Shin turned his attention back to his friends. Ryou was currently trying to shake Atsuro awake.
"Gee, what's with this guy? No matter what you do, he doesn't wake up." Ryou said, annoyed.
Shohei shrugs, "He had twenty interviews and forty photo shoots yesterday. Ryou-san, you should know this too."
"I do, but he is a professional. He should be used to this by now."
"We can't do anything without our lead, and Ibuki-san came all this way too.." Kirishima trails off. "Ah I got it now. Ibuki-san bend down in front of Atsuro."
Sumire was puzzled but nodded.
"Alright, now bend down and whisper in his ear," Ryou instructed.
Sumire got the message and did just as Ryou instructed her, "At-chan." She whispered in his ear, and afterwards, he murmured something. Still didn't work, ah, that. Sumire reaches over and brushes her lips against his cheek.
Shin was half tempted to record this, knowing Atsuro wouldn't believe it when he woke up.
After that, Atsuro stirred awake. He was looking at Sumire, confused.
Sumire chuckles. "I see you up."
Atsuro's cheeks coloured the second he realized what she just did. " "Damm, that's cheating. " Atsuro muttered.
"I came all the way out here after your constant nagging." Sumire sighed.
"My nagging isn't what summoned you here." Atsuro snapped back.
"Your right; it's because Shin politely asked me if I wanted to come."
At those words, Shin felt Atsuro's glaring in his direction. Shin sighed deeply.
'How much longer do I have to act as the buffer between these two?'
It's not like he doesn't understand why Sumire uses him as a shield. Atsuro can become very overbearing when he believes someone belongs to him. Although Atsuro has accepted that Sumire and Yuhi's relationship is real. Shin knew that his friend hadn't given up on her,
'I wonder if I have given up on her.'
Ever since he knew about the identity of the guy, Sumire had always liked. Shin decided to back off. Friends don't do that to each other. Steal the one they like. He knew Yuhi was deeply in love with someone too, and after hearing who Sumire liked. All the pieces fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Sometimes he wonders, though, if he met Sumire first. Would anything have happened between them? Shin shakes that thought out of his mind. That's not why Sumire and Yuhi are together.
From their history, it seems like no matter how many first encounters they have with each other. They end up falling in love. So, from the very start, there was no room for another person.
"Since Ibuki-san came all the way here, shall we show her anyway? "Kirishima suggested.
Atsuro sighs. "What a pain.." He trails off. "That's true. I guess it would be good for you to determine our skills."
Shin pointed to the seats, and Sumire sat back down. He placed a blanket over her lap, and she laughed. "Thank you."
Kirishima: Shohei:
Ryou: Atsuro: Shin
EMMA- Fire
Atsuro: Opening the curtain, we start
Bathing in the hot light, go hard
OMG
Making noise flamboyantly enough to sweat, show
Yeah, uh, come on.
Shin: I don't care
What you say, what you do
Don't just stare
Follow us
Ryou: Let me show you everything
This boy who excels at holding a microphone
We're on the top. Burn down those who disturb us.
Kirishima: The road that we keep pushing forward to the unseen world
Words are etched and shine in this place
Shohei: A heat that you have never felt before
Bursts on your skin
Atsuro/Shin/Ryou: It's not enough yet
As long as there's life
Keep burning your heart, burn burn
Shohei/Kirishima: We never stop
We've already burned our retreat
Together with this uncontrollable feeling
Atsuro: We'll win this game
Ryou/Shin: Changing fate
Kirishima/Shohei: Shhh check it out
(All) Run through. We're going up high
No one can stop us
Take off to the uncharted zone
Scatter sparks, burn fire
Fire, fire
Ahh yeah yeah
Fire, fire
We gotta get up
Fire, fire
Ahh yeah
Burn all the fake. Everybody go yeah
By the end of the song, Shin noticed Sumire had a notepad on her lap. She sure is organized. Atsuro notices this and immediately asks for her opinion.
"How to put it? It's not bad, but-" Sumire kept shaking her head.
"Hm? I thought we did well." Shohei said, puzzled.
"Quit interrupting. Ibuki, just go ahead and say your opinion." Kirishima said.
Sumire nodded and continued. "That is the melody is kinda slow, isn't it? It's just when I was visualizing while writing the lyrics. I imagined a somewhat up beat tempo." Sumire explained.
'Originally, I thought that too. It's not exactly slow, but the tempo seemed off to him.'
"I see. If we do that, then I can rhythm my base more with Shohei's tempo." Ryou agreed.
Atsuro rubs the back of his neck. "We can go ahead with the idea Kirishima said about the mid-verse."
Sumire smiles. "Ah, then, do you mind if I help?"
"That would be useful," Kirishima said with a smile.
...
Due to Atsuro's ambitions of overthrowing M5, quite some time has passed since they last practiced together. Individually, the five of them have been doing all sorts of promotions and jobs for the group. But, the main reason why their idol rank has gone up is definitely due to Sumire's songs.
Shin is leaning against the wall by the vending machines, deep in thought.
Atsuro is definitely serious about beating M5. It seems the other three are following his lead too. But he wonders if that's what he wants. Does he truly want to continue being an idol?
He has to admit it's difficult being a member of the entertainment industry when he is a member of the SF and a well-known young professor. He barely managed to finish his paper for the conference.
"Good work." A familiar voice said.
Seeing Sumire, he immediately apologized.
Shin sighed. "Sorry about Atsuro. You're the expert, but he kept trying to question you."
Sumire shakes her head. "I may be the one composing the songs. But that doesn't mean I work on the song alone." She trailed off and sighed. "Besides, I am used to Atsuro by now and whenever we meet. We end up fighting."
Sensing her tone, Shin coughed. "I guess that's not the approach you like when a guy likes you."
Sumire paused and laughed. "I didn't think you would say that."
"Sorry, should I not have?"
"No, your right. I can't keep dodging Atsuro's affections for me forever. Moreover, with Yuhi not around, I know he will try to make a move." Sumire paused. "Regardless of how he approaches his affections for me. It's not possible between Atsuro and me."
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