Make The Most Of It - Akitoya

Hidden in Toya's shoulder, Akito's expression contorts into sudden understanding. It must be something to do with what his father was telling him yesterday. He decided not to press on the issue.

"I want to be here for you, Aoyagi."

~~~~~

He wasn't entirely sure why he said it. Of course, it's only the polite thing to do when consoling someone, he supposed. He wondered: how could someone he's only known for 3 days cry so openly into his shoulder? Softly, he continued to drag his fingers up and down Toya's back, unsure of what else to do. Toya's breath slowed more, tears becoming less and less frequent the longer he sat in the other's arms. He didn't dare look at his eyes.

After a while, Toya pulled away, sitting up in his chair. It was all too much for the both of them. The room was silent. Through the door, they could hear Ken announcing to the people of the cafe, unclear and angry. People murmured and shuffled their feet. The ring of the bell above the door. Then, it too went quiet.

Akito shifted his position so instead of kneeling, he sat criss-cross in front of Toya. He heard Toya's lungs as they compressed, releasing slow, shaky breaths. 

"Is there anything I can do?" he eventually asked.

"I don't know."

Silence fell between them again.

The door to the back room opened a crack, slowly, as if any sudden movements would frighten the two boys sat alone. Ken's face peeked through, then his whole body as he stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. The room was strewn with random documents and posters, probably from his time as a performer before retiring. His steps were quiet when he approached the blue haired boy, kneeling similar to how Akito did before. Ken placed a knowing hand on Toya's shoulder, just like Akito.

Toya glanced at Akito, who was looking back, before meeting his eyes with Ken's. He pursed his lips, unsure of what to do. His hands rubbed at his jeans, trying to dry them off.

"Is it okay if you tell me what's going on?" Ken finally asked in a hushed voice. He retracted his arm and waited attentively. This was a side of Ken Akito was entirely familiar with. The fatherly side, the side that no matter what will be there for you. He treated the staff of Weekend Garage like family.

Ken  was the reason Akito ever began singing, and he couldn't thank Ken enough for it. Back when Akito was just a middle school boy who had recently quit his school's soccer team, he saw him perform in a legendary performance known around the Street as Rad Weekend. For months, it was all he could ever think about: the flashing lights, the intensity in their voices, the way the crowd interacted with the performers. It was a code that, prior to that night, Akito never understood.

He found himself wandering Vivid Street any time he had the chance, falling in love with the music and culture that surrounded the community of shops and venues. He especially loved the way the Street looked after dark, when the signs would light up, painting the already colorful street in all sorts of fluorescence. It almost felt magical.

This was around the time Ken retired from music and opened the Weekend Garage.

Akito quickly became one of the familiars when he reached high school after getting a job at some retail store. He'd sit in the same booth, order the same thing, mutter the same "thank you," and begin working on writing songs.

When Akito was first starting his career, he primarily sang at the small venues around Vivid Street, usually as an opening act for An before she partnered with Kohane. He'd take all the practice he could get, performing solo on the street and taking advantage of karaoke nights held at Weekend Garage. Slowly, his fanbase grew larger and people began to recognize him on the streets.

Until Crawl Green. 

It was a performance he wished so badly he could forget.

"Is singing even worth it?" he asked Ken that same night. "I don't know why I thought I'd be good enough for it. I mean, you started everything there and yet I can't- I'll never be at your level, Ken. Why should I even try?"

Ken, at the time, was drying off a mug with a rag. "If you really care about singing, Akito, you'll push through all of your ups and downs. Do you think I was able to perform Rad Weekend without having some setbacks? Hell no."

Akito, who sat at the bar and drank from a glass of water, put his head on his arms. He knew Ken was right but didn't want to accept it. "What should I do?"

"If you want me to be completely honest, Akito, I think you should go perform again. The whole 'Get back on the horses back' thing. If you quit now, you'll miss out on everything you can become."

~~~~~

Toya's eyes were glossy as he searched for the right words. "I don't know if I should say," he said weakly, his eyes falling to his lap. Akito couldn't watch; the boy who was so happy just the other night singing alongside him looked like something was eating him from the inside out. 

The air in the room felt awkward and tense. Everyone waited on Toya.

"It's just..." he began. "My dad. He wasn't too happy about me staying late yesterday."

"Is that all, Toya? That doesn't really explain the whole thing that happened out there," Ken tried to keep his words as suggestive as possible, avoiding putting any pressure onto Toya for an answer. 

Akito bit the inside of his cheek as he watched Toya shift in his seat. His expression resembled when he first walked into the restaurant. Without thinking, Akito let out "It's my fault, Ken."

The two men next to him turned, Ken in confusion and Toya in surprise. Akito breathed for a second before continuing. "I should have been more careful. On the day Toya came out for his interview, I went on a walk with him. I guess it just slipped my mind that I'm not just some kid on Vivid Street anymore.

"And then again with karaoke. We sang together. And I asked him to stay. I shouldn't have done that, especially since Toya literally told me that his dad wanted him to come home after his shift."

Akito could tell that neither of them knew how to respond. He decided to keep talking. "Toya, about yesterday-"

"Please don't blame yourself, Shinonome," Toya interrupted. "I liked singing with you, I wouldn't have wanted that any different."

"But it's the reason you got in trouble, Aoyagi."

"It's no one's fault but my own."

"You're allowed to have fun."

Toya went quiet. 

Ken, still kneeling by Toya stood up. "I need to go back to attend the customers. I think you guys can sort this out amongst yourselves. Toya," he turned to the boy, "You know where to find me if you need anything. And Akito," he turned again. "Tell him what you told to my daughter."

With that, he left the boys alone in the room.

Toya was the first to speak. "What does he mean?" 

Akito sighed. No turning back now. "You know how I wanted to tell you something today? I was talking to Shiraishi about it after you left yesterday. Obviously you don't have to say yes or anything, but after karaoke yesterday it's been on my mind and..." Toya's eyes filled with mild confusion and wonder. They were much less red than before. "I want to sing with you more. I know that that's probably stupid to ask, especially since you got in trouble for it yesterday, but I thought maybe if you became more known, people would stop trying to speculate about you."

Toya thought for a moment, taken aback by the sudden request. "I- Well..." His face flushed brightly. 

"You don't have to tell me now. Just keep it in mind. Until then, I want to be more careful. You'll be as anonymous as you were before we met."

At that, Toya smiled. That damn small smile.

~~~~~

July 8, 2024

Another chapter in the book. Now you're left with the uncertainty of whether or not they'll actually sing together mwahahahaha

And possible parallels being made??? I love writing so much and I hope that you guys can see what I'm doing here