Chapter Text
“Wha– huh?”
“Yes Hinata-kun, you heard me correctly.”
Eichi smiled at him. Hinata looked at him in disbelief, then looked down at the papers placed in front of him, then back to Eichi. Hinata struggled to put words together. He couldn’t process what had just been asked of him. Surely this must be a misunderstanding?
There’s just no way.
Right?
Hinata picked up the papers in front of him and averted his eyes before he could make out any specifics of the writing. It was probably all nonsense anyway. If he looked closely he would probably see that it was just the same few paragraphs repeated to fill space on the page. Surely.
Hinata stood and stretched out his arm to hand the papers back to Eichi. “Aha– wow! This sure is an interesting prank, Tenshouin-senpai! You’ve definitely made 2wink proud with this one. Yup! Good work!” He continued to hold it out towards his senior, but Eichi made no move to take it from him. He just chuckled and slightly shook his head.
“Hinata-kun, you misunderstand my intentions. I assure you that this is no prank.”
“But why, um-–huh?” Hinata sputtered. As he retracted his outstretched hand, he looked once more at the papers he held, now crumpled from how tightly he was holding on to them. He just barely made out some jargon before putting it all back down on the desk and then moving to stand up to leave, “Okay well, it’s been fun but I really don’t have time for this. Yuta and I need to–”
“Hinata-kun. Please. Sit down and read the contract.” Eichi’s smile remained, but the illusion of it being genuine was ruined by the tinge of frustration in his tone. Hinata stared at him for a moment before picking up the papers again, figuring he could read just a little bit. The top of the page read Application for Amended Unit Lineup. Just below was a blank to write the unit name, as well as its new members.
Unit Name: fine
Current Members: Eichi Tenshouin, Wataru Hibiki, Tori Himemiya, Yuzuru Fushimi
Amended Members: Eichi Tenshouin, Wataru Hibiki, Tori Himemiya, Yuzuru Fushimi, Hinata Aoi
Oh. Well then.
“Tenshouin-senpai I-- I really don’t understand what this is about,” Hinata said, his voice becoming a bit unsteady despite his best efforts. This was ridiculous. As if fine was even marginally suited to Hinata’s… everything. Eichi, however, seemed to take his confusion in stride.
“Well it’s only natural that you have many questions. Let me ask you something first-- what do you feel is the most important thing for an idol to have?” Eichi asked, leveling Hinata with a very strong look.
“Ummm….being good at singing and dancing, I guess?” Hinata said unconfidently, lowering himself back into his seat.
“True, those are both crucial,” Eichi continued, maintaining direct eye contact, “But there is something else that is more important than that. Technique is important, yes. But skills can be learned. You and your brother are both relatively skilled, but it was you who had the confidence and presence to truly command the audience’s attention. Even when you misstepped, none of the audience realized because you made it part of the performance. You are an ameteur idol, certainly, but refinement can be taught. Anyone can learn how to perform, but true charisma is harder to teach. Natural talent like yours should be nurtured, and joining fine would be the best opportunity for you to do so.”
Hinata looked away from Eichi’s gaze, unnerved by its intensity. ‘Natural talent like yours,’ huh? He didn’t believe that for a second. He didn’t know what Eichi was playing at, but it certainly couldn’t be anything good. “Well, I won’t say I’m not flattered! But, well, maybe you forgot, since you were talking for so long, but I’m actually in a unit already! We’re called 2wink, isn’t that cool? Yep, the two in one idol unit-- and last I checked, students aren’t allowed more than one unit, so it looks like you’re out of luck.” Hinata flung the paperwork across the desk, and Eichi threw his hand down to stop it, letting out a huff of frustration in the process. Hinata considered it a win that he got Eichi’s smile to falter.
“I am well aware of your unit status, Hinata-kun. My hope is that you will see how much more fine can offer you, and that you will then make the best decision.” Eichi’s patience was clearly wearing thin.
“And the right decision would be…joining you?” Hinata picked up a random knick knack from the desk and started to play with it. Eichi looked at him with disapproval. He picked up two more, and started to juggle.
“I wouldn’t be offering otherwise.” Eichi’s words came out stilted, clearly trying to not let his frustration show.
“You want me to quit 2wink,” he said. It came out more monotone than he had intended.
Evidently fed up with Hinata’s antics, Eichi tersely responded. “Well in this case it would be less like quitting and more like disbanding-- the theme of 2wink is that it's both of you, so I can't see that working with just one or the other. A rather flawed unit concept to begin with, especially since Yuta-kun is clearly not your equal--”
“Hey--” Hinata’s face scrunched up and paused his juggling.
“His talent isn’t quite so promising as yours, so perhaps it would be better for him anyway to--”
“--Tenshouin-senpai, ” Hinata gave the biggest, most insincere grin he could muster. “If you really want me to join your lousy unit, insulting my brother probably isn’t a great strategy, you know.”
A tense quiet fell over the room. Eichi looked away first, but his plastic smile and tone didn’t falter.
“I suppose you are right. My apologies, I simply can’t help myself when it comes to idols. I just want what's best.” It was one of the emptiest and least sincere apologies that Hinata had ever heard. Almost impressively so. He quirked an eyebrow.
“Do you? Because it sounds like you want me to kick my precious Yuta-kun to the curb.”
“Now that’s certainly not true. Upon joining fine you would get a generous upfront bonus, and after that you would easily make enough to provide for both you and your brother.”
“Okay but,” Hinata started, but then processed what Eichi had actually just said. “Wait uh--say that again?”
“I believe the fourth page of the contract has the details of payment outlined,” Eichi said. Hinata grabbed the contract and quickly flipped to the page in question. His heart jumped in his throat. A truly, incomprehensibly, large number was looking back at him. His heart pounded, and his brain short circuited.
Hinata had been the primary guardian for himself and Yuta for most of what he could remember. After his mother passed and his father had--well. After he and Yuta became more independent, Hinata was the one to insist on taking up most of their responsibilities, and that included their finances. Budgeting for food, clothing, and school supplies— finding ways to get cash when their street shows didn’t yield as much as usual— it was a constant worry. It hadn’t been quite as bad since coming to Yumenosaki, but he was still usually picking up odd, often unsavory jobs to make ends meet. He tried to keep things to himself for the most part, but sometimes he would inevitably slip, which led to Yuta noticing, and then worrying over him, and then trying to help even though he shouldn’t have to--
But with a paycheck like that….they would never have to worry about money ever again. They would have a permanent safety net to fall back on. He would be able to buy Yuta everything he could ever want, could spoil him absolutely rotten. But…
“...but then what happens to Yuta? Without 2wink, where would he go?” Hinata’s eyebrows furrowed, feeling at a loss.
“Well, that is not something I have an answer for. It would be hardly necessary for both of you to be idols separately, though.”
“But being an idol is Yuta’s dream, not mine. He should be the one you’re offering this to,” Hinata argued.
“What we want to do is not always what we are good at, or what we should be doing.”
Hinata scoffed, “You can’t be serious! My Yuta-kun is so much more deserving--besides, we’re basically the same person, so it shouldn’t make a difference to you which one of us it is, right? Tenshouin-senpai--”
“Hinata-kun, I am not offering this to your brother, I’m offering this to you, ” Eichi didn’t raise his voice, but his words were quick, stern, and clear. Hinata met his gaze, and when it was clear that Eichi wasn’t going to budge, he got up and started to walk away.
“This is ridiculous. I’m leaving,” he muttered. He nearly made it to the door before Eichi called out to him.
“Hinata-kun,” Eichi said. Hinata stopped. Eichi slowly walked over and then handed him the contract. “Think about it,” he said, “Come back and give me an answer by next week. I don't want you wasting your potential on a doomed unit.”
“2wink isn’t--!” Hinata tried to argue, but he was cut off.
“One week. Think about it.” Eichi’s words and presence left no room for argument. Hinata glared at him, snatched the crumpled contract from his hands, and left.
He slammed the door on his way out.