Chapter Text
Our First Encore- Chapter 1: First Impressions
The first thing Tomioka Giyuu noticed about the conference room was how painfully loud it was.
Not because of music.
Because every artist invited to the upcoming "Hashira World Tour" had somehow decided introductions were optional and chaos was mandatory.
Managers hurried around with clipboards while cameras prepared promotional footage. Nine of Japan's biggest musical acts had been gathered together for one massive international collaboration.
No one knew what to expect.
Not even Giyuu.
He quietly adjusted the hood of his oversized navy jacket and stood near the back of the room. Like always.
He preferred not being noticed.
"..."
That lasted approximately five seconds.
The doors burst open.
"SO THIS IS EVERYONE?"
Uzui Tengen strode inside wearing sunglasses despite being indoors, jewelry glittering beneath the fluorescent lights.
"Flashy! I like it already!"
Behind him came Rengoku Kyojuro, laughing loudly.
"Excellent! A collaboration between such talented musicians shall surely become legendary!"
"They're loud already..." Mitsuri whispered to Shinobu, who giggled behind her hand.
"They haven't even started."
Across the room, Muichiro Tokito quietly stood beside Gyomei, who greeted everyone with a gentle bow.
Near another wall, Sanemi Shinazugawa leaned against it with crossed arms while Obanai Iguro scrolled through his phone.
"So..." Tengen looked around dramatically.
"Where's ADO?"
Everyone paused.
The managers looked around.
One scratched his head.
"...He should be here."
"He?" Mitsuri blinked.
"I thought ADO was a woman."
"So did I," Shinobu admitted.
Sanemi shrugged.
"Does it matter?"
Then—
A quiet voice.
"...I'm here."
Every head turned.
Standing near the window was a slim figure with long black hair tied into a low ponytail.
Soft blue eyes.
Delicate features.
An oversized hoodie hiding most of his frame.
He looked almost ethereal beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Silence.
Tengen smiled brightly.
"There you are!"
He walked straight over before throwing an arm around Giyuu's shoulders.
"I've gotta say—"
He gave him a dramatic once-over.
"You're such a gorgeous girl, ADO!"
The room collectively nodded.
"Very pretty," Mitsuri agreed.
"So elegant," Shinobu added.
"I can see why nobody's seen her face often."
Rengoku smiled.
"A refined young lady indeed!"
Muichiro looked over.
"I thought so too."
Even Obanai glanced up from his phone.
"...Yeah."
Only Sanemi frowned.
"...Something's off."
Giyuu stared blankly.
"..."
"...I'm a guy."
Silence.
Absolute.
Dead.
Silence.
Tengen slowly removed his arm.
"..."
"..."
"...You're WHAT?"
"I'm a guy."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Mitsuri's face became bright red.
"I-I'M SO SORRY!"
Shinobu covered her mouth, already laughing.
"I shouldn't laugh..."
She absolutely was.
Rengoku blinked several times.
"HA!"
Then laughed loud enough to shake the room.
"My apologies! I made quite the assumption!"
Muichiro tilted his head.
"...Really?"
Gyomei smiled peacefully.
"I believe appearances often deceive us."
Obanai quietly looked back down at his phone.
"...Called it."
"You literally said 'yeah,'" Sanemi replied.
"...Shut up."
Meanwhile—
Tengen dramatically dropped to one knee.
"I deeply apologize."
"I have never been so spectacularly wrong."
Giyuu blinked.
"...Okay."
"...That's it?"
"...Okay?"
Giyuu nodded.
"It happens."
"It happens?!" Mitsuri squeaked.
"HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?"
"...A lot."
Shinobu burst into laughter again.
"Oh, Tomioka-san..."
---
The introductions finally continued.
Shinobu and Mitsuri already knew each other from appearing together at music festivals and television specials.
"So we'll be roommates again?" Mitsuri asked happily.
"If management allows it."
"I hope they do!"
Across the room—
Rengoku slapped Tengen's shoulder.
"It's been too long, my friend!"
"Right?"
"Our schedules never line up anymore."
"We're fixing that on tour!"
Near the coffee table—
Muichiro quietly accepted a bottled drink from Gyomei.
"Thank you."
"You have another recording tonight, don't you?"
"...Mm."
"You should rest."
"I'll try."
Meanwhile—
Sanemi sighed.
"So we're stuck together again."
Obanai shrugged.
"Apparently."
"You still making depressing music?"
"You still screaming into microphones?"
"...Fair."
---
Their manager clapped loudly.
"Alright everyone!"
"The Hashira World Tour starts in three weeks."
"You'll be recording an original collaborative album."
"Living together."
"Traveling together."
"Performing together."
"And participating in interviews."
Every artist froze.
"...Living together?" Sanemi repeated.
"For chemistry."
"No."
"It's already decided."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Tengen grinned.
"This'll be fun."
"It won't," Sanemi muttered.
---
The meeting continued.
Ideas bounced around.
Setlists.
Stage concepts.
Costumes.
Countries.
Everyone contributed.
Except—
"...Tomioka?"
Giyuu looked up.
"...Hm?"
"Any ideas?"
"..."
"...No."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Sanemi clicked his tongue.
"You've gotta be kidding."
"He said one syllable."
"He contributed."
"I said no."
"Exactly."
For some reason—
Sanemi couldn't stop looking at him.
Not because he was pretty.
(Okay.
Maybe a little.)
There was just something...
Quiet.
Lonely.
Different.
Like someone who had spent years hiding behind songs instead of people.
"..."
Giyuu noticed him staring.
"...Do I have something on my face?"
Sanemi immediately looked away.
"Tch."
"No."
"..."
"...Okay."
Shinobu watched the interaction with a knowing smile.
"Oh..."
Mitsuri leaned over.
"What?"
"I don't think our tour will be boring."
---
As the meeting ended, the manager smiled.
"Congratulations."
"The Hashira World Tour officially begins today."
None of them realized it yet.
But over the next year—
They would become family.
Some would become rivals.
Some would become inseparable.
And one very loud rock singer was about to fall hopelessly in love with the quiet artist everyone had mistaken for a girl.