Promise to Sirius (An Utapri / Uta no Prince-sama Fanfiction)

Reiji Kotobuki

"Your heart is beating unsteadily at an estimated 112 beats per minute, which is faster than the average resting heart, indicating restlessness and anxiety, like the expression in your eyes do."

Ai's hand gently squeezed Natsuki's wrist and his lips formed a faint smile.

"Take it easy, alright, Natsuki? Like you said before, we will be okay because we are by one another's sides."

Reiji smiled as Natsuki squeezed Ai's hand back with a faint smile. It was Friday night. In less than twelve hours, they, Reiji, Ranmaru and Camus would have to depart from the hotel to the venue of the first STARISH X QUARTET NIGHT show. The show included an exclusive interview, performances from the main units and the opening round units, and surprises for both the fans and themselves that were planned by the staff. Knowing Natsuki more than well enough to know that he would be feeling anxious and that it would be refreshing to go out to clear their minds, Reiji had decided to take him and Ai out on an unhurried drive and go to the river together. Wrapping an arm around Natsuki, Reiji felt his own smile and heart soften even more as he let out a content sigh, grateful that the three of them could go out like this and take in this inimitable sight whilst sitting on the gentle grass under the moon and stars together.

"Ah... I'll never get tired of coming here, especially with you guys."

Reiji pulled Natsuki down with him so that they were laying down on the grass, staring up at the gorgeous Prussian blue night flooded with millions of white incandescent lights.

"I still remember the first time the three of us came here together, drinking bubble tea and Nattsun and me deciding to make living together permanent, and coming here for the first time with Nattsun and watching the rain fall." Reiji let out a small chuckle as Natsuki smiled. "Those times would always be magical to me, ya know."

"Those memories have this unique calming effect."

Ai let himself lay on the grass as well and spoke quietly.

"They granted me a strange yet gratifying sense of what people describe as 'deja vu' when we were doing our sub-unit photo shoot together, even though I had never laid down on the grass of the forest together with you." He smiled faintly. "First times can be quite strange in their own way."

"Yep," Natsuki agreed, his green eyes smiling gently up at the sky. "The starting memories are intertwined with the ones that we share with one another now, through their emotions and journey, like how stars turn into constellations. The first time we met up until this very moment..." He let out a slow breath, emotions welling up in his eyes. "I'll always hold them dear to me."

"This is turning out to be quite the nostalgic, sentimental night, isn't it?"

Reiji laughed quietly as Natsuki chuckled and Ai smiled. Memories of a particular incident flowed inside Reiji's head and he could not help but smile a little more at them.

"Say, Ai-Ai, Nattsun. Do you guys remember that time all us senpais listened in on Nattsun and everyone else talking about us?"

"If you are referring to each and every comment made, with majority of them being unpleasant," Ai answered as Natsuki nodded with a light laugh, "then I can give you detailed highlights of what was most disrespectful to hear."

"You're so brutal, Ai-Ai!" Reiji exclaimed with a laugh. "But that was the first time we ever heard our kouhais express what they thought of all of us when they thought we weren't around. And..."

Reiji turned to Natsuki and beamed.

"That's what gave Nattsun and me the opportunity to hang out together for the first time."