Yugo and Kento rp [part 10 of 10]
Aug. 6th, 2013 07:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chromaticAll warnings are the same as in Part 1!
It was hard to hear everything Shori was saying, hard to stay quiet and listen and try to understand Shori's criticisms, but Kento didn't want to yell or fight, he wanted to figure out how to make things better. The last thing he wanted was for Shori to think he was a bad parent, so he had always tried to defend himself, to prove that he was right, because he had never felt like he was doing anything wrong. But Shori had been tired and stressed, too, and now, listening to Shori say it, it seemed almost obvious that Kento's complaining and getting defensive and eventually fighting over it had only made everything worse. "I... I guess I thought that having a second child would be just like having the first one," he said. "But then it felt like everything changed, and... I felt like I tried to talk to you about it." Kento laughed a little, shaking his head. "I guess complaining really doesn't count as talking at all." He sighed. "I hated hearing you say I didn't care about the kids... But I guess I've really been acting like I don't care."
"Jinsei and Ryusei are different people… they always will be," Shori replied evenly, unable to keep from smiling even slightly at the thought of his children, and at the knowledge that they weren't going to have to survive a divorce settlement after all. But Kento was right-- in response to Kento's hostility, Shori had probably been too harsh, too critical, as well. "I'm sorry that I hurt you," he started thoughtfully, looking up at Kento again. "I… I was just scared. Scared that you wished we didn't have Ryusei, or that you didn't like him… And every time you complained, every time it felt like you were yelling at me without even listening to what I was trying to say… it just felt like you were pushing me farther and farther away." It was strange, putting into words now what he had kept buried inside of him for so long, but this, he knew, was a step towards making things better, and so even if it was hard to find the right words, the right way to frame things… he had to try. "I was so afraid that I was going to lose you… and that the kids were going to lose you, too," he admitted quietly, squeezing his eyes shut at the memory of the all-too-real fear that had gripped him up until this conversation had started.
Kento had been so wrapped up in his own worries and problems by the end that somehow he hadn't realized, but listening to Shori talk about it, he could hardly imagine how scary it must have been when he had stopped coming home at night those past few weeks, when he'd stopped ever telling Shori where he was going, and it was awful to think about Shori worrying all alone every night, not knowing whether Kento was going to come back. "I'm sorry for scaring you that way... I never wanted to leave," he said, "I just... I didn't know how to deal with things anymore. I didn't know how to say what I was thinking without starting a fight... But... I love you, and I love Jinsei and Ryusei, both of them, so much." He paused, thinking about it. "I don't even understand it, really. Being a parent. But... I liked doing it with you." He swallowed, feeling emotional again all of the sudden. "So... I want to feel that way again." Kento wanted to touch Shori, even just his hand or his shoulder, something comforting for both of them, but Shori had seemed so closed in on himself through their whole conversation, keeping away from Kento on the other side of the table, and after everything, Kento wasn't sure it was okay to touch Shori anymore.
Shori was hit with a sudden wave of emotion at Kento's words, and he swallowed back the lump in his throat, nodding slowly. "I… I've never stopped wanting that, you know. Even if I was expecting the worst, I kept holding out hope that you'd come back to me…" But it hurt to think about even now, how awful it had been knowing that Kento had tossed Shori, had tossed their family aside for an affair, and he tried to push the feelings aside. That wasn't the issue right now; Kento had said he wanted to fix things, and so what mattered was getting Kento to understand just what had been making Shori so unhappy before things had completely fallen apart. "But… if parenting with you means parenting alone, I can't do that, and if it means agreeing with you one hundred percent of the time and never expressing my own opinion, I can't do that either. Parenting is difficult, and of course we're going to be stressed, of course we're going to disagree, but it's not going to work if I can't explain my feelings for fear that you're going to blow your fuse on me." Even now, Shori hated it; Kento had strong opinions, to be sure, but Shori always had too, and they used to get on so well, to respect one another just as much in disagreement as in agreement. Shori didn't understand why Kento had suddenly changed, and rolled his lips together, thinking. "And you were so insistent that I didn't want to spend time with you anymore, but it was never that I didn't want to be around you. Just… how was I supposed to spend all of my time taking care of Ryusei so that you didn't have to and spend all my time with you? Not to mention that it was hard to find the desire to rearrange my life to make time when basically all it seemed like you did was yell at me anymore…"
Even now, it was hard for Kento to listen to all of Shori's criticisms, but he wanted so badly to fix things, and it was clear now that his yelling, his responses to Shori that came from anger or annoyance or defensiveness, had only pushed Shori further away, and that was the opposite of what Kento had wanted. "I... I'm sorry for pushing you away like that. I want... to listen more, now," he said, because Shori had so many thoughts, Kento knew, and he hadn't heard or listened to any of them in... who knew how long. "Of course I don't want you to have to parent alone, and... we've always disagreed on some things, right?" But somehow things had gotten worse, and Kento had been so unhappy... and he had felt like Shori wasn't trying to understand at all. "But... I started to feel like you weren't listening to me. Like you didn't care how I felt."
Shori nodded slowly, thinking, absorbing what Kento was saying. He knew that, once things had escalated, he hadn't necessarily been the most willing to compromise after they were already having, in Shori's opinion, more than a compromise in that Shori looked after the kids and Kento parented… whenever he felt like it. But it wasn't fair of him to have blocked Kento out entirely, and so he looked back at Kento, rolling his lips together before replying. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you the impression that I didn't care how you felt. But the truth is… by the time the fighting started escalating, I really felt as if you didn't care how I felt." Sighing, he looking up at the ceiling, wondering why it was that everything had suddenly fallen apart between them when they had always been so good at being honest and open with one another. "Tell me what it is that you want," he said suddenly, feeling as if there was no way to fix things besides taking them head on. That's what he and Kento had always been good at; tackling big tasks together, melding their ideas into one and creating things that were better for it. Already, they had done it once with Jinsei, and while things felt awful now, Shori knew that now that Kento was being honest with him again, they could push through again. "I want you to be happy, Kento. But now that we have Ryusei, I can't sit back and watch you act like you don't want him. He needs two fathers, and no matter how much I do, I'm only one person. So tell me how we can make this work, and then once we see eye to eye on that…" he trailed, swallowing. Even moving in the right direction, being open with Kento was scary after so long, after Kento had done so much to hurt him, but he knew that the only way to go from here was up. "Then maybe we can figure out how to make you and me into… into us again."
Kento nodded, taking in what Shori was saying. Somehow, the good relationship they'd had for so long had broken down, and they'd both ended up feeling pushed away and isolated and like the other didn't care how they felt... but now that they were talking about it, things had to get better, right? But now Shori was asking Kento what he wanted, and somehow, faced with the question head-on, it was hard to figure out exactly what it was that he wanted. It wasn't that he wanted to get out of parenting duties; he loved his sons, and he knew that Shori needed a break sometimes, too. Right now, after everything, all he really wanted was for things to be good between him and Shori again, and to somehow try to make up for what he had put Shori through... But thinking back to when they had first started fighting, Kento had started missing a lot of the things they used to do together, whether it was going out or staying in, work-related or just for fun. And Kento thought that they could still do things like that, even with kids, if they tried... "What I want... It sounds silly," Kento said, thinking about how to put it into words, "But I missed the things we used to do together, before we had kids. And I think... more than the things themselves, I missed the way our relationship used to be. But... I think we can still do that, even with kids..." Kento trailed off, looking at Shori and wishing he could read his expression better. "What I really want right now, though... I wish there was some way I could make all this up to you."
Kento's words washed over Shori slowly, and Shori tried his best to understand them. For once, though, it wasn't so hard; Shori missed the things that he and Kento had used to do together too. When they had had Jinsei, there was less time, of course, but Shori hadn't felt slighted, and the things that he and Kento had done together with Jinsei as a family had been equally rewarding, and so he hadn't really thought about it, and of course, once Ryusei came around was when everything started to fall apart… But now that it had been so long, Shori missed everything he had had with Kento, and so he nodded, trying to straighten his thoughts out in his head. "Everything changes," he said slowly, and it was true; they were parents now, and they couldn't spend whole days in bed eating takeout and leftovers, going over concert plans, they couldn't stay out late at night and come back at four in the morning and then sleep until noon the next day. But that didn't mean the important things had to change, and Shori knew Kento was right. "But… all we need is a little patience," he added, nodding emphatically. "If you could try to see what I'm asking you for, if you could try to think of taking care of the baby as less of an awful chore… and if you could be honest with me without being whining or accusatory…" Because that was where things went wrong, Shori was realizing. They had always been honest with one another, but when the disagreement over Ryusei had made them edgier, things had gone downhill. "Then… I'll do my best to listen better, and to be fair and honest with you, too," he finished after a moment, looking up at Kento again to see how he had taken it. He looked so remorseful on the other side of the table, so small and not like himself at all that something inside Shori flipped over, and he licked his lips, letting out a small sigh as his lips curled up the tiniest bit at the corners. "Come here…?" he invited quietly, standing up and holding out his hands, taking Kento's into his own once he was within arm's reach. "No one can undo the past. But if you can promise to be honest and open with me from now on… and to try not to get so caught up in your own perspective…" And it was so unlike Shori to act impulsively, but somehow, in that moment, he couldn't help leaning up and brushing a brief kiss against Kento's cheek. His smile quirked up just the slightest bit more on one side as he drew back, meeting Kento's eyes again and squeezing his fingers, and despite everything, Shori couldn't help but feel a little optimistic. "…then you're already forgiven," he finished quietly, hoping Kento understood that he truly meant it.
Kento nodded at Shori's words, trying to take them in and really understand them. If he knew Shori was listening to him, if they talked and made time for each other again, then Kento knew he could be honest with Shori again, and stop yelling and getting angry, and even happily stay home with Ryusei, and if they could do all that... then things would get better. But when Shori beckoned Kento over, something like a smile appearing on his lips, it seemed like things might already be getting better, and Kento smiled back as he stood. And when Shori took Kento's hands, when he kissed Kento's cheek, Kento's heart swelled, because Shori was really going to forgive him, and things were really, finally going to be okay again, even after all of Kento's mistakes. "I promise," Kento said, squeezing Shori's hands back. "I... Thank you," he said, swallowing, because it felt like his heart was a little too full as he smiled back at Shori, not wanting to let go of his hands.
Seeing Kento smile again, really smile, just for him, because of him was more than Shori thought he was ever going to get again, and even though they had come a long way in this conversation, talked through a lot of their problems, somehow, in seeing that smile, all of the fear and the pain of the last month finally felt as if it had been soothed away, and before Shori could even realize what was happening, he was beginning to cry, tears spilling down his cheeks unhindered. It was awful, thinking how Kento had become something frightening to him, someone with the power to hurt him so badly that Shori couldn't even comprehend it, rather than the person he depended on, the person he trusted more than anyone, and the sense of relief, that things really were going to get better was overwhelming. Perhaps, some part of him thought, it was unwise to be so trusting so easily, but Shori knew that at the end of the day, Kento had only been so terrifying to him for the past five months because Shori had loved him, and it was impossible not to trust him when Kento promised to try to make things better. For better or for worse, they were going to move forward from here, and while Shori had no idea what the future held, he was beginning to dare to hope that it would be for better. Tears streaming down his face, he let his head fall to rest on Kento's shoulder, opening himself up to Kento emotionally for the first time in a very, very long time. "Oh god, Kento, I was so scared," he whispered, his voice choked with tears and emotions, "But… I love you, I really do."
When Shori leaned his head on Kento's shoulder, Kento tentatively wrapped his arms around him, holding him gently and rubbing his back soothingly. "I love you, too," he murmured, Shori's tears making Kento feel choked up as well. He felt awful for making Shori so scared and hurting him so much, but everything seemed a little brighter now that they had finally talked about it all, and Kento was sure that together, they could make things work again. "I'm so sorry for everything," he said, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of Shori's hair. "But... I'm so happy to be back." Because even if he had never really left, it felt like he was coming back to something that he and Shori hadn't had together in a very long time, and he was going to do his best to make things just as good as they used to be--or better, because there were amazing things about having kids together with Shori, too, even if Kento hadn't been able to see the good parts for a long time. But for now, Kento was happy just to be back together with Shori like this, just the two of them, happy at the thought of actually going to bed together again, of talking over breakfast in the morning and collaborating at work and eating dinner with their kids. Pulling back slightly to look at Shori, he smiled softly. "I love you," he said again, because he had months and months to make up for. "Let's go to bed?"
Over the course of the next year, things began to change. Of course, there were the immediate changes; Jesse began to focus on rearranging his schedule and spending more time at home right away, and it seemed as if some things practically got better over night. Yugo felt bad every time he heard that Jesse had had to turn down a drama role or that his group's single's release would be delayed due to time constraints, but having Jesse back at home again was really the solution to so many of Yugo's problems, and so he tried forget the guilt and remember to tell Jesse every day just how much he loved and appreciated him. And as time went on, more and more changes became noticeable-- it had been impossible to tell, at first, because the effects were so minute, but as they built up over the months, Yugo began to notice that Taira was happier, more energetic than he had been in the past, and that his own work days were beginning to feel less overwhelming and more rewarding. He began to truly enjoy watching his little Juniors learn their choreography and grow as performers over the course of rehearsals for a show, and was even cast as the lead in Playzone the following year when Yuma decided to take time off to spend more time with his kids. "You just have an energy that Kyomoto-kun doesn't have," Tsubasa-kun had explained to him with a pat on the back when Yugo had asked, surprise clear on his face, if this was the actual casting, and Yugo was able to give even more than one hundred percent with the knowledge that Jesse would be in the audience when it came time for the performance.
And while his home and family and work life continued to get better, Yugo was overjoyed that something else was able to stay constant in his life: Kento. True to his word, Kento hadn't let everything they had done wrong get in the way, and once they had come clean, they had continued to stay friends, texting one another most days and meeting up once or twice a week for coffee or lunch or just to chat as they waited for their turn in the Myojo photo studios. And even if sometimes, Yugo had a particularly strong memory of how things had been in the past, those thoughts faded with time, and without the lies and the sneaking around, his and Kento's friendship got even stronger. When he had confessed everything he had done wrong to Jesse Yugo had told him with whom he had been having his affair, that Kento was really nothing more than a very good friend to him, and as time went on, he was happy to prove that that was true, as Kento filled the position in his life that had been empty ever since Fuma had become so wrapped up in his family. It was amazing having a best friend in Kento again, and when, slowly but surely, Kento and Jesse were able to spend time together without seeming tense, when Yugo was able to greet Shori-kun without receiving an icy glare, he knew that they had put the whole sordid business behind them, and that only good things were left.
And so things got better and better, slowly but surely, until about a year after the affair had ended, things suddenly took an unexpected turn for the best. Out of the blue, Yugo was asked to audition for a role in an upcoming movie, and to his surprise, somehow, not Yamada Ryosuke or Kento or Hokuto but he was cast as the lead in one of the biggest title movies of the season. Yugo hadn't been in a movie since he was eighteen, but if there was one thing he was good at, it was putting his best foot forward, and so with a good attitude and all the acting skills he had built up doing stageplays for the last five years, the movie filmings all went off without a hitch. The hours on set were long, and everything was so different from what Yugo was used to, from the rehearsal halls and the kids and cheesy show tunes mixed in with popular Johnny's music, but in the movie filmings, it seemed, he was able to find just a little of what he had been wishing for in his career ever since it had become clear that he wasn't going to debut.
By the time the movie was done, Yugo was at once excited to see the release after all of his hard work and sad to be losing the sort of work he so enjoyed, but he wasn't left without a light at the end of the tunnel for long. No sooner had his movie filming ended than he was being called into a meeting with the management and asked how he'd like to have his own variety show. Yugo was shocked; he hadn't had a regular TV spot since he was in his early twenties, but the management assured him that his friendly, laid back personality and good sense of humour would be perfect for a variety host, and so Yugo went into this new opportunity with high hopes. Sure enough, the show was a hit, getting good ratings in its first month, and Yugo felt as if he had been swept away by a whirlwind, suddenly, now that his work had picked up like never before, and he didn't want to get off. But he still had time for his family, and with Jesse making the changes necessary to accommodate Yugo's more busy work schedule, their little family blossomed, Yugo feeling more content in marriage, closer to Jesse than he ever had before, and Taira growing up healthy and happier every day. Yugo had never been good at anticipating the challenges and emotions that came along with parenting, but when Taira began second, third grade, when he won a prize for a clay sculpture he'd made in art class, when he auditioned and was successfully accepted into Johnny's… Yugo knew he had never been more proud and happy in his life.
And so it hardly felt like any time had passed at all when Yugo's movie was suddenly being released, but then his life was swept away again, as old fans he'd thought must have forgotten him and new fans alike flocked to the theatres, Yugo heard himself described in ways he'd never expected, "sexy" and "cool" and "handsome," and he couldn't help but laugh and rub the back of his neck in embarrassment as guests on his show gushed over his performance. The show itself began to do better with the hype of the movie, as well, and before Yugo knew what was happening, he had been pushed to a better timeslot and was getting more viewership than ever. He half expected the hype to die down once the movie was out of theatres, and when that didn't happen, once the DVD release was done, but somehow, even months later, Yugo was still as popular as ever, and he could barely believe it. Somehow, even without a debut, it seemed bettering his relationship with Jesse had breathed new life into his career, and he couldn't have been happier. His home life was amazing, work was amazing, and it seemed, finally, Yugo's life had become perfect.
And so things continued this way for another year or so, Yugo spending his days filming for his show or rehearsing for the stage or, on occasion, being cast in a new drama and his evenings at home with his loving husband and son, and in between, going to coffee with Kento or on dates with Jesse or sometimes there was even time to see Fuma and Hokuto and their old friends. Yugo didn't think things could possibly get any better, but then one day, he and Taiga were called from the theatre to a mysterious staff meeting over at the Johnny's main offices. They joked along the way about what it might be-- more new Juniors being added to Shounen-Tachi this year despite the fact that they already had more than they could handle? A new play that they had been cast in? They had no way of knowing, but the last thing they were expecting was to walk into a meeting room filled with Hokuto and Shintaro and Jesse and Juri and to be told that the old Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou movie was being rereleased the six of them were going to be doing events to promote it.
It felt like a whirlwind all over again, Yugo and Jesse and all their friends from their teenage years, and after the meeting and the rest of the workday, Yugo came home to find Jesse equally still in disbelief. After they had fed Taira and put him to bed, Yugo couldn't help but laugh as he cleared the dishes from the table and set them in the sink. "Can you believe it?" he asked, shaking his head with a chuckle. "What are they even thinking? Though I have to admit, I'd like to see Hokuto attempt those fighting stunts now…" And even years after Yugo's bad period, the struggle he'd had to hold himself together years back, it felt good just to talk and joke with Jesse, with his husband, the man he loved.
After Yugo told Jesse about his affair and Jesse realized just how much their relationship had fallen apart, things had gotten better more quickly than Jesse could have imagined. It was hard, at first, to figure out where to cut back on his work, how to tell the management what changes he wanted to make, but it was more than worth it when he finally got to spend time with Yugo again, to get closer to Taira again, and when he started to be able to see how much happier Yugo and Taira both seemed. Their family really felt like a family again, and when Yugo started having more success at work, too, Jesse couldn't have been happier for him. Sitting in the audience with Taira to see Yugo's first starring role in Playzone, staying up to watch Yugo's variety show, attending the premiere of Yugo's movie together, all of it made Jesse so happy for Yugo, and he could tell that Yugo was really happy, too. Watching Taira grow was amazing, too, and Jesse was so glad to have the time to go to his school performances and help him with his eikaiwa homework and sometimes even go places with all three of them--and when, soon after starting third grade, Taira auditioned and was accepted into Johnny's, Jesse couldn't have been more proud.
So with Jesse's group's popularity staying high, Yugo's success only growing, and his family life better than ever, it didn't seem like things could get any more perfect, but the news that the Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou movie was being rereleased, and that the six members of their old group would be doing events together to promote it was outside the realms of anything that Jesse would have thought could happen. He loved his current group and the bonds they had formed over the years, but the idea of working with all his old friends again, and working with Yugo, especially, was amazing, and he grinned at Yugo as they finished clearing the table. "I don't know what they're thinking," he said, shrugging and laughing a little, "But... I can't wait to work with everyone again."
Yugo nodded as he turned on the water and waited for it to warm up before grabbing for the sponge and the dish detergent. "I know. It's been forever since I've worked with any of you but Kyomocchan," he replied with a warm smile, glancing back at Jesse. His grin was so warm, so genuine that Yugo couldn't help wanting to be close to him, and despite the fact that he should be starting on the dishes, he took a step back, turning to face Jesse and draping his arms over Jesse's shoulders, looking up at his husband with a grin. "It's been forever since I got to work with you," he added, winking playfully at Jesse and adding teasingly, "I keep telling you to come on my show, but you never do…"
Jesse smiled back at Yugo, shrugging bashfully. "Maybe now I'll finally get to come on?" he said, wrapping his arms around Yugo's back. "I wonder if the management will complain that we're too obvious again..." The thought was amusing, of flirting on TV like they used to when they were teenagers and giving the fans a taste of something they hadn't seen in years, even if most of them expected Jesse to give fanservice with Hokuto these days. Just getting to work together was going to be a dream come true, though, and Jesse's smile grew at the thought of being able to share something like this with Yugo. "It's going to be so much fun," he said, reluctant to let go of Yugo even though there were dishes to be done.
"Maybe I can have all of you on," Yugo replied with a smile, liking the idea of watching his friends' antics from the position of the host. At Jesse's words, though, he laughed, shaking his head. "I think we're a little better than we were as teenagers," he replied playfully, smiling at the memory of being eighteen and only too eager to sneak his hand into his boyfriend's. They had been so young the last time they had worked together as a group, and it would be so nostalgic to be back together again, even if Yugo couldn't comprehend why the management was planning such an unexpected re-release. "I can't wait," he responded quietly, his smile softening as he leaned up to place a gentle kiss on Jesse's lips.
"Me neither," Jesse said, leaning down to return Yugo's kiss. All the possibilities, all the fun things that their old group might get to do together were setting his mind aflutter, and he smiled down at Yugo, resting his hands on the small of Yugo's back. Things really were looking up, even more than he had ever hoped, and he was so happy to be sharing it with Yugo.
Over the next few months after getting everything out in the open with Shori, things slowly began to get better for Kento. The fact that he was speaking to Shori again was an immediate change for the better, and with Kento's new resolution to listen to Shori more, their communication about both work and family matters gradually improved. It was wonderful to have Shori in his life again after essentially shutting him out for so many months, and simple things like asking Shori's opinion on a set list or grabbing conbini food together during a break sometimes put a stupid grin on Kento's face, because he had missed all those things so much. Everything wasn't perfect right away, of course, and Kento could tell that Shori was still hurting, that what Kento had done wasn't going to go away overnight, but things improved slowly but surely, and after a few months, half a year, a year had passed, Kento started to feel like their relationship was growing stronger than ever.
Kento did his best to be a better father, too, and with Shori's support, taking care of their kids did start to feel like less of a chore again, and Kento was so proud of them as he watched all their accomplishments as they grew. As Ryusei started to talk more, Kento got to know his personality better, and watching him grow into his own person, so completely different from Jinsei, was sort of amazing, Kento thought. And of course, Jinsei continued to make Kento more and more proud as he grew older, starting elementary school and moving up in his dance classes and eventually auditioning and joining Johnny's, a moment Kento definitely ranked in the proudest ones of his life.
So things kept getting better, as Sexy Zone finished up their tour and released several new singles, and Kento and Shori started collaborating again more and more. It was one of the things they did best, after all, and Kento found that when they collaborated not only at work but also at home, to take care of their kids and make time for themselves and for each other, everything started to seem better. And at work, of course, things were looking up, and at the end of the year, when they began preparations for a new album, their whole band working together to make it the best it could be, Shori and Kento started working on a new song together, with lyrics by Shori and Kento on piano. It felt wonderful to really work together like that again, from discussing ideas for the album while they were lying in bed to spending time in the studio together, and maybe, Kento thought, they could really put all the bad things behind them.
With Yugo, too, it felt like they were able to put all their mistakes behind them, and Kento was happy that even as months and years passed, they were able to stay friends, to stay just as close as they had become. They kept up their habit of texting each other, sharing funny stories about work or their kids and making plans to meet up for lunch or coffee on a regular basis, now without any of the sneaking around that they had had to do before. Kento loved having Yugo to talk to in good times and bad, and he was happy to see Yugo's family life and career improving too, first gradually and then suddenly skyrocketing when Yugo's movie was a huge success.
So Kento was optimistic about the future as Sexy Zone got into the swing of album promotion, with lots of magazine and TV spots as well as rehearsals for a short round of concerts for the release. It had been a while since their last major national tour, though, a fact that Kento had mentioned to Shori in passing, and when his schedule one day included a meeting with the whole band and their managers, Kento wondered if the management had been thinking the same thing. He made it to the meeting just in time, rushing from a solo photoshoot for a magazine, and he grabbed a seat next to Shori, kissing him hello and greeting the rest of his bandmates.
Shori smiled at Kento as Kento sat beside him, in the seat Shori had saved for him. It was wonderful just to be able to do something simple like this together, something as simple as greeting one another at the beginning of work together, and while Shori didn't think much about the way things used to be anymore-- there were only so many thoughts to be had in one day, and Shori didn't want to waste any of them on the bad things-- he still appreciated every moment with his husband more now for the fact that he had very nearly lost Kento forever. But they had come so far from that, things were so different now that the bad memories had mostly faded away, and Shori was left only with the good, the memories of working together and collaborating on work projects over the past few years, of Kento stepping up and becoming a better dad than Shori had thought possible, of their children growing bigger and more beautiful with each day under Kento and Shori's loving care. Where they were now was so far from where they'd been three years ago that Shori could hardly compare, and he knew there was no reason to look back when there were only good things on the horizon. And so, he smiled at Kento, waiting for him to settle into his seat before slipping a hand over Kento's on the table, entangling their fingers and squeezing Kento's hand affectionately. Shori had never been one for grand gestures of love of extravagant public displays of affection, but he liked to be touching nonetheless, even just a little bit. "You made it," he commented after a moment, offering Kento a smile and hoping Kento knew just how happy Shori was to be here by his side at any given moment.
"I made it," Kento agreed, smiling back at Shori. Shori smiled at him a lot these days, and Kento loved seeing him so happy, loved knowing that he could make Shori happy. "I guess I don't have time to eat a banana before we start," he said, disappointed, but the last of the staff were sitting down now, and a glance at Fuma's expression told him that he definitely didn't have time. When their band's manager started speaking, though, Kento's fruit cravings were forgotten, because his prediction was right, and the staff had tentatively booked several locations around Japan for Sexy Zone's next national tour, starting about nine months away. He grinned at Shori, excited already at the prospect of another big tour, jotting down notes about the proposed dates and locations.
When their manager paused, though, Fuma raised his hand, looking sheepish. "Those dates... won't work for me, actually. I'm..." He paused, smiling shyly, and Kento waited for him to continue, confused as to what this could be about. "Hokuto and I are expecting another child."
Fuma looked so pleased with himself, despite how he was trying not to smile too widely, but Kento was having trouble even processing what he had said. Expecting another child? A fourth one? Kento looked from Marius to Sou to Shori and back to Fuma, incredulous. Fuma was saying they couldn't have a tour... because three kids wasn't enough for him? Their bandmates and the staff looked equally incredulous, and Kento wasn't sure what to say. "You're... adopting another child?" Why, he wanted to ask, but he held his tongue, knowing he wouldn't get any kind of satisfactory explanation even if he did ask.
Shori's eagerness at the mention of a new tour was interrupted by Fuma's words, and Shori blinked at him, surprised. But of course, Fuma had always loved children, and the other three had been spaced four years apart from one another… so he supposed that right about now was the right timing for the next one. It wouldn't have been Shori's life choice to have four children, but to each his own, and Shori knew that Fuma and Hokuto were wonderful parents who would be thrilled at the chance to raise another baby. And so, "Congratulations," he bid, giving Fuma a warm smile as sat beaming on the opposite side of the table. It would be a shame if they couldn't do any sort of tour, though… Shori loved all of the combined efforts that went into tour planning, the way all sorts of staff and the artists themselves were able to come together to create something amazing, and he especially had been looking forward to taking the most active planning role on the part of the group alongside Kento. Tours had always been his and Kento's little project together, and he had wanted the chance to create a wonderful end product together yet again… but, he supposed, if Fuma was having another baby, then there wasn't much to be done about that.
"Thank you," Fuma said, still smiling widely. "I'm sorry about the tour, but the baby is due just a couple months before those dates..." Kento sighed as Fuma trailed off, put out that his hopes of a tour were apparently being shot down, but there wasn't much he could say to argue with the fact that Fuma was having a baby, and it wasn't like they could have a tour one member down. It was hard to tell from Shori's face, of course, but Kento thought that he looked disappointed, too, and Kento rested his chin in the hand that wasn't still clasped in Shori's, not caring that he was pouting a little. When Sou spoke up to congratulate Fuma and say that he and Marius had been talking about a little project that they could probably use the free time to do--a children's album, appropriately--Kento glanced over at Shori again, wondering if they should be thinking about solo projects then, too. A tour had been what Kento was really wanting, but he supposed they could find plenty of other things to keep themselves busy while Sexy Zone was down one member...
Shori had never been one to jump to conclusions or emotions, but while he was happy for Fuma, he really had been looking forward to touring, to planning and executing a tour alongside Kento. But then… when Sou mentioned that he and Marius had been thinking about activities between the two of them… why couldn't he and Kento plan and execute a tour by themselves? After all, the venues were all booked, and it would be a hassle for the staff to have to change things, right? And plenty of people had done solo or duo or subgroup tours before, Shori was sure of it, and even if they were short three members… he knew he and Kento could make a concert spectacular together. And so, before the staff members' talk about canceling got too far, despite that it was against his instinct, Shori broke into the low murmur of the room to ask, "What if Kento and I use those dates and do a tour with just the two of us… as a new subgroup?" He was met by blank stares, but he couldn't help but smile-- it was impossible not to smile at the thought of building yet another aspect of his life with Kento, and even if this time, the idea fell through… they could always try in the future, right?
Kento blinked at Shori, a smile growing on his features as Shori's words sank in. A tour with just the two of them, as a new duo... It was an idea that only Shori would suggest, but to Kento, it sounded great. They could plan it all themselves, and there were plenty of songs that they had sung and written over the years that they didn't have time to do in Sexy Zone concerts. Having a project like that for just the two of them, and touring and performing just the two of them sounded pretty amazing, and Kento nodded in agreement, looking at the staff. "We can do it," he confirmed. "Why let the bookings go to waste, right?" Looking back at Shori, Kento grinned, already looking forward to all the possibilities.
Shori's smile grew as Kento agreed with him, and he squeezed Kento's hand, giving him a loving look before turning back to their staff. Their manager was looking at the pair of them skeptically, as if she thought that everyone in the group had suddenly gone insane, but Shori knew they could argue their case. "Kento and I do most of the planning on the part of the group for Sexy Zone's concerts already," he pointed out calmly, glancing around the table and hoping their manager noticed that only he and Kento had notebooks and pens readied, the rest of the group tapping a few dates into their phones' calendars at most. "And a new subgroup will create new interest in the group among casual fans." Shori wasn't sure if that was true, but when he thought about it, it seemed legitimate, and besides, he knew that a tour he and Kento put together themselves would be an amazing show… which would create DVD sales and draw in new fans, right? "Plenty of members of popular groups have done solo projects… and I think Kento and I could really make it into something special," he concluded, thoughts and ideas already rolling around in his head. He hoped their manager would understand, because Shori was certain that any project he and Kento made together would be amazing.
Kento nodded along as Shori spoke, watching the staff murmur skeptically amongst themselves. He knew that Shori was right, that they could handle it on their own and really make it into something special, and when their manager agreed that it would probably be better not to have to cancel all the bookings, Kento knew that they basically had a yes. Still grinning, he pulled up the calendar on his phone so that they could start scheduling planning meetings, assuring the staff that their tour was sure to be a success. "We're going to be great," he said, turning to Shori and bumping their shoulders together affectionately. This was one of the best ideas Shori had had yet, he thought, and he couldn't wait to start planning.
"I know," Shori replied vacantly, a smile on his face but his mind already light-years ahead. They would need tons of new costumes, and new set pieces, and they'd have to come up with new choreography for two, and new gimmicks to excite the crowd with the lack of the other members, lots of flying and water… And of course, they would need a name for their new subgroup. This was all so important, like naming a baby, and he felt overwhelmed with the excitement of all the possibilities as Kento began to work out meeting dates and rehearsal times with the staff. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he ought to be listening and paying attention, but he trusted Kento to sort things out, and he couldn't stop all the ideas and creativity rolling around in his brain now, and when suddenly, things clicked into place, he didn't feel bad interrupting Kento and the staff's discussion as he wrote down four kanji on a blank page of his notebook before turning it so that the staff could see, too. "How about this for a name?" he asked with a smile, showing off his composition-- 心健勝部-- and feeling exceptionally clever for coming up with a perfect fit.
Kento pulled his attention away from his calendar to look at what Shori had written, and when he saw the name, Shinkenshoubu, he grinned, because it was perfect. It was so Shori, to want to put their names into it, but it really fit perfectly in basically every way, Kento thought, and he nodded enthusiastically. "I love it," he said, looking to see how the staff reacted, although at this point, he didn't think it really mattered. Their duo was clearly going to be amazing, and the fun of starting a new project had him more excited about work than he'd been in a long time. He was so glad that Shori had thought of it, and as the staff's attention turned away from them and back to discussing the details of the show dates and times, Kento leaned over to whisper in Shori's ear. "I don't care if we're in our 30s and have two kids... I think we need to have a date with the nearest storage closet after this."
Shori smiled, raising his eyebrows questioningly at first when Kento whispered to him, but after a moment, he realized what Kento was implying, and he couldn't help but laugh. Despite everything that had happened over the years, Kento really hadn't changed, and while Shori wasn't the sort of person who had sudden urges to have sex in a closet, it was fun acting like they were young again, indulging a little in Kento's idea of celebrating every once in a while. "Sounds good," he replied amicably, nodding and intertwining his fingers with Kento's again on the tabletop. After all, he loved every moment he shared, every moment he created with Kento, and whether they were raising their kids or working on a project or stealing a few minutes of intimacy together, Shori was looking forward to every moment together from here on out, as well.
The first leg of Shinkenshoubu's first tour was a big success, selling out venues in Hokkaido and Tohoku and performing for crowds of screaming fans. Performing with only Shori and their backdancers was at once similar to performing with Sexy Zone and totally different, and the two of them had an amazing time. Running out onto the stage together with Shori to start the concert they had planned together was an amazing feeling, as was celebrating together afterwards and finally relaxing back in their hotel room. When they returned to Tokyo, Kento was glad for the break and happy to be back home with their kids, but at the same time, he was looking forward to the next leg of the tour, and he was so happy that things had gone so well.
A few days after getting back home, Kento headed over to Yugo's house to hang out and catch up over coffee. Kento was happy that they had been able to find a time when they were both free after he had been away, and once they were settled on Yugo's couch with their coffee, Kento smiled at Yugo, leaning back against the couch cushions. "So how have you been?" he asked, sipping his coffee. Spending time with Yugo had become something Kento really looked forward to over the last few years, and he was really happy that they were both still able to make time for it.
The next year of Yugo's life flew by in the same fashion as the previous few; with the addition of Bakaleya-related activities on top of his show, stage work, and the occasional drama, he felt almost as busy as Jesse anymore. After the initial press about the Bakaleya group revival had gone over incredibly well, it was announced that the six of them would be recording a cover of the old Kis-My-Ft2 song "Shake it Up" as a special temporary unit. It was fun to be in the recording studio with the other Bakaleya guys, and especially with Jesse, and every time they did something to promote the single, it felt a little bit like they were suddenly carefree teenagers again. Of course, they all had kids and families and responsibilities to go home to, but Yugo enjoyed the time together for what it was, the amazing opportunity to get to do what he loved with people he loved.
And so, a year later, things were looking better than ever. After the Bakaleya single sold far better than expected, there was talk of a concert tour, of their group becoming a permanent special unit, and Yugo couldn't have been happier. And so, it was in high spirits that he met with Kento on a rare free morning, and he couldn't help but grin as he greeted Kento at the door, pouring him a mug of coffee and sitting beside him on the sofa. "Busy," he replied earnestly, his grin not fading in the slightest, "But really great. It's looking like I'm going to be going on a concert tour for the first time ever this year… at almost forty." He laughed, mood not at all dampened by how silly that sounded as he took a sip of his coffee, looking down into the mug and reflecting. "But I've got the new drama to keep me busy until then… imagine me, costarring with Jinguji-kun." Yugo never could have imagined it only a few years ago, playing a pair of police detectives with a much younger, much more popular idol, but now here he was, and he was looking forward to the end result already. "I'm sure it's not going to get better ratings than whatever it is that's coming out with Yamada-kun and Tomoya-chan and Reon-kun," he added with a laugh, "But… maybe we can pull a close second." It was crazy, really, how content he was with everything in his life right now, and he turned to Kento with a warm smile. "How about you? You and Shori-kun are quite the sensation these days, I hear."
"Just don't let Hokuto and Fuma have another kid," Kento warned darkly, "Or you'll never get your concert tour!" But really, it was great to hear that Yugo's career had taken off so much, and he knew that Yugo would really enjoy it if the Bakaleya group did get their tour. "So filming is going well, then? You two are going to make pretty much the sexiest pair of police detectives ever... if Jinguji can get his police hat on over all that hair, at least," he joked, grinning at Yugo. When Yugo asked about him, though, Kento's smile softened, and he nodded. "The concerts were really fun," he said, thinking back over the last few weeks. "It's always fun to perform with Shori, but it felt different with just the two of us... I'm glad people liked it," he said. "Not that there was any chance they wouldn't~" He grinned at Yugo. "You must be having fun getting to work with Jesse so much again."
Yugo couldn't help but laugh at Kento's tone, shaking his head. "Keiji is still a baby, I don't think I have much to worry about right now," he replied, though he had to admit Kento did have a point; if Fuma and Hokuto had any more kids Yugo didn't know where they were going to put them. But Hokuto and Fuma could do whatever they wanted with their lives when it came down to it, and Yugo was sure that Hokuto wanted this tour just as much as Yugo did. Before he could respond though, Kento mentioned his drama shooting, and Yugo couldn't hold back another laugh-- Kento always made him laugh, which was one of the best things about spending time with Kento. "I think Jinguji-kun has the sexy part covered… but hopefully I'll be funny enough to pull my own weight," he replied jokingly. "The costume staff couldn't find a hat that didn't look ridiculous over his hair, though, so looks like he's just going to be a rebel and go without… it suits his character anyway." At the mention of his and Shori-kun's tours, however, such a happy, contented look came over Kento's face that Yugo couldn't help but smile warmly, too, nodding in agreement. "It really is great getting to work together with him," he replied, "So… I bet you and Shori-kun are having a great time." Though he almost never thought back to how things had been so long ago now, when he and Kento had both been hurting so much, he couldn't help but be truly happy that Kento's relationship was going so well again. "So when are you guys performing in Tokyo? You're going to save me the best kankeisha seats, right?" he asked, his playful grin returning.
"Next month," Kento replied, grinning back at Yugo. "You'd better be there!" As much fun as it was to tour around the country with Shori, he was really looking forward to the Tokyo shows, when all their friends and family would be able to come see the results of all their hard work. "Bring Taira along, too?" Jinsei was always talking about seeing Taira in rehearsals these days, now that they were both in Johnny's, and Kento thought it was adorable that they had become friends. "I can't believe that he and Jinsei will be performing in their second Summary this year," he said, smiling. Jinsei had been so excited for his first big show the previous year, and this year he had been so proud to tell his parents that he had real choreography and his very own spot in Johnny's mansion. "Is Taira excited?"
"Of course," Yugo replied with a laugh. "I'll see if Jesse can make it, too. Maybe we can make it into an outing after the show?" Despite that all of them were busy with work, Yugo tried to make time for Taira to have play dates with his friends, and recently, Taira had been very enthusiastic about spending time with Jinsei. They were together a few times every week at Summary rehearsals, and much to Yugo and Kento's delight, they had become close friends during their time in Johnny's together. "He's very excited," Yugo replied with a smile when Kento asked after Taira, nodding. "I'm not sure he was thrilled about getting wet last year… so he's excited to be up in Johnny's mansion where it will be dry." He laughed; Taira was a funny child sometimes, but Yugo was glad that he got along so well with the child of one of his closest friends.
"Sounds great," Kento agreed. "Let me know what day you guys can come and I'll save you some kankeisha seats~" He was excited to see Jinsei and Taira perform in Summary, too, and he laughed when Yugo said what Taira was most excited about. "They're going to be the cutest kids in all of Johnny's mansion," he said, grinning. Just relaxing and talking and laughing with Yugo was one of Kento's favorite things to do, and Kento sighed happily, relaxing against the couch cushions. He was glad that after all these years, he could share his successes both as an idol and a parent with a friend as great as Yugo, and as he sipped his coffee, he thought that after a tiring few weeks on tour, there was nothing quite like relaxing with an old friend.
"They are," Yugo agreed, grinning already at the thought of Kento's son, flashy and flamboyant just like his father, and his own dancing together just as Yugo and Kento had so many years ago. There was nothing quite like having a friend to share those moments up on stage with, Yugo knew from experience, and he hoped that Jinsei and Taira would stay friends long into the future. Looking down into his coffee at the heartwarming thought, his smile softened and he glanced back up at Kento. "I can't wait to see the show together," he added warmly, his smile broadening. Knowing that he would have Kento here for him through the good times as well as the bad, to listen to him complain about a rough day at work or to gush about the successes of their children, Yugo thought, was one of the best things in his life, and he knew he was lucky to have a friend like Kento. They had been through a lot together, the ups and downs, the rock bottoms and the sky highs, and Yugo knew that whatever the future held, for him or for Kento, they could face it together.
It was hard to hear everything Shori was saying, hard to stay quiet and listen and try to understand Shori's criticisms, but Kento didn't want to yell or fight, he wanted to figure out how to make things better. The last thing he wanted was for Shori to think he was a bad parent, so he had always tried to defend himself, to prove that he was right, because he had never felt like he was doing anything wrong. But Shori had been tired and stressed, too, and now, listening to Shori say it, it seemed almost obvious that Kento's complaining and getting defensive and eventually fighting over it had only made everything worse. "I... I guess I thought that having a second child would be just like having the first one," he said. "But then it felt like everything changed, and... I felt like I tried to talk to you about it." Kento laughed a little, shaking his head. "I guess complaining really doesn't count as talking at all." He sighed. "I hated hearing you say I didn't care about the kids... But I guess I've really been acting like I don't care."
"Jinsei and Ryusei are different people… they always will be," Shori replied evenly, unable to keep from smiling even slightly at the thought of his children, and at the knowledge that they weren't going to have to survive a divorce settlement after all. But Kento was right-- in response to Kento's hostility, Shori had probably been too harsh, too critical, as well. "I'm sorry that I hurt you," he started thoughtfully, looking up at Kento again. "I… I was just scared. Scared that you wished we didn't have Ryusei, or that you didn't like him… And every time you complained, every time it felt like you were yelling at me without even listening to what I was trying to say… it just felt like you were pushing me farther and farther away." It was strange, putting into words now what he had kept buried inside of him for so long, but this, he knew, was a step towards making things better, and so even if it was hard to find the right words, the right way to frame things… he had to try. "I was so afraid that I was going to lose you… and that the kids were going to lose you, too," he admitted quietly, squeezing his eyes shut at the memory of the all-too-real fear that had gripped him up until this conversation had started.
Kento had been so wrapped up in his own worries and problems by the end that somehow he hadn't realized, but listening to Shori talk about it, he could hardly imagine how scary it must have been when he had stopped coming home at night those past few weeks, when he'd stopped ever telling Shori where he was going, and it was awful to think about Shori worrying all alone every night, not knowing whether Kento was going to come back. "I'm sorry for scaring you that way... I never wanted to leave," he said, "I just... I didn't know how to deal with things anymore. I didn't know how to say what I was thinking without starting a fight... But... I love you, and I love Jinsei and Ryusei, both of them, so much." He paused, thinking about it. "I don't even understand it, really. Being a parent. But... I liked doing it with you." He swallowed, feeling emotional again all of the sudden. "So... I want to feel that way again." Kento wanted to touch Shori, even just his hand or his shoulder, something comforting for both of them, but Shori had seemed so closed in on himself through their whole conversation, keeping away from Kento on the other side of the table, and after everything, Kento wasn't sure it was okay to touch Shori anymore.
Shori was hit with a sudden wave of emotion at Kento's words, and he swallowed back the lump in his throat, nodding slowly. "I… I've never stopped wanting that, you know. Even if I was expecting the worst, I kept holding out hope that you'd come back to me…" But it hurt to think about even now, how awful it had been knowing that Kento had tossed Shori, had tossed their family aside for an affair, and he tried to push the feelings aside. That wasn't the issue right now; Kento had said he wanted to fix things, and so what mattered was getting Kento to understand just what had been making Shori so unhappy before things had completely fallen apart. "But… if parenting with you means parenting alone, I can't do that, and if it means agreeing with you one hundred percent of the time and never expressing my own opinion, I can't do that either. Parenting is difficult, and of course we're going to be stressed, of course we're going to disagree, but it's not going to work if I can't explain my feelings for fear that you're going to blow your fuse on me." Even now, Shori hated it; Kento had strong opinions, to be sure, but Shori always had too, and they used to get on so well, to respect one another just as much in disagreement as in agreement. Shori didn't understand why Kento had suddenly changed, and rolled his lips together, thinking. "And you were so insistent that I didn't want to spend time with you anymore, but it was never that I didn't want to be around you. Just… how was I supposed to spend all of my time taking care of Ryusei so that you didn't have to and spend all my time with you? Not to mention that it was hard to find the desire to rearrange my life to make time when basically all it seemed like you did was yell at me anymore…"
Even now, it was hard for Kento to listen to all of Shori's criticisms, but he wanted so badly to fix things, and it was clear now that his yelling, his responses to Shori that came from anger or annoyance or defensiveness, had only pushed Shori further away, and that was the opposite of what Kento had wanted. "I... I'm sorry for pushing you away like that. I want... to listen more, now," he said, because Shori had so many thoughts, Kento knew, and he hadn't heard or listened to any of them in... who knew how long. "Of course I don't want you to have to parent alone, and... we've always disagreed on some things, right?" But somehow things had gotten worse, and Kento had been so unhappy... and he had felt like Shori wasn't trying to understand at all. "But... I started to feel like you weren't listening to me. Like you didn't care how I felt."
Shori nodded slowly, thinking, absorbing what Kento was saying. He knew that, once things had escalated, he hadn't necessarily been the most willing to compromise after they were already having, in Shori's opinion, more than a compromise in that Shori looked after the kids and Kento parented… whenever he felt like it. But it wasn't fair of him to have blocked Kento out entirely, and so he looked back at Kento, rolling his lips together before replying. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you the impression that I didn't care how you felt. But the truth is… by the time the fighting started escalating, I really felt as if you didn't care how I felt." Sighing, he looking up at the ceiling, wondering why it was that everything had suddenly fallen apart between them when they had always been so good at being honest and open with one another. "Tell me what it is that you want," he said suddenly, feeling as if there was no way to fix things besides taking them head on. That's what he and Kento had always been good at; tackling big tasks together, melding their ideas into one and creating things that were better for it. Already, they had done it once with Jinsei, and while things felt awful now, Shori knew that now that Kento was being honest with him again, they could push through again. "I want you to be happy, Kento. But now that we have Ryusei, I can't sit back and watch you act like you don't want him. He needs two fathers, and no matter how much I do, I'm only one person. So tell me how we can make this work, and then once we see eye to eye on that…" he trailed, swallowing. Even moving in the right direction, being open with Kento was scary after so long, after Kento had done so much to hurt him, but he knew that the only way to go from here was up. "Then maybe we can figure out how to make you and me into… into us again."
Kento nodded, taking in what Shori was saying. Somehow, the good relationship they'd had for so long had broken down, and they'd both ended up feeling pushed away and isolated and like the other didn't care how they felt... but now that they were talking about it, things had to get better, right? But now Shori was asking Kento what he wanted, and somehow, faced with the question head-on, it was hard to figure out exactly what it was that he wanted. It wasn't that he wanted to get out of parenting duties; he loved his sons, and he knew that Shori needed a break sometimes, too. Right now, after everything, all he really wanted was for things to be good between him and Shori again, and to somehow try to make up for what he had put Shori through... But thinking back to when they had first started fighting, Kento had started missing a lot of the things they used to do together, whether it was going out or staying in, work-related or just for fun. And Kento thought that they could still do things like that, even with kids, if they tried... "What I want... It sounds silly," Kento said, thinking about how to put it into words, "But I missed the things we used to do together, before we had kids. And I think... more than the things themselves, I missed the way our relationship used to be. But... I think we can still do that, even with kids..." Kento trailed off, looking at Shori and wishing he could read his expression better. "What I really want right now, though... I wish there was some way I could make all this up to you."
Kento's words washed over Shori slowly, and Shori tried his best to understand them. For once, though, it wasn't so hard; Shori missed the things that he and Kento had used to do together too. When they had had Jinsei, there was less time, of course, but Shori hadn't felt slighted, and the things that he and Kento had done together with Jinsei as a family had been equally rewarding, and so he hadn't really thought about it, and of course, once Ryusei came around was when everything started to fall apart… But now that it had been so long, Shori missed everything he had had with Kento, and so he nodded, trying to straighten his thoughts out in his head. "Everything changes," he said slowly, and it was true; they were parents now, and they couldn't spend whole days in bed eating takeout and leftovers, going over concert plans, they couldn't stay out late at night and come back at four in the morning and then sleep until noon the next day. But that didn't mean the important things had to change, and Shori knew Kento was right. "But… all we need is a little patience," he added, nodding emphatically. "If you could try to see what I'm asking you for, if you could try to think of taking care of the baby as less of an awful chore… and if you could be honest with me without being whining or accusatory…" Because that was where things went wrong, Shori was realizing. They had always been honest with one another, but when the disagreement over Ryusei had made them edgier, things had gone downhill. "Then… I'll do my best to listen better, and to be fair and honest with you, too," he finished after a moment, looking up at Kento again to see how he had taken it. He looked so remorseful on the other side of the table, so small and not like himself at all that something inside Shori flipped over, and he licked his lips, letting out a small sigh as his lips curled up the tiniest bit at the corners. "Come here…?" he invited quietly, standing up and holding out his hands, taking Kento's into his own once he was within arm's reach. "No one can undo the past. But if you can promise to be honest and open with me from now on… and to try not to get so caught up in your own perspective…" And it was so unlike Shori to act impulsively, but somehow, in that moment, he couldn't help leaning up and brushing a brief kiss against Kento's cheek. His smile quirked up just the slightest bit more on one side as he drew back, meeting Kento's eyes again and squeezing his fingers, and despite everything, Shori couldn't help but feel a little optimistic. "…then you're already forgiven," he finished quietly, hoping Kento understood that he truly meant it.
Kento nodded at Shori's words, trying to take them in and really understand them. If he knew Shori was listening to him, if they talked and made time for each other again, then Kento knew he could be honest with Shori again, and stop yelling and getting angry, and even happily stay home with Ryusei, and if they could do all that... then things would get better. But when Shori beckoned Kento over, something like a smile appearing on his lips, it seemed like things might already be getting better, and Kento smiled back as he stood. And when Shori took Kento's hands, when he kissed Kento's cheek, Kento's heart swelled, because Shori was really going to forgive him, and things were really, finally going to be okay again, even after all of Kento's mistakes. "I promise," Kento said, squeezing Shori's hands back. "I... Thank you," he said, swallowing, because it felt like his heart was a little too full as he smiled back at Shori, not wanting to let go of his hands.
Seeing Kento smile again, really smile, just for him, because of him was more than Shori thought he was ever going to get again, and even though they had come a long way in this conversation, talked through a lot of their problems, somehow, in seeing that smile, all of the fear and the pain of the last month finally felt as if it had been soothed away, and before Shori could even realize what was happening, he was beginning to cry, tears spilling down his cheeks unhindered. It was awful, thinking how Kento had become something frightening to him, someone with the power to hurt him so badly that Shori couldn't even comprehend it, rather than the person he depended on, the person he trusted more than anyone, and the sense of relief, that things really were going to get better was overwhelming. Perhaps, some part of him thought, it was unwise to be so trusting so easily, but Shori knew that at the end of the day, Kento had only been so terrifying to him for the past five months because Shori had loved him, and it was impossible not to trust him when Kento promised to try to make things better. For better or for worse, they were going to move forward from here, and while Shori had no idea what the future held, he was beginning to dare to hope that it would be for better. Tears streaming down his face, he let his head fall to rest on Kento's shoulder, opening himself up to Kento emotionally for the first time in a very, very long time. "Oh god, Kento, I was so scared," he whispered, his voice choked with tears and emotions, "But… I love you, I really do."
When Shori leaned his head on Kento's shoulder, Kento tentatively wrapped his arms around him, holding him gently and rubbing his back soothingly. "I love you, too," he murmured, Shori's tears making Kento feel choked up as well. He felt awful for making Shori so scared and hurting him so much, but everything seemed a little brighter now that they had finally talked about it all, and Kento was sure that together, they could make things work again. "I'm so sorry for everything," he said, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of Shori's hair. "But... I'm so happy to be back." Because even if he had never really left, it felt like he was coming back to something that he and Shori hadn't had together in a very long time, and he was going to do his best to make things just as good as they used to be--or better, because there were amazing things about having kids together with Shori, too, even if Kento hadn't been able to see the good parts for a long time. But for now, Kento was happy just to be back together with Shori like this, just the two of them, happy at the thought of actually going to bed together again, of talking over breakfast in the morning and collaborating at work and eating dinner with their kids. Pulling back slightly to look at Shori, he smiled softly. "I love you," he said again, because he had months and months to make up for. "Let's go to bed?"
Over the course of the next year, things began to change. Of course, there were the immediate changes; Jesse began to focus on rearranging his schedule and spending more time at home right away, and it seemed as if some things practically got better over night. Yugo felt bad every time he heard that Jesse had had to turn down a drama role or that his group's single's release would be delayed due to time constraints, but having Jesse back at home again was really the solution to so many of Yugo's problems, and so he tried forget the guilt and remember to tell Jesse every day just how much he loved and appreciated him. And as time went on, more and more changes became noticeable-- it had been impossible to tell, at first, because the effects were so minute, but as they built up over the months, Yugo began to notice that Taira was happier, more energetic than he had been in the past, and that his own work days were beginning to feel less overwhelming and more rewarding. He began to truly enjoy watching his little Juniors learn their choreography and grow as performers over the course of rehearsals for a show, and was even cast as the lead in Playzone the following year when Yuma decided to take time off to spend more time with his kids. "You just have an energy that Kyomoto-kun doesn't have," Tsubasa-kun had explained to him with a pat on the back when Yugo had asked, surprise clear on his face, if this was the actual casting, and Yugo was able to give even more than one hundred percent with the knowledge that Jesse would be in the audience when it came time for the performance.
And while his home and family and work life continued to get better, Yugo was overjoyed that something else was able to stay constant in his life: Kento. True to his word, Kento hadn't let everything they had done wrong get in the way, and once they had come clean, they had continued to stay friends, texting one another most days and meeting up once or twice a week for coffee or lunch or just to chat as they waited for their turn in the Myojo photo studios. And even if sometimes, Yugo had a particularly strong memory of how things had been in the past, those thoughts faded with time, and without the lies and the sneaking around, his and Kento's friendship got even stronger. When he had confessed everything he had done wrong to Jesse Yugo had told him with whom he had been having his affair, that Kento was really nothing more than a very good friend to him, and as time went on, he was happy to prove that that was true, as Kento filled the position in his life that had been empty ever since Fuma had become so wrapped up in his family. It was amazing having a best friend in Kento again, and when, slowly but surely, Kento and Jesse were able to spend time together without seeming tense, when Yugo was able to greet Shori-kun without receiving an icy glare, he knew that they had put the whole sordid business behind them, and that only good things were left.
And so things got better and better, slowly but surely, until about a year after the affair had ended, things suddenly took an unexpected turn for the best. Out of the blue, Yugo was asked to audition for a role in an upcoming movie, and to his surprise, somehow, not Yamada Ryosuke or Kento or Hokuto but he was cast as the lead in one of the biggest title movies of the season. Yugo hadn't been in a movie since he was eighteen, but if there was one thing he was good at, it was putting his best foot forward, and so with a good attitude and all the acting skills he had built up doing stageplays for the last five years, the movie filmings all went off without a hitch. The hours on set were long, and everything was so different from what Yugo was used to, from the rehearsal halls and the kids and cheesy show tunes mixed in with popular Johnny's music, but in the movie filmings, it seemed, he was able to find just a little of what he had been wishing for in his career ever since it had become clear that he wasn't going to debut.
By the time the movie was done, Yugo was at once excited to see the release after all of his hard work and sad to be losing the sort of work he so enjoyed, but he wasn't left without a light at the end of the tunnel for long. No sooner had his movie filming ended than he was being called into a meeting with the management and asked how he'd like to have his own variety show. Yugo was shocked; he hadn't had a regular TV spot since he was in his early twenties, but the management assured him that his friendly, laid back personality and good sense of humour would be perfect for a variety host, and so Yugo went into this new opportunity with high hopes. Sure enough, the show was a hit, getting good ratings in its first month, and Yugo felt as if he had been swept away by a whirlwind, suddenly, now that his work had picked up like never before, and he didn't want to get off. But he still had time for his family, and with Jesse making the changes necessary to accommodate Yugo's more busy work schedule, their little family blossomed, Yugo feeling more content in marriage, closer to Jesse than he ever had before, and Taira growing up healthy and happier every day. Yugo had never been good at anticipating the challenges and emotions that came along with parenting, but when Taira began second, third grade, when he won a prize for a clay sculpture he'd made in art class, when he auditioned and was successfully accepted into Johnny's… Yugo knew he had never been more proud and happy in his life.
And so it hardly felt like any time had passed at all when Yugo's movie was suddenly being released, but then his life was swept away again, as old fans he'd thought must have forgotten him and new fans alike flocked to the theatres, Yugo heard himself described in ways he'd never expected, "sexy" and "cool" and "handsome," and he couldn't help but laugh and rub the back of his neck in embarrassment as guests on his show gushed over his performance. The show itself began to do better with the hype of the movie, as well, and before Yugo knew what was happening, he had been pushed to a better timeslot and was getting more viewership than ever. He half expected the hype to die down once the movie was out of theatres, and when that didn't happen, once the DVD release was done, but somehow, even months later, Yugo was still as popular as ever, and he could barely believe it. Somehow, even without a debut, it seemed bettering his relationship with Jesse had breathed new life into his career, and he couldn't have been happier. His home life was amazing, work was amazing, and it seemed, finally, Yugo's life had become perfect.
And so things continued this way for another year or so, Yugo spending his days filming for his show or rehearsing for the stage or, on occasion, being cast in a new drama and his evenings at home with his loving husband and son, and in between, going to coffee with Kento or on dates with Jesse or sometimes there was even time to see Fuma and Hokuto and their old friends. Yugo didn't think things could possibly get any better, but then one day, he and Taiga were called from the theatre to a mysterious staff meeting over at the Johnny's main offices. They joked along the way about what it might be-- more new Juniors being added to Shounen-Tachi this year despite the fact that they already had more than they could handle? A new play that they had been cast in? They had no way of knowing, but the last thing they were expecting was to walk into a meeting room filled with Hokuto and Shintaro and Jesse and Juri and to be told that the old Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou movie was being rereleased the six of them were going to be doing events to promote it.
It felt like a whirlwind all over again, Yugo and Jesse and all their friends from their teenage years, and after the meeting and the rest of the workday, Yugo came home to find Jesse equally still in disbelief. After they had fed Taira and put him to bed, Yugo couldn't help but laugh as he cleared the dishes from the table and set them in the sink. "Can you believe it?" he asked, shaking his head with a chuckle. "What are they even thinking? Though I have to admit, I'd like to see Hokuto attempt those fighting stunts now…" And even years after Yugo's bad period, the struggle he'd had to hold himself together years back, it felt good just to talk and joke with Jesse, with his husband, the man he loved.
After Yugo told Jesse about his affair and Jesse realized just how much their relationship had fallen apart, things had gotten better more quickly than Jesse could have imagined. It was hard, at first, to figure out where to cut back on his work, how to tell the management what changes he wanted to make, but it was more than worth it when he finally got to spend time with Yugo again, to get closer to Taira again, and when he started to be able to see how much happier Yugo and Taira both seemed. Their family really felt like a family again, and when Yugo started having more success at work, too, Jesse couldn't have been happier for him. Sitting in the audience with Taira to see Yugo's first starring role in Playzone, staying up to watch Yugo's variety show, attending the premiere of Yugo's movie together, all of it made Jesse so happy for Yugo, and he could tell that Yugo was really happy, too. Watching Taira grow was amazing, too, and Jesse was so glad to have the time to go to his school performances and help him with his eikaiwa homework and sometimes even go places with all three of them--and when, soon after starting third grade, Taira auditioned and was accepted into Johnny's, Jesse couldn't have been more proud.
So with Jesse's group's popularity staying high, Yugo's success only growing, and his family life better than ever, it didn't seem like things could get any more perfect, but the news that the Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou movie was being rereleased, and that the six members of their old group would be doing events together to promote it was outside the realms of anything that Jesse would have thought could happen. He loved his current group and the bonds they had formed over the years, but the idea of working with all his old friends again, and working with Yugo, especially, was amazing, and he grinned at Yugo as they finished clearing the table. "I don't know what they're thinking," he said, shrugging and laughing a little, "But... I can't wait to work with everyone again."
Yugo nodded as he turned on the water and waited for it to warm up before grabbing for the sponge and the dish detergent. "I know. It's been forever since I've worked with any of you but Kyomocchan," he replied with a warm smile, glancing back at Jesse. His grin was so warm, so genuine that Yugo couldn't help wanting to be close to him, and despite the fact that he should be starting on the dishes, he took a step back, turning to face Jesse and draping his arms over Jesse's shoulders, looking up at his husband with a grin. "It's been forever since I got to work with you," he added, winking playfully at Jesse and adding teasingly, "I keep telling you to come on my show, but you never do…"
Jesse smiled back at Yugo, shrugging bashfully. "Maybe now I'll finally get to come on?" he said, wrapping his arms around Yugo's back. "I wonder if the management will complain that we're too obvious again..." The thought was amusing, of flirting on TV like they used to when they were teenagers and giving the fans a taste of something they hadn't seen in years, even if most of them expected Jesse to give fanservice with Hokuto these days. Just getting to work together was going to be a dream come true, though, and Jesse's smile grew at the thought of being able to share something like this with Yugo. "It's going to be so much fun," he said, reluctant to let go of Yugo even though there were dishes to be done.
"Maybe I can have all of you on," Yugo replied with a smile, liking the idea of watching his friends' antics from the position of the host. At Jesse's words, though, he laughed, shaking his head. "I think we're a little better than we were as teenagers," he replied playfully, smiling at the memory of being eighteen and only too eager to sneak his hand into his boyfriend's. They had been so young the last time they had worked together as a group, and it would be so nostalgic to be back together again, even if Yugo couldn't comprehend why the management was planning such an unexpected re-release. "I can't wait," he responded quietly, his smile softening as he leaned up to place a gentle kiss on Jesse's lips.
"Me neither," Jesse said, leaning down to return Yugo's kiss. All the possibilities, all the fun things that their old group might get to do together were setting his mind aflutter, and he smiled down at Yugo, resting his hands on the small of Yugo's back. Things really were looking up, even more than he had ever hoped, and he was so happy to be sharing it with Yugo.
Over the next few months after getting everything out in the open with Shori, things slowly began to get better for Kento. The fact that he was speaking to Shori again was an immediate change for the better, and with Kento's new resolution to listen to Shori more, their communication about both work and family matters gradually improved. It was wonderful to have Shori in his life again after essentially shutting him out for so many months, and simple things like asking Shori's opinion on a set list or grabbing conbini food together during a break sometimes put a stupid grin on Kento's face, because he had missed all those things so much. Everything wasn't perfect right away, of course, and Kento could tell that Shori was still hurting, that what Kento had done wasn't going to go away overnight, but things improved slowly but surely, and after a few months, half a year, a year had passed, Kento started to feel like their relationship was growing stronger than ever.
Kento did his best to be a better father, too, and with Shori's support, taking care of their kids did start to feel like less of a chore again, and Kento was so proud of them as he watched all their accomplishments as they grew. As Ryusei started to talk more, Kento got to know his personality better, and watching him grow into his own person, so completely different from Jinsei, was sort of amazing, Kento thought. And of course, Jinsei continued to make Kento more and more proud as he grew older, starting elementary school and moving up in his dance classes and eventually auditioning and joining Johnny's, a moment Kento definitely ranked in the proudest ones of his life.
So things kept getting better, as Sexy Zone finished up their tour and released several new singles, and Kento and Shori started collaborating again more and more. It was one of the things they did best, after all, and Kento found that when they collaborated not only at work but also at home, to take care of their kids and make time for themselves and for each other, everything started to seem better. And at work, of course, things were looking up, and at the end of the year, when they began preparations for a new album, their whole band working together to make it the best it could be, Shori and Kento started working on a new song together, with lyrics by Shori and Kento on piano. It felt wonderful to really work together like that again, from discussing ideas for the album while they were lying in bed to spending time in the studio together, and maybe, Kento thought, they could really put all the bad things behind them.
With Yugo, too, it felt like they were able to put all their mistakes behind them, and Kento was happy that even as months and years passed, they were able to stay friends, to stay just as close as they had become. They kept up their habit of texting each other, sharing funny stories about work or their kids and making plans to meet up for lunch or coffee on a regular basis, now without any of the sneaking around that they had had to do before. Kento loved having Yugo to talk to in good times and bad, and he was happy to see Yugo's family life and career improving too, first gradually and then suddenly skyrocketing when Yugo's movie was a huge success.
So Kento was optimistic about the future as Sexy Zone got into the swing of album promotion, with lots of magazine and TV spots as well as rehearsals for a short round of concerts for the release. It had been a while since their last major national tour, though, a fact that Kento had mentioned to Shori in passing, and when his schedule one day included a meeting with the whole band and their managers, Kento wondered if the management had been thinking the same thing. He made it to the meeting just in time, rushing from a solo photoshoot for a magazine, and he grabbed a seat next to Shori, kissing him hello and greeting the rest of his bandmates.
Shori smiled at Kento as Kento sat beside him, in the seat Shori had saved for him. It was wonderful just to be able to do something simple like this together, something as simple as greeting one another at the beginning of work together, and while Shori didn't think much about the way things used to be anymore-- there were only so many thoughts to be had in one day, and Shori didn't want to waste any of them on the bad things-- he still appreciated every moment with his husband more now for the fact that he had very nearly lost Kento forever. But they had come so far from that, things were so different now that the bad memories had mostly faded away, and Shori was left only with the good, the memories of working together and collaborating on work projects over the past few years, of Kento stepping up and becoming a better dad than Shori had thought possible, of their children growing bigger and more beautiful with each day under Kento and Shori's loving care. Where they were now was so far from where they'd been three years ago that Shori could hardly compare, and he knew there was no reason to look back when there were only good things on the horizon. And so, he smiled at Kento, waiting for him to settle into his seat before slipping a hand over Kento's on the table, entangling their fingers and squeezing Kento's hand affectionately. Shori had never been one for grand gestures of love of extravagant public displays of affection, but he liked to be touching nonetheless, even just a little bit. "You made it," he commented after a moment, offering Kento a smile and hoping Kento knew just how happy Shori was to be here by his side at any given moment.
"I made it," Kento agreed, smiling back at Shori. Shori smiled at him a lot these days, and Kento loved seeing him so happy, loved knowing that he could make Shori happy. "I guess I don't have time to eat a banana before we start," he said, disappointed, but the last of the staff were sitting down now, and a glance at Fuma's expression told him that he definitely didn't have time. When their band's manager started speaking, though, Kento's fruit cravings were forgotten, because his prediction was right, and the staff had tentatively booked several locations around Japan for Sexy Zone's next national tour, starting about nine months away. He grinned at Shori, excited already at the prospect of another big tour, jotting down notes about the proposed dates and locations.
When their manager paused, though, Fuma raised his hand, looking sheepish. "Those dates... won't work for me, actually. I'm..." He paused, smiling shyly, and Kento waited for him to continue, confused as to what this could be about. "Hokuto and I are expecting another child."
Fuma looked so pleased with himself, despite how he was trying not to smile too widely, but Kento was having trouble even processing what he had said. Expecting another child? A fourth one? Kento looked from Marius to Sou to Shori and back to Fuma, incredulous. Fuma was saying they couldn't have a tour... because three kids wasn't enough for him? Their bandmates and the staff looked equally incredulous, and Kento wasn't sure what to say. "You're... adopting another child?" Why, he wanted to ask, but he held his tongue, knowing he wouldn't get any kind of satisfactory explanation even if he did ask.
Shori's eagerness at the mention of a new tour was interrupted by Fuma's words, and Shori blinked at him, surprised. But of course, Fuma had always loved children, and the other three had been spaced four years apart from one another… so he supposed that right about now was the right timing for the next one. It wouldn't have been Shori's life choice to have four children, but to each his own, and Shori knew that Fuma and Hokuto were wonderful parents who would be thrilled at the chance to raise another baby. And so, "Congratulations," he bid, giving Fuma a warm smile as sat beaming on the opposite side of the table. It would be a shame if they couldn't do any sort of tour, though… Shori loved all of the combined efforts that went into tour planning, the way all sorts of staff and the artists themselves were able to come together to create something amazing, and he especially had been looking forward to taking the most active planning role on the part of the group alongside Kento. Tours had always been his and Kento's little project together, and he had wanted the chance to create a wonderful end product together yet again… but, he supposed, if Fuma was having another baby, then there wasn't much to be done about that.
"Thank you," Fuma said, still smiling widely. "I'm sorry about the tour, but the baby is due just a couple months before those dates..." Kento sighed as Fuma trailed off, put out that his hopes of a tour were apparently being shot down, but there wasn't much he could say to argue with the fact that Fuma was having a baby, and it wasn't like they could have a tour one member down. It was hard to tell from Shori's face, of course, but Kento thought that he looked disappointed, too, and Kento rested his chin in the hand that wasn't still clasped in Shori's, not caring that he was pouting a little. When Sou spoke up to congratulate Fuma and say that he and Marius had been talking about a little project that they could probably use the free time to do--a children's album, appropriately--Kento glanced over at Shori again, wondering if they should be thinking about solo projects then, too. A tour had been what Kento was really wanting, but he supposed they could find plenty of other things to keep themselves busy while Sexy Zone was down one member...
Shori had never been one to jump to conclusions or emotions, but while he was happy for Fuma, he really had been looking forward to touring, to planning and executing a tour alongside Kento. But then… when Sou mentioned that he and Marius had been thinking about activities between the two of them… why couldn't he and Kento plan and execute a tour by themselves? After all, the venues were all booked, and it would be a hassle for the staff to have to change things, right? And plenty of people had done solo or duo or subgroup tours before, Shori was sure of it, and even if they were short three members… he knew he and Kento could make a concert spectacular together. And so, before the staff members' talk about canceling got too far, despite that it was against his instinct, Shori broke into the low murmur of the room to ask, "What if Kento and I use those dates and do a tour with just the two of us… as a new subgroup?" He was met by blank stares, but he couldn't help but smile-- it was impossible not to smile at the thought of building yet another aspect of his life with Kento, and even if this time, the idea fell through… they could always try in the future, right?
Kento blinked at Shori, a smile growing on his features as Shori's words sank in. A tour with just the two of them, as a new duo... It was an idea that only Shori would suggest, but to Kento, it sounded great. They could plan it all themselves, and there were plenty of songs that they had sung and written over the years that they didn't have time to do in Sexy Zone concerts. Having a project like that for just the two of them, and touring and performing just the two of them sounded pretty amazing, and Kento nodded in agreement, looking at the staff. "We can do it," he confirmed. "Why let the bookings go to waste, right?" Looking back at Shori, Kento grinned, already looking forward to all the possibilities.
Shori's smile grew as Kento agreed with him, and he squeezed Kento's hand, giving him a loving look before turning back to their staff. Their manager was looking at the pair of them skeptically, as if she thought that everyone in the group had suddenly gone insane, but Shori knew they could argue their case. "Kento and I do most of the planning on the part of the group for Sexy Zone's concerts already," he pointed out calmly, glancing around the table and hoping their manager noticed that only he and Kento had notebooks and pens readied, the rest of the group tapping a few dates into their phones' calendars at most. "And a new subgroup will create new interest in the group among casual fans." Shori wasn't sure if that was true, but when he thought about it, it seemed legitimate, and besides, he knew that a tour he and Kento put together themselves would be an amazing show… which would create DVD sales and draw in new fans, right? "Plenty of members of popular groups have done solo projects… and I think Kento and I could really make it into something special," he concluded, thoughts and ideas already rolling around in his head. He hoped their manager would understand, because Shori was certain that any project he and Kento made together would be amazing.
Kento nodded along as Shori spoke, watching the staff murmur skeptically amongst themselves. He knew that Shori was right, that they could handle it on their own and really make it into something special, and when their manager agreed that it would probably be better not to have to cancel all the bookings, Kento knew that they basically had a yes. Still grinning, he pulled up the calendar on his phone so that they could start scheduling planning meetings, assuring the staff that their tour was sure to be a success. "We're going to be great," he said, turning to Shori and bumping their shoulders together affectionately. This was one of the best ideas Shori had had yet, he thought, and he couldn't wait to start planning.
"I know," Shori replied vacantly, a smile on his face but his mind already light-years ahead. They would need tons of new costumes, and new set pieces, and they'd have to come up with new choreography for two, and new gimmicks to excite the crowd with the lack of the other members, lots of flying and water… And of course, they would need a name for their new subgroup. This was all so important, like naming a baby, and he felt overwhelmed with the excitement of all the possibilities as Kento began to work out meeting dates and rehearsal times with the staff. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he ought to be listening and paying attention, but he trusted Kento to sort things out, and he couldn't stop all the ideas and creativity rolling around in his brain now, and when suddenly, things clicked into place, he didn't feel bad interrupting Kento and the staff's discussion as he wrote down four kanji on a blank page of his notebook before turning it so that the staff could see, too. "How about this for a name?" he asked with a smile, showing off his composition-- 心健勝部-- and feeling exceptionally clever for coming up with a perfect fit.
Kento pulled his attention away from his calendar to look at what Shori had written, and when he saw the name, Shinkenshoubu, he grinned, because it was perfect. It was so Shori, to want to put their names into it, but it really fit perfectly in basically every way, Kento thought, and he nodded enthusiastically. "I love it," he said, looking to see how the staff reacted, although at this point, he didn't think it really mattered. Their duo was clearly going to be amazing, and the fun of starting a new project had him more excited about work than he'd been in a long time. He was so glad that Shori had thought of it, and as the staff's attention turned away from them and back to discussing the details of the show dates and times, Kento leaned over to whisper in Shori's ear. "I don't care if we're in our 30s and have two kids... I think we need to have a date with the nearest storage closet after this."
Shori smiled, raising his eyebrows questioningly at first when Kento whispered to him, but after a moment, he realized what Kento was implying, and he couldn't help but laugh. Despite everything that had happened over the years, Kento really hadn't changed, and while Shori wasn't the sort of person who had sudden urges to have sex in a closet, it was fun acting like they were young again, indulging a little in Kento's idea of celebrating every once in a while. "Sounds good," he replied amicably, nodding and intertwining his fingers with Kento's again on the tabletop. After all, he loved every moment he shared, every moment he created with Kento, and whether they were raising their kids or working on a project or stealing a few minutes of intimacy together, Shori was looking forward to every moment together from here on out, as well.
The first leg of Shinkenshoubu's first tour was a big success, selling out venues in Hokkaido and Tohoku and performing for crowds of screaming fans. Performing with only Shori and their backdancers was at once similar to performing with Sexy Zone and totally different, and the two of them had an amazing time. Running out onto the stage together with Shori to start the concert they had planned together was an amazing feeling, as was celebrating together afterwards and finally relaxing back in their hotel room. When they returned to Tokyo, Kento was glad for the break and happy to be back home with their kids, but at the same time, he was looking forward to the next leg of the tour, and he was so happy that things had gone so well.
A few days after getting back home, Kento headed over to Yugo's house to hang out and catch up over coffee. Kento was happy that they had been able to find a time when they were both free after he had been away, and once they were settled on Yugo's couch with their coffee, Kento smiled at Yugo, leaning back against the couch cushions. "So how have you been?" he asked, sipping his coffee. Spending time with Yugo had become something Kento really looked forward to over the last few years, and he was really happy that they were both still able to make time for it.
The next year of Yugo's life flew by in the same fashion as the previous few; with the addition of Bakaleya-related activities on top of his show, stage work, and the occasional drama, he felt almost as busy as Jesse anymore. After the initial press about the Bakaleya group revival had gone over incredibly well, it was announced that the six of them would be recording a cover of the old Kis-My-Ft2 song "Shake it Up" as a special temporary unit. It was fun to be in the recording studio with the other Bakaleya guys, and especially with Jesse, and every time they did something to promote the single, it felt a little bit like they were suddenly carefree teenagers again. Of course, they all had kids and families and responsibilities to go home to, but Yugo enjoyed the time together for what it was, the amazing opportunity to get to do what he loved with people he loved.
And so, a year later, things were looking better than ever. After the Bakaleya single sold far better than expected, there was talk of a concert tour, of their group becoming a permanent special unit, and Yugo couldn't have been happier. And so, it was in high spirits that he met with Kento on a rare free morning, and he couldn't help but grin as he greeted Kento at the door, pouring him a mug of coffee and sitting beside him on the sofa. "Busy," he replied earnestly, his grin not fading in the slightest, "But really great. It's looking like I'm going to be going on a concert tour for the first time ever this year… at almost forty." He laughed, mood not at all dampened by how silly that sounded as he took a sip of his coffee, looking down into the mug and reflecting. "But I've got the new drama to keep me busy until then… imagine me, costarring with Jinguji-kun." Yugo never could have imagined it only a few years ago, playing a pair of police detectives with a much younger, much more popular idol, but now here he was, and he was looking forward to the end result already. "I'm sure it's not going to get better ratings than whatever it is that's coming out with Yamada-kun and Tomoya-chan and Reon-kun," he added with a laugh, "But… maybe we can pull a close second." It was crazy, really, how content he was with everything in his life right now, and he turned to Kento with a warm smile. "How about you? You and Shori-kun are quite the sensation these days, I hear."
"Just don't let Hokuto and Fuma have another kid," Kento warned darkly, "Or you'll never get your concert tour!" But really, it was great to hear that Yugo's career had taken off so much, and he knew that Yugo would really enjoy it if the Bakaleya group did get their tour. "So filming is going well, then? You two are going to make pretty much the sexiest pair of police detectives ever... if Jinguji can get his police hat on over all that hair, at least," he joked, grinning at Yugo. When Yugo asked about him, though, Kento's smile softened, and he nodded. "The concerts were really fun," he said, thinking back over the last few weeks. "It's always fun to perform with Shori, but it felt different with just the two of us... I'm glad people liked it," he said. "Not that there was any chance they wouldn't~" He grinned at Yugo. "You must be having fun getting to work with Jesse so much again."
Yugo couldn't help but laugh at Kento's tone, shaking his head. "Keiji is still a baby, I don't think I have much to worry about right now," he replied, though he had to admit Kento did have a point; if Fuma and Hokuto had any more kids Yugo didn't know where they were going to put them. But Hokuto and Fuma could do whatever they wanted with their lives when it came down to it, and Yugo was sure that Hokuto wanted this tour just as much as Yugo did. Before he could respond though, Kento mentioned his drama shooting, and Yugo couldn't hold back another laugh-- Kento always made him laugh, which was one of the best things about spending time with Kento. "I think Jinguji-kun has the sexy part covered… but hopefully I'll be funny enough to pull my own weight," he replied jokingly. "The costume staff couldn't find a hat that didn't look ridiculous over his hair, though, so looks like he's just going to be a rebel and go without… it suits his character anyway." At the mention of his and Shori-kun's tours, however, such a happy, contented look came over Kento's face that Yugo couldn't help but smile warmly, too, nodding in agreement. "It really is great getting to work together with him," he replied, "So… I bet you and Shori-kun are having a great time." Though he almost never thought back to how things had been so long ago now, when he and Kento had both been hurting so much, he couldn't help but be truly happy that Kento's relationship was going so well again. "So when are you guys performing in Tokyo? You're going to save me the best kankeisha seats, right?" he asked, his playful grin returning.
"Next month," Kento replied, grinning back at Yugo. "You'd better be there!" As much fun as it was to tour around the country with Shori, he was really looking forward to the Tokyo shows, when all their friends and family would be able to come see the results of all their hard work. "Bring Taira along, too?" Jinsei was always talking about seeing Taira in rehearsals these days, now that they were both in Johnny's, and Kento thought it was adorable that they had become friends. "I can't believe that he and Jinsei will be performing in their second Summary this year," he said, smiling. Jinsei had been so excited for his first big show the previous year, and this year he had been so proud to tell his parents that he had real choreography and his very own spot in Johnny's mansion. "Is Taira excited?"
"Of course," Yugo replied with a laugh. "I'll see if Jesse can make it, too. Maybe we can make it into an outing after the show?" Despite that all of them were busy with work, Yugo tried to make time for Taira to have play dates with his friends, and recently, Taira had been very enthusiastic about spending time with Jinsei. They were together a few times every week at Summary rehearsals, and much to Yugo and Kento's delight, they had become close friends during their time in Johnny's together. "He's very excited," Yugo replied with a smile when Kento asked after Taira, nodding. "I'm not sure he was thrilled about getting wet last year… so he's excited to be up in Johnny's mansion where it will be dry." He laughed; Taira was a funny child sometimes, but Yugo was glad that he got along so well with the child of one of his closest friends.
"Sounds great," Kento agreed. "Let me know what day you guys can come and I'll save you some kankeisha seats~" He was excited to see Jinsei and Taira perform in Summary, too, and he laughed when Yugo said what Taira was most excited about. "They're going to be the cutest kids in all of Johnny's mansion," he said, grinning. Just relaxing and talking and laughing with Yugo was one of Kento's favorite things to do, and Kento sighed happily, relaxing against the couch cushions. He was glad that after all these years, he could share his successes both as an idol and a parent with a friend as great as Yugo, and as he sipped his coffee, he thought that after a tiring few weeks on tour, there was nothing quite like relaxing with an old friend.
"They are," Yugo agreed, grinning already at the thought of Kento's son, flashy and flamboyant just like his father, and his own dancing together just as Yugo and Kento had so many years ago. There was nothing quite like having a friend to share those moments up on stage with, Yugo knew from experience, and he hoped that Jinsei and Taira would stay friends long into the future. Looking down into his coffee at the heartwarming thought, his smile softened and he glanced back up at Kento. "I can't wait to see the show together," he added warmly, his smile broadening. Knowing that he would have Kento here for him through the good times as well as the bad, to listen to him complain about a rough day at work or to gush about the successes of their children, Yugo thought, was one of the best things in his life, and he knew he was lucky to have a friend like Kento. They had been through a lot together, the ups and downs, the rock bottoms and the sky highs, and Yugo knew that whatever the future held, for him or for Kento, they could face it together.
