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ａ ｇｕｉｌｔｙ ｐｈｏｎｅ ｃａｌｌ
『 your p.o.v 』
"How is your composition coming along ___?"
I glanced up from my laptop and smiled as Haruka took a seat on the piano bench just in front of the large instrument. "About to finish Syo's song actually. I'm on the last verse section and after that I just have to touch up the outro I created last night and then I'll be done."
Haruka's eyes widened some at that. "You're almost done already?! It's only been six days since we were given the assignment!"
"I compose quickly, what can I say?" I responded with a quirky grin while my bright red headphones rested around my neck, a birthday present from Otoya a few years back. "How far are you into Tomo-chan's song?" I then asked.
The pink haired girl sighed some, her shoulders slouching just ever so slightly. "I'm about halfway done, but I'm not sure how it is just yet. Tomo-chan says it's alright, though I still feel like I could do better for her."
I offered Haruka a reassuring smile from where I sit on the couch with my laptop resting on top of my lap. "I'm sure whatever you compose will be great. Tomo-chan will love this song so just enjoy composing it. There's no point in stressing, or else your composition will really start to suffer."
"True," Haruka agreed with a small nod of her head, "I'll edit some of the chorus and then continue on with the rest of the song." She then said far more determined than just a moment ago.
"That's the spirit!" I cheered her on with a laugh.
Haruka's smile softened. "Oh yeah, Natsuki said yesterday in class something about you offering to compose his song for him. Are you really going to do it?" She then asked.
I nodded. "His composer isn't working with him at all and you know how important it is for a composer to be on the same page as their idol when it comes to composing their songs. Considering none of us are professionals, Natsuki is bound to fail unless he get's a real composer and, since no one else in your class is available, I'm more than happy to help."
"You're crazy ___, but that's really sweet of you. I hope Ringo gives you the okay to compose for Natsuki." She said genuinely. "I've heard him sing and just, wow, his voice gave me chills and I'd hate for that type of talent to be wasted on a song that he was just given you know? He deserves a real song just for himself." Haruka said, now turning back towards the piano and setting up her music sheets. "Ah, we should probably get to composing now. It's not every day that our idols are out on their own assignments giving us time to compose in peace."
Humming in response, I placed my headphones back on my head and over my ears. "Very true, wanna listen to each other's compositions after a couple hours pass by?" I asked just as I was opening my composing program.
Haruka glanced back at me with a bright and sweet smile. "Of course. Now hurry up and finish Syo's song." She giggled.
I rolled my eyes some. "Yeah yeah, just worry about your composition and leave me to make mine." I said with a laugh of my own.
The two of us fell silent as we soon began composing for the day. Since all of the idol students are currently off campus working on their first ever photo-shoot assignments, us composers have been tasked with getting as far in our songs as we can before they return. So, to put it simply, we've been given a free day to just compose to our hearts content while our idols are actually out working. It's a welcomed change for Haruka and I at least considering we're almost always surrounded by idols who want our attention, leaving little time to get any composing done.
I'm not saying that that's a bad thing, far from it actually. I don't know what I'd do without Otoya and the friends we've made in this first week of school. But, sometimes it's nice to have some alone time where I can just focus on my compositions and nothing else. Haruka feels the same way what with Tomo-chan always being attached to her at the hip. It's impossible for us to work with everyone around simply because we get sidetracked ourselves and want to abandon our work in favor of socializing with our friends. Now with the idols gone, there's no temptations to get distracted and our full, undivided attention can be focused on our compositions. I can only hope this type of thing happens often or else none of us composers will get our work done...
Replaying the final verse I needed to complete, I smiled. It sounds nice and I'm sure Syo will like this song so far. Now to just touch up the outro, give it one last listen to, edit the little things that annoy me throughout the composition, and then I'll be officially done with that blonde boys song.~
From what Natsuki himself as well as Otoya and Masato have been telling me the last few days, Natsuki's composer really isn't cooperating with him at all or even trying to work together. There's no hope there for a decent song to be produced between the two of them which means I'm going to need to talk to Ringo and possibly Ryuuya about what I can do to help Natsuki- if they'll even allow me to help that is.
We're in different classes for this first assignment and the teachers made it a point of theirs to choose our partners, based on what criteria I don't know. They said that after this we can choose our partners from any of the classes, but since this is our first assignment, I'm not sure how lenient Ryuuya and Ringo will be about me taking on not one but two idols as well as the second idol being from a class lower than my own. There's a chance they might see this as Natsuki wanting a better grade for being paired with a composer from S-Class instead of the one he's been assigned to in his A-Class. Honestly, I'd be surprised if either Ringo or Ryuuya thought this of him, but the possibility is still there nonetheless and it's not like I can exactly ignore that either. But there has to be something I can do to help Natsuki here...
Hours passed by before either Haruka or myself decided it was time for a well needed break. She was beginning to get frustrated with the final chorus of Tomo-chan's song while I couldn't quite tell what was wrong with Syo's song. There's nothing obviously out of place anywhere, but, something sounds off regardless and for the life of me I can't figure out what that something is! A break is just what we need to cool down and then return to our compositions with a clear head.
"Is it late enough for lunch?" Haruka asked as we left the practice room we'd claimed as our own and began walking down the more or less empty halls of Saotome Academy. "I'm starving after all that composing." She then giggled.
As if on cue, my stomach growled and we both began laughing at that. "I think it's time for lunch." I said with a quirky grin. "Have anything in mind?"
Haruka thought for a moment before shrugging. "Whatever you want I'll be happy with."
"Masato brought me to a convenience store last week and we got some melon bread for breakfast, it's really filling and tastes good, wanna try that?"
"Sure, lead the way!"
With our steps lining up perfectly, Haruka and I exited the school and began walking down the path that leads to the secluded convenience store that's a good fifteen minute walk away. The temperature has been dropping recently, fall really kicking in now with winter right around the corner. A chilled wind blows passed the two of us, our school uniform skirts fluttering in the gust of air. In a month's time, it'll be too cold to come out here without at least a heavy jacket.
"Hey ___, can I ask you something?" Haruka suddenly spoke up, breaking the calm silence that had fallen around us.
I glanced to her with a small smile. "Of course, what's up?"
There was a pause as the cute girl walking beside me thought of how to word her question. "I've been hearing things about you lately... Masato, Natsuki, and Otoya have been saying that they're just rumors, but, I want to know from you if they really are?"
I couldn't help but laugh at the guilty look flashing behind her eyes. "It's fine Haruka, you can ask things like this, we're friends. As for the rumors, they're not true." I said, looking up to the cloud filled sky, the sun no where in sight today. Hopefully the idols photo-shoot is going alright in this unpredictable weather. "Reiji is my step-sibling who's good friends with Ringo and Ryuuya, but I would never ask any of them to help me get into Saotome. I got in by myself without their help."
"Step-siblings? Did one of your parents marry his?" She asked, her shoulders relaxing some now that she knows I'm not going to get upset with her and her curiosity.
"No, nothing like that. I was adopted by Mrs. Kotobuki, his mother, nearly a year ago now." My voice took on a warmer undertone as memories of meeting mom and Reiji for the first time flashed through my mind. "Mom took me in after she heard me singing one of Reiji's earlier songs while helping take care of the small garden the kids at the orphanage had made just out front of the main gates. She came to visit me a lot after that day and even introduced me to Reiji a couple times before asking if I wanted to be adopted by her. Otoya was pretty upset about it in the beginning, but he was happy for me nonetheless after seeing how happy I myself was to finally have a real family again. Though Otoya will always be special to me no matter what since we've grown up together."
Haruka looked shocked for a moment before smiling once more. "I would have thought you and Reiji had known each other for longer if not were actually siblings. He seems to be very protective of you." She said thoughtfully.
I couldn't help but laugh some at that. "He is, almost as much as Otoya! But, I'm thankful for the two of them always watching over me. It's nice knowing I have someone I can talk to in both of them. But when it comes to these rumors, I haven't talked to either of them about it."
"Why not?" Haruka asked with a concerned expression. "Some of the things the students have been saying are really mean and it must be affecting you to some extent right? Wouldn't it be nice to talk to one of them about this? Or even Ryuuya or Ringo?"
"I don't want to drag any more people into this than necessary. Reiji is always busy and so are Ryuuya and Ringo. Otoya can only do so much about what others say and would just feel guilty that he can't help me and I don't want to make him feel bad about a situation that's out of his control. He already has to listen to the rumors and I'm sure he wants to stop them, but he can't and so me confiding in him would only make him feel even worse about the fact he can't do much to stop these rumors in the first place." I said with a soft, reassuring smile as my eyes returned to Haruka. "If things get bad enough, I'll talk to someone so don't worry too much about me. Ren and Syo are already on my side when it comes to the mean kids in our class and I'm sure Tokiya is too despite him being so quiet so I'm not totally alone here."
Haruka sighed in defeat. "Alright, if you say so. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you because of some stupid things people are saying. You're a good person and to hear the students say things like that you don't deserve to be here and that you used your family connections to get in makes me sick. You've done nothing but be nice to everyone and yet they're still saying such mean and hurtful things..."
I patted the pink haired girls back lightly. "That's just the world we live in Haruka. I can't control what's said about me, but I can control my reactions. Besides, if Syo and I get the highest grade in our class, then I'll just show to everyone that I deserve to be here. Could you imagine if I win the debut stage at graduation? That'd be an even bigger slap in the face for everyone who doubted me and it'd make all my friends and family happy for myself in the process! You know, the best revenge is to be successful.~" I mused, my voice taking on a more sing-songy tone.
"That's true, I hope you get the chance to debut professionally." Haruka said with a bright smile, the convenience store now coming into view. "Who would you want to compose for if you have the chance to debut professionally anyways? Otoya maybe?"
With a shrug of my shoulders, I looked to her with a sheepish smile. "Can't say just yet. Otoya is my first pick of course, but there's also Natsuki and Masato as well as Ren, Syo, and Tokiya to consider now that I know I will probably have the chance to compose for each of them throughout the course of this year. Honestly, if I work well with all of them, it'd be great if I could somehow debut with each of them."
"Oh! They could become a band!" Haruka said after a beat of silence had past. "If they work well with you and can prove to work well with each other, they could debut together as a unit and then you wouldn't have to choose between any of them!"
I couldn't help but laugh at such an absurd idea. "Haruka, you're crazy. I can't imagine the six of them willingly creating a group or for Shining to agree to that." I said despite the fleeting memories of that dream I had with all six of them performing together resurfacing to the forefront of my mind. It would be amazing if they could create a group, but, I think that dream was just that; a dream. There's no way they'd create a group and besides, it would be selfish of me to ask that of them anyways.
There's still time before the end of the year and there's no guarantee that I'll be the composer chosen to have their professional debut so it's not like I have to really worry about this just yet. I still have months upon months to grow closer to all of these idols and work to create strong bonds with each of them, there's no rush. I should just enjoy the time I have with the six of them as well as with everyone else I meet here like Haruka and Tomo-chan.
"Who knows, it could happen by the end of the year. We're already all friends now so I wouldn't be surprised if they make a group by graduation." Haruka said with a knowing smile just as we entered the convenience store. "Don't you think it'd be great for them to become a group?"
"I guess, but only if they want to work together. I won't appose to them creating a group, but I don't want to try and force that on them either, you know?" I said, making a beeline for where they keep the melon bread. "Like you said, we have the rest of the year to see what will happen between the six of them, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves alright?"
Haruka returned my smile with one of her own. "You're right. Let's just get through this first assignment and take on the rest one at a time as they come."
Just as I was fixing to respond, my phone suddenly began ringing in my hand, Reiji's song playing out into the quiet convenience store. "Oh, it's Reiji, you don't mind if I take this do you?" I asked Haruka with a sheepish smile.
She laughed. "Sure, you grab the melon bread while I pick up some other snacks for us."
"Thanks Haruka!" I called after her as she disappeared behind a different isle and only once she was out of sight did I answer the call.
Holding my phone up to my ear, I smiled as I heard Reiji yelling at someone else in the room with him. "I haven't talked to her since orientation- what? Yes, that was a week ago and no I am not an overprotective older brother!" There was a pause and then a sigh. "He's the worst." Reiji muttered, a loud laugh booming from the other end of the line a distance away from the phone itself.
"Is that your manager?" I asked, my smile only widening as Reiji groaned.
"Every time I call or talk about you, he always has to make fun of me! I'm not overbearing, am I?" The brunette asked almost guiltily.
I giggled some. "Of course not Rei-chan, you did say that you'd call me weekly after all."
"Is that sarcasm?"
"I'll let you decide on this one."
Reiji scoffed. "Look at you trying to rebel against me." He mused. "Anyways, what are you up to right now? Anything important?"
I hummed in response as I grabbed two melon breads off the shelf and placed them into the little basket hanging off my arm that I had grabbed for myself near the front of the convenience store. "Haruka and I have been composing all morning and only stopped just now to grab some food for ourselves."
"Don't you have classes today?" Reiji asked.
"Nope," I said, popping the "p", "the idol students are off campus for this photo-shoot assignment while us composers have been left to work on our songs that are now due in two weeks."
"Is Haruka the one with the short pink hair? One of your roommates?" He then asked.
I nodded some despite the fact Reiji can't see me doing so. "Yup, that's her. Tomo-chan is my other roommate who also happens to be the idol Haruka is composing for."
The background voices coming from Reiji's side of the call began growing louder. "One sec, let me get out of here so I can hear you better." There was another pause, Reiji saying something to someone about going outside to continue his call, and then the voices faded until I could vaguely hear the sound of cars driving passed. "Well, still kind of noisy, but better than a crowded dressing room." He chuckled. "Anyways, who are you composing for right now? Otoyan?"
Grabbing some drinks, I went ahead and placed them in my basket as well. "We're in different classes so no. I'm composing for a blonde headed boy named Kurusu Syo, a huge fan of Ryuuya's who's coincidentally our teacher."
"You have Ryuuya as your teacher?" Reiji asked with a loud laugh. "That's amazing! How's that been?"
Ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I smiled. "Fine, it's real nice here at Saotome Academy. Everyone's so helpful and I'm really happy I was accepted. Though I still think you have me beat for being the most energetic between the two of us." I then said, trying to derail our conversation some.
Though it seems Reiji knew exactly what I was going for and completely ignored the last part of what I said. "You're classes are going fine and there's no drama going on right? It's a school full of wannabe idols and composers that's pretty much one giant competition for who get's to have their professional debut so I wouldn't be surprised if there are already tons of rumors running rampant through that school right about now." The brunette said, guessing my situation exactly without even meaning to.
Guilt began creeping up around my heart as I lied to Reiji, pushing through the discomfort as to not worry him. "No drama. There are some rumors going around, but nothing about me or my friends so I'm alright."
Haruka wandered her way back over to me with a bright smile dancing across her lips. "Tomo-chan just texted me saying that the idols should be back soon. Want to go ahead and grab everyone some snacks and drinks so they can relax too?"
"Sure," I said, holding my phone slightly away from my mouth as I speak to her, "I'll go grab more melon bread and drinks while you grab some pretzels and whatnot. Ren is always eating this brand of chips in class too so I'll grab those just for him."
"Sounds like a plan, see you at the front counter!"
And with that, Haruka scurried off once more, leaving me to backtrack and pick up enough snacks for the two of us as well as seven idol students. I placed the phone back up to my ear just as Reiji began talking again.
"I'm jealous, you're taking such good care of your friends while I'm just over here, pushed to the side and long forgotten." He said with a wounded tone.
I rolled my eyes some at his usual theatrics. "Oh shush, you know I remember to always buy you your favorite foods whenever I can so don't even try to guilt trip me now Rei-chan."
A bark of laughter filled the speaker. "I know, my girl is the best.~" Reiji sang. "I have to go soon for another music show taping so I'll call you again around this time next week, would that be alright?"
"Actually, I think I'll be in class so how about I call you after classes are let out? I can always leave a message if you're busy." I offered, grabbing another melon bread and then heading off to find some of the Piyo-chan cookies Natsuki has been eating for the last few days now.
"That should work," the brunette said happily, "don't hesitate to call me sooner if something comes up though alright? I want to be there for you even if I can't physically be there for you all the time. You can even go to Ringo and Ryuuya if something is bothering you, you know that right?" He asked, his tone far more concerned than just a moment ago. "I know how you get when you don't want to bother anyone with your problems, but you won't be bothering us- you won't be bothering me so please ___, if something's wrong, call me okay?"
I could almost feel the guilt swallowing me whole now as I pushed on with my lie. "Don't worry Reiji, I'm fine. Really. You just focus on your health and I'll call you next week."
Reiji sighed. "If you're sure that everything is fine then okay, I'll believe you." He said with a barely there undertone of hesitance, like he doesn't fully have faith in his very own words. "You know I love you right ___? I just want you to be happy."
"Yeah yeah, I love you too Rei-chan, now go back to work or something. Your manager might start putting a time limit on our calls if you don't hurry on back inside." I said, trying my hardest to ignore the caring tone his voice had taken on.
Another beat of silence passed before Reiji spoke up again. "Talk to you soon my girl! Love you, bye bye.~" He said, suddenly much more lively than just a second ago. It's clearly fake. He doesn't believe me...
I couldn't help but laugh despite all the guilt weighing me down. "Talk to you soon Rei-chan, bye."
With a click, the line went dead, leaving me to continue shopping in silence with nothing but my guilty thoughts keeping me company while Haruka grabs her own snacks on the other side of the convenience store...
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You know I like Quartet Night too much when I have to include Reiji in my fic earlier than what even the games and anime showed lmao and soon the other QN boys will be showing up as well.~ *actually dying while waiting for Camyu's grand entrance lul*
Question of the Chapter: Who's your favorite Quartet Night member? I'm clearly tied between Reiji and Camus lul all my friends always love AI and Ranmaru though so this works out just fine for me xD
Another chapter completed And many more to come.~ I'm having a lot of fun writing this fic and omg guys I need to start adding more Masato and Ren scenes ;-; and I somehow need to segment into Satsuki and Hayato reveal lmao this beginning third of the fic is centered around ST☆RISH and I regret life decisions because ST☆RISH is just so damn detailed if you pay attention to their backstories ;-; I'm going to die trying to include everything into this plot and to make it all make sense lmao but I will do it for our bois! xD or I'll die trying. Either way it'll get done somehow lol
I love each and every last one of you lovely cuties and thanks so much for taking the time to read this chapter <3
~ ｋａｔ ♡