Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Discordant.

Dangerous.

Damned.

The synths, trapped beneath the shreds of the guitar and the howls of the crowd, run amok. Over the thrum of the curated disorder, the singer’s voice devolves into an animalistic growl. Behind them, the red strobe lights paint a hellish silhouette across the screen.

It’s a pure, raw display of rage spurred on by the pleas of the masses below the stage. Sharp, garish, and bold garments sway across the platform, all gathered together with the intent of raising as much chaos as physically possible.

Adonis flinches at another sharp strum of the guitar, the bass banging against his eardrums as he slowly pries his earbuds away ever so slightly. Had he not done so, it would only be a matter of minutes before he developed a headache.

Koga couldn’t be anymore different. Propping his head up with his chin, a boyish grin is plastered on his face, his eyes gleaming with stars. He watches with anticipation, waiting for the next breakdown, the next scream, the next ear-shattering technique that will consume his thoughts while he composes his own songs.

Try as he might, Adonis does not understand.

UNDEAD, who had to balance the lights of idols and the shadows of rock and roll, could never dare to sing such an accusatory, unpolished song. They were the kings of the night, and dignity was a necessity for a king. This was far too vulgar.

The song draws to a close with a resonant scream from the lead singer. A sense of havoc chokes the air, swirling around the scene, only to crash at the sudden notes of a gentle, delicate piano. At the audience’s applause, the livestream pauses, and the title of the event flashes on the screen:

Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo

Koga pulls out his earbuds, and Adonis copies him quietly before handing his over.

“So, what do ya think?”

The invisible tail behind Koga wags at the speed of light. Wonderful though that joy may be, Adonis’ choice of words could crush it to bits.

The Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo was an underground event targeting lovers of hardcore music, often pulling in groups from rock, metal, punk, industrial, and other related subgenres. On paper, it was the perfect place for UNDEAD, the merciless demons of Yumenosaki known for their hypnotic performances and their adoption of the visual kei style.

However, that was not really UNDEAD- and it may have never been. They were not cruel tyrants, but stimulating gentleman, and the difference was integral to their identity as they steered clear of the venues favoured by unruly units like Crazy:B.

At the very least, the difference was important enough for their seniors in UNDEAD to switch paces despite Koga’s complaints.

For the sake of keeping their creativity unstifled, Rei refrained from explaining UNDEAD’s reputation within RhythLin. Though no one could guess why they made such sudden changes to their order of operations, there was no doubt that a reason existed. To go against their current state of affairs could risk undoing their invisible progress with both their company and their audience.

“Is this really what you would like UNDEAD to do, Oogami?” Adonis clarifies one more time.

He was not against competing in the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo, but competing under UNDEAD’s name specifically had a different set of ramifications compared to the ones that they would face while participating independently.

“Tch. Of course I do!”

Koga leans back on the bench, undoing the tie of his school uniform when the movement makes it dig into his neck. Overhead, clouds crawl over the scenery, bringing delicate flurries with them. One flake falls squarely on Koga’s nose, not that he notices- or cares, for that matter.

“UNDEAD’s reputation is in the gutter, y’know? We’re supposed to be one of Yumenosaki’s best units, but everything’s been turned upside down. And they’re all saying that it’s ‘cuz Sakuma-senpai and Hakaze-senpai left! We didn’t change, goddamnit, it’s all the management’s fault! Always makin’ us do that weak stuff…”

Suddenly, Koga shoots up, staring at Adonis with all the stoicness of a doctor announcing his patient’s fatal fate.

“Did ya know that they’re callin’ us ‘approachable’ and ‘gentle’? Since when was UNDEAD all nice an’ chummy, huh?” Falling against the bench, Koga sighs. He nearly throws his phone before realizing just how valuable the object in his hand is, and returns it to his bag. “That’s why we gotta kick things up a notch. To hell with what RhythLin wants!”

Adonis folds his arms, pondering over Koga’s words. He has no qualms- Koga has always embodied UNDEAD’s message best, wanting nothing but the best for all the members in spite of his thornier behaviour in the past. It was Koga who had taught Adonis about the true nature of rock and roll, which was why if there was anyone whose perspective Adonis should hold in the highest regard, it should have been Koga’s.

But ignoring RhythLin’s and their seniors’ wishes was easier said than done. Even if UNDEAD’s fate was uncertain, it’s current reputation could not be dismissed as one of the most popular units within the company- to the point where Keito and Rei made used the unit as an example of future endeavours that RhythLin could take. The full extent of those conversations were known by Keito and Rei alone, but it was clear that this was the foreseeable path for the near future, irrespective of the critiques of others.

More than that, for Adonis in particular, this was veering into fearsome, unprecedented territory. Through his mother’s example, he had always seen music as an encouraging and uplifting form of art. The music of the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo went against everything that he saw in music as a whole, demolishing it’s healing properties.

“UNDEAD has never done anything like this before,” Adonis admits slowly.

Koga stares at him, brows furrowed as he lets the words roll around in his head.

“… Yeah? That’s the point.”

With a frown, Adonis takes the wrapper of his sandwich and unconsciously folds it into a ball. He understands what Koga means- he also wants nothing more than to bring out the best in UNDEAD and show off their strengths- but he feels that they have already managed to accomplish that despite every hurdle thrown their way in the past months.

Even after the blows that they sustained at the MDM and the SS, they maintained a mostly steady fanbase. Now, they receive more job offers than ever in a variety of ventures that they would have never considered a year prior- a feat that impresses Koga, too, loathe as he is to admit it. Would it truly be wise to throw it all away to follow the untrodden, shadow-covered path hidden to the side?

“C’mon, is it really any different from what we usually do? I’ve done stuff before UNDEAD, so we’re not goin’ in blind!” Koga proudly holds the screen up. “This is the best way for us to learn about rock n’ roll- not that sanitised shit that we’ve been workin’ with so far.”

“I think our songs are nice.”

Growing red, Koga sets his phone back down. “Hell yeah they are! That’s not what I meant… Look, I’m not sayin’ that we should do this permanently, but if we wanna be the real deal, we need to be able to go neck-and-neck with the sorts of bands that they’ve got here.”

An inhale, an exhale, and Adonis unfolds the wrapper before refolding it again. Had the signups for the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo been delayed, he would give it more thought, but as it stands, he needs to give an immediate response.

Koga waits, anticipatory yet hesitant. Adonis knows that if he confessed his reluctance, Koga would listen to him immediately. However, his fear is overtaken by his drive to become stronger.

He trusts Koga. He trusts his own steadfastness. What he cannot wrap his mind around is the callous nature of the performances. The personalities that he saw on that stage were nothing like the man that he sought to become, nor were they akin to the image that he wanted others to have of him.

Furthermore, the content of the songs brought back memories of less fortunate days back home.

Days of screaming, of cursing, of crying…

Music was supposed to wash the sting of those days away, but the blunt, brutal lyrics embedded in the songs became a reminder of his people’s suffering. It was that suffering that brought him to the stage, imparting hope to those who watched him. To do otherwise, no- to directly oppose the very sentiment that fueled him on the stage would be to dismiss those who sought refuge in his songs.

… But these songs were not the only types of songs that existed. In his homeland, too, one could find rock if they knew where to look, but the form that it took was different. The screams, curses, and cries that Adonis delayed were exemplified in those venues- a form of catharsis that he did not understand then, and continues to confuse to this day.

That let that confusion remain unchallenged is not only a fault to an idol, but to an idol of rock and roll in particular, it left a gaping hole in Adonis’ thoughts. It was true that he had much to learn when it came to his genre of choice. If this was necessary for his training, then…

Koga snaps his fingers twice in front of Adonis’ eyes.

“Uh, Earth to Adonis? Ya could tell me your decision later, if ya wanna?”

“Sorry.” Adonis finally lets the poor sandwich wrapper be, giving Koga his full attention.

UNDEAD is more than just him. If Koga is willing and able to take this step, then Adonis would rather accept the invitation with open arms than hold UNDEAD back.

Cautiously, in a voice unlike his own, Adonis says, “Let’s try it.”

The shade hanging over Koga’s eyes evaporates, letting those shimmering eyes shine through the clouds again. He smiles with his teeth, fangs on proud display, as he slaps Adonis’ back in a fit of excitement before jumping off of the bench.

“Let’s show ‘em what we’re made of! Why don’t we start brainstormin’ at the BB Club?”

Adonis shakes his head. “I have a meeting with the Track and Field team today. Our practice should be for an hour or so. Perhaps we could meet at Starmony Dorms? Or…” Adonis shudders at the thought of his torturous idea. “… We could have a phone call.”

The recommendation prompts Koga to hiss. He, too, is plagued with the memory of calls made in vain.

“After school’s fine with me.”

Nodding, Adonis rises from his seat on the bench, heading inside to find a garbage can to deposit his trash in. Koga tugs on his sleeve with a start, crying out, “Where are ya goin?”

“Class will be starting soon. Won’t you be going back in as well?”

Unlike some agencies, RhythLin put a limit on its school-grade idols, mandating that they should maintain a certain grade average to perform idol activities. The change in Koga’s attendance thereafter had shocked their teachers, but it could not be helped. Perhaps he would not come today, seeing as he was in a rebellious mood these days.

“Damn, you’re right…” Adonis’ sleeve slips out of Koga’s fingers. He falls into step next to Adonis on his way inside, hands folded behind his head.

In the quietness, Adonis finds time to think.

He trusts Koga. He trusts his own steadfastness. What he cannot wrap his mind around is the rogue nature of the performances.

Power was often equated with strength, but they were not one in the same. Where the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo boasted about the power of demons, Adonis saw disharmony. It was an experience that would make him stronger- but it was everything besides his strength that would be scrutinized on that stage.

Chapter Text

“Oogami…?” Mao hesitantly calls out.

Finally, after nearly an hour of letting loose, Koga sets his guitar aside. A numbed burn stings his fingers every so often as he picks up his water bottle to take a long, well-deserved sip of water.

The growling and screaming wouldn’t do his throat well. While he didn’t expect Mao to voice his complaints, apparently he was wrong.

Just as he was about 2wink’s schedule, or else they would have been here to pester him, too.

Just as he was about Mayoi’s comfort, or else he would have dutifully taken his seat in the back of the class instead of spending most of the day in the vents.

Just as he was about Arashi’s tastes, or else she would not have fallen off of her chair after Koga offered to show her what the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo was about.

If he had read to fine print, if he had got along better with his classmates, if he was anybody else, then he wouldn’t need to worry about finding anyone else, but these were the cards that fate had dealt.

Apparently, the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo required a minimum of three performers. It may have been open to newcomers and veterans alike without discrimination, but the limit on members was as resolute as sacred doctrine.

Asking his seniors in UNDEAD for help was out of the question. Going up to them now to grovel at their feet would undermine the whole reason behind Koga’s participation in this event. They might not have accepted the invitation anyway, seeing how pleased they were with being knocked down again and again on those crappy TV skits. Unlike them, Koga could not wait for business opportunities to come into his lap as the hours ticked away.

Lightning strikes as Koga makes eye contact with Mao. His vocals were stronger than people gave him credit for, and that little half-do of his would do just fine, though Koga would have to do a bit of styling. Besides, if Mao joined, then the whole group would be capable of playing an instrument- Adonis would not complain if he were asked to take up his ocarina.

“Hey, Forehead, Are ya doin’ anything big this month?”

“Well…” His downcast eyes did all the talking as he awkwardly avoided Koga’s gaze.

Really, it was Koga’s fault for expecting the universe to throw him a bone after his goose chase earlier. “Forget about it.”

He would probably have better luck asking Ra*bits at this point.

Like that, the allotted time for the club passes in silence. Mao helps him push chairs and tables back into place, locking up more valuable equipment in the nearby locker and shelves. The dusty, abandoned casket in the corner of the room does him no favours.

Once Mao leaves, Koga decides to take a seat on the ancient coffin, toying with its leather flaps with his legs spread wide. There were some days when he really, really wanted to drag Rei back to the club and force him to take the damned thing. What was the point of leaving it here? If he had no use for the casket, he could at least leave it with someone who would take care of it. After all, Natsume had put a lot more effort into repairing it than he would ever let on, and Koga was receiving one offer after another of fellow students wishing to use it as a prop.

With a shriek, his nail digs into the gap between the leather casing and the wooden base of the casket. Koga swears beneath his breath. He has no reason to feel bad- especially when the casket had been discarded by Rei himself- but it didn’t seem right to just leave the thing lying around like some faded textbook.

Koga rises, prying the casket open, its lid falling to the side with a loud clack! Inside, the plush, velvet interior remains, just the same as ever except for the grey speckles of dust caught in the fabric.

The laces of Koga’s shoes come undone one after the other before he throws himself into the casket. It’s more spacious than it looks, and a dozen secret compartments are stitched into the sides, explaining Rei’s never-ending supply of tomato juice.

He sneaks a hand into a pocket full to the brim. From the fearsome terrain, a decrepit looking juice box, threatening to burst at any second. Instinctively, Koga lobs it as far as he can out of the compartment. The box smacks the wall with a disgustingly moist splat that he hopes is nothing to fret over.

After a second, Koga decides to lean back, resting his head on the pillow.

… No wonder why Rei always slept so soundly.

Koga snuggles into the softness, before a familiar tingle tickles his nose. Jumping with a jolt, he sneezes into the crook of his elbow, followed by a haggard sigh. When he glances back down at the casket, he is met with the dusty outline of his body in the pillows.

Frantically, he glances down at his uniform, finding the length of his pants and the side of his sleeve coated with a faint dusting of lint.

Damned bastard vampire and his damned bastard casket.

Furiously pounding at his clothes, Koga prepares himself to leave the clubroom for good. He neglects to tie his shoes, focused solely on strapping his guitar to his person before Akiomi can come to inspect the classroom. The juice box that he launched cannot be located, and he doesn’t bother putting in the effort to change that. If anything, it would give the school an opportunity to confiscate the expired stock of juice left in Rei’s former coffin.

In rehearsed motions, he locks the club door before letting his feet choose his destination. Down the hall, he runs into Akiomi, and under the duress of the turning clock, resorts to tossing the keys over before dashing out of the school. Naturally, Akiomi calls after him, but at this hour neither of them are compelled to push the situation further.

Having escaped the clutches of the rush hour, Koga is met with empty streets and darkening skies. He doesn’t mind. The quiet gives him the right space to craft a list of potential candidates:

• fine would be leaving town in a week.
• Ryuseitai were called to perform in an amusement park on weekends for the rest of the month.
• Half of ALKALOID were at work at the moment.
• Mao confirmed that Trickstar was busy.
• Eden was out of the country.
• Valkyrie had an upcoming exhibition- and would also never be caught dead in a place like the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo.
• 2wink nabbed a job at the last minute.
• Crazy:B were doing solo jobs for the month.
• Ra*bits’ workload started to lighten up.
• Akatsuki just wrapped up filming on a movie.
• The seniors in UNDEAD were entirely out of the question.
• Knights’ schedule scarcely had any gaps.
• Switch just announced a new project.
• MaM was on hiatus.

… Scratch Ra*bits, Koga would sooner walk into the nearest daycare than Starmony Dorms to find the final member of his little group.

Maybe he could scout for talents outside of Yumenosaki? But most other schools were still adjusting to the unit system, so an idol in that environment would not know how to cooperate with a unit of UNDEAD’s standing. The same could be said for Koga’s juniors, especially the first years, who were still in the process of securing units of their own.

Before he knows it, Koga stands before the gate of Starmony Dorms, his pass swiped across the machine installed outside. He could save the worries for later- too many hours had passed with him trapped in his warm, scruffy school uniform. If he needed to run around, he could at least do so in comfort.

It’s a fortune that his dorm is on the first floor, since he can stroll right in without worrying about stairs or elevators. Paying half a mind to keeping his surroundings clean, Koga dumps his shoes and his bag in their special spots before making a beeline for his bed. His tie hangs from his hand as he collapses, the buttons on his shirt partially undone. Tatsumi’s belongings are already in their place, meaning that his roommate had to be nearby.

At this rate, it seemed that fate itself was protesting against his wishes, but fate could take its bullshit elsewhere. Koga Oogami and Adonis Otogari will participate in the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo, and no one can stop them.

There are four hours left before signups close.

“I’m home,” Tatsumi announces.

“Welcome home,” Koga mumbles into his blanket, using all the energy in his body to project his voice.

“It’s nice to see you Koga-san. By the way, Adonis-san visited earlier today while asking for you. He seemed quite troubled, so you may want to contact him as soon as you can. I don’t suppose the matter with your event has been resolved yet, has it?”

Koga’s muffled groan conveys more than words could.

“We’re still down a member…”

Tatsumi joins him on the bed, sitting to the side while staring down at Koga’s dejected form. “Was Adonis-san not able to join?”

In an attempt at a reassuring gesture, Koga waves his hand. “He did. We gotta get one more guy, though.”

At Tatsumi’s prompting, Koga lifts his head and explains the circumstances as best as he can. The order of events is distorted by his fried brain, and several times over, he has had to restart. Once his mouth is shut for good, he flops back onto the bed, ready to sink within its gentle embrace.

“Oh, you poor lamb…”

Perhaps Tatsumi’s Bible had some parable outlining the trials and tribulations that came with starting up a band.

… Ah.

Tatsumi’s unit, ALKALOID, was also based on rock. There performances were pretty hardcore compared to most newbies nowadays. Though Mayoi’s circumstances were a shame, there was no guarantee that Tatsumi was also reluctant to join. If his memory serves him right, the younger pair are already accounted for, so it would be the seniors that Koga needs to focus on.

From his pitiful position, face crushed against the pillow, Koga groggily spits out an inquiry into Tatsumi’s future endeavours.

“Pardon me?” Tatsumi takes a second to decipher Koga’s gibberish. “Ah, no, I’m quite free for the next few weeks. Forgive me if I’m misinterpreting your words, but would you like me to join Adonis-san and you for the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo?”

“If ya can’t, it’s no big deal,” Koga tacks on. It wouldn’t be fair to force Tatsumi to join- not to mention how pressed Adonis would feel if he learned that their associate was acting out of necessity and not a willing participant. That wasn’t the rock and roll that Koga wanted Adonis to see.

“I would be honoured,” Tatsumi responds, lightly patting Koga on the head.

The soothing movements nearly lull him to sleep as Tatsumi drags his fingers across his skull. If it weren’t too early to sleep, Koga wouldn’t mind closing his eyes. Unfortunately, the time was not in his favour.

The threat of missing the signup dates finally sinks in, and an abrupt jolt of electricity has Koga dashing out of bed.

“Koga-san! Is something the matter?”

Just as he was about to run out of the dorm, Koga relinquishes the hand on the knob and takes a step back in. The least that he could do was wear a jacket.

“I’ve gotta sign our group up,” Koga slurs out in between frustrated huffs as he tugs his arm through the sleeve of the jacket. Tatsumi lifts the jacket, smoothening the entry into the sleeve with a concerned look on his face.

“Would it not be possible to sign up tomorrow? It has gotten rather late.”

When words fail him, Koga shakes his head, finally seizing the chance to make his break. Behind him, Tatsumi calls out that he will set his favorite tea blend for Koga to return to. Had it been any other scenario, he would shout back his gratitude, but the clock waits for no one. Most importantly, he has one last problem to solve.

Chapter Text

Adonis hums thoughtfully while regarding the poster for the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo. Although he had promised Koga that he would find another member for their unit before the end of the day, the search wound up unusually dire compared to what he had anticipated.

From what he can parse, Koga already asked their schoolmates to participate as soon as he had the chance- which was apparent when Arashi came to the Track and Field Club with a pale face. As Koga travelled around their school, more and more names were crossed off of their list, and no matter where Adonis looked, no one was willing or able to join them.

But when Koga was putting this much effort into this project, Adonis could not afford to fall back.

He spares a few minutes to review the previous performances in the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo. While none of them were to his tastes, he did find that most of the popular contestants would be absent this year. Among some of the smaller bands were ones that Adonis and Koga had seen at their local livehouses, so Adonis debated scouting them out.

He could not help discarding the idea when reflecting at the lackluster reception that UNDEAD garnered when he and Koga performed. The chances of anyone joining them were low to none based on the activities of the juniors alone.

…. If they could not procure another member by the end of the day, would Koga reconsider?

Adonis shakes his head. This was necessary for their unit’s sake- if he demolishes Koga’s idea, he would be singlehandedly setting them back. Besides, as jarring as the event was, it does not warrant this level of fear.

Sighing, Adonis takes a step back. The window in front of him is frosted at the corners, the ice threatening to crawl up and cover the vibrant poster before him. At his side, he hears the ruffling of nylon. Instinctively, he turns to look at the bystander.

It’s Rinne Amagi.

For a brief moment, Adonis considers taking a step back to let Rinne peruse the venue in peace. However, Rinne is remarkably pensive, reading the text with a ruminative expression. Adonis follows his eyes to follow along with his pace. It isn’t until the bottom, where the deadline for submissions waits in a in a threatening, thorny font, that Rinne cringes.

He gives a once-over of the poster while the coffee in his hand runs cold, his enthusiasm obvious to Adonis.

Crazy:B was often positioned against UNDEAD, especially after a subset of fans had jumped from the latter to the former following the MDM. However, after being grouped together across various projects, their relationship had started to mend.

On top of that, it was not fair of Adonis to judge Rinne for his circumstances. Like everyone else, he also carefully listened to every word that spilled from Rinne’s lips when he took to the stage- more than anyone else, it was Rinne who deserved to be at a scene like this.

“Amagi-senpai?”

“… Huh? Oh, damn, how long’ve ya been here, Otto~?”

Rinne throws his arm around Adonis’ shoulder. The action makes him feel small, young, and weak; though it was nothing new. This was simply the presence that Rinne exuded.

“Sooo, is there somethin’ ya need from your dear ol’ Rinne-senpai?”

Inhaling slowly, Adonis considers the pros and cons one more time before asking, “Are you free for this month, Amagi-senpai?”

“Shit, am I getting’ asked out by a member of UNDEAD?” Rinne pulls away with a smirk. “Didn’t know I was your type~.”

Unable to think of a response, Adonis relinquishes the thought of responding at all and refuses to acknowledge anything that Rinne just said.

“If you have the time, would you like to join Oogami and I for the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo?”

With how startled Rinne is, Adonis fears that he may have made a faux pas. The older man glances back and forth between the poster and Adonis, surprisingly taciturn.

A nugget of anxiety cuts into Adonis’ heart. They only had hours before the sign ups would close- if they could not find one more member before then, he worries that Koga may take it horribly. The opportunity was exactly what he had been waiting for, and Adonis did not want to be the one to ruin the dream.

Rinne lunges forward to pinch Adonis cheek. “Man, how can I say no to such a cute juni- woah, hey!”

The hiss of steel hits Adonis’ ears before he sees the blade slash the gap between him and Rinne.

“Adonis-dono,” Souma calls out next to his shoulder. “Allow me to dispose of this threat. I swear upon my life, this fiend shan’t touch a hair on your head.”

“There is no need for that, Kanzaki.” Adonis gingerly places his hand on Souma’s shoulder, waiting for his dear friend to sheathe his katana. Out of the corner of his eye, he observes Rinne smugly grinning down at Souma, who regretfully heads Adonis’ request.

“Yeah, no need for that, Kanzaki-chan~.”

“I would like to ask you to refrain from addressing me with such nicknames.”

The hilt of the sword hits the sheath with a clap as it slots into place. Now, with the danger subdued, Adonis turns towards Souma. The young samurai is still in his school uniform, likely having remained there after hours to assist with the Marine Bio Club based on the feed resting near his feet.

Adonis does not blame Souma for the aversion. Like UNDEAD, Akatsuki were also poisoned by Crazy:B’s sting during the MDM, except they lacked the experience of meeting Crazy:B elsewhere. The poor first impression would make anyone apprehensive, but Adonis had no doubt that Souma, noble and thoughtful as he is, would understand what Crazy:B is truly like.

“Amagi-senpai, will you truly join us for the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo?” Adonis inquires for clarification.

Rinne scratches the back of his neck, subconsciously swirling the coffee in his hands as he declares, “Hell yeah, I am. It’s not everyday that you get an opportunity like this.”

“Pardon me, but would this event be the one that Oogami-dono was referring to in our class earlier?” Souma interrupts.

“Indeed.” Adonis steps back to open the triangle, allowing Rinne and Souma to face each other properly. “Oogami and I need one more member to join us in order to participate.”

“And that member’s gonna be me!” Rinne cuts in.

“I see…” For some reason, Souma looks pained. Even Rinne is unnerved by Souma’s reaction.

“… W-Well, is it necessary for you to participate with Amagi-dono?”

“Wow! Who would’ve thought that Akatsuki’s li’l guy was so spiteful.”

“Do not mistake my words.” Souma shifts into a familiar stance, one hand hanging over the blade strapped to his hip. “I, too, had been approached with this proposition. I was simply wondering if something nefarious was afoot given the progression of the situation thus far.”

“’Nefarious’ my ass.” Rinne mumbles.

Again, Adonis rests his hand on Souma’s shoulder, cautious in his approach as the hostility in the vicinity grows. While watching the altercation, he catches onto a subtle implication.

“Kanzaki, are you saying that you would like to join?” He cannot help his joy from seeping into his tone. To have his closest companion help him handle such a tall task would be a blessing.

Rinne folds his arms, no doubt registering Adonis’ affinity for Souma. The observation makes Adonis frown; he would not like Rinne to feel excluded.

“Only if you would have me, Adonis-dono.”

Adonis peeks at Rinne’s expression once more, only for him to cackle aloud, the syllables harsh.

“Well, well, well, Otto. Who’re ya gonna pick?”

… Is it necessary for him to pick at all?

The minimum number of members in a given group was three, but since the Baptism of the Hyakki Yagyo did not operate on the same rules as the idol industry, there was no consequence for possessing over five members. If they desired, he and Koga could have both of them join.

What should have been an impulsive thought grows more rational while Adonis evaluates each of their strengths and weaknesses. They both suited the visuals of the event well: Rinne’s sharp edges gave him an advantage in the chaos, and Souma’s elegance could be paired with any aesthetic.

The pause has both contestants fidgeting, but Adonis heeds them no mind. While he had no qualms about performing with either or both, it was Koga’s word that would seal the nail in the coffin.

“I will be back to you in a moment.” Adonis excuses, pulling himself to the side. Rinne and Souma exchange confused glances in his absence.

Arduously, Adonis extracts his phone and attempts to dial Koga. The numbers are strung along one by one, and just as his finger hovers over the green button at the bottom, his elbow bumps with another.

“Shit- oh, wait, Adonis!”

Face to face with Koga, Adonis joyfully returns his phone to its place. Koga does not share his elation.

Urgently, Koga grabs at Adonis. “Just got our final member. I’ll talk later- gotta sign us up now.”

“Well, looks like all o’ that was for nothin’,” Rinne quips.

Koga sharply turns around, tense and guarded. Before him, Rinne and Souma watch with dejected eyes.

“They wanted to join us,” Adonis whispers into Koga’s ear.

“Well, shit…” With an unrelenting grasp, Koga tugs Adonis along. Before leaving for good, he turns to address Rinne and Souma:

“If ya still wanna join, then now’s the last time to answer.”

Nudged in the side, Souma is prompted to answer first. “I-I’ll join. Now unhand me, Amagi-dono!”

“Alright, alright. Anyways, I’m joinin’ too, ‘only if you’ll have me’.”

Souma’s eyes widen at the taunt, the answer sending his jaw to the floor.

Whatever happens next is Adonis’ guess as Koga immediately dashes off. Fortunately, thanks to his training in the Track and Field Club, catching up to him is no taxing affair, though he does have to wonder what Koga has in mind.