “You have to spin her under your arm.”
Tsukasa tries to do it like Toya says, and Saki laughs as she spins around.
“Thank you.” Tsukasa whispers, and Toya nods before running over to Hika-nee and Hatsuaki-nii, who laugh and start dancing with him.
“Onii-chan?” Saki asks. “When I grow up, will I be as pretty as Hika-nee?”
Tsukasa laughs.
“You’ll be the prettiest girl ever! And you’ll get to go dancing like this all the time!”
Saki laughs even harder, and Toya’s laughing with Hika-nee and Hatsuaki-nii, and…
And this is the happiest day of Tsukasa’s life. He’ll never forget it.
~
“…That’s what Toya meant.” Tsukasa whispers, and Usa-chan nods.
“It was fun! I got to be the bunny who turned into a horse!”
Tsukasa sighs and grabs her paw.
“Yeah. I remember now. I… wanted to make her smile. I wanted to make everyone smile. And Toya wanted to help me. Now I remember why. He wanted to help me make everyone smile… because I made him smile.”
Miku nods.
“Yeah! You finally remember!”
Tsukasa drops to his knees.
“But it’s… too late.” He whispers. “I already ruined everything. How can I get Toya back?”
KAITO shakes his head.
“You can’t have messed it up that bad.”
“I used Toya’s suicide attempt against him.”
KAITO reels back.
“I… stand corrected.”
“Exactly. Even my own beloved Toya doesn’t want to see me. How can I fix this if even one of my favorite people in the world hates me?”
KAITO sighs.
“You have to try. You know you have to keep trying. You have to tell him that you remember.”
Tsukasa sighs.
“…I…” He whispers. “I have to go back.”
And KAITO nods.
“I know you can do it. A star like you can.”
“I don’t deserve that praise.”
But KAITO shakes his head again.
“Yes, you do. Now that you remember, you’re a star again.”
“No.” Tsukasa snaps. “I'm not a star until I have my Toya back. And I’ll make sure I get him back, even if it takes me the rest of my life.”
Tsukasa clicks stop on Untitled and appears back in front of Toya’s room, and he knocks on the door.
“My love, I’m sorry. I remember now.”
Toya doesn’t respond.
Tsukasa’s heart is beating out of his chest. There’s no way Toya…
“Toya, you don’t have to come out. You don’t have to forgive me. But please just tell me you’re alright in there.”
Toya still doesn’t respond, and Tsukasa sighs.
“I'm not leaving.” He says. “I’m not leaving until you let me know you’re alright.”
Nothing. Still nothing.
~
When Tsukasa wakes up, it’s to the sound of a familiar scream and the weight of someone falling on him.
“Narin?!” Uncle yells, and Tsukasa pulls his head up as the lights go up.
“Tsukasa…?” Auntie says.
“Sorry.” Tsukasa responds, and Auntie looks at him confusedly.
“What are you doing on the floor?”
“I’m waiting for Toya to talk to me.” He says, and Auntie sighs and knocks on Toya’s door.
“Toya, what’s going on?”
“I’m not talking to him, Mother.” Toya actually responds, and Auntie and Uncle share a glance.
“What happened?” Uncle asks, and Tsukasa shakes his head.
“Can't say it. But it’s my fault.”
“I hate to agree with him on anything, but this is the one thing he’s right about.” Toya chimes in.
Auntie sighs.
“So neither of you are going to say anything?”
“No.” Tsukasa says.
“Absolutely not.” Toya says.
Auntie sighs and pulls herself to her feet.
“Alright then. I’m going to bed, I’m too tired to deal with this right now.”
~
Emu and Nene were a lot easier to get back than Toya was, but that’s to be expected. Tsukasa didn’t destroy them in such a fundamental way.
He’s made six or seven batches of cookies and sent them with Saki for Toya, but each one comes back uneaten.
“Why aren’t you guys talking?” Saki had asked, and Tsukasa couldn’t tell her.
Because even though Tsukasa’s done something that terrible, he can’t…
He can’t reveal that Toya tried to kill himself. He promised Toya he’d never tell anyone. And he still wants to keep that promise.
So instead he just keeps writing.
He keeps writing more and more, until he has a show he can be proud of.
All he needs now is for Toya to see it.
But… Toya’s refused to talk to him for weeks now.
How is he supposed to show Toya this if he still refuses to leave his room?
But Emu and Nene said to leave that part to them. All he needs to do is tell them when it’s time.
So he texts Emu that it’s time now.
There’s no flash in this show. It’s simple. Quiet.
Like Toya.
And Tsukasa finally sees that familiar flash of purple and blue when he’s on SEKAI’s stage.
“My love…” He whispers, and Toya averts his eyes.
“Why did you bring me here?” He asks.
“Just watch.” Nene says.
And Tsukasa starts the show.
“There once was a prince who lived in a palace, and there once was a knight that loved him more than anything.” KAITO starts. “The prince was always very lonely, and the knight wanted him to smile. Ever since they were children, the knight would protect the prince, and it was said they were as close as brothers.”
Toya’s eyes flash with recognition. He knows.
Tsukasa pulls a fake sword out of his belt, and he holds it out.
“With this blade, I protect my prince. Not because it is my duty, but because I love him.”
“The knight was a lovely soul, adored by all the kingdom. But very few loved him more than the prince, and there was no one he loved more than the prince. He wanted to spread smiles to all the kingdom, and the prince wanted to help since the knight made him smile so much. So together, they spent time training to reach as many people as they could. But, eventually…”
“I shall be the most beloved knight in all the kingdom!” Tsukasa starts. “Everyone will adore me!”
“It’s true. The knight forgot what he was doing this for, and who he was doing this for. And slowly, even the prince’s smile faded. And that’s when the knight made one fatal mistake.”
Tsukasa drops the sword.
“I… forgot. I forgot it was all for you.” He whispers. “And I ruined everything.”
And he drops to his knees at that moment, on the stage, and Toya freezes.
“I’m sorry.” He whispers. “I couldn’t be more sorry. And I don’t deserve forgiveness. But if you give me another chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I promise.”
And then there’s… a hand on his cheek.
And when Tsukasa looks up, Toya’s… crying.
“You’re an idiot. Such an idiot. But you’re my brother, and I still love you.”
Tsukasa lights up.
“Does that mean…?!”
“Yeah. I’ll perform with you again.”
And Tsukasa practically jumps for joy. He tackles Toya in the warmest hug he possibly can and starts peppering his forehead and cheek with kisses.
“Jeez, you’re smothering him…” Nene says, but then Toya starts laughing. It starts out gentle, but then he starts laughing harder, and Tsukasa thinks it’s such a pretty sound. Clear as a bell.
It even stunned Nene silent.
“S-Senpai! That tickles!” Toya laughs, and Tsukasa assaults him with even more kisses.
“I’m going to just eat you up! You’re so cute!”
“Agh! Senpai, no! Stop!”
“Never!”
Suddenly, Tsukasa’s phone flashes, and Tsukasa doesn’t notice, but Toya clearly does.
He reaches into Tsukasa’s pocket and pulls his phone out, and he stares at the screen.
“The World Hasn’t Even Started Yet?” He questions, and Miku cheers.
“Yay! It’s song time! Let’s sing!”
Toya gives a small smile and pulls away, handing Tsukasa his phone back.
“Well, Senpai? This song is made from your feelings. You should sing it.”
But Tsukasa shakes his head.
“This song was made from my feelings, but it’s for you. We should sing it together. Nene, Emu, you too.”
Emu cheers, and Toya gives a lovely smile.
Of course. He’s been a fool this entire time.
That smile… that smile is everything.
So he grabs Toya’s arm and pulls him on stage, and Nene and Emu leap on alongside them.
~
When Toya gets home with Tsukasa-senpai, everyone’s there.
“Okay, we need to set up an intervention.” Saki says. “You can’t keep fighting like this.”
“We’re fine now. Mostly.” Toya says.
Everyone lets out a relieved sigh.
“Thank god, that was terrible.” Toya’s mother says.
“It was even worse for me.” Tsukasa-senpai groans. “I don’t like Toya being mad at me.”
“What did he do, anyway?” Auntie asks, and Toya sighs.
“Still can’t tell you.”
“Why?!” Saki yells.