Work Text:
"Where's Minami?" So looked around the backstage dressing room.
"Thought he went to the bathroom," Tomonori said, not looking up from his game. He silently pumped his fist as he cleared a level, and Tetsuya muttered a quiet, "yes!" from behind him.
So frowned. He'd been gone a while, and it wasn't like Minami to just disappear like this right before a show. Glancing at the clock, it looked like there were only 10 minutes left until they needed to be on stage.
"He's been gone too long, I'm going out to look for him," So said.
"He does this all the time, it'll be fine," Taiki reassured.
"He's just worried about his boyfriend," Tomonori muttered with a chuckle. So's face turned a light pink and he bit his lip to try to stop any embarrassment from showing on his face. From the looks on his bandmates' faces, he wasn't doing a very good job.
"He's not my—I'm not worried, I just want to make sure he'll be ready in time," So said, turning on his heel and rushing out.
He walked through the hallways, face burning, hoping to regain his composure before he found Minami. As he passed the bathroom, he knocked on the door. No response. So bit his lip. He hadn't been worried, but now he was starting to. He briefly checked the hallway clock. Only five minutes left, he needed to find Minami and get to the stage to meet the others.
When he walked back in, the rest of the band gave him a concerned look.
"He wasn't out there?" Tomonori asked. Then, with a smirk, he added, "You were gone so long we were starting to think you guys were making out." So blushed furiously and tried to glare at Tomonori, but the way the drummer laughed suggested his angry blushing face looked too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
"H-he wasn't out there! Searched everywhere and he wasn't there. I thought he came back here, that's why I came back."
"Well, we need to get onstage. Maybe he'll meet us there," Tetsuya said. So sighed and nodded.
As they queued up backstage, So heard yelling coming from the stage.
"Hey, what's that thing doing there?"
"Get back here, you—AAAAAHHHH!"
The boys looked at the stage and then at each other, awkward smiles on their lips as they shared a silent understanding of what the fuck.
"What was that about?" So asked when a staff member finally came out to give them the signal to come out.
"There was a freaking cat onstage! Started hissing and scratching at us when we tried to take it out!"
So couldn't help but laugh. "How'd a cat get in here?"
"I don't know, but we've taken care of it. More importantly, you're up now!"
The music started, and now it was Tomonori's turn to panic.
"Wait, what about Minami, do we just go on without him?"
"Minami-san is missing?!" said the staff member, mortified.
"I haven't seen him in almost an hour!" So exclaimed.
"Shit. You guys entertain the crowd for a bit, we'll search the building for him." So sucked in a sharp breath, furrowing his brows.
"We'll do our best." And with that, the four of them ran out, putting on their best smiles as So cartwheeled into the center stage, grabbing the mic and eventually landing on his feet.
He glanced nervously at Taiki, who also seemed to be just barely holding it together. So felt a pang of sadness. It didn't feel right being up here without Minami by his side. They were a team, yin and yang, sun and moon, earth and sky. Without Minami there, he felt incomplete, and that thought made his heart pound and his stomach flip. He smiled shyly, which he then turned into a huge grin as he faced the audience.
"Hellooooooo everyone!!!!!" So shouted, throwing his fist in the air. The crowd roared in excitement, before it became eerily quiet as everyone's gaze shifted to So's side, where there was a distinct lack of the usual darker presence. Cheers turned to murmurs of confusion, and the music looped back to the beginning. So laughed nervously, exchanging panicked looks with the rest of the band on stage.
In a split-second debate of whether he should come clean or try to continue distracting them, So decided on flashing a childish grin and shouting, "I wonder where Minami is!!" His tone was playful enough to hopefully convince the audience this was some planned routine until they found Minami. The audience roared, and So continued dancing around on stage to hype them up.
Any second now, he's going to come running out, and they're going to think this was all some silly act.
Outside, a small black cat pawed at the door.
So walked back home, devastated thinking about how the concert went. They'd had to send hundreds of loving fans home not only without a show but with the knowledge that their favorite emo keyboardist had gone missing without a trace. Not only was the show a complete failure, but So's best friend was nowhere to be found: this was shaping up to be the worst day ever. Had something happened to Minami? Was he okay? So was so lost in his worries that he didn't even notice the cat at his feet as he tripped and fell on his face.
"Owww...." So said, bringing his hand to his face to check for blood. As he sat up, he came face to face with a small black cat that looked very amused. So smiled lopsidedly: "You laughing at me?" The cat made a chirping noise that sounded suspiciously like the cat was in fact laughing at him. So reached out slowly, and the cat looked up at him, seeming to be deciding between bolting and letting So pet it. So gently stroked the cat's head, who leaned into his hand.
"You're so soooooft," So said in delight, scratching behind its ears. The cat didn't make any noise, but was clearly enjoying it despite its efforts to get away from the contact. If So didn't know better, he'd say the cat was trying to pretend it didn't enjoy being pet. After a few moments of petting the cat, So stood up with a sigh. "Well, I'd better get going. See ya later, little guy," he grinned and waved at the cat before walking up the stairs to his apartment. As he unlocked the door, he thought he heard frantic meows and the sound of claws scrambling up the stairs behind him, but he didn't notice that the cat had followed him until he opened the door and the cat ran in under his feet.
"Whoaaaa!"
So was met with the sight of a brooding black cat sitting on his dining table. He froze for a moment, brain catching up to what had just happened. "Wha—"
The cat meowed loudly, and So walked over to the table cautiously. "What do you want, little guy?" he said, gently petting its head. "Oh! Maybe you're hungry!"
So rushed over to the fridge and poured some milk in a small bowl, placing it on the table by the cat. "Sorry...I don't have any cat food, so it's this or nothing."
Now, what So expected to happen was for the cat to meow in delight and start lapping up the milk. Then it would be content and follow So right out the door and So could enjoy a peaceful night after a stressful day. Instead, what happened was the cat looked at So with an expression of such disdain that he didn't think was possible from a cat, then knocked the bowl over on the floor with a hiss. So stared at the cat, then the spilled milk, then the cat, in pure disbelief. He just sighed in exasperation before picking up the cat and carrying it out the door. As he approached, the cat started hissing and squirming. So held on tight before setting the cat outside and quickly closing the door before it could get back in. He felt guilty as soon as he heard scratching at the door, but he had milk to clean up, and his complex didn't allow pets.
The cat was very cute, though. I should have taken a picture of it for Minami, So thought, and his heart squeezed in worry for his bandmate. He half considered going back out and taking a picture, but he knew he'd have to shoo the cat out of his apartment again. So instead, he wiped up the milk and headed straight to bed, where he collapsed immediately.
~*~
When So left in the morning, the cat was there once again, sitting in front of the door staring up at him. Or maybe he never left, he's a stubborn little guy, So thought. Smiling, he crouched down to meet eye level with the cat.
"Are you still hun—"
Before So could even react, the cat darted for the gap in the door, and with a loud bang So slammed his apartment door shut just in time, fortunately not closing it on the cat.
"Why do you want in my house so badly?!" The cat started meowing angrily at him, and So left, the cat following close behind.
Day after day, this was their routine. So would leave to work or to the store, and he'd desperately have to fight off the cat from getting in. When he would return, it would still be waiting for him as if it had never moved, sitting in front of his door with an expectant stare: then the battle would begin once again.
One day, So finally remembered to take a picture of the cat for Minami. The cat tilted its head in curiosity, and as So unlocked the door and prepared for a fight to get in, the cat clawed at his pant legs, claws catching on the fabric as it tried to pull So back. So sighed, shook his leg free of the cat's grip, and looked down at the dizzy shaken cat.
"Man, if only Minami were here. He knows everything about cats, he'd know what to do about you." Or more likely, he'd try to take it home with him. At the mention of Minami's name, the cat meowed loudly. So cocked his head and smiled in confusion. "You like Minami, huh? That makes two of us then. Well, he always was a cat-whisperer." So smiled fondly, before pausing to think.
"Hey, why don't I call you Minami? You remind me of him. All dark, and brooding, and cute. Plus, the way you just won't give up on getting in that door is very Minami. When he does something, he gives it his all. That's one of the things I love about him." There was silence as the newly named Minami looked up at So. So stared back into Minami's eyes for a few moments before opening the door. Minami didn't move and So gestured towards the door. "Come on. This is what you wanted all along, right?"
Minami leapt up and walked past So into the apartment.
"I'm not supposed to have you here, so you'd better behave," So warned as Minami went and curled up on the couch, meowing lightly in contentment. So emptied the shopping bag he was carrying to reveal a few cans of tuna, which sparked Minami's interest. He set one down on the floor next to the couch, and Minami eagerly jumped down to nibble on the tuna. So sat down on the couch with Minami at his feet, who jumped up and curled up on his lap, and So felt a wave of happiness wash through him.
And so they fell into a new routine. During the days, So would work and worry about Human-Minami, and at night when he came home, he would soothe his worries by cuddling with Cat-Minami (or Minyami, as So proudly came up with one day), who only became more affectionate towards So as time went on, rubbing against his legs or purring at him softly as they cuddled on the couch together, falling asleep to the soothing feeling of So stroking Minami's back.
When So woke up in tears, or spent another sleepless night worrying about Minami, he would find that Minyami had often snuck into his room and curled up in bed at his side. So would simply smile and scratch behind Minami's ears or under his chin until he felt himself slowly drifting off to sleep.
So didn't know much about cats, but it was...surprising, to say the least, what he could get away with doing to Minami. He could hug him tightly, or rub his belly, or even wash him, and no matter how much he clearly hated it, he never once bit or scratched So.
"You really like me, huh?" So mused one day. Minami meowed. "I like you too," So said with a smile, rubbing his head against Minami's. His expression turned sad. "You make me feel better even though he's gone."
So tried to hold back tears, but they slipped out anyway, and he pulled Minami into a loose hug, crying into his fur.
"Is he really gone forever? It's been a month, and no one has any leads. I'm so scared that something happened to him! I can't lose him...I love him. Minami looked into So's shiny, teary eyes. He leaned up to lick the tears from So's cheeks and then began meowing frequently. So chuckled.
"You know, sometimes I think you know something I don't," So said, and he leaned down to kiss Minami's head.
Suddenly, before So could even register what was going on, So found himself on top of a very human Minami. His eyes widened, and when he realized his lips were still on Minami's forehead, he blushed furiously and scrambled back.
"W-What the hell?!!" So screamed. He pinched himself multiple times to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Uh, hi...I wasn't sure how to tell you in that form, but I've been a cat all this time..." Minami said shyly, looking away. He was still dressed up as if he were about to perform, heavy eyeliner surrounding his eyes. So's heart fluttered. He looked just as handsome as always. Except...
"Are those....what's that?" So said, reaching out to touch a pair of cat ears on Minami's head. Minami flinched at the touch.
"What are you doing?"
"Have you..seen yourself?" So asked, confused. Minami shook his head, and So took out his phone and took a photo of Minami. He showed Minami the picture, who just shrugged.
"After being a cat for a month, this isn't that weird. I can deal with it. It's just ears. People like cat ears," Minami said, twisting a long black tail to his side.
"A-Anyway, I got distracted by the ears! What do you mean you've been a cat? Is that where you've been all this time?" Minami nodded.
"Ever since the day of the concert. I passed out, and when I woke up I was a cat. I tried to go on stage and perform, but they kicked me out." Minami pouted.
Blushing, So asked, "Why'd you come to me?" Minami looked down shyly.
"I wanted an excuse to be with you." Then, embarrassed, he added, "Plus, I was hoping you'd figure it out somehow. I didn't want you to worry. Took you a month though." So grabbed Minami's hand, and instantly turned red at the realization that Minami had been there with him this whole time, including the multiple times he'd talked about how much he loved Minami.
"I—uhh..." Minami squeezed So's hand.
"I love you too, So," Minami said, smiling, and So remembered how much he missed seeing his face. So pulled him into a tight hug, and Minami stiffened at first but returned the hug.
"C-Can I kiss you for real?" So was met with the wonderful sight of a bright red, blushing Minami.
"J-just do it, I've been waiting for over a month," Minami mumbled.
Fans of the band Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas were quite confused to see Minami return to shows with new cat ears and a tail, but it was a hit and increased their popularity as rumors of "the cat-eared keyboardist" spread internationally.
So felt more alive than ever, being able to perform by Minami's side again. Glancing at Minami, who loved So's smile, So grinned and started to sing.
"Walking along my way, it feels like those cats are looking right through my eyes"
Omake:
Minami: *drinking milk*
So: I thought you didn't like milk
Minami: ???
So: You threw a fit when I tried to give it to you!
Minami: you dummy...cats aren't actually supposed to have milk
(needless to say they adopted many cats together at Minami's insistence)