A beautiful crystal clear lake with a small dock is the first to catch eye in the grassy field. Colorful flowers decorated the scenery and cicadas made noise as the afternoon sun beamed down. On the very end of this dock sat two boys letting their feet dangle in the cool water.
"It's so peaceful today, isn't it?" The older commented breaking the silence. A small hum is the only reply he received. It might have been peaceful but for the younger his heart was anything but.
"Hey, Natsume...you got the job, didn't you?"
The blonde glanced over at the younger boy to see his face downcast. He smiled to himself before answering his question. "Of course I did. I'll be playing a lead role in the musical. You...don't sound too happy for me."
"I-I really am happy! This will get you noticed and bring you one step closer to your dream of becoming an idol. I just..." He found himself at a lost for words. Of course he really was happy for Natsume but him accepting the role meant he'd be moving. Off to a far away place much different of the quiet life in this town. Instead living in the bustling city several miles from there.
Natsume was his only friend. Ever since he moved there the older boy is all Kahaku ever really had, and now he would be leaving soon. It was probably the last time they would speak alone face-to-face. He knew what this job could be for him, yet part of himself was still upset Natsume got the role so quickly. Kahaku didn't want him to go. It was selfish and he couldn't get the courage to say how he truly felt.
He slowly stood on his feet still avoiding Natsume's gaze. "I should head home now. I know you still have packing to finish. Good luck with the show. I'm sure you'll do great."
But before the boy could walk off Natsume catched hold of his left arm. He could feel his emerald eyes glued on him from behind. "Wait. I can't have our final goodbye end without you even looking at me." He got up on his feet and Kahaku slowly turned around to face him.
"There is something else you want to say to me, right? I won't get mad."
His soft smile caused a blush to come across Kahaku's face as he shuffled his feet awkwardly. When he finally did speak his voice was so quiet it could hardly be heard. Even amidst the silence where the only noise was soft sounds of birds chirping.
"I want us to always be friends. No matter how far away you are...I don't ever want that to change." He felt even more weird saying it aloud. Like Natsume cared about staying friends with a lonely thirteenth year old when he had his whole life starting for him. If anything he wouldn't blame the older teen if was happy to be moving, and thus free of him for good.
Before he fully processed what was happening, Natsume's arms were wrapped around him tight. "I promise no matter what happens I'll always make time for you. I'll come back to visit and everything. Like I never left so you don't have anything to worry about. We'll always be friends."
"Natsume..." He finally got his arms to work and hugged him back tightly. He wondered just how long they could stay like that...
A loud buzzing goes off from Kahaku's phone on the table. The loud noise startling him awake from his peacefully sleep on the couch. His body hits the floor letting out a small groan as he reaches around for his cellphone. "Hello?"
"Good you're up. I have a gig for you here at Gekko bar at one sharp, so get out of bed and get down here." An all too familiar male voice orders, and without even waiting for a reply he hangs up. What a terrific manager the agency chose for himself.
Stretching Kahaku tries focusing his foggy mind. He was just wrapped up in a throw blanket moments before. He went to the couch to rest which resulted into him dozing off yet again. Sho must of thrown this on him not to disturb his sleep.
Standing up he now regrets spending the night out here with the pain in his lower back. Kahaku folds up the blanket then taking off down the hall of the one story house to his bedroom.
Glancing at the digital clock by his bed it's already past eleven. Sleeping in late as per usual. He never was an early riser but with all the nonstop gigs being booked isn't leaving him much down time.
Being able to remember better now his mind recalls what he had been dreaming about before rudely awaken. The last promise they made prior his old friend moving away. When Natsume left for Kyoto their relationship plummeted after just a few months. He constantly blue up his phone but the blonde was always busy. The little they did talk is hardly noteworthy, and Natsume never came to visit once like he swore. Eventually his mother told him her son was moving on with his life. Honestly Kahaku knew she spoke the truth, and that's when he stopped chasing him down. It must not have affected Natsume too much since he never called back. "Jeez, why am I dreaming about that now all of a sudden?"
He has been thinking of Natsume a lot ever since he started singing. The male was his main inspiration to start in the first place. Always buying his CD once it came out, though he could never work the nerve to attend his live shows. Was he naive enough to believe pursuing the same career path would magically create a reason for Natsume to reach out to him, even after all this time? Be friends with again just like the old days? He isn't even sure if Natsume wants to bothered. He never made an attempt to so far and maybe that alone is a sign.
It's different now though. Kahaku started taking singing lessons when he moved to Kyoto over a year ago. Him and his brother had to come stay here with an older cousin since their uncle passed away. Just a few months back he decided he was ready to pursue a career as an idol. After all Natsume wasn't the only one who had an interest in music. The real reason he sings now is because he truly enjoys being on stage. Since he hasn't been performing long most still have no idea who he is yet. He does have high hopes for that to change one day in the near future.
Kahaku walks through his dark pitched room with the curtains blocking out most sunlight. Even with it being so dim in here he can still tell it needs some straightening up when he has free time. His room is nothing too special with a simple desk he usually uses for song writing. The blue comforter and matching sheets is tossed around over the bed. Clear proof he didn't even have the energy to make it the night before. A black bedroom set and different poster of his favorite idol groups covers the walls, even one of Natsume hung up on the door. Anime figures he's collected over the years scatter the room. An lastly a small television on the opposite side of his bed with a messy anime collection occupying the shelves underneath it. How long has it been since he's actually had time to put one in? He opens his closet finding anything to throw on so he won't be late. After getting dressed quickly locks up, and takes off down the street towards Gekko bar.
...
"Thank you everyone for being such a great audience! I hope you enjoyed the show!" Clapping comes throughout the crowd as Kahaku heads backstage. He lets out a sigh of relief once out of the people's sight.
"Good job out there today." Looking up in front of him stands his manager, Tatsuya Ogami. He was assigned to him not long after he joined the agency, and the two of them have been getting along pretty well. The male is in his later twenties wearing a dark blue suit, with his long burnette hair comed back neatly in a ponytail. Really it seems like he has on formal wear for practicaly any occasion. Most would think because of how he presents himself is a strict and cold person, which at times he is. But Tatsuya has always been here for him and easy for Kahaku to communicate with. He's a good manager for him, well most of the time anyway.
"Thanks, I think I'm getting use to performing on stage. What is it?" He asks and by the look on his manager's face there is something on his mind. Tatsuya pushes up his black round frames with his index finger.
"Yes, there is something I need to discuss with you. Do you have a moment so we go somewhere and chat?" By his tone it doesn't really come off as a question. Kahaku wondering what this could be about as the two head for the cafe down the street.
A/N Hello author-chan here! This is chapter 0. Hopefully this sparked some interest and Natsume will be introduced in the next update!