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pukanavisPrologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Epilogue
Two weeks after his exile, Reon returned to Gyroaxia.
The band was in the middle of another of their usual strenuous practice sessions, eventually stopping to allow for a break.
“By the way, Kenta-san…how’s that ‘revenge’ thing you were talking about going?” Reon asked, breaking the silence.
“Ah yes, that.”
Kenta sipped from his mineral water and took a moment to consider how much he should reveal. After some time, he decided that now was as good a time as any and began to explain.
“Well, it’s proceeding smoothly. When considering the sheer size of major record labels, you’ll realise they’re not entirely unified. I’ve been able to take advantage of that fault and I’m working on laying the groundwork for us.”
“Huh…?” Reon responded with a confused tilt of the head but Kenta didn’t pay it any mind. His explanation hadn’t particularly been intended to make Reon understand.
“What I’m saying is that sooner or later, someone else from their company will reach out to us,” Kenta simplified.
“That’s great and all but…I’m not big on the idea of running into that producer again…”
He laughed dryly at the pout on Reon’s face.
“I’m taking measures to prevent that. I don’t have any intention of leaving Gyroaxia in the hands of someone like him. Just allow me to take care of this matter.”
“Whatever you say, Kenken,” Ryo nodded in agreement as he nibbled away at a CalorieMate bar. He felt oddly similar to a small animal in that moment, in spite of his tall height. Contrary to his ‘go with the flow’ personality, he was a bassist with the abilities of a genius. His habit to not say more than he deemed necessary was another trait of his that Kenta liked.
“Are you sure about this?”
Looking at him with an element of suspicion in his eyes was Miyuki, the complete opposite.
“Everything is fine. Besides, have I ever done something that didn’t have Gyroaxia’s best interests in mind?”
“...No, you haven’t. That’s the type of guy you are,” Miyuki spat out, turning away in discontent. His disapproval wasn’t directed towards Nayuta—rather it was Kenta who was so often getting on his nerves. He knew his grievances stemmed from Kenta’s attitude towards both Nayuta and the other band members, though the man in question couldn’t care less. His drumming skills were first-rate, and that was all that mattered. As long as they produced the sounds that Nayuta wanted, Kenta didn't care what anyone said to him.
Noting that Miyuki had nothing more to say, Kenta turned his attention towards his favourite. Said favourite—Nayuta—despite the uninterested look on his face, was listening closely to the other member’s exchange. He seemed like he wanted to jump in and make a comment about how his ears were rotting from hearing mention of the producer that had struck such a deep nerve in him. Nayuta moodily furrowed his well-shaped eyebrows but the fleeting glance he cast at Kenta failed to conceal his interest in their conversation.
When their gazes met, Kenta turned his whole body towards Nayuta and addressed him in a gentle tone, taking care not to further dampen his mood.
“To carry out this plan, there’s a weapon I’ll need. Nayuta, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“What? If it’s anything stupid then I’m not interested.”
“I want you to make a new song—a powerful one that will make everyone understand the essence of Gyroaxia, and of Asahi Nayuta.”
Nayuta stared at Kenta with narrowed eyes. On the receiving end of a look that seemed to read him like a book, Kenta tensed up a little. He considered himself to have a good grasp on how to work with Nayuta but when faced with eyes that mimicked an unsheathed katana, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“...Fine. I’ll make something that slams into them and says, ‘This is our sound,’”
“I’ll be counting on you then.”
Kenta couldn’t help but smile, relieved that Nayuta accepted his request so quickly. Although he believed that Gyroaxia’s current discography could’ve sufficed, he knew that they wouldn’t provide the same impact as a new song. It’d also serve to prove the consistent high standard of the songs they released. He had an unwavering confidence in the quality of the songs Nayuta made so Kenta was positive that he’d create a song that would make the major record label turn their way again.
“Good luck. Our debut is in your hands,” Reon said to Nayuta with a clap on his shoulder.
“Shut up. I’m going to make the sound I want to make.”
“Geez, I was just trying to be supportive.”
Reon felt the irritation setting in when Nayuta shook his hand off.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Nayuta knows that,” Miyuki chimed in, attempting to calm Reon down.
“That’s right. We can trust Nayuta to take care of this.”
“Miyuki-san, Ryo-san, you’re on his side too…? Alright, fine.”
With even Ryo joining in, Reon drew back, albeit still harbouring some anger. Nayuta had already lost interest in the trio’s conversation and had become lost in his thoughts with a downcast look, presumably already planning out the new song. After assessing Nayuta, Kenta clapped his hands together.
“Alright, we’ll leave it here for today. Focus on individual practice until next time…Nayuta, are you okay with that?”
“...Yeah.”
With a nod, Nayuta made quick work of packing up his belongings. As he expected, Nayuta couldn't shake the urge to jump right into writing a new song. At their current rate, he could expect promising things from whatever Nayuta might come up with. Looking at Nayuta’s turned back, Kenta smiled contently.
♛
A few days later—
Following one of their practice sessions, in an unusual occurrence, all members of the band decided to go out for dinner together. Miyuki happened to have a coupon and brought up the idea of getting Genghis Khan together…when Kenta asked if Nayuta wanted to join, he spontaneously agreed.
After entering the restaurant, they started off by ordering beer for the adults and oolong tea for the minors. In high spirits, Reon wiped his hands with a wet towel and opened the menu on the touch screen.
“Should we start off with a platter?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I want a salad too.”
While Miyuki, Reon and Ryo were fussing over the screen, Nayuta reached out and quickly ordered loin and grilled ribs.
“Hey, Nayuta! Don’t just decide on your own!” Reon objected to Nayuta’s selfish behaviour.
“I’ll eat what I want to eat. The rest of you can just do the same.”
“We came here together so the least you could do is consult with us first!”
Reon arched an eyebrow at Nayuta, whose gaze fell to his phone as if to say he had no further comment after making his own order.
“Well, Nayuta rarely ever comes out to eat with us and I planned on ordering a couple of things anyway. Why don’t you go ahead and get whatever you want too, Reon-kun? If you like, I’ll even cover for you and Nayuta since I just got paid,” Miyuki swooped in to amend the situation.
“Are you serious!? Thank you so much, Miyuki-san! Nayuta, say thank you too.”
“I’ll pay for myself. I don’t make a habit of indebting myself to others.”
Reon made a face of disagreement at Nayuta’s refusal to stray from his stubbornly independent attitude.
“I can’t believe this guy…”
Before another one-sided fight could break out, Ryo swiftly ordered a salad and steak tartare from the side menu and handed the touch screen to Reon.
“Get whatever you want and order quickly. I’m hungry.”
“Not you too, Ryo-san…fine, I get it. If this is how we’re doing it then I’ll get whatever I want too!”
Reon ordered meat, more meat…and of course, meat. Once he was done, Miyuki grabbed Kenta’s attention.
“Say, Mr. Accountant. Do you think we could cut into our celebration budget? We rarely ever do anything like this so I’m sure we could spare some, right?”
“Hmm.”
Like Miyuki said, they usually never put on any kind of celebratory events so they’d have enough to cover the dinner. Despite the studio costs they had to manage, their live shows sold a considerable amount of tickets so even for an amateur band, they were blessed with quite a generous amount of funds.
“You’re right. This is a special occasion, so I’ll allow it.”
The price was nothing if it raised all their morales. Maintaining motivation was essential for putting on a good performance and he was making an investment in that. Additionally, it would also prevent Nayuta—who had little financial freedom—from needing to spend any money.
“Now you can be treated too, Nayuta.”
“...Tch.”
Miyuki turned towards Nayuta with a big charming smile. Regardless of if he was convinced, he didn't say anything more. Eventually, their order reached their table and they all took their respective drinks. Miyuki raised his glass to initiate a toast.
“To the future of Gyroax—”
“Oi, Nayuta! Don’t just start drinking before the rest of us!” Reon scolded Nayuta, who had already gotten started on his drink before Miyuki had the chance to finish.
“It’s alright. He can do what he wants.”
Ryo followed suit and wasted no time in taking a bite of his salad. With a dry laugh, Miyuki lowered his glass.
“Well, it is what it is,” Miyuki sighed.
“M-Miyuki-san! I’ll toast with you! To Gyroaxia!”
“Oh, cheers.”
Reon bumped his glass against Miyuki’s with a resounding clink. As Kenta watched the duo, he began taking meat from the platter.
“I’ll handle the cooking.”
“So you’re our grill master for today, huh?” Miyuki immediately commented but Ryo pushed the plate of meat towards Kenta nonetheless.
“Kenken will take care of it.”
“Yeah, Kenta-san is the best at this kind of stuff,” Reon nodded in agreement. Their input seemed to convince Miyuki.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then. I like my meat a little bit rare.”
“I prefer mine well-done.”
“I’m fine with whatever Kenta-san does.”
As the trio shared their personal preferences, they began picking away at the sides they had ordered. Kenta turned to Nayuta who had been silently eating some pickled vegetables.
“Nayuta, do you want to start off with the loin meat?”
“...Sure,” Nayuta replied, somewhat absentmindedly. Although Kenta found his behaviour slightly concerning, he decided to focus on grilling the meat for the time being. A pleasant smell filled the air as Kenta continued to distribute grilled meat to each of the members’ plates. Like starved wolves, they devoured the meat.
“This is so good! White rice tastes the best with this sauce!”
“I don’t need any rice. When I’m eating Genghis Khan, just meat is enough.”
“I knew Kenken would make it taste delicious.”
Kenta grabbed a well-done slice of meat and placed it on Nayuta’s plate. He watched Nayuta chew on the meat before silently reaching for another piece with his chopsticks. He must have liked it, it seemed.
“Nayuta, I’ll cook some more for you to eat.”
“...Okay.”
The image of Nayuta contently eating the meat he grilled for him reminded Kenta of feeding a stubbornly unaffectionate cat. Nayuta tended to fall somewhat on the thinner side so he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to feed him meat and quickly prepared him some more. His physical strength was just as important as his musical prowess, after all.
“Y’know, it’s super weird that Nayuta came too. I thought I’d see pigs fly before a day like this ever came,” Reon said as he animatedly chowed down on his food.
“For sure,” Miyuki agreed, “This kind of feels like a kickoff party in the lead up to our comeback, don’t you think?”
“It does! Next time we see that producer freak we’ll knock him down with our music!”
“Yeah! Once we have our major debut, I’ll be sure to rack up even more fans.”
“Not only will Miyuki’s fans increase…but I hope the amount of people we’ll bring happiness to with our music will grow too. The day when I can return to the stars can’t be too far away now.”
“Let’s make sure our music is heard all over Japan.”
“Miyuki-san, don’t stop there—set your sights on the entire world! Total global domination!”
“ …Galactic domination.”
While the trio busied themselves with scaling the goal higher and higher, Kenta slid a glass of water Nayuta’s way.
“I was wondering how the progress on the new song is going? There’s no rush, but it may change how things will proceed depending on when it’s completed.”
“ …New song?”
Nayuta’s chopsticks froze in his hand. His brows furrowed and his shapely lips contorted but rather than resembling his usual sour mood, his expression seemed to read more as confusion.
“Again, there’s no hurry. Just make something that you're happy with.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that! Don’t order me around!”
Nayuta slammed his fist against the table, the tableware shaking in its wake. Ah, he’d said something to set him off, hadn’t he? Nayuta looked away in embarrassment, as if regretting his outburst of anger.
“...Just shut up and wait. I’ll make a song that no one could complain about.”
“Very well then. I’m looking forward to hearing it,” Kenta said as gently as he could, taking care not to upset Nayuta any further. For good measure, he added a few more slices of well-done meat to Nayuta’s plate.
“If you can provide me with a new song, I can take care of everything else. For today, just focus on eating.”
“...Okay.”
Unlike the Nayuta he was familiar with, he responded with an unpleasantly meek nod and picked up the meat he had been given. Kenta sensed that he may be experiencing some complications with the writing process.
A sudden eruption of cheers came from the table beside them in what appeared to be a celebration of sorts. They filled the restaurant with the sound of merry laughter and glasses clinking against each other. Someone amongst them must have lit a cigarette because the horrid smell of smoke began drifting towards the band’s table.
“The air flow in here sucks,” Miyuki said with a frown.
“Maybe the smoke filters aren’t working properly?” Ryo wondered, mirroring Miyuki’s look of displeasure.
But the one who had the most extreme reaction amongst them all was none other than Nayuta. Dropping his chopsticks, he immediately shot to his feet.
“Nayuta?”
“...I’ve lost my appetite. I’m leaving.”
“Hey, wait…Nayuta!”
Disregarding Reon’s objections, Nayuta grabbed his bag and left the restaurant. After being completely ignored, Reon’s anger began to flare up.
“Can he be any more self-centred!?”
“Aah…hey, I consider it a win that he at least went this long quietly eating his food. Besides, now we get to eat his share of the meat too,” Miyuki placated Reon and gave him a slightly larger helping of beef tartare.
“But…”
“You know how Nayuta is,” Ryo said as he leisurely ate his salad, seemingly unbothered.
“No one can stop Nayuta from doing as he pleases. Like Ryo said, you know how he is,” Kenta agreed.
“You two are way too soft on him!” Reon huffed but despite his anger, without Nayuta in the room with them, he couldn’t articulate any further complaints he had.
“It’s alright, I’ll have a word with him next time we see him. okay?”
“I have a feeling you’re just saying that, Miyuki-san.”
“Hey, eat your meat.”
Pacified, Reon followed Miyuki’s prompting and began chewing the meat. Finally preparing a portion for himself, Kenta started eating too.
Despite what Reon believed, Kenta wasn’t trying to spoil Nayuta. As the heart of Gyroaxia, it was only natural he held Nayuta’s wishes in high regard. For that same reason, his behaviour earlier bore slight concern for Kenta. It wasn’t the fact that Nayuta had left that worried him, but rather his abnormal reaction when mention of the new song had been brought up. It weighed heavy on his mind.
♛
“Huh? Is that...Nayuta?”
A few days had passed since their last rehearsal. While on his way to the studio, Kenta passed by Odori Park but stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of Nayuta. It was an unexpected sight to say the least and Kenta couldn’t help but stare in wonder.
Was Nayuta...playing with a cat?
The animal had curled itself up around Nayuta’s feet with a grumpy look and despite the equally gloomy expression Nayuta wore, he made no attempt to shoo the cat away. Kenta pondered whether or not to call out to him but before he could make a choice, Nayuta lifted his head and caught his gaze.
“Is this your cat, Nayuta?” Kenta asked as he walked up to him.
“No, it’s not. He’s just decided to follow me around,” he grumbled, yet still crouched down to meet the cat’s gaze. In comparison to its sharp eyes, the cat's purrs were adorable. Nayuta’s brow furrowed.
“You shouldn’t get attached so easily.” The cat titled its head curiously as Nayuta met its stare with a stern look. “Never lose your pride. Remember that.”
Even if it was to a cat, Kenta strangely admired the way he spoke of his philosophy. Needless to say, the cat was unfazed by Nayuta's words, instead opting to nestle up to him and continue purring. Despite his annoyed expression, he reached out to pet the small animal. To Kenta’s surprise, Nayuta seemed to be fond of cats.
“Stay strong,” Nayuta said as he stood up, letting out a small cough as he did so. The rough sounds mixed within brought a frown to Kenta’s face.
“Have you caught a cold?”
“...It’s nothing,” Nayuta replied, sullenly turning his face away. Kenta tried to examine his expression, knowing he wouldn’t be content with pushing the matter aside. Nayuta looked rather unwell...
“Don’t push yourself too hard. You should rest instead of practising.”
“I told you it’s nothing. This won’t get in the way of my singing.”
Nayuta’s words betrayed him as he began to cough again.
“No. You should go see a doctor before anything else. I’ll get you some things to ease your throat later.”
As the jewel of Gyroaxia, Nayuta’s voice must not be damaged in the slightest.
Kenta fumbled around in his bag, taking out a towel from their live shows and wrapped it around Nayuta’s neck.
“The weather will get colder soon. I know it might look silly but make sure to keep it on. Should I get you a scarf or a muffler?
With an indignant look, Nayuta brushed Kenta’s hands away in irritation.
“Nayuta. What will you do if your throat is damaged?”
“I already told you, it’s fine.”
“I see. I’ll buy you some throat lozenges then. They should soothe your throat a little, at the very least.”
Kenta wracked his brain, trying to recall any nearby pharmacies located along the way. Which store was it that had the best selection of throat lozenges? Nayuta quickly became fed up as Kenta lost himself in thought.
“Are you my mum or something?”
“You’re our precious vocalist. It’s only natural for me to be worried.”
“...Hmph. Suit yourself. I’m going ahead,” Nayuta huffed and hurried away.
“How stubborn,” Kenta thought to himself before following along behind him. An icy wind raged between the two.
♛
It only grew worse from there. In a stroke of bad luck, the studio’s air conditioning had stopped working.
“Huh? Is there something wrong with the air conditioner?”
Reon knitted his brows and sipped at his sports drink. Ryo also made a face of annoyance as he licked at one of the throat lozenges Kenta had bought.
“The air is so dry in here…”
“I’ll go and ask them about it.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Miyuki left the studio to seek out a staff member to question. In the meantime, Kenta kept an eye on Nayuta’s condition. He had coughed several more times since their practice session had begun. Despite his continued dismissal of Kenta's worries, he could hear the slight change in Nayuta’s voice. His high votes lacked their usual sharpness and power.
“Is he really alright…?”
Kenta peered over at Nayuta who raised his head with a bitter expression. As expected, his complexion had still yet to return to normal. Kenta took one of the lozenges from the bag Ryo held and offered one to Nayuta.
“Suck on this until Miyuki returns.”
“...Are you my mum or something?” Nayuta grumbled, yet still obediently took the lozenge. He popped the honey-coloured candy in his mouth and began intently glaring at his music sheets. Eventually, Miyuki returned.
“Bad news. Looks like the aircon is broken. They've called someone to fix it but it won’t be working today. What should we do?”
“Hm…” After hearing Miyuki’s report, Kenta came to an immediate decision. “We’ll end practice here for today. Nayuta doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”
“Quit screwing around!” Nayuta snapped, “I’m going to sing! If you want to stop then get out!”
However, as Nayuta began to yell, he delved into a violent coughing fit. Even as his hacking died down, his breaths remained harsh and laboured. Kenta instinctively rushed to his side.
“Are you alright!?”
“I told you I’m fine!!” Nayuta shook off Kenta’s hands and shot him a deathly glare. Unable to watch from the sidelines, Miyuki stepped between the two with a casual demeanour.
“C’mon, Nayuta. No need to be like that, he’s only looking out for you. Well, I guess I can see how it might be annoying.”
“You seem really unwell. Overworking yourself will only make it worse. You’re not a kid, you should know how important rest is to maintaining your health,” Reon piped up, agreeing with Miyuki.
“I feel the same. Let’s end it here for today.” Ryo’s words brought a flush of anger flooding to Nayuta’s face.
“...Shut up,” Nayuta violently slammed his fist against the wall, “Get out! All of you!”
Nayuta’s eyes burned with anger as he glowered at the other members. Reon was the first to react.
“Alright, alright! Geez, suit yourself then! Guess I won’t bother worrying about you anymore!” Reon yelled out his frustrations, packed up his guitar, and promptly left. Ryo followed after with a shrug of his shoulders. Miyuki seemed to hesitate, until Nayuta turned towards him.
“Didn’t you hear me? I told you to get out.”
“...Right. I’ll be going then. But seriously, don’t push yourself too hard,” Miyuki said. Knowing there was no room for discussion, he made quick work of tidying up and left the studio. With a cruel gaze, Nayuta turned to Kenta, the only one who remained.
“You too, Satozuka. Leave. You’ll only get in my way.”
When Nayuta reached this level of anger, he wouldn’t let anyone come near him. It would be futile to try and communicate with him and any attempts to converse would only fuel his stubbornness. With an adept understanding of that, Kenta let out a sigh. Even so, Nayuta wasn’t a child. He knew how important his throat was, so no matter how brash he acted, he would never purposely bring harm to it.
“Very well. Will tomorrow’s practice go ahead as planned?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you then, in that case.”
Although it pained him, Kenta left the studio.
♛
Despite being kicked out...Kenta couldn’t bring himself to go straight home. He found a seat in a café with a view of the studio’s entrance and took out his laptop while he waited for Nayuta to finish rehearsal.
Since the other day, he couldn’t help but notice a change in Nayuta’s behaviour. Kenta was unfazed by Nayuta’s short temper, frequent outbursts and tyrannical behaviour. Those qualities never got in the way of Nayuta’s ability to create music. He didn’t care what type of person Nayuta was, as long as he produced the best of the best.
It was a different story once his sound began to break. Little progress was being made on the new song, and he couldn’t help but feel concerned. Once his coughs had arisen, his voice began to lose its usual power. He simply couldn’t ignore it if Nayuta’s songs dipped below the bar of perfection. As Gyroaxia’s leader, and a man who had become enamoured with the voice of Asahi Nayuta, he had to do everything in his power to help him. It didn’t matter how much Nayuta came to hate or loathe him, as long as he could spread his divine voice.
“He should be leaving soon.”
The time that their usual rehearsals would end had come and gone, but Nayuta had yet to leave the studio. That in itself was not unusual, however when he was unwell and practising on his own, Kenta couldn’t help but be concerned. He’d assumed that Nayuta wouldn’t overdo it, but his stubbornness may have gotten the best of him and led him to push himself more than usual.
“I have no choice. I should go check on him.”
He knew Nayuta would be upset with him, but the well-being of his throat was more important. Kenta briskly packed his belongings away and returned to the studio.
♛
“Nayuta!!”
The moment Kenta opened the door, his eyes darted straight to Nayuta, collapsed on the ground. He was at his side in an instant.
“Shut up…” Nayuta weakly lifted his head. He was ghostly pale and wheezes whistled from his throat. As Kenta tried to lift his frail body, Nayuta was attacked by another fit of violent coughs.
“I’ll call an ambulanceー”
“Don’t...there’s medicine...in my bag....”
“I’ll get it!”
He gently laid Nayuta back down and frantically opened his bag, immediately spotting an inhaler. He handed it to Nayuta, who brought it to his mouth as if he’d done it a thousand times before. After a while, Nayuta’s pained breaths eventually subsided. Although the colour had yet to return to his face, he seemed to have calmed down. Nayuta took the inhaler away from his mouth and glared at Kenta.
“Don’t tell anyone. If someone finds out, I'll leave Gyroaxia.”
“Understood. I won’t tell anyone. You have my word,” Kenta immediately replied.
If Nayuta ordered it, he wouldn’t tell a soul. Nayuta was a prideful man who couldn’t stand to show even the slightest of weaknesses. Kenta knew that Nayuta never intended for him to see him in such a state. The way he glared at Kenta with his pale complexion was both painful and divine.
Although Nayuta’s breathing had calmed down, he still shook with coughs from time to time, spiking Kenta’s worries. Judging from the way he handled the inhaler, it seemed that this was far from his first attack. Did he have a chronic illnessー
“...Can you still sing?”
The fear of losing Nayuta’s singing voice made the words spill from his mouth. Needing his dreadful nerves to be quelled, he couldn't help but ask. Howeverー
The moment he said those words, Nayuta’s composed features were dyed with rage.
“Of course I can,” he replied in a low tone, holding back his anger. However, that did nothing to hide the icy depths of his rage. “If you doubt me, you’re not needed here.”
Roughly grabbing his bag, he wobbled to his feet.
“Nayuta!”
“...Don’t follow me.”
In a clear rejection, Nayuta turned his back on Kenta and left the studio with an echoing slam of the door.
“It appears I’ve made a mistake…” Kenta brought a hand to his forehead with a heavy sigh. It seemed that his excessive concern for Nayuta's throat had led to him hitting an explosive nerve.
“I’ll leave it alone for now. I’ll see him tomorrow for rehearsal anyway.”
He could follow up with him then. Kenta tucked the thought away at the back of his mind and began to tidy up the studio.
♛
The next day, Nayuta didn’t show up to the studio.
“Wait, Nayuta’s still not here?” Reon, the last to arrive, looked around the room in confusion. This kind of thing was unheard of.
Kenta impatiently checked his phone again and again. He had sent Nayuta countless messages, but none of them had even been read. After what he had seen yesterday, Kenta wondered if had collapsed at home. The thought made him uneasy.
“Have you tried contacting him?” Ryo asked
“I have…” Kenta half-heartedly replied. Nayuta’s pale face from yesterday burned in his mind. Miyuki set up his drums with a doubtful look.
“Okay, what happened? Did you two fight?”
“Nayuta and Kenta-san fighting? That’s impossible!”
“Well, maybe that sort of thing is needed from time to time. Kenta is always too soft on Nayuta, after all.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“You two should hurry and make up already.”
“It’s nothing like that,” Kenta retorted, having lost patience with Miyuki and Reon’s incorrect assumptions.
What happened yesterday wasn’t a fight. He may have hit a nerve in Nayuta but...he’d be able to recover. He had created Gyroaxia in a way that would allow Nayuta to concentrate on music without sparing a worry for anything else. This was meant to be the perfect environment for Nayuta to sing. He didn't think Nayuta would throw that away so quickly which only fed further into Kenta’s worries. No matter what he did, he couldn’t free his mind from the image of Nayuta collapsed on the floor of his home.
“...I’m going to go see him.”
“Take care,” Ryo waved him goodbye.
“Huh?” Reon responded in surprise, “What about rehearsal!?”
“The three of you can go ahead with practice. You don’t need me here instructing you.”
“Alright…”
“I’ll contact you all once I know the situation...goodbye then.”
After bidding them farewell, Kenta rushed out of the studio. He couldn’t think about anything but Nayuta.
♛
After leaving the studio, Kenta immediately called a taxi and set course for Nayuta’s apartment. Once he arrived, he frantically pushed the intercom, impatiently tapping his foot while he waited.
There was no response.
“If only I had a spare key.”
While contemplating whether he should ask the building owner to open the door for him, the resident that lived next door came out.
“Uhm, if you’re looking for the person that lives there, he went out this morning.”
“He left? Do you know where he went?”
“S-Sorry, I’m not sure…”
He tried pressing the kind neighbour for answers, but he only seemed to make her uncomfortable. Resisting the urge to click his tongue, Kenta bowed his head.
“Thank you for your help. Ah, if you happen to see him, could you please tell him that ‘Satozuka’ was looking for him?”
“S-Sure.”
After thanking the neighbour once more, Kenta left the apartment behind. Nayuta must have been feeling better if he went out.
But what if he had been hospitalised? Where was the closest hospital that treated respiratory related injuries?
“Where are you?” He messaged Nayuta and began researching hospitals in the area.
“Nayuta, please be okay…”
While he prayed for his safety, Kenta headed off to the hospital his search results provided him. He just needed to know that Nayuta was safe.
♛
Nayuta wasn’t there.
He tried visiting the other hospitals in the area but Nayuta was nowhere to be found.
“Nayuta, where are you…?”
Desperately, he ventured to other places that Nayuta could be. He tried the cafe they’d occasionally visit after practice, their usual live house, the music store they would get their equipment fixed at… but there was no sign of Nayuta.
His agitation was quickly growing.
“Nayuta, do you really plan on quitting Gyroaxia?”
That couldn’t be the case. He didn’t want to believe it, but there was a detestable hunch he couldn’t shake off that he was right.
“If he could at least send me a text…”
Kenta had already sent Nayuta a number of messages but they had all been left unread. Where was Nayuta? What was he doing? He didn’t have a clue.
“I thought I knew him better than this.”
Kenta had no idea where Nayuta could have gone. His understanding of Nayuta didn’t extend beyond the topic of music.
The sun was quickly setting. He returned to Nayuta’s apartment once more, assuming he would have gone home, but there was no sign that he had returned yet. He tried going back to the studio, but the other members said Nayuta hadn’t come by. Naturally, they all began to worry.
“The least he could do is message me!”
“Should we look for him together?” He knew that Miyuki was offering out of kindness, but Kenta shook his head.
“No, this is Nayuta we’re talking about. If we make a big fuss about it, he’ll only grow more stubborn. Just leave this to me.”
In the wild, animals hide away when they’re injured. Nayuta had that trait too. He couldn’t show any weakness, lest his pride be damaged. After being ordered not to speak of his asthma to anyone else, Kenta decided that searching for Nayuta had to be up to him alone.
“...Right. But if anything happens, let us know.”
Miyuki was also aware of Nayuta’s characteristics, but he backed down faster than Kenta expected. He seemed rather opinionated on the dynamic between members of the band but thankfully, he knew that there were certain situations he should stay out of.
“Kenken, take care of Nayuta,” Ryo said, throwing a CalorieMate bar and a sports drink his way.
“I will...thank you.” He had been running around without anything to eat or drink so he appreciated the consideration. He accepted the drink and took a sip, swallowing it down his parched throat. “I’ll be going now. I’ll leave the tidying up to you guys.”
He left the studio and rushed out into the city again, now cloaked in the night sky. He didn’t know where to go but he couldn’t stay put.
♛
Kenta thought about Nayuta’s behaviour. He hadn’t come to the studio, but he knew he couldn’t go a day without singing. Other than his home and the studio, he looked for places that Nayuta may have gone to sing. Karaoke? No, he rarely ever went to places like that. He opened up social media and searched for places near his high school and residence that he might have gone to sing. He stopped when an image of a street musician caught his eye.
“Nayuta?” He unconsciously said aloud. The video only had a short title, being named Nayuta is Performing a Street Live? It seemed that someone had secretly recorded Nayuta while he walked down the shopping arcade singing.
“Nayuta? From Gyro?”
“Huh? Is this a solo?"
“Wow, he’s really cool.”
“Even his acapella is perfect.”
“Who is this? He’s not a pro, right?”
There were a variety of comments left on the video.
“Is this...Tanukikoji?”
Based on the background, that was his best guess. Judging by the time the video was uploaded, there was a good chance that Nayuta was still there. It was lucky that he left the studio so soon, Nayuta could be just around the corner. They might have even passed by each other already.
Kenta ran off in the direction he suspected Nayuta to be, praying that he was still singing.
♛
It wasn’t long before Kenta found Nayuta. Not far from the shopping arcade, a crowd had gathered around a closed storefront. From the middle of them, Nayuta’s powerful yet delicate singing drowned out the bustle of the city.
“Please excuse me,” he said, attempting to make his way through the crowd, however it seemed a futile task. Yet, even though they were separated, he could still see Nayuta. Even if he didn’t stand on a stage, even if he didn’t have a musical instrument, Nayuta still sang with the voice of a king. His voice was solid like a winter night sky, spinning the most exquisite music there was. As many times as he had heard Nayuta sing this song, he never found himself less entranced.
He didn't want to let Nayuta go, he wanted to protect his voice—that, he was sure of.
Like Kenta, the crowd found themselves lost in Nayuta’s song. His surroundings fell silent, with Nayuta’s voice being the only thing that flooded the area. One by one, more shoppers stopped to watch and joined the ever growing crowd.
“Who is that?”
“That’s amazing. He’s super cool…”
“I wonder if he’s debuted yet?”
A number of whispers swept past his ears. He was proud of Nayuta to be able to make even those who didn’t know Gyroaxia lend him their ears. Kenta’s chest swelled with pride that Nayuta was their vocalist.
“I wonder if this could be of use too…?” As the thought arose, Kenta opened his phone’s camera and began to film. He recorded the performance and made sure to include a view of the crowd he had gathered. “I won’t disturb Nayuta until he’s satisfied.”
Nayuta wore his usual moody expression, but while he sang, in a way it seemed like he was having fun. His voice wasn’t at the peak quality that Kenta was familiar with, meaning his body had likely yet to fully recover. Nonetheless, he felt his worries and fears from yesterday be dispelled.
No matter what happened, Nayuta would continue to sing.
Kenta stared at the man who had been brought into this world to sing, feeling ashamed that even for a moment, he had doubted the person he had wagered his life on.
♛
“...That’s all.”
Once he felt satisfied, Nayuta announced the end of his performance. Momentarily, the audience began to beg for an encore, but when it was clear that Nayuta had no interest in continuing, the crowd gradually dispersed. Once the audience had thinned out, Nayuta caught Kenta’s gaze and narrowed his eyes with a threatening glare.
“What’re you doing here?”
“You shouldn’t sing in here. It’s a dome,” Kenta replied, opposing Nayuta’s glare with an earnest look. The hostility in his eyes only grew. “We need to talk. Can you come with me?”
Nayuta’s gaze seemed to tear him to pieces, but Kenta didn’t dare shy away. Nayuta held his glare for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
“...Fine.”
“Let’s not stand around. We should go find somewhere to sit, at least.”
They walked a short while until they found themselves in Odori Park. Kenta bought a warm citrus drink from a vending machine and handed it to Nayuta. At first he seemed suspicious, but he accepted it in the end. Kenta purchased a coffee for himself and took a seat next to Nayuta on a bench.
“Why’d you pick this one?”
“It’ll be good for your throat. You’ve really overexerted it. Try to stay hydrated.”
“...You bastard.”
Nayuta’s anger flared up again at the mention of his throat, grip tightening on his drink with a crinkling sound. Before Nayuta could lose his temper, Kenta bowed his head.
“...I apologise for yesterday!”
“What’re you doing?”
“I never meant to doubt you. I was only worried. I’m sorry if it seemed that I didn’t have any faith in you.”
“...”
“You’re someone who won't let anything stop you from singing. I should have realised that sooner.”
The anger that still burned in Nayuta’s eyes began to simmer out little by little. Kenta’s eyes never left his as he announced his request.
“Nayuta. I never want you to stop singing so please, let me protect your throat. I’ll do everything in my power. What can I do? What can I do to protect your voice?”
Nayuta’s eyes widened slightly at Kenta’s desperate plea.
“...Can’t you quit that already?”
“No, I can’t. You were born to sing.”
Nayuta raised an eyebrow at his uninhibited assertion but Kenta continued without regard, taking the opportunity to lay out his feelings to Nayuta.
“Of course I’m concerned about your asthma, but it hasn’t brought any harm to your singing. If you need help on stage, I’ll do everything I can to support you. You don’t need to worry about anything other than creating the music that you desire.”
“...So it’ll just be the same as before?”
“No, I’ll do more for you than ever. I’ll take care of your health. You won’t have to deal with trivial tasks either. Just sing and perform, Nayuta. It’s the reason for your existence.”
Nayuta was astonished by the pride he held in his words.
“I don’t sing for your sake.”
“I’m fully aware of that too. I selfishly fell in love with your music all on my own.”
“...What a maniac,” Nayuta spat out, opening the lid on his drink and downing the contents. Seemingly pleased, he drank half the bottle before casting his gaze to the ground. Kenta turned to Nayuta, who held the air of an arrogant stray cat that always stood proudly.
“We’ve known each other for a while...yet I’ve never seen you have an attack as vicious as yesterday’s. Has it been worse lately? What causes it? Do you have any ideas?” Kenta asked. The sudden barrage of questions put a sour look on Nayuta’s face. “Please. I’m here to support you, but I also want to be aware of your situation. Can you tell me?”
After being asked again, Nayuta begrudgingly offered an answer.
“The doctor said...it was stress. But, I’m not that weak.”
“Stress? Did something happen? Even if it was only small, do you know what it could’ve been?”
“...It was that piece of shit’s band.”
Nayuta’s face turned sour. From that point, Nayuta’s words only grew more and more depressing. Like skipping a pebble across a lake, Nayuta told his story in brief words, with Kenta listening earnestly at every step.
Nayuta’s father was the vocalist of a legendary band. He abandoned both him and his mother for the sake of music. After he discovered that Nayuta had asthma, he told him, “You’ll never sing,” and cut him off. From then on, his mother would continuously apologise and look at him with sympathy and pity in her eyes…consequently, that legendary band had become an awfully sensitive topic for Nayuta.
Kenta was able to gather that much from Nayuta’s story, along with the fact that beating that band was his greatest motivator.
“I’m not going to try and idiotically copy him. I’ll beat him as my own self.” With a crunch he crushed the bottle in his hands. “But now when I try to write a song, my throat clogs up. It’s bullshit! My voice is completely different to his. I’m nothing like him!”
The flame in Nayuta’s eyes reignited and burned with anger once again. The fire they held blazed with a beautiful furocity that had the power to scorch all in its path. Kenta was enchanted by them. With the anger held in his eyes, Nayuta seemed like Icarus, flying towards the sun. Though he knew he’d crash to the ground, he didn't know how to do anything but aim for the top and continue soaring.
That’s why...Kenta wanted to protect Nayuta.
So that those wings would never be broken. So that nothing could hold down his wings of blazing flame that even the sun could not stand against.
“There’s certainly some similarities between your voices.”
“What?” Despite all the passion Nayuta had laid out, he bared his fangs at Kenta’s indifferent reply.
“Of course, there are clear differences. Your low notes are deeper and you're far better at expressing the delicate changes in notes. The music you suit is also completely different,” Kenta rationalised in his usual fashion.
“...What’re you trying to say?”
“Don’t let meaningless matters get in your way—it’s not like you. The only thing you need to be is yourself. In my eyes, your singing is the greatest in the world.”
Nayuta looked at him with wide eyes.
“One day, people will say the opposite. Instead, they’ll ask, ‘Is that Asahi Nayuta’s father?’.”
The view of the street live came to Kenta’s mind. One by one, he had dragged people in with his song.
“Even people that don’t know our music have stopped in their tracks for you. That’s the kind of power your voice holds.”
Kenta had seen it himself. One day, he would sing in front of a huge audience beneath that dome, and everyone would cheer the name Asahi Nayuta.
“I’ll make every person on the earth your fan...or will you lose your confidence and run away?” Kenta challenged with a smile. Nayuta took a deep breath and exhaled as if expelling everything he had been holding in his chest.
“Pretty cheap attempt at stirring me up...but I’m on board.” He said as he rose to his feet and threw his drink into the trash can in one clean shot. With the burning eyes of a king, he looked down at Kenta. “Just you wait. My new song will be the best thing you’ve ever heard.”
Nayuta’s chest swelled with pride as he flashed an arrogant smile that dripped with confidence.
♛
The next day, Nayuta arrived at the studio before anyone else.
“You’re late. We’re beginning immediately!” Nayuta yelled once the other members turned up. Reon was taken aback by the display of his usual tyrannical behaviour, as if the events of the previous day had never happened. His cheeks flushed red with anger.
“You littleー! Where the hell were you yesterday!?” he yelled in outrage. Reon seemed like he might grab Nayuta by the collar so Miyuki rushed to keep the peace.
“Did you catch a cold? We were all worried about you.”
“I wasn’t…!”
“I never asked anyone to worry about me.”
“Geez, why do you have to act like this…?”
“Miyuki’s right, he was bedridden with a cold. Before our last rehearsal, the cold had begun to agitate his throat and the situation with the air conditioning did nothing to help either,” Kenta took the initiative to explain on Nayuta’s behalf before a meaningless fight could break out.
“...Hmph.” Nayuta turned away, making it clear that there would be no further discussion on the matter. However, that only made Reon angrier.
“That’s bullshit! You should’ve told us you wouldn’t be coming!”
“Calm down. He had a cold, it couldn't be helped. Just, let us know next time, okay? I was worried that you had collapsed or something,” Miyuki mediated while setting up his drum set. Meanwhile, Kenta fussed over Nayuta.
“Nayuta, I’ve bought more cough drops and made some honey-pickled radishes. I also bought you a scarf for you to wear on your way home. If the weather gets colder, I’ll buy you a muffler too…”
Kenta had brought along a larger bag than usual and Nayuta was shocked by the amount of items he pulled out.
“...Are you my mum or something?”
“That’s how he’s acting honestly! I mean, aren’t you being even more overprotective than usual, Kenta-san?”
“Geez, you’re like a parent that isn’t ready to let their adult son go.”
Kenta paid no mind to Miyuki and Reon’s criticisms and placed the scarf and throat medicine into Nayuta’s bag. When their break rolled around, he’d ensure that Nayuta ate all the pickled radishes he had made. Although Miyuki and Reon looked at Kenta with a face of astonishment, they eventually gave up and the preparations for rehearsal proceeded as usual.
“Now that the air conditioning is working again, we’ll be able to get through today without a problem...huh, hyah!?” Miyuki let out a yelp and stared in shock at the cat at his feet. “Huh? A cat?”
“...How’d that get in here?” Nayuta muttered with a scowl. It was the cat that had been following Nayuta around at the park. Kenta shooed the animal away from their instruments.
“Why don’t one of us take it in?” Kenta suggested.
“Just leave him be. He’s happy being a stray.”
However, the cat seemed to disagree and rubbed its head against Ryo’s leg with a meow. Ryo picked it up and stroked its purring neck before turning to Nayuta.
“That reminds me...how’s our new song going?”
Nayuta raised an eyebrow before the edges of his lips tugged up into an arrogant grin. The other members were shocked by the rare smile from Nayuta.
“I’ll show you...we'll have it mastered before our next live.”
After his declaration, Nayuta began to sing. The song was powerful yet delicate, striking and intense. It was a song that aimed for endless heights, with a sound that seemed to the tale of Gyroaxia’s endless hard work. It was a song that spread its blazing wings and aimed for what lay beyond even the sun.
After Nayuta had finished singing, Kenta gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Well done.”
“There’s still more to be done before it’s polished.” A look of seriousness set into Nayuta’s face and he raised his voice. “Practice starts now!”
That day, Gyroaxia took a big step forward.
