Work Text:
Another meaningless show.
Toya had finished his setlist, standing on the cardboard platform he had set up. The small crowd that had gathered was now dispersing, leaving him alone. A few of the spectators exchanged murmurs. Saying he didn’t have passion in his voice. He didn’t make facial expressions.
All things he knew he did, but didn’t know how to fix.
Toya let a sigh out, folding up the cardboard stand and picking up his phone. The screen was cracked in some places. The case was a vibrant blue with peeling and dirty stickers plastered onto it. He remembered Saki had insisted on the Tenmas getting matching phone cases, “so even when we’re apart, we can remember each other!”, she had said.
Now the bright blue just reminded him of the fact that they were apart. Tsukasa had gotten a few jobs to work every day, so Toya didn’t see his older brother as much. Toya didn’t want to admit it, but he knew Tsukasa would steal food and small luxuries for his younger siblings during the nights. Saki stayed at home, writing songs on that broken keyboard, trying to help Toya find himself.
Well, he thought, I should head home.
Through the winding streets, Toya walked towards the less polished part of the city. He avoided street vendors with a polite ‘no thank you’ and a faint smile.
After what simultaneously felt like an eternity and no time at all, he arrived at a very run-down apartment complex. A light was flickering in one of the windows, as was usual. There was always something wrong with the building. A desolate brick building with neon signs- the sight was a horrible clash of aesthetics. Toya always winced slightly when a flashing sign invaded his vision.
He opened the door to the lobby, getting a lazy wave from an old man smoking at the front desk. Toya coughed, waving his hand to clear the smoke that was slowly filling the room. He looked to the elevator- plastered with yellow tape that read ‘OUT OF ORDER’, as always. He always somewhat hoped it’d be fixed one day. Toya began climbing the steps to the fifth floor. Tsukasa had proudly proclaimed when they were choosing the place, “on the fifth floor we must be! the highest floor, so we can reach the stars, and the fifth floor since we all have may birthdays! the fifth of the year!”
The young blue-haired boy reached the top floor, hearing faint music from the keyboard Saki played from inside their apartment.
As he opened the door, the music stopped. He could hear running footsteps from the bedroom she shared with Tsukasa. The blonde-pigtailed girl reached the living-dining room, smiling brightly.
“Toya-kun! I made another song, I really think this is the one!” Toya could only smile wearily.
“Play it for me, Saki-san.”
If Toya could say anything about the melody she played, he would say it was beautiful. Truly.
But it didn’t invoke any feelings in him; no, all he could do was acknowledge it was good music.
When Saki finished playing, she looked up at Toya with a bright, beaming smile. Toya didn’t know what to do with his face, so he just looked at her with pity and shook his head. Saki chuckled humorlessly and began putting her busted-up keyboard away.
“I’m sorry.” Toya spoke, shifting his gaze to the stained carpet floor. Saki smiled up at him.
“It’s okay. I thought this was the one.” Saki let out a shaky sigh. “I’m sorry, Toya-kun.”
Toya placed his hands in his pockets and turned toward his small bedroom. Saki tucked her keyboard under her shoulder and walked towards hers.
Toya didn’t know what would help him find himself. He didn’t even know if he would find it. But his siblings were trying as hard as they could.
And maybe that was enough.