ｔｈｅ ｓｕｍｍｅｒ ｂａｚａａｒ
『 your p.o.v 』
"Do you think you'll be able to come Rei-chan?"
The other end of the call had plenty of voices coming through from the background. Reiji is at yet another interview and he's currently in the noisy backstage dressing room, getting ready for the camera and his fans. "I'll try just for you, but I can't make any promises right now ___. I'm not sure when I'll have my next free day and it's not like I can just cancel a concert or a fansigning out of the blue. That's not professional of me." He then chuckled. "Though I might make an exception if it's you I'll be ditching work for."
I smiled some at that, pacing back and forth down one of the orphanages countless, empty hallways. "It would mean a lot if you could come."
"I know it would, I know it would... I'll talk to my manager and see what I can do." Reiji said, someone off in the distance calling for him. "Oh, that's my cue. I gotta run but I'll talk to you later my girl!"
Before I could even say goodbye, the line went dead. Sighing, I placed my phone back in my pocket. Reiji is going to work himself to the bone if he keeps up like this. That man needs to think about his health sometime and I don't care how many vitamins he takes to stay healthy, he's going to collapse sooner or later eventually... Maybe I should ask mom to convince him to not stretch himself out so thin like this. Surely she'd be on my side? Reiji's health always come first, even before his work! Just as every idols should. I'm sure his fans would understand if he took a break every now and again to regather himself and come back stronger than ever. They couldn't possibly complain considering just how much Reiji does for them- honestly, he's closer to his fans than myself and mom and we're family.
As I made my way back down the hallway from which I previously came, the sound of the children laughing and playing around grew louder. I couldn't help but smile as I stopped to lean against the door frame, seeing the small orphans running around, all trying to make their ideas for the summer bazaar come to life.
"Onii-chan!" One of the young girls called out to Otoya as she plopped down beside him on the floor. "Onii-chan, we should sell flowers from the garden!" She said excitedly, insistently wrapping her small arms around the red heads and tugging some at his sleeve to grab his attention from the poster he's currently helping some of the boys make.
Otoya laughed as he gave the little girl all of his undivided attention. "That sounds like a great idea Kora, but how are we going to put them all in pots?"
The young girl with striking blonde hair frowned some. "I don't know..." She murmured dejectedly.
"How about I go see if we can find any in storage?" He offered, already beginning to stand up before his eyes flicked over to the doorway only to find myself still watching the scene play out before me with a warm smile. "Oh ___! Wanna come see if we can find some flower pots for Kora?"
"Of course. I think there's some out back near the old play toys?" I said, already leaving with Otoya to find the much needed flower pots, plenty of the children behind us calling out a mixture of "good lucks" and "don't get lost!" behind us.
Neither Otoya nor myself spoke much to any as we headed down a couple hallways before coming across the doors that would lead outside. Some of the orphanages staff asked what we were doing before promising to let us back in when we knocked since these back doors are typically almost always locked. Thanking them, Otoya and I made our ways out behind the building and began our search.
Clearing his throat to gain my attention after a good ten minutes in silence had passed, Otoya glanced to me with a slightly concerned expression. "Everything alright?" He asked tentatively.
Sighing some, I offered Otoya a reassuring smile. "Yeah. Reiji is still really busy and might not be able to make it to this year's summer bazaar and neither can mom since it's landing on one of her more busy days for her bento shop." I said sadly. "And I'm concerned for his health at this point with the amount of nonstop hours he's working with such little sleep between schedules- he's going to kill himself if he doesn't start taking better care of his health."
"And here I thought you were upset with me." Otoya laughed before flashing me a sympathetic look. "And as for Rei-chan, I'm sure he knows what he's doing. He's a professional and will take care of his health before anything else so that he doesn't disappoint his fans. But, if you're so concerned about him, why not tell him that? I'd love it if you cared about me like you do him so he'll probably be happy to hear that you worry about him."
Did Otoya just say that he wants me to care about him like I do Reiji..?
I stared incredulously at the red head for a moment before shaking my head some and returning to our search. "I-I'll think about telling him."
With a laugh, Otoya smiled sheepishly. "Anyways, I don't think we have any spare pots." He said, looking around us at all the old toys with not a single flower pot in sight.
"Yeah, I think we broke them all when we were younger.
Otoya laughed. "Oh my gosh, those poor flower pots didn't stand a chance against us back then."
With Otoya's arm flung over my shoulders, the two of us returned inside, the search for Kora's flower pots temporarily put on hold.
The two weeks of nothing but pure planning and preparations passed by far quicker than either Otoya or myself had anticipated. Before either of us knew it, the day of the orphanages Summer Bazaar had come and we found ourselves helping out with a little bit of everything.
"___, come be a dear and help me put up these last minute decorations." One of the older faculty members called me over, her short grey hair shimmering some in the sunlight. It's a beautiful day to hold the Summer Bazaar.
Smiling, I made my way over to the woman I've known since I was a kid. "Auntie Christa, you're going to have to eventually let me do everything here while you help the children, you know that right? You're not as young as you used to be."
"Watch it child, I'm not that old." She warned with a warm laugh, easily handing me the streamers as the children ran passed us to help some of the other staff.
Otoya walked by as well, stealing a glance to me with a quirky grin as he helped carry the heavier boxes out to the makeshift stands the two of us had been making for the children so they could sell their own DIY items. A couple of the kids, including Kora, waved to myself as they ran on by to catch up with the red head, everyone in high spirits today. This is the norm for the Summer Bazaar. Everyone happy, cheerful, warm and inviting to all of our guests. The summer bazaar is truly something to be proud of for everyone involved.
Auntie Christa flicked her eyes from Otoya back to myself. "How have the two of you been lately? Your friendship that is?" She asked softer this time, mindful to not raise her voice too much as to prevent anyone from over hearing our conversation.
I offered her a warm smile. "Otoya and I are just as we've always been. It's a little weird not living together like we used to, but he's always around and we still hang out whenever we're both free. Reiji loves him and so does my mother which makes it easy for us to always spend time together so I'd say our friendship is just as it's always been."
"Really?" The elderly woman asked as she looked to Otoya who's currently teasing some of the children and holding their items high up above their heads, the bazaar opening in roughly half an hour now. "He's been a lot closer to you lately so I thought things progressed..." She murmured the last part under her breath.
"Progressed?" I repeated with knitted brows.
Auntie Christa waved me off with a laugh. "Never mind that child, you're still far too young to be worrying about things like this. Why not tell me some more about your family yeah? How have you been adjusting?"
Hanging up more of the streamers, I refocused my attention on the task at hand. "Mom, Mrs. Kotobuki, is really great. She has her own bento shop and Reiji, my older step brother, is an idol. You remember all the posters I got of him from those magazines don't you? And all the CD's the other staff members brought me for Christmas over these last couple of years?"
"The brunette with those maracas that you were so obsessed with?"
"That's the one." I confirmed with a loud laugh. "Reiji loves those maracas almost as much as he loves mom's fried chicken."
The grey haired woman hummed. "It sounds like you and the Kotobuki's have been getting along just fine. I don't know why Otoya has been worrying so much over you lately. You're clearly fine." She mused.
I spared her a quick glance. "He's concerned about me?"
"Of course he is. Always saying that he's scared you'll start to like that Reiji fellow more than himself, pushing him to the side in favor of your family." Auntie Christa said with a knowing smile. "If you ask me, I'd say he's jealous."
"Jealous? Of Reiji?"
Auntie Christa only nodded and I couldn't help but laugh. She's crazy. Definitely a crazy old lady who I love dearly. "Otoya would never be jealous of Reiji and vice versa. There's nothing to be jealous about."
"A cute girl who goes from being his best friend and him being her only real priority to now having an older brother who you've looked up to for years, that's hard to compete with." Auntie Christa said with a quirky grin. "But what would some old hag know am I right?"
I shook my head. "I doubt he's jealous."
As if on cue, my phone suddenly began ringing, one of Reiji's older songs playing as my ringtone for him. "Speaking of Reiji, I should take this call." I said, quickly hanging up the last end of the streamers before hurrying inside where it's quieter, not noticing the way Otoya watched as I disappeared from his sights to talk with my older step-brother.
With a click, I answered the call and held the phone up to my ear. "Hey Rei-chan." I greeted in a sing-songy voice.
Reiji chuckled from his end of the line, tons of chatter once again heard in the background. "Hey ___, I have some bad news."
My heart clenched some at the saddened tone his voice currently holds. "What is it? Are you alright?"
"Me?" He asked with a dejected laugh. "Of course I'm alright. But I won't be able to make it to the bazaar today." He then sighed. "My manager couldn't work my schedule around this one game show appearance and believe you me I tried to get him to reschedule but there was nothing either of us could do what with the other idols already having to cancel. The show would tank if both promised idols ended up being no-shows. I'm sorry my girl, I let you down-"
"No you didn't!" I cut Reiji off with a small laugh, trying to not sound disappointed. "Your work and your fans are important to you and I understand that. I know you wanted to be here and that's enough for me, it's fine Rei-chan. You can just try again next year yeah?"
There was a beat of silence before Reiji chuckled. "Definitely, I'll keep my entire summer schedule free just for you."
I couldn't help but smile at that. "Sounds like a plan to me. Anyways, I've actually been, um, a little worried about you lately." I said hesitantly, taking Otoya's advice from two weeks ago to just tell Reiji how concerned I am about his health and well-being.
"Worried? About me?" Reiji asked almost in disbelief. "What are you worried about ___?"
Walking up and down the empty hallway before stopping to rest my back against the wall, I sighed. "Reiji, you're working so hard and I really admire that and I know your fans, myself included, are so happy to see how much effort you put into your idol work, but you need to take care of your health. You're not sleeping or eating enough and those vitamins you take daily can only get you so far. I just want you to be healthy Reiji..."
Another beat of silence passed, neither Reiji nor myself speaking for quite some time as my words of concern really sunk in. Though after a few minutes, the brunette on the line spoke up.
"I know ___, I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll try to take better care of my health from now on, promise, sound good?" Reiji asked.
"Yeah, come home every once in a while too. Mom misses you and so do I."
"Shamelessly telling me how much you miss me? Didn't think you loved me this much."
"Oh shut up," I responded with a laugh, "I'm genuinely concerned here, don't turn this into some kind of joke."
Reiji laughed warmly. "Ah I can't help it! You're just so much fun to tease my girl, truly something else." He chuckled. "Thanks for caring so much about me and how about this, after my schedules today, I come home for dinner? Would that make you happy again?"
My smile softened some at that. "Yeah, I would be more than happy for you to come home for dinner."
Reiji said something to his manager before placing his phone back to his ear. "Alright, dinner is a go so I'll see you tonight, and mom of course." He mused.
I shook my head. "Stop making it sound like you're only doing this for my sake. You know mom misses you."
"Of course she does, but I miss you more."
"You're flirting has hit new heights Rei-chan and I think it's safe to say you're far too tired for this conversation because no step-brother would be shamelessly flirting with their younger sister."
Reiji barked out a laugh at that. "This isn't shameless flirting. Believe you me," he said, voice dropping an octave, "if I was flirting, you'd know it."
I rolled my eyes some and ignored the stuttering of my heart. "Go do your show. I have to get back to the bazaar. We're just about to open. I'll send you some pictures and you can live vicariously through them, see you later Rei-chan."
"Have fun ___, and tell Otoyan I said hi." Reiji responded warmly.
"Alright! I will. Bye."
"See you soon, my girl.~"
And with that, the line went dead.
With my back still leaning against the hallways wall, I exhaled a soft sigh as my hand holding up my phone fell to my side. I was really hoping that Reiji could make it today. Guess I'll just have to wait to take him down on my very own memory lane. Hopefully, when he does come here with myself, he'll enjoy being here with the children. I'm sure they'll love him just as much as I do.
"Rei-chan can't make it can he?" Otoya asked as he walked down the hallway towards me, a sympathetic smile gracing his lips. "There's always next year ___. C'mon, some of the kids have been asking where you ran off to. We already opened and have some customers, hurry." The red head said, grabbing my hand once he was close enough and began promptly leading me back down the hallway. He gave my hand a light squeeze and I couldn't help but smile. Otoya's always trying to make me feel better and I really don't deserve a friend like him...
Allowing myself to be pulled along, Otoya brought us right back to the front of the orphanage. There was quite the commotion going on just outside the front doors and the two of us glanced to each other with knitted brows. It may be a summer bazaar that's practically solely run by a large group of children, but it's never been so boisterous in all the years we've held it.
As Otoya and I walked outside, we were shocked to find not one but two idols standing at one of the small little stands.
A beautiful man wearing a cute summer dress with a long pastel pink wig smiled to Kora as he gladly accepted a small flower pot with a cute little pink flower standing up tall held within it. Another man in your typical business suit, this one taller with striking orange hair, casually looked around some, not quite paying much attention to any one thing. Though he was kind enough to entertain some of the kids who recognized him for his acting roles, most notably known for playing the lead in the "Prince of Fighting" series.
The two idols attracted quite the attention, many onlookers spying from around the orphanages main gates. Everyone is in awe of the two. Honestly, I can't deny that I myself isn't a little star struck as well despite the fact that I've known them both for a few months now. To see Tsukimiya Ringo and Hyuuga Ryuuya here is pretty surprising and Otoya seems to think the same if the way his jaw is dropped is anything to go by.
With Otoya following behind me in a more or less dazed state, I approached the two idols with a bright smile. "Long time no see you two!" I said, the two idols looking to me the second they heard my voice.
"___! I was just about to call and see where you were." Ringo said as he stood back up and immediately wrapped me into a bone crushing hug, being mindful to not drop the flower pot in his hand. "I was beginning to think we had the wrong bazaar." He laughed.
Ryuuya sighed. "Kotobuki called us and asked if we could stop by in his place." The orangette explained, ruffling the hair of one of the younger boys who was just staring up at him in awe, clearly a huge fan. "So, here we are."
Ringo rolled his eyes. "Awe Ryuuya, don't make it sound like you didn't want to come and see what the kids are selling."
The actor didn't say anything as he looked away with another sigh slipping passed his lips.
Kora tugged on my hand, standing beside me and staring up at Ringo with literal stars in her large blue eyes. "___, you know these idols?" She asked cutely.
I crouched down some and smiled. "Of course, they're friends of my older brother." I explained.
"Reiji's friends with Hyuuga Ryuuya and Tsukimiya Ringo?" Otoya asked with a shake of his head. "Woah, all famous people really do know each other.
"We mentored Reiji back when he just graduated from Saotome and have been friends ever since." The pink haired idol said as he inspected the cute pink flower. "And since we're such good friends, he asked us to come and be here for you in his place! He's always thinking about you, you know ___? Real caring and all that sappy stuff, but he means well and it's not like Ryuuya and I could just ignore him." He giggled. "Besides, I got to buy a nice flower from a pretty girl! I'll have to thank Reiji later for being too busy to come."
Kora blushed some as she hid her face into my side, Ringo laughing and cooing over how cute she is.
Ryuuya flicked his attention back to myself, a cold and stony expression gracing his features. "We can't stay long, we have our own schedules to attend to." He said lamely.
I nodded while Otoya just listened to our conversation, still in shock to see two idols at our orphanages summer bazaar. "I understand, an idols work is never done." I mused. "Thanks for stopping by, it means a lot that you two could come. If you're both free, why not come to dinner tonight? Reiji already talked with his manager so he'll be able to come on home for a good home cooked meal and I'm sure you two could use the same."
"Awe, that's so sweet of you ___, but I'm sure Reiji would want to have you all to himself after working so hard lately so maybe another night." Ringo said apologetically. "We really have to get going now. We'll put in a good word for this place on the radio show we're going to so be prepared for lots of customers within the next hour. Talk to you later ___!"
Ryuuya offered me a small smile. "Good luck with your bazaar ___." He added on.
My smile softened some. "Thanks again for stopping by and good luck on your schedules!"
Otoya dumbly waved to the two idols along with all the kids as Ringo and Ryuuya left the bazaar. I watched the two of them leave and just couldn't stop smiling. The fact that Reiji called two of his friends to come here since he can't make it is just too nice... He must really care about me to do that.
As Kora ran off to tell all the other children about how Ringo called her 'pretty', Otoya shook his head to rid himself from his dazed state. "I can't believe Ringo and Ryuuya came here because of Rei-chan. They seemed pretty used to you too, do you know them?"
"Kind of? Rei-chan brought me to meet them a few weeks after I was adopted. It was important for him that his friends and I got along. Those two are really nice once you get to know them." I said, dragging Otoya off to help me bring the last items from inside to out here for the kids to sell. "I'm sure you'll be seeing them more and more since we're always hanging out with Reiji and now look, you'll get to say that you're friends with not one but three idols."
Otoya and I laughed at that, grabbing the bags and hauling them outside. The summer heat wasn't unbearable today and the clouds were rolling by just fast enough to offer some shade from the bright sun, rays of sunshine shimmering down through the gaps. I smiled as I looked out to our annual summer bazaar. Every year this event get's bigger and better and I can't wait to see what it'll look like next year.
"Ready?" The red head beside me asked, the doors to the orphanage open as we look out to the wonderful scene before us.
Smiling to the kids and staff before directing my smile at my long time best friend, I nodded. "Ready."
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(reiji and camus best boi's and don't worry, the other st☆rish members will be making their entrances soon!!!)
Tadaaa another update.~ Just a heads up, I'm currently writing a Dialovers story as well so I'll be alternating between updates for each of these two fics ^^ so the next update will be on the Dialovers fic and then I'll come back to this one!
Question of the Chapter: Do you think it's weird for Reiji to already be lowkey falling in love with you aka the reader aka his younger step-sister? I see it as more of a Brothers Conflict kind of deal where it's not like your character and Rei-chan have grown up together so it's not that weird lol maybe that's just a me thing though...
Soooooooo with this chapter finished, I'll be heading over to my Dialovers fic "Nothing but Memories" and updating that next.~ If you're a fan of Diabolik Lovers and haven't checked that fanfic out then I highly recommend popping on over there and giving the first chapter a read! I'm working hard on both of these fanfics so I hope all of you amazing people enjoy them <3 (and yes I'm shamelessly plugging my own fanfics lmao what more would you guys expect from myself?)
I love each and every last one of you lovely cuties and thanks so much for taking the time to read this <3 I don't know what I'd do without all of you!
~ ｋａｔ ♡