Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Tegoshi was confused. Something was wrong here. Really wrong. It’s been two hours since the rehearsal has started and there was an odd atmosphere every time Ryo or Yamapi, or in the worst case scenario both, were near to him. Usually NEWS’ rehearsals were fun and exhausting. But today it was just exhausting for him. Most of the time two or three of them were sitting together on the stage or walking around the platforms, laughing and chatting together while the rest studied their parts and dance steps to perfectionism. This time was different. Of course KoyaShige stuck together like a couple of grandparents and Massu accompanied him wherever he went to, but whenever it was time for a song or dance with whole NEWS or moments to pair up with either Yamapi or Ryo, Tegoshi got goose bumps. And he didn’t know why. That was what confused him so much. Usually NEWS was the part of his life he felt nearly the most comfortable with (except his family and soccer). But now he felt like that had somehow changed. Somehow he got the thought that Yamapi and Ryo were fighting over something that conquered him. It was a stupid thought, he knew that. He would never be so important to be the reason for a fight between such good friends like RyoPi. But of course he saw every now and then how they narrowed their eyes whenever the other one was near to him. He worried about what he could have done to raise up such a hassle between them.
He sighed. Maybe it’s just my imagination…he tried to cheer himself up, yet this hope was nothing he relied on. But he tried to throw these thoughts away and concentrated at the concert plan in his hands. Cross-legged sitting at the stage, Massu next to him while KoyaShige was doing their ‘Chirarizumu’, he followed the listed songs with his eyes and started to count the ones he had to sing with Ryo or Yamapi.
“Weeeek, Bambina, Best Friend, Fiesta, Cherish, Teppen…” he mumbled to himself and sighed again. “Why am I even counting? This is a NEWS-Concert. Of course I will sing most of the time with everybody…” He let out a whiny hum as he realized he never felt so down before a concert. I love my members…And now…Why is my heart so afraid? “Well, at least there are some Tegomass-Songs as well…” With a little pout he placed his chin between his hands and watched Ryo starting with his solo ‘ordinary’
They didn’t changed into their concert outfits yet, since it was the first rehearsal. The second one would begin after lunch and everything would have to be like the real concert. So Ryo stood in the middle of the main-platform in just casual worn-out jeans and a hoody, his favourite cap the other way round on top of his head. They were still allowed to make a few mistakes and just on cue Ryo messed up and Koyama laughed loudly into his microphone. From far away spots around the concert hall chuckles and bristles echoed bit by bit, first Shige, then Yamapi, Tegoshi and Massu.
“Oy, don’t make fun of me!” Ryo yelled and pointed across the stage at Koyama, who still giggled.
“Sorry, Ryo-chan. It’s just that you always make the mistake there.”
Ryo pouted, something unusual, instead of snapping back.
“Eh?!” Massu shouted shocked into his microphone as a reply and asked with big round eyes: “No teasing?!”
“Got a problem with it?”
“Somehow…”
Tegoshi chuckled again and Ryo turned around to him, a little smile on his lips, and Tegoshi couldn't help but smiling back. Then Ryo started over with ‘ordinary’. After his solo whole NEWS gathered up on stage for ‘Koi Yake’. Tegoshi wondered every time how this song was able to rise up his mood so suddenly and with such a high effect. Out of the blue he jumped and did his best and it felt good to be so full of energy. He loved this song, it was somehow touching him to the deepest bottom of the heart. Singing was something which stopped him from worrying about his problems and made him utterly happy. Maybe that was why he loved NEWS so much. “’Here it comes~~’”
Till the end of the rehearsal he didn’t lose his high mood and was totally satisfied. He even forgot about Ryo and Yamapi and clung to both of them every now and then. “I am SO looking forward to the concert!” he shouted as everyone went to the dressing room and impetuously he hugged Koyama from the back. “I’m glad to sing with you on stage again~”
“I think everyone is, ne~” Shige said and pulled Tegoshi off from his Koyama, who smiled happily. “Member Ai~~” He raved about this scene. “Minna DAISUKI!” Massu, Ryo, Yamapi and Shige blushed, but Tegoshi threw his arms up in the air and yelled: “I love you too!”
“Do you love me too?” Ryo asked and Tegoshi nodded. “Mh, of course!”
“Me too?” Pi wanted to now, a slight too-serious look on his face. Tegoshi nodded again. “Mh. And I love Shige too. And my Massu. Chuchuu~” He rubbed Massu’s chubby cheeks and both laughed.
Yamapi and Ryo sighed synchronically, glanced at each other and cleared their throats. Then they looked at Tegoshi, who went ahead of them, surrounded by Koyama, Shige and Massu.
“He’s happy.” Pi said and Ryo nodded. “Ah, he is. Feels good, ne~”
“Mh.”
They stayed silent for a while as they followed the rest.
“Ne, Pi. We’re friends after all, aren’t we?”
“Of course.”
“Though we love the same person?”
“Yes.”
“Though one of us might lose?”
“We’ll stay friends. Though one of us will lose.”
“That’s good, Pi. That’s good.”
They looked at each other and smiled, and both felt relieved.
Though there was the bet between them, they didn’t want to risk their friendship. They had worried that they might lose each other, the same as they worried to lose Tegoshi to the other one. But now that they knew that they felt the same even about their friendship their battle rose up to completely different conditions. Friends are fighting fair.
“Ryo-chan?”
“Mh?”
“Promise me?”
“Yeah, I promise. We’ll stay friends.”
“Thanks…Now I feel better.”
“Same as me, Pi. Exactly the same.”
~+~
Chapter 8 deshita~~
