The morning sunlight beams in through the open window. This is the first day Kahaku has off in who knows when. It's still hard to believe what all happened yesterday. Finally Natsume and him are actually starting their friendship anew. He doesn't want to think on what this fake relationship is going to be like for them. Right now he's just content they can see each other again.
After getting dressed he walks down the hall into the living room to see Sho sitting on the couch. The boy is average height for a preteen. Having the same short black hair and a set of blue eyes unlike his violet ones. "Good morning. I'm surprised you aren't playing games like usual."
"It's not morning, it's noon."
"What?!" Kahaku looks up at the clock to see it is indeed after twelve. He lets out a soft sigh. "Even on my day off I can't seem to get up at a reasonable hour." He walks over taking a seat on the free cushion at the opposite end. "Then I guess it makes sense you wouldn't be playing a game right now. Earth radiance should be on."
On the TV two young women are standing in a grassy field across from a green alien man with antenna on his head. The taller female is the first to speak. "You're the one who has been attacking earth! Time to put a stop to your evil deeds!"
Both the pink and chestnut hair women put their right hands in the air. "Transformation!"
Their outfits both turn into a sparkly shirt and skirt. The dark skinned female catches glowing rings that falls down from the sky. The other next to her has heart shaped baton in hand. The pair do a striking back to back pose.
"I'm Sai!"
" I'm Mine!"
"And we'll put and end to you!"
Sho is completely absorbed in the show as Kahaku runs his fingers through his hair. "You must really like Megumi's show. This is another repeat since they're still in the process of making new episodes."
"This is one of the best ones."
He stares at the strawberry blonde female known as 'Mine' onscreen. Her actual name is Megumi and she's older than him by two years. They met by chance one day not long after he moved to Kyoto, and now have been close friends ever since. It was the first real friend he made after what happened with Natsume. Sho enjoys spending time with her too and loves watching her show.
His phone buzzes suddenly from his pocket. As if his thoughts summoned her with the name flashing on the screen. "Hello Megumi."
"Hey Kahaku! You're off today, right?"
"Yeah, I'm free."
"I got the perfect place for us to go then."
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"It's a surprise. It won't be long before it starts so I'll be on my way over in a bit. Make sure you're ready."
"Alright, I'll see you when you get here." He hangs up his cell and his brother who was just invested in the television stares at him curiously.
"Is Megumi coming over?"
"Yup, she'll be over soon. I better go grab something to eat before she gets here." Making his way towards the kitchen to throw a quick meal together.
By the time he's done getting ready it's not a long wait before the doorbell rings. Sho quickly hops up to answer it before Kahaku can hardly move an inch off the couch. "Hiya Sho! How have you been?"
"Good! I have a new game I want you to see." Tugging on the female's arm to lure her inside. Kahaku grabs his shoes pulling the boy back.
"Not today Sho, we have plans. You can show her some other time."
He pouts gaze dropping to the floor and she squats down leveling herself at his height. "I promise I'll see it next time, kay?"
"Alright."
"You ready to go? I don't want us to be late," she asks, now turning to him.
Her long curly hair flows down her back as it's styled with two buns towards the front. She's a little tall for a girl or maybe more he's just short. The female a bit over him in height. Her hazel eyes stare at Kakahu brightly.
"Yeah, let's get going."
They get into her car and take off down the road. After awhile of listening to music on the radio Kahaku speaks up. "You still can't tell me where we're going?"
"My lips are sealed. You'll see soon enough. Oh!" She turns the radio down low causing Kahaku's gaze to go from the window to her. "I heard the strangest rumor this morning. It was about you."
"A rumor? W-What was it?" A slight worry tone in his voice. Rumors never really spread around about him before, so he wonders what it could be of.
"They said it was revealed you've just started going out with Natsume. The Natsume idol sensation."
Once hearing her answer his body slowly starts to relax. Of course that's what she is talking about. It'll take some time getting use to the fact that for now he's technically his boyfriend. Though Kahaku is a little shocked the news got to her so quickly, given word was just put out online last night.
"One of my coworkers saw some post about it this morning. It's crazy, right? I mean you don't even know the guy, let alone be dating him. I have no idea where they could of-"
"I didn't realize that's what you were referring to. That is true."
"I know it's unbeliev-wait, What?!"
Megumi screeches as the car swerves and she nearly misses her turn. She jerks the wheel to make it just before they pass it as Kahaku braces himself against the car door.
"Are you trying to kill us?!"
"I didn't even know you knew each other and now you're going out! Since when?!"
"It's not a real relationship! It was set up by our managers for publicity."
"I can't believe you didn't tell me this before." She mumbles sounding a little dejected. Kahaku sighs softly readjusting himself in his seat properly.
"It only officially happened just yesterday. I was going to tell you."
The tension slowly begins to fade and a playful grin curves on her lips.
"Aren't you the lucky one to be in a relationship with Natsume Reiji. Even if it's just for the cameras you two do make a cute couple."
A light blush comes over his face as quickly looks down at his lap. "I never knew you were one of those kind of girls. It's not that big of a deal."
"Did you speak to him already? How was it meeting Natsume for the first time?"
"Well actually it was pretty awkward because...it had been over five years since we last saw each other."
"Last seen him?!" She snaps at him with her focus no longer on the road. Once again the car dangerously swerving outside of the lane, and Kahaku clinches unto the seatbelt strap for dear life. A truck coming right towards them from the opposite direction blows his horn urgently.
"T-The trunk Megumi!" Closing his eyes not being able to bear the sight of it all. The vehicle is quickly jerked avoiding the collision in enough time. Cautiously he peeks through one eye before sitting back up straight. He nearly saw his life flash before him. "Jeez will you please stop doing that!"
"You already knew Natsume?" Seeming completely unfazed by the two possible accidents more concerned on this revelation.
"Well we were sorta childhood friends..."
"You were childhood friends with Natsume and you're just now telling me!" Shooting him an accusing gaze to which Kahaku shrugs off with an innocent smile.
"It never really came up."
"That's the kind of thing you just tell someone! This is all so much to take in."
Granted he should of shared this with her sooner, but his heart cannot take another thrill ride. "Do you need to pull over for a minute? I really don't want you swerving again."
She takes a few deep breaths to calm herself shaking her head. "No, I'm okay now. Although this is going to make the surprise a little less exciting."
"Huh?"
...
The two of them watch as Natsume continues his song from backstage. A venue has Natsume booked for a back to back performance, and Megumi had scored two backstage passes. He definitely wasn't expecting this though it is the first time he's witnessed Natsume perform up close. It's always just listening to the CD or watching him online, but actually at his show has a special spark.
He finishes up his second song with the crowd practically begging for more. Upon coming backstage some of the other idols compliment on a job well done. He notices Kahaku and Megumi standing on the opposite side. Quickly excusing himself before jogging over. "Kahaku, what are you doing here? And who is this?"
"Hi, um, this is my friend Megumi. She had backstage passes to your show."
She turns to face him with a small bow. "Nice to meet you, I'm Megumi Nanami."
"Ah, so you're the one who won the tickets over the radio. I hope you enjoyed the performance."
"Yes, you're really talented."
He studies her for a moment as of he's trying to think back on something. "Megumi, it feels like I seen you somewhere before?"
"Oh, it was probably on TV. She plays as Mine on the children's show Earth Radiance."
He snaps his finger in realization at Kahaku's guess. "That's right! The one where the girls use their magic to fight against aliens attacking the world. My little cousin loves your show."
"I'm happy to hear it has so many fans. Anyway now that introductions are out of the way with...I heard about your two's relationship." She adds in a hush tone much to Natsume's surprise.
"Megumi!" Kahaku shouts a little too loud causing a few glances.
"What? I was dying to ask."
"She heard about it this morning. I already told her it's just for the publicity."
"Wow word is spreading around fast. It won't be long before the media starts asking us a bunch of questions."
"I really hope this works. If we go through all this trouble for nothing..." Of course this arrangement is what brought them together, but he doesn't want to mess anything up for him. They're supposed to working together too and there's so much he still doesn't know about being an idol.
Megumi gives Kahaku a small pat of encouragement. "I'm sure it will. When word really gets out, girls are going to go crazy over this."
"At least it gives us a chance to debut together. It'll make work more fun singing with you."
"You guys will be singing together too. That's so cool! I think your voices would be a good fit," Megumi encourages.
"As long as you don't mind working with someone as inexperienced as me..."
"You have been doing well so far. There's still things that need improvement but I think we'll work well together. Our managers said so themselves," Natsume insists with a smile.
It's relieving to hear he isn't bothered by the fact of singing with an amateur. Honestly he's pretty stoked about them writing songs together. "Your show was good. Much more memorizing watching you in person."
"You think? It might have been okay but it makes no difference either way if hardly anyone shows up." He comments with a wry smile and Kahaku's face falls.
Glancing at the audience it is less packed than usual. He still remembers the days where Natsume's name is all people ever talked about, but it seems that's no longer the case.
Natsume's phone suddenly begins to buzz. Picking it up he glances at the screen only to frown setting it back down without answering.
"Aren't you gonna take that?" she asks innocently and he sighs.
"No, it's my girlfriend Akira."
Both Megumi and Kahaku's bodies freeze up by that one word. Did he just say he has a girlfriend? But how could they be "supposedly" dating if he's already seeing someone?
"We have been going out for awhile now but she doesn't like all the attention, so we kept our relationship under raps..."
"I see..." Why did hearing this suddenly put a damper on his mood from moments before? It shouldn't really be a surprise he has a girlfriend. He is talented, handsome, and has a certain charm that's sure to attract the ladies. Kahaku should be happy for him but can't get this sourness to leave from his stomach. It's a somewhat similar feeling to the one all those years ago. Perhaps he's just jealous Natsume has a significant other and he doesn't. He's never really dated much in high school, and it has been quite awhile since the last relationship. That has to be it.
"I cancelled our date twice in a row because of work. This now will be my third." He lets out a frustrated sigh running his fingers through his hair.
"I really need to find a way to make it up to her somehow. Anyway, I would love to stay and talk but I have a full schedule today."
Megumi glances over at Kahaku who's zoned out. "Of course we understand."
"Ah! Yeah you should get going," he stampers, and Natsume turns to leave.
"I'll see you, Kahaku. Nice meeting you, Megumi. Like I said I won't break my promise to you this time."
"Natsume..." With that final remark the blonde walks off.
"Promise?" She questions titling her head for an explanation, but he's so lost in thought he fails to notice.
Just how will this fake relationship be including them singing together? Who is this girlfriend, Akira? Most of all what will their friendship be like between them now? All of this is just the beginning.