Work Text:
1.
He sighs again as the cab stops at another red light. He had been out of the dorms the entire day and he wanted nothing more than to shower and get to bed. Preferably hugging Mamoru, though the man had been busy preparing an arrangement for their songs for a stage play they’d be in…
“We’re almost there.”
“Ah, thank you.”
With that warning he makes sure of grabbing his keys and wallet, saving all the rest properly in his bag.
Indeed, in a few more turns, he was at the dorms, and the idea of going to bed directly and shower in the morning won more and more the battle in his head.
“Good night!”
And he’s decided on it, as he greets the staff, going to the elevator and pressing the button to the fourth floor.
But before the door closes someone else enters.
“Night, Ken-chan!”
“Sora. Good job today.”
“Good job today! Sorry! Ren already told us, so surely Sou will go when he’s out of the shower.”
He blinked a few times while trying to process the info, but nothing came to his mind.
Maybe the arrangements? Ryota maybe had a sheet of the arrangement of his duet with Soushi…
Well, whatever it was, it surely wasn’t important enough to make a fuss.
“Sure, don’t worry.”
“Thanks! Then, see you around!”
When he gets off the elevator, Sora stays, so the thought that he’s either going to ask something to another of the composers or go to the terrace to work a little more comes to his mind, but it leaves almost as quickly as he focused on entering his own dorm, sliding the key card to open the door.
As expected, the rest of his groupmates were already in their rooms, having left only a small light for him. Smiling as he took off his shoes, he noticed a pair of bright sneakers that did not belong to any of them, making him raise an eyebrow as he went inside.
Well, SOARA’s, probably, judging by Sora’s statement.
And he’s right.
Though, it did not have to do with Ryota checking the arrangement of his duet with Soushi composed by Sora, but it was the other song that Mamoru had composed that wasn’t his own and Morihito’s.
So, Nozomu’s and Ren’s song with Mamoru, though Ren didn’t seem to be around when he opened the door to Mamoru’s room.
Kensuke isn’t sure that he’d prefer for him to be there, either.
His stomach forms a knot the moment he processes the view in front of him.
Nozomu was with Mamoru, yes.
It seemed like they had been working, yes.
So why the hell was Nozomu napping on Mamoru’s lap, while Mamoru hummed a lullaby at him and caressed his hair?!
“Mamoru?”
“Ah… Ken-kun, welcome home!”
“...I’m home. What happened?”
“He fell asleep while I was rewriting something.”
“Isn't he heavy? I can at least move him to the sofa…”
“No, no, it's okay. I think it's cute.”
How?
“Then… I’ll… go shower.”
“Ah, do so! I got us some tea that we can drink together, and Ren-kun brought sweets that were really nice, I want you to try them, Ken-kun!”
Well… it wasn't that bad.
At least Mamoru had thought of saving some things for him.
Still, the bitter taste in his mouth doesn't disappear until he is the one cuddling his boyfriend.
—o—
2.
Kensuke finishes gulping down from his bottle when the song changes again, and he moves to give a towel to Mamoru as they look at Shiki.
They will be having a joint concert soon, and it's unusual for so many units to appear at the same time, so there's a lot of work to do.
There's even extra work for them after realizing that Ryota's previously agreed recording would pull him away from almost all the concert, Dai would be unable to participate, and Shiki had a day he needed to be at an interview for a movie premiere.
Sadly, SolidS kept talking hits, as Tsubasa had gotten hurt at a job right before, and they needed to cover up two spots. There was already a dancer learning all the choreo from Tsubasa while on it, but they needed someone for Shiki, and that's when they started to brainstorm on what to do.
Of course, the most logical decision was to get another dancer, but they wanted to make it somewhat special. They wanted to be able to alternate dancers to at least give a treat to the fans still attending.
So, they had already decided on who’d be the back dancer from SOARA, and he and Koki had talked about it, too.
That’s why he was there with Shiki in the practice room, getting the hang of SolidS songs.
There was a part where Shiki was supposed to have their usual spicy fanservice with Rikka, and so, as a replacement, he would be supposed to try it, too.
“Then… Mamoru, get on the floor.”
“Eh?!”
“Shiki-san?”
“Rikka isn't here and I need someone to demonstrate.”
“No, but- I can do it.”
“How will you see if you're on the floor?”
Shiki did have a point and Kensuke was not happy knowing that.
For most of it, he attempts to focus fully on the dancing, and it proved to be working, at least until Mamoru tried to do something and sent the one on top… Well, directly on top of him.
“Ugh-”
“Shiki-san?! I'm so sorry!”
“Mamoru, Shiki-san, are you both okay?”
“Y-Yeah.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, Shiki-san…”
“No, it's okay. Your chest is more comfortable than I would expect.”
“Th-Thank you?”
It was an accident, but if he was feeling that way, he doesn't want Mamoru to go through something similar.
“I think… it’ll be better if Shu-san replaces you, Shiki-san. I don't want to accidentally step on Rikka-san.’
“I’ll talk with him, then.”
—o—
3.
Practice does not get better for him. Well, it was obvious- They had a lot to do. It had been a while since the last time they got to have a concert all for themselves, so they’re all trying to do as much as possible for it.
Plus, the composers were often called to talk about how they wanted the songs to sound with the live band, and there were also a lot of impromptu discussions between composers and their own units, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, Sora and Mamoru kept following Shiki and Shu around to try to learn more about the work of a producer.
They’re never around, unless for their own practice.
It’s fun, though. Or at least, it would be and he would be happier if it weren’t because of the member of the rival agency provoking him.
Not directly and not in a bad way, probably not even trying to get a reaction out of him -consciously- but there it was. Mitsuru was pissing him off since the moment it was decided that ZIX would appear as special guests into the Rockool festival.
Even with the years, people didn’t seem to be uncomfortable with their rival relationship -even if their actual relationship was much better these days- and so, kept giving them work together…
On top of that, the agency had allowed them to post pictures from practice, and Sunpro had agreed with that, both for their idols to post and be in others’ pictures.
Those in Tsukino were much more playful and trusting with each other, but with the addition of Sunpro’s duo, Mitsuru had taken to himself the task of getting as many pictures as possible, and thus, Kensuke knows that he isn’t purposely trying to provoke him.
Kensuke is still annoyed about it, though.
All of them are targets that Mitsuru is willing to hit at any moment. Composers aren’t an exception, and that’s why Kensuke has to bite his tongue when Mamoru gets trapped by that fox.
“Mamo-chan, smile, smile! I’m really getting to know everyone in Tsukino more thoroughly, I’m happy! Mamo-chan, maybe we should- Ah, no, I can’t talk about that yet.”
“Eh…?”
His patience was running more and more thin…
“Mitsuru, hey, leave our poor composer alone~”
“You came to pick up your dog, Kensuke-kun?”
The smile that Mitsuru dedicated to him is not his usual sweet one for the camera, as he’s lowering the phone with the camera, making him want to ask him just what the hell was he doing…
“We have to keep going.”
“We do. That’s why, Mamo-chan, let’s take a few more pictures! Come on, pose for me, I’ll pose for you later!”
“EH-”
Mitsuru does meet his eyes when putting his hand in Mamoru’s arm, getting closer to grab his hand, too, and putting it around his waist…
“Mitsuru-kun-”
They’re both silenced as Mitsuru starts recording again, keeping up the act he was doing.
“Everyone is taking such good care of us~ Mamoru-kun too! And- Ah! Ken-chan! Come here, come here! Kensuke-kun is doing a looot of hard work to cover up for Ryota-kun’s absence!”
He has to bite his tongue and wait.
—o—
4.
Honestly, getting upset about what happened backstage after they rush to get off stage is stupid, he’s aware of it.
And yet, there he is. Feeling upset about it. Because he’s jealous.
They’re sharing the room with QUELL in that instant, as they’re the next to go on-stage, and Growth are the ones getting off stage, while SOARA and ZIX were still in the other room, getting ready for when they’re called for their turn.
With SolidS on stage, all they had to do was get some refreshments, both internal and external. That’s why he’s stuck in a chair as the staff helps him get his coat off, and they’re already taking care of his make-up and hair.
The time-frame is short. Of course, it was something that came with the job, and they can’t get picky about how things happen, especially in such a big-scale show.
Ryota went back to the room first, having exhausted himself more easily than usual, with his rushed practice before he took on his other scheduled job, still forcing himself to be able to appear on stage for their fans.
Koki had gone right after him, probably talking to the staff about something or coordinating with Sora and Makoto as the leaders of the other units.
So, that left him and Mamoru in the dressing room.
“Ah-!”
Until Mamoru shouted, making him turn around before the staff scolded him, making him sit straight again.
“Mamoru?!”
“I’m okay! But my monitor is making a weird noise-”
“Eh?! I’ll call the technician now!”
The technician doesn’t come, but the one that does is Eichi, holding a new in-ear monitor.
“Eichi-san?”
“They’re configuring this one now, so you can put it on already, Mamoru-san!”
“Ah, thank you! Um-”
Probably Mamoru was looking around for a staff to help him, but as they’re all busy, Eichi offers.
“I’ve done this sometimes before, it’s okay! Mamoru-san, please stay still!”
He knows that they can’t be picky, but he wishes they could, as Mamoru basically starts stripping in the middle of the room, getting off his coat and opening his shirt a bit, enough for Eichi to be able to take out the monitor on his back, and replace it with the new one.
It was a simple task, but of course, Eichi didn’t know what the rest of the usual Growth staff knew, already-
“WOAH-”
And why he has to hear Mamoru shouting, as Eichi had probably poked him accidentally.
“Sorry! I didn’t know you were ticklish, Mamoru-san!”
“Ah-! No, no, it’s okay-”
“Mamoru, do you need help? I’m almost done.”
“No, thank you, Ken-kun, but I think-”
Mamoru shouts yet again, making him sigh, but luckily that ends soon enough, with Mamoru all ready for the staff to fix what he had messed up, and QUELL prepares to get in position to get on stage.
“Mamoru-san is kinda cute.”
“Hey, Ichiru.”
“What?”
“Well… A little bit. Sorry, Mamoru-san.”
“No, no, thank you, Eichi-kun!”
“Eichi. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Thank you, Shu-san.
But this time, he gets to move to Mamoru and pat him a little bit, coming closer to a hug.
“Mamoru, it’s the grand finale! You can’t mess up after our great entrance, we still have a few more songs to do!”
“I- I know! Ken-kun, practice with me again!”
“Of course!”
“Hey, both of you! We just finished fixing your makeup and hairstyle, be careful!”
“Yes~ Come on, Mamoru!”
--o--
+1
Now that their work is over and they get to be at a drinking party, the only thing he can think of is how cute it is.
Everyone is taking it easy, and there’s a lot of small conversations all around the place they’ve rented for themselves.
Kensuke included, he had been talking about some fashion program not long ago with Mitsuru and Nozomu, and he’s sure that Ryota was talking of more work with Rikka, Koki and Shu, and more talks like that with all the staff involved in the production and their respective managers had happened.
He planned to take it easy- There was still upcoming work starting next week, so he’d get at least a weekend to, and for now, he knew that he didn’t have any reason to rush his future possible private meetings with Mamoru.
But, the composer didn’t think the same, because he kept glancing his way, hoping to catch him alone, being clearly dejected whenever someone interrupted them…
He wants to give in, but after suffering silently for so long, getting to see Mamoru in his place just a little longer is amusing enough, and he knows that it works to keep more and more of Mamoru’s attention.
It feels good, and he doesn’t plan on stretching it longer than that evening, after all.
However, that thought comes to bite him back when Mamoru gets drunk and he’s clearly pouting and wanting his attention, and when he doesn’t get it by normal methods, he’s purposely provoking him.
Kensuke bites the edge of his straw as he looks at him, and watches as he attempts to wink at him, wanting to do anything to call his attention just enough.
However, it’s only when all the eyes are on Mamoru as he attempts to undo the few upper buttons of his shirt that he stands up to retrieve him.
“Okay, you’ve drank enough, Mamoru!”
“I haven’t! I can keep going, Ken-kun!”
“No, that’s enough.”
With that, he goes to ask the manager for the cab that was going to take them home later to get them first, while Mamoru pouts as he tries to get away to get another glass, probably.
“Hey, Mamoru, stop squirming. Let’s go outside to wait for the cab.”
Eh-”
He doesn’t even complain, and even if he was his boyfriend, Mamoru could be too defenseless…
“Hey, Mamoru, you also are off until next week, right?”
“Yes!”
“Then…”
Pulling Mamoru closer, he presses a kiss against his ear, before whispering something that immediately makes Mamoru sober up, the blush quickly spreading around his face.
“Ken-kun?!”
“Let’s go, Mamoru!”
“Hey, that face isn’t nice! Ken-kun!”