Nori just so happened to pass by the practice rooms and heard someone playing guitar. His curiosity peaked, so he walked over and just outside the hall, watching whoever was playing guitar inside. He noticed that the person inside was none other than the guitarist of his rival band. He'd never really spoken to him before, but the two had often been close to arguing. He just continued to watch him with interest.
He watched him practice intensely, almost like he was possessed by the guitar. Nori could easily tell that the boy was very talented, but that just annoyed him even more. He decided to speak up, so he leaned against the doorframe.
"You play very well for someone in a shitty band." He said in his usual teasing tone. The guitarist stopped playing and turned around, immediately noticing Nori. Hikari sighed. staring with wide eyes at Nori. "Thanks i guess..?" Nori rolled his eyes, not expecting the guy to actually respond.
Nori chuckled smugly as he leaned against the doorframe. He had a small smirk playing on his lips as he watched Hikari put his guitar down. He knew he was annoying, but he just couldn't help it.
"You're welcome. I don't hand out compliments to any guitarists." He teased. He pushed himself off the doorframe and slowly walked over to him. "You're not as shitty as the rest of your band." He added, stopping in front of him with a sly grin. "U-uhm..." hikari was nevous. He didnt know if asking this was okay. "Why do our bands hate eachothers guts?" Nori raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't been expecting him to ask such an upfront question. He chuckled lightly and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.
"Well...your drummer is extremely loud and annoying." He said with a slight snicker. "He always butts his nose into our business, and he has the loudest laugh I've ever heard. Just a few weeks ago, he wouldn't stop talking to me as I was trying to-"
Nori cut himself off suddenly, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Trying to what?" Hikari tilted his head in confusion. Nori's cheeks went a bit red as he cursed inwardly. *Stupid, why'd you have to mention that?* he thought to himself.
Nori chuckled smugly as he leaned against the doorframe. He had a small smirk playing on his lips as he watched Hikari put his guitar down. He knew he was annoying, but he just couldn't help it.
"You're welcome. I don't hand out compliments to any guitarists." He teased. He pushed himself off the doorframe and slowly walked over to him. "You're not as shitty as the rest of your band." He added, stopping in front of him with a sly grin.
"Nothing...just trying to write a song or whatever.." He muttered, looking away from him quickly to hide his blush. He tried to change the subject quickly.
"What about your band? You should see the look on that lead singer's face every time we get mentioned. Its as if he thinks he's the only musician this side of town."
He rolled his eyes, still avoiding direct eye contact. "Honestly i have no idea.. and i rather not get involved in it."
"Smart." Nori said with a chuckle. He began to look around the practice room, his gaze lingering around the instruments and other equipment stacked around the room. He walked over to the drum set and sat down on the stool.
"How much practice do you get in here a day?" he asked. He started to lightly beat a rhythm on the drums as he waited for his answer. He was admittedly impressed by how good the sound system was in the room, and how good this practice room's equipment actually was. He could already picture his own band practicing in here.
"Mhm it depends on how much im in the mood and on if we're learning a new song.."
Nori nodded, still lightly tapping the drums as he listened to him speak. He had never noticed how pretty his voice was before. He shook his head to clear the thought.
"Are you always in here by yourself?" He asked curiously, looking over at the guitar left on the floor. "Well yeah... this equipment is mine.. my band prefers to practice at home tho" Nori couldn't help but look a bit impressed. His eyebrows raised slightly.
"You own this stuff?" He asked, glancing around the room. He hadn't expected someone from his rival band to own all this. It was definitely much higher quality than anything his band had access to.
"Yeah... i work a really well paying job.." he didnt wanna go into explaining aabout him working as a host. Nori's eyebrow raised again, a bit of suspicion in his eyes.
"A job gets you enough money to pay for all this stuff? What...are you a drug dealer or something?" Hikari is shocked at nori's assumption. "What?!?! Why do you assume the worst of me?!!?" Nori chuckled at his reaction.
"Oh chill out, i was just teasing. What kind of job do you have that gives you access to all this stuff anyway?"
Hikari looks embarrased and speaks silently. "I work as a host.."
Nori's eyes widened as he heard the answer. He hadn't expected that. He stopped drumming on the drums and just stared at him in surprise.
"You're a host?" He asked, looking him up and down like he was seeing him for the first time. "Like...a host at a club?" hikari nods.
Nori lets out a low whistle, his eyes still on him. "You must be making good money then with a job like that." He said, still eyeing him up with interest. "Don't guys come to those clubs and pay you to just chat with them? What kind of person pays for that-? No offense, of course." Hikari chuckles at this. "Lonely rich guys." Nori chuckled as he watched him chuckle.
"Wow, and they pay you? Guess these rich guys are easier to charm than I thought." He said. "So what? You just chat with them and get a paycheck?" Hikari finds it funny working as a host honestly. "Yeah basically. They pay for a chat and to drink with me. but i also have to flirt with clients"
Nori's eyebrows rose, a curious look on his face.
"Woah, you have to flirt with your clients? That must be tough." He said. "What happens if you get to a client that's like...gross and old? Ever had one of those yet?" Hikari laughs at his question.
"Well its not like theyre all old and gross. Ive had many clients in my time who were young and attractive. Its not as bad as you think."
Nori's eyes went a bit wide. He wasn't sure why, but hearing this boy talk about being with other guys... made him a bit jealous.
Get a grip, he thought to himself. Why are you even getting jealous in the first place? He's just some guy in your rival's band. The same band you hate so much. It doesn't matter what he does. "Yeah right. Bet most of 'em are old and gross." Nori replied, ignoring the small pang of jealousy he'd felt when he had mentioned the attractive ones.
"Do you kiss em?" He suddenly blurted out. It was something he had been thinking about ever since he learned that this guy apparently had to flirt with people as a part of his job. He was curious to hear his answer.
"I mean.... if they give me a huge tip after..."
Nori's face went blank as he heard the response. A weird feeling was bubbling at the bottom of his chest. "You actually do...?" he asked, his voice oddly quiet. His hands gripped the side of the swivel stool he sat on a bit too tightly. Hikari was a bit surprised by his reaction. He'd noticed the change in his voice. "Uhm... yeah.. i mean- like i said they give me a tip and-"
he was cut off by Nori. "How much are these tips..?" His voice was still quiet, but had a hint of something in it that he couldn't quite place. "Well-uhm.. if they are really satisfied with services then... a few hundred bucks..."
He couldn't understand why he was asking about this. But he decided to answer anyways. Nori felt a pang of jealousy stab at him as he heard him say this. "A... Few hundred bucks..?" He repeated, his gaze still fixed on him. He bit his lip as he tried to ignore the odd feeling he was getting in his chest. "That's a lot of money...just for a kiss?" He asked, the hint of envy in his voice more apparent this time.
Hikari nodded, his cheeks turning pink as he realized how strange this conversation was. "Yeah...", he muttered, looking away from Nori. Nori couldn't ignore the jealousy any longer. "Do they get... anything else other than a kiss..?" he asked, despite knowing he wouldn't like the answer. He watched him closely, noticing the way his cheeks turned pink as he avoided his gaze. He cursed himself inwardly. Why was this bothering him so much? This was the same guy he was supposed to hate. "No i set my boundaries at kissing... I mean people do ask me for it but not like i'll do it." Hikari wants to switch topic really badly. "Look.. can we just talk about something other then my job?"
Nori could sense that Hikari was growing uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. But for some reason, Nori couldn't seem to drop it. He didn't know why he was so interested in this, but he couldn't stop himself. He shifted on the drum stool, his eyes still fixed on him. "Why? You don't wanna talk about how you kiss a bunch of random guys on the daily in some seedy bar for a few extra bucks?" He couldn't help himself from letting the jealousy show in his voice. "Holy shit... do you assume i like kissing strangers? I just needed a well earning job... and my looks only got me that far." "Looks huh," Nori muttered, his eyes flicking from his face down to his body and then back up again. He bit his lip as his gaze lingered on him for a moment. "Yeah, I guess that's all you're good for." The words left his mouth before he could stop himself.
Hikari's eyes widened at Nori's words. He couldn't believe the rude words he had just said to him. He felt a mix of anger and hurt crawling up inside him. "What? What do you mean by that? I'm not just some eye candy you know?!" his voice growing louder. "Yeah right," Nori said, rolling his eyes. "You're seriously gonna act like you're more than just a pretty face with a nice body? You have a nice voice, I'll give you that, but what else do you have to offer? You don't have any talent or anything. Just your looks."
Hikari's feelings of hurt and anger grew stronger. He was so sick of being judged by his appearance all the time. He was more than just his looks. "Fuck you..." hikari walks out the room with his electric guitar. Nori watched as he stormed out of the room, his guitar case in hand. He couldn't believe himself. He had just let his jealousy and anger get the best of him. He knew his words hurt him, but he didn't think he'd storm out like that.
He sat there for a moment, staring at the spot where he had just been standing. A pang of guilt washed over him, and he cursed under his breath. "Damnit..." he muttered. Why did he have to say all those things? He knew he had messed up. He should have just kept his mouth shut. He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back on the drum stool, his head spinning. "I'm such an idiot..." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration and regret flooding over him.